El Dorado Restaurant
One of the most evident expressions of an ethnic community is the food the community enjoys. El Dorado Restaurant serves the people of Staten Island as a whole while catering specifically to the Hispanic community. Located at 2236 Hylan Boulevard, the restaurant has become well loved by the people in the area even after having been open for only two months. The premises are spotless and inviting for people of all ethnicities. The food is delicious and the people were very friendly and willing to speak about their restaurant.
Upon first entering, some of the employees were on lunch break themselves. They smiled and welcomed us into the restaurant. The interior is simple yet effective. There are some tables set up on the lower level with some more up a short flight of stairs.
The décor was traditional of any restaurant. There were some paintings of flowers on the lower level and a landscape on the upper level. There were health and safety signs posted in both English and Spanish. Spanish music played in the background. Orders are taken at the counter around which trays are found holding some of the food that is prepared.
The employees are fully fluent in both English and Spanish and took orders from customers of various ethnicities in both languages. When explaining the order amongst themselves, they alternated between the two even in the middle of sentences. Most of the customers were of Hispanic descent, while there were two groups besides ours who did not appear to be Hispanic. As well as taking orders to enjoy on-site, El Dorado offers take-out and delivery.
The owner of the restaurant, Iris, explained that the most popular Dominican dish is the roast chicken with white rice and beans. This is called pollo al horno con arroz y habichuelas. The sweet plantains are a favorite side dish. We ordered both of these for take-out as well as the flan and almond cake. All of the food was delicious and flavorful, especially the desserts. Another popular Dominican dish Iris mentioned is the sancocho soup. It features pork, chicken, and beef in a broth with red beans and white rice. It is so popular that it is known as one of the national dishes of the Dominican Republic.
On our way out of El Dorado Restaurant, we mistakenly left behind our order of stuffed potato balls, which we were still cooking at the time. Upon calling the restaurant, Iris immediately apologized for the error and told us to come in any time for the food we left behind. She thanked us again for cominginto her restaurant and taking the time to learn about the location.
El Dorado Restaurant is a valuable addition to the Staten Island and Dominican communities. The combination of good food, helpful employees, and a prime location make this restaurant stand out as a great place to enjoy Hispanic food and culture.
