The Busy Gourmand

Brasserie Petanque
Defensa 596 (corner of Mexico)
http://www.brasseriepetanque.com/

Dining Room Brasserie Petanque

Weeks before we ever left for Buenos Aires I was already doing research on restaurants that we might want to visit during our stay. Upon viewing the menu of Brasserie Petanque I decided that this was definitely a place we had to visit. Buenos Aires serves a wide array of cuisines and this looked like the most authentic French Brasserie in the city.

Our visit occurred while we were attending the Sunday Market in San Telmo. We passed by the restaurant a couple of times and its popularity was evident by the fact that people were lined up outside the doors waiting for tables. We did not have a reservation so we opted to venture about a little bit until the lines disappeared or at least became a bit shorter.

Bar Area

Our wait was brief and the owner Pascal Meyer makes sure that you sip on a complimentary kirsch while you are waiting. The waiting is also well choreographed because it gives you a chance to peruse the restaurant and take in all the various dishes that are being served and the casual conversations that are clearly being enjoyed by the clientele. While the web site would give the impression that this is a bit upscale, I think the casual nature of the ambiance puts one at ease. You do not have to worry about using the right fork with your snails.

I am afraid I had already decided what I was going to eat weeks before we even arrived. I ordered the rabbit in a Dijon mustard sauce (conejo a la mostaza de Dijon); something I was never going to eat in Dallas. Will was in the mood for lamb and chose the lamb chops (costillas de cordero) which were prepared in a “persillade” or sauce of garlic and parsley. We also opted for the “gratin du jour” which turned out to be a mixture of squash, onions, and mushrooms, served in a creamy broth and topped with dollops of cheese.

Rabbit in Dijon Mustard Sauce

The rabbit was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. The Dijon sauce did not overwhelm the rabbit but presented a tasty compliment to the meat. The rabbit was served over a circle of barely mashed potatoes that were embedded with whole nicoise olives. It was a bit of a taste surprise but a pleasant one at that.

Lamb Chops

The lamb was perfectly cooked and the flavors of the garlic and parsley were overlaid with a bit of lemon juice. I am not a big fan of lamb in general, but Will loved the dish, and based on what I tasted it is something I might order when I return.

Mirror with Plats du Jour

While we went a bit far from the famous brasserie food of France, you can also order the usual suspects like duck confit, beouf bourguignon, and coq au vin. It says so on the mirror.

The wine list is extensive and reasonably priced. As with all our restaurant outings in Buenos Aires we stayed with a domestic wine recommended by our waiter.

Tarte Tatin

Our meal was finished with a tarte tatin, another classic French dish. However, this was presented in an unusual way. There was an almost invisible crust on the bottom which was topped with a very spicy layering of apples that seemed to have been finished off under the broiler. It was an unusual but definitely delicious presentation.

The service was efficient but not pushy. There were none of the interminable waits that are a bit common in Buenos Aires. There was plenty of time to enjoy the wine, have a nice conversation, eaves drop on the neighbors (Mon Dieu!) and other wise spend an enjoyable couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. And for the US dollar equivalent of about $70 we had a first class meal and a nice bottle of wine.

This is definitely a place you want to visit in Buenos Aires. Reservations are recommended unless you want to wander around San Telmo until the crowds clear up.