Sazón Y Pilon Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Town of Clarkstown

It would be a little over the top to claim to be a mofongo expert, but I will say that I've had a lot of it, and in both high-end and divey establishments in the NYC metro area and in San Juan. This was some of the best mofongo I've ever had, but unfortunately the service was not. I came here with one of my top-tier chums last night, along with a Meatball Honorary Young Pup approaching the ripe old age of 1 1/2. We showed up close to 5:30pm, and it was pretty empty; I think there was one other occupied table. We were immediately shown to a table on the left side toward the front, with a high chair procured for our worldly traveler.

The mofongo was as advertised, and I can't emphasize what an insanely large portion this was. I basically had an energy drink for lunch and barely got through 30% of it. It's very, very filling and basically the food equivalent of a milkshake - I probably won't have an appetite for another day or so. That said, it was delicious. The consistency was perfect, and the accompanying garlic butter sauce gave it some extra moistness that I'm honestly not sure it needed, but I took advantage of it nonetheless. The pork was tender and flavorful, as nature intended. My chum got the pernil dish (what I got without the mofongo, essentially), and loved it as well. She was a little apprehensive coming in here, dropping some not-so-subtle hints about possibly going to the nearby smokehouse instead, but I didn't hear a peep about that once she started eating.

This was setting up to be close to a 5-star experience, but unfortunately there were a few unforced errors on the service side. The waiter's presence was very inconsistent - he was there to take our app order, and then another 10 minutes went by without a sign of him, and the hostess (she may have also been the manager/owner - definitely a gravitas to her) had to come over to confirm whether or not we'd ordered everything yet. Shouldn't be happening. And even with the hostess right there to oversee the order, they didn't get it right. My chum initially received an order of mofongo as well, which had to be replaced/returned. That didn't take long at all but was still a little annoying and easily preventable. The food showed up relatively quickly (mofongo is typically made to order so I was prepared for a longer wait anyway), but then after we were finished and very clearly ready to leave, literally packing up the Meatball's placemat, etc., multiple people walked by our table obliviously without asking if we wanted to check. We had to hail down an employee who wasn't even handling our table. They were very quick to bus dishes, but for whatever reason didn't have the overall vision to know when to stop by at other times.

This last part to me is one where your mileage may vary, but I'm inclined to side with my chum. The Meatball...needed a bathroom visit/cleanup, if you catch my drift, so she went into the restroom to get that taken care of before we left. When she came back, she had the haunted look of someone returning from a warzone, which I guess she had except instead of blood there was something else. They didn't have any type of changing table in there, so it was...difficult. And I'm on the fence with this since this is not a restaurant that is aggressively marketing itself as young pup-friendly (we weren't exactly as Chuck E Cheese or anything), but my gut says if you have a section of your menu devoted to them AND you have high chairs ready to go, you should probably have the changing station as well. Anyway. The service was the issue for me more so than this, but I also didn't experience the warzone firsthand.

The food was absolutely amazing and I'd come back even with the inconsistent service. Unfortunately, I don't think the Meatball will return for at least a...

A True Gem in Rockland – Sazón y Pilón

I’ve been coming to Sazón y Pilón in New City since they opened their doors, and honestly, I’m not sure why I haven’t written this review sooner. Maybe it’s because every time I walk in, I feel like family. It’s been such an honor to witness their growth, passion, and dedication—not just here in New City, but also at their Stony Point location.

The owners have poured their hearts into everything—from quality and cleanliness to love and compassion. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout, every experience is memorable. The entire team—from the bar to the waitstaff to the chefs—delivers nothing but professionalism and thoughtful service.

Now let’s talk about the food… unmatched! Authentic, flavorful, and consistently amazing. I’ve probably tried 90% of the menu, and my favorites are the empanadas, Chicharrón de Pollo, Pollo Guisado, and every single one of their mofongos. Their happy hour and lunch specials are just the cherry on top.

