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Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: East AustinTue-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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To a plantain: How can I cook thee? Let me count the ways...
It looks cute from the outside, nice but nothing special on the inside. The food though, was really, really good. The downside was that almost everything was fried, though to their credit nothing seemed particularly greasy.
We started with an empanada, an arepa with goat cheese, an aborrado, and the big appetizer that's on the appetizer/drink menu but not on their main or online menu. Everything was very tasty. The aborrado would have made a great dessert. The big appetizer basket was a full meal in itself - fried yucca (super good) and plantain chips, potatoes, and four different kinds of meat. I was really surprised by the amount of meat in there.
For our entrees, we had the Pechuga Rellena and their house special, a skirt steak with rice (with an egg on top), beans, pork belly, and fried sweet plantains. The chicken was good, but the spinach and pico del gallo mix was a little sweet.
The house special was very very good. The skirt steak itself was nothing to write home about, especially if you like your steaks tender and juicy, but it had good flavor. The other items though - yum! The beans were so tasty I ate them voluntarily (not a bean fan here). The fried sweet plantains were delicious. The rice was perfectly done. The egg... well, it was an egg. But the highlight was the pork belly. It was like a quarter-inch thick bacon strip, with the meat side crispy and the fat fried just enough so it melted down and mixed with the crispy side to make a (heart-attack inducing) burst of flavor.
They also offer several tropical juices with either water or milk. I tried one of each, both were really good, not too sweet.
Service was relatively good, though our waitress was a little English deficient and stumbled sometimes trying to describe the menu entries. Also, we'd ordered another special, an entree-sized shredded beef soup, but we never got it. When I asked her about it she said she thought we'd had enough. That was sort of funny, it was what I imagine getting cut off at a bar is like. She did offer to bring it as a to-go if we really wanted it, but since we already had enough leftovers to fill two full boxes we regretfully declined.
The only other negative was the men's bathroom seemed a little messy and the automatic paper towel dispenser was out of paper towels.
One big plus is they are open all afternoon, not like those restaurants that don't open until 5:30 or 6 (I'm looking at you Justine's).
If you're not worried about your weight, this is a great place to go often. If you are, well, suck it up and try it anyway.
I love Colombian food, and was very excited to try this place! The experience was mostly good, but there were some kinks that set what could have been a 4 star experience back to a 3.
Starting with the fabulous and working backwards to the disappointing, here's how the visit went down.
I stopped in for lunch and ordered the pork shoulder with rice and plantains. The pork was fork tender, and neither of the knives provided to me were remotely necessary. The plantains (maduros) were perfectly carmelized and exactly the right balance of firm and tender. The rice was...rice. And the whole thing was served a little closer to room temperature than I would have preferred (see "service")When the waitress asks you whether you want salsa with that, you should consider getting extra to bathe in later; it is that good. It is tomato based, with enough of a raw garlic bite to deter werewolves for weeks. It was lick-the-plate-clean good, and well worth my $7.
The coffee was pleasant. Good flavor, could have been hotter.
The service was....minimal. The waitress wasn't rude, she just wasn't particularly present, or efficient. She wasn't one to notice things, like empty water glasses, or whether there was cream on the table for coffee, and forgot things throughout. Even after repeating them back to me.
I also ordered the tres leches. Perhaps the waitress was doing me a favor forgetting this part of the order. But I had a serious tres leches shaped hole in my stomach, and I wasn't about to forget. Unfortunately, it was the first tres leches I have ever met that I didn't like. And it's too bad I didn't like it, because the $4 square they serve is as big as my face. The cream cake at the base had a bit of a burnt taste, as if it may have been overbaked. The texture of the top third of the cake was a bit dry, as if they cleverly subbed sawdust for the typical flour used. It did not satisfy the craving; it just made it angry.
Bottom line: I will return and devour all of their meat products. I will live with the service. And I will get dessert somewhere else.
So two of my best friends, Katya and Ana, are from Monterrey, Mexico, and, acting in their capacity as such, they've taken me along a few times. And my experience is pretty similar each time. The food is amazing, no matter what you pay (high or low), the people eating in the restaurants are in big groups, mostly families, enjoying themselves and letting time pass as fast as it pleases, and all the buildings are made for someone 6 inches shorter and 140 pounds lighter.
