A SPECIAL PLACE TO TASTE CULTURES AND FOOD. Even when you…read moreare outside of Boston you might be in the mood for a meal that is different than what you expected. Maybe you want a bit of Italian food. Or maybe it is Latin food but not fully Mexican. You can not tell, but you know you want something different. It that is the case then you need to take a back road and look for something different. When doing this with friends we found a small place that looked like a hole int he wall. No cars outside. No one inside it seemed. But when the clock hit 6pm the people started to arrive. And in large numbers. We were lucky to have a reservation and get a table when we stepped inside. Inside it was different. Papagallo is a truly family restaurant. Even the younger of the family managed the front counter to check-in. We then went to the table with our menus. This is where we started. And it is some menu to consider. There is everything. You can find Italian, South American with specialties from Columbia. There is fish, meats, and even vegan if desired. It is all there. It can be a way to combine meals from all regions that you can try. Nothing will stop you. It also helps that the waiter will tell you of the specialties of the day and answer any questions you might have. And he will go into detail on this. And he can take your order without writing it down. Of course, the first thing to do is order a drink if you wish. They do have a bartender how can make anything. Naturally a good way to start is with a dry martini. That was filled to the top of the glass. It was ideal. We also had some special Spritz cocktails that were good and strong, but sweet enough to start the meal. Starting with appetizers we did have calamari which was not traditional Italian style. It was more Colombian in nature. It is lightly breaded, fried and tossed with garlic wine butter, sliced cherry peppers and tomatoes. Finished with a dash of parmesan cheese. But, it does have a spicy twist to it. And they were perfect. We also had an order of zucchini flowers that were covered and fried. These are rare to come by. Many restaurants do not even offer these or know how to make them. This was special as no one makes this except at home if you grow the zucchini. This was great. For the main entrees we went all over the place. A bit of everything that we could share and enjoy together. It was that good to share and experience. The special course was the Mofongo Relleno. It is a Puerto Rican favorite consisting of fried, mashed green plantains with garlic, olive oil and Chicharrónes. It is then sautéed with peppers and onions stuffed with chicken. It is a simple dish but nothing you can ever have outside of a Puerto Rican restaurant. And here it is alongside Italian dishes and New England seafood. Next up was Haddock Florentine. This was different. It is baked haddock topped with spinach, grape tomatoes, and crispy bacon in a lemon wine butter sauce. Served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The sauce is a mixture with Pinot Grigio. It is tasty and light with just enough flavoring. From this we went to Salmon Oscar. It is grilled Atlantic Salmon served over Lobster ravioli with mushrooms, grape tomatoes, and asparagus in a sherry cream sauce. It was truly fresh with fresh caught salmon. It was a good taste with a good portion to go with. The meals were truly enjoyable and had a special taste. Cooked fresh you could have more since the portions were ideal. Naturally, after the meal there is time for dessert. Starting with an express, what more could you want. There was Italian desserts and South American desserts. But this being a special time we went for the Tres Leches. A tres leches cake is a sponge cake originating in North, Central, and South America soaked in milk. It is a very light cake with many air bubbles. This distinct texture is why it does not have a soggy consistency despite being soaked in a mixture of three types of milk. We also had the Pistachio Cake. This is a special cake that is truly light to the touch. Moist, fluffy pistachio cake made with a yogurt batter base and topped with a pistachio butter glaze is an elegant, but easy dessert. Toasting and grinding the pistachios yourself adds a little work, but results in a deep, rich, roasted pistachio flavor. In the end, this was a special meal to have on a special gathering with friends. It was a place hidden down a street not far from where we were but never knew of. The family is wonderful. They run this shop from the front door and into the kitchen. It is their way of presenting a taste and style many of us will never even know of. The meals are good. The portions are excellent. The pricing is perfect for what you will receive. Our compliments to the Chef and the team for offering a special meal. Papagallo. It is a mixture of cultures and tastes for everyone.

We really enjoyed being able to show up last minute and get seated by cheerful staff. The place was…read morehopping with joyful energy and happy patrons. Our server was lovely and made some recommendations. We tried the spicy and sweet calamari app and shrimp fajitas and I tried their famous mofongo with shrimp. I was so glad to try this - the outer crunchy plaintains were perfectly seasoned and the jumbo shrimp were cooked just right. The sauce made me want to lick my plate. The cocktails were generous and beautiful. So luck to have such a great place to eat nearby with a huge assortment of offerings. The food came out quickly and we were done in less than an hour. I highly recommend it!

