Platillos Voladores — Restaurant in Cali

My wife and I have eaten here several times. On most occasions, with a reservation. Others, we just walked in. Never any issues with requesting an available table. 6 weeks ago, we made a reservation for 3. One of our dear friends was going to visit us from the U.S. and we wanted him to experience the food. When we arrived with our friend to the restaurant the host was hesitant as to what table to take us to. After the waiter interacted with the manager he led us to the worst table in the restaurant . A dark corner in a separate room at a table for 2, although the reservation was for 3 and the table was not even set yet. All the other tables in the other rooms were set and the restaurant was empty. We asked for a better table and the host stumbled over his own words. When my wife who is fluent in Spanish asked him why he was giving us a table for two he said that was the table he was told to give us and he could add another chair. This is the only table we have for you. Meanwhile, empty tables for 3 were in the garden and in the main area of the restaurant with no reservation placards on the table top. My wife asked to speak to the manager. The incompetence increased to a comical level. Their way of resolving the issue was to offer us another table in the same room that was not even set either. How could this be if we had made the reservation 6 weeks ago. He nonchalantly sat down in his chair, arrogantly responding, “This is the only table we have for you”, it became more evident that we were not welcome. Our friend felt uncomfortable and my wife and I were extremely embarrassed. It was evident we had been profiled . My wife’s efforts to speak to the manager and express how uncomfortable the situation was and if they could please sit us at a better table went in vain. The manager’s troubleshooting skills revealed his lack of knowledge and respect so we walked away. The next day my wife sent the restaurant a message via What’s App. The restaurant manager apologized and asked us to come back saying he would give us a good table and good service. This situation shouldn’t have happened in the first place. The table you get shouldn’t depend on the color of your skin! We will never return to Platillos Voladores nor will we recommend it to friends again. Shame on you...

Platillos Voladores in Cali is the kind of place that dazzles you at first glance. The ambiance is warm and inviting, with a touch of understated elegance. The decor whispers sophistication, and the environment is undeniably cozy—a perfect setting for an unforgettable meal. The menu itself is intriguing, with dishes and cocktails that seem to promise an adventure for your palate. And when the plates arrive, the presentation is flawless—each dish a visual masterpiece.

But then you take a bite.

And that’s where it all unravels. The food, for all its beauty, fails to deliver the most fundamental element of a good meal: SABOR. As Samin Nosrat writes in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, “Salt has a greater impact on flavor than any other ingredient.” Yet, here it’s as if the chef forgot to read that chapter. The lack of seasoning leaves the dishes flat, their potential unrealized. It’s a frustrating experience to encounter such care in crafting a menu only to find the execution lacking where it matters most—taste.

Without delicious food, no restaurant can earn a place in your heart or justify a return visit. And at these prices, you can’t help but feel shortchanged. The cocktails, while creative, aren’t enough to salvage the experience. For the same cost—or less—you’d likely find far more flavorful and satisfying meals in La Galería Alameda, where authenticity and boldness of flavor take precedence over pretension.

Platillos Voladores is undeniably a beautiful space, but a restaurant’s primary purpose is to serve great food. Without that, all the charm in the world can’t mask the disappointment. If you’re in Cali, there are better places to spend your time and money—places that don’t just promise flavor but deliver it...

Overrated restaurant with awful service. I went here for my birthday about a week ago, and ended up waiting about 10 minutes to get a table outside. Everything seemed nice and the atmosphere ambivalent but once we sat down, the waiter provided a subpar service. I saw those next to us eat very impressive looking dishes, but our waiter recommended very basic dishes that had nothing special going on for them.

Worst part about the night - we had told the waiter it was my birthday and asked if we get a free dessert and after avoiding answering my question, my girlfriend asked 5 minutes later and he went to the back to ask. He came back and said he can't give us anything for my birthday because we didn't make a reservation. How disgusting of a service is that?? Not even a candle or a scoop of ice cream after paying over 150 mil pesos for a dinner for 2 in Colombia. I wanted to leave immediately once he said that.

I hope this place starts treating customers better and becomes more professional. As number 1 rated restaurant in Cali, this place has to step up and create...