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[AJE]

Nandu Argentine Restaurant
2731 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Phone: (773) 278-0900

The first thing you notice is the artwork, but you'll leave remembering the food. For aficionados of Argentine food, El Nandu delivers like the postman. For empanada lovers can try their fried treats eight different ways: stuffed with steak and onions, ham and cheese, spinach, shrimp and parmesan, and more. Though there are several tempting chicken plates, the menu's strength, predictable for an Argentine eatery, is concentrated in its beef entrees. Steaks come charbroiled and sauteed, breaded or topped with cheese and onions, served with yellow rice, fries or mashed potatoes. The point is: You got options. The crown jewel of this bevy of beef plates is the parrallida Argentina para uno, which the menu describes as a "combination of our charbroiled beef short ribs, Argentine sausage and beef sweet breads all in one delectable dish, a feast fit for a Gaucho." Que delicioso!

The prices are moderate, with entrees running between $11 and $17, though you can fill up on empanadas for much less. The dining room is long, narrow and comfortable enough to hang out in forever, not unlike the country it celebrates. El Nandu has a full bar and live music Thursday through Saturday. Despite the confined space, dancers dominate the dining room those nights, and if you stick around long enough, you might even see a couple of tango experts giving it a whirl.