Cafe Terrace — Restaurant in London

Many people malign the humble arepa, and until I sampled the earthly delights of Cafe Terrace I would have marched proud at the head of that throng, holding aloft the banners and loudly proclaiming to all within earshot that one may as well scarf a chancla with margarine as engage with an arepa. Too often met with bland, chalky and uninteresting offerings on my traversal of Colombia, I had resigned that proud nation's national food to the category of nonsensical nostalgic comfort foods, alongside the twinkie and yorkshire puddings (Yes, tell the grand old Duke of York that I am willing to die anywhere on the slopes of that particular hill).

But a chance encounter with a trio of charming Colombianas, the proprietors of Cafe Terrace, resulted in a breakneck volte-face. Appetite stoked by a delicious cup of coffee and a crunchy beef empanada, I was not awash with eager anticipation for the arrival of the arepa that we had ordered on a whim. One last cast of the die. Well, alea iacta est, and aleluya for that. A hearty filling of chicken and avo spilled out of a crumbly, chewy, lightly-grilled maize pocket. The structure of this magnificent creation, heavy on filling at the top, stuffed with melty cheese at the bottom, ensured that every bite was different and yet more delicious than the one before.

At this point I will indulge in a brief encomium of the spicy salsita that was served in an egg cup with a sugar spoon. If we hadn't already been utterly bewitched by this small corner of Cally Road Colombia, this charming touch, stirring up happy memories of a holiday long gone, would have pushed us firmly over the edge. But now, that sauce. My god. If there is indeed a bearded lady pulling the strings of this mortal coil, then this condiment must be the very spice of life. At once sweet, salty, spicy, savoury and acidic it elevates, not obliterates, enhances not trounces. No blow-your-head-off then shrivel your saliva glands chilli + vinegar number, this sauce is so heavenly that I am desperate for the muses who successfully summoned the secret sauce of seventh heaven to make it available commercially.

Back to this physical instantiation of the platonic ideal of the arepa. Bejewelled with trickling rivulets of salsa, it rose to yet headier heights. Usually garrulous after a large black americano, our breakfast was exclusively punctured by groans of delight and exclamations of surprise - by what happy happenstance had we stumbled upon this perfect sandwich? As Jonathan Nunn has declared, the perfect sandwich is a gestalt, and this is certainly that. It is a greater achievement to fashion from undistinguished components a transcendent culinary experience, and the unpretentious beginnings of this arepa make its apotheosis all the more memorable.

tl;dr: great coffee and amazing food, made with love and served with a smile. Ask if you can buy the salsa - if we all do, eventually they might start...

Sandra’s cafe is such a safe space and haven for the Cally road community. It is a family run cafe in a small space with cosy seating and a Colombian flare, serving homemade food and excellent coffee, you’re sure to feel like home here. This is important to note because it is exactly for this reason that it is so highly rated, it is a neighbourhood cafe where people can come and relax and chat to the other regulars or newcomers alike. It is not like the high street cafes without soul. The empanadas and arepas here are some of the best in the area, don’t forget to ask for the salsa that comes with it! I’ve been a loyal customer since I walked in to get an arepa 3 years ago and Sandra and her family have become great friends. I recommend this cafe to anyone who wants good coffee, good food and somewhere where people will remember...

A Hidden Gem for Comfort Food Lovers

I stopped by this charming little café with my son on a Saturday, and we were in for a real treat. While they usually serve a solid selection of paninis, cornbread, sandwiches, and great coffee during the week, Saturdays are extra special. That’s when they offer a Colombian homemade special meal — we had the most amazing soup, served with a warm cornbread on the side. You could taste the love in every bite. It’s a family-owned and run spot, and that warmth shines through in both the food and the atmosphere. If you're looking for a cozy, welcoming place with real comfort food, this is the...