My family and I came here on a Wednesday minutes before they closed so I was very appreciative of…read morethe staff allowing us to dine in and being very attentive throughout our time there. This place is massive, with lots of tables to dine in, and a bakery section. We ordered the following: Mondongo (pequeño), bandeja paisa, lengua sudada, and res apanada. The food came out in about 20 minutes. The serving sizes were a little bigger than normal (I am not complaining), every plate looked delicious, and all the plates were hot and fresh. The mondongo was tasty and had a good amount of tripe and the right thickness of the broth. I chuckled when I saw the side of banana, but honestly, it made for a good desert. The bandeja paisa brings a litte bit of everything and it all was cooked well. The lengua sudada was very tender and flavorful and the yucca was soft, with the sauce it was in giving it a really good flavor. The res apanada was a bit tough and the breading did not stick on too well, but overall the flavor was good and the breading was crispy which I enjoyed. The best part of it all was the prices. It is very affordable and you will leave full.   The bakery is inexpensive and the items I have tried and good. They do have a large parking lot and it's free. While in the area, you could visit the Slater Mill (they have tours you could sign up for) or visit the public library. One thing to note is that the GPS might bring you to their old location a couple blocks up the street, so do a little bit of research for the address beforehand.

This is the place for Colombian empanadas. We got the beef…read moreand chicken ones and the beef ones were my favorites. Full of meaty fillings and hot and crispy. The chicken ones were just ok The platters were a bit underwhelming Both the carne asada and the churrasco were good but not great...a bit chewy in some areas....definitely there are better platters in Central Falls. Now...their sweet plantains were sweet, delicious and tasty.... A winner. They take credit cards..

Was in the neighborhood looking for an easy bite/drink and walked into this Columbian place. I…read morewould say overall I was pleasantly surprised by both the food and the experience! Service: one very important thing to note is that the staff mostly do not speak english, although they did have an english menu. HOWEVER, one of the patrons came by and helped translate our orders for the waitress, which was representative of how friendly the whole experience was despite the language barrier. Food: we ordered a few cocktails and beers, which were all decent. My friends ordered the empanadas (delicious and would recommend), the whole fried tilapia ($20 for the platter which is good price imo). I ordered the meat entree platter which included fried pork belly, chicken, sausage, and beef. It was heavy, as expected, but both the tenderness and flavor were excellent. I'm not very familiar with Columbian food to rate this place objectively but overall I had a good time and would come back if I'm in the area.

The $10 daily lunch special is simply amazing every time! The amount of food you get is…read moreunbelievable for that price. Every day of the week is a different lunch special and it's perfect for me and my office mates. It tastes like my mom's home cooked meals in Colombia

Sooooo goooood! Delicious food: fresh ingredients, nice and…read moresteamy. Got some freshly baked plantain chips - phenomenal! Service quick and friendly! Fun atmosphere and absolutely pleasant people! Forgot to take pictures :( Started shoveling food as soon as it arrived. WILL BE BACK!!!

Made a point to venture out here and the trip was well worth it! The place is small and we had to…read morecrowd around a tiny table. The food made it all worth it. The fried fish was incredible as was the encebollado! There's one waitress for the entire place but she does her best! We liked this place warts and all.

Either date night with the misses or with the kids Gabrielle and the team takes great care of us…read more The food from the delicious homemade chips and salsa to the incredible chimichangas or birria quesadillas all are amazingly delicious. The coconut mojito was the best I have ever had, so many delicious drinks to choose from. Food is so fresh and the vibe is so chill. A must go for everyone!!!!!

Came here the other night with a couple friends after a long day. The service was great and we were…read moreserved some complimentary chips and salsa which is always nice. The Birria Burrito was good, not amazing. The consome wasn't rich and flavorful like it should have been. Mostly just some beef stock with Onion and cilantro added in. The beef in the burrito didn't have a ton of depth or any of those hallmark spices that I'd expect. Overall, nice space, good experience and I'd give it another go at some point. But my search for excellent authentic Mexican continues.

5/5. again. Very good place that routinely delivers excellent service, food, and ambience!…read more The corn ravioli is a highlight. Worth a detour for this place! The yuca fries are always cooked perfectly. I'm impressed by the kitchens' predictability and reliability with the food. I've ordered the same thing multiple times and it's been nearly identical.

Two times in two weeks! Why didn't I get here sooner? Amazing food coming out of this joint in…read moreBeverly MA. Chef owned and operated,some of the most authentic Latin cuisine on the north shore with friendly knowledgeable staff in a colorful industrial setting. Price point is excellent for the quality of the food received. Brava Que Mas! You've become my favorite restaurant.

