I stopped for dinner during the week. I had no reservations. There was no wait. I was seated right away. I started with a Mijito. It was delicious. I then tried the Churrasco Mofongo. The whole dish was delicious. That chimichurri sauce was out of this world. It just completed the dish to perfection. My waitress, Samarie, was polite and very attentive. She took my order promptly. My food was out in no time. The restaurant is located in a small plaza. Parking might be limited around dinner time. I was there a little earlier so I had no problem parking. read more

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Came here on a Friday evening as I drive past this restaurant every weekday on the way to pick up my son from daycare. Located in a strip mall in the heart of East Colonial, parking was easily found. We opted for the loiza tray to share as a starter platter. They were all tasty and who doesn't love an assortment of fried appetizers? We also shared the main dish, the roti kan kan at the recommendation of our server since it includes both of the cuts of their main specialty dish, the porchetta. This was the standout of the night, especially the crispy pork skin on the outer covering of the pork belly. Would describe the inside as elevated casual, with a bar in the middle of the restaurant. Service was friendly. We just thought it was slightly priced on the higher end for what you got . Would return but order different dishes to try out the rest of th menu. read more

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WOW WOW WOW! If I could give this restaurant ten stars, I would. I felt like was transported to Puerto Rico with every bite of these insanely delicious dishes. My friends and I all stated with martinis and margaritas, which were very reasonably priced. For starters we had their take on alcapurrias. The flavor that these packed are top tier. You don't need the sauce, but I recommend fresh lime and their pique- heavenly bite! Next we all shared their seafood rice and steak mofongo. The rice was packed with seafood that included shrimp, crab and scallops! The steak was cooked to perfection and the mofongo was very garlic forward (which we loved!) They might also have one of the most delicious chimichurri sauces I've ever had. Both the host and our server were so delightful and attentive. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and perfect for date night. I can't recommend this place enough if you're looking for an elevated flare to Puerto Rican cuisine. read more

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Crocante is seriously my favorite Puerto Rican restaurant ever. The chicken is so dang good and their porchetta is what they're known for. All the menu items I've tried are to die for, simply cooked perfectly with great accompanying sauces and sides. I dream about the chicken. I order the family style meal for myself ! The staff is always on it - working to accommodate you. Ambiance is a bit loud but it's a pretty spacious place with a bar and tv's so, not surprising. The food is worth any wait. I love bringing my friends to this spot for good Latin food. I've never had somebody unhappy with my recommendation when I bring them here! read more

Crocante Restaurant - Whole Chicken tray and Roti-Grill mixed tray with Porchetta - Puerto Rican Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Service was slow but food was very good! I can't wait to come back and try more dishes! The pork was so delicious! read more

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The food was just okay overall, some dishes were above average. We ordered three dishes: the grouper tacos as an appetizer, a chimichurri steak, and a steak mofongo. The grouper tacos were tiny for the price, which was disappointing. Flavor-wise, everything leaned pretty salty. The steak dishes had decent portion sizes and were fine, but nothing really stood out or made me want to come back for them specifically. The rice that came as a side was good though. Service was solid. Our server was friendly, attentive, and the food came out quickly, which I appreciated. No complaints here. The ambiance was a bit mixed. It felt like an upscale diner with a bar, kinda like somewhere people might go for a work lunch or happy hour after the office. The restaurant was pretty empty when we went, even though it was a weekday night, which gave it a slightly off vibe. It's also on the pricier side for what you get. Overall, I'm glad I tried Crocante, but it didn't really wow me. It's fine for a one-time visit, but I don't see myself coming back. read more

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Definitely a good spot to bring the family. The food was definitely amazing nothing was off. The service was good and the decor of the place was official. The only knock is the place could've been cooler it was a bit hot. Will be returning because those Monfongos are very tasty. read more

