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    Carmen’s Kitchen

    3.8 (32 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican

    Order Carmen’s Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Carmen’s Kitchen Photos

    CARMEN’S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Carmen’s Kitchen

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    Interior
    Christina M.

    Absolutely yes yes YES!! Coworkers raved about this place. A teeny tiny "hole in the wall" with a line outside. I went a Thursday I think. I remember long ago there was a lady who had a food truck I wondered if it was the same woman. They have THEE best home style cooked lunch under $20 in the area. With one main and three sides and cannot go wrong they know how to make Spanish good here. It is very hot in the small kitchen and the line is usually long if you pull up after 1pm which is peak lunchtime for the area. There is no parking, no seating and no beverages. Tipping is optional and all the food is on display for you to make a choice. They get folks in and out and I have no ideas how the 3 ladies and one young man can fit inside the mini vestibule especially during the summer months but I am grateful that they are back there pumping out the goods from the small kitchen. Some days I'm just do grateful to smell the garlicky aroma coming from there homemade salad dressing while a colleague is indulging in the lunch area- and some days it's an absolute must have. I have only ever tried the seafood options, yellow rice, green beans, potatoes salad, garden salad and I go crazy for their yuca. You cannot park here, restaurant is standing room only, I don't know if they have options to order in advance to skip the line I realize as writing this- but it's WORTH it. They have an A rating, a positive relaxed but motivated attitude while taking orders and do not dawdle they literally get you in and out you being indecisive is they only thing that could hold you up. 5/5 I highly recommend Wednesday is probably their busiest day of the week just FYI enjoy.

    Jerk Chicken
    Wendy B.

    There's always a long line during weekday lunch hours, finally decided to hop in the line. People around me recommended Jerk Chicken as the main so that's what I got. The chicken was very tender at center but around the skin gets a bit dry. Flavor was good and well seasoned, on the mild side for jerk. For the sides: rice and bean was good, rice was well cooked texture, tasty with the gravy; Mac n cheese was okay, slightly overcooked wish there's more texture; potato salad has onion, bell pepper, and carrots which were nice.

    Michael N.

    Good food for a good price! Right in the financial district the lines outside are down the block at lunch time .. Service is fast and the employees seem to be related. The space is bit small , cramped and could use a larger space. The sign outside needs to be cleaned..

    Jerk chicken, white rice, broccoli and string beans
    Monica C.

    One of my go-to spots for a lunch. Carmen's is a popular spot in FiDi for lunch with long lines often out the door. The lines may seem intimidating, but it does move at a reasonable pace. The best times to avoid waiting in line are before 1130am or after 2pm. My favorite main dishes are the jerk chicken, fried fish and fried chicken. They do also have baked chicken, baked salmon and other daily specials. As for sides, I enjoy their broccoli - cooked just perfectly and nicely seasoned. Other favorites include baked sweet potato, sautéed string beans, potato salad, and baked mac and cheese. I dont normally like salad, but the dressing they use for their salad is so light, vinegary and delicious. The food turns around super quickly so you know it's fresh and hasn't been sitting around. Sometimes they run out of fish and you'll have to wait 15-20 mins for them to fry up a new batch. Portions are also pretty generous! Affordable lunch with friendly service, can't go wrong there!

    Menu 12/2022
    Kimberly W.

    Love Carmen's kitchen! They offer a huge portion for the price! It's a quick choose 3 sides and a main plate, grab, and go place. It's super small so there is no seating and only enough space for 3-4 guests to be inside considering social distancing, and only enough space for 2 or the 4 guests to be ordering at a time. None the less, the line goes super quickly and the food is delicious. I always get the yellow rice, sweet potato, collard greens with the fish. The fish is absolutely amazing. And the collard greens gives it the extra flavor needed. I usually eat their plate as two meals (lunch and dinner) since I'm never able to finish it. I totally recommend this place for lunch if you're in the area. Visit at around the 30 or 45 minute marks if you don't want to wait in a long line outside. There will probably be a line, but not the 15 or 20 people lines that you see at 12:00pm.

    Victoria S.

