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    El Pingüino

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    El Pingüino Photos

    Business Info

    EL PINGÜINO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - El Pingüino

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    sardines
    Angelina G.

    went for hh and i have a new found love of sardines with mayo and crackers!! stuff is addicting hahah. their oysters are also super tasty and their sea bass ceviche is fire. never had sea bass ceviche before and it was so soft

    Happy hour drinks
    Marianne F.

    Love the bar, great happy hour ($10 martinis til 7pm), not too loud. I don't love tinned fish but I enjoyed the cheese, peppers and chorizo.

    Decided to give this place a second chance. Won't be back. The menu was confusing, it says $12 martinis, and directly under there are three martinis listed. So I assumed that would be part of the deal. Was annoyed when I got check for a $22 cocktail. For that I would've just gone to bar Americano for my fave cocktail. Oysters were mediocre. Highly prefer Panzon next door. Service is really good and it's cute inside, but that's about it.

    Carly L.

    Definitely come for happy hour, 7 days a week 4-7pm! We enjoyed the half price oysters and $12 martinis. The food can get pretty pricey since they're all small plates, but they all tasted great. We had the roasted peppers, steamed clams, cheese plate, and basque cheesecake. Service was friendly but pretty slow. Overall, I'd come again, but definitely stick with the happy hour deals!

    Anthony P.

    Stopped by briefly here for a drink to catch up with some friends. I tried some of the canned mussels and it was actually quite delicious. I know the sound of it is very appetizing, but trust me there's a diversity flavor profile to the dish. This restaurant is found in a new "restaurant row "of Greenpoint, and it is actually quite stellar. This is one of the spots that really drives home how great quality in Greenpoint food and drink can be as well as maintaining a larger space for you to breathe and relax compared to the city. My drink was wonderfully made, no complaints. The ambience is very nice and chill, but somehow cozy and intimate as well. A great place to drink with some friends in a lively area but depending on where you're sitting, you can get a little bit more quiet. It just depends on the time of day as well.

    Katey G.

    Love love love this restaurant! Such a cute moody bar in Greenpoint. As a long time Alameda fan, I was super excited to try the new concept. We came for the Claud pop up and sampled some amazing food, my favorite being the butter poached shrimp... unbelievable. If you're in the hood or not, definitely worth a stop in to try some delicious food at a new neighborhood staple!

    Martini. The best.
    Tara C.

    So good... so, so good. Oh, and I should mention that this review is strictly for cocktails. Haven't had the food just yet but have heard and read all good things about it. Second time there and figured they've got some solid consistency going on. Long story short, El Pingüino gets five stars, no questions asked. Here are a few reasons... 1) One of the best martini's I've had. Gin with a lemon twist. Kicker is, it's on Happy Hour. Can you believe it? They do their martini right. They're in the business of a well crafted cocktail, not a quickly crafted coc 2) Music? Pretty slammin' playlist every time. 3) They have Happy Hour... ready for it? EVERY DAY. As in seven days a week. 4-7pm El Pingüino does it right. Gosh, I really enjoy this spot.

    Oysters and ceviche
    Daniela B.

    I was in the area for a day date and we found this oyster bar. It was during the happy hour special. We ordered oysters, ceviche and a cheese plate. The food was great. We sat in the outdoor back area. It was very cute, quiet and intimate. The day was nice and while it was sunny they have a shade. There seemed to only be one waiter working here back area and there was a significant amount of people in the outdoor area. We ordered a margarita and one of their mezcal tequila martini. It was a great find in Greenpoint

    Dirty Martini, Bloody Mary
    Karin H.

    Low-key, artsy bar in Greenpoint. I loved my experience here - it's a homey environment and perfect for a catch up with a good friend. Drinks were also great, I would love to come back to try more. Service was amazing - I didn't like the first drink I ordered and the staff was kind enough to take it off of my bill.

    Oysters and Martini
    Joanna C.

