Isla Coqui Restaurant & Bar

Doesn't Recommend

annaalphonse

Joined 6 years ago

Extremely slow....and a little pricey. My fiance was really excited when we happened upon this restaurant because he spent a summer working in the Dominican Republic while in college, which has very similar dishes. Our excitement was quickly spoiled by the terrible service. The waiter spent about 7-8 minutes before even greeting us. The menu clearly shows that it takes 15-20 minutes if you order mofongo, but it took 40. Our waiter did not even stop by once between when we ordered and when the food came. He wasn't busy either, and spent much of the time eating behind the counter while we waited, hungry for our food. When the food finally arrived, we were so angry, we couldn't enjoy it anymore. To top it all off, it's overpriced.....$20 for mofongo. We're not coming back.

Doesn't Recommend

taboriquen

Joined 6 years ago

Not Good. I was one of the first costumers that this place had and after the way that I was treated im surpise they stil in business, staff has no clue of what service is, the so famous Pina Colada was blend and when I ask him to fix it with some pina he just dump it and gave me another that was just as blend and charged me for both, I brought a group of 52 people and none of them will go back, every dish on the menu was over $13 and portion were small and not the best flavor, Im boricua and I rather go to a Cuban Restaurant

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viewfromthefatguy

Joined 6 years ago

YES YES YES. ok i actually have lived in puerto rico and you will never get food outside puerto rico that tastes the same, that is due to the water used in puerto rico comapired to houston. same reason u cant get NY pizza anywhere else.... But i will tell you this.... Authentic Puerto Rican YES YES YES great menu u can get everything on the menu every time you go.... maybe not pastelles but i have never been disapointed. yes it it a family-owned restaurant so dont be supprized for their teen aged son taking your order. it is a little expensive but well worth the price i would pay double what they charge... thats how good it is. all they need is Medalla and DonQ Limon..... and it would be like bebos in san juan....great food good service

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marissa1975

Joined 6 years ago

Getting better and better. I started going to Isla Coqui this year and I have noticed that the service and the menu are getting better. I am from Panama and this food is very similar to the one from my country. I like the "churrasco", the masitas (pork), the tostones, and all the tropcical drinks they preapare there. I also enjoy the t"res leches". They really do a good. love going there when they have live music. The first Friday of each month they have a "balada" singer from Puerto Rico named Lourdes Jimenez., her voice is so wonderfu. Go and see it by yourself and enjoy the food!!

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perpetuallytreu

Joined 11 years ago

Home Cookin'. Late at night looking for a new place to try we stumbled upon a gem. A Puerto Rican restaurant ran like Mama's kitchen. The family owned establishment is run by two mighty ladies who start early and cook all day! They chat with diners making you feel welcome and at home. When the food is out, then there's no more.

We were encouraged to start our meal with a Coquito. A special House drink that is creamy and delicious. They make this shot with whisky, white run, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon. Muy delicioso!

Then we sampled the Cheese Empanada with its flaky crust and potato like filling. Simple and delightful with slight zest. Next we adventured by ordering the Cod Fish Cake. Similar to a pancake with a slightly crisp texture from being lightly fried. The sticky, savory filling with lots of Cod flavor was a treat for the palate. Our last appetizer was the best! A Green Plantain and Beef Croquette. The sweet aroma invites you to taste and the melange of flavors is outstanding. First you bite through the outer layer which is friend like a hush puppy with a cheesy crust then into the soft light filling. Heavenly!

Now we were on to dinner. I ordered the Grilled Pork Chop w/ Pink Beans and Maduros while my husband enjoyed the traditional Pork Pastel with Rice and Pigeon Peas. Both were so great we had to switch half way through. The pork chop is one of the best Ive ever had. The pastel reminded my husband of his Great Aunt who sent them here from Puerto Rico. A perfect end to a relaxing gourmet home cooked meal... in a setting much more fun than home.

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alicosani

Joined 6 years ago

I was not really impressed.. I actually was not all that impressed. Having lived in Puerto Rico I was so excited to try the food. I was kinda dissapointed. Although the ambience is great and the music is awesome and the people are friendly, they had their 14 year son doing the waiting, not at all what I expected. Although it is like that in Puerto Rico, I believe the restaurant is too big and expensive for that. The food was good, although extremely overpriced. I do understand that you have to pay for typical anything food, cause you are not eating just burger and fries. Although if you think about it, you do spend about $7-10 at McDonalds these days. The coquitos are great, and the fact that they have frituras(fried foods) is awesome cause those are hard to find here in Houston. But honestly I guess I was expecting soooooooooooo much more then what I received. The place is really cool though, the music and the people are great, but the food was not all that amazing for the price I was paying. I guess it was because my Abuelita was not in the kitchen cooking!!! And $20 for a mofongo, which I make a million times better at home for my entire family of 6 for less then $10, it was not really worth it. I wish they wold lower their prices just a little, I am sure to come back for frituras and the music, but not for anything else.

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labellamasfresa

Joined 6 years ago

Yummiest food ever!. MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAD DINNER THERE THIS PAST SATURDAY AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME. HE IS A NATIVE PUERTO RICAN AND HE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW PERFECT THE MENU WAS. I COULD TELL THAT THE FOOD AND THE WONDERFUL, GREAT ATTENTIVENESS FROM THE STAFF GAVE HIM THAT BACK HOME EXPERIENCE WHICH WAS SUPER NICE. IT WAS ALSO MY SECOND TIME THERE AND THIS TIME AROUND I TRIED THEIR WONDERFUL COQUITO AND A CUBA LIBRE . HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SPOT .... DONT FORGET THE DESSERT A++++

Doesn't Recommend

verdaderoboricua

Joined 6 years ago

Poor Representation of Puertorican Food. TO BE HONEST WITH ALL MY PUERTORICAN PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSTON AREA;THIS PLACES IS A MESS;REALLY I DONT THINKS THE OWNERS ARE FROM "PUERTO RICO"BECAUSE FIRST THE FOOD ARE BADDDDD;BELIVE ME AND THE PRICES ARE EXTREMALY HIGH.....SORRY BUT THAT

IS THE REALITY;;;;;;;;;;;;

UN BORICUA DE VERDAD

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ricanlady_karen

Joined 6 years ago

Puerto Ricans, let's rejoice that we finally have somewhere besides Teo's to eat at.. A little on the overpriced side given their portion size. I asked for tostones, and they gave me amarillitos dulces (which were great btw). I recommend it wholeheartedly, if you can overlook the menu prices.

The BEST Mofongo you can get besides your own home, and a Tembleque to DIE for.

Doesn't Recommend

ojo_houston

Joined 7 years ago

Slow service and cold food. I was very disappointed with the service and the food. I had heard some good things and decided to try it out for myself, well my advice to all is to save your money and time and try other Caribbean restaurants in town. It is a shame since there are not many Puerto Rican restaurants in Houston to go and enjoy authentic food.

First, the staff did not come around to take a drink order until we had been there 20 minutes (there was only 3 tables occupied). The empanadas de carne were very cold inside, almost frozen, and the portion of the meal for the price is ridiculous. Overpriced!!!!!

Best advice is to go with the proven Caribbean or South American restaurants in Houston and hope that the Isla Coqui will improve with the staff and food before losing many customers.