Sofrito

Heard about the place! but not to sure, decided to try it.. as soon as I walk in the , I attempted to place my name on the FOREVER ENDING list , It took me 10 minutes so the hostess can look up and talk to me.... Hostess was talking to everyone else , didnt even welcome me, and was sooooo RUDE!!!! the place was soooo crowded LOUD music! it looked like a cheesy club! Pros: FROM HOSTESS TO WAITRESS RUDE!!!! AMBIANCE IS HORRIBLE Cons: HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SERVICE more

No reservations on the weekends leaves you waiting around for upwards of an hour sometimes, but enjoy the lounge seating along with some scrumptious empanadas and a caprihanna in the front bar section. You won't go wrong with just about anything on the menu whether is be a perfect churrasco steak or tender ropa vieja. The sweet plantains are off the charts! The staff is very friendly and attentive and never roll their eyes even after having to sing Happy Birthday 15 times a night. more

coming from a puertorican family of wonderful cooks and chefs, i've become spoiled and have high expectations when it comes to good boricua food. after watching the play ""platanos and collard greens"" my mom-in-law, daughter and i decided to walk to ""Sofrito"" and give it a try. cons.... i tried the mofongo with shrimp, wish the mofongo had more of a garlic flavor and more pieces of pork. also, i wasn't impressed with the drinks, they were weak! the music was too loud, we couldn't hear each other speak. pros....the arroz con guandules was delicious, the gandules tasted as if they were freshly hand picked. the tostones montaditos were delicious, they're a must try! if it wasn't for the long wait, i'd go again! Pros: appetizers....yummy Cons: waiting and weak drinks more

I've been to Sofrito multiple times and have never incurred any of the problems expressed by some of the other patrons. It's true that it gets extremely crowded and you have to plan appropriately when you're going there for dinner. I was ecstatic to find a Puerto Rican restaurant that served food which is not Nuevo Latino or Mexican. I would suggest that the Chef re-think some of the menu selections and be a little more true to the P.R. heritage. How can you have Mofongo without pork? The prices are extremely reasonable and it is a restaurant not a Cuchifrito place so expect to pay for a dinner. I've been there and had appetizers, dinner and dessert for two and spent less than $100. I don't know why people mention price as a CON because its a cheap compared to going to Son Cubano, Rosa Mexicana or Dos Caminos. I believe its a great place to go for dinner and the food is tasty. Make reservations and enjoy. I think the crowding issue results from it also being a hangout since they have music but its a fun place. I look forward to the new restaurant! Pros: Food, Cheap Cons: Crowded more

I AM SO DISSAPPOINTED ABOUT MY PEOPLE WHO THINK THIS PLACE IS A GOOD PLACE WHEN ....YOU EXPECT THE BEST OF A SPANISH PLACE AN NOT THE WORST AN THIS PLACE IS THE WORST....IT HADS NO RULES ABOUT T-SHIRTS OR SNEAKERS OR NO BLAZERS NOT JACKETS..I;M LATIN AN I GO OUT TO EAT WITH MY WIFE LIKE A MAN NOT LITTLE BOY.....I DIDNT THINK THIS PLACE WAS SO BAD FROM ALL THE REVIEWS BUT I;M HERE TO SAY.....PEOPLE READ THOSE REVIEWS AN I;M SAYIN THEY WERE RIGHT..ITS A SHAME THAT US PUERTO RICANS....CAN;T SEE BAD SERVICE..AN RUDE WORKERS WHEN WE SEE THEM ACTING LIKE THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE WAY THIS PLACE ...IS .. I;M ASHAMED OF THIS PLACE IN NYC UNTIL THEY CAN SEE THEY 'RE PROBLEMS AN NOT HIDE FROM THEM// WE LATINS SHOULD N'T SETTLE FOR JUST ANYTHING JUST BEACAUSE THEY ARE A SPANISH PLACE ..WHEN WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER PLACES THEN THIS ONE THAT CAN;T EVEN SEE THEY'RE THE WORST CLUB/ RESTURANT WE ALL NEED TO HAVE BETTER FOOD OR SEVICE NOT THE WORST FOOD AN SEVICE AN THINK THATS OK.........I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE BECAUSE ITS NOT OF MY LATIN HOME....WERE I;M FROM I HAVE BETTER STANDARDS,,,AN MY PEOPLE HAVE THEM ALSO, BUT THIS PLACE IS RUN BY FOOLS....AN EXPECT THE LATINS IN NYC TO BE FOOLS ALSO........BUT I;M NOT ONE OF THEM.....BAD SEVICE IS BAD BUISNESS AND BAD BUISNESS IS JUST PLAN BAD.......TOO ALL PEOPLE IN NYC STAY AWAY FROM HERE OR YOU WILL SEE HOW I WAS RIGHT..... Pros: THE DOOR MAN IN STREET WAS NICE..... Cons: THIS PLACE IS SO BAD...AN THE WORST SEVICE IN NYC...... more

