CONNECT TO THE BEST OF CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
CARTAGENA CONNECTIONS
  • HOME
    • BOOK TOURS
    • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT CARTAGENA
    • OUR SERVICES
    • EVENTS
    • GALLERY
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PAYMENTS
    • CANCELLATION POLICY
    • POLICY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
    • CONTACT
  • DAY
    • WALKING TOURS
    • STREET FOOD TOUR
    • STREET ART TOUR
    • SHOPPING TOUR
    • PRIVATE TOUR
    • MERCADO BAZURTO TOUR
    • PIRATE TOUR
    • PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
    • COOKING CLASSES
    • FOODIE EXPERIENCES >
      • ICE CREAM EXPERIENCE
      • PROYECTO CARIBE FOOD EXPERIENCES
      • RUM EXPERIENCE
      • COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE
      • COFFEE
      • CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
      • COOKING CLASS
      • TOBACCO EXPERIENCE
      • MEZCAL EXPERIENCE
      • GIN EXPERIENCE
    • SEGWAY TOUR
  • PLAY
    • BEACH AND ISLANDS >
      • Bendita Beach
      • Bona Vida Catamaran Tours
      • BORA BORA
      • Eteka Beach
      • LUX ISLAND
      • NENA BEACH PLAYA BLANCA
      • Blue Apple Beach House
      • Isleta - Rosario Islands
      • Isla Grande Gente del Mar
      • Bomba Beach Club
      • Isla Coralina
      • Aura Baru
      • Namaste Beach
      • Playa Blanca
      • Isla Baru Playa Manglares
    • PRIVATE BOATS
    • PRIVATE ISLANDS
    • BOAT TOURS >
      • Bona Vida Catamaran Tours
    • VOLCANO & MANGROVE TOURS
    • BEACH DAY CLUBS >
      • BLUE APPLE BEACH HOUSE
      • BOMBA BEACH CLUB
      • FENIX BEACH
      • NAMASTE BEACH
      • NENA BEACH PLAYA BLANCA
      • Banana Beach
      • Tierra Bomba Beach Hostel
    • LA BOQUILLA TOURS
    • AVIARY
    • PALENQUE TOUR
    • HORSERIDING
    • HIKING
    • PARAGLIDING
    • YOGA
    • DANCE CLASSES
    • MOUNTAIN BIKE TOUR
    • BAY TOURS
    • SKYDIVING
    • CHIVA TOURS
    • WATERSPORTS
    • DIVING
    • KAYAK
    • FISHING
  • STAY
    • ACCOMMODATION >
      • PRIVATE VILLAS
      • ISLANDS >
        • TIERRA BLANCA ISLAND HOUSE
        • LAS ISLAS HOTEL
        • BLUE APPLE BEACH HOTEL
        • ISLA MATAMBA
    • COWORKING
    • LEARN SPANISH
    • VOLUNTEER
  • PAY
    • PAY US
    • SHOPPING >
      • WHAT TO BUY
      • LA SERREZUELA
    • BUY ART
    • BUY PROPERTY
  • SAY
    • THE BEST >
      • BEST BARS
      • BEST BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH
      • BEST RESTAURANTS
      • COLOMBIAN CHOCOLATE
    • BARS >
      • Alquimico
      • El Baron
      • Bazurto Social Club
      • Bonche Gastrobar
      • Cafe Havana
      • Calle Adentro
      • Cuba 1940s
      • Demente Tapas Bar
      • La Jugada
      • Eivissa
      • The Clock Pub
      • Kala Beach Club
      • Media Luna Hostel
      • La Movida
      • Tertulia
      • Townhouse
    • WHAT'S ON >
      • WILD BRUNCH
      • New Years Eve
      • Film Festival
      • EVENTS JANUARY
    • RESTAURANTS >
      • Alquimico
      • El Baron
      • El Bistro
      • Carmen
      • Demente Tapas Bar
      • Don Juan
      • Malagana Cafe & Bar
      • La Mulata
    • CAFES >
      • EPOCA CAFE
    • BLOG
    • PEOPLE WE LOVE
    • PAGES WE LOVE
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FAQs
  • STRAY
    • PANAMA
    • MINCA
    • SANTA MARTA

CARTAGENA RESTAURANTS: M COCINA

14/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cartagena boasts a multitude of Arabic-cuisined restaurants thanks to the immigrants from Syria, Lebanon etc who brought their aromatic recipes with them when they moved here and started building their trade-based business empires [food plus history lesson in one overly-long sentence. whoop].

I totally want to try them all! So far, however, I've only tried M Cocina. And it's good!

My last visit was a girly lunch date with one of my favourite Cartageneras and she advised me that M Cocina was the best Arabic food in Cartagena. Which is all the endorsement I need.

Following her lead I ordered a deeeeelicious guanabana and mint (hierbabuena) juice which was all icy and granizado-like and so frickin good. I actually think it was the highlight of the entire lunch. Here's a photo.

Picture
Mmmmm....

Because I wanted to try as much as possible and because I am generally greedy, we got a mixed plate to share for the starter. It had tasty chicken and toasted almond rice, some vine leaf wraps, tabbouleh, felafel, kibbeh, and a meaty empanada. You can see it in the top photo. Everything was really flavoursome but I liked the kibbeh the best. By the time the plate was finished, we were pretty much full.. but then our meat arrived..

D loves her a steak, so she ordered the lomo, which came with a herby butter and a choice of potatoes (she chose puree) and a salad. I nabbed a chunk and it was yeah-baby good with a nicely seasoned meat-crust. This is it:

Picture
When I choose from a menu, I have an ordering hierarchy which, in addition to favoring anything pig-derived, includes a general philosophy that I should order things that I wouldn't cook at home. Which is why I ordered the Kibbeh crudo (it's like an arabic-style beef tatare i.e. seasoned raw meat). Look how pretty it is:
Picture
It came just like this. No other side. So by the end (and yes, despite being full when I started eating it.. I did definitely finish it) I was craving something to re-fresh the palate a bit more. I even ate the decorative and usually annoying parsley because I was so desperate for the green. But flavour-fatigue aside, I really enjoyed. And it's definitely not something I feel brave enough to prepare at home.

By now we were so full we could barely stand up straight, so we didn't even look at the dessert menu which apparently contains such Middle Eastern wonders as baklava and rose-water scented sweets.

Like most of the Arabic restaurants in Cartagena, M Cocina is found in Bocagrande. The interior design is fiiiiiine, white and nice but nothing I need to elaborate on, save to confirm that yes, there is air conditioning.

Definitely recommended. Definitely order the Guanabana and mint juice.
0 Comments

    AUTHOR

    A collection of musings, insights and experiences gathered by an energetic and enthusiastic Australian girl loving life in Cartagena, Colombia.

    Archives

    December 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    December 2018
    October 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    August 2016
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Annoying Stuff
    Beach
    Breakfast
    Cartagena
    Champeta
    Cheap
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    Events
    Festivals
    Food
    Getsemani
    Give Back
    Halloween
    Islands
    Music
    Open-air
    Shopping
    Social Distancing
    Things To Do
    Top Picks

    RSS Feed

About us

About Cartagena Connections
About Us



OUR SERVICES

Tours in Cartagena
Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Activities in Cartagena
Package stays in Cartagena
Events in Cartagena

LOCAL INSIGHTS

Read our insider blog to learn about the best restaurants, bars, beaches and activities in Cartagena.

We're Social

Like us, follow us, brag to your friends that you're going to Cartagena!
Copyright 2013 | Cartagena Connections | Manga, Calle 26 #15-45, Edificio Espinosa, Cartagena de Indias | info@cartagenaconnections.com