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Debajo

4.4 (123 reviews)
Open • 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Updated 2 weeks ago

Debajo Reservations

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DEBAJO ATMOSPHERE

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Casual
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Intimate
Romantic

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Recommended Reviews - Debajo

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Half chicken
Cyrus A.

Debajo had delicious tapas in a relaxing upscale environment. They are tucked away in nomad, down a set of nondescript stairs. But don't let the basement level dissuade you; they really turn their location into a strength. There's a covered "outdoor" section with lots of natural light, and the inside is spacious and modern, with a semi-open kitchen that makes it feel like you're in a place twice its size. The tapas we tried were great. Patatas bravas were crispy on the outside, with a fluffy inside, and maybe a touch too much salt. The hamachi crudo was excellent, with a unique coconut and mango sauce that gave it a touch of sweet to go with the zest. And the pulpo was great, the octopus was well prepared and the sauce was hearty without dominating the taste. The half chicken was the most memorable dish; our server recommended it, and it's clear why. It was unbelievably juicy and tender, with plenty of lemon flavor in every bite. Lots of meat, don't expect a small plate like the other menu items! All in all a good experience in a nice atmosphere, definitely staying on the list for tapas in the future.

Patatas Bravas
Peyton L.

Made a reservation here for dinner before a show and it did not disappoint! Pretty quiet when we got there (I think it had just opened) but were seated in a nice booth. To find Debajo you have to find the staircase leading down as this is below ground level - hence the name. MUST GET the patatas bravas - just enough to share between three people but might want to get two orders if your party is more than three. DO NOT GET the queso - it's literally a couple thin slices of cheese, a tiny bowl of almonds, and some tomato mixture. You can add bread for like $7 on top of the original $16 price - actually ridiculous for what you get. The roasted duck breast was flavorful and tender, and the bavette steak was even better. Really great to share as well since they're cut up already. Good vibes in Debajo - would definitely come back again. It was clean and very chic.

Menu
Mia H.

This Spanish tapas and wine bar is a great cozy spot in Nomad. Service here is really quick and the vibe is perfect for a date night! I got their charcuterie, hamachi crudo, and duck breast as well as their albarino wine. Everything was great to share. I loved their wine selection and would highly recommend adding at least a glass to pair with your meal. Out of the dishes that I got, the favorite was definitely the duck breast which had a date-based puree that was absolutely delicious. The other bites were alright. Nonetheless, it was a very warm and cozy vibe--great for an intimate dinner!

Gambas. The shrimp was fresh and perfectly cooked. The roasted garlic was great to spread on the bread. In the background are the pickles.
Eric S.

There are many pics on Yelp of the paella and the octopus but on my visit they did not have it on the menu. It was disappointing but the other dishes made up for it. No reservations and they sat us! This was towards the end of the evening. Must get if you're adventurous: Anchovies - these are raw in a seasoned oil that comes with olive tapenade. You eat it with the bread and it's a great appetizer! Also, the pickles. This is a side dish, not free. But they come with pickled chilis. The food would not have been as yummy as it was without the chilis. Must get them! They also come with other types of pickles. For the basic folks: The Gambas (shrimp) is a great starter! The roasted garlic that it comes cooked with spreads nicely over bread. The bread is free and you can keep asking for more. Pork belly! It was very good but some parts were tough and chewy. The fatty edges were the winner. There was nothing special about their version but pork belly fried like this is special as it is! I would skip next time: I would try something else other than the chips. It's a bit salty and the dip is too. They also have a very tasty non alcoholic wine that I ordered. It was surprisingly very dry and tasty. Not sweet at all. The ambiance is casual and the service is fairly quick. It's attached to the Made Hotel at the bottom. The entrance is on 28th street but there are steeps steps. If you want to take the elevator go into the hotel. Overall the food was good and the prices were fair for NYC. We went about an hour before closing and the vibe was very chill. However, because we dined late they were out of a few dishes.

Aimee H.

Service was kinda slow at the beginning. We sat for a while after getting water before our order was taken. Individual bathrooms clean. Cute patio area. Good ambiance with music playing and candles on every table Matrimonia - really nice anchovies taste without being too fishy. A citrusy lightness Strachiatelka - good creamy fruit added a nice sweetness. Could have done with a little more fruit or citrus for the taste to be more balanced. Croquettes - crispy and thin with a soft gooey inside pickled onion cuts the creamy ness so it doesn't feel too heavy Rosalita - spicy and sweet Duck breast - perfectly cooked the date puree was a great accompaniment. Whole dish was super well balanced Chocolate mouse thick sweet but not overly, rich. Nuts add nice texture and the slight saltiness of the miso is really good. Nori was fine but didn't feel necessary Overall a great meal. Perfect location for a date night or wine night with the girls

Jamon Serrano
Anna L.

