Paramo Café & Restaurant 3700 North Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34234

"My kid's soccer team was in town and I invited all parents to try some Venezuelan food. They are now hooked! Everything was delicious, we ordered empanadas, arepas, cachapas, tequeños and Parrilla venezolana so everyone could share and try, and they absolutely loved it. Great place and great atmosphere."

"EMPANADAS ARE A MUST! The garlic green sauce is so creamy and delicious! We went overboard on our first of many to come visits to Paramo. We got the Yuca fries, which were so good and then shared a chicken empanada. Our entrees were the steak and. Rice meal, which we took home becuase the sandwich my wife got the steak pepito was plenty for us to share. The sweetest of the dough on the empanadas was so great. Cannot wait until next time!"

"This place was great. The service was wonderful loved all the employees. The food was tasty! I found the Lomo a little dry but still good. My son loved his shrimp chaufa. I loved my coffee!! So good! My daughter loved her Mango juice."

"Beautiful spot, waitress was very sweet and helpful, food was delicious. We hadn’t had Venezuelan food before, so this spot was a great first experience. Side note, if you are gluten sensitive this is may be a good spot. Most of the food was made with a corn flour. I didn’t ask if it’s made out of just corn, but my stomach felt fine after. Waitress also mentioned that the wait time might be a little longer than normal restaurants because everything is made from scratch. Although it didn’t end up taking long at all, our meals tasted fresh and whoever was the chef definitely had passion for their craft. I do wish there was a 4.5 star option, only because it was a bit pricey. Coffee and mocha we got were also good, just seemed over priced. $4.50 for a small, plain black coffee in this economy hurt a little."

"I had the pleasure of dining at Paramo and my experience was absolutely fantastic!The atmosphere was very relaxing, with muted colors and Latin music providing a wonderfully inviting atmosphere. The food at Paramo was outstanding - an amazing array of flavors and textures. Their fried plantains were particularly delicious, and the empanadas and arepas were simply out of this world. The ingredients used were all incredibly fresh, and the seasonings and spices used added an extra zing to each dish. All in all, Paramo is by far the best Venezuelan food I have had the pleasure of tasting. The quality of the food and the service were both excellent, and the ambiance was perfect for a romantic dinner or a casual night out with friends. I highly recommend Paramo to anyone looking for an unforgettable culinary experience."