Balvanera

Argentinian restaurant · Lower East Side

Balvanera

Argentinian restaurant · Lower East Side

3

152 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002

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Highlights

Balvanera is a cozy Lower East Side spot dishing up perfectly cooked Argentine steaks, shareable plates, and a killer wine list.  

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152 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002 Get directions

balvanerarestaurants.com
@balvanerarestaurants

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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152 Stanton St, New York, NY 10002 Get directions

+1 917 746 1660
balvanerarestaurants.com
@balvanerarestaurants

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@eater

The 38 Essential Pittsburgh Restaurants

"Pittsburgh native Meredith Boyle returned to the Steel City with her husband, Fernando Navas, in 2023 to open a bigger, glitzier version of Balvanera, the Argentine restaurant the couple has run in New York City since 2014. Navas offers gorgeously crafted versions of the South American country’s dishes that venture well beyond the signature grilled steaks (which are also terrific). Pastry chef Ginger Fisher Baldwin adds destination-worthy desserts to the chic experience." - Melissa McCart, Hal B. Klein

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-pittsburgh-restaurants
View Postcard for Balvanera
@eater

8 Argentine Restaurants to Celebrate the World Cup Victory

"This Lower East Side mainstay constitutes a sort of hipster Argentine bistro. There’s a great choripan (grilled chorizo sandwich street food), and other recommendations include the grilled provolone, skirt steak, and flan. Lots of salads and family-style share platters also on the menu." - Robert Sietsema

https://ny.eater.com/maps/nyc-argentina-restaurants-steak-pastries-empanadas
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@chopped

Maristella Innocenti, Owner and Chef, Chopped after the entrée, Episode 2.7, July 28, 2009

Chefs from Chopped on Food Network - New York
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Gio

Google
Great food. We live in the area and have been meaning to come for a long time. The steaks were amazing and the food was great. A bit pricier than expected but overall nice time. Our waiter Emanuel was 10/10.

Ryan Cobleigh

Google
We loved our first dining experience at Balvanera, it definitely won’t be the last! The staff were all extremely nice and easy going. Our waiter had great wine recommendations and took the time to walk us through the menu. Every dish we had was a 10/10 but our favorite was the Setas mushroom dish. It is a must order. Can’t wait to visit again!

Saikrishna Chavali

Google
Server who was also the sommelier was so helpful and attentive. Beautiful and quiet to sit outside. Enough space between tables. Beyond five stars Dessert and dessert wine- incredible. Only thing is you cannot taste the cardamom in the cake easily. Beyond five stars. Food - we choose all veggie options. Many options and very filling and tasty. One was a bit to salty. So is give the food 4-4.5 stars.

Asher Sklar

Google
I came here with a friend a few weeks ago, the steak was very good if you're looking for an Argentinian steak house in Brooklyn look no more

Ricky Khurana (Real Estate Expert)

Google
This place is a beauty! The interior is very warm and gives you a feel of a very elite setting. The octopus was good, cooked well and dressed perfectly. We got the salad and the rib-eye, the salad was so earthy, fresh, sufficient to share and just delicious. The steak was cooked well, it had a good amount of marbling on one side, it was soft, it was juicy, it was good! Glad we came to check it out!

Nikolai USA

Google
it was amazing! the food was top notch, i wanted to eat the plates. we didn't book a table, but we should have! but they found us a table.

Felix

Google
Great place for an Argentinian steakhouse meal. The ribeye steak was very a perfect medium rare, and well- seasoned. Provoleta and the grilled sausage were both delicious, and the corn empanadas were warm and soft. Good selections of wines with an Argentinian focus that has more than just Malbecs. Seating is a bit tight, but the overall cobe is very warm and relaxed inside. Need a reservation on the weekend

Alicia McDonald

Google
I wish I could give this place more stars! From the food to the service to the ambience, everything was 10/10. The manager Michael is a delight and our server was so kind and knowledgeable on the menu which helped our decision making. Can’t wait to return and bring friends!
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Gigi A.

