Rating: Service: zero, it took an hour to get bread to the table. And we asked a few times. I mean it's sliced bread. Food: below average. Appetizers use to be a good portion, now it is very small. The flavors were not right, just no flavor. This place use to be called Malbec, the food was excellent then, the service was okay...needed some help. But now, I mean 4 tables and terrible service is a recipe for failure. When service is good and the food is average, locals would go back for convenience, but if both are not good then why bother wasting your money when you can dine at another local restaurant. Good luck, I hope they will improve in a month or so, I will give them one more try just in case it was an off night. read more

Honestly, I had never heard of Malbec before seeing their menu on DineLA. It looked good and was highly rated, so we chose it for our dinner location. Chances of getting street parking are slim. There is valet parking in the back. It costs $10 or $7 with validation. The restaurant is small and dark, but has a great look and feel to it. The bar has comfortable seats with a foot ledge and hooks for your purse (nice). The service was wonderful. Our glasses were never empty! The complimentary bread comes with chimichurri sauce. My husband really enjoyed his wine, and he is particular. Burrata Con Prosciutto (2/5) - Creamy mozzarella cheese, prosciutto di Parma, baby frisee, radicchio, toasted pine nuts, roasted pear and lemon truffle oil. Best bite is with the pear, but overall it was just okay. Pulpo Con Ragu de Chorizo (5/5) - Wow. So much wow. Grilled Patagonian octopus, Argentinian paprika sausage ragu, pine nuts, golden raisins and tomato. This was the BEST thing we ate! The octopus was tender and perfect and the chorizo was amazing! So flavorful and a perfect compliment to the octopus. Bistec al Malbec (4/5) - Grilled Black Angus flat iron steak, Malbec wine reduction, mushrooms & pearl onions with roasted seasonal vegetables. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce is delicious. The vegetables were hit or miss. Cordero Braseado (4/5) - Braised lamb shank, sauteed rainbow chard and creamy polenta mascarpone. Really well cooked meat (albeit a little gamey) and very good polenta. This was probably my first time eating rainow chard and I was surprised how good it was! Their treatment was so flavorful. Panna Cotta (4/5) - Cooked vanilla cream, caramel and berries. Panqueque de Manzana (4/5) - Crepe filled with caramelized apples and pastry cream. Served with berries and french vanilla bean ice cream. Very nice ending to our meal. https://eaten.io/u/cicig read more

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Came for a work event with some international visitors overall a good meal with good service. Had some apps such as the empanadas and salads. Most chose the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce or the rib eye as the main course. All very well seasoned and cooked well. Paired well with a glass of their wine special. Glad to eat here and will happily return. I would obviously suggest getting the steak as that is what they are known for. The desserts are also good. Had the crepes and the crepe brûlée, which were both great. (To share) read more

I have come here for years as I used to live nearby. I love the food but can say I think they need a bit more variety in their salads snd an update to their main menu. I love the sausages and blood sausages! read more

Decent place for Argentinean food in Toluca Lake. My first time here and I liked it. They have a lot of wine to chose from. I didn't see if they had cocktails or not. They have Santa Monica Brew Works beer on tap. We opted for wine and got the Syrah. For dinner we did the skirt steak with chimichurri and the seafood paella. I had the skirt steak medium and it was good. The chimichurri sauce was just on the side. I thought it was good but nothing spectacular. The veggies that came with it were ok. I don't eat peppers so I just ate the zucchini. The seafood paella was excellent. I would highly recommend it. The seafood was very fresh and there was lots of seafood. The rice was very flavorful too. The shrimp, scallops and the mussels were decent sized. I know I'll definitely be back! I definitely want to try one of the pastas and probably try the rib eye. The service great. They were very fast and attentive. The restaurant is kind of dark. There are little candles at each table. There is free street parking all around. read more

Bodega Malbec - Arroz con Mariscos - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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My buddy and I ate here a few weeks ago. The food was okay but nothing noteworthy. My friend's short rib was chewy so he found the texture displeasing. While my steak was tasty it was not evenly cooked. Medium rare but medium on a portion of the steak. Additionally, the service could be better. We had to ask for basics such as water and bread. If I have to ask to refill my water I think their is a failure to be observant. While they made a good recommendation on the wine they never even asked if I wanted another glass. Small details but those do not go unnoticed by customers. read more

