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[title]Walking into Regina Bistró feels like discovering a restaurant that understands something that can be surprisingly hard to find: dining out can also mean letting yourself be guided by the experience.
Located in one of the spaces along La Recova de Posadas, surrounded by arches and wide sidewalks, the restaurant carries that aesthetic indoors with a bright, elegant and welcoming dining room. But what truly defines the experience is what arrives at the table: a menu of European classics, generous portions and a wide enough selection to make you want to come back and try something different.
We went to check it out and took the advice of Oscar, the waiter who welcomed us with a question as simple as it was effective: “What are you in the mood for?” Between chicken so tender you can cut it with a spoon, truffle pasta and a Café de Paris ribeye, the answer came fairly easily.
The menu looks to the classics without getting stuck in nostalgia. France, Italy and Spain all feature in an extensive offering that ranges from bistro dishes to pasta, fish, meat, rice dishes and European desserts.
We followed Oscar’s recommendations and started with jamón crudo with gnocco fritto and prawns. There are several options to share from the outset, including anchovies with tomato or boquerones, marinated black olives and oysters, as well as starters such as vitel toné, caponata with stracciatella and grilled baby squid.
The prawns and jamón crudo offered a good preview of what Regina has to offer: familiar flavours, quality ingredients taking centre stage, and tasty, well-executed dishes. Then it was time for the mains, and that was when things got serious.
We ordered chicken with mashed potatoes and ribeye with endives. The chicken has one detail that is enough to make you want to order it: you can cut it with a spoon. The meat is so tender that a knife is practically unnecessary. It is one of those dishes that needs very little embellishment to deliver. The mash complements it while letting the chicken remain the star. And yes, Oscar was right again.
The ribeye took a different approach: cooked just right, with a nicely seared exterior and a juicy centre. On the menu, it appears as Café de Paris ribeye, a 300-gram cut served with herb butter and curry. We tried it with roasted endives, a side dish that added a vegetal, slightly bitter contrast.
The meat section also includes peppercorn tenderloin, a burger with white cheddar and white polenta with braised beef cheeks. Side dishes include the house fries —including a version with black truffle—, creamed spinach, garlic broccoli and braised artichokes.
A taste of Italy
If one section deserves special attention, it is the pasta menu. The restaurant describes it as the heart of its kitchen, with options for those after traditional favourites as well as more sophisticated dishes: bucatini alla chitarra with butter and black truffle, tagliatelle Bolognese, gnocchi al pomodoro with stracciatella, ricotta florentines with butter and sage, and agnolotti del plin with demi-glace and Parmesan foam.
There is also a section devoted to rice dishes, featuring mushroom risotto, Argentine-style seafood paella and creamy prawn rice.
From the sea to the table
For those who prefer fish, the selection changes according to the day’s availability. Options may include wreckfish, salmon, pollock, sole, croaker, grouper, Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi), trout or pacú, served with a choice of sauces.
It is a menu that leaves plenty of room to choose your own path. You can go for a more traditional bistro meal, explore European culinary traditions or put together a table of several dishes to share. There are even a few distinctly Buenos Aires touches, such as vitel toné, which sits comfortably alongside oysters, gnocco fritto, truffles and Italian pasta.
Something sweet to finish
We ordered crème brûlée and a profiterole. The former delivered everything you would expect from the classic dessert: a layer of caramelised sugar to crack with your spoon and a smooth custard underneath. The profiterole came with pistachio ice cream and chocolate sauce, an indulgent combination that brought the meal to a grand finale.
The dessert menu follows the same European approach, with tiramisu, chocolate mousse with crème fraîche and candied cocoa nibs, and a Basque-style dulce de leche tart.
A drink is part of the experience, too
The stylish bar complements the experience with cocktails and mocktails designed for different moments throughout the meal. There are classic drinks and alcohol-free options to accompany the food, raise a glass or linger a little longer after dinner.
We left with the feeling that we had found a restaurant that knows exactly what it wants to be: a European bistro serving classic cuisine, tailored to Buenos Aires today. A beautiful setting, plenty of options to choose from, dishes built around familiar recipes and service that adds to the experience.
Because yes, the food matters. A lot. But when, after several courses, you still remember the waiter who recommended what to order, chances are something was done right.
Where: Posadas 1053, in La Recova de Posadas. Open daily from noon to 1am.