La Fusta

ARGENTINA

I was recently speaking to a friend who had designs on traveling in Patagonia, one of the ultimate destinations I have been lucky to travel through. There are many ways to travel but it usually involves a few border crossings back and forth between Chile and Argentina when you get far to the south. I told him that when it comes to food, it is important not to spend too much time outside of Argentina. While you can get smart meals further north in Chile, the options in the windy stretches far to the south are desperately sad.

On a recent trip to a fairly new Chilean restaurant in New Jersey called Patagonia, I found similar circumstances and needed to come back for some Argentinean food at one of the best: La Fusta Parrillada Restaurant. An Elmhurst staple since 1970, La Fusta focuses on what Argentina is best known for: MEAT.

The restaurant is big but divided up into rooms, making it feel intimate. It has a beauty that speaks of old world. The staff is attentive but not smothering, and very knowledgeable. The wine list is well above average, the prices good. When the opportunity and hunger for meat and an Argentinean red strikes, this is your place.

La Fusta salad

Palmitos con salsa golf (mayo + ketchup)

Beef empanadas

Chicken empanadas

We all need our greens and appetizers, but the real reason to come is for the meat mountains known as parrillada, or "grill." They do offer each meat separately but when coming with a group it makes sense to grab the large Argentinean grill (below).

Piled on this are chorizo, blood sausage, short ribs, sweet bread, beef chitterlings, and skirt steak. The pieces are generous and easily can be shared with a group up to six.

ELMHURST Queens

80-32 Baxter Avenue