Mamajuana Cafe Reviews

This is a great place if you want to enjoy good food, good prices and a nice environment. I was able to enjoy this place with coworkers. we had drinks and appetizers. staff were friendly and attentive.

We arrived around 6pm on a Sunday evening. We were offered a table outside but they have no patio heaters so were taken inside. The music was very loud but we're were placed in a corner, which actually didn't help with the sound at all. Service was pretty quick, there were already several large tables gathered all with small children, and a table of 4 older ladies right next to us, who struggled with the noise level as well. The server was lovely and did her best in her broken English to explain some of the menu to us, over the noise. Did I mention that it was loud, like really loud? I hate having to yell across the table to my dinner partner when we are eating out. Food and drinks arrived smartly. The food was delicious, but the enjoyment factor just went out the window. I just wanted to eat and get out of there. I asked to speak to the manager on duty about the noise level and was told he would come by the table and speak with me, but he never showed up. The epitome of bad host syndrome In my book. Obviously at this establishment, the patrons needs are not of any importance. My concern too goes towards the workers, surely there is some duty of care required on the owners part to ensure staff are working in a safe environment? They will all be suffering hearing loss within 10 years if they continue in such an environment. Good food, good service, but the noise level just ruined what could have been a really nice evening.

We visited recently as a large group looking for a latin dance club. We found the best party in NYC. Excellent music and fun people . Great food and drinks.

Great food. We ate at 149 48th street location, next to Radisson hotel, NOT Dykeman location. Highly recommended. Excellent authentic carribean food. Excellent service. Recommend reservations.

Dining at this restaurant for the first time was a pleasurable experience. Food was excellent and plentiful, staff was accommodating and friendly. The ambiance was nice. I would definitely recommend if you are interested in authentic Dominican food.

The ambiance of the restaurant is very nice. good music and Hookah is available if you enjoy that. the food was good Dominican cuisine. the staff was nice the restaurant was beautiful

By chance we encountered this place while staying at a friend's apartment. The food was very good and in its price category worthy of a high rating. The service was also of high quality. For visitors if you find yourself in the outpost of Manhattan give this a try. You will not be disappointed.

We were visiting New York celebrating my fiances birthday. I love paella so this is what I had. I wasn't impressed with it, the flavors were off and it was very under seasoned. The huge lobster and crab claw on top made it awkward to eat. It also had calamari, clams, oysters shrimp and mussels. They also provided a lemon wedge, but it tasted like it was overpowered with lemon juice already. It was definitely authentic but I was very disappointed in the taste.

I love this Dominican inspired restaurant! They don't just have Latin dishes but they add a Latin flair to a lot of their stuff. My favorite is the calamari salad as an appetizer but for my entree I'm always stumped on whether to choose the red snapper stuffed with seafood or the paella. The worst thing about this place is having to choose what to eat. I've never had a bad dish here. The drinks are DELICIOUS so please head there if you'd like great food accompanied with great drinks!

Need a bit of work on professionalism; took a bit to make a reservation via phone, email, etc. But once there, you didn't want to leave! Great vibe, nice crowd, lots of swagger with swankie decor. Sweet bar, cerviche to die for and order another to take home, waiters.....tres bien! Great food, drinks, and live music on Saturdays..what more can one ask for from the Heights!? A definite 'must go' for latinos citywide and for Dominicans bringing it home. Once they learn how to make a reservation, they'll get even better in this business! Parking's impossible; hop on the subway and it'll get you there just fine!

We went there for Easter Brunch, it was very good. But they did take advantage and overcharged, which is not good because they did not advertise it. Overall the food was good and the service too.

Was here on a Thursday night and was surprised to find the place nearly empty. We had a good meal, our waitress was very nice, and I loved my mamajuana mojito!

Ate here at 5:30, restaurant mostly empty, took forever for waitress to come back and take our order. Two in our party ordered the chicken breast with rice and black beans , chicken dry, but the plantains were tasty. I ordered sea bass, got two small tail filets. Sea bass normally served as s large filet from meatier section of fish. Sweet corn bread was highlight of the meal.

