A small Argentinian grill inside America del Sur Hostel, on the hill above El Calafate, overlooking Lago Argentino. Patagonian braised lamb, handmade lamb empanadas and steak. Ten years cooking for travellers from all over the world.
★★★★★4.8 on Google
Puerto Deseado 153, El Calafate
Every day · 1 pm to 11 pm
Who we are
You come up for the view. You come back for the lamb
Medio Perro is a small parrilla, the Argentinian word for a grill house, inside America del Sur Hostel, up on the high side of El Calafate.
For ten years Matías has lit the fire every day for people who arrive straight from walking on the ice at Perito Moreno. Patagonian braised lamb, lamb empanadas folded by hand, cuts off the coals and homemade pasta. The table set the way it would be in a family home, no fuss and no rush.
From the dining room you look out over Lago Argentino and the whole town. Several nights there is live music and, with a bit of luck, the cook himself picks up the saxophone.
The dining room window, over Lago Argentino
What people order
Six dishes that explain the house
They have been on the menu since the first day and they are the ones that sell most.
House special
Lamb experience
A whole menu built on lamb: lamb empanadas to start, the braised lamb and the smoked lamb. Both versions at the same table.
Per person
Steak BBQ
A spread of grilled meats with two empanadas and a side: sausage, black pudding, skirt steak, flank and lamb. Built for two, and generally more than enough.
For two people
Lamb empanadas
Folded by hand every day. An empanada is a baked pastry filled with meat. Order three and you will almost certainly order three more.
Three units
Grilled veggies
The same grill, without meat: seasonal vegetables cooked over the coals, served with a side dish.
With a side
To order
Smoked lamb
The smoked version of the braise. It takes more hours and a good deal more work. For lunch it is worth ordering it the day before over WhatsApp.
To orderlet us know first
Pizza on the grill
Dough straight onto the coals. We are the only place in El Calafate that makes it this way. The fugazzeta, onion and cheese, is the one that sells most. On the grill it is always a whole pizza.
We are at Puerto Deseado 153, inside America del Sur Hostel, on the hill above El Calafate. Walk in through the hostel entrance and continue to the back: the dining room is the one with the windows facing Lago Argentino.
It is about ten minutes on foot from Avenida del Libertador, the main street, and the walk is uphill. Any taxi in town knows the hostel.
In high season, from December to March, it is worth it. The dining room is small and fills up at night. A WhatsApp message to +54 9 2966 70-6969 or +54 9 2966 84-4099 is enough. Off season there is usually a table free, but do let us know if there are more than four of you.
Of course. The restaurant is open to everyone and most of our guests sleep somewhere else. We have our own kitchen, our own menu and our own team: the hostel is the address, not the service.
Lamb. It is what we do best. On your own, the Lamb Experience: lamb empanadas, braised lamb and smoked lamb. For two, the Steak BBQ, which adds sausage, black pudding, skirt and flank steak.
Yes. The grilled vegetables are the same grill without meat, served with a side. There are also veggie empanadas, pasta with meat-free sauces, pizza, grilled provolone, salads and soups. If you are vegan or have a specific restriction, tell us when you book.
We cook over fire and to order, for an unhurried meal. If you have an early excursion, tell us when you sit down and we will organise the order so you leave on time.