    My friend and I came for happy hour and loved it! They have a super cute backyard patio that wasn't directly in the sun so it felt so nice on an august early evening. The happy hour specials was half off oysters snd $12 martinis. You could get any kind of martini they could make (except espresso martinis. Those were regular priced). We got a classic dirty and with a twist as was recommended by the server and it super yummy. Strong but very smooth and well balanced for a martini. We also got a dozen oysters. Their oysters were from Canada and delicious! Usually happy hour oysters are pretty basic and quite briny, but these were sweet and juicy and perfect. We also ordered the chorizo which came out in small sausage form. They had the perfect balance of salty, spicy, and fatty. My friend couldn't stop dipping the bread in the chorizo juices - it was that good. It's been a very long time since I've been impressed by a happy hour and this place was awesome! I would absolutely come back again for happy hour and to try out other stuff on their menu!

    Curry tinned fish

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    9 months ago

    You must order the Basque cheesecake. The selection of oysters is stellar. The service is great. Fun place.

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    2 years ago

    Fresh oysters and tasty sourdough bread, but $20 for bread and 6 oysters is overpriced.

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    The food was fantastic. The vibe is fantastic just a classic awesome small but lovely New York restaurant a great place to bring friends.

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    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Lobster tails

    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg

    4.0(100 reviews)
    2.3 miEast Williamsburg, Bushwick

    Reply to Business Owner:…read more Hello Jaffa, Thank you for the response. I understand seasoning and heat can affect appearance; however, my concern was not solely discoloration, but the overall quality and texture of the food upon arrival. The crab meat was stuck to the shell (rubbery), the mussels lacked freshness and texture, and the sausage was unusually rubbery--issues that go beyond presentation or residual heat. I shared my experience honestly based on the meal I received. While I appreciate the offer to resolve it had I called, posting a review reflects my experience as a customer ordering delivery, which is a service you offer. Unfortunately, this order did not meet the standard I expected based on my experience. I'm glad to hear you're open to addressing concerns directly, and I hope future delivery orders are more consistent. -------------------- My Initial Review: I "really" wanted to enjoy this meal, especially since I've ordered from here before via Uber Eats and decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, the food quality was disappointing. The snow crab legs had gray shells, and the meat was stuck to the shell, rubbery, and lacked freshness. The mussels were deep orange in color, had no real texture, and some were actually dry, which made them unpleasant to eat. The sausage was also very rubbery--I had to bite hard just to get through it. Flavor alone couldn't make up for the overall texture and freshness issues. This may be a place that's better enjoyed in person, but based on my experiences, the seafood does not seem to travel well for delivery. I truly wanted this to be a satisfying meal, but unfortunately it missed the mark.

    Ordered lobster roll for pick up and it said it would be ready in 40 minutes. When we got there…read moreafter 45 minutes, it wasn't even ready. There was only one table so not sure why the wait was so long. It seemed like they didn't even start the order till we got there. We waited another 15 minutes more and it was definitely not worth it. The lobster roll was overcooked and SUPER dry covered in heavy seasoning. The bread was drenched in oil and so greasy. The only highlight was the fries which is kinda sad if you pay $34 and the highlight is the fries with a one hour wait time. Won't be coming back again.

    Photos
    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Bar view

    Bar view

    Shaking Crab - Williamsburg - Steak & Eggs Philly melt

    Steak & Eggs Philly melt

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    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Oysters

    Sea Wolf - Bushwick

    3.8(806 reviews)
    2.5 miBushwick
    $$

    The hours on Yelp are wrong -- here's the actual schedule:…read more Monday-Thursday: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 am Saturday: 11:00 am - 4:00 am Sunday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm This place is honestly a 10/10, especially if you're going for the lobster mac & cheese and the lobster rolls. I went yesterday for lunch specifically craving the mac & cheese and mussels (they were out of mussels, unfortunately), but the mac & cheese was so rich and satisfying that I wasn't even mad about it. I've been here before and tried a bunch of their cocktails ...you really can't go wrong with any of them, but this time I switched it up and got a virgin painkiller mocktail, which was actually great. It's definitely a staple if you live in Bushwick, but I feel like people outside of Brooklyn don't talk about it enough. If you're looking for somewhere new to try or a solid spot to take someone for really good food, this is it. Also perfect for dinner before catching a show across the street at Company XIV.

