El Balcón de las Américas in Pembroke Pines, Florida, is a popular local restaurant chain location known for serving authentic Colombian and broader Latin American cuisine.
What Makes it Unique
- Authentic Colombian/Latin Cuisine: The restaurant is praised for bringing the diverse and flavorful home-style recipes of Colombia and Latin America to South Florida.
- Warm and Inviting Atmosphere: Customers frequently note the pleasant and welcoming environment, often describing the staff as friendly and treating guests like family.
- Unique Menu Items: It offers classic Colombian staples and unique regional dishes, with a focus on generous portions. Reviewers sometimes highlight unique offerings like a beer mixed with soda (a popular Latin American drink).
- Visionary Company: It’s part of a local Florida chain that has grown over the past 20 years, contributing significantly to the contemporary history of Latin food in the region.
History
The story of El Balcón de las Américas is inspiring, tracing back to its founder, Alvaro Tobar. After dreaming of a better life in Colombia, Tobar came to Florida and turned his aspirations into a successful restaurant chain. His vision and belief, combined with the efforts of his family, led to the establishment of the first restaurant and the subsequent growth to multiple locations across South Florida. The Pembroke Pines location is one of these successful establishments, built on the foundation of family, love, and unity.
Customer Feedback
Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with the Pembroke Pines location maintaining a high rating (often around 4.7 out of 5 stars from thousands of ratings). Highlights of customer praise include:
- Incredibly Flavorful Food: The dishes are consistently described as delicious, fresh, and well-seasoned.
- Excellent Service: Fast, friendly, and exceptional service is often mentioned, with specific servers frequently receiving shout-outs.
- Generous Portions: Guests appreciate the large portions, which are often ideal for sharing.
- Standout Dishes: Popular menu items like the Bandeja Paisa and the Ajiaco soup receive high praise.
Highlight Menu Items
El Balcón de las Américas features a wide-ranging menu that includes traditional Colombian favorites and Latin American staples. Signature and highly-rated items include:
- Bandeja Paisa: Considered a classic Colombian dish, this hearty platter combines white rice, red beans, meat (ground beef or steak), sweet plantains, fried chicharrón (pork belly), arepa, avocado, and a fried egg.
- Ajiaco Completo: A traditional shredded chicken soup, typically served with white rice, sweet plantains, and a salad.
- Chuleta Caleña: A breaded and pounded pork tenderloin.
- Lomo Saltado: Tender beef sautéed with onions and tomatoes in a soy sauce marinade, served with white rice and fries.
- Calentado El Balcón: A breakfast mix of white rice, red beans, and chicharrón, served with grilled steak and two fried eggs.
Significant Events
While specific, local, year-by-year events for the Pembroke Pines location are not commonly publicized in a general search, the restaurant is significant as a key part of the larger El Balcón de las Américas chain’s success story. The overall corporate achievement is the rapid expansion of the chain over 20 years to multiple restaurants, fulfilling the founder’s American dream and establishing the brand as a premier spot for Colombian and Latin cuisine in South Florida. The restaurant frequently hosts families and groups, solidifying its role as a community gathering spot.
Contact and Location Information (Pembroke Pines)
