El Carajo
El Carajo things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Miami Foodie Adventure 2: Downtown Miami Edition 🥑🥩
ConnieConnie
40
I went with my family three days ago for some spanish food . NEVER GO TO THIS PLACE POOR ATTENTION!! If u can , order the food to pick it up. The food was delicious no complaints about that. On the other hand the service was very poor . The server first forgot about our sparking water ordered, no problem things happen, we decided to order appetizer and main course. After waiting for 30 mns we finally got our food but guess what? Only the main course!!!!! So we asked were was our appetizer and the server said that she will check cuz she probably forgot to place it!! We were in shock. In top of that we asked one of the others server to take a picture of us nicely cuz our server got disappeared for over 25 mns and he said wait a second ill come back and that NEVER happened. Well i came the time to pay the bill which was a very nice amount cuz we ordered the expensive food on the menu and i asked to call the manager to explain to him the situation, and of course in an place that a server attending less than 3 tables cuz is a small place do all those mistakes is because obviously theres a management issue. Well the manager Jaime i believe that was his name, came to the table with a nice manner and we explained everything to him , he just kept saying yes with his head and GUESS WHAT? He never even apologized!!! Can u believe it? Me neither . And he took the check with my credit card and I thought he would take at least the appetizer that we got after our main course to make our experience better . But nooooo nothing entire price , we paid full check . Is the worst experience in cuatomer service i ever had in my life. Here attached is the copy of the check were u can see the server added the appetizer “patatas a la brava”almost last only before the desserts of course .
Alberto PulgAlberto Pulg
00
As a spaniard, I was craving good food from my country. After reading the 4.3 stars-misleeding reviews, I decided to go there for dinner with my wife and sons to celebrate my 77th Bday. Worst food and service by far I have experience anywhere in the Miami area. First of all, the wrong meet and cheese plate was brought to the table. We started eating it, we didn't realized it wasn't our order until the server came back took it away without offering an apology. The pulp a la gallega (Octopus) was chewy and flavorless. We asked three different people for bread, until we got it. We had ordered, among other items paella valencina. The main course arrived as we were still working on our appetizers. Server pushed around plates to make room for everything. When we thought t couldn't get worse, we tried the paella I was so excited to have on my birthday. The taste was SO OFF that I couldn't help but to ask the server where the chef was from. The answer didn't surprise me, he was cuban, and so was the rice dish I ordered as paella. I can't even bring myself to call that paella. Then the bill came, $200.00 later which included an already added 18% gratuity for bad food and horrible service. AND to make things worse the receipt you sign is deceiving and confusing. If you don't look close enough on it you will end up adding again gratuity on top of gratuity. Look at the picture. If you want cuban food go here. THIS CANNOT BE CALLED A SPANISH RESTAURANT #deceiving
Manuel CubesManuel Cubes
00
I had an absolutely amazing time here. I felt so at home that I want to learn to speak Spanish😊 I got seated at the counter (I called last minute for reservation and was on my own) which seemed at 1st a bit impersonal, but since I was on my own, this is the best place to be part of the action. Everyone was super attentive and even though I don't speak Spanish, the manager and staff all stuck up a conversation to make me feel welcome. I liked the atmosphere created by El Carajo because it seems it used to be the convenience store at the gas station, but is now a wine shop and Restaurant. In fact, you feel as though you actually dine inside the wine shop (or shopping inside a restaurant 😁) They have a good wine selection that is part of the restaurant and you can just browse for something that takes your fancy. A good variety of tapas. I had the ham croquettes, boquerones, meat starter plate and later the pulpo de gallega. All food was very good and well presented. For wine I had the Vina Ardanza Reserva which was superb. What I liked most was the friendly atmosphere created by everyone. I felt like a regular on my 1st visit, which is a special quality not many restaurants can manage, and I want to thank all the staff for making my evening special.
B vdmB vdm
00
Don't judge a book by its cover, in the front of gas station, in the back is an amazing Spanish restaurant. Only in Miami do you see things like this. Not only do you have a robust assortment of Spanish wine you can pick out the wine bottle and bring it to your table but you may also want to try those homemade sangria. As for the food the tapas are excellent and made to order so everything is made really fresh. I recommend the patas bravas, the mushroom in roasted garlic, and pulpo. For the larger plates the mixto tabla was enough to feed three people. Don't forget to ask for some bread if you like dipping in the sauce. The staff and servers are welcoming and can assist with recommendations. If you are not familiar with Spanish cuisine tapas are small plates that are brought out as they are made, culturally this may be an adjustment for those that are use to having a regular course meal. As for dessert the natilla is a creme brulee and a staple Spanish sweet. If you're in my Miami do as the locals do and end your meal with some espresso. Gas up your car while your there and you'll be set for your next adventure.
Rich LopezRich Lopez
00
We drove by this place for years before considering to try it out: all you see in front of the restaurant is a gas station, and gas stations are not really famous for good food… As soon as you go in you think you’re in a bakery, but in the back of the bakery you think you’re in a wine store; and when you enter the restaurant: wow! The first “room”, with a high top table, resembles a wine cellar; while in the dining room you have the feeling you have been transported to an old castle! We have tried almost all their tapas and some of their main entrée dishes and have never been disappointed. Not to talk about their huge selection of wines at very reasonable prices, like the Malbec from Mendoza we had last Friday. Last week we had friends visiting us from Oregon: when they asked us if we knew a good restaurant for a Caldo Gallego, we drove them here to from WPB: our friend liked the soup so much that he ordered it twice! The parking doesn’t have many spaces, but we always stopped here for lunch or for an afternoon drink & tapas and never had a problem.
AdriAdri
00
Nearby Attractions Of El Carajo
Fresco y Más
American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora
Mary Amado Med Spa
SilverSpoonUS
Work of Art Gallery Framing & Printing
Coral Way K-8 Bilingual Center
UBe beauty Salon / Barber / Boutique
Glow Up by Vanessa
Think Ink Micro-Esthetics: TriLift, Facelift, Skin Tightening, Acne Treatment, Laser Hair Removal, Scalp Micropigmentation
Shine hair salon and spa