    Came in ready for a seafood-and-steak moment and let's just say the meal had personality. The steak…read morewas rubbery. Chewy. The kind of bite that makes you sit up and ask whether the kitchen was testing jaw strength. Not inedible. Just working way harder than it needed to. The shrimp was so-so. It showed up. It participated. It did not offend anybody, but it also did not exactly have the table falling out over itself. Very middle seat on a budget airline. Present. Fine. Forgettable. The wings though. The wings knew why they were there. Crispy. Flavorful. Actually satisfying. The kind of plate that makes you stop talking for a minute because now everybody is focused. Easily the standout. If the steak was chaos and the shrimp was filler, the wings were the only one clocked in and ready to lead. Staff was decent. Pleasant enough. Kept things moving. No major complaints. They did their part and helped the experience stay above water. The vibe is possible. That is the word. Possible. On the right night, with the right crowd, right playlist, and maybe one strong drink, I can see this place feeling very cute. On the wrong night, you are just there negotiating with a rubbery steak and a shrimp that forgot to leave an impression. I would come back with a different strategy. Wings, yes. Steak, no. Shrimp, maybe if it came free with emotional support. it's giving... one friend carried the group project and it was the wings.

    Photos
    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Full bar area

    Full bar area

    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Oysters

    Oysters

    Sea Wolf - Bushwick - Exterior

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    Exterior

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Oysters and ham and cheese croquetas

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn

    3.9(53 reviews)
    2.6 miBushwick

    I've been slowly chowing my way through all the oyster happy hours the city has to offer. When I…read morefound myself galavanting in Bushwick on arguably the coldest day of the year, Ten Bells popped up as a natural haven where I unwrapped myself and indulged in my favorite food of the season. Right off the bat, the bar area is absolutely gorgeous and meets you with so much warmth, light and joy as soon as you walk in to this establishment. I plopped myself on the bar and had the pleasure of making conversation with Elouise and Alejandra. They put in my standard two dozen oyster order and paired my platter with a glass of the happy hour white wine which happens to be their house chardonnay. The oysters were delicious although I must say there was a lot of shell pieces inside, which was very annoying to eat. I don't think this is necessarily the fault of whoever is shucking them. I noticed the oysters they serve have a lot of thin slivers of shell on the edges which are bound to end up in your mouth. Perhaps they can try serving another variety of oysters? Just a thought. The chardonnay was pretty good and service was amazing. The girls at the bar also let me try the Ten Bells red wine which is produced specially for them in Boudreaux, France. It was a beautiful, light, and smooth red blend. As a wine lover, I will definitely be back to try more of their wines on tap. This is a great neighborhood establishment that I feel everyone should pop in and visit!!

    I had been to the LES location first before trying the bushwick one and I feel like the LES…read morelocation is much more rowdy. I think it's better as a happy hour spot than an actual evening wine vibe but that may just be me. The oysters are good and I happened to try the octopus as well which was SUPER good. It's a huge space and is definitely well suited for large groups. I personally wouldn't say it's a date spot because it can get loud sometimes but choose your own adventure!

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    The Ten Bells Brooklyn
    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Mediterranean Dips Platter

    Mediterranean Dips Platter

    The Ten Bells Brooklyn - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Mother’s Seafood & More

    Mother’s Seafood & More

    4.1(10 reviews)
    2.0 miEast Williamsburg

    First tip- there's a QR code with an BOGO offer on the front of the store , scan than and order…read morefrom that to pick up inside. I didn't see that till I was leaving and the guy at the counter didnt make me the wiser. The menu is huge but there were only a few items on display on the Thursday I went. ( It was the day before Good Friday). They do make pasta items etc as you order but a lot of things I asked for were not available. Even the lunch special posted on the wall inside was not available. I'm guessing this is the Caribbean side of the Caribbean Soul Food ( I can joke about that, I'm Caribbean lol) The guy at the register said they have more of a full stock on Fridays and weekends. Anyway, the food that we did end up getting was really good. I got whole fried fish and was told it would be about 10 mins for him to fry it fresh. Id wait again and again for this fish, it was perfectly seasoned and I ate it piping hot and ordered another. The rasta pasta did not have lots of of veggies , he also made that upon us ordering. It looked plain but it was so delicious- the sauce was silk and rich. Collard greens 10/10 ,I think in all the soulfood places I tried recently this one took first place. The mac and cheese pretty good too. Jerk chicken was good. Take out only. Food that has to be prepared on spot is made right in front of you too.

