Palo Santo

I was given a gift certicate and thank god I did not have to pay for this place. My wife & my food was cold. Our soda had no fizz and when I asked my waiter for a replacement he argued with me that the owner would get mad at him. So I just accepted water. Our prawn appetizer smelled extremely funny & was very gritty & difficult to eat. About the only thing nice about the place was the lighting outside & the fact that the restaurant is like a little hideaway. I can't believe the good reviews here....mmmm...I wonder...maybe friends of the owner? more

Last night we went to Palo Santo with friends who had been there before and had a great meal. We were all very excited to try this eclectic, pan South American cuisine. Things started off well, the appetizers were delicious, the recommended wine was great, we all had our first tastes of our entrees and everyone was happy. I ordered the turkey mole, and the mole sauce was just right. But then, as I started eating it I realized that I had stuck my fork in a large, fatty piece of turkey skin. I pulled that to the side and went for meat, more turkey skin. By the time I had pulled it all out, more than half of the protein in my dish was this flaccid, rubbery, fatty turkey skin and I was left with only a few pieces of actual turkey meat. I called the waitress over, she apologized and said she'd handle it. This is when the awful, incredible part of the dinner began; Chef and owner Jacques Gautier came out - we didn't realize he was the owner at the time. He informed me that when he makes the mole stew he puts all the turkey pieces in and can't help what gets plated! I said, but surely you don't mean to serve a $19 dish that's 75% inedible turkey skin and fat. He said ""I'm happy to take the dish back and give you something else on the menu"", I said ""but I like this dish, the sauce is really wonderful and when I get a piece of turkey it's great. I just would like all turkey. Can you just take the dish back and put some more turkey on it?"" When I said that I liked the sauce he said, ""fine then we're done here and started to walk away"". I continued to protest. He refused to take the dish back to replace the turkey skin with turkey. He said, and I swear I'm not making this up, ""if I take more turkey from the pot to give to you, that won't be fair to the next customer."" He absolutely refused to give me a decent amount of turkey meat and the only thing he would do is to give me a different dish, which I ended up having no choice but to do. Now, either he really intends to charge almost $20 for a plate of turkey fat and skin which is criminal, or this was the worst customer service ever. Since being home, I've read some other reviews and it seems that my experience wasn't abnormal. This guy is totally arrogant and cannot deal with even the most perfectly reasonable criticism of his food. I have never in my life had this customer service response in a restaurant, particularly from the owner! My recommendation: if you're in Park Slope, a place with a huge number of really good restaurants, why waste your time here? Pros: Terrible customer service from the arrogant chef/owner Cons: Most of the food is good more

Chef Jaques hates his customers Up until Saturday I would have given this place very high marks. However on my 6th visit I made the mistake of ordering the Cobia, a white fish. Normally this dish is tender and flaky but everyone at the table who ordered it was unable to cut through it. We sent it back. 5 minutes later we were greeted by the same plates and Chef and Owner Jacques Gautier... Not to apologize but to tell us (and this is verbatim) ""I'm sorry you don't like the fish but they were beautifully cooked, and I'm not cooking it again so either take it back or order something else."" So that's how they treat you at Palo Santo... They charge you high end prices but offer you arby's level service, except at arby's they don't come out of the back and yell when your roast beef tastes like shit. The customer is ALWAYS right. ALWAYS. If you can't deal with people sending back food, cook it right the first time. Pros: The Avacado appetizer is one of my favorite dishes Cons: The food, the service more

Where to begin...EVERYTHING was perfect, the food was delicious...the drinks (frizantes being my favorite) were superb, the cake was the talk of my wedding for weeks after...the music hit the SPOT! Jacques was attentive to detail with every aspect of this party...great communicator despite my momentary ""bridezilla"" moments! His staff was courteous. The restaurant itself became even more romantic after just adding about 120 small votive candles all over the place...no need for crazy wedding decorations! Everyone of my family and friends could not STOP commenting of how delicious the food was, and have made plans to return and continue to try different dishes! If you are looking to have a small wedding (about 50ppl or less) THIS IS THE RESTAURANT TO HOLD YOUR PARTY... Pros: Food, Ambiance Drinks and Music Cons: becoming an addict to Jaques food more

wow, ive never been asked not to bring my 8 yr old to a local restaurant. especially in park slope. my husband and i, upon entering, where told my the cook behind the counter that he didnt cater to families, but he would make an exception. i should have left then.. Pros: server was nice Cons: bad food, shoddy atmesphere, not family friendly more