Casa Colombia (although not "mexican") afforded the identical experience. And I loved it. I stopped in with one of the twins actually, and she is usually my measuring stick of how good authentic south-of-the-River-Grand food is. And she agreed whole heartedly. Before our lunch adventure, I prepared myself with a thorough scouring of previous reviews, and katya consulted her relevant sources, namely a Colombian friend who came here and also loved it, with specific recommendations in hand.
I walked in, and naturally, the ceiling felt really low, the chairs were acceptably sturdy, and the walkways were made for a more, emmm, petite build. But, i managed to get through without flinging any margaritas or knocking over any small children
To start, we had Arepa Con Chorizo, which is an enriched corn meal patty, parked on a plate with split and grilled chorizo. Not knowing what to do with it at first, we went with our instincts and cut a small piece of the patty, a small piece of the sausage, dipped it in the accompanying salsa, and our hearts were won. Nothing absolutely divine or awe-inspiring, but it was just damn good. And nothing like what I would normally eat in Austin on a Friday afternoon.
After wiping the plate clean, which we no doubt did, I put the City of Austin's water restriction limits to the test, as I had gone a little cavalier with the salsa and forgot that, after all, I'm a gringo, raised on potatoes and farm raised meat. Period. Not kidding. Starch and animal protein (hence my difficulty with low-ceilings and paper-thin walkways). I digress...
After rehydrating and calming down the buds, out came the Chuleta Valluna. Fried, breaded pork fillet. A Latin Schnitzel. Jackpot. Served with rice and green plantains, my comrade and I ceased communication and dug into our food. I was so engrossed for the 12 seconds it took me to finish that I failed to realize I had the flu, was running up a fever, and would be crashing hard within 90 minutes. But the food was so good! So i say the distraction was understandable. If you don't believe me, go yourself.
And I know I've seen this before, but hot damn that rice is good. I don't even know how to describe it, and that's mostly from a lack of available adjectives right now. Fluffy? Really rice-y tasting I guess? Umm, just really good. It's like when you close a trunk on a German Luxury car. It just feels right...the sound, the feel, that industrial efficient and stubborn mechanism that says...okay, i'm closed now, and I'm not going to open until you tell me too.
After re-reading that, the analogy got a little out of control, but I trust you'll understand.
So, the quick run-down:
Food: AWESOME
Interior/exterior decor/taste: Good. Just fine. Nothing worth writing home about
Service: Attentive, but not necessarily prompt
Cost-benefit: Not sure what it means, but it sounds relevant. It would benefit you to go, and you would pay less than you think the experience is worth. How's that for some microeconomics.
Can't wait to go back!
Good food, sucky service. I wanted to taste a little of everything so i got several appetizers. I had an empanada, a beef arepa, and the aborrajado (plaintain with cheese). All were good (deep fried). The staff were friendly but there was just absolutely no sense of urgency. After I had been done for almost 10 min. i was looking around the restaurant for my waitress when I noticed that she was sitting at a table eating. Good food but more like eating at someones house than at a business, if you are okay without you'll really enjoy it.
Plantains were great. The rest left a bit to be desired. Not bad, but I guess I went in with high expectations.
Thanks to yelp, my friends and I decided to give this place a whirl.
Loved it!
The food is excellent, authentic Columbian fare. My friend had been to Columbia and that didn't even matter, because my taste buds told me that this joint rocks! Whether you've been to Columbia or not isn't the point. What you really want to know is what kind of food does it taste like?
Here's what I can tell you. The fish tastes like it came straight from the Philippine Islands...seasoned and cooked the same way we do it over there....so, if you're familiar with Filipino food then you will like this place.
This is what I had:
Pescado Frito
Fried fresh whole tilapia topped with sautéed
vegetables served with rice, salad and green
plantains
One friend had the
Bistec a Caballo
Grilled top sirloin topped with two fried
eggs and criolla sauce served with black
beans, rice and sweet plantains
The other had the
Pechuga Rellena
Grilled chicken breast stuffed with cheese,
mushrooms, spinach and pico de gallo
served with mash potatoes, salad and black
beans
My friends devoured their food so fast! I ate mine slowly and was able to have enough for another meal. Did I mention that I love this place?!
Case Colombia also does the plantain (fried bananas) like they do in the Philippines.
The fruit drinks are to die for....my friends had the Pineapple and I had the Mango...absolutely amazing...hands down one of the top five places to eat in Austin....
Friendly service
Not much atmosphere - but I do like that ... especially when it's an authentic place...everyone is speakin Colombian...it's a neat to be submersed in someone else's culture and food...
