FIVE STARS

Medellin’s food scene has escalated into a full-scale 4 to 5-star restaurants galore. There’s an immense variety of restaurants and foods which you can find without effort in the heart of the metropolitan area around Medellin. Although many restaurants in recent years have stepped away from traditional cuisines deciding to explore deeper the art that is fusion cuisines. Although the mainstream direction of restaurants has shifted from its roots, there are still many restaurants that bloom in the unforgiving business that is the gastronomic scene in the city of Eternal Spring. One restaurant that manages to offer both great food and great service at a reasonable cost is IL Castello, an Italian restaurant which it’s primary focus is authenticity and quality thanks to the chef and owner who descends from an Italian family, and follows the footsteps of his father and his passion for his native country.

The key priority in a restaurant is without a doubt the food, and IL Castello excels in this. First of all, the quality of the ingredients is always in pristine conditions meaning there is no room for error when it comes to the final dish. Furthermore, the sauces and the pasta themselves are handcrafted by the restaurant, and the pizza is made in a traditional “Forno Italiano” ensuring the client will be served a quality and delicious meal. Similarly, Podesta, an Italian restaurant that also tries to follow traditional cuisine, is able to compete with IL Castello when dealing with the food and dishes, but in no way can compare to the reasonable prices that IL Castello offers to their clients for an exceptionally well-executed dish, that will leave anyone extremely satisfied by both the taste and portions each dish has to offer.

Although offering a wide variety of food in a restaurant’s menu might appear as a good thing, it oftentimes ends up being a burden in the quality of the final dish. This is the case when it comes to Della Nonna, an Italian restaurant that offers a wide assortment of meals but sacrifices overall quality and taste in most of their dishes. IL Castello is another restaurant that offers an immense variety of dishes to start, all the way from traditional Italian starters, like “Steak Carpaccio” and “Burrata di Bufala”, to Mediterranean salads and creamy soups. When it comes to finally dine, you can choose from countless types of pasta which are all “homemade” to pair with tasty sauces that can range from standard “Napolitana” to tastier “Tres Quesos” or “Primavera”; or you can decide to order a delicious pizza by choosing an already created recipe or creating your own to be baked in a traditional Italian oven which was imported directly from Italy. When finally having to make the decision for the dessert, you must either choose the “Pecan Pie” or the “Volcan de Chocolate”, or if you’re feeling the two of them, you can order both.

One big flaw that IL Castello has had since they opened in the year 2000, is that the restaurant doesn’t attract young audiences or clients into heading in and dining compared to other, more casual Italian restaurants, like Olivia or Romero, which stand out with their loyal, young clientele. Although the ambience and decoration of IL Castello is outstanding, as it’s a modern take on Italian decoration that combines traditional red and white checkered tablecloths, with lightly colored modern wood and concrete; young adults and teens aren’t attracted or eager into going out to eat or hanging out with their friends at this restaurant. Still, it’s a great place to eat or celebrate with your family in either special occasions or when wanting to experience a delicious meal.

Although IL Castello doesn’t stand out in having young clientele, they still manage to attract more mature adults through their incredible service. Not only do the plates and dishes arrive at the table in a swift manner, but the attention that is provided by the waiters is exceptional. Waiters are extremely organized, as they have an in-house sommelier who handles drinks and wine-pairing, and a personal assistant that handles your check when you’re ready to leave, making the service as efficient as possible.

Even though IL Castello doesn’t attract a young clientele, they still manage to thrive with great success in the harsh environment that are restaurants in Medellin. IL Castello manages to rule the streets of Medellin with its exceptional food, service, and ambience all the while still keeping Italian tradition at it’s finest.