Mike M.
Yelp
Pretty tasty, but inflation strikes again. I assume this is a recent development based on the menu photos I see here on yelp from a few years ago. Outrageously expensive for what it is.
What is it? Food-wise, it's solid Columbian food, which if you haven't had it, it's similar to many other South American cuisines - arepas (sandwich with a thin corn-based bun and usually a slow cooked meat of some kind), entrees and apps reminicent of Cuban and Puerto Rican food (Ropa viejas, tostones, etc.). All good stuff.
Atmosphere and service - atmosphere is super casual, exactly what I would expect at this type of place. Kind of beat up, but totally fine. Suffers from South Side Restroom Syndrome. Service was okay. Took some prodding to get drinks, including water.
I had their signature burger, which was fine. It looked great (see picture) but tasted fairly run-of-the-mill, and the toppings were a little too sweet for my tastes. Light on the hamburger and was a little dry. But it was fine. Side of red beans. My wife got a ham and bacon arepa with a side of maduros (sweet plantains). Kids split a chicken arepa and 10 yuca fries. The arepa was extremely bland, which you'll have sometimes with this style, but you'll also find well seasoned versions. We also got a couple apps - an order of 4 tostones w/ a kind of onion salsa (a tostone is a smashed and fried slice of green plantain), and 3 smallish empanadas. Pretty much everything we got, I would classify as street food. Which isn't a bad thing.
For drinks, the kids each got a passionfruit juice, my wife had a pina colada and a beer, and I had a small margarita and a mojito. All the drinks were very tasty.
So why 3 stars? Let's recap - kind of beat up, smelly South Side Restrooms, friendly but average service... and most importantly, we got 3 meals, 2 apps, 4 drinks plus a couple juices, and we were $144 out the door. They include an 18% gratuity on anything over 100, which is fine - I always tip 20% unless everything is a complete disaster. Which this wasn't. But good lord - $144 after tip for some street food and a few drinks in a divey South Side joint was an uppercut. For comparison, we got more food and beverage at Urban Tap in South Side 2 nights ago - a nicer place, better service, not street food (e.g., I got some great shrimp and grits) - and were $120 out the door (this includes a 20% tip).
Maybe if you go, go for lunch, and just get an arepa and water. Might be easier to handle seeing the bill at the end.