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El Carajo Tapas & Wines
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
4 reviews for El Carajo Tapas & Wines
I'm not sure why people seem to think this place is inside a gas station. Perhaps the site used to be a gas station at one time...but I don't think it was as I live about three blocks away and don't remember a gas station there.
It's possible that people are confusing it for a place that IS inside a Citgo station. I recall hearing of such a place a few times. But if my memory serves me, it's by US1 and 17th.
Anyhow...the El Carajo that I am familiar with IS a very nice place. It's been several months since I've been there and I don't recall the dishes I had. But I assure you they were good. ;-)
I also had plenty of wine (so what else is new?) with dinner and that always helps me enjoy the experience.
I stumbled upon this place while getting some gas and bottled water. And I was shocked to see such a large selection of wines inside a gas station. Upon walking further inside you come upon a case filled with various cold tapas and in the back there is a mini wine cellar and tasting room.
My friend who I was visiting said that they have free tastings so we decided to go to the next one. The Owner was very friendly and they seemed to pull a good crowd from all over Coconut Grove. I ended up buying to Bottles, When in the area you have to try this Place.
Questions give them a call 305-856-2424
the restaurant is very small but cozy, but it doesn't has a tapas bar- which is what i expected. The selection of the tapas menu is o.k.- it was missing a couple traditional Spanish tapas dishes in my opinion. I recommend ordering the cheese board tapas or the meat selection tapas. The service was extremely slow. Overall, it was o.k. but I wouldn't go back.
Most have never heard of it. Some others have. And those that do, may choose not to reveal it. Why? Lemme tell you...
El Carajo Tapas and Bar is unique not because of its food, but because of the location it's set in. Located literally inside a Citgo Gas Station on the corner of SW 12th St. and 57th Ave., you would never know of its existence unless you decided to walk in to purchase a pack of bubble gum or jerky, whichever your preference. It emerges as such a pleasant surprise. Hidden in the back of the station, is a simple restaurant lined with endless racks of wine. Small tables off to the side flank the large communal table set in the middle of the room. It is dining in the most rustic sense.
My friends and I arrived around 7:30pm, about when the free wine tasting was beginning to wind down. My friend enjoyed a sampling of various wines across the globe and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wonder why.... :oP
For dinner, we decided to sit at the communal table. The moment we sat down, the patrons around us immediately welcomed us to the table. We all conversed and shared our dining experience there and at places across town. It felt like we were having dinner at a restaurant in a European country. Everyone let their guards down and just enjoyed each others' company and food the way it should be. It was fabulous.
The menu was divided into tapas and main courses. To retain our girlish figures (ha!), we decided to have a meal of tapas that night. We started off with the Caldo Gallego, a traditional Spanish soup made of white beans, potatoes, pork, and greens stewed until everything is meltingly tender. It was a very flavorful soup.
For the tapas, we ordered the Shrimp in Garlic sauce, Mussels in Marinara, Seafood Tostones, Crab Crepe, and a Seafood Pot. The shrimps, though few, were delicious. Bathed in an garlic olive oil sauce that needs to be mopped up by toasty bread, it was amazing. The Mussels, were good though the sweetness was drowned out by the thick, tart marinara. The Tostones were crispy cups filled with seafood. Light and vibrant, the dish was great. The Crab Crepe was a huge crepe filled with crabmeat, and covered in a cream sauce. My friends enjoyed it but I found it to be too heavy and rich for my palate. Finally, the Seafood Pot...that stole the show for the night. For the price, it was the best for its value and also the tastiest. A hot plate filled with mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp, and potatoes in a tomato and Champagne sauce, it was really good. Everything was properly cooked and had the right balance of flavors.
We were obviously stuffed after the meal but who could resist dessert? Not us! We ordered the Guava Cheesecake by recommendations from the diners next to us. The Cheesecake was dense but not heavy, and topped with a thick layer of Guava. It was great.
This is one of those unique, unmarred haunts we would be returning to, time and time again. We all loved it and I hope many of you will too.
Until next time, Salud!
