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» Other Useful Information
Cuisine: New South American
Table to Get: Anything after 11pm, next to the window
Special Features: Cooking School, Famous Chef, Views
Payment Options: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx
The Place:
Los Negros (CLOSED)
The Scene:
According to locals, the property owes its name to the original black owners that resided within the residential structure in the 1940's. Owner Francis Mallmann, perhaps Uruguay's most famous chefs, purchased the space in 1988 as a private residence and shortly thereafter opened a small restaurant. Today it's a culinary destination for anyone in Punta del Este and a regular stomping ground for local celebrities and lunching elite. Traditionally Uruguayan with its red and green exterior, the restaurant comprises of four separate buildings including a lounge, reading room and two dining rooms arranged around a central courtyard. At night, the beam from the adjacent lighthouse reaches out to the Atlantic and lends a good dose of romance for dining twosomes. It's difficult to overstate the beauty of the dining room with its thatched ceilings, ornate chandelier, and almost sacrificial location next to the wild sea.
The Food:
The food of Los Negros has Italian and South American roots, as Mallmann incorporates fresh produce into traditional dishes for a uniquely seasonal flavor. Fish arrives from local fisherman, hand-selected each morning to compose the daily menu with selections of brotola and pejerrey. Lunch is more casual than dinner, offering lighter dishes like breaded steaks and flavorful salads with a more improvised presentation. Dinner is far more elaborate, served as late as 3am with selections of Argentine beef, elaborate handmade pasta and local seafood specialties. Both services utilize the house’s signature cast-iron boxes, which double as both cooking utensils and serving dishes.
Last Word:
Even if you have to splurge on a cab for the trek from Punta to Jose Ignacio, it’s well worth the effort. It’s one of the world’s last seaside jewels with an oceanfront restaurant yet to be ruined by mass-tourism. For serious foodies, opt for a Sunday cooking class often taught by Mallmann.
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