Everything was so delicious! From the ceviche to the guac to the short ribs I could not get enough ? I'll be going to the restaurant many more times you can be sure of that! Love it!!!
Food: 5
Service: 4
Daniel Adelmann
Exceptional service and delicious food with small but varied menu. Small and large plates. Impressive wine list. Nice atmosphere. White asparagus with watercress was a wonderful starter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Arroz Con Pato, Panna Cotta
G C
Service is always excellent ! Food is always good ! But if you want someone to pay $120 for a steak at least give a good cut. It is too much fat. And I’m ok with that but no when I pay so much money. The menu is small and don’t give to many options. Also the salad was tasty but the lettuce was yellow and brown. If you want to have that prices must have the best quality !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
H Harlem
We were really disappointed as they had been rated in best 100 restaurants by NYT. The food was not flavorful and overpriced - particularly the mocktails, which we didn't finish because they were not even tempting. The asparagus dish was good, but the ceasar salad was uninspired, as were the fried yukka and quinoia. I just wish they hadn't said they had vegetarian options. Also, cramped and cold. The service was excellent however.Vegetarian options: meager
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Sandra Serrano
I have a fondness for supporting local businesses, particularly restaurants. I must say, the service at this establishment was top-notch, and the ambiance quite chic. However, I must address the disparity between the wine menu, which is extensive, and the limited options on the food menu. Main dishes were a total of 5. Given its Peruvian cuisine, I was surprised by the lack of traditional dishes. Nevertheless, 2 of the 3 dishes I ordered were quite delightful. My only reservation lies in the pricing of these dishes, which I found to be rather high.The pricing at this establishment left much to be desired. The yuca fries, a dish typically known for its humble origins as a root vegetable, were priced at a steep $16.56. Even more staggering was the cost of the mussels, a hefty $41.37. To put this into perspective, "Flex Mussel" a restaurant in a higher-rent neighborhood offers a substantially larger portion of mussels for just $28.50. Such pricing discrepancies may give potential patrons pause and merit a reevaluation of the value proposition offered by this establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Martha aka WineDivaa
I have been wanting to visit for a while and worth the wait. The food was delicious, ceviche Classico and yuca fries were on point. Husband had the NY steak frites from the weekday special and he said he was delicious. I also had the mussels and forgot to take a picture but they were also delicious. Olive oil cake reminded me of ‘rabani’ a classic Mediterranean cake with the right amount of sweetness, was also a great surprise. I don’t need to say more about the wine list because is one of the best wine list in New York, Michelin Guide have said it and Star Wine List so, been there myself I can only say is utterly great. Take some time to find a gem that speak to you. For us it was a Nathan Kendall Brut a great example of Finger Lakes Sparkling Wine.Dietary restrictions: pescatarian heavenKid-friendliness: ask foe just noodles or rice available for kids from some of the plates
An amazing place!! Unique dishes, incredible wine, and really exceptional service. Such a fun spot. We absolutely love it!! Thank you guys for a wonderful night :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
RH P
I had the weeknight prix fixe meal, which was quite good. The scallop ceviche was unique and one of the best ceviches I've had. The mussels were delicious and the chocolate flan was so silky and luxurious. The cococontento cocktail was perfection.The atmosphere is quaint and lovely. The vibe and the staff are great and the music is excellent but not too loud to enjoy dinner conversation. Definitely will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Wang
Cool spot located in 110, wheelchair accessible bar seating. The portions were interesting kind of small, we went for restaurant week and the prefix menu had some appetizers thats shockingly small. My nappa cabbage slaw felt like a nibble. but the toasted sesame seeds tasted really good on it.The mussels was my choice for main, and it came with yuca fries(or focaccia). The fries were kind of hard and wasn’t the flaky i was hoping for. But the mussel broth was so good and paired with the fries were so good!!! I had so much broth left over i asked for focaccia too, to try to sweep up all that goodness.Had some nice drinks but i ordered a mocktail thats made with purple corn. There’s only one bathroom and it’s spacious. The kitchen is open and we can see all the work being done!
Trisha T.
