Gordo EX Cafe – 1048 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G7
Country: Venezuela
Seating: Small indoor space
Must-try dish: Fried Plantains
Dinner guest: Curly Guy and Dirty D

After consulting a friend from Venezuela about where to eat the city’s best arepas, we were directed to Gordo EX Cafe with a list of recommendations. Luckily our server, also from Venezuela, agreed on those recommendations and even expanded on them. 

We kicked off the night with some cheese sticks called Tequeños (a Venezuelan mozzarella stick), some fried plantains topped with cheese and a Pabellon empanada. Pabellon is the thing that was constantly recommended. It’s a mix of black beans, cheese, plaintains, and beef – all with a savory seasoning. The plantains were a hit because there was no shortage of cheese on top and the balance of sweet and salty flavouring was unique to anything else served on our table. Not surprisingly, Curl the savant took control of the order, and as usual, we had the perfect amount of food. 

The mains are where things got tricky. Mandrea Bike likes to share in order to sample as many things as possible, and we were in for a bit of a mess because arepas are not the most aesthetically pleasing thing when cut in two. 

Picture a half open-faced sandwich made with flimsy, sauce infused cornbread, and filled to the brim with toppings… You’ve got an arepa. Therefore, you can imagine that things have the opportunity to turn messy. And they did, but it made it all the more fun to eat. Arepas can be filled with a range of toppings from avocado, to chicken to black beans – you name it. But it’s the thing to try in a Venezuelan kitchen, and you’ll be satisfied.

Our other dish seemed more typical of Central and South American cuisine, but it was a plate of Pabellon Criollo. Can you really go wrong? Black beans, rice, pulled beef and fried plantains. It was a plate of amazingness. 

I had a good seat to people-watch in this cozy, comfortable restaurant and it seemed like everyone there was relaxed and enjoying the food alongside their company. The service was friendly and helpful. I loved the good people, good company and good atmosphere vibe offered at Gordo EX Cafe. 

We left with full bellies and big smiles – you will too. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)