I've lived in this area for almost a decade, but had not yet found Latin food that could compare to what I had growing up in Union City and when I lived in the city and visited Washington Heights. Until now, that is! Surrender Cafe recently became available on DoorDash. I had never heard of it, but was drawn by the great reviews, tempting photos of the food, and many of my favorites on a menu with lots of my favorites. This is the first time I've ever ordered from a place, and then immediately again the next day. I especially love that so many of their dishes are available in smaller portions. Want to try the mofongo? Here's the mofonguitos! And meat-only portions can be had of just about everything in small, medium or large sizes, which made it easy for me to sample the beef and chicken guisado, red and black beans, pernil, so I ordered the bistec ecebollado for my main dish. Everything, absolutely everything is delicious, and arrived well packaged. Oh - and I almost forgot - the tres leches! Absolutely top notch. Not only some of the best Latin food I've ever had, but some of the best comfort food I've ever had, period.
Damaris Morales
Place has gone super downhill since new owners bought out. High prices for bland food, Hard pass. ??♀️
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
John J
Great food and service. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Plantain Chips and Salsa, Arroz Con Gandules Spinach Rice, Plantain Chips
Donna Knemoller
I loved the food and the restaurant is so beautiful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angel Rodgz
I have to say it was quite impressive for me because there are not a lot of Puerto Rican food restaurants with that authentic flavor from the island.I ordered arroz con gandules (pigeon peas rice) with Pernil (roasted pork) and platano Amarillo (and yellow plantain). *I ordered this because it is an authentic dish from Puerto ?? just to try out the flavor*It was delicious!Then I tried one yuca alcapirria (stuff casava fritter) it was delicious too, crunchy and with meat from tip to tip just like my Mother used to make it.Recommended if you like authentic Puerto Rican food give it a try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alcapurrias De Yuca, Pulled Pork and Rice, Arroz Con Gandules Spinach Rice, Alcapurrias
Wilnelia Torres
We went to this restaurant and since we are not from the area and wanted some good Puertorican food and I was very disappointed. The food wasn’t that good. The mofongo I ordered was dry and very salty, the shrimp tasted very spicy. The churrasco was bland. We were a party of 6 paying two separate bills, we got charged 15% gratuity for the two parties with 3 people on each one. The policy I read on their website as we were browsing to check their menu before heading to that restaurant, it said gratuity will be included for a party of 5 or more. We were a party of 3 and they still added 15% gratuity. I always give good tips that was not my problem. Maybe they thought we were trying to avoid tipping and probably that was the reason why they added gratuity on each our bills. They got over on us that’s fine. But I will never visit this place again. What we ordered was wrong in the bill as well when I mentioned from the beginning it was going to be separate bills. I didn’t make a fuss. We didn’t say anything but we will never be back here again when we go back to the area. The prices on the bill were not reasonable for what we ordered. On the other hand the waitress was very pleasant, good service as well as the other workers. She was awesome, she deserved the tip.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Rob
If you're looking for a comment to convince you, that's me. I'm a selfish local telling you, you should eat here to keep a beloved local spot alive and well.Perfect rice (competing with moms), and pork that has me craving it hundreds of miles away.If you're close by and considering, do me a favor and eat some on my behalf.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Plantain Chips and Salsa, Arroz Con Gandules Spinach Rice
Zach Johnson
My favorite empanadas in Woodbridge!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Moe Rastegar
Picked up chicken soup.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Krisna Cruz
Extravagantly raised prices. Service is mediocre at best. Food is good, rice not so much taste like boxed rice everything else was good.
A very special simple Puerto Rico style and food is
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ileana B
Excellent food. Authentic Puerto Rican. Will try again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alcapurrias De Yuca, Plantain Chips and Salsa, Avocado Salad Mofongo
nora garriga
Quaint place, friendly staff, delicious food!
Miortiz Ortiz
Our experience with Surrender Cafe was outstanding. Our first time ordering from the catering menu, their Staff was very friendly, informative and helpful. A good variety of food selections and our orders were handled with much care and pride. As for the food it was absolutely Delicious, truly it stands to its Autentic Puerto Rican Cuisine with its flavor, fresh homemade food and welcoming atmosphere. Honestly our experiences on the day of our event was worth Surrendering to...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janaina Hernandez
L for a long time I never feeling that way been feeling this restaurant is for nice. The service is so great everyone very welcome beautiful beautiful songs very low so we can talk with your family with your friends not yelling , another event happen, the same time ,Birthday party Family reunion , is a lot is going on but everyone in very good mood respectful no worries definitely definitely give them 5 stars these restaurants. Make me feel home. And by the way, the food is amazing. Amazing. Amazing yummy yummy.