And let me just say—I am not a breakfast girly, but I am absolutely here for their brunch specials! The brunch menu is so unique, creative, and packed with flavor. You can tell they’ve put love and originality into every dish. It's not your average eggs-and-toast situation—it’s elevated, bold, and totally crave-worthy.

And don’t even get me started on dessert—their flan! I am their biggest fan. They have three different types, and I’ve tried (and loved) them all. It’s the perfect sweet finish to an already incredible meal.

I’m also a sangria girly, and let me tell you—this is the closest I’ve had to the ones in the Caribbean. Their cocktails are not only beautiful but also delicious! One of my absolute must-tries is their espresso martini—so smooth, so refreshing, and the perfect pick-me-up.

The vibe of the restaurant is classy, charming, and welcoming—perfect for any occasion: girls' night, family dinners after sports games, date nights, birthdays—you name it. One of my favorite nights is their Couples Night every Tuesday. It’s intimate, the special menu is always on point, and the live violinist adds such a romantic touch.

Valentine’s Day is my absolute favorite time of year to visit—they roll out new special items that are thoughtfully curated and beautifully presented. I’ve attended their Valentine’s dinner more than once in the same year—it’s that good. And around Christmas, it’s just as magical. My husband and I always look forward to their holiday drinks, especially their coquito—it’s so festive and delicious!

In terms of pricing, I genuinely have no complaints. I think their prices are more than fair for the quality of food, drinks, and service they consistently provide. You’re getting an experience, not just a meal—and it’s worth every penny.

What truly sets Sazón y Pilón apart is the way the entire staff takes care of you. They pay attention to every detail and genuinely care about your experience. Every visit has created special memories with my friends and family.

I’m so glad this gem popped up in Rockland—no need to cross a bridge for amazing food, good vibes, and great company. If you haven’t been yet, go. You won’t be...

First of all, I can assure that this restaurant is NOT a Puerto Rican restaurant.

My husband and I were informed of the restaurant because of a flyer. We decided to try a few plates from the menu because we are retired and rarely cook.

Both of us were looking forward to be satisfied with the place. It was our first visit and some other family members were waiting for our observation.

It's sad to say that the first impression was poor. The aroma of the spices are the ones that invite you to the table in an enchanting manner. In PR we say:"Te embriaga con la fragancia de sofrito". However, for my husband that was not the case once he stepped into the restaurant. And for certain, it was not the case with me as well.

First, the presentation of every service of food was so poor that I wondered if it was one of my grandchildren that was working as a server (my grandkids age range is from 3 to 9 years of age). Secondly, the seasoning was not only of no "show" but extremely poor when it comes to taste. You could not only smell how poor were the ingredients used for each service but you could also taste from far away the lack of quality chosen for the seasoning of the food. Such first sensorial message assured us that the food was under no circumstances the seasoning from PR. But, you have to taste it before getting into a conclusion. Oh boy did we got the"drift" immediately after the first taste!

The had no taste and no shine. It was more like Chinese rice which plain white rice within their culture is considered to be consumed. to clean the palate for the next a new taste of a menu food variety ordered by the patrons. The n the beans were barely seen in the container. Why? Because there were just a few of them swimming in a poorly seasoned sauce with nothing else such as some potatoes (etc...). One of the proteins portions, one of the service was supposed to be steak with onions. Again, poorly seasoned and what was used was of the poorest quality of meat. The sauce consistency was very liquid, very little onions and the meat looked from far away has having a reasonable portion. Nevertheless, the meat had more tendons than soft flesh. An experience that my husband can't tolerate when chewing his food. Therefore, he had to take a knife and clean everything to see if he could consume it. A miracle from his end because he can be quite selective with his food. I'm not going to continue explaining about the experience. These examples are enough. I can say that I sweet plantains and there was no show of such selection.

In sum, the presentation was much to be desired. The portions for the price (with the exception of the rice) were very poor. The service was slow and none compliance with what they promised as they had to substitute a protein that they didn't have (fish) with another protein.

I hope that they read people's reviews and try their best to enhance what they offer. They should also inform from which country their cook's are. Or better off, why not hire a professional chef as a consultant so they can train the cooks to...