Pasteles Y Algo Mas
“When there are more PR's living in US than in PR you know we arrived when you can have pasteles de yuca on demand.”
“The pernil was delicious and juicy (5/5) and the moro de guandules was just right (5/5).”
“I've got my eye on the Mofongo de Camarones (Smashed Fried Plaintains with Shrimp) and I'm dying for any excuse to go back.”
Pasteles Y Algo Mas
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
7 reviews
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Spanish take out, pernil, tres leches cake, arroz con gandules, baked chicken, $23 yeah ok.
Crunchier skin on the pernil would've made this meal perfect
While Yelping I notice a restaurant under the category of Puerto Rican , which is a topic I know something about. So out to Ridgefield Park and see its the place occupies the corner of the block with no parking lot, and I walk in.
I come upon a four table restaurants that's cantina style with wall to wall Puerto Rican tourist trinkets and souvenirs which was borderline tacky. Some for sale, some I never saw before so a collector may want to take a look. I walk up to the counter to see what they got and take photos while the worker is busy yelling at someone on the phone and not paying me any mind.
The food look like home cooked which should be good like having real sole food. The problem is I would have expect more types of food, like at least two to three dozen vs. the one and a half dozen I saw.
I look at the menu and the menu flyer and start ordering some of the appetizers after the phone convo was over to see how good they are. If the appetizers are lacking then the major dishes would be worst since they require more preparations and have more complex flavoring. I looked and saw they have two types of Alcapurrias, green bananas and yuca which are fritters in shap of a long potato where the outside casing is made of mostly mash green banana or yuca and the inside is made of pork, beef filling etc. The banana ones were at least a day old and not fresh but had the Alcapurrias taste and aroma to them
Now Pastelillos are like Empanada but the Puerto Rican ones should be larger with a flange composed of a flaky dough, think of a large dinner plate folded in half. And the flaky dough crust should have bubbles and craters with a pocket that has the filling. This place called them empanadas but they were mini pastelillos to me because the crust was a little flaky and had Achiote favoring. Now Achiote is Annatoo seeds and you use the oils and red coloring extracted from the seeds when heating them. The oil in turn is added to whatever you are making giving your food a yellow coloring plus flavor.
I ask for Baclaitos, which are Cod Fish fitters and Tostones which are double fried Green Plantains, after frying the first time you flatten them and refried them so that they are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. But both were not available and the Tostones would take twenty minutes it I wait for next batch. So I looked at the desserts and ask for Arroz Con Dulce, which is rice pudding made with coconut , coconut milk and raisins and a touch of cinnamon / nutmeg, it was also out. I go for the Coconut Flan but when I ate it I could not detect any coconut.
I then ask if they got Morcillas which is Puerto Rican Blood sausage made with rice, culantro, cilantro, garlic and chillies, and not for everybody and the response was we are not a Cuchifrito. Now a Cuchifrito roots come from the slang 'cuchi' or pig and 'frito' is fired. So Cuchifrito is more like a counter dinner for the poorest of working slobs than a restaurant for the middle class with lots of fried foods which may be have a little bit more LARD than you are accustom too.
The problem is no true Puerto Rican restaurant would not have Morcillas and I have been to Cuchifritos in the Bronx and on 110 Street Spanish Harlem that would put this place to shame. This also explains why I did not see Chicharones, which is fired pork belly (some places also have a chicken version).
Now I want to push the Puerto Rican food heritage that I know, which is now a dying art on the mainland but unfortunately this restaurant is mediocre in service, availability of food items and the quality of what's cooked. Yes I could eat the food, it has Puerto Rican roots but I could never recommend someone go here for authentic Puerto Rican food, not that really bad but that it's not reprehensive of what I know and grew up with. Plus I'm currently living with excellent cook who grew up helping her father in his Puerto Rican restaurant. So I know what I'm talking about. It could be that today 'Pasteles Y Algo Mas' has lost its heart and is just satisfied with producing some food as a job and a living vs. putting love into what you make and calling it Puerto Rican food.
It's been almost a year since my first review, and due for an update. My past few visits have been a bit displeasing, and today's lunch break visit takes it over the edge for me. Dropping this place from 4 stars to 3. I never like demoting a place, but when it's justified, then its for the right reason.
The Break down –
Food: Though still flavorful, the freshness and serving size is lacking. Today and times before it appears like they have been using leftover rice, there should be no reason for grains to be hard or burnt. The portions have gotten less and less since my first visit.
Cost: The price has gone up, I seem to be paying close to about $2 more for my platters.
Service: I called and called yesterday, the answering machine noted that they were Open but on the other line. After 5 calls, I headed over there. Upon arrival, I was disappointed to see that they were NOT OPEN but in fact Closed. Time to update your answering machine; maybe say something like closed on Sunday and Monday, if you will be closed on those days.
Today, they were Open but had only ONE PERSON who was SERVING, ANSWERING PHONES, AND HANDLING THE MONEY (W/O Gloves)….NO BUENO…NOT WITH MY FOOD. And when a loyal customer asks why there is only one person, you don't tell them "you should understand". Understand what? That I'm driving here on my lunch break, paying you, with only an hour. Maybe you should be understanding towards me…you have all morning to prepare, and be ready for the Lunch Rush (that's why they call it, the Lunch Rush). So sadly, it was another day of a wasted drive to Ridgefield Park from Englewood Cliffs –because I walked out empty handed. You can go resume your conversation about your nails to the other customer.
My brother bought me some of their pasteles and alcapurrias the other night and they were amazing! The pasteles were so moist and full of meat, we had a dozen of them and ate them in two days!! The alcapurrias were so good too, I have a hard time eating fried food, but I love them so much that I ate two of them anyway! Now I can't wait to visit my brother in NJ just to go get some! Next time I'm bringing a couple of dozen home to freeze! I grew up on these and eating cuchifritos in the Bronx. I love them! Miss buying them locally and this place was one of the best I've had!
Authentic Puerto Rican food. Service was great, and the mofongo was on point.
The only thing I would complain about was the lack of bathroom. I was on lunchbreak and literally had to pain through lunch with a colleague without having an accident in my pants.
I thought there were laws regarding this! 🙂
Thank you Yelp. I love finding little gems like this place. Pasteles y algo mas is like a little slice of Puerto Rico what with the salsa music playing, the coqui decorations and of course most importantly the great selection of Puerto Rican food.
If you're not familiar with what a pasteles is it's basically a plantain and meat patty cooked inside of a banana leaf. Real pastelas are labor intensive and a pain in the ass to make so if you can find somewhere where you can get an authentic one enjoy it.
Aside from the pasteles, this place offers the standard Carribean spanish fare including your rice and pigeon peas (Arroz con Gandules), roast pork shoulder (Pernil), lemon chicken (pollo con limon), etc… the prices are great and everything is delicious so definitely check this place out.
5 Stars? They deserve 10 Stars!
The best and most authentic Puerto Rican Food Outside of Puerto Rico.
This small restaurant is a hidden gem in my opinion.
It feels like your in Puerto Rico, visually and in your tummy. It feels like home.
The food is delicious, you must try it all, I had the Pernil with rice and gandules and a side of sweet plantain. It was so good that I had to ordered more while eating, I ordered a side of potato salad and a side of crispy pork skin. All was authentic and yummy. Too good!
They have many dishes and the prices are very inexpensive. The menu changes daily.
You have to try the Pasteles… They were the best Pasteles I have had in a long time.
Make sure to order some limber (Puerto Rican ices) before you go.
I will come back for sure, next time with my whole family.