23rd July 2007
An absolute London must - but don't take it from me, go there yourself
If only I lived around the corner from Buen Ayre... this Argentinean shrine to all things meat has been open for a couple of years now, its main attraction the South American style of grill called the parilla, where meat is barbecued in a special fashion over a long, moveable charcoal grill in order to achieve the most tender and luscious results.
Owned and run by an Irish-Argentinian who mans the grill on a regular basis, Buen Ayre pays homage to the Argentinian tradition of celebrating family get-togethers and events over the asado, or barbecue. All meat on the bone is imported from Argentina; due to import restrictions, meat off the bone cannot come from Argentina but is supplied by niche UK meats purveyor.
The prices are excellent, especially when you take into consideration that someone must stand over a very hot grill for hours on end in order to achieve the intended juicy and slow-cooked result when using more difficult cuts of meat, and the wine list is a very thoughtfully chosen point of reference for Argentinean wines. Of course, the focus of the restaurant is on the meat - and I'm lost for words when it comes to describing how fantastic it is.
Buen Ayre acts as a home away from home for many ex-pat Argentineans, many of whom travel from outside of London on the week-ends to eat here, and it's safe to say that 95% of the staff is of South American descent; it is very, very busy with an extremely loyal clientele and it is advisable to book roughly three days in advance.
Please, please go here - I promise that you will not leave disappointed - the food is simple and superb, the staff is incredibly friendly, and the prices are just right.
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