I’ve kept this place a secret for too long, it’s time to share the food love. So here it goes… One of my favorite finds of the year… A place where I’ve regained my hope in a Buenos Aires Jewish deli existence. A spot where I’ve gorged on a hot pastrami sandwich. Gone to town with a pair of knishes. A deli that makes a Jewish penicillin with bosomy matzo ball comfort to cure the nastiest cold. In a city with the largest Jewish population in all of Latin America, La Crespo stands alone as one of the only restaurants that serves Eastern European Jewish deli-style specialties, and instantly became one of my favorite go-to spots in the whole city.
In good deli fashion, La Crespo caters mostly to take-away clients, but there are a few tables with bar stools to eat in house. And it was love at first sight. Tito, one of the owners, who also shares a striking resemblance to my Great Uncle Leo, greeted me at the door and began to describe the menu: Knishes, boios, strudel, liver paté, gravlax, latkes, and the star of the show, the hot pastrami sandwich. *
I think the Red Sea may have parted when the pastrami hit the table: 170 grams of hot pastrami, served with crunchy sliced pickles, mustard, on pumpernickel-esque bread, with sweet caramelized onions on the side. The sandwich transported me to my favorite hometown deli. Total Jewish sandwich heaven.
Then the bagel came out — which wasn’t as chewy with the boiled and baked consistency, but still the best (and only?) bagel I’ve had in Buenos Aires. It’s loaded with homemade gravlax salmon, a light sour creamy cream cheese, and capers. Next time I’d definitely ask for this bagel toasted.
Brownies and cheesecake are probably my favorite desserts, so when put together, the game is over. Many so-called brownies I’ve tried in BA have a hard, dry chalk like taste to them – this didn’t, moist, cooked just right, sweet and delicious.
By the end of my incredible food discover, I had to give my compliments to the chef (or the owners in this case). “This food is so similar to my deli back in Chicago,” I excitingly proclaimed on a food high. Clarissa, Tito’s wife and chef/owner, was not phased by my comments. She responded bluntly: “It’s not similar, it’s the same, copied, exactly as you’ll find in New York.”
Blame it on partial nostalgia, but I was ecstatic to learn a place like this existed in Buenos Aires. Eating at La Crespo made me a little less food-homesick and kept me happy for days.
Update 2016: La Crespo has expanded and now has a large restaurant space next door on the corner with an expanded menu. They also cater for Jewish holidays.
La Crespo
Thames 612, Villa Crespo
Tel. 4856-9770
Tues – Friday: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
Sat & Sunday: 12:00 pm -5:00 pm
elalancito says
I went to La Crespo last week. The hot pastrami sandwich was as advertised–very tasty and a generous portion. For only 42 pesos, it’s a bargain. I take issue with the condiments–the mustard, for example, is not a deli mustard. It is a run-of-the-mill dijon. The pickles are very ordinary and the sauerkraut is too sweet for my taste. I confined my attention to the sandwich. I also had a very good potato knish. I plan to return for one of their bagels at some future point. Overall, I liked it.
Ashley says
Perfect just what I was searching for!
elalancito says
I went there today (Monday May 7, 2012) at 12:00 Noon and the placed was closed. Don’t know if they are permanently closed or just on Mondays or what. There was no schedule or hours of attention posted on the door, nothing.
forkyou says
I think they changed their hours and are now closed on Mondays, but open Tues – Sat
uncle tim says
Ate lunch here yesterday on your rec. I told them you sent us.
Great and sweet owners – she even gave us samples of brownies!
The pastrami sandwich is very good. I just wish they had kraut that wasn’t sweetened. Man they love their things sweet here. Thanks for all the good advice. Keep it up.
Ernest says
Hi, I’ from Uruguay and for months me and my girlfiend saw Antoni Bourdein’s show. One day, he visit Katz Dely and we fell in love with Pastrami, In my country we can’t find a place to try it. The next month we are going to Bs As and I was hoping we can find it there, Thanks for this thip. I’ll go there for sure.
Lauren Dulberg says
You have no idea how happy I am to of stumbled upon this ! I am a Jewish New Yorker moving to Buenos Aires in October and cannot imagine my life without these foods! Even though I try and eat really healthy ( I am an acupuncturist / Chinese Medicine doc) and diet is so important to our health- the happiness that a good pastrami sandwich can bring is even greater! Thanks again!!
Mike says
Need to get there for a good bagel! Haven’t found one here.
paulryankatz says
I had just about given up on the BA bagel, but this place sounds fantastic! Thanks for the post!
hemp says
Sometimes pastrami spices can be too perfumy too overwhelming and the meat overly salted but this pastrami is perfection–just the right balance. They could tell me it was Belorussian spices and boiled I wouldnt care truly this is the Ultimate in Pastrami.
Ale Z says
I love this place and love my home town villa crespo, also known as villa creplaj and villa pastrami
razalba says
jajaja villa creplaj!
Sarthak says
“I am always ameusd when people feel compelled to voice an opinion over something that has nothing to do with them. “Amused? Words to live by! I am always irritated and frustrated with a friend who must, MUST insist that her way of doing things is the only way. Even when it is something in MY life.I need to learn to be ameusd rather than irritated.Thank you for the fresh nugget of inspiration. Now, excuse while I go about chewing on it.
Hardipp says
yeah on the score! i hope you spent it on something toallty frivolous! sorry but hummus and pastrami does sound kinda ewwwww, so that might make it a consensus, not just an opinion ;-). don’t know about the cat food and velveeta, that might just encourage them to keep asking…….
Anonymous says
You uncle Leo is my Uncle Tito!!!!! :)
mariana - querido bed&breakfast says
I work just by La Crespo so I eat there at leats 3 times a week. Today I had a delicious mushroom risotto, you must try it next time.
razalba says
sounds delicious, I’ll have to try it!
Angela says
Looks fantastic! Great find and in one of my favorite neighborhoods.
Rick Powell says
Real pastrami???!!! No way.
I’m there.
Kimberly says
Excellent. I’ve been dying to introduce my partner to New York-style Jew food; looks like this is the place to do it!
Paul Strobl says
Nice!!! I’m going to have to pay them a visit next time I’m in town. Thanks for this!
Louie says
Copied from El Cheesecake Factory? Hot Mama!
Marcos says
Agree 100%! La Crespo is an amazing place, hope we can enjoy it long enough with the same quality
lamusebouchedelivery says
The pastrami sandwich looks wonderful!!!
Jed Rothenberg says
I love you.
Jacob says
Will need to check this out next time I am in BA. So do they have chicken soup?
razalba says
not sure about chicken soup, but they have matzo ball .. here they call them kneidalaj
Donigan Merritt says
I’m there for the pastrami