Señor Patata Head

The popular Spanish baked potato chain, Sr. Patata, has expanded their franchise across the Atlantic, opening the very first (and only) place to get a stuffed / jacket baked potato in Buenos Aires.  Sr. Patata (Reconquista 856 y Tres Sargentos) offers about 8 different stuffing options for the papas asadas.

Cooked perfectly in a hard core potato oven, the skin of the baked potato crisps up quite nicely, while the center remains mashed potatoe-y, filled with toppings like chicken curry, chicken and vegetables, ham and cheese, seafood and more. While the fillings aren’t the best quality, and flavor combinations need a bit of improvement, it is still a healthy lunch / after office option in the microcentro that is different from the norm.  My favorite filling? Pollo al curry.

Since the potato craze has not quite hit Argentina, business is far from booming.  The microcentro lunch crowd are not known for their adventurous food choices (yes, baked potato is considered adventurous in Argieland).  Most porteños remain a bit skeptical about this whole concept because if there is no bread (and at least another carb), and no hunk of fried meat, how can it be a substantial meal hitting all groups in the food pyramid? Sr. Patata does offer other menu items like paninis, ham and cheese sandwiches, and who could forget the ever creative milanesa.

Also offering a happy hour, this is a great place to sit on a warm day, people watch on the pedestrian street, Reconquista, and picar at a papa asada.