~4.5 Star (read to see why) I visited Contento for Winter Restaurant Week 2024 with my friend and it didn't disappoint. We've been doing restaurant week every season for several years now and I'd say this was a memorable dinner. VIBE: This Peruvian spot is a seemingly hidden spot located in Spanish Harlem. One step inside brings your into a modern bit still warm and cozy inside dining area. It's a smaller restaurant and has both table and bar seating inside and heated seating outside. I'll admit that I did make a reservation for indoors for 2 but when I got there the only available seating was at the bar or outside. They let us step into their heated outdoor dining area and we ultimately decided to sit out there. It was a surprisingly cozy ambiance in their outdoor area and they included blankets on every seat (which I did utilize towards the end of our dinner). I should note it was 20 degrees the evening we were there so our toes did get a little cold but the extreme cold should be taken into account. With their heaters I was comfortable thought the dinner. APPETIZERS: ROASTED CARROTS (w/ ricotta and spicy tahini, algarrobina, crispy shallots) - Absolutely delicious. The carrots were nicely canalized and the ricotta tahini spread was delicious. Paired with the crispy shallots, I really enjoyed the various textures and flavors. If you like savory and sweet you'll enjoy this SCALLOP CEVICHE (w/ cauliflower mousseline, leche de pantera, corn, scallions) This scallop ceviche took us both by surprise with how well balanced the flavors were. The lime flavor was light and balanced so it was a very clean and refreshing flavor, not at all overwhelming. The corn added a nice texture and soaked up the ceviche sauce and the scallops were nice and tender. I honestly forgot the sauce was made with cauliflower because that taste also wasn't overwhelming. I also appreciated the use of squid ink in the dish which gave it a unique color. If you like scallops and ceviche you'll love this. MAIN DISH: STEAK FRITES (hanger steak, peruvian crispy potatoes, huacatay & aji limo, maitre d'hôtel butter) This item wasn't on the standard menu when we went so it was a restaurant week specific dish. FIRST...I'm a bit unsure of what steak cut we were supposed to receive because our server said for that evening they were replacing their usual skirt steak with a NY strip but the menu said hanger steak. I'm also just realizing that the menu listed that it would have huacatay & aji limo which when I looked up sounded like a mint and spicy pepper which were not incorporated into the dish because I didn't have anything minty or spicy but I definitely had the maitre d'hôtel herb butter. Now as for the actual dish, the potatoes were exceptionally crispy and lightly salted. Think it's when something is double fried. That crispy. I did enjoy my steak with the butter on it and my friend did too, but I think I just have gotten terribly unlucky with the cut because my steak had a thick piece of gristle (that chewy rubbery hard stuff) along the entire long side of the steak which unfortunately made it very hard to eat and cut around. HOWEVER, my friend's steak was clean and easy to slice and eat so not sure what happened there. It's unfortunate because I love steak but it was hard to fully enjoy it while trying to cut around a very thick tough chewy piece. I wish I could have gotten a different cut. DESSERT: ARROZ CON LECHE CHEESECAKE (w/ mazamorra morada sauce, cinnamon rice crisp) This was a unique dish that we both enjoyed. It was thick kind of like cheesecake but not too rich and not too sweet. It had a texture that is reminiscent of how textured rice pudding is due to rice but it wasn't liquid at all. The marzamorra morada sauce was a delicious complement to the mild cheesecake. I would describe it as sweet and a bit tart like a berry type sauce but it actually gets it's deep color from Peruvian purple corn! CHOCOLATE FLAN (w/ coffee, whipped cream, tonka bea
Arrived without a reservation, but was seated within 10 minutes by a very kind hostess. The Restaurant is very small and the tables are packed tightly enough to hear each other’s conversations. The menu is small, but the food is very good. However, I do not think the food itself justifies the price point. Our small plates arrived before the drinks. The small plates are enough for 2 people to enjoy one tasting portion of the dish. The ceviche was refreshing and the pork belly had the right amount of crunch. The 32 oz ribeye for two was not worth over $100. About 25% of the cut were fat trimmings. It comes with fried potatoes and a very acidic chimmichurri sauce that overpowers the meat. You can enjoy a dry aged porterhouse for two for a similar price elsewhere. Overall a nice place, friendly staff, ok for a one time dinner.
