One of my besties, Danielle, visited Pio Pio with her boyfriend and wanted to share her experience with you all!
Thought I’d start this one off with a little humor, but nonetheless my craving for cooked food lead my boyfriend and I to the Upper Westside; where there are dining options for everyone’s pockets and straight into the loving arms of Pio Pio Slaon for an impromptu date night.
I will be honest, my boyfriend and I must have walked past this place at least 100 times on many different occasions and that is mostly due to a previous experience at the Pio Pio location in Queens. After terrible service and their ridiculous price hike we didn’t have high hopes for its UWS location. As my boyfriend dragged me towards his choice (we take turns picking dining spots), he kept muttering “Don’t worry. I have a good feeling about this.”
The line for seating had spilled out onto the sidewalk and it was evident that there was no organized front of house staff present - the hostess didn’t take down names. Both my boyfriend and I were a little annoyed by this, but we waited for what felt like eternity since we were so hungry. Once we were inside I took a look around and got a feel for the décor. The exposed brick walls are adorned with traditional Peruvian art; the color scheme was a warming mixture of robust reds, mellow yellows, and plain white tables. Pio Pio Salon does a great job of transporting you to a chic eatery in Peru.
Two full glasses of Sangria later (amazing from a half pitcher!), we knew without hesitation we were opting for the infamous “Matador Combo” (even though the menu boasts a bountiful array of seafood options, yum). Within fifteen minutes we were served one whole rotisserie grilled chicken. It was perfectly cooked, well seasoned, hot, tender, juicy, and it had a semi-crisp outer skin. There was one Large plate of fresh hand-cut fries and sausages (a rarity in New York), along with a light and refreshing avocado salad, rice and black beans, and tostones. The star of that night’s dinner performance was not Pio Pio’s famous rotisserie chicken, but the Green (Aji) sauce which is served with practically everything on the menu. It literally tastes great on everything - I have no idea what’s in it, but the taste is anything short of A-MA-ZING!
Pio Pio’s warm atmosphere and huge portions really gives you the bang-for-your-buck. Be fair warned that it is a bit noisy, but that’s only the ambient sounds of patrons enjoying their meals. Pio Pio Salon is an awesome date night location or perfect for just wanting to grab a bite with some friends. The service was pleasant, responsive, and urgent (rarity in NYC!).
I honestly had an excellent time and am looking forward to dragging Kelly there for a dinner date. A tad bit crowded, but the food is worth the wait! 3.5 out of 4 stars :)
Get out there and go on your own Foodie adventure. Discover it, experience it, explore it… and most importantly be sure to taste it!
Visit Pio Pio’s Website.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking the time to read my site. Your comments are sincerely appreciated!
If you have any urgent questions or comments, please email me at kelly@masquemag.com. Thanks!