We all had an excellent time!
Yum...I'm still full the next day and I had left overs.
So, I know everyone else has talked about their Mimosas, but I had a passion fruit one last night, yumm...and I know there was some doubt as to the potency of these drinks, but I kinda chugged mine and was feeling a distinct buzz.
We opted for an Empanada and Aborrajado.
The Empanada (beef) was good. The meat and potato filling was well seasoned and the salsa was really delicious. The outside was a little on the chewy side for my taste, but didn't compromise the flavor.
Aborrajado (Sweet fried plantains stuffed with mozzarella cheese) was unreal. Sooooo yummy...and large...I highly recommend.
Entrees I went for the Churrasco: Grilled sirloin with chimichurri sauce, green beans, fried yuca and mashed potatoes.
-The steak was a huge portion, in fact the majority of it is sitting in my fridge waiting for me to finish it. It was well seasoned. The chimichurri sauce was yummy and interesting, but the meat was so well seasoned, I didn't use much of it. The yuca was boring with out it, so the bulk of the sauce got eaten with the them. The green beans were sooooooo delicious, as well as the mashed potatoes.
My companion opted for the House Special: Grilled skirt steak, a fried egg and rice with beans, chicharones, sweet plantains and an avocado slice.
- The meat was similar seasoning to mine, YUMMY! I'm not big on chicharones, but the little pieces I snagged were good. The beans were kinda amazing. I'm a bit of a beans snob b/c I grew up eating my dads which set the standard really high. These were well seasoned, not particularly spicy but delicious...
Next time maybe we'll save room for dessert! Try it out. There is a small lot for parking, but you may have to park on the street. We went when there was only a few other tables and it was pretty loud, can't imagine it at full capacity, so if your not into loud crowds, go on a random Tuesday evening like we did.
Loved their food! we had sweet plantains as a starter and they were amazing. they have mozarella cheese stuffing in them .yum yum. I tried out the vegeterian plate and it was pretty gud as well. If u want to try something new, u shld definitielt try this place.
I gave up Mexican food a long time ago. I went from a basket a day chip-eater to zero, cold turkey. Generally speaking, it's hard to get me to go near the stuff... or anything even remotely Latin in cuisine. My friend Destiny suggested this place, recommended it for the ceviche. I came in terrified, I was sure it was going to be a greasy oil bomb with rotten fish and margaritas everywhere. (Note it was the pursuit of dieting that ruined South/Central American cuisine for me previously).
We arrive, it's cozy, clean, a cute little East Side house. The server is kind, affable, and offers up the wine list which contains about 7-8 wines ranging from $5.25-$7.50. South American red's, white's, and interesting sounding flavored mimosas. The place has the quaint charm of a greasy spoon with home cooked ethnic food typical for the East Side, only the spoon isn't greasy... I even ask what's in the ceviche, terrified of calories and oil galore, the server says he isn't 100% sure, but is pretty sure it's just fish and lime juice. Then runs to the back and returns with the chef who is so kind and boisterous and eager to tell-all in detail about the contents, that the simplicity of the dish just floored me. I'll go back again. This time I'll order my own, because the smashed plantains served up on the side were to die for and I want them all to myself.
As a girl raised on Tex-Mex, it's taken me a while to appreciate the understated flavor originating from south of the border. However. I thought Casa Columbia was great fun.
We started with the Arepas with goat cheese and panela salsa. The fried corn patties were fairly bland on their own, but the goat cheese went nicely with the salsa, which is on the sweet side. And they were not stingy with the serving, either. The aborrajado, on the other hand, was the true hit. A deep fried plantain filled with mozzarella. The sweet taste of the plantain was a nice surprise.
I sampled my friend's ceviche and found it classic, simple and very refreshing on this 100+ day. I opted for the Colombian version of the tamale: pork and chicken filled corn masa steamed (for 3 days! that's what sold me) in banana leaves. It was surprisingly light compared to the fried apps we had to choose from.
I have to admit, I was looking for some spice in my meal that wasn't there, but our waitress said that it was a "special dish" and that they only serve it on the weekends. I felt a bit like I was vacationing in Columbia and had stumbled upon a little hole-in-the-wall where everyone is happy to see you. Read into this, lots of "locals" were present. Are they Columbain vs from another South American country? I'm sorry, but I have no idea.
