Picanteria El Austro

ECUADOR Eat the World NYC review: As you might expect if you know a little bit of Spanish, a picantería is traditionally a place that sells spicy foods. Typically a lunch establishment, the word is actually more associated with the country of Perú than Ecuador, but in New York City it seems exclusively reserved for establishments of the latter's community. Often times they are open for dinner as well here, and serve as a watering hole like this one in Jackson Heights that I have always been curious about. ° From evening until very late into the morning, the jukebox is usually on and can be heard from outside. Groups of mostly maybe exclusively? male friends meet here to order buckets of beer and fill their hungry bellies. But during those lunch hours it is a quieter place, you will find the servers watching telenovelas during the afternoon and taking care of a random guest here and there. ° The mood is really nice here before it gets too loud. Wood-paneled walls make it feel like a rustic shack and the kitchen seems to know well what they are doing in every arena. I have been too intimidated to come in when the place is more raucous, but this is probably just overthinking it. If you come on a festive night and enjoy yourself, let us know!

This place has 4 dollar beers and an awesome atmosphere for a hidden Ecuadorian spot.

Have been to this restaurant twice and never again. First time I went w someone and they didn't have anything I ordered despite having a sign outside advertising them. My cousin ordered stewed tuna fish w onions and said there was barely any fish in there. Today I ordered special Good Friday soup I am very familiar with and it was completely tasteless. It is supposed to have cod fish in it and there was a piece full of fishbones at the bottom of container. Beans were unrecognizable as they had been overcooked. And it had noodles in it which is not typical. I am gluten free so couldn't continue eating it nor was the taste good.

Terrible to pick up, food is completely different as you ordered, they put part of two different orders, in one only container as if it was for the same person, plus more than half of the plate was only rice. Definitely not recommended!

A nice little restaurant that's open late. Good food and value. Serves drinks too.

Very bad experience for me, nothing was fresh and very chewy plus 80% of the plate was rice, I wouldn’t recommend.

My favorite Ecuadorian place

Translated by Google The customer service is terrible, the chubby lady who received me was angry and almost hit me because I asked her what she only sells, she sent me to look for the menu somewhere…. I asked him for an onion and he replied "but it costs $15" as if I had told him I have no money I love typical food but our compatriots have no education to serve their customers and neither to take care of the presentation of their premises Original El servicio al cliente es pésimo, la señora gordita que me recibió estaba brava y casi me pega porque le pregunté que nomas vende me mandó a buscar la carta por ahí…. Le pedí un encebollado y me respondió “pero cuesta $15” como si le hubiera dicho que no tengo plata Me encanta la comida típica pero nuestros compatriotas no tienen educación para atender a sus clientes y tampoco para cuidar la presentación de sus locales