    I love Cajun food and still search for a good one that is still in delivery area from my home. This…read moretime I try Mother's Seafood & More. I ordered.... - Steamed Okra: nice and crunchy 8/10 - 1 lb Snow Crab Steamed & Spicy: not spicy at all and too much oil 6/10 - 1/2 lb Scallops Spicy, Grilled: also, oily 7/10 Overall, good for the price and nice to try. Delivery was on time even it was leaking.

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    Mother’s Seafood & More
    Mother’s Seafood & More - Really good collard greens.

    Really good collard greens.

    Mother’s Seafood & More - Buy one get one free UberEATS

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    La Caleta Ecuatoriana - Does this impress you ?

    La Caleta Ecuatoriana

    4.1(7 reviews)
    3.2 miBushwick

    The food I had from here was not good at all . Two of the three items I took a bite and had to…read morethrow it out while the third item I didn't finish because it wasn't very enjoyable . I ordered two cheese empanadas , an order of tostones and an arroz con pollo entree. As I left and was walking I was feeling abit hungry so I bit into the empanada and it tasted like old oil . It was disgusting . I'm certain they very rarely change their frying oil. Even whilst eating the inside with cheese I couldn't even enjoy it as all I tasted was old oil . When I got home i tried the tostones to see if it was better and it was worst . Just the worst I've ever had again plagued with the stale oil disease . The arroz con pollo isn't even worth discussing . This is the opposite of finesse . It's shredded chicken ( quite dry ) mixed in with the rice and veggies and two slabs of plantains on top for looks . The fried plantains helped a lot on masking the dryness and yuckiness of this meal . This was certainly not worthy of the calorie intake at all. I've had this same meal at other Ecuadorian restaurants and this was easily the worst . The portion size was huge though if that matters . It's amazing how many people I saw coming in and getting food while waiting for my order . Maybe I'm in the minority but I swear my experience was a waste of 20+ dollars .

    #Cool spot with good Ecuadorian food. I didn't know this place existed because it wasn't on Yelp…read more But they seemed to have a good amount of people in there eating. Not sure if they appreciate me putting their business on Yelp. They will probably wonder why all these #hipsters are coming in. The #Catfish Soup was good and creamy ...once you add the #lime and hot sauce.

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    La Caleta Ecuatoriana
    La Caleta Ecuatoriana - Catfish Soup

    Catfish Soup

    La Caleta Ecuatoriana - Seafood Soup

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    Seafood Soup

    Cafe Balearica - Comedy Thursdays!

    Cafe Balearica

    4.0(46 reviews)
    0.6 miWilliamsburg - North Side

    I absolutely love the vibe here. Upstairs is a bar, with string lights and disco balls. It's laid…read moreback but still has a fun, lively feel. You can bring outside food and the cocktails a fantastic. Downstairs is a proper dance floor that usually opens at 11. You can effortlessly switch between hanging out upstairs and living it up in the basement which I love. If you can early enough you can even skip the cover charge!

    You can choose from two main vibes at Cafe Balearica. Upstairs, you have a spacious, somewhat…read morerelaxed bar and lounge area. The music is at a low enough volume that you can hear your conversations, it doesn't get too crowded so you can spread out, even if you're in a large group. Downstairs, it's a lot tighter, with a DJ, dance floor, lounge seating area, and a much more packed and busy atmosphere on the weekends. I like ping ponging between both vibes when I'm with friends. Admittedly I've found the music both times to be too experimental for me. Confessing that makes me feel like an old person shaking my fist or at least shaking my head, misunderstanding what makes the youth tick. But I had no trouble twirling around the dance floor to this weird experimental music after throwing back a few tequila sodas upstairs. A few times while here my friends have split up into the group that wants to go downstairs to dance and the group that wants to stay upstairs and chill. It's relatively easy to navigate between both vibes, which I enjoy about this spot very much.

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    Cafe Balearica - Espresso martini

    Espresso martini

    Cafe Balearica
    Cafe Balearica

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    El Pingüino - spanish - Updated May 2026

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