Mercado del Puerto
Web Site
From Port: A short walk from the
port entrance.
Review:
The best place
for lunch, literally two blocks from the ship, is the
Mercado del Puerto (Port Market). It has vaulted iron
beams and colored glass, and was built as a train
station but never put into service. This is where the
downtown workers meet for lunch during the week. The
experience here is aesthetic, social and gastronomical,
and is tough to top. The market holds dozens of stalls
and eateries where, over large fires, and the best
parrillas (beef is cooked over a roasting spit) in the
city are cooked. The large “train station” building is
open air, but covered.
We had lunch at La Maestranza at
their counter. Sitting at tables with waitresses and
table cloths is more expensive and you miss seeing the
grill and chatting with the chef. The grill is difficult
to describe. Visualize a large horizontal mesh grill
about six feet wide by three feet deep. At the back is a
tall iron structure feeding oak logs which, as they
burn, become coals which are shaken down to under the
grill. It is very hot! It was already over 90 degrees
outside and the grill only added to the oppressive heat.
Luckily there are fans at the bar to help us keep cool,
along with the 1 liter bottles of Patricia, the
local beer. We shared a large chorizo sausage, slightly
spicy, a loma steak, equivalent to a filet mignon
and fries. Also, two 1 liter beers. Twenty dollars,
service included. $ |
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