Went to Sofrito after a concert.. Wrong move. Sofrito has good music which you can listen too while waiting 2 hours for a table. We waited in this little side room for the hostess to give us that machine that beeps to let you know your table is ready. Well.. we had to wait 20 minutes for that, when we finally got one, it was another 30 minutes then when they called us, the hostess had us down as a party of 2 when we were a party of five. So they told us we had to wait again until a table opened up. All of this with a reservation. I cannot comment on the food because we left without eating. The wait is absurd. They had the nerve to ask my husband to remove his fedora (yes, we were overdressed) in the resturant but I assume the jeans, t-shirts and boots others were wearing was fine. The place is too small and there are people with plates of food lined up against the walls! What in the world is that about. I see others saying that they rush you, well I can definately bellieve that. Terrible experience and I will never go there again. Take heed.....go somewhere else. Cons: Service, wait, staff is somewhat rude more

the food at sofrito is excellent however you can't enjoy your it because you are rushed throughout your entire meal. as a matter of fact they are in such a hurry to clear your table the waiter dropped food on us and did NOT apologize!! the manager did not even take a glass of wine off the bill!! we were also asked to be relocated to the front of the bar while we were waiting for people to return from the restroom. this is after spending almost $800.00 there that night (party of 8). this is by far the WORST service in manhattan. Pros: great food Cons: cannot enjoy the great food because you are rushed throughout the entire meal by waiters with walkie talkies more

My girlfriends and I decided to go here to have a relaxing dinner to catch up on old times. Well what we thought was going to be a nice dinner turned into the most stressful eating experience of our entire lives!!!! We were seated promptly once our entire party arrived, which was great as it was getting quite crowded but once our order was placed, it was as if secret service swooped in and took the place of the waiters!!! They rushed us throught our entire dinner. At certain points we could barely finish what we had in our mouths or on our plates before they swarmed in and swiped our food! It even came to the point where one of the employees with an earpiece stood over our table and watched to see how much more we had to go!!! I ordered a sangria and I was determined to finish the entire thing, down to the fruits, but there was one blind moment and my glass was gone!! The food was great, very big portions but the service was too fast to be any good!!! No one wants to be rushed through their meal! Would not recommend AT ALL!!! Pros: great food, good music Cons: seating area too tight, service way too fast more

My husband and I went to Sofrito for an early New Year's Eve dinner. We had read all of the reviews prior to going but thought if we went early, the service might be better. Basically, the drinks were very good (especially the mojitos) and the food was good (although my husband thought his steak was really fatty). When it came time to pay the bill, we decided to use a $100 visa gift card we had been given, paying the rest with our credit card. The waiter came back to say that the $100 charge wouldn't go through which was strange as we had just activated it. He suggested trying $75 which worked. We paid the rest and the 20% tip with our credit card. The bottom line is we found out later that he actually charged $85, which means he added $10 as an extra tip???? My husband went back to the restaurant a few days later with proof. The manager gave him the $10 and said the waiter must have added an additional $10. There was no hassle in getting the money back but for the prices, the service should be better. We prefer Cabana on 3rd. more

We went here for New Years dinner, what a mistake. Pros: the Sangria and when we left. Cons: The service, drunk waitress, cold food, loud music and having to pay 90 bucks to experience it. more

The service was very poor. My group sat in the bar area and waited for service for over twenty minutes. I decided to ask the hostess if there is waitress service at the tables in the bar area. The hostess said there is waitress service but she is extremely busy. The waitress finally came over to clear the table but never returned to provide service. We decided to leave and go to a place where we can get good service. This is the second time I went to Sofritos and got bad service. In October I went with a group for dinner. We were celebrating a birthday. After our meal we wanted to continue drinking and ordered dessert. The waiter asked us if we could vacate the table after dessert and go to the bar to continue drinking. We were there to have dinner not hangout by the bar. How dare they rush us out of the table! After these two experiences this place is not worth my time. Very unprofessional and does not cater to the customers needs!! more