This place is very tasty! Food was great! Service was excellent. Wine list was on point. Presentation was good and so were the prices. Good for a date night or just grabbing some lunch/dinner.

i had so much fun over there.. nice people, delicious (and lots of) food, amazing sangria and after hours, they play good music (with a DJ) so you can dance... its a lot of fun

Mamajuana's is a great place to start your weekend. My wife and I arrived early and enjoyed the brunch special. There was a great mix of savory and sweet to choose from. Afterwards we walked across the street to rent bicycles. If you're visiting from out of town this is a perfect way to enjoy an authentic NYC neighborhood. It has the cosmopolitan feel of Manhattan without the congestion.

Had dinner with the family today @ Mamajuana. We had 3 appetizers and a full meal and all of it was great. The service is great as well and their piña colada was tasty.

Visited here with some friends upon their suggestion. Got in and did not have to wait. The waiter was friendly. This is spot is pretty lively on Saturday nights. The food was good, and everyone enjoy their dish.

Been here several times, and the food is delicious. Crowd depends on the day of the week you go. I prefer week day as is much less crowded and you are not rushed to eat so they can seat others waiting. Weekdays is a much nicer relaxed feeling and the service is not as hectic. Our last time there was with a group of about 18, so we chose a family style pre-fixed menu, where they bring plates of a variety of dishes for the table, also pitchers of Sangria. There was plenty of food. but my absolute fav is the dessert platter. it a long platter with a variety of dessert, such as flan, mango sorbet, rice pudding, tartufo, dulce de leche ice cream & mini cheese cakes....the dessert platter does vary, as each visit it has been slightly different, but always good. The mojitos are also delicious with a variety of flavors like coco, mango, parcha, strawberry. and the classic.

Service was okay but it could’ve been better food was ok too the staff was ok too it was a nice set up outside it was summer nice day

We ate at Mamajuana on East 48th Street ... NEVER AGAIN .... This is without a doubt if not "the" worst dining experience we've ever had, it rates right at the top of Never Again! Our table was not ready when we arrived; they said a few minutes, was at least 30. We got One glass of water, never came and filled the glasses. Our drinks were ok, not spectacular. The waiter took our appetizer order, they arrived a good 15-20 minutes later. We had the beef, chicken and chorizo sticks, there was no chorizo, and they were just ok, the guac was good, but very few chips and my son ordered a plaintain with cod, eh .. we then waited over an hour for our entrees. At that point, no one wanted to be bothered. The hostesss did come by after about 45 minutes when she finally noticed how agitated we were. My son took his chicken home, he had the ckn relleno, he said it was ok, not great, I had the fillete pescado, which I think I would have enjoyed had I not been so aggravated at that point; my husband's grilled sea bass was just ok, they never brought the sauce. My other son had the churasco and he was the only one who seemed to like his dinner. The fish my husband ordered came with nothing, just a piece of fish, he had to pay for rice and beans to go with it!! are you kidding me? No vegetables, tons of hard mashed potatos or fries. Never again. And to top it all off, they charged us for something we hadn't ordered and they had the nerve to put a 20% service fee on the bill, without asking!!! This is normal for large groups, not couples or parties of 4 ... unbelievable!

This restaurant is conveniently located to The Cloisters (about 10 minutes walk.) We shared grilled octopus, fried chicken and guacamole - these were actually listed as starters on the menu, but huge portions, quite adequate for two sharing as a main meal, we were there for lunch. Helpful service and a pleasant patio.

Being that my husband is a chef i happen to know good food when i see it, i ordered the churrasco (skirt steak) and i was very pleased with my selection,i couldnt understand why the rating on the window says "pending" Makes me wonder??? Hmmms,dirty kitchen perhaps? Idk

Amazing to have a truly great restaurant experience on Dyckman Street in the very heart of the barrio norte, just below the Cloisters one block from the A train Dyckman station. Because of Mamajuana's rather unusual location the restaurant is also a great pit stop. This is because Dyckman happens to be the end of the line for those going uptown on either the west or the east side river bike trails (i.e.where the twain meets). Dyckman is hardly the Champs Elysee, but because of Mamajuana's it does boast one classic looking sidewalk cafe. The mojitos there have just the right amount of fresh mint.. The asopaito de camarones, the ceviche and the exquisite madura relleno de bacalao are exceptional... not the ordinary Hispanic fare.. really gourmet quality. So bike or train your way uptown. You needn't starve.