Yelp
I want to thank this excellent restaurant and its waitstaff for being so kind with our party of 7 including three kids. This place was simultaneously family friendly and good for a first date; we saw several dates around us as we were cutting up the kids' chicken. Oh to be young again! But we ain't! We needed to eat and drink - and this place really delivered. Order the unique and delicious fried cheese appetizer and order the pollo milenesa. You will love both! We also loved the Pulpo and every glass of wine that was poured. More than the delicious food (and it WAS DELICIOUS), the wait staff was kind and patient to our party, to our 7,000 requests for water refills and didn't give us even the slightest of side eye. Yous are Kings and we will be back next time we get a sitter!
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Tansy W.

Yelp
Quite a disappointment. The salad verde and corn empanadas weren't bad but didn't enjoy anything else, including the sangria, steak, blood sausage, and fish. Crispiness of the fries was good but really lacked salt.
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Brooke K.

Yelp
Restaurant is cute and small. Service is good and staff is friendly. We went for Saturday bottomless brunch. First started off with the mimosa which was okay, but switched to the sangria which we liked so much better. The sangria isn't sweet like most places so it's so good to drink and pairs well with the steak and eggs. The 2 sauces they brought were so good! One was a tomato base and the other was a chimmichuri. The tomato one was delicious I put it all over my dish. The steak and eggs was good, but I felt the steak was small. They could have given a bigger portion. Overall everything tasted good and I will return.
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Jason W.

Yelp
A fun neighborhood spot with great Argentinian food, Balvanera is a great place to spontaneously grab a bottle of wine and share paired with steak and empanadas with friends. For the most part, I think Balvanera delivers on everything you could ask for. Good steak cooked to the right temperature, good sides and non-fussy service. The prices are fair and the vibes are convivial. This spot has become a go-to for whenever I don't have a reservation and need a quick spot in the LES to eat some good food and drink some good wine.
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Marianne F.

Yelp
Yum! Everything was delicious, took me back to the steakhouses of Buenos Aires. Everything was tasty and well priced. Dining room looks just like a BA steakhouse. The Malbec, octopus, empanadas, skirt steak and flan were all outstanding.
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Emma P.

Yelp
Came here for the 'Argentinian Feast' on a Thursday and had a fantastic meal! There is a sizeable outdoor area but we ate inside. The room has a rustic feel with thrifted paintings and objects for decor. The tables are well spaced which is nice and unusual for NYC!. When we were here it was maybe half full but there was still a good atmosphere. Service is good but not overly attentive, which I don't mind. The food was great. Excellent bread and the Proveleta cheese was very tasty. We had one corn and one beef empanada, the beef was our favorite. The grilled meats were excellent! My husband loved the sausage, I loved the morcilla. We both loved the steaks, the skirt was tender with a deep mineral taste, and both the rib eye and strip were very good. Meats come with good chimichurris - one red and one green and fries. The only things I would fault are that the salad is really just a garnish rather than a side salad and the fries are served in a julep cup which means they get a little soggy from their heat and steam. Also the menu on the website needs updated prices, the 'AF' is now $60 a person. It's still a good deal though especially for a steak dinner in the city and we found the portions generous but not overwhelming. They have a wide selection of wines, and a limited selection of beers. There's also only a small selection of basic desserts. Overall it's a 4.5 but I'll round my score up to 5 as we had a lovely evening!
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lillian n.

Yelp
What a great experience! Steak was amazing but the star of show was the beets .. o m gddd! So delicious. Sangeria was perfect, not sweet. Torejas.. wow! So good. Loved every bit of food but the stand out here was the service. Nicolas M. was attentive and made the best suggestions and Alejandro made us feel like we were at family dinner. Just fantastic experience.
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Sylvie P.

Yelp
4.5/5 We started off our New York trip back in late august with this Argentinian steakhouse restaurant! My fiancé and I ended up ordering the Argentine Feast ! It was perfect for two! The empanadas and the Provoleta were delicious! The mix meat platter was perfect to try all type of cuts. The drinks were solid! We were satiated and content. The staff was friendly and efficient.
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Julia H.

