On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: GreenpointOur 2010 Revamped Extended Menu: Delish Apps, Sides 4, Mounted Arepas 5+, Full Hearty Dinner Menu. Unlimited Mimosa Brunch 'till 6PM.
Announced 5 days agoGreenpoint Ave (G)
Mon. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
The arepas are amazing. They're heaping mounds of spiced meats and beans (also available vegetarian) on a light corn pancake bed. I'm a big fan of the Santander and Tolima. The price is on point and you get enough food in one serving to merit calling it a meal. Also, newcomers to South American food will be glad to know the service is friendly and informative. They have a couple good Colombian beers and a number or South American wines to compliment the food and it is rarely crowded for dinner which makes for a pleasant evening meal. However, in the morning it often has a full laptop coffee shop crowd in to use the free wifi.
And for after dinner they've got desserts. The guava and cheese is a bit weird, possibly an acquired taste, but I can't really recommend that one. On the more familiar side, the Dulce de Leche is fantastic. Sweet sweet unhealthy fat kid heaven.
Rachel G. and I decided we should start taking culinary advantage of our proximity to Greenpoint, and looked at well-rated restaurants there. We decided to try Cafecito Bogota.
Now, I think I've been spoiled by the arepas at Caracas. I know Caracas is Venezuelan, and this is Colombian, so maybe there's a difference in cuisine I don't recognize, but I missed the Caracas arepas while I was eating the Cafecito Bogota arepas. They were still good here, just not as incredibly mouth-wateringly delicious. Rachel and I both got the same dish, an arepa "montada" (I think), piled high with beans. They were tasty. It was a good value, too, huge and served with a mixed greens salad. I also really enjoyed having hot water with lemon and molasses!!
The sangria was apparently a big problem, over-flowing with rum, but the bigger problem was the service. Now, the waiter was sweet, but he was ridiculously slow. A man who had been sitting in the corner on a laptop thanked us on the way out, making me assume he was an owner or manager. Now, if this is the case, it seems they are okay with the ridiculously slow and mildly confused service. Not good! I'll consider trying delivery from here before taking the bus for a visit again.
This restaurant is small but cozy. I have being there twice once for dinner which was great but light and the second time for brunch and I was impressed. Brunch comes with a passion fruit sangria which was really good and different.
They have a very big selection of wines. The only negative is that they don't accept credit cards.
It's all right to cry
Crying gets the sad out of you
It's all right to cry
It might make you feel better
It's alright to cry...if it's not brunch and you are painfully hungover and looking for a spot to relieve your pain.
The boo and I, thanks to my Colombian/Costa Rican raised mother decided to indulge in some breakfast arepas and were quite excited based on previous reviews.
Too bad we couldn't enjoy them. Carlos was bawling. No, not because he is a pussy with no backbone (usually the case, he has like 5 hankies). Because there was some SERIOUS onion air happenin'. We asked the waiter if people were cutting onions. His response? "Sometimes it is good for a man to cry!" I have never seen Carlos cry like this and I never hope to again. It was alarming, the waterfall coming from his chocolate brown eyes. After a few minutes of our scallion-tomato-egg arepas we had to leave. The pain was FAR too severe.
If you are needing a good cry, come here, If you can't make it to Greenpoint just look at pictures of Peter D. and they will suffice.
Tonight, we decided to visit Cafecito Bogota. We were so excited to have our very first arepa experience and since this place has gotten so many good reviews, we figured, why not?
The space was great. Small and intimate. Even the wobbly tables and the not-so-comfy seats (which usually affects my entire dining experience) didn't hinder my ability to have a great time. The smell of delicious food that floated around was enticing and certainly promising.
The service was ok. We waited longer than expected for pretty much everything we ordered except for dessert but I can't complain since there was only one person, other than the cook, that was working in the entire place. Granted he didn't have many tables, perhaps 5 or 6 at a time at most. So naturally, he couldn't be in more than one place at once. The food took a little longer also since there was only one person cooking food and it seemed that the cooking space was pretty small so it was almost excusable that we waited. Overall, they were very hospitable and the server (or owner?) checked in often and made sure we were ok.
The food....ooooohhhh the food was heavenly. Perfect prices. Perfect portions. SO DELICIOUS. I had the Boyaca (eggplant, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes with house made sofrito) and it was SO GOOD. The flavors were really loud without being obnoxious. The difference between a cute cooing baby and a cute screaming baby. Ya dig? It came with their house mesclun greens with some sort of dressing, perhaps balsamic based. My girlfriend had the Bogota (marinated chicken, corn, tomatoes, and a house made sauce which I forgot the name of) and that too was deeelicious. It was perfect. Clean and well presented. Clean presentation. Everything was tasty and we'll definitely be back to try all the other arepas they have.