Malbec is absolutely one of my favorite spots for dinner! I've only been to this location, but I've been 7+ times! Parking wise there is usually street parking available, but I typically go for the Wells Fargo parking around the corner. It's a very intimate vibe inside but not cramped by any means. Typically there is not much of a wait and you can book tables through yelp beforehand! Now for the important part the FOOD! My all time favorite is the Entrana al Chimichurri... the steak is always cooked to your request. In addition, the wine list is very delicious. As it is Argentinean cuisine, a nice Malbec paired with your meal is a good bet. Most recently, Chris was our waiter and he was great; very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. read more

Bodega Malbec - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

A fabulous dinner! We made sort-of last minute reservations at 8:30pm for a party of six and they had our table ready as soon as we got there. The inside of the restaurant is sleek and elegant, although a bit dim. We were greeted by our wonderful waiter who took our drink orders, giving us some time to look over the menu. We ordered the calamari, ceviche trio, and spinach/cheese and corn/queso empanadas to start. Everything tasted fresh and delicious! The bread with the chimichurri oil won all of our hearts. For my entree I ordered one of the specials - mixed linguine (regular and squid ink) in cream sauce with portobello mushrooms, asparagus, and langoustino. A unique and delicious plate! All of us were overall happy with our meals which included pastas, steaks, lamb, and fish. We wanted a dessert to finish off so my sister and I ordered the chocolate mousse which was heavenly! Great service and great food. Will return! read more

Bodega Malbec - Seasonal special - mixed linguine in a cream sauce with asparagus, portobello mushrooms, langoustino, and asparagus - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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If you're looking to splurge, this is the perfect place. We ordered takeout and the kitchen was accommodating with our request for dairy free sides. The beef was cooked perfectly and the pasta was delicious. However, the $9 flan was quite unacceptable - it was the first time ever having it here and at first glance, you could tell the flan was improperly cooked as it was riddled with tiny bubbles. Appearance aside, the taste of flan itself was really lacking. I don't think anyone there would find it acceptable to serve, they could've just not had it on the menu for the day. read more

Went for DineLA and ordered from menu 2. The whole family were impressed with the quality and quantity of food, not to mention the service and ambiance. read more

Just had a great happy hour night out with the girls here! Really lovely patio, tented to keep the rain out. Seven dollar glasses of red wine and really delicious. Four dollar empanadas!!! Beef, chicken, spicy beef, chicken, ham, and spinach and cheese. Scrumptious bread with delectable chimichurri. Adorable server named Karen! Beautiful atmosphere, great happy hour prices, delicious food, and an overall fun night. read more

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Exquisite, authentic place with the proper flares that make it a genuine Argentinian restaurant. Keep up the great work!

First time at Bodega Malbec. We had two different steaks, filet and NY Strip. Both were really good. The side of mushrooms were excellent as well as mashed potatoes. Service was very good and pleasant. The atmosphere was quiet and easy for conversation. Parking could be a challenge as you have to find something available on the street. read more

The skirt steak melts in your mouth! Very tasty food... would definitely recommend getting the Mexican lager

The ojo de bife was perfectly cooked medium rare with a nice crust. Was slightly over seasoned for my taste but for the price, this place is well worth checking out. We also loved the dulce de leche panqueque dessert! read more

Loved sitting outside on the patio! Must order croquettes and malbec wine. Had the chicken dinner, a 10/10. MUST order the crepes for dessert. read more

Bodega Malbec - Crepes - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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This was one of our go to spots until the pandemic and then we went back and it was just horrible! This evening we decided to give it another chance and I am sorry we did. Not only was our food horrible but so was the service. We must not be the only ones because there was only one other couple there. It's really sad because we used to love this place! read more

Made a reservation to try out the DineLA menu. The food was amazing the portions are big. The menu also paired wine with the meals. The recommend wine on dinela menu were absolutely amazing. They charge $5 in addition the the entree Cost for a glass of wine an $5 and $5 for a dessert. You still can't beat the price for the size of the lunch entrée so we got dessert & extra glass of wine :/) I would definitely go back to experience other entrées that they have on the menu it was a great experience. read more

We've been here 5 times and probably won't come again. The first visit was amazing--service was super friendly, food was delicious, they did a cute little bday dessert for my son--we felt welcomed and were happy to find another restaurant to add to our rotation. Second visit was still good food but the wait for the food was much longer, and we had to constantly try and flag server down. Dinner took way longer than the first time. We figured maybe they were just understaffed and it was busy. Next two times --food was still good, but service was lacking. Tonight, with my parents in town, and the hubby's bday tomorrow, I made a reservation here for 6pm. Place was kinda empty and yet service was blah. Husband dropped us off and had to park down the street and it took him a bit but even after he finally made it in--no water, no server, no one saying a word. Our server just didn't have the outgoing personality you're used to seeing. Food also took a long time even though it was early and not busy. I left a special note about the bday but nothing was done for it and I didn't want to ask after how slow and lackluster dinner had been. I remember thinking if this was the experience our first visit, we never would have come back. Oh well--crossing it off the list. read more