Yelp
had a chill weekend day and was in search of a sit down brunch. clinton street and davelle both had crazy waits nearby and we happened to stumble by this spot and popped in after eyeing the menu. it was easy to get a table for brunch and the interior is very charming and rustic. love me some argentinian food as i lived there before. i opted for a glass of sangria and the choripan. both were solid! had a bite of someones steak as well which was very yummy. service was good as well and they have a good bottomless deal if you're looking to indulge!
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Isabella W.

Yelp
Incredible food and service! Came on a random weekday and was seated immediately. The restaurant has a very warm and cozy ambiance, but isn't a tight space. We ordered the corn empanadas, the arancini, the mushrooms, and breaded chicken. The mushrooms were a standout dish, just incredibly flavorful and quite a large portion. 10/10 experience and would go back to keep trying new things.
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Stacy T.

Yelp
Amazing service! Favorite Argentine restaurant. The food is always good quality. I typically order the skirt steak which is consistently cooked the way you ask. They never overcook the meat. The chimichurri sauce , roasted garlic sauce and chopped tomato sauce is delicious and goes well with steak. I really enjoyed the boquerones - light and fresh. The proveleta was okay. I think once it solidifies it doesn't have the same star power. You have to eat it very quickly. The flavor is great but is short lived. Definitely coming back!
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Jessica L.

Yelp
Went this past weekend for a birthday dinner with some friends and food was absolutely incredible. I got the skirt steak 10oz and mashed potatoes. Perfect amount for me. I finished every last bite. Feeling very satisfied. Steak is seasoned absolutely mouthwatering with just salt. I love salt, so it satisfied my salt cravings. It is a small restaurant probably only seating 50? But it's intimate and cozy. Service was also great - waitress was very helpful answering any questions we had about the menu. Unfortunately they only serve wine and beer. No other liquor but their sangria was so good.
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Tim O.

Yelp
I thought the food was outstanding. It was refreshing to see sane prices ranging from small plates to the steaks. Unfortunately, the "market price" 42 day dry aged ribeye ended up costing $120, deflating the whole inexpensive Argentinian concept. Though delicious, if I was blind tasting it I don't know if I would have agreed that it was dry aged for a month and a half. Other issue was that service fell off a cliff as soon as a few other parties came in. I think it took about 30 minutes between finishing meals and the plates being removed and then another 20 just to get out of there. Seemed like the kitchen backed up as well since the table next to us was without food for nearly that entire span of time.
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Andrew C.

Yelp
stopped by for a early dinner on a rainy Fri night with 2 friends. Generally solid food, in a hip dark space, friendly staff and fair pricing. Our server Sara was knowledgable and attentive. We shared everything including the Provoleta, Quesos, Cod Croquettes, Ancho Ribeye steak (16oz), sides: fries and the green salad. Dessert we shared the Flan. The stars were the starters especially the provoleta. Ample bread is provided and they were ok with refills. The quesos were fine and the Cod croquettes are hit or miss depending if youre a Fish fan. The Ancho ribeye steak was a little too rare for medium rare but fine. They provided 3 sauces. The fries and salad was average at best. The Flan was delicious.
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Katherine V.

Yelp
We came here for brunch early Sunday morning. We were able to get a table without a reservation. The service and the atmosphere were fine. We ordered the huevos a caballo (steak and eggs), waffles, and torrejas lola (dulce de leche french toast). The portions were small for the price, and the torrejas was served cold (not sure if that's how it's supposed to be, but I think it would've been better if it was warm). Overall, skip the brunch and go for lunch or dinner if you want to try this place.
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Anna K.

Yelp
Great Argentinian spot in Delancey area. The staff was super attentive and the food and drinks were great. Order the empanadas and croquettes. I had the pasta and it was perfectly sweet and savory at the same time. Do yourself a favor and order the flan - yum!
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Christy C.

