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Yuca Bar & Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Tapas Bars Latin American, Tapas Bars [Edit]
111 Ave ANew York, NY 10009
Neighborhoods: East Village, Alphabet City
(212) 982-9533
- Nearest Transit:
-
1 Av (L)
2 Av (F)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 12 am
Thu 11 am - 1 am
Fri 11 am - 2:30 am
Sat 10 am - 2:30 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
591 reviews for Yuca Bar & Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Our favorite hands down was the Platano Relleno."
(in 31 reviews)
"the best happy hour on tuesdays."
(in 113 reviews)
"We got the arepa con carne which was sweet and tender."
(in 14 reviews)
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591 reviews in English
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Review from Nur Y.
New York, NY
2/7/2012
SO FREAKING GOOD. i ve been here twice. The second time I went, I ate the same amount but paid half the price. Go on a Tuesday, you get 50 percent off for all tapas and drinks. We ordered so much and spent maybe 20 per person.
I really like the Nohito..lol..
best tapas to order is hmm everything.... -
Review from Jesse Y.
Manhattan, NY
1/27/2012
It's unfortunate that my first review is not going to be me describing a wonderful experience...To be honest, I had high hopes going in given all the positive reviews from everyone.
Some context: It was a Thursday night, all I wanted was to have a nice drink and talk with a friend of mine after a long day at work. Didn't really need any food, maybe some tapas if the stomach so wished...
First off, the restaurant had a really nice vibe and it was nicely packed. Drinks were delicious, even though I was disappointed that they ran out of St. Germain and it was only 8:30PM...Some drinks we had were the mojito and the sangria pitcher to share (delicious). The chips for our guac that we got later was so hard, I thought I almost chipped a tooth. I've never had such rock hard chips in my life...However, my hopes were still high for a good experience given how much I value some people's opinions on here. But the night just got worse...
My major complaint? Service. Once you enter in, there's no one to really greet you or talk to you. Our waitress had a serious attitude the moment she sat us down. I'm guessing it was because we said we weren't really hungry and were really here for the drinks. Whatever the reason was, that is in no way the appropriate way to serve a customer at your restaurant. As disappointed as I was, I felt bad that we may be taking up someone's seat so I decided to order some guac and chips for us. Even after this, the whole time I felt like she was rushing us out of the restaurant. At one point, she came to pour out the rest of the sangria pitcher we got so we could finish up faster. Are you serious? With all this being said, she had the nerve to come ask us after we signed the bill why we gave her 10% tip and that she did us a service by not asking us to sit at the bar. What a disgrace of a waitress.
Anyway, I'm not going to let the terrible service from this one "waitress" completely distort the rating of the restaurant. But here's a quick summary:
- Good vibe for medium to large groups
- Too loud for one on one dates/gatherings
- Delicious drinks
- Beware of bad service -
Review from Casey Y.
Manhattan, NY
1/25/2012
This is where we take guests for a fun East Village experience. Tapas are always fun with a small group, and you can order an entree or two to share easily.
The trio of ceviches here is usually very good, but they should allow the special ceviche (which they have frequently) in that group. I really like the tuna with coconut milk. The stuffed plaintains are really good.
Don't love the fish balls, but all other seafood I've had there is excellent. The paella is good but their squid ink paella (when they have it) is really a standout. This paella added a star to the review.
The atmosphere is loud, but in a fun way, it isn't just loud for the sake of it.
Bathrooms can have a wait on weekends, watch out for that.
I highly recommend this place. -
Review from Luarnie B.
New York, NY
2/8/2012
I have been meaning to write this review for some time. However, never got up to it. But met a friend here for drinks last night and had such a great time. I always enjoy a good mojito, and Yuca bar makes a decent one. They have a great happy hour selection. While I would probably enjoy it even more if the weather was a tad bit warmer, it isn't so bad when you down a couple (literally 2, bc I'm a total LW) of drinks to get you all warm and fuzzy......
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Review from Casey M.
Pittsburgh, PA
2/9/2012
I am from out of state and two seperate times, with two different friends, was I brought to this place - crazy that it would be a common favorite in a city of so many options!