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Time to try this place. I have heard a lot of great feedback from friends, online and Yelpers. Came in on late Sunday afternoon. Place is in a strip mall, place is clean, decor is modern. Was not busy and was ably to get a seat in 5 mins. Friendly staff. Server recommended the Porcheta and I was craving for sweet plantains. Porcheta- chunks of pork with crispy skin. Meat was tender and savory. Reminded me of lechon the skin was very tasty, but. It that crispy. Plantains- wasn't too ripe and just right. It's my first time to try Pastel- mix of yuca, plantains and meat inside. It was too soft for me. Great food and great service. read more

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This was our 2nd feed Phil experience and we loved it. We were the first customers of the day and we chose to sit at the bar. We ordered a drink and chatted with the bartender some. He told us Phil was there three days ago. The owner invited him for an event they had. He showed up with his daughter and the bar tender said he was the nicest guy. Any way. You want the skinny of the place. Colorful surroundings with plenty of spacing of tables and seating. I chose the porchetta classic and the Mrs had the porchetta sandwich. Both were excellent. The porchetta was moist and oh so good. The pieces of chicharron. Omg The pasteles which I never tried before were delicious. The bartender brought us a red and green dipping sauce. Both were excellent. If you are in Orlando and want some good eats. Crocante will not disappoint. read more

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. Walking into the building, we were pleasantly surprised by how nice it felt inside compared to the outside. It's elegantly decorated, with beautiful murals painted on the walls and a modern full bar. The booths offered very comfortable seating. Our server did a great job explaining the menu and offering suggestions. He was very attentive at first, but once the restaurant got busy, it became difficult to track him down--even when we were ready for the bill. The food was beautifully presented. We ordered the crispy cheese with guava, alfurias, corn fritters, and pancetta crocante to share between myself, my husband, and our two-year-old. Everything was well cooked and thoughtfully plated. We enjoyed most of the dishes, though none of us were big fans of the alfurias--but we think that comes down to personal preference rather than execution. Overall, it was a fun experience and a nice opportunity to try something new. read more

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One of my fav Puerto Rican restaurants has to be Crocante. When you walk in they have a full bar, booth seating, and tables. The greeter gave us our menus and sat us immediately. For an appetizer we ordered the Steak and onion Egg-rolls. They were the perfect bite size pieces and were packed with flavor. I could've ate those egg rolls all night long. The Red Sangria was good and has the perfect balance between juice and alcohol. For our entrees we ordered the Churrasco Mofongo and Stuffed Chicken. The steak on the Mofongo was actually tender with good seasoning and the mofongo was soft and the sauce was a good addition to the dish. The stuffed chicken was bacon wrapped and the bacon was actually crispy around it. I've had this dish in other restaurants and the bacon is always soggy but thank God not at Crocante. The filling was delicious and the sauce the chicken laid on just enhances the flavors overall. The arroz con gondules was packed with flavor as well, and the fried onion crisps on top added great texture. Drinks and food were all amazing. Such delicious and bold flavors in every bite you can never go wrong at Crocante. read more

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Wow just wow!! 10s across the board for everything we ordered! The churrasco egg rolls were crispy, and packed with flavor. The churrasco was juicy, soft, flavorful and the chimichurri sauce topped it off nicely. Most importantly their mofongo took us back to PR and exceeded our expectations!! Also, I really liked the open concept kitchen since it gives you a glimpse into how clean/organized the kitchen is. read more

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Love Puertorican food and couldn' miss coming during magical dinning. This place is a gem! Food, service and ambiance are top notch. Casual and elegant vibes. Let me start with service, staff is so friendly and welcoming. Food is so fresh and tasty with authentic flavors. We try the alcaporias and tacos de bacalaito for appetizers. For our main we got steak and fries, steak was perfectly cook with great seasoning and vegie yucafongo. I love mofongo and this vegie version was so tasty melting with every bite, made with medly stuffed portobello mushroom, cassava mofongo and creamy garlic souce. We cannt forget about the deserts we try the tembleque and tres leches and got a delicious coconut mojito for a drink. Everything was exceptional, cannt wait to come back. read more

