Helena Adentro "La Casa Rosada" — Restaurant in Quindío

Ever had a bad first date? Mine is Helena Adentro.

Yesterday Helena Adentro was crowded - so I made a reservation in person then made the short walk to El Mulador.

El Mulador is my top pick for fine dining in Filandia (read my review).

After several months of Tapas tasting in different parts of Spain - where each city has its own way of approaching small plates - I'd like to turn your attention to the city that's my top pick for Tapas - Barcelona - in the Barrio called EL Poble Sec - on the street called Carrer Blai.

I'd heard small plates to share was a thing in Helena Adentro.

Today at noon I stood in line while the doorman checked everyone's covid pass then made them wash their hands in a sink at the entrance - fantastic!

It was all downhill from there.

Yesterday in person the reservationist said I'd have the "best seat in the house" - and I did.

The problem is the seat was made of cheap plastic which I moved and took a metal folding chair instead. Talk about a bad start to a first date - cheap seats. (Seats in El Mulador are big and comfortable)

Next was the view - a view of dirty - tattered canvas - with a satellite dish on top - several houses close by that crowd the view - and a big advertisement in the grass cheapening the view. Not what you want your date to see. (El Mulador has a better view)

Then there was the toxic smell in Helena Adentro.

The restaurant is just above a road where lots of stinky motorcycles and stanky buses spew toxic diesel smells right up to your face.

You can't smell your food when you're smelling diesel. And the smell permeates the entire restaurant. (There is no road under El Mulador - just nature - what you inhale is sweet fresh air and the aroma of your food)

Speaking of food the eggplant was greasy.

The bread is rock hard.

If you don't want to feel like a cow at a salt lick avoid anything with the local Filandia Cheese.

A Chorizo that's well made can stand on its own - the Chorizo here was buried in a sweet...

Positives are the view is excellent. The pork and corn balls were very tasty. The drinks were unique and were fairly delicious.

The negatives were the description of the "sirloin" was false as it was definitely not a sirloin, more like what North Americans call roast beef or pot roast and not very favorable at that. I have had sirloin about seven times in Columbia. It has always been like a steak. Never like shredded beef. Not even in the same cut of beef from the cow. See pictures. Maybe they mistranslated the menu and this is what the restaurant considers sirloin but it is not a steak. Definitely disappointed in the steak, especially for the high relative prices of all the food and drink items. The staff was initially very prompt and focused. After serving, they never returned as they were too busy talking and laughing with each other. The menu shows that the water is free yet we were charged for it. Not a huge deal other than another misrepresentation. Overall, the view is very nice but I did not enjoy my meal. Those who say this is like a Michelin starred restaurant must not have ever been to one or are paid by the restaurant to say something nice. It is an average ambience restaurant with slightly above average food, and average staff. I do not...

One of the best restaurants I’ve eaten at in my life. Definitively the best I’ve eaten at in Latin America so far after 7 months of traveling. My girlfriend and I were blown away by the creative dishes, the flavor, the presentation, the ambiance, and the attention to detail at every step. They blend high quality ingredients in unique combinations, and the food is fantastically rich. We ordered 4 tapas, and Lulo+Piña+Mandarin Frappés. The tapas were:

Marrinitas - pork and white corn balls, served with homemade mayonnaise with herbs, parsley, and queso fresco

Croquetas de Yuca - breaded Yuca with double cream cheese in the middle, served with a sauce of caramelizada sweet peppers and herbed sour cream

Berenjenas de Finca (Eggplant from the(ir) Farm)- paprika oil, with eggplant on baguette, topped with caramelizada onion and local goat cheese

Choripan (chorizo bread) - baguette with Chorizo Santarrosano topped caramelizad onion and chimichurri, and lime for flavor

These dishes were decadent and i savored each bite. We are planning to come back again to try more and the most insane part is that this meal was only 63,000 COP ($21 USD) with tip included. Absolutely stunning. Skip Salento and come...