Arrived when the restaurant opened on a Saturday and was informed they were fairly booked up inside and that the bar was full starting at 6pm, so we opted to sit outside. They place blankets over their outdoor chairs, which is a nice comfort. We ordered and received our appetizers in a timely manner and were pleased but not wowed. At around the half hour mark we were finishing up the last bite of our appetizers as another party was seated next to us in the then entirely empty outdoor seating section. I understand New York restaurants and being busy so assumed this was because the place would soon be packed, not a big deal. We then waited a little over half an hour without seeing our waiter for our entrees. We watched the table that had been seated next to us receive their entrees (I believe without receiving their appetizers) and then we finally received only one of the two entrees we were expecting. Once we had finished with our entree the waiter checked in to see how we were doing and we inquired about the other entree and we discovered it had somehow gotten lost in translation. Not great and after already having been at the restaurant for an hour we weren't going to wait any longer for another entree so we requested the check. We were given the check for the table next to ours, which got sorted out just fine. For these errors they were kind enough to remove the 8 dollar beverage one of us ordered. Our server did a good job of making sure we had water. I was willing to chalk it up to an off night or a fluke, but looking inside the restaurant when we left at 6:30 the bar was still more than half empty and no one else had come in to the outdoor seating area, which really made us wonder why they seated two tables on top of each other and why our food took such a long time. One or two errors you can count as a fluke, the surprising number of service related errors we experienced was indicative of some bigger issue.As for the food:We had:scallop ceviche (needed more acid) and the chicories (would have liked more sauce)the duck leg, which was cooked well but the rice was bland and the sauce was delicious but they give you about a teaspoon of it. The pickled onions were nice as well and they thankfully weren't as lacking.In general, the elements of flavor that are strongest they're very reserved with. It's not quite fine dining but they certainly charges like it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Athena L.
Finally got to try this "Peruvian-inspired" restaurant in East Harlem! My friend and I did their Winter 2024 Restaurant Week $60 pre fixe dinner last Thursday, and we both loved it. First, shout-out to the staff for letting me just hang out at my table (yes, I made a reservation) for an hour and slowly sip on a drink while waiting for my friend. I arrived around 6:30 PM, and by 7 PM, the restaurant was full - all indoor bar space and tables (note that they have some heated outdoor seating as well). Thank you for never making me feel rushed! I ordered a daiquiri and the waiter kindly let me know after I had nearly finished that he realized that they had made me a non-alcoholic one, so they gave me one with alcohol on the house. The drink was very smooth and sweet, so I never would have noticed otherwise, but I appreciated the conscientiousness! While waiting for my friend, I appreciated the Latin music playlist and reading all the facts about the state of disability in the US sprinkled throughout the wine list. One really cool thing about Contento is that they have made it "barrier-free," as two of the co-owners use wheelchairs (look up a 2021 NYT article about them :) ). Love to support a space in NYC that values accessibility! On to the menu: my friend and I decided to split a bunch of different dishes so we could maximize our experience - definitely they way to go. We tried the roasted carrots and scallop ceviche small dishes. Already plenty of food! The carrots were good, but the ceviche was fantastic - I haven't had ceviche like that anywhere else in NYC. Next we had the steak (medium rare) and the mussels with focaccia. The steak was wonderful, but the mussels and whatever sauce they made was next level. Finally, we split the flan and cheesecake. The flan was my personal favorite between the two, but both were divine. I also ended up having a pisco sour, which was also excellent. They have cocktail specials for $16 but a "regular" cocktail will run you $20+. Overall, it was ~$100 pp if you include a cocktail, tax, and tip. Absolutely worth it. Definitely a highlight in my first month of 2024 restaurant outings!
