Buen Ayre

As gluttonous food bloggers, we’ve experienced some pretty excessive meals. While it’s not unusual for us to leave restaurants in danger of bursting, there have been a few particularly extreme cases—stumbling home after multi-course feasts at Lemonia and the Old Justice, for example, I’ve sworn never to eat again.

In Broadway Market’s Buen Ayre, though, we have a new champion. We left the restaurant not only with sickeningly full stomachs, but with doggy bags full of two pounds of leftover steak—these salvaged from an even bigger pile of unconsumed meat. (Matthew got four days of steak sandwiches out of his doggy bag share.)

Why so much meat? Buen Ayre specialises in the Argentine art of the parillada, a mixed grill cooked on a parilla, an Argentine grill that’s hung above flaming charcoal with chains. Starting at £16.50 per person for a minimum of two diners, Buen Ayre’s parilladas are a vegetarian’s nightmare—sizzling heaps of Argentine sausage, black pudding, sweetbread, kidney and all manners of grilled steak. (The Parillada Mixta does however come with yummy grilled provolone and deliciously nutty pesto-stuffed mushrooms in place of short ribs.)

Irish-Argentine chef John Patrick Rattagan grew up barbecuing meat outside Buenos Aires, and the charred, juicy results really are Buen Ayre’s reason for existing. The lengthy menu extends to starters (we ordered empanadas and ox tongue) mains and sandwiches, but there’s hardly a vegetarian option to be found; the restaurant’s simple setting, a small, slightly cramped dining room with wooden floors, tables and chairs, means the meaty dishes are the main attraction.

We ordered two parilladas, the Mixta and the Al Paso, a lot of meat for even the most serious carnivore, but, as the last table of the night, when it came to portion size we did even better: the kitchen piled their leftover glut of sirloin steaks on top of our expected lump of flank steak, sausage, black pudding, short ribs, provolone and mushroom. On the side was the famous oil-chili-garlic-oregano sauce, chimichurri, and two bowls of fluffy, crispy chips (one bowl drenched in garlic and parsley), and our glasses were full of Argentine red from the lengthy wine list.

The challenge of chewing through such a mountain of flesh was made easier by fact that it was all pretty tasty. The rich blood sausages were swallowed effortlessly, and the steaks, though slightly tough, were nevertheless rare and well-seasoned, just the way we like them. (The lengua a la vinegreta, our marinated ox tongue starter, remained the highlight of the night, however—the vinegary, tender slices converted even those of us disgusted by ox tongue as children.) Come midnight and closing time, we were still happily (though sluggishly) chewing. We’ll be back—definitely without any vegetarians in tow.

The's profile     Other reviews by The     The likes    

It was about time for a steak dinner. The last time I'd had a decent steak dinner it had been at Le Relaise de Venise in Marylebone several months earlier where they only serve Steak Frites, but it's bloody good steak frites! It was steak time again and off to Buen Ayre we headed. The restaurant is located in the very trendy area of Hackney in Broadway Market and this is reflected in its decor. The exterior just as casually put together as the interior. Chunky wooden tables and chairs fill a small but warm and lively room, the centre piece being a fiery barbeque grill and its keeper. The menu is extensive and embodies all that is tasty about argentinien cuisine. Argentina being famed for it's beef and red wine meant that my expectations and hopes for this place were going to be sky high. The chef, John Patrick Rattagan hails from Buenos Aires and has brought the celebrated argentinian pastime of "asado", or barbeque, to London. A lot was resting on this.

I love the contrast in this restaurant, the delightfully unfancy decorations with a minimalist supply of artwork for sale across the walls totally differs from the numerous and extravagant meaty options available. Sandwiches and light snacks are available for approximately £4-9 each but why fill up on that when you can eat STEAK! The platos principales include all known pieces of cow available to mankind that can be placed on a grill. From sirloin to fillet, from rib-eye to rump and from flank to a variety of sausages, all served with a accompanying sauce and garnish. Meals for sharing (minimum 2 persons) are also available and prove popular probably due to the novelty of having a mini grill brought to the table ladden with steaks, sausages, black pudding and provolone cheese.

We nibbled on fresh ciabatta bread and luxurious stilton butter while perusing the extensive menu. I opted for the fillet steak, rare. I love rare meat and I tend not to have sauce as I prefer to be able to taste the meat and the different flavours and textures that comes with different cuts. The fillet steak arrived and it was beautiful. It was at least 2 inches thick and placed in the middle of my plate, after-all it was the focal point of the meal. A small garnish of salad and roasted peppers to the side of it. Chips were also ordered to share and I kept my portion for dipping into the left-over juices after I'd finished the steak. I cut into it and it was perfectly rare, just how I liked it. However other's were not as impressed with the cooking of their steaks as mediums had arrived medium rare and well-dones had arrived medium. I was just lucky I guess. The meat was soft and sliced like butter and I enjoyed every bite. There was infact no need for the garnish as for me the dish was all about the steak. The sauce was a light garlic and herb oil which I tried and decided I didn't need.

The meal wasn't cheap but it was good value, especially for what we had which included bread and stilton butter, wine, chips and steaks. It was approximately £30 a head. The service was good and considering the large size of our group, it was quick! The staff are very attentive and will explain all cuts of meats to you if you get stuck. I also found them very accommodation as they let me barge into their grilling area for photos.

The's profile     Other reviews by The     The likes    

Broadway Market is not the hole it once was. Now small great cafes and eateries can be found dotted around, though the area still looks rough around the edges. Argentinean food is meat, tender full of flavour and at Santa Maria del Buen Ayre I was given a tour de force. With wooden floors and chatty South American waiters, this a perfect place to get acquainted with gaucho food.

James's profile     Other reviews by James     James likes    

I have eaten here a few times and find the service and food great.We have been to a great deal of steak restraunts and keep coming back to this one.I am going again tonight.

stuart's profile     Other reviews by stuart     stuart likes    

My boyfriend and I ate at this delightful Argentinian restuarant on recommendation from my mother who's heard about it all the way over in the West Country.Despite being a Monday night, the place was jam-packed and we were warmly welcomed by several waiters. Upon entering, you cannot fail to be enticed by the sizzling meats hanging over an open fire...this place is heaven for meat-lovers.We shared a starter - Argentinain spinach + cheese and chicken mini-pasties...delicious.However...the starters are hardly neessary when you see the size of your main course. We both chose the 10 oz fillet steak which is served with a small green salad and butter beans. Our knives cut through the steaks like a hot knife through butter and we were blown away by the exceptional taste and texture of the beef. Definitely the best steak I've ever tasted.Service was efficient and friendly - I can't wait to return.