Pedro's is the best!!! My girlfriend and I love this place. The drinks are amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful. And the food is ridiculously good. We do tapas because we like to try a bunch of things. This time we got sweet plantain (there is another type on the menu, but we prefer these ones that taste like dessert), calamari, garlic shrimp, strip steak, and olives. I really cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you want Latin food it is easily the best in Boston. And if you want just a fun night out there really isn't a better spot.
(5)
Michelle S.
I came here the other week for a drinky lunch. To make it a more eventful experience, we sat at the bar. The restaurant was pretty empty at 3pm, so we didn't want to feel like we were in the middle of a food court. I got the mojito and my friend got the margarita. Both were delicious, and pretty strong...more fun! We split the fish tacos appetizer and the salad la verde. We didn't wait too long for the food, but we were a bit disappointed when it showed up. The fish tacos were pretty damn tasty. Our bartender/waiter recommended a side of the house hot sauce, which was such a good call. I smothered my tacos in that and was consequently very pleased with the dish. The salad la verde was a cheat. It was supposed to come with a "fan of avocado." Painted a pretty picture in my head. But, it came with a couple baby chunks we had to search for. A high margin win for the restaurant for sure... All in all, the bartender made the experience for us. He was friendly, made good drinks, recommend the hot sauce, and served us very well. The food was a bit meh. But... I'll probably still come back again!
(3)
Juan M.
This place is awesome!! Yes is pricy but the atmosphere, food and service makes up for it. We went there on a Saturday after 8pm and they had live salsa music. Salmon dish was delicious!!!
(5)
Art H.
Weekday evening around 630pm, place was less than half full, but it took more than half an hour to bring my niece a simple quesadilla and identical orders of enciladas for my wife and myself. One was barely warm, the other ok. For entrees close to $20 each, the flavor was uninspired. A small glass of mango juice was $6.50; cocktails $15. I've had better much faster for less in Manhattan and Boston. Decor is cool and jungly, though I'm still trying to figure out the dead (not dried) flowers and antique typewriter. One could do worse but we won't be back.
(2)
Lauren E.
I went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was actually pretty dead inside. Perhaps it is the awkward location; La Casa de Pedro is located near the Arsenal Mall and is easy to miss. My boyfriend and I started off by ordering a small tapas plate of nachos with pork and chicken. For my entree, I ordered steak tacos. The ingredients were high quality and fresh. The meat was juicy and flavorful. There was some live music that night, which was a nice addition to the ambiance. I think this place could be more successful if it found a new location; the fact that it was dead on a Saturday night during the summer is not a good sign. I would definitely go back here again.
(4)
Earl B.
Had a great time here. Food was great and not at all expensive. House margaritas were very respectable. The restaurant itself is very nice. Ask the server for recommendations and go with it. I had the Venezuelan steak (do it right and get the eggs wit it), Fantastic. We will be back.
(4)
Shawn M.
Visited recently with my wife and friends. I couldn't have been pleased any more. We started with a couple of things from the tapas menu, Stephanies Nachos and Calamares a la Pedro. The nacos were awesome. very cheesy, tons of chicken and pork and the chips were baked just right. I highly recommend these. The calamari was a little different from your normal restaurant fare, it wasn't as fried and the poblano and jalapeno sauce was a pleasant departure from spaghetti sauce. Also very good. My fiance had the wild champagne sangria, which she loved. For dinner two of us had the Quesadilla de Carne Asada. The steak was plentifu as was the cheese and like the nachos they were cooked just right. They came with black bean rice, fried yucca and plantains that were very tasty as well. My other friend had the chicken enchiladas. She didn't love them, but thought they were good. The menu says the chicken was shredded, but it came out cubed. For dessert which he had a flavor of the flan. You could not go wrong with any of the three. They were fabulous. I topped off with a cup of coffee which was very good. All in all I was very, very happy. We have already purchased a groupon for our next visit. La Casa de Pedro is highly recommended by this guy
(4)
Lady J.
Pollo asado here I come!!!
(5)
Chelsy B.
Although I have heard many good things about this place, I was not really impressed. A group of girlfriends and I went on a Monday night for a birthday dinner. We did get a nice table, but there were less than three groups in the whole restaurant which is pretty large. We started off with drinks in from one of the heaviest menu's I have ever held. There were a lot of options and a whole page of tapa's as well. It also said they served brunch which seems like it could be fun. After we ordered, we waited at least 30 minutes for our meals (6 people, no apps.). The server was very so-so. After we got our meals and some home made hot sauce (yum), we didn't see the server again. We had all finished eating and even waited a good 15 minutes before someone came to clear the table or ask if we were all set. At this point, we were one of two tables in the whole space and we could easily see four or five employees walking around. We asked if the gratuity was included and our waitress told us 8 or more people which was incorrect. There was 18% for 6 or more guests. The food was presented well, but average. I can tell they wanted it to have a fine-dining feel, but it fell short for me. I may try this place again with a smaller group to see the difference, but I'm not sure it is a space to rave about like everyone says.
(3)
Dee N.
A co worker raved about La Casa De Pedro. So I had to try it. A friend of mine and I went for Dinner last Friday . June 19th. Now I can't stop raving about it! What a wonderful Restaurant.....We were given the option of having Dinner inside or outside. We opted for inside because I wanted to see what the Restaurant looked like. Nice atmosphere inside with a lot of comfortable booths. We ordered drinks. I had a Fruity Martini. My friend, had a Maitai. We both enjoyed our drinks. They don't skimp on the Alcohol. Not too strong, just right! The food was wonderful! I ordered the Salmon. I have never had Salmon prepared like that! Huge portions, The Salmon served on a bed of black Beans, Salmon covered in Red , Green peppers and onions and Shrimp! with a side of Rice and sweet Plantains and Yuca..... Unbelievable Flavor! The servers were very attentive. We thought that the alcohol was a little expensive. But the food prices were reasonable. I will definitely return!!!
(5)
Erin D.
GLUTEN FREE POLICY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT! This has been one of our favorite restaurants however, our last visit my order was not Gluten free and caused me to be ill for several days. A restaurant that prides itself in having 99% of menu available Gluten Free should be working harder to make sure their customers get served the correct food. I am not certain whether a careless server put my order incorrectly, the kitchen made an error or the food runner brought me another customers food. I will be extremely cautious when ordering and double check with the person who delivers it in the future. It is very disappointing that I spoke with a manager via phone to suggest they begin having manager deliver Gluten free meals to the table. He apologized and informed me he was going to investigate and would be calling me back within a few hours to make things right so we would return. It's been 3 days and I haven't heard back from them.
(3)
Collins C.
I have been here 4 times and am going tonight. Pedro is a very personable host and the atmosphere it warm and friendly. The hot sauce (house recipe) is unbelievable. Large portions - food is great.
(5)
eliz r.
Casa de Pedro...Divine patio tapas with Yucca frita, camarones, and Coconut Margaritas at sunset with friends. Perfect August eve.
(5)
Roni E.
Excellent service (via Pablo our server for the evening)! Excellent food and drinks!!! Pablo was able to suggest our table of 7 various tapas throughout the evening which did not disappoint at all. He even brought out this amazing hot sauce and bread to try with specific things and his advice was much appreciated. Appetizers included the Vargas, Calamari, Ceviche, Queso Fundido, Tequeños, and Camarones al Ajillo. Everything we tasted was amazing! And what makes this place even better.... patio seating, you forget you're even in Watertown! Definitely on my top places of restaurants to return!
(5)
Tater M.
Excellent service, Waiter was able to recommend three types of steak dishes and gave very efficient quick tips for each of them. Must try their Hot sauce specially made by the restaurant! Also if you like spicy food, try the chorizo and mini flour tortillas!
(5)
Jack H.
Outstanding food and fun ambiance. Had the chicken and chorizo app and empanadas. Both delicious. Best empanadas since Argentina. Must try.
(4)
Dimos M.
Wow ! This place is fantastic from service & food is great.. Also the owner was going around making his rounds and mingling with customers making sure if you enjoyed the food. I thought that was real cool. Plus the food and drinks were great. will be back soon.
(5)
Joe W.
Great experience! Our group of four (family) was very impressed with the setting and atmosphere of La Casa de Pedro. Wait staff was very attentive but not intrusive. We ordered four small plates for apps, tequenos and torilla esp were outstanding! All the main dishes were good size, well presented and very tasty. Traditional pabellon crillo was exceptional and a must try. Prices were reasonable including cocktails. Try the coconut margarita before the summer ends. We definitely will be back soon!
(4)
S Z.
Meh, this place is ok. The food is fine, but for the price, it is a bit high. I know other people who love it, but it is probably a place I will not be returning to.
(3)
Otto T.
I absolutely love this place, I probably eat here 3 times a month and have never been disappointed, the food its delicious and the service its great,
(4)
Janet S.
I used to love this place for lunch when I worked in the area a few years ago. However, dinner tonight was WAY too salty. The side dishes were really good, but the meat dishes (chicken enchiladas, and especially the Carnitas Encebolladas) were really oversalted. Sad to be disappointed by an old favorite...
(2)
Gisele M.
Just went here on Saturday for girl's night. Most of us had the coconut shrimp served in a coconut - delicious! The drinks were amazing and the staff was exceptional. Outdoor patio seating is a great option too if the weather is nice!
(5)
David S.
I've been here several times and each time I get the chicken quesadilla. It's amazing -- a huge portion with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. It also comes with a really tasty side of rice, yuca, and plantain. I always leave feeling full and every time it's consistently good. For this amount of food, the price is not bad at all. I've also gotten the nachos as an appetizer. Although it's a pretty small portion, it's also quite good. I've been here probably 3 times already and I'm going to keep coming back!
(4)
Alex D.
We love La Case De Pedro! The flavors are very unique to Venezuelan cuisine so if you're looking for Mexican blandness look elsewhere. The Osso Buco is my favorite and I would have it every time if it wasn't for the specials. Outdoor patio seating is a plus, but it was too windy for us to enjoy it our last visit. I would also highly recommend the cocktails, Pedro's 10 cane mojito is amazing! Getting a flight of tequila is a great option as well.
(5)
Kris S.
I really was excited to go to this place. The decor is really nice -- the outdoor patio is terrific, but the inside is also nice -- colorful and tastefully decorated with a big bar and comfy seating. We had to wait for about 20 mins for a table, which is totally fine. When we were seated, we were at a huge booth (score!). Shortly after we were seated, the waiter came over. We ordered drinks. 30 mins later, the waiter returned. We asked for water. Finally after 45 mins, we ordered 3 tapas. We got the calamari, ceviche, and chicken and chorizo with tortillas. All were pretty tasty, although the calamari was $10 and there couldn't have been more than 8 fried calamari on the plate. Anyway, we had to flag down the waiter once we were done with the tapas, so that he could take the plates and we could order entrees. I ordered the 1/2 chicken and my friend ordered "Pedro's birthday special," which was steak and chorizo. After literally 40 minutes, the waiter came over to tell me that they were out of the chicken! 40 MINUTES! There were several other people around us who were waiting for food, too. I mean, even if you are going to run out of food, you need to notify the guests more quickly than that. I'm already sick of this review, b/c I'm sick of this place. To sum, I ordered a steak dish as a substitute. It was ok. My friend's was ok. Steak overcooked, rice was dry. Water was never refilled (we asked 3 times) and drink orders were never taken again. By the end of the night, we had a totally new waitress who brought our bill. Was our waiter fired for sucking so bad? We'll never know. I also won't be back. Huge disappointment. The 2 stars are for the nice decor and decent tapas -- that's it.
(2)
William H.
Sunday brunch galore! Big menu for both food & cocktails. Fun and bright scenery inside. It felt like we were on vacation. Try a Jalapeño infused tequila margarita with shaken with fresh strawberries! Yum
(5)
Anil D.
We've been here a bunch of times, but they fell off in a bad way. Came at 4:50pm with our two kids. First they told us we can't bring the stroller to the table even though we did each time we came for the past two years. Then, they sounded annoyed that we were ordering tapas only for the table even though it was *5*pm and the place was near empty. Then they brought out the wrong ceviche order and told us it our fault for saying the wrong thing. On top of it all the service was slow and just painful.
(2)
Elie H.
I used to love this Venezuelan place but yet again another restaurant that I cherish went downhill. Food is on the greasy side lately. I highly recommend the arepas and fish dishes. my favorite used to be the "Complianos" a steak, sausage blood sausage with rice and beans. I plan to go there again soon and give it another try since I love arepas.
(3)
Michelle A.
Wanted to love this place as we are just getting to know the area but it was just 'ok'. Meals were substantial and service was average. Not sure what I expected but the food didn't have a lot of flavor. We asked for the house-made hot sauce which was the highlight of the meal. We ordered the empanadas (chicken and beef), (Flank) Pabellon Criollo, (Pork) Llanos Venezolanos, and a margarita.
(3)
Squidy D.
I could come here just for the side dishes, the plantains and the fried yucca's are fantastic. The homemade hot sauce is awesome and hot hot hot! This is one place I will travel for, well worth an hours drive
(5)
Liron P.
Parents with children beware- We didn't get to try the food because we were so angry with their attitude- we were 3 people and a stroller, but despite the fact the restaurant was empty, they wouldn't let us sit outside with the stroller (the area was large and spacious, so there certainly isn't a lack of room). We just left, since i dont want to support businesses that discriminate against children this way
(1)
Claire R.
This restaurant is lively with attentive service and tasty food. My daughter highly recommends the quesadilla with fried plantain and yuca. The skirt steak is delicious and the chimichurri sauce is great! Venezuelan food is always a good choice for gluten free diners. Spacious with room for large groups and a full bar.
(4)
Annette A.
Fantastic drinks, delicious food and and amazing service. La Casa de Pedro is a restaurant that you'd expect to find in downtown Boston, but lucky for you - it's in Watertown, with plenty of free parking all around. Pedro's may be my favorite restaurant. The place is very spacious and beautiful. The decor is gorgeous and warm, filling with lights and tropical plants. It's a very nice place for a date, especially on nights where they have music. Most amazing thing? The plantains and yucca. Or any of their tilapia, scrod or salmon dishes. Or anything with their green habanero cream sauce (ask for it!). Edit: Adding a star. Service is still wonderful. The last time we were there (which tends to be a few times a month now), we had a charming server named William who was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the dishes. We'd ask for him again, if we could. But William aside, the staff is ALWAYS amazingly nice. There hasn't been a single time where our server was in a mucky mood and showed it.
(5)
Donna A.
I Order a salad which was (De Los Roques) and nothing that was appearently I order was in the salad. La Casa De Pedro also over charge me. As I place this call back to them now the mananger is not available to talk about how disappointed I was with my boring salad. Grill chicken was the roasted chicken, no sunflower seeds, no dried cranberries no crisp apple no lemon-garlic dressing. Check your order before leaving cause its impossible to get the manager once a customer is disappointed. This salad cost me $18.00 smh!! I will never eat at this place again. Very unhappy give me what I order.
(1)
Lexi L.
A must eat restaurant!!! Came for lunch and ordered off the tapas menu. We ordered 5 dishes for the two of us and it was a perfect amout. The nachos are killer!!! And the flan is the best we have had! Our server Prabina was excellent! She made great suggestions and they were all top notch! Will deffinatly be back!!
(5)
Dan O.
What can I say about La Casa De Pedro. Excellent food, great atmosphere, ample parking, great service. 5 stars. I've been here at least 5 times and have not had a bad experience. Weekdays, weeknights, weekends,...doesn't matter. I'm literally sitting here and there is a live band playing - 2 guys, rhythm guitar and a bongo drummer, and they introduced a kazoo...yes a kazoo. I hate to give this place such high marks because I want to keep it for myself, but alas, the secret is already out. I strongly recommend that you come here...have the 10 cane mojito, a steak based dish, and soak in everything. Awesome. I guarantee you will not be dissapointed - DanO
(5)
Amalia S.
This place is amazing!!! Atmosphere and decor is awesome perfect for date night. Def try passion fruit sangria delish. Service was great. Two Thumbs up!
(4)
Lindy L.
Went here on a Thursday night and there was an enchanting man playing piano and singing random songs (everything from "Pachabel's canon" to "pennies from heaven"). It was a friend's birthday so there was a group of 12 of us. We had a reservation and they seated us right away (not all of the party needed to be present for us to be seated). the drinks were delicious (i had a JALAPENO margarita - don't ask questions - just get one) and white sangria, which was fruity and very refreshing. we had the tequenos and a bean and cheese empanada to start. my husband had the fish tacos which he enjoyed immensely. i had the salmon with shrimp on top and a very hearty dose of rice, beans, yucca and fried plantains - YUM! all entrees come with the sides mentioned above and one was more delicious and flavorful than the next! in my opinion, the only reason this place does not get 5 stars is the prices. for a restaurant in watertown, i would've imagined that the prices would be lower. it was about $16-$20 for entrees. that being said, i will definitely give la casa de pedro another go round if given the chance. OLE!
(4)
Jason H.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Great place. Odd, tucked away location thought... Food here is outstanding, if you ask me. I don't know Venezuelan food, but I do know that theirs tastes good to me. I've tried a few dishes, and the Short Rib, Fish Tacos and Pabellon Criollo are all awesome. They also make a ridiculously tasty but dangerous hot sauce. Pedro's offers a pretty decent drink selection as well. Always a great time.
(4)
Patrik C.
This was one of the best meals of 2012. Note: the hours are weird as in they close really early! I came with 2 friends and we got the fried cheese appetizer which isn't breaded. It's fried/grilled on both sides-- UNBELIEVABLE. The yucca fries are the best I've ever had. In other restaurants they can be thick and dry but here, they are drenched in a high quality EVOO with a little pesto and combined with the cheese-- SO GOOD. Also tried the fried cheese roll up things which is like a cheese puff/spring roll. Excellent. For entrees-- the meats have always been excellent with many sides-- rice, plantains, etc. Highly recommended. Their hot sauce is SO good-- use sparingly!!!
(5)
Cat A.
This is a fun place with some unusual, delicious offerings. Staff is very friendly and helpful if you want to try new things. The patio outside is lovely and service is consistently good. Drinks are also well done.
(5)
Jeff S.
AUTHENTIC, BUT LOW-QUALITY FOOD. GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND DRINKS. I'll keep this short and not-so-sweet. I've only dined at Casa de Pedro's twice, once in their original restaurant in Watertown Center, and once in the now-closed Burlington restaurant located only 2 miles down the road from the Burlington Mall in the glitzy former building built by the owners of the Naked Fish restaurant. The atmosphere of the Watertown location is nothing special (3 stars), although the atmosphere in the former Naked Fish location was first rate (5 stars). FYI, Naked Fish had high hopes of great success at its Burlington location, but it lasted only 2 years before they sold out to Casa de Pedro, which lasted only about 6 months. Although the location isn't right inside the Burlington Mall or directly across from it, it's still only 2 miles down the road and I feel that patrons would have come and established it as a sensation if the food wasn't so poor. The food is prepared quite adequately and authentically, but the quality of the meat is poor. It's totally reminiscent of the Low-Quality Latin food I've eaten in poor Latin countries, and is something I feel a good restaurant in the USA shouldn't duplicate with great accuracy or authenticity. Since this restaurant is located here in the USA, I would have thought that Pedro would have Americanized a bit, at least enough so that the Food Quality was high. But, instead, Pedro chose to maintain complete authenticity which turned out to be a foolish mistake because patrons voted with their feet in short order. Indeed, Casa de Pedro closed its doors in only 6 months. As I said earlier, the atmosphere (5 stars), the drinks (5 stars), and now I mention that the service (4 stars) were all top-notch. However, the hallmark of any restaurant is the preparation and Quality of its food (2 stars), and I weigh this aspect much more heavily. If I could give Casa de Pedro 2.5 stars I would, but since only whole-star ratings are possible, I decided it would be more accurate to err on the lower end of that scale.
(2)
M M.
Order: Yucca... if your entree doesn't include it - it's a root vegetable similar to potato - comes fried with a cilantro oil drizzle. Pork tenderloin roast chicken entrees Every dish I've had has been a larger portion than I should probably eat, but I finish it because it's delicious! It takes a long time to read through the extensive menu and some items sound like the others so I usually take a long time to decide so study the menu online ahead of time if you can. I've enjoyed exploring Venezuelan cuisine at this restaurant at the old location and the current Arsenal Street location. I suggest sticking to more traditional dishes - don't order Mexican items in a Venezuelan restaurant. I agree with some other yelpers that if it's on the menu, it should be as good as all the other food. They probably need to trim the menu to make sure they do it all well. Lunch is my favorite way to enjoy good food here without paying too much, so I've never had cocktails here - though it looks like a fun night spot.
(4)
Tom D.
My dad and I stopped at La Casa de Pedro for dinner as I transited between Newport RI and Portsmouth, NH on what is rapidly becoming a far to common trip. Pedro's Menu of different Latin American dishes looked interesting and we were in the mood to try something different. It was a Thursday night so we grabbed an OpenTable reservation and headed over. The restaurant is very nice inside with a large bar to the right and a decent sized dining area to the left upon entering. It also has very high ceilings which add to the ambiance. The bar had a few people at it and the dining area was fairly empty when we arrived. Both were packed by the time we left. We were seated immediately upon entering and started to review the menu. We decided to split an order of nachos as our appetizer. The nachos come with chicken and pork on them. When they came out the size of the order was kind of underwhelming. I'm used to getting a much larger portion when ordering a plate of nachos. The nachos were good, but for the price probably needed to be 150 - 200% larger. The small order of Nachos had me concerned about the size of my entree. I had ordered the Pabellon Criollo, which the menu referred to as a traditional Venezuelan dish of shredded beef, slowly simmered, with fine chopped vegetables. It came with rice, black beans, and fried sweet plantains as sides. When it came to the table I was relieved to see that there was a large pile of shredded beef and more than enough black beans and rice. I wouldn't be leaving hungry even if it was just the rice and beans that were stuffing me. The Pabellon Criollo was incredible. It had a great flavor and was extremely tender. They also brought out a bowl on the side of Pedro's special hot sauce which was neon green in color and had a sneaky level of spice to it. It was full of flavor and a few seconds after eating it the spice smacked you. I mixed it, the rice and black beans all together and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we'll definitely try La Casa de Pedro again.
(4)
JF S.
**Just had to log in and upgrade to 4 stars after enjoying my leftovers. Better than I remember from last night - may have been just too much food to enjoy to the fullest in one sitting. The place was very busy on a Sunday evening closing in on the expiration date of a Groupon. Service was slow but attentive and nice. Tapas were the standouts - Chicken & Chorizo, and the Venezuelan fried cheese (like a cross between a mozzarella stick and a spring roll). Tried the house hot sauce for dipping but could only use a tiny bit! We each had a flavored sangria and both were good - not too sweet. Had the Birthday flank steak and Chicken Asado and they were both fine with large servings including sides (took home leftovers), though maybe a tad on the pricey side. Chicken dish could have used some salsa or something to lighten it up a little bit. The yuca side was delicious but the plantains were a bit too sweet for my taste. We will definitely go back for tapas and drinks.
(4)
ara n.
While the food is good, the restautant is very unaccomodating to families - they have a NO STROLLER policy. They would not seat us when we got there with an asleep child in the stroller - the hostess was very nice and wanted to accomodate us, but the manager, who I am sure suffers from a strong and lasting bout of short man syndrome, informed us rudely that they have a no stroller policy and nothing can be done about that. There are plenty of other good South American restaurants that'll serve you good food with the South American warmth and hospitality and without the attitude of this joint.
(1)
Chuy C.
I was a little confused with the menu. Its advertised as Venezuelan food but has a heavy Mexican food influence and a very impressive Tequila selection which made me happy, also a wide variety of red wines. The place's decoration is diferent-funky, kind of nice, then again, I don't go to restaurants to critique decoration so I couldn't care less about it. The food was just okay, I probably wouldn't drive specifically to eat here again but in all fairness I will try more dishes before writing an awful review. I had the house Pedro's margarita with Cuervo silver and tasted funny, bitter, I know you may think it could be the sour mix but no, it tasted more like spoiled lime juice. (I am not saying they used spoiled lime juice, that's just what it tasted like to me) besides I don't like Cuervo products. So I quickly switched to a Malbec wine which was pretty good. We had the calamari which was a little salty but cooked to perfection with the drizzled jalapeño sauce that came with it was very nice and flavorful. I had red a raving review of the Mussels so I got the Mussels and it was just okay, I could taste a lot of chicken stock used to cook the mussels which is served with a lot of broth and no slices of toasted bread to dip on it. Mi wife ordered the Paella so I didn't pay much attention to the menu to see what was in it but one would think that for $28.00 or $29.00 it would at least had a couple of lobster chunks and shrimp but all I could taste was chicken, fish and sausage with a few mussels. The flavor was just okay nothing spectacular about the paella. I would probably stop again if I am in the area and take a different approach by trying some of their authentic dishes in the menu since I tried one high end dish and was disappointing. Value: I thought it was a bit overpriced but I'll let you be the judge of that. Two appetizers, one entree, two virgin pina coladas and three alcoholic beverages with one desert. just over $96.00.Without tip.
(2)
G P.
This place is way too overpriced for its low quality food. I ordered a salad that was $13.50, and it only had 3 pieces of shrimp and two slivers of avocado on some romaine lettuce. Legit the worst salad I have ever had in my life. The service was just ok, and there was a lot of seating. Bottom line, the food was bad and expensive. Save yourself and don't go.
(1)
Stavroula A.
I love this place! I've been there three times in the last 2 months and it never disappoints. I'm a huge fan of their red sangria, and each entree I've had has been delicious. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer. I've had the fish tacos as well as the chicken and beef, and I recommend both entrees. The staff has always been super friendly and helpful! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Francine W.
I'm surprised by the number of 2 and 3 star reviews. Everything I've had here is outstanding. I like the lamb chops, the pork osso bucco and for appetizers, get the cheese (it's like a plop of cheese) and yucca. Best yucca ever!
(5)
Mariah W.
Excellent service and great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and the clean, festive and colorful atmosphere was a pleasant surprise. We will be back!
(5)
Cyn C.
when are we getting 1/2 stars? actual review is 3.5 great food, awesome proportions. loss of 1 star for the super long waits the special birthday dinner (compleanos?) is superb. A very nice cut of steak with chimichurri sauce, fried plaintains, rice and beans (I wish it were more traditional rice and beans, but ok), and 2 different sausages. They could call this dish the meat lovers delight. So... if I'm not heading to JP anytime soon and I want some Latin food... Casa de Pedro... here I come.
(4)
Debra L.
Hands down, my favorite place to go for lunch on a work day. I was disappointed when they moved for Main St. to Arsenal St. because now I can't walk there and therefore I eat there less. But, I still go. The new place is nicely decorated but it's so big. There's a bar and it's probably a good place to go for dinner but, the old place - it was just perfect for lunch and I loved that outdoor patio. Anyway, the food is still delicious and lunch is still so reasonable. I love the De Los Roques salad (formerly called the "South Beach" salad). It has romaine, grilled chicken, peanuts, sesame seeds, red onion, avocado, jicama, craisins & phenomenal dressing. The shrimp quesadilla is also delicious and really big. It comes with black beans & rice, fried plantains & yucca. They serve the best fried plantains I've ever had. I've also had excellent ceviche and roasted chicken. The chicken breast with mango is the only thing I wasn't all that impressed with. It wasn't bad but just not as good as other dishes). I've never had any of the sandwiches but often the people I'm with rave about them (esp. the Cuban and the steak sandwiches). It's usually very quick for lunch but service isn't always spot-on. I don't ever mind though. The wait staff are friendly and they work hard.
(5)
April I.
I went to La Casa De Pedro about a month ago with a friend and we had a great meal. The service was excellent. The food was perfectly seasoned with large portions and the cocktails hit the spot. I loved the brightly colored walls (yellows and lime green) and the ambiance was inviting. I had the Quesadilla de Camarones (shrimp quesadilla) which came with yuca, plantains, and black bean rice. My friend went with the veggie quesadilla and got the same sides. The quesadilla was large and filled with shrimp and cheese (I promise you it was delicious!!). I loved the plantains and rice. I'm not a fan of yuca though and this didn't change my mind. I could barely finish my meal! My friend had the grilled vegetable quesadilla and she said it was awesome. The veggies looked good and she didn't leave anything on her plate! While we were at La Casa De Pedro we sipped on chilled Patron. I also want to give a shout out to our waiter Igor. He was friendly, efficient and very helpful. Also he let my friend and me sit back and relax, even after we had finished up our entrees. It was nice. The location and easy parking are also a big plus. Oh and they deliver. I ordered from La Casa De Pedro about a week ago and had the same high quality food and it was delivered hot --- which you can imagine might be challenging. I ordered the 'Pedro's Old Times with Vargas' (pork and hot sauce), the corn cakes with chicken and avocados, and the quesadilla. I didn't love the corn cake--for me it was texture thing, but I loved the chicken and avocado topping and and I did love the pork with hot sauce. Good food, good location with delivery, and reasonable prices make La Casa De Pedro well worth it! I look forward to my next lunch date!
(4)
Tracee D.
I think I would've liked it better in the original Waltham location. If you want Venezuelan food you will fare better at either Orinoco location ( different restaurant, so much better). There's Mexican food & a spattering of Tapas on the menu here too. It's like a corporate Latin American food place, nota bene: I didn't say it was, I said it was "like". The service is ok. And the food is ok. Nothing special. The Papi salad is awesome though. Evidently Pedro's dad likes watercress salad with tomatoes, avocado & balsamic dressing and so do I. The white cheese fried appetizer was pretty awesome too. But as for arepa's and fun stuff like that. Not so special. It's too grandiose for la casa de pedro, it's more like la mansion de pedro. LIke Jenny from the Block remember where you've come from, or like Jenny, don't.
(3)
Doris K.
I happen to think that this place was GREAT! I never got to experience the old location but the location was nicely decorated. I don't think that they put it in a good location though because it's well hidden and took us some time to find and probably never would have without the GPS. They should also do some remodeling to their bathrooms! We sat at the bar for Sunday brunch and ordered a glass of sangria and a glass of wine. The sangria wasn't really fruity enough like most other places and it didn't seem like they poured enough alcohol into our glasses. They use the bigger glasses without stems and so they pour less alcohol since the glass has a wider base...but it just seemed too little. Service and food were wonderful though. I had the lunch steak and my boyfriend had the lunch quesadilla. Both plates had so much food and the prices were reasonable, around $8. They ran out of the shrimp cerviche...boo! but they did have a really good seafood tapa, around $10 that filled us up! For dessert it was the flan leche; it was huge and tasty!
(4)
Kevin M.
Ordered the chicken quesadillas, which were very good. The included sides were the real treats though. The fried plantains and rice and beans were unbelievable, while the yuca was good. The plate's presentation was incredibly beautiful. I had a couple of Aguila beers, which were delightful. The staff, despite the fact that we were pushing the 10PM close, were friendly and attentive. I would gladly return.
(4)
Jillian Q.
I have mixed feelings about La Casa De Pedro. When thinking about all my experiences there, I come to the conclusion that I just "like" it. I don't love it or ever really "rave" about it, but I do like it. The lunch service seems a bit faster than dinner service, but I have waited a ridiculous amount of time at dinner (more than once) for someone to initially come to our table. They have amazing mojitos, although they are a bit pricey. The tequenos and bebe andres are my two favorite appetizers and if there are more than 2 of us at dinner we always order an extra plate of tequenos. I've tried most things on the menu and, surprisingly, the things I like the best are the quesadillas and the yucca. The steak with onions is also pretty good, although I felt it a bit heavy on the oil. Every once in a while they will have a great special too. Like I said, I will go back, but mostly because it is so close to my house.
(3)
T W.
A few months after I posted first review, I had to go again with coworkers... food was better. Same dish tasted differently this time.
(3)
Jeff F.
Checked La Casa De Pedro out this past Wednesday for lunch. Carne a la parrilla (steak with yuca, plantains and black bean rice) was very good. From what I understand, it's supposed to be a good dinner spot with worthwhile cocktails - I'd consider coming back for dinner.
(4)
Rafa R.
The food here is mostly good, and the restaurant is nicely furnished and decorated. The checkered floor somehow gives it an authentic Latin American feel. Pedro is ever-present and it's obvious that he takes pride in his establishment. Some items on the menu seem strangely overpriced. I've also found some of the food a little disappointing, so I usually stick to my favorites: the chicken and avocado arepa and the roasted chicken (pollo en brasa). The latter comes with fried plantains, fried yuca and rice & beans. It's like a quick trip to Caracas for lunch. Pedro has lasted longer than the previous occupants of this locale, and it's not hard to see why.
(4)
O G.
Good Latin restaurant. Good atmosphere quality food and not just tacos and enchiladas.... Great place to take someone special
(4)
Ken M.
A solid 3.5 stars for La Casa De Pedro. The decor is pretty nice and it's a very large space. The bathrooms are alright. The food was very good, the appetizers were delish. We split three epanadas and an arepa. The chicken epanada and the bean epanadas were my favorite. For dinner I had a pork platter which was pretty good, though it wasn't exactly what I was thinking I was getting. Andy's beef dish tasted really good. Service is a bit slow, especially once the check is dropped. Good luck on getting someone to take it for you.
(4)
Maggie M.
Love, love, LOVE La Casa De Pedro. I try to get a visit in every time I'm in town. It's gotta lovely interior, outdoor seating that's okay, and great staff. Pollo en Brasa or the Quesadilla do it for me along with the black bean rice, yuca and sweet plantains on the side. Some don't like the yuca-think it's kind a dry, but I dig its lightly fried texture. Pedro also uses a nice cilantro sauce over it and some entrees- totally tasty. The flan is also creamy and tasty.
(5)
Alison S.
A great experience, with a live band and some of the BEST food I have had since moving to Boston. In addition to the wonderful food their drinks are delicious (get a margarita). The only thing you will have to get past are the prices, but for the quality of food and drink it is worth trying! Additionally, the staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Lisa C.
I haven't had such good Latin food since I left Miami over a decade ago. We ordered tequenos for appetizers, which were delicious. I had the carne parilla which was very similar to Cuban cuisine's ropa vieja, stellar. For dessert, a friend and I shared a coconut flan, which honestly was like I died and went to heaven. I've driven back to Watertown on two separate occasions just to get the flan.
(5)
Katie J.
Great outdoor space for good weather. The food is good, drinks are strong, and staff is friendly.
(3)
Katie H.
I saw this place driving by and I couldn't wait to try it. It's a little tricky to find inside the Arsenal building complex but once you follow the arrows, you should find it and a parking spot in no time! :) Walking in La Casa De Pedro, I immediately notice the warm yellow walls, the giant palm trees in brightly colored pots, the Moroccan lights and the seemingly art deco details of the building. It's a very cool vibe. The decor reminds me of old photos of historic Havana before Castro took over Cuba. Havana is a gorgeous European city set among swaying palm trees and island breezes. Before 1959, it was a tropical paradise favored by celebrities and the international jet-set who lounged in designer garb at decadent cabarets and sipped champagne in glittering nightclubs. You don't have to fear losing your head at La Casa De Pedro but figuratively you will once you try their mojitos and entrees. I am very picky about my mojitos. I had an apartment on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen lived upstairs. I had a young love break-up and I was sitting in the courtyard having a smoke and trying not to cry in my soup. Frances saw me and she invited me up for a drink. She had just returned from Cuba and she offered to make me a mojito. I never had one so I said, "Sure, why not?" She put fresh mint at the bottom of the glass, added crushed ice and then pummeled the mint and ice with a sugar cane stick. I was mesmerized. When she was done, she added rum (did you know if use vodka instead of rum it's "The Ivy" gimlet?) and served me one of the most delicious drinks ever. We shared our mojitos and our stories. Next up, she made a pitcher. I made more excuses for my ex. Finally, she stared me down with the eyes of an oracle and said, "Give yourself permission to hate him." The mojito and the message was something I never forgot. Since then, I feel like 90% of the bartenders in this world are intent on making the crappiest mojito ever. My dear mixologists, take out the artificial flavors and sugary syrups because the simplest things are fresh and fresh always tastes the best. I know fresh is more expensive to use then crap but it's the crap that killed the mojito's fleeting popularity during the mid-2000's. That is why I am very happy I found La Casa De Pedro where I can finally get a freshly made mojito. Pardon my Latin when I say this but their mojito is, "La Cojones" (Da Ballz)! After our libations to the Rum God, we started with a shrimp and cheese quesadilla. Simple and good. We then shared La Paella Pedro. It was super delicious as I am a huge fan of paella (think cioppino or La Mer stew but little to no broth and saffron rice ) because when it's done well it's not only excellent tasting but also very romantic to share an entree made pour deux. Finally, we ended with the milk flan. It was thick like a vanilla custard and drizzled with caramel. Yum!
(5)
Kirk V.
I haven't eaten here for years since I live in Phoenix, but I really really want to go back. This was the first time I had Venezuelan food and I loved it! I also think this was one of the first restaurants that started my appreciation for food. In addition to the great food was the great service, I really felt at home there. Very friendly staff, it's also nice to see the owner greeting people like family. One of these days I'll get back to Boston!
(4)
Liz A.
Three of us had dinner here before catching a play at the theatre/arts center right next door at the Arsenal -- so the location was really convenient, and I'd plan another dinner/play combo because of that convenience (and because I liked my dinner!). It's a big, noisy, boisterous place, with a menu that's rooted in Venezuelan cuisine. It would be a great place to come back to for drinks and apps alone -- they've got fun, diverse lists for both, and a whole separate rum list. I had a decent mojito (though the waiter first brought me a margarita by mistake), and others at the table enjoyed a black raspberry margarita and some Malibu & diet coke. I later tried a Crribbean Breeze -- too sweet/fruity for me, but fun. For apps we shared tequenos (I'm gonna short-hand it as Venezuelan fried cheese) and a beef and cheese arepa. I really liked the arepa and want to try different kinds. One of us ordered the trout, another ordered shrimp in an orange/coconut sauce served in a coconut shell, and I had the pabellon criollo -- "The most traditional Venezuelan dish. Shredded beef slowly simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans." Couldn't see any vegetables, but the meat was tasty and tender. The plantains were AWESOME. My companions enjoyed their entrees as well. For dessert, one of us tried (and gushed about) the leche flan; a couple of coffees rounded it out for two of us. They do a brisk and boisterous business. I thought it was a solid experience overall -- I'd come back again, given the variety of the menus. Lots to try in the future.
(3)
Loan L.
They call this a tapas place? There are like 9 items on the menu for tapas and most of them are mediocre. Where do I begin, Our server was less than enthusiastic. He was about excited to serving our table as a person getting a root canal. I ordered the red sangria at first and swore that they were stomping the grapes because that took forever to come. Then sangria was awful, there was more club soda in it than wine, and there were like little diced fruit in it, not the usual chunks of fruit. I then ordered the mojito and it was really really bad. Adding mass quantities of alcohol to a drink does not a good drink make. I couldn't taste the sugar cane or mint from the mojito because the bucket of rum they dumped into it over powered it. And the food: We ordered the ceviche which was probably the best item we got, which was way too sweet. I couldn't taste the lightness of a true ceviche. The tequenos which tasted like a bunch of cheese in an eggroll that they probably got from the frozen section of Stop and Shop. The arepa with beef and cheese was tasteless and burnt. Our seafood on a skewer which was $25 was terrible. The swordfish was really dry and the shrimp and scallops where probably marinaded in salt for weeks. The whole meal was terrible, dry and salty. Our entire bill came to $80 and it was soooooo not worth it. To add to this awful dinner, this place does not accept AmEx. We will never go back to this place again and i truly regret not going to Machu Picchu.
(1)
Melissa Y.
Delicious! I was there today for lunch with a friend. Igor was our waiter, super friendly and had our apps and drinks out super fast. I'm glad we took his advice on trying the yucca, Yummy! Our meal was terriffic, can't wait to go back. and ask for Igor.
(5)
Chris D.
First let me preface this by saying that the food was really good. However, my enthusiasm for this restaurant quickly soured once I got the bill. I got the traditional beef dish and my girlfriend got the quesadilla. When I ordered my dish, my waiter asked me if I wanted an Arepas to go with it to put the beef in. He made it sound as if it came with it but it was optional. I said sure. When we got our food, my girlfriend asked for more salsa and sour cream for her quesadilla (there was barely any). When we got the sour cream and salsa, it came dressed up as a fancy side, which is not how we were excepting it to be. When the bill came, I was really surprised to see they charged me for $3 dollars for the Areapas (a small muffin) and $4.50 for the extra sour cream and salsa! This place is already way to expensive and to have this top it off! When I told the waiter I was really surprised he charged me for the sour cream and salsa he said the kitchen made him ring it up. Plus he charged us for a flan that we didnt get so he had to take that off. Anyway, if you plan on going in there just getting two entrees, beware of any extras or options they may present to you, because you will see them on the bill.
(2)
Lucy W.
Love the decor and the outdoor patio. I've been there both for lunch & dinner and the food has been great. I recommend the chicken empanadas and the De La Roques salad. The service is kinda "hands-off"- the servers are good at bringing your food & beverage but don't do much beyond that...I liked that they weren't constantly asking if things were ok and would appear when I needed a new drink. Speaking of drinks, their mixed drink menu is extensive and the drinks, delicious! Location is great, parking is thoroughly available.
(4)
Rachael T.
jalepeno margarita now costs $14! we sat outside on a lovely summer evening. our server was awful. A nearby server took our drink order and brought us bread before our server even greeted us! did not like the escabeche - basically pickled red onion topped with cold fried haddock(?) and rubbery shrimp. areapas with queso blanco weren't as good as I had hoped either.
(3)
Mark M.
Accessible, Friendly, Helpful and Delicious! With a gluten intolerance, I wrote the restaurant from their website in order to find out what, if anything, I could eat on their menu. Pedro, the chef and owner of the restaurant, wrote back to me within an hour and we conversed about his menu through email all day. In his last email he told me to ask for him directly at the restaurant, which I did. Pedro came over to my table and went over the entire menu letting me know what I could and could not order. It was very reassuring that my meal would be cooked as I needed. During the meal, which was absolutely delicious, Pedro stopped by a few more times and asked me by name, "Mark how did everything come out?" All in all, I was thrilled with the service (our waiter was great), the food (all of our tapas were perfect, especially the mussels) and the overall experience at this restaurant. I couldn't recommend it more after the way they treated me. Oh by the way... the white sangria is a definite must.
(5)
John P.
I come here pretty often. For a beautiful restaurant in an office park, I found the prices pretty reasonable. I can only speak with confidence on the quesadilla con chorizo, but man - that is indeed a quesadilla stuffed with chorizo! So very good. Pro user tip: I've never waited longer than 15 minutes on a takeout order, even during the lunchtime rush. Call ahead and pick one up.
(4)
Ariel G.
La Casa De Pedro has an amazing selection of authentic Latin American dishes. Their servings are huge and the food is VERY good. It's a bit pricey but well worth it.
(4)
David H.
I eat here often out of protest for the awful Panera adjacent to it. The quesadillas are actually quite good. They are served with rice, beans, plantains and yucca, which I've grown to like. The service here is strange. I should start by saying that the people are all very nice. To their credit, they have never screwed up an order. I should also mentioned that they've endured and successfully served both of my parents at various times, and as someone who grew up with them I can attest to that being no small feat. Where it gets strange is that they seem to have very little formal training as wait staff. They frequently will interrupt conversations or reach across the table to grab a drink glass at inopportune moments or worse still, they'll ask the patrons to help them out by handing them things they don't feel like reaching for off the table. It's not a big complaint, but it's strangely noticeable. My main complaint is that the lunch menu is painfully limited. There are a lot of great things on the dinner menu, but they are for some reasons off limits for lunch. I agree with the previous reviewer that the prices are a bit high, but if 9 dollars for a quesadilla sounds like a lot you do have to consider the location.
(3)
Oreo L.
I've been dining @ La Casa De Pedro since they were in Watertown Square! Everytime I come here I leave happy. Must order the mussels for appetizer if you are okay with eating seafood. The cod & salmon for entree, can't go wrong. Portions are very generous. Come here happy, leave here happier.
(5)
Pablo S.
I was here this weekend and the worse thing about this place is gotta be the managers drinking at the bar.. the food took a long time to arrived and no one came to check on us, the drinks are horrible for the price.. it will take a long time for the whole family to come back here.
(1)
Nicole B.
One of my favorite restaurants. Very generous portions. Excellent margaritas that use their in-house sour mix (no sugar added). The margaritas are so good here, that I got their recipe and now request it anywhere else I go. Even on their busiest nights, I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes (they may tell you 45 min, but the actual wait time is almost always 20 min or less). Friendly staff, great food (especially if you're a meat eater), fun decor and ambiance. On weekend evenings, they have a live latin band. For gluten-free people....they will cook your food in a dedicated gluten-free fryer if you request it.
I had lunch/early dinner here yesterday and it was def worth the trip to Watertown. The food is fantastic and portions are generous. But more on that in a second - first ambiance: Our serve was a funny warm man who was inclined to suggest tastier, and (mildly) healtheri alternatives to our food choices. All well intentioned though! The owner Pedro is a cute round old man who is very charming and came up to the table at the end of the meal to ask about our experience and thank us for coming. The place itself is large and colorful and comfortable. The food, again, is excellent! Reminiscent of Peruvian food with delicious fried yucca, rice (both yellow and with beans) and plantain served with every entree. Which is very generous. Definitely filling! I did think that the menu was rather pricey (like $16-30 entrees), and with most things in the 18-24 range, which to me is pricey (dont know what others are "working with"!). But i just ordered soup (which was a very large bowl for $3.75) and an arepa which were generously sized and cost $9 together. A couple suggestions: 1) Go for lunch, the lunch menu was extensive and much more affordable. Lunch ends at 3 (so we missed it, but im sure the portion size is probably decent for lunch). 2) I didnt have any, but was told the beef empanada was bland. The beef also was cornbeef hash with little potatoes. The blackbean and cheese empanada i was told was good, so try that instead!
(4)
Matt D.
Well let me first start off by saying that I had moderately high expectations the first time I set foot in this place. Looking over the menu, I noticed that they really didn't have a fantastic selection of entrees for vegetarians. I decided on the vegetable quesadilla (snore), and my coworkers ordered a bunch of meat and fish dishes. They seemed pleased with their choices, but my quesadilla was pretty disgusting. Something just didn't seem right about it. The yucca on the side was also extraordinarily chalky. The real disappointment set in the next day when I started shitting and puking my brains out for FOUR DAYS STRAIGHT. Yes folks, it seems that something in my veggie quesadilla gave me a nasty, nasty case of food poisoning. I was completely incapacitated for an entire weekend and it took another week for my digestive system to return to normal. Thanks Pedro. Honestly though, while I had an exceptionally bad experience there, I have heard decent things about the place. If you're going to try it, just be cautious about the choices you're making from the menu.
(1)
Jillian Y.
I wish I could've rated this place higher, because upon entering, I was wholly impressed. Love the decor and the atmosphere but felt sick several hours after eating and think I may have gotten food poisoning from the calamari...awesome. And considering how overpriced the food was, that's just not right. Also, my red sangria was absolutely disgusting. Too strong and flavorless.
(2)
Chad B.
We have been going to Pedros since it's old location in Watertown Square. Pedro's Steaks are savory and always complimented with ample sides. The margaritas and mojitos are expertly mixed and not cloying. Cap off the meal with some orders of chocolate and coconut flan, and you are in heaven. One of our favorite places. For those who like hot sauce, they make their own fresh which you can order on the side or by the bottle to take home.
(5)
Vanilla P.
Fake palm trees! Fake palm trees! Live Venezuelan music! Mojitos that are fabulous! Very nice indeedy. We went last night and were seated almost right next to the kitchen, but I was fine with that since the live music was a little loud. Our waiter was pleasant enough, and was helpful in recommending the number of tapas we should order. Here's what we got: ME: Chicken and avocado arepas - like an English muffin grilled with cold chicken and guacamole smooshed in the middle. Chicken empanada - really strong flavors, with an almost curry-like addictive trait. Fried Yucca - wow, who knew a tuber would be this fab? Came out with cilantro and garlic sauce, and reminded me of giant steak fries (but better). Oh, and a Diet Coke in a nice tumbler glass with a lime slice - perfect for making me look cool. Hubby: Pabellon Criollo - which is Shredded beef slowly simmered with vegetables typical Venezuelan dish. Served with rice, fried plantains and black beans - Thanks, Pedro!! This dish was really amazing, since the beef was super tender and flavorful, and it seemed that everything had been simmered with loving care. Even the black beans were bursting with flavor. Hubby also got a 10 Cane Mojito, and he loved it so much that he validated the $10 price tag, telling me it was the BEST mojito he had in his life. I suppose we'll be back to sit on the patio and look at the stars when the weather warms up. The whole Arsenal area has a pretty jazzy vibe, and La Casa De Pedro warms it up with some kickass Latin flair.
(4)
Erin C.
Their breakfast burrito is just fantastic! Dip those potatoes in the sauce that covers the burrito and I promise you won't regret it!
(4)
Algert S.
When I hear "La Casa De Pedro", greasy and deep-fried food comes to mind. Would NOT recommend!
(1)
M J.
I am a fan. The food is great, ditto the mixed drinks and the sangria, the patio rocks and based on today's visit, the interior is not too shabby either. I guess I had not been inside in some time - it's gone all colorful and latin. It's a bit overdone but I like it! Well, maybe they could lose a few of the mobiles?.... Anyway, they've done well taking a cavernous space and warming it up. Points for the valet parking and the owner who is, as noted previously, on sight. Does he actually *drive* that teenie tiny smart car parked outside? My friend's dog weighs more than that thing. Star off for sometimes spotty service and the small sized plates and highish prices on the lunch entrees.
(4)
Carla s.
Been going since this placed opened... it seems that it's better when it's busy... but it's been dead lately.. Maybe it's the season we are in. I miss seeing Pedro, he used to be there all the time. I don't go as much anymore.. there hot sauce is the best !!!
(4)
william d.
Wonderful atmosphere and great food! I'll be back again for sure!
(4)
Foodie K.
The old Pedro is back! I deleted my earlier review. I think Pedro's was having some growing pains adjusting to the larger space in Arsenal Park, but now it has really gone back to its good old roots. I love their yucas fritas, pabellon criollo, carne encebollada, the ceviche, so many delicious tasty dishes to choose from. Their lunches are quick, cheap(er), and fabulous!
(4)
Naomi U.
Gorgeous outdoor dining venue and an indoor decor that reminds one of the out doors! Nice menu but not very adaptable to people who can't eat pork...things are both cooked in lard and with pork...but perhaps this also guarantees authentic fare - so what can I say? I normally would not rate drinks...but the "10 rum" Mojjitos really are very good.
(3)
Jennifer K.
When Pedro's was in it's old location, it was phenomenal, and you always felt like you were taking part in some great secret. Now, although the food is always good (esp the potato thingies that come with the meal, and the fried hunk of cheese, as I used to call it), the space is farrrrr too big for them, leading often to crappy crappy service, and just an overall feeling of nothing intimate or cozy. The bar is fun after work, however, especially if you can walk there (oh, the old days), and in the summer, the outdoor seating is great for a 2 hour pina colada filled lunch.... ,,,but the space just loses them a good old star.
(4)
S B.
First, the good part: the food here was delicious, overall. But there were a lot of problems leading up to the actual eating of the food. The waiter recommended the red sangria (over the white) and I'm sorry I listened to him. It was a very poor showing of sangria. It tasted almost sour, like day old beer with some red wine in it. And some orange rinds. Hint: put in real orange pieces, not the rind, so the drinker doesn't accidentally eat a rind. It didn't taste fruity at all, and was a major letdown. Our waiter also neglected to offer refills on our beverages. He also walked away when only half our table had ordered. Thanks? Our food took aaaaages to come. It was crowded, but waiting 45 minutes for our meal was a bit ridiculous. I had the Espada de Mar. All the shellfish on the skewer were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. However, I only got one skewer with 2 shrimp, 2 scallops, and 2 pieces of fish. For $25. No matter how delicious they were, a single skewer was not worth that kind of money. I could get high quality seafood in bigger quantities for that price elsewhere. The sides that came with my entree were also quite delicious, but not for that price. The fried plantains were sweet and cooked exactly how I like them. I was also a big fan of the yuca that came with it - you can't get yuca just anywhere. The atmosphere wasn't ideal either. It's a huge place, and gets noisy very easily. Especially when the live band starts at 7:00 PM. Can't they wait until at least 8? Or keep it low-key until then? Live music is a nice touch - but not when it prevents all conversation during a normal dinner hour. Oh, and salt-watchers beware. All of my food was strongly salted, which was fine by me but doesn't suit everyone.
(2)
Lisa E.
This was my second visit. Last fall my boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a lovely meal in an interesting environment. I love the decor & the plants...something very unusual for the Boston area. Our waiter was fast, cordial and knowledgeable about the menu, as as making a couple excellent dish recommendations. I can't remember what those choices were after all this time, except the food was hot , well prepared and beautifully presented. Fast forward to last Sunday for dinner: My son took me out for dinner and I suggested La Casa De Pedro because of my prior experience. It was very busy when we arrived and the waiter was super busy with multiple tables. It took a while to get our cocktails...no big deal and a little longer to place an order. Do not expect any chips and salsa to stave off starvation pangs...they simply are not available. We ordered shrimp ceviche, mussels sauteed with tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, onions and lime juice and Tequeos - it's a puff pastry filled with melted Mexican cheese. The appetizers were all "good" but not as flavorful as I prefer - it's almost as though the food is being prepared to appeal to homogenized taste buds. My entree was a simple pork Quesadilla with a side of beans.....this was a disappointment - when it arrived it had the appearance of sitting under the heat lamp for 15 minutes, the tortilla was hard and the dish itself was over salted, as was my son's. Their dinner prices are rather steep and I felt that the food should be superior in both service and quality. I will go back for lunch because any establishment will have off times and it isn't fair to make a judgment based upon one off night. Try their Mojitos ($11.00) - they were excellent.
(3)
Dharia M.
cocktails: really good, but still overpriced. vegetarian options: really lacking. don't get me wrong, i ADORE any place with 3 kinds of fried cheese on the menu. and i love tapas. but if you don't eat seafood, the only vegetarian entree on the menu is a cheese quesadilla. FYI: just ask the server for a grilled veggie platter and they will bring out a GIANT plate with plantains, rice, beans, and a ton of tasty veggies. (the server was conscientious enough to notify me that the beans were made with chicken stock, so bonus points for her) they are one of the few places in town with a nice patio, and there is often live music. On these hot summer evenings, it really can't be beat. for that kind of atmosphere i'm prepared to lay down some big bucks and gorge myself on tasty tropical cocktails and multiple types fried cheese. mmmm.
(3)
Dan L.
The food is good, not great. I like the steak casadillas. Overall, it's too expensive. The drinks are great, but they're also pretty expensive. If it weren't the closest sit-down option in our complex, I wouldn't eat there nearly as often.
(3)
Robert C.
Took some Italian friends to dinner based on Yelp reviews. Despite the waiter's sincere attempts to converse and attend to our needs, he brought the wrong wine (same winery, incorrect grape) which we did not notice until he opened and poured it (we just kept and drank it quietly) and service was hit and miss. Food? My Cordero (marinated lamb chops) had the consistency of soft rubber and was pretty gray-colored. Let's put it this way - no one was raving about the food, and no one seemed to be motivated to share - not worth it. Edible, but that's the best I can report. Funky location, in an old military (or automotive) research warehouse.
(2)
M D.
Phenomenal Latin food. I try and I try but I honestly can't help but order the cheese arepa and the chicken empanada. Absolutely decadent. Fresh ingredients, innovative twists on the classics. YUM. Don't come in a rush.
(5)
Sarah H.
the food here is awful - everything tastes the same. except the flan, which doesn't taste like the rest of the menu- but still tastes awful and completely not flan-like. very much not worth the money. EXCEPT the plantains, which are amazing. the service is very slow for a place that seems to cater to business lunches (at least in the perspective of someone who goes there for exactly that). I hear the bar is good, but I've never been there - and it's expensive. it's pretty sad that I'd rather go to Panera, which is right next door.
(2)
Stace M.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Terrrrrriiiibbbbllllle service! Our waiter gave every table but ours bread, didn't check in with us once and when I flagged down a bus boy for extra guacamole it took them so long I had already finished my meal! And to top it off they charged me $3 for a scoop of guacamole I didn't even eat! Never again!
(2)
Lauren F.
I work at the Arsenal so I've gone to La Casa de Pedro a few times with coworkers. The food and the service are both decently good but not anything special. The last time I went we got in a bit of trouble with the waitstaff. We went with a group of 5 right at noon and were the first ones there for lunch. They would not seat us at their only large table because it was for 8, even though no one else was there yet. Instead, they put us at two adjacent tables (one for 4 and one for 2). They did not move the tables together, so they were pretty far apart. It would have been awkward to carry on a conversation between the two tables. After the hostess left, we tried to move the two tables together, but she and a waiter came over and told us they could not be moved. Okaaaay. We ended up squishing all together into one table so we could carry on a conversation. I've only had the Pabellón Criollo but I do like it a lot. It is marinated shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans, and white rice. Very tasty and I usually eat nearly everything on my plate (the lunch portions are not huge, I think they're just right but if you are a Hungry Man you may want to get an appetizer). The last time we were there, the waitstaff was a bit quick about removing our plates and bringing the check. I definitely felt rushed. It was a beautiful summer day and we were enjoying the patio, so I would have like to stay, but I felt like they wanted to get rid of us and seat another group. A little disappointing. I'll definitely go back since it's better than eating at Panera during work, but I'd love it if they would improve some of these areas.
(3)
Jason C.
I should start by saying that we have eaten here several times before and the experience was always good, but.... Yesterday I ordered a $10 salad with shrimp & avocado - it showed up on a plate with a pile of romaine lettuce, 6 or 7 miniature shrimp, and 2 tiny slices of avocado. When I asked for more of each, the waiter brought back... a few more miniature shrimp and 2 more tiny slices of avocado. I sent it back again, and after witnessing an argument between the waiter and someone in the kitchen, I was told that this was the typical amount of avocado they put on a salad. Later, someone who appeared to be a manager or owner (didn't identify himself), came over and asked me what was wrong with the salad. I explained to him the same thing I explained to the waiter and the cook (adding that I get about 5 times as much avocado when I order a salad at any other restaurant), and he had the nerve to argue with me about it, saying that they specially cut their own avocado and romaine (whatever that means??) and then that the price of avocados has gone through the roof, etc. etc. My point is: if you can't afford the avocado, take it off the menu, but don't try to pawn this heap of chopped lettuce off as a "shrimp & avocado salad". Then, to top it all off, they charged us $3 for a small plastic cup of milk for my 2-year old daughter. Suffice to say, we will not be going back... this was customer service at its worst, and even the waiters were embarassed by this episode!
(1)
Joanne G.
I worked in Watertown for almost 5 years and this was my fave place to go for lunch and dinner. It used to be on Main Street (in the picture that is posted) but it has moved to further up Main Street towards the Arsenal Mall - where Red Sauce and the Naked Fish used to be - GREAT location lots of parking and the decor is gorgeous (The Naked Fish left everything for them) They have a band who plays and there is even some dancing that can go on. There is always music playing and lots of laughing from the patrons. Eating there is the best - I suggest: Appetizers - Arrepas & Empandaa YUM YUM! Lunch - Pollo en Brasa - seasoned baked chicken with cilantro sauce (TO DIE FOR!) comes with rice, casava (yuka) and fried plantanos I have never had a bad meal here - I apologize from Pedro (who ALWAYS comes by my table when we go there) if you experienced anything other than a fantastically scrumptious meal. I have been told (when it is available) the whole Red Snapper is fantastic - that is my next meal there (I would call ahead to make sure they have any left - it seems to be very popular) Their mixed drinks were ok - I would always like a larger glass of anything ;) Service at their old location was always outstanding - but the new location there are a lot more new people - and I have only had 1 bad server who wasn't around the way the last server was - in fact the server that served us the last time spent more time with us than the server that was assigned to us (I gave a tip at the end of our meal!)
(5)
Betsy K.
To my surprise, I love this place! It looks like a Chachky's (chain restaurant like TGIF's, Naked Fish) but it is not. I get the same thing everytime because I love it so. I normally do not do this at other places. For apps -Ceviche (not authentic but good) -The grilled Venezulan cheese. For dinner or lunch: -Pabellon Criollo, which is delicious shredded beef, beans and rice, and plaintains. -For drinks: lots of white sangria. Pedro is super nice too-he is always coming around. I love his casa!
(4)
edward o.
Have been to this restaurant many times and the service and food have always been good. Actually heading there now when I read the previous review. That table the previous reviewer comments on is not in the bathroom! It is actually at the back right side of the restaurant and a larger table , with some privacy, for larger parties. Last week I sat right across from there in a section of smaller tables, even closer to the hallway to the bathroom, and it was very comfortable. This is a fun place to go to eat and be entertained. The specialty drinks are pricey but no more so than any other quality restaurant. One on mine and my wife's favorite local places. Enjoy.
(5)
Thomas F.
This place isn't bad, but it isn't great. We felt that a lot of the dishes were just the same set of basic components rearranged and called a new dish (for example they all had pretty much the same side dishes) and the food was prepared okay but was unexciting. Overall it didn't justify the price.
(2)
carol l.
Been here twice and it is delicious! I had the Shugui's Pollo Asado which comes with plantains, yucca and rice with beans. This is one of the best meals I have ever had! A little pricey and no bread or anything to start. Drinks start around $10 and up so I skipped on those but otherwise, I definitely recommend trying this place at least once!
(4)
Christian E.
The skinny: go for the tapas, and regardless of quality, this place probably won't last. My old roommates and I were in the area, and thought we'd check out the space where Red Sauce used to be, way back in 2004, and stumbled upon La Casa de Pedro. We were there, so we figured why not? Well, there were a couple of reasons why not, but I'll get to those. How about why? It was a Friday, and there was live music. Mediocre, but entertaining. +1. We got there around 8:30, and there was a 15-minute wait, but nobody was really sitting at the bar (right next to the band), where there's full-menu service, so we decided to sit there. The food is decent--decently tasty, decently priced (on average). The entres seemed relatively pricey, especially the quesadilla plate ($15 for a quesadilla and a few paltry sides), so I went the tapas route, which ended up being the right choice. I got a black bean empanada, a huge green salad (avocado, mesclun greens, lime-cilantro dressing), and a surprisingly large fried yucca plate I split with a friend for $13. An Argentinean guila beer rounded out the meal for me. I was pretty happy; my friend who got the quesadilla was decidedly less content. It's also worth noting that food service at the bar wasn't great. The bartender wasn't busy--we were the only people sitting there--but he was less than attentive, and a tad on the gruff side. I'm aware it's been around for over a year, so perhaps there's hope, but I doubt La Casa de Pedro will make it. It's not visible from the road, so there will be few cases of incidental patronage. There have been two cases of good-but-closed restaurants in this exact location in the past 5 years (Naked Fish, whose fish is incidentally still above the door, and Red Sauce), and it will take a special place indeed to beat the curse. Sadly, I don't think Pedro's is it.
(3)
myr m.
I don't know about most people, but I like to think that restaurants care about their customers in more ways than just $$$$. My daughter and I went, were seated, and the waitress quickly pointed out the kitchen closed at 9pm. I then proceeded to order only a couple of tapas items for my daughter because I had already had dinner. The waitress adamantly told me that I would have to order something for myself. I explained that I had already eaten and was there to get my daughter something to eat. She then kept pointing to a spot on the menu and said, " See, right here. It says there is a minimum charge for dinner, $15 per person". I continued to protest as we had already ordered more tapas than what my daughter could eat. The food would have gone to waste. Noticing that I was becoming annoyed and was about to leave, the waitress then decides she can make an exception just this one time. Now I understand that more and more restaurants are instituting a minimum charge per person, or they charge an additional fee for sharing dishes, but consumers should not have to take and swallow this, so to speak.... especially when the food is as mediocre as it was at Casa de Pedro. The empanadas were big on grease and low on flavor. The Tortilla Espanola looked charred; to say it was dry is an understatement. The only dish I can't speak ill of were the fried plantains. Thank goodness for nature's sweet goodness. But for fried plantains, I think I'll just make those at home. Thanks, but no thanks. Casa de Pedro just doesn't seem very hospitable when they're twisting my arm to order more food than we wanted or needed.
(2)
Al G.
Decent - but a little pricey. We ordered four tapas which were tasty & ample. I hope to go back for entrees eventually. It was a nice change of pace to have Venezuelan food.
(4)
Jeffrey K.
I work right next to this joint so I go there all the time. The fact that people actually go to panera bread instead of Pedro's right next door is beyond me. The prices are comparable but the food isn't. Pedro's is super yummy. Their cuban sandwich is second to none and the special are always good. Only get their hot sauce if you really like hot sauce though. Its homemade and you never really know how high octane its going to be. The service is pretty spot on too, especially the bartenders. They aren't pretentious like I would expect at a place like that. My only gripe is that they won't let you drink outdoors on the patio area without purchasing food. Apparently there is some local rule against it but cut a brother a break. I've gone there will a large group of people after work. All of us are fine with throwing money around and could easily run up a liquor tab of a few hundred dollars (stressful days are standard around here). Why they pass on that is beyond me.
(4)
Jessica T.
I ate here today for the first time and loved it. I was w/ coworkers are we only had an hour break. The staff was friendly and efficient. Loved the decor and the cobalt blue water glasses. I got a salad w/ roasted red peppers, avocado and sesame seeds. It was served with a cilantro dressing- yum. It was very refreshing.
(4)
Mo S.
Food - definitely good. Great for a change of pace, and they have a reasonably sized menu that doesn't get out of control - have the steak quesadillas, the beef empanadas and the garlic shrimp. Service - brutally slooowwwwwwwww..... order your next drink when you've just started your first one - otherwise, it may never come. Prices - slightly crazy. You have to be strategic - either stick to a main course, or just a couple of tapas. Drinks are really expensive, but pretty good, so it can be worth it every once in a while to get the top shelf mojito..... Nice to see a place at this location that has a hope of making it. Also - not to be overlooked - they have a great patio overlooking the fountain that is perfect for lunch/late afternoon cocktails. Nice on a Saturday!!!
(4)
Suzanne M.
We had a wonderful lunch here. The special jalapeno margarita was a hit with the spice lovers at the table (I took a taste and survived). The fried cheese with roasted corn - yum! Get extra corn. For an entree I had the marinated pork chops, which were cooked perfectly, and hubs had the mixed lobster / scallop / shrimp special with mango sauce. I wish I had gotten that - it was amazing. But I wasn't unhappy with my pork chops!
(4)
Nathaniel M.
A good place for tasty Latin food. I have been there many times. The owner is often there and they can accommodate for allergies. Their fish dishes are excellent. A bit pricey. You must try the the fried Yucca as an app.
(4)
Kevin T.
I work in this area so frequent La Casa De Pedro a lot. Sometimes I go there multiple times a week for lunch, so I've pretty much tried most of their menu. I recommend this place for a nice, casual meal in a relaxed environment. I usually go for their quesadillas (shrimp is my fav), but aside from that, their meats and fish entrees are very well seasoned and tasty. Portion is not an issue - all or most of the dishes i've had come with beans/rice, plantains, and yuca. Sometimes they can pour on too much of the cilantro (oil) sauce, and on off days their food can be a bit saltier than I like, but overall, the food is great. Some dishes I recommend (don't remember the exact name, sorry): - roasted half chicken - grilled steak (they have other steaks for dinner, but grilled steak is lunch only) - cape cod - quesadilla (shrimp) - salmon (dinner only) Appetizers are great as well, from the empanadas to shrimp sauteed in garlic and cilantro (Camarones al ajillo) to arepas (chicken, pork, and beef are all great). I would definitely try this place if the food is your style. During work days, lunch time can be a bit busy, but wait times generally aren't long. Dinner times are not super crowded as well, though the bar can be at happy hour. During summer, they have outdoor seating as well. Parking is a breeze during dinner and weekends - Pedro's is located in a huge office park with outdoor and garage parking. They have valet parking for $2, but frankly, I'd only consider it if I drove there during lunch on weekdays (since you'd most likely have to park in the garage on the top floor).
(4)
Joe Z.
I went to Casa de Pedro based on some glowing recommendations. I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed. Everything was overly salty and the service was slow and not very good in general.
(2)
Tanvi D.
Pros - Good food, Good Drinks, Can handle crowds Cons - Bit Pricey, Closes too early on weekdays We went there in a big group (about 12 people) on a tuesday for a friend's birthday party. Our reservations were for 8:00pm. But, we didn't all gather there till 8:30.. Some of us who go there early had a chance to order drinks and settle down and read the menu. By the time the "Birthday Person" arrived, we were told that the kitchen was going to close in 1/2 hour, so, we had to order immediately if we wanted food.. Now, its partly our fault for not checking what time the restaurant closes. As for food, we ordered a bunch of appetizers and couple main dishes for everyone to share. This was definitely a good decision. The portions were large and filling. We had Empanadas, Yuca Frita, Arepas. I can't remember what we had for the entrees. But, those were delicious as well. I think I'll go there again (maybe in a smaller group and earlier) to try their other dishes..
(4)
J. G.
We went to Casa de Pedro for a celebratory dinner and it was definitely not as good as the last time we went. I was a bit embarassed because I had raved about how good the food was last time. The food was all completely mediocre. The rice was hard and my pork was just warm. Everyone at the table was completely underwhelmed.
(2)
Alex N.
I went to Pedro's with a group of 7 people to celebrate a friend returning to the states from abroad. It took 15 minutes just for a server to come over to get our drinks and apps, another 10 for the drinks to come, 45 min for the apps, and about 1-1/2 hrs after we got there we complained that our meals hadn't come yet. So timing isn't their thing. However, after we complained to the manager, he did his best to make it better by getting us a few rounds of free drinks and a nightcap shot before we left. The food was decent, I recommend the Arepas with Chicken and Avacodo. The flank steak was a little overcooked.
(2)
Paul M.
Casa De Pedro used to be a dark and cozy little spot in Watertown Square. Now it's an enormous brightly lit warehouse hidden in an office park near the Arsenal Mall. The owners must not want people to eat here because there is almost no way to find the place. Their single sign is camoflauged in a sea of similar advertisements on flag poles. The food and the service have gone downhill with the new digs. We waited over an hour for a mediocre entrees paired with predictably lame rice and beans that tasted canned. Our waiter fumbled with the wine opener and dropped a dish or two on the floor. He refilled our waters once in the 2+ hour period we were there. I can no longer recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Jenny N.
You can tell that the owner takes great pride in his restaurant, because the first page of the menu describes how his mother influenced his cooking. It's a lovely tribute... They claim to have the best roast chicken in the state, and I have to say that I'm not gonna argue that--the skin is crispy and meat is moist and flavorful. It came with sides of fried plantains, black beans and rice, and fried yucca. A delicious, light herb sauce was drizzled over the dish (I think it was cilantro based, and I usually HATE cilantro). I loved the complementary flavors (sweet, salty & starchy all on one plate!), and everything was seasoned just right. For dessert, we polished off the coconut flan. It was super creamy and thick--like coconut creme brulee without the crackly part. Instead, it was topped with a thin caramel sauce. So yummy. It was one of the best lunches I've ever had, and I left very satisfied. And lunch was a deal ($9) compared to the dinner prices ($16-24). They have brunch on the weekends, too. I had been eager to try this place since I used to drive by the old location fairly frequently, so I'm glad I was not disappointed. I think I'm going back for lunch of these days to try out the Cuban sandwich... Service was quite good, and the dining area is really nice--very comfortable, spacious, and colorful! Large bar too. Bonus-- there is free parking in the Arsenal garage, across from the restaurant. The Arsenal itself can be difficult to navigate though...kinda like a weird parking lot maze.
(5)
Dan H.
Service was bad. Food was decent but not worth the price. The place is huge and very nice inside and the live music was a great touch but the service could not have been worse. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing. Calamari was sub par. Honestly, not impressed with the food. Definetly just try somewhere else. La Casa de Sucko
(1)
Megan L.
Love this place. I've only eaten here for lunch but I work in the area and go all the time. Chicken quesadillas or the Raquel salad--yum! Food and service are excellent. They sometimes skimp on the condiments but if you ask for extra, no problem.
(5)
Daigo F.
Very happy that they moved here. The location used to be Naked Fish, then Red Sauce, then Marzo 13 (or something like that), but none of them was close to how good this is. Ceviche and beer to start, and so far, we have not ordered anything on the menu that we didn't like. We'll keep going back. update: Just tried Sunday Brunch... price was pretty reasonable, but have to give a mixed review... Frenh toast was burned and undercooked at same time, if thats even possible. Venezuelan Pancake was OK, but also had a burned taste. I guess stick with lunch menu or perhaps I just had a bad day? Still like thsi joint. Best Ceviche, still for the summer.
(4)
Meghan O.
My coworkers and I enjoy Casa de Pedro for lunch as well as after work drinks. The drinks are strong and tasty. I recommend the shrimp quesadilla for a good value.
(4)
Ted B.
I had a company lunch outing here last week. I got the "states best" chicken with extra plantains. The chicken was good but the plantains are what made the meal. The inside was very nice but our table was a bit small for the amount of people we had. The Cane 10 Mojito I had was a great way to start the meal.
(4)
Monica D.
Was not as great as my boss said. Everything was incredibly salty. I did like the chicken and avocado arepas and fried plantains. Unfortunatly we went for an office lunch meeting, so I could not try any adult beverages.
(2)
Nora G.
New location is huge but nice. Fun music playing. Tapas were tasty and well priced. Cappucino was perfect. The flan (a group of us shared the milk and chocolate ones) was killa!
(5)
Cathy H.
Perhaps I got here on a good night- but there were quite a few people, but it wasn't overly crowded. Since I had not been to the previous Pedros, I didnt have any high expectations to compare it to. The decor was interesting, but the really high ceilings gives it a very commercial feel. I started with a white sangria because I love to use the excuse of going to a new place to have a fruity drink. It was good- not too sweet. We split a Verde Salad, which was just as advertised- cilantro dressing- but the oily kind, not the creamy kind. Not bad. Fresh vegetables though. For dinner I had the Hallacas, (similar to a chille relleno) which I really, really liked. It came with plantains, chicken salad, and two types of rice- yum! I walked out full and happy.
(4)
Holson Y.
Finishing my 2nd 10 cane mojito. The best and only mojito I really like. 2nd down being habana's at Costa Mesa, CA. Pedros is my fave thoi its less sweet Food is unbelievable as always. Expensive yes but if you want to gather your greatest friends, show them a good time, awesome drinks, food, spirit and ambiance, look no further. Plus this is the only reason to visit watertown I concur with another yelpers suggestion to expand out west. We need a place like this under the sunny skies and canary island palm trees of so cal. Show em how its done Again, if you expect cheap please try a different place. My bi weekly OC-Boston trip ALWAYS includes this place in the itinerary. If you love this place for its style and character, message me and ill recommend a few like it in Orange County. Happy Labor Day!
(5)
Chris L.
I was pretty skeptical of this place based on the reviews I had read, complaining about slow service and bland food. Nevertheless, my three friends and I gave it a shot tonight. While we are regulars at Rudy's, in Teele Square, and Border Cafe, we wanted to venture out and see what Watertown had to offer, in terms of Latin fare. It was pretty good. We went on a Saturday night at about 7:15pm and the wait was less than 5 minutes. Parking was ample in the garage across from the Watertown BSC. The first thing we all noticed were the ridiculous prices of the specialty drinks. I wanted a mojito, but didn't really feel like paying $10-12. As a result my friends and I ordered a pitcher of sangria to share. The pitcher was small and after four people had filled their glasses, it was gone. I'd give the sangria itself an 8/10. For appetizers, we all split the Queso blanco a la plancha (grilled Venezuelan cheese) and the Ceviche. The grilled cheese was interesting...just a grilled piece of cheese on a plate and the ceviche was a little too tomatoey for my taste. I've had better. Appetizers I'd rate a 6.5/10. For entrees, I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (1/2 chicken), and my friends got the chicken quesadillas, Pabellon Criollo (shredded beef), and Trucha Galarraga (trout). My chicken wasn't bad, but it was pretty bland and the breast meat was a little over cooked and dry. I asked for hot sauce and the waiter brought me a cup of spicy mustard, which I thought was weird. Is Venezuelan hot sauce mustard? The chorizo that came with my meal was good though, as were the sides. My friends loved the shredded beef, and the quesadillas. However, my friend who ordered the trout was disappointed and ended up with a trout bone lodged in the back of her throat, which she did not really appreciate. I wouldn't suggest ordering the trout unless you don't mind bones in your fish. Finally, the waitstaff was slightly better than average, although my friend ordered a side of guac, and it didn't come until she was 3/4 finished with her meal. Our waiter was friendly and it didn't take too long to get our food. Overall, I was happy with my meal and I will probably go there again. However, I would still rate Rudy's higher, in terms of quality and value.
(3)
Anonymous P.
Surprisingly good. In many ways, I prefer the food here to that at East Coast Grill. It's more authentic and spicier, and the portions are larger. The prices--at least for lunch--are very cheap. It's not the absolute best Latin American food I've had, but it's the best I've had in Boston. 7/14/2007: Been to the new location. Too salty but otherwise good. Nice patio.
(4)
Rob D.
Wow. Wow. Stunning. Magnificent. Wonderful, flavorful, authentic Venzualian food. Run by a real guy named Pedro, this family run operation recently moved from Main street in Watertown to its new location behind the Arsenal Office Building. I haven't been to the new spot, but a friend tells me that its only gotten better. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and truly happy to see you. Go there. Eat happy.
(5)
Al A.
Bad service. Over priced food. Over priced drinks. I hope the boss is paying for this company outing.
(2)
Emily K.
Recently had lunch here with coworker...right across the street from where i work. I was a bit skeptical because I don't like red meat and the menu had a lot....but their chicken dish with mango and apricots was delicious. It was my first time trying yucca...also very yummy! I'd love to go back and try some seafood ...my coworkers said it was great!
(4)
carol b.
We just ate dinner here tonight for the first time and I loved everything we ordered (I'm from Venezuela but haven't lived there in decades; it was a fond memory trip to eat at Pedro's). I can understand reviewers not liking the tequeños or the arepas, they are bland even in Venezuela, but they are a wonderful acquired taste. My queso blanco arepa's crust was a little burnt, but it was still delicious. I had the sancocho (chicken soup) and it had apio, a legume I've never had here in the US; it was really good. My beef empanada was yummy. My children shared the Parrillada de Caracas (I think that's the name of the entree) which had steak, chicken and chorizo along with yuca and plantains and they (and I) loved it. My husband had the Christmas special platter with hallaca, it was also delicious (though I'm sure it will soon be gone till next December). My Caipirinha drink was really good though it's technically Brazilian. :) Finally, we had coconut quesillo (note: Venezuelans do not eat flan, they eat QUESILLO, a much denser custard than flan - yes, it's meant to be much heavier, it is not "bad flan") and rice pudding for dessert and we all enjoyed them. It is pricey, but we'll definitely be going back to satisfy my cravings for Venezuelan food. I can't speak to the service when it's crowded since we ate at 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon and it was practically empty.
(4)
Wally G.
When we walked into the place the hostess was kind enough. I immediately noticed the place was pretty empty (maybe not too surprising for 7pm on a Tues night)... we were a party of 4 and requested a corner booth. The hostess took us to a regular booth. We asked again, can we have a corner booth, the hostess responded "those are for parties of 5"... I looked around, and again saw the place was about 5% full, and asked her, "are you expecting a rush of people?"... she said, "let me ask my manager". After she gained management approval, we were then seated in a corner booth. Other than this, food was mediocre and not worth the high "cuisine" price. Margarita's start at $11 and go up into the mid $20's. The service was VERY slow - surprisingly so for an empty restaurant. At the end of the dinner, as we SLOOOOWLY walked out noticed that there wasn't one staff member around - not a huge deal, but, symbolic of the overall experience. I would not recommend this place to a friend.
(2)
Edmon K.
First time in Venezuelan restaurant and totally enjoy the experience. Will definitely go again.
(4)
Teju P.
We randomly drove by looking for a brunch place, and the large sign outside caught our eye. I think we were hooked even before we entered! There was nice latin musical playing just outside the door and a large sign with the main menu items as well...The high ceilings, light colors, and lots of p lants make the ambiance fabulous. Food is excellent - they will alter your order to be vegetarian if requested. One thing that I enjoyed is that when they say "hot sauce" its REALLY hot! I would love to check this place out for dinner sometime!
(5)
Roxanna M.
La Casa De Pedro serves authentic Venezuelan food - simple, tasty and filling - and does it in a nice, cozy setting. If you're not familiar with latin food, have some fun and try something new! The food here's the real thing, I can attest to that. I recommend the arepas (the reina pepiada is my favorite - a corn bread filled with shredded chicken and avocado) and for an entree the pabellon criollo (a massive plate of shredded beef, white rice, black beans and fried ripe plantains - all of it delicious). Of course, dessert must include flan. It's the law. You will know who Pedro is as soon as you walk in the door - he is gregarious and takes frequent breaks from the kitchen to greet his guests. The staff is attentive and friendly, there's outdoor dining in the summer - all in all a great authentic restaurant.
(4)
Natalie K.
Great food, not slathered with cheese like cheap Mexican food. Healthy, filling, good sized portions. Margaritas are pricey $11-25 per one.
(5)
Stuart S.
Tried this place for the first time. Nice menu, good food, good drinks. Service left a lot to be desired. Two of us, arrived around 6:15 pm on a weeknight, inside dining room was virtually empty. Even so it took about 15 minutes for a waiter to come over to the table. One of those situations in which I was ready to walk out. I'd try it again, but this is something they definitely need to work on.
(3)
Meghan M.
I'm sort of surprised at some of the poor reviews of this place. I did prefer their previous location...It was super low-key and much more casual and authentic feeling. This location is HUGE. Really high ceilings (which does make it noisy when there's a crowd). Because of the noise level, it's probably a place more suited for groups (completely opposite of their other location which was tiny). I think they're still trying to settle in here which might be why the service isn't fantastic. I do like their mojitios and they have a few nice red wines on their "by the glass" list. I have to say, though, that there's one thing that will keep me coming back to Pedro's...SWORDFISH TIPS. Soooooo good! It is quite easy to mess up swordfish (it's often dry or just not fresh) but these guys nail it every time. It comes with a roasted red pepper creamy sauce in a pineapple shell with a side of rice & beans, yucca and plantains. My oh my, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
(4)
Allison B.
i'd take a place like pedro's over a gut-busting-tex-mex-explosion like border cafe any day. i'm not going to even pretend to know what authentic venezuelan food is like, but the fact that the standard sides here are fried plantains (deliciously awesome) and yucca (new to me, and totally pleasant) makes me at least feel like they know what they're doing. and if they don't - who cares? it's yummy. i'll echo the previous reviewer who lamented the lack of veggie dishes. but the veggie quesadilla IS really good - stuffed with squash and other delights rather than sad shredded iceberg lettuce and wimpy tomatoes like most other places. my only complaint is that despite their focus on pedro's life story and preservation of his family's recipes, they don't train their waiters how to say them. in fact, more than once i've gone and either ordered in spanish only to have the waiter repeat the english translation back to me (as in, "i'll have the pollo con arroz" receiving a reply of "ok, the chicken with rice"), or having the waiter admit that he/she doesn't know how to pronounce something and describe it instead.
(4)
Alyssa H.
I'd been wanting to try this place for years, since it was a little tiny restaurant in Watertown Square. Last week I headed over for dinner with my friend Michelle. We wanted to get tapas and were a little disappointed with the rather small selection of dishes. We finally agreed to each get a salad, and then try three of the Tapas. First came the baked cheese, which i thought was rubbery and salt. Second came a dish that was similar to corn bread with chicken and avocado in the middle. The cornbread did not have much flavor, but had been grilled and tasted a bit charred. The avocado and chicken mixture needed something , salt? tomatoes? something.... Lastly we had the garlic shrimp, a tapas staple. It was good. Then the salads arrived. They were ENORMOUS. Enough for both of us to take about 2/3 home to have for lunch the next day. I really loved the dressing on my shrimp salad, which came over mixed greens with avocado, mango and red peppers. I'd give La Casa de Pedro another try and maybe get one of the main entrees instead of the tapas. The wait staff was friendly (maybe a little TOO friendly) and on a Tuesday night at 7 we were seated immediately.
(3)
Leah B.
I just had lunch at La Casa de Pedro with 8 co-workers and have vowed to never go back. The food was good but nothing new and exciting. If you've ever had Latin food before then go somewhere cheaper and homier - it will taste just as good and won't hurt your wallet quite as much. Our waiter was surly, ignored and was slow to bring the check. He put us in the back and forgot about us. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)
Jeanne B.
Cool decor and friendly staff. The food was good, but I definitely think it is overpriced. They have quite an extensive menu of flavored mojito's. I ordered an original mojito (no crazy flavors for me!). It was good, but not very strong. Went on a Saturday night around 7 - it was pretty empty. They had a pretty decent band playing over by the bar - the only problem was that they were way too loud. If this was strictly a drinking and mingling place I wouldn't mind the volume, but when it is difficult to hear your dinner partner speak while seated on the opposite side of the restaurant from the band, you have a bit of a problem. Despite it's convenience to my house, I think I'll check out some other Latin restaurants before heading back here.
(2)
Jon D.
You can read a lot of good and a few not so good things about La Casa De Pedro. When having dinner there I didn't experience any of the bad. The lighting was good, the service prompt and my dinner arrived more quickly than I would expect (it was 6:45pm and the restaurant 3/4 full). I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (chicken and chorizo) and a passion fruit juice. I was very pleased with the quantity and quality of the food; the chicken in particular was perfectly cooked. The sides of yucca, rice and beans and fried plantains were excellent. The juice was a little pricey, and probably came from a can, but it was tasty. The only criticism I have is that I don't care for the building itself. The ceilings are very high and there are many hard surfaces for sound to bounce off of (as mentioned by someone in a previous review). I can see how it could get very noisy in there at times. I never dined at the previous Watertown Square location, and being my first time dining there I can't attest to the consistency of their food or service. I would recommend La Casa De Pedro to anyone who likes Central or South American food.
(4)
Ellen L.
Came here for dinner on a weekday with about 5 people from work. The food is great, the service was impeccable, and the drinks were TASTY! a departure from the typical mexican-american fare we see in these parts... there was some traditional venezuelan dishes. Arepas are always delicious. right in the middle of a small watertown office park, so tons of parking all around.
(4)
Kathy K.
La Casa De Pedro seems to be riding on the fumes of past reviews. I went over the weekend as a delayed Valentine's Day celebration and was quite disappointed. I had been to the old location some years ago and was excited to see how the new place looked and felt. I thought it was nicely done for such a large, high-ceilinged place. The live background music was also a nice touch. There seem to be some significant issues, however, in translating small into big. First of all, the host had no idea how long the wait would be. He said 30 minutes, but it was actually 2 minutes -- just long enough to place a drink order at the bar. I would normally be happy about this, but we were seated in a cramped two top among six two tops adjacent to the large restroom sign. It was impossible to have a private conversation here. Additionally, one had to move the table and disrupt one's neighbors to get in and out. More seat = more money. Next, the strange man who brought our food was utterly clueless. Our appetizer was offered to the five other tables in the area then disappeared to come back cold a few minutes later. My entree was delivered THEN TAKEN AWAY by Pedro himself who muttered something about it being wrong. I was left sitting there with a blank space on the table with my companion wondering if he should eat or not. Oh the romance. The food itself was hit or miss. The appetizer was bland and overpriced. The entrees, however, were very large and quite good. I left full but disappointed. I think the new place needs more practice before its service catches up to the food. Also, for God's sake, get rid of the bathroom seating area.
(2)
Jasper C.
Good food, good service and great ambiance. I had the Bacalao which included rice, red/green peppers, olives, yucca and plantains. They also have a live musician. The food is a bit on the pricey side. Entrees range from $14-27. Oh, yeah...Pedro is always running around making sure everything is going smoothly. You can't miss him. He is the rotund guy in the chef's outfit. Overall, good place to eat if you are looking for a quick bite.
(4)
Ashley F.
The food here was really good. I have only been for lunch and found it to be a very good value at lunch time. The prices almost double for dinner, but I would still return for dinner. Service was so-so. Food was very good. Atmosphere was good-I really like the oversized booths.
(4)
Lora S.
La Casa De Sucko. Maybe it was a bad night, maybe Pedro was on las vacaciones...Basically everything that could be bad in a restaurant was awful. And over priced. Horribly disappointing since this place seemed to have much potential. I tried to give it half a star, but I don't know how.
(1)
Michael V.
Service, atmosphere, and the food is really good. The dish I ordered had sausage, rice, plaintains, and a flank steak. All of it was great! Try to make it here on Fridays. I think they have a live band.
(4)
Sue P.
OK. Passion fruit Mojito- to die for here! I could've had 10 of them they were so tasty. Of course, then I would have had to have been carried out :) . The food was also excellent. I ordered the Quesadilla de carne asada. The steak was cooked to perfection and the whole thing just melted in your mouth. I know one of the waiters here so I was able to meet Pedro himself, and he is a sweetheart! Very personable, and he made sure I had enjoyed my meal and was satisfied with the whole dining experience there. II really liked the island decor, it didn't feel like you were in the city at all. I will definitely be back !
(4)
Kelly A.
My friend and I happened upon this place kind of by accident, and we were really hungry, so we decided to give it a try. The decor was great - nice lighting level, nice lighting fixtures, comfortable booths. As for the food, I will preface this by saying there are very few vegetarian options. There's one vegetarian salad and one vegetarian quesadilla that is really only vegetarian when some other components of the dish are left off. That being said however, I had one amazing grilled vegetable quesadilla! It was served with white rice (a veg substitution for the regular yellow rice), fried plantains, and yucca and it was goooood. They don't have freshly brewed unsweetened iced tea though, which was a bummer for me, especially considering virtually all decent Mexican joints seem to have it. But they did refill our water glasses in a timely manner! Service was ok overall. Definitely pricey for the meal though - a veggie quesadilla (with all accompanying sides) cost almost $15.
(4)
Melinda M.
The food was good, the decor was awesome (really nice without being pretentious), the service was mediocre. I hate when mediocre/good is charging for good/great just because it comes in a pretty package.
(3)
Dennis L.
La Casa de Pedro is a nice, comfortable place to take a few friends for a meal. The colors are bright without being garish and the walls decorated well without reaching the point of 'tacky'. Pedro is an extremely outwardly friendly man and his restaurant certainly embodies him. The portions are extremely generous and the food really exhibits his passion. It can be hit-or-miss for some, as the flavors are of extremes and less middling. The new location is a stark contrast to his last one, the wide open space really making it much more comfortable. How busy the restaurant is seems to be randomly feast or famine. I've seen it packed to the gills on a Thursday and quiet on a Saturday. It has an outdoor patio that overlooks a large fountain next to the Center for the Arts, the tables fairly large. I did not feel crowded, even with the mammoth plates at the table for four. Inside, I prefer the booths over the tables for that reason. The tables could get a little busy, even with food for just two. The 10-cane mojitos have quite a kick and I love the passionfruit ones as well. There is no shortage of chopped mint in them. For appetizers, I really like the empanadas. They might be hard to cut into, and a little deceptive. When you actually bite down into them, the dough is lighter than you would expect and the insides are moist and spiked with spices without leaking. I don't like the arepas as much, the corn cakes dominating the flavor a bit, it seems. My favorite dish there is his flank steak, which is always extremely tender and easy to slice. I am not one for the 'black Venezuelan chorizo' (blood sausage), but I love the Spanish chorizo there. The plantains, yucca, and rice to complement most of the dishes are always done well without ever being overcooked. The paella takes 30 minutes, but is well-worth it, and it is DEFINITELY a dish for two people. It is a bit deceptive to even those with large appetites because the rice hidden beneath is brimming with broth. It is served *very* hot, as we found out one time... The towel the paella pan was wrapped in BONDED, not burned into, but BONDED to the handle of the pan, so it was translucent and you could see the black of the handle. The squid on the paella is always light and my favorite part of that dish. The vegetables might turn out to taste a bit 'raw' to some, in particular the snap peas and peppers, but some may prefer it that way. Pedro makes a wonderful habanero sauce that I can in no way replicate, that seems to have lime, cucumber, and garlic at a very good proportion. Ask for it and it is a wonderful complement to many of the dishes there. It has quite a kick, enough to put a sweat on the brow of people who need to have Dave's or Blair's but still absolutely flavorful, complementing dishes with the kick instead of taking them for a ride. He could bottle and sell the stuff... The flan offered is good, being very firm and yet moist, though the chocolate one, the chocolate flavor seems to dull at the flavor without really coming out. I prefer their regular flan. I just wish that he'd put his grilled ribs on the restaurant menu. I believe he serves them on his catering side, but we had a number at a party of his and they were absolutely fall-off-the bone. Dishes to try: Empanadas, Cumpleanos de Pedro (flank steak), Paella (IT'S FOR TWO!), habanero sauce, if the waiter says 'ribs', order it. I've yet to see it in the restaurant, but those were bloody good over the summer. If you order catering, order the whole roast pig. And the ribs.
(5)
Deborah B.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here the other night, after noticing it on the way to Arsenal Mall. We had been to the old location in Watertown Square a few years ago, so the name of the restaurant sounded familiar, and during our meal Pedro himself came over and confirmed that he was indeed the same owner. We ordered the cheese arepa, which was good, especially accompanied by their hot sauce, which definitely has a kick. I was in the mood for something hearty, so I ordered the pabellon criollo, which was shredded beef with rice, black beans, and fried plantains. It was a good-sized portion and I initially thought I wouldn't make a huge dent, but I almost finished it. My boyfriend ordered the trout, which was served with fried calamari. I'm not a huge fan of calamari (the texture), but these were lightly battered and fried and so, so good. We'll definitely be back to order a few different tapas, the fried calamari and arepas included.
(4)
Gloria C.
oh yummy. The criollo dish with the shredded beef and the plantains and the delicious rice and the buttery beans and the yucca I stoled from my MIL and...yes. Many authentic flavors, far as I could tell with my comparison being Peruvian and Argentine foods. Venezuelan new to me, but this stuff was good.
(5)
Miz M.
Went here with co-workers a couple of months ago. One of my friends ordered the chicken dish and she didn't like it. It tasted funny, we all agreed. The waiter who was arrogant from the get go asked us how everything was. My friend said it was fine but I told him that it actually wasn't and that she didn't really like it. He was a jerk. And the man who came to our table after was an even bigger jerk! He came over with his condescending tone and his rude words without introducing himself. Rob? Mark? Whatever your name is, YOU ARE RUDE. We felt awful and belittled. Not really a way you want to feel when you're paying for something. They even had the audacity to say things as we were leaving. Nice. Well...I was a frequent diner there and I won't be returning. It's ok food but it's not worth being talked down to and verbally abused. Also, the food used to be MUCH better when they were located on Main Street. Not sure what changed. It was one of my favorite restaurant but the service is horrendous. It's not worth it.
(1)
Heather H.
I had a fantastic lunch at La Casa de Pedro. The Pabellon Criollo was tender and delicious. The beans were perfectly cooked, as were the plantains. They have a nice wine list and a fruity drink menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The flan at the end of my lunch was thick and heavy in the best way possible. Other restaurants at this location have been doomed, but I think- and hope- that La Casa de Pedro will have a long and happy life here.
(5)
Susan S.
Terrible! Maybe I tried this place on an off night, or maybe they don't worry too much about their Dining In orders, but I am amazed at how many peole like the food at this restaurant. I tried the Beef empanada, which was flavorless. I love empanadas and didn't think it was possible to mess one up - until now. I then tried the 'Verde' salad which is described as "Arugula, tomato, roasted peppers, avocado, grilled zucchini, yellow squash and Romaine lettuce with cilantro dressing and basil oil, topped with roasted sesame seeds" for $9.50. I figure for that kind of money for a salad, it's going to be pretty amazing. I was SO wrong. First, there was no arugula in my salad, only VERY large pieces of romaine. There was one tiny sliver of avocado, and two tiny slivers of tomato. I think they use dried cilantro for their dressing, because it didn't have any flavor at all, and cilantro is very strong. There would be no mistaking it if it was in there. The dressing was also totally absent of salt, which, unfortunately, seems to have been reserved for the soup which was so salty I had to throw it out after two spoons. The thing is, I had just come back from a long day of traveling and I was starving. I would have loved and eaten almost anything. And I instead I was totally disappointed.
(1)
Jimmy B.
It's true, the new location is in a weird spot. But it's bigger and easier to find parking at so I'm not going to complain. If you go here, try a few of the tapas (the empanadas and mejillones de pedro both are great) and get a pitcher of sangria. I don't usually get into the entrees but last time I tried the salmon ruben blades and fell in love. I often get lost looking at the menu and just end up pointing, I've rarely had something I didn't like. The only thing I can't mess with are the fried plantains. Something about warm fruit.... Also, if you eat here, you'll probably see Pedro himself walking around the restaurant. He seems like a nice guy and I agree that the piece about his Mom on the first page of the menu adds a nice touch.
(4)
Laura P.
I hear that they are moving to 343 Arsenal Street. I hope that they'll have a little nook where you can eat and watch the kitchen staff do their thing. Pedro is warm and friendly and might give you a sample of something from the kitchen.
(4)
Lia M.
I have been wanting to try La Casa de Pedro for years and I am glad I finally did. I had poked my head into their old location, which was nice & intimate, so I was a little sad that they moved, but this location is nice too, just different. They have an outdoor patio, which is nice, but we ate indoors. They had a band on Friday night & the lights were low. It was busy, but not crowded & there wasn't a wait. Everyone (manager, waitress, hostess) was super friendly & the food was delicious. I had a shredded pork arepa as an app, and trout with peppers for dinner. All entrees are served with yellow rice & black beans, fried yucca, & sweet plantains. Everythings was excellent and the presentation was nice. I would have given the restaurant five stars, except we paid 1/2 cash & 1/2 charge, and they didn't give us back the change from the cash, which I thought was poor. Other than that, we had a great time & I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Melissa T.
The food was fine, but I thought it lacked character. It definitely felt like a chain restaurant, and I didn't enjoy the pre-fab looking palm trees and fiesta paneling. It's a little like going to the "Mexico" section of the Epcot Center.
(2)
R A.
The restaurant itself was very nice. Very big, very well decorated. The food wasn't bad, I've had better, but also had worse. The portions weren't as big as I expected and I left still wanting more. The prices were outrageous though, probably why they don't list them on their website. There are plenty of other similar places close by that serve the same type/quality food, with better portions at a fraction of the price.
(3)
Dave C.
This place used to be the 'Red Sauce' and came highly recommended by another friend of mine that likes to EAT. He didn't have to convince me twice, because the heads up was on the mark. Nice atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, and a very decent Mojito. The menu has the usual Spanish Tapas offerings, and the entrees are outstanding as well. Try the steak if you're a carnivore like me; fabulous! Deserts are very good, if you can fit it after the generous portions of food. I'll gladly spend my money here.
(4)
Antonio A.
The food is superb all-around. The churasco is my favorite in the metro Boston area. They are also the only place in the metro Boston area that consistently gets fried plantains right. The new location is large, comfortable, and very stylish. I love that Chef Pedro often comes out to check in on the customers. Simply put: this is the place I go to celebrate an occasion or to impress any out-of-town guests.
(5)
Brian K.
So I have been wanting to try this place since moving to watertown over 2 yrs ago. I never made it to the old location although it was walking distance from my house. My old roomate went to the new location and I have to say his review was spot on. One and done for this guy. I liked the decor, the service was pretty good and I enjoyed the music. The food was exactly what 2 stars says, "Meh", I have experienced better. I don't understand how places outside of boston think they can charge boston prices for sub par mid level food. $11 or $12 for a margarita? Sure I have paid that in New York, but after 2 of those things you are on the floor. The Caipirinha I had was full of ice and came in a pretty small glass, I could not taste any booze. My steak was pretty good(I actually just ate the leftovers) but not $23 good. The arepas were pretty good, not great. The portions were huge which made me feel better about overpaying for the meal. Sorry Pedro but I am going to have to agree with most other reviewers and pass on this place. Might have to try the new Orinoco in Brookline instead.
(2)
Laura M.
Since we came here for my friend's birthday, he had to order Pedro's Birthday Dish! It was a tasty blend of flavorful flank steak, beans and rice, plantains and fried yucca. This traditional Venezuelan restaurant also offers seafood, tasty salads, and the "traditional Venezualan dish" pabellon criollo (mentioned in a previous review). Everything is wonderfully seasoned, even in the most simple dishes like black beans and rice. They also offer up a decent sangria, made with little cubes of fruit that sink to the bottom of your glass. Not the best I've ever had, but they bring you a rather large carafe to make up for the less-than-perfect quality. All in all, definitely worth a visit! Sit out on the patio if you can.
(4)
amy f.
What we thought would be a perfect afternoon enjoying some margaritas on the patio of Pedro's turned out to be the first and last time we ever visit this place: The host staff was rude, and the waitress was too busy gyrating her neck and demanding that we order food to stop and contemplate the benefits of having two customers as opposed to none. I'll still leave a tip, however: Take care of the customer, or someone else will... which is why we enjoyed our margaritas at Joe's!
(1)
Dan L.
When I got there it seemed nice at first. We were sat a table outside in the corner of the outdoor seating. Quiet and nice courtyard to look at. First problem: no waiter for about 10 minutes. Finally he comes over. The menu looks decent and my girlfriend and I order mojitos. The waiter asks for our id's, no big deal, we are often carded because we look young. He then says he has to take them to manager because they are out of state id's..WTF? That has never happened to me..do they not serve alcohol to people not from MA?...whatever, forgivible. He brings back the ids and says its ok. We order food. The steak on the menu boasts that "a more tender steak cannot be found in boston", "100% natural beef" blah blah..and other bold statements, so I decide to give it a try. Girlfriend orders chicken quesidilla and we get a salad to share. Then the waiting begins...no drinks for 10 minutes...no bread either. We notice a nearby table has already gotten a refill of bread basket. Our waiter is nowhere to be found. Finally about 20 minutes later the salad comes with a different server. We ask for our drinks and some bread. 5 minutes later the drinks finally arrive, no bread. The salad is..meh. A bunch of crap thrown together, with mediocre dressing..tastlesss letuce and tomatoes, overall fail. Our maincourse takes a while to come out again...the waiter comes out rarely and it seems like theres only 2 working the whole restaurant. The steak I got is nowhere near as good as described in the menu..."can't find a better steak in boston" my ass! Its thick and chewy and kinda grey looking inside..not the nice reddish pink a medium rare steak should be, The sides are hit and miss. The yuca and plantains are ok..the rice is dry (big fail for any resataurant that serves dry rice, how can you mess that up!!) and the chimichuri sauce is the worst I've ever had. My girlfriends quesodillas are equally mediocre..much better at Chilis which should be embarrising for a "latin resataurant" . The mojitos are decent. Final tab $78. Could have gotten a much more enjoyable meal and better service at a Chilis for about $40 (with drinks). Never going again.
