Get transported to Columbia as you dine at El Cartel Restaurant on 9th Avenue. This new, family-owned restaurant serving Colombian cuisine and culture, is operated by Bill Arango.
While the name draws connections to the most infamous, Pablo Escobar, inspiration for the same actually comes from a popular telenovela (which is playing at the restaurant in case you’re interested).
The restaurant has a long history, one that started over a decade ago when it operated by the same name El Cartel Panadería y Piqueteadero, in Queens. However, seeing relatively few restaurants that fully display Colombian cuisine in Manhattan, there wasn’t a proper appreciation for the establishment.
Fast forward to today, where the second iteration of El Cartel is back and better, but still staying true to Bill’s mom’s recipes.
You can catch it on a high foot-traffic stretch of 9th Avenue in Manhattan to introduce the bounty of flavors to as many people as possible.
The menu is extensive with a selection of tapas, entrees, desserts, and a lot of delicious cocktails and wines. Their popular items to definitely try are –
Tapas:
- Shrimp Ceviche: Shrimp dressed in lime juice, cilantro, mango, and purple onions in a homemade pink sauce.
- Arepitas: Three white corn cakes each topped with chicken, chicharron, and steak.
- Tostones Rellenos: Three green plantain cups fried to perfection; each topped with octopus, chicken, and steak, with a vegan option also available.
Entrees:
- Bandeja El Cartel: A well-paced dish consisting of steak, a fried egg, rice, red beans, chicharron, sweet plantain, Colombian chorizo, arepita, and avocado.
- Pechugo Buenaventura: Juicy chicken breast topped with fresh creamy seafood sauce made with shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, and calamari, served with white rice.
- Cazuela de Mariscos: Traditional Colombian seafood casserole made with shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, and calamari served with white rice.
Desserts:
- Fried Cheese: Fried cheese pieces with homemade sweet guava sauce
- Oblea: Wafers stuffed with Arequipe and a homemade blackberry sauce
- Figs in Syrup: Cheese and Arequipe sandwiches inside a fig-drenched syrup
Normally, Columbian food includes large portions that may be protein-heavy, however, El Cartel incorporates meticulous plating techniques that help the dishes stay true to the culture.
It doesn’t stop there…
it’s time to get your salsa shoes out as El Cartel is launching Salsa Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Saturday, 7/16 from 11:30 am – 3:30 pm. The Colombian-themed brunch will feature live performances from the Cali Sabor Band (IG: @mbproent) with seating at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm – the restaurant will have a minimum tab for these reservations of $45 per person. Gather your friends and make a reservation that will guarantee a great time!
The staff at El Cartel are incredible, all super friendly, hospitable, and attentive! They are the perfect addition to this new bustling restaurant.
Make sure to go with an appropriate appetite to truly enjoy the succulent meats and great flavors at a restaurant that is an ode to Columbia, completed with Colombian legends on the walls of El Cartel.
Get ready for the weekend destination of the summer!
You can find the brunch and cocktail menus here.
