An Argentine Asado ... Steak House

Stepping into El Raigon is like being invited into a rancher's home who goes out to his pasture and brings back the freshest, juiciest steak on earth.

If you are a steak lover, this is one of the best places in San Francisco to indulge. If you're not acquainted with "Estancia-style" grilled beef, lamb or chicken, once you take one bite, you'll want to put yourself on the Atkins diet, even if you don't need to.

El Raigon's meat is Montana Range raised all natural beef. It is grilled "Estancia-style" over wood and charcoal and served with their house made Chimichurri sauce.

Wil Harris (no relation to Harris Ranch) was inspired to bring a taste of his working ranch in Argentina called Estancia El Raigon to San Francisco.

If you are not a steak lover, ask for a salad ($7) and three of their delicious side dishes ($6 each) or steamed vegetables with Quinoa ($15) and your palette will be more than satisfied.

The first night we experienced El Raigon, I was already thinking about who I wanted to bring here next. The atmosphere is so comfortable and the hosts so welcoming, this "Rugged Elegance Select Place of Taste" could become a weekly habit.

The only thing Italian about this North Beach restaurant is one of the partners, Alberto Lataliste. Lataliste runs an Argentine wine import business downstairs. Thanks to Alberto and Gaucho Imports Fine Wines, El Raigon serves some of the best, most eclectic and scarce wines available.

In addition to ordering their Bife de Chorizo ($31), tenderloin ($36), center-cut rib-eye ($31), Skirt Steak ($23) or New York strip ($24), we recommend you have them include their sauteed spinach (some of the best I've ever had), or mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, mashed squash or grilled asparagus.

The plates are a bit sparse, so we encourage you to have them put your main course and side(s) on one plate.

We also recommend you save room for dessert. Their Panqueques (thin pancakes filled with Dulce de Leche) are out-of-this world.

They also serve some of the city's best gelato from Tango Gelato, made fresh daily by another Argentine gentleman.

El Raigon means "The Big Root Ranch" - as in a tree root - in Spanish. Partners Harris, Lataliste and Consuelo Lyonnet have created the root of all things heavenly in North Beach.

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