Towards the end of my stay in Buenos Aires, I kept walking past Quotidiano, a charming mid-range Italian restaurant chain set up for quick lunches and longer dinners. One Tuesday lunchtime, I needed to satisfy my cravings for Italian food and decided to try it out.
Details
Restaurant: Quotidiano
Location: Av. Callao 1299, C1023 CABA, Argentina
Opening Hours: Su-Th: 8am-12am, F-Sa: 8am-1am
Website: Click here
The Menu at Quotidiano
My initial online trawl showed that Quotidiano is best known for light but delicious pasta dishes. I started to pick out some ‘maybes' in advance. Do you have that habit?!
Quotidiano: The Room
I arrived as lunch service was getting going and was settled quickly at a shared table with a menu. The one thing that really drew me in was the prospect of pasta with chicken.
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Although it was barely 12 noon, the room was bustling with a lunch crowd. I guessed these were mainly workers dashing out from the office to grab a bite at one of the shared tables. For couples and small groups, tables were available around the perimeter of the room. Some friends were enjoying a glass of red wine, and why not?!
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Quotidiano: Branding
Quotidiano is strongly branded around the letter ‘Q'. Silverware was presented in a branded napkin and the letter is repeated on wall art, menus and the bill. It's good to see design taken so seriously: it does matter and draws the customer in.
Quotidiano Food: Italian Cravings
Quotidiano knows its market: Italian food served quickly. I had been craving Italian food since I got to Argentina, and knew something of the long history of Italian influences in the country. Quick smart, my tortellini stuffed with chicken arrived in a waft of savoury umami scents. The dressing was the most delicious fresh herb butter. For some the seasoning might have been a little too high, but for me this was just about perfect. A large piece of crusty bread would have been the perfect complement to soak up those juices, but sadly was not on offer.
The portion size here is just big enough to fill one person. There is no doubt that this is sized for lunch portions, but would be insufficient for a main evening meal.
Conclusion
I left wishing I'd found Quotidiano earlier in my trip. Or perhaps, with all those rich carbs, my last day in Buenos Aires was just the right time to find it! It left me wanting more and that's not a bad claim for a restaurant.
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