Ohhh baby your food is amazing. You got it going on! Next time I will order two of my favorite dishes. I ordered their Ravioles a la Scarparo (Ravioli stuffed with spinach, ricotta and Parmesan in a light cream sauce with green onions, bacon, basil, and tomato.) Yummm. I also ordered the ham and cheese empanadas. Screech. those had mushrooms in them? I hate mushrooms. They were so good I didn't even noticed! Pros: -sophisticated decor (yes I daydream about interior design) -delicious chimchurri sauce. (not runny or greasy) -heater poles -my meal was sooooo freaking amazing. I'm still dreaming about it -cute waiter -party room in rear Cons; -extremely crowded on a weekday night -fewer bread slices -smaller portions -expensive dishes -TERRIBLE SERVICE. our waiter never returned to our table after our plates arrived. We waited 45 minutes for our bill. I even asked the busboy to bring it. We finally left for the restroom and our waiter said "Hello!" HELLO?? YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE US WAITING OUTSIDE IN THE COLD? i told the manager and he said "oh, we thought you left something in your car, we couldn't find you." ***We almost walked out without paying but I didn't want to break the law. WE DIDN'T' LEAVE A TIP. Bye Bye its such a shame. Next time I will drive ALL THE WAY to Pasadena because your service isn't worth it. read more

Bodega Malbec - Ravioles a la Scarparo... FREAKIN AMAZING. but not coming back - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

My friend had her birthday dinner here with a group of about 15 people. Originally, she tried to have it at the one in Pasadena but they were SO incredibly rude to her on the phone so we ended up having the dinner here in Toluca Lake instead. I got a glass of their red sangria which was pretty good, but not superb. For the entree, I had the Entrana al Chimichurri which was a skirt steak basted with a traditional Argentinean light chimichurri sauce and served with grilled onions, tomatoes, asparagus, etc. Most of us ordered that and we all liked it! Overall, we had a good experience--no complaints. Service was wonderful. They even brought out a free cake + candle for my friend. The place is overall pretty small though and the ambience is just average, nothing special. I wouldn't mind coming back here but I probably won't because it's a little out of the way. read more

Bodega Malbec - red sangria - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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It's not bad, it's really not. Just not enough for me wanting to go back for another ribeye and hanger steak. The quality of the meat was mediocre, and so was the way they grilled it. Wine selection was not impressive. Here is the most awkward thing, the lighting of the restaurant was waaaaay to dark, so ridiculously dark to a point that I couldn't see the face of my friend who was just three feet away from me. And of course, so dark and I didn't see what I was eating. Please fix the light! read more

Bodega Malbec - Rib eye on the left hanger steak on the right - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

Hands down 5 star experience! We had reservations at Malbec this past Sunday and our first experience was wonderful. The stag was extremely kind and helpful and every meal was incredibly seasoned and tasteful. For appetizers we ordered the Carpaccio, Provoleta and Tuna Tartare. Hard to choose which one we liked most, because they were all so great. I'd say collectively we all loved the Provoleta the most though! I can't speak to the other entrees but I had the Ojo De Bife cooked medium with garlic fries as the side. Absolutely loved the meal. The steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection and the side sauces were all incredible as well. We will definitely be back soon! Tip: You can bring your own wine for the $25/bottle uncorking fee. read more

Bodega Malbec - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

This is a nice spot for an easy dinner with a mass selection of wines. I came during lunch time and booked a group reservation for a party of 7 from online and upon arrival, our table was set up and ready to go. We were fortunate enough that the place was sort of empty, making our experience pleasant and quiet. So I'm a huge fan of meat, so my entrée of choice was quite simple. I ordered the Entrana de Chimichurri (10 oz skirt steak with grilled veggies) medium rare. My steak was very good, cooked to perfection. They listened to my medium rare request and I loved how my steak had a little bit of blood oozing out of it. The others in our party really enjoyed their entrees which included the salmon salad, seafood pasta, etc. I was super happy of making that right choice to come back here. This place never disappoints. Even though we were full, we still had room for dessert. I ordered Copa Helada which was their three flavor ice cream - chocolate, strawberry sorbet and vanilla bean. The others ordered the flan al caramel and budin de pan and I saw nothing but happy faces. The only thing I do recommend is better service. I was a little disappointed with their lack of attentiveness considering that the place was not busy at all. But...because everyone enjoyed their food, the lack of service was forgiven. read more

