Karmela Cocina — Restaurant in Cali

If you're looking for a dining experience that transports you to the Colombian Pacific, but with a modern and daring twist, you have to visit Karmela Cocina. ​From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere is captivating. The warm atmosphere makes you feel like you just got to your aunt's home. However, the real show begins on the plate. ​The chef has achieved a masterful combination: they have taken the traditional flavors of the coast and elevated them to a surprising level. Every bite is an explosion of flavor that reminds you of the authenticity of Pacific cuisine, but with a presentation and ingredient combinations that showcase a bold and creative culinary proposal. ​You can't miss the Barbacoas. The traditional "atollado" (risotto) with longaniza and cheese. And if you enjoy surprises, get the shrimp puerquitas or the Marimba (shrimp ceviche). ​In short, Karmela Cocina is the perfect place for those who appreciate fine dining and are looking to satisfy the most demanding palates. It's a celebration of Pacific gastronomy, reinvented with passion and ingenuity. A place that not only nourishes the body, but also the soul. ​I will definitely...

I don’t usually write reviews, but due to our very poor experience I feel it is necessary to share my story with the public. We arrived at the restaurant at around 12pm to eat lunch. We ordered our food and drinks. We waited about 15-20 minutes for our drinks to come out. After about half an hour, we asked about our food. We were told that it would be coming out shortly. Thankfully our 6-year-old’s food came out a few minutes later as we had ordered it ahead of time. By 1pm, we asked again when our food would be out. We were told that our food was coming out next. Meanwhile, there were still tables ahead of us that had not gotten their food yet. By 1:20pm we decided to leave because we had waited almost 1.5 hours for our food and there was no sign that it was coming soon. What was even more upsetting was that the management and waitstaff was not up front about how long the food would take. Not once did they take the initiave to let us know how long we would need to wait, apologize for the wait, or offer us anything else to eat or drink in the meantime. They food looked very good on the menu but unfortunately we never had the...

My wife and I had an early dinner here before they closed for the day. Lovely place with a good assortment of dishes that reflect the gastronomic heritage of Colombia's Pacific coast.

We had the "Chirimia" (crispy prawns in a cream-based sauce made from coconuts and chontaduro) and "La Karmela" (a filet of fish with plantains in a creamy seafood sauce). Both seafood dishes were rich and delicious, and reminded us of coconut curry dishes from Southeast Asia. (If I had to nitpick, I thought it was unnecessary to add crabsticks to the "La Karmela" dish, as it adds an artificial flavour to the dish.)

We also tried the "Viche de Verano" cocktail which was very refreshing, as well as "El Chonto" (a lemonade drink with chontaduro).

Overall we had a good meal here. If you're in the San Antonio area, do drop by and treat your taste buds while immersing yourself in the region's...