La Bella Managua – 872 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1M5
Country: Nicaragua
Must-try Dish: Carne Asada

This highly rated Central American restaurant didn’t immediately come on to our radar, and Mandra Bike is sad about the lost time in this delicious relationship. Luckily, we now know about La Bella Managua and we’ll be returning for a meal as soon as the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted in Toronto. 

The bright yellow walls decorating La Bella Managua are welcoming and give the impression of actually being in Nicaragua. There is a simple set up for seating making it a good place for both a small or a big group. Although on this particular evening, Mandrea Bike went out for a bite without any dinner guests. 

The vibe of being away on a trip down south prompted us to explore the menu with a cocktail in hand – something fruity with Nicaragua’s iconic Flor de Cana rum. We started with the mixed seafood ceviche, which was served with fresh avocado and fried plantain chips. If you haven’t had the privilege of tasting a plantain before, you’re sadly missing out. Regardless of the way it’s cooked, it adds a slight sweetness to any savoury dish. 

The Carne Asada is both the most popular thing on the menu, and also happens to be Mandrea Bike’s must-try dish. The large plate is stacked with a generous piece of grilled beef, a rice and bean medley known as gallo pinto, a cabbage salad, half an avocado, and fried plantains. This was accompanied by a house-made hot sauce that you should approach with caution. It has a nice flavour, but catches you with the heat. 

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again, the fried plantains really add a special lightly sweetened angle to the dish. It seriously goes well with everything on the plate, and perhaps even enhances the flavours. 

We opted for the Cerdo con Yuca as our second main dish, and although it didn’t take the favourite spot, it’s worth ordering. Cerdo is pork in Spanish, and yuca is a root vegetable popular in Central and South American recipes. The meat was cut into small medallions and served over the steamed yuca and pickled cabbage salad. 

The great thing about these recommendations from our server is that we got to sample two varied dishes that shared a similar style of cooking but were otherwise different in what they offered. The beef contrasted from the pork, and the meal accompaniments were different in both plates, down to one having the sweetness of the plantain and the other having a more savoury pickled flavour from the salad. 

Nicaragua is an incredible place to travel to and seems to be picking up momentum over the years as a top destination in Central America for tourists. Whether it’s the two coast, colonial cities, volcanoes, surf destinations, wildlife or cuisine, there truly is something for everyone. Add it to your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)