Stuffed with delicious Latin American treats and the spice of Salsa music, Calavela empanada & tequila bar on 444 S. Blount St. in downtown Raleigh has established itself as a delicious alternative to late-night bar food.
Calavela was established in 2011 as a small corner restaurant specializing in empanadas, which are baked turnovers filled with savory or sweet ingredients. Empanadas are a tasty staple throughout South and Central America, particularly in Chile and Argentina. Since its inception, Calavela has turned into a popular spot during First Fridays and feisty weekends downtown.
The interior of the restaurant is decorated in the spirit of the Day of the Dead, with sugar skulls in lighted alcoves and bright flowers in prayer candles lining the tables.
In honor of Day of the Dead, Calavela hosted free face paintings and live DJs both nights this weekend. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, particularly the 30 different tequila options that Calavela is also known for.
Another key component to the ambience at Calavela was the music and entertainment. The atmosphere was lively, with dim red lighting and TVs playing movies such as the Three Amigos alongside NFL games. Overhead, classic salsa music from musicians such as Marc Anthony, Victor Manuelle and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico kept patrons tapping their feet as they looked out onto the busy Raleigh street.
The guacamole and chips deliver a satisfying start, despite being somewhat under-salted. The chips were light and crunchy, tasty enough to eat on their own.
There are 12 different types of empanadas offered, appealing to a variety of palates. Choices such as the Chimi Churri are stuffed with skirt steak marinated in chimi churri sauce with corn, onion and cilantro. The Champ, named after the Spanish word for mushrooms, champiñones, includes portobello, shiitake and cremini mushrooms braised with onion, celery and Oaxaca cheese. The Havana Jerk is a spicy-sweet jerk chicken with mango salsa and offers a spicier note than either the Champ or the Chimi Churri. At $3.50 for each empanada, the food is hardly expensive, though it will take two or three empanadas to feel full if you don’t get an appetizer.
Several of Calavela’s empanadas are vegetarian-friendly, and the hearty black bean and corn avocado salad offerings would be a good option for vegan eaters.
At the end of the meal, be sure to end on a sweet note with the King of Kong empanada. It’s stuffed with banana and Nutella and sprinkled with powdered sugar and whipped cream.