Cachapa Cachapa
Pabellón

Pabellón

2957 Banksville Rd, 15216, Pittsburgh, United States

Coffee • Mexican • Seafood • American


"A Venezuelan restaurant in Pittsburgh? Time to try a new cuisine! So, me and several friends tried them out for dinner. Being winter, the outside sign not being lit, and it being dark, made all of us almost miss the place. However we kinda knew where it was so we all eventually made it. When you enter, it looks like a fast food place as there is a counter with a lit up neon menu above it. I asked one of the employees if they have a dining room, and if it's open and he pointed to my right where there was one. It was completely empty, so it was not a problem finding a table for the four of us. Menus are already on the tables so we perused it. One side has Venezuelan dishes, the other Mexican. We focused only on the Venezuelan side as that was why we came here. When the owner ? came by to get our drink order, we asked for help with the menu selections and ended getting the Venezuelan Mix appetizer, a couple of Pabellon Criollos, and the Patacones. The owner assured us this would give us a good sampling of what the cuisine is all about. The appetizers arrived after a while and we dove in. Everything was tasy and we enjoyed them all ... but did note that everything was fried. Then, when the main dishes arrived, the same thing happened. Tasty food ad most of it was fried. We did also ask for a sample of their hot sauce since some of us like things on the hotter side. We all thought the food was very tasty and the owner kept checking back on how we were doing. His guidance was very much appreciated. While we were there, other parties drifted in. At least one party were regulars, and another may have been Venezuelan and were certainly Latino and knew the menu as they did not fumble as much with it as we did! Prices were reasonable at less than $25 per person when including the appetizer, main dish, and tip. Service was a bit on the slow side, but the food was served piping hot, so it was probably a factor of the kitchen being overwhelmed with takeout orders, more than anything else."

Sofrito Latin Cafe

Sofrito Latin Cafe

8607 Palm Pkwy, Orlando I-32836-6416, United States

Cuban • Vegan • Barbecue • Sandwiches


"You know a place is good when the people inside are smiling and having a great time. Was in Orlando for a couple days and couldn't have made a better decision than going here for dinner. The place was fairly occupied when we were there but the hosts were amazing to guide us through the self ordering kiosks and the ordering counter. The ambience was warm and relaxing, a homey vibe. the windows are big and let in plenty of natural light. They have a courtyard seating adjacent to the main hall. The menu is fairly expansive and covers a range of appetizers and main courses. They have dishes from all over Latin America. We ordered their Pollo Al Horno, which is half bone is roasted chicken, seasoned with thyme, rosemary, garlic and other seasonings. It's a Peruvian dish. There was a choice of three sides. We chose white rice, beans and black beans. We also ordered Sopa De Pollo, chicken soup made with potatoes, carrots and celery, the Dominican way. We paid at the counter and were assigned a number. It wasn't long before our soup arrived. It was served hot in a cast iron pot and wow it was amazing. Having driven for more than five hours, it felt so good to have that warm soup. I really loved the chicken and the potatoes in it. Most chicken soups use chicken breasts and I don't really like them that much but this was different. It had leg quarters and pieces of thighs, with bones,too. The soup really felt wholesome. Next was our Pollo Al Horno. I could tell it was great just by looking at it. The presentation was amazing with the roasted chicken, white rice, boiled yukkas and the salad placed neatly on the plate. It tasted even better than the way it looked. The chicken was just well done with a crispy skin and a succulent meat inside. The thyme and rosemary seasoning were popping inside my mouth. I just felt the amount of rosemary could have been toned down a little and the skin could also have been buttered a bit more, in my opinion. But it was great. The boiled yukkas with the chilli and mint paste was simply amazing. I felt like I had never tasted yukkas that good. This is a great restaurant and if you love Latin American foods or want to add richness to your food experiences, this is the place to go in Orlando. The prices are great too and the servers and hosts are super helpful and amazing."

Casa Ora

Casa Ora

148 Meserole StNY 11206-1606, Brooklyn, United States

Full • Spanish • Venezuelan • Bar-lounge


"When booking a reservation for Casa Ora, you have the option to book outdoor seating or indoor seating. I booked indoor seating. When we arrived for our 6PM indoor reservation, there were only about 2-3 parties seated throughout the entire restaurant, yet the hostess decided to have my party sit outdoors, when it was cold and pouring rain outside. Though their outdoor seating is fully covered, it was still very odd that they chose to seat us outdoors when I booked an indoor reservation, it was pouring outside, and the restaurant was completely empty with the exception of about 3 tables. When my mom, the person who picked the restaurant, and the person whose birthday we were there to celebrate, protested that we should not be seated outside, the hostess then offered to have us seated at the table nearest the front door, when again, it was cold, rainy, and the nearly empty restaurant had plenty of seating towards the back. When my mom then suggested we leave to another restaurant, the hostess magically found space for us in the back of the restaurant where only one other party in that entire empty space was seated. I'm not sure why they were trying to have us seated outside or right by the front door when they admitted they knew that I booked an indoor reservation, but it was certainly very odd. Outside of that bizarre experience, the service from our waiter was perfect and the food and drinks were 4/5 stars."