Cocina Chente — Restaurant in New York

I will say THIS: Great ambiance, beautiful scenery, delicious food, awesome drinks even the DJ was excellent BUT unfortunately, the Customer Service was THE ABSOLUTE worst from the Owner/Manager Roma a fellow female Latina who's also a mother who I assumed might be a little nicer to my children and I. Even down to the waiters that I'm sure could use whatever hours and tips available during a global pandemic. I called in advanced 7 pm on a Saturday to see if reservations we're available they told me no but walk-ins are welcome and there's currently no wait I grab an uber within 20 minutes of the phone call I arrive, I'm not sure if because I arrived with two small children but immediately they seemed hesitant to #1 great me at their Hostess podium and #2 seemed unwilling to seat us saying there's a wait and they have no tables for three people although I clearly see open tables, one table for a party of six and two tables for two people which can be easily converted to three. since they're not taking reservations I ask the waiter Adolfo at the podium area can you add us to the waitlist? He says Umm okay someone will call you in 25-30 minutes. This is a 3,000 sq ft lot with the outdoor dining tables set-up so there's not much room where you can stand or wait comfortably on the actual sidewalk but we're New Yorkers we'll stick it out, We stand just a few feet over by the dentist office and after about 40 minutes I head to the podium and now the Owner/Manager "Roma" without saying hello, rudely tells me I need a mask to check on my table status although I've seen several other customers with either no mask or wearing it incorrectly under their nose come up to the podium. So I tell her I have them in my purse but I'm just trying to get seated we've been waiting quite some time just trying to support a local business and have a meal with my children she tells me that I'm next in line but in order for them to seat me I need to put on a mask "its the LAW"the table that's ready and winds up being my table is literally 5 steps behind me but after I put on the mask to submit to her power-tripping I see other customers waiting with no mask just a few feet to the left of the restaurant so I point to them and ask Roma if I stand over there with no mask is it okay? & of course, she says YES! so I'm totally confused why I wasn't offered that option in the first place and why am I being treated as if they could care less whether we dine here or not especially during these times of severe financial loss to most New Yorkers I would think you would want or appreciate any of the customer's willing to support anyhow I saw a couple that arrived after me and while waiting they also mentioned the lady upfront was mean and nasty but to my surprise, they were seated before me now this is about an hour+ of standing outdoors with two children most people would have left and supported the other 3-4 restaurants on the same block but after all the wait and hassle I didn't want to have to start fresh somewhere else with my hungry children so finally 9:00pm! they seat us I ordered Four Appetizers Four drinks with one waiter whom I never saw again and now conveniently have the original male waiter who didn't want to seat us initially. I requested another appetizer before the kitchen was set to close at 9:45 pm but it never arrived so when I asked for the bill the waiter Adolfo brought me the wrong tab with a total of $211.36 I notice it's completely wrong he starts taking out a pen asking me what did I order from that receipt? I tell him ALL of it is wrong he goes back gets the correct bill for $109.54 of course I pay the bill plus a $5.00 tip for bad service in a rush to get the heck up outta there I get in the uber and notice they charged me a "Service Fee" of $17.00 on an $85.00 subtotal, a party of 3 maybe the "service fee" is their form of added on gratuity. Will not be returning I do NOT recommend this place to anyone who wants to be treated the same as others and with a little bit of humility during these...

Dined:2/22/2020 Food: 3 Stars

I ordered La Vegetariana. In simplified words an eggplant enchilada. With vegetables inside. In this case possibly singular considering the fact that I searched my plate for veggies and I could only find spinach inside the rolled eggplants. This dish was served in a green sauce with yellow rice and black beans on the side. Over all the dish was plated beautifully but the flavor was bland, absent and almost non existent. Sadly.

My guest ordered the Chile relleno with beef. Also served with the same flavorless rice and beans. As she said as well the beef lacked flavor including salt level. She had to add pepper and salt herself, which was also missing from the table and had to flag down the support staff for it.

One thing I could say was actually worth a try we’re the Crab and maduro croquetas in a mole sauce. Those did taste great and were just about the only thing on the table that had a decent taste. We also shared the nachos, which aren’t worth the mention. Nothing special about the nachos. Don’t bother with those.

For dessert we enjoyed the churros, which thankfully you can’t mess those up and I opted in for have the Plátano macho, sweet plantain cooked in cinnamon——well more like deep fried sweet plantains with deep fried whole cinnamon sticks. That was a big disappointment for me. Over cooked and very oily. Not necessarily as described or what I expected.

Cocktails were great. I definitely recommend La Maria it’s a sweet mezcal rosemary infused yup sod cocktail with tamarisk syrup. Served up. Definitely a different kind of drink. For dessert cocktail I ordered the Carajillo, this must be one of my favorite espresso cocktails ever. Mezcal, espresso and Liquer 43. Over all the bartender is the best thing that’s happened to this place. Thanks man!

Service: 1 Star

I honestly do not have much to say about our waitress except she was just an order taker, can not say a lot about someone who was not present or checked back with us about the food nor drinks etc.

Ambiance: 4 star

Just about possibly 95% of the reason why people return to this place seems to be because of the ambiance. Beautiful decor, great lighting for dinner, awesome playlist (great choice on Manu Chao), the menus are interesting and full of Frida Kahlo quotes and last but not least what the millennials would say it’s an instagramable place. Picture perfect—- just about.

A place needs to have 2/3 of these Food only received a 3 because those cocktails were actually worth the drink. I’d recommend stopping by here for a possible happy hour or guac and chips kind of evening. But unless you’re someone who enjoys bland Mexican food do not go here. You’re better off at the taco truck on 53rd street and 7th Avenue who has amazing...

So yesterday, I was on adventure mood but it had to be closer to home so I went Cocina Chente....Love it when I'm guided by intuition!

I was attracted to Chente by the images on tjeir website and did I mention it closer to home but when I actually got there...the images online don't do it justice...the ambiance, one of the owners Roma...so lovely!!

And then there is Anna the Bartender who took me on a Mexican history journey of why the restaurant is names Cocina Chente...then she served me their famous $5 Margaritas happy hour special and I ordered Guacamole and chips...Kudos to Chef Moses...he made my Guacamole with the right amount of heat and intensity...Perfectly Spicy...just the way I like it!!

Yesterday was $8 Mezcal drinks all night...Roma schooled me on what it was and how it created and then it was served to me...I was immediately transported to Mexico...just exquisite...its smoky aroma and the serving container made from a small pumpkin shell...I didnt want to leave Mexico...see the images!

Im only giving it 3 stars today because Im planning on going back for their Brunch since they serve one my favorite dishes "huevos racheros" but they call it .."huevos divorciados"...hoping Chef Moses will make it like he made my Guacamole then "Chente" as everyone calls it will be my new 2019...