Colada Shop — Restaurant in Arlington

I recently visited Colada Shop in Clarendon and had an outstanding meal—one that easily earns it a 5-star review. Here’s a detailed breakdown of my experience:

⸻

Atmosphere & Service

From the moment I walked in, the vibe struck me as lively yet comfortable: Cuban-influenced décor, plenty of seating, and a relaxed energy that draws you in. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the pace was just right—not rushed, but focused. The restaurant is described as a “fine-casual spot serving coffee, food, cocktails & conversation.”  Service matched the promise, with quick attention and helpful suggestions. All of this set the stage perfectly for a great meal.

⸻

The Food

I sampled three main items: the Cuban sandwich, the yucca fries, and the key lime pie. Each offered its own highlight, and together they made for a very satisfying visit.

Cuban Sandwich This sandwich was the centerpiece of the meal—and it delivered. Layered ham, slow-roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, house-made pickles, and a cilantro aioli on Cuban bread.  • The bread was crisp on the outside yet soft inside; a great vehicle for the fillings. • The pork had a rich, slow-roasted flavor that stood out from the usual deli fare. • The combination of mustard + house pickles + aioli gave a tangy, slightly creamy punch that balanced the richness of the meats. A reviewer on Yelp described the sandwich as “gigantic… both were very delicious.”  I agree—this was a sandwich I would order again without hesitation.

Yucca Fries As a side, the yucca fries were a standout. These aren’t your standard potato fries—they bring a different texture and flavor profile. The exterior was crisp, the interior pleasantly dense and slightly chewy in the best way. The cilantro aioli that accompanied them added a fresh herbal lift, making the fries feel elevated rather than generic. According to the menu, they are listed as “fraired yucca with cilantro aioli.”  My take: a smart and tasty side that complements heavier plates.

Key Lime Pie To close out the meal, I enjoyed the key lime pie. The dessert arrived with a tart-sweet filling on a Maria cookie crust. On the menu it’s described as “tart & sweet filling with Maria cookie crust.”  • The tartness was pronounced—just enough to wake up the palate after the richness of the main dish, but balanced so it wasn’t puckering. • The crust offered a subtle crunch and a sweet, buttery base that contrasted nicely with the tang of the lime. • It felt like a well-thought-out dessert: satisfying without being over the top. In short: a lovely finish to the meal.

⸻

Highlights & Unique Touches • The Cuban sandwich here feels crafted rather than mass-produced—attention to ingredient quality and flavor balance. • Yucca fries aren’t so common on casual menus; the fact they offered them (and did them well) is a big plus. • The dessert selection, including the key lime pie, signals that the kitchen cares about the full meal experience, not just the main course. • The Clarendon location is noted specifically on their site among the Arlington-area addresses.  • Reviewers consistently mention the flavor and structure of sandwiches here as “another level.” 

⸻

Minor Considerations • The sandwich is generous—if you’re light-eating, consider sharing or taking half home. • It’s busy during peak meal hours, so if you prefer a quieter experience, aim for off-peak times. • While the key lime pie was excellent, if you’re after something ultra-decadent (rich fudgy cake, etc.), their dessert menu has other options (e.g., dulce de leche cheesecake) you might also enjoy. 

⸻

Final Verdict

Colada Shop in Clarendon gets a full 5 stars from me. It hits the mark in atmosphere, service, food quality, and thoughtful menu choices. Whether you’re going for a standout sandwich, an interesting side like yucca fries, or a satisfying dessert like key lime pie, this place delivers. I would absolutely return and recommend it highly to anyone seeking flavorful Cuban-influenced fare in the...

I was really hesitant to write a review for Colada Shop because I understand firsthand how challenging it is to work in food services.

The counter staff have been really nice to me whenever I’ve placed orders, which I really appreciate, and everyone is very welcoming when you enter.

However, I’ve actually been really disappointed with the quality of the food and drinks, thus translating to the overall service that they provide.

On more than one occasion, I’ve been given the wrong drink order (cold vs hot.) when pointed out, they’ve been apologetic and offer to remake it for me, but unfortunately I usually stop by during a very limited work break and don’t have time to wait for a new order. I’ve been able to place the order online before clocking out, but then have to get there and walk back to work.

I have also received very hollow empanadas at least two different times and stale food.

Another day, I ordered a tres leches cake online, and when it wasn’t in the bag, the clerk said to grab one from the refrigerated well. None of the food was labeled or dated, and the only thing that looked remotely like a dessert ended up not being a cake at all, and it tasted really flavorless and old. A few days later they did have new packaging labels, but I have yet to see any dates written to know when it’s been prepared.

The Siempe Verde smoothies were actually pretty good for a while, but the one I ordered yesterday tasted really bitter and like badly spoiled milk. Definitely not normal. No coconut water flavor either.

Sometimes, I see the staff place lidless personal drinks right at their work station while preparing the food and drinks. Everyone deserves the right to hydrate while working, but in food services, it is actually a health code violation to keep personal drinks at your work station, unless it has a lid and straw.

Sadly, I won’t be visiting this location in the future. I normally try to give people the benefit of the doubt when I have an unpleasant experience, but they’ve really fallen short too many times.

I think this location could benefit from better management, more food safety training, and better accountability.

Perhaps I’ll give this chain a shot at a different location, but I wouldn’t recommend this...

I have come here twice. The first time was for a to-go churro order. It was pretty good and had me thinking about coming again.

Cut to today, I wanted to sit in and enjoy the place, as it looks very cute and well decorated inside. This turned out to be a mistake.

Issue #1: there were so many mosquitos and flies whirring around, they were everywhere and we tried to move three times to escape them (no escape). While waiting for our order, we killed approximately 4 mosquitos. We were so off-put by the amount of bugs, we changed our order for to-go.

Issue #2: When we did get our food, we noticed my friend's order was cold while mine was moderately warm and my side was hot. We noticed they had a huge to-go catering order they were busy taking care of while also making ours. While I understand that leads to a huge juggling game of what comes out hot and what doesn't, I'm sad to say my friend's food suffered from a timing miscalculation

Issue #3: (For some reference: I'm Hispanic so I've gotten to know and taste a lot of different countries' foods over the years -- especially in the US.) I've noticed this is a chain and that may be why I feel this way, but this is not a good representation of Cuban food. This feels very Americanized and lacking in care and flavor. The plantains feel like they were pre-prepared when they were green and cooked to order. The different items we ordered felt stiff and a bit like they were waiting around to be assembled together. In all, it doesn't taste fresh and was not made with much care to it in the fashion I know this cuisine can taste.

I would say the food here is pretty expensive for such a lackluster atmosphere and food. While this place looks nice to sit in (whoever was the designer for this place deserves a 5/5), this place will never get my money again.

Staff are nice from the two times I've visited. This review reflects the food and atmosphere of this particular location...