The food was great and the margaritas STRONG. There was a big wait both times and people were pretty pushy around the bars. So don't go here on a Friday or Saturday night if you are looking to have space, a quiet conversation, or immediate seating. A pretty good crowd - mid-20's -30's. -
Review from Natalia G.
WALL STREET, NY
2/7/2012
Excellent atmosphere, great food and drinks , fun people around, very nice like it a lot ..... the best mojitos ever and the food amazing special the grill combination some appetizer wow good price and taste good ......
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Review from Vivian J.
1/18/2012
A great Latin American dinner is a perfect kicker for a night.
On my first night in New York, my sister took me to Yuca, where she and her friends come often. It's an intimate, darkly lit restaurant where the tables are so close to each other you can probably hear their conversations.
Here is what we had:
Sangria to share
Salmon Ceviche (we could not stop eating this)
Croquetas de Cangrejo
Paella
Everything was delicious, portions were decent, and the vibe was popping. My sister chose a great spot as an intro to New York life. -
Review from Lauren K.
1/16/2012
This place is wonderful. I came here with my boyfriend after we strolled past it -- the food is served tapas style. Unlike other tapas places however, the portions are actually sizable and filling.
On tuesday nights, they have half priced tapas-- this is one of the best happy hour deals I've been to in my 6 years of living in New York. The service is friendly and accommodating. We went early on a Friday night and there was no wait. We asked to switch tables to be outside and the waitress was really friendly. The music can be loud but the atmosphere and fun, especially in the summer. The sangria is delicious and really reasonably priced! -
Review from Vivian L.
1/16/2012
Had an overall yummy dinner here but there were both hits and misses in the dishes that we tried.
Dish rankings:
Guacamole/Salsa with chips- A: very tasty
Tacos De Pescado - A+: my favorite dish of the night, so yummy and definitely one of the best fish tacos I've ever had!
Croquetas de Cangrejo- B
Empanadas- B, 2 of the empanadas were delicious but one had a weird mush inside that was unpleasant to eat.
Platano Relleno- B-: probably my least favorite of the items we ordered. The plantains were too sweet in combination with the meat and the combination just didn't mesh for me.
Be prepared for a wait as the place is packed. Fun atmosphere though and the sangria is yummy =) -
Review from Michael A.
New York, NY
Updated - 1/11/2012
Got back to Yuca bar with a friend and had a great time.
Great food and drinks! Just as I remember it...
Maybe my previous experience was just one of those bad days...
Anyway, I'll be back again...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/30/2011
I havent been back at Yuca Bar in a while so I decided to stop by for a dinner with a friend.
All I… Read more »
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Review from Amanda W.
1/8/2012
Pros: tasty tapas and mixed drinks, convenient location (at least for me!), and good atmosphere
Cons: our wait for a table was long and poorly managed, the service was spotty, the music was too loud, the food was on the pricey side ... and gave me a stomachache
Verdict: I might give them another chance, we'll see. -
Review from Cecilia D.
Brooklyn, NY
1/15/2012
I lived in the city for almost 6 years. I tried many places for brunch ... this is and will probably always be the BEST.
Food:
I love it! I tried Churrasco and Eggs, Arepas Benedictos, Huevos Rancheros and Tacos. Everything absolutely delicious!
Prices:
Prix Fixe $ 15for Brunch, includes a delicious entree, drink and coffee. For me still one of the best deals in the city.
Drinks:
Their Mimosa and Sangria are really good. Had them as part of my prix fixe brunch and love them.
Service:
Friendly.
Atmosphere:
I love the energy of this place, though background music might get loud.
Only complain: portions got a bit smaller in the last couple of years. Entrees used to be huge and people were sometimes not finishing what was in the plate... now they are just enough for you not to walk outside of the place still hungry. -
Review from Yukie T.
Manhattan, NY
1/19/2012
When I go to Yuca Bar, I only get two things: Mojitos and Huevos Rancheros... and it's either for a Saturday or Sunday brunch.
