Voted "Best Outdoor Space"

by the New York Post

BOGOTA REVIEW: About.com by Wendy Zarganis

Guide Rating - ****
The Bottom Line
Bogota's is the perfect Latin American escape. The food, drinks and ambiance instantly take your day-to-day cares away in a mojito minute.
Pros: Warm ambiance and vibe
Outstanding and original pan Latin cuisine
Excellent signature drinks
Attentive waiters
Cons: Nothing when I went

Park Slope: For nearly a year, owners George Constantinou and Farid Ali detailed their sometimes arduous experience of starting Bogota in a blog that left readers hungrily anticipating the Latin restaurant's opening. You can still read about happenings at Bogota but it's much more fun to just go. Bogota's menu is a savory mix of the traditional regional dishes gleaned from Constantinou's Costa Rican and Ali's Columbian backgrounds fused with Nuevo Latin cuisine.

Entrees to try include the house specials Bogota’s Arroz Con Pollo ($12) made of shredded chicken mixed with yellow rice, carrots, red peppers, cilantro and scallions and the popular Bandeja Paisa ($16) grilled steak, chicharron, arepa, rice and beans, fried egg, maduros and avocado. For those prefering the less-exotic, steak and chicken grace the menu as well.

Constantinou, former manager of Night of the Cookers in Fort Greene, has an artistic background as well and his creativity is reflected in the warm decor complete with photos of various Latin American scenes.

Our waiters were attentive and had a Che Guevarra-sexy, artist vibe. In fact, the brilliant mural overlooking the patio was created by members of Bogota's staff. The drinks with colorful names like the Besito and The Escobar were strong enough to take the edge off of a day spent trekking through the jungles of South America or in our case the sweltering subways of Brooklyn. If you need an escape from your New York life, it's time to take a trip to Bogota.

Bogota's Blog

BOGOTA REVIEW: cititour.com -- your guide to nyc

cititour.com -- your guide to nyc

A Review of Bogota appears in the latest Cititour.

BOGOTA View the Menu Cuisine: Latin American, Columbian Reader Ratings:

Cititour Review: Sometimes a simple thing like a greeter can be the deciding factor when choosing a restaurant. While strolling in Park Slope, Brooklyn we were having trouble deciding where to eat from a bumper crop of new restaurants now lining Fifth Avenue.

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 me toward the chipotle corn crusted salmon. 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 avocado.

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 jalapeno sorbet. But that just gives us an excuse to head back to Bogota!

Review By: Sam Sayegh Neighborhood: Park Slope Bogota 141 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 230-3805 Site

Arturo and Melinda at Bogota Bistro

Chillin' at Bogota Latin Bistro

There's always plenty of midriff to be found at Bogota Bistro!

One Busy Restaurant

We run into other restaurateurs who tell us, "it's the summer time. Things are slow but don't worry. They'll pick up again in the fall." I don't have the heart to tell them that we're are very busy right now.

Thanks to Juana

Tonight, Wednesday, it was insane, thanks to Juana's mention of Bogota in the latin section of the New York Post. So many people came in as a result of having seen the mention in the paper. There were a lot of new faces I hadn't seen before as well. Tonight also saw visits from my co-workers, Grace and Renata, as well as David, from what I call "the day job." It was great seeing them.
Boy, are my feet tired.

New York Post Latino Section Today

By JUANA GUICHARDO and RUBY MILLIEN

Diners feast under a mural featuring Latin music stars, like Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades, at Bogota Bistro in Park Slope. Photo: J. Scott Wynn

LOCATION: Park Slope, Brooklyn
CUISINE: Colombian and Nuevo Latino
WHY WE LIKE IT: Best outdoor space

After two years of consistent planning, owners Farid Ali (part Colombian) and George Constantinou (part Costa Rican) infuse some color into Park Slope with Bogota Bistro, which opened its doors this month to foodies in Park Slope.

From the moment you walk through the doors, you feel like you're at home. Beautiful murals depicting Latino life and Colombian culture line the walls - and an overall festive ambiance fills the air.

The outdoor seating is a bonus and will transport you back to your homeland, thanks to the relaxed atmosphere and vibrant mural in the background, where you'll spot Latino greats, like Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades.

Dishes are inspired by Ali's and Constantinou's childhood memories and family recipes. Even the savviest food connoisseur will be impressed by the marriages of spices and flavors.

Menu highlights include Ajiaco Bogotano ($6), a traditional soup of Bogota savored with guascas herb, a pungent shrimp ceviche ($7), and the popular Trucha Frita ($15), a fried brook trout - you get to choose if you want your fish head on or off. Drinks are delightful, with choices like the coconut mojito ($8) and the blue chupacabra margarita ($8). Do not pass on the opportunity of indulging in desserts like Xangos ($7), a fried cheesecake taquito, and the flan de coco ($4). Bogota Bistro, 141 Fifth Ave., between St. Johns Place and Lincoln Place. (718) 230-3805. www.bogotabistro.com.

© NYP Holdings, Inc. : www.NYPOST.com.

Good Times at Bogota

Having a good time at Bogota Bistro

BOGOTA REVIEW: The "Strong" Buzz

"Bogota Bistro, a cool, cheery Nuevo Latino spot owned by longtime pals George Constantinou and Farid Ali (George is Costa Rican, Farid is Colombian), has opened at 141 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope (718-230-3805). The pair may sound familiar—they have been keeping a blog documenting the ups and downs of opening their first restaurant at http://www.bogotabistro.com/. The menu is a full-fledged crowd-pleasing affair bound to make you reach for a margarita, a caiparinha, a cold beer, or all three. Chef Roberto Garcia (formerly of ICI) turns out arepas, empanadas, tortas, and ceviches as well as mole, plantain-crusted chicken, ropa vieja, and a plate of arroz con pollo that’ll make you believe you are eating at someone’s mom’s house in Cuba. The recipes are all based on dishes both partners either grew up with, or encountered in travels to Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Plus there’s something on the dessert menu called Xangos—fried cheesecake taquitos with vanilla ice cream. Might as well apply those pups directly to buttock area."

Andrea Strong

Only Crazy People Open Restaurants

I gave up a job that pays approximately $1,400 every two weeks and offers 5 weeks vacation, 10 personal days, unlimited sick days and health benefits for one at Bogota that pays $228 bi-weekly, offers no vacation, personal or sick days and has no health benefits. Crazy, I know, but crazier still was sitting in an office alone for 8 hours a day bored out of my mind clicking a mouse away all day long doing something I had absolutely no interest in anymore. Well, at least at Bogota I get to eat great food. That's certainly a plus! even if my waitstaff makes more money than me!