Sosua becoming a food desert

chico bill

Dogs Better than People
May 6, 2016
12,673
6,418
113
I eat dinner out 4 to 5 times a week.
Margot, Charli's and El Rancho are constantly good.

Taberna El Conde used to be decent - but the last 3 times I ate there - two of the meals were literally inedible.

But last night I had desire for a good burger so I tried the fairly new place, Toro Loco. - supposed to meat barbecue restaurant.
The one beer, bacon burger and fries were mediocre, but acceptable in flavor. Then the bill came 2,100 pesos !
I told the sever take the factura back and use your calculadora again.
then it came back 930 pesos. I say if you can't do the simple math in your head you should not handle money !.
OK - but later that night I was quite sick all night, not sure if it was the hamburger, bacon or vegetables - but it will be a long time until I put myself through food positioning again.

Then tonight I went to Flip Flops. I used to eat there often. I ordered a beer and a burrito but after 50 minutes I had finished the beer and still.....no food.
And I was the only customer.
Even though I paid for the food as I decided to just leave the kitchen said - well it will be out of the microwave soon.
Sorry - if you need almost an hour to cook a burrito in a microwave you should re-think your kitchen.
I said screw it - and left and left the food in the microwave (maybe, if they were not lying)
If the owner of Flip Flop reads this - take charge of your business if you want to continue to sell food. But I won't be back for a very long time.
 

FF1

Well-known member
Dec 17, 2022
324
445
63
DR
El Conde was my favorite spot but few years back for whatever reason (new chef, using cheaper meat...) it became terrible. Flip Flop is supposedly famous for ribs but Chez Real's are way better. Que Lo Que Uptown has the best burger in town (the Big Mac copy) but they don't have fixed hours, seems like they open and close based on how busy they are. My favourite spot now is Pirate's Bay (behind the casino), great food, great view, great atmosphere, no street people to bother you, and the prices are very reasonable, and the tax is included into the price too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlaPlaya

HDR

Active member
Nov 21, 2012
453
90
28
El Conde was my favorite spot but few years back for whatever reason (new chef, using cheaper meat...) it became terrible. Flip Flop is supposedly famous for ribs but Chez Real's are way better. Que Lo Que Uptown has the best burger in town (the Big Mac copy) but they don't have fixed hours, seems like they open and close based on how busy they are. My favourite spot now is Pirate's Bay (behind the casino), great food, great view, great atmosphere, no street people to bother you, and the prices are very reasonable, and the tax is included into the price too.
Que Lo Que Uptown is moving to Colombia... (source: post on Facebook). Done with DR.
 

tee

Bronze
Sep 14, 2007
1,063
463
83
Cabarete
Bologna have really upped their game and I now eat there regularly. Their Beef Wellington is delicious and also their Saltimbocca a la Romana is really good. The food is very well priced and is consistently good. Another great place is Dolce y Sapore. A great menu and great service. A few other places that are also consistently good are El Rancho, Hotel Voramar in Playa Chiquita and Parada el Choco. I have tried Pirates Bay numerous times, food is pretty good but the service has always been super slow. I have heard nothing but negative things about the Torro Loco. I usually always try a restaurant to see whether I like it regardless of bad reviews but I have yet to see a good review about this place and this is now two people that I have heard that got sick after eating there. A shame as it has potential to do well considering their location and they seem to have done a good job with the place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Auryn and Big

chico bill

Dogs Better than People
May 6, 2016
12,673
6,418
113
Agree, One of the main reasons I cut back on my visits to Sosua and Cab are the shrinking dining options ( of quality ).
It's like some of the restaurants aren't even trying.
 

sosuadr

Member
Aug 17, 2014
48
27
18
Michael stones is the best no one has mentioned this yet!
I would also send a recommendation for Dolci e Sapori
and agree with everyones opinions above, Parada el choco, el rancho, voramar everyday good choices.

Nothing good about Torro Loco
 

chico bill

Dogs Better than People
May 6, 2016
12,673
6,418
113
Michael stones is the best no one has mentioned this yet!
I would also send a recommendation for Dolci e Sapori
and agree with everyones opinions above, Parada el choco, el rancho, voramar everyday good choices.

Nothing good about Torro Loco
I found the food at Parada El Choco is Not what it was a few years ago when I ate there several times a month
 

Big

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2019
4,858
4,045
113
I do not even consider burgers, tacos and wings "dining". If an establishment has a taco or wing night, I do not even consider it. Several fine dining establishments have become too casual and do not even have a wine list other than "red" or "white". The Italian restaurant heading down to the beach served good lamb chops. However, the building was not maintained, and cats would roam the establishment.
 

singletravel

Active member
Oct 13, 2003
310
56
28
If meat is your thing try Mangos (across from Bailys), its really good and yes the hamburgers are #1 - good service, two bars - beautiful restaurant (ask to be seated upstairs and watch the street) and great owner ask for Rolando ...
 
