There are flavors that evoke nostalgia, family Sundays, and endless after-dinner conversations. For the Argentine diaspora, few dishes evoke that feeling of home quite like a good milanesa. Now, that unmistakable crunch is about to carve out a permanent niche on the Catalan coast. El Club de la Milanesa, the popular restaurant chain that counts Lionel Messi among its partners, has announced that it will open its first European restaurant in the city of Castelldefels.
As reported by Forbes Argentina and confirmed by company sources to El Periódico, this opening will mark the starting gun for its international expansion on the continent. The restaurant, which is currently in the architectural design phase and will be managed directly by the company in its early stages, will open its doors within three to six months, ensuring it is up and running before the end of 2026.
From the coast to Barcelona
The launch in Castelldefels is just the appetizer. The company’s plans are ambitious and set their sights directly on the Catalan capital.The initial roadmap calls for the opening of up to two more locations in Barcelona in the short term, with the ultimate goal of reaching a total of five locations throughout Catalonia during its first years of European operations.
To support this international expansion, the brand has stepped up its financial efforts. Over the past year, the chain’s expansion plan has received an injection of nearly six million euros. The bulk of this capital will be used to build a new production facility in the Argentine town of Tigre. This strategic facility will increase the company’s production capacity tenfold, thereby ensuring a steady supply for both its established restaurants and the new markets it is set to conquer across the ocean.
Founded in 2007, El Club de la Milanesa has managed to transform an absolute classic of home cooking into a phenomenon of undeniable success. Today, the brand has nearly 70 restaurants spread across Argentina, Uruguay, and the United States, and is now preparing to test the waters with European palates, guided by one of the most illustrious residents ever to walk the streets of Castelldefels.