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Crocante delivers bold flavor, but the pork is the real star of the menu. Perfectly cooked with a crisp, crackling exterior and juicy, tender meat inside, it's packed with rich, savory flavor that keeps you coming back for another bite. Paired with vibrant sides and a lively atmosphere, Crocante turns a simple pork dish into a memorable experience. If you go, don't skip it--it's a must-order. read more

This was our second time and it is still one of our favorite Puerto Rican restaurants in town. The rotisserie chicken was very flavorful and juicy. Mofongo remains one of our favorites - very delicious and garlicky. Excellent service, atmosphere was fun and lively. read more

The food here was really good. Make sure to call for a table if not you can wait for a little bit. I had the churrasco and tostones de pana. The meat was soft cooked to perfection. For dessert I had a tembleque OMG so yummy! Love the vibe and how clean everything was. It is pricey but the food was worth it. read more

Came with a group of friends for magical dining . I've heard really good things about this place and we were all excited to try them out. The decor was gorgeous, super pretty and great for photo ops. We had a few misteps and we're almost ready to leave. It took almost 20 minutes just to get waters. It was extremely hot. They were out of half of the magical dining apps and entrees. Then they were not allowing us to mix and match courses from the 'magical dining" and "20th anniversary magical dining menus' even though they were out of half of the options and both menus were 3 courses for $40. Thankfully we were able to get the supervisor to allow an exception. The saving grace was our waiter ! I really wish I saved my receipt to mention his name. He was super kind and understanding. And did his best under the circumstances. Once our first course and drinks came out , all was forgiven. They really do have some talented chefs. I highly recommend the drink pairing if doing magical dining! Each drink was better than the last. I'm happy to give 4 stars and look forward to coming back. I'm glad we decided to stay after that rocky start. It was well worth it! read more

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Off the bat, 10/10! Had a nice seat near the front which allowed us to look at the restaurant, bar and patrons. Our beautiful waitress Carolay D was amazing. She gave us great recommendations, knew the menu and was pleasant. She was prompt, professional, knew her customers and was a great waitress. The Coco Pina Sangrias were strong and delicious! Started with the Chicharron with guacamole... WOW! This is a must if you go! Had the Pollo Rellena Pechuga Arroz con Gandules. Was very filling and rich in flavor. You don't get this type of food everywhere so take advantage! Restaurant was clean and staff was working hard. Definitely would come back again! Thanks for filling us up and we had to order more guac to go because it was slappin' that good! read more

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We've been here several times and the food is always good -- authentic Puerto Rican food. This time I got the Chicken Mofongo and an Avocado salad. Both were delicious. On another occasion, I got the Churrasco Chimichurri. It was also delicious. They always have the typical Latin beers and they always have a local craft beer - usually an IPA. The only fault I have with this occasion was the service was slow -- not sure if it was the wait staff or the kitchen. The kitchen did look a little sparse. Still, we would return. read more

My first time at Crocante Restaurant and it did not disappoint. Ordered a Guava Margarita and it was delicious better than expected. Then I ordered the chicharrón, tostones, white rice and beans. Everything was so delicious & yummy. My type of comfort food any day of the week. Staff was especially courteous, and helpful with the menu. Atmosphere was great with lively music, clean and spotless all around. Will definitely be coming back with my family next time in Orlando. read more

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The service at the door and definitely our waitress were so amazing. The atmosphere was relaxing and very clean. But the food was out of this world delicious! My steak was so good well worth the price. My husband had the snapper, cooked perfectly and delicious. I only had a couple bites of the bread pudding was so full but it was good not too sweet which I love. Husband finished it off . We went on Valentine's Day as just a last minute decision, I had found it as a nearby restaurant that had the snapper. So we gave it a shot even three figured it would not happen due to no reservation. They were booked but had a couple high tops available for last minute people. I was so happy. Definitely give this place a try you will not be disappointed. read more

