After 5: Restaurant Review: The Argentina Steakhouse

First clue: its seductive, subdued lighting and soft, melodic jazz background. Its open, spacious feel and perfectly appointed tables also were appealing, and in one corner blazed an open fire where the steaks are grilled.

My companion and I ordered two appetizers: the firstn a sauteed black tiger shrimp tossed in scampi sauce; the second, a small, flaky puff pastry filled with cream cheese, bacon and parsley. They came with three bowls of “chimichurri” sauces, traditional herbal sauces we were told are used liberally on grilled meats and as marinades in Argentina.

The shrimp were plump, succulent and cooked to perfect texture and flavor. The cheese-filled pastry was a subtle blend of flavors my dinner companion called “rich, but not overwhelming.” We tried all three chimichurri sauces on the appetizers and felt grateful for the discovery of chimichurri.

The restaurant’s steaks are Nebraska- and Iowa-raised beef aged 23 to 28 days. The ribeye and Kansas City strip steaks are USDA Prime beef and the other steaks are certified quality beef, said co-owner Michael Cho. All are cooked over the open pit in traditional Argentine fashion.

I ordered the special filet of beef, prepared with pan-seared jumbo sea scallops and rosemary Dijon cream sauce and served with julienne potatoes, asparagus and sauteed red and green bell peppers. The steak was tender and delicious, and its accompaniments superb.

My companion’s menu entree, bife champignon, was a grilled 8-ounce K.C. strip covered with fresh mushrooms and an exquisite red wine sauce and served with whipped potato and broccoli and cheese risotto casserole. It was such an excellent cut of meat and so well prepared, she said, that she didn’t at all mind that it was “a little less done” than she’d intended.

Both entrees were so beautifully prepared and so flavorful that they needed nothing. Still, we tried all three chimichurri sauces on each. The verdict? Unspeakably delicious.

Our desserts were tiramisu, a cool, refreshing Italian mix of ladyfingers soaked in espresso and coffee liqueur and covered with a creamy cheese custard, and copa helada de mousse, a delicious mix of frozen chocolate mousse and berries. The tiramisu was perfection and the mousse dessert a marvel that my companion described as “the perfect end to the meal – not overly sweet, but dark, rich and very flavorful.”

This is simply superb dining in every regard – service, ambience and cuisine.

The Argentina Steakhouse

Address: 1410 E. Republic Road

History: Founded in 2002 by Sandra Kim of Buenos Aires

Features: An eclectic menu with specialty steaks and chops.

Price points: Dinner entrees range from $13 to $35 (rack of lamb); lunch entrees are $8 to $14 (an 8-ounce K.C. Strip).

Drinks: The restaurant has a full bar and a wine list with some 150 wines and champagnes.

Ambience: The restaurant can seat 150 diners and provide private dining for 50 at no additional charge. On Friday and Saturday nights, diners may enjoy music by pianist Charlie McDonald.

Reservations: Call (417) 886-8010 or e-mail.[[In-content Ad]]