    The food is very affordable for the area and delicious! There is no place to eat inside and since it's a small place, a line develops quickly but that is ok. The service was quick and I have no complaints!

    This is after I'd already eaten a large piece of the fish.
    Gigi S.

    Pretty great tasting Spanish food for a great price in downtown Manhattan. This is a to go place as there is nowhere to sit. They offer a vast array of Spanish dishes. I especially like their fried fish and highly recommend this place for lunch.

    S-Ann O.

    Maybe I missed something along the way?  As I walked on John Street in Manhattan, there was a line of people patiently waiting to enter Carmen's Kitchen to make their lunch purchases.  When I returned in less than forty-five minutes by Carmen's Kitchen, two people were waiting to enter the "kitchen" connected to a pizzeria.  On Monday, March 28, 2022, a cardinal rule was broken to sample an entree with three ( 3 ) sides from Carmen's Kitchen on Monday(s) because of the stream of customers observed waiting to enter. For $12, the selected lunch consisted of fried fish, macaroni & cheese, rice & beans, and cassava (yucca) with sauteed red onions.  The overall portion size received was "okay" served in a biodegradable bowl (earth conscious indeed). Receiving one ( 1 ) small fried filet fish was somewhat shocking and disappointing for the $12 price point.  The rice and beans was tasteless missing basic seasonings customarily associated / used with this particular side dish.  I am a macaroni and cheese foodie who totally enjoys eating mac & cheese ALL BY ITSELF!  Something went awry with Carmen's Kitchen macaroni and cheese because it tasted nothing like mac & cheese.  It tasted bland devoid of any seasonings incorporated in the basic macaroni and cheese mixture before baking. Saving the BEST for last was the cassava (yucca) sauteed with red onions, which melted in my mouth.  The red onions were perfectly sauteed to compliment the cassava (yucca), which required minimum seasoning(s).  This was the ONLY side completely eaten and enjoyed.

    Small amount of pork.  90% belly fat which is not edible to me.

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    2 years ago

    The employees are rude and the chicken is salty. Also, a very cramped and uncomfortable environment. Not worth waiting on the line.

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    3 years ago

    Good food, price and portion and there is always a line. Potato salad is really flavorful.

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    4 years ago

    Food is nicely seasoned. I like the baked chicken, broccoli, string beans, and potato salad. All yummy. Just be prepared to wait on line.

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    Ask the Community - Carmen’s Kitchen

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    I believe it's open on weekends but definitely not nights. After the lunch work crowd rush things slow down a lot ..

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    Monkey Bar - Smoked Whitefish Caesar (~$28)

    Monkey Bar

    4.3(475 reviews)
    3.9 miMidtown East

    Getting a reservation here is very hard. One just popped up in my Resy app for lunch though, so I…read morewent for it. It was my first time here although, it has been around for ages. The front part where you first walk in is the bar area with some tables. This restaurant is on the darker side and brings you back in time. Once you walk in further that is where the main dinning room is. This is also on the darker side as you can maybe tell by my photos. The wall paper and art around the restaurant is cool and there are some monkey statues around the restaurant. I was seated in a corner table in a booth area that seemed to be for at least 2-3 people. I thought for sure they would seat me at the bar area. I had a wonderful waitress whose name I think was Taylor but I could be wrong. I ordered the Monkey bread to start off with. It's a very buttery bread with truffle and parm cheese on top. I have alot of allergies and I was searching online if I could even have truffles as I have a nut allergy. So, I asked the waitress and she said she had never heard this. But, she came back to me and told me that White truffle grows near or like over where Almonds grow from but that, they don't use white truffle so I was all good. Well, this was super nice of her to check for me. I had no idea she was going to do this. She said the restaurant has strict protocols when it comes to food allergies. I then got for my main dish the double cheese burger with onions and pickles. To drink I had the cucumber martini. WOW everything was pretty darn good!! I passed on dessert. If you get a chance or a reservation pops up in your resy to go, even if it is for lunch..I highly say go for it.

