La Masía
Argentina
Recensioner
Best dinner we’ve had in Argentina. Exceptional. We had an amuse, one appetizer, four entrees, and two desserts. The amuse, appetizer (shrimp, mango and avocado “salad”), and three of the entrees and both desserts were a foodie 10/10. Trout ravioli, spicy pasta, and steak were perfection itself. Trout entree was a tad dry, 7/10. So 7 of 8 items were absolutely impossible to improve upon. If there is better dining in Bariloche I’d be shocked.
This was the best food I had in my 9 days in Argentina. The langoustine, avocado and mango salad starter was amazing and the rib eye steak was the best steak I have ever eaten, including the various other steaks I ate in Buenos Aires. Aside from the quality of the meat, the way it was cooked gave it an unforgettable taste. The setting in an intimate quasi-family dining room (6 tables, reservation recommended) was nice, and the lake view terrace outside looked fantastic although we stayed inside. The only criticism I have is on how long it took to order and have the first course served, which was about an hour from the time we sat down. Perhaps that evening the restaurant was short staffed but only one person (seemed like the owner/manager, always calm and smiling!) to cover 6 tables meant the wait time was inevitable.
There are only a few restaurants that my wife and I come back to after the first visit. In NYC, where we live, it’s probably around 5. La Masía was so good that before finishing our dinner on Wed night, we made a reservation to come back Thu. Yes, it was that good. NB - reservations are made via WhatsApp. The place has 5 tables and one seating per night. It’s run by a husband and wife pair (she is the front of the house, and he is the back) who live above restaurant. The place used to be a living room - one with an amazing view of lake Nahuel Huapi. Low lighting, the murmur of the dining room (at some point in the night all tables are full), the view, and pace of service (not rushed but somehow you never feel like you’re waiting) combine to make the experience a wonderfully warm one. The food - delish! Over the course of the two days, we had the lamb (made in the oven, not the asador), the bruschetta, the mushrooms, the trout ravioli, and the ribeye. Everything was amazing. Truly. For desert, we had flan with dulce de leche (multiple) and figs with cheese. If you haven’t had flan, try it here. Wines - we had an absolutely unbelievable bottle of 2016 DV Catena Malbec. We are not super wine people but this bottle was amazing. For all of the above, we paid about 120 dollars each night. So - if you find yourself in Bariloche, do yourself a favor, and book a table at La Masía.