So good! This place was Great!…read more Came with part of four and ordered more food than we could eat! Wait staff was personable and attentive Will be back the next chance I get ! 5 stars all the way

Los Andes in Providence delivers an exemplary, standout dining experience from the moment you walk…read morein. The space is huge, spacious, and extremely comfortable, yet still manages to feel vibrant and energetic--no surprise given how popular this place is. It gets very crowded, which tells you everything you need to know about its reputation. From start to finish, both the service and food are exceptional. Every dish is delicious, creative, and truly different from anything else out there--this is not your standard dining experience. There's a uniqueness to the flavors and presentation that keeps you engaged throughout the meal. The value is equally impressive. Portion sizes are generous, the pricing is very reasonable for the quality you're getting, and the drinks are outstanding--well-crafted and perfectly paired with the menu. Be sure to make a reservation--this place fills up quickly--and plan on using valet since parking is limited in the area. It's a small trade-off for such a high-level dining experience. A true must-visit destination in Providence.

Life is short. F.....it up! Family,Flavor, Friends…read more Was out tonight in the area went to the supercharged go kart place up the street. But one is something better than what the Place offered for food. Saw this nicely highly rated place and decided to check it out. This is a small mom and pops Restaurant when you first walk in the aroma of all the spices and the cooking reminds you of something from home. It's a acquaint place probably only seats about 20 people. Sing a table you have the atmosphere of being in Cuba except that it was 25° and we're in New England so now to the food we got the fried pork belly the pork sandwich and the Cuban all were very nicely made good quality, quality quality of food. Excellent bread did they use each bite was very savory and felt like it was cooked by your mom. Definitely leave her in the area and you're looking for something different. It's a must check out..

What an absolutely incredible restaurant. It was my first time trying Cuban food and definitely…read morewon't be my last. Parking can be a challenge here but you should be able to find some available street parking. When you enter Havana Cafe it feels authentic. I've never been to Cuba so of course take that with a grain of salt but I love the way they decorated and the music that was playing. Even though the restaurant is small we did not have trouble getting a 2 person seat. There were a few "reserved" tables as well so next time I visit I'll probably call ahead just to be safe Our waiter was incredible. Friendly, attentive, and offered some helpful suggestions. He was all of these things without being too pushy and made sure we felt properly checked on. I definitely recommend him but I wish I grabbed a name. For food we ordered a cheese and chicken empanada. Our waiter also brought out cilantro and habanero sauces. The empanadas were both incredibly crispy and filled will. The chicken was tender and had an intense but pleasant flavor. However, I think I preferred the cheese empanada. The sauces were both excellent as well. Even though I'm not a fan of cilantro I still liked this sauce! For dinner I had the fried sirloin with congris and fried yuca. The sirloin was perfectly tender and fried well. The yuca was also perfectly crispy while the congris was cooked well and had an excellent garlic flavor. I would definitely order this again. Some pictures made me think the portions would be small but I was satisfied after finishing my dish. We skipped dessert even though I was heavily debating trying the flan (maybe next time). My partner told me this was one of his "new favorite restaurants" which is high praise. I can not recommend Cafe Havana enough!

Food is always good and staff is friendly. Appetizer portions are pretty small for their price…read more They have definitely jacked up the price in the last few years Im assuming due to their renovations. Still a good date night place, but go less frequently due to cost. Parking is always a nightmare there

I ordered takeout from this Columbian Restaurant. I tried the mojarra frita (fried whole fish -…read moretilapia) and sweet plantains. The plantains were delicious, and the rice was nicely cooked as well. I was less impressed with the fish. It was ok, but was too deeply fried such that the meat was tough. I am also used to having some sort of spice or other sauce on the side to accompany and add to the fish if I want to spice it up - at least that's what I have gotten at every other restaurant where I have bought a whole fish. But alas, no such luck here. I was also disappointed with the presentation. While the rice and plantains were nicely placed in a to go container, instead of going the same for the fish it was simply wrapped in foil and placed inside a paper bag. Because we eat with our eyes (and nose) well before the food touches our taste buds, this wasn't great. Oh well...

Went here for my b day with friends and it was the perfect place to celebrate! Loved the food,…read moreservice, and atmosphere!! Definitely recommend!

Wow. If you're looking for a spot that has amazing food, beautiful art and design aspects, friendly…read moreservice, and plates to share, Aguardente is the place for you. A friend and I came in and put our names on the waitlist, waited for about 45 minutes at a bar down the street, and then had some of the most fulfilling tapas ever! We got a Prosciutto & Salpicao board, the Queijo de Cabra, and Frijol Dip. I also got a nice portuguese red wine that paired well with some of the cheese we received. We sat in a very sweet and cozy nook and enjoyed every minute! I will be back when it's warm out and the front patio is open!