La Estancia de Elias - San Juan

We stopped here for a quick lunch on the way back to Chile and were not disappointed. At 11.45 hrs, they were open and our order arrived fast. Great meat for a very good price. We loved it! Absolutely recommended!

Most people that stop in Uspallata is mainly to eat an continue travelling, therefore it is unpleasant when service is slow. Slow from taking the order .... to bringing your dishes .... an even to bring you the bill. But in the other hand, I have to be honest and the stake that a eat it was amazing, so at the end I said to myself that it was worth the waiting.

The short and ugly:For the record anybody taking a bus over the Andes hasmisplaced information or simply is a dumb tourist reflected bythe negative, fussy review below. Three or four hours in bus stopat customs (all buses seemingly) would make me mad but madat myself for making the dumb travel arrangement.Don't buses stop at buffets and Denny's?The long on good:This is a favourite stop for our private driver who cautionedus that he will not take fussy tourists here.Why? Read first paragraph on ugly please!The truthful best:Our steaks were perfect. The goat great. Chorrizo fantastic!Everything except bread (olives, pickled onions) comes form their own kitchen. The french fries hand cut to perfect ... check the photo. The washroom bowels and urinals were clean.Yes the mop and a few rags were left in view.It was sufficient and adequate on a third world level.Have people every traveled business class on athird world airline and watched washroom deterioration?Yes, American bathrooms trump the world!The restaurant was 'ranch style country' eating.Wonderful classic and interesting decor ... wine listwas super.

It's a very simple place, no luxury, no comfort, almost somewhere you'd not even stop if you had better options. But they have the best meat I ever had (And I am from Brasil, where meat is a importam thing). The famous Argentinian "bife de ancho" is so soft that you can cut it with two spoons. Don't order anything else, only the bife the ancho with papas fritas (French fries).You not regret and you not forget.

I was in this restaurant two times. Good quality food specially the steak and chimichurri sauce. The owner is a friendly guy. Price isn't very cheap!