Tropical in Trenton

The quality of the food has been going downhill for a while now! The food is lacking flavor ordered a mofongo today and it had no chicharon and it was hard and gummy! The alcapurias only have a tiny bit of meat and they have been raw the past few times I have purchased them the pasteles are full of mass and have only a few pieces of meat it’s crazy! Definitely looking a new Spanish food place this places food quality is definitely gone!

Pretty good food.

A friend of mine who grew up eating the varieties of food served here affirmed, the food is intrinsic to Puerto Rico. The Mufungo is outstanding and the food options are what you would get if you where on the island. Although the food is similar to the Dominican Republic there are differences in preperation and presentation. See the menu photos for what is offered. I would go back again. Nice clean restaurant with lots of space.

The first few times I came here the food and service were good. It has steadily gotten worse. Food is lacking in flavor and salt, owner or whoever he is decides to sing loudly and off key at the bar, servers are too busy on their phones or gossiping to check if we are enjoying our food or need anything. They used to be pleasant when you walked in but now it seems like you are bothering them when you come in for service. No wonder they are mainly empty every time you come in. Today we placed an order for pick up only to arrive and be told they cannot start cooking until we are here in person? What’s the point of calling ahead then??? When the order was FINALLY ready they tried to change the price of the order by 20$!!! We will NOT be returning again! Anyone looking for authentic Spanish food and a great atmosphere should stay away from this place!!

The worst spanish food that Ive ever ate. The chicken breast was wet on the outside and dried out on the inside. The peppers and onions that adorned the chicken was mushy ( overcooked). Moving along. The plantains taste burnt and appeared to have been sitting in a warmer all day long.. Rice and beans were flavorless and average.The service was horrible. They didnt ask me if I wanted a drink. They didnt give me any other napkins then the one that wrapped around their flatware.I asked for a margarita. I watched as she poured Jose Cuervo pre-made margarita mixed drink out of the bottle??? No mixoligist there...and she gave me a salt rim when I wanted sugar.Lastly, I received a bill for $22.47. Begrudgingly, I paid the bill...no tip. Ten minutes later I then received an alert from my bank notifying me of a transaction in the amount of $26.96 from their restaurant. Now, I have to cancel the transaction in its entirety because the amount was incorrect.Long story made longer, I could have received better service and food at the local bodega across the street. Ugh!PS: Be wise get yout bank to send you transaction alerts.

Really flavorful food. Enjoyed my lunch. Only issue was it was a little hot in there today. Besides that food and service were excellent.

Really good food and atmosphere. The owner is attentive and personable. If you want authentic flavor of Puerto Rico, Tropical is where you want to go!

Food is amazing. This feels like a legit quality home cooked meal. Reminds me of my mothers food. The food is fresh and made to order so the wait time is in my opinion in the long side. So dont go there starving. But it is definitely worth the wait. Portions are really filling too.

Found this place on recommendationWife is Puerto rican and I love the food as much as she doesFood is excellentSecond time hereI dont speak Spanish and when Im there she talking to me me in Spanish while she is talking to the employees in SpanishI need an interpreter

Ive been coming here since college. The food is delicious and the staff is friendly and honest. I appreciate the printed menus with set prices. The food does take a long time to be prepared. I usually call 15 to 20 minutes ahead of time for take out. Ive had the pernil, mofongo, rice and pigeon peas, pinto beans, chicharrones, empanadas, stewed fish, and many other dishes and its all delicious. Also, they serve alcohol. I think the prices are reasonable for a takeout place/restaurant.

I got roast pork which was seasoned well but very dry. The food took a long time to come out and it wasnt even hot. Staff was friendly though

This was my first time visiting during lunch hours. Great food and more than reasonably priced for portion. I tried the empanadas de carne and had the pollo encebollado with arroz con gandules( both staple Latin Cuisine dishes).

The food is inexpensive yet incredibly tasty. The atmosphere is very calm and nice, I felt comfortable the whole time. I would recommend this place for get-togethers and such.

Excellent food! Tasty and flavorful!A gem for Trenton.

I’ve been coming here for years and I don’t even know why I keep coming back. Don’t even bother. Food is always served cold. Small portions. Customer service is bad, they always forget to bring something. They keep you waiting forever, meanwhile your food gets colder and colder. I order a “sorullo” it was raw, sweet plantains they weren’t cooked through, the pernil was dry as bricks. Service and food was really bad this time. I don’t think I’ll ever come back again.

Great food for the money! Try it and you will be back! Love it!

Service was quick and great. Pricing too. The mofongo, relleno de papa and alcapurrias were great. The morcillas werent 5-stars but were good.

Its one of my favorite places BUT THEY NEED TO FIX THEY HOURS BECAUSE every time i check online it says theyre open and when i get there its closed deff makes me waste MY TIME AND GAS. and thats why i give it 4 stars

Fantastic food! Authentic and delicious. Its always the small, hole-in-the-wall places that turn out awesome. This place is no exception. Highly recommend!

GREAT EMPANADAS & GREAT MOFONGO! AWESOME PRICES COME ALONG WITH A SWEET & HELPFUL STAFF!! WOULD RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT TO ANYBODY & EVERYBODY!! IF YOU HAVENT BEEN YET TO "TROPICAL" YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THERE QUICK!!!!