My wife and I were delighted finding this restaurant. Haven't not had Argentinian food for a while we didn't know what to expect here. We had carpaccio, skirt steak and the crepes. Everything tasted amazing but the dessert was out of this world! The server was also very attentive so this place made our day!! read more

Their truffle gnocchi pasta was decent. Enough to potentially warrant 4 stars. But they sent me a spinach empanada instead of a corn empanada. Because I requested a refund 2 hours past the 24 hour time limit, Postmates refused to refund me. I called the restaurant to address this, three different days, and they kept putting me on hold then hanging up on me. read more

I brought my bf here for his b-day dinner. I think it's becoming a tradition to have Argentinian for his b-day. Anyways i was searching for some nice, intimate and good! This place pretty much had it all minus the SERVICE. I had made a reservation through here. I had requested a secluded and quiet table. When we got there it took a while for someone to greet us. Then she just sat us wherever. Anyways...we ordered a glass of red wine each. Which was delicious. Food ordered and tried: Appetizers Beef and chicken empanadas- which I was not impressed with. They had too much dough and not enough meat! Main entrees Lomo a la pimienta-....wrapped in bacon!!! Do I need to say more??? Well just incase youre not convinced that you should have this. It is very TENDER, seasoned to perfection. Every bite is just delicious. Describing it makes my mouth water. Napolitana- Covered in cheese and tomato sauce. This had a taste of some sort of Italian food. A little bit like Chicken Parmesan. Desserts Panqueques de dulce de leche- OH MY GOSH! I'm usually not a dessert person at all. We got this so they can bring it out with a candle for my bf since it was his b-day! I am thinking of coming here just to have dessert soon! its like a crepe drizzled in dulce de leche. Seriously delicious. The inside is very dark lit with candles. Very clean and nice. Perfect for a romantic dinner. Service could have been better and faster. read more

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The food was amazing. The service was fast and the beer was excellent. The ambient was romantic. Perfect to take your girl out to eat and have a nice conversation. read more

(Dined 8/29/11 M): My buddy and I decided to walk a couple blocks to this place on a whim when I started to have a craving for some empanadas after eating at Timmy Nolan's Tavern & Grill down the street. Yes, I broke the rule about eating out on a Monday (i.e. restaurants pushing the excess food left over from the weekend). It was later on a Monday night, so the place wasn't very crowded at all. There was a party of four at a table and a gentleman dining at the bar. I really couldn't see much of the decor as it was pretty dark or romantic. I think there was a turned-off flat-screen TV above me where I sat (in a cushy booth). However, I would imagine this place to be rather nice judging by the pristine dress of the hostess and waiter. As for us, we were dressed in shorts and t-shirts...remember, we just came over from a pub & grill. So, after a quick look at the menu, the order of the evening was two orders of the empanadas (beef, spinach & cheese, chicken, ham & cheese w/mushroom, basil and cherry tomato) so we can each sample them ($5.95 per order of two empanadas), we each got a dessert (about $7.95 ea.), and we got "conned" into buying an expensive bottle of Malbec ($17/glass or $65/bottle). Dining at a place named "Malbec" for the first time you have to have a Malbec. Anyway, this was the best Malbec I've drank, as I've never taken to previous ones I've tried. Maybe the price is playing a psychological trick on me. Also, we got complimentary bread with pesto (mmm, pesto). The empanadas came out quickly (again, not many patrons). I bit small then what I had hoped. I've bought bigger ones from Red Ribbon and the Empanada Place. But, these were tasty, so I can't complain too much. My favorite was the ham & cheese version. All the ingredients just popped on their own. The others were good, but I recommend the ham & cheese. My dessert (budin de pan) was rather heavenly to say the least. By the time the dessert came around, I was already stuffed (again, ate a meal previously and I couldn't help myself with all of the bread & pesto). So half of it came home...which ended up in my belly as a midnight snack. The service was excellent as could be expected with the lack of patrons. I can't really speak about the parking as we walked from where we parked our car, but there is plenty of street parking (Riverside Dr.) as well as other parking lots up and down the smaller streets. Overall, I was pleased with the place. I would have liked to try their entrees, but that can be saved for another time. Some of the entree prices did seem a bit "upscale", so they lose value points there, and I wish the empanadas were bigger. The total bill before tip was about $92. And they take my credit card of choice...AMEX! read more

Bodega Malbec - Creme brûlée - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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The Best Argentinian restaurant around. Love this place, food ambiance, and crowd! So LA!