Loved how cute and secluded this bar is - nice space under the hotel with great wine and some Spanish classics. The other reviews are right, the place is pretty pricey (steak dish over $40 for a few pieces and no wine bottles under $55) but once you commit everything's delicious. Great places for a date night or occasion

Braised Short Rib
Kirsten H.

Amazing food! Debajo is a hidden gem. The braised short rib and patatas bravas were our favorite; out of the two times we've been here we've ordered them.

Sangria spritzer - on the house!!
Kimberley B.

The food, service and beverages were amazing. Definitely visiting again!! Cool Vibe in the cellar and upstairs is a coffee house with cocktails. Super clean - super friendly!!

Little Gem Salad, Patatas Bravas, Croquetas of the day
Yuna C.

A very cute space that fits the restaurants name Debajo - you follow the stairs outside that lead you downstairs to this cozy oasis! Of the tapas, I particularly enjoyed the Grilled Octopus and the Little Gem Salad - the refreshing crunch was just what I needed. I've wanted to try the octopus with the forbidden rice but it was not available that day.

PCT
Dorothy Y.

Tapas seemed like a good option for me and my friends so we could try more things. When we arrived at 6pm they were pretty empty with only one other table occupied. It's a cute place with a mix of benches, chairs, high tables, counter seating, and ventilated outdoor space. Food came out fast The server was nice and didn't bug us throughout the meal. I did wish he was more proactive about providing menu recommendations. We ended up googling and yelping ourselves. I can't give this a 5* mostly due to the food quality. We ordered PCT, clam conserva, croquette, grilled octopus, pork loin, and wild red shrimp Their bread and garlic is good, so anything with those elements is quite solid. PCT was my fave. Idk what PCT stands for or its meaning in Spanish, but it's basicallly tomato puree on bread. It looks simple but still tasted so good. Garlic was strong. The tomato was juicy without being too wet. Croquettes are flavor of the day. It was ham when we went. It was alright nothing special. It came out fresh and crunchy without being too hard. I forgot what was inside but it helped balance the salty ham. Clam conserva wasn't what we expected it to be. Jk I googled beforehand too. I'm wondering what's the cultural meaning behind eating directly from the can. We were pleased it wasn't fishy or salty coming out of a can. It came with bread so by default it tastes good. There were a lot of clams in that can. Grilled octopus was a bit disappointing. We couldn't find it at first since the online menu mentioned it coming with black rice. Now it's octopus over potatoes. I found the octopus not tender enough. We didn't like the flavor. The potatoes were bland but it kinda worked out to balance out the pork loin later. Wild shrimp was fighting with octopus for the worst spot. We didn't realize beforehand the shrimp came with head and shell. It had a lot of garlic and oil which tasted good but the problem was with the shrimp. It was too mushy which was another issue when we had to peel the shell. I think I read other people on Yelp say it's not fresh either. Also dislike how they didn't clean the intestines here. It was very thick and dark. Pork loin was a bit too salty in the beginning, but then I think we got used to it and like the sauce. The edge pieces were a bit dry but the insides were quite tender. The scallion on the side was huge and we had trouble cutting it so skipped out on it. We weren't full full at the end but all the bread and oil and butter made us satisfied. I actually felt full after drinking another cup of water. We were joking their tap water tastes better than normal. Perhaps it's because of all the strong flavors in their dishes. Their kitchen is an open kitchen just behind the counter. I don't recall smelling anything upon arrival or my clothes being smelly after leaving. Ventilation is so important. Their bathroom is a hallway of 4-5 individual rooms with sinks inside. I like that format. The sinks are so deep. It's probably deeper than my forearm is long. Imagine dropping something in there.

Basque cheesecake
Ellen C.

Debajo is a cute spot located in the basement of a hotel my friend and I ordered the patatas bravas and the pulpo rice. Unfortunately the pulpo rice also came with potatoes so our meal was 80% potatoes. However, the food came out pretty quickly. The octopus was tender, and the patatas bravas were well seasoned. We also ordered a basque cheesecake at the end which was pretty yummy.

lava cake
Stephanie Y.

