Restaurant Roulette with Suzanne! June Issue!

This month was Rachael’s choice. We started the evening at the Three Rivers Art Festival and it was a very warm, sunny day. We walked through the art market that was set up across the Ninth Street Bridge and along the Duquesne Boulevard. It is nice to see so many artists out displaying their talents. There were plenty of food stations set up and a nice number of picnic tables. The band was playing and it was very enjoyable to hear the steel drums.

On to the Strip District to try Balvanera, an Argentinian restaurant. The Strip was bustling with activity from an outdoor exercise class, to people riding bikes, and crowded restaurants with filled outdoor patios.

We really liked Balvanera. The servers were extremely attentive and friendly, the table was wiped between servings and fresh silverware was placed between courses. The decor was light and airy with a lot of light wood, mirrors, and big light fixtures but it was a bit loud for conversation.

Rachael enjoyed the house Malbec while we ordered several small plates and the skirt steak, served with fresh chimi, salsa criolla and roasted garlic.

For the small plates we started with Gildas ($10)—cute, fresh skewers of guindilla peppers, anchovies, onions and manzanilla olives, and the Harlow’s Caesar salad ($16).

Next we had the arancini de coliflor ($12)—cauliflower and rice croquettes with melted cheese. They were light and fried perfectly.

The steak was tender and delicious with a smokey flavor ($32). To pair, we ordered the papas frites ($10)—French fries and rueda de cordero ($16)—housemade lamb sausage served with pear chutney and herb salad.

​To top off the evening, we ordered the Tarta de Chocolate, a rich chocolate ganache served with whipped creme fraiche. It was decadent and served with a rich cup of coffee. Everything was very fresh  and well seasoned. Give it a try, we enjoyed Balvanera!