Matt is amazin waiter @ fresco cocina if you are ever in Carlsbad the whole restaurant is a vibe…read morevery attentive. Matt has the perfect personality to be the waiter. 1st time and i will be back. Oh the food and drinks are great as well

Came here for the first time tonight. My wife and I don't go out a lot any more.. I'm really glad…read morewe came to Cocina tonight. Our server Nikki did a great job!! She was super helpful. I have a lot of food allergies, and she accommodated all of them. This is so hard to find.. Thankful for you for hiring the right staff. Food was also amazing. Definitely coming back.

Our first time here with familia Here a Salvadoran Resturant here in Escondido. Not to far from…read moreus and our first time here and of friend of the familia introduced us and we're hungry and it smells good here for Delicious Papusa, frita yucca, frita Chicharron, tamales, de elote con crema, Plátanos frijoles negros. We enjoyed the large appetizer They bought out hot salsa in bottles one hot and one taste with a little kick Are service was great she bought out our drinks And we started with appetizer it had everything Plates for our food we plus we order each us 1 more papuas that we wanted 2 Frijoles con queso, 2 Chicharron con queso This was authentico de Salvadoreño comida I love the plátanos and the papuas de chicharrones A lot of take out and pan quesadilla was sold out by morning You have to come early to get it Our server said they only make a small amount Each morning This is really good and it's a big roomy resturant And on grand so there car shows here and you can walk around out side We really had a great time here And reasonable priced too This Resturant is really worth coming and enjoy good papuas here

It's a full service restaurant with a large and diverse menu of appetizers, soups, salads, pupusas,…read moreand entrees includings pastas. The menu is obviously focused on Central America style food, but I was lured in after learning that among their Italian items is a meatball sandwich than includes a side of fries. The sandwich was good with four medium-sized meatballs, tangy rather plain tomato sauce, and melted cheese on a soft roll. Not as good as the gold standard meatballs, sauce, and bread at Mona Lisa in Little Italy, but passable. The fries were hot and crisp, which is a rarity these days having been served so many that were mushy, limp, and barely warm. In addition to ketchup, there is a tasty side of ranch. They serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks made with wine. The ambiance is very comfortable with authentic Central American decor. The service fast, friendly, and efficient. Their consistently excellent health inspection reports are a big plus. I'll be back to try their Salvadoran specialities.

As a Colombian who has been craving authentic Colombian cuisine since my last visit to New York in…read moreDecember, I can confidently say this restaurant truly satisfied those cravings. Being nearly eight months pregnant, my expectations were especially high, and it is rare to find a place that meets them so well. From the seasoning of the food to the warm and attentive service, everything about this restaurant stands out. Although I don't recall my server's name, he was incredibly kind and provided excellent service throughout. The ambiance is also worth noting--the space is large, offers plenty of seating options, and even features a large TV, making it a great spot to relax or watch sports. To start, I ordered a watered mango juice along with a beef empanada. The empanada exceeded my expectations--despite being on the smaller side, it was packed with flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered five more to go, which speaks for itself. They were served with fresh ají, a traditional sauce that complemented them perfectly. For my main course, I had the carne asada plate, which included steak, rice, beans, sweet plantains, avocado, tomato slices, and a small arepa. Every component of the dish was well-executed--the beans were flavorful, the meat was well-seasoned, and the overall plate felt authentic. It is often difficult to find truly authentic Colombian food, especially in San Diego, where options are limited or not genuinely Colombian. This restaurant, however, delivers on authenticity and flavor. The portion size was generous, and I ended up taking leftovers home to enjoy later. In addition to the empanadas (two chicken and three beef), I also ordered a buñuelo and a cheese arepa to go. Unfortunately, these items did not meet the same standard. The arepa lacked flavor and was overly greasy, and the buñuelo was dry and similarly oily, even after absorbing excess grease from the bag. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for Colombian food, especially given how rare it is to find quality options in this area. Friends of mine visited recently as well and thoroughly enjoyed their bandeja paisa, further confirming the consistency of the food. I will definitely be returning--especially for those empanadas. Como colombiana que ha estado antojándose de comida colombiana auténtica desde mi último viaje a Nueva York en diciembre, puedo decir con confianza que este restaurante realmente cumplió con mis expectativas. Además, estando casi de ocho meses de embarazo, mis expectativas eran aún más altas, y no es fácil encontrar un lugar que las cumpla tan bien. Desde el sazón de la comida hasta el servicio cálido y atento, todo en este restaurante destaca. Aunque no recuerdo el nombre del mesero, fue sumamente amable y atento. un servicio excelente en todo momento. El ambiente también merece mención: el lugar es amplio, y limpio. cuenta con muchas opciones de asientos y tiene una pantalla grande, lo que lo hace ideal para relajarse o ver deportes. Para empezar, pedí un jugo de mango (rebajado con agua) junto con una empanada de carne. La empanada superó mis expectativas; aunque es un poco pequeña, tiene muchísimo sabor. Me gustó tanto que pedí cinco más para llevar, lo cual habla por sí solo. Venían acompañadas de ají fresco, que las complementa perfectamente. Como plato fuerte, pedí la carne asada, que incluía arroz, frijoles, plátano maduro, aguacate, rodajas de tomate y una arepita. Cada componente del plato estaba muy bien logrado: los frijoles tenían un excelente sabor, la carne estaba bien sazonada y jugosa y, en general, el plato se sentía auténtico. Hoy en día es difícil encontrar comida colombiana verdaderamente auténtica, especialmente en San Diego, donde las opciones son limitadas o no lo son del todo. Sin embargo, este restaurante sí cumple con ese nivel de autenticidad y sabor. La porción fue bastante generosa, por lo que terminé llevándome lo que no pude terminar para comer más tarde. Además de las empanadas (dos de pollo y tres de carne), también pedí un buñuelo y una arepa de queso para llevar. Lamentablemente, estos no estuvieron al mismo nivel. La arepa carecía de sabor y estaba grasosa, y el buñuelo estaba seco y también muy aceitoso, incluso después de que la bolsa absorbiera parte de la grasa. En general, recomiendo este restaurante sin duda a cualquiera que esté buscando comida colombiana, especialmente considerando lo difícil que es encontrar buenas opciones en esta área. Unos amigos míos también vinieron recientemente y les encantó su bandeja paisa, lo que confirma la calidad constante del lugar. Definitivamente volveré, especialmente por esas empanadas.

