Maria's Café

Met up here with fellow Yelper Phillip N for a little after-holiday breakfast.This space is very unassuming in a little strip mall. You do have to wind through the interior, so don't get put off by not being able to enter through the door nearest the parking lot.Service was quick. They have wild rice and plaintain pancakes here. I didn't try either, but will definitely come back for them! Had a chocolate chip banana pancake and they have fresh papaya and guava juice hete. Delicious.Very reasonably priced, will be back again!

Amazing corn pancakes (cachapas)! I get this every time I go. And they are better with the cotija cheese. I don't love the other pancakes I've tried. This time, I tried a ripe plantain pancake too, and though it was ok, I wouldn't order it again. I also tried the pandequeso, which is similar to a Brazilian cheese bread but in a donut ring shape. It was fine, but I prefer the Brazilian version. My friend loved her Colombian Huevos Pericos - a seasoned scrambled eggs dish. There are also a lot of standard breakfast offerings - eggs and meats and toast.

Maria's cafe is a true gem of the Ventura neighborhood. The corn pancake is my go to. So good! They also have fresh juices like mango and guava. Today I went with a friend for breakfast and had the corn pancake, bacon, 2 eggs fried hard, and a cup of mango juice. Everything was excellent! The service is good and the place is clean and well lit with plenty of windows. Can't wait to go back!

Honestly a gem! I went on a Saturday and it was a sit yourself situation but the servers were friendly. I had the Colombian plate and it was a mix of beans, rice, eggs and a protein. It also came with a little salsa and the meal was very filling and homey (I honestly could just do the rice and beans alone). There was live music the day I went, which was also fun. Definitely a spot I would return to!

I've had this place on my list for awhile. Finally checked it out this a.m. Met my friend for lunch for our endless tour around the cities to find different places. Entrance is very odd. There are three doors basically to access the restaurant, but all closed- you have to walk through the buildings main entrance to finally get in. Restaurant is much bigger than it looks from the outside.Food ordered:Columbian breakfast- fried egg, pinto beans and rice, chorizo link and an arepa. The arepa was very dry. The beans and rice were good and th red sauce was amazing.Ordered some strawberry pancakes to go which were okay. Nothing to write home about. My friend said her breakfast was good. A little pricey for breakfast, but glad we tried it.

Decent Columbian breakfast spot in Minneapolis. Came in early and was seated in a minute. The service was attentive and nice. The ambience is very much like an old school diner bar and enjoyed the quiet morning. Ordered the Huevos Pericos and thought it was good. Might be a bit overcooked considering how dry the eggs were but not enough to say it was bad. Overall, rating well because the service and ambience was good.

Maria's is a cute little establishment on Lake Street serving Colombian cuisine. We had to use a side door that led through a deserted hallway, which gave a poor first impression. However, once we were in the dining area, it was better than we had imagined. We especially liked the vibrant colors and the myriad of photographs on the wall that we assume told the story of the restaurant's founders. Service was pleasant, and our food arrived quickly. The food was okay; we were not too crazy about the Chicharron or the chorizo link. The menu had plenty of options, so there's probably something for everyone.

Rating solely on the food itself. We came to Minneapolis for a staff retreat and my coworkers decided to eat here and bring me back some corn pancakes. When I say this has got to be one of the best pancakes I've EVER had in my life, I meant it. Think of it as a very rich cornbread but in pancake form. The flavors were intense and I inhaled the huge pancake in two seconds! It came with Cotija cheese and maple syrup. You have to add both as the cheese cuts the sweetness of the corn and the maple syrup and provides a umami taste. It was hot, fresh, and I am a corn lover and it made my whole day! The corn was so juicy that every time I took a bite, juices came out. I'm home now in Florida and when I tell you that I'm still dreaming about those corn pancakes, I am! I wish we had them here and next time I'm in Minneapolis again, you bet I'm going to go there and order a huge stack of them pancakes!

My girlfriend and I went for brunch on our way out of town. We got the blueberry pancakes, which were absolutely great. I got the burrito, very authentic. Great shredded beef that was tender and had good flavor. Their homemade salsa is to die for, great flavor with a little kick that sits on the tongue and goes away after a minute. My girlfriend got the two eggs and bacon, however they were a little bland. Coffee was really good. Our only negative experience is that there was a person hanging around and going to every table asking for money while everyone was eating and the staff didn't bother to do anything about it. He was probably for a good 15-20 minute before letting himself out after no one gave him money.

This is my first encounter with Columbian cuisine and holy moly this place was incredible! I got the paisa bowl and ripe plantains. Seriously so freaking good! Amazing service as well! Definitely recommend