Rodi Bar — Restaurant in Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Well, it pains me to have to write this because this place was recommended by a couple of locals who I thought I could trust, people who have lived in this area since childhood, when places like this one would offer excellent food and service in a classy neighbor setting.

Today we ordered the breaded sole with mashed potatoes (merluza a la milanesa con puré de papas) and vitel toné with a side of Spanish potatoes (papas a la española). If a restaurant makes those dishes very well, you can trust their kitchen, that's the reason we ordered that today for lunch, on our first visit.

The vitel toné, a dish that Argentineans love and serve mostly for Christmas and the New Year celebrations, composed of sliced veal which is served with a creamy sauce made with eggs, tuna, a touch of anchovies, a little mayonnaise, olive oil, mustard, and capers. The sauce is usually spooned over the slices of veal, but it might also be served on the side.

The waiter brought a plate of vitel toné completely napped in sauce. The veal was thinly sliced and tough, the sauce was runny and had way too much mayonnaise. It was not inedible, just far from what it should be. And the presentation was, well, not good. The Spanish potatoes were okay, a bit oily, though.

The merluza a la milanesa was actually very good and they serve a good amount of fish, I'd say enough for two people. Unfortunately, the mashed potato was really bad: almost runny, it tasted as if it had been made with oil and water instead of butter and milk or cream. It was, without a doubt, the worst mashed potato we've ever had.

The bread basket with about 10 pieces of bread and a few bags of grisines (breadsticks) was brought to the table as we sat, with two tiny butter portions. The bread did not feel or taste as freshly baked, as it was gummy in texture.

We ordered carbonated water, they brought a tiny sifón (seltzer bottle), enough to fill just two small glasses.

The service: Disappointing.

We decided to skip dessert and coffee and were charged the equivalent of USD $13, which in this city is not considered inexpensive. I would say that, for the quality, they should charge less or at least allow people not to have to pay for an overpriced bread basked (service charge), if they choose not to consume it.

I have been to other traditional restaurants in CABA, as old or older than Rodi Bar, which continue to have great service and serve excellent food at even better prices. Too bad, really, as we live only two...

Infelizmente só consigo avaliar se der ao menos uma estrela. Este estabelecimento n merecia nenhuma... Se a comida era boa ou ruim n fiquei para saber, mas o atendimento foi abaixo de péssimo. Qdo chegamos demos o nome ao garçom e o mesmo disse que demoraria uns 15 minutos. Qdo deu 20 minutos aproximadamente, reparamos que foi chamado outro casal que chegou depois da gente. Prontamente, entramos e perguntamos o pq de terem sido chamados antes de nós e ele n soube explicar. Pediu desculpas e nos chamou em cinco minutos. Essa foi a parte boa da nossa experiência... Qdo entramos, o garçom que iria nos atender nos cumprimentou e nós retribuímos. Fomos para a mesa e em alguns instantes o mesmo garçom veio nos atender. Ele novamente nos cumprimentou, minha esposa cumprimentou novamente com um boa tarde e eu n o vi e n escutei, pois estava arrumando o meu casaco na cadeira. Qdo vi o garçom pedi a senha do wi-fi já q n tínhamos internet. Para que... Este rapaz pirou, começou a falar alto para todos ouvirem que n tínhamos educação, que no país dele era comum as pessoas responderem ao serem cumprimentadas. Eu n entendi direito, fiquei meio boquiaberto e depois perguntei a minha esposa o que se passou. Foi qdo ela me disse q ele estava chateado por eu n cumprimentá-lo. Chamei o rapaz para me desculpar e q n havia escutado, mas de nada adiantou. Novamente, falando alto respondeu que n sabia como era no Brasil, mas que na Argentina as pessoas eram educadas... Em seguida JOGOU com maus modos a senha do wi-fi na mesa. Nesse momento, levantei e fui até o gerente ou proprietário, n sei direito. Expliquei com o meu portunhol ruim o que se passou, me pediu desculpas, mas nada fez. Disse a ele q n queria ser atendido por aquele rapaz e voltei para a mesa. Para o nosso espanto, quem continuou a fazer o atendimento foi o mesmo garçom. Fizemos uma crítica por escrito no tradutor e mostramos ao responsável antes de sair do restaurante. Entretanto, o responsável nem ligou, apenas abanou com a cabeça e continuou nos seus afazeres. Por isso, se puder influenciar qualquer pessoa a não entrar neste recinto, já me darei por satisfeito. Nota zero pois não...

First off, the filet was phenomenal; the sirloin not so much. But enough about the food.

If you don't speak fluent Spanish, be prepared to be treated like a rat at the Recoleta Cemetery. I understand now why previous reviews mentioned this is a good place for locals. Now, don't assume that since I can't answer your question quickly that I am a gringa who doesn't have a clue. I might not know how to respond quickly, but I do understand what you are saying, and I know when the waiter goes to the bar to make fun of me because I "no comprendo." Hysterical, huh?

So here's a poem I wrote in honor of our waiter.

Roses are red violets are blue the Argentinian Peso...