Colada Shop — Restaurant in Virginia

I’ve been a fan of Colada Shop since there was a location in Sterling. There’s a lot to like: the vibe and ascetic, the savory bites, and, of course, the coffee. I enjoyed the iced latte but was disappointed I couldn’t get half caff - apparently Colada has caffeinated beans only. I’ve had a two other coffee drinks that were sweeter - not a fan of the sweet stuff. But that’s just me. I digress. The empanadas are the stars of the food side of the house. They come with an aioli (I think?) that really adds a nice flavor to the already delicious fried treats. I could eat those all day. Now the real disappointment is the sandwiches at Colada - I’ve tried the Cuban and one of the breakfast sandos. Honestly, the sandwiches seem to be more bread than substance. The Cuban was especially disappointing - lots of bread, hardly any innards - all for $12!!! Will not buy that one again. Overall, Colada Shop is pretty overpriced, esp when it comes to the sandwiches. If they can improve the sandwiches, maybe I’ll feel better. Anyway, I’m sure to visit again, esp for the empanadas, but no more sandwiches (until they are revamped). P.S. for anyone looking for a Cuban with substance, look no further than the offering from Taco Bamba. Cheers! Overall, I am glad to have Colada Shop back in the area, there’s a lot to like and hopefully they can rework their sandwiches to give them more bang for the buck. Oh - and I like the QR ordering at the tables! Easy and convenient to sit down and pop in an order from there. No need to wait in line. Just a tip for Colada Shop - it would be nice to get napkins with the food!!! I was told by the staff to go get them from the dispenser at the dish drop-off table, which wasn’t anywhere close to where I was sitting ... not great, esp when I gave a good tip when I ordered. Napkins with the food in the...

I had a Colada Shop Cubanó sandwich with a side of green salad. Both of them were delicious. This is the best Cuban café in downtown Fairfax that I’ve been to! Apparently, it’s a Mom and Pop operation, which is why service was a little slow, so it took 15-20 minutes for my food to arrive. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed eating Cuban Cuisine on a fine December day! Also, when food is made slowly, that’s how you know it’s made with love! For dessert, I had a small but scrumptious Duce de Leche brownie sundae! The service is great, the employees were friendly and made sure that we had exactly what we wanted! This would be a six-star review, (as if that will ever exist) had they brought utensils with the meal I’ve ordered. Overall, a fun experience, as Cuban (party) music was played in the background! It’s a really clean place with a clothes store within the café, so you can do your shopping without even leaving the building! Comfortable seating at the window, so you can we watch the residents of Downtown Fairfax go about their daily lives! There were a couple of pretty-looking works of art on the...

We had a Colada Shop location closer to our home that we frequented until its closure a few years ago. We miss having it around but the next best thing is to travel to Mosaic for our Cuban cuisine fix. You can't really go wrong with anything on their menu, but I highly recommend the Cuban sandwich. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the pork was tender and flavorful. It's a filling meal in itself, but order it with the plantain chips and you're in for a real treat. We also love their guava and cheese pastelitos and coffee drinks. Service is top notch, even though it's quick service, our server brought our order out to our table despite the lunch rush. Its location is adjacent to Bloomie's with direct access to the store inside. Parking is at the multiple parking garages in the area, so expect a short 5 minute walk. Can't wait to...