Belgium has finally arrived in Buenos Aires. I am thrilled. I am all excited. I can now eat Belgian food in ‘Le Pain Quotidien’ in Capital. I couldn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes – and of course, until I had tested it.
It was officially opened last week, this restaurant in Palermo, and in the future another 14 will be opened. Of course the menu is somewhat adapted to the local market (there is dulce de leche on the menu, they don’t sell the overly delicious speculoospasta (yet), and they put sugar in the mint lemonade instead of Agave), but besides these little details the restaurant is for real. It is ‘Le Pain Quotidien’ as I know it. The interior is identical to the ones in Belgium. The menu is similar.
I was surprised to see it was completely full, even though it has only been open for a week. I didn’t know Argentines liked communal tables, but it seems they don’t mind at all.
The place is perfect for breakfast, brunch and lunch. It opens at 8am and is on Jeronimo Salguero 3075 (close to Av Alcorta and just 1 block from Starbucks). I can’t wait until the others will open, and hope they will be closer to my house. After all, this one is about an hour walk. Hehe.
Check out the webpage (although the Argentine site isn’t active yet) and the restaurant, and let’s hope you will love it as much as I do!
Global Citizens 
weer iets voor op mijn bezoekerslijstje!!
Moetje, altijd welkom, maar is’t niet gemakkelijker om effe naar Gent te rijden voor ne pain qoutidien? 😉
weer een verbetering daar het wordt er nog ideaal haha
Ja ge zult toch eens moeten afkomen he?
Did you say they plan to open 14 new restaurants??? Maybe it was a typo? Is it some sort of restaurant chain in Belgium?
Or maybe the owner is really really wealtthy…who knows.
Seems interesting though, I’ll check it out; Does it really have a belgian feeling?
p.d.: I wonder if they have a painting of Leopold II on the wall (I’ll settle for Hergé if not, though) lol
It is indeed an ‘upscale’ chain. In Belgium it has about 16 restaurants, but never more then 1 in 1 city. There are also restaurants in 15 other countries. It is extremely popular in New York where there are more restaurants then in Belgium. In Belgium it is known and famous (=always full) but not considered unique. They serve healthy, organic food. Their salads and ‘tartines’ (a kind of sandwich) are delicious. I don’t know if it has a ‘Belgian feeling’ (whatever that is). I do know that the Belgian ‘Pain Au chocolat’ is absolutely delicious!
You should definitely try it, and no, you will not find Leopold, (or any other king) on the wall (at least I dont think so, LOL).
I will definitely try this one!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
your welcome 😉
Beste Katti,
Eet smakeljk en geniet van wat Belgisch in Argentinia.
Grts. Johan en ann-Marie
Thnx!! Tot in den draai!