My husband and I came to Mr. Esquisito for a Friday night date around 7:00 p.m. We didn't need a…read morereservation, which was nice. The restaurant is small, seating only about 25-30 people, creating an intimate atmosphere. However, the lighting is so dim that I had to take a second look just to read the menu.
I'll start with the positive: our waiter was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and genuinely kind. My only criticism was that he couldn't really recommend a standout dish when we asked what the restaurant was known for.
For appetizers, I ordered the octopus. Unfortunately, it was inconsistent. Half was perfectly tender, while the other half was so tough it was difficult to chew. It was served over an ajillo sauce that was good, but not enough to save the dish.
My husband ordered empanadas. The steak filling was much better than the chicken. He asked if he could order one steak, one shrimp, and one chicken, but was told they don't allow mixing flavors.
For my entrée, I ordered the ribeye with white rice and beans and added a lobster tail with butter sauce. The ribeye itself was cooked well, but the sides were disappointing. The beans had a strange flavor, and the rice was mushy and completely lacked seasoning. The lobster tail was fine, but nothing special.
The ribeye was $58, and adding the lobster tail brought the plate to $72. At that price point, I expected an exceptional meal, not one where the sides were the weakest part of the plate.
My husband ordered the skirt steak with peppers, French fries, and maduros. His steak was good, but we both agreed the side options felt like an odd combination. The menu could definitely use some more thoughtful pairings.
We boxed up our leftovers, but unfortunately the food didn't even reheat well the next day.
Our bill came to $233 for two people. On top of that, gratuity was automatically added, and there was a $10 fee for paying with a debit card. That was an unpleasant surprise and made an already expensive meal feel even more overpriced.
For over $200, I expect to leave saying, "I can't wait to come back." Instead, I left feeling like I had paid Manhattan prices for a very average meal.
Unfortunately, this wasn't the experience we were hoping for, and I don't think we'll be back.
FYI: everything says M/P on it for Market Price. Which means they can charge you what they see fit which gives me an inconsistent vibe.