Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse

If we're strictly talking about the steaks. This may be the best steakhouse in Los Angeles. The ribeye cap was to die for. It was a very thick piece of meat, cooked to absolute perfection. It was so soft and melted in your mouth like butter. It was truly spectacular. We enjoyed the creamed spinach and the garlic fries as well. We tried the prawns as an appetizer but they did have a slightly alcoholic taste to them, I don't think the white wine had fully reduced.

The interior was very reminiscent of a New York style restaurant, which excellent and knowledgeable servers. They also had a cordial player adding to the romantic ambience. I really loved dining here.

Things to note: they have no liquor, only beer and wine. The wine selection is also very pricey, so expect to drop at least $100 on a bottle. They do have a corkage fee of $40 .

Family owned, friendly, and just perfect all around.

Food: Delicious food. You cannot go wrong with anything. - Bread and Chimichurri 10/10
- Chicken empanadas 10/10
- Spinach and cheese empanadas 12/10
- Creamed corn 10/10
- Parmesan fries 10/10
- Steaks 10/10

Service: AMAZING service. From opening doors, to changing plates, refilling water, and packaging our leftovers. Just the right amount of attention (not helicoptering over your shoulder like some places but always noticing when something is needed).

Ambiance: Patio is very intimate. Just enough lighting and low background music. Outside heaters as well.

Parking: Valet and street parking near the alley

Vegetarian friendly!

Amazing food and service! Made the night special.

Fair warning though they are super expensive. Our meal was $300 for two, with no alcohol ordered, and still water (1 big bottle between us) was $12.

Came for an early Valentine's Day. We did street parking but there was a valet up front. Service was really great and attentive, and they guided us and gave us recommendations. They were thoughtful about when to bring out certain dishes to complement each other. It did start to get busy as more people came in.

People mostly come to share food. There's small tables for groups up to about 6.

Food (* = must order!)
- bread and chimichurri - yummy!
- Caesar salad - split between 2 people was plenty. Each wedge had a piece of anchovies in it. Good
- * champiñones rellenos - so good!! The truffle butter cream was rich and delicious. We enjoyed dipping our bread in
- creamed corn - it was bigger than I thought it would be. Tasted okay and we were honestly getting too full
- * papas fritas provenzal - they said these fries put them on the map. They were really good! And it was a huge plate for 2 people
- * tapa de ojo/ ribeye cap (12 oz) - they said it was exclusive to their restaurant. It was yummy!
- * entraña/ skirt steak (8 oz) - this was our favorite!

It was just a bit too much food for 2 people. We packed most of the creamed corn and fries to go but finished the rest. A great experience overall!

You will want to make reservations! Service is beyond! Take their recommendations! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We had the crepes for dessert, perfect!

Small restaurant with big history! Attentive Staff and great ambiance with live music. The food was mostly great. For dinner I ordered chicken with dried fruits but the cream sauce was just a bit too much. Other than that everything tasted great. For four people we ordered 4 appetizers, 3 entree's and a bottle of wine and it was about $260 per couple.

100 % would recommend. I have driven down Melrose hundreds of times and never noticed Carlitos. It's been there maybe since the late 90s.

Definitely has an unassuming store front, but when you walk in, you don't feel like you're in LA anymore. I liked that they were not pushy with what to order. They have a sommelier. Maybe he could tell we weren't going to buy the $500 bottle because be left us after a brief explanation of what they have to offer. There was no pressure or shaming. They do have wine by the glass. Their wine was soooooo good with our meal! Trust the suggestions in the menu.

We ordered the rib cap and it was enough for 2. They cut it at the table for you. Order an empanada! Perfectly fried without being too oily. The burrata was so fresh. We brought some home and was still tasty a couple days later. If you read other reviews, everyone orders the fries, so you should too, we did. You gotta love garlic though because it was bumping! We got the Caesar salad, it was a special. That was so so, but we needed some vegetables.

I was hoping our waiter was Carlitos or at least from Argentina. He was neither. It's okay though , he still delivered hospitable service and took care of us as we celebrated my boyfriend's birthday.

Simply amazing! Everything we thought it'd be and more. Everything we had was perfectly prepared and served. Amazing service and quality food.

The Caesar salad and gnocchi specials were simply prepared but tasted amazing. The branzino was flaky and very flavorful. However, the rib cap was the star of the show. We opted for the bigger cut that we can all share. It was tender and didn't need any sauces or accompaniments.

This was a classic dining experience that is perfect for a larger group like ours or an intimate, romantic dinner. We can't wait to be back and share this place with more of our friends.

A couple of side notes, they only serve beer and a very extensive wine menu, and valet parking is available for $12, cash only.

Went here for a late Friday night dinner. The interior is very charming - nice for a date. The service is what really stands out, although the food was also great and up to par with the pricing.

Additionally, the Dulce de leche ice cream is a must try.

I visited Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse with four friends to celebrate a birthday, and it was an experience to remember! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance set the stage for a special evening - dimly lit, cozy, and just perfect for celebrating those special moments.

Our waiter, Carter, was exceptional. He attended to our every need with a smile and made sure our evening was flawless. And let's not forget about Max, the sommelier, whose expertise in wine selection added an extra touch of class to our dining experience.

Now, the food! We started with 'Papas Fritas Proveçal' - crispy and seasoned just right. The 'Burrata San Daniele' was a delight, especially the prosciutto - it was my favorite. But the real star for me was the 'Champignon Rellenos'. The combination of chorizo, eggplant, and truffled bread crumbs, topped with white truffle buttercream, was simply perfection.

For our main course, we shared the 'Parrillada Argentina' - a magnificent selection of five different types of meats. It's a great choice, especially if you're sampling meats. We also tried the 'Tapa De Ojo' - a medium prime ribeye cooked to absolute perfection.

The service was outstanding throughout our meal, making our celebration even more special. I can't recommend Carlitos Gardel Argentine Steakhouse enough. It's a must-visit for anyone looking for a delightful dining experience with friends or family. Can't wait to go back!

Absolutely loved our dinner here for our anniversary. We ordered the ribeye and was served the first slice of the night on a Himalayan salt table. Probably the best steak I have ever had. Perfectly cooked and seasoned very well. Their chimichurri sauce was also the best I have ever had. I probably had it with everything we ordered. We enjoyed everything we tried, except for the fries, which was on the very salty side.

Ambiance and service was top notched. We enjoyed our evening and had an amazing time.