LTH, New York Chapter Visits La Portena in Jackson Heights

Hamer, her husband Ed, Michael L., and I travelled out to Queens (Jackson Heights) this evening for a pleasurable and modestly priced Argentinian grill at La Portena (something like a churrascaria but ordering off a menu). We found our meal good (perhaps * or **, although Robert Sietsema of the Village Voice rates it *** of 3, and describes it as "the city's most beloved Argentine restaurant"), but we wished that the food was served at something other than a lukewarm temperature. Some dishes were more inspiring that others. I particularly enjoyed the blood sausage and the Portuguese tongue with roasted red bell peppers. We also ordered the mixed grill (with skirt steak, sweetbreads, sausage, and the aforenamed blood sausage), an undistinguished Argentinian antipasto centered by undistinguished potato salad, a nice porkchop with lightly fried egg and sliced ham, an excellent dulce de leche cake and good vanilla ice cream with walnut and scotch. At $35/person (including tax, tip, and wine), this was quite a buy. The restaurant decor was appealing with loads of South American bric-a-brac and we enjoyed our charming old school waiter. If you are on a budget and have a craving for beef, La Portena would be a suitable choice, even without the company of other LTHers.