This place is just so good! The food is always very flavorful and never overly salty like some…read moreother similar places. They have about 4 booth style tables, so it is more of a grab and go style. They are also now on DoorDash. The inside is very clean! The staff are always helpful and most speak both English and Spanish. My go-to is always the pernil with arroz con gondules and potato salad. They always have fried appetizer style foods available too. They charge extra to use a credit card now so pay cash when you go.

Delicious food at a reasonable price. You'll have to endure a Hellscape of a neighborhood but Ira…read moreworth it.

Delicious food, wonderful service, cozy atmosphere! We will be back. The Cuban sandwiches were…read moresavory and prepared quickly, and the pastries were excellent

The place is a little small but cozy. Food was good and service was amazing. I'll definitely will…read morevisit again.

My kid recommended this place. I didn't know what to order so they put together this plate for me…read more Flavorful and so good. Big portion. Get the potato salad!

Food, friendly staff and real world culture ambiance! We've eaten at Maria's for over 20 years and…read morewe look forward all the time to dine there!

Wow! Extremely impressed with the food here! Also love that they have Medalla. We started with the…read morequeso frito with guava sauce. Gorgeous presentation with an edible flower and gold dust. We also had a side order of maduros for an app. Delicious! The maduros were legit my favorite thing here, although everything was great. For a main course I had shrimp in garlic sauce with mamposteo. Served on a huge plate, there was a giant portion of rice and a small side salad as well as many good sized shrimp. Super delicious and the food was piping hot. Service was great and I loved the music here, which was a mix of reggaeton, Bad Bunny and Karol G but played at a low, chill volume so it didn't distract from conversation. The interior is sort of casual but with some nice touches like a wall of greenery with a PR flag. Our server was super friendly and this is a family business. We parked in the private lot in the back, which is reserved for tenants of the building. A guy who appeared to be associated with the barber shop in the same building told us it was safe to leave our car there to visit the restaurant. I'd recommend parking near the barbershop since they seemed to keep their door open and would see anyone messing with your car. There were a number of homeless people here begging but they did not bother us. Only reasons for not giving five stars has nothing to do with the food, atmosphere or service. I found the women's bathroom in need of a cleaning and they also have a small convenience fee that was not mentioned anywhere but was added to our bill. Additionally, be careful to review your check because they automatically add a 20 percent gratuity.

Came out to Worcester for work. My co-worker suggested we go here as she comes regularly. It's a…read moresmall place... homey and inviting. There is a small stocked bar (another time... when NOT working!) Started with the fresh squeezed juice. DELICIOUS!... then ordered the fried cheese appetizer. It came out plated beautiful. Actually, everything was plated for a beautiful dining experience, and this was LUNCH! I bit into the cheese with the homemade guava sauce and kept repeating OMG...OMG...OMG! I couldn't believe how tasty. Then, for my meal, i ordered pork chops, arrow con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and salad. Just look at the pictures! There's edible GOLD on the pork chops and the tomato on the salad. More OMG's as I cut into and ate the pork chops. Perfectly seasoned, juicy, and yet with edges of crispness. There was too much to eat at one time, and my greediness got to me. I ordered the appetizer for 1-3 people to go. Pork, chicken, mufungo, tostones, empanadas, salad, and seafood with their accompanied sauces. I'm at home now... I just reheated and fed 3 people off of it with plenty leftover for snacking later. Everything was soooooo wonderful. I can't wait to go again... next Thursday if I can!!!

You won't find better food, better atmosphere or better service anywhere else in Worcester. This…read moreplace is such a gem. One spoon full of rice and I was transported back to my abuelita's kitchen it made me emotional if I'm being honest. The service and atmosphere are 5 star I really can't say enough. Juan was able to give us a tour of the event space upstairs and it's a delightful mixture of old world glamour and authentic island flair. Don't wait JUST GO!! You must experience for yourself!!!

