Ben's reviews
Review of Buen Ayre
07 Aug 07, 11:34
Best steak in London 
No really, it is the best steak in London. Buen Ayre has been a Hackney favourite ever since it opened, and its repute has since spread. To be honest, I'm half way between being pleased for them, and a bit miffed that my local restaurant is now attracting custom from much further afield than Hackney. It's getting much harder to get a table.
It's an authentic argentinian steak restaurant, and by authentic I do not mean the cow print kitsch of the Goucho Grill. This is a small place, with friendly staff grilling steak on a parilla. Not a place for vegetarians. There are veggie dishes available, but then there are starters available too, but that's not why you're there. The menu is quite naturally dominated by steaks of all sizes and cuts. The meat is apparently imported from Argentina. You might think that might affect its freshness, until you realise that the sea trip is exactly how long it takes to hang good beef.
The steaks come relatively unadorned. You do not need to mess around with stuff that's this good. They come with a bit of salad and some chimichurri. Sides are available, essentially salad and chips. They serve beers (local and south american) and a wine list heavy on the industrious reds such as the obligatory malbecs. They do have some desserts on the menu, but I have to admit that I've never tried them, I've always been too full.
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