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[title]"Pioneer: a person who is one of the first to do something new." This is the definition used by the Royal Spanish Academy, and it can be applied to countless stories that abound in both Argentine and global gastronomy.
So, what makes this one particular? It’s about someone who took a risk and, we could say, practically founded one of the most important gastronomic hubs in Buenos Aires: Palermo Hollywood.
"I found a place and opened a restaurant when Palermo Hollywood was basically nothing. I wanted to create something relaxed with reasonable prices. That's how La Dorita started," says Sebastián Valles, who founded this restaurant in 2002 after selling one of his previous culinary ventures, Azul Profundo, an iconic sushi and seafood restaurant in Las Cañitas.
"I found a place and opened a restaurant when Palermo Hollywood was basically nothing"
La Dorita: How the Iconic Argentine Parrilla Was Born
That first opening was followed by many days of work, effort, and decisions. One of the first ones was deciding that he didn’t want a restaurant that only served parrilla, but also the best of Argentine cuisine, like homemade pastas, Napolitan milanesa, and even a signature dish like Choricampi, a sausage wrapped in a thin country bread dough filled with mozzarella and caramelized onions.
Word of mouth was complemented by articles from journalists like Elizabeth Checa, Alicia Delgado, Miguel Brascó, and Fernando Vidal Bussi, who quickly picked up on the exquisite parrilla that had opened its doors at the corner of Costa Rica and Humboldt. "I believe the key to success is that the quality of the products is non-negotiable, and I always work with the best ingredients that come my way. Sensible prices, generous portions, and the best products available. That never fails," says Valles when asked about the success of La Dorita.
"Sensible prices, generous portions, and the best products available. That never fails"
Another key point Valles mentions is the variety of customers and the fact that the extensive menu allows you to eat something different almost every day of the week. "Different groups of people come in, both young and adults. We are open from noon to midnight, and that also means the clientele changes throughout the day," he explains.
The menu is comprehensive and abundant, with parrilla as the star, offering special cuts, shareable boards, and classics. For example, a 450-gram picanha cooked over quebracho wood can be paired with a side and perhaps a light and smooth Imperial Golden beer, a combination that has been gaining popularity at Argentine tables.
La Dorita and Imperial: A Guarantee of Success
"I love beer, and at Imperial, I found a range of beers that are fantastic. Eating with beer is becoming more and more fashionable, especially in the summer. At La Dorita, we get many groups of friends who turn to beer. I think milanesa, which we have a good variety of, goes great with beer. Same with the rib-eye steak with French fries," says Valles.
"Eating with beer is becoming more and more fashionable"
Other possible pairings: ribs with homemade BBQ sauce paired with an Imperial IPA that balances the flavors and adds its citrusy aroma; a chocolate mousse with an Imperial Cream Stout with its coffee notes and creamy foam; Choricampi or offals paired with an Imperial APA with balanced bitterness and floral and citrus aromas.
From Argentina to the World
That first location was followed by La Dorita Botánico in Palermo; La Pescadorita, where he returned to more Mediterranean cuisine focusing on fresh fish and seafood, right across from the first location; and La Dorita del Mercado in Belgrano. He also fulfilled a long-time dream: opening a restaurant in Spain.
Today, tourists and Argentinians visiting Madrid, specifically in the charming Chamartín neighborhood, just two blocks from Paseo de la Castellana, can enjoy a great parrillada with Argentine meat at La Dorita.
"I've always wanted to go to Spain. In 2001, I even had the chance to leave when I sold everything I had and was about to move to Spain. However, the Palermo Hollywood spot came up, and I stayed. Two years ago, a friend who lives there suggested we do something. It's always been a pending project for me to do something in Spain," he adds, mentioning that in April, this realized dream will celebrate its first anniversary.
"It’s always been a pending project for me to do something in Spain"
What’s Next for the Future?
"I don’t have anything planned or decided. The future of La Dorita looks good. I'm looking for a place in another neighborhood, and we’ll see if we expand in Madrid with another location. These are moments when you need to stay still, work, improve, and think about the future."
Where: Bulnes 2593, Palermo; Ciudad de la Paz 2130, Belgrano; Humboldt 1982, Palermo Hollywood; La Pescadorita, Humboldt 1905, Palermo Hollywood. Reservations at this link.