The best of the very best Puerto Rican restaurant. Not fancy by local standards but I know good PR…read morefood when I taste it. Order the pernil

Latin Flavors... yeah, this place is a problem…read more I ordered once... then ran it back the next night. That doesn't happen unless it's real. The carne guisada? Deep, rich, no shortcuts -- tastes like somebody actually cares back there. Empanada was on point -- crust had that snap, filling didn't play games. And the carne frita... crispy outside, melts like butter inside. Dangerous. Rice and pigeon peas did exactly what they're supposed to do -- hold the whole plate down without stealing the show. No hype, no gimmicks. Just straight-up legit food. If you know, you know... and now you know.

As you enter the eatery, you are struck by the simple yet uncluttered ambience…read more The service was quick and top notch. The food was really good. This place is what a small eatery should be: quick, clean and efficient, and most of all tasty...

Following a visit to The Villages VA Clinic, my wife and I were eager to try this place out for a…read morelate lunch after reading glowing reviews. It was a cold day and we were looking forward to some Colombian cuisine which was new to us. The place was easy to overlook as the signage didn't really stand out. And more construction is ongoing along Hwy 301 further obscuring visibility into this location. In any case, this is not a "sit down" restaurant as we had to place our order before sitting down. We previously checked out the menu online so we pretty much knew what we wanted to order. I ordered the Paisa Bowl ($17) and my wife tried their Steak and Papas bowl ($20). We also ordered French fries ($3.50) and a can of Coke Zero ($2.50). I thought service was a tad slow (there were maybe 5 tables occupied including us) but we were served our lunch soon enough. Our first impressions were good presentation but the portions were meager. The fried pork belly pieces were nice and crunchy but there weren't enough of them. The ground beef had good flavors and I liked the fried egg over the rice and beans. My wife liked the flavor of the beef, although a bit fatty for her taste, but found the potatoes a bit dry and wished they were French fries instead. Speaking of French fries, it was served with this savory dipping sauce but again, the serving portion was miserly. My wife thought the guacamole was nice and fresh, making it the best part of her meal. All in all, we came away liking the flavors but thinking the value and portions were lacking. Service was a bit detached as well. Lunch for 2 with tip came out to just over $51.

We have never tried Columbian food before but we will definitely try it again! Everything was…read morereally good. We both really like rice and beans and these were good. The chicken was very tender and cooked well. We did ourselves a big favor and brought home some fantastic bakery items too. We especially enjoyed the guava jam filled stick and the cheese bun!

Food was good and reasonably priced. The reason for the three stars is the service. Our waitress…read morewasn't particularly friendly, even though we speak Spanish fluently. We chose a table for two to avoid taking up larger seating, but as the restaurant got busier, a worker approached us while we were still eating and asked if we could move so they could seat a larger party. I let them know we were almost done and they could have the table once we finished. Overall, the food was enjoyable, but the service left a lot to be desired. I'm not sure I would return, but if you're craving Colombian food, it may still be worth a visit.

I recently visited La Cocina de Abuela for lunch. The restaurant is set up cafeteria style and you…read moreorder a small, medium or large portion. You choose your rice, beans, meat, and side. I ordered a large with Ropa Vieja, Yucca, Black Beans, and Coconut Rice. I love Cuban food and the portion was massive, however, I was disappointed. The Ropa Vieja was tender but watery, the yucca was soft but bland and a little chewy, and the beans lacked any seasoning. I liked the rice: savory with a hint of sweetness. The best word to describe the food was edible.

Very tasty food that tastes homemade! The chicken was cooked to perfection as was the rice, and…read moreeverything was very flavorful. My one complaint is the plantains could be a bit softer, but otherwise this was a delicious meal. The staff was very helpful and quick with service. The ambiance isn't anything fancy but there is plenty of seating inside, though it is also easy to take this food to go. I'll definitely be back to try more items!

My husband and I love trying new little places. And when I saw that they had a high rating on yelp,…read moreWe decided to stop in for a quick lunch. I started with a delicious cafe con leche. And not everyone can make a good cafe the way it should be. The empanadas tasted fresh and flavorful. I had the grilled chicken with the rice and beans. Ans my husband had a chicken sandwich. The sandwich could be a little better but still the chicken was very flavorful. Overall the waitress was so sweet and attentive. This is one of those quaint family owned restaurants that I love to support. Definitely recommend.

