El Balconcito II

Service: Waitresses were accommodating and understanding. Also, we got two different menus. One that had the updated food and prices and one was older with old prices. When the bill came, we got confused that no one told us and we got charged more. So be aware of the prices.
Kitchen/​food: My party and I waited over 1 hour for our food on a Wednesday night. Not sure what was taking so long because there wasn’t a lot of customers but us and another table of 2. When the food finally came, we only enjoyed 1 dish out of the 4 dishes that we ordered. Don’t remember the name but it was the seafood with rice. That dish was amazing. The others were so-​so. Ordered a steak but it was too burnt and dry when we wanted medium rare. The other 2 seafood platters were way too salty and overcooked.
Not sure if we would come back or this is just a one time experience.

Such food as this should be available, where I live. But I’d probably over eat too much. We first had ceviche mixto Leche de Tigere, which was good and served with potato, casaba, roasted corn. Next, we shared Parihuela (seafood soup). The soup was so good I couldn’t stop eating it; there was enough for three as a main course.

I love their food, but hate the service some of the waitress provide. The last time I was there I got lucky for me I got a Dominican young lady, she was fluent in English and Spanish which was a life saving for my husband who doesn’t speak Spanish. The food was delicious and the drinks were great.

Let’s start with YES there is sometimes a language barrier BUT the menu is in both Spanish and English so if you can point then you should be fine. On the occasions I have been there the girls have spoken English just fine.
Everything is delicious from drinks to food. The tostones with shrimp are a must. I could drink the garlic sauce.
I have yet to find something here I felt so-​so about. If you in the area is worth a shot.

5 stars, no doubt about it! The food is authentic, a lot of flavor, and the price is amazing. Definitely my favorite place and people should absolutely hit this place up. The ceviche and pisco sour is highly recommended !!

After a couple of visits, I am definitely hooked on this place and the food. My wife and two children are hooked also.
Excellent food and great, courteous service. There is only one problem, the place is to small. I guess we are not the only fans.
I went here on 3÷19÷16, and people were waiting outside and the place was full, so we went to Godfrey Ave.

Love the food here, great service, authentic peruvian dishes… I would recommend for first timers, try: Lomo Saltado or Cebiche…
Come here often, I do a 45 minute drive just for this place on the weekends!

I grew up very familiar with the Ironbound Portuguese section of Newark NJ. For almost 15 years I’ve looked for the amazing dining experiences I had in the Portuguese and Spanish restaurants in that area. Large menus, impeccable wait staff, hearty portions, fine ingredients. Welp, this was kinda like that. The food was good and we ordered a lot. The plantains maduros and tostones were perfect! The steak Bistec alla Plancha was well done and seasoned excellently. The ceviche mixto was bright, fresh and maybe a little too acidic. The place has a full bar so that was a bonus. The décor is dated. The space is a little dark and drab. The staff is nice. Properly pronounce a Spanish word and they may assume you speak Spanish (that happens all the time in Philadelphia). It’s a nice spot in a residential area. The food is good and pretty authentically Peruvian and Portuguese. Can’t really ask for much else.

Haven’t been in to dine but ordered for take out the tostone cups with shrimp are amazing would definetly recommend but was upset with the chicken noodle soup paid 10 $ for it n there was no chicken in it !!! Which is extremely disappointing !

If I could give this place a 4.5 I would. I’ve gone to a lot of Peruvian places in the past and rarely walk out satisfied. I always go to this place in Elizabeth and always end up comparing every restaurant to that one. Including this restaurant. So the fact that I gave it 4.5 stars says something! It’s a great place! The food is great. The staff is friendly. The place is clean including the bathrooms. There’s a bar.
The reason it didn’t get a five is because parking is hard to find. I have a baby and had to park various blocks away across the street. Also, the bathroom is not «hidden» if you know what I mean. It’s in plain sight in front of the bar and near one particular set of tables. The food takes long but I think that’s because it’s super fresh. It’s worth the wait! Trust me!

I have been here many times, both eat in and take out.
Fantastic! Everything has always been great! We especially like their Cerviche — spicy!
It helps if you speak Spanish, but most of the wait staff speak English.

A place not good for the family, food has a tasteful but extremely expensive, Dad service.
Tío Pepe es Mejor!

One of my top 3 favorite places to eat! The food is always consistent, hot and fresh.
I always order the lomo saltado, the steak is cooked perfect every time and always full of flavor. Their margaritas are very good as well, however at $ 10 a piece I don’t think i will be getting drunk off of them. Don’t forget to get the tostones rellenos, soo good! highly recommend this place.

Ate here last night the food was AMAZING!!! From the salad down to the plantain very impressed they have a great chef

Siempre he ido al El Balconcito que esta ubicado en Godfrey Ave., pero como era domingo en la tarde y ese estaba lleno decidimos ir al El Balconcito II …
1.Este restaurante es mas grande que el otro pero creo que deben pensar como poner las mesas mejor posicionadas porque aun teniendo mas espacio las sillas chocaban con las otras.
2. La mesera ni se introdujo pero no era grosera. Creo que deben entrenar sus meseras un poco mas. No quiero decir que el servicio fue mala, porque ese no fue el caso pero tampoco excepcional.
3. La comida estaba buena pero nada que me impresionó. Yo pedí camarones al ajillo y estaba sabroso. Mi esposo pidió carne asada, el dijo que no tenia mucho sabor.
Creo que volvería a comer Balconcito II para darle otra oportunidad… La experiencia no fue mal pero tampoco inolvidable por eso les di 3 estrellas.

