El Sombrero Bakery - Gastonia

If you are in the mood for some good, decently priced Colombian food, then look no further. A great way to start is by ordering from their great selection of Colombian breads. I know it may sound strange to order bread before a meal, but think of it like the bread you get at Italian restaurants. It 's a nice way to keep the hunger at bay while the main dish gets prepared. For bread, I recommend 'pan de bono ' or 'roscas. ' They go really well with a hot cup of coffee. As for the main dish, if you are really hungry, would like to have a variety of tastes on one plate and are in a party of 2 or more then one of the best options is 'La Picada. ' It is an assortment of meats that comes with yuca and plantains. It 's great to eat as a group, it 's tasty and very filling. Keep in mind that the medium is actually quite large, so only order that if you are in a bigger group.

I decided to try El Sombrero since they were open at 10:30am for an early lunch. The first thing you see when you walk in are the display cases of enticing, beautiful Colombian/Latin pastries of all shapes, sizes, and flavors (yes even savory! . My waitress was very kind and was quick to bring my bottled drink and to take my order. I ordered Pollo de milanesa con papas, arroz y frijoles, y maduros con queso. The food came out quick and was hot, delicious, and seasoned to perfection. The chicken was crispy and flavored well, the rice was soft, the beans were hot and delicious- even the side salad was good! The maduros stole the show, with the savory queso helping balance the sweetness of the plantain. I took some of my meal home for later and enjoyed it again! Look forward to trying again soon!

Great empanadas, arepas were really good with my eggs. And the sweet empanada was like pan de Bono but in the shape of an empanada with a marmalada and cream cheese. Will be back.

I've had Colombian food from multiple locations in NC and this has to be my favorite so far. Great dishes and variety to choose from. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options are available and all are fantastic.

I've done take out quite a bit here, still very good. very happy will all the staff here, feels like I'm talking to my family, very personable. If you haven't tried a Colombiana, it's a Colombia Soda pop, I recommend picking a can up, it's my favorite soft drink and I don't really drink soda pop but with an empanada I do.