El Cilantrillo Restaurant - Semoran — Restaurant in Orlando

First of all this is our first time to dine in at this restaurant and it will be our last. The minute we walk in the hostess took us to the table, me and my husband waited for a while over 15 minutes until we ask someone to get the server for us and it took another 10 minutes for the server to come by to take our drink order! we know the restaurant was busy and we want to make it easy for the server so we ordered everything all at once Drink, Appetizer, Main course. When the appetizer arrived the server not even give the plate for us to share, I tried to get her attention several times even when she walk by us, she ignored us completely. Not only that when the main course comes, she walk by us and just give thumb up to us, not even asking if we are ok or we want anything and that only one time she came by for the whole 2 course meal 🙂‍↕️ then she walk passed us again cus she have to get the box for another table so she stop by and gave us 1 box to pack our left over food so we asked her if we can get the extra sauces to go with the left over food and the check. She said ok and then she left. I totally understand she was busy with the big group but come on she forgot our check and forgot our sauces that we asked for, I have to get her attention again and asking her again for the sauce and she look at me confused and asked me ’What sauce? ‘ then I told her off and said ‘ You already forgot? ‘ then she look at me with the attitude said it’s ok the restaurant busy ok? She chuckle her shoulders and left. A minute later she came back with the sauce and said sorry I’m not perfect and left not even said Thank you or anything. She was RUDE and she’s the WORST server that I ever seen and experienced.

I understand that the restaurant was busy but the restaurant should be more care about the service since the restaurant including 18% gratuity on the bills even if you come only 1 person which I’m not happy with cus my server she’s not even deserved a dime from me.

I forgot to mention the food was ok 🙄 the ambiance uncomfortable, it’s loud and not clean.

Last but not least I have to mention my Sever Name : Yehudiam

She’s the main reason I gave 1 star and take my time to write the review for this restaurant and I will take my precious time to review it on every...

Everyone now how good is the service we received from Uber,, and how much, us the general public, appreciated, but if you are looking for a good restaurant,, don't follow the drivers advice completely,, LOL A few days back a driver told me about this restaurant, located in S Semoran Blvd, the gentleman was from Dominican Republic, and I am from Cuba, and we were talking about Latin food. I did mention a dish named Mofongo,, which is made from plantains, and he told me about The Cilantrillo, was amazing he said, and I decided to take his advice,, bad decision. The place,, very clean,, service, excellent,, but the food,,. I ordered a Mofongo and a steak with onion over the meat,, this is the way is served. This type of steak is a thin cut,, fried in a pan with the onion fried at he same time over the steak,, the final result, should be delicious, as you can imagine,, this is typical in all the Caribbean, a perfect combination with the Mofongo,, which is basically smach plantains.. My wife and and I were one of the first one that day,, the place was almost empty which is normal,, after a wile the food arrive.. First impression,, this is no good, I thought,, steak are supposed to be a piece of meat in a plate,, what I got, was a bowl,, yes a bowl with little pieces of meat with some onions on top,, the meat instead of being fried, we're boiled,, dry and tasteless, like when you boil a meat, take the juice to be used in a soup,, then use the meat for other purposes,, this was the case. I did ask for the manager,, when the supervisor arrived,, I told him " just want to ask one question,, when I mention the word Steak,, what image come to your mind" He looked down to my soup bowl, full of little pieces and answer, "Oh I see who you mean,, but this is an steak, Puerto Rican style" really. Pls take my advice and not the one from the Uber driver,, don't go this place with high expectations, and if you decide to visit,, never ask for steak with onion (bistec encebollado) and by the way,, the Mofongo wasn't...

Marilyn, was our server and she was no different than a "car salesmen (on-top-of-her-salesmanship GAME)".

We found this "sweat-shop" type food place by a quick search on Google "Maps" search for "Puerto Rican 🇵🇷 Restaurant near me".

The food = Great Taste

The Presentation = Appealing

The Cleanliness = A- (restroom needs attention)

Price = Here is where the 2-timing car salesman little Tricks/Games started. Prices are high (worth it). Nevertheless; the server/waiter insisted that we should probably order appetizers, even though we had already placed an order for the most expensive meal on the menu (plater with meats and fixings - feeds 4 to 6 and runs roughly $120). We didn't know that it was so much food and would be out in less than 10 mins. But she did! Then each natural drink cost roughly $5 and she insisted in bridging "Refills" as she called them, except they were NOT Refills at all, each cost an additional $5. Then, to make matters worst, when the receipt arrived, we noticed that a 18% TIP was involuntarily ADDED to our bill (parties from 1 to 5 people or 20% TIP for parties of 6 or more).

Involuntarily added!

We had plan to leave our waiter/server "Marilyn" a 22% TIP, but decided against it, as we felt bamboozled and played Big Time. Buying a car would have been easier and less stress!

$330 later for 3 adults 😨. Mind you this is NOT a 4 or 5 Star dinning joint.

Word of advice, order to Go! And say no to all offers and ask about the Involuntary TIPs before deciding to stick around. There are other Puerto Rican 🇵🇷 Restaurants in the area (can't say if they have the same business-Type-Practices or not). But your experience may be a little better than ours!

If it were possible, they would receive 0 🌟 (ZERO).

Horrible Overall...