The restaurant in question is El Chato, a culinary gem nestled in Bogotá, Colombia 🇨🇴. In 2024, it proudly claimed its place among the top 25 restaurants in the world.
Bogotá boasts not one but two establishments in the global top 50—El Chato and Leo. However, there’s a key difference: at Leo, you can only opt for a set menu, while El Chato offers the flexibility of ordering à la carte. To secure your spot, reservations must be made online, accompanied by an advance payment of 80K COP, which will later be deducted from your final bill.
On the first floor, guests are free to choose from an à la carte menu, while the second floor invites diners to indulge in a fixed menu experience. Drinks are showcased in Picture 2, with menus presented in both English (Picture 3) and Spanish (Picture 4).
Below, I’ll rate each dish on a scale of 1 to 10. Keep in mind that my standards are high, having sampled exquisite cuisines around the globe. For me, a score of 6 represents a commendable effort.
Since I don’t consume alcohol, I opted for two non-alcoholic beverages:
Picture 5: A guava and rue drink (a local herb with a mint-like essence). While refreshing, it lacked complexity, earning 4 points.
Picture 6: A fig leaf and green grape 🍇 concoction. This was a delightful surprise! The natural astringency of the figs beautifully balanced the sweetness of the grapes, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. Definitely worth trying—5 points.
Picture 7: A complimentary appetizer, featuring a potato patty. It was pleasant enough but didn’t leave a lasting impression—3 points.
Picture 8: Colombian 🇨🇴 giant ants 🐜! Though I didn’t order them, a friendly chat with the waiter in Spanish earned me a free sample. These crispy critters were surprisingly delicious—a must-try if you’re feeling adventurous. Still, I wouldn’t personally order them 😆—4 points.
For the main portion of my meal, I selected two appetizers and one main course:
Picture 9: Grilled eggplant. The sauce was rich but slightly oily, though the flavor was undeniably good—4 points.
Picture 10: Chicken hearts. These were quite impressive, though the sauce could have been slightly less thick—5 points.
Picture 11: Rabbit rice. This dish stood out due to its thoughtful presentation. A bowl of soup was served beforehand to cleanse the palate, enhancing the enjoyment of the rabbit rice. Its flavors resonated well with Asian palates—earning a solid 6 points.
Post-meal, the chef, upon discovering my blogging endeavors, graciously offered a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour, allowing me to capture some photos. To top it off, I was gifted a complimentary meal! Next time, I’ll recount my experience at Leo. To wrap up, I must admit—I favor El Chato, haha.