I've lived in this area for almost a decade, but had not yet found Latin food that could compare to what I had growing up in Union City and when I lived in the city and visited Washington Heights. Until now, that is! Surrender Cafe recently became available on DoorDash. I had never heard of it, but was drawn by the great reviews, tempting photos of the food, and many of my favorites on a menu with lots of my favorites. This is the first time I've ever ordered from a place, and then immediately again the next day. I especially love that so many of their dishes are available in smaller portions. Want to try the mofongo? Here's the mofonguitos! And meat-only portions can be had of just about everything in small, medium or large sizes, which made it easy for me to sample the beef and chicken guisado, red and black beans, pernil, so I ordered the bistec ecebollado for my main dish. Everything, absolutely everything is delicious, and arrived well packaged. Oh - and I almost forgot - the tres leches! Absolutely top notch. Not only some of the best Latin food I've ever had, but some of the best comfort food I've ever had, period.
Place has gone super downhill since new owners bought out. High prices for bland food, Hard pass. ??♀️
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great food and service. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Plantain Chips and Salsa, Arroz Con Gandules Spinach Rice, Plantain Chips
I loved the food and the restaurant is so beautiful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have to say it was quite impressive for me because there are not a lot of Puerto Rican food restaurants with that authentic flavor from the island.I ordered arroz con gandules (pigeon peas rice) with Pernil (roasted pork) and platano Amarillo (and yellow plantain). *I ordered this because it is an authentic dish from Puerto ?? just to try out the flavor*It was delicious!Then I tried one yuca alcapirria (stuff casava fritter) it was delicious too, crunchy and with meat from tip to tip just like my Mother used to make it.Recommended if you like authentic Puerto Rican food give it a try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alcapurrias De Yuca, Pulled Pork and Rice, Arroz Con Gandules Spinach Rice, Alcapurrias
We went to this restaurant and since we are not from the area and wanted some good Puertorican food and I was very disappointed. The food wasn’t that good. The mofongo I ordered was dry and very salty, the shrimp tasted very spicy. The churrasco was bland. We were a party of 6 paying two separate bills, we got charged 15% gratuity for the two parties with 3 people on each one. The policy I read on their website as we were browsing to check their menu before heading to that restaurant, it said gratuity will be included for a party of 5 or more. We were a party of 3 and they still added 15% gratuity. I always give good tips that was not my problem. Maybe they thought we were trying to avoid tipping and probably that was the reason why they added gratuity on each our bills. They got over on us that’s fine. But I will never visit this place again. What we ordered was wrong in the bill as well when I mentioned from the beginning it was going to be separate bills. I didn’t make a fuss. We didn’t say anything but we will never be back here again when we go back to the area. The prices on the bill were not reasonable for what we ordered. On the other hand the waitress was very pleasant, good service as well as the other workers. She was awesome, she deserved the tip.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
If you're looking for a comment to convince you, that's me. I'm a selfish local telling you, you should eat here to keep a beloved local spot alive and well.Perfect rice (competing with moms), and pork that has me craving it hundreds of miles away.If you're close by and considering, do me a favor and eat some on my behalf.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Plantain Chips and Salsa, Arroz Con Gandules Spinach Rice
My favorite empanadas in Woodbridge!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Picked up chicken soup.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Extravagantly raised prices. Service is mediocre at best. Food is good, rice not so much taste like boxed rice everything else was good.
Restaurantji Recommends
A very special simple Puerto Rico style and food is
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food. Authentic Puerto Rican. Will try again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alcapurrias De Yuca, Plantain Chips and Salsa, Avocado Salad Mofongo
Quaint place, friendly staff, delicious food!
Our experience with Surrender Cafe was outstanding. Our first time ordering from the catering menu, their Staff was very friendly, informative and helpful. A good variety of food selections and our orders were handled with much care and pride. As for the food it was absolutely Delicious, truly it stands to its Autentic Puerto Rican Cuisine with its flavor, fresh homemade food and welcoming atmosphere. Honestly our experiences on the day of our event was worth Surrendering to...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
L for a long time I never feeling that way been feeling this restaurant is for nice. The service is so great everyone very welcome beautiful beautiful songs very low so we can talk with your family with your friends not yelling , another event happen, the same time ,Birthday party Family reunion , is a lot is going on but everyone in very good mood respectful no worries definitely definitely give them 5 stars these restaurants. Make me feel home. And by the way, the food is amazing. Amazing. Amazing yummy yummy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5