drum roll please…… My favorite parrilla in San Telmo is hands down Des Nivel.
The servers are older gentleman who crack jokes, give dirty looks, don’t bother with fancy table service, and get your food to you in record time (generally). Most of them have been them just as long as Des Nivel itself, and feel like well-worn fixtures to the local. Try your hand at spanish. They are really good at understanding what you want, even though the majority couldn’t express much back in english. No matter whether they understand you or not, I can assure you whatever they bring to the table will be fantastic. Parrilla, pasta, or house specialties, this is a great bet for a San Telmo (or Buenos Aires) restaurant.
Why? Great food, not so inflated prices, authentic staff, no pretention, Great Food, good vibe
Where? Calle Defensa, on the 800 block
When? Everynight is great! Avoid Sunday’s as those are the busiest day in the neighborhood, so you can often get a super tired server or a menu item that is unavailable. This is really common in San Telmo, and Des Nivel probably does the best job in the area of avoiding it, but it can still happen. Monday mid-day it is not open.
What? Here is my tried and true favorite menu, very traditional!
Starter:
Provelta Provenzal- Grilled fresh provolne cheese topped with roasted red pepper, mediterranean spices, and a dash of yummieness.
Chorizo- Grilled sausage. One is enough for two people so as not to order too much.
Entree:
Vacio, juicy style- Amazing steak that you will never forget. Argentines cook meat on the well-done side, so you must specify that you want it med-rare.
Sides:
Complete Salad- You must have some fresh non-meat items on the table in order to keep your palette refreshed and not get overwhelmed in the rich foods. Also, salad is just good 
Fries (fritas)- Again, I like provenzal. This (with tons of garlic) could be an overload for some people, but I like the unique flavor of this normally super- common side dish.
Desert:
Housemade Flan with Dulce de Leche and whipped creme- When eating flan, don’t even bother if it is not housemade. The taste is just so much more quality! Top it with Dulce de Leche, which is one of the Argentine pride and joys. You must get it topped with hand whipped creme in order to really get the complete experience.
Wine:
1/2 Penguinito- This is just a house wine. It is a great table wine as it is pretty hard to get a bad Argentine wine. Plus, where else in the world does your wine come served in a penguin shapped carafe?
Total Price: About what 2 McDonals combos cost in the US.
Enjoy,
Kate
