Tropical Sensation

🌴✨ Tropical Sensation A Little Taste of the Caribbean Right in the City! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ From the moment I sat down, I could already tell this spot had that authentic island soul warm energy, friendly staff, and plates that instantly make you feel like you’re somewhere tropical. 🥣 Starter: I began with the Sopa de Mariscos, a hearty seafood soup rich with flavor. It had that homemade Caribbean comfort the kind of broth that’s seasoned with love and a little heat, packed with tender seafood and depth. 🥑 Appetizer: The Maravilla Verde (green plantain stuffed with meat and topped with avocado, red onions, and a touch of citrus) was a star on its own. The onions added the perfect bite and the presentation was beautiful. 🍗 Main Course: For the entrée, I went with the Pechuga a la Parrilla grilled chicken breast served with crispy tostones and a little side slaw. The chicken was juicy, smoky, and brushed with that signature green sauce (definitely the highlight!). Everything felt fresh and flavorful. 🥕 Sides: The sautéed vegetables broccoli and carrots — were cooked perfectly, still crisp with just enough seasoning to balance the meal. 🍹Drinks & Dessert Menu: They’ve got a great drink list with house margaritas, sangrias, mojitos, and tropical cocktails that fit the vibe. And for dessert? Don’t miss the Dulce de Coco or Tres Leches Cake if you love a sweet ending. Overall, Tropical Sensation delivers exactly what its name promises a vibrant, feel good Caribbean experience that hits all the senses. Whether you’re craving comfort food or a fun night out, this place brings island flavor to every bite. 💛🌴 📍Tropical Sensation 🍽️ Caribbean / Latin Cuisine 💫 Must-Try: Pechuga a la Parrilla + Sopa de Mariscos 📸 IG-worthy dish: Maravilla Verde

This grilled chicken with veggies was beyond what I expected. Coffee to top it off afterwards was excellent as well!

$175 two people, I would drive from White Plains for this. The mojitos are fresh. The food can be more on the salty side but good

This place has amazing service and the food was great my plate was stack with steak the seasoning was to die for 🥰

The food was spot on. The great flavor you expect when eating Dominican food. However, The service was really bad. She was friendly but not attentive at all. I just started stopping staff walking by to order food and drinks. It’s extremely rare that I leave a bad tip, but this was one of those instances. Great food though.

The service, and aimbance was great. For the food, the meat was fried too hard , chicken , beef , and pork. Next, time I'll send it back if I experience this again. The cocktail was great!

The food is always good here. I had churrasco with mash potatos and don’t forget the chimmichuri sauce on the side. I also love the plaintain chips that they serve as an appetizer when you order and entree. The jugo de chinola was pretty good but had to water it down because it is very sweet. We also ordered a morir soñando which was perfectly delicious. The pricing here is pretty good for how much food you get.

Came here on a Tuesday evening to celebrate my friends birthday. It’s a small place but there was definitely a booth seat in the back for my friend and I. My friend has been here prior and ordered the Pollo Parmigiana with rice and beans instead of pasta 😂 lol I ordered the Camarofongo and a side of white rice. My dish was decent. I probably wouldn’t order it again because the mashed fried plantain dome is a lot and thick-heavy. Flavors weren’t bad though. I’m pescatarian so maybe next time I’ll try a fish dish. For dessert, I got the tres leches which is usually my go to at a Spanish restaurant. I ordered chicken, plantains and salad for my mom for takeout to bring to her. She really enjoyed it. The food was good. The prices were great. I’d go back.

Came in with my older sister and husband after visiting our parents Sunday November 24Th, 2025 at 8:00 PM. A beautiful kind waitress quickly greeted us, and provided menus after sitting us down. The food was delicious!!!! Huge portions, great black coffee, etc. I ordered the chicharrón de pollo con huesos and salad, and wow!!!!!!!! I was highly impressed! One of the best dinners I've had in a very long time. My sister ordered a sancocho, and her husband habichuelas, white rice and a Presidente beer. Overall, my first time here and OMG!!!!!! I loved every bit of it!!! I highly recommend this wonderful DOMINICAN restaurant!!!

I just enjoy their "Tropical Sensation Salad", it's vinegary with pieces of mangoes . Large & savory! I go just for the salad and a drink!

Nice spot for Dominican food in the area. Solid Chicarron Monfongo and plating was great. Would recommend ordering a side if you are super hungry, the monfongo was decently portioned but ended up not being enough for me. Strong and tasty drinks, definitely. Service was good. Friend got the Medio Pollo al a Brasa, and the portions were huge. Will definitely have left overs!!

Went there twice. Never again. We ordered "costillas guisada" and received dry, charred ribs. Inedible. I'll go to El Malecon instead - always consistently delicious.

