My second Taste of Hartford visit took my companion and me to La Fonda Cocina Colombiana,
which is located on Franklin Avenue
and will have been open thirteen years this coming May. Immediately inside the restaurant we found an intriguing mural which created the illusion that we were strolling down a cobblestone street.
A close-up of the mural shows that canine visitors should under no circumstances be permitted in this restaurant (which, of course, they’re not).
As we proceeded further inside, we found this traditional decorative piece
and some handcrafted jewelry for sale in a glass showcase.
We also enjoyed these brightly colored mask-like creations.
We came on the very late end of the evening, which allowed me to take photographs without feeling like I was firing off my flash in everyone’s face. Here you see a portion of the main dining room,
and here different parts of the bar area,
where karaoke is held on Thursdays at nine p.m. and salsa dancing on Fridays at 10 p.m.
I have gone on record as saying that I think restaurants participating in the Taste of Hartford make a mistake if they don’t offer multiple choices to customers for each course. The Taste of Hartford public is adventurous and wants to try as many different foods as possible. Plus it makes it hard for RestaurantsCT.com to give coverage to a restaurant if there are only three different dishes I can photograph or comment upon.
But if a restaurant offers a set menu with no choice, then it is best that it adopts a sampler strategy like the Taste of Colombia offered by La Fonda. Anyone unfamiliar with Colombian food would come away with a much better understanding of the cuisine after trying all of the different treats included in this sampler. And with so many different foods for just $20.10, it was a terrific value. Just make sure to bring your appetite!
So each visitor to La Fonda received an appetizer course that included both tostones (compressed and fried green plantain) served with a piquant Creole sauce
and beef and chicken empanadas.
For his or her main course, each visitor received the following generous platter,
which included grilled chicken breast with a coconut and pineapple sauce,
crunchy, greaseless and sparklingly fresh tilapia fillet,
and best of all, beautifully marinated and grilled top sirloin.
Not to mention the traditional rice
and beans.
La Fonda’s dessert sampler also included three distinct desserts, although two were combined in the same bowl. One bowl contained a dressed-up rice pudding,
the other bowl both flan (right side of the photo) and figs with cheese (left side).
All in all, the Taste of Colombia provided great fun and great value. I conclude with a photograph of La Fonda’s affable and knowledgeable manager, Tony.
La Fonda Cocina Colombiana, 269 Franklin Avenue, Hartford, 860-296-8256