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    Home » Colombia

    Carmen Restaurant: Cooking with Love in Medellín

    Updated Oct 13, 2022 by Dave Lee | 4 minute read | May contain affiliate links

    Located on a tree-lined street in Medellín's El Poblado district, Carmen Restaurant offers customers contemporary cuisine utilizing fresh, local ingredients.

    Carmen has been a favorite of mine since my expat days living in Medellín, Colombia, and I'm excited to share it here on Feastio!

    I first ate at the restaurant, named after chef-owner Carmen Angel, in 2012.

    Carmen Medellín entrance
    Carmen Medellín entrance

    I've since been back many times, most recently during my month-long stay in 2019.

    Carmen is Colombian-American; however, she was raised in California, where she was a graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu de San Francisco.

    It was in culinary school that Carmen met her husband, Rob Pevitts.

    Bar inside Carmen
    Bar and main dining room

    At the suggestion of her father, Diego Angel, the trio moved to Medellín and opened Carmen Restaurant a few blocks from Parque Lleras in 2008.

    The timing could not have been more perfect, as Medellín would emerge as an increasingly popular travel destination in the early 2010s.

    [Side note: Yours truly contributed to Medellín's growth through a blog, medellinliving.com, which I ran from 2009 to 2016.]

    Within a few years, they'd built a loyal following among Colombians and ranked #1 on TripAdvisor.

    In 2014, star players from Colombia's national soccer team dined there following their quarterfinal appearance in the World Cup.

    The following year, Tom Cruise stopped by for a meal while in town filming American Made.

    Carmen offers multiple dining rooms. The main room on the ground floor includes the bar. This is the best spot for people-watching.

    Descend a spiral staircase, and you'll pass by a handful of tables with views of the kitchen before entering a small, lush outdoor courtyard.

    It's the kind of romantic outdoor seating that lends itself well to marriage proposals. Reserve a table here if you prefer privacy.

    Related: Best Restaurants in Medellín

    Zombie rum cocktail at Carmen Medellín
    Zombie rum cocktail

    The Menu

    Carmen Restaurant has one of the best cocktail programs in Medellín, as far as I'm concerned.

    It's on par with what I can find at home in Austin, TX, which says a lot because we have some fantastic cocktail bars.

    Pictured front and center at the top of this story is the Zombie made with Havana Club 3 Years, Medellín 8 Años rum, zombie mix, cinnamon and grapefruit liqueur, pineapple, and lime.

    Other drinks featured on the 2020 bar menu include a gin and tonic with dehydrated citrus and house-made tonic, Tiki Andino with Absolut vodka and Peruvian pisco, and a Kentucky Mule.

    If the signature cocktails don't appeal to you, they've got wine, beer (including Bogotá Beer Company's Chapinero Porter, my favorite Colombian beer), and non-alcoholic drinks.

    Yuca, foie gras, and black truffle with Caribbean creme fraiche
    Yuca, foie gras, and black truffle appetizer

    When you're ready to order food, Carmen Restaurant offers an optional five-course tasting menu for 229,000 pesos ($61), available with meat or vegetarian.

    Both include wine pairings, making them a fantastic value by U.S. or European standards.

    Appetizers include salad, ceviche, octopus, tacos al pastor, and brisket empanadas.

    Related: El Cielo - Making Magic in Medellín

    Pork 2 Ways
    Pork 2 Ways

    Main dishes include the signature "Cerdo 2 Veces," which means pork cooked in two ways. Tamarind-glazed pork belly and tenderloin are presented with local vegetables.

    This is my all-time favorite dish at Carmen and possibly the best pork I've ever eaten; I order it frequently.

    Other notable plates include line-caught Pacific fish, a slow-smoked pork rib, ravioli with red wine braised short rib, and a burger with foie gras mousse. I want it all.

    Macadamia nut financier in Colombian dark chocolate with honey and lavender ice cream, and rum pineapple at Carmen Restaurant in Medellín, Colombia
    Macadamia nut financier in Colombian dark chocolate with honey and lavender ice cream, and rum pineapple
    Devil's food cake, coconut pavlova, 76% cacao mousse, dark chocolate and chipotle soup
    Devil's food cake, coconut pavlova, 76% cacao mousse, dark chocolate, and chipotle soup

    Rob Pevitts is the Executive Chef at Carmen, while his wife is the Executive Pastry Chef and therefore responsible for the delicious dessert menu.

    Two choices from my last meal are pictured above. You can't go wrong.

    The current menu features a 7 Leches cake, 5 Chocolates dessert, Honey Pie, and ice cream tasting featuring four homemade flavors.

    See also: Best Restaurants in Bogotá

    Carmen and Dave
    Catching up with Carmen on my last visit

    Based on the early success of Carmen Restaurant in Medellín, the team expanded to open a Carmen Cartagena in 2012, followed by Moshi Cartagena in 2017, and Moshi Medellín and Don Diablo in 2018.

    Moshi's menu offers Asian-inspired dishes using Colombian ingredients and an equally excellent cocktail menu. Don Diablo is a steakhouse specializing in dry-aged beef.

    If I had to pick just one restaurant, I would recommend Carmen. If you enjoy your meal there, check out Moshi Medellín next door.

    Plan Your Visit

    Website: carmenmedellin.com
    Address: Carrera 36 #10A-27, El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia
    Dress: Casual
    Reservations: Recommended for dinner

    More Colombia

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    • Salmon tartare at In Situ in Medellin, Colombia
      10 Best Restaurants in Medellin
    • Salmon with tropical fruit sauce at El Cielo in Medellin
      El Cielo Restaurant: Making Magic in Medellín
    • Oro miel pineapple, pote cheese, masato, coquindo
      The Best Restaurants in Bogota
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    Dave Lee

    Hi, I'm Dave, the Chief Eater at Feastio. I'm a travel blogger on a mission to find the world's best food. About Feastio.

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