1:25 pm Wednesday - Party of 4 Ambiance: Casual Layout: 4 person tables. Corner Bay of Shopping Plaza. Take-out Window. Space divided by low wall. Earthy tones. Cozy. Music: Soft merengue, afro-pop/latin fusion (had one of Juan Louis Guerra tracks playing) Crowd: Couples, groups of families. Service: Attentive. Ordered: Enchiladas "cerro negro" (3.25), Chancho con yuca (5.00), Queso Frito con tostones (5.00), Carne Asada (6.95) X2, Lomito de Cerdo asado (6.95), Fajitas de Carne (6.50) & drinks. Total: $44.10 (amazing! And it was my turn to pick up the tab...win) I loved all the dishes (co-workers got annoyed as I made sure to try all of theirs.....Research!). I'm beginning to pick up on the subtle ways that each country marinates their meat way differently (I Loved the Carne Asada). The Queso Frito is fried White Cheese and it's ridiculously good. Cut into thin slices and not breaded (freshness). We did the lunch specials and each dish gets either Gallo Pinto (get this) or white rice. With a side of Maduros (sweet plantains) or tajadas de platano or papas fritas (fries) or tortilla. With the meal you also get the house salad which officially makes this place "fancy" (in my opinion). Table was also set up with 3 sauce/garnish bowls. Chimichurri, Onions in jalapeno mixture, and a third never before seen Nicaraguan Salsa.... Perfect.
(5)
Mandy H.
Love coming here for lunch. Their Carne asada is amazing and it's only $8 bucks.
(5)
Rocky R.
I went here twice during a recent trip to Miami. I ordered the carne asada both times - sooo, sooo good! Perfectly seasoned, perfectly grilled. Served with rice/beans and some plantains. I also tried the fried cheese. It was...cheesy! Very oily and fatty, but what do you expect? It's fried cheese! Quite good if you're a cheese lover. After my meal, I went to the to-go window outside and ordered a cafe con leche to enjoy while I waited for the rain to stop. Very tasty! This restaurant has low prices, decent portions, and the pickle mixture they bring to the table is delectable!
(4)
Mia B.
This is my second time and as my first time the service was just as bad. They don't greet you as your entering, just leave you there waiting for an open table. Once you're seated the waiter or waitress doesn't fleet you either nor puts glasses of water on the table. After being seated for ten minutes, she takes your order and another twenty or more minutes before you see her again without the water or food. At least the food is good and not too expensive.
(2)
Monica B.
Good food! Portions are very generous and the prices are very reasonable. We had the queso frito which was perfect and not too greasy. Definitely the highlight of my meal and possibly the best ive had in the area. My carne asada was ok. Nothing out of this world but still yummy and juicy. BTW, I mislabeled a picture! The other meal was pork not chicken!!
(4)
Jonathan S.
A tale of two restaurants. The excellent one you go to for breakfast. The okay one you go to for dinner. Breakfast at Cerro Negro is great. They have choices aplenty and you can mix and match sides to your liking. They have rice, beans, plantains, tortillas, cuajada, cream, and probably more that I can't remember, though you can't have them all with your meal unless you pay extra (I believe you can have three.) I tried their huevos rancheros (eggs over-easy topped with salsa) with beans, tortilla, cream and cheese when I was there. Dinner, on the other hand is completely dependent on whether you want to eat well or not. What I mean is that if you want to eat carne asada, gallo pinto and maduros you need to go to a fritanga. There are better (and cheaper) places you can go to for that. I know you're going to order fritanga food anyway, but the soups or moronga (blood and rice sausage) would be my recommendations for a more enjoyable dinner. Oh you don't eat that? Shut your mouth. Now open it and order something worth while for once. Like many places in this city, service is inconsistent and though the staff isn't rude while they're around, they suffer from, "Why wasn't I offered water?" and "Where is my food?" and (my favorite) "Where's the check? Don't you want me to pay you?!" Bump off a star for that because it's unacceptable. Que será, será.
(3)
Zuhey B.
Food was good service was bad to be specific Ileana was our waitress and she was horrible
(3)
Mike U.
Cerro Negro! This place used to be 'La Hormiga de Oro' back in the day when i frequented this joint... Let me tell you something...No matter what name they have on the business, they are still consistently serving the best Nicaraguan breakfast in town...with service. That is because Cerro Negro is not your ordinary Nica 'fritanga.' It is an actual sit-down or take out place. My usual is the #4 for breakfast. Eggs scrambled with Nica sausage, tortilla, cuajada (soft white cheese), and gallo pinto. (They do give you several choices of accompaniments, but that is what I always go for). I always ask for a side order of Crema (Nica sour cream) to slather all over my rice along with their picante sauce (learned this from my Nica friend). Makes my mouth watery while thinking about it... I've come here for dinner sevaral times. But not to be picky, the dinner is good but not the best I've had. Some of the meats can be chewy, sometimes okay and sometimes good. It's somewhat inconsistent. So far, the breakfast beats anything out there...Cerro Negro Nica breakfast...hands down...
(4)
Monica M.
Horrible service! Expired cheese given to me twice! No apologies not even from the manager who took over 35 minutes to get to the table! Don't be fooled by so many people eating inside it just means the service is extremely slow! Horrible place horrible food horrible service
(1)
Mima A.
Had lunch with my kids very affordable. Customer service was better this time .food was good skip the gallo pinto it tasted old and crunchy but the meat was good so was the chicken.dont order the fries they are not really good here.next time I will try the dessert.
(3)
Julio D.
Bad service. Older gentleman very rude. He wanted to sit my family and I againt the wall. Very rude. Younger lady seated us properly. Food was ok.
(3)
Jae M.
Nom Nomz! I love Nicaraguan food. Reminds me of my father's cooking. I've been to this place a few times now and they consistently deliver good food. The Gallo Pinto & queso frito are delicious. I no longer eat red meats but those who have eaten there with me thoroughly enjoyed the nacatamales, pork appetizers, and steak. It's a casual restaurant, a TV in the back if you'd like to watch a game with your meal and attentive servers. Overall, I will continue to frequent this place whenever I am in Miami and craving comida Nicaraguense!
(4)
Claudia J.
Caldo de Pollo, Caldo de Res, Caldo de Rabo.... yes, their Caldo's are hugee.... enough to share for 2 people! Yep, it is that little casserole that you see in the picture! This Nicaraguan place has its flair! Food is good, not the nicest place in the neighborhood, but the food is definitely good. Seems to be homemade food. Caldo's are good for a nice chilly day, a hangover day, or just a regular day in Miami where the temperature outside is 90 degrees!!!
(4)
Jashira M.
If you are a fan of Nicaraguan food you'll love Cerro Negro. This place is a little hidden gem. The service is very friendly to begin with. The food is delicious and the portions are great. Breakfast here is fabulous and the prices are fantastic. Eggs, gallo pinto, maduros, y queso frito with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice! Delicious! And if you decide you want a touch of American food with your breakfast they have side orders of pancakes, bacon and that kind of stuff. Lunch and dinner are equally as delicious. Carne asada, Gallo pinto, maduros y queso frito amongst many other options. Appetizers, soups, and more. You'll enjoy the flavor and the prices.
