La Hueca Epa — Restaurant in New York

First, I was welcomed by a yellow bucket and a dirty mop outside of the entrance, BTW when we left, remained there.

The first impression was good, decor, tables etc, then I needed to go to the bathroom to wash my hands before eating and there it is, like many other Ecuadorian restaurants, all the cleaning supplies on the floor, this is terrible by health department, knob door was loose as well.

We ordered Seco de chivo, churrasco and I wanted to try encebollado, at the moment of ordering the waitress (recommended ) the astillero, of course more expensive, and I wanted to try it, huge mistake, the cold black clams destroyed the encebollado flavor and couldn't say was good or not, my wife and my son were pleased with their plate.

The place was packed, I was sitting right under the heat blower, took a few requested times for them to turn it off, I was super uncomfortable.

When I asked the check bill, I noticed a mandatory 18 % service charge I didn't understood, beside tax and tips.

Finally I was told my Citibank card was declined, I asked the Manager and he said this happening all the time with Citibank, an embarrassing moment, they tried twice and keeps declining, logged in to my account and showed them there were plenty on the account, if a manager said it happened often, why not reaching the business line to Citi and fix this. My wife paid for it with her card.

After we left, we sense a food smell in the car and realized all our clothes had the food smell from the place, a much better ventilation system must be installed, you don't get this elsewhere, Lastly, please repaint or clean the dirty grey color door leading to the kitchen, God knows what's happening back there.

Will I return to eat here?, definitely NOT, please learn from the best eat out...

The food is good but the service is terrible. Management really needs to look into this because it is frustrating that waiters are so distracted and honestly have zero customer service. This could be a huge downside to a business.

My wife and I walked in on a Friday afternoon and as soon as we walked in the three waitresses available didn’t acknowledge us. We had to come forward to ask whether we should wait or go ahead and seat ourselves?

We sat down at a table of our choice and there were about three families already indulging in their food. We knew we’d be set getting serviced, considering we were the only other table. We ordered our drinks and food, and waited. Another couple walked in and sat at a table adjacent to ours.

After 30 mins, we see the waitresses come out with served plates and head straight to the newest couple’s table. We figured they ordered a quick appetizer or something readily available… only to realize they had given them one of our plates and then redirected the second plate to our table (the couple hadn’t ordered that). So basically my wife and I just sat there with one of our plates getting cold while we waited for the other plate, which never arrived.

The worst part is not the mistake, that happens. What bothered us was the waitresses completely unaware and unapologetic… we let them know about the discrepancy only to have to wait another 20 minutes… they were just now going to input a new order for the same plate they gave to another table…. We simply walked out. Terrible...

My wife ask for bolon mixto, we politly bring that the chicharrón was not fresh, and tasted terrible, he came to my table and she said it was ok !!🤬 i reply in not ok !! And left… then i found the owner outside and ask me if all ok i said no !! He say he tasted the chicharron and was ok … i said i left the whole plate there i stiill. Paid for it… i ask him why didn’t he went to ser me at the table for my complaint!!! No reply!!! Shame i try give business to my country people, unfortunately bad experience!! The owner could have said im not charging for the bolon!! Maybe he could have lost $20 almost the prize of the bolon, instead he lost a...