Restaurants in Venezuela
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Catar
One of several restaurants in the culinary mall known as the Cuadra Gastronómica, Catar has aggressively eclectic food, with a funky, mismatched decor to match. The emphasis is on fresh, natural ingredients, which show up in artistically presented sandwiches, carpaccios and lovely artisanal pizzas. Don’t miss it.
reviewed
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Alto
Caraqueños bowed down to Chef Carlos Garcia’s bold cuisine and decor from the moment the doors opened in 2007: Alto became an instant culinary icon. Local ingredients built around a vanguard Euro-Catalonian framework make dishes like cordero al café (rack of lamb in coffee sauce) worth shelling out the big bolívares. Reservations essential.
reviewed
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Tasca La Tertulia
Highlights include the empanada de bacalao (salt-cod tart) and baked lamb; portions are huge.
In general, tascas (Spanish-style bar-restaurants) serve traditional dishes from tapas to seafood, often in a separate dining room, while most activity focuses on long, lively bars for knocking back a wee dram or three.
reviewed
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Mokambo
Expertly fusing Mediterranean and Caribbean elements in a upscale, jungly setting, Mokambo offer scrumptious and surprising dishes, such as duck risotto in orange-sesame reduction; or the local cheese plate, made in the suburbs by an ex-Argentine guerrilla, current Opositión cheesemonger.
reviewed
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Restaurant Urrutia
Urrutia is one of the best Basque restaurants around. Shaped like a pie wedge with tables along the perimeter, the place is often crowded with local office workers relaxing over a seafood meal or noshing on pasapalos (finger food).
reviewed
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Nobu
It’s not everyday that sushi this good comes this cheap, nor is it usually paired with Thai food, but you’ll cure the Asian cravin’ here, at any rate. Nobu is one of a string of modish restaurants with terrace seating at a ‘gastronomic shopping mall’ in a quiet corner of the Los Palos Grandes district. There is no affiliation with world-renowned Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa – in fact, he should probably sue.
reviewed
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La Cocina de Francy
Instead of Spanish fare, this tasca-style restaurant specializes in delicious Venezuelan cuisine rooted in ancestral recipes. Check out the pelao guayanés, a soulful chicken stew laced with herbs and olive oil, or the pabellón criollo, Venezuela’s national dish of rice, black beans, fried plantains and shredded beef. The burlap tablecloths and funky art are a nice touch.
reviewed
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El Caserio
This charming, Spanish-owned tasca features low, wood-beamed ceilings extending out from an atmospheric central bar, the whole surroundings of which are packed on weekends and for important soccer matches. The seafood and steaks are both excellent, as are the waiters decked out in traditional bufanda bandanas around their necks. There’s a guard out front, so safety is a priority.
reviewed
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La Ghirin Café, Dely y Restaurant
Hidden from the road by a wall of palms, this open-air café is worth a stop any time of day: for a criollo (Spanish) breakfast, five-course set lunch, or candlelit evening meal. There's a big selection of tropical fruit juices, sandwiches on homemade bread, sublime desserts - all with an emphasis on fresh, healthful ingredients and served by extremely affable waiters.
reviewed
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La Castañuela
Located on a particularly busy corner of Las Mercedes, this is an updated drive-up version of a traditional tasca (Spanish-style bar-restaurant) with a boisterous atmosphere enhanced by freely flowing scotch and lounge singers. The waiters seem constantly in motion, toting enormous pans of paella or trays of tapas to big groups of revelers.
reviewed
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Café Casa Veroes
On your walk up to Pantéon Nacional, search out this hidden, open-air cafe tucked away in the leafy backyard of a home-turned-museum donated by the Polar beer family – it’s a true local’s secret. There’s a daily rotating chalkboard menu of modern Venezuelan creations and some of the city’s best coffee. You might not make it to the Pantéon.
