Restaurants in Cartagena and in Cali

Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 5, 2004, 07:48:

Gator says on Dec 5, 2004, 09:23:

Here are some Since Cartagena is noted for its sea food he are some English names of fish and the general Spanish name:

Snook – Robalo (about the best, you must try it if you like fish)
Wahoo – Wahoo
Kingfish – Macarela
Yellow fin Tuna – Atun Aleta Amarilla
Grouper – Mero
Snappers- Pargos (Pargo Rojo=Rednapper)
Mojara- Mojarra (Great dish fried whole)
Dolphin – Dorado
Trucha - Trout


Some Colombian "main" dishs

Ajiaco santafereño, a thick soup prepared from chicken, different kinds of potato (at least three), a herb called guascas, and a sweet corn accompanied by capers and fresh cream a hearty soup/stew popular in Bogotá but served everywhere.
Bandeja paisa (literally a hillbilly platter) red beans (cargamantos), carne en polvo (finely chopped beef), chicharron, a couple of plátano maduros, a fried egg, avocado and an arepa.

Sansocho de gallina: A national dish like a soup consisting of chicken, yucca, potato, corn on the cob and appropriate spices-hard to beat.

Sancosho de piscado: Out with the chicken in with the fish.

Bravas caldas: Figs and white cheese

Arroz con coco frito: Rice made with coconut milk and fried shredded coconut.

Seviche: Combination of fish and onions(fresh lemon/lime juice poured over and then covered and refrigerated for about three days. The juice cooks the fish ( DO NOT order from a beach vendor. Better you were captured by FARC)

Cazuela de Mariscos: A sea food stew that is about the best you will ever eat, especially in Cartagena or Barrenquilla where everything is fresh caught Consists of fish (corvina), lobster, shrimp, squid, clams, red snapper. Eat this at the Capilla del Mar in Bocagrande or the The Bodegón of La Candelaria, in La Calle de las Damas, in the Old City and you will think you have died and gone to heaven.

Patacones: Green plantains, mashed and fried about the size of a dinner plate. A little salt and enjoy

Carne a la Barbacoa sobre Pancitos: (Sloppy Joe’s in case you can’t hack “foreign” food)

Arequipe Ice Cream

In the old city try the traditional "Portal de los Dulces", under the arcades of the Plaza de los Coches, you can enjoy outstanding Cartagenan desserts

Chicharrones: Colombian Cracklin’s for you Southern boys.

In the morning find a little bakery (many on San Martin Blvd) and settle down with a café or café con leche with fresh hot pan de yuca, buñuelos or almojábanas and watch the passing parade.

And last but not least, Arepas de Chóclo with butter, salt and a little white cheese. As ubiquitous as grits in the south.

Cartagena try Dany's, an Argentine steak restaurant on Calle Cinco south of San Martin two blocks from the beach especially for the Arequipe ice cream, El Carbon de Palo in the Plaza Santo Domingo, · La Olla Cartagenera - This is located at Avenida San Martin, No. 5 across from the Almirante Hotel,sea food Club de Pesca located in the Fuerte San Sebastian del Pastelillo or Club Náutico in the Manga neighborhood, the Bodegón of La Candelaria, in La Calle de las Damas, Restaurante Crepes and Waffle on Cr. 3, typical Colombian Restaurante La Tinaja in the La Matuna neighborhood or Mi Tierra Paisa on San Martín. The best in Cartagena, La Vitrola in the old city.

Bogotá: Casa San Isidro-take the cable car to the top of Cerro de Monserrate, Casa Vieja on Av. Jiménez and several others in the Zana Rosa typical colombian in food decor and dress, La Fragata sa food in a revolving restaurant overlooking Bogotá, Andres Carne de Res , great steak and BBQ located in Chia. A little far out but worth the trip, Zaguán de Las Aguas down town for ajiaco, the traditional Bogotá dish, Desayunadero de la 42 in the Chapinero area open 24 hours-great late night spot,

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Chuck says on Dec 5, 2004, 19:41:

Gator almost said it all But he forgot McDonalds! hehehehhehehehe!