This is a brunch site for hitting en route to the Cloisters or the Hudson River play areas, a few yards from the Dyckman Street subway on the A train. The area is rather short of eateries and this is the best I have found. Food is Latino rather than Mexican so there is less corn and less chile and more bread and potatoes. Brunch is best.

I was hesitant to go to a restaurant since we have not going out for months. I got my wife and off we went uptown Manhattan to Mamajuanas cafe. The place was crowded, we waited 45 minutes for a table. The hostess keep giving us signs of our time to get in, got a table the waiter was very friendly and fast our meals were good ( besides my churrasco that was very hard) my fault for not specifying to the waiter. After the meal I mentioned and he was kind to adjust our bill. A very business wise gesture. Overall still the great service and friendliness I am used too my only concern was the absence of hand sanitizer at the entrance and how fast the tables were set up for the next customer. My dear Mamajuana management please be more diligent with that. I will be back there....

The food and drinks were very good. I had a Melon Sangria that was in a melon. It was so tasty but pricey. We ordered appetizers. The presentation was very artistic and pretty. I really like the cheese and guava empenadas. I went to the Woodside, Queens location on a Thursday. We were the only people there so that staff was super attentive. It was a good time but once again it was pricey. Their signature rum is also very tasty.

What a great little cafe/ restaurant! Enjoyed a summer brunch out on the patio with friends, and really enjoyed their delicious (and FRESH!) buffet, kind and attentive hosts/ staff, not to mention delicious sangrias! The patio can get a bit distracting due to pedestrian and road traffic. All the same, will come by again when in the city!

A little place with good food and great drinks. A little to loud but overall nice place with Mexican cuisine.

Great drinks, good portal of entrees, and love their dessert too!!!

Recently went to Mamajuana’s restaurant with a semi-large group (app. 25 people). The service was very good. We were seated immediately upon arrival. There was an extended wait time for the food but it was quite understanble as there was 25 of us. It was definitely worth the wait though. The food and the refreshments were amazing. They tasted phenomenal. The dessert was good too. Overall, the service was very good. Will definitely be stopping by if I’m in the area again.

i came here on a date at night for drinks and hookah and we had a good time. Maybe not a great choice for first date because of the loud music but we had fun anyway.great drinks and hookah was on point.great dj , he plays different types of music which i liked

One of my favorite restaurants when I'm craving paella. Living in NYC and having so many great restaurants to choose from, I always go back to this spot because it does have the best paella. I also order the calamari salad as an appetizer along with all their other delicious appetizers. They have a red snapper stuffed with seafood that's my second favorite. The drinks are awesome as well. I've been going to this spot ever since it opened years ago.

There's not much to eat in WaHi or Inwood, and this is a good choice. The food is quite tasty. service is ok. The crowd is very mixed. Nice outside seating.

Pretty much everyone I know eats and parties at this location quite frequently. I come here for the lounge which is after 12 a.m. After the chairs and the food is cleared away it becomes a really pumping spot. There are hookahs available to order as well as bottle service for the tables. My friends and I ordered a few pitchers of Sangria which were decent tasting(like a 7 out of ten). The music was loud and ranged from Merengue, salsa, bachata, house and hip hop. There is also no cover.

This restaurant is located in a commercial area so it's easy to pass it by ( many times). I came here the night before Mothers Day and they had 2 parties going on. We ordered the appetizers which were amazing ( all of them) service was slow, but then again it was packed. I ordered the pernil with rice ( for two) and was advised they didn't have anymore. I ordered something else, it was very good and left. I returned with my mom for her 80th birthday. I arrived early about 4:45pm and was told dinner will not start until 6. We sat at the bar for a glass of wine and watched everyone that walked in be placed at a table. It was 6:25 before I had to ask for a table. Again, I ordered the pernil and rice only to be told they didn't have any. I'm curious as to why they have it for $32 (for 2 people) on the menu and never have it in stock. Even though the manager was kind enough to not charge me for the apps, I cannot recommend this restaurant. As a matter of fact the waiter referred me to another restaurant for the dinner we traveled so far to have here.