We also had the Mimosa Latina which was ok. I would have liked more passion fruit and berry mix but it certainly was worth the 7 dollars each that we paid for them. We also had the Maduros in a spiced molasses sauce. Twas just as delicious as our main course. I expected no less at this point!
It was a most wonderful experience and we will definitely be back. It was affordable, accessible, small, and comfy. The food was delicious to boot! Highly recommended.
Briana's review triggered my faulty memory. Oh yeah, I've been here, too. I stopped in one afternoon and ordered a cappuccino. Something must of gotten lost in translation, because they handed me what appeared to be a big cup of hot cream with maybe a splash of coffee in it. Too bad I didn't notice this until I took my first sip a few blocks away. I almost gagged. Into the trash can it went. Gee, I love throwing my money away.
Whenever its cold and rainy outside, I crave warmth within Cafecito's steamed windows, with students drinking coffee alone with their wifi connections and warm service that brings us $10 brunch items with coffee, fruit and a salad.
The arepas can be a little bland but I still love them, they add great texture to each bite.
I came here for dinner one time and they mistakenly made us a shrimp arepa. They realized their mistake before coming to our table and still brought it out anyway as a complimentary treat. How sweet!
This gem is worth a visit. Walk down Manhattan Ave until you get to the seedier area and boom! There it is.
Yummy brunch with unlimited drinks. The food was so delish. The egg arepa and the chorizo were both amazing. Lovely staff and atmosphere. The Sangria and non alcoholic juices were fresh and wonderful.
I have to say that the atmosphere and the wine selection at Cafecito Bogota were wonderful, and the staff was friendly.
But I can't say that I was impressed with the arepas. Check out my full review here: http://gprecs.com/2009...
I do plan on coming back to try the sandwiches though, they sound delicious.
Only a couple of veggie options, but the Punta Verde arepa is really good (tofu/pesto/green beans/sesame seeds). Their coffee is great!
Free wi-fi I believe, it seems like a good place to hang out, sip some coffee, and get some work done.
I chose this place as the brunch spot for my friends and I this weekend and I think it was a hit! It was great to try something different and their Columbian cuisine was perfect. It wasn't busy at all so the service was good and overall very comfortable. The fresh-squeezed juice was surprisingly good and their eggs benedict was very decent. Next time, I will try something actually Columbian!
I have been to bogota for brunch on the weekend, and it was great. But my regular visits are during the week in the early mornings, 9-11. I'm often the only customer in the shop, and it's a great space to work if you want quiet -- though the owner has a fairly developed taste in club music: you might hear some junior vasquez, even.
I'd say the coffee is great, best I've had in greenpoint. I recommend particularly the red-eye, which is americano with a shot of espresso -- it's both flavorful and jolting. I agree that the food is pricey for what you get, which is a small portion. But for the space and the quiet (and the free wireless, for those of you who want it), it's well worth my $10 a visit.
I went here for lunch and it was pricey and ho-hum and slow as molasses.
But I'll try agin - these positive reviewers might not all be crazy...
This place gets 5 stars because it makes me extremely happy that I live next door to it - I know that a good meal is never more than a few steps away. Great sandwiches, and if you eat it there, which you should, you'll get a mixed greens salad and usually some fruit alongside it for less than $7.
The artsy coffeehouse vibe only adds to the experience, as does the very cool local art on display. I've never been to an event or brunch here, but I plan on stopping by sometime. Since the weather's heated up, they've been setting up a juice stand outside with fresh tropical fruit juice and limeade and smoothies, which are completely refreshing and awesome.
It makes me sad that they're not open later, but I guess I should be happy with the fact that this place just exists :)
We go there about once/month to meet a small group of people (we've managed to fit six at one table, which is a maximum for the space). The coffee is very good (and strong, as befits the Colombian origins), the service is very pleasant, the interior is really cozy and they don't mind if you linger for quite awhile. A few of the people who join us there have said the food is very good, but we've resisted ordering anything because we think it's too pricey for what you get.
Tasty! The arepas are great, the service is great and it's well-priced. Really cute atmosphere at this place...when the air conditioning is on, otherwise it's stifling. They also have free WiFi with a purchase of $5 or more.
Wow, this place was really good! I was surprised as I've passed it many times and it is never very crowded. The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice inside, with sparse but well-placed decor. Their sangria is excellent - with watermelon and honeydew, and their arepas are yummy with filling portions. They have lots of vegetarian options on their menu as well. My dinner companion said that it reminded him of a familiar contemporary south american cafe.