Not the same cooks as before. Food is not good at all and overpriced. Go across the street to the bodega and youll make out much better for 1/4 of the price

This restaurant is on point. Whole on the wall... Good puerto Rican food, Lots of flavor, fresh and quick. I definitely recommend it👍

It was nice and homey. But it was cold and the tables small. However the staff was so friendly and the food was good enough to go back. They are a good place. Just redecorate

This place was an amazing surprise. a local restaurant with incredibly tasty food, awesome service and great prices. A definite hidden gem

Over priced! Although food was pretty good it was super over priced $27.00 for 2 basic lunches. Staff not interested in customers. Hands down Perth Amboy CTown best place to get Puertorican and Dominican food.

My mofongo was sweet and I ask if they changed it and they didn’t. I guess they don’t buy fresh plantains and they use all even if there are sweet . They rather loose a customer.

Love Oscar, Ive known him since I was a kid, he knows my whole familia. The place is awesome when you want some good spanish food

Truthfully service used to be a lot better! ... I came craving a mofongo. When I got it it tasted undercooked and wasnt crispy as previous times, when I told the girl, the cook or owner said its not raw and didnt want to make me a new one. So I returned it, really is their loss of good old time customers. They should change management or start caring about customers

The service was horrible. They have no regard for their customers and refuse to attend to their customers. Do not go here, you can find better food elsewhere with way better service. Do not waste your money here. Both management and wait staff is terrible. I would give this place 0 stars if I could.

Good food but needs more sazon!!! If you eat inside the ac is not cold.. customer service needs to be improved...

Went back for a second visit to get potato balls. The staff person told me they were making them fresh only to find out 25 minutes later that the manager told that staff person that they were out when I first ordered. Instead of telling me she joked around for that entire time with the bartender who left me and my associates sitting at the bar unattended after handing us our first and only drinks which we received about 5 minutes into our wait. They only get 2 stars because I am averaging in my last visit which I gave a 4 star. This visit honestly gets 0 stars. I hope the staff learns to be more attentive to the customer and to relay messages as to not waste peoples time. If my next visit is like this one I will never return.

It used to be a semi-decent restaurant, service was always lacking, however now service is just atrocious. My last visit the waitress seemed to not want to be bothered and came to the table only to get drinks, take order and for the check which I had to flag her down for.

The food is great but as a new customer I wish to have been informed of a couple of things. They have a buffet style to go or to eat in, we were hungry so we ate the buffet in but was charged the price for the menu for food that was not ordered. Wish I just took it to go. Too expensive as well.. Many more places around with better price or maybe it was because we were charged weirdly. Im sure the price to go is cheaper.

It’s a hit or miss unfortunately with the food and the service. The owner is super friendly, his wife not so much.

Food is good all the time but something has changed lately. They use to give chips and salsa while you wait for your food, which they dont do anymore. Cuban sandwhich the waitress says comes with chips only when they have it otherwise you get nothing. Sad to say because this has always been my go to spot. But if things dont change theyll be loosing customers.

Very poor food it seems they were closing and the food was doubled fried not good understand it was 8pm and they close at 9pm but just dont serve it.

Food was a delicious trip down memory lane and a wide array was ordered. Looking forward to trying more items on their menu. Took a paper menu home so I can decide beforehand. Staff was very friendly and always smiling; it was easy to tell the wait staff liked each other and their job. Parking easy in lot or on street. I will definitely be back.

FOOD IS GOOD!..BUT COSTUMERS SERVICE IS BAD! THE GIRLS IN THE FRONT TALK TO MUCH. INSTEAD OF ATTENDING THE COSTUMERS..THEY DONT GREET THE COSTUMERS AND THAT IS RUDE🤔BAD FOR BUSINESS!!!

Their food is delicious and great price also their staff was very polite and helpful with interpreting the menu and helping me make a choice on what I would like

I usually come here to eat but as of lately the food quantity is cheap and the prices are high. Today I asked for sweet plantains and fried pork...the girl literally served me 5 pieces of small fried pork and 4 slices of plantains and tried to charge me almost 7 dollars. I could not in good conscience pay that ridiculous amount of money for scarce food plate

Take out only. Food is always good here. Your typical Spanish dishes. Rice w/beef stew or chicken stew, pork, steak, plantains,, etc.. consistently really good food.

Food was delicious. Staff was attentive. Atmosphere was like being in Puerto Rico. Music playing. All around great experience.

I was just here and definitely I would not recommend this place any more, chicken was raw and the owner Oscar had the nerve to tell me that was my personal impression. Guess what Mr. Torres if chicken is raw or under cook it is what it is and you know better than that. My best advice improve your quality and customers service because this is not the first time I had a bad experience in your restaurant buuuuut Im a true believer of second chances which you definitely prove me today it was a waste of time with your disrespectful attitude.

Excellent Latin food, good service and even live music, had a nice time with my parents. Great prices as well.

The food is pretty good but the service is extremely terrible.The waitress are worried about the way they look & are on their cellphone alot instead of checking on their customers.Today I had to get up & asked for my appetizer also I had to get up & asked for my bill.Ill keep coming for the food but I think the manager should have proper hospitality training😠😠😠😠😠

Good Puerto Rican food. 4 stars because I love morcilla but it is always very dry. Everything else is good. Trifongo is a must! Its nice that they sell beer too.

Im from the Bronx, so I am picky about my Puerto Rican food. They do a good job, for sure. Prices are a bit too high for the amount of food, but the quality is on point.

Food was really good. The pernil (roast porkwas excellent. Plenty of parking. Friendly staff Bilingual spanish and english. Prices are reasonable.

If you want a good meal without the fuss this is definitely your place. The owner Oscar is always smiling and greets you with a handshake. Latin music plays in the background as you eat. It is a great value for the amount of food you receive.

I asked the waitress for a to go menu and she looked at me up and down a few times before saying no while turning her back towards me. They didnt seem very welcoming or friendly..... borderline racist.