Dulce Vida Latin Bistro is a small, family owned, Colombian Restaurant located between 1st & 2nd Avenues (closer to 2nd) on East 83 Street. The food, desserts & beverages are traditional Colombian & everything was well seasoned, proportioned & delicious. My Carne Asada (Grilled Steak) was perfectly cooked, the Chimichurri Sauce could have been prepared with less olive oil but the ingredients were tasty. The Arroz con Pollo (Chicken & Rice) was savory & well cooked. I especially enjoyed the Coconut Lemonade with real shreds of coconut. The place is small & intimate but we can get a group or family in there. There's also outdoor seating. The staff was polite, friendly & attentive. My compliments to the chefs. Please support this great family bistro. read more

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La mejor comida in Manhattan with amazing service and a great atmosphere. Everything on the menu is amazing and very reasonably priced. It is perfect for any occassion. If i lived closer, I would eat here every day. read more

A must-do for any celiacs visiting the city! This place was outstanding and we were so overwhelmed by all the delicious options on the menu we opted to order a bunch of different apps and split them. The tostones were standout but the arepas and empanadas were not far behind! They also had a delicious Malbec to wash it all down with. Service was fast and friendly and we didn't need a reservation to get in without a wait! read more

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INCREDIBLE hidden gem in the upper east side. This meal knocked our socks off! We started with the vegan version of the ajiaco soup, a warm and comforting and hearty potato soup served with rice, avocado, and capers. This could've been a meal on its own. Next we had the vegetarian bandeja paisa, essentially a sampler plate of the Colombian staples: yellow rice, red beans, avocado, plantains, and a lovely green salad with avocado dressing. Loved every part of this dish. Finally, we tried the cazuela de frijoles, a delicious red bean soup with plaintains topped with savory tomato salsa. It's hard to say which dish was best. We'd probably order the exact same lineup on our next visit. The fresh fruit juices were an awesome nonalcoholic option; we enjoyed the soursop juice that could be made with a varying amount of sweetness. Also, we were extremely impressed not only with the number of vegan options but with how knowledgeable and helpful the staff were in guiding us about what to order. Daniela was so accommodating and friendly. We also appreciated that the menu is super clear in designating which of the many options can be made vegetarian or vegan. We will definitely be coming back soon! read more

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The empanadas, especially the chicken, were not very flavorful and quite bread-y. The meat with the tostones was a bit better, but overall quite soggy. read more

Amazing Food ! Amazing ambiance & our server Belen was very nice & very attentive to us. I highly recommend! read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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Skimpy portions Overpriced A complete ripoff I have lived on the Upper East Side for 40 years - most disappointing dining experience we have ever had - Not recommended. read more

Some of the food was great, some, not so much (would NOT order a steak again of any sort. LIke trying to eat an old tire.). But I LOVE that almost everything is gluten free, dairy free. So it's super easy to eat, and know what I can eat. And I really appreciate that. And would totally go back and just order new and fun things. So much to choose from! With a cute little outdoor area. Definitely try the tostones with Ropa Vieja. SO good. read more

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Food was good, like really good. The price was not so good. They charge an 18% service fee on top of the regular tax and the food is pricey. We tried it because it was right across the street from where we live. Their sangria is good though, but for an 18% service, I would only go back for take out. read more

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(Ordered for takeout) The empanadas were great for gluten free. Nice and "flaky" - beef was the best followed by cheese. The chicken is too lemony so I would skip it altogether. I was so excited for pandebono though because I haven't had it since I developed my gluten allergy. I took it right out of the bag and ripped the lid off. I bit into it and it tasted like a LITERAL ROCK with salt. Rarely do I spit out the first bite of food but this is one of those moments. I wish I could get my money back. Now with the delivery: I was thinking how lucky they have their own website where you can order delivery. It was only 8 blocks from me so I thought it would be quick for a couple of pandebono and empanadas. IT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF for appetizers to be delivered. After over 50 mins of waiting did I find out that they outsource their deliveries to Uber and I couldn't add any more tip to the driver. With all the other reviews feeling like they've been scammed by high service charges while dining in, I'm concerned that the tip I added and the delivery charges were not given to the driver who had to wait for my food and drive in the rain. read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Cheese empanada - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Craving Columbian? Had lunch with family in Manhattan, NYC, in the UES at Dulce Vida Latin Bistro. We all really enjoyed it and will be back. Everything is gluten-free and perfect for celiac. They're really good with allergies. Very close to Q train stop. read more