(1)
Claudia H.
A little corner of latin food nearby Cambridge! I've been there a couple of times and every time I experience authentic Venezuelan cuisine with a warm 'latin charm' from the waiters on top of it! Besides the great food and service you will also find a variety of latin art, pictures, around the place. Really cool! They even have latin bands over the weekends. Things you must try: Arepas: typical Venezuelan bread filled with meat, chicken, etc. Try the carne mechada ones! Pabellon Criollo: a great Venezuelan dish with shredded beef, sweet plantains, black beans and rice. Quesillo (dessert): flan with caramel ... a real treat! Mojitos: I also love the mojitos at this place, especially the Pedro's mojito. Have at least 3 to feel the effect ... The place is big, and the acoustics not so good, so it can get loud when it's packed. But latins are always loud, so you can consider it part of the experience! :-)
(4)
Elena A.
Delicious food and fun atmosphere! Great fish tacos and plantain chips. I actually love this place but took one star off due to two reasons: 1) spotty service, can be rude depending on a waiter + on a slower side. 2) they don't let you split the bill on more than three cards. I came here with four girlfriends and it was a pain to have the three of them take care of the bill. The waiters are weird about not announcing it in advance as it apparently says so on their giant, long menu in some fine print. Who does that and why is it so hard to take five cards? Get rid of this odd policy and get five stars ;)
(3)
Sho B.
There's one thing this place does really well, and that's consistently not impressing me with their meals. I wish this was an amazing place, I really do because I work about 20 feet away from it, but the food is generally bland or just needs something more. However, being a Latin restaurant (Venezuelan to be exact), there's nothing like stopping in after work for a margarita while the salsa/bachata/regaeton plays in the background. And maaaaybe the carne asada quesadilla isn't too bad to munch on... But there's no doubt I'll be back with another review once I've had some more Pedro's.
(3)
Heather B.
Mediocre. Would give it 2.5 stars if I could - yelp make that happen! Server was in training and not very well trained. Food was OK but not great. It was fine for late on a cold rainy Friday night. Tapeo and Dali are much better though.
(2)
Josh S.
Surprisingly authentic and very delicious. This place is a bit spendy, but it is worth it. The appetizers and entrees are all so tantalizing, I have to restrain myself from ordering whole pages of the menu at a time. Many of these items have a good kick of spice (which it very welcome). Also, I have to give a nod to any restaurant that carries Modello and Pacifico.
(4)
John G.
Great food, customer service, and atmosphere.
(4)
Kari M.
Love this place! Have been 4 times and always a good meal. Best yucca ever although may daughter prefers the plaintains. Drinks run strong so be prepared. I have had the chicken, pork and recently the steak with onions. The place is not cheap but I do love the food.
(5)
nick k.
The price is a little high (dinner for two, with an appetizer, excluding drinks/tax/tip was almost $40), which is the only reason for the missing 5th star. Beyond that though, both the atmosphere and the food is excellent. I've only been there twice, and both times on a Saturday night. Both times, there's been live music and dancing going on, if you're into that kind of thing. However, it's not so loud as to be annoying to everyone else. As for the food, the quesadilla plate is amazing. The quesadilla itself is very good, but it comes with beans/rice, plantains, which are great, and fried/seasoned yucca, which is excellent. I typically don't like rum-based drinks, but someone at the table ordered a mojito, and it was really excellent. And if you go, do not miss the tequenos appetizer. It's a white cheese wrapped in a thin pastry and fried. I thought there could never be something better than fried mozzarella sticks, but these may prove me wrong.
(4)
Mo O.
Loved the patio and our waiter George was outstanding. The food was delicious as well. Most of us had a special of the night which was good. The apps were all very delicious. Most important - best Mojito ever!!
(4)
Senoni M.
I absolutely loooooove this place! My boyfriend and I come here 2-3x a month and we decided we need to give it a break bc we didn't want to get tired of it. Pros: AMAZING food! Absolutely everything you order you will love. Were never disappointed with the tequeños (an appetizer) it's basically delicious Venezuelan cheese hand rolled in a puff pastry omg if you love cheese, you'll love this dish. The Pabellon Criollo is my favorite entree and the bf loves their steak . They have a live mini band on Fridays and Saturday's that turn it into a whole different experience. The decor and ambiance are very nice. Cons: VERY EXPENSIVE! Drinks are no less than $11and they serve them in small glasses ( not that I'm looking for a pitcher but cmon I'm a grown up here). They're all natural juices taste like can and they're pricey too so I would prob stick to the free water lol. And the waiters are very strange... We've been going to this place for a while and the waiters just seem to be getting worst idk personal opinion. Overall this place had great authentic food and that's truly why I love it! Go check it out!
(4)
Mojo C.
Really love the food here. Their empanadas are the best in town!! I alway order their Paella and is 10 out of 10 every time. Would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family. The only negative thing is my waiter was a bit slow and had to remind him a couple of times to refill our glass of water - but he was new (I think) so we cut him some slack.
(4)
Erin B.
The outdoor patio is awesome! The trees and fountain make you forget your are on Arsenal St. The food and drinks are great. The waiters are friendly and really professional. I've been there twice and will be back!
(5)
Greg K.
Oh My goodness Are you sitting down- Sit down for this because you're not going to believe it THE LAMB CHOPS ARE BOMB Okay- Maybe it's easy to believe because everything at Casa De Pedro is amazing. We started with the mussels- fantastic. Then I had the lamb chops which were larger than I expected and came with a tasty rice, fried plantains, and potatoes. What a meal! I just wish I had room for the delicious sounding deserts It's easy to forget about this Watertown gem but with outdoor seating and a wonderful staff- Casa De Pedro is a MUST VISIT restaurant. The cocktails are fantastic too. Mojitos- Oh Yes! I'll take 2! So check it out already!!
(5)
Jonathan V.
La Casa De Pedro feels like a Cheesecake Factory on the inside. As in it feels like a chain restaurant, but at the same time has a slightly upscale feel. It strikes me as a restaurant that is not really sure what it is trying to be. I had the short ribs, which were actually quite delicious and were fairly hearty portions. However, other people at my table were not as satisfied with their dishes as I was. I think its one of those places where the menu is hit or miss. It also lacked something on the table, such as bread, when you are waiting for your food. We didn't order an appetizer which really accentuated this problem. The server was very nice and fairly helpful. Finally, the prices were a bit expensive for what you get in my opinion. Overall, overpriced slightly above-average in a chain-restaurant atmosphere makes for a mediocre experience.
(2)
David R.
One of my all time favorite restaurants - the portions are huge and realllly delicious. Great fish, and I really love the plantains. High recommended!!
(5)
Ed P.
where and who is Pedro in this place. you got a bimbo of a hostess and waiters fielding customers. service is horrible.. The food is ok as long as they make you a proper meal. however, not very consistent.
(2)
Jeremy K.
I went there last summer with my girlfriend for a nice, terrace dinner and left pretty satisfied despite the size of the bill. The drinks and food there are quite pricey but the food does have a few twists that I think are worth checking out. First off, the parking is ample there being in a very weird but pretty efficient strip mall/office building type of thing. That's one of the reasons we went there originally. Then as we walked inside we were greeted and were told that we had to wait for a table. We didn't reserve and it was on a week-end night. We waited. We went to the bar and had a drink. We were then seated outside which was awesome. It was such a nice evening out; totally worth the wait. How many good restaurants have a nice, comfortable terrace in or around Boston? Not so many. The food itself was quite tasty and they had some ingredients that you don't always find in other menus. Yucca is one. They had this Hispanic cheese appetizer that was delicious. Some of the dishes are very traditional and some aren't as much but overall everything we had was very enjoyable and beautifully plated and served. If it weren't for the prices and the slow, inattentive service we had, I would have given it five stars. Oh and they had a band of Mariachis play music while we were there. How cool is that huh?!
(4)
Lynne S.
I used to work in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cambridge and we used to visit La Casa de Pedro for lunch when it was just a tiny hole in the wall so I remembered it fondly and was super excited when someone suggested it as a brunch option last weekend. In the last few years it has grown in popularity and moved to a new location in the Arsenal mall. It is pretty trendy inside with a nice outdoor patio as well. The menu was enormous and offered options for brunch, lunch and dinner. Everything sounded great, but I ultimately decided on the Burrito Mexicano, which consisted of scrambled eggs, black beans, chorizo, jalapeño, onion, tomato and cheese on a flour tortilla topped with pico de gallo. At just $9.00, it was a great deal for this scrumptious and generous sized burrito served with potatoes. I also ordered a pineapple mint caipirinha, which was good, but a bit overpriced at $14. That was $5 more than my entire plate! If you go, don't miss the fried plantains. We ordered a side for the table and they were so good, we licked the plate clean within 5 minutes! Overall, a great atmosphere, amazing food and terrific service. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Munchie B.
I love this place! CdP is the kind of elegant Latin cuisine restaurant we need further west. The food is excellent and Pedro is a really nice guy. I especially enjoy visiting on a nice day so I can sit outside on their patio near the Watertown Arsenal. Whatever your order, be sure to ask for a side of hot sauce -- a poblano pepper concoction that Pedro makes himself (and ought to bottle).
(5)
Mike D.
I'm still a little tweaked by eating a meal in a building that used to house advanced R&D for weapons and other military equipment, but I've had a few meals here and haven't grown a third arm yet. On top of that those meals have been incredibly good--so good I may risk that third arm to keep eating there. I've only had fish entrees here on a friend's recommendation (not against the other dishes, but in favor of the fish). They are really, really good. The fish has been extremely fresh, and the preparation is always very simple and perfectly seasoned. The rice and beans and plantains are all very good as well, and we've had some arepas (very nice), ceviche (different from ceviche I've had in the past, but great), and sort of a puff pastry stuffed with cheese I can't remember the name of (fine, but how do you screw something like that up). And the house margarita is incredibly good--SOUR, not sweet like most places. I'm only taking a star off because of the live music. I'm not against live music at restaurants per se, but when the music is loud enough that it makes conversation difficult it takes away from the experience. I go out to eat with friends and family to talk and have fun (and eat), not to be seen, so I wish they'd turn it down a few decibels. Otherwise, I really love this place.
(4)
Paul C.
I love this place. Excellent food, drinks, and atmosphere. Plus it's not in the city so it's easy to get to. I've been here several times and am never disappointing - regardless of what I choose. Large portions - nice and filling.
(5)
Bethany F.
Outdoor patio + delicious, freshly concocted Margaritas + plaintains to die for = 5 stars!!! Seriously, I would come back here every day if I had the money. Yes, everything is a little expensive (except the lunch menu is amazingly affordable). But you get what you pay for- high quality drinks obviously made by someone who knows what theyre doing and mouth-watering (although very fried) food! Great date spot. Great lunch spot. I would assume great dinner spot, but I have never been for dinner. I had the Isla Margarita ( cod filet with tomatoes on top, rice and black been, yucca, and PLAINTAINS!). So. Good. If it was socially acceptable to lick your plate, I would have.
(5)
Taeminn S.
Very good atmosphere. Great food. Friendly service. Comfortable and spacious interior.
(4)
John A.
As a vegan, I was a little nervous as I know Latin American food tends to be heavy on the meat and animal products. But I met Pedro, the owner, on the way in and asked him what he'd recommend for a vegan. He confirmed with me that I didn't want dairy, butter, lard, etc., and he said he would fix something special. He whipped up the tastiest plate of grilled mixed vegetables perfectly seasoned and accomanied with fried plantains and rice. Accompanied with fresh squeezed passion fruit juice. Absolutely delicious. Can't wait to go back! Update: I actually couldn't wait and went back the next day for dinner with my significant other. Pedro saw me as I walked in and personally came over to greet us and review the meal. He prepared a larger version of the lunch dish to which he added grilled tomatoes and provided a side of vegan black beans deliciously sauteed in olive oil, pepper, onions and a little garlic. We also split a Watercress salad which was also awesome. We were both duly impressed with the meal. The table next to us had a vegetarian and we began talking -- he ordered the same off-menu dishes we had. Pedro: Please consider adding these vegan dishes to your menu permanently. They are fabulous! Thank you for looking after our meal. We will be back.
(5)
L-Train A.
This place is pretty awesome. If you are in need of some fried plantains, yucca, black beans and rice, empanadas, and spiced meats, this place really hits the spot. While not the most amazing Spanish food I have ever had, it is really quite good. Especially for those of us who work in the Arsenal on the Charles, where the only other option is freaking Panera Bread. I went down to Panera bread yesterday to get some lunch, but the place was a zoo with a crazy line, and then I remembered La Casa and went there instead. They have $6 sandwiches on the lunch menu, but I ended up getting a roast chicken lunch entree fro $8.50. It is a beautiful space in one of the old brick Arsenal buildings, with giant windows and really high ceilings. While it is sort of a weird location, is is also definitely worth checking out. Next time you have to go out to Target or the Arsenal Mall, ditch the crap-ass food court and go here instead for a luxurious but not too expensive lunch. They also have a sweet looking bar...
(4)
Erin M.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night with another couple - we all had a yummy meal. Downside - kind of expensive if you want to also have drinks and an appetizer... Parking was easy as there is a parking lot around the corner. It was not very crowded for a Friday night. Live music was playing. We asked about dairy free and gluten free options. Dairy free was no problem, gluten free was even better - the waiter said almost the entire menu is gluten free! We shared the mussels (I will attempt the sauce at home, it was so good!) and the chicken avocado arepa to start. I ordered the shrimp in coconut and orange sauce, in a coconut shell. The shrimp and sauce were pretty good but I really loved the sides. The rice was beautiful and delicious (it came with a few black beans mixed in and red rice on top). The plantains were perfectly done and the yuca was topped with a sauce that was nice, not overpowering. I do not know the names of the other meals but everyone cleaned their plates. We also finished with coconut flan (SO GOOD!). Of course it was not dairy free but it was gluten free so three of us housed it.
(4)
Chuck S.
Dyn-o-mite! Last night was my second visit, and it will not be my last. My group met for a farewell dinner for two international guests that are returning home. We had great service and excellent food. We were having such a great time that we stayed well past closing, without any problem from the staff. Pedro even stopped by just as we were leaving and talked with us for a bit. Amazing food and a 100% professional owner & staff! Gracias Pedro! I hope to see you again next time I come in.
(4)
Yoonie C.
Over-rated and over-priced in my opinion. I think you pay for the ambiance and space, rather than the food. The food always is a let down. Whether it be the paella or the non-Latina specials they have like, Yankee pot roast. Hm... odd, right? Odd indeed.
(2)
Sarah M.
Don't feel like schlepping to downtown Boston for a good meal? Don't want to hunt for parking in the South End? Easy, check out La Casa De Pedro in Watertown. Easy parking? Check. Outdoor seating (a rarity in these parts)? Check. Large food portions? Check. Incredibly well made cocktails? Check. Festive Decor? Check. I've gone a few times and have been satisfied every time. Their drinks are great - fun flavor variations of mojitos for example. Their fried plantains are a must! Their paella is incredible with tons of fresh seafood and spices. Last time I was there I had swordfish tips in in a creamy sun dried tomato red and yellow pepper sauce which was served in a pineapple shell. The ONLY reason they don't get 5 stars is for price. You don't get the hassle and crowds of downtown, but you get the prices, and for Watertown? Not so cool.
(4)
E B.
The service here was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and gave us great advice on what to eat. First we ordered margaritas... my bf got the pineapple one, which was my favorite and a special jalepeno one that was pretty good too but I don't know if I'd get it again (a little too spicy). We ordered a corncake/white cheese appetizer which was pretty tasty. Would have been even better if the cheese was melted, but as is it was delicious. My bf got the veggie quesedillas, amazing... I got the shrimp in a half coconut with coconut sauce... and it was really tasty. The sauce was kinda thai-ish and I couldn't get enough of it. Both dishes came with rice, plantains and fried yucca. VERY VERY VERY good. But not that cheap either, came out to about $75.... definitely a 'parents are in town' sort of place. ;-)
(4)
A S.
Used to really love this place. We are locals in the area and came for a couple drinks and apps on a Monday night. Wanted to sit outside and were told no because we weren't having dinner. 80% of the outside tables were open..... Went to the bar for one $10 mojito (which are delicious) and then left to go somewhere that would let us sit outside. Very disappointing service and they just lost probably $100 of our money.
(2)
Steve S.
Service just ok, but food was great for the area. Just a fun place for drinks, food and friends.
Delicious fare, lethal cocktails, good music, charming decor. Mainly traditional dishes, including yucca and plantains. My fish dish "3 nights in Caracas" was beautiful, generous, delicious, and SPICY - just yummy. It's nothing like Tex-Mex, so lovers of Mexican food may be disappointed. Live music added to the ambience.
(5)
J D.
We ate lunch on 11/16/13 and though the atmosphere was beautiful and the food very good, we left quite disappointed overall. The general feeling was the the waiter was trying to up his tip by not being clear at all regarding the cost of items. For instance, my 5 year old son asked if there was any chips and salsa and he said sure, but neglected to relay that there was a $4.50 cost. Likewise, when I asked if there was any mango juice for our 5 year old, he said sure again, but the charge was $6! That is the cost of a drink at the bar- the same amount as a beer! Additionally- as we were eating at lunchtime off of a lunch menu, when my partner ordered the Quesadilla, the waiter asked her if she would like "a small portion or a regular portion" which sounded like, "Do you want an appetizer or would you like the meal?" but then on the bill he had put in for a DINNER Quesadilla which was $17.50 for LUNCH, $5 more than expected. We had made it very clear that we had never been to the restaurant before so when we said we would like to try the Plantains- instead of making it clear that there were Plantains on every single person's order, he simply brought a Plantain order to the tune of another $6.50. We have traveled the world, lived all over the US and eaten in plenty of restaurants- my issue here is not that food costs money. The issue is that clearly the waiter was not being honest in an effort to raise the bill and his tip. This is not customer service and puts a terrible taste in my mouth. We ended up with a bill for at least $25 more than we could have dreamed and that is a lot of overage for a lunch hour. Though we had talked about coming back while we were eating- this is not the sort of experience we hope to have when choosing to spend our hard-earned money out.
(2)
Karis T.
The Tad Show is here every Thursday and at Tad's recommendation we tried Ceviche (Shrimp marinated in fresh lime juice, onions, diced tomatoes and cilantro) & Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pieces of pork tenderloin slightly fried then baked and dressed with hot sauce and the zest of lime juice). Both were delicious, but I was glad of the recommendation as the menu is impressive but slightly daunting. The staff is amazingly helpful and courteous and the management makes every single customer feel like a celebrity. The attention to detail in the kitchen shows in every gorgeous plate they serve. I almost didn't want to take a bite for fear of marring the culinary artistry but after one bite of the yumminess I couldn't resist digging in. I highly recommend checking out La Casa for the delicious food, the wonderful staff and the vibrantly decorated interior.
(5)
Carolann K.
Wonderful atmosphere, good food, service a bit uneven. We asked for more water, it never came and our waiter, although very charming, never came to see if we needed anything else and/or if we liked our food until it was time for the check. I know it was not because they were extra busy, Wednesdays is normally a slower night in most establishments. I did like the fact that they had an extensive beverage list and that you could see into the kitchen (this is always a good thing)..
(4)
sunny n.
excellent!! Latin American ..with a tinge of spice...superb value...cozy small hole in the wall for the bostonian in watertown...love it!!
(5)
M C.
horrendous service.. lasted 5 mintues before we decided to go somewhere else.. rude !
(1)
Bo Z.
Four of us went at 7 on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded. I agree with the other reviewer that it looked like a latin Cheesecake factory, which isn't a bad thing. The waiter was well mannered, very attentive and did not keep us waiting. For appetizers, I had the arepas with chicken and avocado which was just okay. I don't see why people here rave about it. It was smaller than I expected and tasted a little bland. Another appetizer, the tequenos, is fried cheese sticks with a little bed of greens which I don't feel is worth ordering since it brings nothing new to your average cheese sticks. The main entree, on the other hand, was outstanding. I ordered Shugui's Pollo Asado, a half Chicken which came with yucca, fried plantains, a chorizo and rice. The chicken was very tender and tasty with the right spices. I really liked the plantains. The yucca was okay and I could do without. The live music wasn't loud and didn't interfere with our conversations. A singer walked around the restaurant singing something pleasant in Spanish. Overall a nice experience and I would go again.
(4)
Karen M.
After a few frustrating drives around the labyrinth of streets in the Arsenal office park, I finally found La Casa de Pedro. (There is a very small sign directing you to it when you first pull in off of Arsenal Street, but it's easy to miss.) I almost gave up and went somewhere else, but I'm glad that I gave it one final try and finally found it. They really need better signs! It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't too busy. I can see where parking might be tough on busier nights. I was very pleased with the whole evening. The service was excellent - attentive, friendly, polite, knowledgeable about the menu, but not too in-your-face. I ordered a shredded, braised beef dish served with black beans and rice which was listed as a Venezuelan specialty on the menu. It was deliciously seasoned and well-prepared. The fried plantains that came with it were some of the best that I've had. It was also a huge serving, which made the somewhat high price a little more understandable. My friend ordered the coconut orange shrimp, which is served in a fresh coconut half. They were fresh and perfectly cooked. The orange coconut sauce was tasty, but not too sweet. The fried yucca that accompanied it was golden and crispy outside, and light and fluffy inside. Their drinks are great. They have several different kinds of sangria. I had the strawberry champagne sangria (they have a few varieties of champagne sangria, which are made with champagne, white wine, cointreau, and fresh fruit) and my friend got the regular white sangria. I love sangria and usually order it any restaurant that offers it. Theirs is excellent, and sets the bar for other places that think that sangria is just fruit punch made with wine. They also offer tequila flights, which I am looking forward to trying the next time that I go there. Try to go to La Casa de Pedro on a night when it's warm enough to sit outside. Their patio is lovely. Even though they are practically right on Arsenal street, there are enough trees and window boxes full of flowers rimming that patio that it's easy to ignore the outside world.
(4)
Florina K.
The atmosphere here really is great!! I love coming here!! Though the food here is just all right.... It is not bad... but there is just no kick to it... and it can be overcooked.... Make sure to try the cheese pastries... they are called traditional something. VERY GOOD!
(4)
Yuri C.
Purchased Groupon which had explicit answer: "good for take out ". When wanted to redeem 6 months latter was told by owner that I can't use Groupon for take out. Cancelled Groupon. Can't say anything about the food.
(1)
Kim W.
major patio love. seriously, five stars for the patio. it's seriously an oasis in the middle of a random office park, and the perfect place to spend a summer evening eating and drinking. i went here with two friends, and we all enjoyed our meals. i ordered the white sangria, which was not only refreshing and tasty, but pretty, too. :) we also split the tequeños (basically venezuelan mozzarella sticks)...mmm. for my entree, i went with the chicken enchiladas. they were really good! definitely not the best i've ever had or anything, but great all the same. i'll definitely be back, especially during patio season!
(4)
S M.
I took my husband to La Casa De Pedro for his birthday dinner since I had heard so many good things about it from friends. We were greeted kindly and asked if we had made reservations. I panicked because the restaurant was packed, and no, I had not thought to make a reservation. Thankfully we were seeted promptly. My husband got a beer, and I ordered the pineapple margarita. The margarita was small, but packed with alcohol! A bit much for me. Hence, I could not even finish half of it. It tasted good though, and if I wasn't driving, I would have probably sipped a little longer. I ordered the meat and cheese arepa as a tapa. I was not impressed. The actual arepa was bland and the meat and cheese were not great either. My husband got the "tequeños" I think. Those were good. For the main entrees we got the pollo asado and chicken and beef plates. They both came with rice, yuca, sweet plantains and chorizo. The food was okay, my husband mentioned that the meat and rice were salty which was true, but not to the point where it wasn't edible. Overall, I'd say the food was just okay. What I really liked about the restaurant was the decoration and atmostphere. A good mix of young and old folks, dim lights, tasteful music and elegant decoration. It was def fancier than I expected. Would I return? Maybe, in the future I can give it a second chance. PS, our bill came to $75 w/o a tip so it can def be a little pricey. Keep in mind our main entrees were not the most expensive on the menu.
(2)
Cameron C.
WOW!!! This place is amazing. It smelled and tasted just like it should. Place inside is beautiful, service was spectacular. If you love Spanish food, and good Spanish food like your mother's cooking, this is the place!!
(5)
B C.
I come here every time I come to Boston. Everything I try here is excellent. The service is great as well. A must try
(5)
Lisa L.
I have been to La Casa de Pedro every so often as a special treat. The dinners are expensive, but worth every penny. The brunch is a better price. I have always had courteous waiters/waitresses, a delicious and properly prepared meal, and a welcome feeling. The atmosphere is great with high ceilings, beautiful interior decorating, art, and plants. The seating is nicely spread out for a quiet intimate feeling even when it's crowded. Another huge/unexpected plus is, on Friday and Saturday nights they have a band playing, the first time I was there I thought it was a recording! They were so good!
(5)
William M.
This restaurant has terrible management, and puts the customer last. I'm never going back. We arrived and one host told us they were booked up completely and couldn't seat us. The place was practically empty. In about two minutes, after asking, "what about all those empty tables," a different host said he could easily seat us. They give us a buzzer and put us on a list. I want to point out, maybe 10 of their tables had people in them. No one was at the host stand. No one else had a buzzer (the charging station for the buzzers was completely full). The first host rings our buzzer almost immediately (imagine that), then tells us he can't sit us until our entire party has arrived... there's 10 filled tables in the entire restaurant, you just buzzed us after telling us a bold-faced lie that you were booked up, and we are willing to order drinks and apps at the table. The host then tells us he will seat us after all...?? Same guy, three minutes later, totally different story. He then makes a big fuss that we want to carry our own drinks from the bar to the table. I want to clarify this, he didn't have a problem with us bringing bar drinks over, but that we were going to carry them. We had to hand the drinks over to a waiter, he put them on a tray, then coached the waiter on how to hold the tray and walked us over to a booth that could hold 6. The night continued getting worse and more awkward from there. The waiter had to be reminded twice to bring water. We were down a set of silverware, and had to ask three separate people to bring an extra set, the food took over 40 minutes (from when I started timing), I asked for a refill of soda three times, the food came out and the waiter started handing it out to the table next to us, no steak knives were brought out, we asked the waiter to put the bill on multiple cards and he told us that our totals were wrong (we had included tip on them), then the waiter claimed the computer program can't split checks. I've waited tables. I know the system they use specifically can split checks. Awful service, awful management, mediocre food at above average prices. Why would anyone go to this cookie-cutter, overpriced joke of a restaurant?
(1)
Nagisu K.
I've been to Casa de Pedro 5 or 6 times. The food is good, the service is just ok (occasionally the management is rude, but waitstaff tends to be nice but inconsistent) and the prices are too high for what the food is. Fish tacos cost $19 - and they are good, but not $19-good. My favorite things on the menu are the small eats, like the fried yucca with chimmichurri sauce (OMG heavenly). Great drinks too.
(3)
Dmitriy A.
Great food and very cozy. Atmosphere is superb. The bartender is knowledgeable and friendly. Must go if you are in Watertown.
(5)
Sean S.
The chicken and vegetable soup is incredible. Sounds mundane but it is very very good. It's the reason I come here.
(5)
Rachel K.
I have been here twice. Both times I had good food and drinks. However, the prices are high (especially for Watertown) and I would probably rather spend the $$$ I would to go here---to a finer dining downtown. The strawberry basil lemonade drink is really good, but is small and costs $13. The white sangria (which some places is very hit or miss) is a definite hit here. The chicken avocado arepas are soo tasty and the one thing that will probably make me come back. The fried yuca app is also pretty good. These two things are worth coming for without breaking the bank. My boyfriend had some sort of beef meal that did not sit well with him. I will prob come back sans the BF for some chix avocado arepas! Sidenote: on weekends after about 9 or 10 latin dance breaks out by the bar. Definitely looks like a good time; the dancing crowd was probably 40s-60s. If you are into latin dancing, it is probably a good spot for it as I do not know other places one goes for food and latin dancing in the area. The band playing was pretty enjoyable as well.
(3)
Liz B.
I met a friend here for lunch. I think the room and decor are just terrific - palm trees decorated with Christmas lights, festive colors and pottery... There's parking, even valet parking which I believe was free at lunch! (Not sure about dinner.) The restaurant was busy, but there was no wait. I had a Cuban sandwich and it was great. The waitress we had was really nice and efficient and handled my request to substitute a small salad for the french fries that came with the sandwich with no issue. I am looking forward to going back for dinner in a few weeks!
(4)
Rico I.
I have been here 5 times now as i am on a Boston assignment - it is, by far, the best Latin Food in Boston - i say Latin because it offers food from most all Hispan~ola nations. Want Paella? delicious. Want shrimp ceviche? excellent. Want empanadas? so good. Owner/Chef is a gem, and a pro. Stopped by our table multiple visits - check on how food was / service. You cannot go wrong here! Oh yes - try the coconut flan!
(5)
Nicholas D.
The food is great here. The live music is fantastic on the weekends. There is also a nice patio outside. There is plenty of parking. The drinks are well made. The fried yucca's are amazing. The empanadas are also to die for. I will be back many times!
(5)
Colleen H.
I can feel the fire start in my mouth when I think of La Casa De Pedro. Their hot sauce is absolutely amazing. Yuca + hot sauce = happy Colleen. The food is amazing too, and there are almost too many selections (the menu weighs like five pounds). I've only ever been here for lunch but it's been phenomenal every time. They also have tequila flights, which in my opinion, is the best way to celebrate. Haha! Ohhh and the plantainsssss, they're so delicious they're practically dessert. Mmmmmm.
(5)
Lisa G.
I need to make a disclaimer first off, because I'm an incredibly picky eater. I'm what you could describe as on the fence when it comes to Latin food. I prefer Mexican, like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, but that's where it ends. My first trip to Pedro, I got a chicken quesadilla. It was okay, but pretty oily. The next time, I tried the burger. HUGE mistake. It's one of those places that insists on putting onions in with the beef... and I have an extreme aversion to onions (only rivaled by my aversion to pickles). So the next time I got dragged to Pedro's, I went for the quesadilla again. UGH. Oilier than the first time. From that point on, I went with co-workers (it was right around the corner of our building, so we went there to celebrate people moving on to different gigs, etc), but refused to eat. It's overrated and extremely expensive.
(1)
Bos G.
La Casa de Pedro describes itself as offering a true taste of Venezuelan hospitality and fine Spanish cuisine. While I've only dined at a handful of Venezuelan restaurants and don't consider myself an expert, I can tell you I liked what I saw and what I tasted. Casa de Pedro is a warm and inviting restaurant with a nice patio for dining outside, a large bar and even larger indoor dining room. Main plates range significantly in price, but dinner for two including a shared starter, two drinks and main plates will cost $70.00 with tip; more than reasonable considering the portions and how delicious it was to eat. We started our meal with calamari ($10.50). No need to ask for lemon wedges as the lightly fried calamari was heavily seasoned with lemon juice which was nicely offset by the heat of the jalapenos. For dinner I ordered Fish Tacos ($15.50). The three tacos filled with tilapia had a distinctly grilled flavoring and was accompanied by rice, beans, fried yucca and plantains. I will come back to Casa de Pedro. It makes for the perfect place to grab dinner before seeing a show at the New Rep Theatre and who doesn't love dinner and a show?
(3)
Natalie W.
Great ambiance given its proximity to the Watertown indoor mall. The service was awful, we found a hair in our food, and the menu is pricy for low quality food. The chips and authentic salsa and drinks menu are your best bet.
(2)
Saba N.
I'll be honest, not a fan of the atmosphere of the restaurant... except for the patio. If that's not available, I don't bother going. The food is good, I have only really had apps here but the portions are large and I've never been unsatisfied. HOWEVER, it's very expensive for watertown.. margaritas are around 11-13 dollars, which to me.. is absurd. I'd rather go out in the city. That being said, I highly reccomend the sangria, and I really think that one entree is plenty for two people... so there are ways to make this a much better experience.
(3)
Antonio C.
I went with my family to have a dinner there, the place is very cozy and organizer. The food is delicious........ I will be back soon and I high recommend this place. :)
(5)
Deb R.
Very stingy. Had to pay for chips and salsa(4.50). Tiny amount of guac and sales with fish tacos. Expensive.
(2)
Melissa Y.
I went here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday night. I'm not sure if we didn't love the place because we were a party of seven, or because we just didn't love the place. First, we were seated waaaaay waaaaaaaay waaaaaay in the back right next to the bathrooms. There were other large parties seated around the restaurant, and we had reservations, so it wasn't like we couldn't have fit anywhere else. From what we saw walking in, not at all from our seat in Siberia, was that it was a fun, nicely decorated restaurant with live music that night. Unfortunately, we had a view of a wall. Ok fine, not the best seat, whatever. Our waiter then proceeded to ignore us for twenty minutes. He then walked by, said hello and then left again. He came and took our drink orders and then came back and said the bar was backed up, should he just take our dinner orders? Fine sure, whatever. Food: pretty good. We had a sampling of different meals, including the paella, shrimps served in a coconut and fish tacos. Everyone agreed the food was decent, nothing worth a second trip back. Drinks: drinks we pretty good, although a bit on the pricey end. Cocktails were 10-12 dollars. Overall Value: meh. It was agreed that it was overpriced for the amount of food and the quality. Combine that with lackluster service and a table essentially in the bathroom, I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)
Alvin M.
I made a reservation for Saturday night for 7:30pm and we were taken right to our table on a very rainy night. We ordered the drinks which were very tasty, I had black rasberry margarita, yummy and my gf ordered the Jalapeno margarita, which had such an amazing tasty kick. We ordered some tapas, the mago ceviche which was fresh and tasty as well as the queso fondida. I was truly in food heaven, what a great assortment of food was on the menu. For dinner, I ordered the Osso buco which was fall of the bone tastiness. My girlfriend ordered the special, a beautifully cooked trout stuffed with lobster and crab. This dish definitely stole the show and I couldn't get enough of it. For dessert, I ordered the coconut flan that was incredibly tasty. It was great because Pedro greeted most people at the door and walked around during the meal to make sure everything was ok. The atmosphere almost feels like you're in Cuba or some tropical island. It was colorful with palm trees. The only thing missing was parrots or birds flying around. I was very impressed, we brought a friend here from NYC and she was very impressed with the food and atmosphere. I'd definitely come back. Oh Pedro, with food this tasty, how can I not get fat?
(5)
Anthony V.
I moved into Waltham about 6 months ago and have been to La Casa de Pedro about 10 times. The first two time i would have scored it a 5/5 but everytime since then it has been worse and worse. The only reason I kept going back was hoping I would one day feel as I did that first time. We have always sat the bar and the bartenders have always been very friendly and helpful. One time we looked into a table and the host told us there was a wait when I could see 10-15 empty tables. The margaritas are good if you like the sweet types but relatively weak with alcohol, and WAYYYYY to over priced. 2 margaritas can put you in the $25 range. The food menu is expensively priced for the quality and portions you recieve, tacos around 16 and meat/seafood from 19-29. The food is average at most and very bland. The only food I repeatedly enjoy is the sides of plantains and Yuca. This place was good 1-2 times for me and I finally have learned from my many mistakes and will look elsewhere.
(3)
Michael N.
I have loved coming here. I should have written a review sooner. This area certainly doesn't lack for a variety of pallets, but for excellent Venezuelan fare, Casa De Pedro is certainly under-served by its campy name, nonetheless the fare is especially good. The atmosphere is very airy and fresh with the tall ceilings and trees, creating an open air plaza type of fresco eating, in all seasons. I have eaten here on many occasions. The steak dishes have always been delicious and sensitive in flavour and tender in cooking, seasoned and cooked like it came straight from the occidente. The food shows a compassion for the history of its land, from the Spanish flavour, the Italian seasoning and the Portuguese varietal blends of legumes and tubers along with the foods of the various regions. Start with the arepas and empinadas. The El Gaucho (skirt steak) is my favourite, or maybe it is the Cordero, or the Pork Osso Buco. Order the hot sauce, it is so good! The only shortcoming is the dessert menu, which has a serviceable flan, but not equal to the main courses, but I can wait... Great place to eat before or after a show at the Arsenal Theater. The bar is also vibrant and the sangria very fruity and the mojitos crisp. mmm... The wait staff are diligent but not excellent, and the dessert menu are all that are lacking for me to give this five stars. But that wouldn't stop me from coming back.
(4)
Caitlin A.
Not bad at all. Went here for an early dinner and we were the only customers except for a lone man at the bar. The salsa was absolutely incredible. I would go back just for that. For our meals, I got the chicken enchiladas, which were good. Essentially, exactly what I expected. And he got the Flank Pabellon Criollo with the eggs on top. It was also very good, but for 20$ I would expect some more of the meat; the plate was full, but the serving of meat was barely there. The plantains were the best part of both meals, in my opinion. The food here was good, I won't deny it. But for the price? Eh. Also - we were the ONLY people at a table and we had TWO different servers and the service was slow.
(3)
A C.
I was pretty excited to try this place out after going on July 5th and finding out from Pedro himself that he'd given his employees the weekend off for the holiday. (I think that was cool of him.) I called at noon same day to try to make a 6pm reservation for my parents and me (it was a Friday). The guy said they had nothing at that time for a party of three, and could we do 5:45. No problem. We arrive at 5:50 to the patio that was 3/4 empty. We didn't look inside, but we were kind of wondering why we made a reservation for a nearly-empty patio. As we were walking on the patio towards our table (the location of which the host seemed confused about), I noticed a table on the patio that is clearly a bit nicer than the others (padded seats, higher up). I asked to sit there, thinking maybe there were a few others like it and it was first come first serve, but the host responded, "that is for special guests." Not the worst comment I've ever heard, but he could have just said "It's reserved" or better yet, they could have put a little sign that says Reserved like ten thousand other restaurants do. So already two strikes against them. We ordered two tapas- the olives and the nachos- which were good. Then we ordered a pitcher of sangria. Out came a carafe. This is probably nitpicky, but pitchers are definitely larger than carafes . We got a little over three glasses out of it, so at $27, that is pretty steep. Especially since their version is a mixture of wine and beer, no hard alcohol as proper sangria calls for (at least the way it's prepared in Spain.) My mom got the Verde salad, which included two slivers of avocado and exactly three slices of grilled zucchini on top of a mountain of lettuce. My dad got the cod, which he enjoyed. I got the pabellon, which is more or less the Venezuelan version of the Cuban dish ropa vieja (pulled beef) but not nearly as well seasoned. It was fine, but I was expecting more from the "signature Venezuelan dish" since it touts itself as a Venezuelan restaurant. The check came out to around $107 for all of this, so I would say it's overpriced for what you get. There are definitely better options not too far away.
(2)
Rohit S.
I used to love this place. The Osso Buco was the most unique take on the dish, accompanied by plantains, yuca, rice and beans - yum!! Until now... went there a short while ago and two things went wrong: 1. Empanadas (apps) were fried in burnt oil. I informed the waitress who barely apologized, didn't offer us an alternative and didn't take it off the bill 2.. The Osso Bucco was topped with stir fried shitake mushrooms - it was absolutely disgusting. Stir fried mushrooms with asian overtones on top of a Venezuelan Ossu Bucco?!? I highly doubt Pedro was responsible for this abomination but nevertheless, he needs to get the quality under control.
(2)
Frannie Z.
Another stop on my great Watertown tour. This is one place on our tour that I feel we need to explore a bit more. The mojitos were lovely, I got a berry and Barbara let me try her plain. The best one was the last one you tried. Too hard to choose between them! The empanada was lovely enough that I want to try more of their offerings. We were too full by this point do more than share one empanada. Next time, I'll save some appetite!
I really wanted to enjoy this place, but, sadly, slow service and bland, subpar food made this quite the opposite. Music was blaring, patio lovely, decor taking you back to an old Miami Beach, Latin-inspired vibe. Server was pleasant and did his best given how many tables he had. I am not sure if he has a penchant for bland food or if most of the food is just under seasoned and underwhelming. We ordered based on his recommendations: appetizer of mango seafood ceviche and a chicken/avocado arepa, along with their "signature dish" Pabellon Criollo (Venezuelan classic of shredded beef simmered with vegetables) and the only item not recommended, the spicy skirt steak tacos. Mango ceviche had good flavor but consisted mostly of small shrimp and outrageously sandy mussels. One chomp on a sandy mussel and you lose your appetite. It was supposed to have white fish, but we didn't really see any. The arepa was the size of an English muffin and it was over charred on the outside and undercooked in the middle. The filling was so bland, like a few bits of poached chicken mixed into some mashed avocado, and salt was non-existent. On to the entrees--the signature braised beef dish sounded so promising, but sadly, the best thing on the plate were the black beans (delicious). Hate to sound harsh as I know this dish is the pride of Venezuela, but it was executed poorly. It was akin to rope with beef broth and a faint taste of tequila poured over it. Dry, under seasoned, and disappointing. The spicy skirt steak tacos had great flavor, although the steak was a bit too chewy from a combination of overcooking and the way it was sliced. Out of all the food, I enjoyed this dish the most. At least it had some great flavor. We waited a long time for our drinks, a long while for our apps, and again for the entrees. It was rather expensive for the quality. We won't be coming back unless they start generating some more flavorful dishes.
(2)
Spamme M.
We visited boston for the weekend and found this place on groupon. We were pleasantly surprised at just how nice a place this restaurant was. We found this place through groupon. They didn't treat us like second class citizen because we used a voucher. The service was top notch and the food was just perfect, not overly seasoned and not bland. My wife complained her steak was dry, but then again she ordered it well done. I would highly recommend to just about Anyone including my family and friends
(5)
Deborah J.
I like this place, specially when I'm home sick. I try parilla caraquena it was ok, the tequenos were good. My only complaints are the band (too noisy) and the waiter.
(3)
Sara M.
I like this place - I really do but as I keep going back there two things bother me. 1) The fact that they wait to bring everything all at once. The point of tapas is to munch on food slowly as the plates come from the kitchen nice and fresh. Waiting to bring everything out all at once takes away from the whole tapas experience. 2) The prices are a little too much. It's not like they're using wholesome ingredients or organic greens and vegetables so why do they charge downtown restaurant prices?! Come one now...
(3)
Jules C.
As you can tell from other reviews, Pedros is hit or miss. I've eaten here many times since I work in the neighborhood and there aren't a lot of choices for sit down lunch. Good thing for them. There have been times when it's been fine - and then times when nothing seemed good about it. And it's pretty expensive compared to what's in the area, so I think people expect a higher level for the money - not so much. I do think that one of the biggest causes of the variation is the management's attitude. It's like they are doing you a favor to let you eat there. I've had really friendly wait-people at times, and then other times, they've been very condescending, other times just clueless. Most recently, i was there on a weeknight right after work to meet some friends for dinner. The place was empty, except for a few after-work people in the bar. I asked if I could sit and have a drink while I waited for my friends - the manager acted like it was a huge imposition to let me take a table by myself - NO ONE else in the restaurant. Then, when my friends did show up, we had an extra person - should be good news for the restaurant, no? Apparently not. They were all too happy to bring us expensive drinks, but it took about 30 minutes for them to bring another place setting. And no, we weren't crowding into a table that was too small for our group. The food, too, can be spotty - the same salad on the menu can be either great or really mediocre and small for the money. So, overall, if I had more alternatives in the neighborhood, I would never go to Pedros, but rather to someplace that seems to actually appreciate my business. They are just so darn convenient. And that is good news for them, since I don't think they would make it in a more competitive location.
(2)
Chris C.
I likeit here alot -- i have been a couple times with different people and loved it both times. The food is great, the atmosphere is VERY 1955 Cuba (a good thing!) and there is ample free parking. It's some of the best latin food I've had in Boston. My only quibble was the lighting was a little too low to read the menus easily.
(5)
C R.
Went here for New Year's Eve with some Venezuelan friends who wanted to go out for drinks and dancing. We didn't plan on eating and so we didn't even try to make a reservation (the same night) on New Year's Eve. The restaurant looked FANTASTIC - decorated in a South American theme complete with palm trees and a host dressed in a white suit and Panama hat. Every table was packed full and the food looked fantastic. We occupied the bar area and danced until the ball dropped. Definitately looks like a place I'd try for dinner - as th place was packed with lots of people; all of whom seemed to have a great time. The staff were apologetic that there were (of course) no table available -but graciously offered the bar as an alternative (great service!). The band was great and people danced the night away. Who'd have thought there'd be a little bit of South America in Watertown (right next tot he Aresenal mall)! It's on my list of "to dos."
(3)
Brian W.
Before tonight I didn't really know what to expect from Venezuelan cuisine and after dinner at La Casa De Pedro I still don't really know what I think. The whole Latin American theme really made us crave Mexican food and we suddenly found ourselves disappointed that we weren't offered chips and salsa and that guacamole was nowhere on the menu. The restaurant is much bigger than it looks from the outside and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The drinks are overpriced and served in small glasses, as was mentioned in many other reviews. The food was quite flavorful and definitely different from anything I've tasted before. The swordfish tips were quite good, but the yuca and fried plantains were interesting, though not nearly as life changing as some of these other reviews would lead you to believe. Overall it was a good experience to try something out of our comfort zone, but I don't think I'll be driving home from work anytime soon thinking about Pedro's Casa round 2.
(3)
Chelsea G.
Great drinks!! Food is a little pricey for this area, but the atmosphere and service is definitely worth it!
(4)
Jessica H.
I love love loveee Casa De Pedro! It's located right near my work and my colleagues and I love going here for after work drinks/dinner. The sangria (both red and white) is amazing and the fish tacos are delicious. The guac is pretty good too - and I like to consider myself a guac snob. They have a huge patio out front which makes for a great spot to enjoy a nice afternoon/evening. 100% recommend this place!
(4)
Justin B.
One of the best places to eat! Food, atmosphere, service, drinks, parking, live music. This places has it all. Took my wife there for her birthday. I have told friends and family about this gem.
(5)
I Y.
Not sure if it was because it was Cinco de Mayo, but the place was packed and service was a little slow. Salads (La de Raquel and La de Camarones) were okay, nothing special. The entrees were also not very memorable - the Buenos Tiempos was tender but lacked flavor and the Pabellon Criollo had too much liquid from the spooned on black beans. We skipped desserts - our salads and entrees were actually pretty filling.
(2)
Greg P.
always great food and a great atmosphere. One of my favorite local spots to hit up. Live salsa on Saturday evenings is great. Service is hit or miss tho, if you wanna nit pick....
(4)
Bri C.
Went to Pedro's for my sisters birthday tonight, food was on point. I got a traditional Venezuelan dish and it was very good, however could have done with less salt. The steak my dad got was absolutely amazing, it melted in my mouth. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and attentive. It was fairly busy for a Monday night. My mom got a $12 salad, which I thought was a little pricey for lettuce, squash, and some tomato slices. The price would have made more sense if there were avocado in it. Besides that, everything else is great. Be sure to try the shrimp ceviche, sooo good and very fresh. As well as the calamari , which was quite delicious. I'll be returning soon.
(5)
Susan D.
I give this restaurant 3 stars, though the food and the outdoor cafe was fab. The reduction in stars: My friends and I arrived with my two smaller dogs, one of which is a therapy dog. The owner refused to let either one of them stay with us at our table, so we had to tie them up around a tree just outside the perimeter of the cafe, close to where we were sitting. My friend asked if they could bring a bowl of water for the dogs at least, and they refused. Then a wait staff tried to have our friend move her infant son, who was asleep, for who knows why. Our friend simply refused, not wanting to awaken the baby. Watching that same owner stare at himself in the foyer mirror whilst talking on his cell phone and watching us like we were criminals, made me want to barf, but we were so hungry by that time, we just stayed an waited to eat our food. All that said, the food was absolutely superb. All of it. We had to "ask" for bread (apparrently, they do not give it out freely - an oddity for a "highbrow" South American restaurant, but when it arrived when we were finished with our meal, it was fresh and excellent.
(3)
Todd F.
I had high hopes for this colorful restaurant, but they were not met. The menu is on the pricey side with tapas around $8-$12 and main courses around $20-$30. My wife and I ordered a few tapas dishes as we weren't starving. The first sign of trouble, the diet coke I ordered came in a tiny glass. I'm serious, this thing was smaller than a sippy cup. As I've said before, in this day and age, you can't get away with crap like that. It really reflects poorly on the restaurant. The food finally came and everything looked appetizing. The problem was, it was all dry. We had aripas, yuca fritas, queso fundito, and empanadas. All of it was dry and difficult to eat...I was surprised there were no sauces offered with them. The yuca fritas came with a chimichurri sauce over top, but it was too little and did nothing to moisten them. Even the queso fundito was dry, with the cheese nearly congealed when it arrived at the table. The only bright spot were the empanadas, which had a tasy, moist chicken mixture inside. The service matched the meal and was dry. We barely got a smile from our waiter. All in all, I'd avoid this place.
(2)
Mallory W.
Went here for the first time last night. AMAZING! Strawberry Mojito was declicious and then we had the Nachos for an appetizer. Honestly the best Nachos I have ever had (and I eat a LOT of nachos!) For my meal I tried the Pabellón Criollo which was Shredded beef simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans The Fried Plantains were also probably the best I have ever tasted. and the beef was very flavorful. ORDER THE HOT SAUCE with your meal (extremely Hot!!!) But delicious. Cannot wait to go back here!
(5)
Herbert K.
I like the food, I like Pedro, I like the feel of the place.... But... We all know that a Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime. But Pedro... $12 for one? In Watertown? Really? It's a fine cocktail, even comes with a little sugar cane garnish, but please.... cachaça is about the cheapest spirit out there, and $12 is just gouging!
(2)
Dawn E.
The ambiance in here is pure delight. They did everything right. *Everything.* I wouldn't change a lamp or a plant or a painting or a chair. It's warm and cozy and romantic but not so much that you can't go with friends or the fam, still, it would definitely make a great joint for a date. It was a fairly empty weeknight when I went, but I get the feeling this place comes alive with energy when it's busy, and I'm curious to find out. The menu is multiple pages, and even better, the majority of those pages are dedicated to booze. Oh hai booze. Yeah. We're already friends. Sadly, a week's worth of antibiotics equaled no booze for me, so we just waived at each other and sighed - ships passing in the night and all that. The food menu is less extensive but interesting. It's important to note that this is *not* a Mexican restaurant, on my way out I heard a couple making some sort of observation relating to the strangeness of this Mexican food and I resisted my oft-had smacking urge once again. The food here is South American in general with a strong Venezuelan influence - this means you should expect flavors to be more subtle and refined. I ordered the Buenos Tiempos (which the "waiter" informed me several times meant "Good Times" despite my response to him several times in my terrible but passable Spanish) and good times it was. Short ribs in a brown sauce with sauteed tomatoes and onions came plated with two kinds of rice, black beans, fried yucca, and plantains. These were, bar none, the most tender and divine short ribs I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. My plate, in particular, was flawless and ample. I made all the right choices. My dining companions ordered Parrillada Caraquea and Quesadilla de Camarones respectively. From the Parrillada Caraquea I tasted all three of the meats (chorizo, sirloin, and chicken). All of these were decent but only the chorizo was excellent. The chicken and the sirloin were entirely un-special. I did not sample the shrimp quesadilla but the friend who ordered it thought it was perfection. She also, however, complained that her plantains were in fact bananas, I tasted her plantains and they, in fact, tasted sweeter and more bananay than mine, but my mouth was already full of shortribby happiness so I can neither confirm nor deny her claims. For dessert I enjoyed a near flawlessly executed cappuccino and some delightful chocolate flan. Or service was as charming and warm as the ambiance. It would have been flawless, except that our attention was sparse. I did not really feel neglected in that I was enjoying my company but it did take what seemed like a while for the food to arrive, and we were never checked on until we were finished and had pushed away our plates. Water did not get refilled, even after requested, and the bill also took a while both to arrive and to process. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Pedro's House and would like to return. If only to sample all that booze...
(3)
Sally H.
I liked the beef empanadas, with the chilli sauce! They set the light to a dim ambiance, which was okay with me. The place will fill up with patrons after 7pm.
(3)
J D.
La Casa de Pedro is in an old renovated warehouse near the Arsenal Mall. The restaurant has 20 foot ceilings which enables them to have practically full size trees throughout, giving it a Caribbean feeling. We ate on a Monday night and surprisingly, there was live music playing. Not deafening loud, just nice calypso/bosa nova in the background. The menu is primarily Latin, but they also offer a sizable Mexican offering. I opted for chicken enchiladas which were good. Fresh grilled chicken with sides of black beans and rice, fried yucca, and plantains. The yucca and plantains were outstanding. Shredded beef in a garlic and onion base with rice and beans were very good as well. Portions here are huge, so you might be getting a second meal out of your order. We took home some coconut flan, which was some of the best flan I've ever had. Service was friendly and low key. It's a nice option for a Latin feed.
(4)
Dominique G.
How is it possible for this place to still be in business? It is horrible. I gave it another chance a week ago meeting a few friends for drinks only while they ate Tapas. The waitress, while very nice, didnt know a thing about the food! hello? Train them much? Never again. Food sucks
(1)
Melissa M.
I had 1.5 sips of my fiance's Mojito @ La Case de Pedro. This was the first time any booze has touched my lips in almost 72 days. But, it was HIGH TIME!! Yeah, sure, I could have had one if I wanted, but I just wanted a taste. Just a taste! It was DAYUM good. Dios Mio! I will definitely return for one in the near future!! It was worth ten bucks. It really was. The food was pretty good too. I got some grilled chicken with an apricot/mango sauce -- kinda like mango chicken @ a Chinese establishment. But, this place was not Chinese. It is Venezuelan food. I need to mention their plantains are so good. The yucca, notsomuch. Their rice and beans are very good. The portions are HUMUNGO! I had taken the leftovers home and my 91 year-old Irish immigrant Papa loved it. But, he might of just though it was Chinese food -- he loves Chinese food. Even the toasted bread and butter they serve to you is very good. The service was wonderful, a bit slow at first, but attentive once the crowd of diners left to go to the theatre next door. The decor here is so nice. It's like being in Miami -- very tropical. Check it out! They have a patio that is opening next week. I shall return.
(3)
Greg N.
This place looks like Little Havana, tastes like Heaven, and has totally earned a repeat customer. The food was so good it made me want to weep and the margarita was arguably the best (and strongest) I've had in YEARS... It was moderately priced and is worth every single penny. No point in a longer review because words only get in the way. nom nom nom nom nom.
(5)
Cindy O.
This is near my corporate office and I forgot about it until my manager took me there for lunch this past week. I had the fish tacos and they were amazing. Served with fried plantains and a black bean rice. The server was attentive and we were able to get served within our lunch time. I went here 2 years ago for dinner but cannot recall what I ordered but I do remember the person I was with and I really loved the food. Next time I am in MA I will definitely go here again.
(5)
Dee D.
Went for dinner today at 5:20. It was practically empty. Was told that we (meaning the two of us) could sit in no mans land near the kitchen or at the bar. My boyfriend chose the seat near the kitchen. After waiting a while, our waitress came. Not ultra friendly or flexible. Told us we could not order anything from lunch menu. Ok. The place is still very empty, I must have saw at least two sections empty on my way to the bathroom which was filthy as can be. Another waitress notices us in Guam and asks if we ordered yet, she was very nice and i wish she was our waitress. We have been waiting forever and did not receive any bread. Food arrives. My boyfriend ordered a meat platter for $18 with about a half a cup of meat on his plate. Flagged down waitress for refill of water and for bill. Paid bill and walked out, no greeting from hosts up front. Should have gone to Panela de Barro in Waltham.
(1)
Valerie V.
Tried Casa de Pedro recently when looking for a place to have a fun dinner out with a group of 4 where we could park for free and not venture downtown. Overall, I would say that I would come back because several menu items were totally delicious--the swordfish tips and the yucca specifically. However-the drinks are insanely overpriced. As in, a drink is more expensive than most entrees. It makes zero sense and is off-putting. So this would not be the first choice at all if I was planning on having a few. If you're a teetotaler, this is probably a great place for you! Haha..
(3)
Emily F.
I am a sucker for outdoor seating. And plates of beef with eggs on top. The food is good, not amazing, but very good. I have had nice waitstaff here, and am really looking forward to getting an adult beverage one night (we always go for lunch). Big plates of food, lots of delicious calories. Try the Beef with an Egg. My personal favorite!
(4)
Jessie C.
Very tasty! Went on a friday night with a few ladies and we had a fantastic time. The service was fantastic and the food was even better. The prices are higher but you certainly get your money's worth. I had the Bacalao a la Ozzy Guillen and it was great. Nice large piece of fish, a good number of plantains and yuca. Also had the white sangria and it was nice and fruity as well. Great experience.
(4)
Vernice G.
Was a good service, many variety Latin food and good music.
(4)
Aneury B.
The food is awesome here and Ana (the waitress) was really nice to me and my family. I'm definitely coming back!
(5)
Eva K.
Love this place - the osso buco in particular was to die for, but you can't really go wrong here if you love your yucca and such.
Great ambience.. Large portions.. Tasty drinks.. I'm only giving it 3 stars because the last experience I had, the waitress pointed out certain entrees on the menu that no longer were available or that they had run out of. Its a HUGE pet peeve of mine when restaurants don't have food that they list on their menu. Besides that, Pedros is definitely a place I would recommend people to try at least once.
(3)
David S.
This is an awesome restaurant. Though It is not my favorite food. Atmosphere and energy are awesome. Have gone here twice . And the band was awesome. The food was good. The service the second time was excellent...
(4)
Roy W.
OK food, but they don't compare well to a place like Orinoco, which is head and shoulders better. It may not seem like it when first you look a the menu - there are lots of entries - but there's not a lot of variety to be had. Watery martinis. (Yep, I have them on the rocks, but they still shouldn't be watery.)
(2)
Erwin F.
Well done Pedro, well done. You fed me well. I'm still on a food high from last night so I'll just give you the highlights: Beef Empanada - Get it, got, get another, because it's that's good. Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pork slightly fried with hot sauce) - Not a blue ribbon winner, but you get a notable mention. Chicken and avocados Arepas - you sir, are so plain, that you should get penalized for being so bland. Shredded beef Arepas - good flavor, but if this were a pass/fail course, you'd just get the "P". Don't get your feelings hurt by asking the number grade. La Paella de Pedro - FANTASTIC Pineapple Mojito - I'd recommend Service - pretty good Ambience - everything looks good when you're on a food high. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Jen F.
The food is awesome. Let me repeat. The. Food. Is. Awesome. All the entrees are great, and are made even better by the amazing accompaniments--fried yuka, rice (cilantro and orange) and beans, and the best plantains on planet earth. The drinks, too, are delicious. The only issue is the service. It's a mixed bag. When it's good, it's good, when it's bad...it's a hot mess. Casa should really get it together in that department. Otherwise, it's an awesome restaurant and one of my favs.
(4)
Michele G.
This is review for take-out. I happen to work right next door, so my lunch options are limited to Pedro and Panera. Boo. I probably won't eat here again after my experience. I ordered a shrimp quesdilla. Who orders a quesadilla at a Venezulan place? Plenty of people, because it's on the menu. And if it's on the menu, it should be as good as the rest of the food you serve. Anyhow, this quesadilla was sad. The best parts were the shrimp and the side of plantains. I make better, more satisying quesadillas at home. Actually, so does Beer Works on Canal St. Some shrimp and mostly cheese and some pesto sauce filled the tortilla, accompianed by two laughably small containers of guac and sour cream. I'm talking almost thimbul small. And the sour cream was warm, so I didn't chance it. I might be back for the Ten Cane mojitos, but that's it.
(2)
Sarah C.
Maybe I was there on an off night, but I didn't have a particularly pleasant experience. They were relatively busy, but not slammed, and the service was very poor. Long waits in between seeing our waiter's face, a few mistakes through the night, and it took FOREVER to get the check. Meanwhile I thought the food was fine. Good sized portions, but really nothing special - could have gotten that quality many other places for much less money. I think that's the sticking point for me - for the quality of food and the service, their prices are just too high. Bring 'em down a bit and this place gets an A-OK rating, but for now, "Meh. I've experienced better" sums it up for me.
(2)
Rachel L.
The LCDP website doesn't do them justice (it looks more casual than the actual ambiance). The atmosphere is elegant, but not stuffy. I went there with a group of friends mid week because we weren't in the mood to battle traffic and parking downtown, so a Mexican restaurant in Watertown was a good compromise. Our server was awkward/uncomfortable, but polite. And the food was very good. The entrees all came with yuka, rice and beans, and plantains - I thought it was a nice touch. It made the experience more authentic and reminded me of being in Central America. I was a little disappointed with the veggie quesadilla (my standard order for Mexican restaurants) because it was stuffed with tons of squash and not much else. Otherwise, everything was very tasty. The sangria was also good, but I would have liked more fruit in it. Overall a good experience.
(3)
David V.
I am writing this review based on take-out; I have not eaten at the restaurant. My wife ate here recently and brought me home a mix of food including arepas, beef, pork, rice, and beans. I found the food to be delicious! Everything was flavorful, the meat was tender, and one thing that I really appreciate about this food is that it is NOT greasy like so many other similar restaurants. I hope to have the opportunity to eat at the restaurant one day!
(5)
Barbara A.
I loved this place when it was stil in Watertown Sq (even when he upped his prices 20%), but still not sure about the "new" space anymore. At first I was excited about all that space and happy it was there (I even had my mom's memorial lunch there). The last few times I went though, not too excited about it. First, the mojitos are probably the best I have had anywhere in the area. I asked the bartender one time why so yummy and he tried to explain it to me but since mere mortals can not buy the type of liquor they use on the open market, I did not retain it. I have been a big fan of the empanada - the first thing I do is order them because in the past they took 20 mins. When I ordered them last time, they came in 5. I have been going to his place since he first opened and they have always taken 20 min (I will not go into a routine about grits a la "My Cousin Vinny"). Well just taste it and you will see it is not the same quality - not sure if he precooks or is he doing a different recipe but how sad. I also enjoy the traditonal shredded beef dish - can not retain the name nor pronounce it but look for it. It is still yummy. I will still go here, but will mourn the quality that has gone down.
(3)
Anne P.
Three of us stopped in here for dinner on a weekend some months ago. It was prime time, so, understandably, there was a wait (despite empty tables, which I assumed were saved for reservations). We were in somewhat of a rush, so we sort of crowded around a high-top table, which only had two chairs. The manager was unable to find us another chair, which was fine by us (but clearly bothered him). We waited a while without a server coming to take our drink orders, which was annoying - BUT the manager/host noticed, consulted his reservation book again, and then brought us right into the dining room. Our server was really attentive and seemed honest in his recommendations, the management was friendly, and the food was good. We were all very impressed with both the food and the service, and will definitely be back.
(4)
Alvin C.
Mother's Day! This was a great choice. My om loved the deacor and the food. The food was amazing. I mean everything we ordered was DELICIOUS. There was a live band playing Latin music; I am not sure if that is a regular occurrence. The service was great, and it could be a great place for a date, holiday meal, or just a really nice lunch or dinner any day of the week. I will be visiting again soon.
(5)
Tiffany K.
We only ate here because the diner with the 4 stars on Yelp was packed with people for brunch, so we had no choice but ended here. Early morning mimosa was the best part! I ordered a tomato bacon omlette...I am very sure I have had better ;p The place is huge and the service was just barely ok. Not sure when I will ever be back to Boston, but for sure I don't think I will want to eat here again ;D...sorry!
(3)
Lynda M.
Food is good--great choices for everyone-my friend's salmon was delish and so was my quesadilla. Wine menu was decent and fairly priced, but mixed drinks were a bit pricey for Watertown. Cute space, but it is very open so when a live band is playing on Fridays and Saturdays it is impossible to carry on a conversation. Shouting did not work. So if you want a good meal with normal conversation, hit this place on a week night.
(3)
Min L.
I work in the complex where La Casa de Pedro is located. My co-workers and I frequent this place quite often. The food is very consistent and they do have great specials. It's a bit pricey at $9-11 a plate for lunch. The interior is nicely decorated but I prefer the outdoor patio when it's available. Nothing better than a pitcher of sangria in the sun!
(4)
dan m.
Food burned to hell and back...service sucked, slow and over-priced weak drinks. Avoid.
(1)
Mary Anne C.
Why haven't I been here before? What was I thinking? The food was good, my drink was fine, there was a live band (and dancing). Great service from the door onward - charming host, great server. All in all, comfortable and fun. Perfect for a cold Friday night. And Florina, I think you mean the arepas. (We had the chicken and avocado arepa - small but very flavorful.)
(5)
madine c.
We've been dining at Pedro's since it first opened up in Watertown Square (15 years now?). It's a little pricey, and I burned out on it a bit after eating there so often, hence the missing 5th star. However, it's really quite good there. Our favorites over the years include: * Red sangria; tasty and packs quite a punch * Arepas (all of 'em, but especially the chicken and avocado) * The traditional shredded beef dish with black beans, rice, plantains, and fried yuca (topped with an amazingly delicious cilantro aioli!) * The "Raquel" salad, which features shredded roast chicken over greens and that same delicious cilantro aioli! * Fried yuca (with that cilantro aioli!) is a delicious treat. Get some for the table if your entree doesn't include it as a side. It's reminiscent of steak fries but so much better. * More red sangria! The "new" space (I think they've been there at least 5 years by now) is kind of odd and cavernous; it originally was a Naked Fish. I hope Pedro's does well and stays in business ... it seems like they've weathered the rough storms (2008?) by now. And for what it's worth, I believe they're the longest-running restaurant to date in that space (after Naked Fish, it was Red Sauce, then the doomed Marzo 20-something that I can't remember). So go eat at Pedro's if you're a fan of Venezuelan food (which closely resembles traditional Cuban and/or Puerto Rican fare, in my limited experience).
(4)
bob c.
Located in the old Watertown Arsenal with lots of parking, Casa De Pedro is worth a visit. Nice outdoor patio over looking fountain; large spacious indoors with a South American feel. Attentive service and very good genuine South American food. Large menu; good bar.
(4)
Carroll C.
Don't go with only an American Express card...not accepted there. I didn't get a margarita, which I love, since they were about $14 each. I bought two appetizers, a corn cake (can't remember the name of them) with cheese and some yuca fries. The cheese on the corn cakes was shredded and unmelted, as if it'd just come straight out of a bag. The yuca fries were fine but came with only a tiny bit of some sort of sauce. Completely pedestrian in every way. I'd never go back or recommend the restaurant.
(2)
A A.
great food but bad waiter & service. we were a party of 8 they said couldn't make reservations but if we came they'd fit us in..well that was an understatement. They put us in a corner table by the restrooms, then told us we need to be finished by 8:30 for another party. we got there at 7. Then we ordered a pitcher of Margaritas and the waiter said they couldn't do that for some strange reason.Then i ordered a tapas item and he told me they were all out ..at 7PM! then they only take 3 cc at a time so one of us had to use cash AND they include the 18% gratuity in parties over 5!..maybe why the waiter didn't give damn! This was one of the WORST restaurant experiences ever! PS their Guacamole is too salty and they cut it with sour cream.
(1)
Amanda G.
Wow - 4.5 for this random joint. Incredible food for very reasonable prices - we shared guacamole and shrimp ceviche appetizers, both of which were served with yuca chips. Plates were a good portion-size and deee-licious. I could eat that ceviche again and again and... For dinner we all had the roast chicken, which is a huge dinner portion (easily shared by two), that comes with a couple pieces of sausage, rice and black beans, fried plantains and more yuca chips. The chicken was moist and crispy on top, and the plantains are to-die. I almost cleared my plate which would have been dangerous. I had a house margarita which was light & lovely, although a little pricey at $11, and given the food is not as expensive. Our waiter was amazing, very upbeat and attentive but let us linger long after dinner when we were clearly absorbed in our conversation. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the feel is a bit more chain-restaurant than what this place really is, which is a fantastic foodie find. I'm secretly hoping they open a Casa de Pedro II somewhere in the city or Cambridge -- if you work in the area or are stopping by, this is the best spot going!
(4)
Kelly G.
For a gluten-free girl on the town, there aren't always a ton of options on the menu. At Pedro's almost the whole menu was there for the taking! C. and I decided on Pedro's for our 6-month-a-versary (I'm a girl, I'm allowed). When we arrived, Pedro himself (his pic is on the website) was buzzing around the patio talking to patrons and laughing loudly - what a great first impression! We then walked in and were further impressed - the atmosphere is romantic and warm, a live salsa band was playing, and the smells from the kitchen were amazing! A hostess greeted us promptly and seated us in a green-lit corner booth. The awesome continued right on from there- our waiter was attentive - started us off with a black raspberry margarita and a blood orange/blueberry martini - both were exceptional! The menu is mainly traditional Venezuelan food with a smattering of Mexican. My favorite parts of the program were the dishes named for Raquel, Pedro's wife - the descriptions are written so lovingly - it's such a sweet tribute. We ordered the Aprepas (traditional Venezuelan corncake) with chicken and avocado - which was like a chicken salad with avocado instead of mayo - and was scrumptious. C had the steak and onion dish and I had a steak and chicken dish - yay meat! Both had sides of Yucca, Plantain, and Rice & Black Beans. I'd never had yucca before and it was fabulous! I've also never had plantains that tasted this good. We wrapped things up with a few bites of chocolate flan. From A to Z, this was an unbeatable experience. We both look forward to going back later in the summer, sitting on the outdoor patio, and sharing this gem with our friends.
(5)
Brooke J.
I eat here every time I visit my friend. This food is affordable, good for you, and tastes great. What more could you want? I love the plantains, and they give you heaps and heaps of them! So if you order them, be sure you have help! The fajita steak is slow cooked as it should be, and is flavourful and falling apart. Their vegetables always seem fresh, and they aren't overcooked. They stay nice and bright on your plate and palette. The seasoning has been perfect on everything I've ordered. Unlike other Latin restaurants, there isn't a whole lot of grease on everything or too much salt. I like their margaritas, even though sometimes tequila makes me sick. Their pina colada is nice, too. I generally end up with a bill in the range of $30 - $50 for two. The higher end is for when we get drinks. Totally forgot to mention that the front of the house is nice, too. Service is attentive and cheerful. :)
(4)
J M.
So let me say first off that this review is totally about the experience..NOT THE FOOD! I had the steak w/plantanes and thought it was the softest nicest dishes I've had in a really long time. Now on a sour note-The food was much more expensive than I anticipated. Drinks were $10 a piece...which since my group planned to go as a celebration this was not expected. They have an outside seating area but when we arrived at 4p.m. stated it was for evening seating only? There was a band set up next to the bar which my party thought would be good entertainment, but was soOOOOOOOOO loud that we couldn't hear each other and felt forced to be seated for dinner in order to put some distance between us and the band.
(1)
Allison R.
So, my favorite parts of dinner last night, aside from the excellent company, of course: the gooey fried cheese appetizer(queso blanco), the plantains(mmm), the price. entree and two beers for $25 The biggest drawback, aside from the Arsenal Street location, is the lack of draught beer. But, all-in-all, a good latin american restaurant for Watertown.
(3)
Anne W.
I went here with a friend who grew up in Venezuela. We were less than impressed. It is a nice place to go if you want something tailored to the American taste... than something authentic and tasty. We spoke to the owner of the place who spoke Spanish. Unfortunately, his recommendations didn't really wow us either. The beef was good but really really salty. Rice was okay.. I'm not impressed with plaintains in general. The only thing that was good in my friend's opinion was these eggroll things filled with cheese. The service wasn't so great. I had to flag down the waiter to get our check.. order coffee.. and we never got refills for our water. The decor and ambience is nice though. But the food.. which is what I am most concerned about.. was really not.
(1)
Weidong L.
went there for my daughter's birthday. She picked up the place. the music was very nice and food was interesting. I would recommend the palce if you have not tried their food.
(4)
Tara V.
I work in the same complex as La Casa de Pedro so I order lunch from there on a regular basis. Favorite dishes are Isla de Margarita, Pollo en Brasa and the De Los Compadres sandwich. Sometimes I have my friends meet me here for dinner. Their drinks are awesome as well.
(5)
Amnery S.
I think some business have forgotten how important customer service is. When we arrived to La Casa de Pedro we decided to sit in the patio, being that it was the last weekend of nice weather in October. We stand at the entrance by the podium and there is only one waitress at a table. As accustomed in a restaurant, unless otherwise indicated, we waited to be seated. The waitress walks right past us and back to the patio. Another waiter exits the inside of the restaurant to set an empty table and walks right past us. No one until this point has even acknowledged us. The waiter finishes setting the table and then walks to us and seated us. This is my first time going to this restaurant and so far so BAD! After 15 minutes the waitress finally comes to our table with water and the menus. No introduction, no "good afternoon welcome to ...." Nothing. She says she'll come back to take our order. The service up until that point was horrendous! I suggested that we leave but we decided to stay since we were already there. 10 minutes later the no named waitress comes back to take our order and I decided I would order something from the lunch menu - No name waitress informs us that they are only serving from the dinner menu....ok. We have already been sitting there for 30 minutes. I quickly spot something on the dinner menu and ordered. The food took what seems like forever to come. We ordered the Trucha Galarraga - trout fillet, and Shugui's Pollo Asado. No doubt the food was good a bit colder than we would like but still pleasant, JUST THE FOOD was great. Luckily the waitress managed to check back on us once and refill our glasses with water. I noticed the table next to us seemed to also be disgusted with the service that he and the person he was with, walked towards the exit and sat at the bench waiting for the waiter to bring them their checks, they were leaving and clearly hadn't finished or eaten much of their food. Once we finished we sat at our table for another period of time, while the patio seating area was ghost of any waiting staff. After we flagged down our waitress she came back with the check and we immediately handed her the Amex - they don't take amex. So we handed her a visa. On the menu it says "Major credit cards accepted", I understand Amex is very much so a major credit card, perhaps you should update that on your statement. When we arrived there were three tables seated in the patio when we left there were four. So, she was not that busy to the point where she couldn't be attentive, nice or pleasant and she should have been able to turn the table in 45 minutes. It's disappointing because customer service is what makes a customer loyal - not just the food - the food can be replaced anywhere. I will certainly not be going back nor will I be recommending it to anyone. BTW we finally found out the waitresses name from the receipt - how personable.
(1)
Ramona Z.
I have been coming here for years- from their outlet type store in Super 99 in Allston to their original Watertown Square location. Went to their Arsenal location over the weekend and was totally disappointed that they didn't take Amex. Get with the times guys!
(4)
Dana S.
LOVE IT here- just wish it was closer. We used to frequent the one in Bedford but it closed. The food here is amazing and the staff is top notch. Can get busy so please plan accordingly. Drinks are so yummy too- cant get enough of their mojitos. Ill be back soon!
(4)
Susan D.
Can't believe I've lived in Watertown for a year and not stumbled il upon this place. The food it's outstanding. Had carve asada quesadilla today- check out my photo. It came with a rice and bean mixture and savory and sweet plantains on the side. Very filling. I almost never eat the rice and beans but devoured these. Can't wait for the patio to open. Hot sauce is amazing- housemade and available for purchase. My bar mate advised the salads are amazing and the short ribs are her favorite.
this place was great a while back.. not sure what happened. But I love their mojitos!
(3)
Gene L.
A solid place for Latin American food. Great place to go for meals or for happy hours. I've come a couple of times for happy hours and enjoyed the appetizers greatly. They also have great mojitos and other cocktails too. The arepas and empanadas are always solid choices. The yucca fries and plantains are probably my favorite thing there. I've had their quesadillas before as well, which is very filling and comes with lots of fix-ins on the side (salsa, sour cream, guac). Service has always been great too.
(4)
Francis W.
This is a place in the newly trendy part of Watertown next to the commanders palace. The place is slower during lunch but its definitely picks up towards the evening. I went with a few friends and everything was good, but the MUST try is: Victoria's Pollo en Brasa. "The best roasted chicken in the state" according to La Casa De Pedro and ME. It really THAT GOOD.- I had this during lunch and I will be back again for this dish, and the sides compliment the chicken perfectly. I have also had drinks there in the past and I must say they are overall good. These are some of the strongest Margarita's I have ever had. Why I am I giving this only four stars? The appetizers. They were definitely the downside of the meal, but everything else is A+.
(4)
Sylvia C.
We were looking forward to some decent Spanish cuisine but our taste buds ended up slightly disappointed. Their food and service was about average, nothing really stood out. We ordered the following: mango sangria - barely tasted mango seafood ceviche to start -served with plantain chips. The ceviche was more salty than refreshing for the summer steak with chimichurri sauce - decently seasoned but slightly overcooked trout topped peppers, onion and fried calamari - gently fried and mildly seasoned Both entrees were served with rice, plantains and fried yucca. The rice was just too salty (think the chef went extra heavy handed with the salt shaker). We managed to get full but not satisfied. Just one of those missed the spot meals.
(3)
Meredith D.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here for a long time but we decided to not come back here for a long time. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks. Each time we come here we deal with staff that is not too friendly, but we keep coming back because the food is pretty good. In our most recent experience, we had to hunt down our waiter to ask for hot sauce when our entrees came and he never ever bothered to ask us if everything with out food was good. When we finally did get his attention he still never asked us if everything was good. It was not till the very end that he gave us a half ass, "thanks guys," as he brought out the check. The staff is just not friendly and you definitely do not feel like you are the customer when you are there. This has not been the first time we walk out feeling like we got bad service.
(3)
Monique Q.
This restaurant has a great look inside I was here in 2012 and was not pleased with my meal. Decided to give it another chance. Casa de Pedro in Watertown has outdoor dining and in Friday's a live band. Good music. If you are looking for friendly service or excellent service this is not your place! If you want authentic Spanish food is average. I don't mind paying for good good but the prices on the menu are over rated. So disappointed due to the lack of attention we received by our waitress that didn't even speak Spanish, that's besides the point I could have had a second drink but she didn't not come check to see if I wanted one, (bad wine selection)! We finally requested our bill, my party only had one drink! I had to go and pay my bill with cashier advised of our service then waitress never came back another man came to provide check.. Really rude! Not my kind of place to go I ended up in Allston to eat better food! See my posts for other Latino places to go!
(2)
Chad G.
La Casa De Pedro Cuisine: Venezuelan, Spanish Location: 343 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA Parking: Ample and free!!! Decor / Ambiance: High ceiling, lots of big plants, low lit gives this place almost a resort feel. Perfectly decorated for this style of foods. There was a Latin style band playing as we were finishing our meal. They sounded great and added to the Latin charm. Skilled dancers on the floor when we left, wish we had more time to watch them. Greeting: Very friendly and prompt. Nothing more awkward than walking into a place and seeing an empty host desk. Not here, full team on point when we walked in. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservations and was seated promptly. I would not have minded wetting the whistle at the bar if we needed to wait because it looked like a nice place to sit especially if you want good seats to see the band. Menu mix: My Wife and I were looking for something different and we got it here. A great variety of foods from the standards to the creative twists. Water / Bread service No bread with this concept and the water tasted great. No bleachy taste here. Tasted almost as good as purified water. When you are seated there is a bottle of sparkling water and bottled water on the table. The Wifey and I always choose tap. Drink pour: My Wife got the tequila flight samplings and a presidente beer. Nice pour on the flights. I got a a really good aged rum and wasn't at all disappointed. Nice and "warming" after coming in from the cold Food quality: We loved it! We started with the Yucca Fries with a cilantro sauce and the special ceviche which was a blend of whit fish, mussels and shrimp with crispy plantains. I could have had two of the ceviche because it was that good. Service: Very friendly and informative. She was quick to realize we had not been there before and was great with suggestions. I noticed that she did not simply point to the most expensive rums, tequila or food choices on the menu. She pointed out honest favorites and we were not at all disappointed. She was very charming and made us feel quite welcomed. For entrees I got the grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. My wife got the (Beef Short Ribs) which were braised in wine with roasted onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños. Both dishes came with rice & beans, plantains and yucca fries. It was fantastic! Value: I think the value was great. Left feeling nice and full and for what we got it was a nice check to singh off on. Nothing worse than signing off a check that's high and you know right well your going to be raiding the refrigerator before bed.... Not leaving here your not. Nice generous portions. We skipped dessert which also kept the bill down. I am sure they had some sweet treats but the food is filling so we opted out. Bathrooms: Very clean and well maintained Would I return: ABSOLUTELY! In fact we can't wait to. Comments & Tips: Don't order the yucca fries as an app as you may also be getting this on your entree plate as well. Check first to see if your entree may already have the fries because that's going to be a lot of "filling" yucca. We got it as an app not knowing it was also coming on our plates. Needless to say we didn't finish it all. This place is great for groups to as there were some big tables having birthday parties.
(4)
Haley C.
We drove all the way from central mass to go to this restaurant. The food was okay. I wouldn't drive out of my way again for the food. Its alright.
(3)
Carolina W.
Felt like giving it another try, ordered some chicken soup with a side of avocado (the way my grandmother used to serve soup). I said no problem on being charged a little extra for the avocado. I'm thinking $1.50, maybe even two bucks extra, no biggie...guess what they charged me for the side of avocado? $5. Are you out of your mind? Never ever again. NEVER.
(2)
Chris H.
Pricey for what you get, but it's a phenomenal spot for enjoying a margarita and appetizers outside on their patio on a sunny day.
(4)
Kate L.
A for ambiance -feels like you are in the legit Caribbean or somewhere on va-ca. Great getaway on a snowy cold night. Bar scene was cozy and nice. Guacamole was a small portion but tasty nonetheless. And affordable. Skinny margaritas are not on the menu but the bartender made me a really good one - sweetened with agave. DELISHHHH! Tortilla espanola was slightly dry - not sure I would ever order again here. Garlic shrimp was really flavorful but too small for the price.
(4)
Alex C.
Came here for drinks. It's nice that they make the margaritas from scratch!
(3)
Kenneth M.
La Casa de Pedro is a fabulous restaurant; Pedro is a born restaurateur! The food is amazing, especially the plantains (which are consistently perfect) and the spicy ceviche (which stops me in my tracks it is so good). We recently ordered short ribs, salmon, and haddock. Each meal was superb and big enough for another lunch. The ambience is beautiful and fun; the waitstaff, friendly and helpful. Little touches keep revealing themselves: great artwork, live plants, nifty antiques, and wonderful custom china. The kitchen is wide open, and I love just standing there watching one amazing plate of food after another take shape. The cook staff are all alchemists. La Casa de Pedro is a gem!
(5)
Allison D.
Ceviche is yummy, get that. Service is good. Pabellon criollo has wayyyyyy too much salt. Stay far away. I could only manage a few bites before I gave up and decided to take it home and transform it into something edible. I may be back to give La Casa de Pedro another chance, but I was really disappointed in my main course. Maybe on a Friday or Saturday for music and ceviche. I'd like to try the empanadas.
(3)
P M.
LOVED LOVED everything about Casa de Pedro. Had reservations and were sat immediately. Conscientious staff. Fabulous ceviche, chorizo and salmon dish. We had numerous dishes but I personally loved these. We were there on a Saturday 6:30 to almost 9 pm. Enjoyed not only the fabulous food but also the ambience which included live music! I plan to be back again and again.
(5)
Andrea K.
nice patio, reasonably-priced drinks - food isn't great, something was off with everything we ordered - too salty, too overcooked. the best was the nachos, even though they're piled up precariously, the pork in them is tender & good.
(2)
Sake B.
Although you would never expect to find it in middle of industral buildings... 2ND time here. Love the atomsphere and Latin flare. Staff are super friendly, the food is spectular and drinks are yummy. Many drink options to chose from. I had the mango seafood ceviche, beef empanada, and the paella... So mouthwatering. Paella is large and took forever but worth the wait.
(4)
Shelly G.
Food was tasty. Service not so great. Went with a party of 6. When we paid our check, we wrote our card numbers on the back along with the amount to charge. Waitress took the check but then came back and asked why there was no tip. And we had to clarify we were all going to add the tip at the end on our individual cards. I told the waitress to do the cards first then use cash to pay the rest. I should have gotten back around $5 in change, but she did not give me back any change. Also, cleared our plates without asking and some people were still working on them.
(3)
K. H.
This place is good enough for a second review! Best atmosphere ever! I had to write again to praise our AMAZING server Fernando. I ask for him everytime I come in. He truly makes you feel like family. He's super sweet,funny, helpful and is always by the door with a huge smile and hello when you walk in. I hope the owners/managers know they have a true rock star working for them. We absolutely love him. Thanks Fernando!!
(5)
A K.
This place is great! Food, drinks, service -- all top notch. My favorite part is the decor.
(5)
Paul L.
This restaurant is our go to special occasion place. Our extended family loves eating on the patio in the early evening. The food is outstanding in creation and presentation. When you are welcomed by Pedro Alarcon to his "baby" you understand the passion for the food that makes this place wonderful.
(5)
Shirley V.
Do yourself a favor and don't bother eating here. I have given this place way more chances than I ever should have for a few reasons first, the drinks are done well and second, the decor is fun and has a Miami feel which is nice during a dreary winter. And they have outdoor seating. All this would be a great experience if the food was actually good. My boyfriend and I recently had dinner here, mostly tapas. The entire dinner was bland or just plain not good. We got the ceviche to start and it tasted like they flavored it with ketchup. I had to ask for lemon wedges to actually give it some depth beyond the sweet red sauce that was on it and my boyfriend just couldn't stomach it. The doctoring of food did not end there, we got some arrepas, the beef and cheese one was pretty good but that's usually the only thing I regularly order that I'm sure to like at Casa De Pedro. The chicken and avocado arrepa was bland/flavorless so we asked for red hot sauce, which they ran out of or just didn't have, so I asked for some salsa to flavor the chicken arrepa and also to add some freshness to the Spanish Tortella, which is an egg, potato and onion torte. The salsa tasted like it was poured out of a jar but it helped the food out a little. We were so ready to leave by this point. It was not satisfying at all. The tipping point came when we got our check. BEWARE,BEWARE, BEWARE this place tacks on every little thing. We were charged $3.50 for about 2 tbsps. of salsa ( a condiment!!!!!) that came to our table to make the food passable. They do this a lot at this place so look at your bill for all sorts of added costs. We are not eating here again. It's just not that good and I've eaten Spanish/South American cooking all my life and this place can't even come close to what a good Spanish/South American meal really tastes like. Find another place to eat.
(2)
Barbara G.
A large group of us dined at Casa de Pedro a couple Saturday nights ago and three of us ordered salads for the main course. They were very small and unimpressive. Even though I asked for dressing on the side, it came dressed. I sent two emails to the management at Casa de Pedro about our impressions of the salads and received absolutely no response. This was very disappointing. We will not be returning there
(1)
Anthony S.
Great place close to work. Chris is an amazing bartender (try the margaritas here). Good lunch menu, and fast service. Fish tacos are great! Ask for the home made hot sauce. You got the right on if it's green. Proceed with caution.
(4)
Anthony C.
If you are looking for a real Mexican restaurant with fresh food, fresh drinks, and a touch of authenticity this is the place you would go to. I tried this place once in the summer and didn't like it simply because I was expecting a run of the mill Americanized Mexican restaurant. I recently returned with a more open mind, explored the menu, took in the restaurants ambiance and enjoyed a fresh cocktail. This place offers what many Mexican American restaurants don't, a touch of class and authenticity. The menu is a little pricey but if you can get past that, you will soon realize its worth the price. I will be returning to this restaurant many times.
(5)
Mike M.
Best HIspanic food around. It's both venezuelan and mexican food. Awesome drinks and the music always gets me going.
(5)
Grace C.
Love the ambiance here. We always do drinks here too because their margaritas are from scratch, very different. If you like Mexican food, this place can't go wrong. It's a good price too with good portion. Always love coming here with friends on a Friday night.
(4)
Christina V.
I've been here several times. I've never had anything bad to eat or drink. They have a VERY extensive menu. Their food is authentic, fresh, delicious. They have great cocktails and sangria. I like their nachos and quesadillas. Their plates come with really good sides, yucca and plantains. The service is usually not too great. Slow, impersonal. I must say their food makes me keep coming back. I also like their decor. It's really fun in there.
(4)
Amanda L.
I used to love La Casa de Pedro, particularly for their yummy cocktails and small plates. Arepas and empanadas are great and they have a great patio. However, they just enacted a stupid, arbitrary rule that you can only sit on the patio if you are ordering a fuller dinner entree (even at 2pm on a Monday when the restaurant is just about empty). I would understand this policy during dinner time when patio seating is at a premium, but during lunch hours this is simply ridiculous. I spend as much on apps and cocktails as I do on an entree. Disappointing to say the least.
(1)
Melinda R.
Last August I had a bad experience with one of the dishes we tried. I recently was able to come back and introduce my friend, visiting from Italy, and give your restaurant another shot. To my dismay, I had another bad encounter. Everything seemed fine up until I was a couple of bites into my entree, and ended up chewing a piece of plastic, the size that would fit in my back molar (which it did get stuck and I had to pick it out). I did inform our waiter, Fernando, while consciously not making a scene in the outdoor patio area. He did let the manager on the floor know, Fernando apologized and offered to bring me a new plate. However, I am disappointed. As a manager in the client services field, if a bad experience were to happen to any one of my clients, I would've personally apologized to the customer and offered at minimum a discount, as it's my company's reputation being represented. No effort was shown on either part - waiter or manager. My team takes pride in their work and advocates for their clients, which clearly isn't the case at your establishment. I do understand things happen unintentionally, but it's how they're handled that speaks volumes. And yes, in turn, due to this bad experience, his tip was affected, due to his comment "things like this can happen." I wanted to share with you another bad experience in hopes you will find ways to improve your customer service when issues such as these arise.
(2)
Amy H.
Delicious!!!!! You have to get the strawberry mojito!!! The shrimp ceviche is so delicious & fresh!!! We came for brunch & got huevos rancheros! Everything was great!!! The service, the atmosphere, the food!!! You will love it!!!
(5)
Lyndsey C.
I always love this place. Great atmosphere inside and out, beautiful decor, high end food and drinks, fresh food and drinks, extremely yummy... Huge menu and more gourmet than the plain old three ingredients in different ways that most Mexican restaurants do. I have never had a bad waiter here, but it will say that Ruben rocks... Love this place and would love to go to their salsa nights some time. :)
(5)
Kayti P.
This review makes me very sad. I love this place, and their food is pretty great. Even with this, I was unbelievably upset by their service the last time I was there. I was there with three friends, and we were having a lovely time on the patio getting dinner and margaritas. When we were ready for after dinner drinks and dessert, our waitress informed us that we were cut off from alcohol for the evening. We were told the restaurant isn't allowed to serve us more than one drink per hour. With four in our party, we had each been served four drinks per person over two hours with a full meal. They said our liquor bill was too high, and we would not be receiving any alcohol with our desserts. They offered to give us complimentary desserts, but we were so offended (and honestly a little humiliated) that we paid our bill and left. I will probably go back (the food is good), but I won't be going thinking that I'll have more than a couple of drinks.
(2)
Melissa K.
First time being here at it's amazing. The atmosphere is so fun. They have a nice bar and drink selection. The food was great with good portions. Will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
Mike D.
One of the best restaurants in Watertown. Fired yucas with cilantro sauce is my favorite app along side the calamari. I don't explore the menu too much because I love the huge enchiladas with rice, beans, and plantains. Great service and exceptional ownership. .
(5)
Kim P.
Went on a date here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary and I wasn't completely satisfied . Decor and ambiance I give 5 stars to . Our server wasnt too attentive which made me feel a bit uncomfortable and one of the reasons I give this place 3 stars . Ordered the pabellón and it was just ok. Beans were tasteless and the sauce in which the beef was cooked in was watered down . My boyfriend ordered the trout which wasn't bad, just a bit bland . Nothing to die for. Not crazy to go back .
(3)
Gregg S.
Hope it gets better. Dinner with friends. Arrived 20 minutes early. Bar packed. Restaurant EMPTY. Refuse to seat me. Ridiculous!
(2)
Danielle E.
This is my goto Friday night dinner! The skirt steak is amazing every time and the (Pork osso buco) Pierna de Baby is incredible. You must get the green garlic hot sauce that they have to go with it though, it makes the meal that much better.
(5)
Gary F.
We didn't expect the Arsenal Mall location...I know, the address is telling, but we're not Watertown regulars. We wanted something different and (obviously) tight. We were a little anxious about the mall locale, but we went with it and were happily impressed. All around tight. The restaurant itself is quite nicely put together. The menu is extensive. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was all around delicious. And the cocktails! We sat inside even though the patio looked inviting and pretty appealing. We started with a variety of arepas and the tortilla espanola. All were delicious. We branched out and tried different entrees: Paella, pabellon criollo,pollo asado, and the salmon. Everyone was pleased and overstuffed. As for the cocktails, the coconut margarita is a summer menu item must try. It would only be better consumed on a beach. Gracias, Pedro. Me encanta su casa!
(4)
Jessica C.
Had a reservation here and the person that answered the phone seemed very friendly. When we arrived, we were sat right away but then no one ever came back. We scoped out the restaurant and it seemed we were placed with other "two tops" in other words.. tables of two which bring little cash flow compared to parties of 6+. Everyone had empty drinks and seemed anxious for their food. We looked over the menus and decided what we wanted and left the menus folded, letting the waiter/waitress know that we were ready to order. Literally NO ONE came to greet us, offer us water, take drink orders, NOTHING! We waited almost ten mins and we walked out. For their prices, I would expect a little effort from the servers. I guess we'll never know what they're like because we won't be back here!
Great food great Ambience and great service. We went there for valentines day lunch and ate n drank to our heart's content. The food has fantastic latin flavors Nd everything we orders was excellent! Coming here again very very soon!
(5)
G R.
Had come here with my family for Valentine's Day. I had the Victoria's Pollo Roasted Chicken with plantains and beans which was delicious. The appetizer yuca with spicy garlic sauce was incredible. The ambiance is incredible. Couple of palm trees, Latin folk art and even the music was very inviting. Nice place to bring your family and even better come here on a romantic date. They have salsa music every Friday and Saturday nights. Only thing that was a minor inconvenience was finding a decent parking space. (might have been due to recent snowstorms).
(4)
Chase C.
The wait time is a bit long, but if you are with friends/family, then its worth the wait and also had the best chicken quesadilla i have ever had.
(5)
Lillybeth B.
This place is overpriced. I went for lunch with four people and it came out to 92 dollars. 7 dollars for a juice that I can get at El Oriental for 3 bucks. Not to mention the disgrace of using uncle bens minute rice and passing it off and authentic Latin rice. White rice is the easiest and cheapest thing to make. I had the pabellon which included my uncle beans rice, okay black beans and sweet plaintains. That was 12.50 and not worth it. I also tried the arepas which were good but let's face it it's corn meal and water and not worth 5 dollars. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. Make your own food at home or go to El Oriental or any hole in the wall in JP. There are many other places who don't skimp on authenticity, this however is not one I them.
(1)
Kevin C.
This very well may be my new favorite Mexican joint in the Boston area. The food was tasty and the staff was very attentive. Worth the trip to Watertown.
(5)
Tamarleigh G.
The food and drinks are delicious. I would give this place four stars, if not for one thing: Food that seems vegetarian on their menu is often cooked with meat (e.g., chicken broth). Vegetarians, be aware of this! For example, they have the following types of quesadilla: Steak Shrimp Chorizo (sausage) Chicken Pork Grilled Vegetables Black Beans Well, it turns out that the black beans are cooked with chicken broth. The only vegetarian quesadilla is the Grilled Vegetables. The rice it comes with is also not vegetarian (even if you order the Grilled Vegetable quesadilla, you need to specify that you want plain rice instead). They don't even have an option for just a plain cheese quesadilla (which I would prefer to the grilled vegetables). There is just not enough vegetarian food on this menu, and to have some of the things that most people would assume are vegetarian turn out NOT to be vegetarian is pretty disappointing ... especially because I totally ate an entire black bean quesadilla with the regular non-vegetarian rice last time without even realizing that there was chicken in all these things I was eating. :-P Anyway, the empanadas are good (gosh, I sure hope the cheese ones are vegetarian...I'll have to check), and the sides that come with the quesadilla are excellent. The drinks are also very good. But this place is not very vegetarian-friendly at all, so three stars is the most I can give them.
(3)
Andy O.
We liked the food, particularly the meats (we recommend ordering a salad, because main dishes tend to come with few vegetables). The decor was also very nice, as they made good use of the big space in the brick arsenal buildings. But one warning: service can be very slow. We had a play to go to and left an hour and a half for dinner, but it half an hour elapsed before they even took our order, and we ended up having to rush and take home half the meal.
(4)
Rich C.
I normally love this place. Tonight I was famished. Sat at the bar. I was greeted and that was good, but then the bartender (Chris) disappeared for 3-4 mins. I ordered chips and salsa just to get something going. The chips came out....looked like someone had taken a dinner plate from a yard sale and emptied a bag of broken chips. And the salsa was cold and less tasty than out of a Frito Lay jar. There were two little lettuce leaves on the plate for color. How about a basket for the chips, and make them look like someone cared? They looked like leaves shriveled up on a tree in November. Ordered skirt steak tacos. Bathed in salt. Sent them back and left. This was a highly disappointing night. Normally things are pretty good. Maybe it was a bad chef/crew tonight. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Normally is a good experience.
(1)
Sonia S.
The food here is mediocre. We tried the tapas only since there was nothing that intrigued us on the menu. They have a few Spanish tapas in there - too bad they cannot execute on them! Drinks were also mediocre. We had sangria and margaritas - neither was tasty. Their patio on the other hand is great- perfect for after work drinks or meals. So there you have it - 2 stars for the food and drinks and 4 stars for the patio.
(3)
Michael G.
I went for dinner with a group and friends and had a wonderful experience. I ordered the special which was a filet of red snapper with shrimp, oysters and clams. It was delicious!!! Our table shared a couple Arepas along with the Camarones al Ajillo as appetizers and they were all very tasty as well. The only negative was that my friend found something in her food. Normally this would lower my rating, but the chef personally came out to explain what happened and apologize. We were not charged for that dish and we given a few varieties of flan to try on the house. The traditional and coconut were excellent. We'll definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
Leda U.
Horrible place. Crazy staff and policies. We went to have dinner and drinks with our son and brought the dogs, they said they couldn't have dogs on the patio(fair enough) but when we asked for some water in a tale out container for the dogs they said no and they had a no water to dogs policy! That's totally crazy and cruel. I hate this place
(1)
Rosanna Marina A.
Trying new restaurants is an excitement all on its on, but after hearing friends rave about this place I was beyond curious. I love that I have a chance to try a delicious meal that can bring me back to my childhood memories in Venezuela. I must say the food and the ambience blew me away. I love the lighting, paintings made it feel like you stepped into a different world. We started out with empanadas and the Stephanie's Nachos. Best nachos I've had by far. Stacked up perfectly layered with guacamole,sour cream, a fresh pico de gallo, beans, chicken, pork and so on. Every bite was just as tasty as the last. We decided to try the Steak Tacos, that came with rice and beans, plantains fried yuca, guacamole and pico de gallo. To die for! Lets just say the price makes up for the large portion too. Their margaritas are also delicious. The food was amazing, I'm already craving another chance to visit again.
(5)
Carla S.
this place was great a while back.. not sure what happened. But I love their mojitos!
(3)
Susan D.
Can't believe I've lived in Watertown for a year and not stumbled il upon this place. The food it's outstanding. Had carve asada quesadilla today- check out my photo. It came with a rice and bean mixture and savory and sweet plantains on the side. Very filling. I almost never eat the rice and beans but devoured these. Can't wait for the patio to open. Hot sauce is amazing- housemade and available for purchase. My bar mate advised the salads are amazing and the short ribs are her favorite.
(5)
Francis W.
This is a place in the newly trendy part of Watertown next to the commanders palace. The place is slower during lunch but its definitely picks up towards the evening. I went with a few friends and everything was good, but the MUST try is: Victoria's Pollo en Brasa. "The best roasted chicken in the state" according to La Casa De Pedro and ME. It really THAT GOOD.- I had this during lunch and I will be back again for this dish, and the sides compliment the chicken perfectly. I have also had drinks there in the past and I must say they are overall good. These are some of the strongest Margarita's I have ever had. Why I am I giving this only four stars? The appetizers. They were definitely the downside of the meal, but everything else is A+.
(4)
Sylvia C.
We were looking forward to some decent Spanish cuisine but our taste buds ended up slightly disappointed. Their food and service was about average, nothing really stood out. We ordered the following: mango sangria - barely tasted mango seafood ceviche to start -served with plantain chips. The ceviche was more salty than refreshing for the summer steak with chimichurri sauce - decently seasoned but slightly overcooked trout topped peppers, onion and fried calamari - gently fried and mildly seasoned Both entrees were served with rice, plantains and fried yucca. The rice was just too salty (think the chef went extra heavy handed with the salt shaker). We managed to get full but not satisfied. Just one of those missed the spot meals.
(3)
Meredith D.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here for a long time but we decided to not come back here for a long time. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks. Each time we come here we deal with staff that is not too friendly, but we keep coming back because the food is pretty good. In our most recent experience, we had to hunt down our waiter to ask for hot sauce when our entrees came and he never ever bothered to ask us if everything with out food was good. When we finally did get his attention he still never asked us if everything was good. It was not till the very end that he gave us a half ass, "thanks guys," as he brought out the check. The staff is just not friendly and you definitely do not feel like you are the customer when you are there. This has not been the first time we walk out feeling like we got bad service.
(3)
Monique Q.
This restaurant has a great look inside I was here in 2012 and was not pleased with my meal. Decided to give it another chance. Casa de Pedro in Watertown has outdoor dining and in Friday's a live band. Good music. If you are looking for friendly service or excellent service this is not your place! If you want authentic Spanish food is average. I don't mind paying for good good but the prices on the menu are over rated. So disappointed due to the lack of attention we received by our waitress that didn't even speak Spanish, that's besides the point I could have had a second drink but she didn't not come check to see if I wanted one, (bad wine selection)! We finally requested our bill, my party only had one drink! I had to go and pay my bill with cashier advised of our service then waitress never came back another man came to provide check.. Really rude! Not my kind of place to go I ended up in Allston to eat better food! See my posts for other Latino places to go!
(2)
Gene L.
A solid place for Latin American food. Great place to go for meals or for happy hours. I've come a couple of times for happy hours and enjoyed the appetizers greatly. They also have great mojitos and other cocktails too. The arepas and empanadas are always solid choices. The yucca fries and plantains are probably my favorite thing there. I've had their quesadillas before as well, which is very filling and comes with lots of fix-ins on the side (salsa, sour cream, guac). Service has always been great too.