Yelp
I came here for brunch to catch up with friends! We found a Pulsd voucher for Balvanera, which offers an order of empanadas, two platos, and a pitcher of your drink choice. We recommend reservations, though there was lots of seating inside and outside. the service was wonderful here, with helpful recommendations from the staff. We went with the empanadas de carne which were nice and crispy with a fun meat and egg filling. Three of us ended up ordered the huevos a caballo, which came with two sunny eggs, skirt steak, papas, and a chimi sauce. I enjoyed my plato a lot - it was flavorful and juicy, and the papas soaked up the sauce from the eggs and steak. One of us order the chorizo sandwich - and wished it came with more chorizo. Regardless it was delicious. We got two pitchers of sangria, each pitcher the size of 6 generous drinks. It was more than enough for the four of us! Overall, we had a great time here and will definitely come back again!
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Al T.

Yelp
Absolutely Amazing Traveled from outside the city to celebrate an anniversary dinner to Balvanera and the experience was beyond memorable that we are planning a return trip. We made a reservation online which was simple. The most difficult was to find parking in the area but was able to find one a few blocks away. We entered slightly before our reservation and were quickly offered our choice to sit. The service was genuine, kind and welcoming. Throughout the evening it remained consistent and professional but low key and not over the top. The space is fantastic and intimate with the lighting and decor that transports you to a cozy restaurant in Buenos Aires. The wine selection is extensive and with many offerings to satisfy the wine enthusiast. Our order began with a selection of shared starters Empanada Remolacha And Mollejas We selected the Meat empanadas offering and these were not your ground beef empanadas you would normally find but a true slice steak - these were tasty and a great opening to our meal. With chimichurri and salsa criolla on the table to accompany it. The baked pockets of joy were fantastic. The Remolacha was an unbelievable surprise as it was the first time tasting a beet warm. Usually beet salads are cold but this was beyond beet salad with the oozing of ricotta and flavors made this hands down a want to eat again dish. I was on the fence on ordering the provoletta or Mollejas but I am so happy we chose the mollejas even though they were not on the online menu so it was a huge surprise to see it on the menu at the restaurant. This dish was absolutely the best mollejas i have ever eaten. The pairing and flavors with the lime and chopped apples was a highlight that I want to recreate and will definitely order again if on the menu. For our main course we order the entrana - skirt steak and the rib eye. Both selections were seasoned with just the right amount of salt and the quality and taste rivals the NYC known steak houses. The Ribeye I believe imported from Argentina was spectacular and tender. Each bite melted in your mouth. The evening ended up with a delicious flan and The team were gracious and gave us to flutes of champagne to commemorate our anniversary that capped an incredible evening. Only wish I was able to have a Fernet while there. The owner and chef should be very proud of the dishes coming out of the kitchen and the attentive team. If Messi is the GOAT of the Soccer field Messi needs to eat here on his next visit to NYC because Balvanera is a GOAT of Argentine Cuisine bringing it to another level. Thank you
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Alex R.

Yelp
Craving steak my carnivore trio headed to Balvanera for Friday dinner. We had CROQUETAS DE BACALAO: cod fritters with potatoes. Bit heavy on the potato vs cod but crispy and tasty nevertheless. Also had beef empanadas that were tasty and crispy and filled with aji amarillo hand cut roast beef. For mains we split 2 steaks: ENTRAÑA skirt steak and ANCHO rib eye 16oz each. Side of PAPAS FRITAS french fries was a bit cold and we asked for a refire. Steaks were great and a trio of fresh chimi, salsa criolla, roasted pepper, and watercress. Lastly we split 3 ways TORREJAS LOLA sweet milk brioche, dulce de leche and berries. This reminded me of a good French toast loaded with dulce de leche. Sweet end to a carnivore meal.
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Soh Eun H.

Yelp
Great brunch spot when you crave something unique and delicious. We ordered Clasico, Torrejas Lola, and Huevos a Caballo and everything was so delicious! The steak was seasoned and cooked perfectly and potatoes were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Loved the spicy mayo sauce with the potatoes as well. Torrejas Lola: the caramelization on the bananas was a pleasant surprise! We were so surprised that the place was empty on a Saturday during brunch time. We'd love to go back for their argentine feast!
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Midori G.

