Bogota
Photo: Cititour.com
Contact Info:
Address: 141 Fifth Avenue
City: Brooklyn, NY
Zip: 11217
map: View the Map
Phone: (718) 230-3805
Website: http://www.bogotabistro.com/
Food Info:
Menu: View the Menu
Cuisine:
Latin America
2nd Cuisine:
Colombian
Cititour Review:
Sometimes a simple thing like a greeter can be the deciding factor when choosing a restaurant. While strolling along Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn we were having trouble deciding where to eat from a bumper crop of new restaurants. We stopped at one window to check out the menu when we were greeted by a tall woman in a flowing white skirt and a beautiful smile. My son, Thomas, immediately took a liking to her and walked right in. "Oh, so you'll be joining us for dinner," she said. And we followed. We were glad we did. We found ourselves in Bogota, a new Latin bistro. The restaurant is horsehoe shaped, with a small bar up front and ample seating in the back and sides, as well as outdoor dining. The menu features a mix of food from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and the Caribbean. Portions are large and inexpensive, with most entrees in the $15 range. They also have an extensive drinks menu. I tried the "Chupacabras," a blue margarita, which was delish and perfect for a hot summer evening. There are also mojitos and lots of Latin beers to choose from. We started with the chicken quesadillas with black beans, white cheddar and fried sweet plantains, with fresh salsa providing an added kick. The pork ribs appetizers in a BBQ mango sauce is yummy, but can be a bit messy, and difficult to maneuver. It was also Thomas' favorite. The shrimp ceviche was light and fresh. The citrusy sauce toned down by chunks of bright green avacado. For a main course, our waiter steered us toward the chipotle corn crusted salmon. What arrived were two perfectly cooked salmon filets served with cilantro mashed potatoes and a lovely side of shredded kale. My only complaint was that the potatoes were a bit on the cool side. But I managed to clean my plate anyway. My wife tried the Bandeja Peisa, a traditional Colombian dish served with grilled steak, Chicharron (roasted pork), rice and beans, arepa (fried cornmeal cake), sweet plantains, and avacado. If it sounds like a lot of food, it was. You may want to take home a doggy bag and leave some room for dessert. We were too full and missed out on the chocolate jalapena sorbet. But that just gives us an excuse to head back to Bogota!
Review By: Sam Sayegh
Location: