Cuchifritos — Restaurant in New York

My Experience was not a good one. Poor service. The servers asked for the next customer and then turned their back on me while I was ordering, and asked the gentleman behind me what he wanted. Although we didn't look alike, he was with me (family). They got the order wrong twice, because they didn't listen, which meant twice the wait and everytime I said what I wanted, the reply was to tell me how much it cost. It was unnecessary, annoying and unprofessional. I found it insulting and felt disrespected. My feeling was that they possibly felt I couldn't afford the food I was requesting. Three times I asked for a pan of pernil, finally on the 3rd request I got it. When certain patrons came in to order, two of the servers turned their back on them, just like they did me doing all this whispering over their food. But others got quick service without price quotes, until it was time to pay. When a couple of patrons complained about their $2.25 or $3.00 purchase, the servers emphasized the price with a fake smile but when I purchased a little over $100 in food for my family, I got looked at like I shouldn't be there. Well wish granted, I'll never come back to this little lousy hole in the wall with a piss poor excuses for servers.Maybe if I had let my nephew or husband who looked a little more like them order, maybe I wouldn't have been judged so much. I know they will never make another dollar from me. The servers are judgemental and rude. It's a sorry establishment when the servers are useless. Representation means a lot, and those women representing this establishment will eventually drag it to the ground. They are not handing out free food from some government funded program and even if they were, it should be done with grace. It doesn't make sense to think you're better than some one else over rice, and its sad that they're not...

I remember going to the 116th st. Cuchifrito with my mother and sister during the late 1960'-early 1970's That was our stop before heading home After a movie at the next door movie theater; COSMOS. My Cuchifritos were the ALCAPURRIAS and RELLENOS DE PAPAS and large JUGO de AJONJOLI. Both my mother and sister had some CUAJITO con GUINEOS SANCOCHAO' and also ordered the delicious JUGO de AJONJOLI .That Cuchifrito was there for years. Typical PUERTO RICAN (JIBARO) FOOD. A couple of months ago my sister and me decided to visit the old Cuchifrito establishment , where we used to go with Mami after a Sunday night movie outing. We sat down at the counter like we used to do many years ago. we ordered the same food we did back them and I also included an order of rice and beans. Our memories of the food back them went off in a cloud of disgust. Yes. It is the same place but not the same food.Nor they are PUERTO RICANS. The beans were the color almost Gray ( never seen beans cooked or uncooked that color) the rice texture was like Elmers Glue .Alcapuria was like 3 days old. My sister was sick for a week and couldn't stopped vomiting. I DID NOT SWALLOWED ANYTHING . I put everything in a napkin and asked for the check. Please my people do not eat there. you might come down with parasites. Call the department of health if you do eat there and get sick. THIS IS THE USA FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. REPORT THEM . THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND LAW TO ENFORCE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS . IT'S YOUR HEALTH . and also they should take that Cuchifrito sign down . that's not Puerto Rican FOOD. THAT IS A DISGRACE. DO NOT EAT THERE. IF YOU DO . IT MIGHT COST YOU YOUR HEALTH. YOU...

I've been here twice now and would go daily if possible. There are so many positives about this wonderful establishment. For starters, the food looks mouth watering. The meat is beautifully-seasoned, tender, and it's hard to hold back more and more spoonfuls. Their options seem endless, they have quite the variety of dishes and after reading the menu, you'd want a taste of it all. My friend had gotten the platanos which made us have to wait awhile but we're glad we did because it was absolutely delicious and stayed hot for about 2 hrs after receiving. There wasn't any seating though, so we walked to a nearby Wendy's which also had a restroom. As for the atmosphere here, it is very warm, especially if you're a Spanish speaker. Reminds me of being at a Hispanic household during the holidays. So many women close to one another doing what they gotta do. The one downside was the beverages. I had gotten Muva and my friend got Tamarindo. Maybe it was just the time or day, but it had a vinegary taste to it. Maybe even watered down too. There are a lot of options for drinks so when I return, I'll be trying something new. But I'll likely get the platanos and chicharron again. Oh, and lastly, THE PRICES. It is AMAZING what you can get with a $20 bill. Enough for 2 people...