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Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Dining in Mendoza – Final Mentions

Brendan

The Global Nomad

Actually before I leave Mendoza behind there are a couple of places I need to mention, if for no other reason than other Mendoza-philes out there will scream “what about ____?!” if I don’t.

Azafrán

Probably our favourite meal in Mendoza city proper, Azafran really deserves its own entry, if only for its outstanding wine room. Laid out like a library, the extensive wine collection has pride of place at the front of the building, and is lovingly displayed by varietal—a fun (if expensive) crash course in the region’s producers and products.

Staff gave me a quick overview and then let me roam free for a good 10 minutes before discreetly asking if I would like more information. Unsurprisingly, the staff’s knowledge was impressive, and we were able to try some fun new wines based on our past preferences.

Oh, yeah: and the food’s fantastic. Be aware that Azafrán comes recommended by many a guidebook, so you’re more likely to find international visitors eating beside you than you are Mendocinos. Ambiance: 9/10, Food: 9/10, Service: 9/10

El Palenque

Another Mendoza city favourite is El Palenque, a casual fun place for dinner or drinks that always seems to be busy. With a great patio and a mix of locals and travellers, El Palenque seems a solid choice; despite the fact that our meals were twice on the mediocre end, I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the kitchen just had bad days. Ambiance: 9/10, Food: 6/10

Av. Aristides Villanueva 287
Mendoza City, Argentina
(0261)154-54 8023
Owned by the same people who own Azafran.

La Bourgogne

Another restaurant we had high hopes for was the famed La Bourgogne, situated on the beautiful grounds of Carlos Pulenta’s Vistalba winery. Modern and chic, La Borgogne was perhaps the most formal place we ate, and has garnered many rave reviews (including many suggestions that it is the best restaurant in Mendoza, or even the country.)

Although the food was imaginative and impeccably presented, the experience was soured by the fact that we had shockingly bad service. Although I tried to chalk this up to the fact that we ate very early by Argentinean standards (really a no-no), the inattentiveness still didn’t make sense seeing as we were the first guests there—wouldn’t that mean we would get more attention instead of less? Ambiance: 10/10, Food 9/10, Service: 5/10

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Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Dining in Mendoza – Cava de Cano

Brendan

The Global Nomad

Moving finally on to simply restaurants (without the attached wineries)…I have only a couple of must-visit restaurants to review, and then it’s time to move on from Mendoza! (sniff…)

One final unforgettable lunch experience in wine country is an extended noontime at the legendary Cava de Cano.

I can honestly say that I have never experienced quite the spread we encountered on our arrival at this unassuming restaurant in the heart of Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo. Set in the colonial residence of Mendoza’s 1930’s governor Don Guillermo Cano, the restaurant lives up to the “cava” part of its name: diners are ensconced in the bowels of the former home’s cave-like wine cellars. Cava de Cano’s specialty is its expansive, table-filling collection of local artisan cheeses, accompanying side dishes, sauces, cold meats and a hundred other morsels and tidbits you’ve never thought of - both impressive and intimidating. The photos speak for themselves.

Accompanied by (naturally) local wines, the resulting smorgasbord continues until you can barely move. Bring friends, and don’t eat breakfast!

• Posted in  Drinking, Eating
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