Bocado's Cafe

Bocados Cafe is related to the food truck that has been at La Plaza de los Food Trucks on Gosling for a couple of years. I stopped at the cafe to give them a try. I was thinking to try an appetizer and burger, but my server (also the manager or assistant manager, I think) directed me to the montaditos when I asked about pork belly. I am glad she did. Montaditos Los Roques is an appetizer--three small servings--but works as a lunch. Their pork belly on a fried plantain base, with coleslaw, Venezuelan white cheese and ketchup. The coleslaw is very fine and its mild sweetness complements the pork belly well. The pork belly itself was done perfectly--tender with a nice crust. The plantain is an acquired taste--it is pretty chewy and a little hard to eat--but I've had plantain at several Venezuelan places and it's always like that so I assume it's intentional. I would get the dish again.

I decided to try a dessert and got the Chocolate Marquise. It looks a little like tiramisu but is nothing like that. It is made from dense cookies layered with milk chocolate and garnished with Nutella. Six people could easily share this, it goes a long way. I might have liked some other marquise (they had passion fruit and lemon as well) better. They also have churros and cheesecake.

I washed all this down with a papelon con limon, my favorite Venezuelan drink. It's made from iced tea and lemonade sweetened with brown sugar. Theirs was strong and tasty. One note: They treat this like a cocktail. I ordered a refill and was charged for two.

The location is quite nice--spare but comfortable decor. There are a few TVs but it's easy to escape them. I sat outside because it was a beautiful afternoon, and their patio is very usable--it is set back from the street and parking lot so it is quiet and friendly for conversation. Unusual for this part of town. The menu is very large, like a Venezuelan Chili's.

My tab for the meal came to more than $50 after an average tip. That puts it in special event space for me, and I don't usually think of burgers that way. But the food and service are excellent so it's going on my list of places to revisit. I wish them success!

My Yelp Review