Salento Reviews
Submitted by Antoinette Bernardo on 04/26/2022
Antoinette Bernardo 3 stars rating.
A lovely addition to the neighborhood! I don’t live around here but I do work in the hospital just a few blocks down. There are no Colombian bakeries/coffee shop in this neighborhood so I’m so glad Salento opened up early this year.
I’ve had their pan de bono (yum!), buñuelos, guava+cheese, chicken & cheese and mushrooms chicharrón, and they’re all delicious and satisfying. Their coffee is equally satisfying (def pricier than the average coffee in the neighborhood).
Also, I love the interior design of this place. You walk into this inviting coffee shop with plants hanging on the wall and warm lights in the counter area.
(Totally being picky, but if the owner reads this: the trash can is at such an awkward place, right in front of the counter; perhaps placing it to the side is better)
Update: I do still appreciate this place but the service has gotten slower and sloooooower. It’s frustrating at times, so if you’re in a hurry, better go elsewhere, like Carrot Top on Broadway or elsewhere.
In Yaddy’s Words 4 stars rating.
I have been a frequent guest at this cafe. I love their coffee and pastries. They do offer other breakfast items. Is my favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood. The place is clean and the employees are very nice. I’ll give them 4 stars just because their service is slow . However , I do recommend this place .
Submitted by In Yaddy’s Words on 08/20/2022
Astrid Lamas 1 stars rating.
I was excited to try this place but it was really disappointing. Coffee was not good (pictures for reference) and breakfast was served in tinfoil, even though we got “service” charged.
Submitted by Astrid Lamas on 08/14/2022
Lauren Zelaya 5 stars rating.
This was an amazing breakfast experience! While they're know for being a coffee/bakery place, they have a handful of signature breakfast items on the menu that I ordered. The restaurant was very clean, with plenty of outside seating. The barista/server was so incredibly friendly and accommodating. The staff was fluently Bilingual in Spanish and English.
I ordered the Calentado, which is Columbian style stir fry of rice and beans, with pork rind, 2 eggs, and an arepa on the side. The rice and beans was so flavorful! The food came out hot. Couldn't recommend this lovely gem of a place more!
Submitted by Lauren Zelaya on 07/23/2022
Steven Howard 4 stars rating.
Found this place after walking across Highbridge. The food was amazing and authentic Colombian. It’s a small place but the service was warm and friendly. The portions were great. The place needs a bit of upkeep, but it was worth the visit.
Submitted by Steven Howard on 06/05/2022
Sandra R 3 stars rating.
Walking by, I saw the mural outside on the street (wax palm trees -Cocora Valley, Colombia) and felt familiarity with the place. There it was, Salento! Restaurants named after a beautiful town in Colombia, where the coffee is all about. Without hesitation, my partner and I decided to go in for lunch. Greeting was poor, the couple behind the counter made us decide for the dish we wanted, pay before hand and of course leave the 20% tip at front.
I wondered were we were going to sit. They said, in the back if you like. So we paid $71.00 for 2 main dishes for lunch and 2 waters. A little bit pricey, I thought, but I was curious about the food. A bandeja paisa arrived, a puffy large portion, the protein part of the dish was more fat than meat.
The churrasco was ok.
My perception of Salento was that it had opened last week, upon seeing all new, clean and the lack of experience by the gentleman with the hat and the lady behind the counter.
Submitted by Sandra R on 01/22/2022
massimo 5 stars rating.
love seeing exceptional coffee shops pop up near home and this one offers an exstensive collection of house made finger foods. i haven't tried prepared dishes yet but if the empanada was any example of it im sure i would be impressed. love the corn flour usage for empanadas and the potato's complimented the chicken with a nice texture to balance out the chew from chicken and crust. also the iced coffee was strong and very delicious.
Submitted by Massimo on 10/14/2021
Yani E 5 stars rating.
Just a word: scrumdiddlyumptious!!
The best coffee shop in the Washington heights area. I had the chicken empanada, buñuelo guava/cheese and the glorious pastel Gloria a perfect pastry filled with guava, cheese and dulce de leche, absolutely gorgeous!! Also didn’t need to add sugar in my coffee, it had a really great taste by itself. The staff Melanie and Elvis were really helpful and nice. Highly recommend!!
Submitted by Yani E on 10/03/2021
Ms. Garcia 5 stars rating.
I was waiting for a nice day out to finally try this place and the food is great. I asked for a Calentado which was the stir fried rice and beans and fried egg arepa combination. It was delicious and more than filling. My son had the Arepa burger and fries he loved it and My stir fried rice and beans. Elaine was so kind and descriptive with the food and pastries. We are taking to the park some cafecito, lemonade & the panbono and cake. :)
Submitted by Ms. Garcia on 10/03/2021
Lorraine Sandiego 5 stars rating.
A friend of mine loves this place and took us there last Saturday for late lunch as she was craving for their bandeja paisa with steak. As it was my first time, I ordered the bistec encebollado since from the description, it seemed similar to other dishes I've tried before, and I also got several pastries (mostly to go, but I might have eaten one or two while waiting for our lunch).
The bistec was good, but I think I should have gone with the bandeja paisa like my friend. It is big enough to share with 1 or 2 other people (or you can take your leftover to go and you have food for 1 or 2 more meals). From what I remember, it had chicharron, chorizo, steak, I think a blood sausage, arepa, sweet plantains, rice, beans and a fried egg. I tried the chicharron and chorizo... they were delicious.
I also got several pastries/snacks... aborrajado, salento, pastel de pollo con champinones, and a round pastry shaped like a donut with guava jelly inside (this might have been the bunuelos de queso y guayaba, but I don't recall if it had cheese or not). All were good, but my favorites were the salento and the aborrajado.
Submitted by Lorraine Sandiego on 07/07/2021