BEST EMPANADAS IN ALL OF SAN DIEGO. I spent my whole day trying to find good empanadas here in san…read morediego that would remind me of new york and this was the only location that didn't disappoint. $1.99 per empanada, they are super filling and can tell are made with love. Service was amazing and quick and the atmosphere is very welcoming i love this place. LAS MEJORES EMPANADAS DE TODO SAN DIEGO. Pasé todo el día buscando buenas empanadas aquí en San Diego que me recordaran a Nueva York, y este fue el único lugar que no decepcionó. $1.99 por empanada, son muy llenadoras y se nota que están hechas con amor. El servicio fue increíble y rápido, y el ambiente es muy acogedor. Me encanta este lugar.

The service was really great. Before I even got my food the waiter was very helpful…read more The ambiance is also really pleasant and colorful, great place to enjoy some time with friend.

First time in a long time eating at a Peruvian restaurant. So glad that we tried this place in the…read moreConvoy area. I ordered the garlic noodles with tofu. I really wanted to order the shrimp but it was not wild caught, nevertheless, the flavors all melded and I enjoyed my dish fully. Honestly, I even took a to-go container because I am working on not eating to the point of fullness. My companions had the Ropa Vieja and Lomo Saltado and their dishes were licked clean! Service from Emily and Leyva were superb. they were attentive and kept our water glasses full! You gotta try the chicha morada drink. it was refreshing. We will be back!!!

They have a good happy hour and a great patio…read more They just need to be a little clearer with drinks. Menu says "house wine" $10, or $6 at happy hour, but it doesn't list what the wine options are. I was trying to get a beer at happy hour prices, and they ran out and needed a new keg. No biggie except I didn't need a beer that much and my friends were waiting. I looked at the open wines at the bar, Estancia and J. Lohr. So I said, ok, I don't need to wait for a new keg, I'll just take the J. Lohr. It was going to be $14, because "it's not the happy hour wine." I don't know how anyone would no, cuz there's no wine list at the bar! Luckily they were nice and priced it at the $6 "this once." But it would be helpful if they listed what wines they have and had it either on the menu, or on the happy hour list ("not premium wines" or something). Anyway, I had fun. Food was decent. It's good that this place is still in Restaurant Row - so much of it is gone!

This is only in regard to Happy Hour in the bar, but it was well worth it. My sister and I walked…read morein and found a seat in the bar. The bar has quite a bit of seating both at the actual bar and at tables including high tops and regular. Very clean and a nice ambiance as well. We were quickly greeted with warm, fresh chips & salsa as well as an order of waters. The waiter was very kind and great to talk with. He gave us just enough time to think about what we wanted and came back. We went with the house margaritas ($6), a few beers ($6), two large beef tacos ($8) and nachos with carnitas ($8). I was impressed with how stuffed the crunchy tacos were and how flavorful the carnitas were in the nachos. The meal was plenty to share with one person. Our waiter great throughout the whole meal so I really appreciated it. For a nice, weekday happy hour with good food, good drinks and good service, this is the place.