It's super casual and perfect for a late Sun. lunch. I'm so full I don't anticipate eating again today. But I am looking forward to my leftovers!
They are slow as h-e-double-hockey-sticks here. But definitely worth the wait. Love the Guava milk drink. The arepa w/ goat cheese and panela salsa is a-mazing! The aborrajado is pretty damn good too. While the vegetarian dishes feel like an after-thought I'm glad they have them and they taste pretty good. It's better than having no main course option.
My friend and I decided to stop by Casa Columbia for dinner last night and were still talking about it this morning - he even dreamt about the fried plantains last night, no joke! My friend had the pabellon, and I had the pechuga de pollo, and both were delicious (I actually even liked the pabellon more). The service is a bit slow, but nothing horrible, and was totally worth it. Our meals (huge plates) + 2 beers added up to about $28.
Small family restaurant. Our waiter wasn't sure of the answers to some of our questions, but was more than willing to ask & was friendly. Another woman who was our hostess also came by later & was very friendly & helpful. She also brought us a garlic sauce of some sort to go with the fried yucca, which made them even more delicious!
We went here to get a reasonably priced steak. We found that & more. The chimichurri sauce is much more minty than what I'm used to at places like Buenos Aires, but was still delicious & complimented the steak very nicely. I've never been a fan of plantains, but the ones served with my entree were amazing. Loved everything we got! really! We had empenadas, Pabellón, & Churrasco. I highly recommend those two entrees. I hope to go back sooner than later to try more.
A bell rang inside my head the moment I walked through the door...authentic. The decor and the chatter of nearby tables make for a cozy setting a bit off the beaten path in east Austin.
We tried the Bistec a Caballo and Ropa Vieja, both very good. The menu is limited, but this could become a regular visit, particularly on an indulgent Saturday afternoon. The parking is tricky...where in Austin isn't it?
So I have been wanting to have arroz con pollo since I saw an episode of Bobby Flay's Throwdown where he challenged a guy at making it (Does Flay ever win on this show?). So I discovered that Casa Colombia made it and off I went with fellow yelper Jarrett R. to try it out.
The place is quaint and inviting. The wait staff were all really swell and nice. It's in a converted house on E. 7th. Look for the yellow banner sign. They have pictures of Colombia on the walls. I thought of Entourage when I saw the poster for Medellin. We both ordered the arroz con pollo off the reasonably priced lunch menu and waited.
I don't like to perpetuate stereotypes, but I think they but some of that magic white powder in the arroz con pollo. You know, the stuff that men who wear boat shoes, shorts, hawaiian shirts, aviator glasses and tells you for 5 thousand dollars they'll fly you there and back, carry in their cargo hold? It comes out on a plate in a big mound of goodness. Next to it is some salad and 2 fried sweet plantains. I didn't even make it to the plantains. The lunch serving was large. Also, you never run out of chicken in it which was pretty incredible. The rice was cooked perfect and everything was flavorful.
I will for sure be back to try the ceviche which is only on weekends. Also, should I ever find myself in an alternate universe where I have a date, I just might take them here.
The interior decorating is not very impressive. However, the food is AWESOME. I had cheese arepas as an appetizer and arroz con pollo for my entree. Both were delicious. The arroz con pollo came with plaintains, which were the perfect amount of sweet. My mouth is watering as I type this! The service was attentive, speedy, and friendly even as the restaurant quickly filled up.
The only downside is that they do not serve iced tea, which may be worth mentioning for some people.
On Mid day Thursday, my wife and I decided to go to Casa Colombia for lunch. Having experience in this side of the house ( I'm from Venezuela), i was eager to go there and eat something that i was familiar with, plus they have Pabellon, which is from Venezuela. The only way that eat that eat my food, was when i was in Newark, New Jersey with my mother.
I must say that the place was great, the food was great, the waitress was more than helpful. The Enpanadas were great, The Pabellon was great. Were definitely going back and try other thing on their menu. Even thought I'm not Colombian, i have family that are, and i was very happy and pleased to have gone there.
I gave it 5 stars, because it all worth it, and I don't give out 5's. Highly Recommended
In a word, this place is "meh."
This is a pretty small place with a tiny parking lot, but I'm sure there's street parking available. It feels you're sitting at someone's house, and you come out smelling like your meal because of lack of kitchen ventilation, I guess.
The service was pretty good -- one of the owners even came out a couple of times to see how the customers were doing. Our waiter was pretty attentive and courteous.
