Restaurante Jardín Santa Clara — Restaurant in Cartagena

I’ve been here before and everything was amazing. In fact, this was hands down the place I was most excited to visit during my second trip to Cartagena. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful but unfortunately, that and the ratatouille were the only good things from this visit.

They were pretty busy so it’s understandable our food took a while to come out, and our server did mention they had a small issue in the kitchen which delayed the food. These things happen so that part is in no way what I’m frustrated about. What was frustrating was the main course and the overall service.

We ordered the lobster tails and they were practically bone dry and lacked much flavor. Perhaps they were left out for too long before brought out to us. I had a few bites but basically left mine untouched.

Service was terrible which was shocking due to the fantastic customer service Santa Clara is known for, and you can see based on how good other reviews are. Our server was dismissive of our comments about the lack of flavor of the lobster tail and was visibly annoyed when I told him I wanted to remove the service charge from the bill (which they need to do by law if you are unsatisfied with the service). I was not trying to get my meal comped and did pay full price, but at least a genuine apology would have been nice.

Like I said, I get that things get busy and mistakes happen. Maybe the server was having a bad day and as someone that’s worked in the service industry in the past, I know I’ve had those days. However, given the high price point of our meal and the fact this is part of a five-star hotel, they are held to a much higher standard and in the past, they’ve always met that bar. Not really sure what happened this time, but it was enough to put me off going back...

Went in with the impression of it being a meat house. Ordered the smoked beef ribs (dish that was recommended by the waiter) and was presented with a rare/blue rib that was DRENCHED in liquid smoke. It’s as if they slightly seared the top part of the rib in the broiler for a minute and then let it sit in a bath of liquid smoke to try and emulate the smokiness flavor that comes from a true smoker cooked meat. And I mean it, no crust whatsoever just the synthetic dye of liquid smoke sauce. It was barely cooked to the point where the meat was clinging on for its dear life to the bone. As a lover and cooker of smoked meats (especially smoked beef ribs and pork ribs), I know what to look for, and was left personally insulted. I wouldn’t have minded it but it’s was 160,000 COP for a SINGULAR beef rib. Oh and the side of pilaf rice was exactly like uncle Ben’s par cooked rice which was just as disappointing. The only ok aspect of the experience was the cocktail, however the glass was half full of egg white foam with a some alcohol at the bottom. Truly a tourist trap restaurant, captivates with decorations but the food is severely overpriced, lacking quality, and deceptive....

Don’t go there - sick - no attention to clients I went to eat to this restaurant with my husband a week ago. We had ceviche, salmon toast, octopus and lamb with a dessert. We paid HALF MILLION PESOS and I’ve been SICK coming out of the restaurant. Walking back home I vomited in the street right coming out of the restaurant. I’ve been sick all night, on our way back to Bogotá, and for two days after. I didn’t eat anything else before going to the restaurant and I started vomiting right after so there is no doubt it was there food. It was our last night of vacation and it’s been ruined by their food. Because this is a recommended place I contacted them thinking I would have a good attention to client and made a reclamation. I didn’t hear back for an entire week !!! And they told me they can not do anything because they can not be sure it was because of the restaurant itself. Been sick coming out of a restaurant says a lot about the quality of the food and their absence of answer says a lot about the quality of attention to client. This is really sad really their reputation and it ruined our last night...