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| - I've been to all the Colombian places in Charlotte and Gil's is hands down the best for food. It is tucked in an unsuspecting strip mall, but well worth the find.
Having been there twice, both times the food have been fantastic. It's not fine dining, but it is well done home cooking. The first time I had a Bandeja Paisa, pretty much the pad thai of the Colombian Paisa region. All the Charlotte Colombian restaurants serve Bandeja, but Gil's does it the best. The chicharrons are crisp, the beans are flavorful, the steak is tender, and the egg has a runny center. Everything is well seasoned and prepared with care.
The owner mentioned that on Saturdays their special is oxtail soup. Not the most usual finding, but compared to any bowl of Pho, this sounded like a great alternative. I went back the following Saturday and can only say how fantastic the soup tasted. Everything was prepared well. The oxtail was tender, the yuca and carrots were soft but not over-cooked, and the corn cob was buttery and aromatic. The broth was rich, which tasted like it took hours to make, and the hearty soup made for a meal.
I also got the picada to see how it was prepared and it did not disappoint. Crisp chicharron bits, tasty sausages, flavorful starches (yuca and pearl potatoes), and home made arepa pieces.
Having tried the food on a two week vacation across Colombia, Gil's has been the closest thing to revisiting Colombia! Highly recommended.
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