La Fonda — Restaurant in New York

Appearances deem this as the local barrio spot to get some rico Puerto Rican food! The line was out the door and they take reservations! The music in this place was great. I was dancing in my seat the whole time :) Upon entering, we were not greeted (4 in the party at the time). A party came in after us and the host/server welcomed them in. He asked if they had a reservation, I cut in and told them we have one. (Thinking maybe he just didn't realize we were there first.) But he honestly ignored me and continued talking to the party that just walked in, instead of saying he would be right with us. Honestly, that should've been the ticket to have us walk out. Alas, we did make reservations and my party came from all different places. Our reservation was for 4:30p. Our order was placed at 4:34p. I did not sign our check until 6:38p... The whole experience was the worst I've had.

The host was unfortunately our server as well... Our plastic utensils were on the table but it took them about 7-10 minutes to give us the plastic cups with ice. 15 minutes to give us the water vessels so we would pour our water. We didn't get our menu until the water was served. A majority of the menu was sold out from the day prior. After we ordered our food, 5 minutes later my 5th member shows up. It took him about 10 minutes for the server to come by and take his order too. While the server did not come by on his own, one of the bus boys had served the 5th member the ice cup and the busboy flagged the server down. For whatever reason, someone gave us 5 solo red cups? We didn't order drinks to share. Lol. We did do our small talk to take up time! But 85% of what was talked about was the horrible restaurant. Our server never came by once. Not to give us an update on our order, ask how the alcoholic drinks were, not to try and upsell drinks. Nothing. We needed to ask him about our order, twice. He only came by to serve us food and we needed to flag him down to get our check. 3/5 of us wanted to walk out after our HOURS of not being recognized or acknowledged. Other tables were also getting their food served late, they cheered after they got it. But it took over an hour and a half before our food was served to us. Those people cheering came in after us and they also got their food before ours. Anyway, he did give us a 15% discount with approval from management, albeit some of the food being served cold food... Whatever sauce that was with the mofongo and shrimp was muy rico (very delicious). My party indicated their food was flavorless. Where I was sitting was in the corner. My party had gotten up and as I was getting my belongings together, I felt a jerk on my leg. I turned to see some random person trying to move the table. "I was only moving it to give you more room." Like, are you serious? I would never recommend going here. It would probably be best if you would go to a fake Puerto Rican place over this.

Please note, the day this experience occurred, the 2022 Puerto Rican Day parade took place. If a restaurant is one of the FEW Puerto Rican based restaurants in an area, they honestly should've been more prepared!!! Shame. Especially considering the PR parade is the largest cultural parade! The management/owner does not know how to run this place. Because of this, the server, and other staff, had to suffer because they were improperly...

Omg I remember when this was a real Puerto Rican restaurant. The decor spoke Puerto Rico the food was like y ate at your grandmothers the waitresses were very attentive and the portions were great. I don't know what the guy from "ZAGAT" is smoking but obviously its a white guy who knows nothing of Puerto Rican food. Today may 20th 20013 I decided to see of they finally opened I went in the masks were gone decor was like not what y expect. So I said let's see how everything else is. The waitress asked what I wanted min y there was a family sitting next to me. I clearly said I would like white rice stewed chicken with the sauce of the chicken on the rice and totones (fried plantains). I also asked for a coke. Waited a while . Finally she brings me the food . She brings me the rice in the shape of a small bowl and three little pieces of chicken that barley had meat on them. I asked here is there any drumsticks or pieces that have more meat the waitress who was Dominican takes it back then brings it back with a broken leg and this deformed piece. As I ate I got more dissapointed. Then the waitress forgot my soda . Then the family next to me said the same thing that the remembered when it was a real restaurant. After I was done I realized the did not bring me my fried plantains . I asked the other Dominican waitress where is my order she said I never ordered it. I ask for the girl who was attending me she said I never asked her for it and the family next to me said they heard when I ordered it. So they made me wait for something that should have cane out with the order. Got so discouraged with their attitude cause oh yes they started having an attitude when me and the family next to me was saying how good it used to be. So I got up left $2 tip cause that's all service was worth. Went to pay bill no one at the front. Guy eating at the bar had to find them. Then to add insult to injury the waitress had an attitude about how I felt gives me the wrong receipt that belonged to the family I met. And gives me my receipt. Tells me if I don't like it I didn't have to eat here under her breath. I told here when y know how to give good service in the food industry you'll understand but y don't charged me $16.75 for the meal that was such a small portion. For that price it wasn't worth it. This is where Puerto Rican people go wrong. Catering to commercialism ,hiring waitresses with attitudes that people would find disappointment in with their service and working what a plate looks like more than what it should be. This is from a true NY Rican !!! "ZAGAT" HIRE...

This was a bad experience. We had a reservation for 6:00 pm. The reservation service said you can't be late more than 6:10 pm or I will get charged, so my party of 6 came on time, but we had to wait at least 15 mins before we got seated. The music was good. We had a friend prepaid some appetizers and drinks for 2 people's birthdays, but we were missing some appetizers. The sangrias was not bad. I have to say that was the one good thing for me. The worst thing to ever happened at a restaurant was that one of my guest did not get his food and my husband who was the guest of honor did not get his dish until very late as well. They mix up people's side. They gave my husband a side to another person and they gave another person's side to my husband, which was so messed up. Also, one of my guest wanted to take her leftovers, and the bus boy (who didn't speak English misunderstood) threw her food away. At the end of the meal, we complained to the waiter (whom was the only waiter for the whole restaurant and an inexperienced waiter too) but he couldn't do anything about it. I finally went outside to speak to the boss. He was outside washing something (I heard that the President of PR was supposed to come to visit the next day) so he was outside doing stuffs that wasn't meeting the needs of the customers. He should be helping to meet the needs of the customers. I saw several people in 2 tables leave because the service was too long or the food took too long too. I had the pernil which was dry, but the sliced steak was decent according to 2 of my guests. Ruined my husband and his cousin's birthday dinner!!! Never again!! One of the most horrible restaurant experience ever!! Don't go during dinner time when it's busy. When we were there, there wasn't a lot of people so they shouldn't have our orders mess up and miss someone's order. I see some reviews that brunch is okay. I bought the Pulsed vouchers too, but I couldn't use them on Friday which was my husband's birthday. I may have to go on a weekend to use the voucher and give it one...