There are quite a number of Brazilian grills around London yet not as many of Argentinian ones around. My last time was eating at Buen Ayre several years ago up in Broadway Market. I noticed around the back of Exmouth Market one quite close to where I live that I finally got around to eating at.
![Asador](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekua.com/doesfood/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Asador.jpg?resize=550%2C825)
When you walk into the restaurant, you notice a slight smoke in the air. This comes from the magnificent Asador or fire pit where you can see a number of meats roasting. We dined there early on during the week so they probably are used to roasting many more meats. It’s definitely an impressive sight to see.
![BreadWithAioli](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekua.com/doesfood/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/BreadWithAioli.jpg?resize=550%2C367)
Upon ordering, we got served some nice soft bread. Instead of butter however, we got aioli to spread across the bread. I have no idea if this is a common thing or not, but it tasted pretty good.
![Empanads](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekua.com/doesfood/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Empanads.jpg?resize=550%2C825)
We also ordered the mixed empanadas to start with. It’s a bit hard not to enough pastries filled with assorted mixtures.
![SpinachEmpanada](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekua.com/doesfood/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SpinachEmpanada.jpg?resize=550%2C367)
Here’s the picture of the spinach empanada above. I think the Caprese one was my favourite out of the three that we had. The ham and cheese one tasted strangely like a mini calzone.
![MixedGrill](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekua.com/doesfood/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/MixedGrill.jpg?resize=550%2C367)
We decided to go with for the A La Cruz Tradiciona Parrilladas at a very reasonable cost of £21 per person without the sweet breads. It comes with a whole heap of meat. In fact, there was so much meat that it would have been much more than what I think I’d eat during an entire week. It arrived with boneless flank, pork sausages, black pudding, chistorra, lamb and some other beef cuts. So. Much. Meat. I walked out with a food coma. Fortunately it was all really tasty and well seasoned that it didn’t really need anything else to go with it.
![ChipsAndSalad](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekua.com/doesfood/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ChipsAndSalad.jpg?resize=550%2C367)
Not anticipating the amount of meat, we also ordered a side of chips (super crisp, fluffy and covered with garlic and parsley) and a side salad of rocket and Parmesan for some greens. Service was okay although our tap water remained unfilled for quite some time and we waited for sometime to flag a staff for the bill (when there were only four tables seated).
Would I return? Yes if I was in dire need of a protein injection. Could I eat that much meat again? Not this year.
Name: A La Cruz
Found at: 42 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HU
Website: http://www.alacruz.com/