El Sombrero Bakery — Restaurant in Gastonia

I came to this restaurant thinking I'd receive an authentic Colombian experience as a Colombian myself. While the server we had was kind and attentive, one of the others, the one wearing glasses, wasn't, and in fact, she got many things wrong. I repeatedly asked that the sausages and French fries I ordered for the kids were sausages and not hotdogs. I'm very intentional with what I eat and the kids eat. I don't want the nitrates and over processed, unhealthy side effects on the body that come with eating hotdogs. The "sausages" and fries arrived, and it was hot dogs. I pointed this out, and she was repeated in a hostile tone that they were sausages.

We also ordered bread, and while the other server was kind and attentive and said she'd put aside our bread, but the other, who had been told not to sell our bread, sold it anyway.

In the end, the food was only okay. I've gone to a few other Colombian restaurants in Charlotte and the encompassing area, and only one other was also mediocre. For the price, the rice isn't flavorful or generous, considering how cheap rice is, and they can't even be bothered to give you more than 2 small pieces of plantains, unlike other places Ive been to. I might even be alright with the portions if the food was more flavorful, but this was amateur hour.

The only redeeming quality, besides the primary server we had, was the bread we ordered, despite the fact we didn't get the bread we came for to begin with. I'm being generous with the stars I gave.

Edit: Removing one more star. I just looked at my receipt and realized that I ordered 3 choclos sin queso and they only...

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS, GO TRY THEIR FOOD NOW!

The young lady at the register was very kind to walk us through each of the items and what they contained. I am so thrilled to have found this place because everything my partner and I tried was delicious! And if you're a fan of not overly sweet things, this is the bakery for you! (Side note: they have a menu of lunch/dinner food as well, we did not try that today.)

We tried one of their popular items, the round cheesey dough balls (forgive me, I have no names) and they are beyond compare. Cheesey, slightly sweet and salty, and so soft and bouncy. I also got a cheese stick which had a bit more crunch and cheese, also very good.

My partner and I tried their empanadas (beef and chicken) which were filled with potato, meat, and fried. They were hardy and the sauce that comes with them was perfectly paired.

On the note of no overbearing sweetness- we got a caramel item, guava/cream cheese item, and a cheese danish item. All of them were delicious and filling and none of it left us feeling uncomfortable and lethargic from the sugar.

Lastly, the prices can NOT be beat! We tried so many things today and didn't go over $17. Hands down new favorite...

If you are in the mood for some good, decently priced Colombian food, then look no further.

A great way to start is by ordering from their great selection of Colombian breads. I know it may sound strange to order bread before a meal, but think of it like the bread you get at Italian restaurants. It's a nice way to keep the hunger at bay while the main dish gets prepared. For bread, I recommend "pan de bono" or "roscas." They go really well with a hot cup of coffee.

As for the main dish, if you are really hungry, would like to have a variety of tastes on one plate and are in a party of 2 or more then one of the best options is "La Picada." It is an assortment of meats that comes with yuca and plantains. It's great to eat as a group, it's tasty and very filling. Keep in mind that the medium is actually quite large, so only order that if you are in a...