Criterión

Criterión is a formal restaurant at Calle 69A #5-75 in Zona G, Chapinero, Bogotá, Colombia. It was opened in 2004 by brothers Jorge and Mark Rausch and is credited with pioneering the tasting menu in the city, which has kept it among Bogotá's benchmark fine-dining addresses for two decades. The cooking is French in technique and Colombian in sourcing, so classic sauces and precise preparation are applied to local fish, game and produce. Diners can choose a multi-course tasting menu or order a la carte, and the kitchen is known for French-technique preparations of Colombian fish and game and for classic desserts made with Colombian cacao. A deep wine cellar supports the food, with a list that leans on European producers and includes Latin American bottles, and the sommelier can build pairings for the tasting menu. The dining room is elegant, quiet and traditional, with white tablecloths, attentive service and a pace designed for long, unhurried dinners. Conversation carries easily, so the room suits business dinners, anniversaries and guests who prefer a calm meal to a lively one. Smart dress is expected, and jackets are common at dinner. Prices are at the upper end, roughly COP 120,000-320,000 per person (about $38-101), with the a la carte lunch at the lower end and a tasting menu with wine at the top. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays. Reservations are recommended and dinner should be booked ahead, particularly for Friday and Saturday. Zona G is the city's gastronomic district, so the restaurant can be combined with a walk among neighbouring dining rooms, and taxis or ride-hailing are simpler than parking. Guests with dietary restrictions should mention them when booking so the kitchen can adapt the menu.