(4)
Dana S.
LOVE IT here- just wish it was closer. We used to frequent the one in Bedford but it closed. The food here is amazing and the staff is top notch. Can get busy so please plan accordingly. Drinks are so yummy too- cant get enough of their mojitos. Ill be back soon!
(4)
Chad G.
La Casa De Pedro Cuisine: Venezuelan, Spanish Location: 343 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA Parking: Ample and free!!! Decor / Ambiance: High ceiling, lots of big plants, low lit gives this place almost a resort feel. Perfectly decorated for this style of foods. There was a Latin style band playing as we were finishing our meal. They sounded great and added to the Latin charm. Skilled dancers on the floor when we left, wish we had more time to watch them. Greeting: Very friendly and prompt. Nothing more awkward than walking into a place and seeing an empty host desk. Not here, full team on point when we walked in. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservations and was seated promptly. I would not have minded wetting the whistle at the bar if we needed to wait because it looked like a nice place to sit especially if you want good seats to see the band. Menu mix: My Wife and I were looking for something different and we got it here. A great variety of foods from the standards to the creative twists. Water / Bread service No bread with this concept and the water tasted great. No bleachy taste here. Tasted almost as good as purified water. When you are seated there is a bottle of sparkling water and bottled water on the table. The Wifey and I always choose tap. Drink pour: My Wife got the tequila flight samplings and a presidente beer. Nice pour on the flights. I got a a really good aged rum and wasn't at all disappointed. Nice and "warming" after coming in from the cold Food quality: We loved it! We started with the Yucca Fries with a cilantro sauce and the special ceviche which was a blend of whit fish, mussels and shrimp with crispy plantains. I could have had two of the ceviche because it was that good. Service: Very friendly and informative. She was quick to realize we had not been there before and was great with suggestions. I noticed that she did not simply point to the most expensive rums, tequila or food choices on the menu. She pointed out honest favorites and we were not at all disappointed. She was very charming and made us feel quite welcomed. For entrees I got the grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. My wife got the (Beef Short Ribs) which were braised in wine with roasted onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños. Both dishes came with rice & beans, plantains and yucca fries. It was fantastic! Value: I think the value was great. Left feeling nice and full and for what we got it was a nice check to singh off on. Nothing worse than signing off a check that's high and you know right well your going to be raiding the refrigerator before bed.... Not leaving here your not. Nice generous portions. We skipped dessert which also kept the bill down. I am sure they had some sweet treats but the food is filling so we opted out. Bathrooms: Very clean and well maintained Would I return: ABSOLUTELY! In fact we can't wait to. Comments & Tips: Don't order the yucca fries as an app as you may also be getting this on your entree plate as well. Check first to see if your entree may already have the fries because that's going to be a lot of "filling" yucca. We got it as an app not knowing it was also coming on our plates. Needless to say we didn't finish it all. This place is great for groups to as there were some big tables having birthday parties.
(4)
Haley C.
We drove all the way from central mass to go to this restaurant. The food was okay. I wouldn't drive out of my way again for the food. Its alright.
(3)
Kenneth M.
La Casa de Pedro is a fabulous restaurant; Pedro is a born restaurateur! The food is amazing, especially the plantains (which are consistently perfect) and the spicy ceviche (which stops me in my tracks it is so good). We recently ordered short ribs, salmon, and haddock. Each meal was superb and big enough for another lunch. The ambience is beautiful and fun; the waitstaff, friendly and helpful. Little touches keep revealing themselves: great artwork, live plants, nifty antiques, and wonderful custom china. The kitchen is wide open, and I love just standing there watching one amazing plate of food after another take shape. The cook staff are all alchemists. La Casa de Pedro is a gem!
(5)
Allison D.
Ceviche is yummy, get that. Service is good. Pabellon criollo has wayyyyyy too much salt. Stay far away. I could only manage a few bites before I gave up and decided to take it home and transform it into something edible. I may be back to give La Casa de Pedro another chance, but I was really disappointed in my main course. Maybe on a Friday or Saturday for music and ceviche. I'd like to try the empanadas.
(3)
P M.
LOVED LOVED everything about Casa de Pedro. Had reservations and were sat immediately. Conscientious staff. Fabulous ceviche, chorizo and salmon dish. We had numerous dishes but I personally loved these. We were there on a Saturday 6:30 to almost 9 pm. Enjoyed not only the fabulous food but also the ambience which included live music! I plan to be back again and again.
(5)
Andrea K.
nice patio, reasonably-priced drinks - food isn't great, something was off with everything we ordered - too salty, too overcooked. the best was the nachos, even though they're piled up precariously, the pork in them is tender & good.
(2)
Sake B.
Although you would never expect to find it in middle of industral buildings... 2ND time here. Love the atomsphere and Latin flare. Staff are super friendly, the food is spectular and drinks are yummy. Many drink options to chose from. I had the mango seafood ceviche, beef empanada, and the paella... So mouthwatering. Paella is large and took forever but worth the wait.
(4)
Shelly G.
Food was tasty. Service not so great. Went with a party of 6. When we paid our check, we wrote our card numbers on the back along with the amount to charge. Waitress took the check but then came back and asked why there was no tip. And we had to clarify we were all going to add the tip at the end on our individual cards. I told the waitress to do the cards first then use cash to pay the rest. I should have gotten back around $5 in change, but she did not give me back any change. Also, cleared our plates without asking and some people were still working on them.
(3)
K. H.
This place is good enough for a second review! Best atmosphere ever! I had to write again to praise our AMAZING server Fernando. I ask for him everytime I come in. He truly makes you feel like family. He's super sweet,funny, helpful and is always by the door with a huge smile and hello when you walk in. I hope the owners/managers know they have a true rock star working for them. We absolutely love him. Thanks Fernando!!
(5)
A K.
This place is great! Food, drinks, service -- all top notch. My favorite part is the decor.
(5)
Paul L.
This restaurant is our go to special occasion place. Our extended family loves eating on the patio in the early evening. The food is outstanding in creation and presentation. When you are welcomed by Pedro Alarcon to his "baby" you understand the passion for the food that makes this place wonderful.
(5)
Shirley V.
Do yourself a favor and don't bother eating here. I have given this place way more chances than I ever should have for a few reasons first, the drinks are done well and second, the decor is fun and has a Miami feel which is nice during a dreary winter. And they have outdoor seating. All this would be a great experience if the food was actually good. My boyfriend and I recently had dinner here, mostly tapas. The entire dinner was bland or just plain not good. We got the ceviche to start and it tasted like they flavored it with ketchup. I had to ask for lemon wedges to actually give it some depth beyond the sweet red sauce that was on it and my boyfriend just couldn't stomach it. The doctoring of food did not end there, we got some arrepas, the beef and cheese one was pretty good but that's usually the only thing I regularly order that I'm sure to like at Casa De Pedro. The chicken and avocado arrepa was bland/flavorless so we asked for red hot sauce, which they ran out of or just didn't have, so I asked for some salsa to flavor the chicken arrepa and also to add some freshness to the Spanish Tortella, which is an egg, potato and onion torte. The salsa tasted like it was poured out of a jar but it helped the food out a little. We were so ready to leave by this point. It was not satisfying at all. The tipping point came when we got our check. BEWARE,BEWARE, BEWARE this place tacks on every little thing. We were charged $3.50 for about 2 tbsps. of salsa ( a condiment!!!!!) that came to our table to make the food passable. They do this a lot at this place so look at your bill for all sorts of added costs. We are not eating here again. It's just not that good and I've eaten Spanish/South American cooking all my life and this place can't even come close to what a good Spanish/South American meal really tastes like. Find another place to eat.
(2)
Barbara G.
A large group of us dined at Casa de Pedro a couple Saturday nights ago and three of us ordered salads for the main course. They were very small and unimpressive. Even though I asked for dressing on the side, it came dressed. I sent two emails to the management at Casa de Pedro about our impressions of the salads and received absolutely no response. This was very disappointing. We will not be returning there
(1)
Anthony S.
Great place close to work. Chris is an amazing bartender (try the margaritas here). Good lunch menu, and fast service. Fish tacos are great! Ask for the home made hot sauce. You got the right on if it's green. Proceed with caution.
(4)
Anthony C.
If you are looking for a real Mexican restaurant with fresh food, fresh drinks, and a touch of authenticity this is the place you would go to. I tried this place once in the summer and didn't like it simply because I was expecting a run of the mill Americanized Mexican restaurant. I recently returned with a more open mind, explored the menu, took in the restaurants ambiance and enjoyed a fresh cocktail. This place offers what many Mexican American restaurants don't, a touch of class and authenticity. The menu is a little pricey but if you can get past that, you will soon realize its worth the price. I will be returning to this restaurant many times.
(5)
Mike M.
Best HIspanic food around. It's both venezuelan and mexican food. Awesome drinks and the music always gets me going.
(5)
Grace C.
Love the ambiance here. We always do drinks here too because their margaritas are from scratch, very different. If you like Mexican food, this place can't go wrong. It's a good price too with good portion. Always love coming here with friends on a Friday night.
(4)
Christina V.
I've been here several times. I've never had anything bad to eat or drink. They have a VERY extensive menu. Their food is authentic, fresh, delicious. They have great cocktails and sangria. I like their nachos and quesadillas. Their plates come with really good sides, yucca and plantains. The service is usually not too great. Slow, impersonal. I must say their food makes me keep coming back. I also like their decor. It's really fun in there.
(4)
Amanda L.
I used to love La Casa de Pedro, particularly for their yummy cocktails and small plates. Arepas and empanadas are great and they have a great patio. However, they just enacted a stupid, arbitrary rule that you can only sit on the patio if you are ordering a fuller dinner entree (even at 2pm on a Monday when the restaurant is just about empty). I would understand this policy during dinner time when patio seating is at a premium, but during lunch hours this is simply ridiculous. I spend as much on apps and cocktails as I do on an entree. Disappointing to say the least.
(1)
Mike D.
One of the best restaurants in Watertown. Fired yucas with cilantro sauce is my favorite app along side the calamari. I don't explore the menu too much because I love the huge enchiladas with rice, beans, and plantains. Great service and exceptional ownership. .
(5)
Kim P.
Went on a date here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary and I wasn't completely satisfied . Decor and ambiance I give 5 stars to . Our server wasnt too attentive which made me feel a bit uncomfortable and one of the reasons I give this place 3 stars . Ordered the pabellón and it was just ok. Beans were tasteless and the sauce in which the beef was cooked in was watered down . My boyfriend ordered the trout which wasn't bad, just a bit bland . Nothing to die for. Not crazy to go back .
(3)
Gregg S.
Hope it gets better. Dinner with friends. Arrived 20 minutes early. Bar packed. Restaurant EMPTY. Refuse to seat me. Ridiculous!
(2)
Melinda R.
Last August I had a bad experience with one of the dishes we tried. I recently was able to come back and introduce my friend, visiting from Italy, and give your restaurant another shot. To my dismay, I had another bad encounter. Everything seemed fine up until I was a couple of bites into my entree, and ended up chewing a piece of plastic, the size that would fit in my back molar (which it did get stuck and I had to pick it out). I did inform our waiter, Fernando, while consciously not making a scene in the outdoor patio area. He did let the manager on the floor know, Fernando apologized and offered to bring me a new plate. However, I am disappointed. As a manager in the client services field, if a bad experience were to happen to any one of my clients, I would've personally apologized to the customer and offered at minimum a discount, as it's my company's reputation being represented. No effort was shown on either part - waiter or manager. My team takes pride in their work and advocates for their clients, which clearly isn't the case at your establishment. I do understand things happen unintentionally, but it's how they're handled that speaks volumes. And yes, in turn, due to this bad experience, his tip was affected, due to his comment "things like this can happen." I wanted to share with you another bad experience in hopes you will find ways to improve your customer service when issues such as these arise.
(2)
Amy H.
Delicious!!!!! You have to get the strawberry mojito!!! The shrimp ceviche is so delicious & fresh!!! We came for brunch & got huevos rancheros! Everything was great!!! The service, the atmosphere, the food!!! You will love it!!!
(5)
Lyndsey C.
I always love this place. Great atmosphere inside and out, beautiful decor, high end food and drinks, fresh food and drinks, extremely yummy... Huge menu and more gourmet than the plain old three ingredients in different ways that most Mexican restaurants do. I have never had a bad waiter here, but it will say that Ruben rocks... Love this place and would love to go to their salsa nights some time. :)
(5)
Kayti P.
This review makes me very sad. I love this place, and their food is pretty great. Even with this, I was unbelievably upset by their service the last time I was there. I was there with three friends, and we were having a lovely time on the patio getting dinner and margaritas. When we were ready for after dinner drinks and dessert, our waitress informed us that we were cut off from alcohol for the evening. We were told the restaurant isn't allowed to serve us more than one drink per hour. With four in our party, we had each been served four drinks per person over two hours with a full meal. They said our liquor bill was too high, and we would not be receiving any alcohol with our desserts. They offered to give us complimentary desserts, but we were so offended (and honestly a little humiliated) that we paid our bill and left. I will probably go back (the food is good), but I won't be going thinking that I'll have more than a couple of drinks.
(2)
Melissa K.
First time being here at it's amazing. The atmosphere is so fun. They have a nice bar and drink selection. The food was great with good portions. Will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
Danielle E.
This is my goto Friday night dinner! The skirt steak is amazing every time and the (Pork osso buco) Pierna de Baby is incredible. You must get the green garlic hot sauce that they have to go with it though, it makes the meal that much better.
(5)
Gary F.
We didn't expect the Arsenal Mall location...I know, the address is telling, but we're not Watertown regulars. We wanted something different and (obviously) tight. We were a little anxious about the mall locale, but we went with it and were happily impressed. All around tight. The restaurant itself is quite nicely put together. The menu is extensive. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was all around delicious. And the cocktails! We sat inside even though the patio looked inviting and pretty appealing. We started with a variety of arepas and the tortilla espanola. All were delicious. We branched out and tried different entrees: Paella, pabellon criollo,pollo asado, and the salmon. Everyone was pleased and overstuffed. As for the cocktails, the coconut margarita is a summer menu item must try. It would only be better consumed on a beach. Gracias, Pedro. Me encanta su casa!
(4)
Jessica C.
Had a reservation here and the person that answered the phone seemed very friendly. When we arrived, we were sat right away but then no one ever came back. We scoped out the restaurant and it seemed we were placed with other "two tops" in other words.. tables of two which bring little cash flow compared to parties of 6+. Everyone had empty drinks and seemed anxious for their food. We looked over the menus and decided what we wanted and left the menus folded, letting the waiter/waitress know that we were ready to order. Literally NO ONE came to greet us, offer us water, take drink orders, NOTHING! We waited almost ten mins and we walked out. For their prices, I would expect a little effort from the servers. I guess we'll never know what they're like because we won't be back here!
Great food great Ambience and great service. We went there for valentines day lunch and ate n drank to our heart's content. The food has fantastic latin flavors Nd everything we orders was excellent! Coming here again very very soon!
(5)
G R.
Had come here with my family for Valentine's Day. I had the Victoria's Pollo Roasted Chicken with plantains and beans which was delicious. The appetizer yuca with spicy garlic sauce was incredible. The ambiance is incredible. Couple of palm trees, Latin folk art and even the music was very inviting. Nice place to bring your family and even better come here on a romantic date. They have salsa music every Friday and Saturday nights. Only thing that was a minor inconvenience was finding a decent parking space. (might have been due to recent snowstorms).
(4)
Lillybeth B.
This place is overpriced. I went for lunch with four people and it came out to 92 dollars. 7 dollars for a juice that I can get at El Oriental for 3 bucks. Not to mention the disgrace of using uncle bens minute rice and passing it off and authentic Latin rice. White rice is the easiest and cheapest thing to make. I had the pabellon which included my uncle beans rice, okay black beans and sweet plaintains. That was 12.50 and not worth it. I also tried the arepas which were good but let's face it it's corn meal and water and not worth 5 dollars. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. Make your own food at home or go to El Oriental or any hole in the wall in JP. There are many other places who don't skimp on authenticity, this however is not one I them.
(1)
Kevin C.
This very well may be my new favorite Mexican joint in the Boston area. The food was tasty and the staff was very attentive. Worth the trip to Watertown.
(5)
Tamarleigh G.
The food and drinks are delicious. I would give this place four stars, if not for one thing: Food that seems vegetarian on their menu is often cooked with meat (e.g., chicken broth). Vegetarians, be aware of this! For example, they have the following types of quesadilla: Steak Shrimp Chorizo (sausage) Chicken Pork Grilled Vegetables Black Beans Well, it turns out that the black beans are cooked with chicken broth. The only vegetarian quesadilla is the Grilled Vegetables. The rice it comes with is also not vegetarian (even if you order the Grilled Vegetable quesadilla, you need to specify that you want plain rice instead). They don't even have an option for just a plain cheese quesadilla (which I would prefer to the grilled vegetables). There is just not enough vegetarian food on this menu, and to have some of the things that most people would assume are vegetarian turn out NOT to be vegetarian is pretty disappointing ... especially because I totally ate an entire black bean quesadilla with the regular non-vegetarian rice last time without even realizing that there was chicken in all these things I was eating. :-P Anyway, the empanadas are good (gosh, I sure hope the cheese ones are vegetarian...I'll have to check), and the sides that come with the quesadilla are excellent. The drinks are also very good. But this place is not very vegetarian-friendly at all, so three stars is the most I can give them.
(3)
Andy O.
We liked the food, particularly the meats (we recommend ordering a salad, because main dishes tend to come with few vegetables). The decor was also very nice, as they made good use of the big space in the brick arsenal buildings. But one warning: service can be very slow. We had a play to go to and left an hour and a half for dinner, but it half an hour elapsed before they even took our order, and we ended up having to rush and take home half the meal.
(4)
Rich C.
I normally love this place. Tonight I was famished. Sat at the bar. I was greeted and that was good, but then the bartender (Chris) disappeared for 3-4 mins. I ordered chips and salsa just to get something going. The chips came out....looked like someone had taken a dinner plate from a yard sale and emptied a bag of broken chips. And the salsa was cold and less tasty than out of a Frito Lay jar. There were two little lettuce leaves on the plate for color. How about a basket for the chips, and make them look like someone cared? They looked like leaves shriveled up on a tree in November. Ordered skirt steak tacos. Bathed in salt. Sent them back and left. This was a highly disappointing night. Normally things are pretty good. Maybe it was a bad chef/crew tonight. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Normally is a good experience.
(1)
Sonia S.
The food here is mediocre. We tried the tapas only since there was nothing that intrigued us on the menu. They have a few Spanish tapas in there - too bad they cannot execute on them! Drinks were also mediocre. We had sangria and margaritas - neither was tasty. Their patio on the other hand is great- perfect for after work drinks or meals. So there you have it - 2 stars for the food and drinks and 4 stars for the patio.
(3)
Michael G.
I went for dinner with a group and friends and had a wonderful experience. I ordered the special which was a filet of red snapper with shrimp, oysters and clams. It was delicious!!! Our table shared a couple Arepas along with the Camarones al Ajillo as appetizers and they were all very tasty as well. The only negative was that my friend found something in her food. Normally this would lower my rating, but the chef personally came out to explain what happened and apologize. We were not charged for that dish and we given a few varieties of flan to try on the house. The traditional and coconut were excellent. We'll definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
Leda U.
Horrible place. Crazy staff and policies. We went to have dinner and drinks with our son and brought the dogs, they said they couldn't have dogs on the patio(fair enough) but when we asked for some water in a tale out container for the dogs they said no and they had a no water to dogs policy! That's totally crazy and cruel. I hate this place
(1)
Rosanna Marina A.
Trying new restaurants is an excitement all on its on, but after hearing friends rave about this place I was beyond curious. I love that I have a chance to try a delicious meal that can bring me back to my childhood memories in Venezuela. I must say the food and the ambience blew me away. I love the lighting, paintings made it feel like you stepped into a different world. We started out with empanadas and the Stephanie's Nachos. Best nachos I've had by far. Stacked up perfectly layered with guacamole,sour cream, a fresh pico de gallo, beans, chicken, pork and so on. Every bite was just as tasty as the last. We decided to try the Steak Tacos, that came with rice and beans, plantains fried yuca, guacamole and pico de gallo. To die for! Lets just say the price makes up for the large portion too. Their margaritas are also delicious. The food was amazing, I'm already craving another chance to visit again.
(5)
Chase C.
The wait time is a bit long, but if you are with friends/family, then its worth the wait and also had the best chicken quesadilla i have ever had.
(5)
Rick S.
Pedro's is the best!!! My girlfriend and I love this place. The drinks are amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful. And the food is ridiculously good. We do tapas because we like to try a bunch of things. This time we got sweet plantain (there is another type on the menu, but we prefer these ones that taste like dessert), calamari, garlic shrimp, strip steak, and olives. I really cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you want Latin food it is easily the best in Boston. And if you want just a fun night out there really isn't a better spot.
(5)
Michelle S.
I came here the other week for a drinky lunch. To make it a more eventful experience, we sat at the bar. The restaurant was pretty empty at 3pm, so we didn't want to feel like we were in the middle of a food court. I got the mojito and my friend got the margarita. Both were delicious, and pretty strong...more fun! We split the fish tacos appetizer and the salad la verde. We didn't wait too long for the food, but we were a bit disappointed when it showed up. The fish tacos were pretty damn tasty. Our bartender/waiter recommended a side of the house hot sauce, which was such a good call. I smothered my tacos in that and was consequently very pleased with the dish. The salad la verde was a cheat. It was supposed to come with a "fan of avocado." Painted a pretty picture in my head. But, it came with a couple baby chunks we had to search for. A high margin win for the restaurant for sure... All in all, the bartender made the experience for us. He was friendly, made good drinks, recommend the hot sauce, and served us very well. The food was a bit meh. But... I'll probably still come back again!
(3)
Juan M.
This place is awesome!! Yes is pricy but the atmosphere, food and service makes up for it. We went there on a Saturday after 8pm and they had live salsa music. Salmon dish was delicious!!!
(5)
Chuy C.
I was a little confused with the menu. Its advertised as Venezuelan food but has a heavy Mexican food influence and a very impressive Tequila selection which made me happy, also a wide variety of red wines. The place's decoration is diferent-funky, kind of nice, then again, I don't go to restaurants to critique decoration so I couldn't care less about it. The food was just okay, I probably wouldn't drive specifically to eat here again but in all fairness I will try more dishes before writing an awful review. I had the house Pedro's margarita with Cuervo silver and tasted funny, bitter, I know you may think it could be the sour mix but no, it tasted more like spoiled lime juice. (I am not saying they used spoiled lime juice, that's just what it tasted like to me) besides I don't like Cuervo products. So I quickly switched to a Malbec wine which was pretty good. We had the calamari which was a little salty but cooked to perfection with the drizzled jalapeño sauce that came with it was very nice and flavorful. I had red a raving review of the Mussels so I got the Mussels and it was just okay, I could taste a lot of chicken stock used to cook the mussels which is served with a lot of broth and no slices of toasted bread to dip on it. Mi wife ordered the Paella so I didn't pay much attention to the menu to see what was in it but one would think that for $28.00 or $29.00 it would at least had a couple of lobster chunks and shrimp but all I could taste was chicken, fish and sausage with a few mussels. The flavor was just okay nothing spectacular about the paella. I would probably stop again if I am in the area and take a different approach by trying some of their authentic dishes in the menu since I tried one high end dish and was disappointing. Value: I thought it was a bit overpriced but I'll let you be the judge of that. Two appetizers, one entree, two virgin pina coladas and three alcoholic beverages with one desert. just over $96.00.Without tip.
(2)
G P.
This place is way too overpriced for its low quality food. I ordered a salad that was $13.50, and it only had 3 pieces of shrimp and two slivers of avocado on some romaine lettuce. Legit the worst salad I have ever had in my life. The service was just ok, and there was a lot of seating. Bottom line, the food was bad and expensive. Save yourself and don't go.
(1)
Stavroula A.
I love this place! I've been there three times in the last 2 months and it never disappoints. I'm a huge fan of their red sangria, and each entree I've had has been delicious. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer. I've had the fish tacos as well as the chicken and beef, and I recommend both entrees. The staff has always been super friendly and helpful! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Francine W.
I'm surprised by the number of 2 and 3 star reviews. Everything I've had here is outstanding. I like the lamb chops, the pork osso bucco and for appetizers, get the cheese (it's like a plop of cheese) and yucca. Best yucca ever!
(5)
Mariah W.
Excellent service and great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and the clean, festive and colorful atmosphere was a pleasant surprise. We will be back!
(5)
Karen M.
After a few frustrating drives around the labyrinth of streets in the Arsenal office park, I finally found La Casa de Pedro. (There is a very small sign directing you to it when you first pull in off of Arsenal Street, but it's easy to miss.) I almost gave up and went somewhere else, but I'm glad that I gave it one final try and finally found it. They really need better signs! It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't too busy. I can see where parking might be tough on busier nights. I was very pleased with the whole evening. The service was excellent - attentive, friendly, polite, knowledgeable about the menu, but not too in-your-face. I ordered a shredded, braised beef dish served with black beans and rice which was listed as a Venezuelan specialty on the menu. It was deliciously seasoned and well-prepared. The fried plantains that came with it were some of the best that I've had. It was also a huge serving, which made the somewhat high price a little more understandable. My friend ordered the coconut orange shrimp, which is served in a fresh coconut half. They were fresh and perfectly cooked. The orange coconut sauce was tasty, but not too sweet. The fried yucca that accompanied it was golden and crispy outside, and light and fluffy inside. Their drinks are great. They have several different kinds of sangria. I had the strawberry champagne sangria (they have a few varieties of champagne sangria, which are made with champagne, white wine, cointreau, and fresh fruit) and my friend got the regular white sangria. I love sangria and usually order it any restaurant that offers it. Theirs is excellent, and sets the bar for other places that think that sangria is just fruit punch made with wine. They also offer tequila flights, which I am looking forward to trying the next time that I go there. Try to go to La Casa de Pedro on a night when it's warm enough to sit outside. Their patio is lovely. Even though they are practically right on Arsenal street, there are enough trees and window boxes full of flowers rimming that patio that it's easy to ignore the outside world.
(4)
Florina K.
The atmosphere here really is great!! I love coming here!! Though the food here is just all right.... It is not bad... but there is just no kick to it... and it can be overcooked.... Make sure to try the cheese pastries... they are called traditional something. VERY GOOD!
(4)
Yuri C.
Purchased Groupon which had explicit answer: "good for take out ". When wanted to redeem 6 months latter was told by owner that I can't use Groupon for take out. Cancelled Groupon. Can't say anything about the food.
(1)
Kim W.
major patio love. seriously, five stars for the patio. it's seriously an oasis in the middle of a random office park, and the perfect place to spend a summer evening eating and drinking. i went here with two friends, and we all enjoyed our meals. i ordered the white sangria, which was not only refreshing and tasty, but pretty, too. :) we also split the tequeños (basically venezuelan mozzarella sticks)...mmm. for my entree, i went with the chicken enchiladas. they were really good! definitely not the best i've ever had or anything, but great all the same. i'll definitely be back, especially during patio season!
(4)
S M.
I took my husband to La Casa De Pedro for his birthday dinner since I had heard so many good things about it from friends. We were greeted kindly and asked if we had made reservations. I panicked because the restaurant was packed, and no, I had not thought to make a reservation. Thankfully we were seeted promptly. My husband got a beer, and I ordered the pineapple margarita. The margarita was small, but packed with alcohol! A bit much for me. Hence, I could not even finish half of it. It tasted good though, and if I wasn't driving, I would have probably sipped a little longer. I ordered the meat and cheese arepa as a tapa. I was not impressed. The actual arepa was bland and the meat and cheese were not great either. My husband got the "tequeños" I think. Those were good. For the main entrees we got the pollo asado and chicken and beef plates. They both came with rice, yuca, sweet plantains and chorizo. The food was okay, my husband mentioned that the meat and rice were salty which was true, but not to the point where it wasn't edible. Overall, I'd say the food was just okay. What I really liked about the restaurant was the decoration and atmostphere. A good mix of young and old folks, dim lights, tasteful music and elegant decoration. It was def fancier than I expected. Would I return? Maybe, in the future I can give it a second chance. PS, our bill came to $75 w/o a tip so it can def be a little pricey. Keep in mind our main entrees were not the most expensive on the menu.
(2)
Cameron C.
WOW!!! This place is amazing. It smelled and tasted just like it should. Place inside is beautiful, service was spectacular. If you love Spanish food, and good Spanish food like your mother's cooking, this is the place!!
(5)
B C.
I come here every time I come to Boston. Everything I try here is excellent. The service is great as well. A must try
(5)
Lisa L.
I have been to La Casa de Pedro every so often as a special treat. The dinners are expensive, but worth every penny. The brunch is a better price. I have always had courteous waiters/waitresses, a delicious and properly prepared meal, and a welcome feeling. The atmosphere is great with high ceilings, beautiful interior decorating, art, and plants. The seating is nicely spread out for a quiet intimate feeling even when it's crowded. Another huge/unexpected plus is, on Friday and Saturday nights they have a band playing, the first time I was there I thought it was a recording! They were so good!
(5)
Jack H.
Outstanding food and fun ambiance. Had the chicken and chorizo app and empanadas. Both delicious. Best empanadas since Argentina. Must try.
(4)
Dimos M.
Wow ! This place is fantastic from service & food is great.. Also the owner was going around making his rounds and mingling with customers making sure if you enjoyed the food. I thought that was real cool. Plus the food and drinks were great. will be back soon.
(5)
William M.
This restaurant has terrible management, and puts the customer last. I'm never going back. We arrived and one host told us they were booked up completely and couldn't seat us. The place was practically empty. In about two minutes, after asking, "what about all those empty tables," a different host said he could easily seat us. They give us a buzzer and put us on a list. I want to point out, maybe 10 of their tables had people in them. No one was at the host stand. No one else had a buzzer (the charging station for the buzzers was completely full). The first host rings our buzzer almost immediately (imagine that), then tells us he can't sit us until our entire party has arrived... there's 10 filled tables in the entire restaurant, you just buzzed us after telling us a bold-faced lie that you were booked up, and we are willing to order drinks and apps at the table. The host then tells us he will seat us after all...?? Same guy, three minutes later, totally different story. He then makes a big fuss that we want to carry our own drinks from the bar to the table. I want to clarify this, he didn't have a problem with us bringing bar drinks over, but that we were going to carry them. We had to hand the drinks over to a waiter, he put them on a tray, then coached the waiter on how to hold the tray and walked us over to a booth that could hold 6. The night continued getting worse and more awkward from there. The waiter had to be reminded twice to bring water. We were down a set of silverware, and had to ask three separate people to bring an extra set, the food took over 40 minutes (from when I started timing), I asked for a refill of soda three times, the food came out and the waiter started handing it out to the table next to us, no steak knives were brought out, we asked the waiter to put the bill on multiple cards and he told us that our totals were wrong (we had included tip on them), then the waiter claimed the computer program can't split checks. I've waited tables. I know the system they use specifically can split checks. Awful service, awful management, mediocre food at above average prices. Why would anyone go to this cookie-cutter, overpriced joke of a restaurant?
(1)
Nagisu K.
I've been to Casa de Pedro 5 or 6 times. The food is good, the service is just ok (occasionally the management is rude, but waitstaff tends to be nice but inconsistent) and the prices are too high for what the food is. Fish tacos cost $19 - and they are good, but not $19-good. My favorite things on the menu are the small eats, like the fried yucca with chimmichurri sauce (OMG heavenly). Great drinks too.
(3)
Dmitriy A.
Great food and very cozy. Atmosphere is superb. The bartender is knowledgeable and friendly. Must go if you are in Watertown.
(5)
Sean S.
The chicken and vegetable soup is incredible. Sounds mundane but it is very very good. It's the reason I come here.
(5)
Rachel K.
I have been here twice. Both times I had good food and drinks. However, the prices are high (especially for Watertown) and I would probably rather spend the $$$ I would to go here---to a finer dining downtown. The strawberry basil lemonade drink is really good, but is small and costs $13. The white sangria (which some places is very hit or miss) is a definite hit here. The chicken avocado arepas are soo tasty and the one thing that will probably make me come back. The fried yuca app is also pretty good. These two things are worth coming for without breaking the bank. My boyfriend had some sort of beef meal that did not sit well with him. I will prob come back sans the BF for some chix avocado arepas! Sidenote: on weekends after about 9 or 10 latin dance breaks out by the bar. Definitely looks like a good time; the dancing crowd was probably 40s-60s. If you are into latin dancing, it is probably a good spot for it as I do not know other places one goes for food and latin dancing in the area. The band playing was pretty enjoyable as well.
(3)
Erin D.
GLUTEN FREE POLICY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT! This has been one of our favorite restaurants however, our last visit my order was not Gluten free and caused me to be ill for several days. A restaurant that prides itself in having 99% of menu available Gluten Free should be working harder to make sure their customers get served the correct food. I am not certain whether a careless server put my order incorrectly, the kitchen made an error or the food runner brought me another customers food. I will be extremely cautious when ordering and double check with the person who delivers it in the future. It is very disappointing that I spoke with a manager via phone to suggest they begin having manager deliver Gluten free meals to the table. He apologized and informed me he was going to investigate and would be calling me back within a few hours to make things right so we would return. It's been 3 days and I haven't heard back from them.
(3)
Collins C.
I have been here 4 times and am going tonight. Pedro is a very personable host and the atmosphere it warm and friendly. The hot sauce (house recipe) is unbelievable. Large portions - food is great.
(5)
eliz r.
Casa de Pedro...Divine patio tapas with Yucca frita, camarones, and Coconut Margaritas at sunset with friends. Perfect August eve.
(5)
Roni E.
Excellent service (via Pablo our server for the evening)! Excellent food and drinks!!! Pablo was able to suggest our table of 7 various tapas throughout the evening which did not disappoint at all. He even brought out this amazing hot sauce and bread to try with specific things and his advice was much appreciated. Appetizers included the Vargas, Calamari, Ceviche, Queso Fundido, Tequeños, and Camarones al Ajillo. Everything we tasted was amazing! And what makes this place even better.... patio seating, you forget you're even in Watertown! Definitely on my top places of restaurants to return!
(5)
Tater M.
Excellent service, Waiter was able to recommend three types of steak dishes and gave very efficient quick tips for each of them. Must try their Hot sauce specially made by the restaurant! Also if you like spicy food, try the chorizo and mini flour tortillas!
(5)
Joe W.
Great experience! Our group of four (family) was very impressed with the setting and atmosphere of La Casa de Pedro. Wait staff was very attentive but not intrusive. We ordered four small plates for apps, tequenos and torilla esp were outstanding! All the main dishes were good size, well presented and very tasty. Traditional pabellon crillo was exceptional and a must try. Prices were reasonable including cocktails. Try the coconut margarita before the summer ends. We definitely will be back soon!
(4)
S Z.
Meh, this place is ok. The food is fine, but for the price, it is a bit high. I know other people who love it, but it is probably a place I will not be returning to.
(3)
Otto T.
I absolutely love this place, I probably eat here 3 times a month and have never been disappointed, the food its delicious and the service its great,
(4)
Liz B.
I met a friend here for lunch. I think the room and decor are just terrific - palm trees decorated with Christmas lights, festive colors and pottery... There's parking, even valet parking which I believe was free at lunch! (Not sure about dinner.) The restaurant was busy, but there was no wait. I had a Cuban sandwich and it was great. The waitress we had was really nice and efficient and handled my request to substitute a small salad for the french fries that came with the sandwich with no issue. I am looking forward to going back for dinner in a few weeks!
(4)
Rico I.
I have been here 5 times now as i am on a Boston assignment - it is, by far, the best Latin Food in Boston - i say Latin because it offers food from most all Hispan~ola nations. Want Paella? delicious. Want shrimp ceviche? excellent. Want empanadas? so good. Owner/Chef is a gem, and a pro. Stopped by our table multiple visits - check on how food was / service. You cannot go wrong here! Oh yes - try the coconut flan!
(5)
Nicholas D.
The food is great here. The live music is fantastic on the weekends. There is also a nice patio outside. There is plenty of parking. The drinks are well made. The fried yucca's are amazing. The empanadas are also to die for. I will be back many times!
(5)
Lisa G.
I need to make a disclaimer first off, because I'm an incredibly picky eater. I'm what you could describe as on the fence when it comes to Latin food. I prefer Mexican, like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, but that's where it ends. My first trip to Pedro, I got a chicken quesadilla. It was okay, but pretty oily. The next time, I tried the burger. HUGE mistake. It's one of those places that insists on putting onions in with the beef... and I have an extreme aversion to onions (only rivaled by my aversion to pickles). So the next time I got dragged to Pedro's, I went for the quesadilla again. UGH. Oilier than the first time. From that point on, I went with co-workers (it was right around the corner of our building, so we went there to celebrate people moving on to different gigs, etc), but refused to eat. It's overrated and extremely expensive.
(1)
Bos G.
La Casa de Pedro describes itself as offering a true taste of Venezuelan hospitality and fine Spanish cuisine. While I've only dined at a handful of Venezuelan restaurants and don't consider myself an expert, I can tell you I liked what I saw and what I tasted. Casa de Pedro is a warm and inviting restaurant with a nice patio for dining outside, a large bar and even larger indoor dining room. Main plates range significantly in price, but dinner for two including a shared starter, two drinks and main plates will cost $70.00 with tip; more than reasonable considering the portions and how delicious it was to eat. We started our meal with calamari ($10.50). No need to ask for lemon wedges as the lightly fried calamari was heavily seasoned with lemon juice which was nicely offset by the heat of the jalapenos. For dinner I ordered Fish Tacos ($15.50). The three tacos filled with tilapia had a distinctly grilled flavoring and was accompanied by rice, beans, fried yucca and plantains. I will come back to Casa de Pedro. It makes for the perfect place to grab dinner before seeing a show at the New Rep Theatre and who doesn't love dinner and a show?
(3)
Natalie W.
Great ambiance given its proximity to the Watertown indoor mall. The service was awful, we found a hair in our food, and the menu is pricy for low quality food. The chips and authentic salsa and drinks menu are your best bet.
(2)
Melissa Y.
I went here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday night. I'm not sure if we didn't love the place because we were a party of seven, or because we just didn't love the place. First, we were seated waaaaay waaaaaaaay waaaaaay in the back right next to the bathrooms. There were other large parties seated around the restaurant, and we had reservations, so it wasn't like we couldn't have fit anywhere else. From what we saw walking in, not at all from our seat in Siberia, was that it was a fun, nicely decorated restaurant with live music that night. Unfortunately, we had a view of a wall. Ok fine, not the best seat, whatever. Our waiter then proceeded to ignore us for twenty minutes. He then walked by, said hello and then left again. He came and took our drink orders and then came back and said the bar was backed up, should he just take our dinner orders? Fine sure, whatever. Food: pretty good. We had a sampling of different meals, including the paella, shrimps served in a coconut and fish tacos. Everyone agreed the food was decent, nothing worth a second trip back. Drinks: drinks we pretty good, although a bit on the pricey end. Cocktails were 10-12 dollars. Overall Value: meh. It was agreed that it was overpriced for the amount of food and the quality. Combine that with lackluster service and a table essentially in the bathroom, I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)
Rohit S.
I used to love this place. The Osso Buco was the most unique take on the dish, accompanied by plantains, yuca, rice and beans - yum!! Until now... went there a short while ago and two things went wrong: 1. Empanadas (apps) were fried in burnt oil. I informed the waitress who barely apologized, didn't offer us an alternative and didn't take it off the bill 2.. The Osso Bucco was topped with stir fried shitake mushrooms - it was absolutely disgusting. Stir fried mushrooms with asian overtones on top of a Venezuelan Ossu Bucco?!? I highly doubt Pedro was responsible for this abomination but nevertheless, he needs to get the quality under control.
(2)
Alvin M.
I made a reservation for Saturday night for 7:30pm and we were taken right to our table on a very rainy night. We ordered the drinks which were very tasty, I had black rasberry margarita, yummy and my gf ordered the Jalapeno margarita, which had such an amazing tasty kick. We ordered some tapas, the mago ceviche which was fresh and tasty as well as the queso fondida. I was truly in food heaven, what a great assortment of food was on the menu. For dinner, I ordered the Osso buco which was fall of the bone tastiness. My girlfriend ordered the special, a beautifully cooked trout stuffed with lobster and crab. This dish definitely stole the show and I couldn't get enough of it. For dessert, I ordered the coconut flan that was incredibly tasty. It was great because Pedro greeted most people at the door and walked around during the meal to make sure everything was ok. The atmosphere almost feels like you're in Cuba or some tropical island. It was colorful with palm trees. The only thing missing was parrots or birds flying around. I was very impressed, we brought a friend here from NYC and she was very impressed with the food and atmosphere. I'd definitely come back. Oh Pedro, with food this tasty, how can I not get fat?
(5)
Anthony V.
I moved into Waltham about 6 months ago and have been to La Casa de Pedro about 10 times. The first two time i would have scored it a 5/5 but everytime since then it has been worse and worse. The only reason I kept going back was hoping I would one day feel as I did that first time. We have always sat the bar and the bartenders have always been very friendly and helpful. One time we looked into a table and the host told us there was a wait when I could see 10-15 empty tables. The margaritas are good if you like the sweet types but relatively weak with alcohol, and WAYYYYY to over priced. 2 margaritas can put you in the $25 range. The food menu is expensively priced for the quality and portions you recieve, tacos around 16 and meat/seafood from 19-29. The food is average at most and very bland. The only food I repeatedly enjoy is the sides of plantains and Yuca. This place was good 1-2 times for me and I finally have learned from my many mistakes and will look elsewhere.
(3)
Michael N.
I have loved coming here. I should have written a review sooner. This area certainly doesn't lack for a variety of pallets, but for excellent Venezuelan fare, Casa De Pedro is certainly under-served by its campy name, nonetheless the fare is especially good. The atmosphere is very airy and fresh with the tall ceilings and trees, creating an open air plaza type of fresco eating, in all seasons. I have eaten here on many occasions. The steak dishes have always been delicious and sensitive in flavour and tender in cooking, seasoned and cooked like it came straight from the occidente. The food shows a compassion for the history of its land, from the Spanish flavour, the Italian seasoning and the Portuguese varietal blends of legumes and tubers along with the foods of the various regions. Start with the arepas and empinadas. The El Gaucho (skirt steak) is my favourite, or maybe it is the Cordero, or the Pork Osso Buco. Order the hot sauce, it is so good! The only shortcoming is the dessert menu, which has a serviceable flan, but not equal to the main courses, but I can wait... Great place to eat before or after a show at the Arsenal Theater. The bar is also vibrant and the sangria very fruity and the mojitos crisp. mmm... The wait staff are diligent but not excellent, and the dessert menu are all that are lacking for me to give this five stars. But that wouldn't stop me from coming back.
(4)
Caitlin A.
Not bad at all. Went here for an early dinner and we were the only customers except for a lone man at the bar. The salsa was absolutely incredible. I would go back just for that. For our meals, I got the chicken enchiladas, which were good. Essentially, exactly what I expected. And he got the Flank Pabellon Criollo with the eggs on top. It was also very good, but for 20$ I would expect some more of the meat; the plate was full, but the serving of meat was barely there. The plantains were the best part of both meals, in my opinion. The food here was good, I won't deny it. But for the price? Eh. Also - we were the ONLY people at a table and we had TWO different servers and the service was slow.
(3)
A C.
I was pretty excited to try this place out after going on July 5th and finding out from Pedro himself that he'd given his employees the weekend off for the holiday. (I think that was cool of him.) I called at noon same day to try to make a 6pm reservation for my parents and me (it was a Friday). The guy said they had nothing at that time for a party of three, and could we do 5:45. No problem. We arrive at 5:50 to the patio that was 3/4 empty. We didn't look inside, but we were kind of wondering why we made a reservation for a nearly-empty patio. As we were walking on the patio towards our table (the location of which the host seemed confused about), I noticed a table on the patio that is clearly a bit nicer than the others (padded seats, higher up). I asked to sit there, thinking maybe there were a few others like it and it was first come first serve, but the host responded, "that is for special guests." Not the worst comment I've ever heard, but he could have just said "It's reserved" or better yet, they could have put a little sign that says Reserved like ten thousand other restaurants do. So already two strikes against them. We ordered two tapas- the olives and the nachos- which were good. Then we ordered a pitcher of sangria. Out came a carafe. This is probably nitpicky, but pitchers are definitely larger than carafes . We got a little over three glasses out of it, so at $27, that is pretty steep. Especially since their version is a mixture of wine and beer, no hard alcohol as proper sangria calls for (at least the way it's prepared in Spain.) My mom got the Verde salad, which included two slivers of avocado and exactly three slices of grilled zucchini on top of a mountain of lettuce. My dad got the cod, which he enjoyed. I got the pabellon, which is more or less the Venezuelan version of the Cuban dish ropa vieja (pulled beef) but not nearly as well seasoned. It was fine, but I was expecting more from the "signature Venezuelan dish" since it touts itself as a Venezuelan restaurant. The check came out to around $107 for all of this, so I would say it's overpriced for what you get. There are definitely better options not too far away.
(2)
Sara M.
I like this place - I really do but as I keep going back there two things bother me. 1) The fact that they wait to bring everything all at once. The point of tapas is to munch on food slowly as the plates come from the kitchen nice and fresh. Waiting to bring everything out all at once takes away from the whole tapas experience. 2) The prices are a little too much. It's not like they're using wholesome ingredients or organic greens and vegetables so why do they charge downtown restaurant prices?! Come one now...
(3)
Sandra S.
I really wanted to enjoy this place, but, sadly, slow service and bland, subpar food made this quite the opposite. Music was blaring, patio lovely, decor taking you back to an old Miami Beach, Latin-inspired vibe. Server was pleasant and did his best given how many tables he had. I am not sure if he has a penchant for bland food or if most of the food is just under seasoned and underwhelming. We ordered based on his recommendations: appetizer of mango seafood ceviche and a chicken/avocado arepa, along with their "signature dish" Pabellon Criollo (Venezuelan classic of shredded beef simmered with vegetables) and the only item not recommended, the spicy skirt steak tacos. Mango ceviche had good flavor but consisted mostly of small shrimp and outrageously sandy mussels. One chomp on a sandy mussel and you lose your appetite. It was supposed to have white fish, but we didn't really see any. The arepa was the size of an English muffin and it was over charred on the outside and undercooked in the middle. The filling was so bland, like a few bits of poached chicken mixed into some mashed avocado, and salt was non-existent. On to the entrees--the signature braised beef dish sounded so promising, but sadly, the best thing on the plate were the black beans (delicious). Hate to sound harsh as I know this dish is the pride of Venezuela, but it was executed poorly. It was akin to rope with beef broth and a faint taste of tequila poured over it. Dry, under seasoned, and disappointing. The spicy skirt steak tacos had great flavor, although the steak was a bit too chewy from a combination of overcooking and the way it was sliced. Out of all the food, I enjoyed this dish the most. At least it had some great flavor. We waited a long time for our drinks, a long while for our apps, and again for the entrees. It was rather expensive for the quality. We won't be coming back unless they start generating some more flavorful dishes.
(2)
Spamme M.
We visited boston for the weekend and found this place on groupon. We were pleasantly surprised at just how nice a place this restaurant was. We found this place through groupon. They didn't treat us like second class citizen because we used a voucher. The service was top notch and the food was just perfect, not overly seasoned and not bland. My wife complained her steak was dry, but then again she ordered it well done. I would highly recommend to just about Anyone including my family and friends
(5)
Deborah J.
I like this place, specially when I'm home sick. I try parilla caraquena it was ok, the tequenos were good. My only complaints are the band (too noisy) and the waiter.
(3)
Frannie Z.
Another stop on my great Watertown tour. This is one place on our tour that I feel we need to explore a bit more. The mojitos were lovely, I got a berry and Barbara let me try her plain. The best one was the last one you tried. Too hard to choose between them! The empanada was lovely enough that I want to try more of their offerings. We were too full by this point do more than share one empanada. Next time, I'll save some appetite!
As you can tell from other reviews, Pedros is hit or miss. I've eaten here many times since I work in the neighborhood and there aren't a lot of choices for sit down lunch. Good thing for them. There have been times when it's been fine - and then times when nothing seemed good about it. And it's pretty expensive compared to what's in the area, so I think people expect a higher level for the money - not so much. I do think that one of the biggest causes of the variation is the management's attitude. It's like they are doing you a favor to let you eat there. I've had really friendly wait-people at times, and then other times, they've been very condescending, other times just clueless. Most recently, i was there on a weeknight right after work to meet some friends for dinner. The place was empty, except for a few after-work people in the bar. I asked if I could sit and have a drink while I waited for my friends - the manager acted like it was a huge imposition to let me take a table by myself - NO ONE else in the restaurant. Then, when my friends did show up, we had an extra person - should be good news for the restaurant, no? Apparently not. They were all too happy to bring us expensive drinks, but it took about 30 minutes for them to bring another place setting. And no, we weren't crowding into a table that was too small for our group. The food, too, can be spotty - the same salad on the menu can be either great or really mediocre and small for the money. So, overall, if I had more alternatives in the neighborhood, I would never go to Pedros, but rather to someplace that seems to actually appreciate my business. They are just so darn convenient. And that is good news for them, since I don't think they would make it in a more competitive location.
(2)
Chris C.
I likeit here alot -- i have been a couple times with different people and loved it both times. The food is great, the atmosphere is VERY 1955 Cuba (a good thing!) and there is ample free parking. It's some of the best latin food I've had in Boston. My only quibble was the lighting was a little too low to read the menus easily.
(5)
C R.
Went here for New Year's Eve with some Venezuelan friends who wanted to go out for drinks and dancing. We didn't plan on eating and so we didn't even try to make a reservation (the same night) on New Year's Eve. The restaurant looked FANTASTIC - decorated in a South American theme complete with palm trees and a host dressed in a white suit and Panama hat. Every table was packed full and the food looked fantastic. We occupied the bar area and danced until the ball dropped. Definitately looks like a place I'd try for dinner - as th place was packed with lots of people; all of whom seemed to have a great time. The staff were apologetic that there were (of course) no table available -but graciously offered the bar as an alternative (great service!). The band was great and people danced the night away. Who'd have thought there'd be a little bit of South America in Watertown (right next tot he Aresenal mall)! It's on my list of "to dos."
(3)
Colleen H.
I can feel the fire start in my mouth when I think of La Casa De Pedro. Their hot sauce is absolutely amazing. Yuca + hot sauce = happy Colleen. The food is amazing too, and there are almost too many selections (the menu weighs like five pounds). I've only ever been here for lunch but it's been phenomenal every time. They also have tequila flights, which in my opinion, is the best way to celebrate. Haha! Ohhh and the plantainsssss, they're so delicious they're practically dessert. Mmmmmm.
(5)
Brian W.
Before tonight I didn't really know what to expect from Venezuelan cuisine and after dinner at La Casa De Pedro I still don't really know what I think. The whole Latin American theme really made us crave Mexican food and we suddenly found ourselves disappointed that we weren't offered chips and salsa and that guacamole was nowhere on the menu. The restaurant is much bigger than it looks from the outside and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The drinks are overpriced and served in small glasses, as was mentioned in many other reviews. The food was quite flavorful and definitely different from anything I've tasted before. The swordfish tips were quite good, but the yuca and fried plantains were interesting, though not nearly as life changing as some of these other reviews would lead you to believe. Overall it was a good experience to try something out of our comfort zone, but I don't think I'll be driving home from work anytime soon thinking about Pedro's Casa round 2.
(3)
Chelsea G.
Great drinks!! Food is a little pricey for this area, but the atmosphere and service is definitely worth it!
(4)
Jessica H.
I love love loveee Casa De Pedro! It's located right near my work and my colleagues and I love going here for after work drinks/dinner. The sangria (both red and white) is amazing and the fish tacos are delicious. The guac is pretty good too - and I like to consider myself a guac snob. They have a huge patio out front which makes for a great spot to enjoy a nice afternoon/evening. 100% recommend this place!
(4)
Justin B.
One of the best places to eat! Food, atmosphere, service, drinks, parking, live music. This places has it all. Took my wife there for her birthday. I have told friends and family about this gem.
(5)
I Y.
Not sure if it was because it was Cinco de Mayo, but the place was packed and service was a little slow. Salads (La de Raquel and La de Camarones) were okay, nothing special. The entrees were also not very memorable - the Buenos Tiempos was tender but lacked flavor and the Pabellon Criollo had too much liquid from the spooned on black beans. We skipped desserts - our salads and entrees were actually pretty filling.
(2)
Greg P.
always great food and a great atmosphere. One of my favorite local spots to hit up. Live salsa on Saturday evenings is great. Service is hit or miss tho, if you wanna nit pick....
(4)
Susan D.
I give this restaurant 3 stars, though the food and the outdoor cafe was fab. The reduction in stars: My friends and I arrived with my two smaller dogs, one of which is a therapy dog. The owner refused to let either one of them stay with us at our table, so we had to tie them up around a tree just outside the perimeter of the cafe, close to where we were sitting. My friend asked if they could bring a bowl of water for the dogs at least, and they refused. Then a wait staff tried to have our friend move her infant son, who was asleep, for who knows why. Our friend simply refused, not wanting to awaken the baby. Watching that same owner stare at himself in the foyer mirror whilst talking on his cell phone and watching us like we were criminals, made me want to barf, but we were so hungry by that time, we just stayed an waited to eat our food. All that said, the food was absolutely superb. All of it. We had to "ask" for bread (apparrently, they do not give it out freely - an oddity for a "highbrow" South American restaurant, but when it arrived when we were finished with our meal, it was fresh and excellent.
(3)
Bri C.
Went to Pedro's for my sisters birthday tonight, food was on point. I got a traditional Venezuelan dish and it was very good, however could have done with less salt. The steak my dad got was absolutely amazing, it melted in my mouth. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and attentive. It was fairly busy for a Monday night. My mom got a $12 salad, which I thought was a little pricey for lettuce, squash, and some tomato slices. The price would have made more sense if there were avocado in it. Besides that, everything else is great. Be sure to try the shrimp ceviche, sooo good and very fresh. As well as the calamari , which was quite delicious. I'll be returning soon.
(5)
Todd F.
I had high hopes for this colorful restaurant, but they were not met. The menu is on the pricey side with tapas around $8-$12 and main courses around $20-$30. My wife and I ordered a few tapas dishes as we weren't starving. The first sign of trouble, the diet coke I ordered came in a tiny glass. I'm serious, this thing was smaller than a sippy cup. As I've said before, in this day and age, you can't get away with crap like that. It really reflects poorly on the restaurant. The food finally came and everything looked appetizing. The problem was, it was all dry. We had aripas, yuca fritas, queso fundito, and empanadas. All of it was dry and difficult to eat...I was surprised there were no sauces offered with them. The yuca fritas came with a chimichurri sauce over top, but it was too little and did nothing to moisten them. Even the queso fundito was dry, with the cheese nearly congealed when it arrived at the table. The only bright spot were the empanadas, which had a tasy, moist chicken mixture inside. The service matched the meal and was dry. We barely got a smile from our waiter. All in all, I'd avoid this place.
(2)
Mallory W.
Went here for the first time last night. AMAZING! Strawberry Mojito was declicious and then we had the Nachos for an appetizer. Honestly the best Nachos I have ever had (and I eat a LOT of nachos!) For my meal I tried the Pabellón Criollo which was Shredded beef simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans The Fried Plantains were also probably the best I have ever tasted. and the beef was very flavorful. ORDER THE HOT SAUCE with your meal (extremely Hot!!!) But delicious. Cannot wait to go back here!
(5)
Dawn E.
The ambiance in here is pure delight. They did everything right. *Everything.* I wouldn't change a lamp or a plant or a painting or a chair. It's warm and cozy and romantic but not so much that you can't go with friends or the fam, still, it would definitely make a great joint for a date. It was a fairly empty weeknight when I went, but I get the feeling this place comes alive with energy when it's busy, and I'm curious to find out. The menu is multiple pages, and even better, the majority of those pages are dedicated to booze. Oh hai booze. Yeah. We're already friends. Sadly, a week's worth of antibiotics equaled no booze for me, so we just waived at each other and sighed - ships passing in the night and all that. The food menu is less extensive but interesting. It's important to note that this is *not* a Mexican restaurant, on my way out I heard a couple making some sort of observation relating to the strangeness of this Mexican food and I resisted my oft-had smacking urge once again. The food here is South American in general with a strong Venezuelan influence - this means you should expect flavors to be more subtle and refined. I ordered the Buenos Tiempos (which the "waiter" informed me several times meant "Good Times" despite my response to him several times in my terrible but passable Spanish) and good times it was. Short ribs in a brown sauce with sauteed tomatoes and onions came plated with two kinds of rice, black beans, fried yucca, and plantains. These were, bar none, the most tender and divine short ribs I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. My plate, in particular, was flawless and ample. I made all the right choices. My dining companions ordered Parrillada Caraquea and Quesadilla de Camarones respectively. From the Parrillada Caraquea I tasted all three of the meats (chorizo, sirloin, and chicken). All of these were decent but only the chorizo was excellent. The chicken and the sirloin were entirely un-special. I did not sample the shrimp quesadilla but the friend who ordered it thought it was perfection. She also, however, complained that her plantains were in fact bananas, I tasted her plantains and they, in fact, tasted sweeter and more bananay than mine, but my mouth was already full of shortribby happiness so I can neither confirm nor deny her claims. For dessert I enjoyed a near flawlessly executed cappuccino and some delightful chocolate flan. Or service was as charming and warm as the ambiance. It would have been flawless, except that our attention was sparse. I did not really feel neglected in that I was enjoying my company but it did take what seemed like a while for the food to arrive, and we were never checked on until we were finished and had pushed away our plates. Water did not get refilled, even after requested, and the bill also took a while both to arrive and to process. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Pedro's House and would like to return. If only to sample all that booze...
(3)
Sally H.
I liked the beef empanadas, with the chilli sauce! They set the light to a dim ambiance, which was okay with me. The place will fill up with patrons after 7pm.
(3)
J D.
La Casa de Pedro is in an old renovated warehouse near the Arsenal Mall. The restaurant has 20 foot ceilings which enables them to have practically full size trees throughout, giving it a Caribbean feeling. We ate on a Monday night and surprisingly, there was live music playing. Not deafening loud, just nice calypso/bosa nova in the background. The menu is primarily Latin, but they also offer a sizable Mexican offering. I opted for chicken enchiladas which were good. Fresh grilled chicken with sides of black beans and rice, fried yucca, and plantains. The yucca and plantains were outstanding. Shredded beef in a garlic and onion base with rice and beans were very good as well. Portions here are huge, so you might be getting a second meal out of your order. We took home some coconut flan, which was some of the best flan I've ever had. Service was friendly and low key. It's a nice option for a Latin feed.
(4)
Dominique G.
How is it possible for this place to still be in business? It is horrible. I gave it another chance a week ago meeting a few friends for drinks only while they ate Tapas. The waitress, while very nice, didnt know a thing about the food! hello? Train them much? Never again. Food sucks
(1)
Melissa M.
I had 1.5 sips of my fiance's Mojito @ La Case de Pedro. This was the first time any booze has touched my lips in almost 72 days. But, it was HIGH TIME!! Yeah, sure, I could have had one if I wanted, but I just wanted a taste. Just a taste! It was DAYUM good. Dios Mio! I will definitely return for one in the near future!! It was worth ten bucks. It really was. The food was pretty good too. I got some grilled chicken with an apricot/mango sauce -- kinda like mango chicken @ a Chinese establishment. But, this place was not Chinese. It is Venezuelan food. I need to mention their plantains are so good. The yucca, notsomuch. Their rice and beans are very good. The portions are HUMUNGO! I had taken the leftovers home and my 91 year-old Irish immigrant Papa loved it. But, he might of just though it was Chinese food -- he loves Chinese food. Even the toasted bread and butter they serve to you is very good. The service was wonderful, a bit slow at first, but attentive once the crowd of diners left to go to the theatre next door. The decor here is so nice. It's like being in Miami -- very tropical. Check it out! They have a patio that is opening next week. I shall return.
(3)
Greg N.
This place looks like Little Havana, tastes like Heaven, and has totally earned a repeat customer. The food was so good it made me want to weep and the margarita was arguably the best (and strongest) I've had in YEARS... It was moderately priced and is worth every single penny. No point in a longer review because words only get in the way. nom nom nom nom nom.
(5)
Cindy O.
This is near my corporate office and I forgot about it until my manager took me there for lunch this past week. I had the fish tacos and they were amazing. Served with fried plantains and a black bean rice. The server was attentive and we were able to get served within our lunch time. I went here 2 years ago for dinner but cannot recall what I ordered but I do remember the person I was with and I really loved the food. Next time I am in MA I will definitely go here again.
(5)
Herbert K.
I like the food, I like Pedro, I like the feel of the place.... But... We all know that a Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime. But Pedro... $12 for one? In Watertown? Really? It's a fine cocktail, even comes with a little sugar cane garnish, but please.... cachaça is about the cheapest spirit out there, and $12 is just gouging!
(2)
Dee D.
Went for dinner today at 5:20. It was practically empty. Was told that we (meaning the two of us) could sit in no mans land near the kitchen or at the bar. My boyfriend chose the seat near the kitchen. After waiting a while, our waitress came. Not ultra friendly or flexible. Told us we could not order anything from lunch menu. Ok. The place is still very empty, I must have saw at least two sections empty on my way to the bathroom which was filthy as can be. Another waitress notices us in Guam and asks if we ordered yet, she was very nice and i wish she was our waitress. We have been waiting forever and did not receive any bread. Food arrives. My boyfriend ordered a meat platter for $18 with about a half a cup of meat on his plate. Flagged down waitress for refill of water and for bill. Paid bill and walked out, no greeting from hosts up front. Should have gone to Panela de Barro in Waltham.
(1)
Valerie V.
Tried Casa de Pedro recently when looking for a place to have a fun dinner out with a group of 4 where we could park for free and not venture downtown. Overall, I would say that I would come back because several menu items were totally delicious--the swordfish tips and the yucca specifically. However-the drinks are insanely overpriced. As in, a drink is more expensive than most entrees. It makes zero sense and is off-putting. So this would not be the first choice at all if I was planning on having a few. If you're a teetotaler, this is probably a great place for you! Haha..
(3)
Emily F.
I am a sucker for outdoor seating. And plates of beef with eggs on top. The food is good, not amazing, but very good. I have had nice waitstaff here, and am really looking forward to getting an adult beverage one night (we always go for lunch). Big plates of food, lots of delicious calories. Try the Beef with an Egg. My personal favorite!
(4)
Jessie C.
Very tasty! Went on a friday night with a few ladies and we had a fantastic time. The service was fantastic and the food was even better. The prices are higher but you certainly get your money's worth. I had the Bacalao a la Ozzy Guillen and it was great. Nice large piece of fish, a good number of plantains and yuca. Also had the white sangria and it was nice and fruity as well. Great experience.
(4)
Vernice G.
Was a good service, many variety Latin food and good music.
(4)
Aneury B.
The food is awesome here and Ana (the waitress) was really nice to me and my family. I'm definitely coming back!
Great ambience.. Large portions.. Tasty drinks.. I'm only giving it 3 stars because the last experience I had, the waitress pointed out certain entrees on the menu that no longer were available or that they had run out of. Its a HUGE pet peeve of mine when restaurants don't have food that they list on their menu. Besides that, Pedros is definitely a place I would recommend people to try at least once.
(3)
David S.
This is an awesome restaurant. Though It is not my favorite food. Atmosphere and energy are awesome. Have gone here twice . And the band was awesome. The food was good. The service the second time was excellent...
(4)
Roy W.
OK food, but they don't compare well to a place like Orinoco, which is head and shoulders better. It may not seem like it when first you look a the menu - there are lots of entries - but there's not a lot of variety to be had. Watery martinis. (Yep, I have them on the rocks, but they still shouldn't be watery.)
(2)
Erwin F.
Well done Pedro, well done. You fed me well. I'm still on a food high from last night so I'll just give you the highlights: Beef Empanada - Get it, got, get another, because it's that's good. Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pork slightly fried with hot sauce) - Not a blue ribbon winner, but you get a notable mention. Chicken and avocados Arepas - you sir, are so plain, that you should get penalized for being so bland. Shredded beef Arepas - good flavor, but if this were a pass/fail course, you'd just get the "P". Don't get your feelings hurt by asking the number grade. La Paella de Pedro - FANTASTIC Pineapple Mojito - I'd recommend Service - pretty good Ambience - everything looks good when you're on a food high. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Jen F.
The food is awesome. Let me repeat. The. Food. Is. Awesome. All the entrees are great, and are made even better by the amazing accompaniments--fried yuka, rice (cilantro and orange) and beans, and the best plantains on planet earth. The drinks, too, are delicious. The only issue is the service. It's a mixed bag. When it's good, it's good, when it's bad...it's a hot mess. Casa should really get it together in that department. Otherwise, it's an awesome restaurant and one of my favs.
(4)
Eva K.
Love this place - the osso buco in particular was to die for, but you can't really go wrong here if you love your yucca and such.
(5)
Michele G.
This is review for take-out. I happen to work right next door, so my lunch options are limited to Pedro and Panera. Boo. I probably won't eat here again after my experience. I ordered a shrimp quesdilla. Who orders a quesadilla at a Venezulan place? Plenty of people, because it's on the menu. And if it's on the menu, it should be as good as the rest of the food you serve. Anyhow, this quesadilla was sad. The best parts were the shrimp and the side of plantains. I make better, more satisying quesadillas at home. Actually, so does Beer Works on Canal St. Some shrimp and mostly cheese and some pesto sauce filled the tortilla, accompianed by two laughably small containers of guac and sour cream. I'm talking almost thimbul small. And the sour cream was warm, so I didn't chance it. I might be back for the Ten Cane mojitos, but that's it.
(2)
Sarah C.
Maybe I was there on an off night, but I didn't have a particularly pleasant experience. They were relatively busy, but not slammed, and the service was very poor. Long waits in between seeing our waiter's face, a few mistakes through the night, and it took FOREVER to get the check. Meanwhile I thought the food was fine. Good sized portions, but really nothing special - could have gotten that quality many other places for much less money. I think that's the sticking point for me - for the quality of food and the service, their prices are just too high. Bring 'em down a bit and this place gets an A-OK rating, but for now, "Meh. I've experienced better" sums it up for me.
(2)
Rachel L.
The LCDP website doesn't do them justice (it looks more casual than the actual ambiance). The atmosphere is elegant, but not stuffy. I went there with a group of friends mid week because we weren't in the mood to battle traffic and parking downtown, so a Mexican restaurant in Watertown was a good compromise. Our server was awkward/uncomfortable, but polite. And the food was very good. The entrees all came with yuka, rice and beans, and plantains - I thought it was a nice touch. It made the experience more authentic and reminded me of being in Central America. I was a little disappointed with the veggie quesadilla (my standard order for Mexican restaurants) because it was stuffed with tons of squash and not much else. Otherwise, everything was very tasty. The sangria was also good, but I would have liked more fruit in it. Overall a good experience.
(3)
Barbara A.
I loved this place when it was stil in Watertown Sq (even when he upped his prices 20%), but still not sure about the "new" space anymore. At first I was excited about all that space and happy it was there (I even had my mom's memorial lunch there). The last few times I went though, not too excited about it. First, the mojitos are probably the best I have had anywhere in the area. I asked the bartender one time why so yummy and he tried to explain it to me but since mere mortals can not buy the type of liquor they use on the open market, I did not retain it. I have been a big fan of the empanada - the first thing I do is order them because in the past they took 20 mins. When I ordered them last time, they came in 5. I have been going to his place since he first opened and they have always taken 20 min (I will not go into a routine about grits a la "My Cousin Vinny"). Well just taste it and you will see it is not the same quality - not sure if he precooks or is he doing a different recipe but how sad. I also enjoy the traditonal shredded beef dish - can not retain the name nor pronounce it but look for it. It is still yummy. I will still go here, but will mourn the quality that has gone down.
(3)
Anne P.
Three of us stopped in here for dinner on a weekend some months ago. It was prime time, so, understandably, there was a wait (despite empty tables, which I assumed were saved for reservations). We were in somewhat of a rush, so we sort of crowded around a high-top table, which only had two chairs. The manager was unable to find us another chair, which was fine by us (but clearly bothered him). We waited a while without a server coming to take our drink orders, which was annoying - BUT the manager/host noticed, consulted his reservation book again, and then brought us right into the dining room. Our server was really attentive and seemed honest in his recommendations, the management was friendly, and the food was good. We were all very impressed with both the food and the service, and will definitely be back.
Weekday evening around 630pm, place was less than half full, but it took more than half an hour to bring my niece a simple quesadilla and identical orders of enciladas for my wife and myself. One was barely warm, the other ok. For entrees close to $20 each, the flavor was uninspired. A small glass of mango juice was $6.50; cocktails $15. I've had better much faster for less in Manhattan and Boston. Decor is cool and jungly, though I'm still trying to figure out the dead (not dried) flowers and antique typewriter. One could do worse but we won't be back.
(2)
Lauren E.
I went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was actually pretty dead inside. Perhaps it is the awkward location; La Casa de Pedro is located near the Arsenal Mall and is easy to miss. My boyfriend and I started off by ordering a small tapas plate of nachos with pork and chicken. For my entree, I ordered steak tacos. The ingredients were high quality and fresh. The meat was juicy and flavorful. There was some live music that night, which was a nice addition to the ambiance. I think this place could be more successful if it found a new location; the fact that it was dead on a Saturday night during the summer is not a good sign. I would definitely go back here again.
(4)
Earl B.
Had a great time here. Food was great and not at all expensive. House margaritas were very respectable. The restaurant itself is very nice. Ask the server for recommendations and go with it. I had the Venezuelan steak (do it right and get the eggs wit it), Fantastic. We will be back.
(4)
Shawn M.
Visited recently with my wife and friends. I couldn't have been pleased any more. We started with a couple of things from the tapas menu, Stephanies Nachos and Calamares a la Pedro. The nacos were awesome. very cheesy, tons of chicken and pork and the chips were baked just right. I highly recommend these. The calamari was a little different from your normal restaurant fare, it wasn't as fried and the poblano and jalapeno sauce was a pleasant departure from spaghetti sauce. Also very good. My fiance had the wild champagne sangria, which she loved. For dinner two of us had the Quesadilla de Carne Asada. The steak was plentifu as was the cheese and like the nachos they were cooked just right. They came with black bean rice, fried yucca and plantains that were very tasty as well. My other friend had the chicken enchiladas. She didn't love them, but thought they were good. The menu says the chicken was shredded, but it came out cubed. For dessert which he had a flavor of the flan. You could not go wrong with any of the three. They were fabulous. I topped off with a cup of coffee which was very good. All in all I was very, very happy. We have already purchased a groupon for our next visit. La Casa de Pedro is highly recommended by this guy
(4)
Lady J.
Pollo asado here I come!!!
(5)
Chelsy B.
Although I have heard many good things about this place, I was not really impressed. A group of girlfriends and I went on a Monday night for a birthday dinner. We did get a nice table, but there were less than three groups in the whole restaurant which is pretty large. We started off with drinks in from one of the heaviest menu's I have ever held. There were a lot of options and a whole page of tapa's as well. It also said they served brunch which seems like it could be fun. After we ordered, we waited at least 30 minutes for our meals (6 people, no apps.). The server was very so-so. After we got our meals and some home made hot sauce (yum), we didn't see the server again. We had all finished eating and even waited a good 15 minutes before someone came to clear the table or ask if we were all set. At this point, we were one of two tables in the whole space and we could easily see four or five employees walking around. We asked if the gratuity was included and our waitress told us 8 or more people which was incorrect. There was 18% for 6 or more guests. The food was presented well, but average. I can tell they wanted it to have a fine-dining feel, but it fell short for me. I may try this place again with a smaller group to see the difference, but I'm not sure it is a space to rave about like everyone says.
(3)
Dee N.
A co worker raved about La Casa De Pedro. So I had to try it. A friend of mine and I went for Dinner last Friday . June 19th. Now I can't stop raving about it! What a wonderful Restaurant.....We were given the option of having Dinner inside or outside. We opted for inside because I wanted to see what the Restaurant looked like. Nice atmosphere inside with a lot of comfortable booths. We ordered drinks. I had a Fruity Martini. My friend, had a Maitai. We both enjoyed our drinks. They don't skimp on the Alcohol. Not too strong, just right! The food was wonderful! I ordered the Salmon. I have never had Salmon prepared like that! Huge portions, The Salmon served on a bed of black Beans, Salmon covered in Red , Green peppers and onions and Shrimp! with a side of Rice and sweet Plantains and Yuca..... Unbelievable Flavor! The servers were very attentive. We thought that the alcohol was a little expensive. But the food prices were reasonable. I will definitely return!!!
(5)
Janet S.
I used to love this place for lunch when I worked in the area a few years ago. However, dinner tonight was WAY too salty. The side dishes were really good, but the meat dishes (chicken enchiladas, and especially the Carnitas Encebolladas) were really oversalted. Sad to be disappointed by an old favorite...
(2)
Kris S.
I really was excited to go to this place. The decor is really nice -- the outdoor patio is terrific, but the inside is also nice -- colorful and tastefully decorated with a big bar and comfy seating. We had to wait for about 20 mins for a table, which is totally fine. When we were seated, we were at a huge booth (score!). Shortly after we were seated, the waiter came over. We ordered drinks. 30 mins later, the waiter returned. We asked for water. Finally after 45 mins, we ordered 3 tapas. We got the calamari, ceviche, and chicken and chorizo with tortillas. All were pretty tasty, although the calamari was $10 and there couldn't have been more than 8 fried calamari on the plate. Anyway, we had to flag down the waiter once we were done with the tapas, so that he could take the plates and we could order entrees. I ordered the 1/2 chicken and my friend ordered "Pedro's birthday special," which was steak and chorizo. After literally 40 minutes, the waiter came over to tell me that they were out of the chicken! 40 MINUTES! There were several other people around us who were waiting for food, too. I mean, even if you are going to run out of food, you need to notify the guests more quickly than that. I'm already sick of this review, b/c I'm sick of this place. To sum, I ordered a steak dish as a substitute. It was ok. My friend's was ok. Steak overcooked, rice was dry. Water was never refilled (we asked 3 times) and drink orders were never taken again. By the end of the night, we had a totally new waitress who brought our bill. Was our waiter fired for sucking so bad? We'll never know. I also won't be back. Huge disappointment. The 2 stars are for the nice decor and decent tapas -- that's it.
(2)
William H.
Sunday brunch galore! Big menu for both food & cocktails. Fun and bright scenery inside. It felt like we were on vacation. Try a Jalapeño infused tequila margarita with shaken with fresh strawberries! Yum
(5)
Anil D.
We've been here a bunch of times, but they fell off in a bad way. Came at 4:50pm with our two kids. First they told us we can't bring the stroller to the table even though we did each time we came for the past two years. Then, they sounded annoyed that we were ordering tapas only for the table even though it was *5*pm and the place was near empty. Then they brought out the wrong ceviche order and told us it our fault for saying the wrong thing. On top of it all the service was slow and just painful.
(2)
Elie H.
I used to love this Venezuelan place but yet again another restaurant that I cherish went downhill. Food is on the greasy side lately. I highly recommend the arepas and fish dishes. my favorite used to be the "Complianos" a steak, sausage blood sausage with rice and beans. I plan to go there again soon and give it another try since I love arepas.
(3)
Michelle A.
Wanted to love this place as we are just getting to know the area but it was just 'ok'. Meals were substantial and service was average. Not sure what I expected but the food didn't have a lot of flavor. We asked for the house-made hot sauce which was the highlight of the meal. We ordered the empanadas (chicken and beef), (Flank) Pabellon Criollo, (Pork) Llanos Venezolanos, and a margarita.
(3)
Gisele M.
Just went here on Saturday for girl's night. Most of us had the coconut shrimp served in a coconut - delicious! The drinks were amazing and the staff was exceptional. Outdoor patio seating is a great option too if the weather is nice!
(5)
David S.
I've been here several times and each time I get the chicken quesadilla. It's amazing -- a huge portion with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. It also comes with a really tasty side of rice, yuca, and plantain. I always leave feeling full and every time it's consistently good. For this amount of food, the price is not bad at all. I've also gotten the nachos as an appetizer. Although it's a pretty small portion, it's also quite good. I've been here probably 3 times already and I'm going to keep coming back!
(4)
Alex D.
We love La Case De Pedro! The flavors are very unique to Venezuelan cuisine so if you're looking for Mexican blandness look elsewhere. The Osso Buco is my favorite and I would have it every time if it wasn't for the specials. Outdoor patio seating is a plus, but it was too windy for us to enjoy it our last visit. I would also highly recommend the cocktails, Pedro's 10 cane mojito is amazing! Getting a flight of tequila is a great option as well.
(5)
Squidy D.
I could come here just for the side dishes, the plantains and the fried yucca's are fantastic. The homemade hot sauce is awesome and hot hot hot! This is one place I will travel for, well worth an hours drive
(5)
Liron P.
Parents with children beware- We didn't get to try the food because we were so angry with their attitude- we were 3 people and a stroller, but despite the fact the restaurant was empty, they wouldn't let us sit outside with the stroller (the area was large and spacious, so there certainly isn't a lack of room). We just left, since i dont want to support businesses that discriminate against children this way
(1)
Claire R.
This restaurant is lively with attentive service and tasty food. My daughter highly recommends the quesadilla with fried plantain and yuca. The skirt steak is delicious and the chimichurri sauce is great! Venezuelan food is always a good choice for gluten free diners. Spacious with room for large groups and a full bar.
(4)
Annette A.
Fantastic drinks, delicious food and and amazing service. La Casa de Pedro is a restaurant that you'd expect to find in downtown Boston, but lucky for you - it's in Watertown, with plenty of free parking all around. Pedro's may be my favorite restaurant. The place is very spacious and beautiful. The decor is gorgeous and warm, filling with lights and tropical plants. It's a very nice place for a date, especially on nights where they have music. Most amazing thing? The plantains and yucca. Or any of their tilapia, scrod or salmon dishes. Or anything with their green habanero cream sauce (ask for it!). Edit: Adding a star. Service is still wonderful. The last time we were there (which tends to be a few times a month now), we had a charming server named William who was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the dishes. We'd ask for him again, if we could. But William aside, the staff is ALWAYS amazingly nice. There hasn't been a single time where our server was in a mucky mood and showed it.
(5)
Donna A.
I Order a salad which was (De Los Roques) and nothing that was appearently I order was in the salad. La Casa De Pedro also over charge me. As I place this call back to them now the mananger is not available to talk about how disappointed I was with my boring salad. Grill chicken was the roasted chicken, no sunflower seeds, no dried cranberries no crisp apple no lemon-garlic dressing. Check your order before leaving cause its impossible to get the manager once a customer is disappointed. This salad cost me $18.00 smh!! I will never eat at this place again. Very unhappy give me what I order.
(1)
Lexi L.
A must eat restaurant!!! Came for lunch and ordered off the tapas menu. We ordered 5 dishes for the two of us and it was a perfect amout. The nachos are killer!!! And the flan is the best we have had! Our server Prabina was excellent! She made great suggestions and they were all top notch! Will deffinatly be back!!
(5)
Dan O.
What can I say about La Casa De Pedro. Excellent food, great atmosphere, ample parking, great service. 5 stars. I've been here at least 5 times and have not had a bad experience. Weekdays, weeknights, weekends,...doesn't matter. I'm literally sitting here and there is a live band playing - 2 guys, rhythm guitar and a bongo drummer, and they introduced a kazoo...yes a kazoo. I hate to give this place such high marks because I want to keep it for myself, but alas, the secret is already out. I strongly recommend that you come here...have the 10 cane mojito, a steak based dish, and soak in everything. Awesome. I guarantee you will not be dissapointed - DanO
(5)
Amalia S.
This place is amazing!!! Atmosphere and decor is awesome perfect for date night. Def try passion fruit sangria delish. Service was great. Two Thumbs up!
(4)
Lindy L.
Went here on a Thursday night and there was an enchanting man playing piano and singing random songs (everything from "Pachabel's canon" to "pennies from heaven"). It was a friend's birthday so there was a group of 12 of us. We had a reservation and they seated us right away (not all of the party needed to be present for us to be seated). the drinks were delicious (i had a JALAPENO margarita - don't ask questions - just get one) and white sangria, which was fruity and very refreshing. we had the tequenos and a bean and cheese empanada to start. my husband had the fish tacos which he enjoyed immensely. i had the salmon with shrimp on top and a very hearty dose of rice, beans, yucca and fried plantains - YUM! all entrees come with the sides mentioned above and one was more delicious and flavorful than the next! in my opinion, the only reason this place does not get 5 stars is the prices. for a restaurant in watertown, i would've imagined that the prices would be lower. it was about $16-$20 for entrees. that being said, i will definitely give la casa de pedro another go round if given the chance. OLE!
(4)
Jason H.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Great place. Odd, tucked away location thought... Food here is outstanding, if you ask me. I don't know Venezuelan food, but I do know that theirs tastes good to me. I've tried a few dishes, and the Short Rib, Fish Tacos and Pabellon Criollo are all awesome. They also make a ridiculously tasty but dangerous hot sauce. Pedro's offers a pretty decent drink selection as well. Always a great time.
(4)
Patrik C.
This was one of the best meals of 2012. Note: the hours are weird as in they close really early! I came with 2 friends and we got the fried cheese appetizer which isn't breaded. It's fried/grilled on both sides-- UNBELIEVABLE. The yucca fries are the best I've ever had. In other restaurants they can be thick and dry but here, they are drenched in a high quality EVOO with a little pesto and combined with the cheese-- SO GOOD. Also tried the fried cheese roll up things which is like a cheese puff/spring roll. Excellent. For entrees-- the meats have always been excellent with many sides-- rice, plantains, etc. Highly recommended. Their hot sauce is SO good-- use sparingly!!!
(5)
Cat A.
This is a fun place with some unusual, delicious offerings. Staff is very friendly and helpful if you want to try new things. The patio outside is lovely and service is consistently good. Drinks are also well done.
(5)
Jeff S.
AUTHENTIC, BUT LOW-QUALITY FOOD. GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND DRINKS. I'll keep this short and not-so-sweet. I've only dined at Casa de Pedro's twice, once in their original restaurant in Watertown Center, and once in the now-closed Burlington restaurant located only 2 miles down the road from the Burlington Mall in the glitzy former building built by the owners of the Naked Fish restaurant. The atmosphere of the Watertown location is nothing special (3 stars), although the atmosphere in the former Naked Fish location was first rate (5 stars). FYI, Naked Fish had high hopes of great success at its Burlington location, but it lasted only 2 years before they sold out to Casa de Pedro, which lasted only about 6 months. Although the location isn't right inside the Burlington Mall or directly across from it, it's still only 2 miles down the road and I feel that patrons would have come and established it as a sensation if the food wasn't so poor. The food is prepared quite adequately and authentically, but the quality of the meat is poor. It's totally reminiscent of the Low-Quality Latin food I've eaten in poor Latin countries, and is something I feel a good restaurant in the USA shouldn't duplicate with great accuracy or authenticity. Since this restaurant is located here in the USA, I would have thought that Pedro would have Americanized a bit, at least enough so that the Food Quality was high. But, instead, Pedro chose to maintain complete authenticity which turned out to be a foolish mistake because patrons voted with their feet in short order. Indeed, Casa de Pedro closed its doors in only 6 months. As I said earlier, the atmosphere (5 stars), the drinks (5 stars), and now I mention that the service (4 stars) were all top-notch. However, the hallmark of any restaurant is the preparation and Quality of its food (2 stars), and I weigh this aspect much more heavily. If I could give Casa de Pedro 2.5 stars I would, but since only whole-star ratings are possible, I decided it would be more accurate to err on the lower end of that scale.
(2)
M M.
Order: Yucca... if your entree doesn't include it - it's a root vegetable similar to potato - comes fried with a cilantro oil drizzle. Pork tenderloin roast chicken entrees Every dish I've had has been a larger portion than I should probably eat, but I finish it because it's delicious! It takes a long time to read through the extensive menu and some items sound like the others so I usually take a long time to decide so study the menu online ahead of time if you can. I've enjoyed exploring Venezuelan cuisine at this restaurant at the old location and the current Arsenal Street location. I suggest sticking to more traditional dishes - don't order Mexican items in a Venezuelan restaurant. I agree with some other yelpers that if it's on the menu, it should be as good as all the other food. They probably need to trim the menu to make sure they do it all well. Lunch is my favorite way to enjoy good food here without paying too much, so I've never had cocktails here - though it looks like a fun night spot.
(4)
Tom D.
My dad and I stopped at La Casa de Pedro for dinner as I transited between Newport RI and Portsmouth, NH on what is rapidly becoming a far to common trip. Pedro's Menu of different Latin American dishes looked interesting and we were in the mood to try something different. It was a Thursday night so we grabbed an OpenTable reservation and headed over. The restaurant is very nice inside with a large bar to the right and a decent sized dining area to the left upon entering. It also has very high ceilings which add to the ambiance. The bar had a few people at it and the dining area was fairly empty when we arrived. Both were packed by the time we left. We were seated immediately upon entering and started to review the menu. We decided to split an order of nachos as our appetizer. The nachos come with chicken and pork on them. When they came out the size of the order was kind of underwhelming. I'm used to getting a much larger portion when ordering a plate of nachos. The nachos were good, but for the price probably needed to be 150 - 200% larger. The small order of Nachos had me concerned about the size of my entree. I had ordered the Pabellon Criollo, which the menu referred to as a traditional Venezuelan dish of shredded beef, slowly simmered, with fine chopped vegetables. It came with rice, black beans, and fried sweet plantains as sides. When it came to the table I was relieved to see that there was a large pile of shredded beef and more than enough black beans and rice. I wouldn't be leaving hungry even if it was just the rice and beans that were stuffing me. The Pabellon Criollo was incredible. It had a great flavor and was extremely tender. They also brought out a bowl on the side of Pedro's special hot sauce which was neon green in color and had a sneaky level of spice to it. It was full of flavor and a few seconds after eating it the spice smacked you. I mixed it, the rice and black beans all together and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we'll definitely try La Casa de Pedro again.
(4)
JF S.
**Just had to log in and upgrade to 4 stars after enjoying my leftovers. Better than I remember from last night - may have been just too much food to enjoy to the fullest in one sitting. The place was very busy on a Sunday evening closing in on the expiration date of a Groupon. Service was slow but attentive and nice. Tapas were the standouts - Chicken & Chorizo, and the Venezuelan fried cheese (like a cross between a mozzarella stick and a spring roll). Tried the house hot sauce for dipping but could only use a tiny bit! We each had a flavored sangria and both were good - not too sweet. Had the Birthday flank steak and Chicken Asado and they were both fine with large servings including sides (took home leftovers), though maybe a tad on the pricey side. Chicken dish could have used some salsa or something to lighten it up a little bit. The yuca side was delicious but the plantains were a bit too sweet for my taste. We will definitely go back for tapas and drinks.
(4)
ara n.
While the food is good, the restautant is very unaccomodating to families - they have a NO STROLLER policy. They would not seat us when we got there with an asleep child in the stroller - the hostess was very nice and wanted to accomodate us, but the manager, who I am sure suffers from a strong and lasting bout of short man syndrome, informed us rudely that they have a no stroller policy and nothing can be done about that. There are plenty of other good South American restaurants that'll serve you good food with the South American warmth and hospitality and without the attitude of this joint.
(1)
Christian E.
The skinny: go for the tapas, and regardless of quality, this place probably won't last. My old roommates and I were in the area, and thought we'd check out the space where Red Sauce used to be, way back in 2004, and stumbled upon La Casa de Pedro. We were there, so we figured why not? Well, there were a couple of reasons why not, but I'll get to those. How about why? It was a Friday, and there was live music. Mediocre, but entertaining. +1. We got there around 8:30, and there was a 15-minute wait, but nobody was really sitting at the bar (right next to the band), where there's full-menu service, so we decided to sit there. The food is decent--decently tasty, decently priced (on average). The entres seemed relatively pricey, especially the quesadilla plate ($15 for a quesadilla and a few paltry sides), so I went the tapas route, which ended up being the right choice. I got a black bean empanada, a huge green salad (avocado, mesclun greens, lime-cilantro dressing), and a surprisingly large fried yucca plate I split with a friend for $13. An Argentinean guila beer rounded out the meal for me. I was pretty happy; my friend who got the quesadilla was decidedly less content. It's also worth noting that food service at the bar wasn't great. The bartender wasn't busy--we were the only people sitting there--but he was less than attentive, and a tad on the gruff side. I'm aware it's been around for over a year, so perhaps there's hope, but I doubt La Casa de Pedro will make it. It's not visible from the road, so there will be few cases of incidental patronage. There have been two cases of good-but-closed restaurants in this exact location in the past 5 years (Naked Fish, whose fish is incidentally still above the door, and Red Sauce), and it will take a special place indeed to beat the curse. Sadly, I don't think Pedro's is it.
(3)
myr m.
I don't know about most people, but I like to think that restaurants care about their customers in more ways than just $$$$. My daughter and I went, were seated, and the waitress quickly pointed out the kitchen closed at 9pm. I then proceeded to order only a couple of tapas items for my daughter because I had already had dinner. The waitress adamantly told me that I would have to order something for myself. I explained that I had already eaten and was there to get my daughter something to eat. She then kept pointing to a spot on the menu and said, " See, right here. It says there is a minimum charge for dinner, $15 per person". I continued to protest as we had already ordered more tapas than what my daughter could eat. The food would have gone to waste. Noticing that I was becoming annoyed and was about to leave, the waitress then decides she can make an exception just this one time. Now I understand that more and more restaurants are instituting a minimum charge per person, or they charge an additional fee for sharing dishes, but consumers should not have to take and swallow this, so to speak.... especially when the food is as mediocre as it was at Casa de Pedro. The empanadas were big on grease and low on flavor. The Tortilla Espanola looked charred; to say it was dry is an understatement. The only dish I can't speak ill of were the fried plantains. Thank goodness for nature's sweet goodness. But for fried plantains, I think I'll just make those at home. Thanks, but no thanks. Casa de Pedro just doesn't seem very hospitable when they're twisting my arm to order more food than we wanted or needed.
(2)
Al G.
Decent - but a little pricey. We ordered four tapas which were tasty & ample. I hope to go back for entrees eventually. It was a nice change of pace to have Venezuelan food.
(4)
Jeffrey K.
I work right next to this joint so I go there all the time. The fact that people actually go to panera bread instead of Pedro's right next door is beyond me. The prices are comparable but the food isn't. Pedro's is super yummy. Their cuban sandwich is second to none and the special are always good. Only get their hot sauce if you really like hot sauce though. Its homemade and you never really know how high octane its going to be. The service is pretty spot on too, especially the bartenders. They aren't pretentious like I would expect at a place like that. My only gripe is that they won't let you drink outdoors on the patio area without purchasing food. Apparently there is some local rule against it but cut a brother a break. I've gone there will a large group of people after work. All of us are fine with throwing money around and could easily run up a liquor tab of a few hundred dollars (stressful days are standard around here). Why they pass on that is beyond me.
(4)
Jessica T.
I ate here today for the first time and loved it. I was w/ coworkers are we only had an hour break. The staff was friendly and efficient. Loved the decor and the cobalt blue water glasses. I got a salad w/ roasted red peppers, avocado and sesame seeds. It was served with a cilantro dressing- yum. It was very refreshing.
(4)
Mo S.
Food - definitely good. Great for a change of pace, and they have a reasonably sized menu that doesn't get out of control - have the steak quesadillas, the beef empanadas and the garlic shrimp. Service - brutally slooowwwwwwwww..... order your next drink when you've just started your first one - otherwise, it may never come. Prices - slightly crazy. You have to be strategic - either stick to a main course, or just a couple of tapas. Drinks are really expensive, but pretty good, so it can be worth it every once in a while to get the top shelf mojito..... Nice to see a place at this location that has a hope of making it. Also - not to be overlooked - they have a great patio overlooking the fountain that is perfect for lunch/late afternoon cocktails. Nice on a Saturday!!!
(4)
Suzanne M.
We had a wonderful lunch here. The special jalapeno margarita was a hit with the spice lovers at the table (I took a taste and survived). The fried cheese with roasted corn - yum! Get extra corn. For an entree I had the marinated pork chops, which were cooked perfectly, and hubs had the mixed lobster / scallop / shrimp special with mango sauce. I wish I had gotten that - it was amazing. But I wasn't unhappy with my pork chops!
(4)
Nathaniel M.
A good place for tasty Latin food. I have been there many times. The owner is often there and they can accommodate for allergies. Their fish dishes are excellent. A bit pricey. You must try the the fried Yucca as an app.
(4)
Kevin T.
I work in this area so frequent La Casa De Pedro a lot. Sometimes I go there multiple times a week for lunch, so I've pretty much tried most of their menu. I recommend this place for a nice, casual meal in a relaxed environment. I usually go for their quesadillas (shrimp is my fav), but aside from that, their meats and fish entrees are very well seasoned and tasty. Portion is not an issue - all or most of the dishes i've had come with beans/rice, plantains, and yuca. Sometimes they can pour on too much of the cilantro (oil) sauce, and on off days their food can be a bit saltier than I like, but overall, the food is great. Some dishes I recommend (don't remember the exact name, sorry): - roasted half chicken - grilled steak (they have other steaks for dinner, but grilled steak is lunch only) - cape cod - quesadilla (shrimp) - salmon (dinner only) Appetizers are great as well, from the empanadas to shrimp sauteed in garlic and cilantro (Camarones al ajillo) to arepas (chicken, pork, and beef are all great). I would definitely try this place if the food is your style. During work days, lunch time can be a bit busy, but wait times generally aren't long. Dinner times are not super crowded as well, though the bar can be at happy hour. During summer, they have outdoor seating as well. Parking is a breeze during dinner and weekends - Pedro's is located in a huge office park with outdoor and garage parking. They have valet parking for $2, but frankly, I'd only consider it if I drove there during lunch on weekdays (since you'd most likely have to park in the garage on the top floor).
(4)
Joe Z.
I went to Casa de Pedro based on some glowing recommendations. I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed. Everything was overly salty and the service was slow and not very good in general.
(2)
Tanvi D.
Pros - Good food, Good Drinks, Can handle crowds Cons - Bit Pricey, Closes too early on weekdays We went there in a big group (about 12 people) on a tuesday for a friend's birthday party. Our reservations were for 8:00pm. But, we didn't all gather there till 8:30.. Some of us who go there early had a chance to order drinks and settle down and read the menu. By the time the "Birthday Person" arrived, we were told that the kitchen was going to close in 1/2 hour, so, we had to order immediately if we wanted food.. Now, its partly our fault for not checking what time the restaurant closes. As for food, we ordered a bunch of appetizers and couple main dishes for everyone to share. This was definitely a good decision. The portions were large and filling. We had Empanadas, Yuca Frita, Arepas. I can't remember what we had for the entrees. But, those were delicious as well. I think I'll go there again (maybe in a smaller group and earlier) to try their other dishes..
(4)
J. G.
We went to Casa de Pedro for a celebratory dinner and it was definitely not as good as the last time we went. I was a bit embarassed because I had raved about how good the food was last time. The food was all completely mediocre. The rice was hard and my pork was just warm. Everyone at the table was completely underwhelmed.
(2)
Alex N.
I went to Pedro's with a group of 7 people to celebrate a friend returning to the states from abroad. It took 15 minutes just for a server to come over to get our drinks and apps, another 10 for the drinks to come, 45 min for the apps, and about 1-1/2 hrs after we got there we complained that our meals hadn't come yet. So timing isn't their thing. However, after we complained to the manager, he did his best to make it better by getting us a few rounds of free drinks and a nightcap shot before we left. The food was decent, I recommend the Arepas with Chicken and Avacodo. The flank steak was a little overcooked.
(2)
Paul M.
Casa De Pedro used to be a dark and cozy little spot in Watertown Square. Now it's an enormous brightly lit warehouse hidden in an office park near the Arsenal Mall. The owners must not want people to eat here because there is almost no way to find the place. Their single sign is camoflauged in a sea of similar advertisements on flag poles. The food and the service have gone downhill with the new digs. We waited over an hour for a mediocre entrees paired with predictably lame rice and beans that tasted canned. Our waiter fumbled with the wine opener and dropped a dish or two on the floor. He refilled our waters once in the 2+ hour period we were there. I can no longer recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Jenny N.
You can tell that the owner takes great pride in his restaurant, because the first page of the menu describes how his mother influenced his cooking. It's a lovely tribute... They claim to have the best roast chicken in the state, and I have to say that I'm not gonna argue that--the skin is crispy and meat is moist and flavorful. It came with sides of fried plantains, black beans and rice, and fried yucca. A delicious, light herb sauce was drizzled over the dish (I think it was cilantro based, and I usually HATE cilantro). I loved the complementary flavors (sweet, salty & starchy all on one plate!), and everything was seasoned just right. For dessert, we polished off the coconut flan. It was super creamy and thick--like coconut creme brulee without the crackly part. Instead, it was topped with a thin caramel sauce. So yummy. It was one of the best lunches I've ever had, and I left very satisfied. And lunch was a deal ($9) compared to the dinner prices ($16-24). They have brunch on the weekends, too. I had been eager to try this place since I used to drive by the old location fairly frequently, so I'm glad I was not disappointed. I think I'm going back for lunch of these days to try out the Cuban sandwich... Service was quite good, and the dining area is really nice--very comfortable, spacious, and colorful! Large bar too. Bonus-- there is free parking in the Arsenal garage, across from the restaurant. The Arsenal itself can be difficult to navigate though...kinda like a weird parking lot maze.
(5)
Dan H.
Service was bad. Food was decent but not worth the price. The place is huge and very nice inside and the live music was a great touch but the service could not have been worse. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing. Calamari was sub par. Honestly, not impressed with the food. Definetly just try somewhere else. La Casa de Sucko
(1)
Megan L.
Love this place. I've only eaten here for lunch but I work in the area and go all the time. Chicken quesadillas or the Raquel salad--yum! Food and service are excellent. They sometimes skimp on the condiments but if you ask for extra, no problem.
(5)
Daigo F.
Very happy that they moved here. The location used to be Naked Fish, then Red Sauce, then Marzo 13 (or something like that), but none of them was close to how good this is. Ceviche and beer to start, and so far, we have not ordered anything on the menu that we didn't like. We'll keep going back. update: Just tried Sunday Brunch... price was pretty reasonable, but have to give a mixed review... Frenh toast was burned and undercooked at same time, if thats even possible. Venezuelan Pancake was OK, but also had a burned taste. I guess stick with lunch menu or perhaps I just had a bad day? Still like thsi joint. Best Ceviche, still for the summer.
(4)
Meghan O.
My coworkers and I enjoy Casa de Pedro for lunch as well as after work drinks. The drinks are strong and tasty. I recommend the shrimp quesadilla for a good value.
(4)
Ted B.
I had a company lunch outing here last week. I got the "states best" chicken with extra plantains. The chicken was good but the plantains are what made the meal. The inside was very nice but our table was a bit small for the amount of people we had. The Cane 10 Mojito I had was a great way to start the meal.
(4)
Ariel G.
La Casa De Pedro has an amazing selection of authentic Latin American dishes. Their servings are huge and the food is VERY good. It's a bit pricey but well worth it.
(4)
David H.
I eat here often out of protest for the awful Panera adjacent to it. The quesadillas are actually quite good. They are served with rice, beans, plantains and yucca, which I've grown to like. The service here is strange. I should start by saying that the people are all very nice. To their credit, they have never screwed up an order. I should also mentioned that they've endured and successfully served both of my parents at various times, and as someone who grew up with them I can attest to that being no small feat. Where it gets strange is that they seem to have very little formal training as wait staff. They frequently will interrupt conversations or reach across the table to grab a drink glass at inopportune moments or worse still, they'll ask the patrons to help them out by handing them things they don't feel like reaching for off the table. It's not a big complaint, but it's strangely noticeable. My main complaint is that the lunch menu is painfully limited. There are a lot of great things on the dinner menu, but they are for some reasons off limits for lunch. I agree with the previous reviewer that the prices are a bit high, but if 9 dollars for a quesadilla sounds like a lot you do have to consider the location.
(3)
Oreo L.
I've been dining @ La Casa De Pedro since they were in Watertown Square! Everytime I come here I leave happy. Must order the mussels for appetizer if you are okay with eating seafood. The cod & salmon for entree, can't go wrong. Portions are very generous. Come here happy, leave here happier.
(5)
Pablo S.
I was here this weekend and the worse thing about this place is gotta be the managers drinking at the bar.. the food took a long time to arrived and no one came to check on us, the drinks are horrible for the price.. it will take a long time for the whole family to come back here.
I wish I could've rated this place higher, because upon entering, I was wholly impressed. Love the decor and the atmosphere but felt sick several hours after eating and think I may have gotten food poisoning from the calamari...awesome. And considering how overpriced the food was, that's just not right. Also, my red sangria was absolutely disgusting. Too strong and flavorless.
(2)
Chad B.
We have been going to Pedros since it's old location in Watertown Square. Pedro's Steaks are savory and always complimented with ample sides. The margaritas and mojitos are expertly mixed and not cloying. Cap off the meal with some orders of chocolate and coconut flan, and you are in heaven. One of our favorite places. For those who like hot sauce, they make their own fresh which you can order on the side or by the bottle to take home.
(5)
Omoniyi A.
I had lunch/early dinner here yesterday and it was def worth the trip to Watertown. The food is fantastic and portions are generous. But more on that in a second - first ambiance: Our serve was a funny warm man who was inclined to suggest tastier, and (mildly) healtheri alternatives to our food choices. All well intentioned though! The owner Pedro is a cute round old man who is very charming and came up to the table at the end of the meal to ask about our experience and thank us for coming. The place itself is large and colorful and comfortable. The food, again, is excellent! Reminiscent of Peruvian food with delicious fried yucca, rice (both yellow and with beans) and plantain served with every entree. Which is very generous. Definitely filling! I did think that the menu was rather pricey (like $16-30 entrees), and with most things in the 18-24 range, which to me is pricey (dont know what others are "working with"!). But i just ordered soup (which was a very large bowl for $3.75) and an arepa which were generously sized and cost $9 together. A couple suggestions: 1) Go for lunch, the lunch menu was extensive and much more affordable. Lunch ends at 3 (so we missed it, but im sure the portion size is probably decent for lunch). 2) I didnt have any, but was told the beef empanada was bland. The beef also was cornbeef hash with little potatoes. The blackbean and cheese empanada i was told was good, so try that instead!
(4)
Nicole B.
