466446 Tue Dec 04 16:36:12 -0800 2007 3 56 South America 0 3179853 We're going to Calafate and El Chalten. Anybody have suggestions for good food? Thanks! Tue Dec 04 16:36:12 -0800 2007 27787 sara333 1 3190700 Greetings, we arrive in El Calafate on Dec. 20 and we'll stay till Jan. 3, 2008. We'll have lots of restaurant recommendations after that time. When do you arrive? We're staying at Xelena, by the way (Their website is: http://www.xelena.com.ar/english/index.html) ALEDM Sat Dec 08 11:12:23 -0800 2007 3179853 94220 aledm 1 3331257 El Calafate, Argentina Restaurant Reviews by ALEDM We spent 8 days in El Calafate. We thought that the prices in El Calafate were about AP$30/US$10 more than at comparable restaurants in other touristy towns in Argentina (such as S.C. de Bariloche) and not as good, unfortunately. In high season, it is important to have a reservation for dinner. Ohterwise, you have to wait to eat until 11 p.m. Here are our reviews: Our Favorite: El Puesto, Gob Moyano & 9 de Julio, fono: (02902) 491 620, We spent AP$169/ US$54 and thought the food and service was a cut above the rest of the restaurants in town. We went there twice. The first time we had two regional dishes: lentejas (AP$28) and a cazuela (AP$30). Both were very good. (The second time our bill was: Cubierto 2x4=AP$8, ensalada AP$28, pasta main AP$29, pasta main AP$32, dessert AP$15, wine AP$40, agua AP$10, after dinner wine AP$15.) Good Restaurants: 1.Casimiro Bigua, Av. del Libertador 993, El Calafate AP$175/US $55. Like many restaurants in El Calafate, the tables are packed together, bistro style. Fortunately, at this restaurant, there was a delightful couple sitting next to us who we enjoyed talking to. We all agreed that the cordero/lamb at a restaurant in Punta Arenas called Puerto Viejo (O'Higgins 1166, Punta Arenas, fono: (56-61)225-103) was much better than it was at Casimiro Bigua. The other couple had been to La Tablita, which Lonely Planet calls the town's best parrilla (Coronel Rosales 24, fono 491-065) and they said that the cordero there was also not as good as the dish in Punta Arenas! (Our bill at Casimiro Bigua was: Cubierto 2x6=AP$12, Alamos Malbec AP$45, Agua AP$12, mix achuras AP$42, cordero AP$46, verduras grilladas AP$18) 2.Estillo Campo Chinese Buffet, 9 de Julio y Gob Gregores, fono: 492-440. This kind of Chinese buffet is a phenomenon we have only encountered in Patagonia. They do a good job. We spent AP$176/US $55 for a Christmas Eve special buffet. (Buffet was AP$60x2=AP$120 + wine + beer+water.) 3.Pascasio, 25 de Mayo 52, El Calafate The rabbit was a bit dry. AP$198/ US$63. (Our bill was: Cubiertos AP$5 x2 =AP$10, conejo asado AP$49, ravioli de verdura AP$38, puerros AP$15, Agua AP$6, Terra Malbec AP$50, helado AP$18 + cafe AP$12) 4.The restaurant at Xelena Deluxe Suites, René Favaloto 3500, El Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina, fono: (54-2902) 496-201, e-mail: info@xelena.com.ar, web: www.xelena.com We had a very nice meal, in a large airy room. And the service was good too. Disappointing Restaurants 1.La Cocina, Libertador 1245, fono: 491-758. We had lunch there and didn’t like the waiter’s “attitude”. (Our bill was: Cubierto 2x3=6, salad AP$12, quiche AP$9, water AP$5 = AP$32) 2.La Posta, Hotel Los Alamos, Gobernador Moyano & Bustillo, (9405) El Calafate, fono: (02902) 49 1144. We spent AP$189/ US $60 and we were not impressed. We told the waiter we wanted the rack of lamb rare/juicy, etc. and it came dry and overcooked. While we sent it back and got a better version the second time around, we found the service uneven, generally. (Our bill was: water AP$5x2=AP$10, Tempus Malbec AP$75, capelettis cordero AP$36, rack de cordero AP$52, verdura grillada AP$8, cafe chico x 2 = AP$8) 3.Parrilla Mi Viejo, Av. Del Libertador 1111, El Calafate We spent AP$161/US$51 and there was nothing special about this parrilla. Fri Jan 25 07:04:40 -0800 2008 3179853 94220 aledm 1 3334866 Great write-up, aledm. We spent three days/two nights there at the beginning of the month and unfortunately ran into a lot of disappointing and overpriced food (my basis for comparison being Buenos Aires). La Tablita, which you mention, was probably our best meal there. We had the mixed grill of lomo, bife de chorizo and cordero. It was good. It wasn't any better than anything I've had in many places in Buenos Aires, but given how many mediocre meals we'd had at that point in El Calafate, it was a welcome change. We did have to go a day beforehand and get a reservation for the following night. One place I liked for breakfast, a snack or coffee was Don Luis (9 de Julio 250). Three years of eating medialunas in Argentina under my belt and these were probably the best I've ever had. It's off the main drag, so it wasn't packed. The service was friendly and they even had wi-fi (too slow to do much browsing, but fine for sending email). I believe they also do boxed lunches if you're planning to be out of town all day. Sat Jan 26 07:27:32 -0800 2008 3179853 129618 daniels