Desiree Agudo

So of course they don’t make Gill-Latés, so I had the caramel macchiato instead. Macy’s Herald Square is where the heart and soul of NYC is located. Even if the food is bad at this location like the other reviewers say, Macy’s will make everything go away!

I was impressed. Definitely one step up from Golden Corral which would be the only competition in the mass buffet sector. Some dishes better than others. The service, however, definitely something to write home about. Very attentive for sure.

I think, the food should be better presented. The flavors needed individuality. Maybe instead of offering so many different dishes, a theme or perhaps different countries specialties should be highlighted. This is one case where less is more. Some dishes, like the liver were awful, but it was presented with goat, pigs ears and chicken. Maybe a soirée of coordinating palettes and textures would help frame the presentation.

Then you had items that just didn’t look right. Like the baby clams in a dark sauce, had no clue as to what that was. The empanadas looked soggy and the watermelon was pale. The rest of the fruits looked like they came from a can.

Overwhelming selection of dishes. Could not taste them all. But was surprised to see Ceviche and even more surprised to see, it didn’t have cilantro at all. They should serve specialty dishes. Dishes that you can’t find anywhere else instead of a cafeteria style buffet. Disappointed they didn’t have flan, pasteles and seafood soup.

UPDATE: After i posted the review below I was contacted by the restaurant and they offered to give me another order of the rice & chicken soup/stew.

And yes, it was much, much better. Also by putting the soup in the refrigerator it stopped the rice from absorbing the soup. The taste was on point and not extremely salty the way it previously was.

I am very impressed with the ownership of the Picalonga Restaurant. They truly care about the product they serve and the patrons who visit the restaurant and—it shows!

With so many restaurants of this type in the area, securing a steady customer base can either make you or break you. Picalonga by providing a good product is ahead of the game and personally, maybe they should consider a Buffet to accommodate their price point which as others might have pointed out is on the high side. When you have at least 3 other restaurant with the same type of food in the same area, only price point will separate you from the rest.
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Yesterday I ordered the chicken stew that had the rice. I don’t know what happened, but something went wrong. It was all rice and no soup. It was also extremely salty. So salty we couldn’t eat it. Today I went and bought some chickpeas and made some soup to put the soggy rice into it. It took a lot of water and the chickpeas to tone down the salt.

I also had the orange drink called ‘Dying while Dreaming’ and it was very, very good. I guess it’s made with evaporated milk rather than regular milk. That I will order again!

Pei Wei is the same anywhere you go, empty and with mediocre food.

So why are people reviewing like if this was a top of the line Asian inspired kitchen?

Second time at the franchise. Was hoping it would be better than the one at WinterGarden, but it was the same—Chinese food pretending to be from other Asian countries.

I had the Thai Drunken Noodles. I was hungry. It was hot. At that moment in time, it was good.

But then came the exasperating thirst. Unlike anything I have ever experienced.
Drank half gallon of water in one shot, only to be seeking more a few minutes later.

Whatever chemicals they used in the Drunken Noodles, it’s unlike what they use in Thai or even Chinese Restaurants. That incredible thirst stayed with me until morning.

My friend ordered what seemed to be the Mongolian Beef. She’s from Brazil. She didn’t know what she had ordered. I don’t think they did either.

And me, well I tasted her food; to me it tasted like the Drunken Noodles sauce.
Perhaps they use the same base sauce in all the dishes.

I must say, I was very impressed with the owner’s hospitality. Such a gentleman. You can see, it’s important to them how they treat their guests.

I had the falafel and it was fresh and good. I highly recommend a visit to this family owned eatery. Don’t expect a big menu or a big restaurant for that matter. This place is very modest and humble compared to the big restaurant chains along the strip. However, do expect good food and a place where the guests matter.

I can’t wait to go back not only to try something new but to be embraced by the eloquence of their hospitality.

Than you!