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This review isn't for the food but the customer service. My family and I are flying into Orlando for vacation in June. I tried to make a reservation on Open Table as advised but when I put in our party of (7), the system said I had to call the restaurant to make my reservation, so that is what I did. When I called the restaurant, they said the only way to make a reservation is on Open Table and I explained that the system would not allow me to make a reservation for a party of (7). She said that was my only option, since we are a party of (7) we would have to be a walk-in. I asked if I made a reservation for (6) on Open Table but arrived with (7), would they accommodate us and she said "no". Not sorry we can't do that or let me check with the manager. My husband is Puerto Rican, and we have been looking forward to trying this restaurant since it was profiled on Somebody Feed Phil. I hear the food is amazing, but service also matters. read more

Sooooo good! I tried a few different dishes. The servers were really helpful I wanna go back and try more menu items read more

Crocante Restaurant - Pork belly - Puerto Rican Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Holy moly, the pancetta crocante is probably the most tender piece of pork I've ever tried!! We have been meaning to try Crocante for forever now and finally visited for dinner on a Friday night. I loved that the space is super big and no wait after 6pm! We decided to try the pancetta crocante for $30 since it's their signature dish. You get your choice of one side with the dish or you can get a premium side like mofongo for and extra $3.50. My husband and I split the dish and it was more than enough. For our side we went with the fried tostones. These were really large, came with five pieces and nice dipping sauce. The meat was super tender but just know it's a little on the salty side if you're sensitive to that. We also started with the fried cheese appetizer for $10. It has coconut, mint and I think papa fritas... could also pass for jicama. The flavors meshed really well together and comes with 8 pieces of fried cheese. Service was excellent and the space was decorated nicely. Our first visit was great and we left feeling satisfied! read more

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We came for the first time on a Friday night for Magical Dining. We made a reservation (although there was plenty of availability) and could not be seated until our entire party arrived but we're allowed to get a drink at the bar in the meantime. It is one big area and the decor/furniture is fairly basic. The magical dining menu included a 4th option that unfortunately didn't let you switch out any of the options. The drinks were fairly hit and miss with alcohol strength though they were picturesque. The portions were not huge but the food was generally good. A couple misses - the avocado salad needed more dressing, the salmon was a bit too fishy in taste, and we did not care for the chocolate flavor of the tres leches. The grouper tacos appetizer and pork belly dinner were excellent. read more

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Delicious! From the food, drinks, drinks and dessert Crocante made this an amazing experience for our team meeting. You walk into the restaurant and are immediately greeted and welcomed, the restaurant itself has beautiful murals and light music playing in the background. We had a mix of magical dining and the regular menu, every single meal was full of flavor and love. Our waiter Johan was very attentive and friendly. Highly recommend! read more

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This place had some of the best Latin food in Orlando, I absolutely love the fried cheese and the Chicharron. The rice and beans were some of the best that I've had and the Coquito is perfect. You can even take it home. read more

I heard about this restaurant during magical dining since I saw they participated and finally got the chance to try it. I cant say anything negative about this place. From the moment we walked in and sat down the service was great, our server Johan did an exceptional job describing each of the plates in detail to how they were made and what they consisted of and answered all of our questions. Food also came out very fast. The flavor of each dish from the appetizers, to the entree and dessert left us blown away. Special mention to the alcapurrias, I'm personally not always a huge fan of them but wow the flavor was so good I was genuinely impressed. It felt like elevated Puerto Rican food but still the flavors we all grow up with and love. We left full, content and already planning our next visit! Absolutely a must try. read more

