Name: Buenos Aires Argentine Steakhouse
Address: Old Market, 13-19 The Square, Richmond Upon Thames, Richmond, TW9 1EA, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8940 3705
Rating: 8

My grown son – nickname “Protein Boy” - likes his steak. So as we’d been to various branches of Gauchos in the past to celebrate his birthday, this year we thought we’d try newcomer Buenos Aires. The branch in Richmond is tucked down an ally and replaces the Fish Works restaurant that I was sad to see go.

Anyway, we arrived early for our 730pm booking as we were hungry and the manager and his staff were totally unfazed. We were shown to our table and got busy with the menus although the walls were covered in chalk boards offering all kinds of information.

I liked the décor – pared down no-nonsense wooden tables and chairs and plain floors. But the small table lights provided a warm glow despite the high ceiling. And it was possible to read the menus without having to resort to phone lights and we could hear each other speak. The service was efficient but not particularly friendly.

We started with a selection of tapas and this turned out to be a feast in its own right. The calamari fritti (£6.50) were tender. The patatas bravas (£4.50) were not too spicy. We savoured a huge slab of tortilla (£5.50) with a substantial salad garnish with a heavenly dressing. But it you make just one starter selection choose the Picada Argentina (£7.50) which includes triangles of cheese, chunky slices of chorizo, bread and dipping sauces and plump olives. Everything was presented on black slates with fried stuff in little metal baskets.

Naturally we all had steaks. My son’s large Sirloin (£24.50) was cooked perfectly – as were our smaller Sirloins (£17.25). They had sweet potato chips and I had regular, three-times-fried, fat chips. You didn’t need too many of those. Their peppercorn sauce was good but I was less impressed with my blue cheese sauce which I felt lacked bite. And I was surprised that these were charged separately. The giant side of Portobello mushrooms (£3.95) I managed to keep all to myself.

For those we don’t want steaks there are a few other options such as pasta, burgers, pork bellies and beef escalope. As you would expect in a meat eater establishment, vegetarians wouldn’t find a lot of choice.

Even though we had eaten way too much, the cakes and desserts – in display in the entrance shop that used to sell wet fish - were simply too tempting. My lemon pie (£4.95) was perfectly tart, the chocolate torta (£4.95) was great but the triumph was my son’s Rogel – crispy layers of pastry with dulce de leche and cream.

The bottle of Marguery Malbec (£29.50) went down a treat – perfect to go with those delicious steaks. However, there were no alcohol free cocktails on the list and we had to ask a couple of times if they could prepare something suitable for our driver.

It’s not much cheaper than Gauchos (£162.50 for the three of us which included 10% gratuity) but it felt a lot more relaxed and informal. Both me and my young companions preferred the ambience.

Monday	Open 09:00 - Closes 22:00
Tuesday	Open 09:00 - Closes 22:00
Wednesday	Open 09:00 - Closes 23:00
Thursday	Open 09:00 - Closes 23:00
Friday	Open 09:00 - Closes 23:00
Saturday	Open 09:00 - Closes 23:00
Sunday	Open 09:00 - Closes 22:00

Buenos Aires Argentine Steakhouse

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