Argentinan in Corona

[driggs]

I stil think La Esquina Criolla is one of the best deals in the city; amazing steak, easy service, cheap, and laid back. I have gone across the street to the Argentinian pizza place next door. It feels very much like a place you would find in Buenos Aries. Has anyone been? I have not seen many posts on it? I always intend to go, but La Esquina Criolla pulls me in first.

[JH Jill]

You mean El Guachito, I presume. Yes, we go there occasionally. My Argentine friend can't stand the florescent lighting at La Esquina. Since I live a block away from El Civito d'Oro in Jackson Heights and rarely have the car these days, I haven't been to El Gauchito recently, but their food is generally good. What i like is that they have some very different combinations from other Argentine restaurants, and they have some great vegetable sides, such as spinach and chard. They have always given us complimentary appetizers of bread, cheese and chorizo, or something like that. A tasty morsel to begin with. And we often get seltzer, which they serve in the old-fashioned siphons. The siphons have seen better days, but it's fun. Downstairs, where they have a little butcher shop, the walls are covered with tiles painted with the portraits of famous Argentines of all sorts, from Maradona to Mercedes Sosa. It's fun to try to figure them out, if you're familiar with Argentine culture or history. They also have an upstairs dining room, which they use when it's busy. It has more comfortable seating, a bit more formal but less fun. You should try it next time. I find their meats to be at least as good as La Esquina's and they have some good pasta dishes as well. I believe I've enjoyed their gnocchi (or ñoquis) in the past.

[E Eto]

Actually, the OP is talking about Cantina de Don Chicho, the pizzeria/empanada place directly across the street from La Esquina Criolla. I haven't been in a while, but I was at Esquina Criolla this past week. We tried to go to El Gauchito, but found it closed on a Wednesday night. We were going to get some empanadas at Don Chicho after our meal at Esquina Criolla, but after finishing off a entraña for 2, we couldn't think about food anymore.

[JH Jill]

Yes, I can see that I didn't get the part about the pizza place. I have never gone to Don Chicho. I did pass that corner a couple of times lately, and once El Gauchito was closed, but on Thursday it was open so I'm not sure of their hours. Esquina Criolla has longer hours.

[driggs]

yes, I was asking about Cantina de don Chicho, although now I am intersted in El Guachito. How far from Esquina Criolla is it? I have to say a steak better than they serve at Esquina Criolla (other than in Buenos Aires) is hard to imagine.