The Casual Restaurant Critic
You might agree or disagree with my opinions, but that's life, isn't it? And no, I get no commissions or kickbacks from any of the places favorably reviewed - I do this entirely for my own amusement 
and your information. 

This, by theway, is the one part of NotTheNews that often features POSITIVE critiques, so to those
of you whining about NotTheNews being too negative, get off my case.

Tango Gaucho

Cuisine Argentine

 

April, 2001

This is the third restaurant review this issue! It seems we have a lot of disposable time/income on our hands doesn't it?! So many restaurants, so little time...

Weekends are for eating out! In restaurants. Many citizens of the formerly white city agree and every restaurante, taqueria, and fonda is full on Sundays; not because Sundays are particularly special or anything; it's probably due to the fact that we have to give that inconsiderate muchacha a day off and as a result there is no one to cook for us or, at least clean up the disasters we amateur cooks make in our kitchens! 

Regular readers of NotTheNews (as in the kind that read this on a regular basis, not the other 'regular') may recall a restaurant named Siracusa located in front of the park in the Colonia Mexico. It was a northern Italian kind of place that had decent food but wasn't embraced by the locals and therefore passed on to greener pastures. An interesting side note regarding the actual building where Siracusa was; a vociferous member of the Fussy Crew actually lived in this house as a child! It's famous!

Again the Critic digresses. 

Siracusa closed, and a new owner has revamped the place and called it Tango Gaucho. The Critic thought it was a theater at first with Gardel music but no; it's a real restaurant, homey and welcoming. 

The hostess/owner welcomes you and helps you decide on some typical Argentinian specialities if you are as clueless as the Critic was on this occasion.

Appetizers for this mid-day meal included tasty pillow-shaped empanadas made of pastry and stuffed with a creamy cheese and corn mixture; the must-try chorizo argentino, your basic bratwurst-style grilled sausage (homemade at Tango Argentino) but with unique spices and peppers mixed in; a salad, very basic, tomatos, lettuce, onions, but perfect to accompany all the heavier things appearing on the table; and a unique cheese and tomato plate, unique in that the cheese and the tomatos are grilled also and so the cheese is melted.

The main course, is the de rigueur churrasco argentino, which is a deliciously seasoned and perfectly grilled steak. Cooked three quarters at the hostess' suggestion, this slab of meat was perfect.

Accompanying all this was ice-cold Corona beer and some house red wine, a little on the sweet and light side but alright for introducing some antioxidants to all those free radicals.

Desserts were good too, although the rest of the menu was far superior.

Service throughout was attentive and quick. Apparently only one waiter was working with the help of some busboys or garroteros, but there was no noticeable lack of attention, especially with the hostess/owner chatting up guests.

Cheap? Not really. An exaggerated lunch (way too much food!) for 2 and a half, including tip and some beers and a glass or two of house red, about $850.00. But, definitely worth not only the money, but also the time and calories. 

 

Casual Critic Rating: 4

Beginning 1999, the Critic started rating the places he visited. Here's the scoop:

 

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