After almost 3 years at home, I finally made it back to Buenos Aires! As I walked to all of my favorite spots, I quickly learned that many didn't survive the pandemic. I loved this El Federal but it's closed. read more

The cozy setting and warm hospitality at El Federal make you feel right at home! This restaurant's menu promises to take you on "a trip around Argentina," as it features all sorts of local dishes showcasing the flavors and produce of the country! We started off with a basket of warm house bread, and it came with several different types, but by far my favorite was the focaccia, which was topped with cheese and herbs and had a lightly salty flavor! All the breads went nicely with the ramekin of sauce on the side, which our waiter described as homemade "mayonnaise." Next, we had the Silo Pampeano salad, made of quinoa, roasted almont, goat cheese, arugula pesto, and fresh arugula. The salad was nothing fancy, but dressed with a little olive oil and vinegar, made for a really refreshing yet hearty dish. Finally, we tried the Milanga Pampeana, which was a thinly-pounded slice of deer meat, which was then breaded and fried, served over fried slices of sweet potato and a side of Mendozan tomatican, which was a mixture of egg, tomatoes, onions, and peppers cooked in a small iron skillet. While the deer meat had a nice gamey flavor, parts of it were a bit tough, and there was way too much greasy breading, given how thin the slice of meat was! However, it was tasty nevertheless, and I wouldn't hesitate to come back to try more of the menu. The standout of this restaurant to me, however, was the service--there was only one waiter manning the entire restaurant, but he was so kind, attentive, friendly, and helpful! Great experience, and great value! read more

Amazing empanadas, you absolutely have to try. They have a 3 and a 6 option - I split a 3 option version with my parents as we all had other dishes coming out and it was the perfect amount. The environment was beautiful, quiet and romantic atmosphere with a great music selection. Great lighting and furniture. They were so quick to respond to my dad dropping his wine and breaking a glass. They quickly moved us to a whole other table immediately and we were a bit surprised, as we would have been happy with staying at that table. Finally, we had the nicest waitress ever! So understanding, responsive and patient. Spoke perfect English, Italian and obviously Spanish. Finally, we came to the beautiful Buenos Aires for two days on either side of our trip to Antarctica/Ushuaia, we went here on our way there and on our way back my parents continuously asked to go back. I insisted we tried somewhere else new. So we did, it was one of the highest rated places in the area and it really disappointed them in comparison to what they saw with this place. Can't recommend enough! read more

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We stumbled upon this place as it was very close to our hotel with great reviews. The menu consists of Argentine dishes from all regions of the country. Our server, Nico, was extremely friendly and explained the menu in English and Spanish. He even made some good recommendations for the rest of our short stay in the city. The barbacoa lamb dish was incredible and easily serves two. We also ordered the beet gnocchi and it was great, but also serves two. Wish we had a refrigerator in our hotel room for the leftovers. read more

El Federal - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

Best empanadas we have experienced in BA. The service was attentive and thoughtful! The decor adds to the entire experience. We had our two 6 yo children with us and they LOVED everything! read more

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This is my third time in Buenos Aires and previously my colleagues took me to steak houses... My visit to El Federal was on a Sunday afternoon so the place was really relaxed. The concept is Regional Argentinean Cuisine... What a nice surprise! Very elaborated options on fish, lamb and pork. I had a pork chest cook in the oven covered in a port wine: Excellent!!!! read more

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Best empanadas I've ever had ever! The breadbasket and herbed cheese is awesome. Service is friendly and cool. Decor is chill. Music is mellow, lighting is dim and nice. Wish I found it sooner. read more

El Federal - Best empanadas I've had in Argentina, and I've had a lot. I got one with sweetcorn and two with cheese. - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

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Great atmosphere, small boutique type restaurant, very rustic & charming, excellent service. The waitress speaks good English. Many of the patrons spoke English the night we had dinner there. We ate were early by argentine standards but there were still several patrons there already. Bread is delicious. The appetizer was excellent. The menu was small and several items were not available that night. Two tables left before ordering presumably because the menu was limited. The trout my wife ordered was a bit bland but good. The rack of lamb, Patagonia Mia, which is supposed to be their favorite dish was ALL FAT. IMPOSSIBLE TO EAT. read more

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We stopped in for dinner and the experience was excellent. As we are in Argentina we decided to have both meat dishes. I had the steak and my wife had the lamb. I haven't had such a delicious meal in quite a long time. The fare although quite simple, was cooked so well I had to write this review. The atmosphere in the restaurant is good although it was quiet on the night we were there. Service is excellent and the lemon curd desert I had was in my top 10. A great experience in Buenos Aires! read more

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Cream corn empanadas were amazing. Service was wonderful from Alex. Wine pairings with the house specials were excellent. Highly recommend. read more

