Mama Santa Parrillada: My Favorite Steakhouse in Sabaneta

Mama Santa Parrillada is a popular steakhouse with good steaks in Sabaneta, which is located in the southern part of the Medellín metro area. In the U.S., we’d call Mama Santa a steakhouse. But here in South America it’s known as a parilla, a restaurant where grilled meats are served.

Mama Santa is a comfortable place to take your significant other, family, friends or business associates.  On weekend evenings, the restaurant even hosts live entertainment consisting of local talent.  Mama Santa has a nice atmosphere with open air sides. TripAdvisor ranks Mama Santa as the second-best restaurant in Sabaneta.

Mama Santa was founded in 2000.  I first discovered Mama Santa several years ago at its previous location in Prados de Sabaneta.  This was before it moved around 2011 to its current location on Avenida Las Vegas.  The restaurant is located not very far from the Sabaneta metro station.

I hadn’t been to Mama Santa for a couple years. But I went the past week with a neighbor in Sabaneta. We decided to have lunch at the restaurant.  It was his first time to go and he was impressed and said the steak was excellent.

The Menu at Mama Santa

The restaurant has nine different appetizers to choose from including my favorites the meatballs (for 16,800 pesos) and the Argentinian sausage (for 12,800 pesos).  The nine different appetizers range in price from 4,800 to 48,400 pesos.

For main dishes, Mama Santa has a generous selection of meats, chicken as well as some fish.  Since its a steakhouse the specialty is the meats and it has a good selection.  It has three different Angus steak cuts including New York, ribeye and entrañitas that range in price from 42,000 to 52,000 pesos ($14.30 to $17.70).

In addition, the menu has over 10 additional beef cuts including filet mignon, baby beef, sirloin tip, and churrasco with prices ranging from 29,800 to 33,300 pesos ($10.14 to $11.34).  One of my favorites is the solomito al trapo, which is a sirloin tip marinated in wine, balsamic vinegar and seasonings.

There is also surf and turf (steak and shrimp) for 33,800 pesos. The menu includes ribs and two pork selections priced at 28,800 pesos each, a couple of grilled chicken options priced at 27,500 and 28,000 pesos and four fish options ranging in price from 28,800 to 31,800 pesos.  There is also a mix of pasta and meat for 24,800 pesos.  In addition, there are a couple salads on the menu.

All of the meals are served with a small side salad, choice of potatoes and an arepa.  After eating, if you still have room for dessert there are four on the menu – Bailey’s Cheesecake, Maracuya Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Creme Brulee for prices ranging from 6,500 to 7,200 pesos.

Furthermore Mama Santa offers a pretty broad selection of natural fruit juices, soft drinks, beers, cocktails, liquors and wines. In addition, whole and half bottles of rum, aguardiente and other liquors are also available for those who prefer to indulge.

How to Get There

Mama Santa is conveniently located about four blocks from the Sabaneta metro station.  And this is only about a five-minute walk. From the metro station walk east to Avenida Las Vegas and go right (south) and the restaurant will be on the left side of the street. The Sabaneta metro station is about a 10 minute ride on the metro from the El Poblado metro station.

A trip to eat at Mama Santa could be combined with a visit to popular Parque Sabaneta, since it’s not far from the restaurant. The main park in Sabaneta is less than a 10-minute walk from the restaurant.

The Bottom Line

I have eaten at Mama Santa several times over the past seven years and I recommend it. It’s my favorite steakhouse in Sabaneta. Everything I have eaten there has been good. I would even go so far to say in my opinion that some of the steaks at Mama Santa at times can rival some of the better steakhouses in the U.S.

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