Hannah Dail
Absolutely amazing, most incredible dining experience! From the service, to the atmosphere, the cocktails, every dish we tried - highlights had to be the ceviche clasico, the yakisoba, arroz con pato and every single cocktail - most favorite of all the Cococontento. This place is a MUST when visiting NYC. Much love to the owners and the staff for such a wonderful, truly unforgettable evening. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Clasico, Arroz Con Pato
Kasumi Quinlan
3.5 stars, rounding down. I was surprised at how mediocre the food at Contento was, given the strong reviews & the Michelin star. Admittedly, my group was a tough crowd, but the meal was underwhelming.Starting with the positive: Service was fantastic, and our server Brandon was wonderful. The wine list looked amazing, and while I didn't have any, I could see how thoughtful it was. The yuca was the best fried yuca I've had – fluffy, tender, and moist in the middle but still super crunchy. The duck in my arroz con pato was also great. Extremely tender, well-seasoned, and gorgeous crispy skin like a chip. Very nicely done. Chocolate flan was yummy, not too sweet and a nice end to the meal.Moving on to critiques: For a place that calls itself Peruvian, the ceviche was just... not good. No one had more than two bites. It was fishy, didn't taste too fresh, and flavors were not well-balanced. We didn't finish it. Chicory salad was also weird – I hate to say it, but the oil in the dressing tasted rancid/old. Maybe it was just the flavor profile of the olive oil (?) they used, but no one at the table really liked it. Carrots with ricotta were okay, I personally didn't like them. I felt the carrots were overcooked & lacking texture, and honestly the ricotta tasted sort of sour to me. Another person liked it though. 2 people got the branzino which was okay not great, but one of them was overcooked. 2 people got the short ribs with udon, which was also meh. Short rib was on the dry side, and the noodles were overcooked and mushy. Peanut sauce lacked oomph, just not an impressive dish and sort of outdated in my opinion. Also for $40+, the portion was mostly noodles and a thin strip of short rib. Not worth it. We also got the arroz con leche cheesecake which was an interesting concept but it missed. It was surprisingly not sweet enough, and just wasn't that good.Overall, the food was average and definitely not worth the price to me. Again, service was very good and I appreciated that it wasn't too loud given the small space, but sadly, I would not recommend this place.
Everything was so delicious! From the ceviche to the guac to the short ribs I could not get enough ? I'll be going to the restaurant many more times you can be sure of that! Love it!!!
Food: 5
Service: 4
Exceptional service and delicious food with small but varied menu. Small and large plates. Impressive wine list. Nice atmosphere. White asparagus with watercress was a wonderful starter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Arroz Con Pato, Panna Cotta
Service is always excellent ! Food is always good ! But if you want someone to pay $120 for a steak at least give a good cut. It is too much fat. And I’m ok with that but no when I pay so much money. The menu is small and don’t give to many options. Also the salad was tasty but the lettuce was yellow and brown. If you want to have that prices must have the best quality !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
We were really disappointed as they had been rated in best 100 restaurants by NYT. The food was not flavorful and overpriced - particularly the mocktails, which we didn't finish because they were not even tempting. The asparagus dish was good, but the ceasar salad was uninspired, as were the fried yukka and quinoia. I just wish they hadn't said they had vegetarian options. Also, cramped and cold. The service was excellent however.Vegetarian options: meager
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
I have a fondness for supporting local businesses, particularly restaurants. I must say, the service at this establishment was top-notch, and the ambiance quite chic. However, I must address the disparity between the wine menu, which is extensive, and the limited options on the food menu. Main dishes were a total of 5. Given its Peruvian cuisine, I was surprised by the lack of traditional dishes. Nevertheless, 2 of the 3 dishes I ordered were quite delightful. My only reservation lies in the pricing of these dishes, which I found to be rather high.The pricing at this establishment left much to be desired. The yuca fries, a dish typically known for its humble origins as a root vegetable, were priced at a steep $16.56. Even more staggering was the cost of the mussels, a hefty $41.37. To put this into perspective, "Flex Mussel" a restaurant in a higher-rent neighborhood offers a substantially larger portion of mussels for just $28.50. Such pricing discrepancies may give potential patrons pause and merit a reevaluation of the value proposition offered by this establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
