Enjoy Top-Notch South American Specialties At Rancho Argentino
By Mike May
If you enjoy steak, chicken, seafood and/or pizza, make plans to visit Rancho Argentino Pizzeria & Grill, located on South Shore Blvd., just north of Pierson Road.
The roots of Rancho Argentino can be traced to South America. All the steaks served at the restaurant are delivered on a regular basis from Argentina, from cows that have grazed on the Pampas, Argentina’s fertile, treeless lowlands.
It’s no accident that the restaurant opened in October 2024 in Wellington, which annually attracts a large number of Argentinians, who spend the North American winter living and working in Wellington’s ever-expanding global equestrian industry. During the winter equestrian season, a number of polo players, dressage riders and show jumpers — and their dedicated crew members — dine at Rancho Argentino.
Since day one, business has been steady and strong, especially during Wellington’s winter equestrian season.
Everything at Rancho Argentino is about the horses. When you walk in, you’ll notice how the restaurant has a distinct and intentional equestrian flair to its décor. Perhaps the most obvious sign is that all seven television sets on the premises are showing coverage of polo, jumping or dressage events.
The goal is to provide food that tantalizes your taste buds, along with exemplary service, all at an acceptable price point.
“Our food is delicious,” said Karina, the restaurant’s manager. “Our menu items are not cheap, and not expensive. They are fairly priced.”
When you review the menu, the key main courses are the steaks and pizzas. The most popular steak is the Entraña (skirt steak), which is best served medium.
“It’s best to have your steak cooked medium, with a little bit of pink, which is what we prefer back in Argentina,” Karina explained.
The most popular pizza is the Fugazzeta, an Argentinian-style pizza covered in grilled onions and cheese, and flavored with olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper. There are also several salads on the menu. The two most popular are the Pony Palm, which features hearts of palm, grilled corn, cherry tomatoes, onions and beets in the restaurant’s signature pink dressing, and the Eventing, which has prosciutto, shaved parmigiano, arugula, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
If you prefer a burger, all four choices on the menu are delightful and delicious. They are the Cachilo (with cheese, lettuce and tomato); the Blade (with blue cheese and sun-dried tomato); the Huaso (a veggie burger with lettuce and tomato); and the Tommy (with a sunny side fried egg, lettuce and tomato). Each are served with French fries.
If you prefer chicken or seafood, Rancho Argentino has some wonderful selections. A great chicken choice is the Pechuga de Pollo Napolitana, mouth-watering grilled chicken served with fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese, garlic and oregano. As for seafood, you would be well advised to try the Shrimps & Tallarines, which is homemade pasta with sautéed shrimp, tomato, garlic, fresh basil and extra virgin oil. Another brilliant seafood dish is the popular Herb Butter Salmon, which is grilled and served with grilled vegetables.
Among the main courses with true South American flavor is the Vacio, a classic Argentinian flank steak, again best served medium. It’s served with fries, grilled vegetables, a salad or mashed potatoes.
If you would like some wine with your meal at Rancho Argentino, there’s a variety from Argentina, as you would expect, but also wines available from California, France, Italy, Spain and New Zealand. All seven Malbec varietals on the menu come from Argentina.
Be sure to end your meal with something sweet. There are a number of dessert choices, with three of the favorites being Flan, Tiramisu and Marquise Chocolate Mousse. Finally, no dining experience would be complete without some coffee — perhaps a latte, espresso, cortadito, Americano, cappuccino or café con leche.
Along with horses, Rancho Argentino loves the local dog population. When you arrive, your dog can sit alongside you, assuming you sit outside under the canopy. Outside the restaurant, there are bowls of drinking water for visiting pups, along with two items on the Dog Menu for your canine companion — Pechugo De Pollo (chicken breast) and Churrasco (steak), both of which are served with rice. Dog beds are provided so canines can rest comfortably at the feet of their companions.
While horses are not invited in person, horse lovers can stop by to purchase a healthy horse snack by walking in and order a Horse Bucket filled with a combination of carrots, apples and oranges.
“It’s a nice touch. We love animals, especially dogs and horses,” said Karina, an animal lover herself.
When not watching equestrian competition, the clientele at Rancho Argentino also love soccer. And this coming summer, local soccer fans will be visiting to watch broadcasts of the World Cup soccer games, especially the matches involving Argentina and its star player Lionel Messi.
“We plan to show all the World Cup soccer games on our TVs,” Karina said. “Everybody is welcome to come dine and watch the games next June and July.”
Rancho Argentino Pizzeria & Grill, located at 13501 South Shore Blvd., is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For more information, visit www.ranchoargentinowellington.com or call (561) 602-0166.
