A dimly lit setting filled with nicely carved wooden tables and chairs, Argentinean steak house Buenos Aires has the look of a very posh and stylish restaurant. As a typical poor student, I normally avoided expensive restaurants, but my food-curious nature got the better of me. How did Argentinean steak taste? Was it more peppery? Did it have a unique texture?

With burning questions like this going through my head, I decided to give Buenos Aires a try.

The first thing I noticed was the service. In my past reviews, service was a not a big factor when I rated restaurants, but after eating at Buenos Aires that may have to change. I was met with the usual friendly greetings and smiles from the waiting staff, but I was surprised when they started handing out complimentary dishes, ranging from a free plate of duck pâté to a refreshing glass of wine. I was so happy with the initial amount that I almost forgot I didn’t order yet. Impressed by the friendly staff at Buenos Aires, I hoped the food would live up to its great service.

To start the night off I ordered some chorizo. Though it wasn’t something to rave about, it had a nice, slightly peppery taste. I wouldn’t recommend trying it on its own, but instead mixing it with some chimichurri (an Argentinean meat sauce made up of parsley, mince garlic and olive oil), to give a nice smoked flavor to the meat.

Not long after my chorizo, the Bife de Costilla (rib-eye steak) arrived with a side of mashed potatoes. After much anticipation, I was stunned to find out that it tasted exactly like “regular” steak. I expected a whole slew of new flavors and Argentinean spices, and I was left slightly disappointed. Not to say it wasn’t a great steak. It was soft and tender, but it had nothing new to offer my excited palate. My waiter suggested I try some chimichurri sauce to add some more flavor, but that just made my steak oilier. On a bright note, the serving size was just right. It wasn’t too small, as is often the case with upscale restaurants. The side of mashed potatoes didn’t really stand out and needed an extra kick of flavor.

Despite the average food, Buenos Aires did offer a great dining atmosphere. Over the candle-lit wooden tables I could hear laugher and interesting chatter while we were eating. All around, between brick walls and walls covered in paintings, people were dressed in their best outfits having a good time.

As I stated earlier, the whole luxurious New York thing is still very foreign to me. I normally grab cart food or a quick sandwich for dinner, so it was nice to experience a slice of New York City fine dining. As one college student to another, if you’re in the mood for a night of luxury with a few drinks, I would suggest the Buenos Aires Steakhouse.

In regards to a full fancy dinner, Buenos Aires isn’t my personal benchmark for really good luxury food. I’m sure there are many other fancy restaurants out there that could easily eclipse the food at Buenos Aires for a cheaper price. I had hoped to experience something new and memorable at Buenos Aires but sadly it didn’t leave a memorable impression on me. For the price I paid I felt I should have gotten something unique but instead I felt let down. Despite this, I was happy with the service and was glad to at least try something new that night. This goes to show that just because something looks fancy from the outside, doesn’t mean the food is the same.

IF YOU GO

Buenos Aires

Rating: 2/5
$$$$ out of $$$$$
Where: 513 E. 6th Street, New York, NY 1009
Darryl’s Recommendation: San Juan Argentianan wine with Chorizo (if you want a quick snack)