Fresco y Más
4.2
(1.2K)
Click for details

American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora
4.7
(192)
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Mary Amado Med Spa
4.9
(170)
Click for details

SilverSpoonUS
5.0
(70)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of El Carajo
Casola's
Xixón Spanish Restaurant
Old Lisbon Restaurants
Juanchi's Burgers
Doggi's Arepa Bar
La Boulangerie Boul'Mich
El Patio 305 Restaurant
Neme Gastro Bar
Latin American Coral Way
Chèvre Miami

Casola's
4.3
(2.9K)
Click for details

Xixón Spanish Restaurant
4.4
(1.1K)
$$
Click for details

Old Lisbon Restaurants
4.6
(925)
Click for details

Juanchi's Burgers
4.6
(917)
Click for details
Basic Info
Address
2465 SW 17th Ave, Miami, FL 33145
Map
Phone
(305) 856-2424
Call
Website
el-carajo.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.4
(1.2K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Nestled behind a working gas station, this snug wine shop & bar serves traditional Spanish tapas.
attractions: Fresco y Más, American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, Mary Amado Med Spa, SilverSpoonUS, Work of Art Gallery Framing & Printing, Coral Way K-8 Bilingual Center, UBe beauty Salon / Barber / Boutique, Glow Up by Vanessa, Think Ink Micro-Esthetics: TriLift, Facelift, Skin Tightening, Acne Treatment, Laser Hair Removal, Scalp Micropigmentation, Shine hair salon and spa, restaurants: Casola's, Xixón Spanish Restaurant, Old Lisbon Restaurants, Juanchi's Burgers, Doggi's Arepa Bar, La Boulangerie Boul'Mich, El Patio 305 Restaurant, Neme Gastro Bar, Latin American Coral Way, Chèvre Miami
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