I came here once for dinner, but it was quite a disappointment. The dinner menu was overpriced and unmemorable. It becomes an entirely different restaurant.
Stick to what you and your friends know: Yuca Bar = boozy brunch. -
Review from Maria A.
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I cannot believe I have not written a review for Yuca! I have been coming here so many times over the past couple years. I have come here for brunch so many times, for dinner a couple times and for happy hour once. All the times that I have come here, the servers have always been really nice. The place has plenty of seating, but during the busy times, there can be a wait. The ambiance is really nice - comfortable and chill setting. On warm days, there is outside seating.
The food is really good; I must have tried almost everything on that menu. For brunch, my absolute fave would have to be the Arepas Benedictos with Salmon. I absolutely love their sangria. The prices are very good for the quality of food. They have great happy hour deals.
I've always loved this place - this is my go-to brunch place. I've made a fan out of everyone I've brought here. ;-) -
Review from Miguel A.
New York, NY
1/11/2012
Environment: 10
Music: 10
Food: 10
Drinks: 10
Service: 7 -
Review from Sean G.
Philadelphia, PA
1/1/2012
After enjoying a nice cigar at Velvet Lounge and a brief stop at the International Bar (don't go there unless you are into the really dreary dark dive bars), we ran through the rain down 7th Avenue into Yuca Bar...
Drinks: 4.5 stars
The Margaritas and Mojitos are so well done. I recommend trying a Mojito made with Tequilla instead of Rum. Once you try it, you'll never go back to the original. The food looked delicious but we didn't eat at Yuca.
Service: 4.0 stars
The bartenders were attentive and fast. I appreciate that combo.
Ambiance: 4.5 stars
Yuca is a very cool restaurant with a great latin vibe. The restaurant is big, the bar is spacious and the entire place in well lit and energetic.
Location: 4.0 stars
East Village on Ave A with a nice view of Tompkins Square Park.
Price: 3.5 stars
Drinks are NYC pricey running $9-12 dollars depending on the quality of alcohol you choose.
**Overall: 4.0 stars
Yuca Bar was the best drinking spot in our day's excursion. We ended up staying and drinking at the bar for a couple of hours and engaged in good conversation in a great atmosphere. I'm curious as to what the food is like. From the reviews, it seems to be pretty good. Give the Tequila Mojito a try. -
Review from Cory James C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
The staff is not great at service but they smile at least (which is a huge step above neighborhoods like Williamsburg). The half off Tapas Tuesdays is amazing. They get four stars for having great food. Everything was good except avoid the calamari; not good at all. Yuck. But we tried everything on the menu and had wonderful experiences with everything else. Enjoy!
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Review from Khaled D.
Hoboken, NJ
1/8/2012
We came in as a party of 8 to do a birthday cake for a friend and drinks. 8 people = lots of drinks and a good tip for the waitress.
The host decided not to seat us because the tables were for diners only. In fact he was quite adamant about it...Really dude?! -
Review from Kathleen E.
New York, NY
12/14/2011
Oh how I love Yuca Bar. I'm glad that when I yelped this, the first picture that popped up was the Platano Relleno, because that is one of my boyfriend's and my favorite! Also try the espresso ribs. I don't even typically like ribs and would never think to order them, but they're sooo yummy at Yuca.
Order a mojito! Again, I never thought I was a mojito person until I tried one at Yuca. They're crazy strong and really freaking fresh and good. I come here almost once a week. love it, love it, love it. -
Review from Carla C.
Tenafly, NJ
12/27/2011
4.5... and the ONLY reasons are:
1) Sometimes there is a wait + they don't take reso's
2) When it's packed, it's really, really hard to get to the bathroom. It is TIGHT.
3) This has never really affected me, but if you are trying to have intimate, quiet conversation, it won't be possible. However, on the flipside, I still find this place very appropriate for an intimate evening. Confused? Just make a visit. You'll see.
Yuca Bar is one of my all-time favorite places to drink + dine. Warm weather is the best because I love dining al fresco, especially at this place. I could sit outside, sipping on their sangria, munching on Cuban food for hours. And I have. :)
To cut to the chase, here are my top suggestions of what to order:
Pinchos Variados.
