Review of Porteño Restaurant: My Favorite Steak in NYC

As their name indicates, Porteño (a term commonly used to describe people from the port-city of Buenos Aires) is focused on providing New Yorkers with a uniquely Argentinian dining experience.

As dining in Buenos Aires and consumption of juicy steaks go hand in hand, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to find that this small restaurant, located on 10th Ave in West Chelsea would become home to my favorite steak-dining experiences in New York City.

Though the Malbec-braised short ribs that I tasted was also excellent, the ribeye (Bife de Costilla) quite easily stole the show. In my 11 years living in New York, I had yet to experience the foodie-trinity of Flavor, Portion and Price. Most restaurants in the City would have one or maaaaybe two of those areas covered, but would always fall short on the third. Porteño was the first that offered all three.

It’s notable when a restaurant provides such an amazing steak, but the experience becomes something truly memorable when each part of your meal comes together in such a cohesive fashion. There was such a finely tuned balance to my meal, which allowed me to truly appreciate the contribution of each flavor profile on the table. My menu for the night:

BIFE DE COSTILLA CON ENSALADA DE REPOLLO
14 oz. Rib eye served with cabbage, kale and three-bean salad

EL ENEMIGO, Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina, 2012

MOUSSE DE CHOCOLATE
Chocolate mousse cake

FLAN DE PALTA
Avocado custard

The steak was cooked perfectly, the light acidity in the kale salad acted as a perfect counter-point, and the subtle tone of the Malbec helped to bring out the flavors of the entire meal. Top it off with some classic desserts (the Avocado Custard was my fave), and there was no way I could walk out without a huge grin on my face. Though people may have differing experiences based on what they order, I find myself lucky to have come across a meal that so succinctly hit upon everything I look for in a excellent meal!