Argentinian • $$
“Part of a downstairs marketplace, Criollas was a little hard to find. Food however was very good. Alfajador was a standout, as was the Caprese empanada. Unfortunately there was no place to sit, you have to stand at the tables and eat.Vegetarian options: Quite a few veg options here“
“Absolutely AmazingTraveled from outside the city to celebrate an anniversary dinner to Balvanera and the experience was beyond memorable that we are planning a return trip.We made a reservation online which was simple.The most difficult was to find parking in the area but was able to find one a few blocks away.We entered slightly before our reservation and were quickly offered our choice to sit.The service was genuine, kind and welcoming. Throughout the evening it remained consistent and professional but low key and not over the top.The space is fantastic and intimate with the lighting and decor that transports you to a cozy restaurant in Buenos Aires.The wine selection is extensive and with many offerings to satisfy the wine enthusiast.Our order began with a selection of shared startersEmpanadaRemolachaAndMollejasWe selected the Meat empanadas offering and these were not your ground beef empanadas you would normally find but a true slice steak - these were tasty and a great opening to our meal. With chimichurri and salsa criolla on the table to accompany it. The baked pockets of joy were fantastic.The Remolacha was an unbelievable surprise as it was the first time tasting a beet warm. Usually beet salads are cold but this was beyond beet salad with the oozing of ricotta and flavors made this hands down a want to eat again dish.I was on the fence on ordering the provoletta orMollejas but I am so happy we chose the mollejas even though they were not on the online menu so it was a huge surprise to see it on the menu at the restaurant.This dish was absolutely the best mollejas i have ever eaten. The pairing and flavors with the lime and chopped apples was a highlight that I want to recreate and will definitely order again if on the menu.For our main course we order the entrana - skirt steak and the rib eye.Both selections were seasoned with just the right amount of salt and the quality and taste rivals the NYC known steak houses.The Ribeye I believe imported from Argentina was spectacular and tender. Each bite melted in your mouth.The evening ended up with a delicious flan andThe team were gracious and gave us to flutes of champagne to commemorate our anniversary that capped an incredible evening.Only wish I was able to have a Fernet while there.The owner and chef should be very proud of the dishes coming out of the kitchen and the attentive team.If Messi is the GOAT of the Soccer fieldMessi needs to eat here on his next visit to NYC because Balvanera is a GOAT of Argentine Cuisine bringing it to another level.Thank you“
“A lovely time in Argentina ??It’s my first time at this restaurant and I had a lovely time. For the appetizer I ordered the Provoleta Argentina con Tomate fresco which was fantastic! I ate it with bread and the taste and quality of the cheese with tomatoes was spot on. The server also brought us a complimentary Italian appetizer called Burrata, which was a nice surprise. For the main course I had the Canelones Caseros de Espinaca y Ricotta which were also very delicious. And right before we left the server also surprised us with a plastic bag filled with Argentinian goods, like tea, cookies, coffee and jam! (Picture of these items included) Basically my expectations have been surpassed and I have to give a round of applause to the Buenos Aires team for the excellent service and quality of food. I will visit you again soon. Muchas gracias!“
“My new favorite restaurant! Everything is fresh and filling, you can taste the care and love put into the dishes. The ambiance is comforting and inviting, the kind of place you could sit and eat and drink for hours. The bartenders are very nice. 10/10“
“Absolutely delicious food and good value for money. The bife de chorizo and filet both came cooked as ordered and were fabulous, like I have eaten in Buenos Aires. Accompanying salads and potatoes great too. Dulce de leche pancakes are a must order. The Balcarce cake dessert was over the top good. Excellent wine selection and good espresso. Super attentive service. Don't let the location on otherwise ugly Tonnelle Avenue fool you. This is a Hudson County gem.“
“The owner was very welcoming. The place looks and feels like an authentic Argentinian restaurant. The food portions are plentiful and tastes amazing!!! There is a sharing fee. There was a Lil misunderstanding with the bill, tax and tip seem to be included already. But this place is definitely a go back to.“
“This place was recommended by a friend. Small establishment family owned. STELLA was delightful. She works side by side with her daughter. You can see she really enjoys cooking up her delishous empanadas and they take pride in what they do. The variety of empanadas ! Wow ! And desert empanadas also. There are so many to choose from. BBQ pulled pork, Philly cheese steak, buffalo chicken, mozzarella garlic and parsley were some of the best. Prices are good. Marinated grilled Chicken sandwiche and chori burger was delicious, so much flavor. Fries are on the crispy side as they are deep fried. If you like this kind of chip taste from a French fry then you will love these. If not I suggest getting a salad. The cost of a dozen fried is a great deal. If you want them baked it cost a lil more and will take a lot longer. So call ahead. They also do fundraisers and have a food truck. Call for more info. I'd have given a 5 star but I'm big on customer service. Upon entering it felt a lil akward when it should have felt welcoming. As this was my first time I believe you should give a friendly introduction no matter how busy you may be. You should make the time and give attention to the customers in front of you instead of the people who are calling in orders. It shows you care about the customers experience by puttingthem first. It sets the tone for your experience and for me will determine if I become a returning customer. I do recommend all the empanada lovers out there come and try Stella's Empanadas you won't be disappointed!Kid-friendliness: Kids love empanadas !“
“Been going there for a good number of years. The food and the service is always good . They finally put in a debit card machine so that helps for people who don't carry cash. All in all one of the better chicken shacks this side of Newark.“
“For those who miss the typical sweet things of Argentina. It has a very good variety and everything is very delicious. A nice space where you can have a drink right there, the only thing against it is that there are always a lot of people and you have to wait in line.“
“Porteño was an intimate, authentically Argentinian restaurant with excellent service from Paula et al. It's a small space, so you'll definitely want to get a reservation ahead of time. It's Argentinian, so there's a lot of beef and Malbecs. I d been to Argentina and can honestly say that the food, ambience, and servers all reminded me of a typical restaurant in Buenos Aires. I enjoyed everything I ate, but didn't love anything.“
“Very nice and cozy place took my wife for a birthday dinner,one think for sure staff is really welcoming,very nice staff,the place itself has a charm to it makes u feel comfortable and at peace the decor is beautiful and our server gave us the history behind the name of the venue very knowledgeable...so now the food o man it was on point we had the mix grill without the pork gave us more chicken instead and bunch of side dishes portions are good we had to take some to go ..the flan is to die for .the only but I have is I mention it was my wife's b day that nite but unfortunately, she didn't get a desert on the house but it's OK because the overall experience was great ,Def will go back and also its kids friendly....o yea get the empanadas delicious...Thank you see u soon“
“they need help in the kitchen and they need a heat lamp to keep the food warm if you are in big group it's more likely someone's food might be cold. but place in nice service was good and the food has great taste but a my plate was a bit cold seem like my dish was one of the first they “