El Criollo — Restaurant in Dracut

This Puerto Rican restaurant delivers warm & friendly service, with dishes that are beautifully presented & delicious. The food is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds, highlighting the kitchen's culinary expertise. However, the restaurant's location is less than ideal, nestled in a mini plaza surrounded by a barber shop, nail salon, hookah and vape shop, and various takeout spots—an environment that doesn't quite align with the upscale prices they charge.

Inside, the atmosphere is pleasant, with elegant lighting that sets a nice tone for your meal. The bar area is decent for a quick drink in a cozy spot. However, parking is extremely limited to no parking, & the restaurant itself is small, offering close quarters with approximately 1,200 square feet of space.

Now, let’s talk about the bill. Be prepared: for a family of five, the total came to an astonishing $390. Yes, you read that right. My wife and I had three drinks in total, including two very small beers. What’s even more frustrating is that an 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill without any prior notice.

Charging gourmet prices for a restaurant located in a mini plaza in Dracut, MA, just doesn’t make sense. You could easily find similar drinks in downtown Lowell or Lawrence for half the price. It’s hard to justify paying Boston prices for a venue that doesn’t quite match the premium cost. While the food is undeniably good with excellent presentation, the overall experience is marred by the steep pricing, the unexpected service fee, and the "urban...

I will start off with the positives. Cozy, small clean restaurant. The staff were attentive and super courteous. We ordered the Picadoraz which is a selection of different finger food. I believe it comes in small and large. We ended up with the large version, for only 3 women. Honestly, we weren't told of the different sizes nor were we told that there was an extra cost to added items. For example curasco was $28 on top of the price. As were the alcapurrias, etc. To much to list. A side of red onion $5, side of rice $8. margaritas we over $40, with an extra charge for Tequila. The bill was over $300 for 3 wothout appetizers or ext4a drinks. the gratuity of 18% is automatically added to the bill.

The worst thing about it all, was the food tasted old and burnt. Almost as if the oil hadn't been changed in a long time. I literally only ate 1 piece of chucharron and 2 bites of alcapurria making me feel unwell. I added a photo

This restaurant is very pricey for the food offerings. I was...

I respond to the name of Harry, on Friday May 12 I had the privilege of being able to dine with my wife Neida at the Criollo restaurant. In which we were attended by Dariel and Sareiny who were very kind. In this very cozy restaurant we were able to enjoy not only first class service, but also exquisite food. Of which I was able to delight myself when eating it, personally together with my wife and visited several very good restaurants. But this restaurant that bears the name Criollo exceeds in terms of service, the quality of its meals and the flavor that delights the diner's palate. I am not given to recommending a restaurant but in this one I do because of what I was able to experience. Very good service and excellent food in a cozy, familiar environment. We definitely recommend this restaurant. To which I will return with my wife and family to enjoy. Thank you very much to the owners and those who work in this place for your attention, thank you. attt...