Located in one of New York City's hippest restaurant row, Bogota Latin Bistro mirrors the changing culture of Latinos in the U.S.
Owners George Constantinou and Farid Ali are serving up a stellar menu of palatable traditional dishes with Nuevo Latino flair. "The inspiration for the restaurant was a trip to Bogota," said Constantinou, 29, who is half Costa Rican and Greek. Bogota is Ali's hometown, but the 40-year-old was raised in Pennsylvania. The menu, although Colombian-inspired, has a variety of Central and South American dishes to offer as well. Entrees include arroz con pollo, bandeja paisa, Moqueca De Peixe (Brazilian seafood stew, and chuleta con mole.
The stylish industrial interior, designed by architect
Kate Webb, consists of hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and behind the bar, the colorful "Libertad y Orden" mural painted by Brooklyn artist Sara Odam. If you are into outdoor dining, you can head to the back patio and gaze at the "Musica, Movimiento y Cultura" mural, created by Miguel Perez and Ben Rojas, while sipping on a coconut martini. With attentive waiters, a warm ambience and a musical vibe that flows from El Gato Barbieri to Shakira, Bogota Latin Bistro is sure to open the eyes of Latinos and non-Latinos who are looking for some close-to-home cooking or exploring new tastes.
Bogota Latin Bistro, 141 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 230-3805.