As for the food: I got a plate of sauteed veggies. They were quite oily, but had a decent flavor. My lunch comrades had meat dishes and raved that they were absolutely delicious. I did love their fresh mango juice/nectar (though it was served in super long-stemmed glasses).
Casa Colombia popped my Colombian food cherry. Sheesh, I'm 27, how did I wait so long? Anyway, I don't really have much to compare to and just ended my vegetarian stint just this new year. I can however tell you this:
*For some reason the location sneaks up on you, so drive lightly, unless you know where Concho is. I'm rarely on the east side; trying to experience that area more these days, so I get lost easily.
* The servers are really nice. Ours had an intoxicating smile and very hospitable. His suggestions were great and he was very attentive.
* They do juice mixed with milk. Uhm. No thanks. I'll just have the mimosa. They have lots of flavors, not too strong, pretty PG13 rated really.
* Their plantains are fried to perfection. I had the appetizer withplantains stuffed with mozzarella. The amount of food guilt and joy at the same time was just strange. It's like I just said "EFFF IT!" and went for the kill.
*They have ceviche on the weekends and use fried plantains as their chips of sorts. Fried food again. "EFFFF IT!". It wasn't crazy flavorful, but still good.
All in all, I can't say anything bad about this place. I didn't try any of their beef skirt or other meat loving entrees, but they looked good. They have a fish that is cooked and served with the head still on, which freaked me out just a smidgen and of course lots and lots AND LOTS of fried food.
You can't help but get swept by the charm of this little piece of Columbian gold in Austin. It's restaurants like Casa Columbia that really showcase one of the best food scenes in Texas. The food is delicious, down-to-earth, and honest while the service is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. What's not to like about Casa Columbia?
I've been fortunate to have been able to taste most of the entrees because my friends are very adventurous eaters. The last time I went we ordered the Aborrajado, which are fried plantains stuffed with mozzarella, as an appetizer. It was an interesting flavor at first -- sweet and cheesy, but I was missing it when they were gone. As for entrees, I ordered the Bistec Criollo -- top sirloin with bell peppers and other marinades. It was one of those times that the plate was cleaned before I wondered how they prepared it. Whatever the sauce was, it was amazing. Earthy and sweet. I also had a taste of the Pabellón, Tamal valluno, Pescado en Cilantro y Mayonesa, and Pechuga de Pollo. Everything was exceptionally delicious yet each had their unique flavor. It would be impossible for me to write my take on each dish, so I recommend that you ask the server or just be daring when you order. I don't think you can go wrong here. On a side note, I've also tried the ceviche. They are fantastic! There's a reason why everyone here raves about them.
As I review restaurants more and more, customer service has become an important factor in my ratings. Casa Columbia's wait staff has be one of the best in Austin. They really want you to have a great meal rather than just wanting your tips. I really enjoyed that the waitress explained how these dishes are prepared. It helps us, foreigners to their cuisine, appreciate their hard work and passion for their food.
My mouth is watering now...
So I lost my significant other to some screaming toddlers for the night, but we decided to go out and enjoy something before the little hell spawns started attacking. Hence, we ended up at Casa Colombia. I hadn't been by in probably a year, and after today's meal I realize what a shame that last year has been.
No chicken enchiladas with verde sauce here. NO SIR. I will have my meat and potato empanadas, My pabellon ( shredded beef swimming in delicious sauce), and then pack it in with some tres leches cake.
Their guava mimosa was also very delicious. I felt a little guilty ordering it since the gf ordered a modelo. Oh well, muy delicioso!
It's been a few days since I've been in Central America, and Casa Colombia seemed the perfect place to scratch that Latin American jones for some of the inspired staples that seemed to thrive nearer the equator. And though I'm certain that there are nuances and subtle differences between the cuisine I regularly savored in Costa Rica and the entrees featured at Casa Colombia, there was enough similar going on that my recent memories got a nice jolt.
The dessert lover took a shine to the ceviche and an interesting appetizer featuring fried plantains and mozzarella. It was sweeter than I anticipated, and on my end gave way to churrasco steak, buttery green beans and mashers. I found myself longing for one of the tall fruit-infused agua frescas of a week ago, and a tall blackberry frosty one hit me just about right. I'll be back, most definitely, for a trip in the way back machine and the chance to try something new under the sun, the way it's always been made.
