Café Carambola — Restaurant in Coeur d'Alene

Me and my brother have been coming to Café Carambola for about a month and I must say that this restaurant is a true gem located in the heart of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This vibrant eatery has been serving up delicious Latin American cuisine for the past 15 years, and it's no wonder that it has become a beloved local institution.

Husband and wife team Carlos and Colomba Aguilar are the brains behind the operation, and their passion for their native Mexican cuisine is evident in every dish. Chef Colomba is a true culinary artist, creating perfectly balanced dishes that dance on the palate with their bright and tangy flavors. Meanwhile, Carlos ensures that every customer feels welcomed and taken care of with his charming personality and attentive service.

The menu at Café Carambola is a feast for the senses, offering a range of salads, sandwiches, quesadillas, and wraps, all bursting with flavor and color. The Incan Quinoa salad is a personal favorite of mine, with its tangy tomatillo-pepita dressing, sweet corn, radishes, cucumber, and queso fresco. The Cilantro Pasta is another standout dish, with its butterfly pasta bathed in garlic and cilantro pesto, caramelized onion, roasted chicken, and dried cranberries.

The sandwiches, or tortas, are also a must-try at Café Carambola. The Carambola Club is a hearty and satisfying choice, with its chipotle drizzle, bacon, avocado, tomato, pickled jalapeño, lettuce, cheese, and choice of meat (try the beef). The El Peruano is another delicious option, with its chipotle mayo, sweet potato crisp, lettuce, pulled pork, pickled onion relish, and cilantro-jalapeño sauce.

To wash down all this delicious food, I highly recommend trying one of Café Carambola's house-made aguas frescas. These Mexican-style fresh fruit coolers are the perfect accompaniment to your meal, and they come in a variety of flavors that change regularly. The Café de Olla, a Mexican-style coffee with Oaxacan chocolate and spice, is also a great way to end your meal.

In summary, Café Carambola is a fantastic restaurant that is not to be missed. The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, and the service is top-notch. Whether you're a fan of Latin American cuisine or just looking for a delicious and unique dining experience, this place is definitely...

Absolutely fabulous food and service. It's a simple restaurant with only a small amount of seating, but the food is excellent. The owner recommended a cross between one of the sandwiches on special and another one from the menu. It was fantastic! The bread was very fresh and not too thick or heavy, toasted just right, and the sandwich had so many flavors and spice and was not overly heavy. The side salads we got, when with tomatoes and onion and the other with quinoa and other vegetables, along with a side of habanero sauce to dip the sandwiches in, were all delicious. We also splurged and got an aqua fresca drink each, served in a big margarita glass with ice, and that was very tasty and not too sweet. I was very impressed with the food overall, so fresh and delicious. It's a little bit on the pricey side for a sandwich, we ended up spending about $23 per person because we got the side salads and the aqua fresca drink, so it's not cheap per se, but I would say it was worth it. I honestly can't remember having something so tasty for quite a while. And very healthy, which is a little bit hard to come by in North Idaho because there are a plethora of burger restaurants etc but not a ton of options on the...

This place is AMAZING!! From the moment I walked in it was like a brand new adventure I was about to embark on. The menu was like no other I have ever experienced in the U.S. At least not around this area. I lived in Panama for 5 months and this place closely brought me back to the feel of the restaurants and food from Central America. Of course each country in that area is different and unique to its own history and heritage so I couldn't exactly compare it to anything I've previously had before but I felt like I was in another country. I literally felt like I had died on the drive there and went to food heaven. The La Potena torta (half sandwich) was excellent!!! So yummy!! And the black bean and mango salad was delicious. It reminded me of a Central America ceviche. And to top it off, the Agua Fresco was so refreshing!!! I'm going back ASAP! And I can't leave out the staff! The wife cooks and the husband is your server. They're awesome and really care about your experience and what they're serving you! I had an EPIC experience...