• Colombia •
THE COLOMBIAN SPOT
January Showcase
2019 E Carson St Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Phone: +1 (412) 381-9000 Email: thecolombianspot@gmail.com https://thecolombianspot-pgh.com/index.html#home |
The Colombian Spot can be found Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood, offering a delightful taste of authentic Colombian cuisine. Since 2017, the restaurant has been serving fine dishes such as empanadas, arepas, and--one of their bestsellers--bandeja paisa. Adorned with hats, flags, and a lively mural depicting the different regions of Colombia, this local restaurant brings exciting flavors to the City of Steel.
Owner
During our time in the restaurant, we spoke to Karen-- the proud owner of the Colombian Spot. Karen, born and raised in Colombia, moved to the United States sixteen years ago to pursue an education here at the request of her father. After school, she lived in Union, New Jersey for many years with her sister, a city she found to have a strong Latin American representation. She eventually moved to Pittsburgh in 2014 and found an active Colombian community here as well. Despite this cultural presence, there was a lack of Colombian cuisine and this prompted her idea to open a restaurant. Though this was met with some skepticism, Karen simply said, “Why not?” and began to engage in efforts culminating in the successful business she owns today.
The big push Karen and her husband needed to start sharing their food came when her husband was laid off from his jobs. Karen was working at a school at the time, so she brought in some empanadas to sell in order to gauge the appeal, to much success. The couple then moved forward and established a stand at a public market, mainly selling their arepas, empanadas, and bandeja paisa. When the market closed, Karen and her husband decided they wanted to open up in a bigger venue, which led to them finding their current location. They have been running The Colombian Spot, known for its delicious empanadas, live music and colorful artwork, for almost two years now. Though they enjoy managing the restaurant, Karen and her husband plan to return to Colombia within the next few years where they hope to retire.
Food and Restaurant
In attempt to preserve the authenticity of their food, Karen and her husband ensure that everything served in the restaurant is homemade, right down to the empanada dough which they make from corn they boil and grind. The couple always strives to remain true to the Colombian food traditions, but the flavors in the food they prepare are much stronger her than it is in Colombia, Karen explained. Laughing, she told us that her parents actually prefer to eat the food from her restaurant rather than similar dishes made in Colombia.
However, Karen did admit that the couple has made a few adjustments to the menu to accommodate the interests of the local population such as adding pork to the arepas because their customers prefer it. She explained that while they try to look for food items that most people will like, they also work very hard to offer something everyone is able to eat and enjoy, including multiple delicious vegetarian and gluten-free dishes. Additionally, Karen informed us that she and her husband are currently working on a breakfast menu because the Pittsburgh crowd always loves a good breakfast. They think there is a lot of potential to draw in more customers, which is the hardest part of owning a restaurant. The chorizo, a traditional Colombian sausage, and coffee, one of Colombia’s main exports, would make great additions on their potential breakfast menu and they are excited to see where this idea takes them.
Overall, we highly recommend taking a trip to the South Side to get a taste of what this local restaurant has to offer. With unique foods rich in flavor and a warm and inviting staff, the Colombian Spot provides a welcoming and lively atmosphere for all its guests. If you are looking to get a taste of some traditional Colombian food, the Colombian Spot will definitely not disappoint.