Delicious and fresh Spanish food tucked away in a downstairs restaurant. Service was decent and the food was a real throwback to Madrid. The waiter recommended 2-3 tapas per person and 1 main to share for every 2 people, so we ended up getting the Patatas Bravas, Cauliflower, Brussels, Olive + Sardines, Tomato Bread, Jamon, Octopus and Babette Steak. I'm pescatarian so couldn't eat Jamon or Steak but my favourites from the rest were the Olives and Tomato Bread. Patatas were a bit too saucy for me so the potatoes were no longer crisp. Cauliflower and brussels tasted a bit Chinese which was unexpected. I also looooved the desserts and thought they were the highlights - lava cake and panna cotta were both absolutely amazing. They sound like relatively simple dishes but were some of the best I've had!! Panna cotta was the perfect texture and the lava cake was so chocolately and gooey. We also got a pitcher of Sangria which totaled around 5-6 glasses and was good, not too sweet.

Pulpo rice ($29)
Elayne W.

The food and service here is great, just a little pricey for tapas. My favorites from what my friend and I ordered were the patatas bravas ($16 for a good portion - loved the sauce) and pulpo rice ($29 for an appetizer portion). Not sure if I'd return given the price point but the food is delicious, just a little expensive if you're ordering multiple tapas to be full.

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Reviews are largely positive. Diners highlight the cozy atmosphere, flavorful tapas, and friendly service. The good drink selection is also appreciated.

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Enoteca - Brunch

Enoteca

4.1(15 reviews)
1.3 mi•Theater District, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West

I was at this location of this Basque and Spanish restaurant a while ago with a group, with their…read moreoriginal location being in Harlem. The table we sat at was quite large, and I think it could have fit a few more people. The staff was friendly, and the lighting wasn't too dark, nor was it too loud. While I liked the atmosphere, I found the food, or rather specifically the tapas, to be not good at best, while the main dishes were better but also ranged in quality. The fact that the tapas we ordered were pretty closely priced to the mains means I would recommend the mains only based on portion and taste alone. To drink, a bunch of us split a bottle of wine from their large and pretty reasonably priced selection. The first tapas that arrived was something that I could not eat. This was the Pulpo Zarautz for $32, listed as octopus with garlic and merken seasoning served over mashed baby potatoes. The dish was small, and people thought it was OK as they found the pieces of octopus a tad chewy. They liked the spices but were surprised that the potatoes were a bit cool. The $24 Gambas Al Ajillo, with slow-cooked prawns, white wine, EVOO, garlic, and mermen, was alright. There was a handful of shrimp, and they were decently cooked, but the "ajillo," or rather, the garlic, was very light. Therefore, I found it a bit bland, which is almost never the case for this dish. I wouldn't recommend this based on price and flavor. Last and least of the tapas was the $22 Tortilla De Patatas, listed simply as a Spanish omelette. There was an option to add chorizo for $2 more, which we did. Along with the omelette, this also arrived with a few sauces and some pieces of crunchy bread, which were the highlight, as the omelette wasn't good either. The texture of the omelette was very different than any other Spanish omelette I've ever had. It was quite soft with a bit of chew, with a mild chorizo flavor. Along with the greenish color, it wasn't exactly appetizing. I wouldn't recommend this at all, but thankfully, that was the last tapas we ordered. My favorite of the main dishes was the Solomillo & Pebre for $28, listed as skirt steak topped with parsley and olive oil, with hand-cut fried potato and salad. While not the most tender, as it is a skirt steak, it was still well-flavored with the topping almost reminding me, to an extent, of a less oily version of chimichurri. The potatoes had a unique texture, being slightly crispy on the outside while remaining slightly soft in the middle. The salad on the side, which also arrived with one of our other mains, was a tasty mix and certainly more effort than a typical salad you find in many of these places. We also liked the $32 Costillas De Cerdito, with pork ribs in beer, mustard, and rosemary with hand-cut fried potato and salad. The pork ribs were flavorful, though I did find a bit of it to be a bit fatty, but some of that is expected with pork ribs. The mildly sweet and slightly rich sauce paired with the pork ribs. The same comments from before can be made about the potatoes and salad. Last was the OK Paella De Mariscos for $38, listed as rice cooked with shrimp, mussels, clams, prawns, and fresh saffron. The portion size was good, with a lot of mussels and clams in particular, and a handful of shrimp. Of the bite I had of the two large prawns, they were plump and juicy as well. However, the rice was both a bit bland and a tad mushy and felt a bit overcooked compared to many other paellas. There was some socarrat on the bottom as per usual, which was the best part. It's a bit difficult to rate this place. The spices, textures, and flavors were lacking from the overpriced tapas, and I honestly wouldn't recommend any of them. For the main dishes, they were tasty, but you can get a better-cooked skirt steak at many other places for a similar price. The ribs were decent, and the paella was just OK. If we only had the tapas, I probably would be giving this place a 1, but for the whole meal, an upper 2, rounded up.