(4)
Jc G.
It's a great place for some delicious Nicaraguan Steak! Great value for the price and quality of the food. Service is decent. And there's never a wait. Restaurant has been in business for enough years to have it right! Love it here.
(4)
Alicia P.
Great lunch specials! Service was a bit on the slow side but on a high note, the food did come out quickly.
(4)
Jenn C.
Wow service really sucks, and my 3 taco appetizers had a tooth pick in it I notified the waitress and she told me we're human and that's how they prepare, really lady I almost cracked and stabbed my gums. Won't return ever. Kiss my ass
(1)
Luis D.
You can't call your self a foodie if you don't have an amazing Nicaraguan restaurant in your back pocket. I just recently discovered this restaurant after years of searching for a place I can actually recommend. I must say that the food here is delicious & prepared fresh the steak was cooked just how I ordered it & the gallo pinto is not greasy like in most other Nicaraguan restaurants that I've visited in recent years. Probably the first thing I should have mentioned is that the price is more comparable with the prices we used to see in Nicaraguan restaurants in the early 90's, $7.50 for a 7oz carne asada with gallo pinto & a side. That's a steal!
(5)
Emanuel C.
Only reviewing the outside Cafe. The service is awful, the people at the window don't want to be here. Often when I drop off my kids to school, my wife walks them over (across the street) and I'll grab some food for both of us out of convenience. The only thing that is decent (so far that I've tasted) are the croquettes. They're normal sized, slightly crunchy and nicely cooked. The coffee is awful, tastes like the machine hasn't been cooked and they always oversteam the milk. I don't get cafe con leche here anymore. The place is exceptionally outdated with little to no variety and is sometimes filthy, all the while the woman attending is on the phone. Rarely anymore will I get a tostada here because it's insanely slathered with so much butter. They also don't carry normal pastries, just a few odd empanadas that taste awful which are the size of calzones. I'll eventually try the sitdown food but so far it's not really that inviting... Nowadays I just grab croquettes and a can of Materva, only because It's there while I wait for my wife to return.
(1)
Karla M.
I usually go to the spot 3-5 days a week.. I have yet to dine inside but I don't care to. I am not a huge "Nicaraguan" food junkie.. My daughter loves croquettas so we buy them from here which is why I am here frequently.. Mornings before school or even after if she wants a little snack. I have had their coffee and it's okay. Their Pastelitos or as they say empanadas are not the best or maybe since I've only eating Pastelitos made by Dominicans, these don't taste as great. I've tried their palitos de queso but again they taste different from NY. They use a different kind of cheese for the filling and restaurant Cachapas y mas in NY uses queso de freÃr.. There is just a difference. I do kind of wish it were a Dominican restaurant only because I don't feel as though there are enough is this area & the community could benefit from something different. For a community that is quote on quote "growing" there are too many of the same things. 5 stars for service though.. There are 2 women usually in the mornings who are amazing !!
(2)
Carolina M.
I LOVE CERRO NEGRO. The food is delicious. The staff is friendly. There's no complaints with their service. Go, you will thank me later! Nom.
(5)
Dennis R.
Ok... Where do I start. 1-Service equals piece of shit 2-Service equals piece of shit 3-Service equals piece of shit 4-Service equals piece of shit 5-Service equals piece of shit 6-Service equals piece of shit 7-Service equals piece of shit 8-Service equals piece of shit 9-Service equals piece of shit 10-Service equals piece of shit Staff does not listen and the service sucks.
(1)
Rony M.
This place makes me want to have elective surgery to attach a second stomach! True it wouldn't be as appealing as a Collagen Injection Treatment or Rhinoplasty, but this will be a functional as a cosmetic procedure can get. I think that SSIs (second stomach implants) are really going to take off. My top 4 reasons -- It's fashionable. Everyone will think you're so retro for bringing back the fanny-pack. They don't know it's your secret weapon for wrecking fraternity keg-stand records. Own the party. While everyone is accumulating gin blossoms, your second stomach will be an alcohol-processing factory. Digesting instead of digressing. Make $$$ on the competitive eating circuit. Save time. You'll be able to fit enough in your stomachs for the whole day. This is a lifesaver for deadlines and finals week. This is where "Cegro" comes in with portions fit for a World's Strongest Man contestant -- Moronga con Tortilla is a spicy and spiced mixture of rice and blood sausage. A true artisan product that combines the texture of Korean Sundae and the spiced flavor of English Black Pudding with distinctive Nicaraguan heat. Churrasco de Pollo is a massive charbroiled chicken breast served with just about everything including; rice, beans, fried sweet plantains, repollo (Nica coleslaw) and pico de gallo. Fried Cheese needs to be mentioned again because it's the best fried cheese I've had in my life (don't tell my mom). Piping hot, crispy on the outside and creamy, soft and salty in the middle. The following will not be going into my second stomach -- Fried Plantains should be thin sliced to allow them to caramelize. I'm not a fan of plantain chunks. Cacao con Leche is basically water and baseball clay. It has a mild chocolate flavor and disturbing grainy texture. Live music is usually a good thing. The one-man band was really shredding with all his balladas romanticas, but El Sol 95 was also playing in the background. My brain was confused by the unintentional Charlie Zaa vs. Marc Anthony mash-up. Shady service. I knew there was something wacky going on when my credit card receipt read .50 cents and the tip was about fifty times that. I signed it, left my tip in cash and went on my merry way... I had one cheek on my leather seat when my portly little waitress came charging out the front door like a rhino with rabies. I was about to put my other cheek in the car and drive home to sleep off my food coma, but my conscience intervened. On one shoulder was, Ashley Parker Angel, from Making the Band and the staple of pink iPods everywhere, O-Town. On the other shoulder was, Diablo Cody the former exotic dancer and writer of Jennifer's Body + Juno. Girls are suckers for a sensitive pretty boy with a name suitable for a female adult film star. Somehow Ashley just flicked his blond hair and serenaded his way into Diablo's heart, because I got out of the car. Oh how I regret that! I waited for an agonizing 20 minutes while I watched the server figure out how to refund my credit card and pay all over again... Damn you Ashley Angel and your Affliction patterned acoustic guitar!
(4)
Kelly O.
Cerro Negro has probably been on my bookmarks for a good 6 months at least. Last night I finally made it there since I was near the area and I was not disappointed. The food is great, the prices are cheap, and the portions are huge. We started with the queso frito, maduros, frijoles con crema. That cheese was divine especially with all the accompaniments. For dinner we ordered the pollo a la plancha and carne asada. Both were super flavorful and came with the delicious gallo pinto. The carne was tender and juicy which for $8 I was scared it would be a bad choice. We ended with a mediocre tres leches which was the only complaint of the evening. Our bill came to a whopping $31 including tip. I will be coming again, loved it.