El Federal - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

So many great restaurants in the area. This is definitely one of them. American Express cardholders you get extra 20% off, why? I don't know but I would take whatever discount there is. Server's outstanding. Even though it doesn't get busy until 8 pm I would still make a reservation just to be on the safe side. 5 stars. 2 thumbs up. read more

El Federal - Great choices of dishes. Menu has changed but the flavor's still the same: delicious! Well prepared dishes. Outstanding staff! - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

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The meat was good, but so is everywhere you go in Buenos Aires. Service was a little slow. Nothing was wrong with the place, I just expected more from the ratings. The flan is delicious, homemade. I wouldn't go back but i wouldn't discourage someone from going either. Just ok. read more

Excellent service, the wait staff was so nice. Overall a great evening at dinner tonight! The mushroom risotto was great, my friend had the special fish of the day and he said it was very good. read more

Local Argentinian flavor and regional dishes. We had a degustation set of three empanadas to start - with meat, lamb and cheese. Very fresh, hot and full of stuffing. Provoleta of cabra (goat milk regional grilled cheese) was very rich. Too much of green salad accompanying it, but still delicious. And we tried their Ciervo (which is venison). It was breaded and very very dry and rigid. They served it with some awesome and very tasty sauce, even not sauce; it was kind of separate side dish I'd say - julienne of vegetables (onions and sweet peppers with egg and spices). So, the meat was not perfect, but that their vegetable sauce - was a great invention! Apple pie for dessert was really great. They also offer a degustation menu. Not very large wine selection, and of those that are listed in the wine list, they were out of a decent half. Our server, however, focusing on our inquiries, kindly offered us an alternative which was not on the list. So, if you're just passing by looking for a place for dinner with some local charm and flavor - that might be the one. But don't raise high your expectations. Just a decent food for a reasonable price. And very nice and kind service. read more

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The lamb is okay good food for reasonable price but a middle part of the lamb that was served still felt cold other than that rest of the meal was great, but make sure you come during lunch as at night this place is reserved by tourist group read more

Amazing food! We had lamb, empanadas, and gnocchi. All amazing! Good wine and desserts. read more

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Absolutely loved this restaurant. I would fly back to Argentina just to come here. The service, the food, the decor, the ambiance were all on point. The restaurant is relatively small and personal-- maybe 10 or so tables total with a choice of spacious booths, small tables, large corner bench type tables with pillows. The decor is what I would describe as modern mixed with ranch style, and it added up to a warm and cozy effect. It was pretty dark and quiet, a romantic setting. The service was absolutely spectacular. We were helped by a gentleman named Niko. He spoke Spanish, Portuguese, and English all very well. He was accommodating and attentive. He gave us recommendations for what to do around the city and even offered to show us around. I'm a sucker for great service. The food was exquisite. The spread they give with the bread is some garlic goodness that I wish I could have every day of my life. So so good. Empanadas were some of the best I've ever had, particularly the queso. We both had the braised lamb, which was the daily special, and it was cooked very decently. It fell apart as you were cutting into it. The only downside was the temperature (very warm as the AC only serves the back of the restaurant) but Niko opened a door for us and was very apologetic when I asked him to turn on the AC. read more

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Thought we woul have a light lunch and ordered the roasted pork, wow the size exceeded my expectations, flavor was absolutely delish ,an A for atmosphere, service excellent. Definitely worth a 2nd or 3rd visit read more

El Federal - First time here, thought we were going to have a light lunch but when the portion came out it was enormous. - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

Delicious food. I had empanadas as a starter and the local rack of lamb meal. Quiet environment, able to accommodate a single person with no reservation. Venue can obviously accommodate small to medium groups without too much trouble. My waiter's English was good, which was helpful to this uni-lingual American in the city on business. The restaurant unexpectedly had free wifi, which was a blessing since I was without data otherwise. read more

Came here for just the empanadas. They were really really good. We got the plate with a taste of a few different kinds which included corn, chicken and beef. They are little empanadas and were a great snack. They also come with a really good sauce on the side. It was pretty expensive though and the taste of a few plate we got didn't include a lamb empanada which i was surprised about. Overall, really good but with all the amazing empanada places around im not sure i could come back here (for just the empanadas that is) read more

The service was a little slow due to the cooking class, but the food was excellent. I will certainly go again next time I'll be in BA.