The food at Palo Santo is excellent - there is no other description that is sufficient. I love it and go as much as possible. The chef is competent and creative. The service if just fine - I've never had a bad experience over the past several years. The prix fixe menu is well-priced and I always come away satisfied and looking forward to my next meal there. The brunch menu is also great- particularly when there is some sort of pork sandwich available. Pros: Great menu more

having eaten here at least 15 times the past year I am well acquainted with the menu. Pros: great food Cons: 50% service, can be slow kitchen more

I eat at this restaurant on a regular basis. The food is always fresh and prepared well. The menu is creative and bold, and the food always lives up to the promise of its vision. While the menu changes on a daily or near daily basis, it usually features at least one fish and one pork dish, and platanos usually accompany something. I have eaten at most places in Park Slope and Cobble Hill, and Palo Santo is one to which I consistently return because I know it will not let me down. Additionally, for the level of food, the price is quite reasonable. Thus, Palo Santo combines a dynamic menu with excellent food quality and prices to make a great dining experience. Pros: menu changes frequently more

i was given a gift certificate, and so glad for it. inspired, seasonal, simple yet creative menu. awesome wine list. the service was spectacular. get there early, and if you're on a date, go for the back garden as there's only room for two. Pros: back garden, wine list, service more

A Palo Santo. le chef propose une carte qui se renouvelle assez souvent meme s'il s'inspire et reinvente la cuisine sud americaine. Pros: cuisine, qualite des produits, variete Cons: roses quasi absents de la carte more

Love this place! I come here often. I recommend sitting at the ""bar"" and having the tasting menu and the wine pairing...such a good deal. Pros: All more

My girlfriend and I have eaten at Palo Santo for brunch several times, and the food was enjoyable and the service was above average. But when we ate there for dinner recently, it was like we were at an entirely different restaurant. Our waiter ignored us in favor of another table for much of the evening. Our order was taken about 30 minutes after we had been seated. When our food arrived - now about an hour after our seating - it was terrible. I ordered the chicken mole, and I managed to scrape about four full bites of chicken off of a mass of bones and bone chips. While the food quality was redeemd somewhat by the dessert, the overall experience was so unpleasant that we won't be giving Palo Santo another chance for dinner ever again. We might try another brunch in a few months, but only after the bad taste of this experience has faded. Pros: Good brunch, pleasant (if cramped) ambience Cons: Breathtakingly slow service and, quite simply, bad food more

After hearing this place get rave reviews, I decided to check it out. Is this the same place? The place is small and cramped, I felt like i was sitting with the two guys at the table next to me. The service was spotty at best. You would think water was gold...it's impossible to get a glass of it in this place!! The waiter was sort of rude and I felt like he was flirting with my date, which made us both uncomfortable. The food was presented nicley but didn't taste good. The wine list is strange and too expensive for south american wines. I don't know who would acually give this place a good rating. And if youwant to fell like a jerk...just ask the manager a question and he'll help you out with that Pros: it's close to my apartment Cons: poor service, bad food, poor wine choices, cramped more

My boyfriend and I were undecided about where to grab a bite last night, it was 10pm on a Wed in Park Slope. We had walked by Palo last week on a neighborhood walkabout, grabbed their card and hung it on the fridge as a reminder. We called to see what time they shut, which was to be 10:30, and both being in the business before decided not to show up at 10:10. Well oddly enough we started walking without a plan and ended up there any way. The staff was so friendly and welcoming we knew we weren't intruding on their after-work plans. The lamb was amazing, the wine selection is excellent and I cant say enough about the cozy, relaxing, welcoming environment. The staff was exceptional and the coconut creme brulee was to die for! We will be back with a group the next time. I loved the communal table. Pros: Staff, service, food, wine, ambience, location, decor Cons: None - would say parking might be an issue but we walked more

I had a lovely meal at this lovely restaurant, which is in a converted brownstone in the middle of a... more

I had a lovely meal at this lovely restaurant, which is in a converted brownstone in the middle of a tree-lined street in Park Slope. The ambiance... more

