Tropical Star - Reviews

My experience at this establishment was a mixed bag. While the store itself is fantastic, offering a wide variety of imported products from Latin America, the restaurant portion of the experience was disappointing. We ordered the chicken and rice, which was unfortunately bland. We had to request "aji" and hot sauce to make it palatable. The service and atmosphere received high ratings (5/5), but the food itself was rated lower (3/5).

I have not dined at this restaurant. My experience has been limited to purchasing Latin American products from their market. The market carries the most popular items, such as dulce de leche and yerba from Argentina.

I enjoyed the cozy, at home atmosphere. My order was the Pollo guisado and a side order of tostones, along with a mura smoothie. The flavors were authentic, reminding me of being at a family member's house. I even grabbed some Coquito! Check this spot out if you're in the area.

I will not be returning to this establishment. I ordered three entrée plates at $19. 99 each based on the appealing menu descriptions and photos. We ordered takeout, and upon arriving home and opening my order, I was very disappointed. I ordered the Lomo Saltado, which was advertised as containing beef, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, fries, and rice, however, my order was missing the cilantro and there was 1 hidden tomato. Additionally, the dish was excessively salty. My son’s meal was also overly salted. Overall, the experience was disappointing, as the food did not match the quality or description presented.

I always aim to provide honest reviews, unlike some who receive discounts. My experience at this restaurant was mixed. The rice tasted different and wasn't particularly good, though I acknowledge this might be due to my Puerto Rican palate. The bacalaito was good, but the chicharron was not. On the positive side, the service was very good, rated a 5 out of 5. However, I personally won't be returning because it was very expensive. A significant concern was the pastel, which was black. While it didn't taste bad, its appearance was alarming. When I inquired, I was told it was due to being frozen for a long time. This explanation didn't sit well with me, as my own experience with frozen pasteles has never resulted in them turning black. This was the final straw for me. I will never go back. If you decide to try it, proceed with caution and avoid ordering too many items, as it's very expensive and the freshness of the food is questionable.

Happy Saturday! I drove by this place at least 3x weekly and never knew it existed. My friend invited me to come dancing, and I thought, “Why not? It’s only 6. 3 mi from my house. ” Glad I went, it was a fun experience listening to Latin music and watching people dance. I had to leave early, so I didn’t get a chance to dance, but next time, lol. My friend and her friends ordered Papa Rellena ($6) and Empanadilla ($5), and they enjoyed it. I, however, didn’t order any food but had a Lulo drink ($6. 45). It was my very first time trying it, and it was refreshing! Note: Regular hours mean you order food at the market counter. Dancing hours start at 9 pm, and I believe the entrance fee is $5. In terms of food, it’s full service from the Snack Menu. Have fun dancing, y’all!

My experience at this market was fantastic! Their Brazilian and General Latin market selection is the best I've encountered. The prices are fair, and I was able to find almost everything I needed, including items like requeijão, pão de queijo, tapioca, bono, passatempo, granulado, and forminhas.

As a Caribbean from NYC, I was initially hesitant and skeptical. 🙌 However, I highly recommend you JUST GO TRY IT! ❤️‍🔥

Tropical Star used to be my GO TO spot! Unfortunately, their price increases over the years is just too much and sadly the flavors in their food are no longer the same either. An $8 increase in their Pabellon Venezolano over a 4 year period is far too much.

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. While the food was good, with the Cubano sandwich and Argentine empanadas hitting the spot on a lazy Saturday afternoon, the atmosphere was uncomfortably hot, making me wish for some climate control. It felt authentic in its heat, like the tropics, but it was a bit much. The reviewer rated Service: 3, Atmosphere: 3, and Food: 4.