The restaurant is very well decorated and charming inside. However we decided to sit outside. We tried several tapas and cocktails. The tapas were all nice prepared and it seemed to me that it captured the essence of the Dominican cuisine. The cocktails were good based to Dominican rum. The atmosphere inside with the loud music and loud people who at some point started dancing was interesting and probably indicative of the culture that this restaurant represents. I would recommend it to someone who wants to know Dominican cuisine and it looks like many Dominicans of New York opt for it.

I will start by saying this restaurant is on the pricey side. However it is completely worth it for the experience. The food is phenomenal. The drinks were delish. The service was fantastic. After visiting I want to go back every single day! Of course my pockets won't allow for that. The food is authentic and there are plenty options. I cannot recall the names of the menu items I ate but I do have photos. I had chicken for my appetizer and shrimp for my entrée. Everyone that attended had no complaints and we were not even mad at the bill because the food was so great it definitely accounts for the cost. Just excellent. Youh want a nice place with amazing food and ambiance. This is it.

Good food, good service. Nice atmosphere. The bathroom situation is a little weird...maybe they are ahead of the curve on the gender issue...but restaurant is worth a visit.

I've been here a few times and had a good experience every time. The Sunday brunch is really a delicious spread, with a lot of variety. But in general, the menu has plenty of choices and the portions are generous. The vibe is definitely (middle-class) Dominican but not at all exclusive and the staff is fine with English or Spanish. They have outside seating but the inside is comfortable and spacious. It's right off Broadway on Dyckman.

My husband and I recently moved to the neighborhood and stumbled upon this place on a late Saturday morning on our way to Inwood Hill park. The outdoor seating looked so inviting (we just moved from Montreal where summer terrace dining is a religion) that we couldn't resist. Saturday and Sunday mornings boast an $18 brunch buffet with unlimited Mimosas and Jack Punch. The food was incredible - it was prepared with a lot of care and attention to detail (not mass prepared buffet garbage). Items included eggs benedict (with chorizo instead of ham), skirt steak, a delicious chicken dish, pancakes, sweet plantains, potatoes, rice and beans, cassava, corn bread, thick (perfectly cooked) slabs of bacon (it must have been organic), assorted pastries, a micro-green salad, and an omelet bar. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed all of their selections and found the made-to-order omelets also very good. The quality of the ingredients was very high and contributed greatly to the success of the food. Unlimited drinks was also a nice plus (as was the secret, unlimited coffee to the side of the buffet). We had a great time and will certainly come back. Our only complaint is that 18% gratuity was added to our bill automatically. We are two people and it was a buffet, surely tipping should have been left to our discretion.

The food is amaZing. The place is very modern with a full bar. There is outside sitting if preferred. Keep in mind that is better to make reservations as people were waiting outside for tables for at least an hour. Also there is no valet parking and the street parking is horrible. The gas station in front is use as parking for at $10 a car.

This place has just poor customer service and on a slow day when they were empty they lost business requiring too much ordering to just sit down without allowing exceptions or leniency by talking too their manager. If a place wants money and business and is mostly empty as a regular restaurant that's not a club then there should be accommodations for guests to sit without asking for so many buys per person. Food is not all that worth it for the fight.

I've been to Mamajuana many times but last december was my first time at their sunday bruch. I totally recommended it. They have bufet with a very wide selection. The food is delicious (spanish and american). They have mimosas and jackpunch (Jack and fruit punch) all you can have, that are included on the $22/per person they charge (very fair). I loved their creamy squash soup (don't know the exact name), it's like a piece of liquid heaven on a bowl!! Next time I visit NY I'm definitely brunching again at Mamajuana.

Great cheese tapas,entrees, dessert, and DRINKS!

Has two terrific barmen: Ezekiel and Manuel. I believe they are from the Dominican Republic. Shane and I had some very good cocktails, and Ezekiel gave us parting shots of a delicious liqueur he poured from a demijohn crammed with bits of wood! He said it was typical of his country, and it wasn't a flavour I'd ever come across before. Thank you, Ezekiel and Manuel, we had a great time.

