In a city where every other restaurant seems to feature the same cookie cutter interiors and standard inter/Thai menus, La Cuchara is refreshingly different. In fact, it picks up the rule book and just throws it out the window. And for that fact alone, we love it. After all, where else can you go on an authentic culinary adventure surveying the best in Colombian, Cuban and Latin American cuisine? It’s clear they take it seriously, right down to the side orders of cassava and the real cachaça (sugarcane spirit) used in their potent caipirinha. The décor matches the cuisine with a riot of colors from vibrant reds to shocking greens while a host of crucifixes watch over the small dining space (it’s so small the kitchen is next door). The greeting is wonderfully warm and gives off the impression that you’re dining in someone’s casa. The staff really make you feel at home, even down to letting you choose the CD you want to play next—as long as it’s Latin of course. They’re also on hand to explain the small but intriguing menu which features dishes that are authentic and homely. Just be warned that they also tend to be carb and protein heavy. The appetizers are a case in point. The empanadas, samosa-like deep fried pastries filled with fresh minced pork, are rescued by a delightfully light and zesty salsa dressing, but the pastal de yucca, which include chicken wrapped in pastry, are a little too sweet and heavy. For mains, we highly recommend the La Cuchara Chicken. The deliciously moist thigh drips with green peppers, onion, garlic and a rich tomato sauce—definitely a standout dish. The Ropa Vieja (Cuban beef stew), a zesty hot pot with rich tomato sauce, is equally tasty but the grilled beef with shallots served with mountain of onions, let itself down with a slightly watery gravy and overly chewy meat. While some of the food might have room for improvement, this place certainly gets an A for effort. And if nothing else, the cocktails, ambition and atmosphere of La Cuchara are more than enough reason for a return visit. Corkage B300.
La Cuchara
