There is a friendly attitude, a calming dynamic, and a local kind of feel i always get here. The basis of their menu is Colombian (as in Cali) but there are some other central american and latino dishes, primarily because people ask for them frequently. The smell and sight of bunches of moist and aromatic chickens turning on their rotisserie spits would make an anorexic hungry!. Try the Pollo Asado - it is delicious and inexpensive and they do a great platter. The Parillada is awesome. The fancier restaurant part to the right is nice, but i love the original bistro. Their food is hands down superior to any latino bodega in Tampa. Bandeja Paisa - superb. I find the service good and the value great. Give them a try for breakfast with great chorizo and breads. read more

I only feel it is appropriate to add a review on here since I have been ordering food from Cali Viejo for the past 9 years. This family-owned restaurant has been catering food to different medical offices for me for the past 9 years. This authentic food is so amazing I will have them deliver all the way to Pasco county for me. The fried yucca & empanadas are my favorites. Make sure you add the chimichurri sauce and the hot sauce...homemade and excellent to add to any dish. I would recommend this place to anyone craving excellent Columbian food. read more

Passed this place many times, stopped in for lunch. It was delivious and an awesome menu to choose from. Who doesn't like fried pork belly? The people were really nice and friendly. We are going back for dinner soon. Good cappacino too. read more

Very good food and great service a lot to pick from but worth going everything is made from scratch they even have some bakery items and home made bread available pick up and carry out A most stop place read more

This restaurant has been open for a while and has expanded and looks fabulous regarding decor, but the food has totally changed. Not sure what happened with the cooks since the food used to be good but the last two times I've been the food has been awful! Undercooked, without flavor, and took forever for everything and when we got our food was lukewarm, so disappointing. I will not return or recommend for dining. I thought it was just a bad day the first time but the second time was a complete bust! read more

OK, I have read some of the reviews, and I think the issue is trying a few of the typical Colombian dishes rather than the Mexican counterparts. Try ordering the Bandeja Paisa. It is a typical dish with all sorts of meats, served with red beans and plantains. Or if you have several people in your party, you may want to order a parillada with grilled meats served with four plates so you may pick at whatever you like: steak, chicken, salami, etc....But the best kept secret at this place is the garlic sauce. Order it with ANYTHING and it will make EVERYTHING taste better. I order fries just to eat it with the garlic sauce...phenomenal. The waitresses are very friendly and we enjoy the atmosphere. read more

Great traditional Colombian food and perfect price. The empanadas are my favorite and they also make great fruit smoothies,. Friendly staff and service and live music. read more

Love this place! Best palomilla steak, fried yuca and chimichurri sauce. I come here whenever I'm in Brandon. Great portions too.

The two occasions I have been here were most enjoyable. I'm hoping it stays that way. Yummy food and great sangria. Will be coming back soon. read more

I have eaten here many times. Great prices on breakfast, but today my son and I stood waiting to be seated for 5 minutes and although eye contact was made no one even acknowledged us so we went somewhere else. read more

My 2 year old twins were fighting to get more chicken, and ate half of my steak, too! For our family, that's a hit! They also didn't seem to mind the occasional high-pitched toddler scream or the dancing on the benches. We liked the food, too, and the service was great; friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back. Reasonably priced read more

This place is bomb! I'd much rather have this food than eat at some fancy restaurant. We come here ALL the time!!

One of my all time favorite spots. Food is phenomenal, staff is courteous and the live music on weekends creates a homey atmosphere.

Took myself and kids out to eat today 10/24/19. Food came out super fast but the overall service of my waitress was HORRIBLE!!!! I don't know if they had an off day or what but not once did my server come to my table to ask if we needed anything. I had to get another person to bring me a tray and the receipt. Got the receipt and they tried to charge me $5.98 in tax. I went to the register handed a girl with short black hair my receipt and debit card and INSTEAD OF HANDING ME THE CARD BACK IN MY HAND SHE SETS IT ON THE COUNTER. I asked her so you guys charge $5.98 in taxes and she said I have to check. They tried to overcharge me. Bill was supposed to be $30.03 and they tried to charge me $33.03. This was literally my favorite place for a chimichanga but I'll probably never come back here again read more

Not only is the food excellent, but the staff is prompt and friendly. Great place to make a regular destination!

