Colombian Food

[Wet Nose]

Al Rojo is passable for Italian. Nice thin crust pizza. But overall quality wouldn't last long vs a world class Italian restaurant.

Went to a brilliant restaurant yesterday. Called Carmen, in Poblado, Cra 36 10A-27. Rated by tripadvisor as one of the best in Medellin, it offers great food. But not cheap. Well compared to other Medellin restaurants. Main courses range from 30, 000. 45, 000 pesos. Salads are about 20, 000 pesos. But it could possibly be one of your best meals in Medellin.

[Kukulkan]

Anyone Know a good Italian Food place here in Medellin?

Thanks,

Kukulkan

[Yujin]

For those unfamiliar with Colombian food, here's a link to an informative website:

http://www.southamerica.cl/Colombia/Food.htm

[Member #4394]

Thanks for the info, BayBoy and John G. My stomach is getting better so I went to the vegetarian / Hare Krishna restaurant, Govinda's, in El Centro after visiting casas today. When I was heading to the restaurant, I saw a soccer shirt of Atletico National on Pasaje Junin. I asked a lady how much it was, and the answer was 40k peso. Just a block away, I saw the same (perhaps) shirt and a guy told me it was 15k peso. I almost bought it but thought I may be able to find it later for even less.

Govinda's is on Clle 51 close to Cra 52. It is on the second floor while a paisa diner / restaurant is on the 1st floor. Many young people w / Hare Krishna / eastern clothes. People were nice and friendly. As JG said, it was cafeteria style, which I really liked. First time in 20 years, I saw Colombians waiting on the line and do not cut in! 7. 5k for buffet including tea / juice. Typical Hare Krishna food with a lot of potato. It was better than the Hare Krishna food I ate in Buenos Aires and New York. The tea had very good taste and good smell. I felt (not totally sure) the tea cured my stomach. Also the cake contained minimal amount of sugar, which resulted in a very classy taste. Though I waited on the line for 2nd round solely for the cake, it ran out. Overall, very good food and reasonable price. BTW, my favorite veggie restaurants are some Chinese vegetarian restaurants in Buenos Aires and a Taiwanese restaurant in Tokyo.

Again, Thanks a lot, BayBoy. Probably I am going to Guatape with one of Centro casa or Mayorista chicas this Sunday.

The Hare Krishna restaurant is on Calle 51 close to the corner of Carrera 52. Its upstairs. Been in there and looked around, but didn't sit down and eat.

[John Gault]

The Hare Krishna restaurant is on Calle 51 close to the corner of Carrera 52. Its upstairs. Been in there and looked around, but didn't sit down and eat.

I was there last yaer. Cafateria style. I liked it, and some hot girls seem to eat there. Gets nice play at lunch time.

[Member #4244]

Bogota is littered with very good restaurants, tremendous Argentine steakhouses and some good comida tipica as well.

Medellin is truly a mixed bag, there is a row of restaurants with some Mediterranean food that is good a bit northeast of Parque Lleras, Mangles is a nice little gem above the Parque there (por toda la calle 10) and there are a lot of little cheap chicken spots that hit the spot on the cheap.

Overall, I don't push the food of Colombia as a reason to go there, it's just serviceable. On the coast, I love seafood and even I think it's hit and miss. Price and quality are seldom correlated. La Olla Cartagenera is a nice value place in Boca Grande (Cartagena). I would not recommend any sushi place in the country (I keep trying them like a damn fool) though I ate at one in a hotel in Cartagena (right on the beach, cannot recall exact name at the moment) that I'd recommend if you're dying for some.

Club D Pesca is a very legit place to entertain guests or dates, it is costly by Colombia standards, pretty average by USA standards for a half decent meal ($25-$60 per person). La Vitrola is always booked, I don't like the atmosphere as much but some of the dishes are wonderful, the filet mignon with a heavy balsamic sauce was incredible. Price is about the same as Club D Pesca but the portions are smaller and they act like you have to fuck Bea Arthur and her dad just to get a table. Show up early, as in right when they open, or make reservations well in advance. I found that Spanish place everyone talks up to be overrated. Great jugos to be had all over.

