2 reviews

1. Barabara Dearmond  

   on January 20, 2016
   

   This new smaller version of Riko Peruvian Cuisine just opened but it has already left a bad first impression.

   We were greeted by the cold attitudes of the waitresses and the cold temperatures inside the restaurant. It was like they had the AC on blast when it was nearly 40 degrees outside. All the diners in the place had their coats still on. There is hardly any room inside the restaurant. It's barely the size of a hallway and shares the same space with the kitchen.

   Food quality was all over the place with mediocre being at best. Each dish had components that was cold and hot at the same time.

   Fried Calamari ($9.95) – Fried in giant chunks and the batter did not stick to the squid pieces at all. It was a huge portion but it was literally just 3 enormous clusters of fried batter-balls and some squid. Also the pieces were un-uniform in size and chewy. (5/10)

   Grilled Beef Hearts ($6.95) – The heart pieces were charred to a crisp and all you taste is the burnt and over-salty flavors. Also very tough.. (4/10)

   Papa a La Huancaina ($6.95) – The best dish of the meal. This is their sliced baked potato in a rich liquidy cheese sauce. The potato was evenly cooked and soft but the best part was the delicious sauce. (8/10)

   1/4 Pollo Chicken Combo ($5.50) – For something the restaurant prides itself on, I had better rotisserie chicken from a Boston Market. Perhaps I just had a bad piece. The thigh/drumstick piece I got was cold and surprising dry. The flavor was there but the textures were such a let-down. (6/10)

   Sometimes a bad meal could be saved if the service was decent. However the waitresses were hostile and every attempt at a form of service like saying "enjoy" or filling the water felt forced. They take the sauces away without asking and they start wiping the table when we are not even done eating. Also at times, it was like they don't even know what inventory is in stock. One waitress said they don't have ranch dressing when one of the pre-supplied sauces on the table was ranch…-__-

   There is a reason this place is called the "express" version because you don't want to dine-in here and just get the heck out after you order. Just stick to the more reliable branch on Greenpoint Ave just a few blocks down.

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2. Aleisha Kirkwood  

   on March 4, 2016
   

   The food is absolutely delicious and the whole grilled chicken is perfect. I ordered the combo chalaco for $22.99 and it was the perfect amount of food for 2 people with some chicken left over. I've been to other Pio Pio locations and the food is exactly the same and just as delicious.

   I dined in but I highly advise against it. The seating area is horrible and extremely narrow. We had to scoot our chairs every few mins because the staff had to pass back and forth from the kitchen. There's only 5 small two person tables and the tables are basically on top of each other. We were sitting in the middle table where the kitchen staff is staring at you because you're seated directly in front of them and your staring into the garbage can in the kitchen. No matter where you sit you're staring at the bathroom and you feel like you're seated inside the kitchen because you basically are.

   I would never dine in here agin but I would definitely order out because the food is amazing!

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