Cuna del Sol — Restaurant in Town of Haverstraw

3 1/2 stars

This was quite an experience. I was looking for a new lunch spot yesterday afternoon and couldn't quite figure out if this location was an actual sit-down restaurant serving Latin cuisine, or...a random convenience store. Turns out it's both! It's rare that I have the benefit of finishing up a meal and then immediately walking 10 steps to a look for a snack, but that's where we apparently are in 2023.

I stopped by here a little after 1PM. When you walk in, there's a fairly casual restaurant to the left, complete with a seating area, a pay station and cooking area. It's separated from the convenience store by a fancy partition with fake greenery and a neon sign. There were a few other customers seated throughout, but I wouldn't classify it as particularly busy and I was able to go right up to the register with my order.

After perusing the menu (there are a ton of random American food items on it, but it seemed best to go with the more traditional Latin shizzle), I opted for the birria tacos ($15ish), which the menu indicated had three ingredients - beef, birria broth and cheese. I have a very texture-based palate so I tend to butt heads with a lot of entrees in this genre that have onions, peppers, etc. I asked if there were any other ingredients just to make sure, and was told no. When the tacos showed up, they had chopped onions on top. Now, it wasn't the biggest deal in the world and they were relatively easy to scrape off. And there's an argument to be made that I could have been more specific with my questioning. I chalk this up largely to a mild language barrier, but if there are any potential ingredients you have concerns about, I would verbalize them as clearly as possible to avoid any miscommunications. Beyond that mild kerfuffle, the tacos were pretty tasty. A LITTLE on the greasy side but very flavorable and definitely a solid portion. I'd have no issue getting them again, absent the onions. (And as an aside when one of the employees came to pick up my plate, she noted that I left the onions and said I could just order the dish without them next time).

The service was very good. It took less than 10 minutes to receive my food, which was definitely made to order, and everyone was very pleasant/accommodating. The crowd in there was definitely more ethnic and blue collar (which is true of a lot of Haverstraw), but I consider that to be a selling point for this type of cuisine. Even though I probably stuck out like a sore thumb, the staff was welcoming - one of them walked over to the convenience store to ring up my purchase there, so they wear multiple hats here. Impressive stuff.

This isn't my favorite type of food and honestly isn't something I'd get on a regular basis, but it was solid for what it was. And I was able to restock my...

Let me begin by expressing my amazement at the exceptional quality of food served at Cuna del Sol. Every dish I have tried is simply out of this world delicious. From the delectable starters to the mouthwatering main courses and delightful desserts, each bite was a culinary delight. The chefs truly excel in creating flavors that leave a lasting impression. From the moment we entered, we were greeted with genuine warmth, and the attentive staff ensured that our dining experience was top notch!

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend Cuna del Sol as a must-visit. The outstanding cuisine, impeccable service, and captivating ambiance make it a true gem. Take the opportunity to treat yourself and your loved ones to an unforgettable experience at...

Ordered chorizo tacos today. First time here, $13.01 for 4 small (3 bite) tacos. Took about 10 minutes to make. Very traditional, dual corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, beets, green onion, and cucumbers. No real wow factor, chorizo lacked flavor, beets were rough cut, not thin to put on top of the tacos. Could have passed as birria with the amount of grease that pooled...