One of my favorite restaurants. Very generous portions. Excellent margaritas that use their in-house sour mix (no sugar added). The margaritas are so good here, that I got their recipe and now request it anywhere else I go. Even on their busiest nights, I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes (they may tell you 45 min, but the actual wait time is almost always 20 min or less). Friendly staff, great food (especially if you're a meat eater), fun decor and ambiance. On weekend evenings, they have a live latin band. For gluten-free people....they will cook your food in a dedicated gluten-free fryer if you request it.
(5)
Matt D.
Well let me first start off by saying that I had moderately high expectations the first time I set foot in this place. Looking over the menu, I noticed that they really didn't have a fantastic selection of entrees for vegetarians. I decided on the vegetable quesadilla (snore), and my coworkers ordered a bunch of meat and fish dishes. They seemed pleased with their choices, but my quesadilla was pretty disgusting. Something just didn't seem right about it. The yucca on the side was also extraordinarily chalky. The real disappointment set in the next day when I started shitting and puking my brains out for FOUR DAYS STRAIGHT. Yes folks, it seems that something in my veggie quesadilla gave me a nasty, nasty case of food poisoning. I was completely incapacitated for an entire weekend and it took another week for my digestive system to return to normal. Thanks Pedro. Honestly though, while I had an exceptionally bad experience there, I have heard decent things about the place. If you're going to try it, just be cautious about the choices you're making from the menu.
(1)
Monica D.
Was not as great as my boss said. Everything was incredibly salty. I did like the chicken and avocado arepas and fried plantains. Unfortunatly we went for an office lunch meeting, so I could not try any adult beverages.
(2)
Nora G.
New location is huge but nice. Fun music playing. Tapas were tasty and well priced. Cappucino was perfect. The flan (a group of us shared the milk and chocolate ones) was killa!
(5)
Cathy H.
Perhaps I got here on a good night- but there were quite a few people, but it wasn't overly crowded. Since I had not been to the previous Pedros, I didnt have any high expectations to compare it to. The decor was interesting, but the really high ceilings gives it a very commercial feel. I started with a white sangria because I love to use the excuse of going to a new place to have a fruity drink. It was good- not too sweet. We split a Verde Salad, which was just as advertised- cilantro dressing- but the oily kind, not the creamy kind. Not bad. Fresh vegetables though. For dinner I had the Hallacas, (similar to a chille relleno) which I really, really liked. It came with plantains, chicken salad, and two types of rice- yum! I walked out full and happy.
(4)
Holson Y.
Finishing my 2nd 10 cane mojito. The best and only mojito I really like. 2nd down being habana's at Costa Mesa, CA. Pedros is my fave thoi its less sweet Food is unbelievable as always. Expensive yes but if you want to gather your greatest friends, show them a good time, awesome drinks, food, spirit and ambiance, look no further. Plus this is the only reason to visit watertown I concur with another yelpers suggestion to expand out west. We need a place like this under the sunny skies and canary island palm trees of so cal. Show em how its done Again, if you expect cheap please try a different place. My bi weekly OC-Boston trip ALWAYS includes this place in the itinerary. If you love this place for its style and character, message me and ill recommend a few like it in Orange County. Happy Labor Day!
(5)
Emily K.
Recently had lunch here with coworker...right across the street from where i work. I was a bit skeptical because I don't like red meat and the menu had a lot....but their chicken dish with mango and apricots was delicious. It was my first time trying yucca...also very yummy! I'd love to go back and try some seafood ...my coworkers said it was great!
(4)
Jasper C.
Good food, good service and great ambiance. I had the Bacalao which included rice, red/green peppers, olives, yucca and plantains. They also have a live musician. The food is a bit on the pricey side. Entrees range from $14-27. Oh, yeah...Pedro is always running around making sure everything is going smoothly. You can't miss him. He is the rotund guy in the chef's outfit. Overall, good place to eat if you are looking for a quick bite.
(4)
Ashley F.
The food here was really good. I have only been for lunch and found it to be a very good value at lunch time. The prices almost double for dinner, but I would still return for dinner. Service was so-so. Food was very good. Atmosphere was good-I really like the oversized booths.
(4)
Chris L.
I was pretty skeptical of this place based on the reviews I had read, complaining about slow service and bland food. Nevertheless, my three friends and I gave it a shot tonight. While we are regulars at Rudy's, in Teele Square, and Border Cafe, we wanted to venture out and see what Watertown had to offer, in terms of Latin fare. It was pretty good. We went on a Saturday night at about 7:15pm and the wait was less than 5 minutes. Parking was ample in the garage across from the Watertown BSC. The first thing we all noticed were the ridiculous prices of the specialty drinks. I wanted a mojito, but didn't really feel like paying $10-12. As a result my friends and I ordered a pitcher of sangria to share. The pitcher was small and after four people had filled their glasses, it was gone. I'd give the sangria itself an 8/10. For appetizers, we all split the Queso blanco a la plancha (grilled Venezuelan cheese) and the Ceviche. The grilled cheese was interesting...just a grilled piece of cheese on a plate and the ceviche was a little too tomatoey for my taste. I've had better. Appetizers I'd rate a 6.5/10. For entrees, I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (1/2 chicken), and my friends got the chicken quesadillas, Pabellon Criollo (shredded beef), and Trucha Galarraga (trout). My chicken wasn't bad, but it was pretty bland and the breast meat was a little over cooked and dry. I asked for hot sauce and the waiter brought me a cup of spicy mustard, which I thought was weird. Is Venezuelan hot sauce mustard? The chorizo that came with my meal was good though, as were the sides. My friends loved the shredded beef, and the quesadillas. However, my friend who ordered the trout was disappointed and ended up with a trout bone lodged in the back of her throat, which she did not really appreciate. I wouldn't suggest ordering the trout unless you don't mind bones in your fish. Finally, the waitstaff was slightly better than average, although my friend ordered a side of guac, and it didn't come until she was 3/4 finished with her meal. Our waiter was friendly and it didn't take too long to get our food. Overall, I was happy with my meal and I will probably go there again. However, I would still rate Rudy's higher, in terms of quality and value.
(3)
Anonymous P.
Surprisingly good. In many ways, I prefer the food here to that at East Coast Grill. It's more authentic and spicier, and the portions are larger. The prices--at least for lunch--are very cheap. It's not the absolute best Latin American food I've had, but it's the best I've had in Boston. 7/14/2007: Been to the new location. Too salty but otherwise good. Nice patio.
(4)
Rob D.
Wow. Wow. Stunning. Magnificent. Wonderful, flavorful, authentic Venzualian food. Run by a real guy named Pedro, this family run operation recently moved from Main street in Watertown to its new location behind the Arsenal Office Building. I haven't been to the new spot, but a friend tells me that its only gotten better. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and truly happy to see you. Go there. Eat happy.
(5)
Al A.
Bad service. Over priced food. Over priced drinks. I hope the boss is paying for this company outing.
(2)
carol b.
We just ate dinner here tonight for the first time and I loved everything we ordered (I'm from Venezuela but haven't lived there in decades; it was a fond memory trip to eat at Pedro's). I can understand reviewers not liking the tequeños or the arepas, they are bland even in Venezuela, but they are a wonderful acquired taste. My queso blanco arepa's crust was a little burnt, but it was still delicious. I had the sancocho (chicken soup) and it had apio, a legume I've never had here in the US; it was really good. My beef empanada was yummy. My children shared the Parrillada de Caracas (I think that's the name of the entree) which had steak, chicken and chorizo along with yuca and plantains and they (and I) loved it. My husband had the Christmas special platter with hallaca, it was also delicious (though I'm sure it will soon be gone till next December). My Caipirinha drink was really good though it's technically Brazilian. :) Finally, we had coconut quesillo (note: Venezuelans do not eat flan, they eat QUESILLO, a much denser custard than flan - yes, it's meant to be much heavier, it is not "bad flan") and rice pudding for dessert and we all enjoyed them. It is pricey, but we'll definitely be going back to satisfy my cravings for Venezuelan food. I can't speak to the service when it's crowded since we ate at 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon and it was practically empty.
(4)
Wally G.
When we walked into the place the hostess was kind enough. I immediately noticed the place was pretty empty (maybe not too surprising for 7pm on a Tues night)... we were a party of 4 and requested a corner booth. The hostess took us to a regular booth. We asked again, can we have a corner booth, the hostess responded "those are for parties of 5"... I looked around, and again saw the place was about 5% full, and asked her, "are you expecting a rush of people?"... she said, "let me ask my manager". After she gained management approval, we were then seated in a corner booth. Other than this, food was mediocre and not worth the high "cuisine" price. Margarita's start at $11 and go up into the mid $20's. The service was VERY slow - surprisingly so for an empty restaurant. At the end of the dinner, as we SLOOOOWLY walked out noticed that there wasn't one staff member around - not a huge deal, but, symbolic of the overall experience. I would not recommend this place to a friend.
(2)
Edmon K.
First time in Venezuelan restaurant and totally enjoy the experience. Will definitely go again.
(4)
Teju P.
We randomly drove by looking for a brunch place, and the large sign outside caught our eye. I think we were hooked even before we entered! There was nice latin musical playing just outside the door and a large sign with the main menu items as well...The high ceilings, light colors, and lots of p lants make the ambiance fabulous. Food is excellent - they will alter your order to be vegetarian if requested. One thing that I enjoyed is that when they say "hot sauce" its REALLY hot! I would love to check this place out for dinner sometime!
(5)
Roxanna M.
La Casa De Pedro serves authentic Venezuelan food - simple, tasty and filling - and does it in a nice, cozy setting. If you're not familiar with latin food, have some fun and try something new! The food here's the real thing, I can attest to that. I recommend the arepas (the reina pepiada is my favorite - a corn bread filled with shredded chicken and avocado) and for an entree the pabellon criollo (a massive plate of shredded beef, white rice, black beans and fried ripe plantains - all of it delicious). Of course, dessert must include flan. It's the law. You will know who Pedro is as soon as you walk in the door - he is gregarious and takes frequent breaks from the kitchen to greet his guests. The staff is attentive and friendly, there's outdoor dining in the summer - all in all a great authentic restaurant.
(4)
Natalie K.
Great food, not slathered with cheese like cheap Mexican food. Healthy, filling, good sized portions. Margaritas are pricey $11-25 per one.
(5)
Stuart S.
Tried this place for the first time. Nice menu, good food, good drinks. Service left a lot to be desired. Two of us, arrived around 6:15 pm on a weeknight, inside dining room was virtually empty. Even so it took about 15 minutes for a waiter to come over to the table. One of those situations in which I was ready to walk out. I'd try it again, but this is something they definitely need to work on.
(3)
Meghan M.
I'm sort of surprised at some of the poor reviews of this place. I did prefer their previous location...It was super low-key and much more casual and authentic feeling. This location is HUGE. Really high ceilings (which does make it noisy when there's a crowd). Because of the noise level, it's probably a place more suited for groups (completely opposite of their other location which was tiny). I think they're still trying to settle in here which might be why the service isn't fantastic. I do like their mojitios and they have a few nice red wines on their "by the glass" list. I have to say, though, that there's one thing that will keep me coming back to Pedro's...SWORDFISH TIPS. Soooooo good! It is quite easy to mess up swordfish (it's often dry or just not fresh) but these guys nail it every time. It comes with a roasted red pepper creamy sauce in a pineapple shell with a side of rice & beans, yucca and plantains. My oh my, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
(4)
Lora S.
La Casa De Sucko. Maybe it was a bad night, maybe Pedro was on las vacaciones...Basically everything that could be bad in a restaurant was awful. And over priced. Horribly disappointing since this place seemed to have much potential. I tried to give it half a star, but I don't know how.
(1)
Michael V.
Service, atmosphere, and the food is really good. The dish I ordered had sausage, rice, plaintains, and a flank steak. All of it was great! Try to make it here on Fridays. I think they have a live band.
(4)
Allison B.
i'd take a place like pedro's over a gut-busting-tex-mex-explosion like border cafe any day. i'm not going to even pretend to know what authentic venezuelan food is like, but the fact that the standard sides here are fried plantains (deliciously awesome) and yucca (new to me, and totally pleasant) makes me at least feel like they know what they're doing. and if they don't - who cares? it's yummy. i'll echo the previous reviewer who lamented the lack of veggie dishes. but the veggie quesadilla IS really good - stuffed with squash and other delights rather than sad shredded iceberg lettuce and wimpy tomatoes like most other places. my only complaint is that despite their focus on pedro's life story and preservation of his family's recipes, they don't train their waiters how to say them. in fact, more than once i've gone and either ordered in spanish only to have the waiter repeat the english translation back to me (as in, "i'll have the pollo con arroz" receiving a reply of "ok, the chicken with rice"), or having the waiter admit that he/she doesn't know how to pronounce something and describe it instead.
(4)
Alyssa H.
I'd been wanting to try this place for years, since it was a little tiny restaurant in Watertown Square. Last week I headed over for dinner with my friend Michelle. We wanted to get tapas and were a little disappointed with the rather small selection of dishes. We finally agreed to each get a salad, and then try three of the Tapas. First came the baked cheese, which i thought was rubbery and salt. Second came a dish that was similar to corn bread with chicken and avocado in the middle. The cornbread did not have much flavor, but had been grilled and tasted a bit charred. The avocado and chicken mixture needed something , salt? tomatoes? something.... Lastly we had the garlic shrimp, a tapas staple. It was good. Then the salads arrived. They were ENORMOUS. Enough for both of us to take about 2/3 home to have for lunch the next day. I really loved the dressing on my shrimp salad, which came over mixed greens with avocado, mango and red peppers. I'd give La Casa de Pedro another try and maybe get one of the main entrees instead of the tapas. The wait staff was friendly (maybe a little TOO friendly) and on a Tuesday night at 7 we were seated immediately.
(3)
Leah B.
I just had lunch at La Casa de Pedro with 8 co-workers and have vowed to never go back. The food was good but nothing new and exciting. If you've ever had Latin food before then go somewhere cheaper and homier - it will taste just as good and won't hurt your wallet quite as much. Our waiter was surly, ignored and was slow to bring the check. He put us in the back and forgot about us. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)
Jeanne B.
Cool decor and friendly staff. The food was good, but I definitely think it is overpriced. They have quite an extensive menu of flavored mojito's. I ordered an original mojito (no crazy flavors for me!). It was good, but not very strong. Went on a Saturday night around 7 - it was pretty empty. They had a pretty decent band playing over by the bar - the only problem was that they were way too loud. If this was strictly a drinking and mingling place I wouldn't mind the volume, but when it is difficult to hear your dinner partner speak while seated on the opposite side of the restaurant from the band, you have a bit of a problem. Despite it's convenience to my house, I think I'll check out some other Latin restaurants before heading back here.
(2)
Jon D.
You can read a lot of good and a few not so good things about La Casa De Pedro. When having dinner there I didn't experience any of the bad. The lighting was good, the service prompt and my dinner arrived more quickly than I would expect (it was 6:45pm and the restaurant 3/4 full). I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (chicken and chorizo) and a passion fruit juice. I was very pleased with the quantity and quality of the food; the chicken in particular was perfectly cooked. The sides of yucca, rice and beans and fried plantains were excellent. The juice was a little pricey, and probably came from a can, but it was tasty. The only criticism I have is that I don't care for the building itself. The ceilings are very high and there are many hard surfaces for sound to bounce off of (as mentioned by someone in a previous review). I can see how it could get very noisy in there at times. I never dined at the previous Watertown Square location, and being my first time dining there I can't attest to the consistency of their food or service. I would recommend La Casa De Pedro to anyone who likes Central or South American food.
(4)
Ellen L.
Came here for dinner on a weekday with about 5 people from work. The food is great, the service was impeccable, and the drinks were TASTY! a departure from the typical mexican-american fare we see in these parts... there was some traditional venezuelan dishes. Arepas are always delicious. right in the middle of a small watertown office park, so tons of parking all around.
(4)
Kathy K.
La Casa De Pedro seems to be riding on the fumes of past reviews. I went over the weekend as a delayed Valentine's Day celebration and was quite disappointed. I had been to the old location some years ago and was excited to see how the new place looked and felt. I thought it was nicely done for such a large, high-ceilinged place. The live background music was also a nice touch. There seem to be some significant issues, however, in translating small into big. First of all, the host had no idea how long the wait would be. He said 30 minutes, but it was actually 2 minutes -- just long enough to place a drink order at the bar. I would normally be happy about this, but we were seated in a cramped two top among six two tops adjacent to the large restroom sign. It was impossible to have a private conversation here. Additionally, one had to move the table and disrupt one's neighbors to get in and out. More seat = more money. Next, the strange man who brought our food was utterly clueless. Our appetizer was offered to the five other tables in the area then disappeared to come back cold a few minutes later. My entree was delivered THEN TAKEN AWAY by Pedro himself who muttered something about it being wrong. I was left sitting there with a blank space on the table with my companion wondering if he should eat or not. Oh the romance. The food itself was hit or miss. The appetizer was bland and overpriced. The entrees, however, were very large and quite good. I left full but disappointed. I think the new place needs more practice before its service catches up to the food. Also, for God's sake, get rid of the bathroom seating area.
(2)
Dennis L.
La Casa de Pedro is a nice, comfortable place to take a few friends for a meal. The colors are bright without being garish and the walls decorated well without reaching the point of 'tacky'. Pedro is an extremely outwardly friendly man and his restaurant certainly embodies him. The portions are extremely generous and the food really exhibits his passion. It can be hit-or-miss for some, as the flavors are of extremes and less middling. The new location is a stark contrast to his last one, the wide open space really making it much more comfortable. How busy the restaurant is seems to be randomly feast or famine. I've seen it packed to the gills on a Thursday and quiet on a Saturday. It has an outdoor patio that overlooks a large fountain next to the Center for the Arts, the tables fairly large. I did not feel crowded, even with the mammoth plates at the table for four. Inside, I prefer the booths over the tables for that reason. The tables could get a little busy, even with food for just two. The 10-cane mojitos have quite a kick and I love the passionfruit ones as well. There is no shortage of chopped mint in them. For appetizers, I really like the empanadas. They might be hard to cut into, and a little deceptive. When you actually bite down into them, the dough is lighter than you would expect and the insides are moist and spiked with spices without leaking. I don't like the arepas as much, the corn cakes dominating the flavor a bit, it seems. My favorite dish there is his flank steak, which is always extremely tender and easy to slice. I am not one for the 'black Venezuelan chorizo' (blood sausage), but I love the Spanish chorizo there. The plantains, yucca, and rice to complement most of the dishes are always done well without ever being overcooked. The paella takes 30 minutes, but is well-worth it, and it is DEFINITELY a dish for two people. It is a bit deceptive to even those with large appetites because the rice hidden beneath is brimming with broth. It is served *very* hot, as we found out one time... The towel the paella pan was wrapped in BONDED, not burned into, but BONDED to the handle of the pan, so it was translucent and you could see the black of the handle. The squid on the paella is always light and my favorite part of that dish. The vegetables might turn out to taste a bit 'raw' to some, in particular the snap peas and peppers, but some may prefer it that way. Pedro makes a wonderful habanero sauce that I can in no way replicate, that seems to have lime, cucumber, and garlic at a very good proportion. Ask for it and it is a wonderful complement to many of the dishes there. It has quite a kick, enough to put a sweat on the brow of people who need to have Dave's or Blair's but still absolutely flavorful, complementing dishes with the kick instead of taking them for a ride. He could bottle and sell the stuff... The flan offered is good, being very firm and yet moist, though the chocolate one, the chocolate flavor seems to dull at the flavor without really coming out. I prefer their regular flan. I just wish that he'd put his grilled ribs on the restaurant menu. I believe he serves them on his catering side, but we had a number at a party of his and they were absolutely fall-off-the bone. Dishes to try: Empanadas, Cumpleanos de Pedro (flank steak), Paella (IT'S FOR TWO!), habanero sauce, if the waiter says 'ribs', order it. I've yet to see it in the restaurant, but those were bloody good over the summer. If you order catering, order the whole roast pig. And the ribs.
(5)
Sue P.
OK. Passion fruit Mojito- to die for here! I could've had 10 of them they were so tasty. Of course, then I would have had to have been carried out :) . The food was also excellent. I ordered the Quesadilla de carne asada. The steak was cooked to perfection and the whole thing just melted in your mouth. I know one of the waiters here so I was able to meet Pedro himself, and he is a sweetheart! Very personable, and he made sure I had enjoyed my meal and was satisfied with the whole dining experience there. II really liked the island decor, it didn't feel like you were in the city at all. I will definitely be back !
(4)
Kelly A.
My friend and I happened upon this place kind of by accident, and we were really hungry, so we decided to give it a try. The decor was great - nice lighting level, nice lighting fixtures, comfortable booths. As for the food, I will preface this by saying there are very few vegetarian options. There's one vegetarian salad and one vegetarian quesadilla that is really only vegetarian when some other components of the dish are left off. That being said however, I had one amazing grilled vegetable quesadilla! It was served with white rice (a veg substitution for the regular yellow rice), fried plantains, and yucca and it was goooood. They don't have freshly brewed unsweetened iced tea though, which was a bummer for me, especially considering virtually all decent Mexican joints seem to have it. But they did refill our water glasses in a timely manner! Service was ok overall. Definitely pricey for the meal though - a veggie quesadilla (with all accompanying sides) cost almost $15.
(4)
Melinda M.
The food was good, the decor was awesome (really nice without being pretentious), the service was mediocre. I hate when mediocre/good is charging for good/great just because it comes in a pretty package.
(3)
Deborah B.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here the other night, after noticing it on the way to Arsenal Mall. We had been to the old location in Watertown Square a few years ago, so the name of the restaurant sounded familiar, and during our meal Pedro himself came over and confirmed that he was indeed the same owner. We ordered the cheese arepa, which was good, especially accompanied by their hot sauce, which definitely has a kick. I was in the mood for something hearty, so I ordered the pabellon criollo, which was shredded beef with rice, black beans, and fried plantains. It was a good-sized portion and I initially thought I wouldn't make a huge dent, but I almost finished it. My boyfriend ordered the trout, which was served with fried calamari. I'm not a huge fan of calamari (the texture), but these were lightly battered and fried and so, so good. We'll definitely be back to order a few different tapas, the fried calamari and arepas included.
(4)
Gloria C.
oh yummy. The criollo dish with the shredded beef and the plantains and the delicious rice and the buttery beans and the yucca I stoled from my MIL and...yes. Many authentic flavors, far as I could tell with my comparison being Peruvian and Argentine foods. Venezuelan new to me, but this stuff was good.
(5)
Miz M.
Went here with co-workers a couple of months ago. One of my friends ordered the chicken dish and she didn't like it. It tasted funny, we all agreed. The waiter who was arrogant from the get go asked us how everything was. My friend said it was fine but I told him that it actually wasn't and that she didn't really like it. He was a jerk. And the man who came to our table after was an even bigger jerk! He came over with his condescending tone and his rude words without introducing himself. Rob? Mark? Whatever your name is, YOU ARE RUDE. We felt awful and belittled. Not really a way you want to feel when you're paying for something. They even had the audacity to say things as we were leaving. Nice. Well...I was a frequent diner there and I won't be returning. It's ok food but it's not worth being talked down to and verbally abused. Also, the food used to be MUCH better when they were located on Main Street. Not sure what changed. It was one of my favorite restaurant but the service is horrendous. It's not worth it.
(1)
Heather H.
I had a fantastic lunch at La Casa de Pedro. The Pabellon Criollo was tender and delicious. The beans were perfectly cooked, as were the plantains. They have a nice wine list and a fruity drink menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The flan at the end of my lunch was thick and heavy in the best way possible. Other restaurants at this location have been doomed, but I think- and hope- that La Casa de Pedro will have a long and happy life here.
(5)
Susan S.
Terrible! Maybe I tried this place on an off night, or maybe they don't worry too much about their Dining In orders, but I am amazed at how many peole like the food at this restaurant. I tried the Beef empanada, which was flavorless. I love empanadas and didn't think it was possible to mess one up - until now. I then tried the 'Verde' salad which is described as "Arugula, tomato, roasted peppers, avocado, grilled zucchini, yellow squash and Romaine lettuce with cilantro dressing and basil oil, topped with roasted sesame seeds" for $9.50. I figure for that kind of money for a salad, it's going to be pretty amazing. I was SO wrong. First, there was no arugula in my salad, only VERY large pieces of romaine. There was one tiny sliver of avocado, and two tiny slivers of tomato. I think they use dried cilantro for their dressing, because it didn't have any flavor at all, and cilantro is very strong. There would be no mistaking it if it was in there. The dressing was also totally absent of salt, which, unfortunately, seems to have been reserved for the soup which was so salty I had to throw it out after two spoons. The thing is, I had just come back from a long day of traveling and I was starving. I would have loved and eaten almost anything. And I instead I was totally disappointed.
(1)
Antonio A.
The food is superb all-around. The churasco is my favorite in the metro Boston area. They are also the only place in the metro Boston area that consistently gets fried plantains right. The new location is large, comfortable, and very stylish. I love that Chef Pedro often comes out to check in on the customers. Simply put: this is the place I go to celebrate an occasion or to impress any out-of-town guests.
(5)
Jimmy B.
It's true, the new location is in a weird spot. But it's bigger and easier to find parking at so I'm not going to complain. If you go here, try a few of the tapas (the empanadas and mejillones de pedro both are great) and get a pitcher of sangria. I don't usually get into the entrees but last time I tried the salmon ruben blades and fell in love. I often get lost looking at the menu and just end up pointing, I've rarely had something I didn't like. The only thing I can't mess with are the fried plantains. Something about warm fruit.... Also, if you eat here, you'll probably see Pedro himself walking around the restaurant. He seems like a nice guy and I agree that the piece about his Mom on the first page of the menu adds a nice touch.
(4)
Laura P.
I hear that they are moving to 343 Arsenal Street. I hope that they'll have a little nook where you can eat and watch the kitchen staff do their thing. Pedro is warm and friendly and might give you a sample of something from the kitchen.
(4)
Lia M.
I have been wanting to try La Casa de Pedro for years and I am glad I finally did. I had poked my head into their old location, which was nice & intimate, so I was a little sad that they moved, but this location is nice too, just different. They have an outdoor patio, which is nice, but we ate indoors. They had a band on Friday night & the lights were low. It was busy, but not crowded & there wasn't a wait. Everyone (manager, waitress, hostess) was super friendly & the food was delicious. I had a shredded pork arepa as an app, and trout with peppers for dinner. All entrees are served with yellow rice & black beans, fried yucca, & sweet plantains. Everythings was excellent and the presentation was nice. I would have given the restaurant five stars, except we paid 1/2 cash & 1/2 charge, and they didn't give us back the change from the cash, which I thought was poor. Other than that, we had a great time & I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Melissa T.
The food was fine, but I thought it lacked character. It definitely felt like a chain restaurant, and I didn't enjoy the pre-fab looking palm trees and fiesta paneling. It's a little like going to the "Mexico" section of the Epcot Center.
(2)
R A.
The restaurant itself was very nice. Very big, very well decorated. The food wasn't bad, I've had better, but also had worse. The portions weren't as big as I expected and I left still wanting more. The prices were outrageous though, probably why they don't list them on their website. There are plenty of other similar places close by that serve the same type/quality food, with better portions at a fraction of the price.
(3)
Dave C.
This place used to be the 'Red Sauce' and came highly recommended by another friend of mine that likes to EAT. He didn't have to convince me twice, because the heads up was on the mark. Nice atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, and a very decent Mojito. The menu has the usual Spanish Tapas offerings, and the entrees are outstanding as well. Try the steak if you're a carnivore like me; fabulous! Deserts are very good, if you can fit it after the generous portions of food. I'll gladly spend my money here.
(4)
Brian K.
So I have been wanting to try this place since moving to watertown over 2 yrs ago. I never made it to the old location although it was walking distance from my house. My old roomate went to the new location and I have to say his review was spot on. One and done for this guy. I liked the decor, the service was pretty good and I enjoyed the music. The food was exactly what 2 stars says, "Meh", I have experienced better. I don't understand how places outside of boston think they can charge boston prices for sub par mid level food. $11 or $12 for a margarita? Sure I have paid that in New York, but after 2 of those things you are on the floor. The Caipirinha I had was full of ice and came in a pretty small glass, I could not taste any booze. My steak was pretty good(I actually just ate the leftovers) but not $23 good. The arepas were pretty good, not great. The portions were huge which made me feel better about overpaying for the meal. Sorry Pedro but I am going to have to agree with most other reviewers and pass on this place. Might have to try the new Orinoco in Brookline instead.
(2)
Laura M.
Since we came here for my friend's birthday, he had to order Pedro's Birthday Dish! It was a tasty blend of flavorful flank steak, beans and rice, plantains and fried yucca. This traditional Venezuelan restaurant also offers seafood, tasty salads, and the "traditional Venezualan dish" pabellon criollo (mentioned in a previous review). Everything is wonderfully seasoned, even in the most simple dishes like black beans and rice. They also offer up a decent sangria, made with little cubes of fruit that sink to the bottom of your glass. Not the best I've ever had, but they bring you a rather large carafe to make up for the less-than-perfect quality. All in all, definitely worth a visit! Sit out on the patio if you can.
(4)
amy f.
What we thought would be a perfect afternoon enjoying some margaritas on the patio of Pedro's turned out to be the first and last time we ever visit this place: The host staff was rude, and the waitress was too busy gyrating her neck and demanding that we order food to stop and contemplate the benefits of having two customers as opposed to none. I'll still leave a tip, however: Take care of the customer, or someone else will... which is why we enjoyed our margaritas at Joe's!
(1)
Dan L.
When I got there it seemed nice at first. We were sat a table outside in the corner of the outdoor seating. Quiet and nice courtyard to look at. First problem: no waiter for about 10 minutes. Finally he comes over. The menu looks decent and my girlfriend and I order mojitos. The waiter asks for our id's, no big deal, we are often carded because we look young. He then says he has to take them to manager because they are out of state id's..WTF? That has never happened to me..do they not serve alcohol to people not from MA?...whatever, forgivible. He brings back the ids and says its ok. We order food. The steak on the menu boasts that "a more tender steak cannot be found in boston", "100% natural beef" blah blah..and other bold statements, so I decide to give it a try. Girlfriend orders chicken quesidilla and we get a salad to share. Then the waiting begins...no drinks for 10 minutes...no bread either. We notice a nearby table has already gotten a refill of bread basket. Our waiter is nowhere to be found. Finally about 20 minutes later the salad comes with a different server. We ask for our drinks and some bread. 5 minutes later the drinks finally arrive, no bread. The salad is..meh. A bunch of crap thrown together, with mediocre dressing..tastlesss letuce and tomatoes, overall fail. Our maincourse takes a while to come out again...the waiter comes out rarely and it seems like theres only 2 working the whole restaurant. The steak I got is nowhere near as good as described in the menu..."can't find a better steak in boston" my ass! Its thick and chewy and kinda grey looking inside..not the nice reddish pink a medium rare steak should be, The sides are hit and miss. The yuca and plantains are ok..the rice is dry (big fail for any resataurant that serves dry rice, how can you mess that up!!) and the chimichuri sauce is the worst I've ever had. My girlfriends quesodillas are equally mediocre..much better at Chilis which should be embarrising for a "latin resataurant" . The mojitos are decent. Final tab $78. Could have gotten a much more enjoyable meal and better service at a Chilis for about $40 (with drinks). Never going again.
(1)
sunny n.
excellent!! Latin American ..with a tinge of spice...superb value...cozy small hole in the wall for the bostonian in watertown...love it!!
(5)
M C.
horrendous service.. lasted 5 mintues before we decided to go somewhere else.. rude !
(1)
Bo Z.
Four of us went at 7 on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded. I agree with the other reviewer that it looked like a latin Cheesecake factory, which isn't a bad thing. The waiter was well mannered, very attentive and did not keep us waiting. For appetizers, I had the arepas with chicken and avocado which was just okay. I don't see why people here rave about it. It was smaller than I expected and tasted a little bland. Another appetizer, the tequenos, is fried cheese sticks with a little bed of greens which I don't feel is worth ordering since it brings nothing new to your average cheese sticks. The main entree, on the other hand, was outstanding. I ordered Shugui's Pollo Asado, a half Chicken which came with yucca, fried plantains, a chorizo and rice. The chicken was very tender and tasty with the right spices. I really liked the plantains. The yucca was okay and I could do without. The live music wasn't loud and didn't interfere with our conversations. A singer walked around the restaurant singing something pleasant in Spanish. Overall a nice experience and I would go again.
(4)
Carolina W.
Felt like giving it another try, ordered some chicken soup with a side of avocado (the way my grandmother used to serve soup). I said no problem on being charged a little extra for the avocado. I'm thinking $1.50, maybe even two bucks extra, no biggie...guess what they charged me for the side of avocado? $5. Are you out of your mind? Never ever again. NEVER.
(2)
Chris H.
Pricey for what you get, but it's a phenomenal spot for enjoying a margarita and appetizers outside on their patio on a sunny day.
(4)
Kate L.
A for ambiance -feels like you are in the legit Caribbean or somewhere on va-ca. Great getaway on a snowy cold night. Bar scene was cozy and nice. Guacamole was a small portion but tasty nonetheless. And affordable. Skinny margaritas are not on the menu but the bartender made me a really good one - sweetened with agave. DELISHHHH! Tortilla espanola was slightly dry - not sure I would ever order again here. Garlic shrimp was really flavorful but too small for the price.
(4)
Alex C.
Came here for drinks. It's nice that they make the margaritas from scratch!
(3)
Alvin C.
Mother's Day! This was a great choice. My om loved the deacor and the food. The food was amazing. I mean everything we ordered was DELICIOUS. There was a live band playing Latin music; I am not sure if that is a regular occurrence. The service was great, and it could be a great place for a date, holiday meal, or just a really nice lunch or dinner any day of the week. I will be visiting again soon.
(5)
Tiffany K.
We only ate here because the diner with the 4 stars on Yelp was packed with people for brunch, so we had no choice but ended here. Early morning mimosa was the best part! I ordered a tomato bacon omlette...I am very sure I have had better ;p The place is huge and the service was just barely ok. Not sure when I will ever be back to Boston, but for sure I don't think I will want to eat here again ;D...sorry!
(3)
Lynda M.
Food is good--great choices for everyone-my friend's salmon was delish and so was my quesadilla. Wine menu was decent and fairly priced, but mixed drinks were a bit pricey for Watertown. Cute space, but it is very open so when a live band is playing on Fridays and Saturdays it is impossible to carry on a conversation. Shouting did not work. So if you want a good meal with normal conversation, hit this place on a week night.
(3)
David V.
I am writing this review based on take-out; I have not eaten at the restaurant. My wife ate here recently and brought me home a mix of food including arepas, beef, pork, rice, and beans. I found the food to be delicious! Everything was flavorful, the meat was tender, and one thing that I really appreciate about this food is that it is NOT greasy like so many other similar restaurants. I hope to have the opportunity to eat at the restaurant one day!
(5)
Saba N.
I'll be honest, not a fan of the atmosphere of the restaurant... except for the patio. If that's not available, I don't bother going. The food is good, I have only really had apps here but the portions are large and I've never been unsatisfied. HOWEVER, it's very expensive for watertown.. margaritas are around 11-13 dollars, which to me.. is absurd. I'd rather go out in the city. That being said, I highly reccomend the sangria, and I really think that one entree is plenty for two people... so there are ways to make this a much better experience.
(3)
Antonio C.
I went with my family to have a dinner there, the place is very cozy and organizer. The food is delicious........ I will be back soon and I high recommend this place. :)
(5)
Deb R.
Very stingy. Had to pay for chips and salsa(4.50). Tiny amount of guac and sales with fish tacos. Expensive.
(2)
Min L.
I work in the complex where La Casa de Pedro is located. My co-workers and I frequent this place quite often. The food is very consistent and they do have great specials. It's a bit pricey at $9-11 a plate for lunch. The interior is nicely decorated but I prefer the outdoor patio when it's available. Nothing better than a pitcher of sangria in the sun!
(4)
dan m.
Food burned to hell and back...service sucked, slow and over-priced weak drinks. Avoid.
(1)
Mary Anne C.
Why haven't I been here before? What was I thinking? The food was good, my drink was fine, there was a live band (and dancing). Great service from the door onward - charming host, great server. All in all, comfortable and fun. Perfect for a cold Friday night. And Florina, I think you mean the arepas. (We had the chicken and avocado arepa - small but very flavorful.)
(5)
David R.
One of my all time favorite restaurants - the portions are huge and realllly delicious. Great fish, and I really love the plantains. High recommended!!
(5)
Ed P.
where and who is Pedro in this place. you got a bimbo of a hostess and waiters fielding customers. service is horrible.. The food is ok as long as they make you a proper meal. however, not very consistent.
(2)
madine c.
We've been dining at Pedro's since it first opened up in Watertown Square (15 years now?). It's a little pricey, and I burned out on it a bit after eating there so often, hence the missing 5th star. However, it's really quite good there. Our favorites over the years include: * Red sangria; tasty and packs quite a punch * Arepas (all of 'em, but especially the chicken and avocado) * The traditional shredded beef dish with black beans, rice, plantains, and fried yuca (topped with an amazingly delicious cilantro aioli!) * The "Raquel" salad, which features shredded roast chicken over greens and that same delicious cilantro aioli! * Fried yuca (with that cilantro aioli!) is a delicious treat. Get some for the table if your entree doesn't include it as a side. It's reminiscent of steak fries but so much better. * More red sangria! The "new" space (I think they've been there at least 5 years by now) is kind of odd and cavernous; it originally was a Naked Fish. I hope Pedro's does well and stays in business ... it seems like they've weathered the rough storms (2008?) by now. And for what it's worth, I believe they're the longest-running restaurant to date in that space (after Naked Fish, it was Red Sauce, then the doomed Marzo 20-something that I can't remember). So go eat at Pedro's if you're a fan of Venezuelan food (which closely resembles traditional Cuban and/or Puerto Rican fare, in my limited experience).
(4)
bob c.
Located in the old Watertown Arsenal with lots of parking, Casa De Pedro is worth a visit. Nice outdoor patio over looking fountain; large spacious indoors with a South American feel. Attentive service and very good genuine South American food. Large menu; good bar.
(4)
A A.
great food but bad waiter & service. we were a party of 8 they said couldn't make reservations but if we came they'd fit us in..well that was an understatement. They put us in a corner table by the restrooms, then told us we need to be finished by 8:30 for another party. we got there at 7. Then we ordered a pitcher of Margaritas and the waiter said they couldn't do that for some strange reason.Then i ordered a tapas item and he told me they were all out ..at 7PM! then they only take 3 cc at a time so one of us had to use cash AND they include the 18% gratuity in parties over 5!..maybe why the waiter didn't give damn! This was one of the WORST restaurant experiences ever! PS their Guacamole is too salty and they cut it with sour cream.
(1)
Amanda G.
Wow - 4.5 for this random joint. Incredible food for very reasonable prices - we shared guacamole and shrimp ceviche appetizers, both of which were served with yuca chips. Plates were a good portion-size and deee-licious. I could eat that ceviche again and again and... For dinner we all had the roast chicken, which is a huge dinner portion (easily shared by two), that comes with a couple pieces of sausage, rice and black beans, fried plantains and more yuca chips. The chicken was moist and crispy on top, and the plantains are to-die. I almost cleared my plate which would have been dangerous. I had a house margarita which was light & lovely, although a little pricey at $11, and given the food is not as expensive. Our waiter was amazing, very upbeat and attentive but let us linger long after dinner when we were clearly absorbed in our conversation. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the feel is a bit more chain-restaurant than what this place really is, which is a fantastic foodie find. I'm secretly hoping they open a Casa de Pedro II somewhere in the city or Cambridge -- if you work in the area or are stopping by, this is the best spot going!
(4)
Kelly G.
For a gluten-free girl on the town, there aren't always a ton of options on the menu. At Pedro's almost the whole menu was there for the taking! C. and I decided on Pedro's for our 6-month-a-versary (I'm a girl, I'm allowed). When we arrived, Pedro himself (his pic is on the website) was buzzing around the patio talking to patrons and laughing loudly - what a great first impression! We then walked in and were further impressed - the atmosphere is romantic and warm, a live salsa band was playing, and the smells from the kitchen were amazing! A hostess greeted us promptly and seated us in a green-lit corner booth. The awesome continued right on from there- our waiter was attentive - started us off with a black raspberry margarita and a blood orange/blueberry martini - both were exceptional! The menu is mainly traditional Venezuelan food with a smattering of Mexican. My favorite parts of the program were the dishes named for Raquel, Pedro's wife - the descriptions are written so lovingly - it's such a sweet tribute. We ordered the Aprepas (traditional Venezuelan corncake) with chicken and avocado - which was like a chicken salad with avocado instead of mayo - and was scrumptious. C had the steak and onion dish and I had a steak and chicken dish - yay meat! Both had sides of Yucca, Plantain, and Rice & Black Beans. I'd never had yucca before and it was fabulous! I've also never had plantains that tasted this good. We wrapped things up with a few bites of chocolate flan. From A to Z, this was an unbeatable experience. We both look forward to going back later in the summer, sitting on the outdoor patio, and sharing this gem with our friends.
(5)
Cyn C.
when are we getting 1/2 stars? actual review is 3.5 great food, awesome proportions. loss of 1 star for the super long waits the special birthday dinner (compleanos?) is superb. A very nice cut of steak with chimichurri sauce, fried plaintains, rice and beans (I wish it were more traditional rice and beans, but ok), and 2 different sausages. They could call this dish the meat lovers delight. So... if I'm not heading to JP anytime soon and I want some Latin food... Casa de Pedro... here I come.
(4)
Brooke J.
I eat here every time I visit my friend. This food is affordable, good for you, and tastes great. What more could you want? I love the plantains, and they give you heaps and heaps of them! So if you order them, be sure you have help! The fajita steak is slow cooked as it should be, and is flavourful and falling apart. Their vegetables always seem fresh, and they aren't overcooked. They stay nice and bright on your plate and palette. The seasoning has been perfect on everything I've ordered. Unlike other Latin restaurants, there isn't a whole lot of grease on everything or too much salt. I like their margaritas, even though sometimes tequila makes me sick. Their pina colada is nice, too. I generally end up with a bill in the range of $30 - $50 for two. The higher end is for when we get drinks. Totally forgot to mention that the front of the house is nice, too. Service is attentive and cheerful. :)
(4)
J M.
So let me say first off that this review is totally about the experience..NOT THE FOOD! I had the steak w/plantanes and thought it was the softest nicest dishes I've had in a really long time. Now on a sour note-The food was much more expensive than I anticipated. Drinks were $10 a piece...which since my group planned to go as a celebration this was not expected. They have an outside seating area but when we arrived at 4p.m. stated it was for evening seating only? There was a band set up next to the bar which my party thought would be good entertainment, but was soOOOOOOOOO loud that we couldn't hear each other and felt forced to be seated for dinner in order to put some distance between us and the band.
(1)
Allison R.
So, my favorite parts of dinner last night, aside from the excellent company, of course: the gooey fried cheese appetizer(queso blanco), the plantains(mmm), the price. entree and two beers for $25 The biggest drawback, aside from the Arsenal Street location, is the lack of draught beer. But, all-in-all, a good latin american restaurant for Watertown.
(3)
Anne W.
I went here with a friend who grew up in Venezuela. We were less than impressed. It is a nice place to go if you want something tailored to the American taste... than something authentic and tasty. We spoke to the owner of the place who spoke Spanish. Unfortunately, his recommendations didn't really wow us either. The beef was good but really really salty. Rice was okay.. I'm not impressed with plaintains in general. The only thing that was good in my friend's opinion was these eggroll things filled with cheese. The service wasn't so great. I had to flag down the waiter to get our check.. order coffee.. and we never got refills for our water. The decor and ambience is nice though. But the food.. which is what I am most concerned about.. was really not.
(1)
Weidong L.
went there for my daughter's birthday. She picked up the place. the music was very nice and food was interesting. I would recommend the palce if you have not tried their food.
(4)
Tara V.
I work in the same complex as La Casa de Pedro so I order lunch from there on a regular basis. Favorite dishes are Isla de Margarita, Pollo en Brasa and the De Los Compadres sandwich. Sometimes I have my friends meet me here for dinner. Their drinks are awesome as well.
(5)
Amnery S.
I think some business have forgotten how important customer service is. When we arrived to La Casa de Pedro we decided to sit in the patio, being that it was the last weekend of nice weather in October. We stand at the entrance by the podium and there is only one waitress at a table. As accustomed in a restaurant, unless otherwise indicated, we waited to be seated. The waitress walks right past us and back to the patio. Another waiter exits the inside of the restaurant to set an empty table and walks right past us. No one until this point has even acknowledged us. The waiter finishes setting the table and then walks to us and seated us. This is my first time going to this restaurant and so far so BAD! After 15 minutes the waitress finally comes to our table with water and the menus. No introduction, no "good afternoon welcome to ...." Nothing. She says she'll come back to take our order. The service up until that point was horrendous! I suggested that we leave but we decided to stay since we were already there. 10 minutes later the no named waitress comes back to take our order and I decided I would order something from the lunch menu - No name waitress informs us that they are only serving from the dinner menu....ok. We have already been sitting there for 30 minutes. I quickly spot something on the dinner menu and ordered. The food took what seems like forever to come. We ordered the Trucha Galarraga - trout fillet, and Shugui's Pollo Asado. No doubt the food was good a bit colder than we would like but still pleasant, JUST THE FOOD was great. Luckily the waitress managed to check back on us once and refill our glasses with water. I noticed the table next to us seemed to also be disgusted with the service that he and the person he was with, walked towards the exit and sat at the bench waiting for the waiter to bring them their checks, they were leaving and clearly hadn't finished or eaten much of their food. Once we finished we sat at our table for another period of time, while the patio seating area was ghost of any waiting staff. After we flagged down our waitress she came back with the check and we immediately handed her the Amex - they don't take amex. So we handed her a visa. On the menu it says "Major credit cards accepted", I understand Amex is very much so a major credit card, perhaps you should update that on your statement. When we arrived there were three tables seated in the patio when we left there were four. So, she was not that busy to the point where she couldn't be attentive, nice or pleasant and she should have been able to turn the table in 45 minutes. It's disappointing because customer service is what makes a customer loyal - not just the food - the food can be replaced anywhere. I will certainly not be going back nor will I be recommending it to anyone. BTW we finally found out the waitresses name from the receipt - how personable.
(1)
Ramona Z.
I have been coming here for years- from their outlet type store in Super 99 in Allston to their original Watertown Square location. Went to their Arsenal location over the weekend and was totally disappointed that they didn't take Amex. Get with the times guys!
(4)
Claudia H.
A little corner of latin food nearby Cambridge! I've been there a couple of times and every time I experience authentic Venezuelan cuisine with a warm 'latin charm' from the waiters on top of it! Besides the great food and service you will also find a variety of latin art, pictures, around the place. Really cool! They even have latin bands over the weekends. Things you must try: Arepas: typical Venezuelan bread filled with meat, chicken, etc. Try the carne mechada ones! Pabellon Criollo: a great Venezuelan dish with shredded beef, sweet plantains, black beans and rice. Quesillo (dessert): flan with caramel ... a real treat! Mojitos: I also love the mojitos at this place, especially the Pedro's mojito. Have at least 3 to feel the effect ... The place is big, and the acoustics not so good, so it can get loud when it's packed. But latins are always loud, so you can consider it part of the experience! :-)
(4)
Elena A.
Delicious food and fun atmosphere! Great fish tacos and plantain chips. I actually love this place but took one star off due to two reasons: 1) spotty service, can be rude depending on a waiter + on a slower side. 2) they don't let you split the bill on more than three cards. I came here with four girlfriends and it was a pain to have the three of them take care of the bill. The waiters are weird about not announcing it in advance as it apparently says so on their giant, long menu in some fine print. Who does that and why is it so hard to take five cards? Get rid of this odd policy and get five stars ;)
(3)
Sho B.
There's one thing this place does really well, and that's consistently not impressing me with their meals. I wish this was an amazing place, I really do because I work about 20 feet away from it, but the food is generally bland or just needs something more. However, being a Latin restaurant (Venezuelan to be exact), there's nothing like stopping in after work for a margarita while the salsa/bachata/regaeton plays in the background. And maaaaybe the carne asada quesadilla isn't too bad to munch on... But there's no doubt I'll be back with another review once I've had some more Pedro's.
(3)
Heather B.
Mediocre. Would give it 2.5 stars if I could - yelp make that happen! Server was in training and not very well trained. Food was OK but not great. It was fine for late on a cold rainy Friday night. Tapeo and Dali are much better though.
(2)
Jonathan V.
La Casa De Pedro feels like a Cheesecake Factory on the inside. As in it feels like a chain restaurant, but at the same time has a slightly upscale feel. It strikes me as a restaurant that is not really sure what it is trying to be. I had the short ribs, which were actually quite delicious and were fairly hearty portions. However, other people at my table were not as satisfied with their dishes as I was. I think its one of those places where the menu is hit or miss. It also lacked something on the table, such as bread, when you are waiting for your food. We didn't order an appetizer which really accentuated this problem. The server was very nice and fairly helpful. Finally, the prices were a bit expensive for what you get in my opinion. Overall, overpriced slightly above-average in a chain-restaurant atmosphere makes for a mediocre experience.
(2)
Jeremy K.
I went there last summer with my girlfriend for a nice, terrace dinner and left pretty satisfied despite the size of the bill. The drinks and food there are quite pricey but the food does have a few twists that I think are worth checking out. First off, the parking is ample there being in a very weird but pretty efficient strip mall/office building type of thing. That's one of the reasons we went there originally. Then as we walked inside we were greeted and were told that we had to wait for a table. We didn't reserve and it was on a week-end night. We waited. We went to the bar and had a drink. We were then seated outside which was awesome. It was such a nice evening out; totally worth the wait. How many good restaurants have a nice, comfortable terrace in or around Boston? Not so many. The food itself was quite tasty and they had some ingredients that you don't always find in other menus. Yucca is one. They had this Hispanic cheese appetizer that was delicious. Some of the dishes are very traditional and some aren't as much but overall everything we had was very enjoyable and beautifully plated and served. If it weren't for the prices and the slow, inattentive service we had, I would have given it five stars. Oh and they had a band of Mariachis play music while we were there. How cool is that huh?!
(4)
Lynne S.
I used to work in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cambridge and we used to visit La Casa de Pedro for lunch when it was just a tiny hole in the wall so I remembered it fondly and was super excited when someone suggested it as a brunch option last weekend. In the last few years it has grown in popularity and moved to a new location in the Arsenal mall. It is pretty trendy inside with a nice outdoor patio as well. The menu was enormous and offered options for brunch, lunch and dinner. Everything sounded great, but I ultimately decided on the Burrito Mexicano, which consisted of scrambled eggs, black beans, chorizo, jalapeño, onion, tomato and cheese on a flour tortilla topped with pico de gallo. At just $9.00, it was a great deal for this scrumptious and generous sized burrito served with potatoes. I also ordered a pineapple mint caipirinha, which was good, but a bit overpriced at $14. That was $5 more than my entire plate! If you go, don't miss the fried plantains. We ordered a side for the table and they were so good, we licked the plate clean within 5 minutes! Overall, a great atmosphere, amazing food and terrific service. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Munchie B.
I love this place! CdP is the kind of elegant Latin cuisine restaurant we need further west. The food is excellent and Pedro is a really nice guy. I especially enjoy visiting on a nice day so I can sit outside on their patio near the Watertown Arsenal. Whatever your order, be sure to ask for a side of hot sauce -- a poblano pepper concoction that Pedro makes himself (and ought to bottle).
(5)
Mike D.
I'm still a little tweaked by eating a meal in a building that used to house advanced R&D for weapons and other military equipment, but I've had a few meals here and haven't grown a third arm yet. On top of that those meals have been incredibly good--so good I may risk that third arm to keep eating there. I've only had fish entrees here on a friend's recommendation (not against the other dishes, but in favor of the fish). They are really, really good. The fish has been extremely fresh, and the preparation is always very simple and perfectly seasoned. The rice and beans and plantains are all very good as well, and we've had some arepas (very nice), ceviche (different from ceviche I've had in the past, but great), and sort of a puff pastry stuffed with cheese I can't remember the name of (fine, but how do you screw something like that up). And the house margarita is incredibly good--SOUR, not sweet like most places. I'm only taking a star off because of the live music. I'm not against live music at restaurants per se, but when the music is loud enough that it makes conversation difficult it takes away from the experience. I go out to eat with friends and family to talk and have fun (and eat), not to be seen, so I wish they'd turn it down a few decibels. Otherwise, I really love this place.
(4)
Paul C.
I love this place. Excellent food, drinks, and atmosphere. Plus it's not in the city so it's easy to get to. I've been here several times and am never disappointing - regardless of what I choose. Large portions - nice and filling.
(5)
Bethany F.
Outdoor patio + delicious, freshly concocted Margaritas + plaintains to die for = 5 stars!!! Seriously, I would come back here every day if I had the money. Yes, everything is a little expensive (except the lunch menu is amazingly affordable). But you get what you pay for- high quality drinks obviously made by someone who knows what theyre doing and mouth-watering (although very fried) food! Great date spot. Great lunch spot. I would assume great dinner spot, but I have never been for dinner. I had the Isla Margarita ( cod filet with tomatoes on top, rice and black been, yucca, and PLAINTAINS!). So. Good. If it was socially acceptable to lick your plate, I would have.
(5)
Taeminn S.
Very good atmosphere. Great food. Friendly service. Comfortable and spacious interior.
(4)
Chuck S.
Dyn-o-mite! Last night was my second visit, and it will not be my last. My group met for a farewell dinner for two international guests that are returning home. We had great service and excellent food. We were having such a great time that we stayed well past closing, without any problem from the staff. Pedro even stopped by just as we were leaving and talked with us for a bit. Amazing food and a 100% professional owner & staff! Gracias Pedro! I hope to see you again next time I come in.
(4)
Yoonie C.
Over-rated and over-priced in my opinion. I think you pay for the ambiance and space, rather than the food. The food always is a let down. Whether it be the paella or the non-Latina specials they have like, Yankee pot roast. Hm... odd, right? Odd indeed.
(2)
John A.
As a vegan, I was a little nervous as I know Latin American food tends to be heavy on the meat and animal products. But I met Pedro, the owner, on the way in and asked him what he'd recommend for a vegan. He confirmed with me that I didn't want dairy, butter, lard, etc., and he said he would fix something special. He whipped up the tastiest plate of grilled mixed vegetables perfectly seasoned and accomanied with fried plantains and rice. Accompanied with fresh squeezed passion fruit juice. Absolutely delicious. Can't wait to go back! Update: I actually couldn't wait and went back the next day for dinner with my significant other. Pedro saw me as I walked in and personally came over to greet us and review the meal. He prepared a larger version of the lunch dish to which he added grilled tomatoes and provided a side of vegan black beans deliciously sauteed in olive oil, pepper, onions and a little garlic. We also split a Watercress salad which was also awesome. We were both duly impressed with the meal. The table next to us had a vegetarian and we began talking -- he ordered the same off-menu dishes we had. Pedro: Please consider adding these vegan dishes to your menu permanently. They are fabulous! Thank you for looking after our meal. We will be back.
(5)
L-Train A.
This place is pretty awesome. If you are in need of some fried plantains, yucca, black beans and rice, empanadas, and spiced meats, this place really hits the spot. While not the most amazing Spanish food I have ever had, it is really quite good. Especially for those of us who work in the Arsenal on the Charles, where the only other option is freaking Panera Bread. I went down to Panera bread yesterday to get some lunch, but the place was a zoo with a crazy line, and then I remembered La Casa and went there instead. They have $6 sandwiches on the lunch menu, but I ended up getting a roast chicken lunch entree fro $8.50. It is a beautiful space in one of the old brick Arsenal buildings, with giant windows and really high ceilings. While it is sort of a weird location, is is also definitely worth checking out. Next time you have to go out to Target or the Arsenal Mall, ditch the crap-ass food court and go here instead for a luxurious but not too expensive lunch. They also have a sweet looking bar...
(4)
Erin M.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night with another couple - we all had a yummy meal. Downside - kind of expensive if you want to also have drinks and an appetizer... Parking was easy as there is a parking lot around the corner. It was not very crowded for a Friday night. Live music was playing. We asked about dairy free and gluten free options. Dairy free was no problem, gluten free was even better - the waiter said almost the entire menu is gluten free! We shared the mussels (I will attempt the sauce at home, it was so good!) and the chicken avocado arepa to start. I ordered the shrimp in coconut and orange sauce, in a coconut shell. The shrimp and sauce were pretty good but I really loved the sides. The rice was beautiful and delicious (it came with a few black beans mixed in and red rice on top). The plantains were perfectly done and the yuca was topped with a sauce that was nice, not overpowering. I do not know the names of the other meals but everyone cleaned their plates. We also finished with coconut flan (SO GOOD!). Of course it was not dairy free but it was gluten free so three of us housed it.
(4)
Sarah M.
Don't feel like schlepping to downtown Boston for a good meal? Don't want to hunt for parking in the South End? Easy, check out La Casa De Pedro in Watertown. Easy parking? Check. Outdoor seating (a rarity in these parts)? Check. Large food portions? Check. Incredibly well made cocktails? Check. Festive Decor? Check. I've gone a few times and have been satisfied every time. Their drinks are great - fun flavor variations of mojitos for example. Their fried plantains are a must! Their paella is incredible with tons of fresh seafood and spices. Last time I was there I had swordfish tips in in a creamy sun dried tomato red and yellow pepper sauce which was served in a pineapple shell. The ONLY reason they don't get 5 stars is for price. You don't get the hassle and crowds of downtown, but you get the prices, and for Watertown? Not so cool.
(4)
E B.
The service here was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and gave us great advice on what to eat. First we ordered margaritas... my bf got the pineapple one, which was my favorite and a special jalepeno one that was pretty good too but I don't know if I'd get it again (a little too spicy). We ordered a corncake/white cheese appetizer which was pretty tasty. Would have been even better if the cheese was melted, but as is it was delicious. My bf got the veggie quesedillas, amazing... I got the shrimp in a half coconut with coconut sauce... and it was really tasty. The sauce was kinda thai-ish and I couldn't get enough of it. Both dishes came with rice, plantains and fried yucca. VERY VERY VERY good. But not that cheap either, came out to about $75.... definitely a 'parents are in town' sort of place. ;-)
(4)
A S.
Used to really love this place. We are locals in the area and came for a couple drinks and apps on a Monday night. Wanted to sit outside and were told no because we weren't having dinner. 80% of the outside tables were open..... Went to the bar for one $10 mojito (which are delicious) and then left to go somewhere that would let us sit outside. Very disappointing service and they just lost probably $100 of our money.
(2)
Steve S.
Service just ok, but food was great for the area. Just a fun place for drinks, food and friends.
Delicious fare, lethal cocktails, good music, charming decor. Mainly traditional dishes, including yucca and plantains. My fish dish "3 nights in Caracas" was beautiful, generous, delicious, and SPICY - just yummy. It's nothing like Tex-Mex, so lovers of Mexican food may be disappointed. Live music added to the ambience.
(5)
J D.
We ate lunch on 11/16/13 and though the atmosphere was beautiful and the food very good, we left quite disappointed overall. The general feeling was the the waiter was trying to up his tip by not being clear at all regarding the cost of items. For instance, my 5 year old son asked if there was any chips and salsa and he said sure, but neglected to relay that there was a $4.50 cost. Likewise, when I asked if there was any mango juice for our 5 year old, he said sure again, but the charge was $6! That is the cost of a drink at the bar- the same amount as a beer! Additionally- as we were eating at lunchtime off of a lunch menu, when my partner ordered the Quesadilla, the waiter asked her if she would like "a small portion or a regular portion" which sounded like, "Do you want an appetizer or would you like the meal?" but then on the bill he had put in for a DINNER Quesadilla which was $17.50 for LUNCH, $5 more than expected. We had made it very clear that we had never been to the restaurant before so when we said we would like to try the Plantains- instead of making it clear that there were Plantains on every single person's order, he simply brought a Plantain order to the tune of another $6.50. We have traveled the world, lived all over the US and eaten in plenty of restaurants- my issue here is not that food costs money. The issue is that clearly the waiter was not being honest in an effort to raise the bill and his tip. This is not customer service and puts a terrible taste in my mouth. We ended up with a bill for at least $25 more than we could have dreamed and that is a lot of overage for a lunch hour. Though we had talked about coming back while we were eating- this is not the sort of experience we hope to have when choosing to spend our hard-earned money out.
(2)
Karis T.
The Tad Show is here every Thursday and at Tad's recommendation we tried Ceviche (Shrimp marinated in fresh lime juice, onions, diced tomatoes and cilantro) & Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pieces of pork tenderloin slightly fried then baked and dressed with hot sauce and the zest of lime juice). Both were delicious, but I was glad of the recommendation as the menu is impressive but slightly daunting. The staff is amazingly helpful and courteous and the management makes every single customer feel like a celebrity. The attention to detail in the kitchen shows in every gorgeous plate they serve. I almost didn't want to take a bite for fear of marring the culinary artistry but after one bite of the yumminess I couldn't resist digging in. I highly recommend checking out La Casa for the delicious food, the wonderful staff and the vibrantly decorated interior.
(5)
Carolann K.
Wonderful atmosphere, good food, service a bit uneven. We asked for more water, it never came and our waiter, although very charming, never came to see if we needed anything else and/or if we liked our food until it was time for the check. I know it was not because they were extra busy, Wednesdays is normally a slower night in most establishments. I did like the fact that they had an extensive beverage list and that you could see into the kitchen (this is always a good thing)..
(4)
Debra L.
Hands down, my favorite place to go for lunch on a work day. I was disappointed when they moved for Main St. to Arsenal St. because now I can't walk there and therefore I eat there less. But, I still go. The new place is nicely decorated but it's so big. There's a bar and it's probably a good place to go for dinner but, the old place - it was just perfect for lunch and I loved that outdoor patio. Anyway, the food is still delicious and lunch is still so reasonable. I love the De Los Roques salad (formerly called the "South Beach" salad). It has romaine, grilled chicken, peanuts, sesame seeds, red onion, avocado, jicama, craisins & phenomenal dressing. The shrimp quesadilla is also delicious and really big. It comes with black beans & rice, fried plantains & yucca. They serve the best fried plantains I've ever had. I've also had excellent ceviche and roasted chicken. The chicken breast with mango is the only thing I wasn't all that impressed with. It wasn't bad but just not as good as other dishes). I've never had any of the sandwiches but often the people I'm with rave about them (esp. the Cuban and the steak sandwiches). It's usually very quick for lunch but service isn't always spot-on. I don't ever mind though. The wait staff are friendly and they work hard.
(5)
April I.
I went to La Casa De Pedro about a month ago with a friend and we had a great meal. The service was excellent. The food was perfectly seasoned with large portions and the cocktails hit the spot. I loved the brightly colored walls (yellows and lime green) and the ambiance was inviting. I had the Quesadilla de Camarones (shrimp quesadilla) which came with yuca, plantains, and black bean rice. My friend went with the veggie quesadilla and got the same sides. The quesadilla was large and filled with shrimp and cheese (I promise you it was delicious!!). I loved the plantains and rice. I'm not a fan of yuca though and this didn't change my mind. I could barely finish my meal! My friend had the grilled vegetable quesadilla and she said it was awesome. The veggies looked good and she didn't leave anything on her plate! While we were at La Casa De Pedro we sipped on chilled Patron. I also want to give a shout out to our waiter Igor. He was friendly, efficient and very helpful. Also he let my friend and me sit back and relax, even after we had finished up our entrees. It was nice. The location and easy parking are also a big plus. Oh and they deliver. I ordered from La Casa De Pedro about a week ago and had the same high quality food and it was delivered hot --- which you can imagine might be challenging. I ordered the 'Pedro's Old Times with Vargas' (pork and hot sauce), the corn cakes with chicken and avocados, and the quesadilla. I didn't love the corn cake--for me it was texture thing, but I loved the chicken and avocado topping and and I did love the pork with hot sauce. Good food, good location with delivery, and reasonable prices make La Casa De Pedro well worth it! I look forward to my next lunch date!
(4)
Tracee D.
I think I would've liked it better in the original Waltham location. If you want Venezuelan food you will fare better at either Orinoco location ( different restaurant, so much better). There's Mexican food & a spattering of Tapas on the menu here too. It's like a corporate Latin American food place, nota bene: I didn't say it was, I said it was "like". The service is ok. And the food is ok. Nothing special. The Papi salad is awesome though. Evidently Pedro's dad likes watercress salad with tomatoes, avocado & balsamic dressing and so do I. The white cheese fried appetizer was pretty awesome too. But as for arepa's and fun stuff like that. Not so special. It's too grandiose for la casa de pedro, it's more like la mansion de pedro. LIke Jenny from the Block remember where you've come from, or like Jenny, don't.
(3)
Doris K.
I happen to think that this place was GREAT! I never got to experience the old location but the location was nicely decorated. I don't think that they put it in a good location though because it's well hidden and took us some time to find and probably never would have without the GPS. They should also do some remodeling to their bathrooms! We sat at the bar for Sunday brunch and ordered a glass of sangria and a glass of wine. The sangria wasn't really fruity enough like most other places and it didn't seem like they poured enough alcohol into our glasses. They use the bigger glasses without stems and so they pour less alcohol since the glass has a wider base...but it just seemed too little. Service and food were wonderful though. I had the lunch steak and my boyfriend had the lunch quesadilla. Both plates had so much food and the prices were reasonable, around $8. They ran out of the shrimp cerviche...boo! but they did have a really good seafood tapa, around $10 that filled us up! For dessert it was the flan leche; it was huge and tasty!
(4)
Kevin M.
Ordered the chicken quesadillas, which were very good. The included sides were the real treats though. The fried plantains and rice and beans were unbelievable, while the yuca was good. The plate's presentation was incredibly beautiful. I had a couple of Aguila beers, which were delightful. The staff, despite the fact that we were pushing the 10PM close, were friendly and attentive. I would gladly return.
(4)
Jillian Q.
I have mixed feelings about La Casa De Pedro. When thinking about all my experiences there, I come to the conclusion that I just "like" it. I don't love it or ever really "rave" about it, but I do like it. The lunch service seems a bit faster than dinner service, but I have waited a ridiculous amount of time at dinner (more than once) for someone to initially come to our table. They have amazing mojitos, although they are a bit pricey. The tequenos and bebe andres are my two favorite appetizers and if there are more than 2 of us at dinner we always order an extra plate of tequenos. I've tried most things on the menu and, surprisingly, the things I like the best are the quesadillas and the yucca. The steak with onions is also pretty good, although I felt it a bit heavy on the oil. Every once in a while they will have a great special too. Like I said, I will go back, but mostly because it is so close to my house.
(3)
T W.
A few months after I posted first review, I had to go again with coworkers... food was better. Same dish tasted differently this time.
(3)
Jeff F.
Checked La Casa De Pedro out this past Wednesday for lunch. Carne a la parrilla (steak with yuca, plantains and black bean rice) was very good. From what I understand, it's supposed to be a good dinner spot with worthwhile cocktails - I'd consider coming back for dinner.
(4)
Rafa R.
The food here is mostly good, and the restaurant is nicely furnished and decorated. The checkered floor somehow gives it an authentic Latin American feel. Pedro is ever-present and it's obvious that he takes pride in his establishment. Some items on the menu seem strangely overpriced. I've also found some of the food a little disappointing, so I usually stick to my favorites: the chicken and avocado arepa and the roasted chicken (pollo en brasa). The latter comes with fried plantains, fried yuca and rice & beans. It's like a quick trip to Caracas for lunch. Pedro has lasted longer than the previous occupants of this locale, and it's not hard to see why.
(4)
O G.
Good Latin restaurant. Good atmosphere quality food and not just tacos and enchiladas.... Great place to take someone special
(4)
Ken M.
A solid 3.5 stars for La Casa De Pedro. The decor is pretty nice and it's a very large space. The bathrooms are alright. The food was very good, the appetizers were delish. We split three epanadas and an arepa. The chicken epanada and the bean epanadas were my favorite. For dinner I had a pork platter which was pretty good, though it wasn't exactly what I was thinking I was getting. Andy's beef dish tasted really good. Service is a bit slow, especially once the check is dropped. Good luck on getting someone to take it for you.
(4)
Maggie M.
Love, love, LOVE La Casa De Pedro. I try to get a visit in every time I'm in town. It's gotta lovely interior, outdoor seating that's okay, and great staff. Pollo en Brasa or the Quesadilla do it for me along with the black bean rice, yuca and sweet plantains on the side. Some don't like the yuca-think it's kind a dry, but I dig its lightly fried texture. Pedro also uses a nice cilantro sauce over it and some entrees- totally tasty. The flan is also creamy and tasty.
(5)
Alison S.
A great experience, with a live band and some of the BEST food I have had since moving to Boston. In addition to the wonderful food their drinks are delicious (get a margarita). The only thing you will have to get past are the prices, but for the quality of food and drink it is worth trying! Additionally, the staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Lisa C.
I haven't had such good Latin food since I left Miami over a decade ago. We ordered tequenos for appetizers, which were delicious. I had the carne parilla which was very similar to Cuban cuisine's ropa vieja, stellar. For dessert, a friend and I shared a coconut flan, which honestly was like I died and went to heaven. I've driven back to Watertown on two separate occasions just to get the flan.
(5)
Katie J.
Great outdoor space for good weather. The food is good, drinks are strong, and staff is friendly.
(3)
Katie H.
I saw this place driving by and I couldn't wait to try it. It's a little tricky to find inside the Arsenal building complex but once you follow the arrows, you should find it and a parking spot in no time! :) Walking in La Casa De Pedro, I immediately notice the warm yellow walls, the giant palm trees in brightly colored pots, the Moroccan lights and the seemingly art deco details of the building. It's a very cool vibe. The decor reminds me of old photos of historic Havana before Castro took over Cuba. Havana is a gorgeous European city set among swaying palm trees and island breezes. Before 1959, it was a tropical paradise favored by celebrities and the international jet-set who lounged in designer garb at decadent cabarets and sipped champagne in glittering nightclubs. You don't have to fear losing your head at La Casa De Pedro but figuratively you will once you try their mojitos and entrees. I am very picky about my mojitos. I had an apartment on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen lived upstairs. I had a young love break-up and I was sitting in the courtyard having a smoke and trying not to cry in my soup. Frances saw me and she invited me up for a drink. She had just returned from Cuba and she offered to make me a mojito. I never had one so I said, "Sure, why not?" She put fresh mint at the bottom of the glass, added crushed ice and then pummeled the mint and ice with a sugar cane stick. I was mesmerized. When she was done, she added rum (did you know if use vodka instead of rum it's "The Ivy" gimlet?) and served me one of the most delicious drinks ever. We shared our mojitos and our stories. Next up, she made a pitcher. I made more excuses for my ex. Finally, she stared me down with the eyes of an oracle and said, "Give yourself permission to hate him." The mojito and the message was something I never forgot. Since then, I feel like 90% of the bartenders in this world are intent on making the crappiest mojito ever. My dear mixologists, take out the artificial flavors and sugary syrups because the simplest things are fresh and fresh always tastes the best. I know fresh is more expensive to use then crap but it's the crap that killed the mojito's fleeting popularity during the mid-2000's. That is why I am very happy I found La Casa De Pedro where I can finally get a freshly made mojito. Pardon my Latin when I say this but their mojito is, "La Cojones" (Da Ballz)! After our libations to the Rum God, we started with a shrimp and cheese quesadilla. Simple and good. We then shared La Paella Pedro. It was super delicious as I am a huge fan of paella (think cioppino or La Mer stew but little to no broth and saffron rice ) because when it's done well it's not only excellent tasting but also very romantic to share an entree made pour deux. Finally, we ended with the milk flan. It was thick like a vanilla custard and drizzled with caramel. Yum!
(5)
Kirk V.
I haven't eaten here for years since I live in Phoenix, but I really really want to go back. This was the first time I had Venezuelan food and I loved it! I also think this was one of the first restaurants that started my appreciation for food. In addition to the great food was the great service, I really felt at home there. Very friendly staff, it's also nice to see the owner greeting people like family. One of these days I'll get back to Boston!
(4)
Liz A.
Three of us had dinner here before catching a play at the theatre/arts center right next door at the Arsenal -- so the location was really convenient, and I'd plan another dinner/play combo because of that convenience (and because I liked my dinner!). It's a big, noisy, boisterous place, with a menu that's rooted in Venezuelan cuisine. It would be a great place to come back to for drinks and apps alone -- they've got fun, diverse lists for both, and a whole separate rum list. I had a decent mojito (though the waiter first brought me a margarita by mistake), and others at the table enjoyed a black raspberry margarita and some Malibu & diet coke. I later tried a Crribbean Breeze -- too sweet/fruity for me, but fun. For apps we shared tequenos (I'm gonna short-hand it as Venezuelan fried cheese) and a beef and cheese arepa. I really liked the arepa and want to try different kinds. One of us ordered the trout, another ordered shrimp in an orange/coconut sauce served in a coconut shell, and I had the pabellon criollo -- "The most traditional Venezuelan dish. Shredded beef slowly simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans." Couldn't see any vegetables, but the meat was tasty and tender. The plantains were AWESOME. My companions enjoyed their entrees as well. For dessert, one of us tried (and gushed about) the leche flan; a couple of coffees rounded it out for two of us. They do a brisk and boisterous business. I thought it was a solid experience overall -- I'd come back again, given the variety of the menus. Lots to try in the future.
(3)
Loan L.
They call this a tapas place? There are like 9 items on the menu for tapas and most of them are mediocre. Where do I begin, Our server was less than enthusiastic. He was about excited to serving our table as a person getting a root canal. I ordered the red sangria at first and swore that they were stomping the grapes because that took forever to come. Then sangria was awful, there was more club soda in it than wine, and there were like little diced fruit in it, not the usual chunks of fruit. I then ordered the mojito and it was really really bad. Adding mass quantities of alcohol to a drink does not a good drink make. I couldn't taste the sugar cane or mint from the mojito because the bucket of rum they dumped into it over powered it. And the food: We ordered the ceviche which was probably the best item we got, which was way too sweet. I couldn't taste the lightness of a true ceviche. The tequenos which tasted like a bunch of cheese in an eggroll that they probably got from the frozen section of Stop and Shop. The arepa with beef and cheese was tasteless and burnt. Our seafood on a skewer which was $25 was terrible. The swordfish was really dry and the shrimp and scallops where probably marinaded in salt for weeks. The whole meal was terrible, dry and salty. Our entire bill came to $80 and it was soooooo not worth it. To add to this awful dinner, this place does not accept AmEx. We will never go back to this place again and i truly regret not going to Machu Picchu.
(1)
Melissa Y.
Delicious! I was there today for lunch with a friend. Igor was our waiter, super friendly and had our apps and drinks out super fast. I'm glad we took his advice on trying the yucca, Yummy! Our meal was terriffic, can't wait to go back. and ask for Igor.
(5)
Chris D.
First let me preface this by saying that the food was really good. However, my enthusiasm for this restaurant quickly soured once I got the bill. I got the traditional beef dish and my girlfriend got the quesadilla. When I ordered my dish, my waiter asked me if I wanted an Arepas to go with it to put the beef in. He made it sound as if it came with it but it was optional. I said sure. When we got our food, my girlfriend asked for more salsa and sour cream for her quesadilla (there was barely any). When we got the sour cream and salsa, it came dressed up as a fancy side, which is not how we were excepting it to be. When the bill came, I was really surprised to see they charged me for $3 dollars for the Areapas (a small muffin) and $4.50 for the extra sour cream and salsa! This place is already way to expensive and to have this top it off! When I told the waiter I was really surprised he charged me for the sour cream and salsa he said the kitchen made him ring it up. Plus he charged us for a flan that we didnt get so he had to take that off. Anyway, if you plan on going in there just getting two entrees, beware of any extras or options they may present to you, because you will see them on the bill.
(2)
Lucy W.
Love the decor and the outdoor patio. I've been there both for lunch & dinner and the food has been great. I recommend the chicken empanadas and the De La Roques salad. The service is kinda "hands-off"- the servers are good at bringing your food & beverage but don't do much beyond that...I liked that they weren't constantly asking if things were ok and would appear when I needed a new drink. Speaking of drinks, their mixed drink menu is extensive and the drinks, delicious! Location is great, parking is thoroughly available.
(4)
Rachael T.
jalepeno margarita now costs $14! we sat outside on a lovely summer evening. our server was awful. A nearby server took our drink order and brought us bread before our server even greeted us! did not like the escabeche - basically pickled red onion topped with cold fried haddock(?) and rubbery shrimp. areapas with queso blanco weren't as good as I had hoped either.
(3)
Mark M.
Accessible, Friendly, Helpful and Delicious! With a gluten intolerance, I wrote the restaurant from their website in order to find out what, if anything, I could eat on their menu. Pedro, the chef and owner of the restaurant, wrote back to me within an hour and we conversed about his menu through email all day. In his last email he told me to ask for him directly at the restaurant, which I did. Pedro came over to my table and went over the entire menu letting me know what I could and could not order. It was very reassuring that my meal would be cooked as I needed. During the meal, which was absolutely delicious, Pedro stopped by a few more times and asked me by name, "Mark how did everything come out?" All in all, I was thrilled with the service (our waiter was great), the food (all of our tapas were perfect, especially the mussels) and the overall experience at this restaurant. I couldn't recommend it more after the way they treated me. Oh by the way... the white sangria is a definite must.
(5)
John P.
I come here pretty often. For a beautiful restaurant in an office park, I found the prices pretty reasonable. I can only speak with confidence on the quesadilla con chorizo, but man - that is indeed a quesadilla stuffed with chorizo! So very good. Pro user tip: I've never waited longer than 15 minutes on a takeout order, even during the lunchtime rush. Call ahead and pick one up.
(4)
Josh S.
Surprisingly authentic and very delicious. This place is a bit spendy, but it is worth it. The appetizers and entrees are all so tantalizing, I have to restrain myself from ordering whole pages of the menu at a time. Many of these items have a good kick of spice (which it very welcome). Also, I have to give a nod to any restaurant that carries Modello and Pacifico.
(4)
John G.
Great food, customer service, and atmosphere.
(4)
Kari M.
Love this place! Have been 4 times and always a good meal. Best yucca ever although may daughter prefers the plaintains. Drinks run strong so be prepared. I have had the chicken, pork and recently the steak with onions. The place is not cheap but I do love the food.
(5)
Carroll C.
Don't go with only an American Express card...not accepted there. I didn't get a margarita, which I love, since they were about $14 each. I bought two appetizers, a corn cake (can't remember the name of them) with cheese and some yuca fries. The cheese on the corn cakes was shredded and unmelted, as if it'd just come straight out of a bag. The yuca fries were fine but came with only a tiny bit of some sort of sauce. Completely pedestrian in every way. I'd never go back or recommend the restaurant.
(2)
nick k.
The price is a little high (dinner for two, with an appetizer, excluding drinks/tax/tip was almost $40), which is the only reason for the missing 5th star. Beyond that though, both the atmosphere and the food is excellent. I've only been there twice, and both times on a Saturday night. Both times, there's been live music and dancing going on, if you're into that kind of thing. However, it's not so loud as to be annoying to everyone else. As for the food, the quesadilla plate is amazing. The quesadilla itself is very good, but it comes with beans/rice, plantains, which are great, and fried/seasoned yucca, which is excellent. I typically don't like rum-based drinks, but someone at the table ordered a mojito, and it was really excellent. And if you go, do not miss the tequenos appetizer. It's a white cheese wrapped in a thin pastry and fried. I thought there could never be something better than fried mozzarella sticks, but these may prove me wrong.
(4)
Mo O.
Loved the patio and our waiter George was outstanding. The food was delicious as well. Most of us had a special of the night which was good. The apps were all very delicious. Most important - best Mojito ever!!
(4)
Senoni M.
I absolutely loooooove this place! My boyfriend and I come here 2-3x a month and we decided we need to give it a break bc we didn't want to get tired of it. Pros: AMAZING food! Absolutely everything you order you will love. Were never disappointed with the tequeños (an appetizer) it's basically delicious Venezuelan cheese hand rolled in a puff pastry omg if you love cheese, you'll love this dish. The Pabellon Criollo is my favorite entree and the bf loves their steak . They have a live mini band on Fridays and Saturday's that turn it into a whole different experience. The decor and ambiance are very nice. Cons: VERY EXPENSIVE! Drinks are no less than $11and they serve them in small glasses ( not that I'm looking for a pitcher but cmon I'm a grown up here). They're all natural juices taste like can and they're pricey too so I would prob stick to the free water lol. And the waiters are very strange... We've been going to this place for a while and the waiters just seem to be getting worst idk personal opinion. Overall this place had great authentic food and that's truly why I love it! Go check it out!
(4)
Mojo C.
Really love the food here. Their empanadas are the best in town!! I alway order their Paella and is 10 out of 10 every time. Would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family. The only negative thing is my waiter was a bit slow and had to remind him a couple of times to refill our glass of water - but he was new (I think) so we cut him some slack.
(4)
Erin B.
The outdoor patio is awesome! The trees and fountain make you forget your are on Arsenal St. The food and drinks are great. The waiters are friendly and really professional. I've been there twice and will be back!
(5)
Greg K.
Oh My goodness Are you sitting down- Sit down for this because you're not going to believe it THE LAMB CHOPS ARE BOMB Okay- Maybe it's easy to believe because everything at Casa De Pedro is amazing. We started with the mussels- fantastic. Then I had the lamb chops which were larger than I expected and came with a tasty rice, fried plantains, and potatoes. What a meal! I just wish I had room for the delicious sounding deserts It's easy to forget about this Watertown gem but with outdoor seating and a wonderful staff- Casa De Pedro is a MUST VISIT restaurant. The cocktails are fantastic too. Mojitos- Oh Yes! I'll take 2! So check it out already!!
(5)
Foodie K.
The old Pedro is back! I deleted my earlier review. I think Pedro's was having some growing pains adjusting to the larger space in Arsenal Park, but now it has really gone back to its good old roots. I love their yucas fritas, pabellon criollo, carne encebollada, the ceviche, so many delicious tasty dishes to choose from. Their lunches are quick, cheap(er), and fabulous!
(4)
Naomi U.
Gorgeous outdoor dining venue and an indoor decor that reminds one of the out doors! Nice menu but not very adaptable to people who can't eat pork...things are both cooked in lard and with pork...but perhaps this also guarantees authentic fare - so what can I say? I normally would not rate drinks...but the "10 rum" Mojjitos really are very good.
(3)
Vanilla P.
Fake palm trees! Fake palm trees! Live Venezuelan music! Mojitos that are fabulous! Very nice indeedy. We went last night and were seated almost right next to the kitchen, but I was fine with that since the live music was a little loud. Our waiter was pleasant enough, and was helpful in recommending the number of tapas we should order. Here's what we got: ME: Chicken and avocado arepas - like an English muffin grilled with cold chicken and guacamole smooshed in the middle. Chicken empanada - really strong flavors, with an almost curry-like addictive trait. Fried Yucca - wow, who knew a tuber would be this fab? Came out with cilantro and garlic sauce, and reminded me of giant steak fries (but better). Oh, and a Diet Coke in a nice tumbler glass with a lime slice - perfect for making me look cool. Hubby: Pabellon Criollo - which is Shredded beef slowly simmered with vegetables typical Venezuelan dish. Served with rice, fried plantains and black beans - Thanks, Pedro!! This dish was really amazing, since the beef was super tender and flavorful, and it seemed that everything had been simmered with loving care. Even the black beans were bursting with flavor. Hubby also got a 10 Cane Mojito, and he loved it so much that he validated the $10 price tag, telling me it was the BEST mojito he had in his life. I suppose we'll be back to sit on the patio and look at the stars when the weather warms up. The whole Arsenal area has a pretty jazzy vibe, and La Casa De Pedro warms it up with some kickass Latin flair.
(4)
Erin C.
Their breakfast burrito is just fantastic! Dip those potatoes in the sauce that covers the burrito and I promise you won't regret it!
(4)
Algert S.
When I hear "La Casa De Pedro", greasy and deep-fried food comes to mind. Would NOT recommend!
(1)
M J.
I am a fan. The food is great, ditto the mixed drinks and the sangria, the patio rocks and based on today's visit, the interior is not too shabby either. I guess I had not been inside in some time - it's gone all colorful and latin. It's a bit overdone but I like it! Well, maybe they could lose a few of the mobiles?.... Anyway, they've done well taking a cavernous space and warming it up. Points for the valet parking and the owner who is, as noted previously, on sight. Does he actually *drive* that teenie tiny smart car parked outside? My friend's dog weighs more than that thing. Star off for sometimes spotty service and the small sized plates and highish prices on the lunch entrees.
(4)
Carla s.
Been going since this placed opened... it seems that it's better when it's busy... but it's been dead lately.. Maybe it's the season we are in. I miss seeing Pedro, he used to be there all the time. I don't go as much anymore.. there hot sauce is the best !!!
(4)
william d.
Wonderful atmosphere and great food! I'll be back again for sure!
(4)
S B.
First, the good part: the food here was delicious, overall. But there were a lot of problems leading up to the actual eating of the food. The waiter recommended the red sangria (over the white) and I'm sorry I listened to him. It was a very poor showing of sangria. It tasted almost sour, like day old beer with some red wine in it. And some orange rinds. Hint: put in real orange pieces, not the rind, so the drinker doesn't accidentally eat a rind. It didn't taste fruity at all, and was a major letdown. Our waiter also neglected to offer refills on our beverages. He also walked away when only half our table had ordered. Thanks? Our food took aaaaages to come. It was crowded, but waiting 45 minutes for our meal was a bit ridiculous. I had the Espada de Mar. All the shellfish on the skewer were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. However, I only got one skewer with 2 shrimp, 2 scallops, and 2 pieces of fish. For $25. No matter how delicious they were, a single skewer was not worth that kind of money. I could get high quality seafood in bigger quantities for that price elsewhere. The sides that came with my entree were also quite delicious, but not for that price. The fried plantains were sweet and cooked exactly how I like them. I was also a big fan of the yuca that came with it - you can't get yuca just anywhere. The atmosphere wasn't ideal either. It's a huge place, and gets noisy very easily. Especially when the live band starts at 7:00 PM. Can't they wait until at least 8? Or keep it low-key until then? Live music is a nice touch - but not when it prevents all conversation during a normal dinner hour. Oh, and salt-watchers beware. All of my food was strongly salted, which was fine by me but doesn't suit everyone.
(2)
Lisa E.
This was my second visit. Last fall my boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a lovely meal in an interesting environment. I love the decor & the plants...something very unusual for the Boston area. Our waiter was fast, cordial and knowledgeable about the menu, as as making a couple excellent dish recommendations. I can't remember what those choices were after all this time, except the food was hot , well prepared and beautifully presented. Fast forward to last Sunday for dinner: My son took me out for dinner and I suggested La Casa De Pedro because of my prior experience. It was very busy when we arrived and the waiter was super busy with multiple tables. It took a while to get our cocktails...no big deal and a little longer to place an order. Do not expect any chips and salsa to stave off starvation pangs...they simply are not available. We ordered shrimp ceviche, mussels sauteed with tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, onions and lime juice and Tequeos - it's a puff pastry filled with melted Mexican cheese. The appetizers were all "good" but not as flavorful as I prefer - it's almost as though the food is being prepared to appeal to homogenized taste buds. My entree was a simple pork Quesadilla with a side of beans.....this was a disappointment - when it arrived it had the appearance of sitting under the heat lamp for 15 minutes, the tortilla was hard and the dish itself was over salted, as was my son's. Their dinner prices are rather steep and I felt that the food should be superior in both service and quality. I will go back for lunch because any establishment will have off times and it isn't fair to make a judgment based upon one off night. Try their Mojitos ($11.00) - they were excellent.
(3)
Jennifer K.
When Pedro's was in it's old location, it was phenomenal, and you always felt like you were taking part in some great secret. Now, although the food is always good (esp the potato thingies that come with the meal, and the fried hunk of cheese, as I used to call it), the space is farrrrr too big for them, leading often to crappy crappy service, and just an overall feeling of nothing intimate or cozy. The bar is fun after work, however, especially if you can walk there (oh, the old days), and in the summer, the outdoor seating is great for a 2 hour pina colada filled lunch.... ,,,but the space just loses them a good old star.
(4)
Dharia M.
cocktails: really good, but still overpriced. vegetarian options: really lacking. don't get me wrong, i ADORE any place with 3 kinds of fried cheese on the menu. and i love tapas. but if you don't eat seafood, the only vegetarian entree on the menu is a cheese quesadilla. FYI: just ask the server for a grilled veggie platter and they will bring out a GIANT plate with plantains, rice, beans, and a ton of tasty veggies. (the server was conscientious enough to notify me that the beans were made with chicken stock, so bonus points for her) they are one of the few places in town with a nice patio, and there is often live music. On these hot summer evenings, it really can't be beat. for that kind of atmosphere i'm prepared to lay down some big bucks and gorge myself on tasty tropical cocktails and multiple types fried cheese. mmmm.
(3)
Dan L.
The food is good, not great. I like the steak casadillas. Overall, it's too expensive. The drinks are great, but they're also pretty expensive. If it weren't the closest sit-down option in our complex, I wouldn't eat there nearly as often.
(3)
Robert C.
Took some Italian friends to dinner based on Yelp reviews. Despite the waiter's sincere attempts to converse and attend to our needs, he brought the wrong wine (same winery, incorrect grape) which we did not notice until he opened and poured it (we just kept and drank it quietly) and service was hit and miss. Food? My Cordero (marinated lamb chops) had the consistency of soft rubber and was pretty gray-colored. Let's put it this way - no one was raving about the food, and no one seemed to be motivated to share - not worth it. Edible, but that's the best I can report. Funky location, in an old military (or automotive) research warehouse.
(2)
M D.
Phenomenal Latin food. I try and I try but I honestly can't help but order the cheese arepa and the chicken empanada. Absolutely decadent. Fresh ingredients, innovative twists on the classics. YUM. Don't come in a rush.
(5)
Sarah H.
the food here is awful - everything tastes the same. except the flan, which doesn't taste like the rest of the menu- but still tastes awful and completely not flan-like. very much not worth the money. EXCEPT the plantains, which are amazing. the service is very slow for a place that seems to cater to business lunches (at least in the perspective of someone who goes there for exactly that). I hear the bar is good, but I've never been there - and it's expensive. it's pretty sad that I'd rather go to Panera, which is right next door.
(2)
Stace M.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Terrrrrriiiibbbbllllle service! Our waiter gave every table but ours bread, didn't check in with us once and when I flagged down a bus boy for extra guacamole it took them so long I had already finished my meal! And to top it off they charged me $3 for a scoop of guacamole I didn't even eat! Never again!
(2)
Lauren F.
I work at the Arsenal so I've gone to La Casa de Pedro a few times with coworkers. The food and the service are both decently good but not anything special. The last time I went we got in a bit of trouble with the waitstaff. We went with a group of 5 right at noon and were the first ones there for lunch. They would not seat us at their only large table because it was for 8, even though no one else was there yet. Instead, they put us at two adjacent tables (one for 4 and one for 2). They did not move the tables together, so they were pretty far apart. It would have been awkward to carry on a conversation between the two tables. After the hostess left, we tried to move the two tables together, but she and a waiter came over and told us they could not be moved. Okaaaay. We ended up squishing all together into one table so we could carry on a conversation. I've only had the Pabellón Criollo but I do like it a lot. It is marinated shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans, and white rice. Very tasty and I usually eat nearly everything on my plate (the lunch portions are not huge, I think they're just right but if you are a Hungry Man you may want to get an appetizer). The last time we were there, the waitstaff was a bit quick about removing our plates and bringing the check. I definitely felt rushed. It was a beautiful summer day and we were enjoying the patio, so I would have like to stay, but I felt like they wanted to get rid of us and seat another group. A little disappointing. I'll definitely go back since it's better than eating at Panera during work, but I'd love it if they would improve some of these areas.
(3)
Jason C.
I should start by saying that we have eaten here several times before and the experience was always good, but.... Yesterday I ordered a $10 salad with shrimp & avocado - it showed up on a plate with a pile of romaine lettuce, 6 or 7 miniature shrimp, and 2 tiny slices of avocado. When I asked for more of each, the waiter brought back... a few more miniature shrimp and 2 more tiny slices of avocado. I sent it back again, and after witnessing an argument between the waiter and someone in the kitchen, I was told that this was the typical amount of avocado they put on a salad. Later, someone who appeared to be a manager or owner (didn't identify himself), came over and asked me what was wrong with the salad. I explained to him the same thing I explained to the waiter and the cook (adding that I get about 5 times as much avocado when I order a salad at any other restaurant), and he had the nerve to argue with me about it, saying that they specially cut their own avocado and romaine (whatever that means??) and then that the price of avocados has gone through the roof, etc. etc. My point is: if you can't afford the avocado, take it off the menu, but don't try to pawn this heap of chopped lettuce off as a "shrimp & avocado salad". Then, to top it all off, they charged us $3 for a small plastic cup of milk for my 2-year old daughter. Suffice to say, we will not be going back... this was customer service at its worst, and even the waiters were embarassed by this episode!
(1)
Joanne G.
I worked in Watertown for almost 5 years and this was my fave place to go for lunch and dinner. It used to be on Main Street (in the picture that is posted) but it has moved to further up Main Street towards the Arsenal Mall - where Red Sauce and the Naked Fish used to be - GREAT location lots of parking and the decor is gorgeous (The Naked Fish left everything for them) They have a band who plays and there is even some dancing that can go on. There is always music playing and lots of laughing from the patrons. Eating there is the best - I suggest: Appetizers - Arrepas & Empandaa YUM YUM! Lunch - Pollo en Brasa - seasoned baked chicken with cilantro sauce (TO DIE FOR!) comes with rice, casava (yuka) and fried plantanos I have never had a bad meal here - I apologize from Pedro (who ALWAYS comes by my table when we go there) if you experienced anything other than a fantastically scrumptious meal. I have been told (when it is available) the whole Red Snapper is fantastic - that is my next meal there (I would call ahead to make sure they have any left - it seems to be very popular) Their mixed drinks were ok - I would always like a larger glass of anything ;) Service at their old location was always outstanding - but the new location there are a lot more new people - and I have only had 1 bad server who wasn't around the way the last server was - in fact the server that served us the last time spent more time with us than the server that was assigned to us (I gave a tip at the end of our meal!)
(5)
Betsy K.
To my surprise, I love this place! It looks like a Chachky's (chain restaurant like TGIF's, Naked Fish) but it is not. I get the same thing everytime because I love it so. I normally do not do this at other places. For apps -Ceviche (not authentic but good) -The grilled Venezulan cheese. For dinner or lunch: -Pabellon Criollo, which is delicious shredded beef, beans and rice, and plaintains. -For drinks: lots of white sangria. Pedro is super nice too-he is always coming around. I love his casa!
(4)
edward o.
Have been to this restaurant many times and the service and food have always been good. Actually heading there now when I read the previous review. That table the previous reviewer comments on is not in the bathroom! It is actually at the back right side of the restaurant and a larger table , with some privacy, for larger parties. Last week I sat right across from there in a section of smaller tables, even closer to the hallway to the bathroom, and it was very comfortable. This is a fun place to go to eat and be entertained. The specialty drinks are pricey but no more so than any other quality restaurant. One on mine and my wife's favorite local places. Enjoy.
(5)
Thomas F.
This place isn't bad, but it isn't great. We felt that a lot of the dishes were just the same set of basic components rearranged and called a new dish (for example they all had pretty much the same side dishes) and the food was prepared okay but was unexciting. Overall it didn't justify the price.
(2)
carol l.
Been here twice and it is delicious! I had the Shugui's Pollo Asado which comes with plantains, yucca and rice with beans. This is one of the best meals I have ever had! A little pricey and no bread or anything to start. Drinks start around $10 and up so I skipped on those but otherwise, I definitely recommend trying this place at least once!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner 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 : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rick S.
Pedro's is the best!!! My girlfriend and I love this place. The drinks are amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful. And the food is ridiculously good. We do tapas because we like to try a bunch of things. This time we got sweet plantain (there is another type on the menu, but we prefer these ones that taste like dessert), calamari, garlic shrimp, strip steak, and olives. I really cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you want Latin food it is easily the best in Boston. And if you want just a fun night out there really isn't a better spot.
(5)Michelle S.
I came here the other week for a drinky lunch. To make it a more eventful experience, we sat at the bar. The restaurant was pretty empty at 3pm, so we didn't want to feel like we were in the middle of a food court. I got the mojito and my friend got the margarita. Both were delicious, and pretty strong...more fun! We split the fish tacos appetizer and the salad la verde. We didn't wait too long for the food, but we were a bit disappointed when it showed up. The fish tacos were pretty damn tasty. Our bartender/waiter recommended a side of the house hot sauce, which was such a good call. I smothered my tacos in that and was consequently very pleased with the dish. The salad la verde was a cheat. It was supposed to come with a "fan of avocado." Painted a pretty picture in my head. But, it came with a couple baby chunks we had to search for. A high margin win for the restaurant for sure... All in all, the bartender made the experience for us. He was friendly, made good drinks, recommend the hot sauce, and served us very well. The food was a bit meh. But... I'll probably still come back again!
(3)Juan M.
This place is awesome!! Yes is pricy but the atmosphere, food and service makes up for it. We went there on a Saturday after 8pm and they had live salsa music. Salmon dish was delicious!!!
(5)Art H.
Weekday evening around 630pm, place was less than half full, but it took more than half an hour to bring my niece a simple quesadilla and identical orders of enciladas for my wife and myself. One was barely warm, the other ok. For entrees close to $20 each, the flavor was uninspired. A small glass of mango juice was $6.50; cocktails $15. I've had better much faster for less in Manhattan and Boston. Decor is cool and jungly, though I'm still trying to figure out the dead (not dried) flowers and antique typewriter. One could do worse but we won't be back.
(2)Lauren E.
I went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was actually pretty dead inside. Perhaps it is the awkward location; La Casa de Pedro is located near the Arsenal Mall and is easy to miss. My boyfriend and I started off by ordering a small tapas plate of nachos with pork and chicken. For my entree, I ordered steak tacos. The ingredients were high quality and fresh. The meat was juicy and flavorful. There was some live music that night, which was a nice addition to the ambiance. I think this place could be more successful if it found a new location; the fact that it was dead on a Saturday night during the summer is not a good sign. I would definitely go back here again.
(4)Earl B.
Had a great time here. Food was great and not at all expensive. House margaritas were very respectable. The restaurant itself is very nice. Ask the server for recommendations and go with it. I had the Venezuelan steak (do it right and get the eggs wit it), Fantastic. We will be back.
(4)Shawn M.
Visited recently with my wife and friends. I couldn't have been pleased any more. We started with a couple of things from the tapas menu, Stephanies Nachos and Calamares a la Pedro. The nacos were awesome. very cheesy, tons of chicken and pork and the chips were baked just right. I highly recommend these. The calamari was a little different from your normal restaurant fare, it wasn't as fried and the poblano and jalapeno sauce was a pleasant departure from spaghetti sauce. Also very good. My fiance had the wild champagne sangria, which she loved. For dinner two of us had the Quesadilla de Carne Asada. The steak was plentifu as was the cheese and like the nachos they were cooked just right. They came with black bean rice, fried yucca and plantains that were very tasty as well. My other friend had the chicken enchiladas. She didn't love them, but thought they were good. The menu says the chicken was shredded, but it came out cubed. For dessert which he had a flavor of the flan. You could not go wrong with any of the three. They were fabulous. I topped off with a cup of coffee which was very good. All in all I was very, very happy. We have already purchased a groupon for our next visit. La Casa de Pedro is highly recommended by this guy
(4)Lady J.
Pollo asado here I come!!!
(5)Chelsy B.
Although I have heard many good things about this place, I was not really impressed. A group of girlfriends and I went on a Monday night for a birthday dinner. We did get a nice table, but there were less than three groups in the whole restaurant which is pretty large. We started off with drinks in from one of the heaviest menu's I have ever held. There were a lot of options and a whole page of tapa's as well. It also said they served brunch which seems like it could be fun. After we ordered, we waited at least 30 minutes for our meals (6 people, no apps.). The server was very so-so. After we got our meals and some home made hot sauce (yum), we didn't see the server again. We had all finished eating and even waited a good 15 minutes before someone came to clear the table or ask if we were all set. At this point, we were one of two tables in the whole space and we could easily see four or five employees walking around. We asked if the gratuity was included and our waitress told us 8 or more people which was incorrect. There was 18% for 6 or more guests. The food was presented well, but average. I can tell they wanted it to have a fine-dining feel, but it fell short for me. I may try this place again with a smaller group to see the difference, but I'm not sure it is a space to rave about like everyone says.
(3)Dee N.
A co worker raved about La Casa De Pedro. So I had to try it. A friend of mine and I went for Dinner last Friday . June 19th. Now I can't stop raving about it! What a wonderful Restaurant.....We were given the option of having Dinner inside or outside. We opted for inside because I wanted to see what the Restaurant looked like. Nice atmosphere inside with a lot of comfortable booths. We ordered drinks. I had a Fruity Martini. My friend, had a Maitai. We both enjoyed our drinks. They don't skimp on the Alcohol. Not too strong, just right! The food was wonderful! I ordered the Salmon. I have never had Salmon prepared like that! Huge portions, The Salmon served on a bed of black Beans, Salmon covered in Red , Green peppers and onions and Shrimp! with a side of Rice and sweet Plantains and Yuca..... Unbelievable Flavor! The servers were very attentive. We thought that the alcohol was a little expensive. But the food prices were reasonable. I will definitely return!!!
(5)Erin D.
GLUTEN FREE POLICY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT! This has been one of our favorite restaurants however, our last visit my order was not Gluten free and caused me to be ill for several days. A restaurant that prides itself in having 99% of menu available Gluten Free should be working harder to make sure their customers get served the correct food. I am not certain whether a careless server put my order incorrectly, the kitchen made an error or the food runner brought me another customers food. I will be extremely cautious when ordering and double check with the person who delivers it in the future. It is very disappointing that I spoke with a manager via phone to suggest they begin having manager deliver Gluten free meals to the table. He apologized and informed me he was going to investigate and would be calling me back within a few hours to make things right so we would return. It's been 3 days and I haven't heard back from them.
(3)Collins C.
I have been here 4 times and am going tonight. Pedro is a very personable host and the atmosphere it warm and friendly. The hot sauce (house recipe) is unbelievable. Large portions - food is great.
(5)eliz r.
Casa de Pedro...Divine patio tapas with Yucca frita, camarones, and Coconut Margaritas at sunset with friends. Perfect August eve.
(5)Roni E.