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Amazing service, it is very hidden and small but it satisfied my colombian food cravings without having to go to Queens. I really like how flexible the menu was, catering to gluten free and vegetarian people. I had a beef empanadas, small arepa platter and the arroz con pollo with 3 leches dessert after, i really recommend it! read more

Very good food with a lot of delicious flavor! Beautiful place and people are so nice! read more

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Amazing food! And almost everything can be made gluten free The juices are huge and quickly made, and they're the perfect thing to drink in this lovely restaurant read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Ropa vieja - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

We were in the neighborhood picking up an online order from CB2 and got hungry so we popped in here for a bite. We ordered the Ajiaco (chicken soup) and some empanadas, which came with ample sauces and a bit of guac. To drink, we had the pineapple margarita and the red sangria. It was a quiet afternoon vibe and service was pleasant and chill. The food and drinks did not disappoint. Tasty and inexpensive, it put me in the mind of being in somebody's auntie's country kitchen in Colombia (though I've never been there). We're glad we stopped in. read more

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They were very accommodating. Place is small. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. The empanadas were served with a side of aji, pineapple salsa and guacamole. I tried the chicken and cheese. Very tasty! I also ordered the burger which was made well. Has avocado and tomatoes on it with mozzarella. Thoroughly enjoyed my time here. read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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My friend made a reservation on a Friday night for a girls dinner. The place is very small but the day we went we were the only people there so it was not crowded or noisy. The two waitress were super sweet and answered all my questions and helped me choose between dishes. We started off with the sample appetizer I can't remember the exact name but it came with chips and guacamole and 9 mini empanadas 3 cheese 3 beef and 3 chicken. The beef emapanadas were my favorite especially when you add the green ají to it. I ordered the Cazuela. The bowl looks small but it is deep and I could only eat half because it was very filling. It's bens and inside it had chopped up Maduros, chicharrón and on top sliced steak and tomatoes and is served with rice. Sooo delicious. My friend said they had the BEST sangrias. She drank 3 of them. It's a cozy little restaurant the only thing is they add an 18% service fee which is not to be confused with gratuity. Overall it was a pleasant experience and the waitresses were very sweet. read more

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Great little Colombian spot. The food and ingredients were all super fresh. The staff was helpful and quick. We had the empanadas and ajiaco, they were both great and very authentic. :) try a refajo to drink! read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Chicken empanada - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

This extremely small hole in the wall Colombian restaurant specializes NOT in good food but always hiring nasty and very rude waitresses. Today went there for lunch there were to other couples were there too. As soon as I placed my order the waitress told me there's 35 minutes wait. I decided to stay and wait. The other couple placed their order she didn't tell them about a 35 minutes wait and brought out their order within few minutes. I will not be going here ever again. I don't recommend this dump! read more

I went here perhaps a month ago with a group of others. The staff here is friendly though I would say that they were perhaps a little bit overwhelmed by the amount of people there messing up where food had to go. The seats are very close together and I think that someone who is a little bit claustrophobic wouldn't enjoy their meal as much here (not to mention the Covid implications.) All small location aside, the food here was tasty. I started with a Batido de maracuya or a passion fruit shake which is hotter made with water or milk and it was tasty. I didn't get an appetizer but the other people enjoyed theirs (such as Arepas and otherwise) with one of the Spanish people in my group wanting to bring a relative there as she enjoyed here dish. My main dish was the Cazuela de Frijoles/bean casserole which consisted of chopped chicharron, bistek/steak, maduros/sweet plantain, and hogao; a Colombian sauce similar to sofrito made with green onion and tomato. This was topped with aguacate/avocado and served with arroz/rice. The pieces of plantain added some nice sweetness and the meat inside had a nice textural mix with my only complaint being that perhaps the steak was a little bit chewy. The base was tasty and this was a nice hearty meal. For dessert, I got the pasteles de arequipe/dulce de leche y pasteles de guayaba/guava. In other words these were little puff pastries filled with either milk caramel or guava. These had a nicely flaky pastry with a pretty generous filling and they were reasonably priced especially for the area. The food here was good and the staff was nice. Good spot. read more

