MALBEC Wine Restaurant, New York

The entryway to Malbec and Tango House is lined with planks taken from Argentinean wine cases. This is but a taste of the South American experience that defines the first-floor eatery (Malbec) and the lower-level performance venue downstairs (Tango House). It's a vibe that begins with the Buenos Aires–inspired decor, detours through an upscale Argentinean menu and wine list, and shines through during live tango performances held three nights a week.

But Chef Rodrigo Sieiro knows that Argentine cuisine isn't just about one country. "In Buenos Aires, the food is about immigration ... We are a mixture of cultures," Chef Sieiro told The Wall Street Journal, "and that's what I want to represent." His resulting Malbec and Tango House menus blend French, Italian, and Spanish influences into distinctly Argentine dishes, such as empanadas and dry-aged strip steaks.

Thursday through Saturday, dancing couples, musicians, and singers—including many Buenos Aires natives—take to Tango House's stage for a performance originally choreographed in Argentina more than 12 years ago. As the performers proceed with through their intricate routines, patrons sip cocktails, glasses of wine, or juice boxes of freshly squeezed malbec grapes.