On Sunday, my friend E and I went to Sonido! South American Cafe in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. Sonido serves South American cuisine, with mains of arepas (corn cakes) or empanadas in various flavours. I was excited to go there as I am a huge Offpring fan (an Australian Network 10 TV show), and Sonido is the place where in around episode 4 of Series 2, Jimmy takes his holiday girlfriend Tammy to remind her of their travels together.
E is vegetarian, so she ordered arepas de queso ($8.50) - corn cakes filled with Freso cheese. The salad is an extra $2.50.
I am a carnivore, so I could not resist the ropa vieja (old clothes) beef arepas ($11.50). The corn cakes are buried beneath a pile of flavoursome shredded beef (which does indeed look like a pile of old clothes), which makes for a very filling meal. The salsa on the side was just gorgeous - it was only mildly spicy, but added just the right amount of zing.
Sonido is only tiny, but it is amazing the number of people who can fit in there comfortably. The wait staff were all prompt and friendly (and drop dead gorgeous!). Sonido also make a very good coffee - I had a skinny flat white - no pretensions about milk here; while E had a cold can of a Brazilian energy drink.
The walls of Sonido are filled with South American memorabilia - E has a Peruvian mother, and was pleased to see a childhood book that she remembered on the shelf.
Sonido is a fun place to go for a relaxed meal - but bring cash, as they don't take cards.
Sonido! South American Cafe
69 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy VIC Australia
Fitzroy VIC Australia
No phone. No bookings. No Cards – Cash Only