I thought the food was pretty great! Flavor was a hit! My friend ordered the Trifongo and i would…read moresay that was my favorite dish! Everything was a flavor bomb. We went for my cousins birthday and the staff were really nice and friendly and made it pretty lit! The aesthetic was pretty girl vibes and it was so beautiful inside. And all the music they were playing mixed with the mojito flights we had, had us wishing there was a dance floor. Even tho it was a Sunday night. The vibes were old San Juan on a Saturday night i loved it and would definitely come back. Also this is a great upscale dress cute date night spot! I've lived in Worcester almost my whole life and never heard of this place. Definitely a fave spot for me now. 10/10 from me ‍

Whoever thought that plantains smashed with garlic and fried pork skins was a genius! And then on…read moretop of that, to put juicy meat in the middle of it? C'mon!!!! It totally blew my mind. Ok, now to clarify what the heck I'm talking about. Mofongos is a new Puerto Rican place in Worcester. Mofongos is basically a bowl of plantains smashed with garlic and fried pork skins. You get to choose what type of meat you want in your little plantain bowl (we got the juiciest, most savory pork EVER). This place has a simple menu and simple food that is amazing. We also got a side of rice (YUM!) and sweet plantains (only okay). Price isn't cheap, but it's totally worth it. We ordered a medium for $12 and it was more than enough for 2 people. If you haven't tried mofongos before, GO!

Service was poor. The first thing they said to me was "you need the English menu?" The menu didn't…read morehave a big selection and wasn't easy to read with the different mofongo combos. Then messed up our order and didn't check to see if we needed anything. Over priced for portions. I've been to several Latino restaurants and I've gotten better food for a better price.

First, any place I can get good chicharron is a winner…read more A slightly cafeteria style Latin eatery. No frills, just really good food at a very fair price. I suggest going slightly before or after lunch peak to get in and out faster. I also suggest getting it to go since seating is limited. The service has always been friendly and as quick as they can be. Speaking some Spanish can make the interaction go faster. This is some of the most comforting comfort food around.

On the dicey corner of Main and Charlton streets in Worcester is one of the best restaurants I have…read moreever eaten at. I started going there about 10 years ago, moved away, and returned recently. It doesn't bother me much to go down there but it is unquestionably in one of the tougher parts of the city. The place is very small and very clean. There is probably room for 20 at the few tables. Parking is out front or on the corner. The food is in a large steam table and you can view it, decide what you want, and either sit or get it to go. It is pretty standard, rice accompanied by a meat and essentially sides. I am pretty sure you can get as much food as you want and they will just charge you accordingly. a feast can be had for under $7.50. To the food....Not being Puerto Rican I will do my best to describe each dish they have and compare it to what I know authentic should taste like. Arroz con Gondules, yellow rice with pigeon beans is my favorite. Their yellow rice varies from day to day. Sometimes plain yellow, sometimes with pinto beans. You can get white rice as well and always request a side of beans to eat with your rice. I am not sure if they use alcaparrado (olive caper salad) in their rice but it is very very good. The main dishes change daily but many things they have every day. There is chicken, beef, ribs, pork chops, sometimes pernil (pork shoulder), maybe an ox tail dish?, plantains, salads, etc. I sometimes see Pegao on a plate. Pegao is the crispy tasty treat that comes from the bottom of the rice pot. I have never had it there but I have seen it. They also have spicy and mild Pastelon? which are meat filled pies, similar to an empenada. I like the spicy myself. I also see alcapurrias? which I think are taro or rice balls filled with meat. Make sure that with whatever dish you choose that you request plenty of the sauce. That is where all the love is. You have more than a few options for Puerto Rican Food in Worcester but my choice is Spanish Grill.

Super clean, really friendly and GREAT PARKING!!!…read more I wish I took pictures before I touched it, but wanted to share any way so here it is. The garlic oil on the table went amazing with all the appetizers. The chicken alcapuria balls were absolutely amazing!!!!

