Naná - Buenos Aires

We had seen mixed reviews online for this restaurant, running the gamut. Good service. Bad service. Good food. Bad food.

Naná, which has been operating in the suburbs of Buenos Aires for several years, recently opened a location in the “arcos” under the train tracks overlooking the lake at the Rosedal in Palermo. This location has become a very popular spot for new and expanding restaurants in Buenos Aires, including AvantGarten and Mooi, and an American-style barbecue restaurant, Rock & Ribs.

The décor is minimalist. Tasteful. Taking advantage of the loft-like atmosphere provided by the overhead arches of brick that the space provided as a canvas for the restaurant’s designers.

Service was adequate but not quite as attentive as I would have liked.

We were provided some fresh country bread, accompanied by some high-quality olive oil for dipping. We were also served an amuse bouche. A soft boiled egg with small strips of bread for dipping into the yolk.

My friend ordered the bife de chorizo (strip steak). It was served, sitting on a carrot coulis, accompanied by a small salad of greens and a few large slices of roasted potatoes. It was cooked as ordered and everything was seasoned correctly. The sauce accompanying the steak was delicious.

I ordered the braised lamb cheeks served on a creamy potato and cauliflower puree. The meat was fork tender. The accompanying wine reduction was delicious. The broccoli was seasoned well and cooked perfectly and the puree was flavorful.

Both plates were tasty and well-executed in my opinion.

Prices were about as expected for this type of restaurant and this location.

This meal was not extraordinarily creative but merely receiving a delicious, perfectly cooked meal is a rarity in Buenos Aires so our scores reflect our satisfaction with the overall experience.