I usually wait until the third time I go to a place to write what I think, but this one is an exception. This place is really good, we have had 2 good meals there and the service has been very good as well, i don't know really how much of a secret it is. The draw back is the parking or lack there of, however if you don't mind a short walk, you can always find a spot on the street a few blocks down. The wife really loved the place when she order the fish and it actually was a whole fish on the bone, we haven't been to any other place yet to have that prepared the way they do it. the prices are so so, but it's the trendy East side so we understand. The decor well, let's just say you are going for the food and leave it at that. check it out adn bring about $40 bucks that should cover it, unless you go wild with the drinks.
Excellent. We had the pollo guisada and it was yummy. I love fried yucca and theirs was pretty darn good. The arepa was okay. The meat inside was delicious, but the corn patties were only so-so. Overall, though I can't wait to try here again.
Highlights: aborrajado (agreed, it's a heavy appetizer, but *so* phenomenal, surprisingly, even the next day as leftovers) and the black beans. I've frequently contemplated flying to Austin just to order these two things again, because try though I have, I haven't found any place in Vegas or in San Francisco that have made them nearly as well.
Sure there are kids screaming at times but I can block it out if I continue to focus on the aborrajado and pabellon. Oh my! They're my favorites.
I've tried almost everything on the menu and I've yet to be disappointed. The only problem I've had recently is that the Columbian sodas are MIA. I don't mean they're breakin' crazy beats and wearing tube socks in Sri Lanka. I mean they haven't been stocking any because they cannot seem to find it any longer. It was the only high fructose corn syrup laden soda acceptable to drink. It makes me sad but the mango juice is a nice alternative.
The lunch specials are priced just right and the portion size less likely to split your pants. Dinner can gang up on your wallet but it's always worth the price.
I cannot forget that they make the BEST black beans and white rice on the planet. Most places ruin black beans but theirs are consistently cooked and seasoned just right. I'm not sure what's going on with the rice but it's perfect. I don't normally eat white rice but this is an exception.
SUPER tasty!! We came here tonight, on a Friday, and the place was packed. It's not a big place to begin with, and we waited about 10 minutes.. would have waited longer, but the couple in front of us left... their loss! :) While we waited I had a mango mimosa, which was a strange preparation (they blended the mango juice with the booze), but was still one of the tastier cheap champagne concoctions I've ever had.
As an appetizer we ordered the Aborrajad--sweet fried plantains stuffed with mozzarella cheese. Sound a little weird? I thought so too, but it had a very nice, very interesting flavor and we definitely wolfed down every bite. It's a pretty big hunk of goodness for $3.50, definitely recommended.
My boyfriend got the House Special, which consisted of basically grilled skirt steak, yummy rice and beans, a fried egg, and some kind of fried pork concoction... with avocado and a corn cake on the side. It was all VERY well-prepared, fresh, and scrumptious. I had the Pabellón, which was shredded beef mixed with a nice red sauce. Very good, but I think I may have liked the rice and black beans more! They were probably the best black beans I've ever had. :)
South American food has never been my favorite cuisine, simply because I tend to lean toward complex flavors--Indian, Thai, interior Mexican, etc. Even so, fresh ingredients and knowledgeable preparation made Casa Columbia a real treat for me, despite deceptively "simple" dishes. I will be definitely be visiting again!
I ordered a beer and a main course called the Churrasco, which is a steak with chimichurri sauce and a side of green beans, fried yuca, and mashed potatoes. A couple of clues that the food would be great and authentic, lots of regulars in the place, several tables with Colombians chatting in a mix of Spanish and English, amazingly friendly staff. The meal did not disappoint. The portions were huge, the ingredients fresh, the beer cold, and the food delicious.
The restaurant itself is simple, without any pretense. They serve a limited selection of beer (Mexican beers, major American brands, and Fat Tire Amber to keep the hipsters happy) and wine (mostly Chilean red wines).
Another great find on the East Side. I'm beginning to think that the best food in Austin is served East of the highway. I'd guess that these folks learned to cook from their mothers rather than at a cooking school. The result is simple, authentic food that satisfies the soul as well as the taste buds.
Go East, you won't be disappointed!
When I feel the urge to venture off to the land of fried plantains, I know that it has been far too long since I have eaten at Casa Columbia.This is one of my top ten favorite neighborhood restaurants in the city. The decor is not sophisticated in any way shape or form, but nonetheless the place is bright and airy enough to feel comfortable. I recommend going on the weekend when they serve an amazing ceviche peruano. It's pretty much my favorite thing on the menu. This is a fabulous place to go on a Saturday afternoon!
