This establishment is now closed. It started off strong, but went downhill pretty quick so the…read moresister restaurant of bistro basket which also started off good and then went downhill, but both are now closed.

What a fabulous evening I had today 2/13. My husband and I decided to eat out before his long…read moreweekend of work. Our original restaurant was completely filled with no parking spot and I think that happened for a reason because we happen to stumble upon El Barrio. To begin with we were welcome with a a warm smile by a witty host who took care of us the entire evening. He made subtle jokes and made us feel extremely welcome. The ambience was really relaxing and romantic. My husband and I enjoyed some amazing apps and it only got better from there. The Costilla (short beef rib) was perfectly tender. And my husband churrasqueria was equally as incredible. I love restaurants with a limited menu because you just know everything will be made with love. I 100% recommend El Barrio and I will be returning.

This review is not the easiest for me to write. I have been coming to the Little Columbian…read morerestaurant since 2015. I loved this place, their food was fantastic and the quality was super consistent; an excellent spot to get together with friends or a date. So much attention to detail was paid, house made dressing, salsa, all ingredients were super fresh, the meats were always cooked excellently, and the staff was friendly. I hadn't been to the restaurant in a while but at some point in the last few years the Little Columbian restaurant became My little Columbian restaurant. My friends and I went there for dinner at the end of October, there was one couple that was leaving the restaurant but we were the only ones there when we first walked in. The vibe of the restaurant has changed because they changed how they decorated the interior of the restaurant. I prefer their older vibe but no big deal. Our waitress was nice and very attentive all night and the staff in general was quite friendly. Here's my issue, the food quality is not as good as it was in the past. And if they are going to charge along the same lines as what they have, always been on the pricier side, then the quality should still be at the same level. There were a bunch of little things that added up. To start, the salad I ordered didn't have the same quality of greens (I think they used a spring mix in the past), there were some small bits of core in the salad. More to my disappointment the Salad dressing was no longer the house dressing they used to make it was Ken's balsamic dressing, which generally tastes like diabetes syrup. Maybe it was an off night for the salad and I could live with that but the lack of the old house dressing was disappointing. Speaking of cutting corners, the chimichuri used to be super fresh and of good quality ingredients. The chimichuri this time around had a lower quality olive oil and the parsley was dried instead of fresh. My friend ordered some empanadas, which were partially burnt and again the slasa wasn't the same quality as they used to make with the empanadas. For an entree, I ordered Bandeja Columbiana. The chicharon was a bit overdone but ok enough. The chorizo was probably the best part but you have to try to mess up chorizo. The maduro was kind of dry and somewhat bland. The chicken was a touch rubbery and the steak was fine; nothing to write home about. As I had mentioned before the food wasn't terrible, it was fine enough but it was not worth the price it cost. Much worse is the fact that the quality in general just isn't the same as it had been prior, maybe they just had an off night but something tells me this is how it is now. It's too bad this restaurant isn't quite what it was; it used to be one of my favorites.

Great food. Acceptable prices. In a sneaky little corner of East Haven. Would recommend to friends…read moreand family. Will go again. Be prepared to order in Spanish.

Had a great experience at MIA! The décor is super cute and definitely very Instagrammable perfect…read morespot for photos and a fun night out. I came here with coworkers to celebrate a farewell for someone moving out of state, and it also happened to be around my birthday. My coworker had the servers come out and sing happy birthday, and I loved the Latin flair they added it made the moment feel really special and lively. The overall vibe, energy, and experience were really enjoyable, and it's definitely a place I'd return to. The only downside is that the drinks are on the pricier side, but everything else made up for it.

