The few months’ old La Patagonia restaurant near Mornington Crescent Station blends a rustic Argentine vibe with the mood of a proper local stand-by.
Just this side of kitsch, the restaurant’s dining space offers an endearing and cosy spot for a solid meal. Bare brick walls; lots of wooden furnishings; spare bold patterns; photos of gauchos doing their thing (along with framed pics of Argentine footballers) and bits of Argentine bric-a-brac set a restrained masculine tone for a just in off the pampas feel.
If you like your steaks bloody and your Malbec bloodier, this is the place for you. Beef is top quality; I loved my mega-chunk o’ bife de lomo (200g of Argentine fillet – £21). And, the handmade chorizos a la pomarola (£4.50) rock. During my visit last week, a glass of the punchy house Malbec (£4.50) – Colonia, Finca la Colonia, Bodegas Norton – seemed to size up both the home made sausages and my fillet perfectly.
As much as an excursion to this Camden eatery could easily be about downing amount massive amounts of grilled meat and little else, vegetarians and pescaterians need not shun La Patagonia. A serving of the Argentine classic Provoletta a la Patagonia (baked Provolone with char grilled red peppers and onions, £5.50) is a delectably stringy delight while grilled or oven baked seasonal veggies are equally pleasing. A massive side of mashed sweet potatoes (£3.50) is especially nice.
Rescoldo de Lubina (seabass cooked with olive oil and garlic and “buried in embers giving it a unique smoky taste” – £13) might not wow as much as some of the meatier options, but it does not underwhelm.
Photo/Kemey Lafond
An amazingly delicious Argentine take on tiramisu (presented in a mason jar, around £5) insists you somehow must save room for dessert.
La Patagonia is located at 31 Camden High Street, NW1 7JE. If its near to you, consider becoming a regular. Otherwise, the place is up there with some of London’s more noted Argentine steakhouses and better than a couple of big names that I can think of. Find out more at lapatagonia.co.uk.
