Tag Archives: Calle Dao

Flashback Friday – Latin Restaurant Weeks

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Happy Caribbean Heritage Month!! Another restaurant week!! With the recent successes of restaurant weeks and restaurants months over the course of 30 plus years, Latin Restaurant Weeks starts on June 6th and will end on June 20th. Based on their website, Latin Restaurant Weeks started six years ago by “Karinn Chavarria and Warren Luckett, in order to help lend a voice to the aspiring and existing Hispanic entrepreneurs and professionals of the culinary industry”.  To date, they are partnering up with Feed the Soul Foundation, which focuses on “empowering culinary entrepreneurs and students by providing the essential resources needed to flourish in the food industry”. 15 restaurants are participating throughout the five boroughs and their prix fixe and specials price vary, with lots to offer. Last year Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine participated and I ordered a take out meal which I believe was less than $20. This meal included: braised oxtails, sweet plantains and mixed vegetables with an empanada (forgot which flavor I got) and a passion fruit juice. This meal was enough to feed two people.

Latin Restaurant Week Meal to go

Realistically with my schedule, I’ll be lucky to dine one let alone two restaurants, however, below are my recommendations. To date, I’ve been able to review 12/14 restaurants.

Meal for One

La Palapa – $28 per person six course tasting menu to celebrate their 25th anniversary. For this price, count me in!!

Meal for Two

Canave Cocina y Bar – $40 per person three course prix fixe menu: (1) Nachos Con Queso/Hangar Steak/Flan (2) Mofonguito de Pollo/Camarones Enfiestados/Churros

Calle Dao (Bryant Park) – $45 per person three course prix fixe menu dinner: (1) Steamed Shrimp Wontons/Ropa Vieja Noodles/Tres Leches (2) Papas Rellenas/Chicken and Yellow Rice/Flan

Calle Dao (Bryant Park) – $30 per person three course prix fixe menu brunch: (1) Steamed Shrimp Wontons/Ropa Vieja Noodles (2) Papas Rellenas/Cuban Fried Rice

Calle Dao (Bryant Park) – $30 per person three course prix fixe menu lunch: (1) Steamed Shrimp Wontons/Ropa Vieja Noodles (2) Papas Rellenas/Chicken and Yellow Rice

Meal for Three

Cocotazo – $30 per person three course prix fixe menu: (1) Alcapurias/La Gallina/Flan (2) Relleno de Papa/Guava BBQ Ribs/Tres Leches (3) Pastelillios/Coki/Flan-Budin

Meal for Five

Palo Santo – $55 per person three course prix fixe menu – it appears that this restaurant is offering the entire menu but items are subject to change.

Personally, I’ve dined at Calle Dao in Bryant Park numerous times during the pandemic. From what I recall over five years ago was that they had a great happy hour menu and generous dinner entrees. Interestingly, I have not had the items on Calle Dao’s Latin Restaurant Week Menus so I’ll make an effort to try to dine there. I’ll be check their social media pages and hopefully I’ll be able to repost on my stories as my way of support small businesses and another restaurant week concept.

Flashback Friday – Calle Dao

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Happy 2021! It’s been an interesting and unprecedented 2020 with the pandemic that turned the planet upside down. We are very grateful to be alive, healthy and employed *knock on wood*. One of major changes that took place in 2020 was the shutdown of business especially restaurant and food industries. Many famous restaurants, mom and pop restaurants and even landmark restaurants closed down permanently because their businesses suffered tremendous loss due to the restrictions that were set in place in order to keep people safe.

Prior to the pandemic and shutdown, my friend recommended an emerging restaurant chain somewhat that specializes in Cuban Chinese Cuisine. The restaurant is called Calle Dao. There are two locations one in Chelsea and the other in Bryant Park. They have a sister restaurant called Favela Cubana. They had happy hour until 7pm for discounted drinks and food. My friend and I have only been to the Bryant Park location because it was convenient especially during this pandemic. We came on a Monday evening during the summer and early this week for outdoor dining. The first time the outdoor dining setup in the summer was an open space. Recently, the restaurant revamped their outdoor dining space by building adding walls all round and heaters above every table. The new setup was very cozy, warm and toasty. We had the same server, his name was Marvin. Marvin was very nice, friendly, accommodating and generous. More importantly due to increased expenses incurred during the restaurant’s 10 day closure to set up outdoor dining for the winter, an 8% COVID surcharge was now added to the check. The COVID surcharge was implemented by NYC around October to help restaurants sustain themselves. Anyways, let’s get to the food and drink:

  • Tostones $8 during Happy Hour
  • Shiitake Spring Rolls $10 during Happy Hour
  • Crispy Wings $9 during Happy Hour
  • Sangria $8 during Happy Hour
  • Prosecco $8 during Happy Hour
Happy Hour Grub from 4pm-7pm Monday to Friday

Tostones – great deal for a solo meal and definitely meant for sharing.

Shiitake Spring Rolls – pricey for the portion, but a great option for vegetarians.

Crispy Wings – another great deal but it is definitely sticky and messy.

Sangria – a must have here and highly recommended; they also have the option for a white sangria. FYI red wine is more health benefits than white.

Prosecco – a great alternative if you want to go light on the alcohol

In addition to happy hour bites and drinks, we also ordered additional food, which appeared to be pricey, but deceivingly large that we ate half and took the other half home. Both dishes tasted amazing and it’s low carb.

  • Biān Pào SALMON $31
    Pan Roasted, Glazed with Sriracha, Ginger & Cilantro, Saffron- Black Sesame Cauliflower Rice, and String Beans
  • BEEF & BROCCOLI $28
    Smoked Short Rib, Shiitake Mushroom, Chinese Broccoli dressed in Garlic Hoisin (it comes with noodles, but my friend was on a low carb diet)

We will definitely return to explore our happy hour deals at all three locations and definitely try their brunch menu. This restaurant is worth trying especially if you want to experience Cuban Chinese cuisine.

Cheers to 2021!!