Argentine steakhouses are among the top culinary destinations for foreigners visiting Buenos Aires. However, not all steakhouses follow the same concept. While some offer a menu where you can order à la carte, others operate on an all-you-can-eat, buffet, or “eat as much as you want” basis.
The all-you-can-eat format has its admirers and detractors. Some believe it’s the best way to enjoy Argentine barbecue, while others view it as a lower-quality option. Here, we’ll share our perspective to help you decide where to go on your next visit to an Argentine steakhouse.
Advantages
Quantity-to-Price Ratio
All-you-can-eat steakhouses in Buenos Aires allow you to eat a large amount of food at a reasonable price. While it may not be the cheapest option in absolute terms, it’s a matter of balancing the quantity of food you can consume with the price you pay.
Remember, in all-you-can-eat restaurants, you pay a single price and can eat as much as you want. This means that if you have a big appetite, the total value of what you eat might exceed what you paid. In this case, you win, and the restaurant loses.
However, not everyone consumes more meat or Argentine barbecue than what they paid for in an all-you-can-eat restaurant. For example, children or women may eat less meat than men, allowing the restaurant to make a profit.
Fast Service
Service in all-you-can-eat steakhouses is usually quick. Without the need for a menu or à la carte options, the role of the waitstaff is highly automated, and there is minimal interaction with customers.
When waiters notice that you’ve finished your food, they bring another plate, and so on. If you want to repeat a particular cut of meat, you can simply ask the waiter, and they will bring it to your table.
Eat Until You’re Full
The concept of all-you-can-eat restaurants is that you can eat until you’re completely satisfied. This is especially true for Argentine steakhouses, where the temptation to keep eating is driven by the aroma of wood-fired grilling and the mindset of “I have to take advantage and eat as much as possible.”
Multiple Options Included (the essential and classic barbacue)
What can you expect to eat at an all-you-can-eat Argentine steakhouse? With slight variations, the menu usually includes chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), chinchulín (intestines), riñón (kidney), provoleta (grilled provolone cheese), molleja (sweetbread), beef cuts, pork, and chicken.
Drinks and side dishes (such as French fries or salads) may or may not be included in the price, as well as desserts. This depends on the restaurant you visit.
Disadvantages
Quality-to-Price Ratio
Will you get the best Argentine meat at all-you-can-eat steakhouses? The answer is no.
The cuts of meat offered at these restaurants are of average quality, with the best reserved for those who order à la carte.
Additionally, an all-you-can-eat menu won’t include high-end cuts like tenderloin or bife de chorizo, let alone Patagonian lamb or other export-quality meats.
Eating Less Than What You Paid For
Just as male diners may eat more than the price they paid, families with children, women, and the elderly may consume less.
This explains why you’ll often see groups of friends and men at all-you-can-eat Argentine steakhouses. For these diners, the all-you-can-eat menu is a good “investment” in terms of quantity and price.
Therefore, if you’re dining as a couple or with children, all-you-can-eat steakhouses may not be the most economical option.
Limited Menu
Some Argentine steakhouses only offer an all-you-can-eat option, meaning they don’t serve any cuts of meat or products beyond those included in the all-you-can-eat menu. In these cases, you can expect decent quality meat.
In other instances, you’ll find that the à la carte options exceed what’s available on the all-you-can-eat menu. Additionally, individual prices or dishes may be significantly higher than the value of the all-you-can-eat option. Conclusion? The all-you-can-eat menu at these restaurants is not only limited but also likely to offer mediocre quality meat.
Noisy Environments
Because all-you-can-eat steakhouses are popular with families and groups of friends, the atmosphere is far from quiet, intimate, or comfortable.
These restaurants have large tables to accommodate social gatherings, with little space between them to maximize the use of the dining area.
However, it’s worth noting that all-you-can-eat steakhouses are characterized by spacious dining rooms. This means that, unless a restaurant is overwhelmed by demand and reservations, you’re likely to find a table available.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking to enjoy classic Argentine barbecue without high-end cuts of meat or pretensions of quality, all-you-can-eat steakhouses are perfect for you.
Moreover, if you want to indulge in a “marathon” meal where the waiter continuously brings you different cuts of meat and offal, with nothing for you to do but eat, then this is a great option for you.
What won’t you find at an all-you-can-eat steakhouse? High-quality cuts of meat, quiet environments, and a broad menu. This doesn’t mean that the experience at an all-you-can-eat steakhouse is bad or unfortunate, as long as you know what you’re paying for.
(Featured Image Source: Florencia Colombatti/flickr.com)
