“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Those are some wise words, and they ring especially true for El Carajo, a stellar dining location hidden inside an unassuming gas station.
El Carajo has been around for about a decade now. We had heard many good things about the place, particularly about the wine. The libation list is extensive, and with the help of wine guru/sales manager Carlos Fonseca, you’ll be able to navigate it handily. Prepare to discover some new favorites thanks to this master sommelier.
We hadn’t heard much about the place’s food, though. The restaurant/wine cellar recently launched brunch, and we were invited to come check out the new offerings. Given the place’s gas-station exterior, how good could the food be?
Our answer: Ridiculously good.
The brunch menu, available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, features a diverse, delicious mix of Spanish plates. One of the first things you’ll notice is the price point – it’s surprising to see quality brunch plates in the single-digit-dollar range as well as the low double digits.
And the items are sizeable – even the tapas are generously portioned. For $8, we received five torrejas. And not just any ol’ torrejas: five incredibly crunchy, sweet and awesome torrejas.
What surprised us even more than the size of these plates was how flavorful they were. The simplest of dishes – fresh fruit – packed a tasty punch. We dare you to find fresher fruit.
Our favorite savory dishes were the huevos estrellados and the bacon wrapped stuffed dates. The former – runny eggs atop crispy brunch potatoes and grilled chorizo — made for a delectable, zesty combination of textures and tastes. And the latter, with its smoked bacon and chorizo, made our eyes roll back into our heads.
The tapas are more than enough to fill you up, especially if you order two or more. Are you really hungry? We suggest you take a look at the Fuertes section, which features some larger plates that can satisfy your hunger (and that of a small country). The standouts here: Arroz Temprano and El Frances. The Valencia rice dish reminded us of fried rice with a Spanish twist; chorizo, peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggs and olive oil are mixed in with the rice to create a hearty, robust family meal.
The El Frances is something akin to your usual brunch fare. Expect a big helping of egg, potato and meat with a crepe thrown in for good measure. We can’t praise El Carajo’s brunch potatoes enough – you had to pry the fork out of our hands to keep us from eating ourselves silly. We’d be happy to see them in every dish (thankfully, we’re not chefs).
On the beverage side, you have your endless mimosas, bellinis and A TON OF WINE. You could seriously spend a whole day here and not get bored.
We regret not visiting sooner. We had thought that no good could come of a place located in the back of a gas station off US 1 and 17th Avenue. Oh, how wrong we were – there’s a lot of good things going on here. And if this new brunch is any indication, El Cajaro is just getting started.
El Carajo International Tapas & Wines is located at 2465 SW 17th Ave inside the BP gas station. For hours of operation and other information, visit their official website or call 305-856-2424.
I LOVE this place, so glad you reviewed it!
Have you tried La Tasca De Espana? It’s in this tiny strip mall and doesn’t look like much, but the tapas blew me away.