Great place right around the corner from the Plaza Hotel. The empanadas were the best we have had so far. I tried the slow cooked lamb and it was delicious. The wait staff could not have been any friendlier. A little on the pricy side but so is everything in this area. read more

Wouldn't recommend this place. Service was ok but the food took over 50 mins to come out (the place wasn't even busy for lunch) and the lamb didn't have much flavor to it. read more

We took a shot with this restaurant because it had very good reviews in Yelp. I must say, we had eaten at some of the finest Argentinian steak houses while vacationing in Buenos Aires and this was my favorite. The steak and the lamb were delicious and the staff very friendly. It appears to be more of a locals establishment so go here if you are looking for quality food read more

I could smell the beef grilling when I entered. Loved that until it started to really burn my eyes. Nice ambiance, sausage was really great, pork ribs were not braised long enough so too tough for me. The service was really bad. And not in the charming way that Americans appreciate when abroad. I love not being hurried out, but seriously dude, I'm in Argentina and I shouldn't have to eat my meal with an empty wine glass. Not coming back and telling my friends. read more

Empanada MADNESS! This place is a must go. I love the atmosphere. But most of all the food is exceptional. From the empanada appetizers to the main entree...we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We started with the empanada trio. Each type/flavor was delightful and simply amazing! The restaurant is perfect for couples to small groups. Very quaint and homey feel with kind service. And best of all prices were moderate so it makes it easy for your wallet to come back a second or third time (yes, the empanadas were that good)! read more

El Federal - The Salmon dish (can't remember the name) but it was yummy! - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

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We found this place on Yelp and it was just as great as all the favorable reviews!The atmosphere was awesome, great wine selection, amazing empanadas, delicious entrees, and they have an English menu. The only drawback was that we got there a little late (10PM) and they were sold out of some of their best dishes. However, our second choices were delicious. read more

Excellent food, poor service. Sat for an hour without an opportunity to have another glass of wine or next course that was on the tasting menu of the day. read more

Stayed at the Plaza Hotel. el Federal is just around the corner. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful in assisting us decide on the food we were going to order. We are American and he spoke English. The barbecued ribs were awesome . Friendly atmosphere. Can't skip this place. read more

El Federal - Barbecue ribs. - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

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I've been for a while in BA and found this rest through yelp highly recommended! The lamb and the empanadas are in my top 5 in Argentina, a very nice and quiet place to drink some wine and enjoy Argentinian cuisine. read more

El Federal - Pampas lamb - Argentine Near Me - Buenos Aires, C

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This restaurant has probably changed ownership and has to find its way back to the top again. We ordered the Patogonian lamb which was all bone and almost no meat on it and the porc for my wife which was all fat and no meat. After our complaint the kitchen offered us a compensation dish and we chose for the steak. Unfortunately not good either. Not tender at all and due to the way it was prepared (smoked) not very tastefull. Very bad experience. We were there on a Thurseday and there were only 7 guests so we think the glory days for this restaurant are over?? read more

Nice, small restaurant with a good eating environment. Empanadas were very good but the Ternera was a disappointment.

I stopped in at el Federal for lunch. I'm so glad I did. Excellent food, wine and service. My Spanish is not very good, so I needed a little help. Andrea, my waitress, was not only beautiful, but spoke very good English as well. Delicious bread to hold you over until your order arrives. I had a very simple lunch, only Empanadas. But they were fantastic. Those and a nice glass of Malbec made for a very good lunch combination. The music and atmosphere is also very relaxing and comfortable. read more

Overpriced but some of their plates, in particular the pork platter is delicious. Definitely give it a shot if you are in Buenos Aires but avoid the milanesa. read more

Absolutely delicious regional dishes. If you want to get away from the endless asados and empanadas- though their empanadas here are amazing- this is your place. I had the Atlantic Hake and my wife had the lamb and we couldn't have been happier. And vegetables! Also, they are open from 1100 til late, so if you want to eat earlier than the locals do, not a problem. Also, as of this writing, September 2015, they accept Visa for certain- that's how we paid- and possibly American Express- no sticker on the door for AMEX but listed on the bill tray. read more

The place was full of tourists the night I visited. But I shouldn't really hold it against them, being one myself. The service is great. The waitress was very friendly and speaks great English. The reason for two stars is that the t bone I ordered was bland, tough, full of gristle, and is generally a disappointment. My hands were cramping up from cutting it. I've been to Argentina twice and ate my fair share of Argentine steaks. Their t bone is the worst I've had here. And that includes the room-service NY steak last night at the Sheraton across the street and the restaurant at the Sheraton Iguazu (that was actually quite excellent). What makes it worse is that the wine selection is very limited in terms of availability - they were out of most small bottle and by the glass choices on their list that the waiter had to recommend something off the list. It was fair, but I was really excited about the cab franc from salta that they didn't have. Some may say it's not a steakhouse, don't be so harsh. But if you only have 6 entrees on the menu then I expect every one of them to be good. All in all, I can't help but feel this was a low key tourist trap with in mind that the location next to the convention center alone would generate enough business they do not worry about repeat customers. That thought alone is depressing. And to think that my original plan was the true tourist's choice, la brigada, is just me torturing myself. read more