Went there last saturday. Service slow. I ordered sopa de mariscos. It was very tasty. Huge pot of stewed seafood including a lobster tail. I did not like the fact i have to paid for every side.
I think the jukebox music was a little bit to loud for a dining night. We cant even hear each other.
It was rather crowded. But it is worth it .
I have had better peruvian in washington restaurants. But here it might be the only choice in NE Philly.

Not as good as the original, 3 stars only for the food, service is unaware of the customers, seating a wait although tables are ready, refills nearly impossible

Went on a Monday night-​only three tables w customers so mine may not be typical experience. Loved it! Food was fresh, simple flavors, plentiful. Server was friendly, explained the menu. Jukebox was def loud-​we were able to talk but the music infused the meal, for me, in a good way. Not your typical center city fru-​fru night. We were dancing a bit as we ate. This place isn’t gentrified-​thank God!
Fried fish in a type of hush puppy w dipping sauce was my favorite item. I had a type of Peruvian fried rice w chicken for my meal. (Im saying «fried» a lot, but they had non-​fried items, too.) A mountain of food-I’m about to fry up two eggs to put on top of the leftovers for breakfast. Maybe I’ll dance a bit while I eat. Yum!

Me facinan Los tostones relleno d camarones acompañado d arroz amarillo, tambien me gusta mucho la paella :)

For me this 1^st time Peruvian food was a disaster. Especially being a Veggie [I was already reluctant to go but being forced by friend to atleast try, went there] .
I asked for some recommendation from SERVER [and the moment she heard RECO for VEGGIE. SHE was like «VEGGIEE :XXXXX «]. I mean, worst look a have ever got when asked for a veggie food .
I someone how managed to get a veggie dish by customizing a entrée. when it came, I was kinda nervous already but didn’t have any options to try. I was really BAD and now I am sure I am not gonna go to this place again but still had that BAD taste and not sure if I am gonna ever try Peruvian food .
Service was also very slow and the server’s were really Off track. Delayed food on the table.

The food was great, but the waitress was terrible. Unfortunately she forgot our drinks and, while rarely came to the table to see if we were okay or needed anything else. To catch her attention I had to raise my hand like I was back in school in a classroom where you had to raised your hand to participate in class or get your teacher’s attention.
Therefor, finally when she can catch a glimpse of my arm raised as a student of a class, I said «Miss, you forgot our drinks and I look forward to waiting for my cold passion fruit juice, she looked at me like «Oh, I messed up». Basically she forgot our presence completely because neither came back to tell me that there was no more passion fruit juice and at least offer me another drink. Then when she came back I asked her what other drinks they had and she said they had mango juice and when she brought the mango juice, for my luck the mango juice was warm.
To all this while the waitress is at our table my friend decides to request something from the menu and the waitress says, «Tell me everything you need or want to order now because I have to go to eat,» I was like «Really?, WOW. «
Every restaurant should have a first class service and very good preparation does not matter what day of the week either, but I think the owner of El Balconcito II does not take it very seriously. However, the food was very good, but the service needs to improve on a day like Sunday where many people come and want to go to a restaurant to eat a good meal and have a good service.
The place is also wheelchair accessible with nice spacy rest rooms too which it is a BIG plus for people with disabilities.
Spanish:
La comida estuvo buenísima, pero la mesera estuvo pésima. Lamentablemente se olvido de nuestras bebidas y, muy rara la vez venia a la mesa a ver si estábamos bien o necesitábamos algo más. Para coger su atención tenia que alzar la mano como si estuviera otra vez en la escuela en un salón de clase donde uno alzaba la mano para participar en la clase.
Cuando logró alcanzar a ver mi brazo alzado como alumno de clase, le dije «Señorita, se olvido de nuestras bebidas y yo que con ansias esperaba mi jugo frio de parcha (maracuyá), ella me miro como «Ay, metí la pata», pero luego me dice; «Oh, fue que cuando fui a buscarlo se había acabado el jugo de parcha», a todo esto digo yo en mi mente «Pero se te olvido de nuestra presencia por completo porque ni regresaste a decirme que no había más jugo de parcha y por lo menos ofrecerme otra bebida», pues me dijo que tenía jugo de mango y cuando me trajo el jugo de mango, yo que ya estaba casi ahogado lo pruebo y para mi suerte el jugo estaba caliente.
A todo esto mientras ella está en nuestra mesa mi amiga decide pedirle algo del menú y la mesera nos dice; «Dígame todo lo que necesita o que desea pedir ahora porque tengo que irme a comer», a lo que me quede «¿Enserio?, WOW». Todo restaurante debe tener un servicio de primera y muy buen preparado no importa que día sea de la semana, pero pienso que el dueño no lo toman muy enserio.
Pero nada, cocinan muy bueno, pero el servicio debe mejorar un día como hoy domingo donde muchas personas salen y desean ir a un restaurante a comerse una buena comida y tener un buen servicio.
El Balconcito II es accesible para personas en silla de ruedas. Los baños también son muy amplios y limpios. Esto es algo muy importante para las personas que están en silla de ruedas.

I thought this was a great restaurant. Communication with the wait staff can be a bit difficult if you do not speak spanish but food is a universal language to me. If you are picky and need to ask a bunch of questions then this is not the place for you.
I had the shrimp stuffed plantains and the paella valenciano. It was great.