Excellent service (via Pablo our server for the evening)! Excellent food and drinks!!! Pablo was able to suggest our table of 7 various tapas throughout the evening which did not disappoint at all. He even brought out this amazing hot sauce and bread to try with specific things and his advice was much appreciated. Appetizers included the Vargas, Calamari, Ceviche, Queso Fundido, Tequeños, and Camarones al Ajillo. Everything we tasted was amazing! And what makes this place even better.... patio seating, you forget you're even in Watertown! Definitely on my top places of restaurants to return!
(5)Tater M.
Excellent service, Waiter was able to recommend three types of steak dishes and gave very efficient quick tips for each of them. Must try their Hot sauce specially made by the restaurant! Also if you like spicy food, try the chorizo and mini flour tortillas!
(5)Jack H.
Outstanding food and fun ambiance. Had the chicken and chorizo app and empanadas. Both delicious. Best empanadas since Argentina. Must try.
(4)Dimos M.
Wow ! This place is fantastic from service & food is great.. Also the owner was going around making his rounds and mingling with customers making sure if you enjoyed the food. I thought that was real cool. Plus the food and drinks were great. will be back soon.
(5)Joe W.
Great experience! Our group of four (family) was very impressed with the setting and atmosphere of La Casa de Pedro. Wait staff was very attentive but not intrusive. We ordered four small plates for apps, tequenos and torilla esp were outstanding! All the main dishes were good size, well presented and very tasty. Traditional pabellon crillo was exceptional and a must try. Prices were reasonable including cocktails. Try the coconut margarita before the summer ends. We definitely will be back soon!
(4)S Z.
Meh, this place is ok. The food is fine, but for the price, it is a bit high. I know other people who love it, but it is probably a place I will not be returning to.
(3)Otto T.
I absolutely love this place, I probably eat here 3 times a month and have never been disappointed, the food its delicious and the service its great,
(4)Janet S.
I used to love this place for lunch when I worked in the area a few years ago. However, dinner tonight was WAY too salty. The side dishes were really good, but the meat dishes (chicken enchiladas, and especially the Carnitas Encebolladas) were really oversalted. Sad to be disappointed by an old favorite...
(2)Gisele M.
Just went here on Saturday for girl's night. Most of us had the coconut shrimp served in a coconut - delicious! The drinks were amazing and the staff was exceptional. Outdoor patio seating is a great option too if the weather is nice!
(5)David S.
I've been here several times and each time I get the chicken quesadilla. It's amazing -- a huge portion with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. It also comes with a really tasty side of rice, yuca, and plantain. I always leave feeling full and every time it's consistently good. For this amount of food, the price is not bad at all. I've also gotten the nachos as an appetizer. Although it's a pretty small portion, it's also quite good. I've been here probably 3 times already and I'm going to keep coming back!
(4)Alex D.
We love La Case De Pedro! The flavors are very unique to Venezuelan cuisine so if you're looking for Mexican blandness look elsewhere. The Osso Buco is my favorite and I would have it every time if it wasn't for the specials. Outdoor patio seating is a plus, but it was too windy for us to enjoy it our last visit. I would also highly recommend the cocktails, Pedro's 10 cane mojito is amazing! Getting a flight of tequila is a great option as well.
(5)Kris S.
I really was excited to go to this place. The decor is really nice -- the outdoor patio is terrific, but the inside is also nice -- colorful and tastefully decorated with a big bar and comfy seating. We had to wait for about 20 mins for a table, which is totally fine. When we were seated, we were at a huge booth (score!). Shortly after we were seated, the waiter came over. We ordered drinks. 30 mins later, the waiter returned. We asked for water. Finally after 45 mins, we ordered 3 tapas. We got the calamari, ceviche, and chicken and chorizo with tortillas. All were pretty tasty, although the calamari was $10 and there couldn't have been more than 8 fried calamari on the plate. Anyway, we had to flag down the waiter once we were done with the tapas, so that he could take the plates and we could order entrees. I ordered the 1/2 chicken and my friend ordered "Pedro's birthday special," which was steak and chorizo. After literally 40 minutes, the waiter came over to tell me that they were out of the chicken! 40 MINUTES! There were several other people around us who were waiting for food, too. I mean, even if you are going to run out of food, you need to notify the guests more quickly than that. I'm already sick of this review, b/c I'm sick of this place. To sum, I ordered a steak dish as a substitute. It was ok. My friend's was ok. Steak overcooked, rice was dry. Water was never refilled (we asked 3 times) and drink orders were never taken again. By the end of the night, we had a totally new waitress who brought our bill. Was our waiter fired for sucking so bad? We'll never know. I also won't be back. Huge disappointment. The 2 stars are for the nice decor and decent tapas -- that's it.
(2)William H.
Sunday brunch galore! Big menu for both food & cocktails. Fun and bright scenery inside. It felt like we were on vacation. Try a Jalapeño infused tequila margarita with shaken with fresh strawberries! Yum
(5)Anil D.
We've been here a bunch of times, but they fell off in a bad way. Came at 4:50pm with our two kids. First they told us we can't bring the stroller to the table even though we did each time we came for the past two years. Then, they sounded annoyed that we were ordering tapas only for the table even though it was *5*pm and the place was near empty. Then they brought out the wrong ceviche order and told us it our fault for saying the wrong thing. On top of it all the service was slow and just painful.
(2)Elie H.
I used to love this Venezuelan place but yet again another restaurant that I cherish went downhill. Food is on the greasy side lately. I highly recommend the arepas and fish dishes. my favorite used to be the "Complianos" a steak, sausage blood sausage with rice and beans. I plan to go there again soon and give it another try since I love arepas.
(3)Michelle A.
Wanted to love this place as we are just getting to know the area but it was just 'ok'. Meals were substantial and service was average. Not sure what I expected but the food didn't have a lot of flavor. We asked for the house-made hot sauce which was the highlight of the meal. We ordered the empanadas (chicken and beef), (Flank) Pabellon Criollo, (Pork) Llanos Venezolanos, and a margarita.
(3)Squidy D.
I could come here just for the side dishes, the plantains and the fried yucca's are fantastic. The homemade hot sauce is awesome and hot hot hot! This is one place I will travel for, well worth an hours drive
(5)Liron P.
Parents with children beware- We didn't get to try the food because we were so angry with their attitude- we were 3 people and a stroller, but despite the fact the restaurant was empty, they wouldn't let us sit outside with the stroller (the area was large and spacious, so there certainly isn't a lack of room). We just left, since i dont want to support businesses that discriminate against children this way
(1)Claire R.
This restaurant is lively with attentive service and tasty food. My daughter highly recommends the quesadilla with fried plantain and yuca. The skirt steak is delicious and the chimichurri sauce is great! Venezuelan food is always a good choice for gluten free diners. Spacious with room for large groups and a full bar.
(4)Annette A.
Fantastic drinks, delicious food and and amazing service. La Casa de Pedro is a restaurant that you'd expect to find in downtown Boston, but lucky for you - it's in Watertown, with plenty of free parking all around. Pedro's may be my favorite restaurant. The place is very spacious and beautiful. The decor is gorgeous and warm, filling with lights and tropical plants. It's a very nice place for a date, especially on nights where they have music. Most amazing thing? The plantains and yucca. Or any of their tilapia, scrod or salmon dishes. Or anything with their green habanero cream sauce (ask for it!). Edit: Adding a star. Service is still wonderful. The last time we were there (which tends to be a few times a month now), we had a charming server named William who was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the dishes. We'd ask for him again, if we could. But William aside, the staff is ALWAYS amazingly nice. There hasn't been a single time where our server was in a mucky mood and showed it.
(5)Donna A.
I Order a salad which was (De Los Roques) and nothing that was appearently I order was in the salad. La Casa De Pedro also over charge me. As I place this call back to them now the mananger is not available to talk about how disappointed I was with my boring salad. Grill chicken was the roasted chicken, no sunflower seeds, no dried cranberries no crisp apple no lemon-garlic dressing. Check your order before leaving cause its impossible to get the manager once a customer is disappointed. This salad cost me $18.00 smh!! I will never eat at this place again. Very unhappy give me what I order.
(1)Lexi L.
A must eat restaurant!!! Came for lunch and ordered off the tapas menu. We ordered 5 dishes for the two of us and it was a perfect amout. The nachos are killer!!! And the flan is the best we have had! Our server Prabina was excellent! She made great suggestions and they were all top notch! Will deffinatly be back!!
(5)Dan O.
What can I say about La Casa De Pedro. Excellent food, great atmosphere, ample parking, great service. 5 stars. I've been here at least 5 times and have not had a bad experience. Weekdays, weeknights, weekends,...doesn't matter. I'm literally sitting here and there is a live band playing - 2 guys, rhythm guitar and a bongo drummer, and they introduced a kazoo...yes a kazoo. I hate to give this place such high marks because I want to keep it for myself, but alas, the secret is already out. I strongly recommend that you come here...have the 10 cane mojito, a steak based dish, and soak in everything. Awesome. I guarantee you will not be dissapointed - DanO
(5)Amalia S.
This place is amazing!!! Atmosphere and decor is awesome perfect for date night. Def try passion fruit sangria delish. Service was great. Two Thumbs up!
(4)Lindy L.
Went here on a Thursday night and there was an enchanting man playing piano and singing random songs (everything from "Pachabel's canon" to "pennies from heaven"). It was a friend's birthday so there was a group of 12 of us. We had a reservation and they seated us right away (not all of the party needed to be present for us to be seated). the drinks were delicious (i had a JALAPENO margarita - don't ask questions - just get one) and white sangria, which was fruity and very refreshing. we had the tequenos and a bean and cheese empanada to start. my husband had the fish tacos which he enjoyed immensely. i had the salmon with shrimp on top and a very hearty dose of rice, beans, yucca and fried plantains - YUM! all entrees come with the sides mentioned above and one was more delicious and flavorful than the next! in my opinion, the only reason this place does not get 5 stars is the prices. for a restaurant in watertown, i would've imagined that the prices would be lower. it was about $16-$20 for entrees. that being said, i will definitely give la casa de pedro another go round if given the chance. OLE!
(4)Jason H.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Great place. Odd, tucked away location thought... Food here is outstanding, if you ask me. I don't know Venezuelan food, but I do know that theirs tastes good to me. I've tried a few dishes, and the Short Rib, Fish Tacos and Pabellon Criollo are all awesome. They also make a ridiculously tasty but dangerous hot sauce. Pedro's offers a pretty decent drink selection as well. Always a great time.
(4)Patrik C.
This was one of the best meals of 2012. Note: the hours are weird as in they close really early! I came with 2 friends and we got the fried cheese appetizer which isn't breaded. It's fried/grilled on both sides-- UNBELIEVABLE. The yucca fries are the best I've ever had. In other restaurants they can be thick and dry but here, they are drenched in a high quality EVOO with a little pesto and combined with the cheese-- SO GOOD. Also tried the fried cheese roll up things which is like a cheese puff/spring roll. Excellent. For entrees-- the meats have always been excellent with many sides-- rice, plantains, etc. Highly recommended. Their hot sauce is SO good-- use sparingly!!!
(5)Cat A.
This is a fun place with some unusual, delicious offerings. Staff is very friendly and helpful if you want to try new things. The patio outside is lovely and service is consistently good. Drinks are also well done.
(5)Jeff S.
AUTHENTIC, BUT LOW-QUALITY FOOD. GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND DRINKS. I'll keep this short and not-so-sweet. I've only dined at Casa de Pedro's twice, once in their original restaurant in Watertown Center, and once in the now-closed Burlington restaurant located only 2 miles down the road from the Burlington Mall in the glitzy former building built by the owners of the Naked Fish restaurant. The atmosphere of the Watertown location is nothing special (3 stars), although the atmosphere in the former Naked Fish location was first rate (5 stars). FYI, Naked Fish had high hopes of great success at its Burlington location, but it lasted only 2 years before they sold out to Casa de Pedro, which lasted only about 6 months. Although the location isn't right inside the Burlington Mall or directly across from it, it's still only 2 miles down the road and I feel that patrons would have come and established it as a sensation if the food wasn't so poor. The food is prepared quite adequately and authentically, but the quality of the meat is poor. It's totally reminiscent of the Low-Quality Latin food I've eaten in poor Latin countries, and is something I feel a good restaurant in the USA shouldn't duplicate with great accuracy or authenticity. Since this restaurant is located here in the USA, I would have thought that Pedro would have Americanized a bit, at least enough so that the Food Quality was high. But, instead, Pedro chose to maintain complete authenticity which turned out to be a foolish mistake because patrons voted with their feet in short order. Indeed, Casa de Pedro closed its doors in only 6 months. As I said earlier, the atmosphere (5 stars), the drinks (5 stars), and now I mention that the service (4 stars) were all top-notch. However, the hallmark of any restaurant is the preparation and Quality of its food (2 stars), and I weigh this aspect much more heavily. If I could give Casa de Pedro 2.5 stars I would, but since only whole-star ratings are possible, I decided it would be more accurate to err on the lower end of that scale.
(2)M M.
Order: Yucca... if your entree doesn't include it - it's a root vegetable similar to potato - comes fried with a cilantro oil drizzle. Pork tenderloin roast chicken entrees Every dish I've had has been a larger portion than I should probably eat, but I finish it because it's delicious! It takes a long time to read through the extensive menu and some items sound like the others so I usually take a long time to decide so study the menu online ahead of time if you can. I've enjoyed exploring Venezuelan cuisine at this restaurant at the old location and the current Arsenal Street location. I suggest sticking to more traditional dishes - don't order Mexican items in a Venezuelan restaurant. I agree with some other yelpers that if it's on the menu, it should be as good as all the other food. They probably need to trim the menu to make sure they do it all well. Lunch is my favorite way to enjoy good food here without paying too much, so I've never had cocktails here - though it looks like a fun night spot.
(4)Tom D.
My dad and I stopped at La Casa de Pedro for dinner as I transited between Newport RI and Portsmouth, NH on what is rapidly becoming a far to common trip. Pedro's Menu of different Latin American dishes looked interesting and we were in the mood to try something different. It was a Thursday night so we grabbed an OpenTable reservation and headed over. The restaurant is very nice inside with a large bar to the right and a decent sized dining area to the left upon entering. It also has very high ceilings which add to the ambiance. The bar had a few people at it and the dining area was fairly empty when we arrived. Both were packed by the time we left. We were seated immediately upon entering and started to review the menu. We decided to split an order of nachos as our appetizer. The nachos come with chicken and pork on them. When they came out the size of the order was kind of underwhelming. I'm used to getting a much larger portion when ordering a plate of nachos. The nachos were good, but for the price probably needed to be 150 - 200% larger. The small order of Nachos had me concerned about the size of my entree. I had ordered the Pabellon Criollo, which the menu referred to as a traditional Venezuelan dish of shredded beef, slowly simmered, with fine chopped vegetables. It came with rice, black beans, and fried sweet plantains as sides. When it came to the table I was relieved to see that there was a large pile of shredded beef and more than enough black beans and rice. I wouldn't be leaving hungry even if it was just the rice and beans that were stuffing me. The Pabellon Criollo was incredible. It had a great flavor and was extremely tender. They also brought out a bowl on the side of Pedro's special hot sauce which was neon green in color and had a sneaky level of spice to it. It was full of flavor and a few seconds after eating it the spice smacked you. I mixed it, the rice and black beans all together and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we'll definitely try La Casa de Pedro again.
(4)JF S.
**Just had to log in and upgrade to 4 stars after enjoying my leftovers. Better than I remember from last night - may have been just too much food to enjoy to the fullest in one sitting. The place was very busy on a Sunday evening closing in on the expiration date of a Groupon. Service was slow but attentive and nice. Tapas were the standouts - Chicken & Chorizo, and the Venezuelan fried cheese (like a cross between a mozzarella stick and a spring roll). Tried the house hot sauce for dipping but could only use a tiny bit! We each had a flavored sangria and both were good - not too sweet. Had the Birthday flank steak and Chicken Asado and they were both fine with large servings including sides (took home leftovers), though maybe a tad on the pricey side. Chicken dish could have used some salsa or something to lighten it up a little bit. The yuca side was delicious but the plantains were a bit too sweet for my taste. We will definitely go back for tapas and drinks.
(4)ara n.
While the food is good, the restautant is very unaccomodating to families - they have a NO STROLLER policy. They would not seat us when we got there with an asleep child in the stroller - the hostess was very nice and wanted to accomodate us, but the manager, who I am sure suffers from a strong and lasting bout of short man syndrome, informed us rudely that they have a no stroller policy and nothing can be done about that. There are plenty of other good South American restaurants that'll serve you good food with the South American warmth and hospitality and without the attitude of this joint.
(1)Chuy C.
I was a little confused with the menu. Its advertised as Venezuelan food but has a heavy Mexican food influence and a very impressive Tequila selection which made me happy, also a wide variety of red wines. The place's decoration is diferent-funky, kind of nice, then again, I don't go to restaurants to critique decoration so I couldn't care less about it. The food was just okay, I probably wouldn't drive specifically to eat here again but in all fairness I will try more dishes before writing an awful review. I had the house Pedro's margarita with Cuervo silver and tasted funny, bitter, I know you may think it could be the sour mix but no, it tasted more like spoiled lime juice. (I am not saying they used spoiled lime juice, that's just what it tasted like to me) besides I don't like Cuervo products. So I quickly switched to a Malbec wine which was pretty good. We had the calamari which was a little salty but cooked to perfection with the drizzled jalapeño sauce that came with it was very nice and flavorful. I had red a raving review of the Mussels so I got the Mussels and it was just okay, I could taste a lot of chicken stock used to cook the mussels which is served with a lot of broth and no slices of toasted bread to dip on it. Mi wife ordered the Paella so I didn't pay much attention to the menu to see what was in it but one would think that for $28.00 or $29.00 it would at least had a couple of lobster chunks and shrimp but all I could taste was chicken, fish and sausage with a few mussels. The flavor was just okay nothing spectacular about the paella. I would probably stop again if I am in the area and take a different approach by trying some of their authentic dishes in the menu since I tried one high end dish and was disappointing. Value: I thought it was a bit overpriced but I'll let you be the judge of that. Two appetizers, one entree, two virgin pina coladas and three alcoholic beverages with one desert. just over $96.00.Without tip.
(2)G P.
This place is way too overpriced for its low quality food. I ordered a salad that was $13.50, and it only had 3 pieces of shrimp and two slivers of avocado on some romaine lettuce. Legit the worst salad I have ever had in my life. The service was just ok, and there was a lot of seating. Bottom line, the food was bad and expensive. Save yourself and don't go.
(1)Stavroula A.
I love this place! I've been there three times in the last 2 months and it never disappoints. I'm a huge fan of their red sangria, and each entree I've had has been delicious. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer. I've had the fish tacos as well as the chicken and beef, and I recommend both entrees. The staff has always been super friendly and helpful! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Francine W.
I'm surprised by the number of 2 and 3 star reviews. Everything I've had here is outstanding. I like the lamb chops, the pork osso bucco and for appetizers, get the cheese (it's like a plop of cheese) and yucca. Best yucca ever!
(5)Mariah W.
Excellent service and great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and the clean, festive and colorful atmosphere was a pleasant surprise. We will be back!
(5)Cyn C.
when are we getting 1/2 stars? actual review is 3.5 great food, awesome proportions. loss of 1 star for the super long waits the special birthday dinner (compleanos?) is superb. A very nice cut of steak with chimichurri sauce, fried plaintains, rice and beans (I wish it were more traditional rice and beans, but ok), and 2 different sausages. They could call this dish the meat lovers delight. So... if I'm not heading to JP anytime soon and I want some Latin food... Casa de Pedro... here I come.
(4)Debra L.
Hands down, my favorite place to go for lunch on a work day. I was disappointed when they moved for Main St. to Arsenal St. because now I can't walk there and therefore I eat there less. But, I still go. The new place is nicely decorated but it's so big. There's a bar and it's probably a good place to go for dinner but, the old place - it was just perfect for lunch and I loved that outdoor patio. Anyway, the food is still delicious and lunch is still so reasonable. I love the De Los Roques salad (formerly called the "South Beach" salad). It has romaine, grilled chicken, peanuts, sesame seeds, red onion, avocado, jicama, craisins & phenomenal dressing. The shrimp quesadilla is also delicious and really big. It comes with black beans & rice, fried plantains & yucca. They serve the best fried plantains I've ever had. I've also had excellent ceviche and roasted chicken. The chicken breast with mango is the only thing I wasn't all that impressed with. It wasn't bad but just not as good as other dishes). I've never had any of the sandwiches but often the people I'm with rave about them (esp. the Cuban and the steak sandwiches). It's usually very quick for lunch but service isn't always spot-on. I don't ever mind though. The wait staff are friendly and they work hard.
(5)April I.
I went to La Casa De Pedro about a month ago with a friend and we had a great meal. The service was excellent. The food was perfectly seasoned with large portions and the cocktails hit the spot. I loved the brightly colored walls (yellows and lime green) and the ambiance was inviting. I had the Quesadilla de Camarones (shrimp quesadilla) which came with yuca, plantains, and black bean rice. My friend went with the veggie quesadilla and got the same sides. The quesadilla was large and filled with shrimp and cheese (I promise you it was delicious!!). I loved the plantains and rice. I'm not a fan of yuca though and this didn't change my mind. I could barely finish my meal! My friend had the grilled vegetable quesadilla and she said it was awesome. The veggies looked good and she didn't leave anything on her plate! While we were at La Casa De Pedro we sipped on chilled Patron. I also want to give a shout out to our waiter Igor. He was friendly, efficient and very helpful. Also he let my friend and me sit back and relax, even after we had finished up our entrees. It was nice. The location and easy parking are also a big plus. Oh and they deliver. I ordered from La Casa De Pedro about a week ago and had the same high quality food and it was delivered hot --- which you can imagine might be challenging. I ordered the 'Pedro's Old Times with Vargas' (pork and hot sauce), the corn cakes with chicken and avocados, and the quesadilla. I didn't love the corn cake--for me it was texture thing, but I loved the chicken and avocado topping and and I did love the pork with hot sauce. Good food, good location with delivery, and reasonable prices make La Casa De Pedro well worth it! I look forward to my next lunch date!
(4)Tracee D.
I think I would've liked it better in the original Waltham location. If you want Venezuelan food you will fare better at either Orinoco location ( different restaurant, so much better). There's Mexican food & a spattering of Tapas on the menu here too. It's like a corporate Latin American food place, nota bene: I didn't say it was, I said it was "like". The service is ok. And the food is ok. Nothing special. The Papi salad is awesome though. Evidently Pedro's dad likes watercress salad with tomatoes, avocado & balsamic dressing and so do I. The white cheese fried appetizer was pretty awesome too. But as for arepa's and fun stuff like that. Not so special. It's too grandiose for la casa de pedro, it's more like la mansion de pedro. LIke Jenny from the Block remember where you've come from, or like Jenny, don't.
(3)Doris K.
I happen to think that this place was GREAT! I never got to experience the old location but the location was nicely decorated. I don't think that they put it in a good location though because it's well hidden and took us some time to find and probably never would have without the GPS. They should also do some remodeling to their bathrooms! We sat at the bar for Sunday brunch and ordered a glass of sangria and a glass of wine. The sangria wasn't really fruity enough like most other places and it didn't seem like they poured enough alcohol into our glasses. They use the bigger glasses without stems and so they pour less alcohol since the glass has a wider base...but it just seemed too little. Service and food were wonderful though. I had the lunch steak and my boyfriend had the lunch quesadilla. Both plates had so much food and the prices were reasonable, around $8. They ran out of the shrimp cerviche...boo! but they did have a really good seafood tapa, around $10 that filled us up! For dessert it was the flan leche; it was huge and tasty!
(4)Kevin M.
Ordered the chicken quesadillas, which were very good. The included sides were the real treats though. The fried plantains and rice and beans were unbelievable, while the yuca was good. The plate's presentation was incredibly beautiful. I had a couple of Aguila beers, which were delightful. The staff, despite the fact that we were pushing the 10PM close, were friendly and attentive. I would gladly return.
(4)Jillian Q.
I have mixed feelings about La Casa De Pedro. When thinking about all my experiences there, I come to the conclusion that I just "like" it. I don't love it or ever really "rave" about it, but I do like it. The lunch service seems a bit faster than dinner service, but I have waited a ridiculous amount of time at dinner (more than once) for someone to initially come to our table. They have amazing mojitos, although they are a bit pricey. The tequenos and bebe andres are my two favorite appetizers and if there are more than 2 of us at dinner we always order an extra plate of tequenos. I've tried most things on the menu and, surprisingly, the things I like the best are the quesadillas and the yucca. The steak with onions is also pretty good, although I felt it a bit heavy on the oil. Every once in a while they will have a great special too. Like I said, I will go back, but mostly because it is so close to my house.
(3)T W.
A few months after I posted first review, I had to go again with coworkers... food was better. Same dish tasted differently this time.
(3)Jeff F.
Checked La Casa De Pedro out this past Wednesday for lunch. Carne a la parrilla (steak with yuca, plantains and black bean rice) was very good. From what I understand, it's supposed to be a good dinner spot with worthwhile cocktails - I'd consider coming back for dinner.
(4)Rafa R.
The food here is mostly good, and the restaurant is nicely furnished and decorated. The checkered floor somehow gives it an authentic Latin American feel. Pedro is ever-present and it's obvious that he takes pride in his establishment. Some items on the menu seem strangely overpriced. I've also found some of the food a little disappointing, so I usually stick to my favorites: the chicken and avocado arepa and the roasted chicken (pollo en brasa). The latter comes with fried plantains, fried yuca and rice & beans. It's like a quick trip to Caracas for lunch. Pedro has lasted longer than the previous occupants of this locale, and it's not hard to see why.
(4)O G.
Good Latin restaurant. Good atmosphere quality food and not just tacos and enchiladas.... Great place to take someone special
(4)Ken M.
A solid 3.5 stars for La Casa De Pedro. The decor is pretty nice and it's a very large space. The bathrooms are alright. The food was very good, the appetizers were delish. We split three epanadas and an arepa. The chicken epanada and the bean epanadas were my favorite. For dinner I had a pork platter which was pretty good, though it wasn't exactly what I was thinking I was getting. Andy's beef dish tasted really good. Service is a bit slow, especially once the check is dropped. Good luck on getting someone to take it for you.
(4)Maggie M.
Love, love, LOVE La Casa De Pedro. I try to get a visit in every time I'm in town. It's gotta lovely interior, outdoor seating that's okay, and great staff. Pollo en Brasa or the Quesadilla do it for me along with the black bean rice, yuca and sweet plantains on the side. Some don't like the yuca-think it's kind a dry, but I dig its lightly fried texture. Pedro also uses a nice cilantro sauce over it and some entrees- totally tasty. The flan is also creamy and tasty.
(5)Alison S.
A great experience, with a live band and some of the BEST food I have had since moving to Boston. In addition to the wonderful food their drinks are delicious (get a margarita). The only thing you will have to get past are the prices, but for the quality of food and drink it is worth trying! Additionally, the staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)Lisa C.
I haven't had such good Latin food since I left Miami over a decade ago. We ordered tequenos for appetizers, which were delicious. I had the carne parilla which was very similar to Cuban cuisine's ropa vieja, stellar. For dessert, a friend and I shared a coconut flan, which honestly was like I died and went to heaven. I've driven back to Watertown on two separate occasions just to get the flan.
(5)Katie J.
Great outdoor space for good weather. The food is good, drinks are strong, and staff is friendly.
(3)Katie H.
I saw this place driving by and I couldn't wait to try it. It's a little tricky to find inside the Arsenal building complex but once you follow the arrows, you should find it and a parking spot in no time! :) Walking in La Casa De Pedro, I immediately notice the warm yellow walls, the giant palm trees in brightly colored pots, the Moroccan lights and the seemingly art deco details of the building. It's a very cool vibe. The decor reminds me of old photos of historic Havana before Castro took over Cuba. Havana is a gorgeous European city set among swaying palm trees and island breezes. Before 1959, it was a tropical paradise favored by celebrities and the international jet-set who lounged in designer garb at decadent cabarets and sipped champagne in glittering nightclubs. You don't have to fear losing your head at La Casa De Pedro but figuratively you will once you try their mojitos and entrees. I am very picky about my mojitos. I had an apartment on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen lived upstairs. I had a young love break-up and I was sitting in the courtyard having a smoke and trying not to cry in my soup. Frances saw me and she invited me up for a drink. She had just returned from Cuba and she offered to make me a mojito. I never had one so I said, "Sure, why not?" She put fresh mint at the bottom of the glass, added crushed ice and then pummeled the mint and ice with a sugar cane stick. I was mesmerized. When she was done, she added rum (did you know if use vodka instead of rum it's "The Ivy" gimlet?) and served me one of the most delicious drinks ever. We shared our mojitos and our stories. Next up, she made a pitcher. I made more excuses for my ex. Finally, she stared me down with the eyes of an oracle and said, "Give yourself permission to hate him." The mojito and the message was something I never forgot. Since then, I feel like 90% of the bartenders in this world are intent on making the crappiest mojito ever. My dear mixologists, take out the artificial flavors and sugary syrups because the simplest things are fresh and fresh always tastes the best. I know fresh is more expensive to use then crap but it's the crap that killed the mojito's fleeting popularity during the mid-2000's. That is why I am very happy I found La Casa De Pedro where I can finally get a freshly made mojito. Pardon my Latin when I say this but their mojito is, "La Cojones" (Da Ballz)! After our libations to the Rum God, we started with a shrimp and cheese quesadilla. Simple and good. We then shared La Paella Pedro. It was super delicious as I am a huge fan of paella (think cioppino or La Mer stew but little to no broth and saffron rice ) because when it's done well it's not only excellent tasting but also very romantic to share an entree made pour deux. Finally, we ended with the milk flan. It was thick like a vanilla custard and drizzled with caramel. Yum!
(5)Kirk V.
I haven't eaten here for years since I live in Phoenix, but I really really want to go back. This was the first time I had Venezuelan food and I loved it! I also think this was one of the first restaurants that started my appreciation for food. In addition to the great food was the great service, I really felt at home there. Very friendly staff, it's also nice to see the owner greeting people like family. One of these days I'll get back to Boston!
(4)Liz A.
Three of us had dinner here before catching a play at the theatre/arts center right next door at the Arsenal -- so the location was really convenient, and I'd plan another dinner/play combo because of that convenience (and because I liked my dinner!). It's a big, noisy, boisterous place, with a menu that's rooted in Venezuelan cuisine. It would be a great place to come back to for drinks and apps alone -- they've got fun, diverse lists for both, and a whole separate rum list. I had a decent mojito (though the waiter first brought me a margarita by mistake), and others at the table enjoyed a black raspberry margarita and some Malibu & diet coke. I later tried a Crribbean Breeze -- too sweet/fruity for me, but fun. For apps we shared tequenos (I'm gonna short-hand it as Venezuelan fried cheese) and a beef and cheese arepa. I really liked the arepa and want to try different kinds. One of us ordered the trout, another ordered shrimp in an orange/coconut sauce served in a coconut shell, and I had the pabellon criollo -- "The most traditional Venezuelan dish. Shredded beef slowly simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans." Couldn't see any vegetables, but the meat was tasty and tender. The plantains were AWESOME. My companions enjoyed their entrees as well. For dessert, one of us tried (and gushed about) the leche flan; a couple of coffees rounded it out for two of us. They do a brisk and boisterous business. I thought it was a solid experience overall -- I'd come back again, given the variety of the menus. Lots to try in the future.
(3)Loan L.
They call this a tapas place? There are like 9 items on the menu for tapas and most of them are mediocre. Where do I begin, Our server was less than enthusiastic. He was about excited to serving our table as a person getting a root canal. I ordered the red sangria at first and swore that they were stomping the grapes because that took forever to come. Then sangria was awful, there was more club soda in it than wine, and there were like little diced fruit in it, not the usual chunks of fruit. I then ordered the mojito and it was really really bad. Adding mass quantities of alcohol to a drink does not a good drink make. I couldn't taste the sugar cane or mint from the mojito because the bucket of rum they dumped into it over powered it. And the food: We ordered the ceviche which was probably the best item we got, which was way too sweet. I couldn't taste the lightness of a true ceviche. The tequenos which tasted like a bunch of cheese in an eggroll that they probably got from the frozen section of Stop and Shop. The arepa with beef and cheese was tasteless and burnt. Our seafood on a skewer which was $25 was terrible. The swordfish was really dry and the shrimp and scallops where probably marinaded in salt for weeks. The whole meal was terrible, dry and salty. Our entire bill came to $80 and it was soooooo not worth it. To add to this awful dinner, this place does not accept AmEx. We will never go back to this place again and i truly regret not going to Machu Picchu.
(1)Melissa Y.
Delicious! I was there today for lunch with a friend. Igor was our waiter, super friendly and had our apps and drinks out super fast. I'm glad we took his advice on trying the yucca, Yummy! Our meal was terriffic, can't wait to go back. and ask for Igor.
(5)Chris D.
First let me preface this by saying that the food was really good. However, my enthusiasm for this restaurant quickly soured once I got the bill. I got the traditional beef dish and my girlfriend got the quesadilla. When I ordered my dish, my waiter asked me if I wanted an Arepas to go with it to put the beef in. He made it sound as if it came with it but it was optional. I said sure. When we got our food, my girlfriend asked for more salsa and sour cream for her quesadilla (there was barely any). When we got the sour cream and salsa, it came dressed up as a fancy side, which is not how we were excepting it to be. When the bill came, I was really surprised to see they charged me for $3 dollars for the Areapas (a small muffin) and $4.50 for the extra sour cream and salsa! This place is already way to expensive and to have this top it off! When I told the waiter I was really surprised he charged me for the sour cream and salsa he said the kitchen made him ring it up. Plus he charged us for a flan that we didnt get so he had to take that off. Anyway, if you plan on going in there just getting two entrees, beware of any extras or options they may present to you, because you will see them on the bill.
(2)Lucy W.
Love the decor and the outdoor patio. I've been there both for lunch & dinner and the food has been great. I recommend the chicken empanadas and the De La Roques salad. The service is kinda "hands-off"- the servers are good at bringing your food & beverage but don't do much beyond that...I liked that they weren't constantly asking if things were ok and would appear when I needed a new drink. Speaking of drinks, their mixed drink menu is extensive and the drinks, delicious! Location is great, parking is thoroughly available.
(4)Rachael T.
jalepeno margarita now costs $14! we sat outside on a lovely summer evening. our server was awful. A nearby server took our drink order and brought us bread before our server even greeted us! did not like the escabeche - basically pickled red onion topped with cold fried haddock(?) and rubbery shrimp. areapas with queso blanco weren't as good as I had hoped either.
(3)Mark M.
Accessible, Friendly, Helpful and Delicious! With a gluten intolerance, I wrote the restaurant from their website in order to find out what, if anything, I could eat on their menu. Pedro, the chef and owner of the restaurant, wrote back to me within an hour and we conversed about his menu through email all day. In his last email he told me to ask for him directly at the restaurant, which I did. Pedro came over to my table and went over the entire menu letting me know what I could and could not order. It was very reassuring that my meal would be cooked as I needed. During the meal, which was absolutely delicious, Pedro stopped by a few more times and asked me by name, "Mark how did everything come out?" All in all, I was thrilled with the service (our waiter was great), the food (all of our tapas were perfect, especially the mussels) and the overall experience at this restaurant. I couldn't recommend it more after the way they treated me. Oh by the way... the white sangria is a definite must.
(5)John P.
I come here pretty often. For a beautiful restaurant in an office park, I found the prices pretty reasonable. I can only speak with confidence on the quesadilla con chorizo, but man - that is indeed a quesadilla stuffed with chorizo! So very good. Pro user tip: I've never waited longer than 15 minutes on a takeout order, even during the lunchtime rush. Call ahead and pick one up.
(4)Ariel G.
La Casa De Pedro has an amazing selection of authentic Latin American dishes. Their servings are huge and the food is VERY good. It's a bit pricey but well worth it.
(4)David H.
I eat here often out of protest for the awful Panera adjacent to it. The quesadillas are actually quite good. They are served with rice, beans, plantains and yucca, which I've grown to like. The service here is strange. I should start by saying that the people are all very nice. To their credit, they have never screwed up an order. I should also mentioned that they've endured and successfully served both of my parents at various times, and as someone who grew up with them I can attest to that being no small feat. Where it gets strange is that they seem to have very little formal training as wait staff. They frequently will interrupt conversations or reach across the table to grab a drink glass at inopportune moments or worse still, they'll ask the patrons to help them out by handing them things they don't feel like reaching for off the table. It's not a big complaint, but it's strangely noticeable. My main complaint is that the lunch menu is painfully limited. There are a lot of great things on the dinner menu, but they are for some reasons off limits for lunch. I agree with the previous reviewer that the prices are a bit high, but if 9 dollars for a quesadilla sounds like a lot you do have to consider the location.
(3)Oreo L.
I've been dining @ La Casa De Pedro since they were in Watertown Square! Everytime I come here I leave happy. Must order the mussels for appetizer if you are okay with eating seafood. The cod & salmon for entree, can't go wrong. Portions are very generous. Come here happy, leave here happier.
(5)Pablo S.
I was here this weekend and the worse thing about this place is gotta be the managers drinking at the bar.. the food took a long time to arrived and no one came to check on us, the drinks are horrible for the price.. it will take a long time for the whole family to come back here.
(1)Nicole B.
One of my favorite restaurants. Very generous portions. Excellent margaritas that use their in-house sour mix (no sugar added). The margaritas are so good here, that I got their recipe and now request it anywhere else I go. Even on their busiest nights, I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes (they may tell you 45 min, but the actual wait time is almost always 20 min or less). Friendly staff, great food (especially if you're a meat eater), fun decor and ambiance. On weekend evenings, they have a live latin band. For gluten-free people....they will cook your food in a dedicated gluten-free fryer if you request it.
(5)Karen D.
I took my boyfriend here as a special birthday treat. I knew I was going to spend some bucks and taking a risk after reading some of the reviews, and it was money well spent. The décor looks like a Latin spin on the Cheesecake Factory. We were greeted and thanked for choosing the restaurant. We went on a Wednesday, so it wasn't too busy, but enough people to give it a little atmosphere. We also got a nice big booth to ourselves. It also seems like a good place for a bigger group and there were a couple of parties. I could see how it could get really busy on a weekend though. Our waiter started out very serious, but warmed up as the meal progressed. He was very polite and accomodating. We got the $12 and $14 margaritas. They were excellent, but would be lost on the person who is used to the house margarita as a standard and is looking for a big drink. It is served more like a cocktail and it's about the quality of the tequilla. The calamari appetizer was great. It wasn't overly battered, had a great garlic flavor and had a little jalapeno garlic sauce drizzled on it. The sauce was so good, I ordered a side of the sauce with my dinner. For me a good sauce is one you could drizzle over styrofoam peanuts and it would taste good. This was one of them. My BF got the shrimp in the orange coconut sauce. The presentation was pretty. The shrimp is immersed in the sauce, in a coconut shell. It was absolutely delicious. There was a lot of the sauce and we tried it on other parts of our meals like it was a fondue. I got the Cumpleanos, which was flank steak, regular chorizo, and black chorizo. All of it was great. The steak was tender and cooked to order. Both dishes came with yuca, plantains, and rice and beans. Delicious as well. The portions were good size for a more upscale restaurant. I've been to fancy places, dropped a bundle, and still feel hungry after. Overall, I give this place a thumbs up. I couldn't afford to feast there every week, but for a fancier night out it's great. The lunch and brunch prices are a lot lower. They also have a patio that isn't open yet, but it seems like it could also be fun.
(4)Omoniyi A.
I had lunch/early dinner here yesterday and it was def worth the trip to Watertown. The food is fantastic and portions are generous. But more on that in a second - first ambiance: Our serve was a funny warm man who was inclined to suggest tastier, and (mildly) healtheri alternatives to our food choices. All well intentioned though! The owner Pedro is a cute round old man who is very charming and came up to the table at the end of the meal to ask about our experience and thank us for coming. The place itself is large and colorful and comfortable. The food, again, is excellent! Reminiscent of Peruvian food with delicious fried yucca, rice (both yellow and with beans) and plantain served with every entree. Which is very generous. Definitely filling! I did think that the menu was rather pricey (like $16-30 entrees), and with most things in the 18-24 range, which to me is pricey (dont know what others are "working with"!). But i just ordered soup (which was a very large bowl for $3.75) and an arepa which were generously sized and cost $9 together. A couple suggestions: 1) Go for lunch, the lunch menu was extensive and much more affordable. Lunch ends at 3 (so we missed it, but im sure the portion size is probably decent for lunch). 2) I didnt have any, but was told the beef empanada was bland. The beef also was cornbeef hash with little potatoes. The blackbean and cheese empanada i was told was good, so try that instead!
(4)Matt D.
Well let me first start off by saying that I had moderately high expectations the first time I set foot in this place. Looking over the menu, I noticed that they really didn't have a fantastic selection of entrees for vegetarians. I decided on the vegetable quesadilla (snore), and my coworkers ordered a bunch of meat and fish dishes. They seemed pleased with their choices, but my quesadilla was pretty disgusting. Something just didn't seem right about it. The yucca on the side was also extraordinarily chalky. The real disappointment set in the next day when I started shitting and puking my brains out for FOUR DAYS STRAIGHT. Yes folks, it seems that something in my veggie quesadilla gave me a nasty, nasty case of food poisoning. I was completely incapacitated for an entire weekend and it took another week for my digestive system to return to normal. Thanks Pedro. Honestly though, while I had an exceptionally bad experience there, I have heard decent things about the place. If you're going to try it, just be cautious about the choices you're making from the menu.
(1)Jillian Y.
I wish I could've rated this place higher, because upon entering, I was wholly impressed. Love the decor and the atmosphere but felt sick several hours after eating and think I may have gotten food poisoning from the calamari...awesome. And considering how overpriced the food was, that's just not right. Also, my red sangria was absolutely disgusting. Too strong and flavorless.
(2)Chad B.
We have been going to Pedros since it's old location in Watertown Square. Pedro's Steaks are savory and always complimented with ample sides. The margaritas and mojitos are expertly mixed and not cloying. Cap off the meal with some orders of chocolate and coconut flan, and you are in heaven. One of our favorite places. For those who like hot sauce, they make their own fresh which you can order on the side or by the bottle to take home.
(5)Vanilla P.
Fake palm trees! Fake palm trees! Live Venezuelan music! Mojitos that are fabulous! Very nice indeedy. We went last night and were seated almost right next to the kitchen, but I was fine with that since the live music was a little loud. Our waiter was pleasant enough, and was helpful in recommending the number of tapas we should order. Here's what we got: ME: Chicken and avocado arepas - like an English muffin grilled with cold chicken and guacamole smooshed in the middle. Chicken empanada - really strong flavors, with an almost curry-like addictive trait. Fried Yucca - wow, who knew a tuber would be this fab? Came out with cilantro and garlic sauce, and reminded me of giant steak fries (but better). Oh, and a Diet Coke in a nice tumbler glass with a lime slice - perfect for making me look cool. Hubby: Pabellon Criollo - which is Shredded beef slowly simmered with vegetables typical Venezuelan dish. Served with rice, fried plantains and black beans - Thanks, Pedro!! This dish was really amazing, since the beef was super tender and flavorful, and it seemed that everything had been simmered with loving care. Even the black beans were bursting with flavor. Hubby also got a 10 Cane Mojito, and he loved it so much that he validated the $10 price tag, telling me it was the BEST mojito he had in his life. I suppose we'll be back to sit on the patio and look at the stars when the weather warms up. The whole Arsenal area has a pretty jazzy vibe, and La Casa De Pedro warms it up with some kickass Latin flair.
(4)Erin C.
Their breakfast burrito is just fantastic! Dip those potatoes in the sauce that covers the burrito and I promise you won't regret it!
(4)Algert S.
When I hear "La Casa De Pedro", greasy and deep-fried food comes to mind. Would NOT recommend!
(1)M J.
I am a fan. The food is great, ditto the mixed drinks and the sangria, the patio rocks and based on today's visit, the interior is not too shabby either. I guess I had not been inside in some time - it's gone all colorful and latin. It's a bit overdone but I like it! Well, maybe they could lose a few of the mobiles?.... Anyway, they've done well taking a cavernous space and warming it up. Points for the valet parking and the owner who is, as noted previously, on sight. Does he actually *drive* that teenie tiny smart car parked outside? My friend's dog weighs more than that thing. Star off for sometimes spotty service and the small sized plates and highish prices on the lunch entrees.
(4)Carla s.
Been going since this placed opened... it seems that it's better when it's busy... but it's been dead lately.. Maybe it's the season we are in. I miss seeing Pedro, he used to be there all the time. I don't go as much anymore.. there hot sauce is the best !!!
(4)william d.
Wonderful atmosphere and great food! I'll be back again for sure!
(4)Foodie K.
The old Pedro is back! I deleted my earlier review. I think Pedro's was having some growing pains adjusting to the larger space in Arsenal Park, but now it has really gone back to its good old roots. I love their yucas fritas, pabellon criollo, carne encebollada, the ceviche, so many delicious tasty dishes to choose from. Their lunches are quick, cheap(er), and fabulous!
(4)Naomi U.
Gorgeous outdoor dining venue and an indoor decor that reminds one of the out doors! Nice menu but not very adaptable to people who can't eat pork...things are both cooked in lard and with pork...but perhaps this also guarantees authentic fare - so what can I say? I normally would not rate drinks...but the "10 rum" Mojjitos really are very good.
(3)Jennifer K.
When Pedro's was in it's old location, it was phenomenal, and you always felt like you were taking part in some great secret. Now, although the food is always good (esp the potato thingies that come with the meal, and the fried hunk of cheese, as I used to call it), the space is farrrrr too big for them, leading often to crappy crappy service, and just an overall feeling of nothing intimate or cozy. The bar is fun after work, however, especially if you can walk there (oh, the old days), and in the summer, the outdoor seating is great for a 2 hour pina colada filled lunch.... ,,,but the space just loses them a good old star.
(4)S B.
First, the good part: the food here was delicious, overall. But there were a lot of problems leading up to the actual eating of the food. The waiter recommended the red sangria (over the white) and I'm sorry I listened to him. It was a very poor showing of sangria. It tasted almost sour, like day old beer with some red wine in it. And some orange rinds. Hint: put in real orange pieces, not the rind, so the drinker doesn't accidentally eat a rind. It didn't taste fruity at all, and was a major letdown. Our waiter also neglected to offer refills on our beverages. He also walked away when only half our table had ordered. Thanks? Our food took aaaaages to come. It was crowded, but waiting 45 minutes for our meal was a bit ridiculous. I had the Espada de Mar. All the shellfish on the skewer were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. However, I only got one skewer with 2 shrimp, 2 scallops, and 2 pieces of fish. For $25. No matter how delicious they were, a single skewer was not worth that kind of money. I could get high quality seafood in bigger quantities for that price elsewhere. The sides that came with my entree were also quite delicious, but not for that price. The fried plantains were sweet and cooked exactly how I like them. I was also a big fan of the yuca that came with it - you can't get yuca just anywhere. The atmosphere wasn't ideal either. It's a huge place, and gets noisy very easily. Especially when the live band starts at 7:00 PM. Can't they wait until at least 8? Or keep it low-key until then? Live music is a nice touch - but not when it prevents all conversation during a normal dinner hour. Oh, and salt-watchers beware. All of my food was strongly salted, which was fine by me but doesn't suit everyone.
(2)Lisa E.
This was my second visit. Last fall my boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a lovely meal in an interesting environment. I love the decor & the plants...something very unusual for the Boston area. Our waiter was fast, cordial and knowledgeable about the menu, as as making a couple excellent dish recommendations. I can't remember what those choices were after all this time, except the food was hot , well prepared and beautifully presented. Fast forward to last Sunday for dinner: My son took me out for dinner and I suggested La Casa De Pedro because of my prior experience. It was very busy when we arrived and the waiter was super busy with multiple tables. It took a while to get our cocktails...no big deal and a little longer to place an order. Do not expect any chips and salsa to stave off starvation pangs...they simply are not available. We ordered shrimp ceviche, mussels sauteed with tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, onions and lime juice and Tequeos - it's a puff pastry filled with melted Mexican cheese. The appetizers were all "good" but not as flavorful as I prefer - it's almost as though the food is being prepared to appeal to homogenized taste buds. My entree was a simple pork Quesadilla with a side of beans.....this was a disappointment - when it arrived it had the appearance of sitting under the heat lamp for 15 minutes, the tortilla was hard and the dish itself was over salted, as was my son's. Their dinner prices are rather steep and I felt that the food should be superior in both service and quality. I will go back for lunch because any establishment will have off times and it isn't fair to make a judgment based upon one off night. Try their Mojitos ($11.00) - they were excellent.
(3)Dharia M.
cocktails: really good, but still overpriced. vegetarian options: really lacking. don't get me wrong, i ADORE any place with 3 kinds of fried cheese on the menu. and i love tapas. but if you don't eat seafood, the only vegetarian entree on the menu is a cheese quesadilla. FYI: just ask the server for a grilled veggie platter and they will bring out a GIANT plate with plantains, rice, beans, and a ton of tasty veggies. (the server was conscientious enough to notify me that the beans were made with chicken stock, so bonus points for her) they are one of the few places in town with a nice patio, and there is often live music. On these hot summer evenings, it really can't be beat. for that kind of atmosphere i'm prepared to lay down some big bucks and gorge myself on tasty tropical cocktails and multiple types fried cheese. mmmm.
(3)Dan L.
The food is good, not great. I like the steak casadillas. Overall, it's too expensive. The drinks are great, but they're also pretty expensive. If it weren't the closest sit-down option in our complex, I wouldn't eat there nearly as often.
(3)Robert C.
Took some Italian friends to dinner based on Yelp reviews. Despite the waiter's sincere attempts to converse and attend to our needs, he brought the wrong wine (same winery, incorrect grape) which we did not notice until he opened and poured it (we just kept and drank it quietly) and service was hit and miss. Food? My Cordero (marinated lamb chops) had the consistency of soft rubber and was pretty gray-colored. Let's put it this way - no one was raving about the food, and no one seemed to be motivated to share - not worth it. Edible, but that's the best I can report. Funky location, in an old military (or automotive) research warehouse.
(2)M D.
Phenomenal Latin food. I try and I try but I honestly can't help but order the cheese arepa and the chicken empanada. Absolutely decadent. Fresh ingredients, innovative twists on the classics. YUM. Don't come in a rush.
(5)Sarah H.
the food here is awful - everything tastes the same. except the flan, which doesn't taste like the rest of the menu- but still tastes awful and completely not flan-like. very much not worth the money. EXCEPT the plantains, which are amazing. the service is very slow for a place that seems to cater to business lunches (at least in the perspective of someone who goes there for exactly that). I hear the bar is good, but I've never been there - and it's expensive. it's pretty sad that I'd rather go to Panera, which is right next door.
(2)Stace M.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Terrrrrriiiibbbbllllle service! Our waiter gave every table but ours bread, didn't check in with us once and when I flagged down a bus boy for extra guacamole it took them so long I had already finished my meal! And to top it off they charged me $3 for a scoop of guacamole I didn't even eat! Never again!
(2)Lauren F.
I work at the Arsenal so I've gone to La Casa de Pedro a few times with coworkers. The food and the service are both decently good but not anything special. The last time I went we got in a bit of trouble with the waitstaff. We went with a group of 5 right at noon and were the first ones there for lunch. They would not seat us at their only large table because it was for 8, even though no one else was there yet. Instead, they put us at two adjacent tables (one for 4 and one for 2). They did not move the tables together, so they were pretty far apart. It would have been awkward to carry on a conversation between the two tables. After the hostess left, we tried to move the two tables together, but she and a waiter came over and told us they could not be moved. Okaaaay. We ended up squishing all together into one table so we could carry on a conversation. I've only had the Pabellón Criollo but I do like it a lot. It is marinated shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans, and white rice. Very tasty and I usually eat nearly everything on my plate (the lunch portions are not huge, I think they're just right but if you are a Hungry Man you may want to get an appetizer). The last time we were there, the waitstaff was a bit quick about removing our plates and bringing the check. I definitely felt rushed. It was a beautiful summer day and we were enjoying the patio, so I would have like to stay, but I felt like they wanted to get rid of us and seat another group. A little disappointing. I'll definitely go back since it's better than eating at Panera during work, but I'd love it if they would improve some of these areas.
(3)Jason C.
I should start by saying that we have eaten here several times before and the experience was always good, but.... Yesterday I ordered a $10 salad with shrimp & avocado - it showed up on a plate with a pile of romaine lettuce, 6 or 7 miniature shrimp, and 2 tiny slices of avocado. When I asked for more of each, the waiter brought back... a few more miniature shrimp and 2 more tiny slices of avocado. I sent it back again, and after witnessing an argument between the waiter and someone in the kitchen, I was told that this was the typical amount of avocado they put on a salad. Later, someone who appeared to be a manager or owner (didn't identify himself), came over and asked me what was wrong with the salad. I explained to him the same thing I explained to the waiter and the cook (adding that I get about 5 times as much avocado when I order a salad at any other restaurant), and he had the nerve to argue with me about it, saying that they specially cut their own avocado and romaine (whatever that means??) and then that the price of avocados has gone through the roof, etc. etc. My point is: if you can't afford the avocado, take it off the menu, but don't try to pawn this heap of chopped lettuce off as a "shrimp & avocado salad". Then, to top it all off, they charged us $3 for a small plastic cup of milk for my 2-year old daughter. Suffice to say, we will not be going back... this was customer service at its worst, and even the waiters were embarassed by this episode!
(1)Joanne G.
I worked in Watertown for almost 5 years and this was my fave place to go for lunch and dinner. It used to be on Main Street (in the picture that is posted) but it has moved to further up Main Street towards the Arsenal Mall - where Red Sauce and the Naked Fish used to be - GREAT location lots of parking and the decor is gorgeous (The Naked Fish left everything for them) They have a band who plays and there is even some dancing that can go on. There is always music playing and lots of laughing from the patrons. Eating there is the best - I suggest: Appetizers - Arrepas & Empandaa YUM YUM! Lunch - Pollo en Brasa - seasoned baked chicken with cilantro sauce (TO DIE FOR!) comes with rice, casava (yuka) and fried plantanos I have never had a bad meal here - I apologize from Pedro (who ALWAYS comes by my table when we go there) if you experienced anything other than a fantastically scrumptious meal. I have been told (when it is available) the whole Red Snapper is fantastic - that is my next meal there (I would call ahead to make sure they have any left - it seems to be very popular) Their mixed drinks were ok - I would always like a larger glass of anything ;) Service at their old location was always outstanding - but the new location there are a lot more new people - and I have only had 1 bad server who wasn't around the way the last server was - in fact the server that served us the last time spent more time with us than the server that was assigned to us (I gave a tip at the end of our meal!)
(5)Betsy K.
To my surprise, I love this place! It looks like a Chachky's (chain restaurant like TGIF's, Naked Fish) but it is not. I get the same thing everytime because I love it so. I normally do not do this at other places. For apps -Ceviche (not authentic but good) -The grilled Venezulan cheese. For dinner or lunch: -Pabellon Criollo, which is delicious shredded beef, beans and rice, and plaintains. -For drinks: lots of white sangria. Pedro is super nice too-he is always coming around. I love his casa!
(4)edward o.
Have been to this restaurant many times and the service and food have always been good. Actually heading there now when I read the previous review. That table the previous reviewer comments on is not in the bathroom! It is actually at the back right side of the restaurant and a larger table , with some privacy, for larger parties. Last week I sat right across from there in a section of smaller tables, even closer to the hallway to the bathroom, and it was very comfortable. This is a fun place to go to eat and be entertained. The specialty drinks are pricey but no more so than any other quality restaurant. One on mine and my wife's favorite local places. Enjoy.
(5)Thomas F.
This place isn't bad, but it isn't great. We felt that a lot of the dishes were just the same set of basic components rearranged and called a new dish (for example they all had pretty much the same side dishes) and the food was prepared okay but was unexciting. Overall it didn't justify the price.
(2)carol l.
Been here twice and it is delicious! I had the Shugui's Pollo Asado which comes with plantains, yucca and rice with beans. This is one of the best meals I have ever had! A little pricey and no bread or anything to start. Drinks start around $10 and up so I skipped on those but otherwise, I definitely recommend trying this place at least once!
(4)Christian E.
The skinny: go for the tapas, and regardless of quality, this place probably won't last. My old roommates and I were in the area, and thought we'd check out the space where Red Sauce used to be, way back in 2004, and stumbled upon La Casa de Pedro. We were there, so we figured why not? Well, there were a couple of reasons why not, but I'll get to those. How about why? It was a Friday, and there was live music. Mediocre, but entertaining. +1. We got there around 8:30, and there was a 15-minute wait, but nobody was really sitting at the bar (right next to the band), where there's full-menu service, so we decided to sit there. The food is decent--decently tasty, decently priced (on average). The entres seemed relatively pricey, especially the quesadilla plate ($15 for a quesadilla and a few paltry sides), so I went the tapas route, which ended up being the right choice. I got a black bean empanada, a huge green salad (avocado, mesclun greens, lime-cilantro dressing), and a surprisingly large fried yucca plate I split with a friend for $13. An Argentinean guila beer rounded out the meal for me. I was pretty happy; my friend who got the quesadilla was decidedly less content. It's also worth noting that food service at the bar wasn't great. The bartender wasn't busy--we were the only people sitting there--but he was less than attentive, and a tad on the gruff side. I'm aware it's been around for over a year, so perhaps there's hope, but I doubt La Casa de Pedro will make it. It's not visible from the road, so there will be few cases of incidental patronage. There have been two cases of good-but-closed restaurants in this exact location in the past 5 years (Naked Fish, whose fish is incidentally still above the door, and Red Sauce), and it will take a special place indeed to beat the curse. Sadly, I don't think Pedro's is it.
(3)myr m.
I don't know about most people, but I like to think that restaurants care about their customers in more ways than just $$$$. My daughter and I went, were seated, and the waitress quickly pointed out the kitchen closed at 9pm. I then proceeded to order only a couple of tapas items for my daughter because I had already had dinner. The waitress adamantly told me that I would have to order something for myself. I explained that I had already eaten and was there to get my daughter something to eat. She then kept pointing to a spot on the menu and said, " See, right here. It says there is a minimum charge for dinner, $15 per person". I continued to protest as we had already ordered more tapas than what my daughter could eat. The food would have gone to waste. Noticing that I was becoming annoyed and was about to leave, the waitress then decides she can make an exception just this one time. Now I understand that more and more restaurants are instituting a minimum charge per person, or they charge an additional fee for sharing dishes, but consumers should not have to take and swallow this, so to speak.... especially when the food is as mediocre as it was at Casa de Pedro. The empanadas were big on grease and low on flavor. The Tortilla Espanola looked charred; to say it was dry is an understatement. The only dish I can't speak ill of were the fried plantains. Thank goodness for nature's sweet goodness. But for fried plantains, I think I'll just make those at home. Thanks, but no thanks. Casa de Pedro just doesn't seem very hospitable when they're twisting my arm to order more food than we wanted or needed.
(2)Al G.
Decent - but a little pricey. We ordered four tapas which were tasty & ample. I hope to go back for entrees eventually. It was a nice change of pace to have Venezuelan food.
(4)Jeffrey K.
I work right next to this joint so I go there all the time. The fact that people actually go to panera bread instead of Pedro's right next door is beyond me. The prices are comparable but the food isn't. Pedro's is super yummy. Their cuban sandwich is second to none and the special are always good. Only get their hot sauce if you really like hot sauce though. Its homemade and you never really know how high octane its going to be. The service is pretty spot on too, especially the bartenders. They aren't pretentious like I would expect at a place like that. My only gripe is that they won't let you drink outdoors on the patio area without purchasing food. Apparently there is some local rule against it but cut a brother a break. I've gone there will a large group of people after work. All of us are fine with throwing money around and could easily run up a liquor tab of a few hundred dollars (stressful days are standard around here). Why they pass on that is beyond me.
(4)Jessica T.
I ate here today for the first time and loved it. I was w/ coworkers are we only had an hour break. The staff was friendly and efficient. Loved the decor and the cobalt blue water glasses. I got a salad w/ roasted red peppers, avocado and sesame seeds. It was served with a cilantro dressing- yum. It was very refreshing.
(4)Mo S.
Food - definitely good. Great for a change of pace, and they have a reasonably sized menu that doesn't get out of control - have the steak quesadillas, the beef empanadas and the garlic shrimp. Service - brutally slooowwwwwwwww..... order your next drink when you've just started your first one - otherwise, it may never come. Prices - slightly crazy. You have to be strategic - either stick to a main course, or just a couple of tapas. Drinks are really expensive, but pretty good, so it can be worth it every once in a while to get the top shelf mojito..... Nice to see a place at this location that has a hope of making it. Also - not to be overlooked - they have a great patio overlooking the fountain that is perfect for lunch/late afternoon cocktails. Nice on a Saturday!!!
(4)Suzanne M.
We had a wonderful lunch here. The special jalapeno margarita was a hit with the spice lovers at the table (I took a taste and survived). The fried cheese with roasted corn - yum! Get extra corn. For an entree I had the marinated pork chops, which were cooked perfectly, and hubs had the mixed lobster / scallop / shrimp special with mango sauce. I wish I had gotten that - it was amazing. But I wasn't unhappy with my pork chops!
(4)Nathaniel M.
A good place for tasty Latin food. I have been there many times. The owner is often there and they can accommodate for allergies. Their fish dishes are excellent. A bit pricey. You must try the the fried Yucca as an app.
(4)Kevin T.
I work in this area so frequent La Casa De Pedro a lot. Sometimes I go there multiple times a week for lunch, so I've pretty much tried most of their menu. I recommend this place for a nice, casual meal in a relaxed environment. I usually go for their quesadillas (shrimp is my fav), but aside from that, their meats and fish entrees are very well seasoned and tasty. Portion is not an issue - all or most of the dishes i've had come with beans/rice, plantains, and yuca. Sometimes they can pour on too much of the cilantro (oil) sauce, and on off days their food can be a bit saltier than I like, but overall, the food is great. Some dishes I recommend (don't remember the exact name, sorry): - roasted half chicken - grilled steak (they have other steaks for dinner, but grilled steak is lunch only) - cape cod - quesadilla (shrimp) - salmon (dinner only) Appetizers are great as well, from the empanadas to shrimp sauteed in garlic and cilantro (Camarones al ajillo) to arepas (chicken, pork, and beef are all great). I would definitely try this place if the food is your style. During work days, lunch time can be a bit busy, but wait times generally aren't long. Dinner times are not super crowded as well, though the bar can be at happy hour. During summer, they have outdoor seating as well. Parking is a breeze during dinner and weekends - Pedro's is located in a huge office park with outdoor and garage parking. They have valet parking for $2, but frankly, I'd only consider it if I drove there during lunch on weekdays (since you'd most likely have to park in the garage on the top floor).
(4)Joe Z.
I went to Casa de Pedro based on some glowing recommendations. I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed. Everything was overly salty and the service was slow and not very good in general.
(2)Tanvi D.
Pros - Good food, Good Drinks, Can handle crowds Cons - Bit Pricey, Closes too early on weekdays We went there in a big group (about 12 people) on a tuesday for a friend's birthday party. Our reservations were for 8:00pm. But, we didn't all gather there till 8:30.. Some of us who go there early had a chance to order drinks and settle down and read the menu. By the time the "Birthday Person" arrived, we were told that the kitchen was going to close in 1/2 hour, so, we had to order immediately if we wanted food.. Now, its partly our fault for not checking what time the restaurant closes. As for food, we ordered a bunch of appetizers and couple main dishes for everyone to share. This was definitely a good decision. The portions were large and filling. We had Empanadas, Yuca Frita, Arepas. I can't remember what we had for the entrees. But, those were delicious as well. I think I'll go there again (maybe in a smaller group and earlier) to try their other dishes..
(4)J. G.
We went to Casa de Pedro for a celebratory dinner and it was definitely not as good as the last time we went. I was a bit embarassed because I had raved about how good the food was last time. The food was all completely mediocre. The rice was hard and my pork was just warm. Everyone at the table was completely underwhelmed.
(2)Alex N.
I went to Pedro's with a group of 7 people to celebrate a friend returning to the states from abroad. It took 15 minutes just for a server to come over to get our drinks and apps, another 10 for the drinks to come, 45 min for the apps, and about 1-1/2 hrs after we got there we complained that our meals hadn't come yet. So timing isn't their thing. However, after we complained to the manager, he did his best to make it better by getting us a few rounds of free drinks and a nightcap shot before we left. The food was decent, I recommend the Arepas with Chicken and Avacodo. The flank steak was a little overcooked.
(2)Paul M.
Casa De Pedro used to be a dark and cozy little spot in Watertown Square. Now it's an enormous brightly lit warehouse hidden in an office park near the Arsenal Mall. The owners must not want people to eat here because there is almost no way to find the place. Their single sign is camoflauged in a sea of similar advertisements on flag poles. The food and the service have gone downhill with the new digs. We waited over an hour for a mediocre entrees paired with predictably lame rice and beans that tasted canned. Our waiter fumbled with the wine opener and dropped a dish or two on the floor. He refilled our waters once in the 2+ hour period we were there. I can no longer recommend this restaurant.
(2)Jenny N.
You can tell that the owner takes great pride in his restaurant, because the first page of the menu describes how his mother influenced his cooking. It's a lovely tribute... They claim to have the best roast chicken in the state, and I have to say that I'm not gonna argue that--the skin is crispy and meat is moist and flavorful. It came with sides of fried plantains, black beans and rice, and fried yucca. A delicious, light herb sauce was drizzled over the dish (I think it was cilantro based, and I usually HATE cilantro). I loved the complementary flavors (sweet, salty & starchy all on one plate!), and everything was seasoned just right. For dessert, we polished off the coconut flan. It was super creamy and thick--like coconut creme brulee without the crackly part. Instead, it was topped with a thin caramel sauce. So yummy. It was one of the best lunches I've ever had, and I left very satisfied. And lunch was a deal ($9) compared to the dinner prices ($16-24). They have brunch on the weekends, too. I had been eager to try this place since I used to drive by the old location fairly frequently, so I'm glad I was not disappointed. I think I'm going back for lunch of these days to try out the Cuban sandwich... Service was quite good, and the dining area is really nice--very comfortable, spacious, and colorful! Large bar too. Bonus-- there is free parking in the Arsenal garage, across from the restaurant. The Arsenal itself can be difficult to navigate though...kinda like a weird parking lot maze.
(5)Dan H.
Service was bad. Food was decent but not worth the price. The place is huge and very nice inside and the live music was a great touch but the service could not have been worse. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing. Calamari was sub par. Honestly, not impressed with the food. Definetly just try somewhere else. La Casa de Sucko
(1)Megan L.
Love this place. I've only eaten here for lunch but I work in the area and go all the time. Chicken quesadillas or the Raquel salad--yum! Food and service are excellent. They sometimes skimp on the condiments but if you ask for extra, no problem.
(5)Daigo F.
Very happy that they moved here. The location used to be Naked Fish, then Red Sauce, then Marzo 13 (or something like that), but none of them was close to how good this is. Ceviche and beer to start, and so far, we have not ordered anything on the menu that we didn't like. We'll keep going back. update: Just tried Sunday Brunch... price was pretty reasonable, but have to give a mixed review... Frenh toast was burned and undercooked at same time, if thats even possible. Venezuelan Pancake was OK, but also had a burned taste. I guess stick with lunch menu or perhaps I just had a bad day? Still like thsi joint. Best Ceviche, still for the summer.
(4)Meghan O.
My coworkers and I enjoy Casa de Pedro for lunch as well as after work drinks. The drinks are strong and tasty. I recommend the shrimp quesadilla for a good value.
(4)Ted B.
I had a company lunch outing here last week. I got the "states best" chicken with extra plantains. The chicken was good but the plantains are what made the meal. The inside was very nice but our table was a bit small for the amount of people we had. The Cane 10 Mojito I had was a great way to start the meal.
(4)Monica D.
Was not as great as my boss said. Everything was incredibly salty. I did like the chicken and avocado arepas and fried plantains. Unfortunatly we went for an office lunch meeting, so I could not try any adult beverages.
(2)Nora G.
New location is huge but nice. Fun music playing. Tapas were tasty and well priced. Cappucino was perfect. The flan (a group of us shared the milk and chocolate ones) was killa!
(5)Cathy H.
Perhaps I got here on a good night- but there were quite a few people, but it wasn't overly crowded. Since I had not been to the previous Pedros, I didnt have any high expectations to compare it to. The decor was interesting, but the really high ceilings gives it a very commercial feel. I started with a white sangria because I love to use the excuse of going to a new place to have a fruity drink. It was good- not too sweet. We split a Verde Salad, which was just as advertised- cilantro dressing- but the oily kind, not the creamy kind. Not bad. Fresh vegetables though. For dinner I had the Hallacas, (similar to a chille relleno) which I really, really liked. It came with plantains, chicken salad, and two types of rice- yum! I walked out full and happy.
(4)Holson Y.
Finishing my 2nd 10 cane mojito. The best and only mojito I really like. 2nd down being habana's at Costa Mesa, CA. Pedros is my fave thoi its less sweet Food is unbelievable as always. Expensive yes but if you want to gather your greatest friends, show them a good time, awesome drinks, food, spirit and ambiance, look no further. Plus this is the only reason to visit watertown I concur with another yelpers suggestion to expand out west. We need a place like this under the sunny skies and canary island palm trees of so cal. Show em how its done Again, if you expect cheap please try a different place. My bi weekly OC-Boston trip ALWAYS includes this place in the itinerary. If you love this place for its style and character, message me and ill recommend a few like it in Orange County. Happy Labor Day!
(5)Chris L.
I was pretty skeptical of this place based on the reviews I had read, complaining about slow service and bland food. Nevertheless, my three friends and I gave it a shot tonight. While we are regulars at Rudy's, in Teele Square, and Border Cafe, we wanted to venture out and see what Watertown had to offer, in terms of Latin fare. It was pretty good. We went on a Saturday night at about 7:15pm and the wait was less than 5 minutes. Parking was ample in the garage across from the Watertown BSC. The first thing we all noticed were the ridiculous prices of the specialty drinks. I wanted a mojito, but didn't really feel like paying $10-12. As a result my friends and I ordered a pitcher of sangria to share. The pitcher was small and after four people had filled their glasses, it was gone. I'd give the sangria itself an 8/10. For appetizers, we all split the Queso blanco a la plancha (grilled Venezuelan cheese) and the Ceviche. The grilled cheese was interesting...just a grilled piece of cheese on a plate and the ceviche was a little too tomatoey for my taste. I've had better. Appetizers I'd rate a 6.5/10. For entrees, I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (1/2 chicken), and my friends got the chicken quesadillas, Pabellon Criollo (shredded beef), and Trucha Galarraga (trout). My chicken wasn't bad, but it was pretty bland and the breast meat was a little over cooked and dry. I asked for hot sauce and the waiter brought me a cup of spicy mustard, which I thought was weird. Is Venezuelan hot sauce mustard? The chorizo that came with my meal was good though, as were the sides. My friends loved the shredded beef, and the quesadillas. However, my friend who ordered the trout was disappointed and ended up with a trout bone lodged in the back of her throat, which she did not really appreciate. I wouldn't suggest ordering the trout unless you don't mind bones in your fish. Finally, the waitstaff was slightly better than average, although my friend ordered a side of guac, and it didn't come until she was 3/4 finished with her meal. Our waiter was friendly and it didn't take too long to get our food. Overall, I was happy with my meal and I will probably go there again. However, I would still rate Rudy's higher, in terms of quality and value.
(3)Anonymous P.
Surprisingly good. In many ways, I prefer the food here to that at East Coast Grill. It's more authentic and spicier, and the portions are larger. The prices--at least for lunch--are very cheap. It's not the absolute best Latin American food I've had, but it's the best I've had in Boston. 7/14/2007: Been to the new location. Too salty but otherwise good. Nice patio.
(4)Rob D.
Wow. Wow. Stunning. Magnificent. Wonderful, flavorful, authentic Venzualian food. Run by a real guy named Pedro, this family run operation recently moved from Main street in Watertown to its new location behind the Arsenal Office Building. I haven't been to the new spot, but a friend tells me that its only gotten better. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and truly happy to see you. Go there. Eat happy.
(5)Al A.
Bad service. Over priced food. Over priced drinks. I hope the boss is paying for this company outing.
(2)Emily K.
Recently had lunch here with coworker...right across the street from where i work. I was a bit skeptical because I don't like red meat and the menu had a lot....but their chicken dish with mango and apricots was delicious. It was my first time trying yucca...also very yummy! I'd love to go back and try some seafood ...my coworkers said it was great!
(4)carol b.
We just ate dinner here tonight for the first time and I loved everything we ordered (I'm from Venezuela but haven't lived there in decades; it was a fond memory trip to eat at Pedro's). I can understand reviewers not liking the tequeños or the arepas, they are bland even in Venezuela, but they are a wonderful acquired taste. My queso blanco arepa's crust was a little burnt, but it was still delicious. I had the sancocho (chicken soup) and it had apio, a legume I've never had here in the US; it was really good. My beef empanada was yummy. My children shared the Parrillada de Caracas (I think that's the name of the entree) which had steak, chicken and chorizo along with yuca and plantains and they (and I) loved it. My husband had the Christmas special platter with hallaca, it was also delicious (though I'm sure it will soon be gone till next December). My Caipirinha drink was really good though it's technically Brazilian. :) Finally, we had coconut quesillo (note: Venezuelans do not eat flan, they eat QUESILLO, a much denser custard than flan - yes, it's meant to be much heavier, it is not "bad flan") and rice pudding for dessert and we all enjoyed them. It is pricey, but we'll definitely be going back to satisfy my cravings for Venezuelan food. I can't speak to the service when it's crowded since we ate at 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon and it was practically empty.
(4)Wally G.
When we walked into the place the hostess was kind enough. I immediately noticed the place was pretty empty (maybe not too surprising for 7pm on a Tues night)... we were a party of 4 and requested a corner booth. The hostess took us to a regular booth. We asked again, can we have a corner booth, the hostess responded "those are for parties of 5"... I looked around, and again saw the place was about 5% full, and asked her, "are you expecting a rush of people?"... she said, "let me ask my manager". After she gained management approval, we were then seated in a corner booth. Other than this, food was mediocre and not worth the high "cuisine" price. Margarita's start at $11 and go up into the mid $20's. The service was VERY slow - surprisingly so for an empty restaurant. At the end of the dinner, as we SLOOOOWLY walked out noticed that there wasn't one staff member around - not a huge deal, but, symbolic of the overall experience. I would not recommend this place to a friend.
(2)Edmon K.
First time in Venezuelan restaurant and totally enjoy the experience. Will definitely go again.
(4)Teju P.
We randomly drove by looking for a brunch place, and the large sign outside caught our eye. I think we were hooked even before we entered! There was nice latin musical playing just outside the door and a large sign with the main menu items as well...The high ceilings, light colors, and lots of p lants make the ambiance fabulous. Food is excellent - they will alter your order to be vegetarian if requested. One thing that I enjoyed is that when they say "hot sauce" its REALLY hot! I would love to check this place out for dinner sometime!
(5)Roxanna M.
La Casa De Pedro serves authentic Venezuelan food - simple, tasty and filling - and does it in a nice, cozy setting. If you're not familiar with latin food, have some fun and try something new! The food here's the real thing, I can attest to that. I recommend the arepas (the reina pepiada is my favorite - a corn bread filled with shredded chicken and avocado) and for an entree the pabellon criollo (a massive plate of shredded beef, white rice, black beans and fried ripe plantains - all of it delicious). Of course, dessert must include flan. It's the law. You will know who Pedro is as soon as you walk in the door - he is gregarious and takes frequent breaks from the kitchen to greet his guests. The staff is attentive and friendly, there's outdoor dining in the summer - all in all a great authentic restaurant.
(4)Natalie K.
Great food, not slathered with cheese like cheap Mexican food. Healthy, filling, good sized portions. Margaritas are pricey $11-25 per one.
(5)Stuart S.
Tried this place for the first time. Nice menu, good food, good drinks. Service left a lot to be desired. Two of us, arrived around 6:15 pm on a weeknight, inside dining room was virtually empty. Even so it took about 15 minutes for a waiter to come over to the table. One of those situations in which I was ready to walk out. I'd try it again, but this is something they definitely need to work on.
(3)Meghan M.
I'm sort of surprised at some of the poor reviews of this place. I did prefer their previous location...It was super low-key and much more casual and authentic feeling. This location is HUGE. Really high ceilings (which does make it noisy when there's a crowd). Because of the noise level, it's probably a place more suited for groups (completely opposite of their other location which was tiny). I think they're still trying to settle in here which might be why the service isn't fantastic. I do like their mojitios and they have a few nice red wines on their "by the glass" list. I have to say, though, that there's one thing that will keep me coming back to Pedro's...SWORDFISH TIPS. Soooooo good! It is quite easy to mess up swordfish (it's often dry or just not fresh) but these guys nail it every time. It comes with a roasted red pepper creamy sauce in a pineapple shell with a side of rice & beans, yucca and plantains. My oh my, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
(4)Allison B.
i'd take a place like pedro's over a gut-busting-tex-mex-explosion like border cafe any day. i'm not going to even pretend to know what authentic venezuelan food is like, but the fact that the standard sides here are fried plantains (deliciously awesome) and yucca (new to me, and totally pleasant) makes me at least feel like they know what they're doing. and if they don't - who cares? it's yummy. i'll echo the previous reviewer who lamented the lack of veggie dishes. but the veggie quesadilla IS really good - stuffed with squash and other delights rather than sad shredded iceberg lettuce and wimpy tomatoes like most other places. my only complaint is that despite their focus on pedro's life story and preservation of his family's recipes, they don't train their waiters how to say them. in fact, more than once i've gone and either ordered in spanish only to have the waiter repeat the english translation back to me (as in, "i'll have the pollo con arroz" receiving a reply of "ok, the chicken with rice"), or having the waiter admit that he/she doesn't know how to pronounce something and describe it instead.
(4)Alyssa H.
I'd been wanting to try this place for years, since it was a little tiny restaurant in Watertown Square. Last week I headed over for dinner with my friend Michelle. We wanted to get tapas and were a little disappointed with the rather small selection of dishes. We finally agreed to each get a salad, and then try three of the Tapas. First came the baked cheese, which i thought was rubbery and salt. Second came a dish that was similar to corn bread with chicken and avocado in the middle. The cornbread did not have much flavor, but had been grilled and tasted a bit charred. The avocado and chicken mixture needed something , salt? tomatoes? something.... Lastly we had the garlic shrimp, a tapas staple. It was good. Then the salads arrived. They were ENORMOUS. Enough for both of us to take about 2/3 home to have for lunch the next day. I really loved the dressing on my shrimp salad, which came over mixed greens with avocado, mango and red peppers. I'd give La Casa de Pedro another try and maybe get one of the main entrees instead of the tapas. The wait staff was friendly (maybe a little TOO friendly) and on a Tuesday night at 7 we were seated immediately.
(3)Leah B.
I just had lunch at La Casa de Pedro with 8 co-workers and have vowed to never go back. The food was good but nothing new and exciting. If you've ever had Latin food before then go somewhere cheaper and homier - it will taste just as good and won't hurt your wallet quite as much. Our waiter was surly, ignored and was slow to bring the check. He put us in the back and forgot about us. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)Jeanne B.
Cool decor and friendly staff. The food was good, but I definitely think it is overpriced. They have quite an extensive menu of flavored mojito's. I ordered an original mojito (no crazy flavors for me!). It was good, but not very strong. Went on a Saturday night around 7 - it was pretty empty. They had a pretty decent band playing over by the bar - the only problem was that they were way too loud. If this was strictly a drinking and mingling place I wouldn't mind the volume, but when it is difficult to hear your dinner partner speak while seated on the opposite side of the restaurant from the band, you have a bit of a problem. Despite it's convenience to my house, I think I'll check out some other Latin restaurants before heading back here.
(2)Jon D.
You can read a lot of good and a few not so good things about La Casa De Pedro. When having dinner there I didn't experience any of the bad. The lighting was good, the service prompt and my dinner arrived more quickly than I would expect (it was 6:45pm and the restaurant 3/4 full). I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (chicken and chorizo) and a passion fruit juice. I was very pleased with the quantity and quality of the food; the chicken in particular was perfectly cooked. The sides of yucca, rice and beans and fried plantains were excellent. The juice was a little pricey, and probably came from a can, but it was tasty. The only criticism I have is that I don't care for the building itself. The ceilings are very high and there are many hard surfaces for sound to bounce off of (as mentioned by someone in a previous review). I can see how it could get very noisy in there at times. I never dined at the previous Watertown Square location, and being my first time dining there I can't attest to the consistency of their food or service. I would recommend La Casa De Pedro to anyone who likes Central or South American food.
(4)Ellen L.
Came here for dinner on a weekday with about 5 people from work. The food is great, the service was impeccable, and the drinks were TASTY! a departure from the typical mexican-american fare we see in these parts... there was some traditional venezuelan dishes. Arepas are always delicious. right in the middle of a small watertown office park, so tons of parking all around.
(4)Kathy K.
La Casa De Pedro seems to be riding on the fumes of past reviews. I went over the weekend as a delayed Valentine's Day celebration and was quite disappointed. I had been to the old location some years ago and was excited to see how the new place looked and felt. I thought it was nicely done for such a large, high-ceilinged place. The live background music was also a nice touch. There seem to be some significant issues, however, in translating small into big. First of all, the host had no idea how long the wait would be. He said 30 minutes, but it was actually 2 minutes -- just long enough to place a drink order at the bar. I would normally be happy about this, but we were seated in a cramped two top among six two tops adjacent to the large restroom sign. It was impossible to have a private conversation here. Additionally, one had to move the table and disrupt one's neighbors to get in and out. More seat = more money. Next, the strange man who brought our food was utterly clueless. Our appetizer was offered to the five other tables in the area then disappeared to come back cold a few minutes later. My entree was delivered THEN TAKEN AWAY by Pedro himself who muttered something about it being wrong. I was left sitting there with a blank space on the table with my companion wondering if he should eat or not. Oh the romance. The food itself was hit or miss. The appetizer was bland and overpriced. The entrees, however, were very large and quite good. I left full but disappointed. I think the new place needs more practice before its service catches up to the food. Also, for God's sake, get rid of the bathroom seating area.
(2)Jasper C.
Good food, good service and great ambiance. I had the Bacalao which included rice, red/green peppers, olives, yucca and plantains. They also have a live musician. The food is a bit on the pricey side. Entrees range from $14-27. Oh, yeah...Pedro is always running around making sure everything is going smoothly. You can't miss him. He is the rotund guy in the chef's outfit. Overall, good place to eat if you are looking for a quick bite.
(4)Ashley F.
The food here was really good. I have only been for lunch and found it to be a very good value at lunch time. The prices almost double for dinner, but I would still return for dinner. Service was so-so. Food was very good. Atmosphere was good-I really like the oversized booths.
(4)Lora S.
La Casa De Sucko. Maybe it was a bad night, maybe Pedro was on las vacaciones...Basically everything that could be bad in a restaurant was awful. And over priced. Horribly disappointing since this place seemed to have much potential. I tried to give it half a star, but I don't know how.
(1)Michael V.
Service, atmosphere, and the food is really good. The dish I ordered had sausage, rice, plaintains, and a flank steak. All of it was great! Try to make it here on Fridays. I think they have a live band.
(4)Sue P.
OK. Passion fruit Mojito- to die for here! I could've had 10 of them they were so tasty. Of course, then I would have had to have been carried out :) . The food was also excellent. I ordered the Quesadilla de carne asada. The steak was cooked to perfection and the whole thing just melted in your mouth. I know one of the waiters here so I was able to meet Pedro himself, and he is a sweetheart! Very personable, and he made sure I had enjoyed my meal and was satisfied with the whole dining experience there. II really liked the island decor, it didn't feel like you were in the city at all. I will definitely be back !
(4)Kelly A.
My friend and I happened upon this place kind of by accident, and we were really hungry, so we decided to give it a try. The decor was great - nice lighting level, nice lighting fixtures, comfortable booths. As for the food, I will preface this by saying there are very few vegetarian options. There's one vegetarian salad and one vegetarian quesadilla that is really only vegetarian when some other components of the dish are left off. That being said however, I had one amazing grilled vegetable quesadilla! It was served with white rice (a veg substitution for the regular yellow rice), fried plantains, and yucca and it was goooood. They don't have freshly brewed unsweetened iced tea though, which was a bummer for me, especially considering virtually all decent Mexican joints seem to have it. But they did refill our water glasses in a timely manner! Service was ok overall. Definitely pricey for the meal though - a veggie quesadilla (with all accompanying sides) cost almost $15.
(4)Melinda M.
The food was good, the decor was awesome (really nice without being pretentious), the service was mediocre. I hate when mediocre/good is charging for good/great just because it comes in a pretty package.
(3)Dennis L.
La Casa de Pedro is a nice, comfortable place to take a few friends for a meal. The colors are bright without being garish and the walls decorated well without reaching the point of 'tacky'. Pedro is an extremely outwardly friendly man and his restaurant certainly embodies him. The portions are extremely generous and the food really exhibits his passion. It can be hit-or-miss for some, as the flavors are of extremes and less middling. The new location is a stark contrast to his last one, the wide open space really making it much more comfortable. How busy the restaurant is seems to be randomly feast or famine. I've seen it packed to the gills on a Thursday and quiet on a Saturday. It has an outdoor patio that overlooks a large fountain next to the Center for the Arts, the tables fairly large. I did not feel crowded, even with the mammoth plates at the table for four. Inside, I prefer the booths over the tables for that reason. The tables could get a little busy, even with food for just two. The 10-cane mojitos have quite a kick and I love the passionfruit ones as well. There is no shortage of chopped mint in them. For appetizers, I really like the empanadas. They might be hard to cut into, and a little deceptive. When you actually bite down into them, the dough is lighter than you would expect and the insides are moist and spiked with spices without leaking. I don't like the arepas as much, the corn cakes dominating the flavor a bit, it seems. My favorite dish there is his flank steak, which is always extremely tender and easy to slice. I am not one for the 'black Venezuelan chorizo' (blood sausage), but I love the Spanish chorizo there. The plantains, yucca, and rice to complement most of the dishes are always done well without ever being overcooked. The paella takes 30 minutes, but is well-worth it, and it is DEFINITELY a dish for two people. It is a bit deceptive to even those with large appetites because the rice hidden beneath is brimming with broth. It is served *very* hot, as we found out one time... The towel the paella pan was wrapped in BONDED, not burned into, but BONDED to the handle of the pan, so it was translucent and you could see the black of the handle. The squid on the paella is always light and my favorite part of that dish. The vegetables might turn out to taste a bit 'raw' to some, in particular the snap peas and peppers, but some may prefer it that way. Pedro makes a wonderful habanero sauce that I can in no way replicate, that seems to have lime, cucumber, and garlic at a very good proportion. Ask for it and it is a wonderful complement to many of the dishes there. It has quite a kick, enough to put a sweat on the brow of people who need to have Dave's or Blair's but still absolutely flavorful, complementing dishes with the kick instead of taking them for a ride. He could bottle and sell the stuff... The flan offered is good, being very firm and yet moist, though the chocolate one, the chocolate flavor seems to dull at the flavor without really coming out. I prefer their regular flan. I just wish that he'd put his grilled ribs on the restaurant menu. I believe he serves them on his catering side, but we had a number at a party of his and they were absolutely fall-off-the bone. Dishes to try: Empanadas, Cumpleanos de Pedro (flank steak), Paella (IT'S FOR TWO!), habanero sauce, if the waiter says 'ribs', order it. I've yet to see it in the restaurant, but those were bloody good over the summer. If you order catering, order the whole roast pig. And the ribs.
(5)Deborah B.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here the other night, after noticing it on the way to Arsenal Mall. We had been to the old location in Watertown Square a few years ago, so the name of the restaurant sounded familiar, and during our meal Pedro himself came over and confirmed that he was indeed the same owner. We ordered the cheese arepa, which was good, especially accompanied by their hot sauce, which definitely has a kick. I was in the mood for something hearty, so I ordered the pabellon criollo, which was shredded beef with rice, black beans, and fried plantains. It was a good-sized portion and I initially thought I wouldn't make a huge dent, but I almost finished it. My boyfriend ordered the trout, which was served with fried calamari. I'm not a huge fan of calamari (the texture), but these were lightly battered and fried and so, so good. We'll definitely be back to order a few different tapas, the fried calamari and arepas included.
(4)Gloria C.
oh yummy. The criollo dish with the shredded beef and the plantains and the delicious rice and the buttery beans and the yucca I stoled from my MIL and...yes. Many authentic flavors, far as I could tell with my comparison being Peruvian and Argentine foods. Venezuelan new to me, but this stuff was good.
(5)Miz M.
Went here with co-workers a couple of months ago. One of my friends ordered the chicken dish and she didn't like it. It tasted funny, we all agreed. The waiter who was arrogant from the get go asked us how everything was. My friend said it was fine but I told him that it actually wasn't and that she didn't really like it. He was a jerk. And the man who came to our table after was an even bigger jerk! He came over with his condescending tone and his rude words without introducing himself. Rob? Mark? Whatever your name is, YOU ARE RUDE. We felt awful and belittled. Not really a way you want to feel when you're paying for something. They even had the audacity to say things as we were leaving. Nice. Well...I was a frequent diner there and I won't be returning. It's ok food but it's not worth being talked down to and verbally abused. Also, the food used to be MUCH better when they were located on Main Street. Not sure what changed. It was one of my favorite restaurant but the service is horrendous. It's not worth it.
(1)Heather H.
I had a fantastic lunch at La Casa de Pedro. The Pabellon Criollo was tender and delicious. The beans were perfectly cooked, as were the plantains. They have a nice wine list and a fruity drink menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The flan at the end of my lunch was thick and heavy in the best way possible. Other restaurants at this location have been doomed, but I think- and hope- that La Casa de Pedro will have a long and happy life here.
(5)Susan S.
Terrible! Maybe I tried this place on an off night, or maybe they don't worry too much about their Dining In orders, but I am amazed at how many peole like the food at this restaurant. I tried the Beef empanada, which was flavorless. I love empanadas and didn't think it was possible to mess one up - until now. I then tried the 'Verde' salad which is described as "Arugula, tomato, roasted peppers, avocado, grilled zucchini, yellow squash and Romaine lettuce with cilantro dressing and basil oil, topped with roasted sesame seeds" for $9.50. I figure for that kind of money for a salad, it's going to be pretty amazing. I was SO wrong. First, there was no arugula in my salad, only VERY large pieces of romaine. There was one tiny sliver of avocado, and two tiny slivers of tomato. I think they use dried cilantro for their dressing, because it didn't have any flavor at all, and cilantro is very strong. There would be no mistaking it if it was in there. The dressing was also totally absent of salt, which, unfortunately, seems to have been reserved for the soup which was so salty I had to throw it out after two spoons. The thing is, I had just come back from a long day of traveling and I was starving. I would have loved and eaten almost anything. And I instead I was totally disappointed.
(1)Jimmy B.
It's true, the new location is in a weird spot. But it's bigger and easier to find parking at so I'm not going to complain. If you go here, try a few of the tapas (the empanadas and mejillones de pedro both are great) and get a pitcher of sangria. I don't usually get into the entrees but last time I tried the salmon ruben blades and fell in love. I often get lost looking at the menu and just end up pointing, I've rarely had something I didn't like. The only thing I can't mess with are the fried plantains. Something about warm fruit.... Also, if you eat here, you'll probably see Pedro himself walking around the restaurant. He seems like a nice guy and I agree that the piece about his Mom on the first page of the menu adds a nice touch.
(4)Laura P.
I hear that they are moving to 343 Arsenal Street. I hope that they'll have a little nook where you can eat and watch the kitchen staff do their thing. Pedro is warm and friendly and might give you a sample of something from the kitchen.
(4)Lia M.
I have been wanting to try La Casa de Pedro for years and I am glad I finally did. I had poked my head into their old location, which was nice & intimate, so I was a little sad that they moved, but this location is nice too, just different. They have an outdoor patio, which is nice, but we ate indoors. They had a band on Friday night & the lights were low. It was busy, but not crowded & there wasn't a wait. Everyone (manager, waitress, hostess) was super friendly & the food was delicious. I had a shredded pork arepa as an app, and trout with peppers for dinner. All entrees are served with yellow rice & black beans, fried yucca, & sweet plantains. Everythings was excellent and the presentation was nice. I would have given the restaurant five stars, except we paid 1/2 cash & 1/2 charge, and they didn't give us back the change from the cash, which I thought was poor. Other than that, we had a great time & I can't wait to go back.
(4)Melissa T.
The food was fine, but I thought it lacked character. It definitely felt like a chain restaurant, and I didn't enjoy the pre-fab looking palm trees and fiesta paneling. It's a little like going to the "Mexico" section of the Epcot Center.
(2)R A.
The restaurant itself was very nice. Very big, very well decorated. The food wasn't bad, I've had better, but also had worse. The portions weren't as big as I expected and I left still wanting more. The prices were outrageous though, probably why they don't list them on their website. There are plenty of other similar places close by that serve the same type/quality food, with better portions at a fraction of the price.
(3)Dave C.
This place used to be the 'Red Sauce' and came highly recommended by another friend of mine that likes to EAT. He didn't have to convince me twice, because the heads up was on the mark. Nice atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, and a very decent Mojito. The menu has the usual Spanish Tapas offerings, and the entrees are outstanding as well. Try the steak if you're a carnivore like me; fabulous! Deserts are very good, if you can fit it after the generous portions of food. I'll gladly spend my money here.
(4)Antonio A.
The food is superb all-around. The churasco is my favorite in the metro Boston area. They are also the only place in the metro Boston area that consistently gets fried plantains right. The new location is large, comfortable, and very stylish. I love that Chef Pedro often comes out to check in on the customers. Simply put: this is the place I go to celebrate an occasion or to impress any out-of-town guests.
(5)Brian K.
So I have been wanting to try this place since moving to watertown over 2 yrs ago. I never made it to the old location although it was walking distance from my house. My old roomate went to the new location and I have to say his review was spot on. One and done for this guy. I liked the decor, the service was pretty good and I enjoyed the music. The food was exactly what 2 stars says, "Meh", I have experienced better. I don't understand how places outside of boston think they can charge boston prices for sub par mid level food. $11 or $12 for a margarita? Sure I have paid that in New York, but after 2 of those things you are on the floor. The Caipirinha I had was full of ice and came in a pretty small glass, I could not taste any booze. My steak was pretty good(I actually just ate the leftovers) but not $23 good. The arepas were pretty good, not great. The portions were huge which made me feel better about overpaying for the meal. Sorry Pedro but I am going to have to agree with most other reviewers and pass on this place. Might have to try the new Orinoco in Brookline instead.
(2)Laura M.
Since we came here for my friend's birthday, he had to order Pedro's Birthday Dish! It was a tasty blend of flavorful flank steak, beans and rice, plantains and fried yucca. This traditional Venezuelan restaurant also offers seafood, tasty salads, and the "traditional Venezualan dish" pabellon criollo (mentioned in a previous review). Everything is wonderfully seasoned, even in the most simple dishes like black beans and rice. They also offer up a decent sangria, made with little cubes of fruit that sink to the bottom of your glass. Not the best I've ever had, but they bring you a rather large carafe to make up for the less-than-perfect quality. All in all, definitely worth a visit! Sit out on the patio if you can.
(4)amy f.
What we thought would be a perfect afternoon enjoying some margaritas on the patio of Pedro's turned out to be the first and last time we ever visit this place: The host staff was rude, and the waitress was too busy gyrating her neck and demanding that we order food to stop and contemplate the benefits of having two customers as opposed to none. I'll still leave a tip, however: Take care of the customer, or someone else will... which is why we enjoyed our margaritas at Joe's!
(1)Dan L.
When I got there it seemed nice at first. We were sat a table outside in the corner of the outdoor seating. Quiet and nice courtyard to look at. First problem: no waiter for about 10 minutes. Finally he comes over. The menu looks decent and my girlfriend and I order mojitos. The waiter asks for our id's, no big deal, we are often carded because we look young. He then says he has to take them to manager because they are out of state id's..WTF? That has never happened to me..do they not serve alcohol to people not from MA?...whatever, forgivible. He brings back the ids and says its ok. We order food. The steak on the menu boasts that "a more tender steak cannot be found in boston", "100% natural beef" blah blah..and other bold statements, so I decide to give it a try. Girlfriend orders chicken quesidilla and we get a salad to share. Then the waiting begins...no drinks for 10 minutes...no bread either. We notice a nearby table has already gotten a refill of bread basket. Our waiter is nowhere to be found. Finally about 20 minutes later the salad comes with a different server. We ask for our drinks and some bread. 5 minutes later the drinks finally arrive, no bread. The salad is..meh. A bunch of crap thrown together, with mediocre dressing..tastlesss letuce and tomatoes, overall fail. Our maincourse takes a while to come out again...the waiter comes out rarely and it seems like theres only 2 working the whole restaurant. The steak I got is nowhere near as good as described in the menu..."can't find a better steak in boston" my ass! Its thick and chewy and kinda grey looking inside..not the nice reddish pink a medium rare steak should be, The sides are hit and miss. The yuca and plantains are ok..the rice is dry (big fail for any resataurant that serves dry rice, how can you mess that up!!) and the chimichuri sauce is the worst I've ever had. My girlfriends quesodillas are equally mediocre..much better at Chilis which should be embarrising for a "latin resataurant" . The mojitos are decent. Final tab $78. Could have gotten a much more enjoyable meal and better service at a Chilis for about $40 (with drinks). Never going again.
(1)Claudia H.
A little corner of latin food nearby Cambridge! I've been there a couple of times and every time I experience authentic Venezuelan cuisine with a warm 'latin charm' from the waiters on top of it! Besides the great food and service you will also find a variety of latin art, pictures, around the place. Really cool! They even have latin bands over the weekends. Things you must try: Arepas: typical Venezuelan bread filled with meat, chicken, etc. Try the carne mechada ones! Pabellon Criollo: a great Venezuelan dish with shredded beef, sweet plantains, black beans and rice. Quesillo (dessert): flan with caramel ... a real treat! Mojitos: I also love the mojitos at this place, especially the Pedro's mojito. Have at least 3 to feel the effect ... The place is big, and the acoustics not so good, so it can get loud when it's packed. But latins are always loud, so you can consider it part of the experience! :-)
(4)Elena A.
Delicious food and fun atmosphere! Great fish tacos and plantain chips. I actually love this place but took one star off due to two reasons: 1) spotty service, can be rude depending on a waiter + on a slower side. 2) they don't let you split the bill on more than three cards. I came here with four girlfriends and it was a pain to have the three of them take care of the bill. The waiters are weird about not announcing it in advance as it apparently says so on their giant, long menu in some fine print. Who does that and why is it so hard to take five cards? Get rid of this odd policy and get five stars ;)
(3)Sho B.
There's one thing this place does really well, and that's consistently not impressing me with their meals. I wish this was an amazing place, I really do because I work about 20 feet away from it, but the food is generally bland or just needs something more. However, being a Latin restaurant (Venezuelan to be exact), there's nothing like stopping in after work for a margarita while the salsa/bachata/regaeton plays in the background. And maaaaybe the carne asada quesadilla isn't too bad to munch on... But there's no doubt I'll be back with another review once I've had some more Pedro's.
(3)Heather B.
Mediocre. Would give it 2.5 stars if I could - yelp make that happen! Server was in training and not very well trained. Food was OK but not great. It was fine for late on a cold rainy Friday night. Tapeo and Dali are much better though.
(2)Josh S.
Surprisingly authentic and very delicious. This place is a bit spendy, but it is worth it. The appetizers and entrees are all so tantalizing, I have to restrain myself from ordering whole pages of the menu at a time. Many of these items have a good kick of spice (which it very welcome). Also, I have to give a nod to any restaurant that carries Modello and Pacifico.
(4)John G.
Great food, customer service, and atmosphere.
(4)Kari M.
Love this place! Have been 4 times and always a good meal. Best yucca ever although may daughter prefers the plaintains. Drinks run strong so be prepared. I have had the chicken, pork and recently the steak with onions. The place is not cheap but I do love the food.
(5)nick k.
The price is a little high (dinner for two, with an appetizer, excluding drinks/tax/tip was almost $40), which is the only reason for the missing 5th star. Beyond that though, both the atmosphere and the food is excellent. I've only been there twice, and both times on a Saturday night. Both times, there's been live music and dancing going on, if you're into that kind of thing. However, it's not so loud as to be annoying to everyone else. As for the food, the quesadilla plate is amazing. The quesadilla itself is very good, but it comes with beans/rice, plantains, which are great, and fried/seasoned yucca, which is excellent. I typically don't like rum-based drinks, but someone at the table ordered a mojito, and it was really excellent. And if you go, do not miss the tequenos appetizer. It's a white cheese wrapped in a thin pastry and fried. I thought there could never be something better than fried mozzarella sticks, but these may prove me wrong.
(4)Mo O.
Loved the patio and our waiter George was outstanding. The food was delicious as well. Most of us had a special of the night which was good. The apps were all very delicious. Most important - best Mojito ever!!
(4)Senoni M.
I absolutely loooooove this place! My boyfriend and I come here 2-3x a month and we decided we need to give it a break bc we didn't want to get tired of it. Pros: AMAZING food! Absolutely everything you order you will love. Were never disappointed with the tequeños (an appetizer) it's basically delicious Venezuelan cheese hand rolled in a puff pastry omg if you love cheese, you'll love this dish. The Pabellon Criollo is my favorite entree and the bf loves their steak . They have a live mini band on Fridays and Saturday's that turn it into a whole different experience. The decor and ambiance are very nice. Cons: VERY EXPENSIVE! Drinks are no less than $11and they serve them in small glasses ( not that I'm looking for a pitcher but cmon I'm a grown up here). They're all natural juices taste like can and they're pricey too so I would prob stick to the free water lol. And the waiters are very strange... We've been going to this place for a while and the waiters just seem to be getting worst idk personal opinion. Overall this place had great authentic food and that's truly why I love it! Go check it out!
(4)Mojo C.
Really love the food here. Their empanadas are the best in town!! I alway order their Paella and is 10 out of 10 every time. Would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family. The only negative thing is my waiter was a bit slow and had to remind him a couple of times to refill our glass of water - but he was new (I think) so we cut him some slack.
(4)Erin B.
The outdoor patio is awesome! The trees and fountain make you forget your are on Arsenal St. The food and drinks are great. The waiters are friendly and really professional. I've been there twice and will be back!
(5)Greg K.