The food here and the ambiance were great! This is a great addition to the neighborhood & I'm…read moreexcited to go back! We tried a variety of dishes and each one was a hit (from the croquettes to the octopus to the paella). One member of our group doesn't usually like seafood and thought the octopus was delicious! The drinks (both alcoholic and non alcoholic) were also yummy. The staff were super accommodating as well which I really appreciated!! Of note, the restaurant bar stays open longer than the kitchen so make sure you check in with them on when the kitchen closes (it was around 10 when we went but things were still in flux so that may change!)

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Enoteca - Restaurant Enoteca

Restaurant Enoteca

Enoteca - Octopus

Octopus

Enoteca - Espresso Martini

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Espresso Martini

EZ Paella & Tapas - Croqueta de Jamon Serrano

EZ Paella & Tapas

4.4(227 reviews)
1.2 mi•Hell's Kitchen, Theater District, Midtown West
•$$

super friendly staff -- lorena (the owner) was the first to greet us and was very attentive in…read moreassuring that everything came out quickly and that we were satisfied. food was delicious -- we opted for two tapas (croquetas espanolas and yuquitas) and the seafood paella). the tapas were both delicious and savory without being too heavy, and the seafood paella was rich and flavorful. i also had a virgin strawberry sangria which turned out to be super large in addition to being refreshing and the right amount of sweet. would love to come back again and support their business

Having moved a few years ago, we forgot that every restaurant on 9th Avenue is packed, pre-theater…read more It was a Saturday evening, and we did have theater tickets, but thought we'd go to one of our old haunts for dinner. "Slight miscalculation!" So this place wasn't quite full, and we were able to get a table. Ordered a sangria to share, I didn't want to fall asleep in the theater, and it was huge! More than ample for 2 or maybe 3 light drinkers like us. I'm a sucker for paella, but if and when we get there again, I think tapas are the way to go. My husband had the veggie paella and I ordered the veggie Caribbean paella, theoretically spicy but it really wasn't. It's not served in the traditional cast iron pan, but in a large bowl and it's a large portion. Tasty enough! The rice was just a bit mushy for me. I was looking around and most of the tables had lots of different tapas plates. The couple at the table next to us just kept ordering them and exclaiming, so I think that's the way to go. We shared the flan for dessert and that was very good! Service was excellent and friendly. I'd go back when we are in the area.

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EZ Paella & Tapas
EZ Paella & Tapas - Camarones con Pimientos

Camarones con Pimientos

EZ Paella & Tapas - Red Sangria in a fountain size glass. :-)

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Red Sangria in a fountain size glass. :-)

Zoralie Restaurant - Two delicious lunch specials

Zoralie Restaurant

4.3(345 reviews)
1.3 mi•Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
•$

As a tourist, this is a great local spot. I came here for breakfast and had a plate of mangu…read more(mashed plantains) with dominican sausage, fried cheese, an egg and pickled onions. It was incredible, hearty, savory and simple. I didn't have cash so I zelled them. It's super cheap, delicious, and I love seeing all the locals popping in. Very authentic.

This place is a hole-in-the-wall in Hell's Kitchen, on a quiet street. There is limited seating…read moreboth indoor & outdoor. The staff are very friendly, despite the limited English skills (and we don't speak Spanish). The restaurant takes cash and Zelle. Both of the below entrees came with rice and (a very small portion of) plantain. *Roast Pork: I assume this was pernil. It had a nice balanced seasoning that was gently savory and went well with the rice. Not a particularly "wet" dish, don't expect a lot of sauce. *Chicken Stew: They gave us two large drumsticks of chicken stew. The marinade / sauce is VERY lightly flavored and I wish the seasoning could be stronger / more interesting. This is not the best Dominican food I ever had but I did appreciate the homey charm and the very low prices. For two servings of roast pork and one serving of chicken stew we paid $40 flat!! It was enough to serve our group of four. I don't know how many other places in Hell's Kitchen or other well-visited parts of Manhattan would be this affordable.