Yelp
I had a great experience at Balvanera! We sat outside on a week day night at around 7p. We were able to grab a table immediately. We were just looking for a quick bite so we got the croquetas and roasted beet dish. Both were so delicious! The servings were not huge, but the quality was amazing. The service was fast and attentive. Definitely a great dinner place!
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Andre O.

Yelp
We got the Skirt Steak and the Rib Eye to share. This was the best skirt steak I have had in my life it was cooked medium rare and just melted in your mouth. The service was great, we were seated on the booth on the sidewalk which was annoying because we could smell the cigarette smoke if people on the sidewalk. Would highly recommend this place for steak and bonus the empanadas where delicious!!
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Harley M.

Yelp
A cute intimate restaurant with delicious meats and appetizers. My table all ordered the Argentine feast which comes with empanadas, provoleta, and a variety of meats - $70 and feeds two people. We called ahead to make a reservation since there was 6 of us, but it was fairly empty of a weekday dinner. Empanadas: these came out piping hot, loved the beef and roasted red pepper ones! So crispy and taste explosion Provoleta: big portion of grilled provolone that came with tomato confit, bread. Yumm I love the melted cheese Meat platter: a large portion of blood sausage, skirt steak, strip loin, rib eye, and chorizo sausage. The rib eye was my favorite, followed closely by the chorizo. I loved the variety and getting a chance to taste everything. Tldr: an amazing experience at Balvanera. Get the Argentine Feast ($70) to split between two.
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Anne F.

Yelp
My husband and I came here for a belated Valentine's Day dinner. I wanted to go for Argentinian steakhouse. It was both our first time here. The inside is on the smaller side and they were short staffed. There wasn't a host/hostess, they had 3 waiters and the sommelier. They already seemed a bit stretched thin and running around. I kind of felt bad for them. Ever since the pandemic, I think it's been difficult to find staff. Regardless, we started with the empanadas, which are tiny but are really good. We got the beef ones. There is hard-boiled egg inside so don't mistake it for cheese. Entree wise, my husband got the hanger steak and I got the strip loin. I think the strip loin was 14oz. My husband didn't think I could finish it all, but when you get your steaks medium rare, it's way easier to chew and swallow (also getting a glass of red wine helps). I ate the whole thing...like a boss. And I still had room for dessert. I shouldn't eat so much red meat but it's really hard to avoid when they taste so good. I am really glad I found this place and I would return if I'm in the area.
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Aagdolla G.

Yelp
great empanada, the meat and cheese/corn flavor was amazing. soft inside texture with great tastes moisture feel to it. 4 stars since the waiter misinterpreted my order wrong. asked for 2 orders of empanadas. 1 order comes with two so that means 2 orders has 4 in total but she only brought 1 order to the table and had to eat without my friend so the food don't get cold. I would recommend this place. Also they charged me for a bottle of water without letting me know the water without the bottle is free like all restaurants. didn't know they would have brought a fancy bottle of water then charge me for it...
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Anjali M.

Yelp
Came here for an anniversary dinner with my partner and it was a great experience. The vibe was calm and intimate with very cute decor. The staff was sweet and friendly to us the whole time we were there. We decided to do the feast for 2 which was absolutelyyy worth it. My favorites were the empanadas, chorizo, and provoleta. I also got the sauco spritzer which was such a good drink. My partner loved all the meats we got to try they were cooked perfectly and came with fries as well. Definitely want to come back and try brunch!
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Steph S.

Yelp
Perfect Saturday brunch spot. We did the bottomless drinks ($25 each which is less than 2 drinks) and had 1 of each of the 3 drinks they offered (sangria, mimosa and ginger cocktail). Our favorite was the mimosa! Just the right ratio which I Ioved as sometimes bottomless can be a little juice heavy. The empanadas were diving (one of each but the corn was my favorite). The provoleta was unique and delicious, particularly loved the pepitas. For our entrees my husband and I shared the black truffle crusted lobster tail (which was great but there was a fair amount of crust for the little amount of lobster and you couldn't really taste the truffle) and the octopus which was amazing (loved loved the olive tapenade that came on top).
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María Paz M.

