Midnight Lounge One

The place is as beautiful as you see on the website; the name solicits thoughts of Tapas and Sangria in Madrid or San Juan. The experience ends there. The food is overpriced for what you get-- they charge Sammy's prices for 1/2 the food. They substitute items without letting the customer know. The music did not go with the place and was booming over loud large speakers. The waitress was actually very nice, polite and attentive; but management presented her like a waitress at IHOP which contrasted the look of the restaurant. Also should be upfront about Hookah Bar as some people do not want to dine where there is any kind of smoking. Tried it once. Will not go back; will not recommend.

After 30 mins. they brought over water , no bread for another 12 mins.
Our order was wrong 2 times , The help make no effort to speak English 3 tables were served before us and all came in between 10 and 35 mins after we were seated .No napkins or utencils untill after the food finally came . the order was all wrong ,so we waited another 20 mins. Most of the food was pretty good
My lobster was only 1/2 cooked so I sent it back ,and was stilled charged .I took the bill paid it and left
NO TIP
I would boycott this place and nerver recommend or go back THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE and so are the no english speaking people who work there .
Don't waste your time or money

I tried Tapas on CIty Island last night with my son, daughter-in-law and friend. Since it was a beautiful evening and the interior of the restaurant was dark and dingy, we wanted to eat at its small alfresco area located in front of the restaurant and enclosed by four barricades. There was a couple already there seated at a table for 2. A waitress and female manager (or owner) set up two table for two next to the couple already seated. The space was entirely taken up by these 6 tables.

To begin with, we should have left when we noticed that the tables set up for us was on a slanted incline toward the street, so much so that the water glasses were sliding off. When we complained to the waitress, she brought out two pieces of cardboard and placed them under the tables' legs, which didn't help at all because then the tables were still uneven AND wobbly. She then disappeared and we tried replacing the tables in another direction. That was somewhat helpful but not great. The problem with the alfresco area is that the cement flooring is terribly cracked and uneven. If you're going to have a restaurant with an alfresco area, you should spend some money to re-pave the area to even out the cracks and flooring.

After a long wait, our waitress finally appeared (with no utensils, napkins, salt, pepper, bread basket ... nothing) to take food and drink orders. We questioned why the entrees were not accompanied with side dishes (rice/beans, potatoes, greens, etc), as in most restaurants. She explained the restaurant's policy that any side dishes were an extra charge. In other words, if you ordered a meat or seafood dish, that's all you got!! Imagine a dish with just meat or seafood with nothing to go with it? If you want tostones, rice/beans/ potatoes, greens, whatever ... you have to pay extra ... $5.00 and up for any side order to go along with the entree.

We placed our orders ... two of shrimp, one with salad and one with french fries, one order of chicharron de pollo (fried, boned chicken chunks) with tostones, and one of pork chunks with rice/black beans and amarillos (fried sweet plaintain). The ladies stuck with iced water but my son ordered a frozen margarita (HUGE mistake!!). The margarita was so watered down and horrible tasting that, after complaining, he was offered another one free (which was just as bad).

While we waited for our food, no bread or any other amenities were placed at our tables. After a long while, the waitress finally appeared with the dishes but no utensils. We had to sit there and stare at our food while she went back for those and napkins. When she re-appeared, we also asked for some salt, and garlic mojito for the tostones. After another long wait, she returned with the salt but, instead of the garlic mojito, placed a small paper cup of horrid salad dressing on the table. When I complained about that substitution, she said she would check with the chef and, after ANOTHER long wait, came back to tell me that the chef did not make garlic mojito because the owners and chef are Ecuadoran and do not use garlic mojito on tostones. By that time the tostones were cold and I just gave up!!

To summarize, the chicharron de pollo was great .. really crispy and delicious tasting ... the shrimps were so-so, and the pork chunks in a dark gravy were OK. As for the side dishes (for which we paid extra) ... the french fried potatoes were crisp and delicious, the salad was outstanding, the black beans and rice were so-so, and the tostones, although sliced thin and crispy, were missing its star accompaniment.

To add insult to injury, when we got the bill we noticed that the tip (for horrible waitressing service) was added. I'm a firm believer that tips are EARNED, not entitled.

All four of us agreed that we DEFINITELY WOULD NOT go back to Tapas in City Island.