(4)
Alejandra M.
I don't know what this place thinks, but I honestly preferred it when it was La hormiga de oro. The food is so bland and mediocre. They charge you as if you were eating at Los Ranchos. The few positives is that they do give you large portions, their Cacao drink is very good and would probably go back just for that Cacao. Also, "some" dishes in my opinion are worth getting. We all have different taste in food and what might be good for me might not be for you, but as a born and raised Nica woman, I think you ought to take my advise and instead hit up Yambo! The worst part of this restaurant has to be their staff. They are rude, will not care in letting you know that you are frustrating them, they need to have manners, they are loud, and don't seem to know how to add up your bill right so check it twice. God forbid something is wrong and you have to beg for a change here. Also, on the weekends it is so packed that some waiting is not even worth your troubles. The parking is horrible too. If I ever set foot here again it will only be for their Cacao or just to accompany someone that is having their b-day or other special celebration here.
(2)
ceci r.
This is my favourite nica restaurant! The food is always food, cooked to the right term, great portions and tasty. Also great variety. I've tried the albondigas soup, Carne asada, nacatamal, the pork lomito... Hmm!!! The appetizers are fantastic, but be careful Which one you order, they can be such a large portion you'd end up packing your entree to go!
(5)
Gianna O.
So many dishes are amazing. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. Very affordable and delicious. The soups are fantastic and oversized.
(4)
gloria g.
I love there food.... specialies CRAB SOUP is a most try, if you came to this places.... Now that Churrasco is good too, with the chimi-churri on top and dont forget the fried cheese..... mmmmm!!! The serving is really nice, you feel welcome to came every time....
(5)
diana a.
I ate lunch here yesterday with the fam the food was great so, was service but, i have to take away a star since, there is no changing table for babies in the restrooms. I'm a mom of two and changing tables are big deals to me. p.s. as soon as i went to open the door i saw the yelp sticker "people on yelp like us" .. love it
(4)
Danny F.
Seeing a "People love us on Yelp!" sticker in front of this place is a little twilight zone for me. No no, it's not because it isn't warranted. It is. But it had always seemed to me that Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and other top dog food countries were the ones to get the good press, and poor Nicaragua was left to dry. Don't you deny it. You've been eating fritanga since forever. You love it. Why don't you try it in a proper restaurant? This place would be it. My go to dishes? 1. Pollo a la plancha, con gallopinto y maduros 1. Grilled chicken with Gallopinto (Rice+Beans) and sweet plaintains 2. Punto Filete en Salsa Jalapeño, con gallopinto y maduros. 2. Steak cutlets with Jalapeño Sauce (not that spicy), with Gallopinto and Sweet Plaintains. But you know what to order already. Because this isn't new to you. To those who are from "Up North", and go into Cici's Pizza instead, that's OK. You're going to college down here and are on a budget. But it's not at all expensive in here, and you will be satisfied. Come on. That stale pizza isn't going anywhere. Score 1 for the motherland.
(5)
Ivonne C.
Place looks nice and clean. Food was good but service was too sloooow... even to get the bill. Maybe the server was tired it was pretty late...
(4)
Maria A.
Authentic as close to homemade as possible Nica food. On one of my favorite yelpers last nights in Miami we opted for Nicaragüan cuisine, settling on Cerro Negro. We dined on 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 glasses of cacao. Enough food to have probably fed 4 -5 people. We had maduros, queso fritos, frijoles, crema, repocheta (sin repollo) and quesillo and that was just the beginning. Next I had carne asade and Rob C opted for the lengua dish. Everything was delicious. Service could be prompter, better. But ignore that and just take another grin inducing bite.
(4)
Nadia L.
This place is awesome for lunch. Their lunch specials are well worth it. Get the churrasco!
(4)
favio p.
Deditos cheese appetizer is amazing! Try the vigoron and baby churrasco. Amazing!!! As a Nicaraguan myself, i must say that the food is really well done and has great prices too. It's a hit or miss with the waiter staff as some of them have a 'mañana' attitude and come around for your order or to check up on you when they feel like it.
(4)
Evelyn S.
Excellent choice for Nicaraguan food. Servings were generous, and the taste left you wanting more. My friends said the crab soup was a must try. These guys swear by it and they admit to stopping by once a week to indulge on it. It's even served in a huge pot with the crab still simmering inside for good measure. All in all, everything was delicious and fresh. I especially enjoyed the coffee as well, which was delivered hot to our table with a filter, warm milk, and an empty cup so we could prepare it ourselves. That's as homemade as it's gonna get!
(4)
Kristen H.
Went here last week during a chilly spring break and the chilly weather convince me to resist ordering my churrasco to finally try the soups I'd heard about. Their soups are HUGE and have that homemade goodness that brings on waves of nostalgia. They come in metal pots that you would use to cook on the stove and they're packed with loads of meat and root veggies (yucca, malanga, etc) and big pieces of auyama/orange squash with the peel still on, Nica style. I had the sopa de gallina (hen) and my boyfriend had rabito (oxtail). It was pretty crazy because the oxtail soup tasted very similar to ktiew (the Cambodian version of pho) broth and it reminded us both of home :). The sopa de gallina was tomato based, fyi. Both soups had the tastiest yucca I've ever tasted. Yum!! If you can finish these soups, you are a beast!! If you're going for soup, skip the appetizers. By the way, I would go for the oxtail if I ever went to order soup again because, despite how good the sopa de gallina was, I'm funny about tomato-based soups and I LOVED how the oxtail reminded me of the delicious ktiew I used to get at home. The nacatamal was still as delicious as ever!! My boyfriend couldn't resist his nacatamal craving. He always looks forward to those. If you decide to order one, maybe you should do it take-out because it could seriously be a meal on its own with all of that meat and such. UPDATE: I tried the bandeja de costillas (on mistake, actually...I meant to get the grilled costillas) and, although I really don't like fried meats, it was DELICIOUS! Very flavorful and juicy. If you don't mind fried food overload between the ribs, the mariquitas, and the queso frito, go for it and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jordan N.
Excellent Nicaraguan restaurant. The grainy Cacao con leche ($2.25) was well-made compared with other places. However, it's just not a drink I love. An acquired taste - I like mine thick like the Venezuelan chicha. The comparison with the more-watery horchata is a fair comparison. Chachon con yuca ($5.00) are pork chunks similar to the Cuban masas de puerco, but the flavor was better and the pork was not dried. For an appetizer, I was expecting a smaller plate, but it became my evening meal! Affordable, nicer-than-a-fritanga abience, sit-down restaurant, excellent service, plentiful parking, made-to-order food makes this Nicaraguan restaurant one of the best I've been to. NOTE: When I arrived at 9 pm on Friday, this relatively large restaurant had only two tables full. Upon leaving at 9:45 pm, more than half of the restaurant filled up.
(5)
Wendy H.