reviewed
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Hajillo’s
A block west and half a block north of the plaza, this small chef-managed restaurant offers some adventurous culinary hybrids of Venezuelan and Asian fare, with assuredly aphrodisiacal ingredients. Try the mango rice for a true experience: curried chicken and rice comes along with a cornucopia of flavor enhancers to mix in. Perfection!
reviewed
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Aprile
Much of Caracas’ high society has left the country or disappeared under the radar during the Chávez era – this is one of the spots you’ll find them. The marble bar attracts a beautiful, mature drinking crowd, while the limited Italian menu serves up excellent ceviches (try the salmon martini!), carpaccios and risottos.
reviewed
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Café Olé
This chain has caught on like a California wildfire in Caracas, but here lies its beginnings. Sophisticated wraps, burgers, sandwiches and salads are served in an artistic cafe atmosphere and on a lovely candlelit patio. There’s enough hotness here to sink a Cold War battleship. Additional locations include Centro San Ignacio.
reviewed
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Mi Linda Llanura
For a taste of Los Llanos in the capital, this rooftop party terrace has breezy views over the Asemblea Nacional and serious llanero cuisine, such as carne en vara (beef on a stick), all set to a country-fried soundtrack of joropo. The top floor dining room is rowdier than the other one floor below.
reviewed
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Gran Horizonte
This wildly popular all-hours arepera (restaurant selling arepas – small, thick corn pancakes) near the Centro San Ignacio is a perfect spot for your first arepa – try the mixto con pernil and douse each bite in its house salsas (go easy on the red one). Sandwiches, soups and salads are also served.
reviewed
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Chirú
Next door to Nobu, this popular spot with terrace seating does eclectic Chinese-Peruvian, or Chirú cuisine, and a damn fine job at that. The degustación de ceviche (raw fish or seafood marinated in lime juice and spices) is outstanding, as is the chupe de camerones, an Incan-style shrimp chowder.
reviewed
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Lai King
Located next door to the Chinese social club, this large Chinese restaurant seems more authentic than most, judging by the number of Asian patrons. So besides lo mein and wonton soup, you can enjoy mustard greens in oyster sauce or fish-stuffed tofu. But careful how you order: portions are huge.
reviewed
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Evio’s Pizzeria
There’s pizza and then there’s the city’s best. When famous Venezuelan composer Evio de Marzo isn’t performing, he makes gourmet pizza – six styles to be exact. Locals pack this joint for their favorite – goat cheese and sundried tomato – as well as pasta, empanadas and ice-cold Polar .
reviewed
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Restaurant Terra Park
Bow-tied waiters shout orders at thunderous volumes at this bustling open-air Spanish restaurant on a broad, breezy ground terrace beside the Torre Oeste. It's a great place to chow down in the Parque Central; the menú del día will leave you contentedly stuffed.
reviewed
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Nonna Bella
For well-prepared risottos, raviolis and pizzas, check out this pleasant open-air Italian restaurant occupying a large court in the Chacaíto shopping mall. Though it's on the slick side, the kitchen still retains the spirit of 'beautiful Grandma,' as the name translates.
reviewed
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Gran Café
‘It’s not what it used to be,’ you’ll hear repeatedly in reference to the sad decay of the surrounding zone, but the Gran Café’s boulevard terrace still makes a fine place to relax over coffee and croissants and people-watch for a while, hysterical warnings notwithstanding.
reviewed
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Restaurante La Atarraya
This classic dining hall is named after a store that operated here in the 19th century, when the plaza functioned as the city market. Comida criolla staples like cachapas and roast chicken are served at the counter or in the wood-lined dining area.
reviewed
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Kasuki
Chef/owner Luis Kasuki prepares Japanese cuisine that's strongly influenced by his native Sao Paulo in a stylish space located a block east and half a block north of the plaza. Gluttons should plan to dine here on all-you-can-eat Wednesdays and Saturdays.
reviewed
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Gran Yen
Fronted by neon palm trees with a rainbow over the entryway, this old-school Chinese palace has a celebratory atmosphere and is invariably crowded with fans of Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine. There are lots of dim sum choices (served lunchtime only).
reviewed