Buenos Aires: Juana M (February 2012)

My spouse and I and our tour guide headed to lunch at Juana M, on Carlos Pellegrini in February 2012 for a light meal of empanadas and chorizo. We liked this basement-level restaurant for its hip and modern decor and tasty food. It's the salad bar that brings in the crowds—nowhere else in town will you find one this extensive, or one that offers unlimited trips. But that isn't the be all and end all of Juana M, where you'll find perfectly cooked prime cuts of steak, along with pork, chicken, and fish. There's also a great selection of pasta dishes and local classics. Oh, and back to that salad bar—it's included in the price of your main course and is packed with everything from fresh vegetables to bean salads, piping hot chard croquettes, and cheeses. The place is a cavernous basement with few windows, so your view tends to be your dining companions and a selection of ever-changing artwork. It's the salad bar that brings in the crowds—nowhere else in town will you find one this extensive, or one that offers unlimited trips. But that isn't the be all and end all of Juana M, where you'll find perfectly cooked prime cuts of steak, along with pork, chicken, and fish. There's also a great selection of pasta dishes and local classics. Oh, and back to that salad bar—it's included in the price of your main course and is packed with everything from fresh vegetables to bean salads, piping hot chard croquettes, and cheeses. The place is a cavernous basement with few windows, so your view tends to be your dining companions and a selection of ever-changing and sometimes questionable artwork. Our only quibble: the wine list isn't nearly as good as everything else in the place.