Ah, Nostalgia! I have to say that El Espanol holds a sentimental spot in my heart—and my stomach.
I used to frequent El Espanol in my days as a poverty-stricken grad student, writing my thesis on tango. Twenty years on, it’s still the neighborhood family restaurant I remember, with BIG portions, LOW prices, and all around great service. If you are in Congreso (or nearby), GO THERE! If you are far away, GO THERE!
My second trip to El Espanol during this visit, I ordered an awesome flan mixto that was almost bigger than my head! If I had been thinking, I would have taken a picture, but I was too busy eating.
Update: Oh joy! Tanya took a picture of the flan!
Cultural moment: My friend Luis and I ordered a pitcher of house wine, a bucket of ice and seltzer water. The Americans were appalled to watch us doctor the wine, but after trying it, they jumped in and did like the Argentines :-)
Flan mixto as big as my head
Part of the grill at El Espanol, AFTER rush time