If you are ever looking for a homey, welcoming restaurant with good food and reasonable prices, then QS Grill is my recommendation.
This small Nicaraguan restaurant is located on Harrison St and 168th St. Immediately when you walk in you are greeted with a smile, like you are an old friend. The owner himself jumped up to welcome us and went through every item on the menu to make sure we ordered exactly what we wanted. The menu itself was limited, but in my opinion that generally means that what food is on the menu will be made with more care and taste better than if it had been on a larger menu.
I tried the Salvadoran pupusas, which are cakes of a sort made of corn tortilla and filled with any combination of cheese, beans, and pork; and the house grilled carne asada, which was served with a generous portion I could barely finish. The pupusas were my favorite of the two- and only three dollars each!- but the comparison proved difficult. I usually dislike pork and prefer flour to corn tortillas, but the pupusas had a tender, cake-like texture while still being light and fluffy like a pancake. The flavor was comforting and not overwhelming. Plantain chips, pickled onion, rice and beans, and cabbage slaw came complimentary with the order, and I ate the plantain chips in practically thirty seconds flat. To drink I had a fruit punch jarritos, an authentic Central American soft drink that was recommended by the owner. There were multiple flavors, including lime, fruit punch, strawberry, pineapple, and mandarin. They also had a selection of Coca-Cola products.
The restaurant was very sanitary and tastefully decorated with unquestionably Nicaraguan decor. I noticed a large amount of both hanging and potted plants, which made the atmosphere feel fresher. The food tasted homemade, and the staff of the restaurant furthered the intimate and cozy ambiance of the place. As previously stated, the customer service was astonishingly admirable.
All in all, QS grill had wonderful food and every part of the experience of eating was delightful. I would give this quaint, homey restaurant five out of five stars and can’t wait to eat there again.
