10/22/09

What a Dissapointment....

by InThe Road

Our friend was visiting us from Chicago and she wanted to try the Venezuelan food and Me and my Partner choose El Cocotero to take our friend to dine out; but what a Mistake!!!..We arrived and noticed that the place is not cozy (too many tables for the capacity of the Restaurant); the chairs are too close from each other that you are eating and you’re shoulder-shoulder with the next person… not good lighting ( we had to use the light of our cell phones to see the menu..which is fine printed )…A waiter approached to our table and, started a “non sense conversation” and then he walked away…we looked at our faces like” what happened to that guy”..another waiter came and took our order...I ordered as an appetizer “arepitas con nata” and my friend an “empanada” as a meal I ordered “Pabellon” and my partner and my friend ordered the “Hallacas”...well the “empandada” arrived but my “arepa con nata” took so long to be served; I had to call the “waiter” who took our order and he said that it was a mistake and then finally it came 15 minutes later…The “Pabellon and the Hallacas” took forever to be served…( I for sure can say 30 minutes) …We called again and he said that it’s coming…10 minutes later the food arrived..The Hallacas was OK but the Pabellon ( specially the shredded beef) was salty and spicy that I couldn’t eat it. After we finished we had to wave the waiter who was like in La-La Land talking with the owner and the other “Non sense waiter” was too entertained talking with another costumer about hair and nails…???... Finally they came and picked up the dishes and then we ordered as desert “Tres Leches” and “Quesillo…And again, it took forever I think that they were too busy chatting and gossiping among them that they don’t realize that they are working in a restaurant and people need be to be attended..I had to call again and reminded them about the deserts; at this point my discomfort was obviously on my face that one of the waiter noticed it and gave to my friend a free drink “to go”..I wanted to leave that place!!!..It’s was so embarrassing for us to take our friend to that restaurant and Honestly I won’t recommend this place to anyone…Poor service..Bad Condition of the place…Too Hazard…

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Not Cozy Place - Poor Service - Bad Lighting -

06/17/09

Best Arepas in NYC

by Moni112

We walked by this place one late night, saw the menu and finally went a few weeks later. We were upset that we hadn't gone sooner because it was GREAT. the arepas and entrees are delicious. The staff is so friendly that it feels like you've known them for years. The environment is fun yet chilled. The owner has been there the 2 times we've been in the last 3 weeks; and the 2nd time- he was our server! We decided it's a favorite restauarnt of ours and a place we'll take our out of town visitors. Try the mango juice w/milk; the Miss Venezuela arepa, el pepito, tres leches dessert, and the shrimp entree. That's what I've had so far and all was sooooo goooood

• Pros: friendly staff (like family); delicious food; easy on the $$
• Cons: None!

10/20/08

Good food, super-friendly service, terrific coffee

by eat_club

This Venezuelan food was BETTER than I had in Venezuela. The Arepas were more like latkas!

And friendly??? The staff was so nice, we felt like kissing them good-bye when we left the place.

You should start with an arepas appetizer, then go to the steak... thin sliced mildly spiced. I had the mechada (chewed? mechanized?) beef and it was delicious. Polar beer is served bien calliente. After get the coffee. Try coffee Negro and enjoy the great black stuff for it's own taste. And the staff?? Kiss 'em for me when you go! --Eat Club is a roving group of NYC gluttons

• Pros: super-friendly staff, good food, terrific coffee
• Cons: don't expect spicey! That ain't Venezuelan