Follow Me Fridays With NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito at Calientito Today

Calientito is not only cozy but offers excellent food and in my opinion, the best Puerto Rican and Dominican food in The South Bronx.
Calientito is not only cozy but offers excellent food and in my opinion, the best Puerto Rican and Dominican food in The South Bronx.

New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito continues her popular Follow Me Friday series of highlighting small businesses and cultural spots in her district which covers parts of Mott Haven and Port Morris as well as El Barrio in Manhattan.

Today from 5PM to 7PM she’ll be at one of our favorite local spots, Calientito Restaurant which has some of the best Puerto Rican and Dominican food in the South Bronx hands down.

Not only is the food delicious but the ambiance of the space is great with doors that open wide onto the street and decor from back home in the Caribbean giving it a very cozy, home style feel to it.

The arroz con gandules (yellow rice with pigeon peas) is the best I’ve ever had outside of my grandmother’s kitchen, the maduros or sweet plantains are perfect and the pork is just divine.

The restaurant was opened back in 2013 when Eva Diaz and her husband Wascar Santos took a generic looking deli and transformed it into this quaint, wonderful spot with truly authentic and fresh home cooked meal whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. (Check out their gallery and it will have you DROOLING).

Look at all that goodness...yummy!
Look at all that goodness…yummy!

What’s great about this place is that even a vegetarian can happily eat here and walk out satisfied and with a bellyful.

Follow Me Fridays is a great way for one of our local politicians to show support for our small businesses and highlighting what makes our neighborhoods so special.

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Hope to see you there today and enjoy some great conversation with awesome people and even better food!

If you don’t come out today, do place Calientito on your ‘must try’ list. We promise you that you won’t be disappointed.

Calientito is located at 141 Lincoln Avenue in Port Morris Section of The Bronx at 134th Street.

Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.