I'm going to jump in here.

We will be in BA March 12-15th. We are staying at The Emperador. I believe it's in the Recoleta neighborhood. I know this area is full of hotels and wondered do you have any recommendations for good, yet not expensive restaurants? We like all sorts of food and if possible, would be happy to eat at places that are a bit off the tourist route yet easy for us to get to. Even places within the neighborhood for, say, dinner. (If outside of Recoleta, we are willing to take the subway; we are from NYC and are used to traveling this way.)

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Hi! In Buenos Aires you will find many options. There is a lot of variety. Recoleta is a one of the fanciest districs of the city so you will find expensive restaurants around, but there is always a good place where you can go and don't overpay the food.
One nice place to go in Recoleta is El CLub de la Milanesa. Here they have big portions and you can share. It is close to the cemetery.
Then you can check this website where you are going to find almost every restaurant of the city and you have average prices: http://www.guiaoleo.com.ar/restaurantes/Recoleta-3/

I know that it is spanish but in ZONA you can put the district that you want and see at least the stars and prices of each place.

I am a local guide in BA and I am writing about free things to do in the city. I invite you to join our free tours and also see the blog and see all the things you can do in the city for free!

http://www.buenosairesfreewalks.com/

Have a nice trip!

Dianedancer: you sound like the kind of tourist who would like the Rodi Bar or the Parrilla Peña

http://tinyurl.com/9dkwudw You can go as early as you want.

http://tinyurl.com/hrwo9sc Cash only, I believe.

Or El Estrebe, another great parilla in the Recoleta area....or Fervor for seafood and highter end parilla. Or for empanadas: Cumana or El Sanjuanino - both in Recoleta, not far from the Cemetery. Centro Vasco Frances for mediteranean seafood a bit farther, but not a far taxi ride. Sucre for elegant, French style dining and my favorite parilla, in la Recova, El Mirasol. And there are lots of great restaurants in San Telmo and in Palermo....so don't limit yourself to Recoleta. Palermo is walking distance (if you walk a lot) from Recoleta (not necessarily from the Emparador, though) but taxis are inexpensive and readily available, so do not feel limited by barrio. All of BsAs is to be explored !

Mlgb: Be advised that Argentine cuisine, while delicious and sumptuous, is not highly seasoned. Even salt and pepper are often (excuse my foreigner take) lacking...and what they consider 'hot' you will likely consider 'mild'. No matter, as long as you know, you will find flavorful and delicious meals....but not often spicy.

And know that Argentines generally prefer their meat well done - so be specific if you prefer it Jugoso (juicy, pink) or more....they will understand.

You're making me hungry for Argentine food. Loved Sucre. Is Social Parasio still around and any good?

Diane Dancer, Recoleta is a nice neighborhood with a lot of cafes, restaurants both casual and posh and pizzerias etc .. and very good ice cream - Volta !!
Buenos Aires is made up of neighborhoods, Palermo, San Telmo etc.
Recoleta is know for the museums, parks and a few big landmarks like the Library and Recoleta Cemetery and the major museums.


The Imperador isn't really in Recoleta .. it is on the other side of 9 de Julio and on Libertador .. a big street that runs through all the neighborhoods.
It is a nice hotel, just not , I think, exactly where you might think it is.

You will be several blocks walk from places like the Rodi Bar and the Cemetery etc.
None of this is bad, just giving you more of an idea where things are relative to where you will be staying : )

I was wishing I was able to go to Rodi Bar yesterday .. they made a pasta I loved : ) It was the first restaurant we had dinner in, upon our arrival in Buenos Aires, to live. We walked down the block to Rodi Bar and ordered dinner and took it back home. We felt like we were home, right away.
and now I am homesick : )

https://tinyurl.com/hnsnxm4

Above is a tiny url of the Trip reports threads that avrooster talks about.
It should be fun reading .. from so many people from all over the world .
Have fun reading !

Yes, Yestravel, Social Paraiso is still going strong and delicious. Wish we could go together.

I'll go with you Marnie

Yes MarnieWDC, I realize that about Argentinean food, which is one reason I have delayed going there!

I will have to make do with seafood, maybe.

Let's see BA is about 5 hrs from Quito- we could meet you Sunday��

I may have to bring my own salt and pepper and hot sauce..

I can also live off of ice cream...

It is actually very possible to live on ice cream in BA.
And when you feel like something warmer, the pasta is good. followed by ice cream.

Thank you everyone. As far as spiciness, or lack thereof, of Argentine food is concerned I am not a spicy fan. So it sounds like I will be just fine with Argentine food.

You will be : ) And if you like to just sit in an outdoor cafe and have coffee , you will be happy. You can also sit outside a Volta and have coffee and ice cream ... you can imagine how much I miss my home in Buenos Aires lol ..

I'm with Scarlett on the gelato. It was fabulous in BA. Add some dulce de leche and a perfect meal.

Would it be more accurate to say that our hotel is in the Retiro neighborhood?

Yes, that would be correct.

I didn't like ice cream until I went to Buenos Aires and got addicted to Freddos?? when we were there!

Crellston, not sure I can follow your great tips if you didn't like ice cream