Salento

"Salento is a Colombian coffee shop where you can read a book while munching on a guava cheese palito. The Washington Heights spot occupies a sunny corner on Amsterdam Avenue, and there's an outdoor seating area if it's basking weather. If not, the light wood, plant-filled interior works well for catching up with a friend over a cafe con leche. Whatever you do, don’t leave here without an empanada. There are three different types, but the beef, with its chewy, crispy corn crust and soft mashed potato filling is a standout. They come with a creamy, slightly spicy green sauce that we’d happily drink like soup. But eat at least one completely plain. The empanadas here deserve your undivided attention. photo credit: Willa Moore" - Willa Moore

"Named after a town deep in Colombian coffee country, this stylish cafe opened right before the pandemic and is one of the best places to go for coffee and a bite (or substantial breakfast) in the Heights. The large display case holds an array of traditional pastries like bunuelos, and various puff pastry treats stuffed with sweet (guava and cheese) or savory (chicken, mushroom, or beef) ingredients. You'll also find fresh empanadas, arepas, and, if you’re truly hungry, the bandeja paisa—a classic plate with beef, chorizo, chicharron, arepa, sweet plantains, and fried egg over rice and beans." - Willa Moore, Sonal Shah, Bryan Kim, Nikko Duren, Matt Tervooren

"A crowd of young medical students dropped by Salento in Washington Heights on a recent Wednesday, stocking up on excellent empanadas before a long anatomy lecture. Owners Mariella Duque and Mysel Chica performed a true service to the neighborhood by opening this Colombian panaderia last year, just a few days before the first COVID-19 shutdown. My typical order here is a buñelo, a cassava fritter filled with white cheese and a smidge of bocadillo, or guava paste. The sweet-salty flavor profile keeps things out of cloying territory, while the light dough ensures that the treat functions more as a snack than a caloric breakfast replacement." - Ryan Sutton

"The oblong buñelos ($2.50) were just as they should be, sporting a gently crisp exterior and a warm interior oozing with salty cheese and a smear of fragrant guava. The more disc-shaped pandebono ($2.50), in turn, balanced the savory tang of the component cheese with just enough sugar." - Eater Staff