Yelp
Excellent service, and great food! Finally a steak to the point where it is requested, thank you!
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Meir T.

Yelp
Forget all the famous, fancy steakhouses in NYC, come here instead. Balvanera is a cozy little restaurant that knows how to cook some amazing steaks and for less than you'd pay elsewhere in Manhattan. We had the empanadas, the skirt steak and a ribeye with a chocolate tarte for dessert. The steaks were cooked perfectly, beefy, salty (in a good way) and delicious. The beef and corn empanadas were baked to perfection with a light flaky crust and stuffed with delicious fillings. The tarte for dessert, was rich and not too sweet. I've eaten here 3 or 4 times and they never get it wrong.

Lyle Fayssoux Roddey R.

Yelp
Food. Ambiance. Service. ABSOLUTELY IMPECCABLE. This place was fire. Would be good to take family too bc (not too loud and big tables). MUST GET THE POLLO MILANESE.
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Sucheta B.

Yelp
A decent spot in LES for Argentinian food. Pros - extensive wine list, well priced food Cons - service was slow, steaks were slightly over cooked and it just kind of left you wanting more? Worth it to come on a weekday and try their "feast" but skip on a weekend and go to a proper steakhouse in my Opinion...
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Deana B.

Yelp
This place is awesome. I've been here twice now and both times had such excellent food for a great price. Both times my table ordered the Argentine Feast. Most recently I came for brunch and ordered this and was reminded of what a great deal it is. If you're looking for a good deal with high quality food and drinks this is your place. Even the drinks that come with the bottomless brunch for $20 taste amazing and are not sugary or watered down. And if you're into Argentinian wine, they have a great selection. Overall I would recommend Balvanera for brunch or dinner for any occasion. And of course, I'd highly recommend ordering the Argentine Feast (seriously the sausage is life changing) and a glass of Malbec.
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Jim W.

Yelp
My nephews wanted to give my sister a brunch birthday party and get the family together. What a great experience. I think we had every on the menu lol the sweet corn empanadas were a nice appetizer. The steak was cooked perfectly. The endive salad was extremely tasty. The staff was incredible - pretty sure everyone's glasses were always filled, whether it was water or something a little stronger lol was catching up with the family and totally forgot to take pics of the food but you need to go check it out for yourself - everything was delish!
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Loren R.

Yelp
Made a reservation for brunch on Sunday afternoon. We used a PULSD voucher and really enjoyed the entire experience. Start to finish, our server Kelly took greeting care of our table. We enjoyed the pulpo and beef empanada appetizers. Both were perfectly cooked and flavorful. The pulpo was tender and served on top of a red sauce and aioli with olives. The flavors mixed so well. The empanada was juicy and perfectly crisp. The chimichurri sauce that accompanied the empanadas was my favorite part! We also had drinks and brunch entrees. We left full and happy. There was a birthday at my table, so Kelly took extra care to help me surprise the birthday guest with a cupcake and candle I brought in. That was super kind and above & beyond! Kelly was the star of our brunch experience! She was attentive, took questions, and made sure we enjoyed every part of brunch. Thank you to the entire Balvanera team! This place is a gem :)
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Irine S.

Yelp
Exceptional service and food. Sardines and Blood Sausage are a must try. Wine selection is well curated. Ambiance is spot on for any mood.
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K M.

Yelp
Dined here one Saturday night. The low-lit interior is cosy and welcoming. The wait staff were friendly and professional giving immediate answers or finding the answers to questions. We were rather parochial in our selection because our purpose was to indulge on a good steak. We started with the arancini- a tasty variation that included cauliflower in a quince sauce. We both ordered ribeye that was cooked to perfection and melted in our mouths. We did not order sides and we were satisfied but I would have tried their zanahorias which another table raved about. They do not have full bar options, but we were satisfied with a good Malbec and the sauco spritz (light and slightly fruity aperitif). I'll definitely return.
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Cassera C.

