While there are many fine restaurants in Buenos Aires, the recent performance of Evita at the Riverside Theatre inspired a visit last week to a landmark that has been around since the Peron days – El Palacio de la Papa Frita (The Palace of the Fried Potato).
For decades, I have heard tales of the wonderful puffy fried potatoes being served at this iconic restaurant which opened in 1952, the year of Evita’s death.
Could there be anything that special about a fried potato? To answer the question, we paid a lunchtime visit to The Palace in the heart of Avenida Corrientes.
Entering El Palacio was akin to taking a step back to a different era. The restaurant, with its chandeliers, paneled walls, white table cloths and starched waiters, was right out of a time capsule.
While there were many choices on the menu, we ordered the “papas souffle” accompanied by a bife de chorizo (a sirloin strip steak) and of course Argentine red wine.
The steak, served with chimichurri, was a flavorful, perfectly cooked piece of beef. But the potatoes were exquisite – pillows of fried potato, crisp on the outside and puffed up with air, a bit creamy on the inside. The owners of El Palacio are a bit secretive about their technique for accomplishing this, but the “papas souffle” indeed lived up to its billing.
So now I can join the long list of people suggesting a visit to El Palacio de la Papa Frita if you someday find yourself in Buenos Aires. And by the way, the whole lunch for two – steak, fabulous potatoes and wine – cost less than $30.
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Ms. Rondeau dines anonymously at restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach 32963. Her regular reviews will resume shortly.
