Donnet
Food & Drink
Coordinates
34.58528° S, 58.451039° W
Address
Fraga 499
C1427BTI CABA
Buenos Aires
Argentina
what3words
dragging.affair.callers
Telephone
+54 11 4551 1915
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A low-key eatery on a sleepy corner of Chacarita, Donnet has carved a vegan oasis out of an old butcher shop. The hand-painted “polleria”, indicating the store’s previous life as a chicken vendor, remains untouched in bold blue and red block lettering on the building’s facade.
The restaurant is the creation of Manuela Donnet, a cook and casual meat-eater who set out to build a vegan menu for curious carnivores in a city dominated by red meat. The compact menu is in a constant state of flux, which is both the product of seasonal offerings from a handful of local organic farmers and vendors and Donnet’s own insatiable need to improvise. Regular fixtures include ‘faina’, a savory pancake made with chickpea flour and dressed in pesto and tomato paste, creamy soups and a variety of mushroom mains dressed with sauces like fermented chestnut cream or sautéed and crowned atop yamani rice with dried fruits, roasted almonds and drizzles of honey.
The interior is a hodge podge of Donnet’s own belongings. Knick-knacks, dishes and utensils, artworks and furnishings were transplanted directly from her home and give off a cosy attitude more akin to a quirky second-hand shop than a vegan bistro. Planters and fruit bowls are prominent table fixtures and it isn’t entirely uncommon for Donnet to pop over to snag a green onion or for a diner to grab from a banana bunch. Communal tables fit snuggly in the relatively small space, making this young dinner crowd all the more friendly.
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Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday
6:00pm - 01:00am
Sunday
Closed
Nearest Train Station
Fraga
Nearest Bus Station
Fraga
Words by Kevin Vaughn
Photography by Michael Gannon