The setting makes ordinary meals feel more special. The employees greet you like old friends. Their cooking quality exceeds normal standards. You'll appreciate the originality here. The restaurant delivers completely.

This 5* review is for the great service and the 100% authentic Dominican food you get here AND to combat the haters who have reviewed this restaurant. TS deserves at least 4 stars - why does it only have 3.5*? Because of trolls who say things like 1) "delicious food - 3 stars" or 2) "the food is great but they include a 15% tip with the bill - 1 star" - please! If the food is really good, then give the place a decent rating. So here's what's good: 1) Dominican coffee ALL DAY - Cuban is way too strong but the coffee here is robust and fantastic (with or without milk) 2) Pernil - one of their specialties and their lunch plate comes with a LOT of food 3) Chiva- goat stew. It's really the gravy here that puts this dish over the top - I could probably get by on the gravy and rice alone 4) tres leches cake with guava - the guava brings acidity and balances some of the natural richness of the cake - never had this combination of flavors before and it works so well! Everything else is solid as well but the above 3 items are fantastic. The Pernil and the fish are available M-F for lunch but I would definitely come back to try their pig feet (patita de cerdo) and oxtail (rabo) lunch plates - not available every day.

You can't go wrong! Great Latin food at a great price. Compared to the other Latin options within a 10 block radius these guys offer the best deal for the quality!

Local Dominican restaurant any. Ordered through GrubHub. Fast delivery, everything as ordered. Food is hot and delicious. Very happy!

Lunch special on a Saturday. Roast pork (pernil) was juicy and tender and flavorful. Red beans also had flavor. Even the yellow rice was good. Side salad was good. Everything was delicious. Best lunch I've had in awhile. Service was excellent. Comfortable place. Festive. They do add a 15% service charge to the bill... but you will want to give them a bit more.

I love this restaurant. We love this restaurant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I tried a little bit of everything on the menu and it's all consistent and good. I have even ordered soup from here when I have felt under the weather (they delivered to my home). It's my favorite place In the area because it's down to earth. The staff is so nice, music is good and lots of locals. Lunch specials start at $10.00 but most are $12 and up. The drink selection is great. Happy Hour all day! It's good for a date, with your girlfriends, family, by yourself. I'm a fan as you can tell. Please note they automatically add 15% gratuity to the bill. Everyone looks happy here - the workers and customers.

I had hope for this restaurant but disappointed when I tried it. I tried their fried rice with sausage. The portion is huge. I had a very full dinner and still had enough leftover for next day's lunch. Buy I don't really like the flavor of the fried rice. And the sausage didn't taste fresh at all.

Came here on a Tuesday evening to celebrate my friends birthday. It's a small place but there was definitely a booth seat in the back for my friend and I. My friend has been here prior and ordered the Pollo Parmigiana with rice and beans instead of pasta lol I ordered the Camarofongo and a side of white rice. My dish was decent. I probably wouldn't order it again because the mashed fried plantain dome is a lot and thick-heavy. Flavors weren't bad though. I'm pescatarian so maybe next time I'll try a fish dish. For dessert, I got the tres leches which is usually my go to at a Spanish restaurant. I ordered chicken, plantains and salad for my mom for takeout to bring to her. She really enjoyed it. The food was good. The prices were great. I'd go back.

Tropical offers everything I crave from a Dominican restaurant. Good music in the background, clean space, friendly staff, and most importantly delicious food that stays consistent. Being half Dominican, I am fussy when it comes to food that I prefer eating at home, but this restaurant doesn't disappoint. I never stray from the chicharron mofongo which somehow is both crispy and moist and filled with chunks of pork (there are other varieties). Pernil is a must. I never leave without taking a cuban sandwich to go. The stews are hearty and perfectly seasoned. There is a reason why I return time and time again. The prices are reasonable and what you'd expect from this area. Cards are accepted. This place is casual and laid back. There is a full bar. The music can be loud, but if you ask then they lower it. Changing table is available. You will need proof of vaccination upon entry.

Drinks are good and they have enough alcohol. I've had their bulldogs and it's the perfect drink and it's on happy hour. Came here twice and sat quickly. Service is good they always pass by so if you have a need you can just ask. The food is delicious. You see them walking with buckets of plantains so they definitely make things fresh. The sancocho was really flavorful. I would suggest to order a side of rice. It just paired so well with the soup which was kind of thick. The tables in the back are big so bring some games if you're going out with friends.

Love them I get the Dominican breakfast. The chicken soup. The lunch specials. Eddie Kane

Love this place, the food is always the bomb. They have lunch specials and all. The food is very fulfilling and the people are always so nice. The drinks are strong, great place to chill and enjoy. Please try the mariquitas its soo good!

