Bistro Punta Sal — Restaurant in New York

Arrived with my wife and two boys at 7:10 for dinner. Walking in revealed a small but cozy looking place that was packed. Peruvian decor was minimal compared to other restaurants but overall atmosphere was nice. We did have to wait 10 minutes by the entrance while the staff figured out our reservation status. Not a good sign and definitely a sign of things to come.

After waiting another 15 minutes for a waiter who served an adjacent table first that was seated after us, my main concern was to get my kids fed. It was passed their dinner time, so I asked a woman waitress for her help. After the woman confirmed they don't have roasted or rotisserie chicken, we settled on the arroz con pollo (chicken with rice). We omitted the huancaina sauce as it is spicy.

While my boys order was working, our designated waiter finally introduced himself. The gentleman was good, recited the specials well and answered all our questions regarding the menu. He did recommend placing our entire order as they were very busy but he did not specify how long the kitchen was running. We ordered papa a la huancaina as an appetizer (one of my favorites), passion fruit and mango pisco sours for drinks and lenguado punta sal and spaghetti pesto for main courses.

The chicken with rice was terrible. It had an unappealing brownish/greenish color with over cooked rice (mushy) with a flavor profile that was very unusual. It also came with the spicy huancaina sauce I specially asked to be removed. I proceeded to send the dish back and ordered roasted chicken with rice and beans which apparently was on a SECOND menu unbeknownst to the woman waitress.

The pisco sours were decent but I've had better. The fruit flavors were bland and didn't stand out. The foamy head indicative of a good pisco sour was present.

The papa a la huancaina was delicious. The potatoes were cooked just right and the star huacaina sauce was among the better ones I've had. The sauces consistency was thick, smooth and not overly cheesy. The spice level was perfect and the overall flavor had depth where individual flavors competed with each each.

Lengunda punta sal was definitely the highlight of the night for me. The corvina was cooked to perfection. The fish was lightly battered, light and flaky and extremely moist. The yellow pepper sauce was also delicious and complemented the fish perfectly. The accompanying rice was light and fluffy (perfect) but the beans lacked flavor.

The spaghetti pesto was also very good. I liked it more than the wife who thought it was on the plainer side. The pesto sauce was packed with competing flavors and dominated by the basil which it should. I also liked that the pesto sauce was not overly oily and that every strand of pasta was coated. The steak was on the thinner side but juicy indeed as the menu says.

The roasted chicken (for my boys) was juicy and thats about it. It lacked color and flavor.

The complimentary mango cake dessert was delicious. Mango mousse with a thin cake base and I believe a tart juice on top.

Overall, my experience with this restaurant wasn't a pleasant one. Although some of the foods were extremely tasty and represented Peruvian cuisine well, there were too many negatives that overshadowed the positives. The service was slow, the kitchen took way too long and the critical mistake of the woman waitress failing to tell us about a second menu which could have fed my children in 20 minutes instead of an hour and a half. Unfortunately, I will not be returning as there are plenty of Peruvian restaurants that will rival this food but with...

Food its usually good but they screw up with the octopus. For the price you could get better food at a walking distance, when they put on the front of the menu some of the dishes doesn't mean that its on a special but it should be good at least to keep with the standard of the dishes served at this location. My personal opinion stick with the traditional Peruvian dishes, do not got for the octopus ifs very hard leave it to the Greeks or the Italians even better to the Spanish tapas!!!! . The service was okay no great, it didn't suck it was just okay, they need to reunite before opening and go over the dishes so when you ask about a dish you dont get the answer let me ask about it??? We all my respect to the Peruvian cuisine one of the best. Bistro punta sal needs some work we don't ask why the price or can you charge me less. We want excellent food like Peruvian food is!!! And please Sal ( owner) don't reply to this because we know that businesses pay someone just to reply they all said the same, so to the owner of bistro punta sal read the reviews and if you want to change our opinion we gladly go back. I know its easy to hide behind a review and unleash our anger without any effect but my name its on goggle and you could reply and I will go and try again. Best regards George Marmolejo. PS i don't have Instagram or any social media so don't waste your time looking for me, just reply to my review. Five starts of everything its on point Four stars if the service whas all right but the food was good Three starts if the food was okay and the service suck. Two starts when the food its usually good but for some reason today it suck and you complain and still get charge for it. One start if everything suck service and food. But the bathroom was clean. Zero starts when it just everything suck its just nothing to do here... Usually the music its good but today!!#$&@** I wish i could keep this just between the staff and I. But like i said they...

Came with My Peruvian Boss, He ordered a Causa which he always eats at every Peruvian Restaurant, and ordered it very specifically as he’s Picky so He Specified No Vegetables the gentlemen confirmed it and put the order through. The order was picked up and he took a Bite and it Had Onions in it (Which if made fresh can be removed at Any other Establishment), so I Politely told the gentleman who took the order who in turn went to tell the Chef, who came out Visually Upset, He then Aggressively told us we have to specify what vegetables are and what not to put in the food and then asked my boss is he was Peruvian or not, My boss told him again about the dish and how he’s a business owner as well and if he can have the gentleman who took the order confirm how it was ordered, the chef then cut him off went inside and slammed the door behind him.

The sad part is that we looked forward to coming here as per the photos and were let down by the simple service.

The Lomo Saltado was also not anything special it wasn’t genuine Peruvian as it had the same Beef as a Chinese food Restaurant, instead of Fillet Minion.

I wish things would’ve went...