The food is awesome but make sure you dine in. I've been eating here for more than a year and I often order to go when I'm on my way home from work. The problem with ordering food to go is that they tell you that the food will be ready in 20minutes. I arrive and maybe a few minutes late but I still have to sit a minimum of another 20-30 minutes longer. I honestly don't think they even start your order until you're in the restaurant. Great place to eat but a horrible place to get a to go order. read more

Best Colombian food in the Brandon/Tampa area. I drive from land o lakes to this place because it's the absolute best. The sangria is to die for and they have a 2 for 1 special. Service is great and make you feel very welcomed no matter where you come from! Prices are amazing and they have a bakery next door! read more

LOL on reading the other reviews!! Ok this is NOT Mexican, or Cuban food. And if you are not a fan of true Latin dish - go to Taco Bell. The "to go" section is a panaderia with fresh and authentic breads and deserts (as well as the food to go), typical in Colombian restaurants. The dishes, drinks (batidas/milkshakes and grown-up drinks) are good. I think a bit on the pricey side too, but always consistent with good food, nice portion sizes and nice staff. The review on the dirty dining concerns me but I have to look at the link ... I haven't died yet and am not worried too greatly about a fire extinguisher missing. ps. Yes get the ahi (hot sauce) on some of the meats and sandwitches read more

I am a very picky person when it comes to customer service and food. My background is, I was born and raised in Colombia. I grew up in NY and NJ. I have been to so many Colombian restaurants and this is by far one of the best. Great servers..always on top of things. Will be coming back soon...the food is delicious. read more

the meat empanadas & passion fruit smoothies are fantastic! Be sure to get the spicy sauce with the empanadas.

My family and I love the food and the staff. From the moment I walk in, I feel as though I've walked into the house of distant relatives, who I haven't seen in years. The cost for a family of five to eat is more than you would expect to pay, but it's the only game in town. Worth a visit. read more

Great food, especially breakfast and lunch. My favorite is Pechuga De Pollo A La Plancha-chicken sandwich with tostones instead if a bun. I would rate 5 stars, but service is hit or miss and they DO NOT like to give condiments. It's very strange, when you ask for chimichurra, they cringe. It is very good, but you think that it's made of gold instead of garlic. They even made us pay for it, with a family chicken meal! PS...I got my sandwich today, and asked for a small chimichurra with it. Of course, when I got home, there wasn't any in the box, just the garlic sauce that they must not covet. read more

Absolutely delicious and authentic food! I was here for dessert before and this was my first full meal. Service was excellent, portions are generous and very economic. The food is savory and authentic, with quite a variety on the menu to choose from. The maracuya in water is fantastic but I saw after I ordered that they also have Lulo, which I tried and absolutely loved in Colombia!! Already looking forward to my next visit. read more

Nice welcoming friendly service this is the opposite kind of stuck up service I received from Bella's and Timpanos. The food is homemade and reasonably priced, unlike the latter. The battered fish dinner with a choice of 2 sides ($8.95). A similar type of dinner plate at Bella's or Timpanos without sides $25. read more

Cali Viejo Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Brandon, Florida

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After an awesome day at the beach, we decided to stuff our faces here. Our Tampa friends really like this place and have been wanting to take us here for a while. The place was fairly empty and they sat us right away. I started with a passion fruit frozen "batido" that was delicious! We also ordered a plate of appetizers that included empanadas, morcilla and something else I can't remember. The empanadas were delicious! We decided to order one Parrillada Cali Viejo for the 4 of us. This was HUMONGOUS. We ate so much and still had leftovers for 4 people so it was a great deal. The parrillada comes with chorizo, grilled skirt steak, morcilla, spare ribs, chicken breast, yellow rice, potatoes, and friend green plantains. Oh, did I forget to mention the side salad? Everything was super delicious but my favorite meat were the spare ribs. We also tried the sangria; it was good but nothing to rave about. read more

