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Sofrito
400 E. 57th St., New York, NY, 10022
nr. First Ave.
212-754-5999
| 8.3 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Upscale Puerto Rican
vcmeremaid from 11217 | Posted on 11/10/09
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I did not expect such snazzy decor when I walked into Sofrito, nor the attentive and well-trained service from the bar and waitstaff. The pina colada was spiced with something I couldn't point my finger on, so I will have to go back for more....as it was fantastic. I usually avoid sweet drinks but this is worth the concession. I can't speak to authenticity but I can speak to flavor. Enormous portions of well prepared seafood paella and pork shoulder were seasoned nicely. Plantanos not too heavy. While I could have done without four, I swear, birthday serenades in an hour and a half - I really enjoyed myself. Great for a date.
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THEY TAKE ON MORE THAN THEY CAN HANDLE
Clever38Diva from 11215 | Posted on 9/25/09
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I went with a party of 5 for my friends b-day we had called in and made reservations for 7pm when we got there they didnt have a table reserved for us we waited 3 hrs for a table, everytime we sat down at the lounge area we were asked to move because they said it was reserved but i guess it was because we stopped ordering drinks we didnt we want to be drunk by the time we got our table mind you we had 2 large pitchers of sangria but i guess that wasnt enough for them. then we asked the hostess how much longer she kept saying soon but she was seating other people before us who didnt have reservations it was the worse experience i ever had at a restaurant by the time we got our table we werent hungry anymore and just ordered appetizers and left oh and its cluttered and the dining area the waiter waiting on the table right next to us kept bumbing me almost elbowed me in my head i was aggravated NEVER AGAIN!
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Authentic Puerto Rican dining? Hardly...
dominguez_m from 08536 | Posted on 8/16/09
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Zero class at this place and food is about street vendor quality. I am Puerto Rican and I can tell you that this place is run by people that give us all a bad name. First my wife was harassed by the door man for no reason. The staff was not accommodating at all...asked for a dish to be made without meat, they flatly refused. Finally, I was escorted to back office by a bouncer and waitress to count money and "settle our bill" ($1100)...unreal.
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Excellent!
ktucker from 08854 | Posted on 3/30/09
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My husband and I came here to celebrate hisbirthday before going to see a play. It was by far one of the best dining experiences we have had. We were seated as soon as we walked in! Our waitress was genuinely cordial and the staff was very attentive. Our table never had a chance to get dirty! The food was excellent. We tried the empanadas (chicken, shrimp, and beef) and they were delicious. I had the Arroz Con Pollo and my husband had the Arroz con Camarones. Both dishes were flavorful and well seasoned. Unbelievable quality for the price. My husband can't stop talking about it. Would definitely go there again! Atmosphere was great. Even the bathroom was clean and nicely decorated. Overall an outstanding experience.
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One thing missing for this to be AMAZING....
andreintime from 10036 | Posted on 3/9/09
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The food, service, drinks and ambience is GREAT! The ONLY thing these folks should do to make it an EXCELLENT experience for customers is to LOWER THE VOLUME on the music! I know that as Latinos we love music but NOT when we have to scream across the table to have a conversation... Keep the loud music at the bar not the dining area!
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Savory Puerto Rican Grub in a Decidedly Un-Puerto Rican Setting
ninak87 from 08824 | Posted on 10/26/08
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I admit I was lukewarm about going here at first, after seeing what I can only describe as the "generic lounge" decor (neon-lit bar and an organic, "mid-range minimalist" aesthetic). To me, it seemed strange that a restaurant specializing in earthy Latin fare would go this decidedly sterile route. It didn't help that the host, who made the awkward ceremonial gesture of personally unfolding our napkins on our laps, reeked of cologne. Despite these initial turn-offs, we were totally impressed with the caliber of the food. My ropa vieja, a classic Cuban meat stew, was savory and delicious, cooked to tender perfection, while my date's Paella (a dish we tend to avoid after many underwhelming experiences) was a feast for both the eyes and mouth. Ultimately, the incongruous mix of elements is a blessing for those (like me) who try to avoid stuffy dinners at all costs. No matter that Sofrito has the unenviable task of pandering to midtown corporate casualties, at heart it is refreshingly homey and non-pretentious, like its food--or a good abuela.
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Great Puerto Rican Food in Midtown for a great price
jong98 from 10304 | Posted on 5/20/08
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As we walked in, the host was extrememly accomodating and seated us quickly, moving seats around and such for our comfort. The service was quick, accomodating to our schedule so that we would not miss our Broadway Show. Then the excellent food arrived. I lived in PR for over 15 yrs and this was equal or better in quality to anything I've had in PR.
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Arrived with high hopes, but left disappointed.
bugmenot from 60640 | Posted on 3/16/08
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I was excited to eat here after Angie Martinez raved about it, but it just didn't live up to the hype. My girl and I got there about 6:20 last Friday. Hostess told us the wait for two would be "40 min. or less" - we ended up waiting 1.5 hours after the staff moved us out of our seats in the waiting area a few times. When we finally got a table, our waiter wasn't particularly friendly - he mostly just seemed disinterested. The roasted pork I ordered looked great (it was huge!) but was actually very bland and underwhelming. My lady ordered mashed plantains with shrimp, which was really good. Also good were the garlic bread and the tres leches dessert. As soon as we finished, staff was pushing us out the door to make room for a bigger party. Oh yeah, and the place was crowded! And the loudest restaurant I have ever been to - way too much screaming by the ladies in attendance. Even worse, they played "Feliz Cumpleanos" over the sound system about 7 times. To sum it up: good value, decent food, but we're not running back anytime soon.
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Simply Incredible
meteorman from 11208 | Posted on 11/16/07
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Not certain of what others may think but "Sofrito" is probably one of the most extraordinary culinary experiences one will ever have. I had birthday party for 4 and it was wonderful. After our dinner Jimmy brought us over to the bar where Jr. and Felix were standing and they brought us a birthday toast. These folks are probably the most profesional individuals in the industry. I have been in the restaurant about 20 times and I will go 200 more times if I can. I take my hat off to all of you guys. Viva Puerto Rico! way to go.
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FANTASTIC
jodi14 from 10901 | Posted on 8/19/07
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i googled puerto rican restaurants and sofrito came up as one of the restaurants. so we decided to go there today. I am so glad we did. the food was great the service was fantastic thanks to our waiter kevin and the operations manager dominic. the atmosphere was perfect and so was the music. we came in from suffern ny and will be back and often
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