We had the deditos de queso as appetizer, repocheta, carne asada with gallo pinto and maduros, with a side of some jalapeño milky sauce. It was alright, nothing to write home about. In the heart if Sweetwater I expected better Nicaraguan food. We won't be back...2-3 stars. I gave it 3 because the server was nice.
(3)
Big H.
If you want to eat at one of Miami's top Nicaraguan restaurants, this is one of them. My family would not had brought me otherwise. Enjoy
(5)
Mike E.
I finally ate at Cerro Negro! This place is my neighborhood's restaurant.I lived near this place for two full years and never tried it. I dunno, i guess since it's in a strip mall next to a Win-Dixie, i honestly dunno why i never went but i'm glad i now did. The first impression i got walking in was "nicely dressed waiters, wine on the table...ok...this could be good." the waiter showed us to our table (nice heavy wood seats) and immediately gave us these Latin fancy leather menu's! The menu had a nice and large selection of Nica/Latin food. I ended up ordering the carne asada...man it was tasty! The table was equipped with 3 sauce bowls, Nica Salsa,chimichurri, and raw onions. I added the salsa to the carne asada and i was a happy man. the price was right, the location was great for me, the staff was attentive and the food was great. i will come again.
(3)
Leo P.
Best Nica Food in Miami! Can't beat the prices. Owner has significantly improved the establishment with major upgrades (restroom, bar) and Friendly service. Must try the Oxtail Soup!! Breakfast is delicious, especially the "huevos rancheros!" with toasted tortilla and finish off with a CACAO!!
(5)
Karen M.
The best cacao in miami period!!! Very cheap prices great place!!!!why go to a fritanga when u can go eat at a restaurant
(5)
Joseluis A.
gallo pinto, carne asada, maduros... here i come. im a big fan of nicaraguan cuisine, i love fritanga, el yambo, monimbo, etc etc etc. so many people have told me about this place and how good it is and i have a feeling ive been here before. years ago.. i was at a house party by sweetwater, party was over by 7am so we - the survivors - went to cerro negro and had nicaraguan breakfast. but that was a while ago and i was very intoxicated, in fact, im not 100% sure we went there, but thats the feeling that i got when i got there this afternoon to pick up my take-out order. like a deja vu. i got carne asada (medium) with gallo pinto and sweet plantains. i asked for tortilla and crema which i got, but they charged me... so i ate my meal, indeed the biggest difference between cerro negro and any fritanga is that the meat was grilled on the spot, compared to la fritanga which has all the meats just sitting there.. the gallo pinto was good and so were the plantains but i did not notice too much of a difference with fritangas. so this is why i give them four stars, because, my take out portion was way smaller than any fritanga and i got charged for a tortilla and crema and also, the price difference is about 2$ or 3$ more...but other than that, the food is great and service was pretty efficient as well. they told me my order was going to be ready in 10 mins and indeed it was. id love to go back and try the seafood soup, viva nicaragua chavalo jodido!
(4)
Rob C.
Now I understand why this restaurant is the recommended Nica authentic hangout. (Thank you Diana and Maria.) Since Yambo along with the Fritangas already have the food pre-prepared, here is a nice sitdown location (complete with takeout window) in a small strip mall. Food is made fresh, plus they offer traditional fare such as the nacatamal, which I had been looking for. i'm not sure what's in it besides pork, but it was a mix of softness with picado spice and no leafy residue. also had the enchiladas (added the green chimichurri), and the tacos de pollo with queso and refried beans the cacao con leche was delicious and tasted like a chocolate-spiked horchata (it's a little grainy at the back of the throat, so be careful) repocheta -- large cheese-filled tortilla and not too thick, lotsa white cheese and cabbage piled on fried pork with boiled yuca -- these aren't the chicharron chunks, instead nicely fried thick shreddable pieces (excellent) gallo pinto -- don't forget, they give you plenty the maduros here are perfect. everything very reasonably priced they have a special desayuno 100% nicaraguense lunes a domingo! the lengua en salsa was excellent -- nice flavor, soft meat Maria, thanks for teaching me about Nica cuisine!
(5)
Nolo E.
Great lunch , they have a 8.99 lunch special with steak, pork, rice beans, and maduros, it is a gut buster! Delicious just like it came off your bbq. Service above avg , i was refered to as jefe (chief in spanish) Salad needs to be improvment, hence the 4 stars.
(4)
Rick P.
I just returned from having an excellent meal at Cerro Negro. I had the steak filet with chimichurri sauce, rice/beans, and sweet plantains. The steak was cooked perfectly had had so much flavor that it didn't need the sauce (even though it was really good, too). I also had the red sangria, but it was sub par. Funnily enough, this place didn't have any Nicaraguan beer. I read some reviews about charging an automatic 15% gratuity regardless of the size of the party, but this didn't happen to me. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Nelson R.
This place is definitely one of my favorite Nicaraguan restaurants in Miami. The service is always friendly and efficient. Food always represents Nicaraguan favorites among them their homemade-style soups (oxtail, hen, ), great steaks (puntas de filete a la jalapena, churrasco, and carne asada), great chicken and pork grilled steaks. Very juicy, tender and full of flavor. accompanied by your choice of gallo pinto (rice and beans), tajadas verdes o maduros (fried green or ripe sweet plantains), tortillas, fries among other choices. I consider their prices super economical, specially for lunch which includes a house salad, your entree with 2 sides. I simply love this place, I come at least once a week. let me not forget their incredible Nicaraguan style breakfast which features eggs ranchero style, eggs with Nicaraguan chorizo, fried cheese, cuajada, tortillas, bread and coffee. They have a good selection of natural fruit juices including chilla con tamarindo, cebada, cacao among other favorites. Enjoy Cerro Negro.
(5)
Ivette R.
Great place to eat at it's not that expensive but is dirty even though food is fantastic and so is the staff they're are friendly I would recommend coming here for lunch
(4)
Mario N.
I go to this place for one reason: Surtido Criollo Bandeja(Nicaraguan appetizer portions), excellent choice for 2 hungry people! Service is inconsistent each and every visit and that is why I don't give it 5 stars. Queso frito and chimichurri are the best!
(4)
Fabi S.
My mom loves going to Cerro Negro for breakfast with my sister and I. Not only do we enjoy her company but we also enjoy the food. It is delicious! Nicaraguan breakfast is different from the typical eggs, bacon and pancakes. I usually get sunnyside up eggs, toast, gallo pinto (rice and beans combined), FRIED CHEESE and cafe con leche (coffee with milk). My mom orders an omelet with green peppers and onions, FRIED CHEESE, toast and cafe con leche. My sister orders scrambled eggs with Nicaraguan chorizo (sausage), beans or refried beans, Nicaraguan tortillas, sour cream and cafe con leche. All that for a low price. Everything is delicious and fulfilling! Yummy! I can savor it right now. I love their FRIED CHEESE! The only downside about this restaurant is the service. It all depends on who is your waiter/waitress. The food comes out fast. Now that I've moved away from Miami, I look forward to going to this restaurant on my visits.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Tomasz M.
