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[title]Simplicity is part of the identity of this place: at Perú 159, in front of the Buenos Aires Legislature, D’Oro Italian Bar welcomes diners with a black awning and a well-lit display window. Once inside, the DNA is evident from the first moment: a restaurant serving 100% Italian recipes in the heart of the Monserrat neighborhood.
Behind the counter is a family: the D’Oros. Claudio, who started the project alongside his brother and is now the CEO in charge of optimization and future development, and his children: Leandro, the General Manager, and Francesca and Florencia, who work in various areas. The three of them are partners and manage the daily operations of this dream that began in 1999 but was conceived long before that.
Claudio emigrated to Rome at 21, where he worked in various kitchens and immersed himself in the Italian DNA that would later become the backbone of his culinary project. “It helped me understand the culture of Italian cooking and gave me the tools to play without transgressing that identity. If you don’t understand the essence of something, you might distort it by trying to add your own touch,” Claudio explains, having spent six years in Europe working and, above all, learning.
The Italian personality is present in every corner of the place, with its peak in the menu. For example, Spaghetti nero mare e vermouth, a long pasta with squid ink, prawns, and baby squid, deglazed with Italian vermouth; or Fettuccini ragù di manzo, fresh pasta with pomodoro sauce, shredded beef, and premium minced meat.
“The preparation of Italian cuisine must be simple. Freshness and quality come from the raw ingredients, which we make sure are always the best,” says the entrepreneur, who, before D’Oro, opened Gino, an Italian restaurant in honor of his father. It was a “spaguetteria” that did very well until he and his brother decided to sell it.
"The preparation of Italian cuisine must be simple"
D’Oro Italian Bar, a Symbol of the City
The freshness of every ingredient, the simple yet meticulously executed recipes, and the warmth of perfectly timed service are the pillars that have kept D’Oro relevant for over 25 years among Buenos Aires’ food lovers.
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This result, seen at every table, Claudio attributes to the “school” he gained in Italy. “They are very obsessive about work there. There were no consolation prizes or praise for daily work. You were rewarded for doing things, for thinking, for evolving, for keeping up,” he details, explaining that he returned with that mindset, which he incorporated into D’Oro.
Also crucial is the other half of D’Oro’s DNA, formed when Claudio started his business in Argentina and refined further when he traveled to Miami in 2011 to open D’Oro Caffé & Market, a gourmet café that is still running today. “The professionalism related to human resources, internal organization, setting objectives by area, and providing rewards when they’re met, I learned in the United States,” he said.
Italian Pasta and Now, Wines!
The next project for D’Oro is already underway: having Italian wines from different regions on their menu. “The idea is for our customers to try them at the restaurant. It’s something new for us,” says Claudio, who has spent the last few months touring different regions of the country, discovering projects and producers.
"The idea is for our customers to try the wines at the restaurant"
Where: Perú 159, CABA. Monday from 9:00 to 16:00; Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 to 00:00; Saturday from 12:00 to 00:00; and Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00. Reservations can be made here.