Pinchos Variados.
Pinchos Variados.
Yes. It's that good. Presentation is so cool. Skewered chicken, chorizo, and beef (I believe it's skirtsteak/churrasco cut up in small pieces, but could be wrong) served on a sizzling mountain of heat with dipping sauces. I've never been a big fan of chorizo, but I've never had a problem swapping out the chorizo for more chicken + beef.
This appetizer + two to three sides/apps is more than enough for a meal for two. I usually opt for the guacasalsa + calamari frito and add on the yuca fries or platanos depending on what kind of mood I'm in. I make better sangria at home, so I'm a little biased, but they do serve a decent sangria + I still order it everytime. -
Review from Jaime D.
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
they had great sangria and the food was delicious here too!
what i really liked was the service, people were coming often to take the plates that we didn't need anymore quickly.
they were refilling our drinks fast as well too.
but most of all becuase i'm sure we arn't the first to do it, that candle that in the middle of your table, you know that feeeling of "damn i wann put paper in there to burn it" well my friends did and they put it out in the span of 10 seconds. they just shook their head put it out and left haha they even brough us another one!
definitely good atmosphere great food and sevice. overall awesome -
Review from Jeanette L.
New York, NY
12/6/2011
I am a TOTAL FAN of Yuca's Tuesday night happy hour! We all had Sangria (they have red and white) and then shared a bunch of (half off!) tapas. The shrimp quesadilla was our favorite, then the coconut fried shrimp and the ribs were DELICIOUS.
Everything was pretty much GREAT except I caution you to stay away from the queso. No bueno. Chunky and has pieces of meat/bacon in it...nothing special.
Overall, great place for happy hour and yummy tapas. We will def be coming back! -
Review from Judy L.
12/4/2011
Very very loud and energetic place. The wait was about 30 minutes on a Friday night at 7pm. Loved the tapas menu.
We ordered:
- taquitos tasting menu: 2 tacos of each of the 4 different flavors (shrimp, chicken, beef, and pork) they were ALL very delicious. The beef one had a kick to it, and the shrimp one was nice and sweet. It was very filling.
- yuca fries: deliciously deep fried goodness. It comes with some sort of a dip that goes perfectly with the fries. When I brought my leftover home, even though it got soggy during the subway ride, the fries still retained its flavors! Just to show how flavorful it was to begin with. :)
- pulled beef (or was it pork) stuffed plaintain. I've never had plaintain that wasn't deep fried in the shape of a chip, so this was very refreshing. The spiciness of the meat worked well with the sweetness of the plaintain.
Total bill was around $55. -
Review from Felicia R.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2011 1 photo
I wish I had more time in New York so I could try everything on their menu. I got the Puerquito Cubano and it was absolutely sublime. Like legitimately one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. It's a roasted pork mountain accompanied by a sweet plaintain mashed potato which I still don't understand, but it was exceptional.
Get the yuca fries for an appetizer! You'll thank me later! -
Review from Dominic W.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 12/14/2011
OK, once again my friends and I rolled to Yuca bar this past saturday and it was a blast. I had the platano wich has become my favorite and lots of coconut mojitos. I went with 3 friends and we all had a good time. For a saturday night I thought I wasnt be able to get a table but the host who end up been the manager was great and was able to accomodate us in 15 min. The place was loud and fun as usual, didnt feel the same slow service I got last time, hope they are taken this reviews seriously.
GREAT again, so 4 starts for you guys.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/12/2011
Happy hour weekdays from 1-8, different food special, awesome tapas half price on Tuesdays mix with… Read more »
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Review from Jesus V.
Miami-Dade, FL
1/16/2012
Rock on! Yuca Bar was recommended to us by a family relative living in NYC. Being a foodie, our cousin is always out on the prowl for great fare and from drinks to entree, Yuca Bar did not disappoint!