Oh My goodness Are you sitting down- Sit down for this because you're not going to believe it THE LAMB CHOPS ARE BOMB Okay- Maybe it's easy to believe because everything at Casa De Pedro is amazing. We started with the mussels- fantastic. Then I had the lamb chops which were larger than I expected and came with a tasty rice, fried plantains, and potatoes. What a meal! I just wish I had room for the delicious sounding deserts It's easy to forget about this Watertown gem but with outdoor seating and a wonderful staff- Casa De Pedro is a MUST VISIT restaurant. The cocktails are fantastic too. Mojitos- Oh Yes! I'll take 2! So check it out already!!
(5)Jonathan V.
La Casa De Pedro feels like a Cheesecake Factory on the inside. As in it feels like a chain restaurant, but at the same time has a slightly upscale feel. It strikes me as a restaurant that is not really sure what it is trying to be. I had the short ribs, which were actually quite delicious and were fairly hearty portions. However, other people at my table were not as satisfied with their dishes as I was. I think its one of those places where the menu is hit or miss. It also lacked something on the table, such as bread, when you are waiting for your food. We didn't order an appetizer which really accentuated this problem. The server was very nice and fairly helpful. Finally, the prices were a bit expensive for what you get in my opinion. Overall, overpriced slightly above-average in a chain-restaurant atmosphere makes for a mediocre experience.
(2)David R.
One of my all time favorite restaurants - the portions are huge and realllly delicious. Great fish, and I really love the plantains. High recommended!!
(5)Ed P.
where and who is Pedro in this place. you got a bimbo of a hostess and waiters fielding customers. service is horrible.. The food is ok as long as they make you a proper meal. however, not very consistent.
(2)Jeremy K.
I went there last summer with my girlfriend for a nice, terrace dinner and left pretty satisfied despite the size of the bill. The drinks and food there are quite pricey but the food does have a few twists that I think are worth checking out. First off, the parking is ample there being in a very weird but pretty efficient strip mall/office building type of thing. That's one of the reasons we went there originally. Then as we walked inside we were greeted and were told that we had to wait for a table. We didn't reserve and it was on a week-end night. We waited. We went to the bar and had a drink. We were then seated outside which was awesome. It was such a nice evening out; totally worth the wait. How many good restaurants have a nice, comfortable terrace in or around Boston? Not so many. The food itself was quite tasty and they had some ingredients that you don't always find in other menus. Yucca is one. They had this Hispanic cheese appetizer that was delicious. Some of the dishes are very traditional and some aren't as much but overall everything we had was very enjoyable and beautifully plated and served. If it weren't for the prices and the slow, inattentive service we had, I would have given it five stars. Oh and they had a band of Mariachis play music while we were there. How cool is that huh?!
(4)Lynne S.
I used to work in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cambridge and we used to visit La Casa de Pedro for lunch when it was just a tiny hole in the wall so I remembered it fondly and was super excited when someone suggested it as a brunch option last weekend. In the last few years it has grown in popularity and moved to a new location in the Arsenal mall. It is pretty trendy inside with a nice outdoor patio as well. The menu was enormous and offered options for brunch, lunch and dinner. Everything sounded great, but I ultimately decided on the Burrito Mexicano, which consisted of scrambled eggs, black beans, chorizo, jalapeño, onion, tomato and cheese on a flour tortilla topped with pico de gallo. At just $9.00, it was a great deal for this scrumptious and generous sized burrito served with potatoes. I also ordered a pineapple mint caipirinha, which was good, but a bit overpriced at $14. That was $5 more than my entire plate! If you go, don't miss the fried plantains. We ordered a side for the table and they were so good, we licked the plate clean within 5 minutes! Overall, a great atmosphere, amazing food and terrific service. I will definitely be back!
(4)Munchie B.
I love this place! CdP is the kind of elegant Latin cuisine restaurant we need further west. The food is excellent and Pedro is a really nice guy. I especially enjoy visiting on a nice day so I can sit outside on their patio near the Watertown Arsenal. Whatever your order, be sure to ask for a side of hot sauce -- a poblano pepper concoction that Pedro makes himself (and ought to bottle).
(5)Mike D.
I'm still a little tweaked by eating a meal in a building that used to house advanced R&D for weapons and other military equipment, but I've had a few meals here and haven't grown a third arm yet. On top of that those meals have been incredibly good--so good I may risk that third arm to keep eating there. I've only had fish entrees here on a friend's recommendation (not against the other dishes, but in favor of the fish). They are really, really good. The fish has been extremely fresh, and the preparation is always very simple and perfectly seasoned. The rice and beans and plantains are all very good as well, and we've had some arepas (very nice), ceviche (different from ceviche I've had in the past, but great), and sort of a puff pastry stuffed with cheese I can't remember the name of (fine, but how do you screw something like that up). And the house margarita is incredibly good--SOUR, not sweet like most places. I'm only taking a star off because of the live music. I'm not against live music at restaurants per se, but when the music is loud enough that it makes conversation difficult it takes away from the experience. I go out to eat with friends and family to talk and have fun (and eat), not to be seen, so I wish they'd turn it down a few decibels. Otherwise, I really love this place.
(4)Paul C.
I love this place. Excellent food, drinks, and atmosphere. Plus it's not in the city so it's easy to get to. I've been here several times and am never disappointing - regardless of what I choose. Large portions - nice and filling.
(5)Bethany F.
Outdoor patio + delicious, freshly concocted Margaritas + plaintains to die for = 5 stars!!! Seriously, I would come back here every day if I had the money. Yes, everything is a little expensive (except the lunch menu is amazingly affordable). But you get what you pay for- high quality drinks obviously made by someone who knows what theyre doing and mouth-watering (although very fried) food! Great date spot. Great lunch spot. I would assume great dinner spot, but I have never been for dinner. I had the Isla Margarita ( cod filet with tomatoes on top, rice and black been, yucca, and PLAINTAINS!). So. Good. If it was socially acceptable to lick your plate, I would have.
(5)Taeminn S.
Very good atmosphere. Great food. Friendly service. Comfortable and spacious interior.
(4)John A.
As a vegan, I was a little nervous as I know Latin American food tends to be heavy on the meat and animal products. But I met Pedro, the owner, on the way in and asked him what he'd recommend for a vegan. He confirmed with me that I didn't want dairy, butter, lard, etc., and he said he would fix something special. He whipped up the tastiest plate of grilled mixed vegetables perfectly seasoned and accomanied with fried plantains and rice. Accompanied with fresh squeezed passion fruit juice. Absolutely delicious. Can't wait to go back! Update: I actually couldn't wait and went back the next day for dinner with my significant other. Pedro saw me as I walked in and personally came over to greet us and review the meal. He prepared a larger version of the lunch dish to which he added grilled tomatoes and provided a side of vegan black beans deliciously sauteed in olive oil, pepper, onions and a little garlic. We also split a Watercress salad which was also awesome. We were both duly impressed with the meal. The table next to us had a vegetarian and we began talking -- he ordered the same off-menu dishes we had. Pedro: Please consider adding these vegan dishes to your menu permanently. They are fabulous! Thank you for looking after our meal. We will be back.
(5)L-Train A.
This place is pretty awesome. If you are in need of some fried plantains, yucca, black beans and rice, empanadas, and spiced meats, this place really hits the spot. While not the most amazing Spanish food I have ever had, it is really quite good. Especially for those of us who work in the Arsenal on the Charles, where the only other option is freaking Panera Bread. I went down to Panera bread yesterday to get some lunch, but the place was a zoo with a crazy line, and then I remembered La Casa and went there instead. They have $6 sandwiches on the lunch menu, but I ended up getting a roast chicken lunch entree fro $8.50. It is a beautiful space in one of the old brick Arsenal buildings, with giant windows and really high ceilings. While it is sort of a weird location, is is also definitely worth checking out. Next time you have to go out to Target or the Arsenal Mall, ditch the crap-ass food court and go here instead for a luxurious but not too expensive lunch. They also have a sweet looking bar...
(4)Erin M.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night with another couple - we all had a yummy meal. Downside - kind of expensive if you want to also have drinks and an appetizer... Parking was easy as there is a parking lot around the corner. It was not very crowded for a Friday night. Live music was playing. We asked about dairy free and gluten free options. Dairy free was no problem, gluten free was even better - the waiter said almost the entire menu is gluten free! We shared the mussels (I will attempt the sauce at home, it was so good!) and the chicken avocado arepa to start. I ordered the shrimp in coconut and orange sauce, in a coconut shell. The shrimp and sauce were pretty good but I really loved the sides. The rice was beautiful and delicious (it came with a few black beans mixed in and red rice on top). The plantains were perfectly done and the yuca was topped with a sauce that was nice, not overpowering. I do not know the names of the other meals but everyone cleaned their plates. We also finished with coconut flan (SO GOOD!). Of course it was not dairy free but it was gluten free so three of us housed it.
(4)Chuck S.
Dyn-o-mite! Last night was my second visit, and it will not be my last. My group met for a farewell dinner for two international guests that are returning home. We had great service and excellent food. We were having such a great time that we stayed well past closing, without any problem from the staff. Pedro even stopped by just as we were leaving and talked with us for a bit. Amazing food and a 100% professional owner & staff! Gracias Pedro! I hope to see you again next time I come in.
(4)Yoonie C.
Over-rated and over-priced in my opinion. I think you pay for the ambiance and space, rather than the food. The food always is a let down. Whether it be the paella or the non-Latina specials they have like, Yankee pot roast. Hm... odd, right? Odd indeed.
(2)Sarah M.
Don't feel like schlepping to downtown Boston for a good meal? Don't want to hunt for parking in the South End? Easy, check out La Casa De Pedro in Watertown. Easy parking? Check. Outdoor seating (a rarity in these parts)? Check. Large food portions? Check. Incredibly well made cocktails? Check. Festive Decor? Check. I've gone a few times and have been satisfied every time. Their drinks are great - fun flavor variations of mojitos for example. Their fried plantains are a must! Their paella is incredible with tons of fresh seafood and spices. Last time I was there I had swordfish tips in in a creamy sun dried tomato red and yellow pepper sauce which was served in a pineapple shell. The ONLY reason they don't get 5 stars is for price. You don't get the hassle and crowds of downtown, but you get the prices, and for Watertown? Not so cool.
(4)E B.
The service here was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and gave us great advice on what to eat. First we ordered margaritas... my bf got the pineapple one, which was my favorite and a special jalepeno one that was pretty good too but I don't know if I'd get it again (a little too spicy). We ordered a corncake/white cheese appetizer which was pretty tasty. Would have been even better if the cheese was melted, but as is it was delicious. My bf got the veggie quesedillas, amazing... I got the shrimp in a half coconut with coconut sauce... and it was really tasty. The sauce was kinda thai-ish and I couldn't get enough of it. Both dishes came with rice, plantains and fried yucca. VERY VERY VERY good. But not that cheap either, came out to about $75.... definitely a 'parents are in town' sort of place. ;-)
(4)A S.
Used to really love this place. We are locals in the area and came for a couple drinks and apps on a Monday night. Wanted to sit outside and were told no because we weren't having dinner. 80% of the outside tables were open..... Went to the bar for one $10 mojito (which are delicious) and then left to go somewhere that would let us sit outside. Very disappointing service and they just lost probably $100 of our money.
(2)Steve S.
Service just ok, but food was great for the area. Just a fun place for drinks, food and friends.
(4)Emily G.
A group of 10 of us came here to celebrate some birthdays and whatnot...the service was impeccable and the food was so tasty. With hearty helpings of savory meats: (Pork tenderloin medallions sautéed and served on Pedro's chipotle sweet basil sauce) and yucca accompanied by delectable cocktails such as Alo's Mango, a mango martini made with fresh mango puree and mango rum, we found ourselves enjoying the explosions of spicy and sweet. La Casa de Pedro is a warm, welcoming restaurant that is an ideal destination for warming your tummies with Latin American comfort food, and sharing in laughter and good times with friends.
(4)Ellen K.
Delicious fare, lethal cocktails, good music, charming decor. Mainly traditional dishes, including yucca and plantains. My fish dish "3 nights in Caracas" was beautiful, generous, delicious, and SPICY - just yummy. It's nothing like Tex-Mex, so lovers of Mexican food may be disappointed. Live music added to the ambience.
(5)J D.
We ate lunch on 11/16/13 and though the atmosphere was beautiful and the food very good, we left quite disappointed overall. The general feeling was the the waiter was trying to up his tip by not being clear at all regarding the cost of items. For instance, my 5 year old son asked if there was any chips and salsa and he said sure, but neglected to relay that there was a $4.50 cost. Likewise, when I asked if there was any mango juice for our 5 year old, he said sure again, but the charge was $6! That is the cost of a drink at the bar- the same amount as a beer! Additionally- as we were eating at lunchtime off of a lunch menu, when my partner ordered the Quesadilla, the waiter asked her if she would like "a small portion or a regular portion" which sounded like, "Do you want an appetizer or would you like the meal?" but then on the bill he had put in for a DINNER Quesadilla which was $17.50 for LUNCH, $5 more than expected. We had made it very clear that we had never been to the restaurant before so when we said we would like to try the Plantains- instead of making it clear that there were Plantains on every single person's order, he simply brought a Plantain order to the tune of another $6.50. We have traveled the world, lived all over the US and eaten in plenty of restaurants- my issue here is not that food costs money. The issue is that clearly the waiter was not being honest in an effort to raise the bill and his tip. This is not customer service and puts a terrible taste in my mouth. We ended up with a bill for at least $25 more than we could have dreamed and that is a lot of overage for a lunch hour. Though we had talked about coming back while we were eating- this is not the sort of experience we hope to have when choosing to spend our hard-earned money out.
(2)Karis T.
The Tad Show is here every Thursday and at Tad's recommendation we tried Ceviche (Shrimp marinated in fresh lime juice, onions, diced tomatoes and cilantro) & Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pieces of pork tenderloin slightly fried then baked and dressed with hot sauce and the zest of lime juice). Both were delicious, but I was glad of the recommendation as the menu is impressive but slightly daunting. The staff is amazingly helpful and courteous and the management makes every single customer feel like a celebrity. The attention to detail in the kitchen shows in every gorgeous plate they serve. I almost didn't want to take a bite for fear of marring the culinary artistry but after one bite of the yumminess I couldn't resist digging in. I highly recommend checking out La Casa for the delicious food, the wonderful staff and the vibrantly decorated interior.
(5)Carolann K.
Wonderful atmosphere, good food, service a bit uneven. We asked for more water, it never came and our waiter, although very charming, never came to see if we needed anything else and/or if we liked our food until it was time for the check. I know it was not because they were extra busy, Wednesdays is normally a slower night in most establishments. I did like the fact that they had an extensive beverage list and that you could see into the kitchen (this is always a good thing)..
(4)sunny n.
excellent!! Latin American ..with a tinge of spice...superb value...cozy small hole in the wall for the bostonian in watertown...love it!!
(5)M C.
horrendous service.. lasted 5 mintues before we decided to go somewhere else.. rude !
(1)Bo Z.
Four of us went at 7 on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded. I agree with the other reviewer that it looked like a latin Cheesecake factory, which isn't a bad thing. The waiter was well mannered, very attentive and did not keep us waiting. For appetizers, I had the arepas with chicken and avocado which was just okay. I don't see why people here rave about it. It was smaller than I expected and tasted a little bland. Another appetizer, the tequenos, is fried cheese sticks with a little bed of greens which I don't feel is worth ordering since it brings nothing new to your average cheese sticks. The main entree, on the other hand, was outstanding. I ordered Shugui's Pollo Asado, a half Chicken which came with yucca, fried plantains, a chorizo and rice. The chicken was very tender and tasty with the right spices. I really liked the plantains. The yucca was okay and I could do without. The live music wasn't loud and didn't interfere with our conversations. A singer walked around the restaurant singing something pleasant in Spanish. Overall a nice experience and I would go again.
(4)Karen M.
After a few frustrating drives around the labyrinth of streets in the Arsenal office park, I finally found La Casa de Pedro. (There is a very small sign directing you to it when you first pull in off of Arsenal Street, but it's easy to miss.) I almost gave up and went somewhere else, but I'm glad that I gave it one final try and finally found it. They really need better signs! It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't too busy. I can see where parking might be tough on busier nights. I was very pleased with the whole evening. The service was excellent - attentive, friendly, polite, knowledgeable about the menu, but not too in-your-face. I ordered a shredded, braised beef dish served with black beans and rice which was listed as a Venezuelan specialty on the menu. It was deliciously seasoned and well-prepared. The fried plantains that came with it were some of the best that I've had. It was also a huge serving, which made the somewhat high price a little more understandable. My friend ordered the coconut orange shrimp, which is served in a fresh coconut half. They were fresh and perfectly cooked. The orange coconut sauce was tasty, but not too sweet. The fried yucca that accompanied it was golden and crispy outside, and light and fluffy inside. Their drinks are great. They have several different kinds of sangria. I had the strawberry champagne sangria (they have a few varieties of champagne sangria, which are made with champagne, white wine, cointreau, and fresh fruit) and my friend got the regular white sangria. I love sangria and usually order it any restaurant that offers it. Theirs is excellent, and sets the bar for other places that think that sangria is just fruit punch made with wine. They also offer tequila flights, which I am looking forward to trying the next time that I go there. Try to go to La Casa de Pedro on a night when it's warm enough to sit outside. Their patio is lovely. Even though they are practically right on Arsenal street, there are enough trees and window boxes full of flowers rimming that patio that it's easy to ignore the outside world.
(4)Florina K.
The atmosphere here really is great!! I love coming here!! Though the food here is just all right.... It is not bad... but there is just no kick to it... and it can be overcooked.... Make sure to try the cheese pastries... they are called traditional something. VERY GOOD!
(4)Yuri C.
Purchased Groupon which had explicit answer: "good for take out ". When wanted to redeem 6 months latter was told by owner that I can't use Groupon for take out. Cancelled Groupon. Can't say anything about the food.
(1)Kim W.
major patio love. seriously, five stars for the patio. it's seriously an oasis in the middle of a random office park, and the perfect place to spend a summer evening eating and drinking. i went here with two friends, and we all enjoyed our meals. i ordered the white sangria, which was not only refreshing and tasty, but pretty, too. :) we also split the tequeños (basically venezuelan mozzarella sticks)...mmm. for my entree, i went with the chicken enchiladas. they were really good! definitely not the best i've ever had or anything, but great all the same. i'll definitely be back, especially during patio season!
(4)S M.
I took my husband to La Casa De Pedro for his birthday dinner since I had heard so many good things about it from friends. We were greeted kindly and asked if we had made reservations. I panicked because the restaurant was packed, and no, I had not thought to make a reservation. Thankfully we were seeted promptly. My husband got a beer, and I ordered the pineapple margarita. The margarita was small, but packed with alcohol! A bit much for me. Hence, I could not even finish half of it. It tasted good though, and if I wasn't driving, I would have probably sipped a little longer. I ordered the meat and cheese arepa as a tapa. I was not impressed. The actual arepa was bland and the meat and cheese were not great either. My husband got the "tequeños" I think. Those were good. For the main entrees we got the pollo asado and chicken and beef plates. They both came with rice, yuca, sweet plantains and chorizo. The food was okay, my husband mentioned that the meat and rice were salty which was true, but not to the point where it wasn't edible. Overall, I'd say the food was just okay. What I really liked about the restaurant was the decoration and atmostphere. A good mix of young and old folks, dim lights, tasteful music and elegant decoration. It was def fancier than I expected. Would I return? Maybe, in the future I can give it a second chance. PS, our bill came to $75 w/o a tip so it can def be a little pricey. Keep in mind our main entrees were not the most expensive on the menu.
(2)Cameron C.
WOW!!! This place is amazing. It smelled and tasted just like it should. Place inside is beautiful, service was spectacular. If you love Spanish food, and good Spanish food like your mother's cooking, this is the place!!
(5)B C.
I come here every time I come to Boston. Everything I try here is excellent. The service is great as well. A must try
(5)Lisa L.
I have been to La Casa de Pedro every so often as a special treat. The dinners are expensive, but worth every penny. The brunch is a better price. I have always had courteous waiters/waitresses, a delicious and properly prepared meal, and a welcome feeling. The atmosphere is great with high ceilings, beautiful interior decorating, art, and plants. The seating is nicely spread out for a quiet intimate feeling even when it's crowded. Another huge/unexpected plus is, on Friday and Saturday nights they have a band playing, the first time I was there I thought it was a recording! They were so good!
(5)William M.
This restaurant has terrible management, and puts the customer last. I'm never going back. We arrived and one host told us they were booked up completely and couldn't seat us. The place was practically empty. In about two minutes, after asking, "what about all those empty tables," a different host said he could easily seat us. They give us a buzzer and put us on a list. I want to point out, maybe 10 of their tables had people in them. No one was at the host stand. No one else had a buzzer (the charging station for the buzzers was completely full). The first host rings our buzzer almost immediately (imagine that), then tells us he can't sit us until our entire party has arrived... there's 10 filled tables in the entire restaurant, you just buzzed us after telling us a bold-faced lie that you were booked up, and we are willing to order drinks and apps at the table. The host then tells us he will seat us after all...?? Same guy, three minutes later, totally different story. He then makes a big fuss that we want to carry our own drinks from the bar to the table. I want to clarify this, he didn't have a problem with us bringing bar drinks over, but that we were going to carry them. We had to hand the drinks over to a waiter, he put them on a tray, then coached the waiter on how to hold the tray and walked us over to a booth that could hold 6. The night continued getting worse and more awkward from there. The waiter had to be reminded twice to bring water. We were down a set of silverware, and had to ask three separate people to bring an extra set, the food took over 40 minutes (from when I started timing), I asked for a refill of soda three times, the food came out and the waiter started handing it out to the table next to us, no steak knives were brought out, we asked the waiter to put the bill on multiple cards and he told us that our totals were wrong (we had included tip on them), then the waiter claimed the computer program can't split checks. I've waited tables. I know the system they use specifically can split checks. Awful service, awful management, mediocre food at above average prices. Why would anyone go to this cookie-cutter, overpriced joke of a restaurant?
(1)Nagisu K.
I've been to Casa de Pedro 5 or 6 times. The food is good, the service is just ok (occasionally the management is rude, but waitstaff tends to be nice but inconsistent) and the prices are too high for what the food is. Fish tacos cost $19 - and they are good, but not $19-good. My favorite things on the menu are the small eats, like the fried yucca with chimmichurri sauce (OMG heavenly). Great drinks too.
(3)Dmitriy A.
Great food and very cozy. Atmosphere is superb. The bartender is knowledgeable and friendly. Must go if you are in Watertown.
(5)Sean S.
The chicken and vegetable soup is incredible. Sounds mundane but it is very very good. It's the reason I come here.
(5)Rachel K.
I have been here twice. Both times I had good food and drinks. However, the prices are high (especially for Watertown) and I would probably rather spend the $$$ I would to go here---to a finer dining downtown. The strawberry basil lemonade drink is really good, but is small and costs $13. The white sangria (which some places is very hit or miss) is a definite hit here. The chicken avocado arepas are soo tasty and the one thing that will probably make me come back. The fried yuca app is also pretty good. These two things are worth coming for without breaking the bank. My boyfriend had some sort of beef meal that did not sit well with him. I will prob come back sans the BF for some chix avocado arepas! Sidenote: on weekends after about 9 or 10 latin dance breaks out by the bar. Definitely looks like a good time; the dancing crowd was probably 40s-60s. If you are into latin dancing, it is probably a good spot for it as I do not know other places one goes for food and latin dancing in the area. The band playing was pretty enjoyable as well.
(3)Liz B.
I met a friend here for lunch. I think the room and decor are just terrific - palm trees decorated with Christmas lights, festive colors and pottery... There's parking, even valet parking which I believe was free at lunch! (Not sure about dinner.) The restaurant was busy, but there was no wait. I had a Cuban sandwich and it was great. The waitress we had was really nice and efficient and handled my request to substitute a small salad for the french fries that came with the sandwich with no issue. I am looking forward to going back for dinner in a few weeks!
(4)Rico I.
I have been here 5 times now as i am on a Boston assignment - it is, by far, the best Latin Food in Boston - i say Latin because it offers food from most all Hispan~ola nations. Want Paella? delicious. Want shrimp ceviche? excellent. Want empanadas? so good. Owner/Chef is a gem, and a pro. Stopped by our table multiple visits - check on how food was / service. You cannot go wrong here! Oh yes - try the coconut flan!
(5)Nicholas D.
The food is great here. The live music is fantastic on the weekends. There is also a nice patio outside. There is plenty of parking. The drinks are well made. The fried yucca's are amazing. The empanadas are also to die for. I will be back many times!
(5)Colleen H.
I can feel the fire start in my mouth when I think of La Casa De Pedro. Their hot sauce is absolutely amazing. Yuca + hot sauce = happy Colleen. The food is amazing too, and there are almost too many selections (the menu weighs like five pounds). I've only ever been here for lunch but it's been phenomenal every time. They also have tequila flights, which in my opinion, is the best way to celebrate. Haha! Ohhh and the plantainsssss, they're so delicious they're practically dessert. Mmmmmm.
(5)Lisa G.
I need to make a disclaimer first off, because I'm an incredibly picky eater. I'm what you could describe as on the fence when it comes to Latin food. I prefer Mexican, like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, but that's where it ends. My first trip to Pedro, I got a chicken quesadilla. It was okay, but pretty oily. The next time, I tried the burger. HUGE mistake. It's one of those places that insists on putting onions in with the beef... and I have an extreme aversion to onions (only rivaled by my aversion to pickles). So the next time I got dragged to Pedro's, I went for the quesadilla again. UGH. Oilier than the first time. From that point on, I went with co-workers (it was right around the corner of our building, so we went there to celebrate people moving on to different gigs, etc), but refused to eat. It's overrated and extremely expensive.
(1)Bos G.
La Casa de Pedro describes itself as offering a true taste of Venezuelan hospitality and fine Spanish cuisine. While I've only dined at a handful of Venezuelan restaurants and don't consider myself an expert, I can tell you I liked what I saw and what I tasted. Casa de Pedro is a warm and inviting restaurant with a nice patio for dining outside, a large bar and even larger indoor dining room. Main plates range significantly in price, but dinner for two including a shared starter, two drinks and main plates will cost $70.00 with tip; more than reasonable considering the portions and how delicious it was to eat. We started our meal with calamari ($10.50). No need to ask for lemon wedges as the lightly fried calamari was heavily seasoned with lemon juice which was nicely offset by the heat of the jalapenos. For dinner I ordered Fish Tacos ($15.50). The three tacos filled with tilapia had a distinctly grilled flavoring and was accompanied by rice, beans, fried yucca and plantains. I will come back to Casa de Pedro. It makes for the perfect place to grab dinner before seeing a show at the New Rep Theatre and who doesn't love dinner and a show?
(3)Natalie W.
Great ambiance given its proximity to the Watertown indoor mall. The service was awful, we found a hair in our food, and the menu is pricy for low quality food. The chips and authentic salsa and drinks menu are your best bet.
(2)Saba N.
I'll be honest, not a fan of the atmosphere of the restaurant... except for the patio. If that's not available, I don't bother going. The food is good, I have only really had apps here but the portions are large and I've never been unsatisfied. HOWEVER, it's very expensive for watertown.. margaritas are around 11-13 dollars, which to me.. is absurd. I'd rather go out in the city. That being said, I highly reccomend the sangria, and I really think that one entree is plenty for two people... so there are ways to make this a much better experience.
(3)Antonio C.
I went with my family to have a dinner there, the place is very cozy and organizer. The food is delicious........ I will be back soon and I high recommend this place. :)
(5)Deb R.
Very stingy. Had to pay for chips and salsa(4.50). Tiny amount of guac and sales with fish tacos. Expensive.
(2)Melissa Y.
I went here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday night. I'm not sure if we didn't love the place because we were a party of seven, or because we just didn't love the place. First, we were seated waaaaay waaaaaaaay waaaaaay in the back right next to the bathrooms. There were other large parties seated around the restaurant, and we had reservations, so it wasn't like we couldn't have fit anywhere else. From what we saw walking in, not at all from our seat in Siberia, was that it was a fun, nicely decorated restaurant with live music that night. Unfortunately, we had a view of a wall. Ok fine, not the best seat, whatever. Our waiter then proceeded to ignore us for twenty minutes. He then walked by, said hello and then left again. He came and took our drink orders and then came back and said the bar was backed up, should he just take our dinner orders? Fine sure, whatever. Food: pretty good. We had a sampling of different meals, including the paella, shrimps served in a coconut and fish tacos. Everyone agreed the food was decent, nothing worth a second trip back. Drinks: drinks we pretty good, although a bit on the pricey end. Cocktails were 10-12 dollars. Overall Value: meh. It was agreed that it was overpriced for the amount of food and the quality. Combine that with lackluster service and a table essentially in the bathroom, I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Alvin M.
I made a reservation for Saturday night for 7:30pm and we were taken right to our table on a very rainy night. We ordered the drinks which were very tasty, I had black rasberry margarita, yummy and my gf ordered the Jalapeno margarita, which had such an amazing tasty kick. We ordered some tapas, the mago ceviche which was fresh and tasty as well as the queso fondida. I was truly in food heaven, what a great assortment of food was on the menu. For dinner, I ordered the Osso buco which was fall of the bone tastiness. My girlfriend ordered the special, a beautifully cooked trout stuffed with lobster and crab. This dish definitely stole the show and I couldn't get enough of it. For dessert, I ordered the coconut flan that was incredibly tasty. It was great because Pedro greeted most people at the door and walked around during the meal to make sure everything was ok. The atmosphere almost feels like you're in Cuba or some tropical island. It was colorful with palm trees. The only thing missing was parrots or birds flying around. I was very impressed, we brought a friend here from NYC and she was very impressed with the food and atmosphere. I'd definitely come back. Oh Pedro, with food this tasty, how can I not get fat?
(5)Anthony V.
I moved into Waltham about 6 months ago and have been to La Casa de Pedro about 10 times. The first two time i would have scored it a 5/5 but everytime since then it has been worse and worse. The only reason I kept going back was hoping I would one day feel as I did that first time. We have always sat the bar and the bartenders have always been very friendly and helpful. One time we looked into a table and the host told us there was a wait when I could see 10-15 empty tables. The margaritas are good if you like the sweet types but relatively weak with alcohol, and WAYYYYY to over priced. 2 margaritas can put you in the $25 range. The food menu is expensively priced for the quality and portions you recieve, tacos around 16 and meat/seafood from 19-29. The food is average at most and very bland. The only food I repeatedly enjoy is the sides of plantains and Yuca. This place was good 1-2 times for me and I finally have learned from my many mistakes and will look elsewhere.
(3)Michael N.
I have loved coming here. I should have written a review sooner. This area certainly doesn't lack for a variety of pallets, but for excellent Venezuelan fare, Casa De Pedro is certainly under-served by its campy name, nonetheless the fare is especially good. The atmosphere is very airy and fresh with the tall ceilings and trees, creating an open air plaza type of fresco eating, in all seasons. I have eaten here on many occasions. The steak dishes have always been delicious and sensitive in flavour and tender in cooking, seasoned and cooked like it came straight from the occidente. The food shows a compassion for the history of its land, from the Spanish flavour, the Italian seasoning and the Portuguese varietal blends of legumes and tubers along with the foods of the various regions. Start with the arepas and empinadas. The El Gaucho (skirt steak) is my favourite, or maybe it is the Cordero, or the Pork Osso Buco. Order the hot sauce, it is so good! The only shortcoming is the dessert menu, which has a serviceable flan, but not equal to the main courses, but I can wait... Great place to eat before or after a show at the Arsenal Theater. The bar is also vibrant and the sangria very fruity and the mojitos crisp. mmm... The wait staff are diligent but not excellent, and the dessert menu are all that are lacking for me to give this five stars. But that wouldn't stop me from coming back.
(4)Caitlin A.
Not bad at all. Went here for an early dinner and we were the only customers except for a lone man at the bar. The salsa was absolutely incredible. I would go back just for that. For our meals, I got the chicken enchiladas, which were good. Essentially, exactly what I expected. And he got the Flank Pabellon Criollo with the eggs on top. It was also very good, but for 20$ I would expect some more of the meat; the plate was full, but the serving of meat was barely there. The plantains were the best part of both meals, in my opinion. The food here was good, I won't deny it. But for the price? Eh. Also - we were the ONLY people at a table and we had TWO different servers and the service was slow.
(3)A C.
I was pretty excited to try this place out after going on July 5th and finding out from Pedro himself that he'd given his employees the weekend off for the holiday. (I think that was cool of him.) I called at noon same day to try to make a 6pm reservation for my parents and me (it was a Friday). The guy said they had nothing at that time for a party of three, and could we do 5:45. No problem. We arrive at 5:50 to the patio that was 3/4 empty. We didn't look inside, but we were kind of wondering why we made a reservation for a nearly-empty patio. As we were walking on the patio towards our table (the location of which the host seemed confused about), I noticed a table on the patio that is clearly a bit nicer than the others (padded seats, higher up). I asked to sit there, thinking maybe there were a few others like it and it was first come first serve, but the host responded, "that is for special guests." Not the worst comment I've ever heard, but he could have just said "It's reserved" or better yet, they could have put a little sign that says Reserved like ten thousand other restaurants do. So already two strikes against them. We ordered two tapas- the olives and the nachos- which were good. Then we ordered a pitcher of sangria. Out came a carafe. This is probably nitpicky, but pitchers are definitely larger than carafes . We got a little over three glasses out of it, so at $27, that is pretty steep. Especially since their version is a mixture of wine and beer, no hard alcohol as proper sangria calls for (at least the way it's prepared in Spain.) My mom got the Verde salad, which included two slivers of avocado and exactly three slices of grilled zucchini on top of a mountain of lettuce. My dad got the cod, which he enjoyed. I got the pabellon, which is more or less the Venezuelan version of the Cuban dish ropa vieja (pulled beef) but not nearly as well seasoned. It was fine, but I was expecting more from the "signature Venezuelan dish" since it touts itself as a Venezuelan restaurant. The check came out to around $107 for all of this, so I would say it's overpriced for what you get. There are definitely better options not too far away.
(2)Rohit S.
I used to love this place. The Osso Buco was the most unique take on the dish, accompanied by plantains, yuca, rice and beans - yum!! Until now... went there a short while ago and two things went wrong: 1. Empanadas (apps) were fried in burnt oil. I informed the waitress who barely apologized, didn't offer us an alternative and didn't take it off the bill 2.. The Osso Bucco was topped with stir fried shitake mushrooms - it was absolutely disgusting. Stir fried mushrooms with asian overtones on top of a Venezuelan Ossu Bucco?!? I highly doubt Pedro was responsible for this abomination but nevertheless, he needs to get the quality under control.
(2)Frannie Z.
Another stop on my great Watertown tour. This is one place on our tour that I feel we need to explore a bit more. The mojitos were lovely, I got a berry and Barbara let me try her plain. The best one was the last one you tried. Too hard to choose between them! The empanada was lovely enough that I want to try more of their offerings. We were too full by this point do more than share one empanada. Next time, I'll save some appetite!
(4)Kay J.
A good option for dinner with friends - live entertainment on a Sat night - plenty of menu options - good food - festive décor - average prices.
(4)Sandra S.
I really wanted to enjoy this place, but, sadly, slow service and bland, subpar food made this quite the opposite. Music was blaring, patio lovely, decor taking you back to an old Miami Beach, Latin-inspired vibe. Server was pleasant and did his best given how many tables he had. I am not sure if he has a penchant for bland food or if most of the food is just under seasoned and underwhelming. We ordered based on his recommendations: appetizer of mango seafood ceviche and a chicken/avocado arepa, along with their "signature dish" Pabellon Criollo (Venezuelan classic of shredded beef simmered with vegetables) and the only item not recommended, the spicy skirt steak tacos. Mango ceviche had good flavor but consisted mostly of small shrimp and outrageously sandy mussels. One chomp on a sandy mussel and you lose your appetite. It was supposed to have white fish, but we didn't really see any. The arepa was the size of an English muffin and it was over charred on the outside and undercooked in the middle. The filling was so bland, like a few bits of poached chicken mixed into some mashed avocado, and salt was non-existent. On to the entrees--the signature braised beef dish sounded so promising, but sadly, the best thing on the plate were the black beans (delicious). Hate to sound harsh as I know this dish is the pride of Venezuela, but it was executed poorly. It was akin to rope with beef broth and a faint taste of tequila poured over it. Dry, under seasoned, and disappointing. The spicy skirt steak tacos had great flavor, although the steak was a bit too chewy from a combination of overcooking and the way it was sliced. Out of all the food, I enjoyed this dish the most. At least it had some great flavor. We waited a long time for our drinks, a long while for our apps, and again for the entrees. It was rather expensive for the quality. We won't be coming back unless they start generating some more flavorful dishes.
(2)Spamme M.
We visited boston for the weekend and found this place on groupon. We were pleasantly surprised at just how nice a place this restaurant was. We found this place through groupon. They didn't treat us like second class citizen because we used a voucher. The service was top notch and the food was just perfect, not overly seasoned and not bland. My wife complained her steak was dry, but then again she ordered it well done. I would highly recommend to just about Anyone including my family and friends
(5)Deborah J.
I like this place, specially when I'm home sick. I try parilla caraquena it was ok, the tequenos were good. My only complaints are the band (too noisy) and the waiter.
(3)Sara M.
I like this place - I really do but as I keep going back there two things bother me. 1) The fact that they wait to bring everything all at once. The point of tapas is to munch on food slowly as the plates come from the kitchen nice and fresh. Waiting to bring everything out all at once takes away from the whole tapas experience. 2) The prices are a little too much. It's not like they're using wholesome ingredients or organic greens and vegetables so why do they charge downtown restaurant prices?! Come one now...
(3)Jules C.
As you can tell from other reviews, Pedros is hit or miss. I've eaten here many times since I work in the neighborhood and there aren't a lot of choices for sit down lunch. Good thing for them. There have been times when it's been fine - and then times when nothing seemed good about it. And it's pretty expensive compared to what's in the area, so I think people expect a higher level for the money - not so much. I do think that one of the biggest causes of the variation is the management's attitude. It's like they are doing you a favor to let you eat there. I've had really friendly wait-people at times, and then other times, they've been very condescending, other times just clueless. Most recently, i was there on a weeknight right after work to meet some friends for dinner. The place was empty, except for a few after-work people in the bar. I asked if I could sit and have a drink while I waited for my friends - the manager acted like it was a huge imposition to let me take a table by myself - NO ONE else in the restaurant. Then, when my friends did show up, we had an extra person - should be good news for the restaurant, no? Apparently not. They were all too happy to bring us expensive drinks, but it took about 30 minutes for them to bring another place setting. And no, we weren't crowding into a table that was too small for our group. The food, too, can be spotty - the same salad on the menu can be either great or really mediocre and small for the money. So, overall, if I had more alternatives in the neighborhood, I would never go to Pedros, but rather to someplace that seems to actually appreciate my business. They are just so darn convenient. And that is good news for them, since I don't think they would make it in a more competitive location.
(2)Chris C.
I likeit here alot -- i have been a couple times with different people and loved it both times. The food is great, the atmosphere is VERY 1955 Cuba (a good thing!) and there is ample free parking. It's some of the best latin food I've had in Boston. My only quibble was the lighting was a little too low to read the menus easily.
(5)C R.
Went here for New Year's Eve with some Venezuelan friends who wanted to go out for drinks and dancing. We didn't plan on eating and so we didn't even try to make a reservation (the same night) on New Year's Eve. The restaurant looked FANTASTIC - decorated in a South American theme complete with palm trees and a host dressed in a white suit and Panama hat. Every table was packed full and the food looked fantastic. We occupied the bar area and danced until the ball dropped. Definitately looks like a place I'd try for dinner - as th place was packed with lots of people; all of whom seemed to have a great time. The staff were apologetic that there were (of course) no table available -but graciously offered the bar as an alternative (great service!). The band was great and people danced the night away. Who'd have thought there'd be a little bit of South America in Watertown (right next tot he Aresenal mall)! It's on my list of "to dos."
(3)Brian W.
Before tonight I didn't really know what to expect from Venezuelan cuisine and after dinner at La Casa De Pedro I still don't really know what I think. The whole Latin American theme really made us crave Mexican food and we suddenly found ourselves disappointed that we weren't offered chips and salsa and that guacamole was nowhere on the menu. The restaurant is much bigger than it looks from the outside and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The drinks are overpriced and served in small glasses, as was mentioned in many other reviews. The food was quite flavorful and definitely different from anything I've tasted before. The swordfish tips were quite good, but the yuca and fried plantains were interesting, though not nearly as life changing as some of these other reviews would lead you to believe. Overall it was a good experience to try something out of our comfort zone, but I don't think I'll be driving home from work anytime soon thinking about Pedro's Casa round 2.
(3)Chelsea G.
Great drinks!! Food is a little pricey for this area, but the atmosphere and service is definitely worth it!
(4)Jessica H.
I love love loveee Casa De Pedro! It's located right near my work and my colleagues and I love going here for after work drinks/dinner. The sangria (both red and white) is amazing and the fish tacos are delicious. The guac is pretty good too - and I like to consider myself a guac snob. They have a huge patio out front which makes for a great spot to enjoy a nice afternoon/evening. 100% recommend this place!
(4)Justin B.
One of the best places to eat! Food, atmosphere, service, drinks, parking, live music. This places has it all. Took my wife there for her birthday. I have told friends and family about this gem.
(5)I Y.
Not sure if it was because it was Cinco de Mayo, but the place was packed and service was a little slow. Salads (La de Raquel and La de Camarones) were okay, nothing special. The entrees were also not very memorable - the Buenos Tiempos was tender but lacked flavor and the Pabellon Criollo had too much liquid from the spooned on black beans. We skipped desserts - our salads and entrees were actually pretty filling.
(2)Greg P.
always great food and a great atmosphere. One of my favorite local spots to hit up. Live salsa on Saturday evenings is great. Service is hit or miss tho, if you wanna nit pick....
(4)Bri C.
Went to Pedro's for my sisters birthday tonight, food was on point. I got a traditional Venezuelan dish and it was very good, however could have done with less salt. The steak my dad got was absolutely amazing, it melted in my mouth. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and attentive. It was fairly busy for a Monday night. My mom got a $12 salad, which I thought was a little pricey for lettuce, squash, and some tomato slices. The price would have made more sense if there were avocado in it. Besides that, everything else is great. Be sure to try the shrimp ceviche, sooo good and very fresh. As well as the calamari , which was quite delicious. I'll be returning soon.
(5)Susan D.
I give this restaurant 3 stars, though the food and the outdoor cafe was fab. The reduction in stars: My friends and I arrived with my two smaller dogs, one of which is a therapy dog. The owner refused to let either one of them stay with us at our table, so we had to tie them up around a tree just outside the perimeter of the cafe, close to where we were sitting. My friend asked if they could bring a bowl of water for the dogs at least, and they refused. Then a wait staff tried to have our friend move her infant son, who was asleep, for who knows why. Our friend simply refused, not wanting to awaken the baby. Watching that same owner stare at himself in the foyer mirror whilst talking on his cell phone and watching us like we were criminals, made me want to barf, but we were so hungry by that time, we just stayed an waited to eat our food. All that said, the food was absolutely superb. All of it. We had to "ask" for bread (apparrently, they do not give it out freely - an oddity for a "highbrow" South American restaurant, but when it arrived when we were finished with our meal, it was fresh and excellent.
(3)Todd F.
I had high hopes for this colorful restaurant, but they were not met. The menu is on the pricey side with tapas around $8-$12 and main courses around $20-$30. My wife and I ordered a few tapas dishes as we weren't starving. The first sign of trouble, the diet coke I ordered came in a tiny glass. I'm serious, this thing was smaller than a sippy cup. As I've said before, in this day and age, you can't get away with crap like that. It really reflects poorly on the restaurant. The food finally came and everything looked appetizing. The problem was, it was all dry. We had aripas, yuca fritas, queso fundito, and empanadas. All of it was dry and difficult to eat...I was surprised there were no sauces offered with them. The yuca fritas came with a chimichurri sauce over top, but it was too little and did nothing to moisten them. Even the queso fundito was dry, with the cheese nearly congealed when it arrived at the table. The only bright spot were the empanadas, which had a tasy, moist chicken mixture inside. The service matched the meal and was dry. We barely got a smile from our waiter. All in all, I'd avoid this place.
(2)Mallory W.
Went here for the first time last night. AMAZING! Strawberry Mojito was declicious and then we had the Nachos for an appetizer. Honestly the best Nachos I have ever had (and I eat a LOT of nachos!) For my meal I tried the Pabellón Criollo which was Shredded beef simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans The Fried Plantains were also probably the best I have ever tasted. and the beef was very flavorful. ORDER THE HOT SAUCE with your meal (extremely Hot!!!) But delicious. Cannot wait to go back here!
(5)Herbert K.
I like the food, I like Pedro, I like the feel of the place.... But... We all know that a Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime. But Pedro... $12 for one? In Watertown? Really? It's a fine cocktail, even comes with a little sugar cane garnish, but please.... cachaça is about the cheapest spirit out there, and $12 is just gouging!
(2)Dawn E.
The ambiance in here is pure delight. They did everything right. *Everything.* I wouldn't change a lamp or a plant or a painting or a chair. It's warm and cozy and romantic but not so much that you can't go with friends or the fam, still, it would definitely make a great joint for a date. It was a fairly empty weeknight when I went, but I get the feeling this place comes alive with energy when it's busy, and I'm curious to find out. The menu is multiple pages, and even better, the majority of those pages are dedicated to booze. Oh hai booze. Yeah. We're already friends. Sadly, a week's worth of antibiotics equaled no booze for me, so we just waived at each other and sighed - ships passing in the night and all that. The food menu is less extensive but interesting. It's important to note that this is *not* a Mexican restaurant, on my way out I heard a couple making some sort of observation relating to the strangeness of this Mexican food and I resisted my oft-had smacking urge once again. The food here is South American in general with a strong Venezuelan influence - this means you should expect flavors to be more subtle and refined. I ordered the Buenos Tiempos (which the "waiter" informed me several times meant "Good Times" despite my response to him several times in my terrible but passable Spanish) and good times it was. Short ribs in a brown sauce with sauteed tomatoes and onions came plated with two kinds of rice, black beans, fried yucca, and plantains. These were, bar none, the most tender and divine short ribs I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. My plate, in particular, was flawless and ample. I made all the right choices. My dining companions ordered Parrillada Caraquea and Quesadilla de Camarones respectively. From the Parrillada Caraquea I tasted all three of the meats (chorizo, sirloin, and chicken). All of these were decent but only the chorizo was excellent. The chicken and the sirloin were entirely un-special. I did not sample the shrimp quesadilla but the friend who ordered it thought it was perfection. She also, however, complained that her plantains were in fact bananas, I tasted her plantains and they, in fact, tasted sweeter and more bananay than mine, but my mouth was already full of shortribby happiness so I can neither confirm nor deny her claims. For dessert I enjoyed a near flawlessly executed cappuccino and some delightful chocolate flan. Or service was as charming and warm as the ambiance. It would have been flawless, except that our attention was sparse. I did not really feel neglected in that I was enjoying my company but it did take what seemed like a while for the food to arrive, and we were never checked on until we were finished and had pushed away our plates. Water did not get refilled, even after requested, and the bill also took a while both to arrive and to process. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Pedro's House and would like to return. If only to sample all that booze...
(3)Sally H.
I liked the beef empanadas, with the chilli sauce! They set the light to a dim ambiance, which was okay with me. The place will fill up with patrons after 7pm.
(3)J D.
La Casa de Pedro is in an old renovated warehouse near the Arsenal Mall. The restaurant has 20 foot ceilings which enables them to have practically full size trees throughout, giving it a Caribbean feeling. We ate on a Monday night and surprisingly, there was live music playing. Not deafening loud, just nice calypso/bosa nova in the background. The menu is primarily Latin, but they also offer a sizable Mexican offering. I opted for chicken enchiladas which were good. Fresh grilled chicken with sides of black beans and rice, fried yucca, and plantains. The yucca and plantains were outstanding. Shredded beef in a garlic and onion base with rice and beans were very good as well. Portions here are huge, so you might be getting a second meal out of your order. We took home some coconut flan, which was some of the best flan I've ever had. Service was friendly and low key. It's a nice option for a Latin feed.
(4)Dominique G.
How is it possible for this place to still be in business? It is horrible. I gave it another chance a week ago meeting a few friends for drinks only while they ate Tapas. The waitress, while very nice, didnt know a thing about the food! hello? Train them much? Never again. Food sucks
(1)Melissa M.
I had 1.5 sips of my fiance's Mojito @ La Case de Pedro. This was the first time any booze has touched my lips in almost 72 days. But, it was HIGH TIME!! Yeah, sure, I could have had one if I wanted, but I just wanted a taste. Just a taste! It was DAYUM good. Dios Mio! I will definitely return for one in the near future!! It was worth ten bucks. It really was. The food was pretty good too. I got some grilled chicken with an apricot/mango sauce -- kinda like mango chicken @ a Chinese establishment. But, this place was not Chinese. It is Venezuelan food. I need to mention their plantains are so good. The yucca, notsomuch. Their rice and beans are very good. The portions are HUMUNGO! I had taken the leftovers home and my 91 year-old Irish immigrant Papa loved it. But, he might of just though it was Chinese food -- he loves Chinese food. Even the toasted bread and butter they serve to you is very good. The service was wonderful, a bit slow at first, but attentive once the crowd of diners left to go to the theatre next door. The decor here is so nice. It's like being in Miami -- very tropical. Check it out! They have a patio that is opening next week. I shall return.
(3)Greg N.
This place looks like Little Havana, tastes like Heaven, and has totally earned a repeat customer. The food was so good it made me want to weep and the margarita was arguably the best (and strongest) I've had in YEARS... It was moderately priced and is worth every single penny. No point in a longer review because words only get in the way. nom nom nom nom nom.
(5)Cindy O.
This is near my corporate office and I forgot about it until my manager took me there for lunch this past week. I had the fish tacos and they were amazing. Served with fried plantains and a black bean rice. The server was attentive and we were able to get served within our lunch time. I went here 2 years ago for dinner but cannot recall what I ordered but I do remember the person I was with and I really loved the food. Next time I am in MA I will definitely go here again.
(5)Dee D.
Went for dinner today at 5:20. It was practically empty. Was told that we (meaning the two of us) could sit in no mans land near the kitchen or at the bar. My boyfriend chose the seat near the kitchen. After waiting a while, our waitress came. Not ultra friendly or flexible. Told us we could not order anything from lunch menu. Ok. The place is still very empty, I must have saw at least two sections empty on my way to the bathroom which was filthy as can be. Another waitress notices us in Guam and asks if we ordered yet, she was very nice and i wish she was our waitress. We have been waiting forever and did not receive any bread. Food arrives. My boyfriend ordered a meat platter for $18 with about a half a cup of meat on his plate. Flagged down waitress for refill of water and for bill. Paid bill and walked out, no greeting from hosts up front. Should have gone to Panela de Barro in Waltham.
(1)Valerie V.
Tried Casa de Pedro recently when looking for a place to have a fun dinner out with a group of 4 where we could park for free and not venture downtown. Overall, I would say that I would come back because several menu items were totally delicious--the swordfish tips and the yucca specifically. However-the drinks are insanely overpriced. As in, a drink is more expensive than most entrees. It makes zero sense and is off-putting. So this would not be the first choice at all if I was planning on having a few. If you're a teetotaler, this is probably a great place for you! Haha..
(3)Emily F.
I am a sucker for outdoor seating. And plates of beef with eggs on top. The food is good, not amazing, but very good. I have had nice waitstaff here, and am really looking forward to getting an adult beverage one night (we always go for lunch). Big plates of food, lots of delicious calories. Try the Beef with an Egg. My personal favorite!
(4)Jessie C.
Very tasty! Went on a friday night with a few ladies and we had a fantastic time. The service was fantastic and the food was even better. The prices are higher but you certainly get your money's worth. I had the Bacalao a la Ozzy Guillen and it was great. Nice large piece of fish, a good number of plantains and yuca. Also had the white sangria and it was nice and fruity as well. Great experience.
(4)Vernice G.
Was a good service, many variety Latin food and good music.
(4)Aneury B.
The food is awesome here and Ana (the waitress) was really nice to me and my family. I'm definitely coming back!
(5)Eva K.
Love this place - the osso buco in particular was to die for, but you can't really go wrong here if you love your yucca and such.
(5)Aboud Y.
Have had a few good meals here (brunch, lunch, and dinner) and I like the festive atmosphere. But the food isn't all that. Here are a few things I've tried: Camarones al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp): C+. Tasty but I don't like the smaller shrimp they use Tequeños (fried white Venezualen cheese): A. My favorite thing on the menu. Declicious. Make sure you ask for something to dip them in though (salsa or something). Mejillones de Pedro (mussles): C-. Came out very fishy tasting and the broth is pretty bland. I'd pass. Pedro's old times with Vargas (Fried Pork): B. Pretty tasty fried goodness...and great accompaniment to drinks (or to fix a hangover). Bebe Andrés (button mushrooms): B. Very nice. Arepas: C. I'm very particular about these and the ones I've tried here are too dry. Fried Yucca: B. I'm not a huge fan of Yucca buy they prepare it well here. Anyhow...I'll definitely go back but I'm not in much of a hurry o do so.
(3)Ethel F.
Great ambience.. Large portions.. Tasty drinks.. I'm only giving it 3 stars because the last experience I had, the waitress pointed out certain entrees on the menu that no longer were available or that they had run out of. Its a HUGE pet peeve of mine when restaurants don't have food that they list on their menu. Besides that, Pedros is definitely a place I would recommend people to try at least once.
(3)David S.
This is an awesome restaurant. Though It is not my favorite food. Atmosphere and energy are awesome. Have gone here twice . And the band was awesome. The food was good. The service the second time was excellent...
(4)Roy W.
OK food, but they don't compare well to a place like Orinoco, which is head and shoulders better. It may not seem like it when first you look a the menu - there are lots of entries - but there's not a lot of variety to be had. Watery martinis. (Yep, I have them on the rocks, but they still shouldn't be watery.)
(2)Erwin F.
Well done Pedro, well done. You fed me well. I'm still on a food high from last night so I'll just give you the highlights: Beef Empanada - Get it, got, get another, because it's that's good. Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pork slightly fried with hot sauce) - Not a blue ribbon winner, but you get a notable mention. Chicken and avocados Arepas - you sir, are so plain, that you should get penalized for being so bland. Shredded beef Arepas - good flavor, but if this were a pass/fail course, you'd just get the "P". Don't get your feelings hurt by asking the number grade. La Paella de Pedro - FANTASTIC Pineapple Mojito - I'd recommend Service - pretty good Ambience - everything looks good when you're on a food high. Definitely recommend.
(4)Jen F.
The food is awesome. Let me repeat. The. Food. Is. Awesome. All the entrees are great, and are made even better by the amazing accompaniments--fried yuka, rice (cilantro and orange) and beans, and the best plantains on planet earth. The drinks, too, are delicious. The only issue is the service. It's a mixed bag. When it's good, it's good, when it's bad...it's a hot mess. Casa should really get it together in that department. Otherwise, it's an awesome restaurant and one of my favs.
(4)Michele G.
This is review for take-out. I happen to work right next door, so my lunch options are limited to Pedro and Panera. Boo. I probably won't eat here again after my experience. I ordered a shrimp quesdilla. Who orders a quesadilla at a Venezulan place? Plenty of people, because it's on the menu. And if it's on the menu, it should be as good as the rest of the food you serve. Anyhow, this quesadilla was sad. The best parts were the shrimp and the side of plantains. I make better, more satisying quesadillas at home. Actually, so does Beer Works on Canal St. Some shrimp and mostly cheese and some pesto sauce filled the tortilla, accompianed by two laughably small containers of guac and sour cream. I'm talking almost thimbul small. And the sour cream was warm, so I didn't chance it. I might be back for the Ten Cane mojitos, but that's it.
(2)Sarah C.
Maybe I was there on an off night, but I didn't have a particularly pleasant experience. They were relatively busy, but not slammed, and the service was very poor. Long waits in between seeing our waiter's face, a few mistakes through the night, and it took FOREVER to get the check. Meanwhile I thought the food was fine. Good sized portions, but really nothing special - could have gotten that quality many other places for much less money. I think that's the sticking point for me - for the quality of food and the service, their prices are just too high. Bring 'em down a bit and this place gets an A-OK rating, but for now, "Meh. I've experienced better" sums it up for me.
(2)Rachel L.
The LCDP website doesn't do them justice (it looks more casual than the actual ambiance). The atmosphere is elegant, but not stuffy. I went there with a group of friends mid week because we weren't in the mood to battle traffic and parking downtown, so a Mexican restaurant in Watertown was a good compromise. Our server was awkward/uncomfortable, but polite. And the food was very good. The entrees all came with yuka, rice and beans, and plantains - I thought it was a nice touch. It made the experience more authentic and reminded me of being in Central America. I was a little disappointed with the veggie quesadilla (my standard order for Mexican restaurants) because it was stuffed with tons of squash and not much else. Otherwise, everything was very tasty. The sangria was also good, but I would have liked more fruit in it. Overall a good experience.
(3)David V.
I am writing this review based on take-out; I have not eaten at the restaurant. My wife ate here recently and brought me home a mix of food including arepas, beef, pork, rice, and beans. I found the food to be delicious! Everything was flavorful, the meat was tender, and one thing that I really appreciate about this food is that it is NOT greasy like so many other similar restaurants. I hope to have the opportunity to eat at the restaurant one day!
(5)Barbara A.
I loved this place when it was stil in Watertown Sq (even when he upped his prices 20%), but still not sure about the "new" space anymore. At first I was excited about all that space and happy it was there (I even had my mom's memorial lunch there). The last few times I went though, not too excited about it. First, the mojitos are probably the best I have had anywhere in the area. I asked the bartender one time why so yummy and he tried to explain it to me but since mere mortals can not buy the type of liquor they use on the open market, I did not retain it. I have been a big fan of the empanada - the first thing I do is order them because in the past they took 20 mins. When I ordered them last time, they came in 5. I have been going to his place since he first opened and they have always taken 20 min (I will not go into a routine about grits a la "My Cousin Vinny"). Well just taste it and you will see it is not the same quality - not sure if he precooks or is he doing a different recipe but how sad. I also enjoy the traditonal shredded beef dish - can not retain the name nor pronounce it but look for it. It is still yummy. I will still go here, but will mourn the quality that has gone down.
(3)Anne P.
Three of us stopped in here for dinner on a weekend some months ago. It was prime time, so, understandably, there was a wait (despite empty tables, which I assumed were saved for reservations). We were in somewhat of a rush, so we sort of crowded around a high-top table, which only had two chairs. The manager was unable to find us another chair, which was fine by us (but clearly bothered him). We waited a while without a server coming to take our drink orders, which was annoying - BUT the manager/host noticed, consulted his reservation book again, and then brought us right into the dining room. Our server was really attentive and seemed honest in his recommendations, the management was friendly, and the food was good. We were all very impressed with both the food and the service, and will definitely be back.
(4)Alvin C.
Mother's Day! This was a great choice. My om loved the deacor and the food. The food was amazing. I mean everything we ordered was DELICIOUS. There was a live band playing Latin music; I am not sure if that is a regular occurrence. The service was great, and it could be a great place for a date, holiday meal, or just a really nice lunch or dinner any day of the week. I will be visiting again soon.
(5)Tiffany K.
We only ate here because the diner with the 4 stars on Yelp was packed with people for brunch, so we had no choice but ended here. Early morning mimosa was the best part! I ordered a tomato bacon omlette...I am very sure I have had better ;p The place is huge and the service was just barely ok. Not sure when I will ever be back to Boston, but for sure I don't think I will want to eat here again ;D...sorry!
(3)Lynda M.
Food is good--great choices for everyone-my friend's salmon was delish and so was my quesadilla. Wine menu was decent and fairly priced, but mixed drinks were a bit pricey for Watertown. Cute space, but it is very open so when a live band is playing on Fridays and Saturdays it is impossible to carry on a conversation. Shouting did not work. So if you want a good meal with normal conversation, hit this place on a week night.
(3)Min L.
I work in the complex where La Casa de Pedro is located. My co-workers and I frequent this place quite often. The food is very consistent and they do have great specials. It's a bit pricey at $9-11 a plate for lunch. The interior is nicely decorated but I prefer the outdoor patio when it's available. Nothing better than a pitcher of sangria in the sun!
(4)dan m.
Food burned to hell and back...service sucked, slow and over-priced weak drinks. Avoid.
(1)Mary Anne C.
Why haven't I been here before? What was I thinking? The food was good, my drink was fine, there was a live band (and dancing). Great service from the door onward - charming host, great server. All in all, comfortable and fun. Perfect for a cold Friday night. And Florina, I think you mean the arepas. (We had the chicken and avocado arepa - small but very flavorful.)
(5)madine c.
We've been dining at Pedro's since it first opened up in Watertown Square (15 years now?). It's a little pricey, and I burned out on it a bit after eating there so often, hence the missing 5th star. However, it's really quite good there. Our favorites over the years include: * Red sangria; tasty and packs quite a punch * Arepas (all of 'em, but especially the chicken and avocado) * The traditional shredded beef dish with black beans, rice, plantains, and fried yuca (topped with an amazingly delicious cilantro aioli!) * The "Raquel" salad, which features shredded roast chicken over greens and that same delicious cilantro aioli! * Fried yuca (with that cilantro aioli!) is a delicious treat. Get some for the table if your entree doesn't include it as a side. It's reminiscent of steak fries but so much better. * More red sangria! The "new" space (I think they've been there at least 5 years by now) is kind of odd and cavernous; it originally was a Naked Fish. I hope Pedro's does well and stays in business ... it seems like they've weathered the rough storms (2008?) by now. And for what it's worth, I believe they're the longest-running restaurant to date in that space (after Naked Fish, it was Red Sauce, then the doomed Marzo 20-something that I can't remember). So go eat at Pedro's if you're a fan of Venezuelan food (which closely resembles traditional Cuban and/or Puerto Rican fare, in my limited experience).
(4)bob c.
Located in the old Watertown Arsenal with lots of parking, Casa De Pedro is worth a visit. Nice outdoor patio over looking fountain; large spacious indoors with a South American feel. Attentive service and very good genuine South American food. Large menu; good bar.
(4)Carroll C.
Don't go with only an American Express card...not accepted there. I didn't get a margarita, which I love, since they were about $14 each. I bought two appetizers, a corn cake (can't remember the name of them) with cheese and some yuca fries. The cheese on the corn cakes was shredded and unmelted, as if it'd just come straight out of a bag. The yuca fries were fine but came with only a tiny bit of some sort of sauce. Completely pedestrian in every way. I'd never go back or recommend the restaurant.
(2)A A.
great food but bad waiter & service. we were a party of 8 they said couldn't make reservations but if we came they'd fit us in..well that was an understatement. They put us in a corner table by the restrooms, then told us we need to be finished by 8:30 for another party. we got there at 7. Then we ordered a pitcher of Margaritas and the waiter said they couldn't do that for some strange reason.Then i ordered a tapas item and he told me they were all out ..at 7PM! then they only take 3 cc at a time so one of us had to use cash AND they include the 18% gratuity in parties over 5!..maybe why the waiter didn't give damn! This was one of the WORST restaurant experiences ever! PS their Guacamole is too salty and they cut it with sour cream.
(1)Amanda G.
Wow - 4.5 for this random joint. Incredible food for very reasonable prices - we shared guacamole and shrimp ceviche appetizers, both of which were served with yuca chips. Plates were a good portion-size and deee-licious. I could eat that ceviche again and again and... For dinner we all had the roast chicken, which is a huge dinner portion (easily shared by two), that comes with a couple pieces of sausage, rice and black beans, fried plantains and more yuca chips. The chicken was moist and crispy on top, and the plantains are to-die. I almost cleared my plate which would have been dangerous. I had a house margarita which was light & lovely, although a little pricey at $11, and given the food is not as expensive. Our waiter was amazing, very upbeat and attentive but let us linger long after dinner when we were clearly absorbed in our conversation. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the feel is a bit more chain-restaurant than what this place really is, which is a fantastic foodie find. I'm secretly hoping they open a Casa de Pedro II somewhere in the city or Cambridge -- if you work in the area or are stopping by, this is the best spot going!
(4)Kelly G.
For a gluten-free girl on the town, there aren't always a ton of options on the menu. At Pedro's almost the whole menu was there for the taking! C. and I decided on Pedro's for our 6-month-a-versary (I'm a girl, I'm allowed). When we arrived, Pedro himself (his pic is on the website) was buzzing around the patio talking to patrons and laughing loudly - what a great first impression! We then walked in and were further impressed - the atmosphere is romantic and warm, a live salsa band was playing, and the smells from the kitchen were amazing! A hostess greeted us promptly and seated us in a green-lit corner booth. The awesome continued right on from there- our waiter was attentive - started us off with a black raspberry margarita and a blood orange/blueberry martini - both were exceptional! The menu is mainly traditional Venezuelan food with a smattering of Mexican. My favorite parts of the program were the dishes named for Raquel, Pedro's wife - the descriptions are written so lovingly - it's such a sweet tribute. We ordered the Aprepas (traditional Venezuelan corncake) with chicken and avocado - which was like a chicken salad with avocado instead of mayo - and was scrumptious. C had the steak and onion dish and I had a steak and chicken dish - yay meat! Both had sides of Yucca, Plantain, and Rice & Black Beans. I'd never had yucca before and it was fabulous! I've also never had plantains that tasted this good. We wrapped things up with a few bites of chocolate flan. From A to Z, this was an unbeatable experience. We both look forward to going back later in the summer, sitting on the outdoor patio, and sharing this gem with our friends.
(5)Brooke J.
I eat here every time I visit my friend. This food is affordable, good for you, and tastes great. What more could you want? I love the plantains, and they give you heaps and heaps of them! So if you order them, be sure you have help! The fajita steak is slow cooked as it should be, and is flavourful and falling apart. Their vegetables always seem fresh, and they aren't overcooked. They stay nice and bright on your plate and palette. The seasoning has been perfect on everything I've ordered. Unlike other Latin restaurants, there isn't a whole lot of grease on everything or too much salt. I like their margaritas, even though sometimes tequila makes me sick. Their pina colada is nice, too. I generally end up with a bill in the range of $30 - $50 for two. The higher end is for when we get drinks. Totally forgot to mention that the front of the house is nice, too. Service is attentive and cheerful. :)
(4)J M.
So let me say first off that this review is totally about the experience..NOT THE FOOD! I had the steak w/plantanes and thought it was the softest nicest dishes I've had in a really long time. Now on a sour note-The food was much more expensive than I anticipated. Drinks were $10 a piece...which since my group planned to go as a celebration this was not expected. They have an outside seating area but when we arrived at 4p.m. stated it was for evening seating only? There was a band set up next to the bar which my party thought would be good entertainment, but was soOOOOOOOOO loud that we couldn't hear each other and felt forced to be seated for dinner in order to put some distance between us and the band.
(1)Allison R.
So, my favorite parts of dinner last night, aside from the excellent company, of course: the gooey fried cheese appetizer(queso blanco), the plantains(mmm), the price. entree and two beers for $25 The biggest drawback, aside from the Arsenal Street location, is the lack of draught beer. But, all-in-all, a good latin american restaurant for Watertown.
(3)Anne W.
I went here with a friend who grew up in Venezuela. We were less than impressed. It is a nice place to go if you want something tailored to the American taste... than something authentic and tasty. We spoke to the owner of the place who spoke Spanish. Unfortunately, his recommendations didn't really wow us either. The beef was good but really really salty. Rice was okay.. I'm not impressed with plaintains in general. The only thing that was good in my friend's opinion was these eggroll things filled with cheese. The service wasn't so great. I had to flag down the waiter to get our check.. order coffee.. and we never got refills for our water. The decor and ambience is nice though. But the food.. which is what I am most concerned about.. was really not.
(1)Weidong L.
went there for my daughter's birthday. She picked up the place. the music was very nice and food was interesting. I would recommend the palce if you have not tried their food.
(4)Tara V.
I work in the same complex as La Casa de Pedro so I order lunch from there on a regular basis. Favorite dishes are Isla de Margarita, Pollo en Brasa and the De Los Compadres sandwich. Sometimes I have my friends meet me here for dinner. Their drinks are awesome as well.
(5)Amnery S.
I think some business have forgotten how important customer service is. When we arrived to La Casa de Pedro we decided to sit in the patio, being that it was the last weekend of nice weather in October. We stand at the entrance by the podium and there is only one waitress at a table. As accustomed in a restaurant, unless otherwise indicated, we waited to be seated. The waitress walks right past us and back to the patio. Another waiter exits the inside of the restaurant to set an empty table and walks right past us. No one until this point has even acknowledged us. The waiter finishes setting the table and then walks to us and seated us. This is my first time going to this restaurant and so far so BAD! After 15 minutes the waitress finally comes to our table with water and the menus. No introduction, no "good afternoon welcome to ...." Nothing. She says she'll come back to take our order. The service up until that point was horrendous! I suggested that we leave but we decided to stay since we were already there. 10 minutes later the no named waitress comes back to take our order and I decided I would order something from the lunch menu - No name waitress informs us that they are only serving from the dinner menu....ok. We have already been sitting there for 30 minutes. I quickly spot something on the dinner menu and ordered. The food took what seems like forever to come. We ordered the Trucha Galarraga - trout fillet, and Shugui's Pollo Asado. No doubt the food was good a bit colder than we would like but still pleasant, JUST THE FOOD was great. Luckily the waitress managed to check back on us once and refill our glasses with water. I noticed the table next to us seemed to also be disgusted with the service that he and the person he was with, walked towards the exit and sat at the bench waiting for the waiter to bring them their checks, they were leaving and clearly hadn't finished or eaten much of their food. Once we finished we sat at our table for another period of time, while the patio seating area was ghost of any waiting staff. After we flagged down our waitress she came back with the check and we immediately handed her the Amex - they don't take amex. So we handed her a visa. On the menu it says "Major credit cards accepted", I understand Amex is very much so a major credit card, perhaps you should update that on your statement. When we arrived there were three tables seated in the patio when we left there were four. So, she was not that busy to the point where she couldn't be attentive, nice or pleasant and she should have been able to turn the table in 45 minutes. It's disappointing because customer service is what makes a customer loyal - not just the food - the food can be replaced anywhere. I will certainly not be going back nor will I be recommending it to anyone. BTW we finally found out the waitresses name from the receipt - how personable.
(1)Ramona Z.
I have been coming here for years- from their outlet type store in Super 99 in Allston to their original Watertown Square location. Went to their Arsenal location over the weekend and was totally disappointed that they didn't take Amex. Get with the times guys!
(4)Dana S.
LOVE IT here- just wish it was closer. We used to frequent the one in Bedford but it closed. The food here is amazing and the staff is top notch. Can get busy so please plan accordingly. Drinks are so yummy too- cant get enough of their mojitos. Ill be back soon!
(4)Susan D.
Can't believe I've lived in Watertown for a year and not stumbled il upon this place. The food it's outstanding. Had carve asada quesadilla today- check out my photo. It came with a rice and bean mixture and savory and sweet plantains on the side. Very filling. I almost never eat the rice and beans but devoured these. Can't wait for the patio to open. Hot sauce is amazing- housemade and available for purchase. My bar mate advised the salads are amazing and the short ribs are her favorite.
(5)CC C.
We came here for the first time based on a recommendation from a colleague. The restaurant has a cultural feel and the patio overlooks a beautiful common area. The staff was very friendly and provided us with direction on the many Tapas options as well as the main courses. The ceviche is a must and offers a variety of shrimp, fish and other varieties of seafood and vegetables. I had the whole haddock fish for an entree which included sautéed vegetables properly seasoned with the right amount of spice and heat. Overall we had a great experience and would recommend this for a couple or group outing.
(5)Carla S.
this place was great a while back.. not sure what happened. But I love their mojitos!
(3)Gene L.
A solid place for Latin American food. Great place to go for meals or for happy hours. I've come a couple of times for happy hours and enjoyed the appetizers greatly. They also have great mojitos and other cocktails too. The arepas and empanadas are always solid choices. The yucca fries and plantains are probably my favorite thing there. I've had their quesadillas before as well, which is very filling and comes with lots of fix-ins on the side (salsa, sour cream, guac). Service has always been great too.
(4)Francis W.
This is a place in the newly trendy part of Watertown next to the commanders palace. The place is slower during lunch but its definitely picks up towards the evening. I went with a few friends and everything was good, but the MUST try is: Victoria's Pollo en Brasa. "The best roasted chicken in the state" according to La Casa De Pedro and ME. It really THAT GOOD.- I had this during lunch and I will be back again for this dish, and the sides compliment the chicken perfectly. I have also had drinks there in the past and I must say they are overall good. These are some of the strongest Margarita's I have ever had. Why I am I giving this only four stars? The appetizers. They were definitely the downside of the meal, but everything else is A+.
(4)Sylvia C.
We were looking forward to some decent Spanish cuisine but our taste buds ended up slightly disappointed. Their food and service was about average, nothing really stood out. We ordered the following: mango sangria - barely tasted mango seafood ceviche to start -served with plantain chips. The ceviche was more salty than refreshing for the summer steak with chimichurri sauce - decently seasoned but slightly overcooked trout topped peppers, onion and fried calamari - gently fried and mildly seasoned Both entrees were served with rice, plantains and fried yucca. The rice was just too salty (think the chef went extra heavy handed with the salt shaker). We managed to get full but not satisfied. Just one of those missed the spot meals.
(3)Meredith D.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here for a long time but we decided to not come back here for a long time. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks. Each time we come here we deal with staff that is not too friendly, but we keep coming back because the food is pretty good. In our most recent experience, we had to hunt down our waiter to ask for hot sauce when our entrees came and he never ever bothered to ask us if everything with out food was good. When we finally did get his attention he still never asked us if everything was good. It was not till the very end that he gave us a half ass, "thanks guys," as he brought out the check. The staff is just not friendly and you definitely do not feel like you are the customer when you are there. This has not been the first time we walk out feeling like we got bad service.
(3)Monique Q.
This restaurant has a great look inside I was here in 2012 and was not pleased with my meal. Decided to give it another chance. Casa de Pedro in Watertown has outdoor dining and in Friday's a live band. Good music. If you are looking for friendly service or excellent service this is not your place! If you want authentic Spanish food is average. I don't mind paying for good good but the prices on the menu are over rated. So disappointed due to the lack of attention we received by our waitress that didn't even speak Spanish, that's besides the point I could have had a second drink but she didn't not come check to see if I wanted one, (bad wine selection)! We finally requested our bill, my party only had one drink! I had to go and pay my bill with cashier advised of our service then waitress never came back another man came to provide check.. Really rude! Not my kind of place to go I ended up in Allston to eat better food! See my posts for other Latino places to go!
(2)Chad G.
La Casa De Pedro Cuisine: Venezuelan, Spanish Location: 343 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA Parking: Ample and free!!! Decor / Ambiance: High ceiling, lots of big plants, low lit gives this place almost a resort feel. Perfectly decorated for this style of foods. There was a Latin style band playing as we were finishing our meal. They sounded great and added to the Latin charm. Skilled dancers on the floor when we left, wish we had more time to watch them. Greeting: Very friendly and prompt. Nothing more awkward than walking into a place and seeing an empty host desk. Not here, full team on point when we walked in. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservations and was seated promptly. I would not have minded wetting the whistle at the bar if we needed to wait because it looked like a nice place to sit especially if you want good seats to see the band. Menu mix: My Wife and I were looking for something different and we got it here. A great variety of foods from the standards to the creative twists. Water / Bread service No bread with this concept and the water tasted great. No bleachy taste here. Tasted almost as good as purified water. When you are seated there is a bottle of sparkling water and bottled water on the table. The Wifey and I always choose tap. Drink pour: My Wife got the tequila flight samplings and a presidente beer. Nice pour on the flights. I got a a really good aged rum and wasn't at all disappointed. Nice and "warming" after coming in from the cold Food quality: We loved it! We started with the Yucca Fries with a cilantro sauce and the special ceviche which was a blend of whit fish, mussels and shrimp with crispy plantains. I could have had two of the ceviche because it was that good. Service: Very friendly and informative. She was quick to realize we had not been there before and was great with suggestions. I noticed that she did not simply point to the most expensive rums, tequila or food choices on the menu. She pointed out honest favorites and we were not at all disappointed. She was very charming and made us feel quite welcomed. For entrees I got the grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. My wife got the (Beef Short Ribs) which were braised in wine with roasted onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños. Both dishes came with rice & beans, plantains and yucca fries. It was fantastic! Value: I think the value was great. Left feeling nice and full and for what we got it was a nice check to singh off on. Nothing worse than signing off a check that's high and you know right well your going to be raiding the refrigerator before bed.... Not leaving here your not. Nice generous portions. We skipped dessert which also kept the bill down. I am sure they had some sweet treats but the food is filling so we opted out. Bathrooms: Very clean and well maintained Would I return: ABSOLUTELY! In fact we can't wait to. Comments & Tips: Don't order the yucca fries as an app as you may also be getting this on your entree plate as well. Check first to see if your entree may already have the fries because that's going to be a lot of "filling" yucca. We got it as an app not knowing it was also coming on our plates. Needless to say we didn't finish it all. This place is great for groups to as there were some big tables having birthday parties.
(4)Haley C.
We drove all the way from central mass to go to this restaurant. The food was okay. I wouldn't drive out of my way again for the food. Its alright.
(3)Carolina W.
Felt like giving it another try, ordered some chicken soup with a side of avocado (the way my grandmother used to serve soup). I said no problem on being charged a little extra for the avocado. I'm thinking $1.50, maybe even two bucks extra, no biggie...guess what they charged me for the side of avocado? $5. Are you out of your mind? Never ever again. NEVER.
(2)Chris H.
Pricey for what you get, but it's a phenomenal spot for enjoying a margarita and appetizers outside on their patio on a sunny day.
(4)Kate L.
A for ambiance -feels like you are in the legit Caribbean or somewhere on va-ca. Great getaway on a snowy cold night. Bar scene was cozy and nice. Guacamole was a small portion but tasty nonetheless. And affordable. Skinny margaritas are not on the menu but the bartender made me a really good one - sweetened with agave. DELISHHHH! Tortilla espanola was slightly dry - not sure I would ever order again here. Garlic shrimp was really flavorful but too small for the price.
(4)Alex C.
Came here for drinks. It's nice that they make the margaritas from scratch!
(3)Kenneth M.
La Casa de Pedro is a fabulous restaurant; Pedro is a born restaurateur! The food is amazing, especially the plantains (which are consistently perfect) and the spicy ceviche (which stops me in my tracks it is so good). We recently ordered short ribs, salmon, and haddock. Each meal was superb and big enough for another lunch. The ambience is beautiful and fun; the waitstaff, friendly and helpful. Little touches keep revealing themselves: great artwork, live plants, nifty antiques, and wonderful custom china. The kitchen is wide open, and I love just standing there watching one amazing plate of food after another take shape. The cook staff are all alchemists. La Casa de Pedro is a gem!
(5)Allison D.
Ceviche is yummy, get that. Service is good. Pabellon criollo has wayyyyyy too much salt. Stay far away. I could only manage a few bites before I gave up and decided to take it home and transform it into something edible. I may be back to give La Casa de Pedro another chance, but I was really disappointed in my main course. Maybe on a Friday or Saturday for music and ceviche. I'd like to try the empanadas.
(3)P M.
LOVED LOVED everything about Casa de Pedro. Had reservations and were sat immediately. Conscientious staff. Fabulous ceviche, chorizo and salmon dish. We had numerous dishes but I personally loved these. We were there on a Saturday 6:30 to almost 9 pm. Enjoyed not only the fabulous food but also the ambience which included live music! I plan to be back again and again.
(5)Andrea K.
nice patio, reasonably-priced drinks - food isn't great, something was off with everything we ordered - too salty, too overcooked. the best was the nachos, even though they're piled up precariously, the pork in them is tender & good.
(2)Sake B.
Although you would never expect to find it in middle of industral buildings... 2ND time here. Love the atomsphere and Latin flare. Staff are super friendly, the food is spectular and drinks are yummy. Many drink options to chose from. I had the mango seafood ceviche, beef empanada, and the paella... So mouthwatering. Paella is large and took forever but worth the wait.
(4)Shelly G.
Food was tasty. Service not so great. Went with a party of 6. When we paid our check, we wrote our card numbers on the back along with the amount to charge. Waitress took the check but then came back and asked why there was no tip. And we had to clarify we were all going to add the tip at the end on our individual cards. I told the waitress to do the cards first then use cash to pay the rest. I should have gotten back around $5 in change, but she did not give me back any change. Also, cleared our plates without asking and some people were still working on them.
(3)K. H.
This place is good enough for a second review! Best atmosphere ever! I had to write again to praise our AMAZING server Fernando. I ask for him everytime I come in. He truly makes you feel like family. He's super sweet,funny, helpful and is always by the door with a huge smile and hello when you walk in. I hope the owners/managers know they have a true rock star working for them. We absolutely love him. Thanks Fernando!!
(5)A K.
This place is great! Food, drinks, service -- all top notch. My favorite part is the decor.
(5)Paul L.
This restaurant is our go to special occasion place. Our extended family loves eating on the patio in the early evening. The food is outstanding in creation and presentation. When you are welcomed by Pedro Alarcon to his "baby" you understand the passion for the food that makes this place wonderful.
(5)Shirley V.
Do yourself a favor and don't bother eating here. I have given this place way more chances than I ever should have for a few reasons first, the drinks are done well and second, the decor is fun and has a Miami feel which is nice during a dreary winter. And they have outdoor seating. All this would be a great experience if the food was actually good. My boyfriend and I recently had dinner here, mostly tapas. The entire dinner was bland or just plain not good. We got the ceviche to start and it tasted like they flavored it with ketchup. I had to ask for lemon wedges to actually give it some depth beyond the sweet red sauce that was on it and my boyfriend just couldn't stomach it. The doctoring of food did not end there, we got some arrepas, the beef and cheese one was pretty good but that's usually the only thing I regularly order that I'm sure to like at Casa De Pedro. The chicken and avocado arrepa was bland/flavorless so we asked for red hot sauce, which they ran out of or just didn't have, so I asked for some salsa to flavor the chicken arrepa and also to add some freshness to the Spanish Tortella, which is an egg, potato and onion torte. The salsa tasted like it was poured out of a jar but it helped the food out a little. We were so ready to leave by this point. It was not satisfying at all. The tipping point came when we got our check. BEWARE,BEWARE, BEWARE this place tacks on every little thing. We were charged $3.50 for about 2 tbsps. of salsa ( a condiment!!!!!) that came to our table to make the food passable. They do this a lot at this place so look at your bill for all sorts of added costs. We are not eating here again. It's just not that good and I've eaten Spanish/South American cooking all my life and this place can't even come close to what a good Spanish/South American meal really tastes like. Find another place to eat.
(2)Barbara G.
A large group of us dined at Casa de Pedro a couple Saturday nights ago and three of us ordered salads for the main course. They were very small and unimpressive. Even though I asked for dressing on the side, it came dressed. I sent two emails to the management at Casa de Pedro about our impressions of the salads and received absolutely no response. This was very disappointing. We will not be returning there
(1)Anthony S.
Great place close to work. Chris is an amazing bartender (try the margaritas here). Good lunch menu, and fast service. Fish tacos are great! Ask for the home made hot sauce. You got the right on if it's green. Proceed with caution.
(4)Anthony C.
If you are looking for a real Mexican restaurant with fresh food, fresh drinks, and a touch of authenticity this is the place you would go to. I tried this place once in the summer and didn't like it simply because I was expecting a run of the mill Americanized Mexican restaurant. I recently returned with a more open mind, explored the menu, took in the restaurants ambiance and enjoyed a fresh cocktail. This place offers what many Mexican American restaurants don't, a touch of class and authenticity. The menu is a little pricey but if you can get past that, you will soon realize its worth the price. I will be returning to this restaurant many times.
(5)Mike M.
Best HIspanic food around. It's both venezuelan and mexican food. Awesome drinks and the music always gets me going.
(5)Grace C.
Love the ambiance here. We always do drinks here too because their margaritas are from scratch, very different. If you like Mexican food, this place can't go wrong. It's a good price too with good portion. Always love coming here with friends on a Friday night.
(4)Christina V.
I've been here several times. I've never had anything bad to eat or drink. They have a VERY extensive menu. Their food is authentic, fresh, delicious. They have great cocktails and sangria. I like their nachos and quesadillas. Their plates come with really good sides, yucca and plantains. The service is usually not too great. Slow, impersonal. I must say their food makes me keep coming back. I also like their decor. It's really fun in there.
(4)Amanda L.
I used to love La Casa de Pedro, particularly for their yummy cocktails and small plates. Arepas and empanadas are great and they have a great patio. However, they just enacted a stupid, arbitrary rule that you can only sit on the patio if you are ordering a fuller dinner entree (even at 2pm on a Monday when the restaurant is just about empty). I would understand this policy during dinner time when patio seating is at a premium, but during lunch hours this is simply ridiculous. I spend as much on apps and cocktails as I do on an entree. Disappointing to say the least.
(1)Melinda R.
Last August I had a bad experience with one of the dishes we tried. I recently was able to come back and introduce my friend, visiting from Italy, and give your restaurant another shot. To my dismay, I had another bad encounter. Everything seemed fine up until I was a couple of bites into my entree, and ended up chewing a piece of plastic, the size that would fit in my back molar (which it did get stuck and I had to pick it out). I did inform our waiter, Fernando, while consciously not making a scene in the outdoor patio area. He did let the manager on the floor know, Fernando apologized and offered to bring me a new plate. However, I am disappointed. As a manager in the client services field, if a bad experience were to happen to any one of my clients, I would've personally apologized to the customer and offered at minimum a discount, as it's my company's reputation being represented. No effort was shown on either part - waiter or manager. My team takes pride in their work and advocates for their clients, which clearly isn't the case at your establishment. I do understand things happen unintentionally, but it's how they're handled that speaks volumes. And yes, in turn, due to this bad experience, his tip was affected, due to his comment "things like this can happen." I wanted to share with you another bad experience in hopes you will find ways to improve your customer service when issues such as these arise.
(2)Amy H.
Delicious!!!!! You have to get the strawberry mojito!!! The shrimp ceviche is so delicious & fresh!!! We came for brunch & got huevos rancheros! Everything was great!!! The service, the atmosphere, the food!!! You will love it!!!
(5)Lyndsey C.
I always love this place. Great atmosphere inside and out, beautiful decor, high end food and drinks, fresh food and drinks, extremely yummy... Huge menu and more gourmet than the plain old three ingredients in different ways that most Mexican restaurants do. I have never had a bad waiter here, but it will say that Ruben rocks... Love this place and would love to go to their salsa nights some time. :)
(5)Kayti P.
This review makes me very sad. I love this place, and their food is pretty great. Even with this, I was unbelievably upset by their service the last time I was there. I was there with three friends, and we were having a lovely time on the patio getting dinner and margaritas. When we were ready for after dinner drinks and dessert, our waitress informed us that we were cut off from alcohol for the evening. We were told the restaurant isn't allowed to serve us more than one drink per hour. With four in our party, we had each been served four drinks per person over two hours with a full meal. They said our liquor bill was too high, and we would not be receiving any alcohol with our desserts. They offered to give us complimentary desserts, but we were so offended (and honestly a little humiliated) that we paid our bill and left. I will probably go back (the food is good), but I won't be going thinking that I'll have more than a couple of drinks.
(2)Melissa K.
First time being here at it's amazing. The atmosphere is so fun. They have a nice bar and drink selection. The food was great with good portions. Will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Mike D.
One of the best restaurants in Watertown. Fired yucas with cilantro sauce is my favorite app along side the calamari. I don't explore the menu too much because I love the huge enchiladas with rice, beans, and plantains. Great service and exceptional ownership. .
(5)Kim P.
Went on a date here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary and I wasn't completely satisfied . Decor and ambiance I give 5 stars to . Our server wasnt too attentive which made me feel a bit uncomfortable and one of the reasons I give this place 3 stars . Ordered the pabellón and it was just ok. Beans were tasteless and the sauce in which the beef was cooked in was watered down . My boyfriend ordered the trout which wasn't bad, just a bit bland . Nothing to die for. Not crazy to go back .
(3)Gregg S.
Hope it gets better. Dinner with friends. Arrived 20 minutes early. Bar packed. Restaurant EMPTY. Refuse to seat me. Ridiculous!
(2)Danielle E.
This is my goto Friday night dinner! The skirt steak is amazing every time and the (Pork osso buco) Pierna de Baby is incredible. You must get the green garlic hot sauce that they have to go with it though, it makes the meal that much better.
(5)Gary F.
We didn't expect the Arsenal Mall location...I know, the address is telling, but we're not Watertown regulars. We wanted something different and (obviously) tight. We were a little anxious about the mall locale, but we went with it and were happily impressed. All around tight. The restaurant itself is quite nicely put together. The menu is extensive. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was all around delicious. And the cocktails! We sat inside even though the patio looked inviting and pretty appealing. We started with a variety of arepas and the tortilla espanola. All were delicious. We branched out and tried different entrees: Paella, pabellon criollo,pollo asado, and the salmon. Everyone was pleased and overstuffed. As for the cocktails, the coconut margarita is a summer menu item must try. It would only be better consumed on a beach. Gracias, Pedro. Me encanta su casa!
(4)Jessica C.
Had a reservation here and the person that answered the phone seemed very friendly. When we arrived, we were sat right away but then no one ever came back. We scoped out the restaurant and it seemed we were placed with other "two tops" in other words.. tables of two which bring little cash flow compared to parties of 6+. Everyone had empty drinks and seemed anxious for their food. We looked over the menus and decided what we wanted and left the menus folded, letting the waiter/waitress know that we were ready to order. Literally NO ONE came to greet us, offer us water, take drink orders, NOTHING! We waited almost ten mins and we walked out. For their prices, I would expect a little effort from the servers. I guess we'll never know what they're like because we won't be back here!
(1)Jaclyn S.
I went here for a friend's birthday dinner and I can't wait to go back. The restaurant is quite big so it is perfect for large groups. The ambience was quite nice and I would definitely recommend La Casa De Pedro for any event (casual dinner, fun night out with friends and/or date night). For appetizers we started with both the chicken and beef empanada's. The waitress indicated that it would take 10-15 minutes for the empanadas and I appreciated being provided that timeline. It really proved that they were being made fresh and it was just great service to provide that info. They were well worth the wait and I think if you come here that you must order these. I preferred the beef; however, half the group I was with loved the chicken. You should probably just order both and decide which you like best. :) The waitress will offer you hot sauce for dinner and you must get it! It is so spicy but it has incredible flavor. We enjoyed it so much that we bought a bottle at the end of the night ($8.50 a bottle). In addition to the empanada's we ordered the Tequeños which was also very good. I think I would prefer the empanada's over the tequenos if I had to choose, but you really can't go wrong with these choices as appetizers. The drink menu is both long and creative. I was like a kid on xmas with this drink menu. I tried both the black raspberry margarita and Ariba Aruba. The black raspberry margarita was fresh and strong. I can handle tequila, but boy was there plenty of it in this drink. The raspberry was muddled and it was just a great margarita. The ariba aruba tasted similar to a pina colada but was delicious. You get your moneys worth in terms of alcohol. So many restaurants will try to rip you off with the amount of alcohol and that does not happen here. I can't wait to go back and try some of the creative mojito's they have. For the main entrée I ordered Pierna de baby (pork osso buco) and it was incredible. The pork literally melted in my mouth and it had great flavors. All entrees come with yellow and black bean rice, fried plaintains and fried yucca. I have never had yucca before and it tasted like a French fry except much better. My friends ordered the Parillada Caraqueña (chicken and beef), El Gaucho (skirt steak with chimichurri sauce), Pedro's Birthday Dish (flank steak) and Cordero (lamb). Everyone really enjoyed their meals. I tasted the parillada Caraquena and birthday special and I thought both were great. I may rank the parillada caraquena 2nd behind the pork osso buco dish. Everything was fresh and had great flavors. For dessert they only have flan (original, chocolate, coconut) and rice pudding. We tried the original and chocolate flans, as well as the rice pudding. I'm not a flan person but I really liked the chocolate flan since it tasted like a chocolate mouse. The rice pudding was something I've never had before and it was not bad. The food, drinks, ambience and service has definitely made this restaurant on my list of restaurants that I would come back to. Update: I've been here 2 additional times since this review. I'm still in love with their drinks and drink menu. I've also tried the pineapple margarita, pineapple mojito and wildberry mojito. I usually always prefer a margarita over mojito but I think my favorite drink is the pineapple mojito. You really can't go wrong with the drink choices. I'm pleased to announce that they still load the drinks up with enough alcohol so you really get your moneys worth. I've tried the arepa which is another appetizer that is offered. The arepa is a grilled corncake (sort of like a thick flour tortilla but not really, I have no idea how to explain it). It was stuffed with beef and cheese but there are other options. I loved the beef and could honestly have done without the corncake, but it was overall still pretty good. I would still prefer and recommend the empanadas for an appetizer. I've tried the steak tacos and the fish tacos. They were both good but I think I prefer the steak taco. The best meal that I've had here was still the pierna de baby (pork osso buco). This place really is great for groups and having some fun times with friends.
(4)Shilpa K.
Great food great Ambience and great service. We went there for valentines day lunch and ate n drank to our heart's content. The food has fantastic latin flavors Nd everything we orders was excellent! Coming here again very very soon!
(5)G R.
Had come here with my family for Valentine's Day. I had the Victoria's Pollo Roasted Chicken with plantains and beans which was delicious. The appetizer yuca with spicy garlic sauce was incredible. The ambiance is incredible. Couple of palm trees, Latin folk art and even the music was very inviting. Nice place to bring your family and even better come here on a romantic date. They have salsa music every Friday and Saturday nights. Only thing that was a minor inconvenience was finding a decent parking space. (might have been due to recent snowstorms).
(4)Chase C.
The wait time is a bit long, but if you are with friends/family, then its worth the wait and also had the best chicken quesadilla i have ever had.
(5)Lillybeth B.
This place is overpriced. I went for lunch with four people and it came out to 92 dollars. 7 dollars for a juice that I can get at El Oriental for 3 bucks. Not to mention the disgrace of using uncle bens minute rice and passing it off and authentic Latin rice. White rice is the easiest and cheapest thing to make. I had the pabellon which included my uncle beans rice, okay black beans and sweet plaintains. That was 12.50 and not worth it. I also tried the arepas which were good but let's face it it's corn meal and water and not worth 5 dollars. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. Make your own food at home or go to El Oriental or any hole in the wall in JP. There are many other places who don't skimp on authenticity, this however is not one I them.
(1)Kevin C.
This very well may be my new favorite Mexican joint in the Boston area. The food was tasty and the staff was very attentive. Worth the trip to Watertown.
(5)Tamarleigh G.
The food and drinks are delicious. I would give this place four stars, if not for one thing: Food that seems vegetarian on their menu is often cooked with meat (e.g., chicken broth). Vegetarians, be aware of this! For example, they have the following types of quesadilla: Steak Shrimp Chorizo (sausage) Chicken Pork Grilled Vegetables Black Beans Well, it turns out that the black beans are cooked with chicken broth. The only vegetarian quesadilla is the Grilled Vegetables. The rice it comes with is also not vegetarian (even if you order the Grilled Vegetable quesadilla, you need to specify that you want plain rice instead). They don't even have an option for just a plain cheese quesadilla (which I would prefer to the grilled vegetables). There is just not enough vegetarian food on this menu, and to have some of the things that most people would assume are vegetarian turn out NOT to be vegetarian is pretty disappointing ... especially because I totally ate an entire black bean quesadilla with the regular non-vegetarian rice last time without even realizing that there was chicken in all these things I was eating. :-P Anyway, the empanadas are good (gosh, I sure hope the cheese ones are vegetarian...I'll have to check), and the sides that come with the quesadilla are excellent. The drinks are also very good. But this place is not very vegetarian-friendly at all, so three stars is the most I can give them.
(3)Andy O.
We liked the food, particularly the meats (we recommend ordering a salad, because main dishes tend to come with few vegetables). The decor was also very nice, as they made good use of the big space in the brick arsenal buildings. But one warning: service can be very slow. We had a play to go to and left an hour and a half for dinner, but it half an hour elapsed before they even took our order, and we ended up having to rush and take home half the meal.
(4)Rich C.
I normally love this place. Tonight I was famished. Sat at the bar. I was greeted and that was good, but then the bartender (Chris) disappeared for 3-4 mins. I ordered chips and salsa just to get something going. The chips came out....looked like someone had taken a dinner plate from a yard sale and emptied a bag of broken chips. And the salsa was cold and less tasty than out of a Frito Lay jar. There were two little lettuce leaves on the plate for color. How about a basket for the chips, and make them look like someone cared? They looked like leaves shriveled up on a tree in November. Ordered skirt steak tacos. Bathed in salt. Sent them back and left. This was a highly disappointing night. Normally things are pretty good. Maybe it was a bad chef/crew tonight. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Normally is a good experience.
(1)Sonia S.
The food here is mediocre. We tried the tapas only since there was nothing that intrigued us on the menu. They have a few Spanish tapas in there - too bad they cannot execute on them! Drinks were also mediocre. We had sangria and margaritas - neither was tasty. Their patio on the other hand is great- perfect for after work drinks or meals. So there you have it - 2 stars for the food and drinks and 4 stars for the patio.
(3)Michael G.
I went for dinner with a group and friends and had a wonderful experience. I ordered the special which was a filet of red snapper with shrimp, oysters and clams. It was delicious!!! Our table shared a couple Arepas along with the Camarones al Ajillo as appetizers and they were all very tasty as well. The only negative was that my friend found something in her food. Normally this would lower my rating, but the chef personally came out to explain what happened and apologize. We were not charged for that dish and we given a few varieties of flan to try on the house. The traditional and coconut were excellent. We'll definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Leda U.
Horrible place. Crazy staff and policies. We went to have dinner and drinks with our son and brought the dogs, they said they couldn't have dogs on the patio(fair enough) but when we asked for some water in a tale out container for the dogs they said no and they had a no water to dogs policy! That's totally crazy and cruel. I hate this place
(1)Rosanna Marina A.
Trying new restaurants is an excitement all on its on, but after hearing friends rave about this place I was beyond curious. I love that I have a chance to try a delicious meal that can bring me back to my childhood memories in Venezuela. I must say the food and the ambience blew me away. I love the lighting, paintings made it feel like you stepped into a different world. We started out with empanadas and the Stephanie's Nachos. Best nachos I've had by far. Stacked up perfectly layered with guacamole,sour cream, a fresh pico de gallo, beans, chicken, pork and so on. Every bite was just as tasty as the last. We decided to try the Steak Tacos, that came with rice and beans, plantains fried yuca, guacamole and pico de gallo. To die for! Lets just say the price makes up for the large portion too. Their margaritas are also delicious. The food was amazing, I'm already craving another chance to visit again.
(5)Carla S.
this place was great a while back.. not sure what happened. But I love their mojitos!
(3)Susan D.
Can't believe I've lived in Watertown for a year and not stumbled il upon this place. The food it's outstanding. Had carve asada quesadilla today- check out my photo. It came with a rice and bean mixture and savory and sweet plantains on the side. Very filling. I almost never eat the rice and beans but devoured these. Can't wait for the patio to open. Hot sauce is amazing- housemade and available for purchase. My bar mate advised the salads are amazing and the short ribs are her favorite.
(5)Francis W.
This is a place in the newly trendy part of Watertown next to the commanders palace. The place is slower during lunch but its definitely picks up towards the evening. I went with a few friends and everything was good, but the MUST try is: Victoria's Pollo en Brasa. "The best roasted chicken in the state" according to La Casa De Pedro and ME. It really THAT GOOD.- I had this during lunch and I will be back again for this dish, and the sides compliment the chicken perfectly. I have also had drinks there in the past and I must say they are overall good. These are some of the strongest Margarita's I have ever had. Why I am I giving this only four stars? The appetizers. They were definitely the downside of the meal, but everything else is A+.
(4)Sylvia C.
We were looking forward to some decent Spanish cuisine but our taste buds ended up slightly disappointed. Their food and service was about average, nothing really stood out. We ordered the following: mango sangria - barely tasted mango seafood ceviche to start -served with plantain chips. The ceviche was more salty than refreshing for the summer steak with chimichurri sauce - decently seasoned but slightly overcooked trout topped peppers, onion and fried calamari - gently fried and mildly seasoned Both entrees were served with rice, plantains and fried yucca. The rice was just too salty (think the chef went extra heavy handed with the salt shaker). We managed to get full but not satisfied. Just one of those missed the spot meals.
(3)Meredith D.
My boyfriend and I have been coming here for a long time but we decided to not come back here for a long time. The food here is pretty good but the service sucks. Each time we come here we deal with staff that is not too friendly, but we keep coming back because the food is pretty good. In our most recent experience, we had to hunt down our waiter to ask for hot sauce when our entrees came and he never ever bothered to ask us if everything with out food was good. When we finally did get his attention he still never asked us if everything was good. It was not till the very end that he gave us a half ass, "thanks guys," as he brought out the check. The staff is just not friendly and you definitely do not feel like you are the customer when you are there. This has not been the first time we walk out feeling like we got bad service.
(3)Monique Q.
This restaurant has a great look inside I was here in 2012 and was not pleased with my meal. Decided to give it another chance. Casa de Pedro in Watertown has outdoor dining and in Friday's a live band. Good music. If you are looking for friendly service or excellent service this is not your place! If you want authentic Spanish food is average. I don't mind paying for good good but the prices on the menu are over rated. So disappointed due to the lack of attention we received by our waitress that didn't even speak Spanish, that's besides the point I could have had a second drink but she didn't not come check to see if I wanted one, (bad wine selection)! We finally requested our bill, my party only had one drink! I had to go and pay my bill with cashier advised of our service then waitress never came back another man came to provide check.. Really rude! Not my kind of place to go I ended up in Allston to eat better food! See my posts for other Latino places to go!
(2)Gene L.
A solid place for Latin American food. Great place to go for meals or for happy hours. I've come a couple of times for happy hours and enjoyed the appetizers greatly. They also have great mojitos and other cocktails too. The arepas and empanadas are always solid choices. The yucca fries and plantains are probably my favorite thing there. I've had their quesadillas before as well, which is very filling and comes with lots of fix-ins on the side (salsa, sour cream, guac). Service has always been great too.
(4)Dana S.
LOVE IT here- just wish it was closer. We used to frequent the one in Bedford but it closed. The food here is amazing and the staff is top notch. Can get busy so please plan accordingly. Drinks are so yummy too- cant get enough of their mojitos. Ill be back soon!
