By Caelin Grambau, University of Pittsburgh English Writing & Spanish double major
The Colombian Spot, a well known staple for Latin American cuisine on the South Side of Pittsburgh, has expanded to include a secondary location in Central Oakland.
“We are a family business looking to give the customer an authentic dining experience based on the real flavors of Colombian food. From the strip district to the south side, we are now able to provide customers with a wide range of arepas and native dishes.”
With corn masa arepas stuffed with everything you can imagine, from Cuban ropa vieja to classic Pittsburgh fries, and even other Latin American inspired flavors, such as their Mexican style arepa, one can easily taste the authentic and immersive dining experience The Colombian Spot brings to the table.
What opened as a stall at the late and great Pittsburgh Public Market quickly became a staple on the South Side. With signature dishes on the menu, Spanish sports broadcast on the TV, and plenty of food to go around, The Colombian Spot brings a little bit of Latin American to Pittsburgh.
The extensive menu boasts tostones, empanadas, salads, yuca fries, red bean soup, and of course, their signature arepas among other native dishes. There is also, of course, a kids menu, as well as a street food selection including gourmet burgers and hot dogs.
The drinks, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, bring a special taste of Colombia with handmade imported juices like passion fruit, lulo, mango, guava, and even the classic sirope panela, made of organic raw cane sugar, lime, and cinnamon.
The real star of the show however may just be their “Nuestros Típicos” menu. The menu, which highlights a number of classic native dishes, includes arroz montañero, bistec a caballo, calentado, cazuela de mariscos, sancocho la casa, as well as numerous sides and even shareable items.
Not to be outdone by their savory counterparts, the restaurant’s extensive menu also boasts a selection of desserts including flan de maracuya, a classic flan with a passion fruit twist, and a classic tres leches cake!
The best part? Even if you can’t make it to one of their locations, they can still bring The Colombian Spot to you! Whether you’re just ordering takeout for yourself, or need enough food to feed your family and then some, there are multiple options for online ordering, takeout, and catering. Head to their website at https://www.thecolombianspot-pgh.com for more information.
A stroll to either of the restaurant’s locations is highly recommended, however. With a number of live music events, a new happy hour coming soon, and a menu that samples a little bit of everything, The Colombian Spot feels like a long awaited get together of family and friends, with most importantly, great food.