Let me just start this by saying that being from Miami, hispanic restaurants are literally "a dime a dozen" as the saying goes. I've been eating this food my entire life (over 30 years) and it is a rare occasion when I actually go out to eat spanish food because quite frankly, the home cooked stuff blows away the restaurants generally. This is the very reason why both my wife and I were blown away with Yuca Bar.
We went for their $12 brunch menu (+$1 for seafood entrees) which offers about 10 different dishes to choose from, several different sides and both your choice of coffee or tea and your choice of an alcoholic beverage, either: sangria, glass of wine or margarita.
We all choose the frozen margarita - being boozy and all - which was mixed very well and quite strong without being overpowering to the palate. For appetitzers we ordered the tostones with chimichurri which is a plantain dish in which the plantain is flash fried, then flattened and fried again to a nice golden brown, crispy texture and topped with homemade chimichurri which is completely homemade with olive oil, fresh chopped herbs and minced garlic....it was amazing and hands-down the best chimichurri I have every had!
For entree's the wifey ordered arepas benedictos which is a grilled white corn cake topped with their "to die for" homemade guacamole sauce and 2 poached eggs. It came with a side of "hash browns" which were homestyle-cooked potatoes and sweet potatoes seasoned to perfection! Our cousin had the crab cakes which were so moist and had large, yet soft pieces of whole crab blended with herbs, topped with the aforementioned "TDF" gauc sauce and homestyle potatoes, as well. As for me, I chose the yuca benedictos which combined the already excellent "hash browns" with chunks of shrimp, grilled and tossed together, topped with "TDF" guac sauce and 2 poached eggs, cooked to perfection and all of it infused with that delicious latin flavor. I also ordered a side of black beans & white rice which I normally don't do since most restaurants use canned black beans, but not Yuca Bar. No sir, their cooks hand-made the black beans from scratch (just like family) slow-cooked, seasoned and soft, yet firm to the eat. It is about as close to that homemade flavor that you're bound to get without boiling a pot yourself at home!
We all took bites from each other's meals, because we could not believe how good it all was! Needless to say, after our boozy brunch was over, we were completely stuffed. Everything we tried was delicious, the guacamole - to paraphrase - was "to die for" and as far as service was concerned, our waitress and the other serving staff couldn't have been more attentive to us from the minute we walked through the door to the second we left. Everyone was extremely nice, super helpful and it just added to the already perfect brunch!
In other words, do yourself (and your taste buds) a favor and head over to Yuca Bar for an amazing brunch you'll not soon forget....and you're going to want to come back for again & again! -
Review from Brittany H.
New York, NY
12/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
fail. everything about this restaurant is a fail. except if you're going for HH, and then maybe it's OK.... my first time here was for HH and drinking only...second time, wanted to try their food...
i had higher expectations... food looked very bright, colorful and beautifully presented.. but somehow, somewhere, the food failed through execution. the meatballs were ok... not tender enough, and not cooked long enough for them to be tender.... all the hot dishes that came out weren't even hot enough. and all the seafood dishes we ordered... geezus i've never seen so many things slabbed together on one small dish. too many sauces, swirls, bits of chopped up pieces... the flavors just never came through, as if to mask the freshness of the protein that was originally intended for. we, in fact, did not go on Tuesdays, where you can find half off all tapas...we were there on a weds... and paid full price.... it's NOT worth full price...let alone half price.
their sangrias... mediocre. come over to my house sometime and i'll show you what a real sangria tastes like. -
Review from Suanne L.
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bold and vibrant, Yuca Bar is loud and unapologetic about its love for strong drinks, dancing music, and good food. The sangria flowed freely (and I heard good things about their margarita/sangria mix!) and conversation was easy. It did tend to get a little loud here, but no worries, as long as we're having fun. We ordered:
Cerviche tasting
Meatballs
Calamares Frito
Guacamole
Chiles Rellenosa
Arepa Vegetariana
Dessert Tasting
I am writing this a few weeks after visiting, but I can't recall anything there that was bad - in fact, I have positve thoughts about pretty much everything we ordered. The service could be a little spotty, but overall I really enjoyed my time here with friends! -
Review from Angela L.