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Crocante is such a hidden gem! The ambience is very laid-back and casual, but don't let that fool you--the food is absolutely upscale Puerto Rican comfort food at its finest. We started with Alcapurrias, which were packed with flavor and a perfect way to kick things off. For drinks, I tried the Tamarind Mojito--refreshing, balanced, and just delicious. For entrées, I had the Churrasco with Mofongo--perfectly cooked steak with all the right seasoning, paired with rich, tasty mofongo. My husband ordered the Carne Guisada with rice and tostones, and it was equally amazing. Every bite felt like a true taste of Puerto Rico elevated to restaurant-quality dining. The service was good, and the restaurant itself is spacious with a beautiful mural along the kitchen wall that really adds character. The only thing I'd note is that the casual table and chair setup didn't quite match the upscale quality of the food--but the flavors were so outstanding that it's easy to overlook. Overall, I give Crocante a 5-star rating. If you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican dishes with an elevated twist, this spot is a must-visit! read more

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Stopped in for dinner and really wanted to love this spot. I ordered the mofongo with steak and onions and a few appetizers -- fried cheese with guava, pork belly, and chicken sausage. Honestly, the apps were the highlight. The flavors were bold and balanced -- that fried cheese with guava was especially good. But the main dish fell flat in comparison. The mofongo was fine, but nothing that stood out, and the steak lacked the punch I was hoping for. If you're Latino and grew up on great home-style Spanish food, this place will probably taste just average. It's not bad -- just not the kind of meal that leaves you craving to come back. Service was friendly, the vibe was nice, but overall it didn't live up to the hype for me. read more

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Was visiting over the weekend and we were craving PuertoRican food on a Sunday afternoon. Thou a lot popped up in my search this particular restaurant had very good reviews & rating. Service and food were are exceptionally good being puertorican myself I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 for thou it's minor I was disappointed with my drink (way to much ice & not enough juice & one of the appetizers the one with everything, it's way overpriced. But overall very good! read more

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I'm not sure what I can say to do this place justice. First off the smells are undeniably welcoming as you open the door. Their staff is great, super attentive and personable. The menu is like a remix of those classic comfort foods you grew up loving, but with a fresh twist that keeps it exciting. When the food hits your table, the presentation is lovely and when you get that first bite "YUM". Already eyed what I will try the next time I visit. read more

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I can't believe it's taken me this long to review Crocante! We tried it for the first time during Magical Dining and had a wonderful experience. I had been hearing so many great things about their Puerto Rican food, and I'm glad we finally made it in for a visit, with our new baby in tow. First off, I was really impressed by the spacious interior and you could tell they have been implementing some nice aesthetic elements, including lounge seating and their new private dining room. I took a little peek and it looks like the perfect spot for a family celebration or birthday dinner. Once we were seated, we order some drinks. I got the pineapple coconut sangria (very similar to a piña colada) and my husband got the coquito on the rocks. Holy wow, their coquito is amazing, STRONG, and it's only $7. I ended up ordering one for myself with my dessert, but more on that later. We were ordering off the Magical Dining menu, so for starters we chose the pumpkin soup and the bistec (steak) encebollao eggrolls topped with cilantro mayo. Both appetizers were so delicious and I could not get enough of that soup. For the mains, my husband got their signature pancetta (rotisserie pork belly) which is what they are most known for and I went with the pan seared catch of the day with a panko parmesan crust. The fish was light and so yummy... exactly what I was in the mood for. And OMG that crispy skin on the pancetta -- My husband also really enjoyed his dish. Back to dessert... We were already pretty stuffed at this point, but I always have a second stomach for dessert. We had the tres leches and the cornbread with ice cream. Both desserts were perfectly balanced, but I was pleasantly surprised by the little corn muffins paired with the ice cream. It was a simple, unique dessert and I really loved it. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu and get that coquito again! read more

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Sigh... where do I start? I've been living in Central Florida since the 90s, and I don't think I've ever been to a Puerto Rican restaurant that tastes this amazing. The food was so good that it almost brought a tear to my eye. I felt like the food critic in Ratatouille when he tries the food and is taken back to a happy place. If there's one type of food I'm very picky about, it's definitely the cuisine from my homeland (Puerto Rico). It is also my number one favorite food. The interior of the restaurant feels so nice and sophisticated. The server was amazing and recommended a lot of great dishes. Every single thing we ordered tasted AMAZING. Even the kid's meal was fantastic, lol. I ordered the churrasco, and it was so tender with incredible flavor. It's pricey, but it's definitely worth it. I highly recommend this place, and I cannot wait to go back! read more