I am no great connoisseur of South American cuisine and this is probably more like 4.5 star review. The Pechuga Rellena was a little (or maybe, alot) greasy. I know it's stuffed with cheese but...
The mashed potatoes were really buttery and when the pico gravy was added was were outstanding with a nice spice. The plantains which accompanied the pabellon were thick cut with a nice crust. The pabellon itself was delicious and reminded me of what others call their ropa vieja. I will be back to try their ropa vieja with the olives and capers.
The empanada was a dense one (I've had better) but was a nice crusty exterior with a chewy interior. And as an appetizer, worthy of splitting amongst two.
I went for a work lunch today. The vegetarian plate (or the plato vegetariano) was delicious. It was a mixed veggie plate, with fried plantains, and sides of black beans and rice. I also had a mango juice, which they make with either water or milk. The meat eaters seemed to enjoy it, too. We didn't have any desserts.
The staff was really nice. The place was half full at 12:45, but they were still really fast and very gracious when we took forever and talked over one another. We are jerks.
I recommend it. Good little random find on the near east.
I've had several of their entrees and have been delighted each time. Granted, I am not an expert in Colombian cuisune, my Colombian friends seem to really like this place and their food. Try the arroz con pollo (a classic) but I don't think it beats Dona Amelia's. Their arepas were a nice introduction as I had never had them before, but have now had better. GREAT bistec, ropa vieja and patacones rellenos. I love the planatains here. Their frozen mango drink is VERY good also.
Casual ambiance, the restaurant is located in what used to be an early 1900's home in Austin.
One of the best value meals I've had in Austin at this price point.
First off, this almost doesn't deserve mentioning but there is no safety issue at this restaurant as another reviewer wrote -- unless you live in a guard-patrolled crystal palace in westlake and never venture east of I-35, you should find no issue with the location of this place.
I went there for dinner tonight, first visit. Started with the empanada and the aborrajado. At $2 I'd say the empanada is one of the best value appetizers in Austin! It's not spectacular, but is a fine starter and meaty enough to split with a friend.
The aborrajado was probably the low point of the meal. I just wasn't prepared for how sweet it is. It is HUGE, and the fried plantain outside and the cheese were excellent, but the inside is also very sweet and it didn't work for me. I think it was just more plantain on the inside but it tasted almost like apple pie filling. If you like sweet and savory appetizers I would try it but it wasn't my scene.
At the recommendation of David K. here, I got the Bistec Criollo and agree that it is a phenomenal dish. The steak was tender, perfectly grilled with some smoke, and the sauce on top (tomato/onion based but with a bunch of good spice) was a perfect complement. The sides were decent, nothing really noteworthy.
My friend got the house special, which turned out to be similar to the Bistec Criollo except it didn't have sauce, had different sides, and also came with a fried egg and a deep fried pork thingy. Despite my love of deep fried pork, I found it to be somewhat tough and also not my scene. If you love pork crackling you may want to give it a shot, but I'd recommend the Bistec Criollo over the house special. Both dishes were really huge servings even by US standards.
The wine list is small, but good if you like Concha y Toro wines. I had the Carmenere which was a good match for the Bistec Criollo. There are inexplicably no beers from the region other than one or two mexican beers if that counts.
The closest comparable I can think of in Austin is Habana, which I would say delivers a similar food experience at a slightly higher price. Casa Colombia is MUCH smaller, which could be good or bad for you, and doesn't have the cool patio that Habana has, but I've never had anything at Habana I liked as much as the Bistec Criollo, so overall it's a pretty close matchup. If you like one you will probably find something you like at the other.
This restaurant gets two thumbs up, way up -- phenomenal value and just good food.
It's amazing how such simple ingredients can be put together to make food so incredibly good. I had the tamal valluno, which is corn masa stuffed with a combination of beef, chicken, pork, and veggies. Sounds heavy, but the masa makes up the bulk of the dish, which is a good thing. The meat was incredibly tender and the masa a bit mushy but not soggy. The empanadas are excellent as well. Without cheese, they're a bit dry but still very tasty. The plantains are nice on the side, and the ceviche I started off with was great. To top it all off, I had probably the best flan in my life. It was the perfect consistency and thickness. The place is pretty small so it can get loud and a bit cramped but the service was attentive and overall the atmosphere is cozy. I will definitely be going back soon.
