I popped into 80 Sillas when I first arrived in Bogota four months ago for a few glasses of wine during a ‘market research’ outing with two great friends who will soon be opening a wine bar here in Bogota. (Stay tuned for more:  As they have presented me with a certificate for free wine for life (fools), I am sure to be there all the time.)  I glanced at the menu while we reviewed the extraordinary wine list, and was mesmerized by an entire ½ page of ceviches.  I have been trying to get back to 80 Sillas ever since.  Although there are actually 80 sillas, I have called for reservations before and been shut down.  This past weekend I got lucky, and as my soup loving amigo also happens to be my ceviche loving amigo, we headed north to dine in 2 of the 80 chairs at this trendy, popular restaurant in Usaquen.

There is a simple system to follow when ordering your ceviche at 80 Sillas.   First, choose from three types of seafood: shrimp, fish, or calamari, or any combination of the three.   Second, decide on your size: glass or bowl. (bowl bowl bowl!)  Finally, select one of the fifteen possible marinades, including one which I found both fragrant and refreshing with ginger, mango, soya, sesame oil and lime.  80 Sillas menu illustrates the enormous potential of marinated seafood.  Apart from the delicious and highly recommended Ginger Ceviche that I devoured, you will find a Green Ceviche with basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, arugula and lemon; one with chipotle and roasted red peppers; and for you purists, there is of course the classic Peruvian Ceviche.

80 Sillas, like so many other of my favorite Bogota restaurants, makes it easy to watch your waistline and continue to eat out by offering an array of appetizing appetizers.  We followed up our ceviches with two more appetizers.  True to form, my soup loving amigo opted for a soup - the New England Chowder - which he claimed to be one of the best he has ever had; a great compliment indeed coming from such an aficionado.   I, true to form as well, stuck to chorizo – fish and rosemary however instead of the delicious pig variety.  Delightful!

I will return to 80 Sillas often, and look forward to sampling their full range of fresh seafood:  grouper, sea bass, snapper, eel (well maybe not the full range), salmon, tilapia and trout.  Following the same theme of offering the diners choices – once you choose your fish 80 Sillas allows you choose from six different methods of preparations: brochette, en papilllote, sautéed, baked, grilled or blackened.  Now that is surely enough choices for all y’all.

- Submitted by The Gringa

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