I was in the area absolutely starving -- like next-level hungry -- but I didn't want fast food or…read moreany big national chain. I drove into the center just to see what was there, and that's when I found Casera. The pictures in the window caught my eye, so I figured I'd stop in and try a few empanadas. The woman behind the counter told me they had three kinds that day: spinach and cheese, chicken, and beef. I ordered two of each and literally cleaned her out. From the moment I walked in, the place had such an authentic, family-run feel -- you can just tell when food is made with care. She asked if I wanted hot sauce, and I told her I love hot sauce. She handed me both a salsa verde and a salsa rojo, and man... after the very first bite (I started with the chicken), I completely lost my mind. I added the sauces and went to town. Before I knew it, I had eaten all six empanadas. I am ridiculously full right now, but they were so good I honestly couldn't stop myself. If I had ordered a dozen, I would've eaten a dozen. Thank you for being here, thank you for the amazing food, and thank you for giving me something to look forward to every week. I'll definitely be back.

I enjoy a good Latin or South American dish and this place is mainly Peruvian & Colombian themed…read more I'm familiar with some Brazilian food and brands so I'm thrilled when I can come here for a Guaraná soda. I've had everything from their saltado dishes, empanadas of various kinds, an assortment of their pastries, and ready to go drinks. Everything has been good for the most part. Tho when I'm craving a dessert stop here I favor the guava pastry and the alfajores, & you have to special order the cheese Pastry/bread. I'm a huge fan of "pudim" that's how you say flan in Portuguese! Yet the flan is not my favorite here since the sugar caramelization it's usually cooked too much, causing a burnt flavor, and the consistency is too aerated rather than having a creamy and smooth consistency. I've tried it a few times and that seems to be their consistent style. We get cravings for this place and like that we're mainly serviced by the nice owners of this restaurant. The restaurant is decorated in their native culture in mind. I love that! If you're craving a good empanada or a sweet tooth treat come and give them a try!

This is, hands down, the best Peruvian restaurant in the entire county. The tallarin, aji de…read moregallina, chaufa, and of course, the lomo saltado, are all dishes that you'd expect to find in the best places in Lima. The Huancaina sauce is fantastic. The spicy verde sauce is also great. Order some of both on the side and dip, dip, dip. The food is prepared with care in a small kitchen and, as a result, service can run slow. But it's worth the wait. Enjoy!

This place is legit! Authentic Peruvian food that's made with love. I ordered the mixed ceviche and…read moreit comes with sweet potatoes. You wouldn't expect that to go together, but it was hands down the BEST combo! My hubby got the Saltado and I stole a few bites - super yum too!! Randy grabbed us right before we left and had us try the chicha (?). Omg - Christmas in a cup! So good. Loved the service.

Wow, just wow. I am still on cloud 9 after dining here last night with friends. The whole…read moreexperience had us in complete awe, from the warmest welcome at the door, to being escorted outside for our first courses and cocktails, to every detail in between. The ambiance transports you. Dark woods, a central fireplace, and candlelit tables that make everything feel intentional and just right. The food, drinks, and service all delivered. One of my friends said it was on par with French Laundry. iykyk. I am intentionally leaving out the details because I think the discovery is part of what makes dining here so special. You can piece it together from the other reviews. What I will say is that anything less than five stars is simply undeserved. We will not forget this one.

We stopped in tonight for a glass of wine, and to see what Valle is all about. We had two delicious…read moreglasses of wine, and when the bill came the very nice waiter told us they automatically add a 20% "service charge". He told us we can add a tip on top if we want, but not necessary. I'm sorry, but the owner of valle should just have the balls to charge 20% more instead of adding a "service charge". That i can respect. After we paid our bill, we walked over to the dining room to check it out and see if we wanted to dine there sometime. But as we entered, the apparent manager intercepted us and told us he couldn't let us just walk around the restaurant. Maybe he thought we just walked in off the street. He asked if we'd ever seen a "chef's table" (of course we have, having dined at a number of Michelin star restaurants) and he showed us the chef's table. Too bad he so disrespected us, as we have long wanted to dine there, but will forever take our business to the many nearby restaurants. For the record, we love fine dining, don't mind spending big money on it, but don't want to be treated badly. Hopefully it was just a bad day, but the attitude there was unfortunate.

Driving down to San Diego I was able to stop by this hidden gem!…read more At least it felt hidden to someone not local to the area. The food was amazing, felt like we had been transported to Cuba with the amount hospitality and culture filling the space. If you're making the trip to San Diego ,do what we did and wait it out a bit here it's worth it

I absolutely can go on about this eatery. This spot is definitely a place for community to come…read moretogether and have amazing traditional cuban dishes. The owners and workers are vibrant, communicative, and ready to serve. Beautiful murals across the walls and music that makes you want to dance. My team and I enjoyed everything about our meals and for some, was the first time trying cuban food. Amazing representation if you want to go the more authentic and traditional route.