My friends and I went here for a birthday dinner to try something different...and thank god we did! The place is small, and on a Saturday night not really crowded at all. The waiter was SO helpful and nice, basically I asked every question possible about the menu items and he was more than happy to answer everything.
The waiter said the best appetizer to order was the fried plantains stuffed with mozerrella cheese. Personally, it was good (and kind of heavy) but I don't think I'm ready to mix plantains and cheese just yet. The others in my group loved it though. I ordered the Churrasco, which was DELICIOUS. It's a griled sirloin with chimichirru sauce, SO GOOD, and the side of green beans were to DIE for. I had to fight people away from eating all of it off my plate. It also comes with fried yuca, which was just as tasty. Apparently the Churrasco is the best meat dish to order, but maybe the waiter told me this so I'd be proud of my selection. Overall though, the food was delicious, and the service was great. I'd definately go back!
Place has great food at great prices. My fav is the fried yucca. I grew up eating this as a special treat my mom would make. Yum! There are only a few places in town that serve this. The meat dishes are GREAT. For the price, this place is AWESOME! Love their Mango w/ milk. I had the arepas, which were good.
I split the steak dish with a friend, and there was plenty to go around. We did order the arepas, so that may have helped. The first time I went there, it was with my sister, and we had the very helpful (and cute!) waiter make suggestions... and he was right on! Guess I should start writing down what I have so I can remember huh?
Overall, excellent value for the money. Check it out when you are on this side of town!
My new favorite restaurant. Much better than other local latin american restaurants. The mango mimosa is the best I've ever had. And the aborrajado is the highlight of the menu.....sweet, cheesy and deep fried. Yum! They do have vegetarian selections that are quite tasty. When it gets packed, the service is a little slow, but the friendly waitstaff and fabulous food make up for it completely! Go, drink and eat. You won't regret it.
I haven't eaten a lot Colombian food, but I know this place is GOOD! When we stopped into this cute little restaurant, I had a hankerin' for something breakfasty and was disappointed when I found nothing of the sort on the menu. This would definitely be an excellent place for dinner. All of the meals are moderately priced and on the heavier side.
We shared a cheese and chorizo arepa for an appetizer. It warm and salty, not at all greasy, and came with a fresh, tangy hot sauce. I'd try the goat cheese arepa if I went back.
I had the Sopa de Ajiaco (potato, chicken and cream soup) for lunch. It came with rice, avocado and capers to mix in. I couldn't stop raving about it. It was one of the cheaper items on the menu but so filling. It was one of the best soups I've ever tasted. Unfortunately, it was so filling and carb heavy that I passed out about an hour later.
The service was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant itself was fairly empty when we arrived. Maybe no one knows about it yet.
Check out this place. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back.
I prefer Interior Mexican to Tex-Mex so I was quite sure I would like this place.
My first experience I had the Ceviche and Sweet Fried Plantains stuffed w/ Mozzarella Cheese (something I had never tried and can't believe how long I have been missing out - the sweet fried taste with melted cheese is a foodorgasm - yes it inspired a new word)
My second visit I went craving the Ceviche and was so disappointed that it was not served on a Wed night ( as I recall they only serve it on weekends). So, I ordered a chicken breast stuffed with cheese, spinach, mushrooms and pico de gallo and it was so tasty I almost forgot to mention the tasty sides of mashed potatoes and black beans.
When I ordered I thought the price seemed expensive for the location and atmosphere but after being served a huge plate of food and after a few bites I decided it was very reasonably priced. Even if the portions were small it would be worth every single bite.
Oh and they serve Apple and Grape Soda! And if you want dessert but are too full the Hot Chocolate is spectacular!
Austin has a large number of good Mexican places, but really has few places with delicious Latin food. If you're looking for Latin food in Austin, this is the place. The plantains are delish! And so is everything else. I have not had a bad meal yet and it's pretty consistent. The lunch specials are a very good deal.
This place also has THE BEST RICE IN AUSTIN. It's plain white rice, but perfectly fluffy and delicious, really really good rice. I'm not really a rice fan either.
All the appetizers are good, all the soups are good, I haven't gotten around to eating all the entrees yet, but every one I've had so far is good.
This place has made me decide to take Latin food over Mexican any day of the week.
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Latin American
Austin, TX
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: East Austin
Category: Cajun/Creole
Neighborhood: University of Texas
Category: Brazilian
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Cuban
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