Each week, Tommy-Maurice is going to a different restaurant in Asunción. This week, he has been to Puerto Pira, an establishment located in the vibrant Barrio Recoleta.
In 2024 I moved to Barrio Recoleta from Barrio Pettirossi. I was looking for exciting restaurants from something other than a recognisable international chain around my home. I then found Puerto Pira, a lovely place that offers products of the sea in the neighbourhood. For those who do not know me well, I am not a big fan of fish and seafood. However, I was willing to try, especially to see how different it is prepared and cooked in South America compared to North America. It is also interesting to see what kind of fish you can get that you would not have elsewhere. In the end, I was impressed by the options offered and the quality of the food.
Puerto Pira offers a multitude of meat, pasta, fish, and other products of the sea. The plates are served with an entrée of fried manioc and two sauces: one spicy and the other not. They also have a wide selection of wine. You can ask for specific recommendations based on what you want to eat. You can also get food on the go or get it delivered. As for me, I chose the caesar salad with salmon and a lemon dressing. It was accompanied by fried manioc and water with gas. The bowl of salad was enormous. I had never eaten a salad of that size. The salmon was juicy and tasty, which helped me consider eating more fish in the future. The cheese, the croutons, and the salad were all fresh and very good. Overall, it was a good experience for someone not used to eating these kinds of food.
As for the price, it cost me 83K Guaraníes for my lunch at Puerto Pira. There are cheaper options. However, most food costs a little bit more, especially if you want to eat specific seafood or fish or drink a particular wine. Considering how big the bowl was, in Canada, everything I got would have cost me around 175K Guaraníes, which is a substantial difference. The restaurant might be small, but it still has nearly 100 seats and 20 tables. As I have been at lunchtime, most clients were coworkers on their break eating before returning to work for a few hours. The restaurant is well maintained by its staff and is super clean. The personnel are friendly and welcome you with open arms. The facility also has a big parking lot in front, on the most important street in the area. It is very accommodating when you are coming by car or want to be dropped off by an Uber or Bolt.
Puerto Pira is open Monday through Sunday for lunchtime, from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Monday through Saturday for dinner, from 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM. It is located on Avenida Choferes del Chaco (#001413) at the corner of Capitán Juan Genaro Lafranconi. From Avenida Mariscal López or Avenida España, you go south on Choferes. From Avenida Eusebio Ayala, you go north.
If you want to eat fish and sea products, Puerto Pira is the place for you!
Look next week for another article about a restaurant in Asunción!
