Restaurants "Puerta Cerrada"

Those who want to dine in an atmosphere porteña benefit from an eminently local gourmet trend: the restaurants in Puerta cerrada (closed door). In the years ninety, the success of bars and restaurants lay in a good location and effective communication. Today, the trend reversed in Buenos Aires. The hot spots are intimate and offer only a few tables. Their address is not published. Information flows informally. We must go there and ring the bell to gain access to these secret places. Sometimes, a membership card is required.
"Anyone who comes here does not come by chance. The place is not visible from the outside. It is word-of-mouth that allows us to have new customers, "said Agustín Bertero, the bar owner secret 878 located in the trendy Palermo. This owner is trying to recreate the atmosphere of the Prohibition of the Twenties. "We see customers back but they do not see us," says Agustín, adding that the regulars of the bar are especially good live.

Based in Buenos Aires for a year and a half, Daniel Perlman, chef and sommelier gets New Yorkers in his apartment in Recoleta. The impression is to go to dinner with an old friend. With only two tables, one of eight people and the other four, the House Saltshaker offers a different menu every week. "We started receiving a few friends. They called and the concept has developed. Many expatriates are coming here but also Porteños. The atmosphere is very friendly between clients. They feel together without knowing each other. The exchange is done very easily, "said Daniel, who hosts two nights a week. Guests can bring their own wine. This reinforces the family atmosphere. "It's not a very lucrative business, but enough to pay my expenses at month end," says the sommelier.

At Palermo also is the actress Maria Morales MIY receiving three times a week in his little house. Her husband, who is a painter, exhibited in the restaurant. Almacen Secreto, specializes in northern countries such as goat cheese, smoked beef or pork with cereals from the Andes. Marie admits that the concept of a restaurant puerta cerrada is also due to practical requirements. "Physically, that's all I can do. Making good food is exhausting. I prefer to invite some guests to keep a real gastronomic quality. " The visitor's first impression of disturbing the privacy of home. He then accesses a patio full of lemon trees at the bottom of which is a dining room whose walls are covered with family photos.

A little further on is an old colonial building that turns twice a week, restaurant specializing in nouvelle cuisine: Welcome to Caracoles para Da Vinci (Vinci for snails). The chef, Martin Mangiaterra, offers a selection of dishes presented in spoons, glasses or ramekins. You can taste the ceviche (raw fish cooked in lemon juice) or carpaccio. The space can accommodate about thirty people. "The idea is to show customers the variety of our gourmet style through the fusion of tastes," says Martin. The house receives only by appointment. Guests dine in an atmosphere that combines soft lighting, soft music and fire.

The restaurant Casa Tipo is also part of this trend. A long corridor separates the dining room from the street. One can come across a neighbor walking her dog down. The visitor removed his shoes and settled comfortably in armchairs. The atmosphere is very family. If you prefer, you can even lend a hand in the kitchen.

Thus, two evenings a week, these are homes that are converted into a restaurant for the initiated. There are currently about fifty such restaurants in Buenos Aires. Some may see a reconquest by the Argentines for their identity and a model receiving less commercial than the usual restaurant. Others will see a trend trendy and a little too overrated. For you to go try it and see if you can find the simplicity and sympathy. The fans usually enjoy these secret places peace and the family atmosphere of the place. After these dinners in an intimate atmosphere, the visitor want to return to the bustle of the city.