Located in Little Havana, alongside Calle Ocho, is a small Venezuelan-owned locale. It's hard to see, unless you're looking for it. And in this restaurant's case, I truly recommend you do. The parking lot is a hassle, with no more than 10 spaces that it shares with a laundry shop, among others. But once you walk in through their glass door, it's another world. To your right is a bar adored with bottles and plants, to your left is the rest of the restaurant: about six tables with mismatched chairs. Strangely, the dim lighting in combination with the intentionally awry setting provides a wonderful ambient. But forget about the atmosphere, because once you get to the food there's nothing besides you and the plate in front of you. The menu has a small variety of appetizers and main dishes. To start, we went with the Lechon Dumplings and the Chorizo y Camarones (sausage and shrimp). The four little triangle-shaped, meat-filled dumplings came first, topped with a few onion slices and in a bowl of
jus. I cannot begin to explain the surprise we had as the flavors blended in our mouths. The savory dish blew us away...to the point where we ordered another one. (Tip: do double-dip. You'll know why once you try it!) The chorizo y camarones arrived next. Three large shrimp spiced up with slices of sausage in a wine and garlic sauce accompanied by the occasional olive. The flavor was spectacular. The shrimp were just a bit too mushy, because they literally came apart as I was attempting to remove the tail.
However, it was a minor mishap I was all too willing to brush away. It also came accompanied by a loaf of bread--crunchy on the outside yet soft and warm on the inside. For the main course we decided on the Mahi Chicharon, on our waiter's recommendation. Oh my God. That truly was the cherry on top of a perfect dinner. Pieces of crunchy Mahi came atop a bed of white rice over which the waiter poured the most delicious sauce (and left it on the table in case we wanted more. And of course we did). Besides the amazing dishes, the service is astounding. My water glass was never empty, our waiter would come every so often to check that everything was in order, and best of all, they knew their dishes. Hence, they could make knowledgeable recommendations, which new customers like ourselves greatly appreciated. Also, if you're a beer fan, try La Fin du Monde; it's good. All in all, it's a restaurant definitely worth trying, even if you have to fight for the parking space. TIP!! Make a reservation! This place gets full.
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