Why go: If only for the novelty of its Colombian cooking, this Kentlands cafe would be worth the trip, but the roster of dishes—mounded platters of meat with two and sometimes three sides—makes clear that this mom-and-pop place is more than a curiosity.
What to get: Cornmeal-crusted empanadas with a gently spiced mixture of beef and potatoes; grilled arepas filled with hot scrambled eggs; bandeja paisa, a veritable buffet on a plate, with several varieties of meat (chorizo, skirt steak, pork cracklings), stewed beans, rice, plantains, avocado, an arepa, and an egg—fortunately, quantity doesn’t eclipse quality.
Best for: Unapologetic carnivores. Vegetarians be warned: There’s nothing here for you.
Insider tip: On Sundays the kitchen makes ajiaco, a rich confection of stewed chicken, chicken broth, four kinds of puréed potatoes, and corn on the cob—well worth a trip.
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
