Uchuva Lounge: Five Star Dining in Santa Elena

Editor’s Note: As of 2014, the Uchuva Lounge is no longer operating regular business hours. Meals are still possible there, but it’s reservation only for groups of 6 or more. 

When I leave Medellin for the pueblos, I’ve learned to leave my expectations about high quality food behind as well. But, a long lunch at Uchuva Lounge in Santa Elena has proved me wrong.

The restaurant and lounge are a family affair. Silvia, a Colombian, owns the business, and two of her daughters work as chefs, putting out dishes on par with Medellin’s top restaurants.

The Uchuva Lounge’s exterior has the appearance of a traditional Colombian finca, or country home, but that’s where the similarity with other regional restaurants ends.

The first hint of a different experience is the sign hanging on one of the white columns outside the entrance. It declares you will not find sancocho, or other typical Colombia meals here.

Inside, the decor is modern, with local art hanging along the walls. I don’t know if they ever use it, but the central fireplace was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

A few stools line a counter, which looks out over  the rolling green hills of Santa Elena.

The Uchuva Lounge features a quality Wi-Fi connection, which ensures those who visit with a smartphone or laptop can get some work done if they choose.

It’s not the interior that wowed me, but rather the outdoor porch which features a half-dozen tables.

The settings are simple, yet elegant, and the chance to dine in such a tranquil environment makes the journey from Medellin worthwhile.

In fact, I immediately felt as though the Uchuva Lounge would make the perfect setting for a long, relaxing Sunday brunch.

Upon sitting down and meeting Silvia, I was excited to learn we’d be enjoying a tasting menu.

For those not familiar, a tasting menu consists of multiple courses (often anywhere from 3 to 12). This allows the diner to sample a wide variety of dishes in one sitting.

To begin, Silvia poured us uchuva cocktails, which was fitting given the restaurant takes its name from this little orange fruit.

Later, I would ask one of her daughters why they chose to celebrate the uchuva, of all fruits. She gave several reasons, including the fact that it’s grown locally, and is versatile to cook with.

The first course was a half shot of tomato soup with ginger, served alongside a crostini topped with green herbs and a layer of shredded cheese.

The second course was a real surprise, and a first for me.

Mushroom ceviche.

On their own, I don’t normally eat a lot of mushrooms, nor am I a big ceviche fan, but this combination worked well.

Mushrooms are one of the many vegetables grown locally in Santa Elena.

We had an option for the third course, either salmon or risotto.

I opted for the risotto (below), but also managed to grab a bite of the salmon, which was perfectly cooked, and presented in an herb cream sauce, with rice and mixed vegetables.

Risotto is not a light dish to order, so it was yet another surprise to be presented with not just one type, but a sample of three different risottos.

The classic mushroom risotto was good, but I liked the green risotto, which featured a variety of herbs, more.

The third type was a seafood risotto, which included some healthy chunks of octopus, and a piece of crispy fried fish skin as a garnish.

The fourth course was my favorite, both in terms of flavors, and presentation.

I loved the use of fresh flowers as a garnish on the mashed potatoes, and by the way, it’s not common to see mashed potatoes in Colombia!

You’ll almost always be given the option of boiled potatoes, or French Fries.

The uchuva once again presents itself, in this case, as the base for a salsa covering the skewered chicken.

Next, we were presented with a small bowl of sweet, sliced maracuya.

It was a simple way to end the lunch, only it wasn’t the end.

We were then presented with a trio of desserts, including uchuva panacotta, a chocolate crepe with ice cream, and a berry-delicious panacotta, garnished with edible purple flowers.

Upon tasting all three, I declared the fruit panacotta (far right) to be my favorite of the bunch.

When it comes to service, it was either Silvia or her daughters presenting the dishes. I don’t know if it’s always like that, but it made the experience that much more intimate.

And the cost is a real steal. Most entrees fall between 12,000 to 20,000 pesos ($6.50 to $12).

If you’re looking for a reason to escape Medellin, or celebrate a special occasion, the Uchuva Lounge in Santa Elena is easily accessible by bus or taxi (or via the metrocable to Parque Arvi).

45 minutes from now, you too could be sitting on the peaceful porch of Uchuva Lounge, enjoying a sophisticated blend of flavors offered up by Silvia and her daugthers.

Editor’s Note: As of 2014, the Uchuva Lounge is no longer operating regular business hours. Meals are still possible there, but it’s reservation only for groups of 6 or more. 

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My visit to Santa Elena was at the invitation of Paso Bueno to promote tourism in the region.

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