A Springtime Spot: FLORENCIO

**FLORENCIO IS NOW CLOSED AT THIS LOCATION, BUT STILL OPEN IN RECOLETA**

Florencio’s tiny café situated on a charming cobblestone street near the British Embassy was always a top choice to send visitors in the Recoleta area.  Even though it is one of my favorite merienda spots in the city, with only a few tables, it proved to be a crapshoot whether or not there would be an empty table available.  Luckily, Florencio opened a second (and larger) location in Palermo (Segui 4611), serving the same menu of salads, sandwiches, tartas and delicate pastries.Everything about the Palermo location is pretty similar to the original, except it is double in size with about 12 tables instead of 6.  The café is filled with natural light and tastefully decorated with black and white photographs on the walls.  A big fan of reusing jars and glasses myself, bright green plants and flowers planted in old mason jars and bottles give the interior an added homey touch.

The menu, displayed on a large chalkboard mounted on the wall, changes regularly but always includes sandwiches and tartas.

I had to try one of their house specialties, that I’m told is always on the menu, the tarta de puerro.  The masa of the tarta was flaky, buttery (in a great way) with a crispy crust.  Inside, the leeks and onion were a bit boring – skimpy on the good stuff and while it tasted good, it definitely was missing a certain special component.  It came with a side of lettuce topped with some sesame seeds that tasted just as interesting as I described it.

Even though I love me a big, fat juicy choripan, I am generally not the biggest fan of steak sandwiches.  I still went with a lomo and brie sandwich to expand my food horizons and branch out of my grilled veggie sandwich comfort zone. I really wanted to like it, but the steak was undercooked, a bit too chewy, and the sandwich overall boring. I wish the sandwich had included some caramelized onions or roasted red peppers. On a plus side, I disassembled the sandwich and ate the fresh baked bread.

Awesome pastries – check out this mini cheesecake tart, such a hottie.Florencio will still remain a go-to place for merienda or postre and café – to relax in the pleasant atmosphere, enjoy friendly service and stuff face with endless sweets.

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