    From the moment we sat down, the service set the tone for the entire experience. Our server was…read moreincredibly warm, upbeat, and full of energy--one of those people who genuinely elevates a meal. I only wish I could remember her name because she deserves the recognition. We started with drinks, and mine ended up being a surprise standout. I ordered the coconut margarita, slightly hesitant since I'm not usually a margarita fan--but it completely won me over. It struck a perfect balance and leaned just enough into the coconut to make it feel unique without being overpowering. My sister-in-law, who's pregnant, had a non-alcoholic Ritual margarita and loved it, noting how convincingly it mimicked the real thing. Since we were sharing, we got to try a good mix of the menu. The monkey bread came first--definitely a splurge at $34, but it's one of those fun, indulgent starters that's worth ordering at least once. While I wouldn't call it the best bread I've ever had, I also wouldn't change anything about it. The crab rangoon was another highlight. Having it made with real crab made a noticeable difference, and the dipping sauces complemented it really well. It felt like a more elevated take on something familiar. For mains, the French dip was a hit. The meat was incredibly tender, the bread had that ideal crusty exterior, and the au jus was packed with flavor--I was very glad I ordered extra. It pulled the whole dish together. We also tried the smoked whitefish Caesar, which was the only dish that didn't quite land for me. It was a well-made, fresh salad, but the smoked fish flavor was a bit overpowering and took over the balance of the dish. Even though we were too full for dessert, the restaurant surprised us with a scoop of strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce to celebrate my sister-in-law's babymoon. It ended up being one of the most memorable bites of the meal--we're still talking about how good that ice cream was. We arrived right at 11:45, and by the time we left, the place was absolutely buzzing. It's clearly a popular spot, and for good reason. Between the lively atmosphere, strong service, and well-executed food, I'd highly recommend making a reservation if you can.

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    Monkey Bar - Spicy Shrimp scampi

    Spicy Shrimp scampi

    Monkey Bar - Truffle Monkey Bread

    Truffle Monkey Bread

    Monkey Bar - Truffle Monkey Bread (~$35)

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    The Lion's Bar & Grill

    The Lion's Bar & Grill

    4.4(72 reviews)
    1.7 miEast Village

    For context, we went on Thanksgiving Eve around 7pm. Yes a tricky night to go out to dinner but I…read morewas hopeful. We were immediately put on a waitlist that the host said would take about 25 min. I personally didn't want to wait but my boyfriend suggested we did. We actually only ending up waiting around 15 min and got seated at a nice table by the windows, the other tables looked a bit too close for my liking but I guess that adds to the ambiance of it all. I knew coming into this meal knowing I wanted the burger, mozzarella sticks and Ceasar salad. The dirty martini was so delicious and got me excited for the rest of the food. Mozz sticks were so perfectly crispy, and had a beautiful cheese pull to it. 10/10 Cesar salad was nice and light, enjoyed that they used breadcrumbs instead of chunky croutons. 8/10 (only cuz I think it gets overshadowed by the rest) The cheeseburger...best cheeseburger of my life. I so appreciated that it was simple, no tomatoes or lettuce distracting you. Even having the classic cheese on there reminded me of Kraft grilled cheeses from when I was a kid. I wish I could eat this burger a 100x more, will be recommending to everyone in the near future. Sooooo worth the hype

    These are the places you want to go. The place is usually very busy. We lucked out on a Sunday and…read moreenjoyed the festive atmosphere. Prices are not crazy which is a nice surprise. I was going to try the Tuna Melt but my wife says they are known for their cheese burgers. So when in Rome.. The burgers were terrific highly recommend. The fries are enough for 2 as we shared and enjoyed them as well. It is a cool place where NYC use to have many of. This is one of them. The service was good. If we can get lucky and make a reservation, we will be back. A must and maybe I'll try the Tuna although the burgers are a home run.

