Good Moooove
Meat, and Lots of It at a Reasonable Price,
Is the Ticket at Rancho Argentino

With its steer horns, gaucho hats and Argentine grill, Rancho Argentino offers a taste of South America. Photo by Camila Souza.

By Camila Souza

Mmmm…¡Que buena carne!

For the few South Floridians who don’t speak any Spanish, that means great steak, and South Beach’s Rancho Argentino Steak House strives for the best.

A little culture lesson: Argentines take their meat very seriously. At Rancho Argentino that means meat is cut in thick pieces and cooked over open charcoal and wood, giving it a distinct flavor and texture.

Although Rancho Argentino opened about five months ago, its coziness and popularity belie its relatively new status on the Miami Beach dining scene. Finding a place like this is like finding parking on South Beach on a Saturday night – it’s rare and you feel lucky to have discovered it.

Rancho Argentino’s all-you-can-eat buffet with ample selections plays an important role in setting it apart from the herd. The reasonable prices don’t hurt either. Lunch includes a choice of meat and salad bar for only $9.95. The buffet dinner includes unlimited salad bar, grilled meats and fish, one bottle of select wine per couple and dessert for $29.95.

Specialties include the tender sirloin (lomo in Spanish) and skirt steak. Rancho’s menu also includes a variety of fish, pasta and salad dishes for those for whom steak does not constitute a religion.

Unlike most other high-volume restaurants that offer bottomless buffets, Rancho Argentino offers a classy ambiance and great customer service. The authentic rustic décor conveys the atmosphere of a typical Latin American ranch restaurant.

Owner Gabriel Capasso believes that in addition to all of the above, the friendly setting he fosters at Rancho Argentino is what will keep customers coming back for more.

“Each customer is unique and I want them to have a good time in my restaurant,” he said.

Rancho Argentino Steak House is located at 1415 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. They are open seven days from noon until 11:30 p.m. or midnight. Call 305-538 7205.