This is kind of a cheat, because I didn't actually eat or hang out here. I stopped by late last week for the opening of an installation by a friend's girlfriend. Open since October, this cafe frequently hosts art exhibits, and for the next few months, there are some great photographs of Brooklyn shot by http://flickr.com/phot... on display.
They set up a table with wine and cheese in the front, and there was a DJ. Pretty nice for a cafe art opening!
I didn't stay too long, so I can't speak to their coffee or menu. I do like the interior design to the place, though. Nice lines, and lots of light. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood.
Any new Greenpoint restaurant is worth a try and we first tried Cafecito Bogota when it first opened with its arepa menu. We got our meal to go, I think before they had all the kinks worked out, so it was a little cold and we weren't blown away. Soon, however, we were getting all sorts of glowing reports from friends about their brunch.
After we took them up on trying it for ourselves, our tune changed very quickly. There are good brunch options in the neighborhood, but this is the best. For thirteen dollars you start with coffee or tea, a choice of unique fresh squeezed juices (I always get the passion fruit and my friends alternate from the black berry and mint limeade), then a main dish which comes with a green salad and fruit.
By far, the dish that has sealed the restaurant's fate as a perennial favorite of mine is the salty sweet combo of cured ham, guava tips (a jam like substance) and cheese. It's called the Almibar and it might change, well, not your life, but at least your weekend mornings if you live in the area.
The staff is friendly, the plates are from old Pan Am planes, the decor is cheery, and I can only hope it stays busy enough to last, but not so busy that I can no longer get a table.
http://www.brixpicks.com
This is the only place I know to get Buñuelos, and fresh Arepas in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg area. The coffee is always perfect and more affordable than the Starbucks 2 blocks down. I had dinner here a few times and the food was excellent. I had the pork, it was packed high on top of an arepa with a salad. It weight like a brick, very filling. Wine selection was also good, especially if you like Rioja. The atmosphere was chill especially in the evening, the music is not cheesy, and the staff is very nice. The slow service is I think is because of the small kitchen which they do their best with, and do it pretty well I think. The best part is the prices. Definitely a good addition to the Greenpoint neighborhood. Did I mention they have wireless internet?
I honestly have only been here for brunch, but i've been there at least 10 times for brunch. I need to make another trip there at a different time, cause their brunch is really great.
A wide variety of great flavors, makes for some fine brunch arepa eating. Plus throw in a great coffee and a fresh juice, and its a pretty decent deal.
The "calena" which is shrimp, plantains and cilantro is great. I ordered it the first couple times I went, then I found the one that's guava paste, ham and cheese, which is even better.
I recommend this place to everyone in the area.
I don't get to Greenpoint that often and when I went to visit a friend, we were looking for something different than the usual and we stumbled upon this spot for lunch. I've never had Columbian cuisine and it was delicious and the price was right. I had the Shrimp Cafecito Sandwich, which is marinated grilled shrimp, tomatoes, avocado and queso blanco on focaccia bread. All of that for just 8.25 and it comes with salad and bananas. We also had the columbian empanadas, which tasted amazing as did the Arepas Tolima, which is pork strips with gandul beans.
I really really want to love Bogota. I do. The food is good, I like the wine, the staff are really nice but the service is oh so slow! I have to decide in advance that I'm going to go, and I can't go when I am famished because, well, I'm gonna wait for what seems like an eternity to get my food/order/etc. Perhaps the slowness is in part because of the time it takes to prepare the arepas? I don't know. Having a relaxed atmosphere is one thing, but being so slow that I won't go in for a meal is another thing altogether. I will keep trying...
I've been here about 3 times and each time gotten the arepa brunch. Their arepas are pretty tasteless. They aren't very seasoned and are more like very dry pancakes than their roosevelt avenue counterparts. That being said, their coffee is great and the service is really nice and it's a nice place. I think one does best here sticking to the non-arepa related foods.
Run by really nice people behind the counter, with interesting stories to tell, interesting coffee selection, artisan Columbian chocolate, great Iced Coffee (it's a Columbian cafe, after all), always reliable. Apparently they also have tasty 'arepas,' a sort of Columbian sandwich on good bread.
Trivia: The co-owner holds a bioengineering degree from City College, and runs the place as his side business.
Two suggestions, though: some more regular hours, and maybe a tofu cream cheese option.