Yelp
The rib eye is incredible. One of the best steaks I've had in a long time! No surprise that about 75% of the restaurant ordered it too. The skirt steak was juicy and delicious as well. Also highly recommend the torrejas lola (brioche french toast with caramel) -- it comes as a dessert or as a larger entree for brunch. Added bonus: all of the portions are fairly generous!
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Shani S.

Yelp
While visiting NYC I really wanted to check out their Argentine food. Balvanera was the perfect place to do so. The inside of the restaurant was dimly lit and very quaint and intimate. The service was awesome and the servers were so helpful. My friend and I had the Argentine Feast and it did not disappoint! Everything was so amazing! If you have 2 really hungry people or 3 average hungry people, this is a perfect meal from here
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Tracy F.

Yelp
This first review is purely for the manager working on Valentine's Day. There was a set Valentine's Day menu that day but I spoke with someone through Instagram that if I come at 6pm, they would accommodate the Argentine Feast for me. They even helped me make a reservation back end through Resy. I arrived and the waitress seated me and I told her about the arrangement and she said she'll get the manager. The manager came to our table and the first thing he said was, "We are not serving the Feast today." He did not say hello nor tried to look apologetic if there was a miscommunication. Then I told him about the arrangement and the reservation was even made by your staff member and he rudely said "We don't have the ingredients today. We can't do it." Then I showed him my Instagram messages and he said he doesn't know who this is and kept asking repeating they don't the feast available. I kept insisting and he rudely said he'll check with the kitchen. I messaged my contact through Instagram and luckily they said they just spoke with this manager and it's all sorted now. Manager came back and just said ok and that was it. His attitude and the way he approach the whole situation was not friendly at all. The food was not bad and the steaks were great, but because of the experience we just went through with them - it made the entire dining experience not pleasant at all.

Hayley M.

Yelp
The beautiful thing about NYC is that right when you think you've tried all the best restaurants you stumble upon a neighborhood gem and have the best meal! The steak is fantastic, the menu has options for everyone and the wine is great! This restaurant is perfect to bring parents, great for a date spot or just a casual dinner with friends. It's reasonably price and the service is great. 10/10
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Jonghan L.

Yelp
Oh my god my meal at Balvanera was speechless. Came here on a Friday night at 6pm, with a reservation for our company's holiday party. We had ~20 people in our party, so we got a giant table in the middle of the restaurant. We ordered a whole bunch of tapas and meats to share family style, including fried chicken, skirt steak, rib eye, pesto pasta, mushroom tapas, pulpo octopus, beef empanadas, burrata, sea bass, papas fritas (fries), steak tartare, salmon crudo etc. Boy were we in for an unforgettable feast! Also lets not forget the amount of wine we ordered. AMBIANCE: Great vibes, love the latin inspired decor, while it felt like home yet not too pretentious. Atmosphere was dimly lit. Great place to bring friends or date. PROS: Highlights were the meat. Those were prepared exquisitely. I loved the riby eye as it was really fatty, so full of flavor, and tender. The char on top of the steak added a great crunchy texture to the meat. A close second was the skirt steak, and that was really tender as well. The chimichurri that it came paired really well with the steak, but also paired really well with the complimentary bread that we got - what a pleasant surprise! Steaks were seasoned well and presented well. Pairs really well with either the Argentinian Pinot Noir or Cabernet, it really cuts down on the fattiness of the beef really well. The beef was also paired with the potato puree, and those were some of the smoothest potatoes I've had! As for tapas: beef empanadas were some of the best I've had. The octopus was grilled to a perfect tenderness, and paired well with the sauce and puree that it came. It had a great smokey flavor from the grill which gave some parts of it a good crunchy char taste to it. Steak tartare was also some of the best tartare Ive had in a while. I loved the balance of acidity in the dish, and the runny egg on top added more fun to the dish. Salmon crudo was fantastic as you can taste the fish was really fresh and the jalapeno and citrus really cuts down on the fattiness of the fish. The papas fritas were good and crispy too. I didn't get the chance to try the burrata or the seabass, but from my table I heard there were rave reviews as we had a cheese and seafood connoisseur on our table! Service was top notch as the servers were really attentive to our table and made sure we were well fed and our needs taken care of. Thank you! OVERALL: Fantastic experience at Balvanera, great steak and excellent service would make this meal one to remember!
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Sarah T.

