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| - I went with a large party, so I was able to try a lot of items. My conclusion for the menu is that it's more misses than hits. Nothing tasted truly horrible; a few dishes were delicious. But mostly, the food hovers around the mediocre point.
I'll go in order of taste, not when it came to the table:
The Tres Leches Pudding (dessert) had an off-putting taste. Might have been the coconut with the banana with the mango... Kind of explains the weird flavour. Don't think anyone had more than just a bite of it. It also left an unforgettable aftertaste.
The Yucca Fritta was super bland, and the mayo that came with it tasted like Hellman's.
The Empanadas were hard and the filling didn't have a lot of flavour nor did the shell.
The Croquetas were also bland and didn't leave much of an impression. Was something that we tasted and moved onto the next.
I personally didn't love the Helado de Salpicon, which is a popsicle-like dessert. It's refreshing at first, especially after a heavy meal. However, after more than just a few bites/licks, I've had more than enough. It's a good palate cleanser though.
The Sizzling Fajita was underwhelming. It tasted OK, even though there was way too many bell peppers. But really, it doesn't taste like it's $25 worth.
We also had the Bandeja which had pork, rice, beans and pork belly. I almost forgot about this dish: that's how memorable it was. You can probably make this one at home yourself.
Good appetizer to start with is the Chips & Guac. I liked the guacamole, and there are five different types of chips that it came with. Good to share.
The Chuzos Al Plancha beef skewers were good. The meat was just pink with the hit of fresh beef flavour you'd want in something that's slightly rare. But still nothing spectacular. It's not a dish that you'd go to Valdez especially for.
I enjoyed the Choco Cafe with its strong chocolate flavour. Best part is that it wasn't too sweet, so you can really have more than just one bite. Out of the three desserts I tried, this is the top.
I recommend trying the Braised Short Ribs. The meat was literally falling off the bones, and the sauce didn't overwhelm the natural meat flavours. And the accompanying Gratin was creamy, slightly cheesy, and very yummy.
Another "hit" dish was the Pastels, which were fried cream-cheese wontons. The unexpected sweet guava might throw you off, but it's creatively flavourful.
The Chaufa is a must-try because it features lots of good flavours melding together. The gamey duck really played off well with the chili spiciness. The only thing is that it might have been a tad too salty. But this was the clear winner of the night.
As for the setting, it sets a happy vibe for larger parties because the music was good and the decor was casual. Overall, welcoming atmosphere. Our servers were friendly and attentive.
Would I visit this place again? No. The food didn't impress me too much. While the fried wontons and fried duck rice were delicious, it's not enough to draw me back in.
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