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Tangos: Brings Argentinean Fare To St. Peters

By Mary Ann O'Toole Holley

If it takes two to tango, Stella and Hector Aberastury have all the steps down pat.

Like the embracing dance for which their new Argentinean restaurant is named, the Aberasturys have embraced life in St. Peters, sharing their love of food and the culture of their birth land.

The Aberasturys' new restaurant, aptly named Tango, brings a taste of their homeland with one bite and a glance.

"People, friends who come, say it feels like Argentina," said Stella Aberastury, who with her husband immigrated to the St. Peters area 10 years ago to be closer to Hector's mother. "We wanted to name the restaurant so that when one heard its name, it meant Argentina."

The colorful, well-appointed restaurant housed in an 1870s brick residence - one of the first homes built after St. Peters was platted - is reminiscent of the restaurants and taverns in their former homeland of Buenos Aires, Stella Aberastury said. Bright red walls contrast with glass cases of Argentinean imported cookies, teas and treats. And the fabulous food fare that the Aberastury family offers make it a place to go for a fine night out or a fast lunch.

Though the restaurant opened April 23, the Aberasturys have already made a name for themselves with their famous empanadas. Hector holds a scrapbook filled with news, articles, photos and glowing reviews for their crisp, flaky half-moon pastry puffs filled with savory meats, cheeses, spices and more.

The couple has sold empanadas for five years at most of the festivals in the St. Louis, St. Charles County and Southern Illinois areas, but a few years ago people started to ask for more.

"They wanted to know where our restaurant was," said Stella Aberastury. "So it kind of pushed us to make the decision to open a restaurant."

Hector said he loves the flair of the Historic areas of the cities. The O'Fallon building they purchased on Historic St. Peters' Main Street was perfect for them.

With its tall ceilings, large kitchen area and plenty of room for dining, the Aberasturys said they could ask for no more.

"Empanadas are artistic works," Hector Aberastury says in his thick Argentinean accent. "Each empanada is made by hand and cooked after it is ordered. It may take five, ten minutes, but it is worth it."

The special frying crust is flakier than a baklava and crispier than a homemade potato chip. The fillings, varieties that include a finely diced ham and cheese, beef, vegetables and more, are each tastier than the other.

Hector's special pure de papas (mashed potato: Argentine style) sells for a mere $1.99 per order, and is a must taste at Tangos. The ensalada criolla, featuring lettuce tomato and onion sells for $3.49, and the tarta de espinaca (spinach tarta) is just $2.19 a slice.

Using Argentinean imported baking goods and spices, the foods of Tango have a flavor that's wonderful yet almost indescribable for the American palate.

"Some believe it's like Mexican food," Hector Aberastury said. "But no. It is Argentinean, with special spices and ingredients to give it a unique flavor. We use only Argentinean goods and spices. That's what makes us different from any other restaurant."

Tangos is, in fact, the only Argentinean restaurant in the St. Louis and St. Charles metropolitan areas.

Bringing only the best of Argentina, Tangos takes dining a step ahead of most other ethnic restaurants.

Desserts like pasta frola frutilla (strawberry pie), pasta frola manzana (apple pie) are even better than grandma used to bake, and far from the fruit filling and crust American's prepare.

The brownies are made from pure Argentinean chocolate. No syrup, no flour as we know it and definitely no prepared mixes.

Give Tango's a whirl and spend time with the Aberasturys as they take you across the continents to the land of beautiful blue waters and foods that tempt you to eat more than you should.

Visit their coffee bar and enjoy a snack or a major meal. Join Tangos on Saturday for their asado special (barbecue).

The Aberasturys are passionate about their food and their hospitality.

Tangos is located at 100 N. Main St., Historic St. Peters, phone 636-970-2117. Dine in or carry out. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Visit www.tangoargentinafood.com.