Santa Marta has a lot of kinda upscale places, most of them are a bust. That one that overlooks the ocean that's way the hell up the hill is overpriced and the food is weak. They don't even have half the stuff on the menu. They treat the meat with some weird tenderizer, fish is just OK. Pez Caribe is also very average, reasonable price especially considering you don't have to drive too deep if you're in El Rodadero. The places I would recommend are Ben why Josef on the main drag down by Parque de los Novios, very good local steak, decent shrimp dishes and European service. That is kind of my go to place to take a date or a friend I am entertaining. There are a couple of enterprising American brothers (as in fraternal brothers, not African-Americans) who have opened two decent places. Agave Azul serves a tamer version of Mexican food (not nearly as spicy as real Mexican stuff) that is good and reasonably priced (dishes between 7K and 20K COP). Lunch there is a great value, dinner is decent and the staff is very friendly. The cook is an Asian-American from the Carolinas, really solid dude. He has now transitioned to doing more at their new place, Ouzo, a Mediterranean place that serves a mix of Greek and Italian fare mostly. It's a much nicer atmosphere and they are both working checking out. AA is in Plaza San Francisco and Ouzo is up closer to the main stretch (not the Plaza SF is far) , so both in El Centro.

Cali I didn't get to eat much, had a girlfriend that like to eat her meals with her nose and she often shared!

[Member #4394]

I will report in August. BTW, there are many great vegetarian restaurants in Buenos Aires, AR.

Let me know how the food is at the Hare Krishna place, Matt Psyche.

I like the saludable (healthy) foods served on the plates here in Colombia. Veggies, salads, rice and beans, plantain, fried banana, patacon, soups, fruits etc. The main dishes are another story.

[BayBoy]

Let me know how the food is at the Hare Krishna place, Matt Psyche.

I like the saludable (healthy) foods served on the plates here in Colombia. Veggies, salads, rice and beans, plantain, fried banana, patacon, soups, fruits etc. The main dishes are another story.

[Member #4394]

Thanks a lot. I will go there!

The Hare Krishna restaurant is on Calle 51 close to the corner of Carrera 52. Its upstairs. Been in there and looked around, but didn't sit down and eat.

[BayBoy]

I read somewhere that there's a Hare Krishna restaurant in downtown Medellin.

The Hare Krishna restaurant is on Calle 51 close to the corner of Carrera 52. Its upstairs. Been in there and looked around, but didn't sit down and eat.

[John Gault]

Colombian Food Forum. What a great idea. To bad most guys would rather use the MDE or the General info board to talk about their favorite foods.

I am a little guilty of this myself, but guys if you want to do a old home week then a PM would be a great means to catch up on old times.

On another note. We all have our favorite foods in the countrys that we visit. It's funny how on the first day back home from our adventures we rush to get a big helping of our favorite fast food. Say what you want about the decline of the USA, but the food is great still.

[Member #4394]

Yujin and Artisttyp, thanks a lot. I will try them next month!

There was one open for lunch on the corner where parque bolivar meets the pedestrian walkway in the centro. If you can't find it locate the little yogurt / fruit counter in the mini mall immediately upon entering the pedestrian walkway from parque bolivar. They will point you in the right direction.

[Artisttyp]

I would appreciate any info about vegetarian restaurants in Medellin. Thanks.

There was one open for lunch on the corner where parque bolivar meets the pedestrian walkway in the centro. If you can't find it locate the little yogurt / fruit counter in the mini mall immediately upon entering the pedestrian walkway from parque bolivar. They will point you in the right direction.

[Yujin]

I would appreciate any info about vegetarian restaurants in Medellin. Thanks.

I haven't eaten there, but this is suppose to be one of the better vegetarian restaurant in Medellin: http://www.ricoverdeo.com/ Hopefully, they don't over-salt the food.

[Member #4394]

Have anybody been to Amazon side, and tried local food? Any good / exotic river fish?