(4)Chad G.
La Casa De Pedro Cuisine: Venezuelan, Spanish Location: 343 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA Parking: Ample and free!!! Decor / Ambiance: High ceiling, lots of big plants, low lit gives this place almost a resort feel. Perfectly decorated for this style of foods. There was a Latin style band playing as we were finishing our meal. They sounded great and added to the Latin charm. Skilled dancers on the floor when we left, wish we had more time to watch them. Greeting: Very friendly and prompt. Nothing more awkward than walking into a place and seeing an empty host desk. Not here, full team on point when we walked in. We arrived 15 minutes early for our reservations and was seated promptly. I would not have minded wetting the whistle at the bar if we needed to wait because it looked like a nice place to sit especially if you want good seats to see the band. Menu mix: My Wife and I were looking for something different and we got it here. A great variety of foods from the standards to the creative twists. Water / Bread service No bread with this concept and the water tasted great. No bleachy taste here. Tasted almost as good as purified water. When you are seated there is a bottle of sparkling water and bottled water on the table. The Wifey and I always choose tap. Drink pour: My Wife got the tequila flight samplings and a presidente beer. Nice pour on the flights. I got a a really good aged rum and wasn't at all disappointed. Nice and "warming" after coming in from the cold Food quality: We loved it! We started with the Yucca Fries with a cilantro sauce and the special ceviche which was a blend of whit fish, mussels and shrimp with crispy plantains. I could have had two of the ceviche because it was that good. Service: Very friendly and informative. She was quick to realize we had not been there before and was great with suggestions. I noticed that she did not simply point to the most expensive rums, tequila or food choices on the menu. She pointed out honest favorites and we were not at all disappointed. She was very charming and made us feel quite welcomed. For entrees I got the grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. My wife got the (Beef Short Ribs) which were braised in wine with roasted onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños. Both dishes came with rice & beans, plantains and yucca fries. It was fantastic! Value: I think the value was great. Left feeling nice and full and for what we got it was a nice check to singh off on. Nothing worse than signing off a check that's high and you know right well your going to be raiding the refrigerator before bed.... Not leaving here your not. Nice generous portions. We skipped dessert which also kept the bill down. I am sure they had some sweet treats but the food is filling so we opted out. Bathrooms: Very clean and well maintained Would I return: ABSOLUTELY! In fact we can't wait to. Comments & Tips: Don't order the yucca fries as an app as you may also be getting this on your entree plate as well. Check first to see if your entree may already have the fries because that's going to be a lot of "filling" yucca. We got it as an app not knowing it was also coming on our plates. Needless to say we didn't finish it all. This place is great for groups to as there were some big tables having birthday parties.
(4)Haley C.
We drove all the way from central mass to go to this restaurant. The food was okay. I wouldn't drive out of my way again for the food. Its alright.
(3)Kenneth M.
La Casa de Pedro is a fabulous restaurant; Pedro is a born restaurateur! The food is amazing, especially the plantains (which are consistently perfect) and the spicy ceviche (which stops me in my tracks it is so good). We recently ordered short ribs, salmon, and haddock. Each meal was superb and big enough for another lunch. The ambience is beautiful and fun; the waitstaff, friendly and helpful. Little touches keep revealing themselves: great artwork, live plants, nifty antiques, and wonderful custom china. The kitchen is wide open, and I love just standing there watching one amazing plate of food after another take shape. The cook staff are all alchemists. La Casa de Pedro is a gem!
(5)Allison D.
Ceviche is yummy, get that. Service is good. Pabellon criollo has wayyyyyy too much salt. Stay far away. I could only manage a few bites before I gave up and decided to take it home and transform it into something edible. I may be back to give La Casa de Pedro another chance, but I was really disappointed in my main course. Maybe on a Friday or Saturday for music and ceviche. I'd like to try the empanadas.
(3)P M.
LOVED LOVED everything about Casa de Pedro. Had reservations and were sat immediately. Conscientious staff. Fabulous ceviche, chorizo and salmon dish. We had numerous dishes but I personally loved these. We were there on a Saturday 6:30 to almost 9 pm. Enjoyed not only the fabulous food but also the ambience which included live music! I plan to be back again and again.
(5)Andrea K.
nice patio, reasonably-priced drinks - food isn't great, something was off with everything we ordered - too salty, too overcooked. the best was the nachos, even though they're piled up precariously, the pork in them is tender & good.
(2)Sake B.
Although you would never expect to find it in middle of industral buildings... 2ND time here. Love the atomsphere and Latin flare. Staff are super friendly, the food is spectular and drinks are yummy. Many drink options to chose from. I had the mango seafood ceviche, beef empanada, and the paella... So mouthwatering. Paella is large and took forever but worth the wait.
(4)Shelly G.
Food was tasty. Service not so great. Went with a party of 6. When we paid our check, we wrote our card numbers on the back along with the amount to charge. Waitress took the check but then came back and asked why there was no tip. And we had to clarify we were all going to add the tip at the end on our individual cards. I told the waitress to do the cards first then use cash to pay the rest. I should have gotten back around $5 in change, but she did not give me back any change. Also, cleared our plates without asking and some people were still working on them.
(3)K. H.
This place is good enough for a second review! Best atmosphere ever! I had to write again to praise our AMAZING server Fernando. I ask for him everytime I come in. He truly makes you feel like family. He's super sweet,funny, helpful and is always by the door with a huge smile and hello when you walk in. I hope the owners/managers know they have a true rock star working for them. We absolutely love him. Thanks Fernando!!
(5)A K.
This place is great! Food, drinks, service -- all top notch. My favorite part is the decor.
(5)Paul L.
This restaurant is our go to special occasion place. Our extended family loves eating on the patio in the early evening. The food is outstanding in creation and presentation. When you are welcomed by Pedro Alarcon to his "baby" you understand the passion for the food that makes this place wonderful.
(5)Shirley V.
Do yourself a favor and don't bother eating here. I have given this place way more chances than I ever should have for a few reasons first, the drinks are done well and second, the decor is fun and has a Miami feel which is nice during a dreary winter. And they have outdoor seating. All this would be a great experience if the food was actually good. My boyfriend and I recently had dinner here, mostly tapas. The entire dinner was bland or just plain not good. We got the ceviche to start and it tasted like they flavored it with ketchup. I had to ask for lemon wedges to actually give it some depth beyond the sweet red sauce that was on it and my boyfriend just couldn't stomach it. The doctoring of food did not end there, we got some arrepas, the beef and cheese one was pretty good but that's usually the only thing I regularly order that I'm sure to like at Casa De Pedro. The chicken and avocado arrepa was bland/flavorless so we asked for red hot sauce, which they ran out of or just didn't have, so I asked for some salsa to flavor the chicken arrepa and also to add some freshness to the Spanish Tortella, which is an egg, potato and onion torte. The salsa tasted like it was poured out of a jar but it helped the food out a little. We were so ready to leave by this point. It was not satisfying at all. The tipping point came when we got our check. BEWARE,BEWARE, BEWARE this place tacks on every little thing. We were charged $3.50 for about 2 tbsps. of salsa ( a condiment!!!!!) that came to our table to make the food passable. They do this a lot at this place so look at your bill for all sorts of added costs. We are not eating here again. It's just not that good and I've eaten Spanish/South American cooking all my life and this place can't even come close to what a good Spanish/South American meal really tastes like. Find another place to eat.
(2)Barbara G.
A large group of us dined at Casa de Pedro a couple Saturday nights ago and three of us ordered salads for the main course. They were very small and unimpressive. Even though I asked for dressing on the side, it came dressed. I sent two emails to the management at Casa de Pedro about our impressions of the salads and received absolutely no response. This was very disappointing. We will not be returning there
(1)Anthony S.
Great place close to work. Chris is an amazing bartender (try the margaritas here). Good lunch menu, and fast service. Fish tacos are great! Ask for the home made hot sauce. You got the right on if it's green. Proceed with caution.
(4)Anthony C.
If you are looking for a real Mexican restaurant with fresh food, fresh drinks, and a touch of authenticity this is the place you would go to. I tried this place once in the summer and didn't like it simply because I was expecting a run of the mill Americanized Mexican restaurant. I recently returned with a more open mind, explored the menu, took in the restaurants ambiance and enjoyed a fresh cocktail. This place offers what many Mexican American restaurants don't, a touch of class and authenticity. The menu is a little pricey but if you can get past that, you will soon realize its worth the price. I will be returning to this restaurant many times.
(5)Mike M.
Best HIspanic food around. It's both venezuelan and mexican food. Awesome drinks and the music always gets me going.
(5)Grace C.
Love the ambiance here. We always do drinks here too because their margaritas are from scratch, very different. If you like Mexican food, this place can't go wrong. It's a good price too with good portion. Always love coming here with friends on a Friday night.
(4)Christina V.
I've been here several times. I've never had anything bad to eat or drink. They have a VERY extensive menu. Their food is authentic, fresh, delicious. They have great cocktails and sangria. I like their nachos and quesadillas. Their plates come with really good sides, yucca and plantains. The service is usually not too great. Slow, impersonal. I must say their food makes me keep coming back. I also like their decor. It's really fun in there.
(4)Amanda L.
I used to love La Casa de Pedro, particularly for their yummy cocktails and small plates. Arepas and empanadas are great and they have a great patio. However, they just enacted a stupid, arbitrary rule that you can only sit on the patio if you are ordering a fuller dinner entree (even at 2pm on a Monday when the restaurant is just about empty). I would understand this policy during dinner time when patio seating is at a premium, but during lunch hours this is simply ridiculous. I spend as much on apps and cocktails as I do on an entree. Disappointing to say the least.
(1)Mike D.
One of the best restaurants in Watertown. Fired yucas with cilantro sauce is my favorite app along side the calamari. I don't explore the menu too much because I love the huge enchiladas with rice, beans, and plantains. Great service and exceptional ownership. .
(5)Kim P.
Went on a date here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary and I wasn't completely satisfied . Decor and ambiance I give 5 stars to . Our server wasnt too attentive which made me feel a bit uncomfortable and one of the reasons I give this place 3 stars . Ordered the pabellón and it was just ok. Beans were tasteless and the sauce in which the beef was cooked in was watered down . My boyfriend ordered the trout which wasn't bad, just a bit bland . Nothing to die for. Not crazy to go back .
(3)Gregg S.
Hope it gets better. Dinner with friends. Arrived 20 minutes early. Bar packed. Restaurant EMPTY. Refuse to seat me. Ridiculous!
(2)Melinda R.
Last August I had a bad experience with one of the dishes we tried. I recently was able to come back and introduce my friend, visiting from Italy, and give your restaurant another shot. To my dismay, I had another bad encounter. Everything seemed fine up until I was a couple of bites into my entree, and ended up chewing a piece of plastic, the size that would fit in my back molar (which it did get stuck and I had to pick it out). I did inform our waiter, Fernando, while consciously not making a scene in the outdoor patio area. He did let the manager on the floor know, Fernando apologized and offered to bring me a new plate. However, I am disappointed. As a manager in the client services field, if a bad experience were to happen to any one of my clients, I would've personally apologized to the customer and offered at minimum a discount, as it's my company's reputation being represented. No effort was shown on either part - waiter or manager. My team takes pride in their work and advocates for their clients, which clearly isn't the case at your establishment. I do understand things happen unintentionally, but it's how they're handled that speaks volumes. And yes, in turn, due to this bad experience, his tip was affected, due to his comment "things like this can happen." I wanted to share with you another bad experience in hopes you will find ways to improve your customer service when issues such as these arise.
(2)Amy H.
Delicious!!!!! You have to get the strawberry mojito!!! The shrimp ceviche is so delicious & fresh!!! We came for brunch & got huevos rancheros! Everything was great!!! The service, the atmosphere, the food!!! You will love it!!!
(5)Lyndsey C.
I always love this place. Great atmosphere inside and out, beautiful decor, high end food and drinks, fresh food and drinks, extremely yummy... Huge menu and more gourmet than the plain old three ingredients in different ways that most Mexican restaurants do. I have never had a bad waiter here, but it will say that Ruben rocks... Love this place and would love to go to their salsa nights some time. :)
(5)Kayti P.
This review makes me very sad. I love this place, and their food is pretty great. Even with this, I was unbelievably upset by their service the last time I was there. I was there with three friends, and we were having a lovely time on the patio getting dinner and margaritas. When we were ready for after dinner drinks and dessert, our waitress informed us that we were cut off from alcohol for the evening. We were told the restaurant isn't allowed to serve us more than one drink per hour. With four in our party, we had each been served four drinks per person over two hours with a full meal. They said our liquor bill was too high, and we would not be receiving any alcohol with our desserts. They offered to give us complimentary desserts, but we were so offended (and honestly a little humiliated) that we paid our bill and left. I will probably go back (the food is good), but I won't be going thinking that I'll have more than a couple of drinks.
(2)Melissa K.
First time being here at it's amazing. The atmosphere is so fun. They have a nice bar and drink selection. The food was great with good portions. Will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Danielle E.
This is my goto Friday night dinner! The skirt steak is amazing every time and the (Pork osso buco) Pierna de Baby is incredible. You must get the green garlic hot sauce that they have to go with it though, it makes the meal that much better.
(5)Gary F.
We didn't expect the Arsenal Mall location...I know, the address is telling, but we're not Watertown regulars. We wanted something different and (obviously) tight. We were a little anxious about the mall locale, but we went with it and were happily impressed. All around tight. The restaurant itself is quite nicely put together. The menu is extensive. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was all around delicious. And the cocktails! We sat inside even though the patio looked inviting and pretty appealing. We started with a variety of arepas and the tortilla espanola. All were delicious. We branched out and tried different entrees: Paella, pabellon criollo,pollo asado, and the salmon. Everyone was pleased and overstuffed. As for the cocktails, the coconut margarita is a summer menu item must try. It would only be better consumed on a beach. Gracias, Pedro. Me encanta su casa!
(4)Jessica C.
Had a reservation here and the person that answered the phone seemed very friendly. When we arrived, we were sat right away but then no one ever came back. We scoped out the restaurant and it seemed we were placed with other "two tops" in other words.. tables of two which bring little cash flow compared to parties of 6+. Everyone had empty drinks and seemed anxious for their food. We looked over the menus and decided what we wanted and left the menus folded, letting the waiter/waitress know that we were ready to order. Literally NO ONE came to greet us, offer us water, take drink orders, NOTHING! We waited almost ten mins and we walked out. For their prices, I would expect a little effort from the servers. I guess we'll never know what they're like because we won't be back here!
(1)Jaclyn S.
I went here for a friend's birthday dinner and I can't wait to go back. The restaurant is quite big so it is perfect for large groups. The ambience was quite nice and I would definitely recommend La Casa De Pedro for any event (casual dinner, fun night out with friends and/or date night). For appetizers we started with both the chicken and beef empanada's. The waitress indicated that it would take 10-15 minutes for the empanadas and I appreciated being provided that timeline. It really proved that they were being made fresh and it was just great service to provide that info. They were well worth the wait and I think if you come here that you must order these. I preferred the beef; however, half the group I was with loved the chicken. You should probably just order both and decide which you like best. :) The waitress will offer you hot sauce for dinner and you must get it! It is so spicy but it has incredible flavor. We enjoyed it so much that we bought a bottle at the end of the night ($8.50 a bottle). In addition to the empanada's we ordered the Tequeños which was also very good. I think I would prefer the empanada's over the tequenos if I had to choose, but you really can't go wrong with these choices as appetizers. The drink menu is both long and creative. I was like a kid on xmas with this drink menu. I tried both the black raspberry margarita and Ariba Aruba. The black raspberry margarita was fresh and strong. I can handle tequila, but boy was there plenty of it in this drink. The raspberry was muddled and it was just a great margarita. The ariba aruba tasted similar to a pina colada but was delicious. You get your moneys worth in terms of alcohol. So many restaurants will try to rip you off with the amount of alcohol and that does not happen here. I can't wait to go back and try some of the creative mojito's they have. For the main entrée I ordered Pierna de baby (pork osso buco) and it was incredible. The pork literally melted in my mouth and it had great flavors. All entrees come with yellow and black bean rice, fried plaintains and fried yucca. I have never had yucca before and it tasted like a French fry except much better. My friends ordered the Parillada Caraqueña (chicken and beef), El Gaucho (skirt steak with chimichurri sauce), Pedro's Birthday Dish (flank steak) and Cordero (lamb). Everyone really enjoyed their meals. I tasted the parillada Caraquena and birthday special and I thought both were great. I may rank the parillada caraquena 2nd behind the pork osso buco dish. Everything was fresh and had great flavors. For dessert they only have flan (original, chocolate, coconut) and rice pudding. We tried the original and chocolate flans, as well as the rice pudding. I'm not a flan person but I really liked the chocolate flan since it tasted like a chocolate mouse. The rice pudding was something I've never had before and it was not bad. The food, drinks, ambience and service has definitely made this restaurant on my list of restaurants that I would come back to. Update: I've been here 2 additional times since this review. I'm still in love with their drinks and drink menu. I've also tried the pineapple margarita, pineapple mojito and wildberry mojito. I usually always prefer a margarita over mojito but I think my favorite drink is the pineapple mojito. You really can't go wrong with the drink choices. I'm pleased to announce that they still load the drinks up with enough alcohol so you really get your moneys worth. I've tried the arepa which is another appetizer that is offered. The arepa is a grilled corncake (sort of like a thick flour tortilla but not really, I have no idea how to explain it). It was stuffed with beef and cheese but there are other options. I loved the beef and could honestly have done without the corncake, but it was overall still pretty good. I would still prefer and recommend the empanadas for an appetizer. I've tried the steak tacos and the fish tacos. They were both good but I think I prefer the steak taco. The best meal that I've had here was still the pierna de baby (pork osso buco). This place really is great for groups and having some fun times with friends.
(4)Shilpa K.
Great food great Ambience and great service. We went there for valentines day lunch and ate n drank to our heart's content. The food has fantastic latin flavors Nd everything we orders was excellent! Coming here again very very soon!
(5)G R.
Had come here with my family for Valentine's Day. I had the Victoria's Pollo Roasted Chicken with plantains and beans which was delicious. The appetizer yuca with spicy garlic sauce was incredible. The ambiance is incredible. Couple of palm trees, Latin folk art and even the music was very inviting. Nice place to bring your family and even better come here on a romantic date. They have salsa music every Friday and Saturday nights. Only thing that was a minor inconvenience was finding a decent parking space. (might have been due to recent snowstorms).
(4)Lillybeth B.
This place is overpriced. I went for lunch with four people and it came out to 92 dollars. 7 dollars for a juice that I can get at El Oriental for 3 bucks. Not to mention the disgrace of using uncle bens minute rice and passing it off and authentic Latin rice. White rice is the easiest and cheapest thing to make. I had the pabellon which included my uncle beans rice, okay black beans and sweet plaintains. That was 12.50 and not worth it. I also tried the arepas which were good but let's face it it's corn meal and water and not worth 5 dollars. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. Make your own food at home or go to El Oriental or any hole in the wall in JP. There are many other places who don't skimp on authenticity, this however is not one I them.
(1)Kevin C.
This very well may be my new favorite Mexican joint in the Boston area. The food was tasty and the staff was very attentive. Worth the trip to Watertown.
(5)Tamarleigh G.
The food and drinks are delicious. I would give this place four stars, if not for one thing: Food that seems vegetarian on their menu is often cooked with meat (e.g., chicken broth). Vegetarians, be aware of this! For example, they have the following types of quesadilla: Steak Shrimp Chorizo (sausage) Chicken Pork Grilled Vegetables Black Beans Well, it turns out that the black beans are cooked with chicken broth. The only vegetarian quesadilla is the Grilled Vegetables. The rice it comes with is also not vegetarian (even if you order the Grilled Vegetable quesadilla, you need to specify that you want plain rice instead). They don't even have an option for just a plain cheese quesadilla (which I would prefer to the grilled vegetables). There is just not enough vegetarian food on this menu, and to have some of the things that most people would assume are vegetarian turn out NOT to be vegetarian is pretty disappointing ... especially because I totally ate an entire black bean quesadilla with the regular non-vegetarian rice last time without even realizing that there was chicken in all these things I was eating. :-P Anyway, the empanadas are good (gosh, I sure hope the cheese ones are vegetarian...I'll have to check), and the sides that come with the quesadilla are excellent. The drinks are also very good. But this place is not very vegetarian-friendly at all, so three stars is the most I can give them.
(3)Andy O.
We liked the food, particularly the meats (we recommend ordering a salad, because main dishes tend to come with few vegetables). The decor was also very nice, as they made good use of the big space in the brick arsenal buildings. But one warning: service can be very slow. We had a play to go to and left an hour and a half for dinner, but it half an hour elapsed before they even took our order, and we ended up having to rush and take home half the meal.
(4)Rich C.
I normally love this place. Tonight I was famished. Sat at the bar. I was greeted and that was good, but then the bartender (Chris) disappeared for 3-4 mins. I ordered chips and salsa just to get something going. The chips came out....looked like someone had taken a dinner plate from a yard sale and emptied a bag of broken chips. And the salsa was cold and less tasty than out of a Frito Lay jar. There were two little lettuce leaves on the plate for color. How about a basket for the chips, and make them look like someone cared? They looked like leaves shriveled up on a tree in November. Ordered skirt steak tacos. Bathed in salt. Sent them back and left. This was a highly disappointing night. Normally things are pretty good. Maybe it was a bad chef/crew tonight. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Normally is a good experience.
(1)Sonia S.
The food here is mediocre. We tried the tapas only since there was nothing that intrigued us on the menu. They have a few Spanish tapas in there - too bad they cannot execute on them! Drinks were also mediocre. We had sangria and margaritas - neither was tasty. Their patio on the other hand is great- perfect for after work drinks or meals. So there you have it - 2 stars for the food and drinks and 4 stars for the patio.
(3)Michael G.
I went for dinner with a group and friends and had a wonderful experience. I ordered the special which was a filet of red snapper with shrimp, oysters and clams. It was delicious!!! Our table shared a couple Arepas along with the Camarones al Ajillo as appetizers and they were all very tasty as well. The only negative was that my friend found something in her food. Normally this would lower my rating, but the chef personally came out to explain what happened and apologize. We were not charged for that dish and we given a few varieties of flan to try on the house. The traditional and coconut were excellent. We'll definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Leda U.
Horrible place. Crazy staff and policies. We went to have dinner and drinks with our son and brought the dogs, they said they couldn't have dogs on the patio(fair enough) but when we asked for some water in a tale out container for the dogs they said no and they had a no water to dogs policy! That's totally crazy and cruel. I hate this place
(1)Rosanna Marina A.
Trying new restaurants is an excitement all on its on, but after hearing friends rave about this place I was beyond curious. I love that I have a chance to try a delicious meal that can bring me back to my childhood memories in Venezuela. I must say the food and the ambience blew me away. I love the lighting, paintings made it feel like you stepped into a different world. We started out with empanadas and the Stephanie's Nachos. Best nachos I've had by far. Stacked up perfectly layered with guacamole,sour cream, a fresh pico de gallo, beans, chicken, pork and so on. Every bite was just as tasty as the last. We decided to try the Steak Tacos, that came with rice and beans, plantains fried yuca, guacamole and pico de gallo. To die for! Lets just say the price makes up for the large portion too. Their margaritas are also delicious. The food was amazing, I'm already craving another chance to visit again.
(5)Chase C.
The wait time is a bit long, but if you are with friends/family, then its worth the wait and also had the best chicken quesadilla i have ever had.
(5)Rick S.
Pedro's is the best!!! My girlfriend and I love this place. The drinks are amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful. And the food is ridiculously good. We do tapas because we like to try a bunch of things. This time we got sweet plantain (there is another type on the menu, but we prefer these ones that taste like dessert), calamari, garlic shrimp, strip steak, and olives. I really cannot recommend this restaurant enough. If you want Latin food it is easily the best in Boston. And if you want just a fun night out there really isn't a better spot.
(5)Michelle S.
I came here the other week for a drinky lunch. To make it a more eventful experience, we sat at the bar. The restaurant was pretty empty at 3pm, so we didn't want to feel like we were in the middle of a food court. I got the mojito and my friend got the margarita. Both were delicious, and pretty strong...more fun! We split the fish tacos appetizer and the salad la verde. We didn't wait too long for the food, but we were a bit disappointed when it showed up. The fish tacos were pretty damn tasty. Our bartender/waiter recommended a side of the house hot sauce, which was such a good call. I smothered my tacos in that and was consequently very pleased with the dish. The salad la verde was a cheat. It was supposed to come with a "fan of avocado." Painted a pretty picture in my head. But, it came with a couple baby chunks we had to search for. A high margin win for the restaurant for sure... All in all, the bartender made the experience for us. He was friendly, made good drinks, recommend the hot sauce, and served us very well. The food was a bit meh. But... I'll probably still come back again!
(3)Juan M.
This place is awesome!! Yes is pricy but the atmosphere, food and service makes up for it. We went there on a Saturday after 8pm and they had live salsa music. Salmon dish was delicious!!!
(5)Chuy C.
I was a little confused with the menu. Its advertised as Venezuelan food but has a heavy Mexican food influence and a very impressive Tequila selection which made me happy, also a wide variety of red wines. The place's decoration is diferent-funky, kind of nice, then again, I don't go to restaurants to critique decoration so I couldn't care less about it. The food was just okay, I probably wouldn't drive specifically to eat here again but in all fairness I will try more dishes before writing an awful review. I had the house Pedro's margarita with Cuervo silver and tasted funny, bitter, I know you may think it could be the sour mix but no, it tasted more like spoiled lime juice. (I am not saying they used spoiled lime juice, that's just what it tasted like to me) besides I don't like Cuervo products. So I quickly switched to a Malbec wine which was pretty good. We had the calamari which was a little salty but cooked to perfection with the drizzled jalapeño sauce that came with it was very nice and flavorful. I had red a raving review of the Mussels so I got the Mussels and it was just okay, I could taste a lot of chicken stock used to cook the mussels which is served with a lot of broth and no slices of toasted bread to dip on it. Mi wife ordered the Paella so I didn't pay much attention to the menu to see what was in it but one would think that for $28.00 or $29.00 it would at least had a couple of lobster chunks and shrimp but all I could taste was chicken, fish and sausage with a few mussels. The flavor was just okay nothing spectacular about the paella. I would probably stop again if I am in the area and take a different approach by trying some of their authentic dishes in the menu since I tried one high end dish and was disappointing. Value: I thought it was a bit overpriced but I'll let you be the judge of that. Two appetizers, one entree, two virgin pina coladas and three alcoholic beverages with one desert. just over $96.00.Without tip.
(2)G P.
This place is way too overpriced for its low quality food. I ordered a salad that was $13.50, and it only had 3 pieces of shrimp and two slivers of avocado on some romaine lettuce. Legit the worst salad I have ever had in my life. The service was just ok, and there was a lot of seating. Bottom line, the food was bad and expensive. Save yourself and don't go.
(1)Stavroula A.
I love this place! I've been there three times in the last 2 months and it never disappoints. I'm a huge fan of their red sangria, and each entree I've had has been delicious. I recommend the calamari as an appetizer. I've had the fish tacos as well as the chicken and beef, and I recommend both entrees. The staff has always been super friendly and helpful! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Francine W.
I'm surprised by the number of 2 and 3 star reviews. Everything I've had here is outstanding. I like the lamb chops, the pork osso bucco and for appetizers, get the cheese (it's like a plop of cheese) and yucca. Best yucca ever!
(5)Mariah W.
Excellent service and great food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food and the clean, festive and colorful atmosphere was a pleasant surprise. We will be back!
(5)Karen M.
After a few frustrating drives around the labyrinth of streets in the Arsenal office park, I finally found La Casa de Pedro. (There is a very small sign directing you to it when you first pull in off of Arsenal Street, but it's easy to miss.) I almost gave up and went somewhere else, but I'm glad that I gave it one final try and finally found it. They really need better signs! It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't too busy. I can see where parking might be tough on busier nights. I was very pleased with the whole evening. The service was excellent - attentive, friendly, polite, knowledgeable about the menu, but not too in-your-face. I ordered a shredded, braised beef dish served with black beans and rice which was listed as a Venezuelan specialty on the menu. It was deliciously seasoned and well-prepared. The fried plantains that came with it were some of the best that I've had. It was also a huge serving, which made the somewhat high price a little more understandable. My friend ordered the coconut orange shrimp, which is served in a fresh coconut half. They were fresh and perfectly cooked. The orange coconut sauce was tasty, but not too sweet. The fried yucca that accompanied it was golden and crispy outside, and light and fluffy inside. Their drinks are great. They have several different kinds of sangria. I had the strawberry champagne sangria (they have a few varieties of champagne sangria, which are made with champagne, white wine, cointreau, and fresh fruit) and my friend got the regular white sangria. I love sangria and usually order it any restaurant that offers it. Theirs is excellent, and sets the bar for other places that think that sangria is just fruit punch made with wine. They also offer tequila flights, which I am looking forward to trying the next time that I go there. Try to go to La Casa de Pedro on a night when it's warm enough to sit outside. Their patio is lovely. Even though they are practically right on Arsenal street, there are enough trees and window boxes full of flowers rimming that patio that it's easy to ignore the outside world.
(4)Florina K.
The atmosphere here really is great!! I love coming here!! Though the food here is just all right.... It is not bad... but there is just no kick to it... and it can be overcooked.... Make sure to try the cheese pastries... they are called traditional something. VERY GOOD!
(4)Yuri C.
Purchased Groupon which had explicit answer: "good for take out ". When wanted to redeem 6 months latter was told by owner that I can't use Groupon for take out. Cancelled Groupon. Can't say anything about the food.
(1)Kim W.
major patio love. seriously, five stars for the patio. it's seriously an oasis in the middle of a random office park, and the perfect place to spend a summer evening eating and drinking. i went here with two friends, and we all enjoyed our meals. i ordered the white sangria, which was not only refreshing and tasty, but pretty, too. :) we also split the tequeños (basically venezuelan mozzarella sticks)...mmm. for my entree, i went with the chicken enchiladas. they were really good! definitely not the best i've ever had or anything, but great all the same. i'll definitely be back, especially during patio season!
(4)S M.
I took my husband to La Casa De Pedro for his birthday dinner since I had heard so many good things about it from friends. We were greeted kindly and asked if we had made reservations. I panicked because the restaurant was packed, and no, I had not thought to make a reservation. Thankfully we were seeted promptly. My husband got a beer, and I ordered the pineapple margarita. The margarita was small, but packed with alcohol! A bit much for me. Hence, I could not even finish half of it. It tasted good though, and if I wasn't driving, I would have probably sipped a little longer. I ordered the meat and cheese arepa as a tapa. I was not impressed. The actual arepa was bland and the meat and cheese were not great either. My husband got the "tequeños" I think. Those were good. For the main entrees we got the pollo asado and chicken and beef plates. They both came with rice, yuca, sweet plantains and chorizo. The food was okay, my husband mentioned that the meat and rice were salty which was true, but not to the point where it wasn't edible. Overall, I'd say the food was just okay. What I really liked about the restaurant was the decoration and atmostphere. A good mix of young and old folks, dim lights, tasteful music and elegant decoration. It was def fancier than I expected. Would I return? Maybe, in the future I can give it a second chance. PS, our bill came to $75 w/o a tip so it can def be a little pricey. Keep in mind our main entrees were not the most expensive on the menu.
(2)Cameron C.
WOW!!! This place is amazing. It smelled and tasted just like it should. Place inside is beautiful, service was spectacular. If you love Spanish food, and good Spanish food like your mother's cooking, this is the place!!
(5)B C.
I come here every time I come to Boston. Everything I try here is excellent. The service is great as well. A must try
(5)Lisa L.
I have been to La Casa de Pedro every so often as a special treat. The dinners are expensive, but worth every penny. The brunch is a better price. I have always had courteous waiters/waitresses, a delicious and properly prepared meal, and a welcome feeling. The atmosphere is great with high ceilings, beautiful interior decorating, art, and plants. The seating is nicely spread out for a quiet intimate feeling even when it's crowded. Another huge/unexpected plus is, on Friday and Saturday nights they have a band playing, the first time I was there I thought it was a recording! They were so good!
(5)Jack H.
Outstanding food and fun ambiance. Had the chicken and chorizo app and empanadas. Both delicious. Best empanadas since Argentina. Must try.
(4)Dimos M.
Wow ! This place is fantastic from service & food is great.. Also the owner was going around making his rounds and mingling with customers making sure if you enjoyed the food. I thought that was real cool. Plus the food and drinks were great. will be back soon.
(5)William M.
This restaurant has terrible management, and puts the customer last. I'm never going back. We arrived and one host told us they were booked up completely and couldn't seat us. The place was practically empty. In about two minutes, after asking, "what about all those empty tables," a different host said he could easily seat us. They give us a buzzer and put us on a list. I want to point out, maybe 10 of their tables had people in them. No one was at the host stand. No one else had a buzzer (the charging station for the buzzers was completely full). The first host rings our buzzer almost immediately (imagine that), then tells us he can't sit us until our entire party has arrived... there's 10 filled tables in the entire restaurant, you just buzzed us after telling us a bold-faced lie that you were booked up, and we are willing to order drinks and apps at the table. The host then tells us he will seat us after all...?? Same guy, three minutes later, totally different story. He then makes a big fuss that we want to carry our own drinks from the bar to the table. I want to clarify this, he didn't have a problem with us bringing bar drinks over, but that we were going to carry them. We had to hand the drinks over to a waiter, he put them on a tray, then coached the waiter on how to hold the tray and walked us over to a booth that could hold 6. The night continued getting worse and more awkward from there. The waiter had to be reminded twice to bring water. We were down a set of silverware, and had to ask three separate people to bring an extra set, the food took over 40 minutes (from when I started timing), I asked for a refill of soda three times, the food came out and the waiter started handing it out to the table next to us, no steak knives were brought out, we asked the waiter to put the bill on multiple cards and he told us that our totals were wrong (we had included tip on them), then the waiter claimed the computer program can't split checks. I've waited tables. I know the system they use specifically can split checks. Awful service, awful management, mediocre food at above average prices. Why would anyone go to this cookie-cutter, overpriced joke of a restaurant?
(1)Nagisu K.
I've been to Casa de Pedro 5 or 6 times. The food is good, the service is just ok (occasionally the management is rude, but waitstaff tends to be nice but inconsistent) and the prices are too high for what the food is. Fish tacos cost $19 - and they are good, but not $19-good. My favorite things on the menu are the small eats, like the fried yucca with chimmichurri sauce (OMG heavenly). Great drinks too.
(3)Dmitriy A.
Great food and very cozy. Atmosphere is superb. The bartender is knowledgeable and friendly. Must go if you are in Watertown.
(5)Sean S.
The chicken and vegetable soup is incredible. Sounds mundane but it is very very good. It's the reason I come here.
(5)Rachel K.
I have been here twice. Both times I had good food and drinks. However, the prices are high (especially for Watertown) and I would probably rather spend the $$$ I would to go here---to a finer dining downtown. The strawberry basil lemonade drink is really good, but is small and costs $13. The white sangria (which some places is very hit or miss) is a definite hit here. The chicken avocado arepas are soo tasty and the one thing that will probably make me come back. The fried yuca app is also pretty good. These two things are worth coming for without breaking the bank. My boyfriend had some sort of beef meal that did not sit well with him. I will prob come back sans the BF for some chix avocado arepas! Sidenote: on weekends after about 9 or 10 latin dance breaks out by the bar. Definitely looks like a good time; the dancing crowd was probably 40s-60s. If you are into latin dancing, it is probably a good spot for it as I do not know other places one goes for food and latin dancing in the area. The band playing was pretty enjoyable as well.
(3)Erin D.
GLUTEN FREE POLICY NEEDS IMPROVEMENT! This has been one of our favorite restaurants however, our last visit my order was not Gluten free and caused me to be ill for several days. A restaurant that prides itself in having 99% of menu available Gluten Free should be working harder to make sure their customers get served the correct food. I am not certain whether a careless server put my order incorrectly, the kitchen made an error or the food runner brought me another customers food. I will be extremely cautious when ordering and double check with the person who delivers it in the future. It is very disappointing that I spoke with a manager via phone to suggest they begin having manager deliver Gluten free meals to the table. He apologized and informed me he was going to investigate and would be calling me back within a few hours to make things right so we would return. It's been 3 days and I haven't heard back from them.
(3)Collins C.
I have been here 4 times and am going tonight. Pedro is a very personable host and the atmosphere it warm and friendly. The hot sauce (house recipe) is unbelievable. Large portions - food is great.
(5)eliz r.
Casa de Pedro...Divine patio tapas with Yucca frita, camarones, and Coconut Margaritas at sunset with friends. Perfect August eve.
(5)Roni E.
Excellent service (via Pablo our server for the evening)! Excellent food and drinks!!! Pablo was able to suggest our table of 7 various tapas throughout the evening which did not disappoint at all. He even brought out this amazing hot sauce and bread to try with specific things and his advice was much appreciated. Appetizers included the Vargas, Calamari, Ceviche, Queso Fundido, Tequeños, and Camarones al Ajillo. Everything we tasted was amazing! And what makes this place even better.... patio seating, you forget you're even in Watertown! Definitely on my top places of restaurants to return!
(5)Tater M.
Excellent service, Waiter was able to recommend three types of steak dishes and gave very efficient quick tips for each of them. Must try their Hot sauce specially made by the restaurant! Also if you like spicy food, try the chorizo and mini flour tortillas!
(5)Joe W.
Great experience! Our group of four (family) was very impressed with the setting and atmosphere of La Casa de Pedro. Wait staff was very attentive but not intrusive. We ordered four small plates for apps, tequenos and torilla esp were outstanding! All the main dishes were good size, well presented and very tasty. Traditional pabellon crillo was exceptional and a must try. Prices were reasonable including cocktails. Try the coconut margarita before the summer ends. We definitely will be back soon!
(4)S Z.
Meh, this place is ok. The food is fine, but for the price, it is a bit high. I know other people who love it, but it is probably a place I will not be returning to.
(3)Otto T.
I absolutely love this place, I probably eat here 3 times a month and have never been disappointed, the food its delicious and the service its great,
(4)Liz B.
I met a friend here for lunch. I think the room and decor are just terrific - palm trees decorated with Christmas lights, festive colors and pottery... There's parking, even valet parking which I believe was free at lunch! (Not sure about dinner.) The restaurant was busy, but there was no wait. I had a Cuban sandwich and it was great. The waitress we had was really nice and efficient and handled my request to substitute a small salad for the french fries that came with the sandwich with no issue. I am looking forward to going back for dinner in a few weeks!
(4)Rico I.
I have been here 5 times now as i am on a Boston assignment - it is, by far, the best Latin Food in Boston - i say Latin because it offers food from most all Hispan~ola nations. Want Paella? delicious. Want shrimp ceviche? excellent. Want empanadas? so good. Owner/Chef is a gem, and a pro. Stopped by our table multiple visits - check on how food was / service. You cannot go wrong here! Oh yes - try the coconut flan!
(5)Nicholas D.
The food is great here. The live music is fantastic on the weekends. There is also a nice patio outside. There is plenty of parking. The drinks are well made. The fried yucca's are amazing. The empanadas are also to die for. I will be back many times!
(5)Lisa G.
I need to make a disclaimer first off, because I'm an incredibly picky eater. I'm what you could describe as on the fence when it comes to Latin food. I prefer Mexican, like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, but that's where it ends. My first trip to Pedro, I got a chicken quesadilla. It was okay, but pretty oily. The next time, I tried the burger. HUGE mistake. It's one of those places that insists on putting onions in with the beef... and I have an extreme aversion to onions (only rivaled by my aversion to pickles). So the next time I got dragged to Pedro's, I went for the quesadilla again. UGH. Oilier than the first time. From that point on, I went with co-workers (it was right around the corner of our building, so we went there to celebrate people moving on to different gigs, etc), but refused to eat. It's overrated and extremely expensive.
(1)Bos G.
La Casa de Pedro describes itself as offering a true taste of Venezuelan hospitality and fine Spanish cuisine. While I've only dined at a handful of Venezuelan restaurants and don't consider myself an expert, I can tell you I liked what I saw and what I tasted. Casa de Pedro is a warm and inviting restaurant with a nice patio for dining outside, a large bar and even larger indoor dining room. Main plates range significantly in price, but dinner for two including a shared starter, two drinks and main plates will cost $70.00 with tip; more than reasonable considering the portions and how delicious it was to eat. We started our meal with calamari ($10.50). No need to ask for lemon wedges as the lightly fried calamari was heavily seasoned with lemon juice which was nicely offset by the heat of the jalapenos. For dinner I ordered Fish Tacos ($15.50). The three tacos filled with tilapia had a distinctly grilled flavoring and was accompanied by rice, beans, fried yucca and plantains. I will come back to Casa de Pedro. It makes for the perfect place to grab dinner before seeing a show at the New Rep Theatre and who doesn't love dinner and a show?
(3)Natalie W.
Great ambiance given its proximity to the Watertown indoor mall. The service was awful, we found a hair in our food, and the menu is pricy for low quality food. The chips and authentic salsa and drinks menu are your best bet.
(2)Melissa Y.
I went here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday night. I'm not sure if we didn't love the place because we were a party of seven, or because we just didn't love the place. First, we were seated waaaaay waaaaaaaay waaaaaay in the back right next to the bathrooms. There were other large parties seated around the restaurant, and we had reservations, so it wasn't like we couldn't have fit anywhere else. From what we saw walking in, not at all from our seat in Siberia, was that it was a fun, nicely decorated restaurant with live music that night. Unfortunately, we had a view of a wall. Ok fine, not the best seat, whatever. Our waiter then proceeded to ignore us for twenty minutes. He then walked by, said hello and then left again. He came and took our drink orders and then came back and said the bar was backed up, should he just take our dinner orders? Fine sure, whatever. Food: pretty good. We had a sampling of different meals, including the paella, shrimps served in a coconut and fish tacos. Everyone agreed the food was decent, nothing worth a second trip back. Drinks: drinks we pretty good, although a bit on the pricey end. Cocktails were 10-12 dollars. Overall Value: meh. It was agreed that it was overpriced for the amount of food and the quality. Combine that with lackluster service and a table essentially in the bathroom, I don't think I'll be coming back.
(2)Rohit S.
I used to love this place. The Osso Buco was the most unique take on the dish, accompanied by plantains, yuca, rice and beans - yum!! Until now... went there a short while ago and two things went wrong: 1. Empanadas (apps) were fried in burnt oil. I informed the waitress who barely apologized, didn't offer us an alternative and didn't take it off the bill 2.. The Osso Bucco was topped with stir fried shitake mushrooms - it was absolutely disgusting. Stir fried mushrooms with asian overtones on top of a Venezuelan Ossu Bucco?!? I highly doubt Pedro was responsible for this abomination but nevertheless, he needs to get the quality under control.
(2)Alvin M.
I made a reservation for Saturday night for 7:30pm and we were taken right to our table on a very rainy night. We ordered the drinks which were very tasty, I had black rasberry margarita, yummy and my gf ordered the Jalapeno margarita, which had such an amazing tasty kick. We ordered some tapas, the mago ceviche which was fresh and tasty as well as the queso fondida. I was truly in food heaven, what a great assortment of food was on the menu. For dinner, I ordered the Osso buco which was fall of the bone tastiness. My girlfriend ordered the special, a beautifully cooked trout stuffed with lobster and crab. This dish definitely stole the show and I couldn't get enough of it. For dessert, I ordered the coconut flan that was incredibly tasty. It was great because Pedro greeted most people at the door and walked around during the meal to make sure everything was ok. The atmosphere almost feels like you're in Cuba or some tropical island. It was colorful with palm trees. The only thing missing was parrots or birds flying around. I was very impressed, we brought a friend here from NYC and she was very impressed with the food and atmosphere. I'd definitely come back. Oh Pedro, with food this tasty, how can I not get fat?
(5)Anthony V.
I moved into Waltham about 6 months ago and have been to La Casa de Pedro about 10 times. The first two time i would have scored it a 5/5 but everytime since then it has been worse and worse. The only reason I kept going back was hoping I would one day feel as I did that first time. We have always sat the bar and the bartenders have always been very friendly and helpful. One time we looked into a table and the host told us there was a wait when I could see 10-15 empty tables. The margaritas are good if you like the sweet types but relatively weak with alcohol, and WAYYYYY to over priced. 2 margaritas can put you in the $25 range. The food menu is expensively priced for the quality and portions you recieve, tacos around 16 and meat/seafood from 19-29. The food is average at most and very bland. The only food I repeatedly enjoy is the sides of plantains and Yuca. This place was good 1-2 times for me and I finally have learned from my many mistakes and will look elsewhere.
(3)Michael N.
I have loved coming here. I should have written a review sooner. This area certainly doesn't lack for a variety of pallets, but for excellent Venezuelan fare, Casa De Pedro is certainly under-served by its campy name, nonetheless the fare is especially good. The atmosphere is very airy and fresh with the tall ceilings and trees, creating an open air plaza type of fresco eating, in all seasons. I have eaten here on many occasions. The steak dishes have always been delicious and sensitive in flavour and tender in cooking, seasoned and cooked like it came straight from the occidente. The food shows a compassion for the history of its land, from the Spanish flavour, the Italian seasoning and the Portuguese varietal blends of legumes and tubers along with the foods of the various regions. Start with the arepas and empinadas. The El Gaucho (skirt steak) is my favourite, or maybe it is the Cordero, or the Pork Osso Buco. Order the hot sauce, it is so good! The only shortcoming is the dessert menu, which has a serviceable flan, but not equal to the main courses, but I can wait... Great place to eat before or after a show at the Arsenal Theater. The bar is also vibrant and the sangria very fruity and the mojitos crisp. mmm... The wait staff are diligent but not excellent, and the dessert menu are all that are lacking for me to give this five stars. But that wouldn't stop me from coming back.
(4)Caitlin A.
Not bad at all. Went here for an early dinner and we were the only customers except for a lone man at the bar. The salsa was absolutely incredible. I would go back just for that. For our meals, I got the chicken enchiladas, which were good. Essentially, exactly what I expected. And he got the Flank Pabellon Criollo with the eggs on top. It was also very good, but for 20$ I would expect some more of the meat; the plate was full, but the serving of meat was barely there. The plantains were the best part of both meals, in my opinion. The food here was good, I won't deny it. But for the price? Eh. Also - we were the ONLY people at a table and we had TWO different servers and the service was slow.
(3)A C.
I was pretty excited to try this place out after going on July 5th and finding out from Pedro himself that he'd given his employees the weekend off for the holiday. (I think that was cool of him.) I called at noon same day to try to make a 6pm reservation for my parents and me (it was a Friday). The guy said they had nothing at that time for a party of three, and could we do 5:45. No problem. We arrive at 5:50 to the patio that was 3/4 empty. We didn't look inside, but we were kind of wondering why we made a reservation for a nearly-empty patio. As we were walking on the patio towards our table (the location of which the host seemed confused about), I noticed a table on the patio that is clearly a bit nicer than the others (padded seats, higher up). I asked to sit there, thinking maybe there were a few others like it and it was first come first serve, but the host responded, "that is for special guests." Not the worst comment I've ever heard, but he could have just said "It's reserved" or better yet, they could have put a little sign that says Reserved like ten thousand other restaurants do. So already two strikes against them. We ordered two tapas- the olives and the nachos- which were good. Then we ordered a pitcher of sangria. Out came a carafe. This is probably nitpicky, but pitchers are definitely larger than carafes . We got a little over three glasses out of it, so at $27, that is pretty steep. Especially since their version is a mixture of wine and beer, no hard alcohol as proper sangria calls for (at least the way it's prepared in Spain.) My mom got the Verde salad, which included two slivers of avocado and exactly three slices of grilled zucchini on top of a mountain of lettuce. My dad got the cod, which he enjoyed. I got the pabellon, which is more or less the Venezuelan version of the Cuban dish ropa vieja (pulled beef) but not nearly as well seasoned. It was fine, but I was expecting more from the "signature Venezuelan dish" since it touts itself as a Venezuelan restaurant. The check came out to around $107 for all of this, so I would say it's overpriced for what you get. There are definitely better options not too far away.
(2)Sara M.
I like this place - I really do but as I keep going back there two things bother me. 1) The fact that they wait to bring everything all at once. The point of tapas is to munch on food slowly as the plates come from the kitchen nice and fresh. Waiting to bring everything out all at once takes away from the whole tapas experience. 2) The prices are a little too much. It's not like they're using wholesome ingredients or organic greens and vegetables so why do they charge downtown restaurant prices?! Come one now...
(3)Sandra S.
I really wanted to enjoy this place, but, sadly, slow service and bland, subpar food made this quite the opposite. Music was blaring, patio lovely, decor taking you back to an old Miami Beach, Latin-inspired vibe. Server was pleasant and did his best given how many tables he had. I am not sure if he has a penchant for bland food or if most of the food is just under seasoned and underwhelming. We ordered based on his recommendations: appetizer of mango seafood ceviche and a chicken/avocado arepa, along with their "signature dish" Pabellon Criollo (Venezuelan classic of shredded beef simmered with vegetables) and the only item not recommended, the spicy skirt steak tacos. Mango ceviche had good flavor but consisted mostly of small shrimp and outrageously sandy mussels. One chomp on a sandy mussel and you lose your appetite. It was supposed to have white fish, but we didn't really see any. The arepa was the size of an English muffin and it was over charred on the outside and undercooked in the middle. The filling was so bland, like a few bits of poached chicken mixed into some mashed avocado, and salt was non-existent. On to the entrees--the signature braised beef dish sounded so promising, but sadly, the best thing on the plate were the black beans (delicious). Hate to sound harsh as I know this dish is the pride of Venezuela, but it was executed poorly. It was akin to rope with beef broth and a faint taste of tequila poured over it. Dry, under seasoned, and disappointing. The spicy skirt steak tacos had great flavor, although the steak was a bit too chewy from a combination of overcooking and the way it was sliced. Out of all the food, I enjoyed this dish the most. At least it had some great flavor. We waited a long time for our drinks, a long while for our apps, and again for the entrees. It was rather expensive for the quality. We won't be coming back unless they start generating some more flavorful dishes.
(2)Spamme M.
We visited boston for the weekend and found this place on groupon. We were pleasantly surprised at just how nice a place this restaurant was. We found this place through groupon. They didn't treat us like second class citizen because we used a voucher. The service was top notch and the food was just perfect, not overly seasoned and not bland. My wife complained her steak was dry, but then again she ordered it well done. I would highly recommend to just about Anyone including my family and friends
(5)Deborah J.
I like this place, specially when I'm home sick. I try parilla caraquena it was ok, the tequenos were good. My only complaints are the band (too noisy) and the waiter.
(3)Frannie Z.
Another stop on my great Watertown tour. This is one place on our tour that I feel we need to explore a bit more. The mojitos were lovely, I got a berry and Barbara let me try her plain. The best one was the last one you tried. Too hard to choose between them! The empanada was lovely enough that I want to try more of their offerings. We were too full by this point do more than share one empanada. Next time, I'll save some appetite!
(4)Kay J.
A good option for dinner with friends - live entertainment on a Sat night - plenty of menu options - good food - festive décor - average prices.
(4)Jules C.
As you can tell from other reviews, Pedros is hit or miss. I've eaten here many times since I work in the neighborhood and there aren't a lot of choices for sit down lunch. Good thing for them. There have been times when it's been fine - and then times when nothing seemed good about it. And it's pretty expensive compared to what's in the area, so I think people expect a higher level for the money - not so much. I do think that one of the biggest causes of the variation is the management's attitude. It's like they are doing you a favor to let you eat there. I've had really friendly wait-people at times, and then other times, they've been very condescending, other times just clueless. Most recently, i was there on a weeknight right after work to meet some friends for dinner. The place was empty, except for a few after-work people in the bar. I asked if I could sit and have a drink while I waited for my friends - the manager acted like it was a huge imposition to let me take a table by myself - NO ONE else in the restaurant. Then, when my friends did show up, we had an extra person - should be good news for the restaurant, no? Apparently not. They were all too happy to bring us expensive drinks, but it took about 30 minutes for them to bring another place setting. And no, we weren't crowding into a table that was too small for our group. The food, too, can be spotty - the same salad on the menu can be either great or really mediocre and small for the money. So, overall, if I had more alternatives in the neighborhood, I would never go to Pedros, but rather to someplace that seems to actually appreciate my business. They are just so darn convenient. And that is good news for them, since I don't think they would make it in a more competitive location.
(2)Chris C.
I likeit here alot -- i have been a couple times with different people and loved it both times. The food is great, the atmosphere is VERY 1955 Cuba (a good thing!) and there is ample free parking. It's some of the best latin food I've had in Boston. My only quibble was the lighting was a little too low to read the menus easily.
(5)C R.
Went here for New Year's Eve with some Venezuelan friends who wanted to go out for drinks and dancing. We didn't plan on eating and so we didn't even try to make a reservation (the same night) on New Year's Eve. The restaurant looked FANTASTIC - decorated in a South American theme complete with palm trees and a host dressed in a white suit and Panama hat. Every table was packed full and the food looked fantastic. We occupied the bar area and danced until the ball dropped. Definitately looks like a place I'd try for dinner - as th place was packed with lots of people; all of whom seemed to have a great time. The staff were apologetic that there were (of course) no table available -but graciously offered the bar as an alternative (great service!). The band was great and people danced the night away. Who'd have thought there'd be a little bit of South America in Watertown (right next tot he Aresenal mall)! It's on my list of "to dos."
(3)Colleen H.
I can feel the fire start in my mouth when I think of La Casa De Pedro. Their hot sauce is absolutely amazing. Yuca + hot sauce = happy Colleen. The food is amazing too, and there are almost too many selections (the menu weighs like five pounds). I've only ever been here for lunch but it's been phenomenal every time. They also have tequila flights, which in my opinion, is the best way to celebrate. Haha! Ohhh and the plantainsssss, they're so delicious they're practically dessert. Mmmmmm.
(5)Brian W.
Before tonight I didn't really know what to expect from Venezuelan cuisine and after dinner at La Casa De Pedro I still don't really know what I think. The whole Latin American theme really made us crave Mexican food and we suddenly found ourselves disappointed that we weren't offered chips and salsa and that guacamole was nowhere on the menu. The restaurant is much bigger than it looks from the outside and the waiter was friendly and attentive. The drinks are overpriced and served in small glasses, as was mentioned in many other reviews. The food was quite flavorful and definitely different from anything I've tasted before. The swordfish tips were quite good, but the yuca and fried plantains were interesting, though not nearly as life changing as some of these other reviews would lead you to believe. Overall it was a good experience to try something out of our comfort zone, but I don't think I'll be driving home from work anytime soon thinking about Pedro's Casa round 2.
(3)Chelsea G.
Great drinks!! Food is a little pricey for this area, but the atmosphere and service is definitely worth it!
(4)Jessica H.
I love love loveee Casa De Pedro! It's located right near my work and my colleagues and I love going here for after work drinks/dinner. The sangria (both red and white) is amazing and the fish tacos are delicious. The guac is pretty good too - and I like to consider myself a guac snob. They have a huge patio out front which makes for a great spot to enjoy a nice afternoon/evening. 100% recommend this place!
(4)Justin B.
One of the best places to eat! Food, atmosphere, service, drinks, parking, live music. This places has it all. Took my wife there for her birthday. I have told friends and family about this gem.
(5)I Y.
Not sure if it was because it was Cinco de Mayo, but the place was packed and service was a little slow. Salads (La de Raquel and La de Camarones) were okay, nothing special. The entrees were also not very memorable - the Buenos Tiempos was tender but lacked flavor and the Pabellon Criollo had too much liquid from the spooned on black beans. We skipped desserts - our salads and entrees were actually pretty filling.
(2)Greg P.
always great food and a great atmosphere. One of my favorite local spots to hit up. Live salsa on Saturday evenings is great. Service is hit or miss tho, if you wanna nit pick....
(4)Susan D.
I give this restaurant 3 stars, though the food and the outdoor cafe was fab. The reduction in stars: My friends and I arrived with my two smaller dogs, one of which is a therapy dog. The owner refused to let either one of them stay with us at our table, so we had to tie them up around a tree just outside the perimeter of the cafe, close to where we were sitting. My friend asked if they could bring a bowl of water for the dogs at least, and they refused. Then a wait staff tried to have our friend move her infant son, who was asleep, for who knows why. Our friend simply refused, not wanting to awaken the baby. Watching that same owner stare at himself in the foyer mirror whilst talking on his cell phone and watching us like we were criminals, made me want to barf, but we were so hungry by that time, we just stayed an waited to eat our food. All that said, the food was absolutely superb. All of it. We had to "ask" for bread (apparrently, they do not give it out freely - an oddity for a "highbrow" South American restaurant, but when it arrived when we were finished with our meal, it was fresh and excellent.
(3)Bri C.
Went to Pedro's for my sisters birthday tonight, food was on point. I got a traditional Venezuelan dish and it was very good, however could have done with less salt. The steak my dad got was absolutely amazing, it melted in my mouth. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and attentive. It was fairly busy for a Monday night. My mom got a $12 salad, which I thought was a little pricey for lettuce, squash, and some tomato slices. The price would have made more sense if there were avocado in it. Besides that, everything else is great. Be sure to try the shrimp ceviche, sooo good and very fresh. As well as the calamari , which was quite delicious. I'll be returning soon.
(5)Todd F.
I had high hopes for this colorful restaurant, but they were not met. The menu is on the pricey side with tapas around $8-$12 and main courses around $20-$30. My wife and I ordered a few tapas dishes as we weren't starving. The first sign of trouble, the diet coke I ordered came in a tiny glass. I'm serious, this thing was smaller than a sippy cup. As I've said before, in this day and age, you can't get away with crap like that. It really reflects poorly on the restaurant. The food finally came and everything looked appetizing. The problem was, it was all dry. We had aripas, yuca fritas, queso fundito, and empanadas. All of it was dry and difficult to eat...I was surprised there were no sauces offered with them. The yuca fritas came with a chimichurri sauce over top, but it was too little and did nothing to moisten them. Even the queso fundito was dry, with the cheese nearly congealed when it arrived at the table. The only bright spot were the empanadas, which had a tasy, moist chicken mixture inside. The service matched the meal and was dry. We barely got a smile from our waiter. All in all, I'd avoid this place.
(2)Mallory W.
Went here for the first time last night. AMAZING! Strawberry Mojito was declicious and then we had the Nachos for an appetizer. Honestly the best Nachos I have ever had (and I eat a LOT of nachos!) For my meal I tried the Pabellón Criollo which was Shredded beef simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans The Fried Plantains were also probably the best I have ever tasted. and the beef was very flavorful. ORDER THE HOT SAUCE with your meal (extremely Hot!!!) But delicious. Cannot wait to go back here!
(5)Dawn E.
The ambiance in here is pure delight. They did everything right. *Everything.* I wouldn't change a lamp or a plant or a painting or a chair. It's warm and cozy and romantic but not so much that you can't go with friends or the fam, still, it would definitely make a great joint for a date. It was a fairly empty weeknight when I went, but I get the feeling this place comes alive with energy when it's busy, and I'm curious to find out. The menu is multiple pages, and even better, the majority of those pages are dedicated to booze. Oh hai booze. Yeah. We're already friends. Sadly, a week's worth of antibiotics equaled no booze for me, so we just waived at each other and sighed - ships passing in the night and all that. The food menu is less extensive but interesting. It's important to note that this is *not* a Mexican restaurant, on my way out I heard a couple making some sort of observation relating to the strangeness of this Mexican food and I resisted my oft-had smacking urge once again. The food here is South American in general with a strong Venezuelan influence - this means you should expect flavors to be more subtle and refined. I ordered the Buenos Tiempos (which the "waiter" informed me several times meant "Good Times" despite my response to him several times in my terrible but passable Spanish) and good times it was. Short ribs in a brown sauce with sauteed tomatoes and onions came plated with two kinds of rice, black beans, fried yucca, and plantains. These were, bar none, the most tender and divine short ribs I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. My plate, in particular, was flawless and ample. I made all the right choices. My dining companions ordered Parrillada Caraquea and Quesadilla de Camarones respectively. From the Parrillada Caraquea I tasted all three of the meats (chorizo, sirloin, and chicken). All of these were decent but only the chorizo was excellent. The chicken and the sirloin were entirely un-special. I did not sample the shrimp quesadilla but the friend who ordered it thought it was perfection. She also, however, complained that her plantains were in fact bananas, I tasted her plantains and they, in fact, tasted sweeter and more bananay than mine, but my mouth was already full of shortribby happiness so I can neither confirm nor deny her claims. For dessert I enjoyed a near flawlessly executed cappuccino and some delightful chocolate flan. Or service was as charming and warm as the ambiance. It would have been flawless, except that our attention was sparse. I did not really feel neglected in that I was enjoying my company but it did take what seemed like a while for the food to arrive, and we were never checked on until we were finished and had pushed away our plates. Water did not get refilled, even after requested, and the bill also took a while both to arrive and to process. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Pedro's House and would like to return. If only to sample all that booze...
(3)Sally H.
I liked the beef empanadas, with the chilli sauce! They set the light to a dim ambiance, which was okay with me. The place will fill up with patrons after 7pm.
(3)J D.
La Casa de Pedro is in an old renovated warehouse near the Arsenal Mall. The restaurant has 20 foot ceilings which enables them to have practically full size trees throughout, giving it a Caribbean feeling. We ate on a Monday night and surprisingly, there was live music playing. Not deafening loud, just nice calypso/bosa nova in the background. The menu is primarily Latin, but they also offer a sizable Mexican offering. I opted for chicken enchiladas which were good. Fresh grilled chicken with sides of black beans and rice, fried yucca, and plantains. The yucca and plantains were outstanding. Shredded beef in a garlic and onion base with rice and beans were very good as well. Portions here are huge, so you might be getting a second meal out of your order. We took home some coconut flan, which was some of the best flan I've ever had. Service was friendly and low key. It's a nice option for a Latin feed.
(4)Dominique G.
How is it possible for this place to still be in business? It is horrible. I gave it another chance a week ago meeting a few friends for drinks only while they ate Tapas. The waitress, while very nice, didnt know a thing about the food! hello? Train them much? Never again. Food sucks
(1)Melissa M.
I had 1.5 sips of my fiance's Mojito @ La Case de Pedro. This was the first time any booze has touched my lips in almost 72 days. But, it was HIGH TIME!! Yeah, sure, I could have had one if I wanted, but I just wanted a taste. Just a taste! It was DAYUM good. Dios Mio! I will definitely return for one in the near future!! It was worth ten bucks. It really was. The food was pretty good too. I got some grilled chicken with an apricot/mango sauce -- kinda like mango chicken @ a Chinese establishment. But, this place was not Chinese. It is Venezuelan food. I need to mention their plantains are so good. The yucca, notsomuch. Their rice and beans are very good. The portions are HUMUNGO! I had taken the leftovers home and my 91 year-old Irish immigrant Papa loved it. But, he might of just though it was Chinese food -- he loves Chinese food. Even the toasted bread and butter they serve to you is very good. The service was wonderful, a bit slow at first, but attentive once the crowd of diners left to go to the theatre next door. The decor here is so nice. It's like being in Miami -- very tropical. Check it out! They have a patio that is opening next week. I shall return.
(3)Greg N.
This place looks like Little Havana, tastes like Heaven, and has totally earned a repeat customer. The food was so good it made me want to weep and the margarita was arguably the best (and strongest) I've had in YEARS... It was moderately priced and is worth every single penny. No point in a longer review because words only get in the way. nom nom nom nom nom.
(5)Cindy O.
This is near my corporate office and I forgot about it until my manager took me there for lunch this past week. I had the fish tacos and they were amazing. Served with fried plantains and a black bean rice. The server was attentive and we were able to get served within our lunch time. I went here 2 years ago for dinner but cannot recall what I ordered but I do remember the person I was with and I really loved the food. Next time I am in MA I will definitely go here again.
(5)Herbert K.
I like the food, I like Pedro, I like the feel of the place.... But... We all know that a Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime. But Pedro... $12 for one? In Watertown? Really? It's a fine cocktail, even comes with a little sugar cane garnish, but please.... cachaça is about the cheapest spirit out there, and $12 is just gouging!
(2)Dee D.
Went for dinner today at 5:20. It was practically empty. Was told that we (meaning the two of us) could sit in no mans land near the kitchen or at the bar. My boyfriend chose the seat near the kitchen. After waiting a while, our waitress came. Not ultra friendly or flexible. Told us we could not order anything from lunch menu. Ok. The place is still very empty, I must have saw at least two sections empty on my way to the bathroom which was filthy as can be. Another waitress notices us in Guam and asks if we ordered yet, she was very nice and i wish she was our waitress. We have been waiting forever and did not receive any bread. Food arrives. My boyfriend ordered a meat platter for $18 with about a half a cup of meat on his plate. Flagged down waitress for refill of water and for bill. Paid bill and walked out, no greeting from hosts up front. Should have gone to Panela de Barro in Waltham.
(1)Valerie V.
Tried Casa de Pedro recently when looking for a place to have a fun dinner out with a group of 4 where we could park for free and not venture downtown. Overall, I would say that I would come back because several menu items were totally delicious--the swordfish tips and the yucca specifically. However-the drinks are insanely overpriced. As in, a drink is more expensive than most entrees. It makes zero sense and is off-putting. So this would not be the first choice at all if I was planning on having a few. If you're a teetotaler, this is probably a great place for you! Haha..
(3)Emily F.
I am a sucker for outdoor seating. And plates of beef with eggs on top. The food is good, not amazing, but very good. I have had nice waitstaff here, and am really looking forward to getting an adult beverage one night (we always go for lunch). Big plates of food, lots of delicious calories. Try the Beef with an Egg. My personal favorite!
(4)Jessie C.
Very tasty! Went on a friday night with a few ladies and we had a fantastic time. The service was fantastic and the food was even better. The prices are higher but you certainly get your money's worth. I had the Bacalao a la Ozzy Guillen and it was great. Nice large piece of fish, a good number of plantains and yuca. Also had the white sangria and it was nice and fruity as well. Great experience.
(4)Vernice G.
Was a good service, many variety Latin food and good music.
(4)Aneury B.
The food is awesome here and Ana (the waitress) was really nice to me and my family. I'm definitely coming back!
(5)Aboud Y.
Have had a few good meals here (brunch, lunch, and dinner) and I like the festive atmosphere. But the food isn't all that. Here are a few things I've tried: Camarones al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp): C+. Tasty but I don't like the smaller shrimp they use Tequeños (fried white Venezualen cheese): A. My favorite thing on the menu. Declicious. Make sure you ask for something to dip them in though (salsa or something). Mejillones de Pedro (mussles): C-. Came out very fishy tasting and the broth is pretty bland. I'd pass. Pedro's old times with Vargas (Fried Pork): B. Pretty tasty fried goodness...and great accompaniment to drinks (or to fix a hangover). Bebe Andrés (button mushrooms): B. Very nice. Arepas: C. I'm very particular about these and the ones I've tried here are too dry. Fried Yucca: B. I'm not a huge fan of Yucca buy they prepare it well here. Anyhow...I'll definitely go back but I'm not in much of a hurry o do so.
(3)Ethel F.
Great ambience.. Large portions.. Tasty drinks.. I'm only giving it 3 stars because the last experience I had, the waitress pointed out certain entrees on the menu that no longer were available or that they had run out of. Its a HUGE pet peeve of mine when restaurants don't have food that they list on their menu. Besides that, Pedros is definitely a place I would recommend people to try at least once.
(3)David S.
This is an awesome restaurant. Though It is not my favorite food. Atmosphere and energy are awesome. Have gone here twice . And the band was awesome. The food was good. The service the second time was excellent...
(4)Roy W.
OK food, but they don't compare well to a place like Orinoco, which is head and shoulders better. It may not seem like it when first you look a the menu - there are lots of entries - but there's not a lot of variety to be had. Watery martinis. (Yep, I have them on the rocks, but they still shouldn't be watery.)
(2)Erwin F.
Well done Pedro, well done. You fed me well. I'm still on a food high from last night so I'll just give you the highlights: Beef Empanada - Get it, got, get another, because it's that's good. Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pork slightly fried with hot sauce) - Not a blue ribbon winner, but you get a notable mention. Chicken and avocados Arepas - you sir, are so plain, that you should get penalized for being so bland. Shredded beef Arepas - good flavor, but if this were a pass/fail course, you'd just get the "P". Don't get your feelings hurt by asking the number grade. La Paella de Pedro - FANTASTIC Pineapple Mojito - I'd recommend Service - pretty good Ambience - everything looks good when you're on a food high. Definitely recommend.
(4)Jen F.
The food is awesome. Let me repeat. The. Food. Is. Awesome. All the entrees are great, and are made even better by the amazing accompaniments--fried yuka, rice (cilantro and orange) and beans, and the best plantains on planet earth. The drinks, too, are delicious. The only issue is the service. It's a mixed bag. When it's good, it's good, when it's bad...it's a hot mess. Casa should really get it together in that department. Otherwise, it's an awesome restaurant and one of my favs.
(4)Eva K.
Love this place - the osso buco in particular was to die for, but you can't really go wrong here if you love your yucca and such.
(5)Michele G.
This is review for take-out. I happen to work right next door, so my lunch options are limited to Pedro and Panera. Boo. I probably won't eat here again after my experience. I ordered a shrimp quesdilla. Who orders a quesadilla at a Venezulan place? Plenty of people, because it's on the menu. And if it's on the menu, it should be as good as the rest of the food you serve. Anyhow, this quesadilla was sad. The best parts were the shrimp and the side of plantains. I make better, more satisying quesadillas at home. Actually, so does Beer Works on Canal St. Some shrimp and mostly cheese and some pesto sauce filled the tortilla, accompianed by two laughably small containers of guac and sour cream. I'm talking almost thimbul small. And the sour cream was warm, so I didn't chance it. I might be back for the Ten Cane mojitos, but that's it.
(2)Sarah C.
Maybe I was there on an off night, but I didn't have a particularly pleasant experience. They were relatively busy, but not slammed, and the service was very poor. Long waits in between seeing our waiter's face, a few mistakes through the night, and it took FOREVER to get the check. Meanwhile I thought the food was fine. Good sized portions, but really nothing special - could have gotten that quality many other places for much less money. I think that's the sticking point for me - for the quality of food and the service, their prices are just too high. Bring 'em down a bit and this place gets an A-OK rating, but for now, "Meh. I've experienced better" sums it up for me.
(2)Rachel L.
The LCDP website doesn't do them justice (it looks more casual than the actual ambiance). The atmosphere is elegant, but not stuffy. I went there with a group of friends mid week because we weren't in the mood to battle traffic and parking downtown, so a Mexican restaurant in Watertown was a good compromise. Our server was awkward/uncomfortable, but polite. And the food was very good. The entrees all came with yuka, rice and beans, and plantains - I thought it was a nice touch. It made the experience more authentic and reminded me of being in Central America. I was a little disappointed with the veggie quesadilla (my standard order for Mexican restaurants) because it was stuffed with tons of squash and not much else. Otherwise, everything was very tasty. The sangria was also good, but I would have liked more fruit in it. Overall a good experience.
(3)Barbara A.
I loved this place when it was stil in Watertown Sq (even when he upped his prices 20%), but still not sure about the "new" space anymore. At first I was excited about all that space and happy it was there (I even had my mom's memorial lunch there). The last few times I went though, not too excited about it. First, the mojitos are probably the best I have had anywhere in the area. I asked the bartender one time why so yummy and he tried to explain it to me but since mere mortals can not buy the type of liquor they use on the open market, I did not retain it. I have been a big fan of the empanada - the first thing I do is order them because in the past they took 20 mins. When I ordered them last time, they came in 5. I have been going to his place since he first opened and they have always taken 20 min (I will not go into a routine about grits a la "My Cousin Vinny"). Well just taste it and you will see it is not the same quality - not sure if he precooks or is he doing a different recipe but how sad. I also enjoy the traditonal shredded beef dish - can not retain the name nor pronounce it but look for it. It is still yummy. I will still go here, but will mourn the quality that has gone down.
(3)Anne P.
Three of us stopped in here for dinner on a weekend some months ago. It was prime time, so, understandably, there was a wait (despite empty tables, which I assumed were saved for reservations). We were in somewhat of a rush, so we sort of crowded around a high-top table, which only had two chairs. The manager was unable to find us another chair, which was fine by us (but clearly bothered him). We waited a while without a server coming to take our drink orders, which was annoying - BUT the manager/host noticed, consulted his reservation book again, and then brought us right into the dining room. Our server was really attentive and seemed honest in his recommendations, the management was friendly, and the food was good. We were all very impressed with both the food and the service, and will definitely be back.
(4)CC C.
We came here for the first time based on a recommendation from a colleague. The restaurant has a cultural feel and the patio overlooks a beautiful common area. The staff was very friendly and provided us with direction on the many Tapas options as well as the main courses. The ceviche is a must and offers a variety of shrimp, fish and other varieties of seafood and vegetables. I had the whole haddock fish for an entree which included sautéed vegetables properly seasoned with the right amount of spice and heat. Overall we had a great experience and would recommend this for a couple or group outing.
(5)Art H.
Weekday evening around 630pm, place was less than half full, but it took more than half an hour to bring my niece a simple quesadilla and identical orders of enciladas for my wife and myself. One was barely warm, the other ok. For entrees close to $20 each, the flavor was uninspired. A small glass of mango juice was $6.50; cocktails $15. I've had better much faster for less in Manhattan and Boston. Decor is cool and jungly, though I'm still trying to figure out the dead (not dried) flowers and antique typewriter. One could do worse but we won't be back.
(2)Lauren E.
I went here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was actually pretty dead inside. Perhaps it is the awkward location; La Casa de Pedro is located near the Arsenal Mall and is easy to miss. My boyfriend and I started off by ordering a small tapas plate of nachos with pork and chicken. For my entree, I ordered steak tacos. The ingredients were high quality and fresh. The meat was juicy and flavorful. There was some live music that night, which was a nice addition to the ambiance. I think this place could be more successful if it found a new location; the fact that it was dead on a Saturday night during the summer is not a good sign. I would definitely go back here again.
(4)Earl B.
Had a great time here. Food was great and not at all expensive. House margaritas were very respectable. The restaurant itself is very nice. Ask the server for recommendations and go with it. I had the Venezuelan steak (do it right and get the eggs wit it), Fantastic. We will be back.
(4)Shawn M.
Visited recently with my wife and friends. I couldn't have been pleased any more. We started with a couple of things from the tapas menu, Stephanies Nachos and Calamares a la Pedro. The nacos were awesome. very cheesy, tons of chicken and pork and the chips were baked just right. I highly recommend these. The calamari was a little different from your normal restaurant fare, it wasn't as fried and the poblano and jalapeno sauce was a pleasant departure from spaghetti sauce. Also very good. My fiance had the wild champagne sangria, which she loved. For dinner two of us had the Quesadilla de Carne Asada. The steak was plentifu as was the cheese and like the nachos they were cooked just right. They came with black bean rice, fried yucca and plantains that were very tasty as well. My other friend had the chicken enchiladas. She didn't love them, but thought they were good. The menu says the chicken was shredded, but it came out cubed. For dessert which he had a flavor of the flan. You could not go wrong with any of the three. They were fabulous. I topped off with a cup of coffee which was very good. All in all I was very, very happy. We have already purchased a groupon for our next visit. La Casa de Pedro is highly recommended by this guy
(4)Lady J.
Pollo asado here I come!!!
(5)Chelsy B.
Although I have heard many good things about this place, I was not really impressed. A group of girlfriends and I went on a Monday night for a birthday dinner. We did get a nice table, but there were less than three groups in the whole restaurant which is pretty large. We started off with drinks in from one of the heaviest menu's I have ever held. There were a lot of options and a whole page of tapa's as well. It also said they served brunch which seems like it could be fun. After we ordered, we waited at least 30 minutes for our meals (6 people, no apps.). The server was very so-so. After we got our meals and some home made hot sauce (yum), we didn't see the server again. We had all finished eating and even waited a good 15 minutes before someone came to clear the table or ask if we were all set. At this point, we were one of two tables in the whole space and we could easily see four or five employees walking around. We asked if the gratuity was included and our waitress told us 8 or more people which was incorrect. There was 18% for 6 or more guests. The food was presented well, but average. I can tell they wanted it to have a fine-dining feel, but it fell short for me. I may try this place again with a smaller group to see the difference, but I'm not sure it is a space to rave about like everyone says.
(3)Dee N.
A co worker raved about La Casa De Pedro. So I had to try it. A friend of mine and I went for Dinner last Friday . June 19th. Now I can't stop raving about it! What a wonderful Restaurant.....We were given the option of having Dinner inside or outside. We opted for inside because I wanted to see what the Restaurant looked like. Nice atmosphere inside with a lot of comfortable booths. We ordered drinks. I had a Fruity Martini. My friend, had a Maitai. We both enjoyed our drinks. They don't skimp on the Alcohol. Not too strong, just right! The food was wonderful! I ordered the Salmon. I have never had Salmon prepared like that! Huge portions, The Salmon served on a bed of black Beans, Salmon covered in Red , Green peppers and onions and Shrimp! with a side of Rice and sweet Plantains and Yuca..... Unbelievable Flavor! The servers were very attentive. We thought that the alcohol was a little expensive. But the food prices were reasonable. I will definitely return!!!
(5)Janet S.
I used to love this place for lunch when I worked in the area a few years ago. However, dinner tonight was WAY too salty. The side dishes were really good, but the meat dishes (chicken enchiladas, and especially the Carnitas Encebolladas) were really oversalted. Sad to be disappointed by an old favorite...
(2)Kris S.
I really was excited to go to this place. The decor is really nice -- the outdoor patio is terrific, but the inside is also nice -- colorful and tastefully decorated with a big bar and comfy seating. We had to wait for about 20 mins for a table, which is totally fine. When we were seated, we were at a huge booth (score!). Shortly after we were seated, the waiter came over. We ordered drinks. 30 mins later, the waiter returned. We asked for water. Finally after 45 mins, we ordered 3 tapas. We got the calamari, ceviche, and chicken and chorizo with tortillas. All were pretty tasty, although the calamari was $10 and there couldn't have been more than 8 fried calamari on the plate. Anyway, we had to flag down the waiter once we were done with the tapas, so that he could take the plates and we could order entrees. I ordered the 1/2 chicken and my friend ordered "Pedro's birthday special," which was steak and chorizo. After literally 40 minutes, the waiter came over to tell me that they were out of the chicken! 40 MINUTES! There were several other people around us who were waiting for food, too. I mean, even if you are going to run out of food, you need to notify the guests more quickly than that. I'm already sick of this review, b/c I'm sick of this place. To sum, I ordered a steak dish as a substitute. It was ok. My friend's was ok. Steak overcooked, rice was dry. Water was never refilled (we asked 3 times) and drink orders were never taken again. By the end of the night, we had a totally new waitress who brought our bill. Was our waiter fired for sucking so bad? We'll never know. I also won't be back. Huge disappointment. The 2 stars are for the nice decor and decent tapas -- that's it.
(2)William H.
Sunday brunch galore! Big menu for both food & cocktails. Fun and bright scenery inside. It felt like we were on vacation. Try a Jalapeño infused tequila margarita with shaken with fresh strawberries! Yum
(5)Anil D.
We've been here a bunch of times, but they fell off in a bad way. Came at 4:50pm with our two kids. First they told us we can't bring the stroller to the table even though we did each time we came for the past two years. Then, they sounded annoyed that we were ordering tapas only for the table even though it was *5*pm and the place was near empty. Then they brought out the wrong ceviche order and told us it our fault for saying the wrong thing. On top of it all the service was slow and just painful.
(2)Elie H.
I used to love this Venezuelan place but yet again another restaurant that I cherish went downhill. Food is on the greasy side lately. I highly recommend the arepas and fish dishes. my favorite used to be the "Complianos" a steak, sausage blood sausage with rice and beans. I plan to go there again soon and give it another try since I love arepas.
(3)Michelle A.
Wanted to love this place as we are just getting to know the area but it was just 'ok'. Meals were substantial and service was average. Not sure what I expected but the food didn't have a lot of flavor. We asked for the house-made hot sauce which was the highlight of the meal. We ordered the empanadas (chicken and beef), (Flank) Pabellon Criollo, (Pork) Llanos Venezolanos, and a margarita.
(3)Gisele M.
Just went here on Saturday for girl's night. Most of us had the coconut shrimp served in a coconut - delicious! The drinks were amazing and the staff was exceptional. Outdoor patio seating is a great option too if the weather is nice!
(5)David S.
I've been here several times and each time I get the chicken quesadilla. It's amazing -- a huge portion with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. It also comes with a really tasty side of rice, yuca, and plantain. I always leave feeling full and every time it's consistently good. For this amount of food, the price is not bad at all. I've also gotten the nachos as an appetizer. Although it's a pretty small portion, it's also quite good. I've been here probably 3 times already and I'm going to keep coming back!
(4)Alex D.
We love La Case De Pedro! The flavors are very unique to Venezuelan cuisine so if you're looking for Mexican blandness look elsewhere. The Osso Buco is my favorite and I would have it every time if it wasn't for the specials. Outdoor patio seating is a plus, but it was too windy for us to enjoy it our last visit. I would also highly recommend the cocktails, Pedro's 10 cane mojito is amazing! Getting a flight of tequila is a great option as well.
(5)Squidy D.
I could come here just for the side dishes, the plantains and the fried yucca's are fantastic. The homemade hot sauce is awesome and hot hot hot! This is one place I will travel for, well worth an hours drive
(5)Liron P.
Parents with children beware- We didn't get to try the food because we were so angry with their attitude- we were 3 people and a stroller, but despite the fact the restaurant was empty, they wouldn't let us sit outside with the stroller (the area was large and spacious, so there certainly isn't a lack of room). We just left, since i dont want to support businesses that discriminate against children this way
(1)Claire R.
This restaurant is lively with attentive service and tasty food. My daughter highly recommends the quesadilla with fried plantain and yuca. The skirt steak is delicious and the chimichurri sauce is great! Venezuelan food is always a good choice for gluten free diners. Spacious with room for large groups and a full bar.
(4)Annette A.
Fantastic drinks, delicious food and and amazing service. La Casa de Pedro is a restaurant that you'd expect to find in downtown Boston, but lucky for you - it's in Watertown, with plenty of free parking all around. Pedro's may be my favorite restaurant. The place is very spacious and beautiful. The decor is gorgeous and warm, filling with lights and tropical plants. It's a very nice place for a date, especially on nights where they have music. Most amazing thing? The plantains and yucca. Or any of their tilapia, scrod or salmon dishes. Or anything with their green habanero cream sauce (ask for it!). Edit: Adding a star. Service is still wonderful. The last time we were there (which tends to be a few times a month now), we had a charming server named William who was very friendly and knowledgeable about all the dishes. We'd ask for him again, if we could. But William aside, the staff is ALWAYS amazingly nice. There hasn't been a single time where our server was in a mucky mood and showed it.
(5)Donna A.
I Order a salad which was (De Los Roques) and nothing that was appearently I order was in the salad. La Casa De Pedro also over charge me. As I place this call back to them now the mananger is not available to talk about how disappointed I was with my boring salad. Grill chicken was the roasted chicken, no sunflower seeds, no dried cranberries no crisp apple no lemon-garlic dressing. Check your order before leaving cause its impossible to get the manager once a customer is disappointed. This salad cost me $18.00 smh!! I will never eat at this place again. Very unhappy give me what I order.
(1)Lexi L.
A must eat restaurant!!! Came for lunch and ordered off the tapas menu. We ordered 5 dishes for the two of us and it was a perfect amout. The nachos are killer!!! And the flan is the best we have had! Our server Prabina was excellent! She made great suggestions and they were all top notch! Will deffinatly be back!!
(5)Dan O.
What can I say about La Casa De Pedro. Excellent food, great atmosphere, ample parking, great service. 5 stars. I've been here at least 5 times and have not had a bad experience. Weekdays, weeknights, weekends,...doesn't matter. I'm literally sitting here and there is a live band playing - 2 guys, rhythm guitar and a bongo drummer, and they introduced a kazoo...yes a kazoo. I hate to give this place such high marks because I want to keep it for myself, but alas, the secret is already out. I strongly recommend that you come here...have the 10 cane mojito, a steak based dish, and soak in everything. Awesome. I guarantee you will not be dissapointed - DanO
(5)Amalia S.
This place is amazing!!! Atmosphere and decor is awesome perfect for date night. Def try passion fruit sangria delish. Service was great. Two Thumbs up!
(4)Lindy L.
Went here on a Thursday night and there was an enchanting man playing piano and singing random songs (everything from "Pachabel's canon" to "pennies from heaven"). It was a friend's birthday so there was a group of 12 of us. We had a reservation and they seated us right away (not all of the party needed to be present for us to be seated). the drinks were delicious (i had a JALAPENO margarita - don't ask questions - just get one) and white sangria, which was fruity and very refreshing. we had the tequenos and a bean and cheese empanada to start. my husband had the fish tacos which he enjoyed immensely. i had the salmon with shrimp on top and a very hearty dose of rice, beans, yucca and fried plantains - YUM! all entrees come with the sides mentioned above and one was more delicious and flavorful than the next! in my opinion, the only reason this place does not get 5 stars is the prices. for a restaurant in watertown, i would've imagined that the prices would be lower. it was about $16-$20 for entrees. that being said, i will definitely give la casa de pedro another go round if given the chance. OLE!
(4)Jason H.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Great place. Odd, tucked away location thought... Food here is outstanding, if you ask me. I don't know Venezuelan food, but I do know that theirs tastes good to me. I've tried a few dishes, and the Short Rib, Fish Tacos and Pabellon Criollo are all awesome. They also make a ridiculously tasty but dangerous hot sauce. Pedro's offers a pretty decent drink selection as well. Always a great time.
(4)Patrik C.
This was one of the best meals of 2012. Note: the hours are weird as in they close really early! I came with 2 friends and we got the fried cheese appetizer which isn't breaded. It's fried/grilled on both sides-- UNBELIEVABLE. The yucca fries are the best I've ever had. In other restaurants they can be thick and dry but here, they are drenched in a high quality EVOO with a little pesto and combined with the cheese-- SO GOOD. Also tried the fried cheese roll up things which is like a cheese puff/spring roll. Excellent. For entrees-- the meats have always been excellent with many sides-- rice, plantains, etc. Highly recommended. Their hot sauce is SO good-- use sparingly!!!
(5)Cat A.
This is a fun place with some unusual, delicious offerings. Staff is very friendly and helpful if you want to try new things. The patio outside is lovely and service is consistently good. Drinks are also well done.
(5)Jeff S.
AUTHENTIC, BUT LOW-QUALITY FOOD. GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND DRINKS. I'll keep this short and not-so-sweet. I've only dined at Casa de Pedro's twice, once in their original restaurant in Watertown Center, and once in the now-closed Burlington restaurant located only 2 miles down the road from the Burlington Mall in the glitzy former building built by the owners of the Naked Fish restaurant. The atmosphere of the Watertown location is nothing special (3 stars), although the atmosphere in the former Naked Fish location was first rate (5 stars). FYI, Naked Fish had high hopes of great success at its Burlington location, but it lasted only 2 years before they sold out to Casa de Pedro, which lasted only about 6 months. Although the location isn't right inside the Burlington Mall or directly across from it, it's still only 2 miles down the road and I feel that patrons would have come and established it as a sensation if the food wasn't so poor. The food is prepared quite adequately and authentically, but the quality of the meat is poor. It's totally reminiscent of the Low-Quality Latin food I've eaten in poor Latin countries, and is something I feel a good restaurant in the USA shouldn't duplicate with great accuracy or authenticity. Since this restaurant is located here in the USA, I would have thought that Pedro would have Americanized a bit, at least enough so that the Food Quality was high. But, instead, Pedro chose to maintain complete authenticity which turned out to be a foolish mistake because patrons voted with their feet in short order. Indeed, Casa de Pedro closed its doors in only 6 months. As I said earlier, the atmosphere (5 stars), the drinks (5 stars), and now I mention that the service (4 stars) were all top-notch. However, the hallmark of any restaurant is the preparation and Quality of its food (2 stars), and I weigh this aspect much more heavily. If I could give Casa de Pedro 2.5 stars I would, but since only whole-star ratings are possible, I decided it would be more accurate to err on the lower end of that scale.
(2)M M.
Order: Yucca... if your entree doesn't include it - it's a root vegetable similar to potato - comes fried with a cilantro oil drizzle. Pork tenderloin roast chicken entrees Every dish I've had has been a larger portion than I should probably eat, but I finish it because it's delicious! It takes a long time to read through the extensive menu and some items sound like the others so I usually take a long time to decide so study the menu online ahead of time if you can. I've enjoyed exploring Venezuelan cuisine at this restaurant at the old location and the current Arsenal Street location. I suggest sticking to more traditional dishes - don't order Mexican items in a Venezuelan restaurant. I agree with some other yelpers that if it's on the menu, it should be as good as all the other food. They probably need to trim the menu to make sure they do it all well. Lunch is my favorite way to enjoy good food here without paying too much, so I've never had cocktails here - though it looks like a fun night spot.
(4)Tom D.
My dad and I stopped at La Casa de Pedro for dinner as I transited between Newport RI and Portsmouth, NH on what is rapidly becoming a far to common trip. Pedro's Menu of different Latin American dishes looked interesting and we were in the mood to try something different. It was a Thursday night so we grabbed an OpenTable reservation and headed over. The restaurant is very nice inside with a large bar to the right and a decent sized dining area to the left upon entering. It also has very high ceilings which add to the ambiance. The bar had a few people at it and the dining area was fairly empty when we arrived. Both were packed by the time we left. We were seated immediately upon entering and started to review the menu. We decided to split an order of nachos as our appetizer. The nachos come with chicken and pork on them. When they came out the size of the order was kind of underwhelming. I'm used to getting a much larger portion when ordering a plate of nachos. The nachos were good, but for the price probably needed to be 150 - 200% larger. The small order of Nachos had me concerned about the size of my entree. I had ordered the Pabellon Criollo, which the menu referred to as a traditional Venezuelan dish of shredded beef, slowly simmered, with fine chopped vegetables. It came with rice, black beans, and fried sweet plantains as sides. When it came to the table I was relieved to see that there was a large pile of shredded beef and more than enough black beans and rice. I wouldn't be leaving hungry even if it was just the rice and beans that were stuffing me. The Pabellon Criollo was incredible. It had a great flavor and was extremely tender. They also brought out a bowl on the side of Pedro's special hot sauce which was neon green in color and had a sneaky level of spice to it. It was full of flavor and a few seconds after eating it the spice smacked you. I mixed it, the rice and black beans all together and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we'll definitely try La Casa de Pedro again.
(4)JF S.
**Just had to log in and upgrade to 4 stars after enjoying my leftovers. Better than I remember from last night - may have been just too much food to enjoy to the fullest in one sitting. The place was very busy on a Sunday evening closing in on the expiration date of a Groupon. Service was slow but attentive and nice. Tapas were the standouts - Chicken & Chorizo, and the Venezuelan fried cheese (like a cross between a mozzarella stick and a spring roll). Tried the house hot sauce for dipping but could only use a tiny bit! We each had a flavored sangria and both were good - not too sweet. Had the Birthday flank steak and Chicken Asado and they were both fine with large servings including sides (took home leftovers), though maybe a tad on the pricey side. Chicken dish could have used some salsa or something to lighten it up a little bit. The yuca side was delicious but the plantains were a bit too sweet for my taste. We will definitely go back for tapas and drinks.
(4)ara n.
While the food is good, the restautant is very unaccomodating to families - they have a NO STROLLER policy. They would not seat us when we got there with an asleep child in the stroller - the hostess was very nice and wanted to accomodate us, but the manager, who I am sure suffers from a strong and lasting bout of short man syndrome, informed us rudely that they have a no stroller policy and nothing can be done about that. There are plenty of other good South American restaurants that'll serve you good food with the South American warmth and hospitality and without the attitude of this joint.
(1)Christian E.
The skinny: go for the tapas, and regardless of quality, this place probably won't last. My old roommates and I were in the area, and thought we'd check out the space where Red Sauce used to be, way back in 2004, and stumbled upon La Casa de Pedro. We were there, so we figured why not? Well, there were a couple of reasons why not, but I'll get to those. How about why? It was a Friday, and there was live music. Mediocre, but entertaining. +1. We got there around 8:30, and there was a 15-minute wait, but nobody was really sitting at the bar (right next to the band), where there's full-menu service, so we decided to sit there. The food is decent--decently tasty, decently priced (on average). The entres seemed relatively pricey, especially the quesadilla plate ($15 for a quesadilla and a few paltry sides), so I went the tapas route, which ended up being the right choice. I got a black bean empanada, a huge green salad (avocado, mesclun greens, lime-cilantro dressing), and a surprisingly large fried yucca plate I split with a friend for $13. An Argentinean guila beer rounded out the meal for me. I was pretty happy; my friend who got the quesadilla was decidedly less content. It's also worth noting that food service at the bar wasn't great. The bartender wasn't busy--we were the only people sitting there--but he was less than attentive, and a tad on the gruff side. I'm aware it's been around for over a year, so perhaps there's hope, but I doubt La Casa de Pedro will make it. It's not visible from the road, so there will be few cases of incidental patronage. There have been two cases of good-but-closed restaurants in this exact location in the past 5 years (Naked Fish, whose fish is incidentally still above the door, and Red Sauce), and it will take a special place indeed to beat the curse. Sadly, I don't think Pedro's is it.
(3)myr m.
I don't know about most people, but I like to think that restaurants care about their customers in more ways than just $$$$. My daughter and I went, were seated, and the waitress quickly pointed out the kitchen closed at 9pm. I then proceeded to order only a couple of tapas items for my daughter because I had already had dinner. The waitress adamantly told me that I would have to order something for myself. I explained that I had already eaten and was there to get my daughter something to eat. She then kept pointing to a spot on the menu and said, " See, right here. It says there is a minimum charge for dinner, $15 per person". I continued to protest as we had already ordered more tapas than what my daughter could eat. The food would have gone to waste. Noticing that I was becoming annoyed and was about to leave, the waitress then decides she can make an exception just this one time. Now I understand that more and more restaurants are instituting a minimum charge per person, or they charge an additional fee for sharing dishes, but consumers should not have to take and swallow this, so to speak.... especially when the food is as mediocre as it was at Casa de Pedro. The empanadas were big on grease and low on flavor. The Tortilla Espanola looked charred; to say it was dry is an understatement. The only dish I can't speak ill of were the fried plantains. Thank goodness for nature's sweet goodness. But for fried plantains, I think I'll just make those at home. Thanks, but no thanks. Casa de Pedro just doesn't seem very hospitable when they're twisting my arm to order more food than we wanted or needed.
(2)Al G.
Decent - but a little pricey. We ordered four tapas which were tasty & ample. I hope to go back for entrees eventually. It was a nice change of pace to have Venezuelan food.
(4)Jeffrey K.
I work right next to this joint so I go there all the time. The fact that people actually go to panera bread instead of Pedro's right next door is beyond me. The prices are comparable but the food isn't. Pedro's is super yummy. Their cuban sandwich is second to none and the special are always good. Only get their hot sauce if you really like hot sauce though. Its homemade and you never really know how high octane its going to be. The service is pretty spot on too, especially the bartenders. They aren't pretentious like I would expect at a place like that. My only gripe is that they won't let you drink outdoors on the patio area without purchasing food. Apparently there is some local rule against it but cut a brother a break. I've gone there will a large group of people after work. All of us are fine with throwing money around and could easily run up a liquor tab of a few hundred dollars (stressful days are standard around here). Why they pass on that is beyond me.
(4)Jessica T.
I ate here today for the first time and loved it. I was w/ coworkers are we only had an hour break. The staff was friendly and efficient. Loved the decor and the cobalt blue water glasses. I got a salad w/ roasted red peppers, avocado and sesame seeds. It was served with a cilantro dressing- yum. It was very refreshing.
(4)Mo S.
Food - definitely good. Great for a change of pace, and they have a reasonably sized menu that doesn't get out of control - have the steak quesadillas, the beef empanadas and the garlic shrimp. Service - brutally slooowwwwwwwww..... order your next drink when you've just started your first one - otherwise, it may never come. Prices - slightly crazy. You have to be strategic - either stick to a main course, or just a couple of tapas. Drinks are really expensive, but pretty good, so it can be worth it every once in a while to get the top shelf mojito..... Nice to see a place at this location that has a hope of making it. Also - not to be overlooked - they have a great patio overlooking the fountain that is perfect for lunch/late afternoon cocktails. Nice on a Saturday!!!
(4)Suzanne M.
We had a wonderful lunch here. The special jalapeno margarita was a hit with the spice lovers at the table (I took a taste and survived). The fried cheese with roasted corn - yum! Get extra corn. For an entree I had the marinated pork chops, which were cooked perfectly, and hubs had the mixed lobster / scallop / shrimp special with mango sauce. I wish I had gotten that - it was amazing. But I wasn't unhappy with my pork chops!
(4)Nathaniel M.
A good place for tasty Latin food. I have been there many times. The owner is often there and they can accommodate for allergies. Their fish dishes are excellent. A bit pricey. You must try the the fried Yucca as an app.
(4)Kevin T.
I work in this area so frequent La Casa De Pedro a lot. Sometimes I go there multiple times a week for lunch, so I've pretty much tried most of their menu. I recommend this place for a nice, casual meal in a relaxed environment. I usually go for their quesadillas (shrimp is my fav), but aside from that, their meats and fish entrees are very well seasoned and tasty. Portion is not an issue - all or most of the dishes i've had come with beans/rice, plantains, and yuca. Sometimes they can pour on too much of the cilantro (oil) sauce, and on off days their food can be a bit saltier than I like, but overall, the food is great. Some dishes I recommend (don't remember the exact name, sorry): - roasted half chicken - grilled steak (they have other steaks for dinner, but grilled steak is lunch only) - cape cod - quesadilla (shrimp) - salmon (dinner only) Appetizers are great as well, from the empanadas to shrimp sauteed in garlic and cilantro (Camarones al ajillo) to arepas (chicken, pork, and beef are all great). I would definitely try this place if the food is your style. During work days, lunch time can be a bit busy, but wait times generally aren't long. Dinner times are not super crowded as well, though the bar can be at happy hour. During summer, they have outdoor seating as well. Parking is a breeze during dinner and weekends - Pedro's is located in a huge office park with outdoor and garage parking. They have valet parking for $2, but frankly, I'd only consider it if I drove there during lunch on weekdays (since you'd most likely have to park in the garage on the top floor).
(4)Joe Z.
I went to Casa de Pedro based on some glowing recommendations. I'm sorry to say that I was very disappointed. Everything was overly salty and the service was slow and not very good in general.
(2)Tanvi D.
Pros - Good food, Good Drinks, Can handle crowds Cons - Bit Pricey, Closes too early on weekdays We went there in a big group (about 12 people) on a tuesday for a friend's birthday party. Our reservations were for 8:00pm. But, we didn't all gather there till 8:30.. Some of us who go there early had a chance to order drinks and settle down and read the menu. By the time the "Birthday Person" arrived, we were told that the kitchen was going to close in 1/2 hour, so, we had to order immediately if we wanted food.. Now, its partly our fault for not checking what time the restaurant closes. As for food, we ordered a bunch of appetizers and couple main dishes for everyone to share. This was definitely a good decision. The portions were large and filling. We had Empanadas, Yuca Frita, Arepas. I can't remember what we had for the entrees. But, those were delicious as well. I think I'll go there again (maybe in a smaller group and earlier) to try their other dishes..
(4)J. G.
We went to Casa de Pedro for a celebratory dinner and it was definitely not as good as the last time we went. I was a bit embarassed because I had raved about how good the food was last time. The food was all completely mediocre. The rice was hard and my pork was just warm. Everyone at the table was completely underwhelmed.
(2)Alex N.
I went to Pedro's with a group of 7 people to celebrate a friend returning to the states from abroad. It took 15 minutes just for a server to come over to get our drinks and apps, another 10 for the drinks to come, 45 min for the apps, and about 1-1/2 hrs after we got there we complained that our meals hadn't come yet. So timing isn't their thing. However, after we complained to the manager, he did his best to make it better by getting us a few rounds of free drinks and a nightcap shot before we left. The food was decent, I recommend the Arepas with Chicken and Avacodo. The flank steak was a little overcooked.
(2)Paul M.
Casa De Pedro used to be a dark and cozy little spot in Watertown Square. Now it's an enormous brightly lit warehouse hidden in an office park near the Arsenal Mall. The owners must not want people to eat here because there is almost no way to find the place. Their single sign is camoflauged in a sea of similar advertisements on flag poles. The food and the service have gone downhill with the new digs. We waited over an hour for a mediocre entrees paired with predictably lame rice and beans that tasted canned. Our waiter fumbled with the wine opener and dropped a dish or two on the floor. He refilled our waters once in the 2+ hour period we were there. I can no longer recommend this restaurant.
(2)Jenny N.
You can tell that the owner takes great pride in his restaurant, because the first page of the menu describes how his mother influenced his cooking. It's a lovely tribute... They claim to have the best roast chicken in the state, and I have to say that I'm not gonna argue that--the skin is crispy and meat is moist and flavorful. It came with sides of fried plantains, black beans and rice, and fried yucca. A delicious, light herb sauce was drizzled over the dish (I think it was cilantro based, and I usually HATE cilantro). I loved the complementary flavors (sweet, salty & starchy all on one plate!), and everything was seasoned just right. For dessert, we polished off the coconut flan. It was super creamy and thick--like coconut creme brulee without the crackly part. Instead, it was topped with a thin caramel sauce. So yummy. It was one of the best lunches I've ever had, and I left very satisfied. And lunch was a deal ($9) compared to the dinner prices ($16-24). They have brunch on the weekends, too. I had been eager to try this place since I used to drive by the old location fairly frequently, so I'm glad I was not disappointed. I think I'm going back for lunch of these days to try out the Cuban sandwich... Service was quite good, and the dining area is really nice--very comfortable, spacious, and colorful! Large bar too. Bonus-- there is free parking in the Arsenal garage, across from the restaurant. The Arsenal itself can be difficult to navigate though...kinda like a weird parking lot maze.
(5)Dan H.
Service was bad. Food was decent but not worth the price. The place is huge and very nice inside and the live music was a great touch but the service could not have been worse. Nobody seemed to know what they were doing. Calamari was sub par. Honestly, not impressed with the food. Definetly just try somewhere else. La Casa de Sucko
(1)Megan L.
Love this place. I've only eaten here for lunch but I work in the area and go all the time. Chicken quesadillas or the Raquel salad--yum! Food and service are excellent. They sometimes skimp on the condiments but if you ask for extra, no problem.
(5)Daigo F.