I have been wanting to visit for a while and worth the wait. The food was delicious, ceviche Classico and yuca fries were on point. Husband had the NY steak frites from the weekday special and he said he was delicious. I also had the mussels and forgot to take a picture but they were also delicious. Olive oil cake reminded me of ‘rabani’ a classic Mediterranean cake with the right amount of sweetness, was also a great surprise. I don’t need to say more about the wine list because is one of the best wine list in New York, Michelin Guide have said it and Star Wine List so, been there myself I can only say is utterly great. Take some time to find a gem that speak to you. For us it was a Nathan Kendall Brut a great example of Finger Lakes Sparkling Wine.Dietary restrictions: pescatarian heavenKid-friendliness: ask foe just noodles or rice available for kids from some of the plates
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Clasico, Olive Oil Cake
An amazing place!! Unique dishes, incredible wine, and really exceptional service. Such a fun spot. We absolutely love it!! Thank you guys for a wonderful night :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the weeknight prix fixe meal, which was quite good. The scallop ceviche was unique and one of the best ceviches I've had. The mussels were delicious and the chocolate flan was so silky and luxurious. The cococontento cocktail was perfection.The atmosphere is quaint and lovely. The vibe and the staff are great and the music is excellent but not too loud to enjoy dinner conversation. Definitely will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cool spot located in 110, wheelchair accessible bar seating. The portions were interesting kind of small, we went for restaurant week and the prefix menu had some appetizers thats shockingly small. My nappa cabbage slaw felt like a nibble. but the toasted sesame seeds tasted really good on it.The mussels was my choice for main, and it came with yuca fries(or focaccia). The fries were kind of hard and wasn’t the flaky i was hoping for. But the mussel broth was so good and paired with the fries were so good!!! I had so much broth left over i asked for focaccia too, to try to sweep up all that goodness.Had some nice drinks but i ordered a mocktail thats made with purple corn. There’s only one bathroom and it’s spacious. The kitchen is open and we can see all the work being done!
~4.5 Star (read to see why) I visited Contento for Winter Restaurant Week 2024 with my friend and it didn't disappoint. We've been doing restaurant week every season for several years now and I'd say this was a memorable dinner. VIBE: This Peruvian spot is a seemingly hidden spot located in Spanish Harlem. One step inside brings your into a modern bit still warm and cozy inside dining area. It's a smaller restaurant and has both table and bar seating inside and heated seating outside. I'll admit that I did make a reservation for indoors for 2 but when I got there the only available seating was at the bar or outside. They let us step into their heated outdoor dining area and we ultimately decided to sit out there. It was a surprisingly cozy ambiance in their outdoor area and they included blankets on every seat (which I did utilize towards the end of our dinner). I should note it was 20 degrees the evening we were there so our toes did get a little cold but the extreme cold should be taken into account. With their heaters I was comfortable thought the dinner. APPETIZERS: ROASTED CARROTS (w/ ricotta and spicy tahini, algarrobina, crispy shallots) - Absolutely delicious. The carrots were nicely canalized and the ricotta tahini spread was delicious. Paired with the crispy shallots, I really enjoyed the various textures and flavors. If you like savory and sweet you'll enjoy this SCALLOP CEVICHE (w/ cauliflower mousseline, leche de pantera, corn, scallions) This scallop ceviche took us both by surprise with how well balanced the flavors were. The lime flavor was light and balanced so it was a very clean and refreshing flavor, not at all overwhelming. The corn added a nice texture and soaked up the ceviche sauce and the scallops were nice and tender. I honestly forgot the sauce was made with cauliflower because that taste also wasn't overwhelming. I also appreciated the use of squid ink in the dish which gave it a unique color. If you like scallops and ceviche you'll love this. MAIN DISH: STEAK FRITES (hanger steak, peruvian crispy potatoes, huacatay & aji limo, maitre d'hôtel butter) This item wasn't on the standard menu when we went so it was a restaurant week specific dish. FIRST...I'm a bit unsure of what steak cut we were supposed to receive because