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Zoralie Restaurant - Inside

Inside

Zoralie Restaurant
Zoralie Restaurant

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Boqueria W40th - Paella De Mariscos

Boqueria W40th

4.1(932 reviews)
0.6 mi•Midtown West, Theater District
•$$$
Outdoor seating
Private events

Really great food for the most part! The tapas we ordered were the patatas bravas, ham and cheese…read morecroquets, tortilla, chicken skewers, steak and chorizo montado, and calamari. All were at least warm and delicious (for a tapas place where food is prepared and served as it's ready), with some being incredibly exceptional (the patatas bravas and chicken skewers to name two). The waitress was kind and attentive to our needs. And even though we were sitting outside next to one of the busier streets in midtown Manhattan, the outdoor patio was vibrant and comfortable. Would definitely visit again for a pleasant lunch!

I recently organized a team dinner at Boqueria for about 15 people, and I can't say enough good…read morethings about the entire experience from start to finish. From the very first point of contact, the staff at Boqueria were an absolute pleasure to work with. They were incredibly communicative throughout the planning process and were happy to offer thoughtful suggestions whenever I asked -- which took so much of the stress out of organizing a group event. The day of the dinner, they seated us in a semi-private room that had a full view into the kitchen, which was such a fun touch. My team loved watching the action behind the scenes -- it added a really cool energy to the evening. The service throughout the night was prompt and friendly, and the food? Absolutely delicious. We went with a family-style spread that included a variety of appetizers, entrées, and dessert tapas. Honestly, the food just kept coming and coming! Even though the plates were on the smaller side (as you'd expect with tapas), don't let that fool you -- there was more than enough food. By the end of the meal, every single person at the table was completely stuffed and raving about how good everything was. And I have to mention the sangria -- they had a wonderful selection of different sangrias that went down very well with my team. It was the perfect complement to the meal. If you're looking for a spot for a team dinner or a smaller group occasion, I would highly recommend Boqueria. They truly bring Spanish hospitality to NYC. You won't be disappointed!

Photos
Boqueria W40th - Chef's Menu

Chef's Menu

Boqueria W40th - Peravino

Peravino

Boqueria W40th

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Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Chicharrones

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen

4.0(3.2k reviews)
1.3 mi•Hell's Kitchen, Theater District, Midtown West
•$$

Went there for dinner before watching a play at Broadway. The place was very busy and we didn't…read morehave a reservation but they had a table for us right away for 6 people. I would say that this was lucky cause the place was packed. Generally loud but you can still talk with people on your party. One of the first things I look for is if a restaurant serves you water when you sit and here they do and the waitress would often make sure we were topped off. That is something that is always appreciated and noticed by me. The food was generally good and service was fast. I tried various dishes and while great tasting nothing really stood out like lots of the reviews said and I tried a bit of everything that was recommended in the reviews. (Even ox tail empanadas which sounds weird but weren't bad). I think the biggest appeal here is that it's 24 hours so you know you always have a quality place to go to that is great. I would recommend it to anyone in the area but I don't know if I would go out of my way for it. I know that if I'm watching another play, it is a great stop for either before or after.

Love, love, love Empanada Mama!!! Anytime I'm in the area, I stop by for my go-to empanadas: Bombay…read more& Viagra. The restaurant is open 24 hours and is the perfect place to go for those late-night cravings. One can sit at the full bar, in the dining area, or get items to go. The restaurant is always lively and patrons get seated quickly. The most I have ever waited for a seat is 5 minutes. There are more than 40 empanadas in corn or wheat shells to order. The menu celebrates diversity through its' empanada pairings. Greek - spinach pie, Cuban - ham, pork, and cheese, Americana - cheeseburger, Bombay - Curried chicken, Brasil - traditional ground beef, Hawaiian - ham, pineapple & mozzarella cheese and many more. Besides empanadas, there is a full menu of Colombian delights to eat including arepas, salads, sandwiches, soups, tacos and tapas. They have dessert empanadas as well. Love the USA empanada, which is apples & cinnamon baked and the Nutella & banana one. You can get it topped with ice cream as well. Really looking forward to my next visit.

Photos
Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Bar (empty where we were told we cannot sit with takeaway orders)

Bar (empty where we were told we cannot sit with takeaway orders)

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Appetizers- guacamole,  plantain chips and potatoes

Appetizers- guacamole, plantain chips and potatoes

Empanada Mama - Hell's Kitchen - Cerveza Águila!! The best!

