As a large Argentine provincial city, Bahía Blanca does a good parrilla (grill restaurant) and has a solid café culture around the university. The best seafood is in Ingeniero White rather than the city centre — the port neighbourhood's waterfront restaurants serve freshly caught fish and shellfish from the bay.
Argentine meal times apply here: lunch is from 1–3pm and dinner rarely begins before 9pm. Most restaurants in the city centre are on or near Alem and O'Higgins streets.