Popped in here to grab dinner and was not disappointed! The place was recommended to us by the doorman, so we decided to order to-go. However, upon getting to the restaurant, we decided to eat at the restaurant; the staff was kind enough to plate our already-packed food so we could eat. Daniella and the rest of the staff were very attentive, kind, and accommodating. I had the small Bandeja Paisa which was a good amount of food for one person. The place was great as well as most of the food was gluten free, so great for those with or traveling with those with celiac. Will definitely be coming here again! read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Bandeja paisa small - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

I am so pleased to have discovered the little gem that is Dulce Vida. I stopped in today for a solo lunch. There are indoor and outdoor seating options. The lunch specials offer excellent value for the price. I honestly wanted to try everything on the menu, but the waitress was so kind to have provided excellent recommendations for my first visit. I ordered the soup and empanada lunch special with the Ajiaco soup (my new favorite) and beef empanada. I couldn't resist ordering a cheese arepa which I absolutely loved! The beef empanada was delicious and the Ajiaco really made my tastebuds blissful. I am salivating remembering the soup as I type this. The indoor space was intimate and cozy with adorable decor. The vibes were very relaxed. I realized that there was a 18% service charge included in my bill, so I believe that's important to consider. However, that won't stop me from coming back to try more menu options and support this local restaurant. I am looking forward to trying their desserts next time! read more

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The service was really good and the food was delicious. A very small restaurant so I would definitely make reservations if coming on the weekend. read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Ambiance was cozy !! The service was amazing , super attentive. Can't say enough about the food . My fiancé and I were blown away. Do yourself a favor if you are near this neighborhood try them out . read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - La comida mas rica que nos toco comer por aca en NYC - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

The only reason they get three stars is because we were the only people at the restaurant, a party of three at 3/4 pm, and I was surprised with a service charge of $27.75! I only had the option to pay via app, and was very disappointed that there was no note of the service fee, and that it cost almost the same as an entree. I would only order to pickup now, the service charge for a small party that was also separate from the top was ridiculous. That being said we did love the food! I came with my sister and mother for my moms birthday. We had visited their location on lex and now their new location. We split a bandeja between the three of us, which included meat, sausage, tostones, chicharrón, and a singular chicken leg. All delicious, not too salty, and very authentic. The coco limeade was refreshing and not overly sour or sweet. The tostones cubiertos were different than last time, this time they were three, one shrimp, one meat and a one sausage, all three of them in a red sauce that I did not mind but it was not mentioned in the menu. The arepas were big and came with a small serving of guacamole and lots of chicharrón on top. The owner came to speak with us and gave my mom a flan with a candle to celebrate. THAT BEING SAID.... read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Receipt with ridiculous service charge for party of 3 in an empty restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Worse empanadas I ever ate......salty....all you can taste is ..... Hopefully the different dishes taste better read more

Great place to come for a cocktail and a nibble. Relaxing environment, good drinks and desserts. If youre looking for a quaint place to relax this a good choice. The decor is also really pretty and classy. read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Smokey mango cocktail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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This is the only place in Manhattan where you can actually eat an ajiaco, for location convenience I'll give 5 stars. Food in general was good, we had the buñuelo, pandebono, tostones & ajiaco, the soup ajiaco had a good flavor overall but the chicken did not and the texture was dry. Pandebono & buñuelo both full of flavor. The tostones toppings were delicious it was my favorite dish , but I wish the fried plantain were crunchy and crispy but they were not, same with the buñuelo skin, it was squishy but the flavor was good. Overall it was a good experience, staff were super friendly. We'll be coming back. read more

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Stopped by here for brunch before a day trip to the Met museum. We were able to make a reservation so we were seated right away. The restaurant is quaint with large windows and full views of the sidewalk, several small tables, as well as a covered outdoor dining area. I ordered the blackened cod tacos which were delicious! There was plenty of delicious fish on each taco, with yummy guacamole, onions, and cilantro. It also comes with a side of pineapple salsa! Service was very quick and we were greeted once we arrived. The only thing I wished they had was double layering their tacos like they do at some places. read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Blackened cod tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

I just placed a order and it was delivered missing one item ! So disappointing. I request a refund on the missing items

