Raices Restaurant Coffee & Bar

Before you read my review know that I am supportive of small businesses. The struggles they have faced during the last few years because of COVID and inflation has caused many to close. Sometimes, however, the wound is self inflicted. Here is why. . I went to Raices yesterday to have a bit of delicious Puerto Rican food. I used to come here when it was Millie's Cafe. Millie made delicious food at very reasonable prices. Family owned: friendly and gracious. After Millie retired a woman took over and I had the opportunity to eat there. It was good although the prices had increased substantially. So yesterday I go there thinking it was the same food as I had the last time. Big mistake. You have to go to the counter to order where there is a visual menu, located above; some of it rotates. I ordered a PASTEL as an appetizer but we couldn't decide on entrees because we didn't see them. The man behind the counter asked what else? I stared at the visual menu and didn't see any entrees. The guy then began to endlessly tap on the cash register showing his impatience. (btw, there was no one else in the place). So, I asked him about entrees. He mentioned chicharones de pollo (chicken chunks) which came with rice and beans. Fine I said. Hubby ordered a chicken mofongo. After a bit, he summoned us to the counter to pick up our food. Despite having no one else in the entire restaurant, he didn't see fit to bring us the food. OK. The chicken mofongo came in a small bowl; the mashed plantain in the bottom and pieces of chicken on top. A spoon was provided. I went to the counter and called out to the back for someone to come out. I wanted a fork. My calls fell on deaf ears for a number of minutes. When the man showed up, I asked him for two forks. He told me I don't think I have any. I said, you're kidding me right? He said, let me see if I can find two. I waited and he provided two forks. How do you run a restaurant without forks? What restaurant doesn't have forks??? It was a sign of things to come. I had also asked him for some hot sauce. He told me the hot sauce was on its way from Puerto Rico. Are you serious? I asked. Yes. he answered . (BTW, there is a supermarket with 100 feet of the restaurant so the hot sauce was readily available. ) The Pastel ($5.18--similar to tamale but with green banana mash instead of corn meal) was super greasy. Its pork meat was rife with fatty pieces of pork, I mean chunks of pure fat. I would never order this again. The rice and beans were fine. Missed the hot sauce though. It was the only part that was edible. The chicharrones de pollo ($15.58) were a joke. Sloughed off pieces of chicken some tiny and some bigger without any crispiness. The visual was so unappetizing and the taste terrible due to the lack of seasonings. I couldn't eat it. The chicken mofongo ($16.62) was very small considering the price and was missing an essential part of a mofongo---the sauce/gravy to top it. I asked for sauce and he asked if he could give me some chicken broth. He brought some broth to the table which turned out to be super-salty bouillon which he couldn't eat. I would not order this again. For all this food we paid $40.48. Probably one of the worst meals I have ever had. The service was aloof, uninterested, and resistant. Almost like this guy didn't want to be there. While we ate he sat at one of the tables back to us staring at a set of Conga drums across from him. Maybe he aspires to be a musician and this job is a let down for him who knows. My take aways are that:1. Every restaurant should have forks so that customers can eat.2. They don't have to buy hot sauce directly from Puerto Rico since hot sauce is readily available in the mainland.3. Make sure you know what each authentic Puerto Rican dish entails so that you are not selling Faux PuertoRican food. 4. Hire someone who is interested in his job running a restaurant and who will make customers feel wanted and valued. Ask your customers how the food is and if they need anything else. I should have taken the hint from the table which was there with leftover food from the prior patrons. A soup was left untouched, and each dish had lots of food on it. Clearly it was a sign that I should not have sat down at all. I wish them luck with their new endeavor. However, unless they change course they will not make it.

I'm still so happy this wonderful restaurant exists for my cravings por la comida de mi isla. I love the pernil, arroz con habichuelas, y mi favorito, el quesito, que rico. I will definitely be back and my boyfriend also likes some of the dishes as well. He had good taste :)

Horrible service horrible food. Employees walking out before store closes. Nothing but fat on my beef lack of flavoring on everything except the rice. really disappointing experience. Will not be returning

Seriously delicious authentic Puerto Rican food. My wife and I love going to PR this time of year and have for the past 6 years but decided to take a staycation this time around and found ourselves still craving the food. This gem happens to be down the street and we will definitely be coming back again and again. Delicious empanadillas, mofongo and desserts!

The restaurant is in an old strip mall. Their sign is tiny. As you enter the restaurant it has great music, nice tables and clean. Since this was our first visit, we ordered pasteles, Mofongo, fried pork and chicken and tostones. Mofongo was great, the tostones were great and the pasteles were great. The fried pork didn't have enough flavor for me and the chicken was just a little better. I felt like the lack of flavor made me feel like I was missing something. The next time we go I will try the Sancocho and Pernil. The cook came out and surprised us with a little bowl of the Aroz con gandules it was so good!!! I will for sure order that with our meal next time. Don't bother with the rolled cake with red guava ish stuff around it. Not so great. The other desserts did look good so I will try a different desert next time.

Pork and rice with candles was fire, just wish the had habichuelos. They took over millies Cafe but I'm not even mad.

This place was recommended by one of the guys at one of the stores I visit. I'm originally from the island and this food was delicious and authentic. The mofongo was perfectly done just like we make it in the mountains in the island. Nice place and very nice decor. Definitely recommend and coming back when I'm visiting this market.

Ordered Arroz con gandules (rice and peas), with fried chicken, and side of plaintain, pastelilo de carne (beef empanada) and shredded porkPros:1. Nostalgia (Former location of Millie's Puerto rican restaurant.Cons:1. Fried chicken was flavorless and dry/old/reheated.2. Pastelilo de Carne is purchased by restaurant pre-made and frozen and then re-fried 3. Plantain was mushy and barely cooked4. Shredded Pork was dry and flavorless with the oil sitting under the pork.4. Overpriced everything

Food was amazing, staff & cooks are kind, price is decent, finally found authentic Puerto Rican food that taste like home & desserts are delicious. Definitely coming back !

First and last time here. Very disappointed with the white rice and red beans with pernil.No flavor no sofrito no salt and no taste.20 dollars for the plate with a Malta. No paper menus no salt and pepper shakers.