Pollos Mario isn’t new, nor is it unique to Charlotte.The restaurant is a staple in Colombia, South America, where it has fed locals for more than 50 years.
It made its North American debut more than two decades ago in New York, where there are still five locations in Queens and two in Long Island. There are also two locations in New Jersey, one in Orlando and, of course, Charlotte’s location on Albemarle Road.
Since the word “pollo” means “chicken” in Spanish, it isn’t surprising to learn that most of the dishes served at Pollos Mario in Colombia are chicken-based. When the restaurant came to the States, the owner wanted to add different types of Columbian dishes, says Fernando Correa, manager of the Charlotte location.
Something else that’s different about Colombian food than, say, Mexican food, is the arepa. Like the tortilla, it’s corn based and a complement to any meal. It is flat, like a tortilla, but smaller in diameter, thicker and softer than its cornmeal cousin.
For those seeking a signature Colombian meal, Pollos Mario serves Vandeja Paisa (BAN-de-ha PAY-esa), which literally means “the region’s tray.” The meal includes white rice, red beans, fried plantains, either ground beef or grilled steak, avocado, fried pork skins, chorizo (sausage), a fried egg and, of course, an arepa.
Correa says he came to the States with his wife’s family and, like the restaurant, started off in New York. He moved to Charlotte three and a half years ago because he heard it was a good place to raise a family. Plus, he added, the weather and cost of living are great, too. “I’m in love with Charlotte,” he says.
Acknowledging the wide-spread violence often associated with Colombia, he says he hopes Pollos Mario helps introduce people to “a beautiful part of Colombia, too.”
- Profile writte by Rhiannon Bowman