This review is long overdue.. partly because I wanted to keep this place a hidden gem (just kidding ). It remains one of my all-time favorite Dominican restaurants and never disappoints. Starting with the location, the restaurant is in a small plaza, so there's usually plenty of parking available, which is always a plus. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by the staff, and the interior instantly makes you feel like you're on a tropical vacation. I haven't been to the DR yet, but the vibes are definitely there. My go-to drink is the Morir Soñando--highly recommend it but it's sweet by nature so be careful. Over multiple visits, I've tried a variety of drinks, appetizers, and entrées, and everything has been consistently great. The tostones and empanadas always come out warm and fresh never dry, just perfect. The beef and chicken empanadas are my favorites; both are so flavorful. My boyfriend and I also love the mangú, and the fried cheese is SO good. Honestly, everything on that plate hits. Overall, the food is amazing, the staff is polite and reasonably quick, and I've never had a bad experience here. I seriously can't wait until the next time I'm in town to visit again. read more

Caffee Colao - Top left is Mangu plate, next to it is tostones. Bottom center is Sancocho. - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I love the authentic Dominican food they serve. It is excellent. I have even ordered catering for Christmas Eve from this restaurant. I highly recommend eating here. read more

Authentic South American cuisine, DELICIOUS! Gracious friendly service, authentic Dominican food & ambience. The SANCOCHO is to die for delicious and prices are very reasonable! Show this place some love they are doing an amazing job! read more

An unforgettable Caribbean culinary experience! From the moment we walked into Cafe Colao Restaurant, we were welcomed like family. The atmosphere radiates warmth, joy, and that island charm that instantly puts you at ease. The food? Absolutely phenomenal -- each bite was like a trip back home to Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic . The flavors were bold, authentic, and soul-satisfying. A special thank you to our wonderful waitress Yaima, whose heart and hospitality elevated our entire experience. She didn't just serve us -- she nurtured us, offering a level of care and attentiveness that made us feel truly valued. If you're looking for a place that delivers passion on a plate and service from the heart, Cafe Colao is it. ¡Mil gracias por todo! ¡Una experiencia culinaria caribeña inolvidable! Desde el momento en que entramos al restaurante Café Colao, nos recibieron como en familia. El ambiente irradia calidez, alegría y ese encanto isleño que te hace sentir a gusto al instante. ¿La comida? Absolutamente fenomenal: cada bocado era como un viaje de regreso a Puerto Rico o a la República Dominicana . Los sabores eran audaces, auténticos y reconfortantes. Un agradecimiento especial a nuestra maravillosa camarera Yaima, cuyo corazón y hospitalidad realzaron toda nuestra experiencia. No solo nos atendió, sino que nos cuidó, ofreciéndonos un nivel de cuidado y atención que nos hizo sentir verdaderamente valorados. Si buscas un lugar que ofrezca pasión en cada plato y un servicio con el corazón, Café Colao es el lugar indicado. ¡Mil gracias por todo! read more

Caffee Colao is still A1. I have yet to make it in person, however delivery has no failed me yet! Great portions, delicious food, every time . read more

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The best Dominican food in richmond hands down! Restaurant is very clean with great customer service I've been here way to many times so happy they opened read more

I discovered this gem via DoorDash. I ordered the pernil and mofongo. The menu was a little confusing bc I thought that I was able to pick my sides. That's the only reason this isn't a 5 star instead of the 4. I would definitely order again now that I have a better understanding of the menu. Everything was flavored well. I especially appreciate the heavy garlic in the mofongo. I would encourage even more garlic (but that's bc I loveeeee garlic) Check them out. read more

Caffee Colao - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The people are amazing there in the food is fantastic it is actually one of my favorite restaurants in Richmond.

I had the goat meat stew with rice and beans. A side of fried plantains. I loved it!!! Meat was very tender and serving was good enough. When I get to be around that area will not hesitate to go back to this place read more

There are a lot of good authentic Hispanic restaurants in this area, but this is the first Dominican restaurant. I was intrigued. I love the DR and wanted to see what they offer. If you've been to the DR, it's what you'd expect: meat with rice and beans or salad. There are also french fries, fried plantains, potato salad, spaghetti, salami, friend cheese, shrimp salad, and mixed vegetables as side options. I didn't see any desserts, but they do have a kids' menu and breakfast! The breakfast options are pancakes, bacon, sausage, ham, bagels with cream cheese; yuca, salami and cheese; guinea with salami and cheese; mangu with cheese salami, and eggs. Gotta try that sometime. So, I had the stewed beef, vegetables and salad. The stewed beef was very tender and nicely seasoned. The salad didn't have all that heavy, gooey dressing. It was light and just right. The mixed vegetables were also well seasoned, but I like them crunchy not soft, so they were a bit too soft for me. Definitely a nice treat and change of pace. The portions are healthy so come hungry. I will be back. read more