This restaurant is one of the Westside's best kept secret. The service is amazing. The drinks are delicious. Food is really good. The portions are a nice size and the ambiance is great.

Food is good! Especially the grilled steak & onions I wish they delivered further... Or let Grub hub and Uber deliver.

We enjoyed Tropical Sensation take-out this week. The highlight of the meal was their rotisserie chicken. It was full of flavor and tender/juicy. The black beans and yellow rice was also good. The sweet fried plantains were a little disappointing since they were dried out. I'm not sure if that's because they were overcooked/had been sitting, or because they had been delivered (and, therefore, would have been better at the restaurant). My partner also enjoyed his Cuban sandwich.

Great food options! Love ordering take out from here when I'm busy on late nights. Their mofongo is my favorite

Steak and onions is fire. Drinks are amazing. Great lunch deals. Terrific service. Will be coming here regularly.

One of the best Cuban sandwiches Ive had in a while. but if you want mustard or pickles you have to tell them.

this is the very first time I eat Caribbean food, and i gotta say, it has been the best experience i could have. the food is just amazing, the plates are really really well served. The waitress and all staff are always ready to help. this is a very happy place. definitely a must whenever you are visiting NY

Tropical sensation always comes up as a lunch option at work and every time I have it I'm impressed! I mean where else in the upper west side area can you get a full Dominican meal for less than $10?! The restaurant is a small family owned and operated establishment with plenty of good vibes. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating and the staff are super helpful. I always get a meal from their lunch specials selections for $9.99. I usually get the brown stew chicken with "yellow" rice, beans and plantains and its so yummy! But I do find the chicken a bit bland. On the other hand, the plantains are always ripe and sweet which is always a good addition to any meal. Overall a great option for a cheap and filling Dominican meal!

I been to this place a ton of time and have tried many of their dishes. This time I tried the Ropa Vieja and it is so delicious. It wakes every taste bud in your mouth. The plantains are sweet and delicious. However the Henny Colada was a miss for me their margaritas are so much better. They also have good happy hour Monday - Friday. This is a good spots for after work, dinner, date night or just a night to eat out. I recommend this place.

Great food. Higher recommended. The service is also great. The ambiance is also excellent.

Service in-house or via delivery is always hit or miss. Be sure to check out your receipt to see that they add a 15% tip to all bills, so don't think that you need to leave anything extra. I have had to cancel a number of orders because although they confirmed receipt of the order, the delivery person was not in and they didnt bother to notify me until I called to check on the order. Their res guisado (stewed beef chunks) are tender but flavorless. Their empanadas taste baked as the outer crust is never quite crisp enough. Their tres golpes breakfast is acceptable if you actually receive it but make sure you specify whether you like your eggs raw or actually cooked. I have given this place way too many chances so I always opt for other when in the area.

Fresh delicious food. Kind service. Warm atmosphere, very festive Holiday vibe. I love it here

This place was suddenly my COVID ride or die. They have that comfort food from home type of cooking and they deliver. I love their tostones with that garlic dip. I can eat 2 orders all to myself. I love their shrimp in garlic sauce and also their fried fish with rice and veggies. The food and dinner options are types of food that I would eat at mama's house and so whenever I want some comfort food, I would order from Tropical sensation. Amazing job with all the orders and staying consistent with your food and portions. Yummy! If you can, please support this local business and order from Tropical sensation!

I came here for Mothers day and a craving for Mofongo with Chicharrón,! this is my second trip and the people are so nice. My daughter had the Yuca Mofongo, My Wife the Port Ribs everything was huge and fantastic, I really don't want this gen discovered. I was in the mood for a Pina Colata and after the 2nd I was happy as a coconut! I will be back again and again!

Came here a few weeks ago after one of my people's posted about this spot on IG a few months ago...didn't have much but the empanada's and a Layered Margarita...WOW! BOTH were so damn good! I don't know if I am necessarily surprised or not being that I am biased towards Spanish food anyway but maybe I was a bit surprised by the drink cause it definitely did it's justice...strong, inexpensive and decorative...if first impressions mean everything then Tropical Sensation did it's job! Coming here again and again... This place has Happy Hour weekdays from 5pm-8pm if I'm correct and good for after work, dates and groups! Probably will do a follow up review after I come here a few more times and start having entree's but for now...this place is definitely a GO!

Family restaurant. Can't go wrong with the classic rice chicken and beans. Natural juices. Affordable prices.

