Parrilla Don Julio ranks 34th among the top 50 restaurants in the world. It is one of the few traditional restaurants in the top 50 that does not offer fine dining. It has no other fancy dishes except steak. The beef at Parrilla Don Julio uses Aberdeen Angus cattle or Hereford cattle grazed on the grassland. The steaks are all aged for at least 21 days and grilled on traditional charcoal fire.
It was during the holiday season, so even though we had a reservation, we still had to wait for nearly an hour. While we were waiting for our table, the restaurant provided free finger food, and the waiter invited us to visit the wine cellar for a wine tasting. The wine cellar is located on the underground floor and contains red and white wines from various regions of Argentina. The waiter took out three bottles of wine from different regions for us to taste, and also explained to us the characteristics of different wineries in different regions. Although the wait for a table was long, I didn't feel bored and the service was excellent.
As an appetizer, I ordered crispy mollejas (sweetbreads) recommended by Top50. It was simply paired with lemon and salt. I still found the taste of the thymus a bit greasy, and also felt that it had a lot of fishy smell. I didn't like this dish very much.
Another appetizer was the home made sausage platter. The three kinds of sausages were very delicious. The waiter helped divide them and paired them with two kinds of sauces. The deliciousness was simple and direct.
I ordered T bone for the steak. After it was served, the waiter helped cut it and paired it with three sauces: sea salt, chimichurri sauce, and salsa sauce. There are not so many, and everything is restored to the most original deliciousness. After eating fine dining for a few days, I am very satisfied with this traditional restaurant. I have eaten a lot of good steaks. The steak here tasted good at first, but it was not amazing. After a few more bites, I felt different. First of all, there is no greasiness like Wagyu beef that melts in your mouth. Steak still likes to have a chewy texture so that it feels like eating meat. The surface of the whole piece of meat is crispy, and the inside is juicy and tender. There is no discomfort from the tendons. The tendons and fat parts are processed just right. It is not oily or greasy. It has a chewy texture but is easy to bite. Beef with different degrees of doneness has different levels, and it meets different dimensions in the mouth. It is obviously the simplest texture and the most original taste, and the aftertaste is endless. Like it very much!
The restaurant has a retro decoration and a lively atmosphere. Although there are many diners and the waiters are extremely busy, they are very efficient and the quality of the service is also very high. From helping to cut and serve every dish, to wine tasting and wine cellar tours upon entry, as well as free hours while waiting for a table, it makes you feel right at home. The menu is clean and simple. If they sell steaks, they sell steaks seriously. The steak preparation and presentation are not pretentious. They are the feeling of eating meat. The taste and texture can withstand careful scrutiny. If I have the opportunity to return to BA, I will definitely go to this restaurant. Go again.