Finding a quirky and relaxing restaurant with a secret (not anymore!) garden in the midst of an industrial precinct is like taking in a breath of fresh air. Not easily seen from Tarragindi Road due to its natural slope, Macondo Cafe is your reward for discovering one of Salisbury’s best-kept secrets.
Once you’ve enjoyed eating here, it’s almost like you wouldn’t like the rest of Brisbane to know a delightful dining place like this exists amidst automotive service centres, furniture shops and an equipment processing plant. You want the secret all to yourself but you wouldn’t be able to help tell everyone about this unexpected discovery, for plenty of reasons.
1. Authentic Colombian food
This establishment’s specialty is authentic Colombian food and it’s one of the hardest to find cuisines in Queensland. Prepared by a Colombian-born chef, the dishes are a feast for the eyes. The menu has hundreds of choices highlighting Colombia’s regional dishes.
For group diners, you can’t pass up on the Bandeja Paisa country tray. This is a generous meal filled with red beans or frijoles, rice, minced meat, crispy pork, plantain, chorizo, arepa corn bread and a nice slice of avocado.
Macondo Cafe also offers BBQed ribs (Costillas del Fuego), deep-fried pork ribs (Costillitas de Cerdo), classic Colombian street food (Salchipapas), chorizo plate (Picada Salchicha) and seafood plate (Picada del Mar). Its Friday nights are extra special because it is Tapas night.
2. Customised meals (and excellent service staff)
The meals may be customised based on your dietary requirements. Just make a request from the friendly and helpful Spanish-speaking service staff for the chef to prepare the food just the way you like it.
3. Relaxing ambiance
Macondo Cafe has such a peaceful, homely and laid back ambience. You’ll forget that you’re actually right in the middle of an industrial precinct since it’s quiet, breezy and so casual. Its tree-lined garden setting is perfect for chilling with friends whilst you enjoy your drinks of choice.
4. Substantial drink list
Speaking of drinks, this cafe has a long list of beverages to go with your food. Macondo Cafe has cervezas, cocktails, mocktails, non-alcoholic and fizzy drinks. It also serves authentic Colombian coffee. You must not leave without trying its highly recommended Dragon brew drip coffee with Tinto black or Perico milk.
5. Events and activities
Lastly, Macondo Cafe hosts activities and entertainment regularly. In fact, on the 22nd of Jan 2020, there will be a free kids’ event featuring The Mini Moshers at 10:30 a.m.
Macondo Cafe is open twice a week with the following store hours:
| Friday 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
It’s currently closed for the holiday and will resume operation on Friday, the 10th of Jan 2020.
Booking is essential as the place can be packed. You may phone +61-7-32556795 for reservations and other dining requests.
“This place is an absolute gem. A comfortable relaxing outdoor deck. Sensational food, it is wonderful to have such a fantastic cultural gastronomic experience. Lovely service. Great variety of drinks. Pet friendly as well. We will be back.”
~ Sam Camp, Google Review
“Lovely food and genuinely nice service. The owner and his wife are really lovely people who are very personal in their service and do everything they can to make you feel welcome and satisfied.”
~ Ana Agreda, Facebook
“New favourite place! A super cosy beer garden on the edge of the industrial estate and extremely yummy Colombian food, We tried a bunch of dishes, the arepas were fluffy, the fillings were tasy, the hogao tangy and they even had “jugo de lulo” (google it). Thanks so much, we’ll be back soon!”
~ Sepp, Zomato
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