Exactly the new restaurant Middletown needs!…read more The happy hour is A-MAZING. The prices really can't be beat for the quality of the food and drinks, as well as the atmosphere. They also use gorgeous dish ware that feels luxurious. Certain food and drink items are listed for $8 each on the happy hour menu, and we got two margaritas, empanadas, shrimp tacos and a burrata salad, plus we threw in a side of tostones, and everything was delicious. It was less than $30 per person including tip! Do not snooze on this!!! We sat at one of the swing tables, and while the novelty of swinging while eating was quite fun, it was a little tricky to get close enough to the table to eat comfortably. But it's worth trying at least once! They did a great job decorating for the holidays, and the server was super kind. I loved the whole experience and will most certainly return.

I first tried Cibus back in August of 2025 for a quick drink and appetizers, so when my friends…read moreasked where we should go for dinner, I didn't hesitate to suggest it. I may add that I live 90 minutes from here and only come to this town 1-3 times a year. So, my friends usually take my suggestions and a group of eight of us showed up on a Saturday night with no reservation, and somehow the universe blessed us with a table. The place was packed, even the bar had people standing around it; so we knew we were in for a good night. One thing I loved about Cibus that night, is the crowd. It's a great mix of Hispanic and non‑Hispanic diners, which tells you the food speaks to everyone. The décor is warm and inviting, and the dimmed evening lighting gives it that cozy, "we're about to eat well" vibe. Parking was easy too. I have to admit I thought it may be harder to find parking but we found a spot right behind the restaurant, though street parking is also an option, but was packed. Our server, David, deserves his own shout‑out. Super patient, friendly, and ready with answers for every question we threw at him. He checked on us often without hovering, and everyone at the table agreed he did an excellent job. Now, the food...my favorite part. If you've read my reviews before, you know I eat everything but have a soft spot for Asian cuisine. And even though I'm Hispanic, I rarely go out for Hispanic food because I cook it well at home and most places don't impress me. Cibus, however, did not disappoint. Not one dish missed the mark, and the whole table agreed. We even ordered extra food to take home. We started with the Garlic Shrimp with Mofongo. The creamy orange sauce caught me off guard because it's not the usual style, but it worked beautifully. The flavors were balanced, the mofongo wasn't dry (thank you!), and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. We liked it so much we ordered multiple plates of this one; plus two Cuban sandwiches to go. The Cuban was tasty, though it could use a little more meat and sauce. The Ropa Vieja was another hit. Plenty of meat, plenty of sauce, and the black beans were flavorful. A sprinkle of fresh cilantro on top would have made it perfect, but that's just me being picky with my extra flavors and aroma. We also had the ceviche, the trio of little mofongos, and the Chips and Guacamole -- and yes, they make their tortilla and plantain chips in‑house. Not a single crumb survived. I tried the Tostones Sliders with pork, and I wouldn't change a thing. They were loaded with meat, had the right amount of veggies and sauce, and were just delicious. The only dish that didn't wow me was the Maduro with cheese. I love maduros, but the melted mozzarella felt a little plain. There's so much potential here, instead of Mozart maybe try some queso Mexicano, a small side of meat sauce, chimichurri sauce, or even a spicy drizzle could take it to the next level. Speaking of spice, I asked for hot sauce and was surprised to get a watered‑down Frank's RedHot. For a Latin fusion restaurant, something like Cholula, El Yucateco, or Tapatío would fit the Latin fusion theme so much better and elevate the dishes. But overall, Cibus is doing so many things right -- great service, great food, great atmosphere. I'm already planning my next visit and bringing new people with me at end of May.

Second time here...first time dining in. Came here for a family member's birthday dinner…read more Went on a Sunday evening with a group of seven. The restaurant midsized, it's nicely decorated, clean, and good for groups too. The staff were very friendly, food was good, however the waitress was ok. She forgot to bring my appetizer and forgot to place my to-go meal in time of the kitchen closing. The waitress was apologetic and I understand humans forget things from time to time when you're busy. However, this evening was less than half full and when we left it was near closing time...only a couple tables were still there. The least they could have done was comp my meal or have the manager stop by to apologize. But that didn't happen, I just didn't want to make a fuss...so I paid the bill and time will tell if there is another visit in the future.

