El Cafetal — Restaurant in Indian Trail

Let’s begin with their name, “El Cafetal” which means “Coffee Plantation” you’d think they’d have an actual Cafetera to make REAL Colombian coffee, but instead they have the audacity to serve “Drip Coffee” embarrassing!!

Moving along to their complimentary plantain chips which is very unusual to serve as most Authentic Colombian restaurants will serve you warm bread and butter.

For lunch I had the Carne Asada which was incredibly thin and dry! I gave them the opportunity of proving they were really Colombians by asking for frijoles rojos (red beans) which is available in ALL authentic Colombian restaurants, of course they didn’t have any. I then asked for lentejas (lentils) which is traditional Colombian beans, but again they failed. The ONLY beans available with your meal are PINTO BEANS! 😂 What kind of “Colombians” are these???

The ONLY thing that was decent was the Sirloin Steak which was nicely cooked and the plantains which were actually ripe and sweet! I’m from Miami and this place wouldn’t last a week before closing it’s doors with the lack of authenticity they have.

I would definitely NOT recommend unless of course you’re not latin and are easily impressed. They’re...

We stopped by to try it out today, really not knowing anything about Columbian food The place is nice and cozy inside very clean and the servers were very nice. We were quickly seated and given menus. Lots of really good sounding good on the menus. Our server asked if we had and question and was more than happy to answer any questions we had. I got the Paella which is a yellow rice dish cooked with a nice mix of seafood in it, and my wife got a breaded pork cutlet that was pounded out very thin and coated in bread crumbs then fried it seemed. Both plates were excellent! Come hungry the portions are large. We are already discussing what we will get next weekend Check it out and treat yourself to some very tasty food and very friendly staff. I highly...

What a wonderful local treat whether you speak English or Spanish, we were made to feel this is our "home," and we are welcome. The food was strange but over the top tasty. We tried plantains, a sweet banana with home made guacamole, fried whole snapper, sweet, crisp,and wonderfully moist, and a seafood soup called mariscosa. We've since returned again to the same warm welcome and even better flavors as we try more. A couple more seafood dishes to try, and then some steak, though no one cooks steak as rare as we like. Don't know how so small a restaurant can offer such variety, but it does. This place is worth a 20...