New York, NY
11/11/2011
When Death and Company broke our hearts by being closed for a private party, we turned to this joint for comfort.
I tried ordering the Saint Yuca but they were out of St. Germain (as is often the case - everyone has a St. Germain drink on their menu, no one ever seems to have St. Germain!) What I REALLY wanted was a Sidecar - not exactly the right place for such a thing. But the one their bartender mixed was so good that I had a second!
The food was surprisingly good too! A little pricey for what you get but good. We had Cuban Sliders and tapas from the specials menu. Really neat chips, though the guacamole was pretty weak.
Biggest complaint: It took FOREVER to get an order in, despite all the waitstaff standing around (talking to each other.) And the music was a wee bit too loud. It's tough when you can't even hear the person sitting across from you. Not a bad place but hopefully Death and Co. will be open next time (their prices are practically the same!) -
Review from Mely Y.
Manhattan, NY
10/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was afraid we wouldn't be able to grab a table on a Saturday night without a reservation with a huge line ahead of us, but we were seated right away without any attitude unlike Il Bagatto. SCORE!
This is a great date atmosphere. The dimly, candle-lit intimate ambiance of this place was quite romantic. This place was pumping with Latin music making the atmosphere festive and entertaining. I love the details of the paintings on the wall. The only downfall was the restrooms. Two restrooms for the entire restaurant is quite uncomfortable with the lack of waiting space. But whatever. I just wouldn't want a table next to that.
The drinks were great, but my server's recommendation of the paella criolla was not. I've had paella before but their style was very obscure. When the food arrived, our server explained they dye this dish with some black food coloration. Although it was odd, I don't believe this small dish was worth ordering again, especially for thirty bucks. I knew they wouldn't accommodate changing my plate, so I sucked it up and tried to enjoy my meal. However, my date's sea bass dish was very appealing and well presented. I kept eyeballing his plate and eventually score a taste of his plate. MMM! The cilantro based mash potato with his sea bass was slammin!
It's a bit pricey for the small portions they give you, but it was worth trying once. I hear they have a decent happy hour so perhaps I'll give it another try when I'm around the neighborhood. -
Review from Kearstin C.
Mt Laurel, NJ
1/11/2012
My husband and I love this place, every time we go to NY we always visit. It's a nice restaurant small place on the corner. its very intimate or can be a good place to go to for a quick drink and some tapas.A must go.
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Review from Olga T.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came to Yuca bar for brunch and loved it. The steak and eggs were delicious! I wouldn't say it was AMAZINGGGGGGG but I think this is a good spot to gather with friends. Will be back!
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Review from peter r.
Brooklyn, NY
11/14/2011
Came here on a "frate" (friend date) on the recommendation of fellow yelpers. Once again you all have not let me down.
I really enjoyed my dinner here. Atmosphere was "poppin" it looked like everyone was enjoying there time there. If you want a quiet meal then a Friday or Saturday dinner here will not suit you.
Food: the platano relleno was great. I rarely eat pork but the pics of this dish posted on yelp had me salivating and it did not disappoint. I wish it were bigger though. We also ordered the taquitos mixtos. 2 shrimp 2 fish2 chicken 2 steak for $ 29. Not exactly a bargain but yummy nonetheless. The chicken was our least favorite didnt like them at all and the fried fish was delicious. I'd order a bunch of those. The steak was tender and juicy and my friend said the shrimp was great.
Drinks: sangrias and passion fruit mojitos. Sangrias were very tasty but could of been a bit stronger. Mojitos were on point.
Definitely coming back for happy hour with half price tapas -
Review from Vivian H.
9/11/2011
One of the best things in life is to be able to just celebrate life with family. I adore my cousin and I am so proud of him. He has become a fine young man and I am so honoured to spend time with him.
We came here on a warm summer night and we were both famished. I had just worked a 12 hour shift and I needed fuel.
This place was busy but we were able to get a table within 10 minutes. We were seated outside and it was just a glorious night. People strolling by with their ice cream cones and just feeling the summer breeze cares our faces. Sometimes life is just awesome like that.