I Came back here again because I was in the area and hungry. Food is still amazing and this time i…read moredecided to try something different. I got a cherry tropical icee. It was delicious. I also enjoy a plate a food to include rice and bean and pork. Also I got a beef and cheese empanada. It was so good and had a good amount of cheese in it. Service was still great and restaurant was clean.

This was our first time here and all the food looked fresh and delicious with constant replenishing…read morefrom the busy kitchen. We tried the beef empanadas and the alcapauria and liked them both. I would love to try any of the other dishes, as all looked and smelled so good. The entire place was clean, including the restrooms. Business was constant the whole time we were there. 2 parking lots on either side for off street parking if you can find a space.

So happy there's a new restaurant close by. The restaurant is beautiful! The decor and environment…read moreare so calming. I love near the bathrooms, there's hanging plants from the ceiling! The restaurant and restrooms were super clean. The staff were amazing! They were so kind and attentive. We did the happy hour menu - we ordered the fried calamari, which I do not like but wanted to try, and it was delicious! Along with the fuego sauce. It was crispy and not chewy at all. Also ordered the beef sliders on brioche buns. They were tasy as well! We also got the pork belly - tostones, red onion, tomato, cilantro, and lime juice . I personally did not enjoy this, but my bestie's did. We had such a great time and will definitely be back for a nice dinner.

What a hidden gem!! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the food delicious!!…read more We got there for happy hour and had several small plates. There are many gluten free options so I was in heaven!! I haven't had a fried Calamari in years because there were no gluten free options. The calamari was perfectly done just the right amount of seasoning and the batter was light and crispy! Empanadas were yummy and the gluten-free chocolate lava cake was decadent and gooey. We were so excited to dig into everything, we forgot Pictures! (Except for the Lava Cake!) Definitely will be going back!!

I wanted a quieter place to have a cold one and some good food. This fit the bill. The bar was nice…read moreand the bartender attentive. The corn nuts were quite interesting. The sauce that came with it was very flavorful. Polla la brasa was a bit bland, I was surprised. But the sauace again saved the day. And, the meat was quite good. Overall a good place to try new Ecuadorian food.

Food is delicious and employees are very nice! I ordered the "churrasco ecuatoriano" and my husband…read more"ceviche" everything was outstanding

So happy we found this place. My husband is Puerto Rican and says their food is just like mom used…read moreto make. Staff is so friendly, great variety of options, eat in or take out. Prices reasonable for the quality of food. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Been a customer here for 7 years and I've never had one bad experience. The food is always amazing…read moreand continued to bring me comfort. The service is amazing and the family who owns the restaurant is incredibly hard working. Couldn't vouch harder for this place. Best food in New Haven easily.

Nice little place, modest accomodations, good food. Recommend the rotissery chicken, lomo saltado…read moreif your new to peruvian food. The variety is limited but nice to have this restaurant. I am peruvian and this is a good representation of our food. Give it a try! This review was stuck in my outbox. lol. I have been there a few more times. The place has grown and it is even better.

The food here was pretty solid. I don't have any complaints. I think my biggest complaint is that…read morewith regards to Peruvian food the menu is a bit limited. Additionally, I was surprised that they were using tilapia for their ceviche. Tilapia is such a dirty fish for where we're located I really think they could definitely come up with a better substitute or just simply use Corvina as it should be.

Cute little hole in wall of an older strip mall. It's a take out only place or if Heather is good…read moreyou can sit outside in the two tables. We tried the traditional whole chicken meal with fried rice and French fries. The portions are huge, the chicken is incredibly moist and the fried rice is packed with flavor. The spicy sauce is on par as it is a great mix with the food. Service is good just a bit awkward as they only have one menu on the counter to choose from so if multiple people are trying to order it's tough. Weekends they offer empanadas They do take credit card Parking is ample

This is the only place I have had empanadas in the United States that taste like they do in Peru.read more