1:25 pm Wednesday - Party of 4 Ambiance: Casual Layout: 4 person tables. Corner Bay of Shopping Plaza. Take-out Window. Space divided by low wall. Earthy tones. Cozy. Music: Soft merengue, afro-pop/latin fusion (had one of Juan Louis Guerra tracks playing) Crowd: Couples, groups of families. Service: Attentive. Ordered: Enchiladas "cerro negro" (3.25), Chancho con yuca (5.00), Queso Frito con tostones (5.00), Carne Asada (6.95) X2, Lomito de Cerdo asado (6.95), Fajitas de Carne (6.50) & drinks. Total: $44.10 (amazing! And it was my turn to pick up the tab...win) I loved all the dishes (co-workers got annoyed as I made sure to try all of theirs.....Research!). I'm beginning to pick up on the subtle ways that each country marinates their meat way differently (I Loved the Carne Asada). The Queso Frito is fried White Cheese and it's ridiculously good. Cut into thin slices and not breaded (freshness). We did the lunch specials and each dish gets either Gallo Pinto (get this) or white rice. With a side of Maduros (sweet plantains) or tajadas de platano or papas fritas (fries) or tortilla. With the meal you also get the house salad which officially makes this place "fancy" (in my opinion). Table was also set up with 3 sauce/garnish bowls. Chimichurri, Onions in jalapeno mixture, and a third never before seen Nicaraguan Salsa.... Perfect.
(5)Mandy H.
Love coming here for lunch. Their Carne asada is amazing and it's only $8 bucks.
(5)Rocky R.
I went here twice during a recent trip to Miami. I ordered the carne asada both times - sooo, sooo good! Perfectly seasoned, perfectly grilled. Served with rice/beans and some plantains. I also tried the fried cheese. It was...cheesy! Very oily and fatty, but what do you expect? It's fried cheese! Quite good if you're a cheese lover. After my meal, I went to the to-go window outside and ordered a cafe con leche to enjoy while I waited for the rain to stop. Very tasty! This restaurant has low prices, decent portions, and the pickle mixture they bring to the table is delectable!
(4)Mia B.
This is my second time and as my first time the service was just as bad. They don't greet you as your entering, just leave you there waiting for an open table. Once you're seated the waiter or waitress doesn't fleet you either nor puts glasses of water on the table. After being seated for ten minutes, she takes your order and another twenty or more minutes before you see her again without the water or food. At least the food is good and not too expensive.
(2)Monica B.
Good food! Portions are very generous and the prices are very reasonable. We had the queso frito which was perfect and not too greasy. Definitely the highlight of my meal and possibly the best ive had in the area. My carne asada was ok. Nothing out of this world but still yummy and juicy. BTW, I mislabeled a picture! The other meal was pork not chicken!!
(4)Jonathan S.
A tale of two restaurants. The excellent one you go to for breakfast. The okay one you go to for dinner. Breakfast at Cerro Negro is great. They have choices aplenty and you can mix and match sides to your liking. They have rice, beans, plantains, tortillas, cuajada, cream, and probably more that I can't remember, though you can't have them all with your meal unless you pay extra (I believe you can have three.) I tried their huevos rancheros (eggs over-easy topped with salsa) with beans, tortilla, cream and cheese when I was there. Dinner, on the other hand is completely dependent on whether you want to eat well or not. What I mean is that if you want to eat carne asada, gallo pinto and maduros you need to go to a fritanga. There are better (and cheaper) places you can go to for that. I know you're going to order fritanga food anyway, but the soups or moronga (blood and rice sausage) would be my recommendations for a more enjoyable dinner. Oh you don't eat that? Shut your mouth. Now open it and order something worth while for once. Like many places in this city, service is inconsistent and though the staff isn't rude while they're around, they suffer from, "Why wasn't I offered water?" and "Where is my food?" and (my favorite) "Where's the check? Don't you want me to pay you?!" Bump off a star for that because it's unacceptable. Que será, será.
(3)Zuhey B.
Food was good service was bad to be specific Ileana was our waitress and she was horrible
(3)Mike U.
Cerro Negro! This place used to be 'La Hormiga de Oro' back in the day when i frequented this joint... Let me tell you something...No matter what name they have on the business, they are still consistently serving the best Nicaraguan breakfast in town...with service. That is because Cerro Negro is not your ordinary Nica 'fritanga.' It is an actual sit-down or take out place. My usual is the #4 for breakfast. Eggs scrambled with Nica sausage, tortilla, cuajada (soft white cheese), and gallo pinto. (They do give you several choices of accompaniments, but that is what I always go for). I always ask for a side order of Crema (Nica sour cream) to slather all over my rice along with their picante sauce (learned this from my Nica friend). Makes my mouth watery while thinking about it... I've come here for dinner sevaral times. But not to be picky, the dinner is good but not the best I've had. Some of the meats can be chewy, sometimes okay and sometimes good. It's somewhat inconsistent. So far, the breakfast beats anything out there...Cerro Negro Nica breakfast...hands down...
(4)Monica M.
Horrible service! Expired cheese given to me twice! No apologies not even from the manager who took over 35 minutes to get to the table! Don't be fooled by so many people eating inside it just means the service is extremely slow! Horrible place horrible food horrible service
(1)Mima A.
Had lunch with my kids very affordable. Customer service was better this time .food was good skip the gallo pinto it tasted old and crunchy but the meat was good so was the chicken.dont order the fries they are not really good here.next time I will try the dessert.
(3)Julio D.
Bad service. Older gentleman very rude. He wanted to sit my family and I againt the wall. Very rude. Younger lady seated us properly. Food was ok.
(3)Jae M.
Nom Nomz! I love Nicaraguan food. Reminds me of my father's cooking. I've been to this place a few times now and they consistently deliver good food. The Gallo Pinto & queso frito are delicious. I no longer eat red meats but those who have eaten there with me thoroughly enjoyed the nacatamales, pork appetizers, and steak. It's a casual restaurant, a TV in the back if you'd like to watch a game with your meal and attentive servers. Overall, I will continue to frequent this place whenever I am in Miami and craving comida Nicaraguense!
(4)Claudia J.
Caldo de Pollo, Caldo de Res, Caldo de Rabo.... yes, their Caldo's are hugee.... enough to share for 2 people! Yep, it is that little casserole that you see in the picture! This Nicaraguan place has its flair! Food is good, not the nicest place in the neighborhood, but the food is definitely good. Seems to be homemade food. Caldo's are good for a nice chilly day, a hangover day, or just a regular day in Miami where the temperature outside is 90 degrees!!!
(4)Jashira M.
If you are a fan of Nicaraguan food you'll love Cerro Negro. This place is a little hidden gem. The service is very friendly to begin with. The food is delicious and the portions are great. Breakfast here is fabulous and the prices are fantastic. Eggs, gallo pinto, maduros, y queso frito with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice! Delicious! And if you decide you want a touch of American food with your breakfast they have side orders of pancakes, bacon and that kind of stuff. Lunch and dinner are equally as delicious. Carne asada, Gallo pinto, maduros y queso frito amongst many other options. Appetizers, soups, and more. You'll enjoy the flavor and the prices.
