Mambi — Restaurant in New York

At first, i would like to clarify that i have any attention to criticize or to be arrogent about this place, but on the contrary: I liked it very much and I am glad that I chose it out of other options - Gemini has recomended it and I went for it. My only purpose here is to give some more information about this place out of my current experience in order to let people choose visiting Mambi with more awareness. The main thing right away - AI presented me Mambi as a restaurant. When you read "restaurant" you expect and imagine by this definition some sort of things, some standards that I admit can be personal. Anyway, I wouldn't call this place restaurant but some local dinning room, mixed with a small Bar and private place. And once again, I have any attention to insult or to criticise. Now about the experience and the details. ALL visitors of Mambi are locals and know each other. As I got to know, they keep coming back because the food is great and cheap, the atmosphere is authentic - it's like visiting a local bar in Dominican Republic where everyone speaks Spanish around you. Some of the guests were singing along with TV that broadcasted old songs petformed by singers in Spanish. It's not a tourist place, but very authentic and nice. The staff doesn't speak English well. I was lucky that one of the constant visitors saw that i'm lost and helped me to understand how the things work in this place and recommended me what to order. In general, you can order a "ready food" like in the dinning rooms (you can see it in front of you, and it's a cheaper choice) or out of the menu that needs to be prepared. We ordered two types of rice, two types of chicken and a pasta. The portions were very generous and we couldn't finish them all. The food is simple, nothing sophisticated but good. I liked the special authentic atmosphere, the music in the background and people singing...

Update.... Sadly I will never eat here again.. Two nights ago I was served dinner and wasn't even given a glass of water!!! 20 minutes had passed and I got up. Left the food and demanded a cheque...The food is always good really good.. but. There's something Lost in translation. With a Dominican speaking food server who doesn't understand in America you are just that a waitress to be tipped based upon your attention and your service. somehow waitresses have the feeling that they are in their kitchen in Santo Domingo and can choose to service who they want and still expect to tip I find I'm constantly ignored waiting for someone to give me a bill The waitress is not looking at your progress as you're eating¡!! they're not paying attention to your needs during the process!!!. This is a classic failure for an American waitress or really in any country.. who is not looking at the person that you're serving to see what else they need and to see if they can finish the meal with an additional sale... it's not the way we do business in America... I think they need to teach them that that you're not in your country You're in America and you're serving sometimes American people.. usually were not used to such a thing. I think there's no malice involved it's just a learning curve on who your actual customer is and what they require and the food is still a great place I eat there on a daily basis because my car is parked across the street in the garage and I will continue...

While the food here is great their service and pricing needs to improve. I have been about 5 times. I tend to go to a location numerous times before putting in a review. I order the same thing every time rice and beans with roasted chicken and can of Pepsi. Four out of five times I've been here I had to tell the waitress my order again, three of those four I had to repeat it a third time. I'm Dominican and I speak Spanish perfectly. I don't understand why they can't get a notepad and pen and write it down. You might as well write it down on a piece of paper before going in and giving it to them so they can remember. As stated before their pricing needs to improve. I ordered the same dish five times around the same time (lunch break) and all five times they come with different prices for the same dish. Once I was charged 8 including soda, taxes. Second time it was 8.75, then 9.50, 10.35 and last 11.25. They don't give you a receipt they just go punch in the order in the computer and and tell you the price verbally. Other restaurants near this one charge yoy about 8-8.50 for...