Elvie's Turo-Turo -- CLOSED

07/15/09

Filipino food?? I think not!!!

by CSMobileUser2 at Citysearch

I ate here 4 times to see if my previous impressions were wrong. They were right. The food is over-priced and disgusting (for a lack of a better word). Not worth the time or the money.

Everyone is family at this friendly East Village restaurant serving home-style Filipino cooking.

by Keith Wagstaff at Citysearch

The Scene
Behind the often-fogged windows at this small restaurant is a homey atmosphere, full of smiling employees and Filipino families crowded around simple red tables. The menu (which changes daily) is scrawled on a blackboard above the glass counter, where food is served cafeteria-style.

The Food
Satisfied exclamations of "Masarap!" (Tagalog for "delicious") vouch for the authenticity of the food, including the highly addictive lumpiang shanghai, small, crispy fried spring rolls filled with a zesty mix of ground pork, carrots, soy sauce and garlic. For the entrees, the adobo, tangy chicken or pork swimming with vinegar, soy sauce and garlic, is a perfect addition to a mound of fluffy white rice. The fiercely pungent tinola matches chicken in a sinus-clearing ginger broth littered with spinach. For dessert, try the halo halo, a drink mixing crunchy shaved ice with a creamy mixture of milk, sugar, sweet beans and cold ice cream.

07/09/06

A Palatable Filipino Dishes

by jrnunez at Citysearch

Having been in many different filipino restaurants accross the country, I can safely say that the food @ Elvie's Turo-Turo is palatable. Unfortunately, If you are thinking of having some friends over, you may have to settle for take home. The place does not have a lot of space for comfortable dining. This is not a good place for a romantic or business dining experience either. However, the staff was very friendly, the price was affordable and the food is definitely authentic. I would recommend this restaurant for a casual and "on the go" Filipino dining choice whenever you are in New York City. I will rate the restaurant a "3" for space, a "5" for location, a "6" for affordability, a "5" for portions and a "7" for taste. Go and check it out. You may like it.

• Pros: Readiness
• Cons: Space

02/19/06

Mouth said more, stomach said full

by culturalenigma at Citysearch

You walk in and instantly are transported into any Filipina's house. Grandma, Mom, Auntie, doesn't matter.....

Binegar, soy sauce, pish sauce, garLIC, ginger, chicken, lechon, oh man, it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. I swear I thought my grandma would walk out of the kitchen any moment. Just like a home cooked meal, literally.

AND, all the "pood" and even dessert was under $20 for two people including drinks and dessert. The restaurant doesn't have a lot of space, but that's ok. If you want "hip" and no taste for too much money, go somewhere else. If you want to be reminded of home, or experience REAL Pilipino Pood Pirst Hand "honey", then you'll go to Elvies.

BTW - Coyote Ugly is just up the street for those of you who want "trendy".

• Pros: Filling, frugal, SO GOOD!
• Cons: more seats, need a bigger stomach, need bigger mouth.

01/30/05

perfect filipino food

by totoro80 at Citysearch

If you are looking for an "authentic" filipino dining experience, Elvie's is it in NYC. From the Lumpia, to the pancit, to the adobo, to the Halo-halo dessert, this small local storefront restaurant has it all. just don't expect ambiance cause there is none. just excellent food

recommended!

• Pros: inexpensive, quick service, good selection
• Cons: few seats, barren interior

04/03/04

Filipino Restaurant in NYC

by jimadams at Citysearch

If it's authentic food of the Philippines that you want, Elvies Turo-Turo is by far the best for value and taste that I have found in the Metropolitan New York area.

Food served here has the quality of the best home-cooked meals I have tasted outside the Philippines.

You will not be disappointed as to quality and quantity of servings. Most likely you will return again and again to further sample the specials which change for each day of the week.

• Pros: Inexpensive, High quality cooking
• Cons: , Rustic ambiance

02/19/04

True soul food

by supple77 at Citysearch

After returning to NYC after living overseas for a while I became turned off at the so called restaurant scene. Mostly everything in NYC is style over substance; its more important to have hip music, hot waitresses and inflated reputations of the chef du jour rather than real food. Elvies is the antithesis of the NYC resto scene. Its about the food PERIOD! And its so unbelievably rustic and "stick to your gut" that reminds you of Grandmas Sunday evening dinner. NYC is lucky to have you Elvies--please stay the way you are.

09/16/02

Flippin for Elvie's

by Xanthe at Citysearch

Short of being invited to a Filipino home for dinner, Elvie's is the closest you'll get to tasting Filipino delights...such as mongo (lentil stew), chicken adobo, pinakbet, and longaniza (sweet cured pork/sausage). For the adventurous of heart, try the balut (a sort of duck egg that tastes like cheeze) - it's great with a light beer. :) The halo-halo, a shaved ice dessert, is wonderful. There's nothing bland about the food - I'm happy to say that, at Elvie's, the Filipino taste is alive and well....and affordable...even after all these years....a true neighborhood dive.

07/21/02

Just like Mom's cooking!

by racamajo at Citysearch

If you don't want to pay Manila Garden prices or are looking for homecooking you won't find at Cendrillion, Elvie's is the place to go. It will remind you of Mom's cooking, which was oftentimes MASARAP (delicious, for you non-Filipinos) but sometimes a miss, too. You can always count on their chicken adobo to satisfy your hankering for that brown sauce over rice (just watch out for the chicken bones), as well as longanisa or barbecue... but the kare-kare is hit or miss. Hands down, it's the best authentic Filipino food in the City and the best value.

• Pros: No frills, cheap food, Like Mom's cooking
• Cons: Cramped space, Limited selection