Tony Fletcher�s iJamming! � Restaurant Row's Continued Rush Hour

Tony Fletcher�s iJamming! � Restaurant Row's Continued Rush Hour

a burst of light... *: Bogota Bistro Opens In Park Slope

a burst of light... *: Bogota Bistro Opens In Park Slope

James Poling: Bogota Latin Bistro

James Poling: Bogota Latin Bistro

Owning A Restaurant

A number of people have commented on how it's been their dream to have their own restaurant. I suspect they know very little about how much hard work is involved in it. I haven't worked so hard since I can't even remember. It is a LOT of work. We just opened up July 5th and already I want a vacation.

Today's Bogota Mailbag

Hi, I'm Diane Wukitsch and I work @ Citibank in NYC.

Is this a small world? I waitressed my way through graduate school 20 years ago at the Good Spirit restaurant in Allentown, PA. My sister Vicki tended the back bar. She mentioned to me recently that she heard that Farid was opening a restaurant in Brooklyn. Today one of my colleagues, Kahtleen Parisi passed on an email about the opening of a restaurant that won a contest sponsored by Citi. How many Farids are there opening restaurants these days? I looked up your Web site and pictures and lo and behold I thought that this has got to be the same Farid Ali from Allentown.

Congratulations. I will definitely come by for dinner and will bring Vicki next time she visits.

Diane

Yes, Diane! I most certainly remember you! What a small world
indeed! I look forward to seeing you and Vicki again one day soon! Did you
know that Chris Wyatt came by back in May to see the space? It was the
first time we had connected in over 20 years!

Bogota Inbox

Hey!
What a small world this is. I was downstairs talking to a guy I work with (Gilbert Ramirez), and he tells me he has a new favorite restaurant. When I asked him about it, he tells me it your restaurant, that the food is delicious, and that the owner is a Class-A act. When he tells me you're the owner, I bust a gut and tell him I know you and that though we've never met, you're one of the nicest bloggers I ever had the pleasure of corresponding with. So here's a quick note to congratulate you on your new venture and let you know I'll be stopping by soon to check out the place and finally shake your hand. I'm thrilled to hear "Bogota" is a hit; it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Way to go!!
Hope you're doing well and to meet you soon.
Best wishes,
WaltFormerly of Cucalambe
Now of i-walt

Broadband Stories: Bogota's Story Featured

Broadband Stories We are featured as part of Verizon's remarketing campaign. Search for FaridNYC under "Search All Broadband Stories" and press the > button.

CLOSED on Mondays

"YOU'RE CLOSED ON MONDAY?"

Yes, people were surprised to hear that we would be closed on Mondays. The response to our restaurant this week was completely overwhelming. I shouldn't be surprised because we always knew that we would be a hit. During the construction phase and even as we were close to opening our doors for the first time, people would ask, "How are you going to market yourselves? Will you hand out flyers? Advertise in the papers? Will you have a grand opening? Are you going to put a sign up?" (FYI: other than a few pieces of paper in the window which spell out B-O-G-O-T-A, the restaurant does not have a sign.)

The answer was, "No. We don't feel we need to. People are going to come." I could see the skepticism in a few of their eyes but we were confident of it. Our plan was to simply and quietly open up our doors on July 5th (the date that George's Chinese accupuncturist recommended) and to let people start strolling in little by little so as to grow the business and iron our the wrinkles methodically during the course of the first few months.

I suppose God had other plans. Opening night we had 103 customers walk through our doors to enjoy the Bogota experience. Saturday night we had 247. People dig what we've created. I am especially pleased by the response from the latino community thus far and mind you, we've barely tapped into the market. This coming Wednesday's section in the latino section of the New York Post should begin to change that.

So, yes. We are closed on Mondays. Another big reason we're closed today? To give my cooks a day off. They worked very, very hard this week. A big part of our success this week is attributed to their hard work and until we expand and hire more people, I don't want to over tax them. Last night, a cook turned to me before leaving and said, "You're a very good boss. Thank you."

It's been an exciting first week. I also owe a big note of thanks to JJ Goode from Time Out New York. The mention of Bogota Latin Bistro in this weeks Time Out brought in a LOT of customers.

New York Post Comes to Bogota

Bogota will be featured this Wednesday in the latino section of the Post called TEMPO. Today the reviewers from the NY Post came and had food and drinks. A good indication that they enjoyed what they had? The fried trout completely disappeared off the plate as did everything else.

David Auxier's Email to SR&Z

I received the following email from a coworker who cc'd me on an email he sent out to the law firm where I still have my day job:

"I had the priviledge of attending a by-invite preview night for Bogota Latin Bistro -that's the restaurant which he and his partner have been working on for the past two years. If you're not familiar with the circumstances, be sure to check out the
website at http://www.bogotabistro.com/ -- especially the WEBLOG. Anyway - if you think they're just opening up some little hole-in-the-wall and it's no big deal … well, you couldn't be more wrong. I've gotten to watch the space change, through the creativity and ingenuity of their minds and the work of their own hands, from a run down business office -- completely gut it -- and literally build a fantastic and stylin' restaurant from scratch. They've put a load of time, energy, love, blood, sweat and tears into this venture - and believe me, it shows. The place looks beautiful, the food is delicious and the staff couldn't be more friendly. There has been an excellent buzz in the neighborhood, they've gotten some great press and all indicators point to a true success story on the horizon. I urge you all to take a look at the web site, follow the course of it's history in the weblog, pay a visit to the place and plan on dinner there SOON!! I hear their doors now have just OFFICIALLY OPENED this past Tuesday!!! And according to his Blog site, the night they opened it was PACKED even though they quietly opened the doors without any huge Grand Opening. (The official Grand Opening is yet to occur.) It's too great to see our SRZ boy make good!!! Pass this on!!!!"

Today I received my first visit from a coworker from the firm: Maria Ramie who stopped by to see the space.

Thanks David!!

Many Happy Returns

People cannot believe that this is our first restaurant. We hear that over and over from so many customers. They are amazed to learn that neither of us have ever had a restaurant before. People look around at how packed this place has been and can't believe we've only been open a few days.

Maybe that's why already into day 6, we've already had repeat business from customers who loved the experience and come back with more friends. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised but it is a treat to see someone here that I saw a few nights ago.

Thanks everyone!

The Bogota Bistro Menu is Now Online

Bogota Latin Bistro Menu