DO NOT GO HERE!!!! Unless you want someone to sit at your bar table while you wait for a dinner table. This place has EXTREMELY poor service and isn't worth your money. In this economy, there are so many other options and Sofrito's just isn't one of them. Pros: Ok Food Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE more

One of the modern day most used words must be rude! Hell, I wish my family in Bed-Stuy back then actually knew how to spell the word:) I celebrated two daughters great days there: Birthday, NYU Graduation, Baruch Graduation for the other- wonderful food with generous portions, appetizers gone mad. Those of you who don't like fried can ask for broiled:) However, our culture is mixed and much of our food is fried. So remember that when you trek to Harlem and eat Sylvia's fat back induced concoctions! Hail to Sofrito's bringing P.R. Back! Pros: Upscale ambience for our culture Cons: Price? more

Finally a chic Latin restaurant that isn't Mexican in the city. Well that's what I kept hearing. So although my skepticism I decided to give the restaurant a chance. So I went with a friend who had alaready been. So when I first walked in there was immidiate appreciation for the decor. Pros: Sangria Cons: Service, Food, Price more

Went there on a friday night, we were prepared to wait, but weren't prepared to get shoved around while waiting. After standing at the bar for 30 minutes and eating an appetizer there, we finally got a seat on the couches. The waitress introduced herself and left, only to return and inform us that if we wanted to sit on the couches, we would have to order food or beverages, which we clearly already had in our hands. She said we had to move but found us other seats at the front of the restaurant, after that waitress introduced herself and we didn't order another drink right away, we were asked to move, since she had a group which wanted to order food and drinks. We wound up at standing at the bar again!!! I was ready to leave when our buzzer went off. Food was delicious and service great at the table, but be prepared to wait and get pushed around a lot. Pros: Food tasty and table service great Cons: Loud music, can't have a conversation at the table more

I've been to Sofrito numerous times and everytime I go the food-without a doubt-is great. The empanadas taste just like the ones from home [Mm]...the pina coladas are really smooth [I don't like tasting the alcohol in drinks so this was right up my alley]...and the food comes out in the blink of an eye. Highly recommended..BUT I just have one story. I went yesterday and the waiter told us about a ""special"" so we all agreed it was what we wanted. The bill comes..and I guess I was naive to think a ""special"" meant not outrageously priced...wrong. Since I've been there a few times I know the menu [so-so] and the most expensive thing I noticed is maybe 20 something? Ok well this plate was about 40 or more. I was a little shocked but it was so delicious [sliced steak, rice topped with shredded coconut and shrimp in a garlic sauce] I dropped the money without a problem. We're headed out and the waiter stops us and asks if his service was ok and we reply with a simple yes. He shows us the bill and asks why we tipped him the way we did and handed it back to us and basically asked us to add more! Ok now I'm usually not a cheap tipper but I was SHOCKED. This had never ever everrrr happened to me [or any of the ppl I was with]. We added more to the bill and walked out with our mouths dropped. The nerve! Now that I think about it I should have taken the paper and written a big ZERO for tip and spoke to his manager about it...Oh! a few more things...they don't take reservations on weekends or weekdays before 7 [I think]...and it gets loud...so don't go here if you expect to have an intimate dinner. Also, a lot of people come here to celebrate their bdays...expect to hear them singing happy bday minimum of 10 times while you're here. [trust me...it happens every time I come here!]...Hope I was helpful!!! Pros: delicious food that comes out right after you order it Cons: no reservations available on weekends [expect to wait], very loud, rude waiter! more

Great service, great food. However for the price you are paying they should at least let you enjoy the food. Pros: Good Food Cons: They try to rush you out more

I went twice this year. The second time I decided to celebrate my best friends birthday with a party of 12 on a Sunday at 6pm. Of course we all arrived before 6pm and we were seated as soon as everyone was there, which was before 6pm. The service was on point. The menu was printed with Birthday wishes for my best friend! The food was delicious (esp. the Paella) and for the amount of food served the price was just right! It was a great evening and everyone loved it. I'm sure my friends, who never been, will definitely go back. They were all impressed. I was a proud party planner/host. Thanks Sofrito! Cons: Parking can be difficult - but it is the city! more

SOFRITO inspected: 14 violation points - Pros: plenty of food Cons: not enough time to enjoy it more

The Food is very good........but make sure you leave before 9pm after that u have the yo yo sup people walking in there more