Ok... he forgot "Donde Olano" and the Arab Restaurant... arabs aren't cool lately buth this guy do know how to cook! Try King Faruk steak or the Arab sampler combination. Additionally if you take the tours to Boca Chica, Playa Blanca or Islas del Rosario, you have to try a fried Pargo Rojo (red snnaper) or a "Sierra". For me Robalo has no taste.. only the taste given by the sauce.

Gator said if you want to die, go ahead and try the ceviches and oysters sold at the beach. Maybe he's right but I was lucky and the ones I bought were fresh and delicious. Don't pay more than Col$500 per oyster! They'll ask you for $2500 a bite!

Maybe the best place is in front of the HOTEL CARIBE if you'll like to try the fresh oysters!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Atrevido (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 6, 2004, 04:15:

michaelz says on Dec 6, 2004, 05:22:

restaurants in Cali To Tepache

2 of the best restaurants in Cali (good food, reasonable prices)

Alfredos - Italian. In the north, one block from the Crepes and Waffles place on Ave 6an.

Granada Faro - Traditional decor and good food. In the Granada barrio, in the north

For a romantic date, Cali Viejo, is very nice. It is near the Zoo and has many outside tables beside the river.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Dec 6, 2004, 05:55:

why would anyone go to colombia to eat ayytalian food?

sorry, don't listen to me,i know nothing about fine food, i grew up eating cats and dogs for god sake. for me a fine restaurant is a guy standing in the corner selling empanadas.

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

brunito says on Dec 6, 2004, 07:35:

As long as the corner guy does'nt tell you that... ...the salsa is suave when it's muy caliente!!!

It happened to me first time I was in Cartagena, I asked my best friend, his ex-novia and mine to make sure to ask the street guy for suave salsa and I guess he did'nt like us because he gave us the most hot sauce I've ever eaten!!! :-)

The empanadas were great though...

On another note, does anybody knoe the name of the empanadas restaurant on the main road going form north to south (towards Sabaneta) in Medellin just in front of the train marchandise terminal?

Those are the best 'commercial' empanadas I've ever eaten. I can't remember the name of the place.

I went there with my best friend and his ex-novia about 7 years ago. They asked me how many I wanted and I said no more then 3 (thinking of big empanadas) and they laughed at me and said, knowing me, I'd eat at least 2 dozens. I said no way!

Well we ended up eating 5 dozens (3 persons)...

So if anyone knows the place, please tell me the name of the restaurant.

Thanks!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Dec 6, 2004, 07:38:

i just remember a place i liked a lot in cartagena "maduros al carbon" . is not a fancy place but the meat was deliciosa.

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 6, 2004, 08:05:

Cartagena Another really nice restaurant in Cartagena is Santisimo. It's a couple blocks from the Santa Clara Hotel in an old Colonial house. Great seafood. The service is about the slowest in the world, though, so don't go there expecting a short visit.

Also, I'm very fond of Juan Del Mar, which is in the plaza facing the Santa Clara. Don't confuse it with Mar del Juan, which is a pizza place, of course.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 6, 2004, 08:06:

For the setting Club de Pesca is a really beautiful setting in an old fortification right on the bayfront but the food there is so-so for the price.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Dec 6, 2004, 08:17:

mr. h, i went to club de pesca and another nice one is club nautico

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Dec 6, 2004, 08:37:

My first official date (after our first accidental meeting in Mr. Babilla) with my wife was in el Club de pesca. I could not believe my American Express bill when I got back to USA. Between her, her friend and me, I spent around $200 US bucks. I think we drank three bottles of chivas, not to mention dinner and other drinks. I made sure I got that chiquito.
The funny thing is that now that she got her engineering degree evaluated here in the states , she’s now making more money than me, and already has paid for our trips to Cancun, Vegas and a couple to Colombia.

I'll get there, when I get there!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tepache says on Dec 6, 2004, 19:54:

Thanks to all for your recommendations and anecdotes. Tepache

Tepache

0 funny, 0 helpful.