Food was horrible, never again. It was picked up, and…read moreservice mediocre. Ambience very quiet.

This review is not the easiest for me to write. I have been coming to the Little Columbian…read morerestaurant since 2015. I loved this place, their food was fantastic and the quality was super consistent; an excellent spot to get together with friends or a date. So much attention to detail was paid, house made dressing, salsa, all ingredients were super fresh, the meats were always cooked excellently, and the staff was friendly. I hadn't been to the restaurant in a while but at some point in the last few years the Little Columbian restaurant became My little Columbian restaurant. My friends and I went there for dinner at the end of October, there was one couple that was leaving the restaurant but we were the only ones there when we first walked in. The vibe of the restaurant has changed because they changed how they decorated the interior of the restaurant. I prefer their older vibe but no big deal. Our waitress was nice and very attentive all night and the staff in general was quite friendly. Here's my issue, the food quality is not as good as it was in the past. And if they are going to charge along the same lines as what they have, always been on the pricier side, then the quality should still be at the same level. There were a bunch of little things that added up. To start, the salad I ordered didn't have the same quality of greens (I think they used a spring mix in the past), there were some small bits of core in the salad. More to my disappointment the Salad dressing was no longer the house dressing they used to make it was Ken's balsamic dressing, which generally tastes like diabetes syrup. Maybe it was an off night for the salad and I could live with that but the lack of the old house dressing was disappointing. Speaking of cutting corners, the chimichuri used to be super fresh and of good quality ingredients. The chimichuri this time around had a lower quality olive oil and the parsley was dried instead of fresh. My friend ordered some empanadas, which were partially burnt and again the slasa wasn't the same quality as they used to make with the empanadas. For an entree, I ordered Bandeja Columbiana. The chicharon was a bit overdone but ok enough. The chorizo was probably the best part but you have to try to mess up chorizo. The maduro was kind of dry and somewhat bland. The chicken was a touch rubbery and the steak was fine; nothing to write home about. As I had mentioned before the food wasn't terrible, it was fine enough but it was not worth the price it cost. Much worse is the fact that the quality in general just isn't the same as it had been prior, maybe they just had an off night but something tells me this is how it is now. It's too bad this restaurant isn't quite what it was; it used to be one of my favorites.

I brought 120 high school students here today for a Spanish field trip. The staff was super…read morehelpful, very patient with the kids, good communication, and they accommodated us as best they could. Every student I spoke with afterwards said the food was delicious and they were happy with their lunch!

Family run business with HUGE variety of Latin food…read more Everything here seems homemade and filled with love. The vibe: bright and airy location with a large amount of buffet style items to choose from. The food. Very good. I tried the family platter of meats and Yuka fries, and the shrimp with salad. Wonderful flavors, and em the Yuka fries were tasty with the homemade sauces.

Came in at 3 pm on a holiday Friday and the restaurant was quite crowded. I got in line and quickly…read moreread through the menu and also what was behind the glass counter and opted for the small plate for $11. They had a lunch special for $14 but honestly, it looked like too much food which really bodes well. I got the plate with chicken, opting for the seasoned (?) chicken rather than the fried chicken but both looked great. Got it with the yellow rice and beans (had option for soup or white rice or lentils). There were a few people checking out before me which took a few minutes. Also grabbed one of their corn cheese pastries but there were a lot of options, such as empanadas and more desserts. I opted to take the food to go though there were a few seats and outdoor tables available. Everything tasted great! Corn pastry should be eaten immediately otherwise it gets a bit firm. And the small plate was enough food for me to last two meals. I'm glad I live so close, I plan to try even more of their options!

Always great. Service is good, and the food is awesome. It's family owned and shoukd be even…read morebusier than it is

Has good Alcapurrias, Chicken and good customer service i highly recommend i always go there and I…read morelove it

They r efficient and the food is great. It is also hot when it arrives I recommend el coqui…read morerestaurant for Spanish food

They have me a birthday flan! The food is good, the service…read moreprompt, and overall a great find. Highly recommend.