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Dios Mío! Esa morcilla me llevo la menta a PFnR! Food was amazing, so authentic!! 10 out of 10! Whenever ur in Orlando, You need to take that leap & get in there! read more

Crocante Restaurant - The most delicious thing I ever had! - Puerto Rican Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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The food was delicious! All our dishes were great. You have to try the porchetta, their signature dish. The octopus crocante was a very interesting choice as well as the crocante rice. Our waitress was very helpful. The restaurant was clean and it had an okay decor. I finished with a good coffee shot. This is a restaurant you have to visit if you are in the area. read more

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My wife and I recently visited Crocante Restaurant for lunch and had a nice experience. We started with the Bacalaitos as an appetizer. These were essentially Cod pancakes and they were delicious! Lightly crisp, airy and nicely chewy with a briny salty flavor. The side of creamy garlic aioli was perfect for dipping. For the main dish we shared the Panchetta Crocante. This pork was rich, juicy, smokey, tender and surrounded by crispy skin. We also had a side of Mofongo which was nicely soft and savory, filled with tender chicken and had a hint of garlic flavor. Overall, Crocante is a quality Puerto Rican restaurant. read more

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My wife and I got to try Crocante for the first time when they were participating in Magical Dining and looooved it. Even though this review is about the Magical Dining experience, most of the dishes are currently still offered on their regular menu with maybe the exception of a seasonal soup/salad. For the first course, we enjoyed a pumpkin soup and the bistec egg rolls which were the perfect start to the meal. Then our drinks came out shortly after and spoiler alert: they were so good we ordered a second round of the same drinks: a Coconut Pineapple Sangria and a Coquito on the Rocks. We probably should've saved them for the very end of the meal because they could be desserts on their own but we couldn't control ourselves. Second course: I HAD to get the famous pancetta pork belly and my wife got the fish of the day (can't remember what it was but it she raved about it). The pork belly lived up to its reputation and was beautifully crispy and packed full of flavor. I could not wait to have this and it made my day. It was pretty filling so I saved half of the entree to enjoy the next day and with a quick trip to the air fryer, it was just as good the next day! For the final course, my wife and I each split the cornbread with ice cream and the tres leches. If I see a tres leches on the menu, I always have to give it a shot and thankfully, this one did not disappoint. The cornbread and ice cream surprised me too because I wasn't particularly excited about it at first but then I ended up eating more of that over the tres leches. We were stuffed by the end of the meal and thrilled that every course hit the spot. I'm very excited to come back and try more items on the menu. read more

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My husband I went to Puerto Rico this summer for the Bad Bunny residency and it was one of the best trips we've taken together. The food, the people, everything was incredible. He suggested we go to Crocante for our anniversary dinner since we'd never been but had seen the restaurant featured on Somebody Feed Phil. Everything from the drinks to the appetizers to our meals were incredible. We're already planning to go back for drinks and dessert since we were stuffed from the meal! read more

Let me start by saying I was ridiculously excited to try this place. We ordered two off magical dining menus and two off menu. The avocado salad lacked flavor I literally asked for salt. The Alcapurrias were just ok. We did not get anything else. The kids off menu meals arrived after I asked for a check for what we had consumed 42 minutes later later (I know because Lizette our server corrected me after I told her we were waiting well over half an hour.) It was at that time that food actually showed up buuuuut it was lukewarm and only half the meals we ordered. I asked for the manager 3 times but Lizette essentially told us it was her. We paid for what we ate and left. Someone tell Phil he failed when he recommended this place smh. read more

Crocante Restaurant - Coquette and sunshine something - Puerto Rican Near Me - Orlando, Florida