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Cerveza Águila!! The best!

Guantanamera

Guantanamera

3.8(1.2k reviews)
1.4 mi•Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen
•$$$
Live music
Happy hour specials

I stopped into this restaurant for dinner and when I arrived I parked on the street nearby. I…read morewalked into a Dilly lit restaurant. I was greeted and sat and served by Carlos and he was nice! I ordered: Red Sangria Tostones Rellenos Pollo Al Mojo (chicken with garlic sauce) Rabo Encendido (oxtail with mashed sweet plaintains) The food was really delicious with my favorite being the Tostones Rellenos! It was a great experience all in all!

We were invited as guests to eat at Guantanamera, especially since I grew up cooking authentic…read moreCuban food, as well was Puerto Rican food. I can dissect every ingredient placed into a dish. I personally ordered the Cuban sandwich that cost $24. You heard that right, $24 for a sandwich, and expect it to be worthwhile for that price. I had to ask for mojo in order to eat the sandwich, and only able to eat 1/2 of it. All I have to say is, it tasted mediocre, and didn't have that expected Cuban sandwich flavor that a gastronomical Cuban cuisine expert would know right away. One of the person in my group, ordered the lechon asado plate, which comes with moro (congri), and yuca (cassava). The person who ordered this dish is diabetic, and cannot eat yuca that has 78 grams of carbohydrates. A substitution was requested, in which the waiter addressed the paying patron with a rude attitude that there is no substitution, either have it or omit it from the plate. He would not make an exception for another vegetable or food item. This lechon asado entree cost $30, and no substitution, if unable to eat such as starchy, extremely high carb vegetable. I didn't like the waiter's attitude. It was not welcoming nor prioritized our comfort throughout the meal. I wanted to walk out of the restaurant. Especially, since the waiter did not show any Cuban mannerism to the culture. The patron tolerated the incident, asked me to let's try their food and see how authentic and/or delicious it is. He gave me the yuca, even though he paid for this item, yet unable to eat it. A simple swap for another vegetable could have been accommodated. I ate the yuca, and noticed it was just boiled, and had no seasoning whatsoever. Cuban style yuca, should have that garlic mojo, or be seasoned with a little vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Not even mojo was given for this dish that should compliment it. I tasted the moro (at this restaurant it was known as congri). The flavoring did not taste Cuban style for this rice casserole. It was missing the savory sofrito of onions, garlic, pepper, cumin, and oregano seasonings. The lechon asado didn't have that expected flavor, either. Is this really a Cuban cuisine restaurant? For this place to be called a Cuban restaurant, is an overstatement. Whomever the chef is cooking in the kitchen, supposedly authentic Cuban dishes, needs a refresh course in how to season and properly prepare Cuban dishes. To be honest, the food had more of a Peruvian flavor than Cuban flavor. Very disappointed, since I was invited and eager to eat authentic Cuban food in which I didn't have to cook myself, that is a part of my everyday lifestyle. I have to say, the waiter from the get-go had an attitude with our group, and did not have proper etiquette to address us properly, as paying patrons, who spent over $300 at the dinner table. Secondly, the lechon asado entree, which comes with moro, and yuca (cassava), there is no food swap substitution, if unable to eat one of the items on the plate. If a patron is allergic to one of the items on the menu plate, such as yuca, it will become a too bad for you, situation. Thirdly, the ambiance, especially the lighting was very dark. There was a few artwork, but overall, the place needed some lighting at the table. You couldn't read the menu, unless you have a pocket flashlight. Overall, the food at Guantanamera was not up to par, nor authentic Cuban cuisine. Either this establishment changed ownership from the original Cuban cuisine owners, or are current owners (not of Cuban culture), who are oddly not well versed in Cuban cuisine. It may be that the chef cut corners to not make the effort to cook the food according to expected Cuban traditional ingredients. Maybe, the chef had a bad day and the food was not being prepared well, that was showing when we were eating it. When the bill was given, we were being rushed by the waiter who stand by our table and hovering throughout the entire time while trying to see and analyzed the amount charged. It was very uncomfortable and rude. He could have walked away for a moment while we settle what was being charged. In addition, the waiter never declared that there was an automatic gratuity before the order was placed or any time before that when we were seated. At the very end when he hand us the bill for us to pay, in which there were separate bills for each party, there was an automatic 20% gratuity added to each of the bills. The invited guests, and myself, have decided to NOT come to this restaurant ever again.

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Debajo - tapas - Updated October 2026

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