El Peñol is a local, family-run, Colombian restaurant located at 54 Bennington St, Boston, MA 02128 in East Boston.
They serve authentic Colombian food, and they’re known for their famous dish, the Bandeja Penol.
They are known for a few reasons; food quality, taste, “clean family restaurant,” and exceptional service. They’ve been running this restaurant for 22 years.
I visited El Peñol on a Tuesday morning, it was still busy with take-out and dine-in orders, but you can’t tell because they cater to each customer and make them feel like they are part of the family.
The restaurant has clear dividers between each table with a sanitizer at the entrance. People wait to be seated, so everyone can be enjoy their meals safely.
The first thing you will notice is the authenticity of the place with Latin music playing in the background, greeting you like you are family and the smell of really good food.
About the Business Owner
It all started when Marina Balbin left Colombia about 35 years ago to come for the “American Dream” she first arrived in NYC, but that didn’t work. She then moved to Boston in 1998, where she got an opportunity to start her business, which is now El Peñol Resturante authentic Colombian cuisine.
Adapting to the Pandemic
Before the pandemic, El Peñol was doing business normally. The pandemic only ever affected it by implementing the rules and regulations for everyone’s safety, laying off some employees, and cutting hours.
El Peñol shut their business down for 3 weeks to adhere to the safety of their employees, families, friends, and the city of Boston. To adjust to the “new norm,” El Peñol requires facemasks, table distancing, hand sanitizer around the dining areas, and social distancing.
People were scared and afraid to come out of their houses. The Latinx community carries more essential jobs, and they need to work. They can’t depend on not working. They need to find their own way of living to keep food on the table for their families.
Latinx are hospitalized from COVID-19 4x more than White people 1
In April 2020, Boston's MGH hospital reported 35-40% of COVID-19 patients were Latinx 2
26% of COVID-19 deaths are Latinx 3
50% of the essential workforce are Latinx 4
El Peñol quickly closed down their restaurant to ensure everyone’s safety, especially since Marina works 7 days every week.
It was hard on everyone, and Johan saw it first-hand when they only talked to his grandmother through the phone. Thankfully, El Peñol was and still is busy throughout the whole pandemic.
The Latinx community in the Boston and the greater Boston area have supported each other and the Latinx businesses.
Us Latinos help each other a lot and support one another. We are all here for one goal which is to give our family a better life and strive and stick together to reach that goal.
-Johan Medina, El Peñol’s manager and grandson of Maria.
Here's How You Can Help
- Get your next meal at El Peñol in East Boston. Support
- Donate to the Hispanic Star Relief Fund. Funds will be distributed to Latinx community members and small businesses around the country in need. Click the button to donate. Donate
- Learn more about other local minority businesses. Read about Asian Garden, a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Learn
- Spread the word. Share this website on your social media.