If you're in Inwood, hit Dyckman Street and visit Mamajuana's. They have an outdoor area or indoor seating. The food was fabulous. Staff was exceptional.

This place is always pack. I dont know if they think they are the onky bar or food place around the area but they need to have better service. Sonetime this place is so pack the waiters are so busy that you have to look for them. The bar area is always pack due to the lack of space because of the crowd mess. I have e heard food never tried it. Not knocking them but more space would be great l..

We'd done the Cloisters, we needed food and water. Dyckman has lots of pavement-style cafes, but Mamajuana has something different. Wikipedia says "Mama Juana is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. The taste is similar to port wine and the color is a deep red." Well, food was as tasty as the drink; the staff were friendly and, yes, we could have lunch at 2.30pm. Good portions, great prices.

This place was amazing ! Such a great atmosphere, delicious food, music, and unlimited mimosa and sangria throughout brunch. Brunch was a buffet style with a variety of different foods that were all so great. The service was also great, receptionist and waitress were both professional and on top of everything. We were with a group of 10 and the Restaraunt was very busy. We were seated right away and taken care of quickly. We will absolute return on another visit to NY.

Fried Yuca Taste really bad .... passion fruit mojito not Good And Churrazco doesn't taste right !! Worst experience in NY So Far

Great place for dinner and drinks!!!!!!!!

Mamajuana restaurant offers indoor (and in season outdoor) dining. Highly recommended for brunch if you are visiting Fort Tryon Park. As international travelers we aimed for the Dominican dishes rather than scrambled eggs. In a neighborhood with little gastronomy this one shone.

I truly enjoyed this authentic Latin, Dominican food. Great music, drinks were delicious, lots of variety of drinks to choose from and the food was super flavorful and well presented! It's a small place but it feels cozy and warm . Service was excellent. We went on a week day and we had no wait at all. If you're Looking for a less touristy vibe, this is it.

My boyfriend and I ordered ordered food and drinks. They suggested we get casa azul for his margarita but didn’t tel us it would be $70!!!! Also I sent my food back twice. First time it was wrong and then the second time it had a big black hair.then they forgot about me and never brought me my food. Then when we complained again they brought it to me, I didn’t want to eat so I got a box so they wouldn’t throw it away and still tried to charge us $200 for two drinks (margarita & pina colada) and two Mofongos. They are out of their god damn minds!!! Stay away from this place. They wouldn’t even take anything off. It’s a damn shame. I don’t know who the hell they think they are!?

It's a nice Mexican place with decent food at good prices. The service is nice, and sometimes it can be busy and loud. Try it during the week.

I had the churrasco and it was delicious. Yuca fries were on point, as was the service. Enjoyed the setting as well.

We went there to celebrate my partner becoming a citizen and could not be more pleased. The drinks were incredible and the food was delicious. The server(his name sounded like Audi) could not be more attentive. All in all, a wonderful experience. We will definitely be back!!!!

I've been here so many times for both dinner and brunch and food and service has always been great. Their pernil is a must try (When they say it's for 2, it is, or you can order it and take what you don't finish, home). For brunch, the mimosas just keep on coming! So it's a good deal. Overall, high quality, good food, nice vibe, great service - One of the best latino restaurants around.

This restaurant used to be amazing, now not so much. Wait time is long-- even if there's no one there. The food tastes bland; We got the fried red snapper and the churrasco with chimichurri sauce, which I only ordered because of the sauce and we got a completely different red sauce topped with what seemed to be diced garlic, red pepper and onions-- not a traditional chimichurri sauce. When I asked about the dish they just kept repeating that was a chimichurri sauce. I'm ok with chefs getting creative but don't label it on your menu as chimichurri when it's not. The fish was just ok. The batter and fish tasted like breaded fried chicken. I've tried to give this place a few extra visits to see if it was just a night off but it always disappoints. They used to have a nice touch in the past where they gave you a complimentary shot of Mamajuana after your meal. We spent over $100+ and left regretting our visit. This was my last time dining here. The only plus to this restaurant is the portion size which is good for the price, but then again that's the norm in Inwood/ Washington Heights area. Also, note that the vibe here is loud. People smoke hookah inside and the music is blasting. If you're not looking to party 100% skip this place. I recommend leaving "restaurant row," and heading to the restaurants a block away right in front of Tryon Park....so much better food and service with still an upbeat atmosphere.

