Restaurant Spotlight: Musgo
A brand new restaurant from a Russian chef who fuses Japanese and Scandinavian cuisine using Patagonian products.
Musgo is one of the newest restaurants on the BA dining scene. I went on its opening night last Thursday. It is located in the heart of Palermo Soho, an area that usually has mediocre, generic-style restaurants rather than new “foodie” joints. It was pretty random that we showed up on opening night. I asked a local friend glued into the local restaurant scene if he had any suggestions on where to go, and he mentioned Musgo. It sounded enticing, so I made a reservation on the spot.
Musgo is the brainchild of Russian chef Konstantin Vornin and his wife, Ksenia Romantsova. Vornin, who honed his skills cooking on yachts in the Mediterranean for millionaires, brings a unique twist to the table. The food at Musgo is an intriguing fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian cuisine, creatively blended with products from Patagonia. The interior design, echoing the Scandinavian influence in the food, adds to the modern and sophisticated vibe.
On its opening night, Musgo demonstrated a commendable level of service. The waiters were not just present but attentive, the sommelier was readily available to answer any questions about the wine, and the owners took the time to chat with our table.
The menu is simple, with five small plates, six large plates, and three desserts. This makes it easy to try a large portion of the menu.
For our group of four, we ordered most of the menu, and it was just the right amount of food. All the plates were distinct and innovative but without sacrificing taste or quality. Sometimes, you go to these types of places, and it is all show. That is not the case at Musgo. The highlight for me was the “Japanese style tenderloin,” which was a sort of meat sushi and also their tenderloin tartar that came with a carmelized cheese.
We ordered the following:
“Small” Plates:
“Large” Plates:
Desserts:
The most surprising aspect of Musgo was the prices. Despite the upscale nature of the restaurant and the quality of food, the highest priced dish was around $16 usd. The small plates ranged from $8 to $12 usd while the large plates $12 to $16 usd. This affordability, especially considering the drastic price increase in USD in the last few months in Buenos Aires, makes a visit to Musgo a no brainer. Perhaps they are keeping prices low for their opening months to entice diners. Who knows. Regardless, the place offers excellent value.
Bottom Line: Japanese Scandanavian fusion with products from Patagonia. Quite the unique combo! A nice atmosphere, great wine list, quality food and great prices. Worth a visit to check out.
Musgo
Open Thursday - Saturday 8 PM to 12 PM
Reservations here.
Looks awesome! Will def check it out when we get back...
Pricing seems to be getting out of whack 'down under'...and forget the fusion angle-- Why hide the great taste of beef? Speaking of which, I'll stick with a cut of prime to choice corn-fed beef and (maybe) a side of mushrooms 'in situ' here in Nebraska.