Rancho Nando in Pembroke Pines, Florida, is a family-owned restaurant known for bringing the vibrant, soulful flavors of authentic Colombian and Latin American cuisine to South Florida.
What Makes It Unique
- Original House of Carne a la Llanera: Rancho Nando proudly holds this title, specializing in a time-honored culinary art where meats are slow-roasted over open wood fires. This process captures the bold, smoky essence characteristic of the Llanos Orientales region of Colombia.
- Atmosphere and Ambiance: The restaurant provides a warm, inviting setting often enhanced by the rhythm of Latin music and a vibrant, cultural feel. It aims to be a place where “loyal customers became family.”
- Live Entertainment: The Pembroke Pines location often features live music, especially on weekends, with some accounts mentioning a guitarist or live entertainment, turning the dining experience into a cultural celebration.
History
Rancho Nando was founded in 2012 by the Carmona-Hernandez family. What began with “one grill, a lot of love, and a deep-rooted passion for Colombian traditions” has since grown into a legacy centered around the flavors of Carne a la Llanera. The restaurant remains a multi-generational family venture.
Highlight Menu Items
The menu is extensive, featuring traditional Colombian comfort food, grilled specialties, and Latin classics:
- Carne a la Llanera: The house specialty, featuring slow-roasted, wood-grilled meat with a distinct smoky flavor, typically served with boiled potato, ripe plantains, and llanera salad.
- Bandeja Paisa: A quintessential Colombian dish, a hearty platter that typically includes beans, rice, sweet plantain, a fried egg, grilled steak or ground beef, pork skin (), pork sausage (), and a corn cake.
- Nando’s Platter (): A large mixed platter (available for 2-3, 4-5, or 6-8 people) featuring a variety of meats like llanera steak, pork ribs, pork skin, pork sausage, and blood sausage, served with sides like potatoes and plantains.
- Cachapa Queso: A sweet corn cake filled with cheese, offering a blend of sweet and savory.
- Breakfast (): Served daily, offering staples like (corn cakes with cheese or meat), (a hearty mix of rice and beans), and various egg preparations.
- Burgers: Includes unique options like the Guaca Burger and the Steakhouse Smoky BBQ Burger.
Customer Feedback
Customer feedback is generally positive, highlighting the restaurant’s strengths and noting areas for improvement:
- Strengths: Guests frequently praise the authenticity of the Colombian cuisine, the generous portions, and the friendly, attentive service (mentioning specific staff members like Diego and Raul in some reviews). The flavor of the traditional dishes, like the beans and , is often singled out as being delicious and true to Colombian taste.
- Areas for Improvement: Some feedback has noted occasional inconsistencies with service quality, such as order errors or slow attention, and some isolated concerns regarding food temperature (being served cold) or cleanliness. The music has also been described as “too loud” by a few patrons seeking a quieter family time.
Significant Events
While a public search does not reveal specific historical “major” public events (like a new location opening ceremony or a large charity gala) tied only to the Pembroke Pines location, the restaurant itself is known for hosting live music performances, particularly on weekends, which contributes to a lively atmosphere and celebration. It is also a popular venue for family gatherings and celebrations, such as birthdays, as mentioned in customer reviews.
Location and Contact Information
