Carneval Brooklyn

Last night, I went out with an old friend to a spot I've seen all over TikTok, and I decided it was time to give it a try. It's a charming little place that offers hookah, and the drinks really hit the spot. The appetizers—crab cakes and shrimp tacos—were absolutely fantastic; I can't even put into words how amazing they were. I only got to try a bit of my main dish since my friend took the rest home, but what I tasted was delightful, and I wish I could have had more! They play Latin trap and reggaeton music, which I'm a huge fan of. There was no long wait for the food, drinks, or anything else, which I really appreciate. Our waitress was incredibly sweet and great at helping me make decisions, which is usually a struggle for me. I'm definitely planning to return, especially because the surf and turf dish has my name on it!

FOOD: I visited this restaurant for brunch with my friends last week. Unfortunately, the mimosas tasted off, as if the orange juice was past its prime. The same went for my pineapple juice. My friends mentioned that the rosé sangria was quite good, though. The breakfast burrito didn’t impress—it was bland, tasteless, and served cold. However, the steak and eggs were really delicious, as was the breakfast sandwich and burger. SERVICE: The service left much to be desired; the staff seemed more focused on their meals than on assisting us. We had to ask four times for water before it was brought to our table.

I had the steak tacos. The tacos tasted great but it would have been nice to have a side of rice and beans or chips and salsa. The frozen bottled coladas are 10/10 and I love the music.

1. **Food:** The portion sizes were small and not worth the prices. I ordered yucca fries, which I sent back twice because they were raw. My husband’s surf and turf came with a lobster tail that was barely a bite-sized portion, all for $54. We also ordered two exotic yucca mofongos at $16 each, along with shrimp for an extra $6. We were overcharged—our bill should have been $44, but we were charged $52. The empanadas were also quite small given their price. 2. **Drinks:** The drinks were very watered down; they definitely need to hire a new bartender. I ordered a pitcher of sangria that had no fruit in it. When we asked for fruit, we were given just some chopped orange peels. The Blue Hawaiian in a jumbo size was terrible—no flavor and too watery. The piña colada was disappointing as well; the pineapple juice tasted spoiled and there was no coconut flavor at all. 3. **Ambiance:** The atmosphere was okay with nice decor, but the music was far too loud, making it impossible to have a conversation during dinner. The DJ played the same artist all night. On a positive note, the hookah was enjoyable. Overall, while we managed to have a good time, as a Latina, I was very disappointed with the quality and taste of the food. I would recommend avoiding the mixed drinks here and suggest going to the New Apollo across the street—I've heard their drinks are much better. We ended up spending over $400, and I wish it had been worth it; I certainly won’t be returning.

The ultimate vibe check. If you like Latin food, music and great flare this place has it all. Wonderful drinks, delicious food and a very sexy atmosphere. Great for dates, girls night or even going by yourself. Oh and they have hookah! It loses 1 point for the sound. Although the music is always good, it's unbearably loud 98% of the time, which makes it hard to enjoy your company.