our server said for that evening they were replacing their usual skirt steak with a NY strip but the menu said hanger steak. I'm also just realizing that the menu listed that it would have huacatay & aji limo which when I looked up sounded like a mint and spicy pepper which were not incorporated into the dish because I didn't have anything minty or spicy but I definitely had the maitre d'hôtel herb butter. Now as for the actual dish, the potatoes were exceptionally crispy and lightly salted. Think it's when something is double fried. That crispy. I did enjoy my steak with the butter on it and my friend did too, but I think I just have gotten terribly unlucky with the cut because my steak had a thick piece of gristle (that chewy rubbery hard stuff) along the entire long side of the steak which unfortunately made it very hard to eat and cut around. HOWEVER, my friend's steak was clean and easy to slice and eat so not sure what happened there. It's unfortunate because I love steak but it was hard to fully enjoy it while trying to cut around a very thick tough chewy piece. I wish I could have gotten a different cut. DESSERT: ARROZ CON LECHE CHEESECAKE (w/ mazamorra morada sauce, cinnamon rice crisp) This was a unique dish that we both enjoyed. It was thick kind of like cheesecake but not too rich and not too sweet. It had a texture that is reminiscent of how textured rice pudding is due to rice but it wasn't liquid at all. The marzamorra morada sauce was a delicious complement to the mild cheesecake. I would describe it as sweet and a bit tart like a berry type sauce but it actually gets it's deep color from Peruvian purple corn! CHOCOLATE FLAN (w/ coffee, whipped cream, tonka bea
Restaurantji Recommends
Arrived without a reservation, but was seated within 10 minutes by a very kind hostess. The Restaurant is very small and the tables are packed tightly enough to hear each other’s conversations. The menu is small, but the food is very good. However, I do not think the food itself justifies the price point. Our small plates arrived before the drinks. The small plates are enough for 2 people to enjoy one tasting portion of the dish. The ceviche was refreshing and the pork belly had the right amount of crunch. The 32 oz ribeye for two was not worth over $100. About 25% of the cut were fat trimmings. It comes with fried potatoes and a very acidic chimmichurri sauce that overpowers the meat. You can enjoy a dry aged porterhouse for two for a similar price elsewhere. Overall a nice place, friendly staff, ok for a one time dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Clasico, Crispy Skin Pork Belly
Arrived when the restaurant opened on a Saturday and was informed they were fairly booked up inside and that the bar was full starting at 6pm, so we opted to sit outside. They place blankets over their outdoor chairs, which is a nice comfort. We ordered and received our appetizers in a timely manner and were pleased but not wowed. At around the half hour mark we were finishing up the last bite of our appetizers as another party was seated next to us in the then entirely empty outdoor seating section. I understand New York restaurants and being busy so assumed this was because the place would soon be packed, not a big deal. We then waited a little over half an hour without seeing our waiter for our entrees. We watched the table that had been seated next to us receive their entrees (I believe without receiving their appetizers) and then we finally received only one of the two entrees we were expecting. Once we had finished with our entree the waiter checked in to see how we were doing and we inquired about the other entree and we discovered it had somehow gotten lost in translation. Not great and after already having been at the restaurant for an hour we weren't going to wait any longer for another entree so we requested the check. We were given the check for the table next to ours, which got sorted out just fine. For these errors they were kind enough to remove the 8 dollar beverage one of us ordered. Our server did a good job of making sure we had water. I was willing to chalk it up to an off night or a fluke, but looking inside the restaurant when we left at 6:30 the bar was still more than half empty and no one else had come in to the outdoor seating area, which really made us wonder why they seated two tables on top of each other and why our food took such a long time. One or two errors you can count as a fluke, the surprising number of service related errors we experienced was indicative of some bigger issue.As for the food:We had:scallop ceviche (needed more acid) and the chicories (would have liked more sauce)the duck leg, which was cooked well but the rice was bland and the sauce was delicious but they give you about a teaspoon of it. The pickled onions were nice as well and they thankfully weren't as lacking.In general, the elements