(4)Jc G.
It's a great place for some delicious Nicaraguan Steak! Great value for the price and quality of the food. Service is decent. And there's never a wait. Restaurant has been in business for enough years to have it right! Love it here.
(4)Alicia P.
Great lunch specials! Service was a bit on the slow side but on a high note, the food did come out quickly.
(4)Jenn C.
Wow service really sucks, and my 3 taco appetizers had a tooth pick in it I notified the waitress and she told me we're human and that's how they prepare, really lady I almost cracked and stabbed my gums. Won't return ever. Kiss my ass
(1)Luis D.
You can't call your self a foodie if you don't have an amazing Nicaraguan restaurant in your back pocket. I just recently discovered this restaurant after years of searching for a place I can actually recommend. I must say that the food here is delicious & prepared fresh the steak was cooked just how I ordered it & the gallo pinto is not greasy like in most other Nicaraguan restaurants that I've visited in recent years. Probably the first thing I should have mentioned is that the price is more comparable with the prices we used to see in Nicaraguan restaurants in the early 90's, $7.50 for a 7oz carne asada with gallo pinto & a side. That's a steal!
(5)Emanuel C.
Only reviewing the outside Cafe. The service is awful, the people at the window don't want to be here. Often when I drop off my kids to school, my wife walks them over (across the street) and I'll grab some food for both of us out of convenience. The only thing that is decent (so far that I've tasted) are the croquettes. They're normal sized, slightly crunchy and nicely cooked. The coffee is awful, tastes like the machine hasn't been cooked and they always oversteam the milk. I don't get cafe con leche here anymore. The place is exceptionally outdated with little to no variety and is sometimes filthy, all the while the woman attending is on the phone. Rarely anymore will I get a tostada here because it's insanely slathered with so much butter. They also don't carry normal pastries, just a few odd empanadas that taste awful which are the size of calzones. I'll eventually try the sitdown food but so far it's not really that inviting... Nowadays I just grab croquettes and a can of Materva, only because It's there while I wait for my wife to return.
(1)Karla M.
I usually go to the spot 3-5 days a week.. I have yet to dine inside but I don't care to. I am not a huge "Nicaraguan" food junkie.. My daughter loves croquettas so we buy them from here which is why I am here frequently.. Mornings before school or even after if she wants a little snack. I have had their coffee and it's okay. Their Pastelitos or as they say empanadas are not the best or maybe since I've only eating Pastelitos made by Dominicans, these don't taste as great. I've tried their palitos de queso but again they taste different from NY. They use a different kind of cheese for the filling and restaurant Cachapas y mas in NY uses queso de freÃr.. There is just a difference. I do kind of wish it were a Dominican restaurant only because I don't feel as though there are enough is this area & the community could benefit from something different. For a community that is quote on quote "growing" there are too many of the same things. 5 stars for service though.. There are 2 women usually in the mornings who are amazing !!
(2)Carolina M.
I LOVE CERRO NEGRO. The food is delicious. The staff is friendly. There's no complaints with their service. Go, you will thank me later! Nom.
(5)Dennis R.
Ok... Where do I start. 1-Service equals piece of shit 2-Service equals piece of shit 3-Service equals piece of shit 4-Service equals piece of shit 5-Service equals piece of shit 6-Service equals piece of shit 7-Service equals piece of shit 8-Service equals piece of shit 9-Service equals piece of shit 10-Service equals piece of shit Staff does not listen and the service sucks.
(1)Rony M.
This place makes me want to have elective surgery to attach a second stomach! True it wouldn't be as appealing as a Collagen Injection Treatment or Rhinoplasty, but this will be a functional as a cosmetic procedure can get. I think that SSIs (second stomach implants) are really going to take off. My top 4 reasons -- It's fashionable. Everyone will think you're so retro for bringing back the fanny-pack. They don't know it's your secret weapon for wrecking fraternity keg-stand records. Own the party. While everyone is accumulating gin blossoms, your second stomach will be an alcohol-processing factory. Digesting instead of digressing. Make $$$ on the competitive eating circuit. Save time. You'll be able to fit enough in your stomachs for the whole day. This is a lifesaver for deadlines and finals week. This is where "Cegro" comes in with portions fit for a World's Strongest Man contestant -- Moronga con Tortilla is a spicy and spiced mixture of rice and blood sausage. A true artisan product that combines the texture of Korean Sundae and the spiced flavor of English Black Pudding with distinctive Nicaraguan heat. Churrasco de Pollo is a massive charbroiled chicken breast served with just about everything including; rice, beans, fried sweet plantains, repollo (Nica coleslaw) and pico de gallo. Fried Cheese needs to be mentioned again because it's the best fried cheese I've had in my life (don't tell my mom). Piping hot, crispy on the outside and creamy, soft and salty in the middle. The following will not be going into my second stomach -- Fried Plantains should be thin sliced to allow them to caramelize. I'm not a fan of plantain chunks. Cacao con Leche is basically water and baseball clay. It has a mild chocolate flavor and disturbing grainy texture. Live music is usually a good thing. The one-man band was really shredding with all his balladas romanticas, but El Sol 95 was also playing in the background. My brain was confused by the unintentional Charlie Zaa vs. Marc Anthony mash-up. Shady service. I knew there was something wacky going on when my credit card receipt read .50 cents and the tip was about fifty times that. I signed it, left my tip in cash and went on my merry way... I had one cheek on my leather seat when my portly little waitress came charging out the front door like a rhino with rabies. I was about to put my other cheek in the car and drive home to sleep off my food coma, but my conscience intervened. On one shoulder was, Ashley Parker Angel, from Making the Band and the staple of pink iPods everywhere, O-Town. On the other shoulder was, Diablo Cody the former exotic dancer and writer of Jennifer's Body + Juno. Girls are suckers for a sensitive pretty boy with a name suitable for a female adult film star. Somehow Ashley just flicked his blond hair and serenaded his way into Diablo's heart, because I got out of the car. Oh how I regret that! I waited for an agonizing 20 minutes while I watched the server figure out how to refund my credit card and pay all over again... Damn you Ashley Angel and your Affliction patterned acoustic guitar!
(4)Kelly O.
Cerro Negro has probably been on my bookmarks for a good 6 months at least. Last night I finally made it there since I was near the area and I was not disappointed. The food is great, the prices are cheap, and the portions are huge. We started with the queso frito, maduros, frijoles con crema. That cheese was divine especially with all the accompaniments. For dinner we ordered the pollo a la plancha and carne asada. Both were super flavorful and came with the delicious gallo pinto. The carne was tender and juicy which for $8 I was scared it would be a bad choice. We ended with a mediocre tres leches which was the only complaint of the evening. Our bill came to a whopping $31 including tip. I will be coming again, loved it.