Definitely a hidden gem for Latin food! The restaurant is inviting with bright flowers decorating…read morethe dining room, and we noticed how clean everything was. Everything is made fresh in-house, even the French fries, and you can taste the difference! Their guacamole was some of the best I've had, and the salsa was good too. One of our favorites was the cuatro Estaciones burger because it was so cheesy and tied in a bunch of Latin flavors. Excellent seafood dishes, drinks, and desserts. The owner was the only one running the dining room and she did a great job! All of the food came out quickly from the kitchen. Such a great spot to know about!

Nachos: I third-wheeled to Rubamba with my couple-friend, and we got seated next to two more…read morecouples on a double date. All of a sudden I was ninth-wheeling. I felt like a lab rat mid-experiment, having a sudden moment of clarity that this fun maze might actually be a death trap. The older gay men beside me glanced at my empty seat before smiling at me with mischievous curiosity. They led with kindness and asked "how are those nachos?", but I knew they meant "why don't you have a date". When I answered with explicit detail about the flavor composition of the nachos and they burst into laughter, I watched the "ah, that's why" land on their faces in real time. Fair. A girl's gotta get her satisfaction somewhere, and in that moment, it had been from the even cheese distribution. The nachos were quite nice, actually. Could've used a bit more beans. And a lot more heat. Incidentally, and according to the four gay wise men, so could my love life. All else: a familiar redhead walked past the window and I said, "I know that redhead from somewhere", turns out it was Conan O'Brien. Second-tier celebrity sighting of the night. First tier was our waiter, sweeping the floor with a little rhythm in the hips. I love when people are so caught up in their own world that the noise fades out. It made me smile.

Had a craving for guac and arepas and found this gem. They didn't have a liquor license but the…read moredrinks were refreshing and plentiful. Started off with the guacamole, corn, and shrimp. Great sizes and we shared. We both got the arepas and needed to bring home because the serving was really big and got to enjoy it again the next day. Limited ibdoor and outdoor seating and limited street parking. Service was quick and very friendly.

I usually enjoy the food here but the staff at night definitely charged me more than the plate was…read more I was charged almost $5 more. Mind you I think she thought I've never bought food from there and took advantage What kind of people do this

The best food in New Haven, the rice, the green bananas and the chicharron, fresh and great flavor…read more Service and cleaniness excellent. Everything is well maintain and clean including the bathroom. 100% recommended.

Their food is great, great flavored, has a variality of foods & style to choose from which is…read morealways great, their yellow rice, beans & pork chops are to die for, service a bit slow when you are in a hurry but very friendly...

The food here is so delicious, the best in the area. It serves puerto Rican food, but their…read moreclientele is extremely diverse, which is always a good sign for a restaurant. I always order steak and yellow rice, but I've tried all their dishes. The food us fresh, hot, and their employees are always polite. I've been in their bathroom, and seen their kitchen. It's not your typical kitchen, but it's very clean.

Delicious food, friendly staff, and great vibes. Will definitely return! Great entertainment!…read moreHighly recommend.

Amazing food! And amazing people! Great vibes! Definitely recommend this one for anyone looking for…read moreauthentic food, great drinks and vibes!

A nice establishment located behind 80 proof. Similar menus but a more laid-back vibe. I went…read moreduring happy hour. I feel like 80 proof and Barracuda have the best happy hour value around. The server was very attentive.

Omg. So excited to know the new location…read more I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Keith, Mateo and Lovee. Sadly we were turned away from Olives and Oil, we had a reservation, because they couldn't sit us at a low table or booth. My husband is disabled and high tables are out. We walked across the street and treated like royalty. This amazing staff showed up and showed out. They were friendly and made great suggestions. Their energy was contagious. I felt like family Our food was ohhh so delicious. Biscuits and gravy went down easy. Can't wait to come again.