As the jaded hard core New Yorker that you know I am, I hate to cross any bridge or tunnels....what for? I have everything at my feet here in the city.....well everything except authentic Columbian food. I found a little hot spot out in Greenpoint. The up and coming area is interesting enough for me to make a pilgrimage out to have some amazing Arepas. Now if you don't know what an Arepa is, you are missing some tasty home style Colombian comfort food. I'll spare you the cooking class, but they are basically a flat patty made of cornmeal topped with meat, seafood or vegetables. I had the "Bogotá" marinated grilled chicken with traditional hogao sauce. Without sounding too low brow...it was finger licking good. My dining companion Mauricio had the "Cordillera" perfect for vegetarians; made with beans, plantains and queso blanco (a creole type of cheese). The place is damn cute...the staff friendly and the music pumping. Prices were very reasonable...and not by Manhattan standards. But the best part!!!!! Drum roll....we loved the white wine sangria made with tropical fruits. Go on Wednesday for a complimentary glass with your arepa. Not to be down played but they also have a great selection of South American wines and Latin beers. Un Presidente from DR hits the spot on a warm night. Impress your friends with Latin food that is NOT Mexican and enjoy this lovely gem. Can't wait to try the Sunday brunch!
I really enjoy coming here for coffee or a meal. I've never really had columbian food, but i do say it is quite tasty. The have different types of arepa toppings, which i have had about twice now. Very flavorful and bold. I still have yet to go during the evening, but i really enjoy my lunches and what not there. They have wireless, so it's easy to just eat and do work there. Very chill environment.
This review is far from complete, because based on a single, absolutely amazing experience.... I finally stopped by this week, and got one of their Pain au Chocolat aka chocolate croissant, and it was pure pleasure. The best I have had since my last vacation in Paris. The place is cute and the menu interesting, I am going back for some Colombian Chorizo. The owner is very friendly and charming. Stop by and try those croissants or anything else you might fancy, it all looks so good.
the arepas here are good but, like someone else said, the pricing is a bit out of whack. and the addition of a sliced banana is weird and even a little bit artless to me (maybe its traditional, who knows).
for brunch they have a prix fixe menu that comes with coffee and juice. the guava juice was awesome whereas the blackberry juice was a little too tart.
I've been here a handful of times, and the service varies wildly between decent and really poor. BUT, they do have a delicious breakfast menu (with fresh juices), friendly ambience, cozy decor and music, plus the prices are not easy to beat. When packed at peak hours, it's a little frustrating at how quickly all organization goes out the window, but I mostly use this place as a tea/coffee pit-stop with a notebook or good book. Close surrounding table conversation tends to irritate, so bring your headphones. Or, if you're like me, eavesdrop and enjoy.
I stumbled in here for a late night dinner after striking out on my predetermined restaurant choices (one was closed, one was impossible to find). What a find! They specialize in arepas, which are like little chewy cornmeal discs with a variety of possible toppings. You can get 6 arepas for $30, which is a perfect amount of food for two and an amazing deal (like a mini-six course meal)! We especially liked the arepa topped with an eggplant and sundried tomato mixture, a smoked salmon and roe arepa, and a chorizo-gazpacho arepa. The spicy avocado arepa the waiter recommended was also tasty. For dessert, we split a fig and dulce de leche thing, which was a little too sweet and syrupy for either of our tastes, but a nice concept. The service was a little slow but attentive, and we were happy to get a nice dinner for two (including drinks, dessert, coffee, tax, and tip) for well under $100.
Having lived in Colombia for a couple of years I can attest to the importance of the arepa in its culture. It is a staple food and much like pizza can be loaded up with all kinds of toppings. One can find gourmet arepas in trendier parts, but for most it is typically just topped with cheese. Arepas alone are bland, although the more rustic "choclo" style are with a sweet corn flavor. That said, I had hope for something akin to the gourmet arepas I experienced in Colomba at Cafecito Bogota. They came pretty close. I had the arepa Medellin, which was a bean, rice, chorizo combo. A bit dry and bland but Colombians are not into spicy foods. My friend had the Arepa llenero, which was loaded with strips of meat in a chimichurri sauce accompanied with avocado. This was by far the better choice and I found myself wishing I'd ordered it too. The sides were a bit incongruous with the arepas: bananas and a mesclun salad. I would have preferred plantains over bananas so next time I will specify this. My friend had the brunch, which included a fruity white sangria. I ordered a coffee, which was good but not exceptional. Not sure what beans they use, I guess it'll require another tasting on the next visit. We will definitely be returning to taste some other toppings and to see how they interpret some other Colombian staples. Aside from the food the environment is warm and welcoming and the service very kind and polite if a bit slow by NY standards. Overall a good experience and value. Not Colombia, but pretty close.
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
Category: Mexican
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
I love living in Greenpoint, much more than I ever…
My local boutiques, food stores, bars, cafes and…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Loading...
