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Buenos Aires, Argentina > Buenos Aires restaurants > Congo CongoHonduras 5329 (@ Godoy Cruz); Tel. +(011.54.11) 4833.5857
Now open for a year and a half, Congo is quickly ascending the ranks among the coolest places in town. There’s no sign outside; there’s not a list to get in either, but prior knowledge is necessary to avoid walking right past it. The well-muscled bouncer smiles and responds in turn to friendly greetings, proving that one can get the job done without being a jerk. Once inside, you’ll be met by a stream of excellent music (by artists such as Prince, St. Germain, Jamie Cullem, and Seu Jorge) provided by a nightly rotation of local DJs, and presented with the choice of four areas to settle: the lounge, the bar, the restaurants room, or the patio, all of which boast a distinct and fashionable design. The lounge is a medley of cream, tan, and brown leather couches and wall panels and is very cozy. The bar is long, narrow, and perennially crowded, but the 20 ft. ceiling and soft lights of alternating white and orange make it more appealing. The tables in the restaurants room are reserved for those ordering dinner until 1am, for whom the vegetable stir-fry (vegetales al wok), barbeque pork chop (bondiola de cerdo), and dinner salad (with bacon bits!) are the most interesting choices. Congo’s tapasare available at all hours, and thankfully: the small plates of prawns with guacamole, smoked salmon, hummus, garlic shrimp, and tomato bruschetta (among others) are endlessly appealing. Beyond all this magnificence of food and design lies a spacious patio with wooden booths and tropical plants, as well as another detached, indoor bar. They serve up a wide range of cocktails, but the Batida de Jengibre (vodka, ginger, triple sec, lemon) is a favorite, and bottles of Quilmes and Iguana are available for $5AR. There’s really too much to say in praise of Congo; you might as well check it out for yourself. —Congo review by Dave Muller
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