1492 New World Latin Cuisine — Restaurant in The Village

I arrived about 6:30 on a Friday night. I knew they would be busy but I wasn't expecting complete chaos. There was one girl working behind the bar to serve customers sitting at the bar, the tables in the bar and to make drinks for tickets coming in from other servers. There were empty bar stools at the bar and nobody waiting for a table so it wasn't really "that" busy. I sat down at the bar and waited patiently for 5 minutes before I was even acknowledged. I asked for a "gold" margarita with Gran Marnier. She came back almost 10 minutes later. The drink was one of the worst margaritas I've ever tasted. It literally tasted like tequila, water and a little lime juice. Take a look at the photo I posted and you can see it looks like cloudy water. I decided to stick it out, at this point after almost 20 minutes I had a glass of water and the watered down margarita. Still no napkin, silverware, chips or salsa. I had to grab the bartenders attention and ordered a bowl of white queso with chorizo. The queso arrived but still no chips or salsa so I sat there. After a few minutes the chips finally arrived so I was at finally able to taste it. For a $9 bowl of queso advertised to have chorizo I had to laugh. There was maybe a spoonful of chorizo, that's it. I used a chip to stir it up since I still didn't have any silverware. Even after stirring the bowl it was mostly just all cheese with almost no chorizo. Each bite I took all I could think of is how great this would be if I could actually get a bit of chorizo. Let's just say it was nothing more than a "chorizo tease". Give me a break, why be so cheap and stingy with the sausage? About this time the little bowl of salsa finally showed up and it was barely average at best. After munching on the queso for a while I again had to raise my hand to get the bartenders attention to order the Patron dinner. When my dinner was put in front of me I meant to ask for silverware, but he dropped the plate and just walked away without even asking me if I needed anything. So I figured I would sit and wait to see if a single person noticed a I was sitting at the bar starring at a plate of food with no silverware or napkin. It seemed like an eternity, managers, bartenders, other servers walked by while I sat there with food in front of me and not eating it because I had no silverware. Not one person was aware enough to notice someone sitting there with food and no silverware. So guess what? That right, I have to raise my hand again and literally grab someones attention and ask for silverware. Mind you I've been here for about 45 minutes already. At this point I thought if the food is good I can put up with their lack or organization or processes to effectively server customers. Well, the food was a major fail. The ground beef was dry and flavorless, it reminded me of ground cardboard with some cumin. The beans were runny like soup and had absolutely zero flavor. The tamale was shameful and the chicken enchilada and ground beef enchilada were terrible. The only two items I ate that tasted decent were the cheese enchilada and the cheese taco. To add insult to injury I practically had to beg to get a check so I could tab out. Horrible service and below average food, I won't...

1492 Latin Cuisine: A Culinary Gem

Stepping into 1492 Latin Cuisine is like entering a warm and inviting haven, where the aroma of tantalizing spices and the vibrant chatter of fellow diners create a cozy and comforting atmosphere. From the moment I arrived, Sarah, my attentive and friendly server, guided me through the menu's enticing array of Latin-inspired dishes. Her recommendations were spot-on, catering to my first-time experience and ensuring I savored the best of 1492's culinary offerings.

The salsa, a symphony of flavors, was the perfect prelude to my dining adventure. Its vibrant freshness and subtle heat danced on my palate, awakening my taste buds for the culinary delights that lay ahead. The house queso, a creamy and cheesy indulgence, was a true testament to the restaurant's culinary prowess. Its rich, gooey texture and satisfying flavor were a testament to the chef's expertise in creating comfort food at its finest.

My main course, the tienda la ropa, was a culinary masterpiece. The beef brisket, cooked to tender perfection, melted in my mouth, its savory juices mingling with the flavorful sauce that coated every bite. The beans, while good, could have benefited from a touch more spice or seasoning to elevate the dish to an even higher level.

To complement my meal, I ordered a side of chipotle sour cream, a tangy and smoky condiment that paired perfectly with the tender chicken. Its smoky essence enhanced the chicken's natural flavors, creating a harmonious blend of tastes that left me wanting more.

1492 Latin Cuisine is indeed a hidden gem, a culinary oasis nestled amidst the bustling city. The food, a symphony of flavors and textures, is a testament to the chef's passion and expertise. The drinks, crafted with precision and care, are sure to tantalize your taste buds. And the service, provided by attentive and knowledgeable staff like Sarah, ensures a dining experience that is both enjoyable and memorable.

If you find yourself in the area, make sure to venture into 1492 Latin Cuisine. You won't be...

Valentine's dinner - weigh our experience accordingly. We had a reservation and were seated a half hour late, along with the 16-20 other people who were already waiting. The restaurant seemed to be understaffed from the hostess stand to the kitchen. That said, all of the staff we encountered were pleasant, despite being very busy. Having dined at the Midtown location several times, my confidence was still high. I have Celiac disease so have to be careful with my restaurant and menu choices. I checked the online menu for this location several times, and was happy to see a few familiar options from the Midtown restaurant. When we were seated, we discovered that they had changed the menu (complete change-over, not a holiday menu) not a great administrative choice so close to Valentine's day; all of my typical dishes were gone. The waitress could not tell me which menu items were safe for me to eat. I wound up ordering shrimp fajitas with corn tortillas and my husband had the 1492 chicken. Thirty-five minutes later, our food came out. The shrimp was dry (overcooked), and just tasted like char; the rice was bland, while the refried beans were the consistency of soup and just as bland. The seasoning on my husband's grilled chicken consisted of the pico de Gallo that was spooned on top of it, no salt, no pepper, nothing, but it was not over (or under) cooked. His cilantro rice was pretty bland as well, and the avocado, served as a garnish, was not ripe. Needless to say, we didn't eat much and did not take anything home. Our waitress was very nice, and the one familiar menu item we did have (the queso Blanco with chorizo) was good - I ate it with corn tortillas. The hostess gave roses to the female patrons, which was a nice touch. I have no complaints about the staff but, if we go back to 1492, we will probably head to Midtown with the hope that the menu there has...