Sofrito

This lounge and restaurant is prefect for the loud chatterboxes and endless talkers. Sofrito, which means sizzle, takes Spanish/ Puerto Rican cuisine to an another level—both in taste and presentation. The decor and lighting makes you feel like you're eating in a club (noisy).

The dishes:
Churrasco, grilled skirt steak (medium rare) with oil garlic sauce. The most flavorful and well seasoned $19 skirt steak I have had. It was beyond good—very impressive. A side of tostones were thinner than usual and crispier and tastier than most places.

Second entrée was the Arroz Con Camarones rice with $16 shrimp and black beans; the shrimp were medium to large butterflied. Very filling and very likely to bag the left overs.

The maduros were superb. The plantains were light and fresh in color which meant that they were not overly cooked. Unlike most maduros I have had, these were an exception and my favorite. There were gazed in butter and sugar.

Though the prices aren't like those that you find in a hole in a wall. It is worth the try if you haven't had trendier and flavorful Spanish food. I would not go on any first dates to this place—if unless you both can read lips or can use sign language. Good for crowds who love to be loud.


Sofrito. 400 E. 57th St. nr. First Ave. 212-754-5999