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La Pequeña Colombia
Rating Details »
Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Elmhurst83-27 Roosevelt Ave
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 478-8700
- Nearest Transit:
-
82nd St-Jackson Hts (7)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
5 reviews for La Pequeña Colombia
This is my first time to eat at this restaurant. We normally dine at Tierras Colombianas further up the street. Well today our regular restaurant was closed for some reason (no sign or explanation either...quite odd).
My bf said that this used to be a Popeye's back in the day!!! I kinda wish there was still a Popeye's around here...love that chicken! lol
Anyways, LPC has been around since 1984 (at least that's what it says on the menu) and recently had renovations. The face-lift of the exterior and interior is very pleasing to the eye. The atmosphere was nice and they had cultural artwork and paintings to compliment the space. We were really impressed with the ambiance here! We were definitely wowed by the inside of LPC but that would not be the final factor for us to return...our tummies decide and not our eyes!
Now for the food. I ordered the Mini-Entrana/half portion grilled skirt steak ($15.75) medium rare and the bf had his usual Plato Montanero con Carne Asada/Traditional Mountain Platter with grilled steak ($13.45). They give you complimentary bread and the platos tipicos come with salad and rice & beans. You have the choice of Maduros/Sweet Plantains, Tostones/Fried Plantains, Papas Fritas/French Fries, Yuca Frita/Fried Cassava, Papa Sudada/Stewed Potatoes, or Yuca Sudada/Stewed Cassava.
My plate, the grilled skirt steak was juicy and delicious. I ordered medium and that's how I got it. They serve a green hot sauce and also a chimichurri sauce on the side for the steaks. Both were flavorful. I also chose the Fried Cassava which was hot and crispy. I wish they had put some chopped garlic on it like they do at Flor De Mayo...but it was still good.
My bf said the pork rind was crispy and cooked the way he liked. The sliced avocado was even peeled! The rice and beans portions were generous which he also liked. But his grilled steak was lacking flavor and didn't compare to Tierras. But he said he'd return because the portions were bigger! lol
I think there was a full bar too. Alcohol is always a plus! I noticed that they do serve beer and Sangria (by the glass, 1/2 pitcher, and pitcher) here. So next time I will have to try the Sangria!
Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here. Our waiter was attentive and helpful explaining the menu and the busboy kept our table clear. It's literally only 2 blocks from our house and just a tad closer than Tierras so we'll definitely be returning or at least ordering delivery!
I really didn't like the food here, no matter how charming the interior and friendly the waitstaff is.
I must first disclose that my experience was tainted by my ill-fated menu choice. Having little experience with Colombian food, I turned the pages of the menu to find something that would stand out as being a plato tipico. The muchacho relleno sounded real good and hearty, being described as "Colombian-style beef with mushrooms". I asked the waitress whether it was good, and she said she didn't know. She did however mention that it was popular, so I thought I would give it a go.
Big mistake. Out came a plate of a tastless, limp meatloaf-like substance, consisting of beef, meshed with bits of carrots and peas, all wrapped around a rubbery hard boiled egg. The mushroom sauce tasted more like cornstarch sauce, and the entire dish had little to no taste. I hate having to give negative reviews for places on Yelp, but as a service to those who will be reading this review, I must admit that I was not impressed. The side dishes were also random: a plate of rice and a heap of unsalted, tastless 1950s-Southern-picnic-style potato salad. Tastless food at Manhattan prices? -- preposterous!
My wife vouched that her plato vegetariano of rice and beans and steamed vegetables was good, but she is the type of person who would be happy with tastless raw tofu and steamed lotus roots; I affectionately disclaim her opinion.
The one thing that is nice about La Pequena Colombia is the atmosphere. The signage and fixtures look like they should be the sibling of a suburban restaurant, and the interior is super clean and family friendly.
I am convinced that there is better food to be had at La Pequena Colombia. I mean, it has been around since 1984 -- they must be doing something right. I would not discourage anyone from going, but to be fair, be cautious in what you order! Other people seemed to be ordering items such as steak with chimichurri sauce or potato and chicken stew -- all solid choices. I guess i just had bad luck.
I love this place. We go there everytime we visit the city.
I've been coming to lpc ever since I was 6. The food has always been the same, GOOD!!!, but stop going after a while. I recently returned and the place inside looks beautiful and high class. Getting to the point, its type expensive but they serve a tremendous amount of food. I mean it, aloooot of foood. The service is great and the waiters are nice. Lpc has never failed. Definetely recommend.
im not very fond of this restaurant. it is exceptionally beautiful but that doesnt mean the food stands out enough for me. what caught me before i entered the restaurant was their decor for the valentine's love. while looking at the menu, i felt like they didnt really have much to offer and the soups are dangerously expensive. each day there is a different soup but they cost 6.95. i do wonder what is also added with the soup but it says salad and soup. i think that is still expensive. i purchased the carne mechada which is shredded beef served with rice and sweet plantains. first of all the plantains werent sweet at all. they were extremely fried to the core. the rice was fine but the beef was not as great as the great jardin in junction blvd. that shredded beef is a 9/10 compared to this one. i would rate this one a 7/10 and it cost a couple of dollars extra too. the shredded beef in the chinese restaurants also comes with a mixed fried rice dish. my companion bought the pechuga de pollo en salsa de champinones which is chicken breast served in a mushroom sauce with rice and vegetables. she disliked her dish so much that she ate most of mine. i gave her chicken a taste and i knew why. it tasted like chicken under a deep mushroom bath, yet at the same time fried like a mcchicken patty. i took most of her dish home and this cost 14.25. the food does not speak as well as the decor.
