I've lived in this neighborhood for 5 years and had never visited this place until yesterday. I went with my bf and planned to use our groupon voucher for a dinner take-out. My first impression was that this place looks like a tiny dive bar with live salsa music, and they charge $5 cover for admission.\r
First, since I went for a take-out, I figured I didn't have to pay for the $5 cover. Because of that, I had to place my order and wait for my food outside. Second, it took me 20 minutes just to place my order OUTDOORS, because they ran out of almost everything on the menu. They didn't even have any salad left and that was like 8pm. Third, the waitress, who has a really big gap between her front teeth, told us she couldn't place our order unless we ordered more than $30. We told her we didn’t mind to use less value of the voucher, and also it wasn’t mentioned on groupon fine print. And they ran out of the food I wanted to try as well. She refused to take our order until we had ordered over $30. Fourth, it took us 45 minutes to wait for the food OUTDOORS. Sixth, they charged me 15% tips for a take-out. Seriousely, I eat out at least 4 times a week and have been using goroupon dining out for more than a year. I’d never heard a restaurant charge 15% tips for a take-out. I had never had the horrible experience like this, we left with our food with anger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\r
The only good thing I can say from my experience is that the food was not bad, but not worth it with 15% take-out tips. I won’t visit this restaurant again even with 50% off deal. \r
If you have purchased this deal and have never been to the restaurant, here are my suggestions. First, be mental prepared that you aren't going to a restaurant, think that you're going to a very small dive bar with salsa live music. Second, if you are like me not ashamed of using your groupons out of the best value, call first and find out which day the $5 cover per person can be waived since you cannot use your groupon voucher for the cover. Third, have drinks and listen to the live bands instead of having the meal there because it's going to take you forever. Also a live band in this small place is not the best place to enjoy your meal and have a conversation with friends. Fourth, don't order a take-out because you will end up waiting for your food outside forever and still need to pay the 15% tips for no reason. Fifth, my last suggestion is, request a refund credit from Groupon. \r
If you are a Live Latin music lover, go to Amor Cubano which is 6 blocks away from here, on E111st St and 3rd Av. They don't charge a cover and the service is much much much better!\r
more