Besito brings Colombia to West Footscray

Besito
590A Barkly Street, West Footscray (map)
9689 0586
Open Tuesday-Sunday 8am-4pm
website


The lovely Lauren first alerted me to the existence of Besito in February, shortly after it opened. A cafe serving up a little slice of Colombia in West Footscray, just a suburb over from Los Latinos (another place I've been meaning to visit for ages)... colour me keen.


A group of us visited one Saturday morning and ordered a range of dishes. Highlights included the huevos rancheros (fried eggs on a corn tortilla with salsa verde and cheese, $12.50), the calentao (a hearty bowlful of beans, rice and avocado served with mini-arepa 'arepitas', $10.50) and the snacky fried green plantains ($3) which we ordered with a side serve of char grilled corn and pimentos salsa ($4.50). The Colombian favourites, arepas, are also excellent at Besito: prick them while they're still hot with your knife or the tines of your fork, apply butter liberally so that it can melt down through the holes, add pink sea salt and eat. Both the white corn arepas and the tortillas are gluten free, and made by hand.


Traditional Colombian hot chocolate - containing cheese, that's right you heard me - is on offer for $4. Unlike the version at Sonido where the queso comes in a solid block, this traditional hot chocolate comes with the queso pre-blended. It's delicious. Besito also serves 5 Senses coffee (Dark Horse blend and a rotating single origin) with golden unrefined panela on the side as a healthy sweetener.

A small range of sauces and other Colombian produce is also available for purchase.


The cafe is a brightly painted gem, and owner Andres and his bubbly front of house staff are only too happy to guide you through some of the more unfamiliar menu items. In addition to breakfast items there are salads and other lunchier dishes also available, and a liquor licence is hopefully on its way. Definitely worth a visit to the westside.