Lovely restaurant for a date night. The service was great and helpful. We arrived right before they opened for dinner and were seated promptly without a reservation. The patio is beautiful. We loved the flan, appetizers, and steak. read more

Bodega Malbec - Ensalada de Palta - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

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My husband made reservations for Malbec. We were able to set up a reservation that same day, which was New Year's Eve. The ambiance is calming, dark lighting, and with some smooth jazz playing in the background. The reason I am giving it a 4, is because they sat us near their ordering system which caused us to hear the *click, click, click* as the workers began to input orders. It also seemed like we were not able to discuss much because a server was always at the ordering machine. The food was great. The meat they serve is HUGE. They don't come with sides because you have to order them separately. This was also not one of my favorite things but they sure were delicious. We had Yuca, Brussels Spouts, and regular French fries. They only serve wine or beer, so I hope you have a great wine pallet. Overall a great experience. read more

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Service was perfect the last time hoping tonight will be the same- the perfectly cooked steaks and excellent service makes this a go to spot. I ordered the medallion and my friend ordered the New York steak. They were both perfect and I could order either and be happy. Braised on the outside and perfectly cooked throughout- I was surprised by how juicy and thick both cuts were. I guess that's part of the magic. Looking forward to more. Will update. Looking forward to trying more appetizers and the pasta. read more

Fantastic !! The service , the food , the environment!! It's a pleasure stay there !! read more

Bodega Malbec - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California

I am usually a regular at this restaurant but tonight was a huge disappointment. We ordered the tuna tartar for the appetizer. It came warm and funky tasting like it was not fresh. I then ordered the steak, medium. I received it, BURNED. The waitress quickly took it back and brought me a THIN slice of steak that tasted like rubber. she did not even bother to come double check of it was okay, she was more focused on avoiding my table. I called to try and speak to a manager. I recognized the voice, she said "hang on" came back to the phone and claimed she was the manager. I decided to hang up as she probably recognized my voice and knew what this call was for. If someone asks for a manager, please respect the paying customer. As someone who is a regular, I won't be returning. Disappointed overall. read more

Came here for a family outing and every dish we ordered was tasty! Complimentary warm bread is served with their house chimchurri sauce. I really liked my entrée, which was the skirt steak with chimchurri sauce, but I do wish that my dish had a little bit more seasoning. Each entrée included a generous portion of stemmed vegetables and grilled potatoes. Other guests in my party ordered the salmon, the white fish and the lamb rack and even though they also noted that a little bit more seasoning was needed, they still seemed to have greatly enjoyed their dishes. Overall, great dining experience and I will return to Malbec. read more

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Had this place on our list to visit since moving to the area and finally made it in. We chose to sit on the patio where it was a bit quieter. The inside is really a cool space with a bar to sit at and lots of cozy tables. Jill was our server for the evening and she took really good care of us. She helped choose a wine. Never rushed us, she let us enjoy the night, sipping our Petit Verdot while catching up. We started with an appetizer and then shared the paella and ribeye steak wit green beans & bacon. Jill had me at bacon! Food was amazing. Perfectly seasoned and the flavors were just what you'd expect: fresh and yummy. The paella included several seafood options and surprisingly there were a lot of scallops which are my favorite! This restaurant is a great date night spot. So if it's not on your list put it on. We also found out they have a weekday happy hour which we can't wait to try. read more

I love how authentic it feels and the hostess was extremely welcoming as we came in on Sat. That seafood paella was phenomenal. I will return again immediately for that. I paired it with a salad & the skirt steak. The server said I ordered too much, lol, but I like savory with seafood on my palette and I wanted to indulge. Thank you for a simple & great experience Bodega Malbec. read more

The rib eye was burnt the salmon was good dessert was amazing and the service was very good.

Food was ok. Service was bad and annoying. The menu was a little, a lot. Very complicated. The best part was the queso and corn empandads. Probably only come back for that. And we'll get it take out. Also the restaurant was extremely loud. read more

Bodega Malbec - Dinner - Argentine Near Me - Toluca Lake, California