My family and I have been coming to Tropical Sensation for several years. We frequent this restaurant, because the food is consistently AMAZING! You can't go wrong here. When dining in, you get homemade fried plaintain chips and pita chips with a delicious and freshly chopped tomato and onion dip for the table. Some of my favorites are chicharron de pollo, fried calamari, Salmon Atlantico, and shrimp mofongo. Members of my family love their grilled pork chops, steak with onions, moro (mixed rice and beans), and chicken/cheese pastelillos. The restaurant is known for its great food and affordable mixed drinks; however, I typically get a cosmopolitan when I am there. The waitresses are all friendly and the manager goes above and beyond to satisfy his customers. If you have not been to this neighbor gem, you are missing out!!

Excellent food. Try the goat, oxtail, eggplant, and sancocho. If you're in the area, their delivery service is quick and accurate

Pretty great Dominican food, i'm in the area a lot so I eat here sometimes. The vibes are great, love the drink specials, it's authentic. Get the steak.

Coffee - So good. Stewed chicken with white rice- Loved it! Will go for more soon. Recommend for anyone looking for authentic Dominican/Puertorrican food.

I was referred to this place by a friend and checked it out on a Thursday night. Honestly service was kind of slow since a server didn't take our order for about 15 minutes even though we kept trying to flag them down and the restaurant wasn't super crowded. It wasn't a great first impression, but what earns this place the stars is the drinks and the FOOD. The margaritas are some of the cheapest in the city ($6!) but are strong and tasty--I had the passion fruit and was surprised by how good it was for the price. The happy hour is all day Mon-Thurs which is a great deal. I had the costilla bbq ribs which were DELICIOUS and my friends had the sanchocho and pernil and all enjoyed their meals. The atmosphere was upbeat but not too loud so we could hear each other, and we ended up having a good time and will definitely be back again. Maybe they were short-staffed which would account for the slow service, but overall the place was good bang for your buck.

CHECK ITEMIZED RECEIPTS TO AVOID DOUBLE-TIPPING Food was good (sangria + chicken & broccoli mashed potatoes) but the receipt management was a low blow. I was given a non-itemized recept with a subtotal $30, prompting to tip and sign. When I asked for itemized receipt it turned out that they already included 15% tip into the subtotal. I usually give more than 15% but this makes me want to tip $0. Watch out if you dine there.

REAL CREAMY HOT CHOCOLATE... For all it hot cocoa lovers ... not all watery and poorly made like deli's who don't care. ** lots of tables , tight corners No walk room *** FOOD TATSE LIKE A HOMEMADE MEAL .....Also, they serve soup too . Pretty neat ...I like to eat breakfast here tho *** accept atm cards &and cash They play popular music , not too loud though *** theres a BAR, for alcohol lovers Friendly staff

Sunday lunch was amazing. We were a party of 11 and honestly we had amazing food and service. Our waitress was Yommy she was very attending. I'd come every Sunday if we lived near but we travel from the bronx and we're in the area because of my daughters baptism. Till next time!!

Great food, great service and great drinks. Truly a staple in the community of the upper westside and a notable go to restaurant. I have never walked away dissatisfied and the bartender JR is great.

Food and music were definite pluses here. But the place smelled and wasn't very clean. You can tell it was beautiful at some point. If they took time to deep clean, I'd return. Otherwise, I'm not going back. Food was delicious! So we're the drinks.

I just love this place. Food is good, decently priced...I've never been disappointed with my meal and their cafe con leche is always on point. Their lunch specials are great if you want to try a few things. Never disappointed!

Just picked up my order of rice and beans with a frozen margarita. It my first time here and I've been dying to try this place. THANK god I did !:) such good food and really good prices !! Keep up the great work

The service is great and the food is good you'll enjoy the drinks and the music it's always been my go to place to eat

Good food ,overwhelming portions(chill with the rice) Thankfully they have takeout alcohol during this quarantine . The margarita was surprisingly good.

Authentic Dominican Food. The Food is delicious and filling as they serve a lot ( like most dominican families lol). The place itself has decent decor with simple seating but the people make up for it as everyone is friendly. I recommend the Mofongo or My favorite dominican dish Plaintains, Fried eggs , Fried cheese (3 gloves) and Avacado.

Ordered a Pernil for my family Christmas dinner. Beautiful preparation and presentation. Delicious too. So glad to support this business as they also helped me to enjoy my family without having to cook a roast pork!

Only thing I can say was delivery was very timely but besides that every thing about this meal was wrong. The chicken was insanely dry, the rice tasted very old as if it had been from more than a day old. The side of fried plantains I got were very tasteless and no salt was included with my condiments. The beans were edible that's about it. I'm Caribbean I was raised eating this stuff, small window for error really so I was extremely disappointed to have such a horrible meal.