An all-day Colombian restaurant is opening soon in Raleigh. Take a sneak peek at the menu
An all-day Colombian restaurant is expanding to the Triangle.
Cali Colombian Restaurant, which was founded in Charlotte a year ago, will open at 5601 Atlantic Ave. in Raleigh in September.
The company that owns Cali, Andi Valentino Investments, is also behind Raleigh’s Pollo Campero, located on Litchford Road.
“When we saw that brand open, it was so busy, and it stays busy, so we saw that there was a demand,” Brenda Alfaro, vice president of communications for Andi Valentino Investments, told The News & Observer. “By opening Cali in Raleigh, we want to celebrate the Colombian culture and introduce their flavors and contribute to the local economy, while meeting and growing the demand for diverse dining.”
Andi Valentino Investments — which also owns Lempira Restaurant, 500 Degrees Pizzeria, Morazan Restaurant and Santa Fe Mexican Restaurant (all in Charlotte) — is looking to open two other Cali locations in Raleigh, plus more in Charlotte, Alfaro said.
The company has also considered expanding to South Carolina.
Is Cali a traditional Colombian restaurant?
The restaurant’s design and atmosphere reflects its Colombian roots. Cali features yellow and blue, two colors in the Colombian flag, along with fuchsia pink. And while dining in, customers will hear salsa music, a popular genre in Colombia.
The restaurant will also have a map of the city of Cali along with a picture of a cat sculpture, a reference to the Parque El Gato De Tejada, a park in Cali that contains sculptures of cats created by different artists.
“It’s not your traditional Colombian restaurant,” Alfaro said. “We’re more modernized, and when you have a chance to stop by and visit us, you’ll be able to see that it’s very vibrant, and you will still have that cultural experience in the restaurant.”
Cali opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner
The menu focuses on classic Colombian cuisine.
▪ For breakfast, Alfaro recommends the Desayuno Mi Cali, a dish served with servings of rice and beans mixed with tomato and green onions, grilled steak or chicken, egg cooked with green onions and tomato, arepa (corn cake) topped with cheese, sweet plantains and avocado.
▪ Another highlight is the bandeja paisa, which comes with grilled steak, fried pork rind, sausage, rice, beans, arepa, sweet plantains, egg and avocado.
▪ Alfaro also suggests sobrebarriga en salsa criolla. This meal includes grilled flank steak in a Colombian Creole sauce, boiled potato and yuca fries, avocado, rice and beans.
▪ The restaurant will have a panadería (bakery), serving freshly baked breads and pastries including pan de bono — made of cassava starch, cheese and eggs — and pan de queso.
In addition to authentic dishes, Cali serves freshly made juices and coconut limeade made with lime juice, coconut and condensed milk.
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 4:18 PM with the headline "An all-day Colombian restaurant is opening soon in Raleigh. Take a sneak peek at the menu."