Yelp
Had an amazing meal at balvanera. Started out with some nice wine. We had the anchovies which were better than I expected. The skirt steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The flan was amazing. Personally, I'd skip blood sausage, anywhere, for the rest of time. But that's not on the restaurant. We must have had other stuff but I don't remember. Prob a salad.
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Valerie N.

Yelp
Nice place to grab bottomless brunch and surprisingly not loud and doesn't have the party vibes. I ordered the brunch steak and it was good, but definitely too salty for my palette. My group enjoyed the mimosas and sangrias.
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Connie H.

Yelp
I came here with a friend for brunch and we had a good time. We had a pulsd deal ($39) which made the experience exceptional... I mean two empanadas, two entrees, and four drinks total? What a DEAL. The food was yummy, meat is a must (we both ordered the skirt steak), and the sangria made sippin' on the sidewalk so damn sweet. The only thing worth mentioning is to double check where you are sitting when you make a reservation by calling. It seems there are open outdoor dining times on Resy even though the restaurant does not have them. I appreciate getting the call from the restaurant giving me notice but I would encourage you to be proactive especially if you need or want to sit outdoors.
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Bill Z.

Yelp
All they really had to advertise to get me to dine here was say things like, "We have beef; we have malbec." This was exactly the experience I was looking for at an Argentinean restaurant, where even the house malbec was delicious (though that sangria at the adjacent table looked great too). Our beef empanadas were among the best I've ever had, with a softer (as opposed to crispy) crust that was still well done. We ordered the Tabla Des Carnes, which is a great way for 2 to sample lots of cuts of beef and sausages at a reasonable price. Everything came with chimichurri, and the entree came with a ramekin of diced tomato in olive oil as well. These add to the complexity of the taste of the beef. Service was very good, though the salad for our entree (we chose that instead of fries) did come out a few minutes after the meat. They offer a free flan for dessert with your Yelp check-in, but it's only available Sunday through Wednesday nights.
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Anshula J.

Yelp
The food, ambience, and service at Balvanera were all exceptional. We loved everything we ate. The empañadas in particular were melt in the mouth and the steak was cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with the sauce trio. A special mention must be made of the Mendoza valley Malbec. It was rich and full bodied. Finally we finished with a brioche tart topped with dulce de leche and fresh berries recommended by the chef and DEVOURED it, it was so good. This is coming from non dessert people. Go here, it was amazing.

Sabrina H.

Yelp
Balvanera is on our short list of no-fail restaurants. We return frequently and are repeatedly delighted by the excellent food. The steak and fries are hot, perfectly cooked and seasoned, always. Last night we also tried the lamb sausage, yellowtail crudo and boquerones, and each one was scrumptious. Consistently friendly service and cozy atmosphere complete the experience.
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Hannah M.

Yelp
This was a phenomenal brunch. I intentionally didn't look up reviews before I went because it was on a friend's request and I wasn't going to say no regardless. I was thoroughly impressed. I will say that portion sizes are on the smaller side given the price, but I would prefer that to paying more for excessive portions. I ordered the clasico, which was basically a traditional breakfast with two eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Out of habit I almost asked for salt and pepper with my meal, which I immediately decided against the second I tried the food. The potatoes were crispy and salty, the eggs (which I ordered scrambled) were cooked perfectly, and the bacon was great. For $13, it was the perfect light portion. My friends ordered other dishes and loved them, and we all split a side of the chorizo, which came with red pepper. We did bottomless brunch, which for $18 is a steal. You have the choice of a number of drinks, but we predominantly indulged in the spritz, which was a delicious sparking wine with elderflower, strawberries, etc. It was incredible and packed a punch. Sangria was good but nothing noteworthy. Service was attentive without being overbearing. This place hit the mark on just about every checkbox. Definitely recommend.
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Alan C.

Yelp
Amazing - the food, the service, the ambiance - all perfect. The entrana - superb! The wine selection - exquisite. We will be back again and again.