Not a fancy place but the food and service is pretty good. Ate lunch here today and there was a…read moresteady flow of folks. Value seems pretty good and quality of the food is good as well. Small mom and pop place with a small menu which is perfect.

We had such an amazing experience! The food was absolutely delicious and tasted so authentic - you…read morecan tell everything is made with care. The service was just as incredible. Everyone was so kind and attentive. We can't wait to come back!

The joint is a small Cuban/Puerto Rican restaurant in a local strip mall. You can find Cuban…read moresandwiches, but also some get some PR specials, like Mofongo. The ambiance is strip mall. Service was what I expected from a small family owned Cuban joint. The food is nice. I ordered the Tripleta, which is a Cuban with Cuban Steak added (in addition to the pork and ham). Nicely pressed, great flavor. I also had to get a small mofongo. If you have not had it before, Mofongo is plantains with onions and spices, rolled up into a ball and cooked. It is served with chicken broth, which you will definitely understand should you decide to eat mofongo without it (plantains, unlike bananas, will dry you out). As for the million dollar question? Yes, I will go back some time.

For only being less than 2 miles from my doorstep, being right here in the middle of Ocala, exit…read more354 less than 2 miles from 75 it's definitely worth stopping to enjoy some Latin Food, Friendly service and nice tre leche deserts and flan!

The gentleman was asked questions te: food and his answers were like with uncertainty. A party of 3…read moreonly one at our table hot silverware , we had to sort using plastic we eyed at a counter, the beans we ordered we were not told they were out, but he put in order, instead bought me some other brand without giving or informing us of the situation. Plgrilled chicken instead got roasted dried chicken. Mofongo and trifongo were decently ok. Atmosphere needs to be spruced, perhaps some decor and set up to feel welcoming. Overall not a to go place for me , but in passing I will maybe consider.

Graduation celebration party of 11. Tinker has officially stolen my heart (and my appetite)! Every…read moresingle thing that hit our table was a flavor explosion, but I have to give a standing ovation to the pollo a la plancha juicy, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to absolute perfection. It's the kind of dish you take one bite of and immediately plot your next visit. And the side dishes...oh my goodness. Usually you have a "favorite" side and a "meh" side, but here, every single one was a star in its own right. Creamy, vibrant, tangy, savory, each had its own personality and every bite made me do a little happy dance. Honestly, it's rare to find a place where the sides are just as memorable as the main course, but Tinker nails it. The atmosphere was warm, the service was wonderful, and by the end of the meal everyone basically grinning like a kid at their birthday party. The Tres Leche cake was insanely good! If you haven't been yet, go. And if you have you already know you're overdue for another plate! It was really that good!

The ambiance of the room was quite pleasant, although the building side facing the street could use…read moresome work. I've driven by many times and through the smoked glass it looked like chairs or something else was stored behind it and I though it had closed.The service was very good, prompt but not over attentive! The selection of Beers was outstanding! I had a starter of what was billed as Chupe De Pollo, (chicken chowder), it had very thick broth and was chocked full of chicken. Chicken breast was used and although there was a lot it was very dry and the broth was more like a heavy veloute. It also did not have much flavor. I won't be ordering that a again. My wife and I had Empanadas, mine was shredded beef and hers shredded chicken. I could have used a bit more sauce for dipping. The shell was quite crisp but not greasy. But all and all it was good. Our friend had the vegetarian arepas and let me taste some, it was quite good. She finished the whole dish! We also shared the loaded fries which came out hot with an interesting sauce drizzled over it. We didn't have the bacon on it as our friend is vegetarian. That would have made it even better for me. All in all it was a fun experience and we'll be going back.

Great place for an affordable healthy lunch! Daily lunch menus, specials and regular meals…read more Food is fresh and nicely prepared. Many chicken and pork selections; several rice, bean, fish, vegetable and salad dishes that are usually very tasty. Had the tilapia daily special. It was prepared well, but lost a star from the poor quality of the actual fish used. Mostly take out but indoor/outdoor dining tables. Don't forget to ask for lime slices and salad dressings. Desserts are regular with a few specials. They also have delicious passion fruit juice!

I'm not usually big into Puerto Rican food, but the taste and price was not bad for this portion of…read morefood! The place inside can be maybe more welcoming to all, but definitely you get your monies worth

The food was really good. The staff was delightful. Portions are pretty big but of course it was…read more$20, lol! I will definitely come back here.

Horrible service!!! Food didn't seem fresh! Location is nice and inside looks nice. Too bad the…read moreemployee who claimed to be the owner represents this establishment