A lovely restaurant, classy & approachable with a lively atmosphere & fun vibe. Great, tasty…read moreSpanish tapas, we usually go during a birthday or celebration. Food is adventurous & bold; memorable meals over the years: Fried Goat cheese with charcuterie meats, manchego cheese & french bread, have to do The Bocado Experience for 2 or 4, Jamon Iberico, Pato (duck pastrami w sherry glaze), tuna poke, atun de bocado (seared yellowfin saku tuna), braised pork belly, Spanish octopus, mussels in cream sc, twin mini Kobe style beef burgers, venison, fried calamari, lollipop lamb chops, seared beef tenderloin, classic paella & Paella de Mariscos, & baked flan for dessert. Just so fascinating - their chefs can put out such tasty small plates so quickly, each packed with such fresh & exciting flavors, always cooked to perfection (never over or under cooked). Get the sangria pitchers, bar is always packed & hopping. Dining room just got a refresh, but was beautiful even before with a great atmosphere also. Our least favorite was the rabbit (way too many small bones to pick out).

We came on a Friday during Restaurant Week as a party of four, three adults and one toddler. The…read morefood was delicious and our server was friendly. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, though our table was in the middle of the aisle which felt a bit cramped. Unfortunately, the service itself was inconsistent. We had to ask for bread three times. When we ordered two brownies and one coffee, we were brought one brownie and two coffees. At the end of the meal, we asked for both my meal and my son's meal to be wrapped to go. My son's plate was accidentally thrown away because other plates were stacked on top of it. When I asked about it, the server explained what happened but did not offer to remake it, remove it from the bill, or apologize, which was disappointing. That said, it was a busy Friday during Restaurant Week, so I would consider coming back and hope the service is smoother next time. While writing this review, I actually received a text from the restaurant letting me know we left our son's plate behind, which was thoughtful and appreciated. If Yelp allowed half stars, I would give 3.5.

Inviting space with a long showcase of treats in several categories, plenty of roomy tables, and a…read morelarge communal table. -- Muffins: I consider their blueberry muffin one of my favorites in Massachusetts, if not my #1. It's got just the right mix of bounce, density, and butteriness, without being too greasy. Big, fresh blueberries (not the shriveled kind). Plenty of crumbly streusel on top for extra taste and texture. Their mixed berry has multiple fruit presence and more of it, minus the streusel. Also very good. Sometimes the muffins are warm. Sometimes a little long in the tooth. -- Cakes: That's their claim to fame, and for good reason. They're more expensive than most, but so dense, rich, and heavy that a small slice goes a long way. My favorite is the chocolate raspberry decadence (pool of raspberry atop a deep, dark chocolate frosting). Or maybe the strawberry snowflake, which is like the best strawberry shortcake you ever had. -- Cupcakes: These often feature some of the same ingredients as the cakes, such as that killer chocolate ganache. Great for the toppings and fillings, though the cake part (especially if chocolate base) is often dry. -- Cookies: Noticeably less impressive, EXCEPT for the Linzer heart. Great flavor and texture in the raspberry and shortbread. -- Coffee: Good stuff. Not elite, but good, in heavy mugs with good feel. Service is a little lacking. Not so much because of rudeness, but because they're perpetually understaffed for the amount of business they do.

What are you craving! For us, actually just me!! It's a…read more"cupcake!" We are about ready to leave the state of Worcester, Massachusetts this was our last place before leaving! Cupcakes for the long drive home, and coffee ! Let's roll the dice and see what Yelp provides! Yelp you know me! This fine bakery it's a local vibe! It's wonderful exactly what one needs. They have not just cupcakes but all sorts of other items too . If you cannot find your favorite treats here you're not looking hard enough. We found what we needed, that special cup of a latte right before we go. The cakes were all on point. Truly a beautiful start to a new day . The service was amazing. Off to the races now. Find some fun and happy with new coffee and cupcake memories.