7. February 2015: Restaurant Carmen

I originally wanted to go for dinner but did not managed to get out in the evening so ended up at the Restaurant Carmen for lunch. It started with a “tartar de atun sobre papa amarilla, salsa de cilantro y tequeño tipico de peru y salsa samba olek” which was served as an amuse bouche by the kitchen. A nice “welcome gift” to start lunch.

The first course was a “Ceviche Laminado (pesca del día, leche de tigre de tamarindo, sambal carmen, coco, mango dulce, shio kombu, humo de coco carbonizado)” (27’000 COP) which was not only served in a very spectacular way …

… but actually tasted also great. It was absolutely different to the ceviche I had a couple of days ago in Bogotá swimming in lulo juice but as good …

… especially with the sauce which was applied to finish the dish.

As a main dish I went for “Cerdo 2 veces (chicharron de 12 horas y solomito cocinado en leche, glace de tamarindo y azúcar de palma, puré de camote peruano, habichuelinas al ajillo, salsa de cerdo especiada)” (46’000 COP). The pork was incredibly tender and aromatic and the purrée which was served with it had a distinct taste I have never tried before – lovely!

To finish the lunch, I went for the “degustacíon de helados (degustacíon de cinco de nuestros helados artesanales de temporada): miel de vaca, chocolate, mandarina, leche, guyaba” (23’000 COP). The icecream degustation was insofar interesting as it was not only the icecream but the icream always came with a distinct second element which you would not expect in the first place. Some combinations were great, other were okay but it is worth trying.

To finish the lunch, another “amuse dessert” was brought as a little present from the kitchen – a “bourbon bowl with chocolates, whiskey and cherry”. A simple but interesting combination to finish off lunch.

The prices are absolutely fair for the dishes – although not cheap for Colombian standards – as well as for the beverages (water, 4’700 COP; beer Colombia Club Dorada, 6’500 COP).

The place is rather small with only approximately 8 tables and you get to watch the kitchen staff from where you sit which is always a good sign. The service …

… is professional and does a good job serving from the right side and taking the plates from the correct side, making sure you never run out of water.

Even from the outside the place already lookes appealing as the restaurant is located in a small boutique hotel.

To sum it up, the Restaurant Carmen is definitely worth a visit. For lunch you probably do not even have to book a table in advance but I would still recommend it. The food is good, an experience, the place is tiny but lovely, the service is good and the prices are absolutely fair.

Rating:

Atmosphere:
Service:
Dishes:
Price-Performance Ratio:
Overall Rating:

Contact Details:

Restaurant Carmen

in the Anandá Boutique Hotel

Calle del Cuartel #36-77

Carrera 5

Cartagena (CO)

Tel.: +57 5 660 67 95

E-Mail: eventos.carmenrestaurante@gmail.com

Homepage: http://www.carmencartagena.com

About the Author: Sven

I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org. Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City.