Caffee Colao - stewed beef - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Food is truly flavored with Dominican spices. The service was quick. The server was nice and food came out quickly. A lot of seating inside, there is a bar and Latino music playing the background. Lots of parking spaces. I would come back again. read more

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Great atmosphere in this little neighborhood Dominican restaurant! Pretty lights, aesthetic branches separating the two side of the place for an intimate feel, light festive music in the background...first impression get a star! I had high hopes for my visit! Sadly, it was all downhill from there. The server came and was rather scattered... it took several trips back and forth to the kitchen to order iced tea, in the end, she said they only have Snapple. So agua, it is. Took another 10 minutes for water delivery. I ordered the meal they had advertised on the window and on a big banner out front... a roast chicken dish! It look delicious. After quite a wait, I was served, not the dish I ordered, but thin slices of grilled chicken , rather than the thigh/leg combo on the poster. Guess what? I didn't complain, but told the server I'd try this entrée instead. Typically, I'd send it back, but I waited awhile and didn't want to linger there longer. The meal was okay! After a couple weeks I went back with my sis and daughter. I told them about the chicken dish I wanted to try from the picture in the window! A different server came and she, like the other server wasn't on her game. We ordered waters. My sis asked for a margarita... after literally 10 minutes, she came back with a pink drink!! I took a photo. We had to explain what a margarita was and she went back and 3 people were consulting at the bar trying to figure it how to make the drink. They just remixed the pink concoction and served it again! We were flummoxed! Okay... so we finally ordered and again I asked for the advertised special! The roast chicken with rice, beans and plantains and a side of tostones. My sis ordered a side of Papas fritas as well. Another long wait... tick tock, tick tock... The server finally came back and said they didn't have that dish. Then the manager came over and said they only make that on the weekend. What?? Then don't have banners and posters of the dish out front and in the windows! We told him so, but politely. He suggested the fried chicken. Trying not to be picky, we half-heartedly acquiesced. We were hungry, we had already waited, so ok. The waitress came back with the tray of food, and put the waitress's serving tray on the tables along with the plates. Weird. She set down a meal that looked like it was fit for an animal. What looked to be leftover scraps of a chicken or some other creature, maybe the neck? or bony pieces of who knows what body part? There was not a single identifiable piece of chicken on the plate... not a leg, thigh, wing or breast. Just a pile of sick looking morsels of dried up chicken fragments. As my Yelp friend John G. said "What the pluck?" The sides looked fine... but we let the server know, as pleasantly as possible, that this wouldn't do. She brought the manager over again. Now keep in mind we were literally the ONLY people in the restaurant and we had already had several issues... we never even got the fries... our disappointment was mounting. The manager said that that's how the make fried chicken in the DR. He made a bunch of excuses about staff, having to throw away so much food out at the end of the day, the bartender was off, etc. I told him I'd try to come 3 times for the special advertised, and I wouldn't try again. The menu should be consistent and available or take the meal off the menu. We got up to leave to go somewhere else, and tried to pay for just the lame drink, but he waved us off and said not to worry about it. Ya think?? All of my attempts to try this restaurant and give them my hard earned money fell flat. It truly has potential, but the service, management, and poorly executed food left me deflated and befuddled. Without a doubt, I will not give them another chance. Put a fork in me, I'm done! read more

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The service was great, came here for my father's birthday. Regularly order takeout from this place now and it's always amazing and filling! Very authentic place!! I recommend all of my friends to come here and try it out! read more

Caffee Colao - I believe this is Carne de Res Guisada or Pollo Guisado, don't remember - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Nice little place. The service was very good. Pork was a little dry but I loved the beans and rice. I'll go back and try something else next time. read more

I've been going around Richmond trying to get a good authentic Dominican restaurant and I've found it!!!!! By far the best one in the Richmond area. The food and the staff are excellent!!!! If you are considering getting quality Dominican food don't hesitate twice and visit this place, you won't regret it! read more

Caffee Colao - Mangu, fried cheese, salami and fried egg - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Good food. Service was good too. Felt like authentic Dominican food. Complete with tostones and fried cheese. Try it out. And almost every plate comes with rice and beans. read more

