Jay's American Food

There are lots of restaurants that add a few of the more popular “yanqui” foods to their menus. Almost every restaurant in Buenos Aires now has a burger or two to their menu. Many are adding breakfast foods from abroad, like French toast, waffles and pancakes, to satisfy the desires of many Argentines and foreigners for something a little more substantial in the morning that a shot of espresso and a croissant.

The restaurant, Trixie, has done an admirable job of mimicking an American 1950’s Diner’s décor and menu, but the execution of the American-style menu items is substandard, other than the burgers and milkshakes, which are pretty darn tasty

But now there’s a small restaurant in Buenos Aires that has dedicated itself 101% to American casual-dining classics. No bife de chorizo or pumpkin-filled raviolis on this menu. No milanesas and no slices of pizza. Instead, for breakfast you’ll find full American breakfasts with bacon and eggs and hash-browns. Pancakes, French toast and waffles. Served up with real Aunt Jemima pancake syrup.

For lunch or dinner, you can have a burger or some of the best chicken strips and wings you’ve ever tasted.

The wings are better than the wings are better than back in the States because they use bigger, plumper wings, with more meat on the bone. They’re delicious. You can have them mild or hot, or anywhere in between.

They serve up big ole’ thick-sliced onion rings. Hand-cut, battered and fried. There’s nothing quite like it.

How about a Cobb Salad? I bet you haven’t seen one of those on a menu anywhere else in We Love Maradona City.

Have a sweet tooth? How about a big-tall slice of NY-style cheesecake or some good ole’ American Apple Pie, hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

You’d think the proprietor of a place like this whose name is Jay, would be some ex-pat from Wisconsin or North Carolina. But, nope! Even though he’s always wearing a New York Yankee’s baseball cap, he’s born and bred Argentine. More Argentine than a polo pony!

Jay’s is gaining a little notoriety with ex-pats living in the city. Last time I was at Jay’s, having some pancakes, there was a group eight young gringas from the States that had come to have a breakfast that reminded them of home.

Jay’s is centrally located over in Recoleta immediately behind Hospital Aleman, next door to Oviedo.

There’s no table service. You order and pay at the counter and then they (“they” usually being Jay) deliver your order to the table.

If you have a hankerin’ for some good ole’ Yankee Doodle vittles, Jay’s is the place to satisfy that urge.