Luzmila's Bolivian Restaurant

I'm past due for this review ... I get to Luzmila's for an occasional lunch. Like many, I came originally for the Saltenas, scrumptious.

Now I'm all in on the daily specials. I know just enough Spanish to know approximately what I'm ordering off the "Specials" board. I've really enjoyed all that has been served.
I've never been to Bolivia so I cannot vouch for its "authenticity" ... I just knows what I likes. Lastly, this is no place for your paleo diet. Not uncommon to see potato AND rice served in the same offering, along with the bread. It's a hearty, home-style serve - come hungry!

Okay, a quien le importa si no leen en Ingles. Aqui le mando una critica constructiva.
- Sillpancho, Montana de arroz seco y ensalda agria. Muy mal!!
- Pato dorado?? monatna de arroz como goma y un pedazillo de pato de muy mal sabor seco . Del tamano del pan que viene como side. My mal!!!
- Cunapes, Con GOMA? eso no es queso ni la masa se acerca al cunape de Bolivia. Son los cunapes mas pesados en PESO que nunca habia comprado. Estan aumentados de eso con algo. Que sera? pero queso no es!!.
Esperemos que no afecte la salud!. Son piedras on cunapes? PIEDRAS .Muy mal, pesimo
- Brazo gitano que le llaman a un pastel. DE GOMA cero sabor. Pesimo!!

Su precios suben y su calida va de CLARA caida.

Otra cosa que me llamo la atencion: Sus trabajadores son en su mayoria centro americanos (se nota que son de Guatemala), seran gente que va ha trabajar y cuenta con ellos...PEEEEROOO le esta afectando el producto de sus comida a mas de 100,000 milas de distancia. Su atencion es a lo que viene chencha. El muchacho con cara de pocos amigos que llama a la gente a recoger el pedido anda con la cara hasta el suelo; No me gusto nada el trato. Gracias pero NO! gracias!.
Asi como me cobraron casi como $80 por estos items, asi me tomare el tiempo de hacerles este review en varias plataformas. Haber si mejoran y vuelven al sabor de antes.

The best salteñas in the area. Just as good if not better than what you can get in Bolivia (and I've had salteñas in Sucre, Bolivia). If you've never had them before it's basically a stew-like filling in a delicious baked container. Like a meat pie. Has olives, boiled egg, meat.

I highly recommend the cuñapes, which are a simple cheese flavored bread as a side. I usually just get my salteñas to go since they are so fast.

A fantastic hidden gem. Their full menu is all amazing so if you are hungry (portions are huge) give that a go as well. Don't be intimidated if you don't speak Spanish everyone speaks English as well as Spanish.

Luzmila's used to be amazing. But since the original owner (Luzmila herself) went back to Bolivia, this place went downhill. I was looking forward to a good Silpancho (breaded flattened meat with rice, fried potato slices, tomato and onions) it looked good and the meat was huge. Until you took a bite. The meat was noticeably old and cheap. Might have been ground beef?? It was literally inedible. I tried dipping it in sauce but I still couldn't make myself finish. The potatoes were mushy, the salad was either rancid or had vinegar (which it's not really supposed to have cuz it's supposed to be fresh cut tomatoes and onions) and the rice was okay, half tasted good, half tasted old. The bread tasted burnt (although it didn't look burnt) and like refrigerator. My family also agreed that the meals they ordered wasn't the best. Even the pastelitos and api were subpar. They were cold and the pastelito tasted old. On top of that the waitress told us to tip cash because if we tipped in card the owner takes most of it. The new owner must be a total cheapskate. You can't sacrifice quality food and service. This place should be on Hell's Kitchen. Such a shame.

But if you still want authentic high quality Bolivian food, go to Luzmary's. It's literally 5 minutes away and it's owned by Luzmila's original owner's family.

TL;DR
Luzmila's food is no longer of authentic quality and you should go to 5 minutes away Luzmary's instead.

So, I bought six or supposedly six salteñas TO GO-on my way back home tired from work, and trusted these people to put the right amount in my to go box... get home and find only FIVE. I literally live like an hour away and this is complete BS. I had already come here on a previous occasion and they gave my husband an expired coke and the orchata I ordered tasted HORRIBLE. Regardless I gave them another business chance because I am from Bolivia and love our gastronomy and this place happens to be the closest to my work and on my way home. NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE FOOD FROM HERE. NEITHER SHOULD WHOMEVER READS THIS REVIEW. I'm going back there tomorrow and they better refund me my money.

I love the food here. What more is there to say? But to add to that, my best friend is a Bolivian immigrant, and he LOVES this place. If you're curious about what real, actual Bolivian food tastes like, this is it. Who needs to travel 4,000 miles to Bolivia when the real thing is right here?

The Salteñas were just perfect! I wish they were located closer to me, I would go every week.

I also had the silpancho which was delicious, well priced and PLENTY! As soon as I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I was back in Bolivia

Seriously the best Saltenas in the NOVA area! My family if Bolivia and we all feel it's a really authentic experience! Yummmm...