We ordered up 4 tapas and a tuna ceviche. The 4 tapas were fish croquettas, taquitos de pescado, taquitos de camarones, and crab cakes. It was a night for seafood. The tuna ceviche was very good and came with plenty of plaintain chips to scoop up the tuna ceviche. The taquitos de pescado needed some salsa to liven up the flavors. Everything else was amazing. It was way too much food for 2 people. We had to pack things to go.
I can't ever pass up tres leches cake and they have a very unique version. It has a layer of quince pastes on top. The fruitiness was a nice twist to an original delicious cake. I recommend it.
I also had a yacajito and wow it was good. It comes with two small sticks of sugar cane and that was a nice touch. It has been so long since I sank my teeth into sugar cane. I like the coconut and pineapple in the drink.
A great dining experience! Good food and good family are priceless. -
Review from Andrea B.
New York, NY
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is fan and nice but just for a quick dinner for somebody that want something close to cuban.
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Review from Jared S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/21/2011
Yes, the food is really solid, and the price isn't bad.
But I have a bit of an ax to grind with the management. My friends and I were spilled on--sangria, no less--by a member of the staff, and no one tried to make amends that night after knowing what happened. When we called the restaurant--since the clothes were badly damaged--they decided not to do anything about it.
This is an instance where a nice glass complimentary glass of wine would make all the difference. Food is solid, but come on guys, you're running a New York restaurant. -
Review from Tiffany H.
Astoria, NY
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Come on Tuesdays before 8pm.
HAPPY HOUR MADNESS! good drink specials and their tapas are all 50% off. Best to come with a larger group and try a bunch of different small plates. -
Review from Seth G.
Manhattan, NY
12/13/2011
Came here for dinner on a thursday night and it was packed. I expected a 30/45min wait but they were able to give us a table immediately. The bar was filled with people, the music was loud, but it didn't take away from the experience at all.
We ordered a large pitcher of red sangria and it was really good. Anytime I took a couple of sips the waiter would come by the refill me to the top. We then split 5 tapas. I was a big fan of the coconut shrimp, crab cakes, and empanadas. The tacos were a little soggy and the price came out to around $50/person but other than that everything was pretty perfect. -
Review from Lindsay C.
Manhattan, NY
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for the Tuesday half price tapas happy hour. We arrived around 7:00 and were told there was a 45 minute wait.Since the happy hour ends at 8:00 the three of us decided to eat at the bar. Luckily we were able to find room - it was PACKED. The sangria was great $30 for a pretty large pitcher during the happy hour. Between the 3 of us we split the guacamole (decent), the taquitos de carne, empanadas (dry), arepa con carne (only okay), platano relleno, and the cubanitos. Standouts were the taquitos, platano relleno, and the cubanitos. Sometimes tapas can be a little on the small side but it was actually plenty of food for us, we all left stuffed. I agree with what other reviewers have said - not sure that I would come here to eat outside of the tuesday half price tapas night. It's decent tapas but overpriced for what your getting. If I paid the $16 menu price as opposed to $8 during happy hour for those empanadas I would have been annoyed.
It you want to get a table during the happy hour deal on Tuesdays I would get there early. I didn't see many tables turning over between 7:00 and 8:00pm since I'm sure everyone was getting in their last few half priced tapas and drinks. Once the happy hour was over, the place definitely opened up a bit. -
Review from Kirsten S.
Astoria, NY
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for the first time late night with some friends. We had an hour wait and I'm so happy I stuck it out! Since most of us had not been there, we ordered a bunch of the "sampler" type platters because we wanted to try a little of everything. Wash that down with a pitcher of sangria and you have a great dinner for a group of close friends.
The Taquitos mixtos is a must if you can't decide which one to get. The Yuca fries were something I've never tasted, and I'm still not quite sure what they were made out of but I could eat them for a meal if I wanted to!
It is a bit of tight quarters and they do pack you in at the tables, but it is perfect for a date or intimate dinner with friends. I will definitely be back again.