I really wanted to love this place. Dominican food is one of my favorite ethnic food's if prepared correctly (like every culture everyone shouldn't be cooking). I never go into new restaurants with high expectations so that I'm not too disappointed. First of all I'd like to mention to the owners, that it was hot as Hade's in the restaurant which probably contributed to my rapidly dissolved appetite. I met with friends for the first time at Caffe and we were hungry. Two of us ordered the same dish Arroz con gandules ( rice with peas and stewed beef also plantains with garlic shrimp) y carne de res guisada, y un mofongo de camarón. My friend enjoyed her meal, but I thought it was kinda lack luster. The food was not hot and it was bland. I kept having to add spices in order for it to be palatable. The waitress and staff were friendly and cordial. The poor girl did her very best to accommodate us. The chef even entertained us for a bit but it didn't help the meal. Did I mention how HOT it was in the dining room. They told us it was as the result of the weltering heat outside, but that's no excuse! Fix your AC. I really like the concept and I hope they revisit their recipes and revise them to be more authentically Dominican. read more

Caffee Colao - Mofongo de Camarones - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Did I need all this food? No....but thats not the point. It was delicious. First time eating Dominican food and I loved it. Will be back! read more

Caffee Colao - Dominican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Good little Dominican spot to eat. We had a burger and Cuban sandwich with a papaya smoothie and cafe con leche! read more

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Such good coffee, even at 6:30 pm. I like a place that takes coffee serious. And the Flan, made in house is rich and creamy...so rich I had to take some home. The main meal was chicken in stew, which when I asked how it's made, she said "so it's like, chicken...in stew". Its really like mildly spiced dark meat served on the bone with rice and beans and a small salad of shredded lettuce with tasty dressing. I, like, ate it all. The place is roomy and clean with screens inexplicably playing, like Japanese action movies (or maybe Korean?) while Spanish music rocked overhead. read more

Really good food and staff very nice we had wanted to try this new establishment for a while .. We had the Cuban sandwich and rotisserie chicken plates . The food beat all expectations!!! Go support our Hispanic neighbors. Enjoy this Wonderful new restaurant with a nice diverse menu! read more

The service was great and the location was cute and clean. We ordered pastelitos, mangu, and Cuban sandwich. The pastelitos were too dry and rancid taste. The mangu was too greasy. The only thing that tasted decent was the Cuban sandwich. Wouldn't recommend! read more

We went to this restaurant for the first time and were very disappointed. The portions are meager and tasteless. Just bland. I am Hispanic and the only thing authentic about this place is the music. I had chicarron de pollo, it's the DR way of frying chicken. I have this in the past many times, but hadn't in a while so I was so looking forward to it. When the waitress brought it to the table I was like WTH? It looked like they took a bunch of bones chopped them up and fried them. Dried up bones, no taste and just yuck. The mofongo was ok it lacked taste and was so dry. It needed lots of olive oil and garlic. The side mojito did not help it at all. The staff was not the friendliest. Customer walks in to the empty place and all you get is a look, not hello welcome, and a smile. It's as if they are doing you a favor. We had others with us, and the consensus was pretty much the same about their meals.. meh oh, and they will charge you a fee for using your credit card! I have never had any restaurant do this. I guess inflation is really bad?? The waitress said that tips had to be given in cash, which, I had none of! Not a good experience at all. We will not go there again. This is NOT authentic DR food. Get a better cook y'all. One star just for the music. read more

The food here was amazing! My table ordered the oxtails, mofongo, 80 oz steak, steak and onions plate, dominican salami, fried cheese, and tostones. The restaurant was cozy, with lots of seating available, and quick service. All of it was delicious and got the stamp of approval from my bfs family that are from DR. The sauce the oxtails is in was fabulous and we all used it to dip our tostones in. The side of tostones was larger than expected around 10-15 tostones total. The chicken plate was delicious, came with two chicken breasts seasoned and not dry at all. The Dominican salami was super crispy and flavorful. Definitely recommend trying this place out!! read more

Love this place food great!! No matter what you order it's all great nice and friendly staff and take out is super fast

My boyfriend and I went here for brunch on Sunday and we loved it! Not only delicious food, but excellent service and friendly staff; highly recommend the Cuban sandwich- one of the best sandwiches we've ever had!!! read more

We were traveling back home from ny and stop to eat at this place glad we did my experience was pleasant the food mind blowing. Recomendaoooo!! read more

This is the most authentic Spanish food in RVA. Definitely made me feel at home. Always pleasant service and Delicious food.

Sat night . No appetizers except for a cheese patelito that's has been sitting in the hot box . Really wanted a beef and chicken one . Tasted like rubber . Returned , never offered to make a new one, just said sorry . Pork chops were so dry , never got our rice until we finish (tried to finish ) our meal . Tostones were not fresh . Tasted rubbery like they were sitting out and just warmed in microwave . Sat night and no appetizers ? Really ?? So bummed . read more