Bandeja Paisa was a really great sampler platter. I'm craving more of the plantains and pork rinds:) The empanadas were also the best I've ever had. read more

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Brandon. I have not had anything here that I don't like. I also have been with over 20 different people and have not heard one complaint from anyone. The staff is very friendly and the food is wonderful. It can take a bit to get your food sometimes, but it is well worth the wait. read more

This place was really good. The service felt like you were in a fine dining restaurant. My bf and I split the paella and still had enough to take home! Oh and try the sangria! It's great! read more

After many drive by's and looking on the net for a nice place to eat Latin food, we finally decided to stop at Cali Viejo, this was certainly a great experience , the food was excellent , the staff was most attentive and friendly, a smile goes a long way at first...., the fajitas where great and the flour tortillas were also not bad for Colombian restaurant ;) .... the chicken cutlet was delicious with red bean and rice, and a side of fried yuca. Overall this restaurant has the originality and authenticity of Colombian food with an added Latin , Mexican, Cuban that are also worth mentioning, I'm looking forward to coming back soon and trying some other menu favorites. Vandeja paisa! read more

Went for lunch with my family who is v isiting from NYC. Food was great. Service was a little off. Waitress was friendly but seemed lost at times. read more

The food here is very good. You have to try the breaded pork loin dinner. It was very tender and very good! We have been here several times before but this was my best meal yet here!!! The service is so-so...they don't move at the fastest pace to seat or serve you but the food is good enough to overlook! read more

CV catered an event I attended at The Barn at Winthrop and the food was tasty! I had never had their food before and this was an excellent introduction. They had bread, empanadas, shrimp, salads, meat and more! The servers were nicely dressed and helpful. I can't wait to visit the actual restaurant. read more

My favorite Hispanic restaurant in town. Great service delicious food with large portions and yummy pan de bono!

I love places like this. Privately owned restaurant it takes pride in their food. I only stopped in for a cup of soup but it was excellent the people were friendly in the atmosphere was what you would expect from a small family owned restaurant nice clean cool place. read more

What an authentic treat! We stopped in after driving by and despite the the outside appearance being a bit dated, as soon as you step inside the delicious aroma told us that we found a dining delight. The inside is very clean and well maintained, and the decor is nice - the paintings are quite interesting. Featuring classic, home cooked fare of Columbia and other Latin American cuisine, Cali Vijeo serves huge portions at reasonable prices. While perusing the extensive menu, we enjoyed the delicious house sangria - a bargain at two small glasses for $7.95. We settled on the house special mixed grill and were rewarded with more than enough food for both of us at just $18.95. Finishing off with the flan was the perfect end to an excellent meal. The comments about the slow service are fair, but everyone was very friendly and the food was well worth the time. read more

Got here looking for a good "Bandeja Paisa" & found it. Excellent taste, good portion & great presentation. You also have to try the lemonade with real lemon juice. Service was excellent by Katherine. Highly recommended this place. read more

Absolutely great experience. Waitress was very friendly, bilingual. Food was out quickly and as expected. Enjoyed the beer options, and the atmosphere was straight out of your neighborhood Colombian restaurant. Nothing pretentious about this spot, just good parilla-type food. Sides were as expected, beans, rice, fried plantains. Looking forward to my next visit and trying some of the other things on the menu. read more

There are several dishes here i think they do really well and others no much. I do agree with a previous reviewer that the pastries and latin soda selection are fantastic. Service is a little inconsistent depending on who is working and how busy they are, but for the most part if you know you like Columbian food its worth going. read more

Very clean nice service and good food great prices and I would say a great home style Cuban food

Excellent food. We were visiting Fl and wanted some rice and beans. I really enjoyed my food. Loved the live music. Will go again .