If you want to enjoy a delicious homemade and traditional Colombian food, be sure to go to Casa Vieja, a family-owned restaurant located on Shallowford Road in the City of Doraville.
“We have a long-life clientele. Many of our customers have been coming to eat with their whole family for years, since their children were babies and now, when they are in college. We have very loyal customers who live in the city and its surroundings, and others who live far away and come during the weekends. We also have clients who work in the area and have lunch from Monday to Friday because it is cheaper for them to have lunch here than to prepare their food at home,” tell Zaira and Alex Velasquez, owners of the restaurant.
“We love this restaurant and the City of Doraville, I started working in Doraville when I was young. Then it was in this restaurant where my wife and I met and fell in love, where we have seen our children grow up, and where every day we are dedicated to making every one of our customers feel at home”, says Alex.
"Many people tell us that they love our restaurant because in it they feel as if they are in Colombia." With a decoration of typical bright colors, the restaurant offers a relaxed and friendly environment where its customers feel comfortable and very well served. "It is not only the atmosphere that attracts our customers, but also our homemade flavor. It transports customers, who say that the food, especially the soups, are just like the ones their mother used to prepare.” “This is not a surprise, since the flavor and many of the recipes are from my mom”, says Zaira. “My mom gave us the recipes for tamales, corn turnovers, soups and many other dishes. She is always coming to give us good tips.
Our menu has a selection of dishes for all likings, and everything is always fresh. Among the most requested dishes is the “Bandeja Paisa”, a typical dish from Colombia. People from all over Latin America love it too because it brings a little of everything (rice, beans, grilled steak or chicken, pork skin, pork sausage, “arepa’ (corn cake), fried egg, sweet plantain, and avocado). This dish is offered in two presentations: regular “bandeja” and mini. The Fried Mojarra Fish is also very popular, as well as the “Cazuela de Mariscos” (Seafood Casserole).
Another very important aspect of our flavor is that our cooks have been with us for 12 to 13 years and that is how our “sazón” is upheld over time. If you see the reviews on social media, they are excellent. That is what motivates our staff to work hard like they do.
All our staff is loyal and more than a team we are a family. An example of this is one of our waitresses, who recently retired after 20 years working in the restaurant. Our staff retention is unparalleled, the truth is that the staff does not change, rather, it expands. For me, it is very important that our customers feel well cared for, that they have no complaints about the service or the food. Of course, as humans there could be errors, with an order or something, but if that happens, we solve the issue and work hard so that it doesn't happen again. Our goal is that the client feels cared for like at home, satisfied, and never leaves angry. A happy customer brings 5 new customers, but an angry one drives away more than 20, and we don't want that to happen. As they say we spoil our customers”, says Zaira.
For Zaida, Casa Vieja is like her own child. “I received it when it was a baby, I nurtured it and I saw it grow up. The first owner of the restaurant loved the restaurant and her clientele very much too. She opened it in 1980. However, she wanted to retire but she didn't want to sell the restaurant to just anyone. So, it wasn't until when I had been working for about two years that she saw my hard work and dedication for the restaurant, and she told me that she knew I was the only person who could get the restaurant off the ground and keep it growing. So, she offered it to me for sale, even though I was a waitress at the restaurant. At that time, we were only five employees but now we are twenty. Next year, on July 1st, the restaurant will celebrate its 20-year anniversary. So, I think that I kept the promise, and we achieved the goal.”
Casa Vieja's hours are Monday Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
During weekdays, from Monday to Friday, they offer two types of special lunches that include soup, main course, and a drink of juice or “agua panela con limón” (a typical piloncillo drink with lemon juice.)
Casa Vieja Colombian Food Restaurant is locate on 3652 Shallowford Rd NE, Doraville, GA 30340. Phone (770) 454-8557. Website casaviejacolombiarestaurant.com
Original source can be found here.
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