Carlitos Gardel Restaurant

This is the place to find the robust beef-and-garlic-centric cuisine of Buenos Aires and an air of faded grandeur and romance. The family-run restaurant is simple, relaxed and intimate without the scene of nearby Lala’s or the unevenness of Gaucho Grill. The décor isn’t much more than pictures of its namesake, tango singing star Carlitos Gardel, adorning the walls, but the unfailingly polite and efficient wait staff make you feel all warm and special, like you’ve just discovered a hidden gem, albeit one that’s been discovered many times before.  Try the mixed grill for two that is cooked on a brazier filled with hot coals: skirt steak, short ribs, Argentine sausage (like a mild Italian version), blood sausage and sweetbreads, with mashed potatoes or garlic French fries on the side – all for $44. Considering the huge portions and price, it’s a good deal. Another standout is the baked garlic appetizer, and the house chimmichuri sauce (in original and spicy) is a nice compliment to the meats. (It’s also sold in bottles on the web site.) Of the three desserts, the homemade confection involving chopped peaches, meringue and dulce du leche is the most popular.

TIPS: There are musicians playing tango and international music on Friday and Saturday nights.