Very happy that they moved here. The location used to be Naked Fish, then Red Sauce, then Marzo 13 (or something like that), but none of them was close to how good this is. Ceviche and beer to start, and so far, we have not ordered anything on the menu that we didn't like. We'll keep going back. update: Just tried Sunday Brunch... price was pretty reasonable, but have to give a mixed review... Frenh toast was burned and undercooked at same time, if thats even possible. Venezuelan Pancake was OK, but also had a burned taste. I guess stick with lunch menu or perhaps I just had a bad day? Still like thsi joint. Best Ceviche, still for the summer.
(4)Meghan O.
My coworkers and I enjoy Casa de Pedro for lunch as well as after work drinks. The drinks are strong and tasty. I recommend the shrimp quesadilla for a good value.
(4)Ted B.
I had a company lunch outing here last week. I got the "states best" chicken with extra plantains. The chicken was good but the plantains are what made the meal. The inside was very nice but our table was a bit small for the amount of people we had. The Cane 10 Mojito I had was a great way to start the meal.
(4)Ariel G.
La Casa De Pedro has an amazing selection of authentic Latin American dishes. Their servings are huge and the food is VERY good. It's a bit pricey but well worth it.
(4)David H.
I eat here often out of protest for the awful Panera adjacent to it. The quesadillas are actually quite good. They are served with rice, beans, plantains and yucca, which I've grown to like. The service here is strange. I should start by saying that the people are all very nice. To their credit, they have never screwed up an order. I should also mentioned that they've endured and successfully served both of my parents at various times, and as someone who grew up with them I can attest to that being no small feat. Where it gets strange is that they seem to have very little formal training as wait staff. They frequently will interrupt conversations or reach across the table to grab a drink glass at inopportune moments or worse still, they'll ask the patrons to help them out by handing them things they don't feel like reaching for off the table. It's not a big complaint, but it's strangely noticeable. My main complaint is that the lunch menu is painfully limited. There are a lot of great things on the dinner menu, but they are for some reasons off limits for lunch. I agree with the previous reviewer that the prices are a bit high, but if 9 dollars for a quesadilla sounds like a lot you do have to consider the location.
(3)Oreo L.
I've been dining @ La Casa De Pedro since they were in Watertown Square! Everytime I come here I leave happy. Must order the mussels for appetizer if you are okay with eating seafood. The cod & salmon for entree, can't go wrong. Portions are very generous. Come here happy, leave here happier.
(5)Pablo S.
I was here this weekend and the worse thing about this place is gotta be the managers drinking at the bar.. the food took a long time to arrived and no one came to check on us, the drinks are horrible for the price.. it will take a long time for the whole family to come back here.
(1)Karen D.
I took my boyfriend here as a special birthday treat. I knew I was going to spend some bucks and taking a risk after reading some of the reviews, and it was money well spent. The décor looks like a Latin spin on the Cheesecake Factory. We were greeted and thanked for choosing the restaurant. We went on a Wednesday, so it wasn't too busy, but enough people to give it a little atmosphere. We also got a nice big booth to ourselves. It also seems like a good place for a bigger group and there were a couple of parties. I could see how it could get really busy on a weekend though. Our waiter started out very serious, but warmed up as the meal progressed. He was very polite and accomodating. We got the $12 and $14 margaritas. They were excellent, but would be lost on the person who is used to the house margarita as a standard and is looking for a big drink. It is served more like a cocktail and it's about the quality of the tequilla. The calamari appetizer was great. It wasn't overly battered, had a great garlic flavor and had a little jalapeno garlic sauce drizzled on it. The sauce was so good, I ordered a side of the sauce with my dinner. For me a good sauce is one you could drizzle over styrofoam peanuts and it would taste good. This was one of them. My BF got the shrimp in the orange coconut sauce. The presentation was pretty. The shrimp is immersed in the sauce, in a coconut shell. It was absolutely delicious. There was a lot of the sauce and we tried it on other parts of our meals like it was a fondue. I got the Cumpleanos, which was flank steak, regular chorizo, and black chorizo. All of it was great. The steak was tender and cooked to order. Both dishes came with yuca, plantains, and rice and beans. Delicious as well. The portions were good size for a more upscale restaurant. I've been to fancy places, dropped a bundle, and still feel hungry after. Overall, I give this place a thumbs up. I couldn't afford to feast there every week, but for a fancier night out it's great. The lunch and brunch prices are a lot lower. They also have a patio that isn't open yet, but it seems like it could also be fun.
(4)Jillian Y.
I wish I could've rated this place higher, because upon entering, I was wholly impressed. Love the decor and the atmosphere but felt sick several hours after eating and think I may have gotten food poisoning from the calamari...awesome. And considering how overpriced the food was, that's just not right. Also, my red sangria was absolutely disgusting. Too strong and flavorless.
(2)Chad B.
We have been going to Pedros since it's old location in Watertown Square. Pedro's Steaks are savory and always complimented with ample sides. The margaritas and mojitos are expertly mixed and not cloying. Cap off the meal with some orders of chocolate and coconut flan, and you are in heaven. One of our favorite places. For those who like hot sauce, they make their own fresh which you can order on the side or by the bottle to take home.
(5)Omoniyi A.
I had lunch/early dinner here yesterday and it was def worth the trip to Watertown. The food is fantastic and portions are generous. But more on that in a second - first ambiance: Our serve was a funny warm man who was inclined to suggest tastier, and (mildly) healtheri alternatives to our food choices. All well intentioned though! The owner Pedro is a cute round old man who is very charming and came up to the table at the end of the meal to ask about our experience and thank us for coming. The place itself is large and colorful and comfortable. The food, again, is excellent! Reminiscent of Peruvian food with delicious fried yucca, rice (both yellow and with beans) and plantain served with every entree. Which is very generous. Definitely filling! I did think that the menu was rather pricey (like $16-30 entrees), and with most things in the 18-24 range, which to me is pricey (dont know what others are "working with"!). But i just ordered soup (which was a very large bowl for $3.75) and an arepa which were generously sized and cost $9 together. A couple suggestions: 1) Go for lunch, the lunch menu was extensive and much more affordable. Lunch ends at 3 (so we missed it, but im sure the portion size is probably decent for lunch). 2) I didnt have any, but was told the beef empanada was bland. The beef also was cornbeef hash with little potatoes. The blackbean and cheese empanada i was told was good, so try that instead!
(4)Nicole B.
One of my favorite restaurants. Very generous portions. Excellent margaritas that use their in-house sour mix (no sugar added). The margaritas are so good here, that I got their recipe and now request it anywhere else I go. Even on their busiest nights, I've never had to wait more than 20 minutes (they may tell you 45 min, but the actual wait time is almost always 20 min or less). Friendly staff, great food (especially if you're a meat eater), fun decor and ambiance. On weekend evenings, they have a live latin band. For gluten-free people....they will cook your food in a dedicated gluten-free fryer if you request it.
(5)Matt D.
Well let me first start off by saying that I had moderately high expectations the first time I set foot in this place. Looking over the menu, I noticed that they really didn't have a fantastic selection of entrees for vegetarians. I decided on the vegetable quesadilla (snore), and my coworkers ordered a bunch of meat and fish dishes. They seemed pleased with their choices, but my quesadilla was pretty disgusting. Something just didn't seem right about it. The yucca on the side was also extraordinarily chalky. The real disappointment set in the next day when I started shitting and puking my brains out for FOUR DAYS STRAIGHT. Yes folks, it seems that something in my veggie quesadilla gave me a nasty, nasty case of food poisoning. I was completely incapacitated for an entire weekend and it took another week for my digestive system to return to normal. Thanks Pedro. Honestly though, while I had an exceptionally bad experience there, I have heard decent things about the place. If you're going to try it, just be cautious about the choices you're making from the menu.
(1)Monica D.
Was not as great as my boss said. Everything was incredibly salty. I did like the chicken and avocado arepas and fried plantains. Unfortunatly we went for an office lunch meeting, so I could not try any adult beverages.
(2)Nora G.
New location is huge but nice. Fun music playing. Tapas were tasty and well priced. Cappucino was perfect. The flan (a group of us shared the milk and chocolate ones) was killa!
(5)Cathy H.
Perhaps I got here on a good night- but there were quite a few people, but it wasn't overly crowded. Since I had not been to the previous Pedros, I didnt have any high expectations to compare it to. The decor was interesting, but the really high ceilings gives it a very commercial feel. I started with a white sangria because I love to use the excuse of going to a new place to have a fruity drink. It was good- not too sweet. We split a Verde Salad, which was just as advertised- cilantro dressing- but the oily kind, not the creamy kind. Not bad. Fresh vegetables though. For dinner I had the Hallacas, (similar to a chille relleno) which I really, really liked. It came with plantains, chicken salad, and two types of rice- yum! I walked out full and happy.
(4)Holson Y.
Finishing my 2nd 10 cane mojito. The best and only mojito I really like. 2nd down being habana's at Costa Mesa, CA. Pedros is my fave thoi its less sweet Food is unbelievable as always. Expensive yes but if you want to gather your greatest friends, show them a good time, awesome drinks, food, spirit and ambiance, look no further. Plus this is the only reason to visit watertown I concur with another yelpers suggestion to expand out west. We need a place like this under the sunny skies and canary island palm trees of so cal. Show em how its done Again, if you expect cheap please try a different place. My bi weekly OC-Boston trip ALWAYS includes this place in the itinerary. If you love this place for its style and character, message me and ill recommend a few like it in Orange County. Happy Labor Day!
(5)Emily K.
Recently had lunch here with coworker...right across the street from where i work. I was a bit skeptical because I don't like red meat and the menu had a lot....but their chicken dish with mango and apricots was delicious. It was my first time trying yucca...also very yummy! I'd love to go back and try some seafood ...my coworkers said it was great!
(4)Jasper C.
Good food, good service and great ambiance. I had the Bacalao which included rice, red/green peppers, olives, yucca and plantains. They also have a live musician. The food is a bit on the pricey side. Entrees range from $14-27. Oh, yeah...Pedro is always running around making sure everything is going smoothly. You can't miss him. He is the rotund guy in the chef's outfit. Overall, good place to eat if you are looking for a quick bite.
(4)Ashley F.
The food here was really good. I have only been for lunch and found it to be a very good value at lunch time. The prices almost double for dinner, but I would still return for dinner. Service was so-so. Food was very good. Atmosphere was good-I really like the oversized booths.
(4)Chris L.
I was pretty skeptical of this place based on the reviews I had read, complaining about slow service and bland food. Nevertheless, my three friends and I gave it a shot tonight. While we are regulars at Rudy's, in Teele Square, and Border Cafe, we wanted to venture out and see what Watertown had to offer, in terms of Latin fare. It was pretty good. We went on a Saturday night at about 7:15pm and the wait was less than 5 minutes. Parking was ample in the garage across from the Watertown BSC. The first thing we all noticed were the ridiculous prices of the specialty drinks. I wanted a mojito, but didn't really feel like paying $10-12. As a result my friends and I ordered a pitcher of sangria to share. The pitcher was small and after four people had filled their glasses, it was gone. I'd give the sangria itself an 8/10. For appetizers, we all split the Queso blanco a la plancha (grilled Venezuelan cheese) and the Ceviche. The grilled cheese was interesting...just a grilled piece of cheese on a plate and the ceviche was a little too tomatoey for my taste. I've had better. Appetizers I'd rate a 6.5/10. For entrees, I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (1/2 chicken), and my friends got the chicken quesadillas, Pabellon Criollo (shredded beef), and Trucha Galarraga (trout). My chicken wasn't bad, but it was pretty bland and the breast meat was a little over cooked and dry. I asked for hot sauce and the waiter brought me a cup of spicy mustard, which I thought was weird. Is Venezuelan hot sauce mustard? The chorizo that came with my meal was good though, as were the sides. My friends loved the shredded beef, and the quesadillas. However, my friend who ordered the trout was disappointed and ended up with a trout bone lodged in the back of her throat, which she did not really appreciate. I wouldn't suggest ordering the trout unless you don't mind bones in your fish. Finally, the waitstaff was slightly better than average, although my friend ordered a side of guac, and it didn't come until she was 3/4 finished with her meal. Our waiter was friendly and it didn't take too long to get our food. Overall, I was happy with my meal and I will probably go there again. However, I would still rate Rudy's higher, in terms of quality and value.
(3)Anonymous P.
Surprisingly good. In many ways, I prefer the food here to that at East Coast Grill. It's more authentic and spicier, and the portions are larger. The prices--at least for lunch--are very cheap. It's not the absolute best Latin American food I've had, but it's the best I've had in Boston. 7/14/2007: Been to the new location. Too salty but otherwise good. Nice patio.
(4)Rob D.
Wow. Wow. Stunning. Magnificent. Wonderful, flavorful, authentic Venzualian food. Run by a real guy named Pedro, this family run operation recently moved from Main street in Watertown to its new location behind the Arsenal Office Building. I haven't been to the new spot, but a friend tells me that its only gotten better. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and truly happy to see you. Go there. Eat happy.
(5)Al A.
Bad service. Over priced food. Over priced drinks. I hope the boss is paying for this company outing.
(2)carol b.
We just ate dinner here tonight for the first time and I loved everything we ordered (I'm from Venezuela but haven't lived there in decades; it was a fond memory trip to eat at Pedro's). I can understand reviewers not liking the tequeños or the arepas, they are bland even in Venezuela, but they are a wonderful acquired taste. My queso blanco arepa's crust was a little burnt, but it was still delicious. I had the sancocho (chicken soup) and it had apio, a legume I've never had here in the US; it was really good. My beef empanada was yummy. My children shared the Parrillada de Caracas (I think that's the name of the entree) which had steak, chicken and chorizo along with yuca and plantains and they (and I) loved it. My husband had the Christmas special platter with hallaca, it was also delicious (though I'm sure it will soon be gone till next December). My Caipirinha drink was really good though it's technically Brazilian. :) Finally, we had coconut quesillo (note: Venezuelans do not eat flan, they eat QUESILLO, a much denser custard than flan - yes, it's meant to be much heavier, it is not "bad flan") and rice pudding for dessert and we all enjoyed them. It is pricey, but we'll definitely be going back to satisfy my cravings for Venezuelan food. I can't speak to the service when it's crowded since we ate at 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon and it was practically empty.
(4)Wally G.
When we walked into the place the hostess was kind enough. I immediately noticed the place was pretty empty (maybe not too surprising for 7pm on a Tues night)... we were a party of 4 and requested a corner booth. The hostess took us to a regular booth. We asked again, can we have a corner booth, the hostess responded "those are for parties of 5"... I looked around, and again saw the place was about 5% full, and asked her, "are you expecting a rush of people?"... she said, "let me ask my manager". After she gained management approval, we were then seated in a corner booth. Other than this, food was mediocre and not worth the high "cuisine" price. Margarita's start at $11 and go up into the mid $20's. The service was VERY slow - surprisingly so for an empty restaurant. At the end of the dinner, as we SLOOOOWLY walked out noticed that there wasn't one staff member around - not a huge deal, but, symbolic of the overall experience. I would not recommend this place to a friend.
(2)Edmon K.
First time in Venezuelan restaurant and totally enjoy the experience. Will definitely go again.
(4)Teju P.
We randomly drove by looking for a brunch place, and the large sign outside caught our eye. I think we were hooked even before we entered! There was nice latin musical playing just outside the door and a large sign with the main menu items as well...The high ceilings, light colors, and lots of p lants make the ambiance fabulous. Food is excellent - they will alter your order to be vegetarian if requested. One thing that I enjoyed is that when they say "hot sauce" its REALLY hot! I would love to check this place out for dinner sometime!
(5)Roxanna M.
La Casa De Pedro serves authentic Venezuelan food - simple, tasty and filling - and does it in a nice, cozy setting. If you're not familiar with latin food, have some fun and try something new! The food here's the real thing, I can attest to that. I recommend the arepas (the reina pepiada is my favorite - a corn bread filled with shredded chicken and avocado) and for an entree the pabellon criollo (a massive plate of shredded beef, white rice, black beans and fried ripe plantains - all of it delicious). Of course, dessert must include flan. It's the law. You will know who Pedro is as soon as you walk in the door - he is gregarious and takes frequent breaks from the kitchen to greet his guests. The staff is attentive and friendly, there's outdoor dining in the summer - all in all a great authentic restaurant.
(4)Natalie K.
Great food, not slathered with cheese like cheap Mexican food. Healthy, filling, good sized portions. Margaritas are pricey $11-25 per one.
(5)Stuart S.
Tried this place for the first time. Nice menu, good food, good drinks. Service left a lot to be desired. Two of us, arrived around 6:15 pm on a weeknight, inside dining room was virtually empty. Even so it took about 15 minutes for a waiter to come over to the table. One of those situations in which I was ready to walk out. I'd try it again, but this is something they definitely need to work on.
(3)Meghan M.
I'm sort of surprised at some of the poor reviews of this place. I did prefer their previous location...It was super low-key and much more casual and authentic feeling. This location is HUGE. Really high ceilings (which does make it noisy when there's a crowd). Because of the noise level, it's probably a place more suited for groups (completely opposite of their other location which was tiny). I think they're still trying to settle in here which might be why the service isn't fantastic. I do like their mojitios and they have a few nice red wines on their "by the glass" list. I have to say, though, that there's one thing that will keep me coming back to Pedro's...SWORDFISH TIPS. Soooooo good! It is quite easy to mess up swordfish (it's often dry or just not fresh) but these guys nail it every time. It comes with a roasted red pepper creamy sauce in a pineapple shell with a side of rice & beans, yucca and plantains. My oh my, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
(4)Lora S.
La Casa De Sucko. Maybe it was a bad night, maybe Pedro was on las vacaciones...Basically everything that could be bad in a restaurant was awful. And over priced. Horribly disappointing since this place seemed to have much potential. I tried to give it half a star, but I don't know how.
(1)Michael V.
Service, atmosphere, and the food is really good. The dish I ordered had sausage, rice, plaintains, and a flank steak. All of it was great! Try to make it here on Fridays. I think they have a live band.
(4)Allison B.
i'd take a place like pedro's over a gut-busting-tex-mex-explosion like border cafe any day. i'm not going to even pretend to know what authentic venezuelan food is like, but the fact that the standard sides here are fried plantains (deliciously awesome) and yucca (new to me, and totally pleasant) makes me at least feel like they know what they're doing. and if they don't - who cares? it's yummy. i'll echo the previous reviewer who lamented the lack of veggie dishes. but the veggie quesadilla IS really good - stuffed with squash and other delights rather than sad shredded iceberg lettuce and wimpy tomatoes like most other places. my only complaint is that despite their focus on pedro's life story and preservation of his family's recipes, they don't train their waiters how to say them. in fact, more than once i've gone and either ordered in spanish only to have the waiter repeat the english translation back to me (as in, "i'll have the pollo con arroz" receiving a reply of "ok, the chicken with rice"), or having the waiter admit that he/she doesn't know how to pronounce something and describe it instead.
(4)Alyssa H.
I'd been wanting to try this place for years, since it was a little tiny restaurant in Watertown Square. Last week I headed over for dinner with my friend Michelle. We wanted to get tapas and were a little disappointed with the rather small selection of dishes. We finally agreed to each get a salad, and then try three of the Tapas. First came the baked cheese, which i thought was rubbery and salt. Second came a dish that was similar to corn bread with chicken and avocado in the middle. The cornbread did not have much flavor, but had been grilled and tasted a bit charred. The avocado and chicken mixture needed something , salt? tomatoes? something.... Lastly we had the garlic shrimp, a tapas staple. It was good. Then the salads arrived. They were ENORMOUS. Enough for both of us to take about 2/3 home to have for lunch the next day. I really loved the dressing on my shrimp salad, which came over mixed greens with avocado, mango and red peppers. I'd give La Casa de Pedro another try and maybe get one of the main entrees instead of the tapas. The wait staff was friendly (maybe a little TOO friendly) and on a Tuesday night at 7 we were seated immediately.
(3)Leah B.
I just had lunch at La Casa de Pedro with 8 co-workers and have vowed to never go back. The food was good but nothing new and exciting. If you've ever had Latin food before then go somewhere cheaper and homier - it will taste just as good and won't hurt your wallet quite as much. Our waiter was surly, ignored and was slow to bring the check. He put us in the back and forgot about us. Save your money and go somewhere else.
(1)Jeanne B.
Cool decor and friendly staff. The food was good, but I definitely think it is overpriced. They have quite an extensive menu of flavored mojito's. I ordered an original mojito (no crazy flavors for me!). It was good, but not very strong. Went on a Saturday night around 7 - it was pretty empty. They had a pretty decent band playing over by the bar - the only problem was that they were way too loud. If this was strictly a drinking and mingling place I wouldn't mind the volume, but when it is difficult to hear your dinner partner speak while seated on the opposite side of the restaurant from the band, you have a bit of a problem. Despite it's convenience to my house, I think I'll check out some other Latin restaurants before heading back here.
(2)Jon D.
You can read a lot of good and a few not so good things about La Casa De Pedro. When having dinner there I didn't experience any of the bad. The lighting was good, the service prompt and my dinner arrived more quickly than I would expect (it was 6:45pm and the restaurant 3/4 full). I ordered Shugis Pollo Asado (chicken and chorizo) and a passion fruit juice. I was very pleased with the quantity and quality of the food; the chicken in particular was perfectly cooked. The sides of yucca, rice and beans and fried plantains were excellent. The juice was a little pricey, and probably came from a can, but it was tasty. The only criticism I have is that I don't care for the building itself. The ceilings are very high and there are many hard surfaces for sound to bounce off of (as mentioned by someone in a previous review). I can see how it could get very noisy in there at times. I never dined at the previous Watertown Square location, and being my first time dining there I can't attest to the consistency of their food or service. I would recommend La Casa De Pedro to anyone who likes Central or South American food.
(4)Ellen L.
Came here for dinner on a weekday with about 5 people from work. The food is great, the service was impeccable, and the drinks were TASTY! a departure from the typical mexican-american fare we see in these parts... there was some traditional venezuelan dishes. Arepas are always delicious. right in the middle of a small watertown office park, so tons of parking all around.
(4)Kathy K.
La Casa De Pedro seems to be riding on the fumes of past reviews. I went over the weekend as a delayed Valentine's Day celebration and was quite disappointed. I had been to the old location some years ago and was excited to see how the new place looked and felt. I thought it was nicely done for such a large, high-ceilinged place. The live background music was also a nice touch. There seem to be some significant issues, however, in translating small into big. First of all, the host had no idea how long the wait would be. He said 30 minutes, but it was actually 2 minutes -- just long enough to place a drink order at the bar. I would normally be happy about this, but we were seated in a cramped two top among six two tops adjacent to the large restroom sign. It was impossible to have a private conversation here. Additionally, one had to move the table and disrupt one's neighbors to get in and out. More seat = more money. Next, the strange man who brought our food was utterly clueless. Our appetizer was offered to the five other tables in the area then disappeared to come back cold a few minutes later. My entree was delivered THEN TAKEN AWAY by Pedro himself who muttered something about it being wrong. I was left sitting there with a blank space on the table with my companion wondering if he should eat or not. Oh the romance. The food itself was hit or miss. The appetizer was bland and overpriced. The entrees, however, were very large and quite good. I left full but disappointed. I think the new place needs more practice before its service catches up to the food. Also, for God's sake, get rid of the bathroom seating area.
(2)Dennis L.
La Casa de Pedro is a nice, comfortable place to take a few friends for a meal. The colors are bright without being garish and the walls decorated well without reaching the point of 'tacky'. Pedro is an extremely outwardly friendly man and his restaurant certainly embodies him. The portions are extremely generous and the food really exhibits his passion. It can be hit-or-miss for some, as the flavors are of extremes and less middling. The new location is a stark contrast to his last one, the wide open space really making it much more comfortable. How busy the restaurant is seems to be randomly feast or famine. I've seen it packed to the gills on a Thursday and quiet on a Saturday. It has an outdoor patio that overlooks a large fountain next to the Center for the Arts, the tables fairly large. I did not feel crowded, even with the mammoth plates at the table for four. Inside, I prefer the booths over the tables for that reason. The tables could get a little busy, even with food for just two. The 10-cane mojitos have quite a kick and I love the passionfruit ones as well. There is no shortage of chopped mint in them. For appetizers, I really like the empanadas. They might be hard to cut into, and a little deceptive. When you actually bite down into them, the dough is lighter than you would expect and the insides are moist and spiked with spices without leaking. I don't like the arepas as much, the corn cakes dominating the flavor a bit, it seems. My favorite dish there is his flank steak, which is always extremely tender and easy to slice. I am not one for the 'black Venezuelan chorizo' (blood sausage), but I love the Spanish chorizo there. The plantains, yucca, and rice to complement most of the dishes are always done well without ever being overcooked. The paella takes 30 minutes, but is well-worth it, and it is DEFINITELY a dish for two people. It is a bit deceptive to even those with large appetites because the rice hidden beneath is brimming with broth. It is served *very* hot, as we found out one time... The towel the paella pan was wrapped in BONDED, not burned into, but BONDED to the handle of the pan, so it was translucent and you could see the black of the handle. The squid on the paella is always light and my favorite part of that dish. The vegetables might turn out to taste a bit 'raw' to some, in particular the snap peas and peppers, but some may prefer it that way. Pedro makes a wonderful habanero sauce that I can in no way replicate, that seems to have lime, cucumber, and garlic at a very good proportion. Ask for it and it is a wonderful complement to many of the dishes there. It has quite a kick, enough to put a sweat on the brow of people who need to have Dave's or Blair's but still absolutely flavorful, complementing dishes with the kick instead of taking them for a ride. He could bottle and sell the stuff... The flan offered is good, being very firm and yet moist, though the chocolate one, the chocolate flavor seems to dull at the flavor without really coming out. I prefer their regular flan. I just wish that he'd put his grilled ribs on the restaurant menu. I believe he serves them on his catering side, but we had a number at a party of his and they were absolutely fall-off-the bone. Dishes to try: Empanadas, Cumpleanos de Pedro (flank steak), Paella (IT'S FOR TWO!), habanero sauce, if the waiter says 'ribs', order it. I've yet to see it in the restaurant, but those were bloody good over the summer. If you order catering, order the whole roast pig. And the ribs.
(5)Sue P.
OK. Passion fruit Mojito- to die for here! I could've had 10 of them they were so tasty. Of course, then I would have had to have been carried out :) . The food was also excellent. I ordered the Quesadilla de carne asada. The steak was cooked to perfection and the whole thing just melted in your mouth. I know one of the waiters here so I was able to meet Pedro himself, and he is a sweetheart! Very personable, and he made sure I had enjoyed my meal and was satisfied with the whole dining experience there. II really liked the island decor, it didn't feel like you were in the city at all. I will definitely be back !
(4)Kelly A.
My friend and I happened upon this place kind of by accident, and we were really hungry, so we decided to give it a try. The decor was great - nice lighting level, nice lighting fixtures, comfortable booths. As for the food, I will preface this by saying there are very few vegetarian options. There's one vegetarian salad and one vegetarian quesadilla that is really only vegetarian when some other components of the dish are left off. That being said however, I had one amazing grilled vegetable quesadilla! It was served with white rice (a veg substitution for the regular yellow rice), fried plantains, and yucca and it was goooood. They don't have freshly brewed unsweetened iced tea though, which was a bummer for me, especially considering virtually all decent Mexican joints seem to have it. But they did refill our water glasses in a timely manner! Service was ok overall. Definitely pricey for the meal though - a veggie quesadilla (with all accompanying sides) cost almost $15.
(4)Melinda M.
The food was good, the decor was awesome (really nice without being pretentious), the service was mediocre. I hate when mediocre/good is charging for good/great just because it comes in a pretty package.
(3)Deborah B.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here the other night, after noticing it on the way to Arsenal Mall. We had been to the old location in Watertown Square a few years ago, so the name of the restaurant sounded familiar, and during our meal Pedro himself came over and confirmed that he was indeed the same owner. We ordered the cheese arepa, which was good, especially accompanied by their hot sauce, which definitely has a kick. I was in the mood for something hearty, so I ordered the pabellon criollo, which was shredded beef with rice, black beans, and fried plantains. It was a good-sized portion and I initially thought I wouldn't make a huge dent, but I almost finished it. My boyfriend ordered the trout, which was served with fried calamari. I'm not a huge fan of calamari (the texture), but these were lightly battered and fried and so, so good. We'll definitely be back to order a few different tapas, the fried calamari and arepas included.
(4)Gloria C.
oh yummy. The criollo dish with the shredded beef and the plantains and the delicious rice and the buttery beans and the yucca I stoled from my MIL and...yes. Many authentic flavors, far as I could tell with my comparison being Peruvian and Argentine foods. Venezuelan new to me, but this stuff was good.
(5)Miz M.
Went here with co-workers a couple of months ago. One of my friends ordered the chicken dish and she didn't like it. It tasted funny, we all agreed. The waiter who was arrogant from the get go asked us how everything was. My friend said it was fine but I told him that it actually wasn't and that she didn't really like it. He was a jerk. And the man who came to our table after was an even bigger jerk! He came over with his condescending tone and his rude words without introducing himself. Rob? Mark? Whatever your name is, YOU ARE RUDE. We felt awful and belittled. Not really a way you want to feel when you're paying for something. They even had the audacity to say things as we were leaving. Nice. Well...I was a frequent diner there and I won't be returning. It's ok food but it's not worth being talked down to and verbally abused. Also, the food used to be MUCH better when they were located on Main Street. Not sure what changed. It was one of my favorite restaurant but the service is horrendous. It's not worth it.
(1)Heather H.
I had a fantastic lunch at La Casa de Pedro. The Pabellon Criollo was tender and delicious. The beans were perfectly cooked, as were the plantains. They have a nice wine list and a fruity drink menu, if you're into that sort of thing. The flan at the end of my lunch was thick and heavy in the best way possible. Other restaurants at this location have been doomed, but I think- and hope- that La Casa de Pedro will have a long and happy life here.
(5)Susan S.
Terrible! Maybe I tried this place on an off night, or maybe they don't worry too much about their Dining In orders, but I am amazed at how many peole like the food at this restaurant. I tried the Beef empanada, which was flavorless. I love empanadas and didn't think it was possible to mess one up - until now. I then tried the 'Verde' salad which is described as "Arugula, tomato, roasted peppers, avocado, grilled zucchini, yellow squash and Romaine lettuce with cilantro dressing and basil oil, topped with roasted sesame seeds" for $9.50. I figure for that kind of money for a salad, it's going to be pretty amazing. I was SO wrong. First, there was no arugula in my salad, only VERY large pieces of romaine. There was one tiny sliver of avocado, and two tiny slivers of tomato. I think they use dried cilantro for their dressing, because it didn't have any flavor at all, and cilantro is very strong. There would be no mistaking it if it was in there. The dressing was also totally absent of salt, which, unfortunately, seems to have been reserved for the soup which was so salty I had to throw it out after two spoons. The thing is, I had just come back from a long day of traveling and I was starving. I would have loved and eaten almost anything. And I instead I was totally disappointed.
(1)Antonio A.
The food is superb all-around. The churasco is my favorite in the metro Boston area. They are also the only place in the metro Boston area that consistently gets fried plantains right. The new location is large, comfortable, and very stylish. I love that Chef Pedro often comes out to check in on the customers. Simply put: this is the place I go to celebrate an occasion or to impress any out-of-town guests.
(5)Jimmy B.
It's true, the new location is in a weird spot. But it's bigger and easier to find parking at so I'm not going to complain. If you go here, try a few of the tapas (the empanadas and mejillones de pedro both are great) and get a pitcher of sangria. I don't usually get into the entrees but last time I tried the salmon ruben blades and fell in love. I often get lost looking at the menu and just end up pointing, I've rarely had something I didn't like. The only thing I can't mess with are the fried plantains. Something about warm fruit.... Also, if you eat here, you'll probably see Pedro himself walking around the restaurant. He seems like a nice guy and I agree that the piece about his Mom on the first page of the menu adds a nice touch.
(4)Laura P.
I hear that they are moving to 343 Arsenal Street. I hope that they'll have a little nook where you can eat and watch the kitchen staff do their thing. Pedro is warm and friendly and might give you a sample of something from the kitchen.
(4)Lia M.
I have been wanting to try La Casa de Pedro for years and I am glad I finally did. I had poked my head into their old location, which was nice & intimate, so I was a little sad that they moved, but this location is nice too, just different. They have an outdoor patio, which is nice, but we ate indoors. They had a band on Friday night & the lights were low. It was busy, but not crowded & there wasn't a wait. Everyone (manager, waitress, hostess) was super friendly & the food was delicious. I had a shredded pork arepa as an app, and trout with peppers for dinner. All entrees are served with yellow rice & black beans, fried yucca, & sweet plantains. Everythings was excellent and the presentation was nice. I would have given the restaurant five stars, except we paid 1/2 cash & 1/2 charge, and they didn't give us back the change from the cash, which I thought was poor. Other than that, we had a great time & I can't wait to go back.
(4)Melissa T.
The food was fine, but I thought it lacked character. It definitely felt like a chain restaurant, and I didn't enjoy the pre-fab looking palm trees and fiesta paneling. It's a little like going to the "Mexico" section of the Epcot Center.
(2)R A.
The restaurant itself was very nice. Very big, very well decorated. The food wasn't bad, I've had better, but also had worse. The portions weren't as big as I expected and I left still wanting more. The prices were outrageous though, probably why they don't list them on their website. There are plenty of other similar places close by that serve the same type/quality food, with better portions at a fraction of the price.
(3)Dave C.
This place used to be the 'Red Sauce' and came highly recommended by another friend of mine that likes to EAT. He didn't have to convince me twice, because the heads up was on the mark. Nice atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, and a very decent Mojito. The menu has the usual Spanish Tapas offerings, and the entrees are outstanding as well. Try the steak if you're a carnivore like me; fabulous! Deserts are very good, if you can fit it after the generous portions of food. I'll gladly spend my money here.
(4)Brian K.
So I have been wanting to try this place since moving to watertown over 2 yrs ago. I never made it to the old location although it was walking distance from my house. My old roomate went to the new location and I have to say his review was spot on. One and done for this guy. I liked the decor, the service was pretty good and I enjoyed the music. The food was exactly what 2 stars says, "Meh", I have experienced better. I don't understand how places outside of boston think they can charge boston prices for sub par mid level food. $11 or $12 for a margarita? Sure I have paid that in New York, but after 2 of those things you are on the floor. The Caipirinha I had was full of ice and came in a pretty small glass, I could not taste any booze. My steak was pretty good(I actually just ate the leftovers) but not $23 good. The arepas were pretty good, not great. The portions were huge which made me feel better about overpaying for the meal. Sorry Pedro but I am going to have to agree with most other reviewers and pass on this place. Might have to try the new Orinoco in Brookline instead.
(2)Laura M.
Since we came here for my friend's birthday, he had to order Pedro's Birthday Dish! It was a tasty blend of flavorful flank steak, beans and rice, plantains and fried yucca. This traditional Venezuelan restaurant also offers seafood, tasty salads, and the "traditional Venezualan dish" pabellon criollo (mentioned in a previous review). Everything is wonderfully seasoned, even in the most simple dishes like black beans and rice. They also offer up a decent sangria, made with little cubes of fruit that sink to the bottom of your glass. Not the best I've ever had, but they bring you a rather large carafe to make up for the less-than-perfect quality. All in all, definitely worth a visit! Sit out on the patio if you can.
(4)amy f.
What we thought would be a perfect afternoon enjoying some margaritas on the patio of Pedro's turned out to be the first and last time we ever visit this place: The host staff was rude, and the waitress was too busy gyrating her neck and demanding that we order food to stop and contemplate the benefits of having two customers as opposed to none. I'll still leave a tip, however: Take care of the customer, or someone else will... which is why we enjoyed our margaritas at Joe's!
(1)Dan L.
When I got there it seemed nice at first. We were sat a table outside in the corner of the outdoor seating. Quiet and nice courtyard to look at. First problem: no waiter for about 10 minutes. Finally he comes over. The menu looks decent and my girlfriend and I order mojitos. The waiter asks for our id's, no big deal, we are often carded because we look young. He then says he has to take them to manager because they are out of state id's..WTF? That has never happened to me..do they not serve alcohol to people not from MA?...whatever, forgivible. He brings back the ids and says its ok. We order food. The steak on the menu boasts that "a more tender steak cannot be found in boston", "100% natural beef" blah blah..and other bold statements, so I decide to give it a try. Girlfriend orders chicken quesidilla and we get a salad to share. Then the waiting begins...no drinks for 10 minutes...no bread either. We notice a nearby table has already gotten a refill of bread basket. Our waiter is nowhere to be found. Finally about 20 minutes later the salad comes with a different server. We ask for our drinks and some bread. 5 minutes later the drinks finally arrive, no bread. The salad is..meh. A bunch of crap thrown together, with mediocre dressing..tastlesss letuce and tomatoes, overall fail. Our maincourse takes a while to come out again...the waiter comes out rarely and it seems like theres only 2 working the whole restaurant. The steak I got is nowhere near as good as described in the menu..."can't find a better steak in boston" my ass! Its thick and chewy and kinda grey looking inside..not the nice reddish pink a medium rare steak should be, The sides are hit and miss. The yuca and plantains are ok..the rice is dry (big fail for any resataurant that serves dry rice, how can you mess that up!!) and the chimichuri sauce is the worst I've ever had. My girlfriends quesodillas are equally mediocre..much better at Chilis which should be embarrising for a "latin resataurant" . The mojitos are decent. Final tab $78. Could have gotten a much more enjoyable meal and better service at a Chilis for about $40 (with drinks). Never going again.
(1)sunny n.
excellent!! Latin American ..with a tinge of spice...superb value...cozy small hole in the wall for the bostonian in watertown...love it!!
(5)M C.
horrendous service.. lasted 5 mintues before we decided to go somewhere else.. rude !
(1)Bo Z.
Four of us went at 7 on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded. I agree with the other reviewer that it looked like a latin Cheesecake factory, which isn't a bad thing. The waiter was well mannered, very attentive and did not keep us waiting. For appetizers, I had the arepas with chicken and avocado which was just okay. I don't see why people here rave about it. It was smaller than I expected and tasted a little bland. Another appetizer, the tequenos, is fried cheese sticks with a little bed of greens which I don't feel is worth ordering since it brings nothing new to your average cheese sticks. The main entree, on the other hand, was outstanding. I ordered Shugui's Pollo Asado, a half Chicken which came with yucca, fried plantains, a chorizo and rice. The chicken was very tender and tasty with the right spices. I really liked the plantains. The yucca was okay and I could do without. The live music wasn't loud and didn't interfere with our conversations. A singer walked around the restaurant singing something pleasant in Spanish. Overall a nice experience and I would go again.
(4)Carolina W.
Felt like giving it another try, ordered some chicken soup with a side of avocado (the way my grandmother used to serve soup). I said no problem on being charged a little extra for the avocado. I'm thinking $1.50, maybe even two bucks extra, no biggie...guess what they charged me for the side of avocado? $5. Are you out of your mind? Never ever again. NEVER.
(2)Chris H.
Pricey for what you get, but it's a phenomenal spot for enjoying a margarita and appetizers outside on their patio on a sunny day.
(4)Kate L.
A for ambiance -feels like you are in the legit Caribbean or somewhere on va-ca. Great getaway on a snowy cold night. Bar scene was cozy and nice. Guacamole was a small portion but tasty nonetheless. And affordable. Skinny margaritas are not on the menu but the bartender made me a really good one - sweetened with agave. DELISHHHH! Tortilla espanola was slightly dry - not sure I would ever order again here. Garlic shrimp was really flavorful but too small for the price.
(4)Alex C.
Came here for drinks. It's nice that they make the margaritas from scratch!
(3)Alvin C.
Mother's Day! This was a great choice. My om loved the deacor and the food. The food was amazing. I mean everything we ordered was DELICIOUS. There was a live band playing Latin music; I am not sure if that is a regular occurrence. The service was great, and it could be a great place for a date, holiday meal, or just a really nice lunch or dinner any day of the week. I will be visiting again soon.
(5)Tiffany K.
We only ate here because the diner with the 4 stars on Yelp was packed with people for brunch, so we had no choice but ended here. Early morning mimosa was the best part! I ordered a tomato bacon omlette...I am very sure I have had better ;p The place is huge and the service was just barely ok. Not sure when I will ever be back to Boston, but for sure I don't think I will want to eat here again ;D...sorry!
(3)Lynda M.
Food is good--great choices for everyone-my friend's salmon was delish and so was my quesadilla. Wine menu was decent and fairly priced, but mixed drinks were a bit pricey for Watertown. Cute space, but it is very open so when a live band is playing on Fridays and Saturdays it is impossible to carry on a conversation. Shouting did not work. So if you want a good meal with normal conversation, hit this place on a week night.
(3)David V.
I am writing this review based on take-out; I have not eaten at the restaurant. My wife ate here recently and brought me home a mix of food including arepas, beef, pork, rice, and beans. I found the food to be delicious! Everything was flavorful, the meat was tender, and one thing that I really appreciate about this food is that it is NOT greasy like so many other similar restaurants. I hope to have the opportunity to eat at the restaurant one day!
(5)Saba N.
I'll be honest, not a fan of the atmosphere of the restaurant... except for the patio. If that's not available, I don't bother going. The food is good, I have only really had apps here but the portions are large and I've never been unsatisfied. HOWEVER, it's very expensive for watertown.. margaritas are around 11-13 dollars, which to me.. is absurd. I'd rather go out in the city. That being said, I highly reccomend the sangria, and I really think that one entree is plenty for two people... so there are ways to make this a much better experience.
(3)Antonio C.
I went with my family to have a dinner there, the place is very cozy and organizer. The food is delicious........ I will be back soon and I high recommend this place. :)
(5)Deb R.
Very stingy. Had to pay for chips and salsa(4.50). Tiny amount of guac and sales with fish tacos. Expensive.
(2)Min L.
I work in the complex where La Casa de Pedro is located. My co-workers and I frequent this place quite often. The food is very consistent and they do have great specials. It's a bit pricey at $9-11 a plate for lunch. The interior is nicely decorated but I prefer the outdoor patio when it's available. Nothing better than a pitcher of sangria in the sun!
(4)dan m.
Food burned to hell and back...service sucked, slow and over-priced weak drinks. Avoid.
(1)Mary Anne C.
Why haven't I been here before? What was I thinking? The food was good, my drink was fine, there was a live band (and dancing). Great service from the door onward - charming host, great server. All in all, comfortable and fun. Perfect for a cold Friday night. And Florina, I think you mean the arepas. (We had the chicken and avocado arepa - small but very flavorful.)
(5)David R.
One of my all time favorite restaurants - the portions are huge and realllly delicious. Great fish, and I really love the plantains. High recommended!!
(5)Ed P.
where and who is Pedro in this place. you got a bimbo of a hostess and waiters fielding customers. service is horrible.. The food is ok as long as they make you a proper meal. however, not very consistent.
(2)madine c.
We've been dining at Pedro's since it first opened up in Watertown Square (15 years now?). It's a little pricey, and I burned out on it a bit after eating there so often, hence the missing 5th star. However, it's really quite good there. Our favorites over the years include: * Red sangria; tasty and packs quite a punch * Arepas (all of 'em, but especially the chicken and avocado) * The traditional shredded beef dish with black beans, rice, plantains, and fried yuca (topped with an amazingly delicious cilantro aioli!) * The "Raquel" salad, which features shredded roast chicken over greens and that same delicious cilantro aioli! * Fried yuca (with that cilantro aioli!) is a delicious treat. Get some for the table if your entree doesn't include it as a side. It's reminiscent of steak fries but so much better. * More red sangria! The "new" space (I think they've been there at least 5 years by now) is kind of odd and cavernous; it originally was a Naked Fish. I hope Pedro's does well and stays in business ... it seems like they've weathered the rough storms (2008?) by now. And for what it's worth, I believe they're the longest-running restaurant to date in that space (after Naked Fish, it was Red Sauce, then the doomed Marzo 20-something that I can't remember). So go eat at Pedro's if you're a fan of Venezuelan food (which closely resembles traditional Cuban and/or Puerto Rican fare, in my limited experience).
(4)bob c.
Located in the old Watertown Arsenal with lots of parking, Casa De Pedro is worth a visit. Nice outdoor patio over looking fountain; large spacious indoors with a South American feel. Attentive service and very good genuine South American food. Large menu; good bar.
(4)A A.
great food but bad waiter & service. we were a party of 8 they said couldn't make reservations but if we came they'd fit us in..well that was an understatement. They put us in a corner table by the restrooms, then told us we need to be finished by 8:30 for another party. we got there at 7. Then we ordered a pitcher of Margaritas and the waiter said they couldn't do that for some strange reason.Then i ordered a tapas item and he told me they were all out ..at 7PM! then they only take 3 cc at a time so one of us had to use cash AND they include the 18% gratuity in parties over 5!..maybe why the waiter didn't give damn! This was one of the WORST restaurant experiences ever! PS their Guacamole is too salty and they cut it with sour cream.
(1)Amanda G.
Wow - 4.5 for this random joint. Incredible food for very reasonable prices - we shared guacamole and shrimp ceviche appetizers, both of which were served with yuca chips. Plates were a good portion-size and deee-licious. I could eat that ceviche again and again and... For dinner we all had the roast chicken, which is a huge dinner portion (easily shared by two), that comes with a couple pieces of sausage, rice and black beans, fried plantains and more yuca chips. The chicken was moist and crispy on top, and the plantains are to-die. I almost cleared my plate which would have been dangerous. I had a house margarita which was light & lovely, although a little pricey at $11, and given the food is not as expensive. Our waiter was amazing, very upbeat and attentive but let us linger long after dinner when we were clearly absorbed in our conversation. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the feel is a bit more chain-restaurant than what this place really is, which is a fantastic foodie find. I'm secretly hoping they open a Casa de Pedro II somewhere in the city or Cambridge -- if you work in the area or are stopping by, this is the best spot going!
(4)Kelly G.
For a gluten-free girl on the town, there aren't always a ton of options on the menu. At Pedro's almost the whole menu was there for the taking! C. and I decided on Pedro's for our 6-month-a-versary (I'm a girl, I'm allowed). When we arrived, Pedro himself (his pic is on the website) was buzzing around the patio talking to patrons and laughing loudly - what a great first impression! We then walked in and were further impressed - the atmosphere is romantic and warm, a live salsa band was playing, and the smells from the kitchen were amazing! A hostess greeted us promptly and seated us in a green-lit corner booth. The awesome continued right on from there- our waiter was attentive - started us off with a black raspberry margarita and a blood orange/blueberry martini - both were exceptional! The menu is mainly traditional Venezuelan food with a smattering of Mexican. My favorite parts of the program were the dishes named for Raquel, Pedro's wife - the descriptions are written so lovingly - it's such a sweet tribute. We ordered the Aprepas (traditional Venezuelan corncake) with chicken and avocado - which was like a chicken salad with avocado instead of mayo - and was scrumptious. C had the steak and onion dish and I had a steak and chicken dish - yay meat! Both had sides of Yucca, Plantain, and Rice & Black Beans. I'd never had yucca before and it was fabulous! I've also never had plantains that tasted this good. We wrapped things up with a few bites of chocolate flan. From A to Z, this was an unbeatable experience. We both look forward to going back later in the summer, sitting on the outdoor patio, and sharing this gem with our friends.
(5)Cyn C.
when are we getting 1/2 stars? actual review is 3.5 great food, awesome proportions. loss of 1 star for the super long waits the special birthday dinner (compleanos?) is superb. A very nice cut of steak with chimichurri sauce, fried plaintains, rice and beans (I wish it were more traditional rice and beans, but ok), and 2 different sausages. They could call this dish the meat lovers delight. So... if I'm not heading to JP anytime soon and I want some Latin food... Casa de Pedro... here I come.
(4)Brooke J.
I eat here every time I visit my friend. This food is affordable, good for you, and tastes great. What more could you want? I love the plantains, and they give you heaps and heaps of them! So if you order them, be sure you have help! The fajita steak is slow cooked as it should be, and is flavourful and falling apart. Their vegetables always seem fresh, and they aren't overcooked. They stay nice and bright on your plate and palette. The seasoning has been perfect on everything I've ordered. Unlike other Latin restaurants, there isn't a whole lot of grease on everything or too much salt. I like their margaritas, even though sometimes tequila makes me sick. Their pina colada is nice, too. I generally end up with a bill in the range of $30 - $50 for two. The higher end is for when we get drinks. Totally forgot to mention that the front of the house is nice, too. Service is attentive and cheerful. :)
(4)J M.
So let me say first off that this review is totally about the experience..NOT THE FOOD! I had the steak w/plantanes and thought it was the softest nicest dishes I've had in a really long time. Now on a sour note-The food was much more expensive than I anticipated. Drinks were $10 a piece...which since my group planned to go as a celebration this was not expected. They have an outside seating area but when we arrived at 4p.m. stated it was for evening seating only? There was a band set up next to the bar which my party thought would be good entertainment, but was soOOOOOOOOO loud that we couldn't hear each other and felt forced to be seated for dinner in order to put some distance between us and the band.
(1)Allison R.
So, my favorite parts of dinner last night, aside from the excellent company, of course: the gooey fried cheese appetizer(queso blanco), the plantains(mmm), the price. entree and two beers for $25 The biggest drawback, aside from the Arsenal Street location, is the lack of draught beer. But, all-in-all, a good latin american restaurant for Watertown.
(3)Anne W.
I went here with a friend who grew up in Venezuela. We were less than impressed. It is a nice place to go if you want something tailored to the American taste... than something authentic and tasty. We spoke to the owner of the place who spoke Spanish. Unfortunately, his recommendations didn't really wow us either. The beef was good but really really salty. Rice was okay.. I'm not impressed with plaintains in general. The only thing that was good in my friend's opinion was these eggroll things filled with cheese. The service wasn't so great. I had to flag down the waiter to get our check.. order coffee.. and we never got refills for our water. The decor and ambience is nice though. But the food.. which is what I am most concerned about.. was really not.
(1)Weidong L.
went there for my daughter's birthday. She picked up the place. the music was very nice and food was interesting. I would recommend the palce if you have not tried their food.
(4)Tara V.
I work in the same complex as La Casa de Pedro so I order lunch from there on a regular basis. Favorite dishes are Isla de Margarita, Pollo en Brasa and the De Los Compadres sandwich. Sometimes I have my friends meet me here for dinner. Their drinks are awesome as well.
(5)Amnery S.
I think some business have forgotten how important customer service is. When we arrived to La Casa de Pedro we decided to sit in the patio, being that it was the last weekend of nice weather in October. We stand at the entrance by the podium and there is only one waitress at a table. As accustomed in a restaurant, unless otherwise indicated, we waited to be seated. The waitress walks right past us and back to the patio. Another waiter exits the inside of the restaurant to set an empty table and walks right past us. No one until this point has even acknowledged us. The waiter finishes setting the table and then walks to us and seated us. This is my first time going to this restaurant and so far so BAD! After 15 minutes the waitress finally comes to our table with water and the menus. No introduction, no "good afternoon welcome to ...." Nothing. She says she'll come back to take our order. The service up until that point was horrendous! I suggested that we leave but we decided to stay since we were already there. 10 minutes later the no named waitress comes back to take our order and I decided I would order something from the lunch menu - No name waitress informs us that they are only serving from the dinner menu....ok. We have already been sitting there for 30 minutes. I quickly spot something on the dinner menu and ordered. The food took what seems like forever to come. We ordered the Trucha Galarraga - trout fillet, and Shugui's Pollo Asado. No doubt the food was good a bit colder than we would like but still pleasant, JUST THE FOOD was great. Luckily the waitress managed to check back on us once and refill our glasses with water. I noticed the table next to us seemed to also be disgusted with the service that he and the person he was with, walked towards the exit and sat at the bench waiting for the waiter to bring them their checks, they were leaving and clearly hadn't finished or eaten much of their food. Once we finished we sat at our table for another period of time, while the patio seating area was ghost of any waiting staff. After we flagged down our waitress she came back with the check and we immediately handed her the Amex - they don't take amex. So we handed her a visa. On the menu it says "Major credit cards accepted", I understand Amex is very much so a major credit card, perhaps you should update that on your statement. When we arrived there were three tables seated in the patio when we left there were four. So, she was not that busy to the point where she couldn't be attentive, nice or pleasant and she should have been able to turn the table in 45 minutes. It's disappointing because customer service is what makes a customer loyal - not just the food - the food can be replaced anywhere. I will certainly not be going back nor will I be recommending it to anyone. BTW we finally found out the waitresses name from the receipt - how personable.
(1)Ramona Z.
I have been coming here for years- from their outlet type store in Super 99 in Allston to their original Watertown Square location. Went to their Arsenal location over the weekend and was totally disappointed that they didn't take Amex. Get with the times guys!
(4)Claudia H.
A little corner of latin food nearby Cambridge! I've been there a couple of times and every time I experience authentic Venezuelan cuisine with a warm 'latin charm' from the waiters on top of it! Besides the great food and service you will also find a variety of latin art, pictures, around the place. Really cool! They even have latin bands over the weekends. Things you must try: Arepas: typical Venezuelan bread filled with meat, chicken, etc. Try the carne mechada ones! Pabellon Criollo: a great Venezuelan dish with shredded beef, sweet plantains, black beans and rice. Quesillo (dessert): flan with caramel ... a real treat! Mojitos: I also love the mojitos at this place, especially the Pedro's mojito. Have at least 3 to feel the effect ... The place is big, and the acoustics not so good, so it can get loud when it's packed. But latins are always loud, so you can consider it part of the experience! :-)
(4)Elena A.
Delicious food and fun atmosphere! Great fish tacos and plantain chips. I actually love this place but took one star off due to two reasons: 1) spotty service, can be rude depending on a waiter + on a slower side. 2) they don't let you split the bill on more than three cards. I came here with four girlfriends and it was a pain to have the three of them take care of the bill. The waiters are weird about not announcing it in advance as it apparently says so on their giant, long menu in some fine print. Who does that and why is it so hard to take five cards? Get rid of this odd policy and get five stars ;)
(3)Sho B.
There's one thing this place does really well, and that's consistently not impressing me with their meals. I wish this was an amazing place, I really do because I work about 20 feet away from it, but the food is generally bland or just needs something more. However, being a Latin restaurant (Venezuelan to be exact), there's nothing like stopping in after work for a margarita while the salsa/bachata/regaeton plays in the background. And maaaaybe the carne asada quesadilla isn't too bad to munch on... But there's no doubt I'll be back with another review once I've had some more Pedro's.
(3)Heather B.
Mediocre. Would give it 2.5 stars if I could - yelp make that happen! Server was in training and not very well trained. Food was OK but not great. It was fine for late on a cold rainy Friday night. Tapeo and Dali are much better though.
(2)Jonathan V.
La Casa De Pedro feels like a Cheesecake Factory on the inside. As in it feels like a chain restaurant, but at the same time has a slightly upscale feel. It strikes me as a restaurant that is not really sure what it is trying to be. I had the short ribs, which were actually quite delicious and were fairly hearty portions. However, other people at my table were not as satisfied with their dishes as I was. I think its one of those places where the menu is hit or miss. It also lacked something on the table, such as bread, when you are waiting for your food. We didn't order an appetizer which really accentuated this problem. The server was very nice and fairly helpful. Finally, the prices were a bit expensive for what you get in my opinion. Overall, overpriced slightly above-average in a chain-restaurant atmosphere makes for a mediocre experience.
(2)Jeremy K.
I went there last summer with my girlfriend for a nice, terrace dinner and left pretty satisfied despite the size of the bill. The drinks and food there are quite pricey but the food does have a few twists that I think are worth checking out. First off, the parking is ample there being in a very weird but pretty efficient strip mall/office building type of thing. That's one of the reasons we went there originally. Then as we walked inside we were greeted and were told that we had to wait for a table. We didn't reserve and it was on a week-end night. We waited. We went to the bar and had a drink. We were then seated outside which was awesome. It was such a nice evening out; totally worth the wait. How many good restaurants have a nice, comfortable terrace in or around Boston? Not so many. The food itself was quite tasty and they had some ingredients that you don't always find in other menus. Yucca is one. They had this Hispanic cheese appetizer that was delicious. Some of the dishes are very traditional and some aren't as much but overall everything we had was very enjoyable and beautifully plated and served. If it weren't for the prices and the slow, inattentive service we had, I would have given it five stars. Oh and they had a band of Mariachis play music while we were there. How cool is that huh?!
(4)Lynne S.
I used to work in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cambridge and we used to visit La Casa de Pedro for lunch when it was just a tiny hole in the wall so I remembered it fondly and was super excited when someone suggested it as a brunch option last weekend. In the last few years it has grown in popularity and moved to a new location in the Arsenal mall. It is pretty trendy inside with a nice outdoor patio as well. The menu was enormous and offered options for brunch, lunch and dinner. Everything sounded great, but I ultimately decided on the Burrito Mexicano, which consisted of scrambled eggs, black beans, chorizo, jalapeño, onion, tomato and cheese on a flour tortilla topped with pico de gallo. At just $9.00, it was a great deal for this scrumptious and generous sized burrito served with potatoes. I also ordered a pineapple mint caipirinha, which was good, but a bit overpriced at $14. That was $5 more than my entire plate! If you go, don't miss the fried plantains. We ordered a side for the table and they were so good, we licked the plate clean within 5 minutes! Overall, a great atmosphere, amazing food and terrific service. I will definitely be back!
(4)Munchie B.
I love this place! CdP is the kind of elegant Latin cuisine restaurant we need further west. The food is excellent and Pedro is a really nice guy. I especially enjoy visiting on a nice day so I can sit outside on their patio near the Watertown Arsenal. Whatever your order, be sure to ask for a side of hot sauce -- a poblano pepper concoction that Pedro makes himself (and ought to bottle).
(5)Mike D.
I'm still a little tweaked by eating a meal in a building that used to house advanced R&D for weapons and other military equipment, but I've had a few meals here and haven't grown a third arm yet. On top of that those meals have been incredibly good--so good I may risk that third arm to keep eating there. I've only had fish entrees here on a friend's recommendation (not against the other dishes, but in favor of the fish). They are really, really good. The fish has been extremely fresh, and the preparation is always very simple and perfectly seasoned. The rice and beans and plantains are all very good as well, and we've had some arepas (very nice), ceviche (different from ceviche I've had in the past, but great), and sort of a puff pastry stuffed with cheese I can't remember the name of (fine, but how do you screw something like that up). And the house margarita is incredibly good--SOUR, not sweet like most places. I'm only taking a star off because of the live music. I'm not against live music at restaurants per se, but when the music is loud enough that it makes conversation difficult it takes away from the experience. I go out to eat with friends and family to talk and have fun (and eat), not to be seen, so I wish they'd turn it down a few decibels. Otherwise, I really love this place.
(4)Paul C.
I love this place. Excellent food, drinks, and atmosphere. Plus it's not in the city so it's easy to get to. I've been here several times and am never disappointing - regardless of what I choose. Large portions - nice and filling.
(5)Bethany F.
Outdoor patio + delicious, freshly concocted Margaritas + plaintains to die for = 5 stars!!! Seriously, I would come back here every day if I had the money. Yes, everything is a little expensive (except the lunch menu is amazingly affordable). But you get what you pay for- high quality drinks obviously made by someone who knows what theyre doing and mouth-watering (although very fried) food! Great date spot. Great lunch spot. I would assume great dinner spot, but I have never been for dinner. I had the Isla Margarita ( cod filet with tomatoes on top, rice and black been, yucca, and PLAINTAINS!). So. Good. If it was socially acceptable to lick your plate, I would have.
(5)Taeminn S.
Very good atmosphere. Great food. Friendly service. Comfortable and spacious interior.
(4)Chuck S.
Dyn-o-mite! Last night was my second visit, and it will not be my last. My group met for a farewell dinner for two international guests that are returning home. We had great service and excellent food. We were having such a great time that we stayed well past closing, without any problem from the staff. Pedro even stopped by just as we were leaving and talked with us for a bit. Amazing food and a 100% professional owner & staff! Gracias Pedro! I hope to see you again next time I come in.
(4)Yoonie C.
Over-rated and over-priced in my opinion. I think you pay for the ambiance and space, rather than the food. The food always is a let down. Whether it be the paella or the non-Latina specials they have like, Yankee pot roast. Hm... odd, right? Odd indeed.
(2)John A.
As a vegan, I was a little nervous as I know Latin American food tends to be heavy on the meat and animal products. But I met Pedro, the owner, on the way in and asked him what he'd recommend for a vegan. He confirmed with me that I didn't want dairy, butter, lard, etc., and he said he would fix something special. He whipped up the tastiest plate of grilled mixed vegetables perfectly seasoned and accomanied with fried plantains and rice. Accompanied with fresh squeezed passion fruit juice. Absolutely delicious. Can't wait to go back! Update: I actually couldn't wait and went back the next day for dinner with my significant other. Pedro saw me as I walked in and personally came over to greet us and review the meal. He prepared a larger version of the lunch dish to which he added grilled tomatoes and provided a side of vegan black beans deliciously sauteed in olive oil, pepper, onions and a little garlic. We also split a Watercress salad which was also awesome. We were both duly impressed with the meal. The table next to us had a vegetarian and we began talking -- he ordered the same off-menu dishes we had. Pedro: Please consider adding these vegan dishes to your menu permanently. They are fabulous! Thank you for looking after our meal. We will be back.
(5)L-Train A.
This place is pretty awesome. If you are in need of some fried plantains, yucca, black beans and rice, empanadas, and spiced meats, this place really hits the spot. While not the most amazing Spanish food I have ever had, it is really quite good. Especially for those of us who work in the Arsenal on the Charles, where the only other option is freaking Panera Bread. I went down to Panera bread yesterday to get some lunch, but the place was a zoo with a crazy line, and then I remembered La Casa and went there instead. They have $6 sandwiches on the lunch menu, but I ended up getting a roast chicken lunch entree fro $8.50. It is a beautiful space in one of the old brick Arsenal buildings, with giant windows and really high ceilings. While it is sort of a weird location, is is also definitely worth checking out. Next time you have to go out to Target or the Arsenal Mall, ditch the crap-ass food court and go here instead for a luxurious but not too expensive lunch. They also have a sweet looking bar...
(4)Erin M.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night with another couple - we all had a yummy meal. Downside - kind of expensive if you want to also have drinks and an appetizer... Parking was easy as there is a parking lot around the corner. It was not very crowded for a Friday night. Live music was playing. We asked about dairy free and gluten free options. Dairy free was no problem, gluten free was even better - the waiter said almost the entire menu is gluten free! We shared the mussels (I will attempt the sauce at home, it was so good!) and the chicken avocado arepa to start. I ordered the shrimp in coconut and orange sauce, in a coconut shell. The shrimp and sauce were pretty good but I really loved the sides. The rice was beautiful and delicious (it came with a few black beans mixed in and red rice on top). The plantains were perfectly done and the yuca was topped with a sauce that was nice, not overpowering. I do not know the names of the other meals but everyone cleaned their plates. We also finished with coconut flan (SO GOOD!). Of course it was not dairy free but it was gluten free so three of us housed it.
(4)Sarah M.
Don't feel like schlepping to downtown Boston for a good meal? Don't want to hunt for parking in the South End? Easy, check out La Casa De Pedro in Watertown. Easy parking? Check. Outdoor seating (a rarity in these parts)? Check. Large food portions? Check. Incredibly well made cocktails? Check. Festive Decor? Check. I've gone a few times and have been satisfied every time. Their drinks are great - fun flavor variations of mojitos for example. Their fried plantains are a must! Their paella is incredible with tons of fresh seafood and spices. Last time I was there I had swordfish tips in in a creamy sun dried tomato red and yellow pepper sauce which was served in a pineapple shell. The ONLY reason they don't get 5 stars is for price. You don't get the hassle and crowds of downtown, but you get the prices, and for Watertown? Not so cool.
(4)E B.
The service here was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and gave us great advice on what to eat. First we ordered margaritas... my bf got the pineapple one, which was my favorite and a special jalepeno one that was pretty good too but I don't know if I'd get it again (a little too spicy). We ordered a corncake/white cheese appetizer which was pretty tasty. Would have been even better if the cheese was melted, but as is it was delicious. My bf got the veggie quesedillas, amazing... I got the shrimp in a half coconut with coconut sauce... and it was really tasty. The sauce was kinda thai-ish and I couldn't get enough of it. Both dishes came with rice, plantains and fried yucca. VERY VERY VERY good. But not that cheap either, came out to about $75.... definitely a 'parents are in town' sort of place. ;-)
(4)A S.
Used to really love this place. We are locals in the area and came for a couple drinks and apps on a Monday night. Wanted to sit outside and were told no because we weren't having dinner. 80% of the outside tables were open..... Went to the bar for one $10 mojito (which are delicious) and then left to go somewhere that would let us sit outside. Very disappointing service and they just lost probably $100 of our money.
(2)Steve S.
Service just ok, but food was great for the area. Just a fun place for drinks, food and friends.
(4)Emily G.
A group of 10 of us came here to celebrate some birthdays and whatnot...the service was impeccable and the food was so tasty. With hearty helpings of savory meats: (Pork tenderloin medallions sautéed and served on Pedro's chipotle sweet basil sauce) and yucca accompanied by delectable cocktails such as Alo's Mango, a mango martini made with fresh mango puree and mango rum, we found ourselves enjoying the explosions of spicy and sweet. La Casa de Pedro is a warm, welcoming restaurant that is an ideal destination for warming your tummies with Latin American comfort food, and sharing in laughter and good times with friends.
(4)Ellen K.
Delicious fare, lethal cocktails, good music, charming decor. Mainly traditional dishes, including yucca and plantains. My fish dish "3 nights in Caracas" was beautiful, generous, delicious, and SPICY - just yummy. It's nothing like Tex-Mex, so lovers of Mexican food may be disappointed. Live music added to the ambience.
(5)J D.
We ate lunch on 11/16/13 and though the atmosphere was beautiful and the food very good, we left quite disappointed overall. The general feeling was the the waiter was trying to up his tip by not being clear at all regarding the cost of items. For instance, my 5 year old son asked if there was any chips and salsa and he said sure, but neglected to relay that there was a $4.50 cost. Likewise, when I asked if there was any mango juice for our 5 year old, he said sure again, but the charge was $6! That is the cost of a drink at the bar- the same amount as a beer! Additionally- as we were eating at lunchtime off of a lunch menu, when my partner ordered the Quesadilla, the waiter asked her if she would like "a small portion or a regular portion" which sounded like, "Do you want an appetizer or would you like the meal?" but then on the bill he had put in for a DINNER Quesadilla which was $17.50 for LUNCH, $5 more than expected. We had made it very clear that we had never been to the restaurant before so when we said we would like to try the Plantains- instead of making it clear that there were Plantains on every single person's order, he simply brought a Plantain order to the tune of another $6.50. We have traveled the world, lived all over the US and eaten in plenty of restaurants- my issue here is not that food costs money. The issue is that clearly the waiter was not being honest in an effort to raise the bill and his tip. This is not customer service and puts a terrible taste in my mouth. We ended up with a bill for at least $25 more than we could have dreamed and that is a lot of overage for a lunch hour. Though we had talked about coming back while we were eating- this is not the sort of experience we hope to have when choosing to spend our hard-earned money out.
(2)Karis T.
The Tad Show is here every Thursday and at Tad's recommendation we tried Ceviche (Shrimp marinated in fresh lime juice, onions, diced tomatoes and cilantro) & Pedro's Old Times with Vargas (Pieces of pork tenderloin slightly fried then baked and dressed with hot sauce and the zest of lime juice). Both were delicious, but I was glad of the recommendation as the menu is impressive but slightly daunting. The staff is amazingly helpful and courteous and the management makes every single customer feel like a celebrity. The attention to detail in the kitchen shows in every gorgeous plate they serve. I almost didn't want to take a bite for fear of marring the culinary artistry but after one bite of the yumminess I couldn't resist digging in. I highly recommend checking out La Casa for the delicious food, the wonderful staff and the vibrantly decorated interior.
(5)Carolann K.
Wonderful atmosphere, good food, service a bit uneven. We asked for more water, it never came and our waiter, although very charming, never came to see if we needed anything else and/or if we liked our food until it was time for the check. I know it was not because they were extra busy, Wednesdays is normally a slower night in most establishments. I did like the fact that they had an extensive beverage list and that you could see into the kitchen (this is always a good thing)..
(4)Debra L.
Hands down, my favorite place to go for lunch on a work day. I was disappointed when they moved for Main St. to Arsenal St. because now I can't walk there and therefore I eat there less. But, I still go. The new place is nicely decorated but it's so big. There's a bar and it's probably a good place to go for dinner but, the old place - it was just perfect for lunch and I loved that outdoor patio. Anyway, the food is still delicious and lunch is still so reasonable. I love the De Los Roques salad (formerly called the "South Beach" salad). It has romaine, grilled chicken, peanuts, sesame seeds, red onion, avocado, jicama, craisins & phenomenal dressing. The shrimp quesadilla is also delicious and really big. It comes with black beans & rice, fried plantains & yucca. They serve the best fried plantains I've ever had. I've also had excellent ceviche and roasted chicken. The chicken breast with mango is the only thing I wasn't all that impressed with. It wasn't bad but just not as good as other dishes). I've never had any of the sandwiches but often the people I'm with rave about them (esp. the Cuban and the steak sandwiches). It's usually very quick for lunch but service isn't always spot-on. I don't ever mind though. The wait staff are friendly and they work hard.
(5)April I.
I went to La Casa De Pedro about a month ago with a friend and we had a great meal. The service was excellent. The food was perfectly seasoned with large portions and the cocktails hit the spot. I loved the brightly colored walls (yellows and lime green) and the ambiance was inviting. I had the Quesadilla de Camarones (shrimp quesadilla) which came with yuca, plantains, and black bean rice. My friend went with the veggie quesadilla and got the same sides. The quesadilla was large and filled with shrimp and cheese (I promise you it was delicious!!). I loved the plantains and rice. I'm not a fan of yuca though and this didn't change my mind. I could barely finish my meal! My friend had the grilled vegetable quesadilla and she said it was awesome. The veggies looked good and she didn't leave anything on her plate! While we were at La Casa De Pedro we sipped on chilled Patron. I also want to give a shout out to our waiter Igor. He was friendly, efficient and very helpful. Also he let my friend and me sit back and relax, even after we had finished up our entrees. It was nice. The location and easy parking are also a big plus. Oh and they deliver. I ordered from La Casa De Pedro about a week ago and had the same high quality food and it was delivered hot --- which you can imagine might be challenging. I ordered the 'Pedro's Old Times with Vargas' (pork and hot sauce), the corn cakes with chicken and avocados, and the quesadilla. I didn't love the corn cake--for me it was texture thing, but I loved the chicken and avocado topping and and I did love the pork with hot sauce. Good food, good location with delivery, and reasonable prices make La Casa De Pedro well worth it! I look forward to my next lunch date!
(4)Tracee D.
I think I would've liked it better in the original Waltham location. If you want Venezuelan food you will fare better at either Orinoco location ( different restaurant, so much better). There's Mexican food & a spattering of Tapas on the menu here too. It's like a corporate Latin American food place, nota bene: I didn't say it was, I said it was "like". The service is ok. And the food is ok. Nothing special. The Papi salad is awesome though. Evidently Pedro's dad likes watercress salad with tomatoes, avocado & balsamic dressing and so do I. The white cheese fried appetizer was pretty awesome too. But as for arepa's and fun stuff like that. Not so special. It's too grandiose for la casa de pedro, it's more like la mansion de pedro. LIke Jenny from the Block remember where you've come from, or like Jenny, don't.
(3)Doris K.
I happen to think that this place was GREAT! I never got to experience the old location but the location was nicely decorated. I don't think that they put it in a good location though because it's well hidden and took us some time to find and probably never would have without the GPS. They should also do some remodeling to their bathrooms! We sat at the bar for Sunday brunch and ordered a glass of sangria and a glass of wine. The sangria wasn't really fruity enough like most other places and it didn't seem like they poured enough alcohol into our glasses. They use the bigger glasses without stems and so they pour less alcohol since the glass has a wider base...but it just seemed too little. Service and food were wonderful though. I had the lunch steak and my boyfriend had the lunch quesadilla. Both plates had so much food and the prices were reasonable, around $8. They ran out of the shrimp cerviche...boo! but they did have a really good seafood tapa, around $10 that filled us up! For dessert it was the flan leche; it was huge and tasty!
(4)Kevin M.
Ordered the chicken quesadillas, which were very good. The included sides were the real treats though. The fried plantains and rice and beans were unbelievable, while the yuca was good. The plate's presentation was incredibly beautiful. I had a couple of Aguila beers, which were delightful. The staff, despite the fact that we were pushing the 10PM close, were friendly and attentive. I would gladly return.
(4)Jillian Q.
I have mixed feelings about La Casa De Pedro. When thinking about all my experiences there, I come to the conclusion that I just "like" it. I don't love it or ever really "rave" about it, but I do like it. The lunch service seems a bit faster than dinner service, but I have waited a ridiculous amount of time at dinner (more than once) for someone to initially come to our table. They have amazing mojitos, although they are a bit pricey. The tequenos and bebe andres are my two favorite appetizers and if there are more than 2 of us at dinner we always order an extra plate of tequenos. I've tried most things on the menu and, surprisingly, the things I like the best are the quesadillas and the yucca. The steak with onions is also pretty good, although I felt it a bit heavy on the oil. Every once in a while they will have a great special too. Like I said, I will go back, but mostly because it is so close to my house.
(3)T W.
A few months after I posted first review, I had to go again with coworkers... food was better. Same dish tasted differently this time.
(3)Jeff F.
Checked La Casa De Pedro out this past Wednesday for lunch. Carne a la parrilla (steak with yuca, plantains and black bean rice) was very good. From what I understand, it's supposed to be a good dinner spot with worthwhile cocktails - I'd consider coming back for dinner.
(4)Rafa R.
The food here is mostly good, and the restaurant is nicely furnished and decorated. The checkered floor somehow gives it an authentic Latin American feel. Pedro is ever-present and it's obvious that he takes pride in his establishment. Some items on the menu seem strangely overpriced. I've also found some of the food a little disappointing, so I usually stick to my favorites: the chicken and avocado arepa and the roasted chicken (pollo en brasa). The latter comes with fried plantains, fried yuca and rice & beans. It's like a quick trip to Caracas for lunch. Pedro has lasted longer than the previous occupants of this locale, and it's not hard to see why.
(4)O G.
Good Latin restaurant. Good atmosphere quality food and not just tacos and enchiladas.... Great place to take someone special
(4)Ken M.
A solid 3.5 stars for La Casa De Pedro. The decor is pretty nice and it's a very large space. The bathrooms are alright. The food was very good, the appetizers were delish. We split three epanadas and an arepa. The chicken epanada and the bean epanadas were my favorite. For dinner I had a pork platter which was pretty good, though it wasn't exactly what I was thinking I was getting. Andy's beef dish tasted really good. Service is a bit slow, especially once the check is dropped. Good luck on getting someone to take it for you.
(4)Maggie M.
Love, love, LOVE La Casa De Pedro. I try to get a visit in every time I'm in town. It's gotta lovely interior, outdoor seating that's okay, and great staff. Pollo en Brasa or the Quesadilla do it for me along with the black bean rice, yuca and sweet plantains on the side. Some don't like the yuca-think it's kind a dry, but I dig its lightly fried texture. Pedro also uses a nice cilantro sauce over it and some entrees- totally tasty. The flan is also creamy and tasty.
(5)Alison S.
A great experience, with a live band and some of the BEST food I have had since moving to Boston. In addition to the wonderful food their drinks are delicious (get a margarita). The only thing you will have to get past are the prices, but for the quality of food and drink it is worth trying! Additionally, the staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)Lisa C.
I haven't had such good Latin food since I left Miami over a decade ago. We ordered tequenos for appetizers, which were delicious. I had the carne parilla which was very similar to Cuban cuisine's ropa vieja, stellar. For dessert, a friend and I shared a coconut flan, which honestly was like I died and went to heaven. I've driven back to Watertown on two separate occasions just to get the flan.
(5)Katie J.
Great outdoor space for good weather. The food is good, drinks are strong, and staff is friendly.
(3)Katie H.
I saw this place driving by and I couldn't wait to try it. It's a little tricky to find inside the Arsenal building complex but once you follow the arrows, you should find it and a parking spot in no time! :) Walking in La Casa De Pedro, I immediately notice the warm yellow walls, the giant palm trees in brightly colored pots, the Moroccan lights and the seemingly art deco details of the building. It's a very cool vibe. The decor reminds me of old photos of historic Havana before Castro took over Cuba. Havana is a gorgeous European city set among swaying palm trees and island breezes. Before 1959, it was a tropical paradise favored by celebrities and the international jet-set who lounged in designer garb at decadent cabarets and sipped champagne in glittering nightclubs. You don't have to fear losing your head at La Casa De Pedro but figuratively you will once you try their mojitos and entrees. I am very picky about my mojitos. I had an apartment on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica and Frances McDormand and Joel Cohen lived upstairs. I had a young love break-up and I was sitting in the courtyard having a smoke and trying not to cry in my soup. Frances saw me and she invited me up for a drink. She had just returned from Cuba and she offered to make me a mojito. I never had one so I said, "Sure, why not?" She put fresh mint at the bottom of the glass, added crushed ice and then pummeled the mint and ice with a sugar cane stick. I was mesmerized. When she was done, she added rum (did you know if use vodka instead of rum it's "The Ivy" gimlet?) and served me one of the most delicious drinks ever. We shared our mojitos and our stories. Next up, she made a pitcher. I made more excuses for my ex. Finally, she stared me down with the eyes of an oracle and said, "Give yourself permission to hate him." The mojito and the message was something I never forgot. Since then, I feel like 90% of the bartenders in this world are intent on making the crappiest mojito ever. My dear mixologists, take out the artificial flavors and sugary syrups because the simplest things are fresh and fresh always tastes the best. I know fresh is more expensive to use then crap but it's the crap that killed the mojito's fleeting popularity during the mid-2000's. That is why I am very happy I found La Casa De Pedro where I can finally get a freshly made mojito. Pardon my Latin when I say this but their mojito is, "La Cojones" (Da Ballz)! After our libations to the Rum God, we started with a shrimp and cheese quesadilla. Simple and good. We then shared La Paella Pedro. It was super delicious as I am a huge fan of paella (think cioppino or La Mer stew but little to no broth and saffron rice ) because when it's done well it's not only excellent tasting but also very romantic to share an entree made pour deux. Finally, we ended with the milk flan. It was thick like a vanilla custard and drizzled with caramel. Yum!
(5)Kirk V.
I haven't eaten here for years since I live in Phoenix, but I really really want to go back. This was the first time I had Venezuelan food and I loved it! I also think this was one of the first restaurants that started my appreciation for food. In addition to the great food was the great service, I really felt at home there. Very friendly staff, it's also nice to see the owner greeting people like family. One of these days I'll get back to Boston!
(4)Liz A.
Three of us had dinner here before catching a play at the theatre/arts center right next door at the Arsenal -- so the location was really convenient, and I'd plan another dinner/play combo because of that convenience (and because I liked my dinner!). It's a big, noisy, boisterous place, with a menu that's rooted in Venezuelan cuisine. It would be a great place to come back to for drinks and apps alone -- they've got fun, diverse lists for both, and a whole separate rum list. I had a decent mojito (though the waiter first brought me a margarita by mistake), and others at the table enjoyed a black raspberry margarita and some Malibu & diet coke. I later tried a Crribbean Breeze -- too sweet/fruity for me, but fun. For apps we shared tequenos (I'm gonna short-hand it as Venezuelan fried cheese) and a beef and cheese arepa. I really liked the arepa and want to try different kinds. One of us ordered the trout, another ordered shrimp in an orange/coconut sauce served in a coconut shell, and I had the pabellon criollo -- "The most traditional Venezuelan dish. Shredded beef slowly simmered in very finely chopped vegetables. Served with white rice, fried plantains and black beans." Couldn't see any vegetables, but the meat was tasty and tender. The plantains were AWESOME. My companions enjoyed their entrees as well. For dessert, one of us tried (and gushed about) the leche flan; a couple of coffees rounded it out for two of us. They do a brisk and boisterous business. I thought it was a solid experience overall -- I'd come back again, given the variety of the menus. Lots to try in the future.
(3)Loan L.
They call this a tapas place? There are like 9 items on the menu for tapas and most of them are mediocre. Where do I begin, Our server was less than enthusiastic. He was about excited to serving our table as a person getting a root canal. I ordered the red sangria at first and swore that they were stomping the grapes because that took forever to come. Then sangria was awful, there was more club soda in it than wine, and there were like little diced fruit in it, not the usual chunks of fruit. I then ordered the mojito and it was really really bad. Adding mass quantities of alcohol to a drink does not a good drink make. I couldn't taste the sugar cane or mint from the mojito because the bucket of rum they dumped into it over powered it. And the food: We ordered the ceviche which was probably the best item we got, which was way too sweet. I couldn't taste the lightness of a true ceviche. The tequenos which tasted like a bunch of cheese in an eggroll that they probably got from the frozen section of Stop and Shop. The arepa with beef and cheese was tasteless and burnt. Our seafood on a skewer which was $25 was terrible. The swordfish was really dry and the shrimp and scallops where probably marinaded in salt for weeks. The whole meal was terrible, dry and salty. Our entire bill came to $80 and it was soooooo not worth it. To add to this awful dinner, this place does not accept AmEx. We will never go back to this place again and i truly regret not going to Machu Picchu.
(1)Melissa Y.
Delicious! I was there today for lunch with a friend. Igor was our waiter, super friendly and had our apps and drinks out super fast. I'm glad we took his advice on trying the yucca, Yummy! Our meal was terriffic, can't wait to go back. and ask for Igor.
(5)Chris D.
First let me preface this by saying that the food was really good. However, my enthusiasm for this restaurant quickly soured once I got the bill. I got the traditional beef dish and my girlfriend got the quesadilla. When I ordered my dish, my waiter asked me if I wanted an Arepas to go with it to put the beef in. He made it sound as if it came with it but it was optional. I said sure. When we got our food, my girlfriend asked for more salsa and sour cream for her quesadilla (there was barely any). When we got the sour cream and salsa, it came dressed up as a fancy side, which is not how we were excepting it to be. When the bill came, I was really surprised to see they charged me for $3 dollars for the Areapas (a small muffin) and $4.50 for the extra sour cream and salsa! This place is already way to expensive and to have this top it off! When I told the waiter I was really surprised he charged me for the sour cream and salsa he said the kitchen made him ring it up. Plus he charged us for a flan that we didnt get so he had to take that off. Anyway, if you plan on going in there just getting two entrees, beware of any extras or options they may present to you, because you will see them on the bill.
(2)Lucy W.
Love the decor and the outdoor patio. I've been there both for lunch & dinner and the food has been great. I recommend the chicken empanadas and the De La Roques salad. The service is kinda "hands-off"- the servers are good at bringing your food & beverage but don't do much beyond that...I liked that they weren't constantly asking if things were ok and would appear when I needed a new drink. Speaking of drinks, their mixed drink menu is extensive and the drinks, delicious! Location is great, parking is thoroughly available.
(4)Rachael T.
jalepeno margarita now costs $14! we sat outside on a lovely summer evening. our server was awful. A nearby server took our drink order and brought us bread before our server even greeted us! did not like the escabeche - basically pickled red onion topped with cold fried haddock(?) and rubbery shrimp. areapas with queso blanco weren't as good as I had hoped either.
(3)Mark M.
Accessible, Friendly, Helpful and Delicious! With a gluten intolerance, I wrote the restaurant from their website in order to find out what, if anything, I could eat on their menu. Pedro, the chef and owner of the restaurant, wrote back to me within an hour and we conversed about his menu through email all day. In his last email he told me to ask for him directly at the restaurant, which I did. Pedro came over to my table and went over the entire menu letting me know what I could and could not order. It was very reassuring that my meal would be cooked as I needed. During the meal, which was absolutely delicious, Pedro stopped by a few more times and asked me by name, "Mark how did everything come out?" All in all, I was thrilled with the service (our waiter was great), the food (all of our tapas were perfect, especially the mussels) and the overall experience at this restaurant. I couldn't recommend it more after the way they treated me. Oh by the way... the white sangria is a definite must.
(5)John P.
I come here pretty often. For a beautiful restaurant in an office park, I found the prices pretty reasonable. I can only speak with confidence on the quesadilla con chorizo, but man - that is indeed a quesadilla stuffed with chorizo! So very good. Pro user tip: I've never waited longer than 15 minutes on a takeout order, even during the lunchtime rush. Call ahead and pick one up.
(4)Josh S.
Surprisingly authentic and very delicious. This place is a bit spendy, but it is worth it. The appetizers and entrees are all so tantalizing, I have to restrain myself from ordering whole pages of the menu at a time. Many of these items have a good kick of spice (which it very welcome). Also, I have to give a nod to any restaurant that carries Modello and Pacifico.
(4)John G.
Great food, customer service, and atmosphere.
(4)Kari M.
Love this place! Have been 4 times and always a good meal. Best yucca ever although may daughter prefers the plaintains. Drinks run strong so be prepared. I have had the chicken, pork and recently the steak with onions. The place is not cheap but I do love the food.
(5)Carroll C.
Don't go with only an American Express card...not accepted there. I didn't get a margarita, which I love, since they were about $14 each. I bought two appetizers, a corn cake (can't remember the name of them) with cheese and some yuca fries. The cheese on the corn cakes was shredded and unmelted, as if it'd just come straight out of a bag. The yuca fries were fine but came with only a tiny bit of some sort of sauce. Completely pedestrian in every way. I'd never go back or recommend the restaurant.
(2)nick k.
The price is a little high (dinner for two, with an appetizer, excluding drinks/tax/tip was almost $40), which is the only reason for the missing 5th star. Beyond that though, both the atmosphere and the food is excellent. I've only been there twice, and both times on a Saturday night. Both times, there's been live music and dancing going on, if you're into that kind of thing. However, it's not so loud as to be annoying to everyone else. As for the food, the quesadilla plate is amazing. The quesadilla itself is very good, but it comes with beans/rice, plantains, which are great, and fried/seasoned yucca, which is excellent. I typically don't like rum-based drinks, but someone at the table ordered a mojito, and it was really excellent. And if you go, do not miss the tequenos appetizer. It's a white cheese wrapped in a thin pastry and fried. I thought there could never be something better than fried mozzarella sticks, but these may prove me wrong.
(4)Mo O.
Loved the patio and our waiter George was outstanding. The food was delicious as well. Most of us had a special of the night which was good. The apps were all very delicious. Most important - best Mojito ever!!
(4)Senoni M.
I absolutely loooooove this place! My boyfriend and I come here 2-3x a month and we decided we need to give it a break bc we didn't want to get tired of it. Pros: AMAZING food! Absolutely everything you order you will love. Were never disappointed with the tequeños (an appetizer) it's basically delicious Venezuelan cheese hand rolled in a puff pastry omg if you love cheese, you'll love this dish. The Pabellon Criollo is my favorite entree and the bf loves their steak . They have a live mini band on Fridays and Saturday's that turn it into a whole different experience. The decor and ambiance are very nice. Cons: VERY EXPENSIVE! Drinks are no less than $11and they serve them in small glasses ( not that I'm looking for a pitcher but cmon I'm a grown up here). They're all natural juices taste like can and they're pricey too so I would prob stick to the free water lol. And the waiters are very strange... We've been going to this place for a while and the waiters just seem to be getting worst idk personal opinion. Overall this place had great authentic food and that's truly why I love it! Go check it out!
(4)Mojo C.
Really love the food here. Their empanadas are the best in town!! I alway order their Paella and is 10 out of 10 every time. Would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family. The only negative thing is my waiter was a bit slow and had to remind him a couple of times to refill our glass of water - but he was new (I think) so we cut him some slack.
(4)Erin B.
The outdoor patio is awesome! The trees and fountain make you forget your are on Arsenal St. The food and drinks are great. The waiters are friendly and really professional. I've been there twice and will be back!
(5)Greg K.
Oh My goodness Are you sitting down- Sit down for this because you're not going to believe it THE LAMB CHOPS ARE BOMB Okay- Maybe it's easy to believe because everything at Casa De Pedro is amazing. We started with the mussels- fantastic. Then I had the lamb chops which were larger than I expected and came with a tasty rice, fried plantains, and potatoes. What a meal! I just wish I had room for the delicious sounding deserts It's easy to forget about this Watertown gem but with outdoor seating and a wonderful staff- Casa De Pedro is a MUST VISIT restaurant. The cocktails are fantastic too. Mojitos- Oh Yes! I'll take 2! So check it out already!!
(5)Foodie K.
The old Pedro is back! I deleted my earlier review. I think Pedro's was having some growing pains adjusting to the larger space in Arsenal Park, but now it has really gone back to its good old roots. I love their yucas fritas, pabellon criollo, carne encebollada, the ceviche, so many delicious tasty dishes to choose from. Their lunches are quick, cheap(er), and fabulous!
(4)Naomi U.
Gorgeous outdoor dining venue and an indoor decor that reminds one of the out doors! Nice menu but not very adaptable to people who can't eat pork...things are both cooked in lard and with pork...but perhaps this also guarantees authentic fare - so what can I say? I normally would not rate drinks...but the "10 rum" Mojjitos really are very good.
(3)Vanilla P.
Fake palm trees! Fake palm trees! Live Venezuelan music! Mojitos that are fabulous! Very nice indeedy. We went last night and were seated almost right next to the kitchen, but I was fine with that since the live music was a little loud. Our waiter was pleasant enough, and was helpful in recommending the number of tapas we should order. Here's what we got: ME: Chicken and avocado arepas - like an English muffin grilled with cold chicken and guacamole smooshed in the middle. Chicken empanada - really strong flavors, with an almost curry-like addictive trait. Fried Yucca - wow, who knew a tuber would be this fab? Came out with cilantro and garlic sauce, and reminded me of giant steak fries (but better). Oh, and a Diet Coke in a nice tumbler glass with a lime slice - perfect for making me look cool. Hubby: Pabellon Criollo - which is Shredded beef slowly simmered with vegetables typical Venezuelan dish. Served with rice, fried plantains and black beans - Thanks, Pedro!! This dish was really amazing, since the beef was super tender and flavorful, and it seemed that everything had been simmered with loving care. Even the black beans were bursting with flavor. Hubby also got a 10 Cane Mojito, and he loved it so much that he validated the $10 price tag, telling me it was the BEST mojito he had in his life. I suppose we'll be back to sit on the patio and look at the stars when the weather warms up. The whole Arsenal area has a pretty jazzy vibe, and La Casa De Pedro warms it up with some kickass Latin flair.
(4)Erin C.
Their breakfast burrito is just fantastic! Dip those potatoes in the sauce that covers the burrito and I promise you won't regret it!
(4)Algert S.
When I hear "La Casa De Pedro", greasy and deep-fried food comes to mind. Would NOT recommend!
(1)M J.
I am a fan. The food is great, ditto the mixed drinks and the sangria, the patio rocks and based on today's visit, the interior is not too shabby either. I guess I had not been inside in some time - it's gone all colorful and latin. It's a bit overdone but I like it! Well, maybe they could lose a few of the mobiles?.... Anyway, they've done well taking a cavernous space and warming it up. Points for the valet parking and the owner who is, as noted previously, on sight. Does he actually *drive* that teenie tiny smart car parked outside? My friend's dog weighs more than that thing. Star off for sometimes spotty service and the small sized plates and highish prices on the lunch entrees.
(4)Carla s.
Been going since this placed opened... it seems that it's better when it's busy... but it's been dead lately.. Maybe it's the season we are in. I miss seeing Pedro, he used to be there all the time. I don't go as much anymore.. there hot sauce is the best !!!
(4)william d.
Wonderful atmosphere and great food! I'll be back again for sure!
(4)S B.
First, the good part: the food here was delicious, overall. But there were a lot of problems leading up to the actual eating of the food. The waiter recommended the red sangria (over the white) and I'm sorry I listened to him. It was a very poor showing of sangria. It tasted almost sour, like day old beer with some red wine in it. And some orange rinds. Hint: put in real orange pieces, not the rind, so the drinker doesn't accidentally eat a rind. It didn't taste fruity at all, and was a major letdown. Our waiter also neglected to offer refills on our beverages. He also walked away when only half our table had ordered. Thanks? Our food took aaaaages to come. It was crowded, but waiting 45 minutes for our meal was a bit ridiculous. I had the Espada de Mar. All the shellfish on the skewer were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. However, I only got one skewer with 2 shrimp, 2 scallops, and 2 pieces of fish. For $25. No matter how delicious they were, a single skewer was not worth that kind of money. I could get high quality seafood in bigger quantities for that price elsewhere. The sides that came with my entree were also quite delicious, but not for that price. The fried plantains were sweet and cooked exactly how I like them. I was also a big fan of the yuca that came with it - you can't get yuca just anywhere. The atmosphere wasn't ideal either. It's a huge place, and gets noisy very easily. Especially when the live band starts at 7:00 PM. Can't they wait until at least 8? Or keep it low-key until then? Live music is a nice touch - but not when it prevents all conversation during a normal dinner hour. Oh, and salt-watchers beware. All of my food was strongly salted, which was fine by me but doesn't suit everyone.
(2)Lisa E.
This was my second visit. Last fall my boyfriend and I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a lovely meal in an interesting environment. I love the decor & the plants...something very unusual for the Boston area. Our waiter was fast, cordial and knowledgeable about the menu, as as making a couple excellent dish recommendations. I can't remember what those choices were after all this time, except the food was hot , well prepared and beautifully presented. Fast forward to last Sunday for dinner: My son took me out for dinner and I suggested La Casa De Pedro because of my prior experience. It was very busy when we arrived and the waiter was super busy with multiple tables. It took a while to get our cocktails...no big deal and a little longer to place an order. Do not expect any chips and salsa to stave off starvation pangs...they simply are not available. We ordered shrimp ceviche, mussels sauteed with tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, onions and lime juice and Tequeos - it's a puff pastry filled with melted Mexican cheese. The appetizers were all "good" but not as flavorful as I prefer - it's almost as though the food is being prepared to appeal to homogenized taste buds. My entree was a simple pork Quesadilla with a side of beans.....this was a disappointment - when it arrived it had the appearance of sitting under the heat lamp for 15 minutes, the tortilla was hard and the dish itself was over salted, as was my son's. Their dinner prices are rather steep and I felt that the food should be superior in both service and quality. I will go back for lunch because any establishment will have off times and it isn't fair to make a judgment based upon one off night. Try their Mojitos ($11.00) - they were excellent.
(3)Jennifer K.
When Pedro's was in it's old location, it was phenomenal, and you always felt like you were taking part in some great secret. Now, although the food is always good (esp the potato thingies that come with the meal, and the fried hunk of cheese, as I used to call it), the space is farrrrr too big for them, leading often to crappy crappy service, and just an overall feeling of nothing intimate or cozy. The bar is fun after work, however, especially if you can walk there (oh, the old days), and in the summer, the outdoor seating is great for a 2 hour pina colada filled lunch.... ,,,but the space just loses them a good old star.
(4)Dharia M.
cocktails: really good, but still overpriced. vegetarian options: really lacking. don't get me wrong, i ADORE any place with 3 kinds of fried cheese on the menu. and i love tapas. but if you don't eat seafood, the only vegetarian entree on the menu is a cheese quesadilla. FYI: just ask the server for a grilled veggie platter and they will bring out a GIANT plate with plantains, rice, beans, and a ton of tasty veggies. (the server was conscientious enough to notify me that the beans were made with chicken stock, so bonus points for her) they are one of the few places in town with a nice patio, and there is often live music. On these hot summer evenings, it really can't be beat. for that kind of atmosphere i'm prepared to lay down some big bucks and gorge myself on tasty tropical cocktails and multiple types fried cheese. mmmm.
(3)Dan L.
The food is good, not great. I like the steak casadillas. Overall, it's too expensive. The drinks are great, but they're also pretty expensive. If it weren't the closest sit-down option in our complex, I wouldn't eat there nearly as often.
(3)Robert C.
Took some Italian friends to dinner based on Yelp reviews. Despite the waiter's sincere attempts to converse and attend to our needs, he brought the wrong wine (same winery, incorrect grape) which we did not notice until he opened and poured it (we just kept and drank it quietly) and service was hit and miss. Food? My Cordero (marinated lamb chops) had the consistency of soft rubber and was pretty gray-colored. Let's put it this way - no one was raving about the food, and no one seemed to be motivated to share - not worth it. Edible, but that's the best I can report. Funky location, in an old military (or automotive) research warehouse.
(2)M D.
Phenomenal Latin food. I try and I try but I honestly can't help but order the cheese arepa and the chicken empanada. Absolutely decadent. Fresh ingredients, innovative twists on the classics. YUM. Don't come in a rush.
(5)Sarah H.
the food here is awful - everything tastes the same. except the flan, which doesn't taste like the rest of the menu- but still tastes awful and completely not flan-like. very much not worth the money. EXCEPT the plantains, which are amazing. the service is very slow for a place that seems to cater to business lunches (at least in the perspective of someone who goes there for exactly that). I hear the bar is good, but I've never been there - and it's expensive. it's pretty sad that I'd rather go to Panera, which is right next door.
(2)Stace M.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Terrrrrriiiibbbbllllle service! Our waiter gave every table but ours bread, didn't check in with us once and when I flagged down a bus boy for extra guacamole it took them so long I had already finished my meal! And to top it off they charged me $3 for a scoop of guacamole I didn't even eat! Never again!
(2)Lauren F.
I work at the Arsenal so I've gone to La Casa de Pedro a few times with coworkers. The food and the service are both decently good but not anything special. The last time I went we got in a bit of trouble with the waitstaff. We went with a group of 5 right at noon and were the first ones there for lunch. They would not seat us at their only large table because it was for 8, even though no one else was there yet. Instead, they put us at two adjacent tables (one for 4 and one for 2). They did not move the tables together, so they were pretty far apart. It would have been awkward to carry on a conversation between the two tables. After the hostess left, we tried to move the two tables together, but she and a waiter came over and told us they could not be moved. Okaaaay. We ended up squishing all together into one table so we could carry on a conversation. I've only had the Pabellón Criollo but I do like it a lot. It is marinated shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans, and white rice. Very tasty and I usually eat nearly everything on my plate (the lunch portions are not huge, I think they're just right but if you are a Hungry Man you may want to get an appetizer). The last time we were there, the waitstaff was a bit quick about removing our plates and bringing the check. I definitely felt rushed. It was a beautiful summer day and we were enjoying the patio, so I would have like to stay, but I felt like they wanted to get rid of us and seat another group. A little disappointing. I'll definitely go back since it's better than eating at Panera during work, but I'd love it if they would improve some of these areas.
(3)Jason C.
I should start by saying that we have eaten here several times before and the experience was always good, but.... Yesterday I ordered a $10 salad with shrimp & avocado - it showed up on a plate with a pile of romaine lettuce, 6 or 7 miniature shrimp, and 2 tiny slices of avocado. When I asked for more of each, the waiter brought back... a few more miniature shrimp and 2 more tiny slices of avocado. I sent it back again, and after witnessing an argument between the waiter and someone in the kitchen, I was told that this was the typical amount of avocado they put on a salad. Later, someone who appeared to be a manager or owner (didn't identify himself), came over and asked me what was wrong with the salad. I explained to him the same thing I explained to the waiter and the cook (adding that I get about 5 times as much avocado when I order a salad at any other restaurant), and he had the nerve to argue with me about it, saying that they specially cut their own avocado and romaine (whatever that means??) and then that the price of avocados has gone through the roof, etc. etc. My point is: if you can't afford the avocado, take it off the menu, but don't try to pawn this heap of chopped lettuce off as a "shrimp & avocado salad". Then, to top it all off, they charged us $3 for a small plastic cup of milk for my 2-year old daughter. Suffice to say, we will not be going back... this was customer service at its worst, and even the waiters were embarassed by this episode!
(1)Joanne G.
I worked in Watertown for almost 5 years and this was my fave place to go for lunch and dinner. It used to be on Main Street (in the picture that is posted) but it has moved to further up Main Street towards the Arsenal Mall - where Red Sauce and the Naked Fish used to be - GREAT location lots of parking and the decor is gorgeous (The Naked Fish left everything for them) They have a band who plays and there is even some dancing that can go on. There is always music playing and lots of laughing from the patrons. Eating there is the best - I suggest: Appetizers - Arrepas & Empandaa YUM YUM! Lunch - Pollo en Brasa - seasoned baked chicken with cilantro sauce (TO DIE FOR!) comes with rice, casava (yuka) and fried plantanos I have never had a bad meal here - I apologize from Pedro (who ALWAYS comes by my table when we go there) if you experienced anything other than a fantastically scrumptious meal. I have been told (when it is available) the whole Red Snapper is fantastic - that is my next meal there (I would call ahead to make sure they have any left - it seems to be very popular) Their mixed drinks were ok - I would always like a larger glass of anything ;) Service at their old location was always outstanding - but the new location there are a lot more new people - and I have only had 1 bad server who wasn't around the way the last server was - in fact the server that served us the last time spent more time with us than the server that was assigned to us (I gave a tip at the end of our meal!)
(5)Betsy K.
To my surprise, I love this place! It looks like a Chachky's (chain restaurant like TGIF's, Naked Fish) but it is not. I get the same thing everytime because I love it so. I normally do not do this at other places. For apps -Ceviche (not authentic but good) -The grilled Venezulan cheese. For dinner or lunch: -Pabellon Criollo, which is delicious shredded beef, beans and rice, and plaintains. -For drinks: lots of white sangria. Pedro is super nice too-he is always coming around. I love his casa!
(4)edward o.
Have been to this restaurant many times and the service and food have always been good. Actually heading there now when I read the previous review. That table the previous reviewer comments on is not in the bathroom! It is actually at the back right side of the restaurant and a larger table , with some privacy, for larger parties. Last week I sat right across from there in a section of smaller tables, even closer to the hallway to the bathroom, and it was very comfortable. This is a fun place to go to eat and be entertained. The specialty drinks are pricey but no more so than any other quality restaurant. One on mine and my wife's favorite local places. Enjoy.
(5)Thomas F.
This place isn't bad, but it isn't great. We felt that a lot of the dishes were just the same set of basic components rearranged and called a new dish (for example they all had pretty much the same side dishes) and the food was prepared okay but was unexciting. Overall it didn't justify the price.
(2)carol l.
Been here twice and it is delicious! I had the Shugui's Pollo Asado which comes with plantains, yucca and rice with beans. This is one of the best meals I have ever had! A little pricey and no bread or anything to start. Drinks start around $10 and up so I skipped on those but otherwise, I definitely recommend trying this place at least once!
(4)