Went to a friend's birthday dinner at Palo Santo last week. For the party, they'd rented out the whole back room - PERFECT for a group of 20-30 people. An intimate space, great lighting. I think I'm going to plan my wedding rehearsal dinner there. It was my first time to the restaurant, though I'd read the great NYTimes review they earned, and I was very impressed. There was a special party menu with great hors d'oeuvres, apps like ceviche, and I particularly loved the desserts, including the chocolate mousse made with a touch of dessert wine in it. Service was knowledgable and very friendly. The wines that the sommelier helped our host pick out were stellar (the whole list is South American). All in all, a great Brooklyn dining experience, and a wonderful place to have a party. Pros: private party space, interesting wine list more

My boyfriend and I came here one night on a whim (we had reservations elsewhere that we cancelled) and we are so glad we did. The food was delicious, the waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and the decor is perfect (although the chairs were a little uncomfortable, even if they did look super-cool). After the appetizer of pork taquitos (amazing and a big portion for an appetizer) and halfway through my duck leg mole (super double amazing!!!!!) he proposed to me and I said yes. The thoughtful waitress brought over champagne for us. It was a perfect night, thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, and the staff and food at Palo Santo. I sound like an ad, but really, it was just a wonderful night and I totally recommend this place. Pros: everything more

This was my first foray into Park Slope dining, brought on by Brooklyn's restaurant week, and it was also my first wonderful dinner in the NY metro area in months! This enchanting escape from the usual pretentious or sadly lacking dining experience is right off the Union stop in an eclectic little brownstone. Make sure you sit in the back for the brick walls, glowing candles and view of the charming courtyard with its delightful stone fountain. There are only communal tables available in the back, of which I am usually wary, but in this charming and quaint atmosphere there were no loud-talkers or other reasons to cause the need to hide from our dining companions. The waitress was perfect. She gave us enough information to guide without making us feel like we could prepare the dishes ourselves, and also made us welcome (and ready!) to return. The busser/runner was also very pleasant; always greeting our table with a smile. The highlights of the menu were the lamb shank and striped sea bass as well the delicious desserts (I am a chocoholic and still loved the sugary citrus tang of the lime tart and crunchy sweet melt of the pear rhubbarb pie). The food is simple and well done. The wine selection is limited, but we were very happy with our choice. This restaurant IS what so many Brooklyn restaurants claim to be; a simple, delicious dining experience made superb through good service--an individual's intimate answer to corporate apathy. Pros: an easy way to have an all around great evening out Cons: the R is a slow train ride to it! more

I went here for brunch with a party of four after hearing great things about the food. The decor is lovely, too, and I had noticed the restaurant while passing by. We ordered an assortment of items, none of which arrived together... which might be fine for an evening of tapas, but it was pretty weird for brunch. The portions were tiny -- I swear the (a la carte) omelettes are made with one egg a piece -- so were were hungrily waiting for our food to slowly trickle out of the kitchen at its glacial pace. We were there for about two hours. One of the two omelettes we ordered tasted like the salt shaker was spilled in the pan. It was waaay too salty (but the other one was fine). The cornbread was served cold and pretty so-so, so I was glad that only one portion arrived instead of the two that we had ordered. (And yes, we were later charged for both, but they removed the one that didn't make it to the table.) The side of 'bacon' was actually a side of greasy fat with no meat whatsoever. I couldn't even look at it it was so gross, and I love a good hearty ribbed bacon. The latin dishes, however, were all quite excellent. I forget the name of our favorite (it had black beans, and was served in a plantain leaf). So maybe that's the key, ordering the Latin dishes. Our waitress was sweet and efficient. After all of our food eventually arrived, but we were still hungry since the portions are pretty small. So we ordered a couple more Latin plates. We were not finished eating when the busboy came by to clear away some of the empty plates. He also took all of our silverware. We still very clearly had plates with freshly delivered food on them. At this point, it was funny to us. I don't like to complain -- I prefer to simply not return to a disappointing restaurant. But the manager noticed the goings on and came by as we were leaving. He was very nice and apologized, but he didn't comp anything (except for the side of fat that we didn't touch) or do anything else to back it up. Pros: good Latin dishes, nice waitress Cons: food came out piece-by-piece over the course of one hour, portions were quite small, some of the food was not good more