(4)Alejandra M.
I don't know what this place thinks, but I honestly preferred it when it was La hormiga de oro. The food is so bland and mediocre. They charge you as if you were eating at Los Ranchos. The few positives is that they do give you large portions, their Cacao drink is very good and would probably go back just for that Cacao. Also, "some" dishes in my opinion are worth getting. We all have different taste in food and what might be good for me might not be for you, but as a born and raised Nica woman, I think you ought to take my advise and instead hit up Yambo! The worst part of this restaurant has to be their staff. They are rude, will not care in letting you know that you are frustrating them, they need to have manners, they are loud, and don't seem to know how to add up your bill right so check it twice. God forbid something is wrong and you have to beg for a change here. Also, on the weekends it is so packed that some waiting is not even worth your troubles. The parking is horrible too. If I ever set foot here again it will only be for their Cacao or just to accompany someone that is having their b-day or other special celebration here.
(2)ceci r.
This is my favourite nica restaurant! The food is always food, cooked to the right term, great portions and tasty. Also great variety. I've tried the albondigas soup, Carne asada, nacatamal, the pork lomito... Hmm!!! The appetizers are fantastic, but be careful Which one you order, they can be such a large portion you'd end up packing your entree to go!
(5)Gianna O.
So many dishes are amazing. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. Very affordable and delicious. The soups are fantastic and oversized.
(4)gloria g.
I love there food.... specialies CRAB SOUP is a most try, if you came to this places.... Now that Churrasco is good too, with the chimi-churri on top and dont forget the fried cheese..... mmmmm!!! The serving is really nice, you feel welcome to came every time....
(5)diana a.
I ate lunch here yesterday with the fam the food was great so, was service but, i have to take away a star since, there is no changing table for babies in the restrooms. I'm a mom of two and changing tables are big deals to me. p.s. as soon as i went to open the door i saw the yelp sticker "people on yelp like us" .. love it
(4)Danny F.
Seeing a "People love us on Yelp!" sticker in front of this place is a little twilight zone for me. No no, it's not because it isn't warranted. It is. But it had always seemed to me that Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and other top dog food countries were the ones to get the good press, and poor Nicaragua was left to dry. Don't you deny it. You've been eating fritanga since forever. You love it. Why don't you try it in a proper restaurant? This place would be it. My go to dishes? 1. Pollo a la plancha, con gallopinto y maduros 1. Grilled chicken with Gallopinto (Rice+Beans) and sweet plaintains 2. Punto Filete en Salsa Jalapeño, con gallopinto y maduros. 2. Steak cutlets with Jalapeño Sauce (not that spicy), with Gallopinto and Sweet Plaintains. But you know what to order already. Because this isn't new to you. To those who are from "Up North", and go into Cici's Pizza instead, that's OK. You're going to college down here and are on a budget. But it's not at all expensive in here, and you will be satisfied. Come on. That stale pizza isn't going anywhere. Score 1 for the motherland.
(5)Ivonne C.
Place looks nice and clean. Food was good but service was too sloooow... even to get the bill. Maybe the server was tired it was pretty late...
(4)Maria A.
Authentic as close to homemade as possible Nica food. On one of my favorite yelpers last nights in Miami we opted for Nicaragüan cuisine, settling on Cerro Negro. We dined on 3 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 glasses of cacao. Enough food to have probably fed 4 -5 people. We had maduros, queso fritos, frijoles, crema, repocheta (sin repollo) and quesillo and that was just the beginning. Next I had carne asade and Rob C opted for the lengua dish. Everything was delicious. Service could be prompter, better. But ignore that and just take another grin inducing bite.
(4)Nadia L.
This place is awesome for lunch. Their lunch specials are well worth it. Get the churrasco!
(4)favio p.
Deditos cheese appetizer is amazing! Try the vigoron and baby churrasco. Amazing!!! As a Nicaraguan myself, i must say that the food is really well done and has great prices too. It's a hit or miss with the waiter staff as some of them have a 'mañana' attitude and come around for your order or to check up on you when they feel like it.
(4)Evelyn S.
Excellent choice for Nicaraguan food. Servings were generous, and the taste left you wanting more. My friends said the crab soup was a must try. These guys swear by it and they admit to stopping by once a week to indulge on it. It's even served in a huge pot with the crab still simmering inside for good measure. All in all, everything was delicious and fresh. I especially enjoyed the coffee as well, which was delivered hot to our table with a filter, warm milk, and an empty cup so we could prepare it ourselves. That's as homemade as it's gonna get!
(4)Kristen H.
Went here last week during a chilly spring break and the chilly weather convince me to resist ordering my churrasco to finally try the soups I'd heard about. Their soups are HUGE and have that homemade goodness that brings on waves of nostalgia. They come in metal pots that you would use to cook on the stove and they're packed with loads of meat and root veggies (yucca, malanga, etc) and big pieces of auyama/orange squash with the peel still on, Nica style. I had the sopa de gallina (hen) and my boyfriend had rabito (oxtail). It was pretty crazy because the oxtail soup tasted very similar to ktiew (the Cambodian version of pho) broth and it reminded us both of home :). The sopa de gallina was tomato based, fyi. Both soups had the tastiest yucca I've ever tasted. Yum!! If you can finish these soups, you are a beast!! If you're going for soup, skip the appetizers. By the way, I would go for the oxtail if I ever went to order soup again because, despite how good the sopa de gallina was, I'm funny about tomato-based soups and I LOVED how the oxtail reminded me of the delicious ktiew I used to get at home. The nacatamal was still as delicious as ever!! My boyfriend couldn't resist his nacatamal craving. He always looks forward to those. If you decide to order one, maybe you should do it take-out because it could seriously be a meal on its own with all of that meat and such. UPDATE: I tried the bandeja de costillas (on mistake, actually...I meant to get the grilled costillas) and, although I really don't like fried meats, it was DELICIOUS! Very flavorful and juicy. If you don't mind fried food overload between the ribs, the mariquitas, and the queso frito, go for it and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Jordan N.
Excellent Nicaraguan restaurant. The grainy Cacao con leche ($2.25) was well-made compared with other places. However, it's just not a drink I love. An acquired taste - I like mine thick like the Venezuelan chicha. The comparison with the more-watery horchata is a fair comparison. Chachon con yuca ($5.00) are pork chunks similar to the Cuban masas de puerco, but the flavor was better and the pork was not dried. For an appetizer, I was expecting a smaller plate, but it became my evening meal! Affordable, nicer-than-a-fritanga abience, sit-down restaurant, excellent service, plentiful parking, made-to-order food makes this Nicaraguan restaurant one of the best I've been to. NOTE: When I arrived at 9 pm on Friday, this relatively large restaurant had only two tables full. Upon leaving at 9:45 pm, more than half of the restaurant filled up.
(5)Wendy H.
