El Fogón — Restaurant in Montevideo

I've been reading some of the reviews in here and I must say, please, don't be a snob. It's just not classy. It's not smart. You just look like an idiot to anyone with a brain.

I was attended by Javier (the cashier) and Gerardo (my waiter). It is ridiculous how nice everyone is. I'm sorry to say, reviewing this restaurant is reviewing Uruguay as a whole. Of course, you have to not be a snob in order to understand people's sense of humor and character. You have to be willing to let in everything that other idiosincracies have to offer. If you expect to go to a different country and be treated as if you were somewhere else, stay somewhere else.

Gerardo was one of the most hard working guys out there. He made me have one of the best experiences I've ever had in a restaurant. The food is awesome. No, it won't blow your socks off. No food will, if you've tasted enough food. Food is just food. If you're going to a restaurant just to eat, just buy some dumplings and be done with it.

I ordered a Dry-Aged Steak. They didn't have one, so they offered me an upgrade to a Master Baby. More expensive, sure. But then, even though I ordered one single glass of wine, they not only refilled my glass of wine without a charge, but then also gave me a glass of champagne for free. The steak was juicy, skillfully cooked, and the fat was almost sweet. They refilled my side dishes without a charge and without me asking. I stuffed my face in food while the awesome waiter ran around taking pictures of me WITHOUT ME HAVING TO ASK FOR IT. He just offered himself to it, sweet Jesus.

If you feel like an entitled prick and that you have to be treated like a king wherever you walk in only because you have money, you're an idiot. Treat people like you want to be treated and be cultured. Uruguayans are not idiots, no matter what they do, they're educated folks. Observant, smart, kind, funny, beautiful people. Embrace the differences and you'll be treated with...

El Fogón is cozy downtown Montevideo restaurant where you rub shoulders with locals who come here to eat Sunday lunch. In one week, restaurant will celebrate 60th anniversary!! We did not have reservation and had to wait a bit - it was Sunday late afternoon and place was packed.

Food is simple but delicious, our choice was baby beef & beef tenderloin, large salad and bottle of El Fogon tinto. We had tiramisu & apple pie for desert and espresso was the best we had in Montevideo.

Service was excellent, despite restaurant being fully booked. July 10th is Father’s Day in Uruguay so I got a present🙂a bottle of wine from the house!

I had a small mishap that fortunately ended well. When it was time to pay I could not find my wallet. I had spare credit card but my primary credit card and some other documents along with some cash were in the lost wallet. I was trying to remember where was the last time I used it and concluded I must have lost it on our way to the restaurant. However as last resort I asked our waiter Walter if someone perhaps found a wallet in the restaurant. Walter went to the bar and sure thing, someone found it lying on the ground and gave it to restaurant staff for safekeeping, I had lost it on my way to the restroom. Needless to say everything was there. I was understandably very happy and thankful but Walter explained this is normal for Uruguay, it is a small country, people are proud, honest and kind and will always help.

I don’t know if and when we will be back in Uruguay, but if we do, we will definitely eat in El Fogon and we hope to see Walter again!

Walter, te debo un gran favor....

A cozy and romantically lit restaurant not far from the buquebus terminal and in a bustling neighborhood. Parking is free for customers in a parking garage you pass just before the restaurant. I ordered the "tourista" that includes your choice of appetizer, main dish and dessert. I ordered the vegetable soup, which was delicious, it was so good I forgot to take a picture, but it was full of zucchini, carrots, peas and squash with bits of onion and hints of garlic in a rich, flavorful broth, served with toasted croutons on the side. I also had juicy and tender grilled chicken thigh and boiled potatoes. For dessert I had the fruit salad, which was light, fresh, and not weighed down with heavy syrup but a light orange juice to keep colors bright and flavors fresh.

My husband ordered a pasta with grilled chicken, which he devoured and declared delicious and quite filling. My oldest ordered carne with steamed vegetables, and said the beef was his favorite, youngest got beef also, but I cannot remember which, he had fries and rice on the side and enjoyed his plate also.

Food was great, but what made this memorable was the service, Javier was outstanding asking us about our time in Montevideo and making great suggestions. The best was when he noticed my youngest was wearing a jacket with a Superman symbol and said "Aha, I have someone for you to meet." A few moments later he reappeared with a young man who bore a striking resemblance to Clark Kent. We all laughed and the other waiter "Clark" was kind enough to play along and pose for a photo with "kid superman".

What...