Anahi, South Argentinian Cuisine

You could be forgiven for thinking this was a condemmed building, far from the centre of town.  It's actually the facade of Argentinian restaurant Anahi.

Located in the Haut, Haut Marais, on rue Volta - closer to Porte St Denis and République than now chi-chi Square du Temple - Volta was actually a street that was classed as "insalubre" until recently. 

Now the old squat across the road is being tarted up but the entrance to this still popular-with-the-odd-Fashonista restaurants remains, distinctly, Verdegris. Inside it's old white and green edged tiles are reminisent of a public bathroom but apparently it was a Charcuterie in days gone by.

Photo by Armando Rampas

It's still on the meaty side of course with those Lomo steaks but I also scored a mean chicken and lemon brochette with pureed sweet potato.  My partner was not so happy when they brought an open (and off) bottle of wine to the table and when he complained the Patronne strode to our table (in Gold Comme des Garçons biker boots) and proceeded to make a huge show of bringing another bottle and loudly explaining why we were - wrong.

The waitress who had served us said that in this Maison, they open the bottles in the kitchen and just bring them out but we find this to be rather mauvaise foi.

The main draw here are the steaks but apparently, from those in the know, they are not what they were.  It still draws a sexy looking crowd, even on a Tuesday night.  According to one TripAdvisor forum post "Heureusement que la viande d'argentine est plus tendre que le service !" 

Still a force to be reckoned with and worth a visit.

Anahi
49, Rue Volta

75003 Paris

Tel: 01 48 87 88 24

Comments

[Christiana Konstantinou]

Anahi sure isn't what it used to be any more. Last time I went there, after waiting for about 1:30 hrs, I was informed that my order had been forgotten :-)I'm a big meat lover, but this piece will take some time to digest...