We had the deditos de queso as appetizer, repocheta, carne asada with gallo pinto and maduros, with a side of some jalapeño milky sauce. It was alright, nothing to write home about. In the heart if Sweetwater I expected better Nicaraguan food. We won't be back...2-3 stars. I gave it 3 because the server was nice.
(3)Big H.
If you want to eat at one of Miami's top Nicaraguan restaurants, this is one of them. My family would not had brought me otherwise. Enjoy
(5)Mike E.
I finally ate at Cerro Negro! This place is my neighborhood's restaurant.I lived near this place for two full years and never tried it. I dunno, i guess since it's in a strip mall next to a Win-Dixie, i honestly dunno why i never went but i'm glad i now did. The first impression i got walking in was "nicely dressed waiters, wine on the table...ok...this could be good." the waiter showed us to our table (nice heavy wood seats) and immediately gave us these Latin fancy leather menu's! The menu had a nice and large selection of Nica/Latin food. I ended up ordering the carne asada...man it was tasty! The table was equipped with 3 sauce bowls, Nica Salsa,chimichurri, and raw onions. I added the salsa to the carne asada and i was a happy man. the price was right, the location was great for me, the staff was attentive and the food was great. i will come again.
(3)Leo P.
Best Nica Food in Miami! Can't beat the prices. Owner has significantly improved the establishment with major upgrades (restroom, bar) and Friendly service. Must try the Oxtail Soup!! Breakfast is delicious, especially the "huevos rancheros!" with toasted tortilla and finish off with a CACAO!!
(5)Karen M.
The best cacao in miami period!!! Very cheap prices great place!!!!why go to a fritanga when u can go eat at a restaurant
(5)Joseluis A.
gallo pinto, carne asada, maduros... here i come. im a big fan of nicaraguan cuisine, i love fritanga, el yambo, monimbo, etc etc etc. so many people have told me about this place and how good it is and i have a feeling ive been here before. years ago.. i was at a house party by sweetwater, party was over by 7am so we - the survivors - went to cerro negro and had nicaraguan breakfast. but that was a while ago and i was very intoxicated, in fact, im not 100% sure we went there, but thats the feeling that i got when i got there this afternoon to pick up my take-out order. like a deja vu. i got carne asada (medium) with gallo pinto and sweet plantains. i asked for tortilla and crema which i got, but they charged me... so i ate my meal, indeed the biggest difference between cerro negro and any fritanga is that the meat was grilled on the spot, compared to la fritanga which has all the meats just sitting there.. the gallo pinto was good and so were the plantains but i did not notice too much of a difference with fritangas. so this is why i give them four stars, because, my take out portion was way smaller than any fritanga and i got charged for a tortilla and crema and also, the price difference is about 2$ or 3$ more...but other than that, the food is great and service was pretty efficient as well. they told me my order was going to be ready in 10 mins and indeed it was. id love to go back and try the seafood soup, viva nicaragua chavalo jodido!
(4)Rob C.
Now I understand why this restaurant is the recommended Nica authentic hangout. (Thank you Diana and Maria.) Since Yambo along with the Fritangas already have the food pre-prepared, here is a nice sitdown location (complete with takeout window) in a small strip mall. Food is made fresh, plus they offer traditional fare such as the nacatamal, which I had been looking for. i'm not sure what's in it besides pork, but it was a mix of softness with picado spice and no leafy residue. also had the enchiladas (added the green chimichurri), and the tacos de pollo with queso and refried beans the cacao con leche was delicious and tasted like a chocolate-spiked horchata (it's a little grainy at the back of the throat, so be careful) repocheta -- large cheese-filled tortilla and not too thick, lotsa white cheese and cabbage piled on fried pork with boiled yuca -- these aren't the chicharron chunks, instead nicely fried thick shreddable pieces (excellent) gallo pinto -- don't forget, they give you plenty the maduros here are perfect. everything very reasonably priced they have a special desayuno 100% nicaraguense lunes a domingo! the lengua en salsa was excellent -- nice flavor, soft meat Maria, thanks for teaching me about Nica cuisine!
(5)Nolo E.
Great lunch , they have a 8.99 lunch special with steak, pork, rice beans, and maduros, it is a gut buster! Delicious just like it came off your bbq. Service above avg , i was refered to as jefe (chief in spanish) Salad needs to be improvment, hence the 4 stars.
(4)Rick P.
I just returned from having an excellent meal at Cerro Negro. I had the steak filet with chimichurri sauce, rice/beans, and sweet plantains. The steak was cooked perfectly had had so much flavor that it didn't need the sauce (even though it was really good, too). I also had the red sangria, but it was sub par. Funnily enough, this place didn't have any Nicaraguan beer. I read some reviews about charging an automatic 15% gratuity regardless of the size of the party, but this didn't happen to me. I would definitely go back.
(4)Nelson R.
This place is definitely one of my favorite Nicaraguan restaurants in Miami. The service is always friendly and efficient. Food always represents Nicaraguan favorites among them their homemade-style soups (oxtail, hen, ), great steaks (puntas de filete a la jalapena, churrasco, and carne asada), great chicken and pork grilled steaks. Very juicy, tender and full of flavor. accompanied by your choice of gallo pinto (rice and beans), tajadas verdes o maduros (fried green or ripe sweet plantains), tortillas, fries among other choices. I consider their prices super economical, specially for lunch which includes a house salad, your entree with 2 sides. I simply love this place, I come at least once a week. let me not forget their incredible Nicaraguan style breakfast which features eggs ranchero style, eggs with Nicaraguan chorizo, fried cheese, cuajada, tortillas, bread and coffee. They have a good selection of natural fruit juices including chilla con tamarindo, cebada, cacao among other favorites. Enjoy Cerro Negro.
(5)Ivette R.
Great place to eat at it's not that expensive but is dirty even though food is fantastic and so is the staff they're are friendly I would recommend coming here for lunch
(4)Mario N.
I go to this place for one reason: Surtido Criollo Bandeja(Nicaraguan appetizer portions), excellent choice for 2 hungry people! Service is inconsistent each and every visit and that is why I don't give it 5 stars. Queso frito and chimichurri are the best!
(4)Fabi S.
My mom loves going to Cerro Negro for breakfast with my sister and I. Not only do we enjoy her company but we also enjoy the food. It is delicious! Nicaraguan breakfast is different from the typical eggs, bacon and pancakes. I usually get sunnyside up eggs, toast, gallo pinto (rice and beans combined), FRIED CHEESE and cafe con leche (coffee with milk). My mom orders an omelet with green peppers and onions, FRIED CHEESE, toast and cafe con leche. My sister orders scrambled eggs with Nicaraguan chorizo (sausage), beans or refried beans, Nicaraguan tortillas, sour cream and cafe con leche. All that for a low price. Everything is delicious and fulfilling! Yummy! I can savor it right now. I love their FRIED CHEESE! The only downside about this restaurant is the service. It all depends on who is your waiter/waitress. The food comes out fast. Now that I've moved away from Miami, I look forward to going to this restaurant on my visits.
(4)