Last updated May 20th, 2024
Located in the vibrant streets of Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires (Argentina), restaurant Parrilla Don Julio is a place we booked straight away once we decided to visit Buenos Aires. It was a funny coincidence that the topic would pop up in conversations with friends and family when they had no idea we were headed there. We couldn’t resist the temptation of seeing what’s on the menu at the best steak house in the world – Parrilla Don Julio. So we went.
When should you book Parrilla Don Julio?
For those wondering how far in advance reservations should be made, bad news – no less than a month and a half in advance. Yes, the restaurant has been named the number one steakhouse in Argentina 2023 by San Pellegrino’s 50 Best Restaurants, and just recently number one steakhouse in the world, therefore the hype around this place in Buenos Aires is high, making it hard to get into.
If you’re unable to get in by making an online reservation, not all is lost! Sharpen your Spanish and give them a call. Often, you’ll be able to get in by taking the spot of a last-minute cancellation.
Don’t feel like twisting your tongue on the phone? Well, then prepare your patience for standing in line as a walk-in. This is also a viable option; it simply takes time and patience. We recommend getting there before 6 pm; this way, you will be able to put your name on the list as soon as the restaurant opens. You will be given a number with the exact time for your reservation. While you’re waiting, you can stroll around the beautiful neighborhood of Palermo Soho, thus avoiding standing in line at the restaurant.
Our First Impressions at Parrilla Don Julio
Upon arrival at Don Julio, we were welcomed by a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, followed by a mini empanada de bife (beef) once we were seated. The empanada set high expectations for the rest of the experience.
As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you bump into the “parrilla” – the grill where the magic happens. Our table overlooked the grill, which we were pleased with. The interior and ambiance of the restaurant are cozy and intimate. The staff are welcoming and happily interact with customers who want to snoop around the grill and get information about what, where, and how.
One of the highlights of dining at Parrilla Don Julio is the impeccable quality of the meats (and all the other ingredients). The restaurant has its own farm where they grow their seasonal produce and raise their own animals. All the meat you’ll see on the menu is grass-fed and raised in open pastures.
The Menu at Restaurant Parrilla Don Julio Buenos Aires, Argentina
Let’s look at the menu at Parrilla Don Julio. The selection of wines (by the bottle) is pretty extensive. Wines offered by the glass are more restricted. It’s important to note that the wines are all national.
The food menu covers all the classics of Argentine cuisine. Homemade sausages, morcilla (blood sausage), mollejas (sweetbreads), empanadas, grilled provoleta cheese, and others for starters. Ribeye, T-bone steak, skirt and strip steak, tenderloin, short ribs – these are just some of the options for main course. The list of side dishes consists of more than 10 options, with only 2 of them being potatoes. This is by far the most impressive sides’ list we’ve seen in Argentina.
What to get at Parrilla Don Julio?
Upon arrival, you will receive homemade bread (unfortunately not sourdough) with salsas, and a mini empanada to curb your hunger. Out of the starter menu at Parrilla Don Julio we ordered provolone, which was incredible! Grilled to perfection, it’s melted inside and crispy/smoky outside. Amazing! We also got a homemade sausage platter which consisted of pork sausage, grill sausage, and spicy longaniza sausage. All three of them were amazing, but if you were to get only one, our suggestion is to go for the spicy longaniza. That touch of spice gives the sausage an amazing character.
For the main course, we chose the Boneless Prime Rib Steak. Medium rare, or “jugoso”, as they call it here in Argentina. We were excited to see the parrillero shine preparing it. And this is where it went wrong. The steak arrived not even medium rare, more so medium/well-done.
A couple of minutes later, we were approached by the maître d’, to whom we communicated our concern. No questions asked, the steak was taken away from our sight and less than 10 minutes later we received a perfectly juicy medium-rare prime rib steak, followed by grilled peppers on the house. Mistakes can happen everywhere; what is pleasant is when they are approached positively and fixed within seconds. The meat was of impressive quality and flavor. Perfectly cooked. Juicy. Highest level.
For The Sweet-tooth
Let’s talk about dessert. Once you are in Argentina, you have to try the flan. And if you are at Don Julio, this is the place to do that! We had many flans throughout our time in Argentina (maybe one too many…), but most of them were disappointing; air bubbles – a sign of overcooking, too dense – milk and egg ratio out of balance, dry – wrong recipe and technique.
The flan at Don Julio, instead, is in a category of its own! Perfectly done, soft, very gently sweetened, which makes that spoonful of dulce de leche that they serve it with, very welcome. In few words, it is a crime not to get the flan at Don Julio’s.
To finalize our experience at Don Julio, we were treated to two portions of homemade ice cream again on the house. Pear and vanilla. To die for! We would go back to Don Julio tomorrow, and I would order nothing else but dessert. Hats off to the pastry chef!
Dining at Parrilla Don Julio Buenos Aires, Argentina. Is it Worth It?
Let’s talk about the cost. It is hard to talk about prices given the economic crisis that Argentina is going through. If you look at what the prices at Don Julio were a year, six months, three months, or even one month ago, you will notice an incredible change in prices, all due to inflation.
The only comparison that makes judgment is how Don Julio looks like compared to other restaurants in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We’ve tried numerous restaurants listed in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants by San Pellegrino 2023, such as El Preferido de Palermo (no. 17), Nino Gordo (no. 43) and some outstanding restaurants outside of this prestigious list, like La Carniceria, and the conclusion is that the prices are very similar. At Don Julio, you will most probably spend 15-20% more than at the other Argentine places of the same caliber.
We do recommend trying this restaurant once in your lifetime. Even with the little hiccup, we were more than satisfied with our experience.