La Picua — Restaurant in Cartagena

I passed this location earlier in the day, not knowing it would end up being my dinner spot, and what a pleasant surprise it was. While there are plenty of places in the walled city of Cartagena that serve seafood, this one stands out. From the moment you approach, everything about it screams seafood, from the signage to the vibe.

What truly sets it apart, though, is the people. The chef, the waitstaff, even the owner, every single person I encountered was kind, warm, and welcoming. Honestly, if I hadn’t asked or noticed the chef’s jacket, I wouldn’t have been able to tell who was who, everyone works in sync, with the same joyful spirit.

I tried two different meals, and neither disappointed. The mejillones verdes was my absolute favorite, and that’s coming from an international chef myself. The music perfectly matched the ambiance, creating a full sensory experience.

The cherry on top? The owner had a dessert made just for me. (And yes, I saw him personally head to the back to make it happen.)

If you’re looking for a spot that’s quaint, full of good music, warm hospitality, and incredible food, this is it. Be sure to tell them Chef LeighM sent you.

Black owned if that matters to you!

Pasé por este lugar ese mismo día, sin saber que acabaría siendo mi sitio para cenar, y qué grata sorpresa. Si bien hay muchos lugares en la ciudad amurallada de Cartagena que sirven mariscos, este destaca. Desde el momento en que te acercas, todo en él rezuma mariscos, desde la señalización hasta el ambiente.

Sin embargo, lo que realmente lo distingue es la gente. El chef, los camareros, incluso el dueño; cada persona con la que me encontré fue amable, cálida y acogedora. Sinceramente, si no hubiera preguntado o no hubiera visto la chaqueta del chef, no habría podido distinguir quién era quién; todos trabajan en sintonía, con el mismo espíritu alegre.

Probé dos platos diferentes y ninguno me decepcionó. Los mejillones verdes fueron mi favorito absoluto, y eso viniendo de un chef internacional. La música armonizaba a la perfección con el ambiente, creando una experiencia sensorial completa.

¿La guinda del pastel? El dueño me mandó un postre hecho solo para mí. (Y sí, lo vi personalmente dirigirse a la parte trasera para hacerlo realidad).

Si buscas un lugar con encanto, lleno de buena música, cálida hospitalidad y comida increíble, este es el lugar. No olvides decirles que te envió el chef LeighM.

¡De propietarios negros, por...

I've been on the hunt for the perfect lobster in the Caribbean for the last 2 months. I've tried lobster in 3 different countries. I came to this restaurant specifically for the lobster and because of so many good reviews about their lobster. Let me say, this place does not disappoint! I FINALLY found the perfectly cooked lobster. It was also paired with delicious guacamole on fried plantains I think? Not entirely sure but the flavors were complimentary and sooooooo good. My fiance and I can barely get by with Spanish but our server, Jose, was patient and very kind. The menu was in Spanish with English descriptions as well. We both got the sangria and would pass on that but otherwise the food and service was a solid 10/10. Totally underrated...

I had the experience of dining at this restaurant and the food and service was sub par at best. Our group ordered the seafood platter and red snapper, which both felt underwhelming in taste and also overcooked. The seafood platter had octopus which was too stiff to eat and shrimp that left a bad aftertaste. It also included a crab that was too tiny to eat something from it.

The service was a bit slow which took food to arrive in 40 minutes. The only thing I enjoyed the most was the atmosphere and politeness of the waiter.

Considering my experience with eating seafood in countries like Portugal, this resturant did not meet my expectations and had higher hopes for a better...