Huge turnaround from my visit years ago. For a long time I didn't think about coming back, but in COVID I want to support as many local businesses as I can and this spot I'm glad I gave it a go again! Very very good brunch! The Chicharróns Arepa with eggs was so damn tasty. Loved the plantains as well, so this was the perfect sweet and savory combo. Will definitely be back for this again. Light and fluffy blueberry pancakes and they have a lot of fresh juices. Can't wait for brunch here again soon! read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

I have been a longtime fan of Dulce Vida. The empanadas are my favorite thing here but really, eVerything is good. Came here for brunch and we had: - beef and cheese empanadas - cheese empanada is mind blowing!! - sancocho - very good, tasty homemade chicken soup - arroz con pollo - perfectly moist and flavorful - breakfast tostada - wow this might have been my favorite thing. What a unique combination of textures: crispy tostada, creamy avocado and beans, runny egg. Literally a perfect breakfast food. - arepa chichArron - also delicious. The chicharron were well done - crispy and not too hard - tres leches - obviously a richer dessert but good palate cleanser The service was really fantastic. All the servers were attentive and nice. Also bonus points for an impeccably clean bathroom and a sign asking patrons to inform the staff of bathroom needs attention. read more

Probably a 3.5 stars overall with 4 on food and 3 on service. This place was recently renovated and is now bright and comfortable. The shop is really small and is good for smaller parties. Food: The complimentary bread for the table is amazing. Very buttery and the fluffy texture is just perfection. Beef empanadas comes with guacamole and two green dipping sauce which are refreshing. The bandeja paisa platter comes with crispy pork belly, skirt steak, fried plantains and some rice. For $22 it is not a bad deal and you can probably share it with another person. The meats are really nicely cooked, especially the pork is to die for. There are real Colombian eating there so I will say their food must be pretty authentic. Service: Server forgot to bring us water when we initially asked for it. They did bring us small plates for sharing, which was nice but standard. The thing I'm not so happy with is that they charged me a mandatory 18% gratuity fee. If you gonna charge 18%, I expect more than just an average service. Even though the amount wasn't much, the fact that it is mandatory just psychologically ruin the meal for me. Tips: - order take out to avoid that 18% gratuity read more

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Nice quaint place away from noice and distractions good drinks salmon tasty in carrot purée tacos I've had better Good deseart good service friendly read more

There are very few restaurant options in the immediate area of the Met, so a bunch of us came here for a bite after an afternoon of socially distanced art. The Three Egg Omelette with mushrooms and spinach was quite tasty. Service was quick, which was a blessing because we had to sit outside in frigid, windy weather. read more

What a cute, little place! It's simply, but tastefully decorated. My friends and I went there for brunch. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that in addition to that pineapple, mango, and classic mimosas... passion fruit was also an option. We ordered the bottomless passionfruit mimosas and never looked back....so good! The food was also very tasty. My friends both ordered arepas.. one with ropa vieja (Cuban style, shredded slow cooked beef) while the other was chicharron. I ordered the Camaron con queso aka shrimp and cheesy grits... delicious! read more

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I stopped by for a snack after a business associate in the area claimed they have the best arepas. They were definitely okay, although I was far more impressed with the side of guacamole - was so good, tasted very fresh and bright without any unappealing bite to it. With that said, the surprise winner here was my order of beef empanadas. I like empanadas and I've had a lot, I mean you can buy it from a street vendor. But these are hands down the best I've ever had in my life and hours later, I'm wishing I had more. It was just really amazing! read more

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Really enjoyed this place! The staff was very kind and attentive. It is a small restaurant but in a cozy and cute way. The food was tasty - especially loved the empanadas & plantains. This is also celiac heaven - everything on the menu was gluten free except one sandwich so cross contamination is not a worry. Place is BYOB but had many non-alcoholic options that all sounded interesting. One thing to note is there was an 18% service charge already included in the bill even though there were only 3 people in our party - I typically only see that with 6+ people, but it didn't bother us just happy we caught it. I would love to go back some day! read more

Amazing food and great service. Will definitely be coming back again and again. Nice ambiance, too. read more

Dulce Vida Latin Bistro - Bandeja paisa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Me and my girlfriend went here yesterday and we had a great time. The place isn't very big but it gives a warm and cozy environment. We ordered a beef empanada and a broccoli and cheese empanada as an appetizer they were really good with the ají sauce. I ordered a bandeja paisa and my girlfriend the ceviche. The food was delicious and the servers were super nice. Totally would recommend read more