Fodor's Expert Review Astrid & Gaston

Its opening in early 2009 was marked by much hype by BA foodies, who had longed for famed Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio's cuisine in their city. As a whole, the food and atmosphere inside the beautifully recycled Palermo home is spirited, but in many cases style trumps service. The waitstaff look great in black suits and ties, but they don't offer consistent service, and non-Spanish speakers may have a hard time communicating with them. That said, the food is delicious and imaginative: marinated boneless pork with sweet potatoes and red onions; white salmon with peas and scallop risotto; arroz con mariscos (rice and shellfish), and aji de gallina (chili chicken) are all top choices. Most of the food lacks the spice normally found in many Peruvian dishes, a regrettable trend that most ethnic restaurants in BA adhere to in order to cater to Porteños' weak palates.