What an experience it was for my husband and I last night at Papi’s. It felt like we were in Puerto Rico visiting family. It began with a recommendation from John Michael, a fantastic bartender at Blith & Burrows. As soon as we walked into Papi we were impressed by the fun an eclectic decor. We were greeted by Nick who welcomed and ushered us to our seats at the bar. What a friendly, knowledgeable and hospitable host he is. He introduced us to Elica our bartender. Not only was she friendly and welcoming, she is excellent at her craft. We watched as she created beautiful works of art - cocktails! I enjoyed the mojito very much.The highlight of our experience in addition to the mouth watering and authentic dishes, was meeting and chatting with Executive Chef Ron. Not only is he talented, an expert at creating the true criollo flavors and textures of Puerto Rican cuisine, but he made us feel like family. We must have hugged at least 5 times throughout the evening. He was as excited as we were. He enjoyed watching us taste and bite into his dishes with so much anticipation and pride. It was a party for our tastebuds taking us back to our childhood memories.The empanadas were perfectly crunchy and savory with a tangy and criolla sauce. The short ribs melted in your mouth, the mofongo tasted authentic and fresh, the pork pinchos delicious, the corn fritters delectable, the plátano soup so flavorful and the flan, perfectly custardy and luscious. Wow.We cannot wait to return and recommend Papi to all. It’s not just a dinner and drinks out, it’s a full-on experience where you feel that Puerto Rican hospitality at its best!