Buenos Aires Cafe

Buenos Aires Cafe Restaurant Review:

Longtime fans of Buenos Aires Café reminisce for the original tiny, off-the-radar spot, since moving to the Eastside catapulted the restaurant into the limelight of Austin’s dining scene. It would make no sense to visit without sampling some of the impossibly flaky empanadas, specifically the verdura with spinach, ricotta, Parmesan and onion, or the carne picante with spicy ground beef, green onions, raisins, green olives and fresh herbs. Among entrées, a favorite is the gnocchi quartet, featuring homemade sweet potato-chipotle, cilantro-jalapeño, pumpkin-cinnamon and potato-herb gnocchi tossed with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, haricots verts and perky sauces to go with each. More conventional but equally enticing is the roasted pork tenderloin with chimichurri sauce. Whatever you do, save room for dessert. It’s how chef-owner Reina Morris first made her name. You can’t go wrong with the pionono (Kahlúa-and-coffee-soaked cake rolled in fresh strawberries with homemade whipped cream and dulce de leche), or the ricotta cheese sweet with honey and tart with citrus. Take note: Service is slow at times and weekends can be very crowded. Also located at 13500 Galleria Circle, Bee Cave, 512-441-9000.