of flavor that are strongest they're very reserved with. It's not quite fine dining but they certainly charges like it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Finally got to try this "Peruvian-inspired" restaurant in East Harlem! My friend and I did their Winter 2024 Restaurant Week $60 pre fixe dinner last Thursday, and we both loved it. First, shout-out to the staff for letting me just hang out at my table (yes, I made a reservation) for an hour and slowly sip on a drink while waiting for my friend. I arrived around 6:30 PM, and by 7 PM, the restaurant was full - all indoor bar space and tables (note that they have some heated outdoor seating as well). Thank you for never making me feel rushed! I ordered a daiquiri and the waiter kindly let me know after I had nearly finished that he realized that they had made me a non-alcoholic one, so they gave me one with alcohol on the house. The drink was very smooth and sweet, so I never would have noticed otherwise, but I appreciated the conscientiousness! While waiting for my friend, I appreciated the Latin music playlist and reading all the facts about the state of disability in the US sprinkled throughout the wine list. One really cool thing about Contento is that they have made it "barrier-free," as two of the co-owners use wheelchairs (look up a 2021 NYT article about them :) ). Love to support a space in NYC that values accessibility! On to the menu: my friend and I decided to split a bunch of different dishes so we could maximize our experience - definitely they way to go. We tried the roasted carrots and scallop ceviche small dishes. Already plenty of food! The carrots were good, but the ceviche was fantastic - I haven't had ceviche like that anywhere else in NYC. Next we had the steak (medium rare) and the mussels with focaccia. The steak was wonderful, but the mussels and whatever sauce they made was next level. Finally, we split the flan and cheesecake. The flan was my personal favorite between the two, but both were divine. I also ended up having a pisco sour, which was also excellent. They have cocktail specials for $16 but a "regular" cocktail will run you $20+. Overall, it was ~$100 pp if you include a cocktail, tax, and tip. Absolutely worth it. Definitely a highlight in my first month of 2024 restaurant outings!
Absolutely amazing, most incredible dining experience! From the service, to the atmosphere, the cocktails, every dish we tried - highlights had to be the ceviche clasico, the yakisoba, arroz con pato and every single cocktail - most favorite of all the Cococontento. This place is a MUST when visiting NYC. Much love to the owners and the staff for such a wonderful, truly unforgettable evening. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Clasico, Arroz Con Pato
3.5 stars, rounding down. I was surprised at how mediocre the food at Contento was, given the strong reviews & the Michelin star. Admittedly, my group was a tough crowd, but the meal was underwhelming.Starting with the positive: Service was fantastic, and our server Brandon was wonderful. The wine list looked amazing, and while I didn't have any, I could see how thoughtful it was. The yuca was the best fried yuca I've had – fluffy, tender, and moist in the middle but still super crunchy. The duck in my arroz con pato was also great. Extremely tender, well-seasoned, and gorgeous crispy skin like a chip. Very nicely done. Chocolate flan was yummy, not too sweet and a nice end to the meal.Moving on to critiques: For a place that calls itself Peruvian, the ceviche was just... not good. No one had more than two bites. It was fishy, didn't taste too fresh, and flavors were not well-balanced. We didn't finish it. Chicory salad was also weird – I hate to say it, but the oil in the dressing tasted rancid/old. Maybe it was just the flavor profile of the olive oil (?) they used, but no one at the table really liked it. Carrots with ricotta were okay, I personally didn't like them. I felt the carrots were overcooked & lacking texture, and honestly the ricotta tasted sort of sour to me. Another person liked it though. 2 people got the branzino which was okay not great, but one of them was overcooked. 2 people got the short ribs with udon, which was also meh. Short rib was on the dry side, and the noodles were overcooked and mushy. Peanut sauce lacked oomph, just not an impressive dish and sort of outdated in my opinion. Also for $40+, the portion was mostly noodles and a thin strip of short rib. Not worth it. We also got the arroz con leche cheesecake which was an interesting concept but it missed. It was surprisingly not sweet enough, and just wasn't that good.Overall, the food was average and definitely not worth the price to me. Again, service was very good and I appreciated that it wasn't too loud given the small space, but sadly, I would not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5