Romero Cocina Artesanal

I first learned of Romero Cocina Artesanal through photos posted on Instagram, which is funny because this Mediterranean-style restaurant which opened last year, occupies a very visible location on Calle 10, a few blocks east of Parque Lleras.

I invited Viviana to join me for lunch. Despite not having made a reservation, I was still hoping we’d be able to get one of their outdoor tables, but as anticipated, they were all taken.

Instead, we took a small table between two windows overlooking Carrera 33.

The interior is spacious and well-lit thanks to exposed steel beams and immense floor to ceiling windows. Several mirrors adorn the walls, and an old bicycle hangs above the bar.

We began with two servings of fresh fruit juices. I ordered the Romero de Frutos Rujos for (5,000 pesos, $2.50), and Viviana ordered something equally tall and refreshing.

I was also happy to see four options from Bogota Beer Company on the menu (6,500 pesos, $3.25) in addition to Stella Artois, Peroni, Miller and Club Colombia.

The menu includes a small selection of tapas, as well as a few salads and casseroles, but the main focus is pizza.

Romero prides itself on using fresh, high quality ingredients in all their dishes. Priced between 17,900 to 24,900 pesos ($9 to $12.50), the thin crust pizzas were described in delicious detail.

The Fugazzeta features a white base, leeks, goat cheese and caramelized onions. Yum!

Prefer stronger flavors?

How about the Azul which has a tomato sauce base, goat cheese, honey, chopped almonds, blue cheese and poached pears?

Or the Serrana with tomato base, arugula, prosciutto and feta cheese bathed in olive oil?

I chose to keep it simple for my first meal, which is my same attitude I’ve taken at the gourmet burger restaurants that have cropped up in the last few years.

Romero’s margarita pizza is easily one of the best pizzas I’ve had in Medellin. The thin crust is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, chopped tomatoes and lots of fresh basil.

Taking into account value for your money and setting, I believe Romero is the #1 place to go for pizza in Medellin. I should probably go back and try a few more pizzas to establish consistency, but that’s how I feel at the moment.

And let us not forget the desserts.

Viviana and I shared a giant, piping hot chocolate chip cookie served in an iron skillet. A fresh scoop of vanilla ice cream was on the verge of melting as it was delivered to our table.

This, dear readers, is one decadent dessert (11,500 pesos, $5.75).

The better the meal, the more likely I am to finish it off with a cappuccino, and such was the experience at Romero.

As I sipped on my coffee, I noticed Pergamino written on the inside of the cup. It was a nice surprise to recognize the coffee they’re using at the restaurant.

It’s the attention to detail that I enjoyed most about Romero, from the plant-filled sign that greets you upon entry to the interior design and focus on artesanal ingredients and products.

And that massive chocolate chip cookie didn’t hurt either.