Steak!

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When in Argentina, eat meat.

It seems that on every block there is at least one parilla (Argentina steakhouse/grill) emanating the incredible smells of steak, chorizo, and melted cheese.  Tourist-trap steakhouses exist as do fancy Peter Luger status steakhouses.  Up until this trip I had only been to local parillas and was more than content with my $15 (or less) all you can eat meat extravaganza.

As part of my UJA Mission to BA, we got a special treat and had lunch at Cabaña Las Lilas in Puerto Madero.  On TripAdvisor there are 2,502 reviews and 83% of reviewers recommend this steakhouse that boasts of using their own meat from a farm in rural Argentina.  I was prepared to be blown away by this luxury steakhouse.  And, in the end, it was fine.  My favorite parts of the meal were the appetizers and the chipá (post coming soon!)...and the Malbec.  

Provoleta - Grilled Provolone Cheese with Roasted Veggies
(photo courtesy of J.H.)

Appetizer Platter - Caprese Salad, Blue Cheese Spread, Zucchini with Butternut Squash, Smoked Salmon
(photo courtesy of J.H.)

Seeing that we were a group of 40, we didn't get to choose our cut of meat and everyone received bife de chorizo.  Perhaps that was the downfall.  Or maybe it was the lack of flavor in the meat (gasp!).  But all in all I would rather go to the neighborhood joint for cheap and delicious meat than splurge at Las Lilas.  
Disclaimer: of course, if I have the opportunity to go back to Las Lilas (and on someone else's peso) I won't immediately say no.  However, if you ask for a recommendation for a steakhouse in Buenos Aires, Las Lilas will (likely) not be included.
One highlight of the meal was the little plastic cow figuring that say "estoy jugoso" denoting how my meat was cooked -- "juicy" a.k.a. rare/medium rare.

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