Restaurante Carmen Cartagena — Restaurant in Cartagena

Stepping into Carmen Restaurant in Cartagena was akin to entering a world where flavors harmonized, and culinary artistry danced on the palate. With a sense of anticipation, I embarked on a gastronomic journey through the chef's 7-course tasting menu, ready to experience the magic that this prestigious establishment had to offer. As I savored each dish that graced the table, I found myself enthralled by the symphony of flavors that unfolded before me.

The culinary voyage commenced with the super citrus ceviche in coconut milk, a dish that swiftly claimed its spot in my top three favorites of the night. The vibrant medley of flavors, punctuated by the refreshing zest of citrus and the creaminess of coconut milk, was a true delight to the senses. The lobster croqueta followed suit, its crispy exterior revealing succulent layers within, elevating it to another entrant in my top three choices. The lobster in buttered coconut sauce added an element of indulgence, while the fish and banana dish showcased the chef's ability to create unexpected yet delightful combinations. The chicharron with yuca brought a playful twist to the table, a balance of flavors and textures that spoke volumes about Carmen's culinary finesse. The beef brisket, another top contender in my list, was a tender revelation, imbued with rich flavors that lingered long after each bite. The local ice cream flight, a sweet crescendo to the evening, offered a tantalizing array of flavors that paid homage to Cartagena's culinary heritage.

While Carmen undoubtedly presented a prestigious culinary experience, the service and ambiance added a touch of elegance to the evening. However, despite the culinary artistry on display, I found myself resonating with a sentiment that a certain standard had not been fully met. In the realm of Cartagena's culinary wonders, Carmen occupies a distinct place, but I would place it just below the exceptional experiences offered by Celele and Mar y Zielo.

In the tapestry of Cartagena's culinary scene, Carmen Restaurant stands as a noteworthy entrant, offering an array of flavors that showcase the essence of the region. The service, ambiance, and culinary offerings collectively create an experience that is both memorable and commendable. While Carmen may not have reached the pinnacle of my culinary journey in Cartagena, it remains a prestigious destination for those seeking a dining experience that blends sophistication with...

Do not waste your time or your hard earned money.

I made a reservation for my girlfriends birthday nearly a week in advance. Upon making the reservation we were required to provide credit information in the event we were unable to attend our reservation. At that point it also asks if you’re celebrating a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc) which I obviously selected.

Upon arriving the person at the front door told us that we missed our reservation by a half hour at which point I had to show him our confirmation and share with him that he was incorrect and we were right on time. We then were put at the bar and had to wait nearly 15 minutes until a table was made available for us, which is understandable due to their lack of organization.

Once we finally were seated we were greeted by a semi courteous server who did his best to pitch the most expensive items on the menu as recommendation. We obliged with 2 of his recommendations and I can tell you the the food was presented well, but did not taste good as expected.

During the meal we saw a few others greeted with cake for the celebrations of their special occasions and imagined ours would arrive shortly as we had also specified the special occasion on their website. After waiting 15 minutes after our last dish we decided to just request the bill to end the experience as a whole.

After spending 250 000.00 COP you’d expect to be somewhat satisfied and this was certainly not the case. I would not recommend this place to anyone, nor would I be interested in spending even 1 COP at this restaurant.

As we left it was right after 11:00PM they had barricaded the door with a locking mechanism with no one there to open the door and allow us out. I had to forcefully unlock 2 separate locks to allow myself to finally end this awful experience.

I have been in Colombia for the past 3 weeks and have had a better experience ordering Empanadas from a food vendor on the beach than the $100US experience at Carmen.

If you’re looking for a nice dinner,...

Do not miss lunch or dinner at Carmen. We could not stop talking about how beautiful the restaurant is (they brought the outdoors in) how kind the staff was and how incredible the food was. We started with an unexpected amuse bouche: this local cheesy foam over a lovely crouton and some kind of surprise puree on the bottom - it was so good, we wished we could order bowls of it. The cocktails and sodas were also very good. We decided to order a few appetizers since it was lunch. The empanadas filled with crab, shrimp and lobster, will forever haunt my culinary aspirations because I have no idea how I'm going to figure out how to replicate such a perfectly cooked empanada with the creamiest and freshest filling. We quickly claimed it was our favorite...then we had a bit of the Langosta (lobster), I never knew coconut could be so delicate..the sauce didn't over power the lobster at all - which was perfectly cooked. That became the favorite...then...I hear my friend say oh my god. I look over and she was digging into the spicy crab. Oh my God indeed. The "shell" is filled with the aromatic rice, then this light ans delicious spicy crab mixture and perfectly diced fried pork belly. It wasn't mayonnaise, like we cover crab in the US, it was a delicate creamy spicy dressing that didn't overpower the flavor. The heat was on point, it was enough to feel but not reach for a glass of water. We decided to have some dessert, so strawberry shortcake it was. It was also delicious, but for me the surprise house made chocolate coconut ice cream they brought out to wrap up the meal was heaven.

We did not have reservations, and they sat us inside where it was air conditioned, which was perfect, but we knew it was a risk as walkins. It was lunch time so it was quieter. Keep this in mind if you can't stand the heat...