Zumaia Restaurante Cocina de Autor — Restaurant in Cali

My friends and I like to patronize our local, small, artisan family owned restaurants in order to help them survive the economic disaster left by the pandemy and hope they start thriving soon. We also hope that the owners as well as their employees go the extra mile, sadly it wasn't the case when we visited Zumaia in the picturesque San Antonio neighborhood in Cali on Tuesday 1st March 2022. Although we arrived at around 6:00 PM and the place was virtually empty, it took them a very long time to take our orders. The salmon was not fresh at all, most of the other dishes were OK at best. I can only praise the "Lomo Zuma" which was perfectly cooked, the onions were at their point as well as the champignos and sauce was very good. The desserts although well presented were nothing to write home about. The Cream Brūlee, and the cheesecake were very dry and tasted stale, the Chocolate Volcano was OK, except the strawberries on the sauce tasted like onions, they may have been stored for a long time in the refrigerator with cut open onions near them or worse yet, were cut with knife used to cut onions (dirty, perhaps) what a disappointment. To top it all the wait for the bills was eternal, and the bills were mixed up, not what we had asked. I could not recommend the place and seriously doubt I will...

Is this the best restaurant in Cali Colombia? It might be. I am from Manhattan, and I have been eating Thai, Peruvian, Spanish, and Thai food all my life. Chef Bonilla magically blends them all into a perfect fusion. My phone battery ran out or I would have posted pictures of the artful presentations. The ceviche was fresh - with high quality fish. Everything there was high quality. So many places skimp and cut corners. This food is clearly made by an artist. I recommend the special Lomo, a perfectly cooked steak wrapped in a baked bread blanket. I am not usually a cocktail guy, but they make a drink (I cant remember the name) with several ingredients that you have probably never heard of (local liquor and fruit/grain extraction). It is spectacular. I will try to find out the name and update. If you have just one meal in Cali, go to Zumaia (Zu ma ia). This place would shine in the most competitive food environments on earth. Also, the space itself is spectacular. Open and interesting – with good table spacing- great for conversation. Also, the location is in the center of the coolest section of Cali. I...

If you’re looking for a casual dining experience, Zumaia is the place to go. Located in the heart of the city, this restaurant offers an outdoor seating area with plenty of greenery, making it the perfect spot for a summer evening.

The food at Zumaia is cooked perfectly . We started our meal with the egg rolls, which were light and crispy, and the steak tartar, which was a delicious blend of flavors. For our main course, we had the fish of the day, which was cooked to perfection, and the French soup, which was rich and creamy.

The service at Zumaia was good, but a bit slow. We were seated outside, so that could have been the reason. Our server was friendly and attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed.

The decor at Zumaia is simple yet elegant. The outdoor seating area is surrounded by lush greenery, making it the perfect spot for a romantic evening.

Overall, our experience at Zumaia was great. The food was cooked nicely , the service was good, and the decor was beautiful. We would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a casual yet sophisticated...