    Photos
    The Lion's Bar & Grill - Burger

    Burger

    The Lion's Bar & Grill - Baked Potato

    Baked Potato

    The Lion's Bar & Grill - Caesar Salad

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    Caesar Salad

    Lola's - SOUTHERN CHOPPED HERITAGE PORK sweet potato, black garlic honey butter, collard greens

    Lola's

    4.6(86 reviews)
    2.7 miFlatiron

    We had a really nice experience at Lola's last week. My son had Lola's on his NYC list of…read morerestaurants he wanted to try so here we are! We were seated at a nice quiet table overlooking the kitchen with lots of room. I love when a restaurant reads my comments on my reservation! Adam was our server extraordinaire and he really helped make our evening memorable. From his great menu recommendations to his very attentive service, you can tell he really takes pride working at Lola's and made sure we had a great meal. The tuna appetizer was very good and two of us had the crispy chicken thighs which were excellent...super crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I loved the buttermilk sauce on the side along with the coconut vinegar and hot honey... nice addition! My son had the Atlantic Char which seemed to disappear off his plate very quickly .. he really enjoyed it. Thank you Adam and Lola's for a great dinner!

    Goodness, I've now slept on my meal at Lola's, and my husband and I are still talking about it! It…read morewas the most 5 star experience we've ever had! A few things we loved: --the low ABV cocktail options. I got the Last Word and Tonic, which was delightful. --The cauliflower and rice cakes --the crispy chicken and hot honey --sitting at the kitchen table. We enjoy chatting with the chef, especially about her South Carolina roots (even if she is a Clemson grad ) --the desserts were incredible. We ordered carrot cake and they gave us an extra cookie for my birthday. We loved both and ate every crumb! Thank you to everyone at Lola's for a perfect night!

    Photos
    Lola's - Interior

    Interior

    Lola's - HOUSEMADE NAAN carrot masala yogurt, cilantro chutney

    HOUSEMADE NAAN carrot masala yogurt, cilantro chutney

    Lola's - SOUTHERN CHOPPED HERITAGE PORK sweet potato, black garlic honey butter, collard greens

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    The Corner - Crème Brûlée French Toast

    The Corner

    4.3(55 reviews)
    6.1 miBay Ridge

    I had the absolute pleasure of attending a bridal shower here this spring, and the experience was…read morenothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived, the service was flawless -- warm, incredibly attentive, and perfectly paced. The refreshments were so great for a celebration. The Cocktails: Expertly crafted and sophisticated. It was refreshing to have drinks that were perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. The coffee was served alongside dessert, it was rich and the perfect finishing touch to a wonderful meal. While the Filet Mignon was a popular and well loved choice among our group, and the Meatballs were universally raved about for being truly excellent, the real showstopper for me was the Chicken Parmesan. I don't typically order steak, so I was delighted by this choice. The cutlet was impressively sized yet elegantly thin, showcasing the high quality of the chicken. It was served with a side of creamy mashed potatoes, which was such a comforting and delicious pairing. It did remind me of visiting Germany believe it or not like a schnitzel style cutlet but still very italian if that makes any sense. If you visit, you simply cannot miss the fried eggplant appetizer with burrata. It is divine! This dish alone would be the perfect excuse to drop by for a casual dinner date or a "girls' night out" centered around appetizers, wine, and to try a dessert. I would absolutely return!

    visited this establishment on a few different occasions (brunch and dinner service). Certain…read moredishes were overly salted and the others were mediocre. The fried calamari could've been less oily, as this took away from the crunch; also slightly overcooked. Baked clams were decent. Salmon was cooked to perfection. Pizza was great! They reheated for us, since our group was too busy chatting. Desserts - phenomenal! Drinks- ehh. Brunch menu - French toast was decent. The salmon over hash brown , was lacking a touch of something , couldn't pinpoint what was lacking. Chicken and waffles, decent, wasn't the best I've had. Service- jonathan was our waiter during brunch and also our bartender. He's GREAT! During service dinner, we had a female waitress and I felt she lacked attention to details and couldn't flag her down when we wanted something. Overall, service is a hit or miss , I guess? If you're looking for an intimate dinner, nope. Love their vibes and music playing in the background. You might need to "shout"'to hear

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    The Corner
    The Corner - Burger Royal

    Burger Royal

    The Corner - Old School Italian

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    Old School Italian

    Carmen’s Kitchen - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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