  • Like
Reactions: PCMike

M4kintosh

Active member
May 23, 2023
197
126
43
Santiago De Los Caballeros
So far...

Restaurants that are for rent/owner will leave Sosúa:

  • Matteo’s
  • QueloQue
  • TheGarden
  • PlanB
  • Mosha’s
  • Haitian Lounge
  • Chiki Chula
Commercial locations for rent/closed:
  • Café Tropical
  • Vimenca / Western Union (closed)
  • Giftstore (next to old Vimenca)
 
  • Wow
Reactions: AlaPlaya

SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
13,526
3,661
113
So far...

Restaurants that are for rent/owner will leave Sosúa:

  • Matteo’s
  • QueloQue
  • TheGarden
  • PlanB
  • Mosha’s
  • Haitian Lounge
  • Chiki Chula
Commercial locations for rent/closed:
  • Café Tropical
  • Vimenca / Western Union (closed)
  • Giftstore (next to old Vimenca)
Restaurants closed due to bad food and service. Western Union and the Gift store closed due to overweight chicas and bad service............
 

AlaPlaya

Frequent Flyer
Jan 7, 2021
426
296
63
Texas
So far...

Restaurants that are for rent/owner will leave Sosúa:

  • Matteo’s
  • QueloQue
  • TheGarden
  • PlanB
  • Mosha’s
  • Haitian Lounge
  • Chiki Chula
Commercial locations for rent/closed:
  • Café Tropical
  • Vimenca / Western Union (closed)
  • Giftstore (next to old Vimenca)
Why the exodus?
 

Seamonkey

Bronze
Oct 6, 2009
1,914
764
113
So far...

Restaurants that are for rent/owner will leave Sosúa:

  • Matteo’s
  • QueloQue
  • TheGarden
  • PlanB
  • Mosha’s
  • Haitian Lounge
  • Chiki Chula
Commercial locations for rent/closed:
  • Café Tropical
  • Vimenca / Western Union (closed)
  • Giftstore (next to old Vimenca)
This is normal and has always been. There are about 70 bars and restaurants in Sosua, El Batey. There's always something for sale and there always will be. It's not an exodus.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ramesses

jd426

Gold
Dec 12, 2009
9,531
2,800
113
It's sad when Expats open a Restaurant , with their hard earned money, and work so very hard to get a Good reputation , and then they think they can sit back, or worst case NOT EVEN BE THERE for a time, and allow some Dominican with barely a High School Education and Zero Culinary Skills to RUN the Place ..usually destroying the Reputation in the process in a very short time ... the 40 Minute Microwave Post for flip Flop above is just soooo typical of that . Did Gregorio just get tired of running the place , did he sell it ? the guy was so gung Ho , a real go getter and very concerned about his Rep .
I cannot even count how many times I have heard this Scenario repeat itself . If you own a Restaurant YOU NEED TO BE THERE 24/7 .. these Kids will destroy your place IF they dont rob you Blind + destroy you... 2 Hotels I know personally were destroyed that way a while back. with Employees stealing everything not nailed down, guests stopped coming.
How do Entrepreneurs Not know this is beyond me ?
I heard even Bologna had a close call when a Poor Manager/ Family member was running things and the food went to krap for a whlle and place suffered .. and that is a very established restaurant in town .
Just my .02 I would never want to own a Restaurant or Bar in Sosua ..
 

Fulano2

Bronze
Jun 5, 2011
3,333
650
113
Europe
The problem is (I am told I never owned a restaurant), customers do rarely complain about the food and service. They just stop visiting your place.
I think you are right, owning a restaurant in the DR requires 24/7 presence.
Staff just don’t care.
I remember staying in Bahia Blanca in RSJ two nights in the nineties, both of the Canadian viejitos weren’t there. After diner I gave a 5 Dollar tip…I had free whisky for the whole night.
Of course I didn’t complain, but it is typical.
 

lifeisgreat

Enjoying Life
May 7, 2016
3,273
1,163
113
Michael stones is the best no one has mentioned this yet!
I would also send a recommendation for Dolci e Sapori
and agree with everyones opinions above, Parada el choco, el rancho, voramar everyday good choices.

Nothing good about Torro Loco
Dolci is up for sale …waitress are nice but they need to hire ones with more English..wrong orders brought to table few times..