Local Good News Update: El Diez took the open restaurant space around the corner from us!

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(Great local news - El Diez opens up on our corner!)

For 25 years or so El Cafe-to was on the corner of Patricio Sanz and Luz Saviñon, right on the corner of our street here in Del Valle Centro. I think we ate there once, but can't say for sure. We must have, probably back when we bought our condo here (2016) but not since we decided to live in it (2022).

We noticed El Cafe-to was faltering over the past couple of years. There was a pivot where they installed an Italian pizza oven and updated their menu. We tried it one night. It was just okay. Friendly service, but meh food. So we didn't go back.

Then it became clear that wasn't working and we saw fewer and fewer customers at the sidewalk-side tables. Last time we tried to pop in a few months ago we sat down and were presented with a menu that included like 3 items. And the interior felt really stale and sad. We didn't stay. Its days were numbered, clearly. Not long after the inevitable closing notice was posted and we've been wondering (and I've been worrying) about what would take its space. Work progressed steadily for some weeks and it seemed that something nice was on the way.

Then, one night while walking the dogs I spotted the El Diez sign on the wall. Judy was out of town at the time so I took these pics to share the excitement.

(Here you can see the pizza oven which was oddly left outside on the sidewalk for weeks. Surprising that no one tried to snag it. Suppose it's not the easiest thing to make off with.)

It was still a few weeks from opening and we were off in Korea for a few weeks in the meantime, so we missed any grand opening. Same day Judy returned, though, that was our choice for dinner.

El Diez had a location for at least the last 5 years just down the street, at the corner of Luz Saviñon and González de Cossio. We've eaten there a handful of times and gotten takeout probably once a month. It's hard to overstate how happy I am with this development. First, one of our local favorites now has a better and even closer space for us to enjoy. And second, it wasn't some wild card joint opening up that might host private parties or otherwise jack up the music at night. Fingers crossed / knock on wood, our experience with El Diez is they are relatively chill and pleasant neighbors.

So we went and had our first meal at the new place, albeit not our standard order (either the arrachera + ensalada griega or 6 empanadas fritas + un choripan para llevar). We weren't super hungry so we kept it to a couple of empanadas and some sopas (jugo de carne para mi and Judy got some lentil deal).

(Think the reason for this weird angle shot was trying to avoid directly pointing at some fellow diners. Anyway, it was cool-ish this evening so we ate inside.)

(One bonus of dining in is you get the warm rolls with chimichurri and a hot sauce! We dig the bread. Wish it came with a little side of mantequilla también, but it's still good like this.)

Here's the rest of the meal. Can't forget the fries. They really do these well. Nicely seasoned. Good balance of crispy outside, pillowy inside.

So, that's the good news update. Now we're waiting to see what opens up right next door in the old Parilla Fusión spot ...