Noches de Colombia is a Latin American restaurant chain that spans across the Tri-State area. While their 14 locations speak volumes about their palatable cuisine, their  Kew Gardens location is less known. This traditional niche Colombian restaurant is less than a mile away from Townsend Harris and is accessible via the Q25. 

The restaurant boasts a welcoming atmosphere with a massive dining hall, a bar, and a display table for baked goods. Oftentimes, many Latin American restaurants serve Americanized food, but that’s not the case at Noches de Colombia. At Noches De Colombia, you can taste the warmth of generational recipes native to the different regions of Colombia. 

Guacamole, Shredded Meat, and Tostones – 8.5/10

I began with the shredded meat and avocado on a crunchy corn cake. The shredded beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender and engulfed in a delicious au jus, luscious and stewy meat sauce. I was very pleased to see that they didn’t skimp on the avocado, which  provided an earthy, sweet undertone to the strong flavors of the plate. You can definitely taste the sautéed and marinated onion, along with simpler spices like salt and pepper. While the serving size is huge, I find a $20 arepa to be a bit pricey. 

Pernil Asado – 8/10

The second dish my family and I tried was the pernil. It was delicious! The flavor profile was a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Rather than being tough, the pernil was cooked to perfection. The one negative would be that it did not come with a side of beans. This was frustrating because we did pay for them, and beans are a staple food in Colombia; they lighten up the heavy dish. Alongside this, we tried Noches de Colombia’s maduros and tostones. The maduros had a really good consistency, while the tostones were tough. Overall, this dish shows how balanced Noches de Colombia is–not a single bite was too fatty or oily. 

Mar y Chicken – 9/10

Finally, I tasted the “Mar y Chicken.” Wow, was this meal packed! The plate alone weighed over five pounds, definitely enough for two people, which excuses its high price of $27. The layering of the plate was very well done. It packs in the au jus on the bottom, with rice, chicken, and shrimp in additional layers on top. This leads to my favorite part of my entire experience: the tasty, heartwarming bite that digs into the chicken, rice, and shrimp, and especially the jus. This single bite fully encompassed the center and standard of the restaurant: family style, comforting, hearty meals.

Overall, I would go back to Noches de Colombia a hundred times out of a hundred. It’s clear that the staff cares about elevating Colombian cuisine through good, heart healthy ingredients.