I’ll be curious to re-check it out. We certainly enjoyed our meal there, other than the initial problems with the waiter. Our biggest complaint at the time was the price. Keep in mind that 180 pesos four years ago would be the equivalent to paying around 500 pesos in today’s terms for the same dishes. I’m assuming they haven’t gone up that much or they wouldn’t still be in business – but that tells you why we found it so expensive at the time. At that point we could go out for a full three course meal at a good restaurant and pay about 100 pesos, including wine.

I have just come across your website and having read your review of Marcelo, which I note was published in 2005, feel strongly enough to scribble an update. My girlfriend and I consider ourselves the number one experts on Marcelo, as for a month, having spent draining days running round the campo looking for horses to buy and playing energetic polo, we ended up eating there every second night – it was after all within limping distance of our apartment. It sounds like they have considerably upped their game since your visit, and my girlfriend (a pasta fanatic) considers theirs the best in BA. First impressions, the place was buzzing and predominantly with Argentinians. There was always a crowd waiting, though courteously provided with drinks, which by our third visit we were allowed to bypass having attained “regular” status. The service is now impeccable and charming, aided by their sophisticated software which allows the manager to know the status of each tables dishes (yes I was interested enough to find out the name of it and how it worked), and the fact that the man, Marcelo, is always in the house. Prices may be higher than in other parts of BA but stick to the pasta and you get what you pay for. Perfectly cooked ribbons in excellent sauces, clearly based on proper stocks be they fish or meat. Breads are still excellent, fish better than most places, puddings good but largely unnecessary if you have shared two abundant pasta dishes. As a serial disputer of substandard fare and service, I surprisingly found nothing to complain about in at least a dozen visits. I also came to know a lively crowd of Argentine regulars who frequent Marcelo with enthusiasm aided by liberal amounts of vino. And the service remained excellent every night despite the fact it was the festive season and the place was rammed. To conclude, if you are bored of beef head to Marcellos for perfect pasta.