We have been going to Mamajuana's for years and were looking forward to sharing the experience with our son & his family. We were one of the first to arrive & promptly seated. We ordered drinks, waited more than usual & then one drink did not come for more than 20 minutes more. We then ordered our dinners. All dinners came except the " puerquito" (roast pork) for my husband & me. We had gone to Mamajuana's specifically for that dish. By the time we were served everyone had finished eating. We told the manager that he should not charge us for that meal since we had waited so long for our meal that my grandchildren were too tired to wait for us to eat. He hesitantly took the price of our dish off the bill but when we check it, we had been charged for 2 extra drinks. The waiter apologized and went back to adjust the bill only to find that we had been charged for 2 different drinks. My husband is a very patient man but come on. How could you screw up a bill like this? On top of all this we had asked the waiter to wrap up our leftovers & guess what, they left half of them out of the bag! UNBELIEVABLE! Can't believe what happened. The only thing we can say is that the food tasted good although we didn't eat it till the next day!!!

To start there is street parking and valet parking here. so if you re driving there re good chances you will be able to park your car with not many issues. We came here for dinner on a weekend early evening and the vibe was just pretty great, if you look at this spot you have inside and outside sitting, some tables are made to look very Caribbean and you will feel like you are right by the beach, overall I think we noticed at least 3 ambiances in the floor plan here, the decor is very tropical for sure. the staff is very friendly and they know their stuff here. they can guide you to the right choice of drinks or just describe whatever drink you are reading about to make sure you get the pic. MADURO CON BACALAO- I had this banana or maduro or platano whatever it is called with a cod fish dip inside and let me tell you that this is one of the most amazing things I have ever had involving these 2 ingredients. I was so surprised how these flavors married so well. COQUITO- I had a drink that is inspired by the actual coquet however here the drink is not the traditional one so make sure to ask the waiter what is in the drink. overall this is a very good place for food, drinks and super sexy for a nice date, so worth it.

The food wasn’t bad but for what you pay the portion are small. Don’t get the soda on tap it’s flat. I would rather go for the drinks expensive but good. The music is extremely loud. It’s worse when the sit you under the speaker. Overall go for drinks nice experience. The staff is super friendly.

Had a nice time here with friends. Waiters were very attentive! made sure we had our cups filled with water. Food was good. I had the chicken and chorizo paella. The chicken was a lil dry but other than that it was good. My other friends had the pernil which they loved, those who had the pork chops did not enjoy it because it was dry. All in all i liked the food but loved the decor, the ambiance and the servers attention.

I first came to this restaurant in 2013 and had the most awesomest (my word) of times. I recommended this restaurant to my friends as a spot to have dinner together as it became my Go-to spot in Inwood. To my disappointment I observed that this once non smoker friendly cafe has followed the inane and ridiculous trend of smoking Hookah's. At first i only noticed the Hookah smokers on the outside of the restaurant which is ok because I declined an outdoor table so that I won't have to breathe in the toxins emitted from the Hookah. Once inside the atmosphere was as I recalled in the better days. The food took a long time to come but this was ok as we enjoyed the parade of loudly obnoxious , drunk, and scantly clad barbie doll clones. When the food finally arrived my plate was not as it was detailed in the menu but since I was hungry I settled for the poorly presented plate. As I began to eat the unappealing food i noticed that the waiter was setting up a Hookah at a table near ours. When I verbalized my opposition to having a Hookah in proximity of the table that i was eating at all I was told that after a certain time in the dinner service they allow Hookah smoking indoors. Observant as I am, i noticed that all of the outdoor tables were full so the restaurant opted to cater to the Hookah smokers because they pay a premium for the option. The restaurant owner's appear to be more interested in appeasing the people with self destructive idiosyncrasies and opted to undermine the health and well being of the patrons who are trying to remain smoke and toxin free. Needless to say that i will no longer patronize MamaJuana Cafe and will never recommend this restaurant to any one.

Good and nice ambiance