Elie’s Chinchorro Caribbean Bistro is one of the most unique eateries in the metro. First of all, it’s home cooking at its finest—especially if you grew up in a household with Puerto Rican heritage. Living in New York, specifically the Bronx, there was no shortage of island cuisine. Neighbors made incredible empanadas, and the open markets offered everything from mofongo to giant tripleta sandwiches.
Elie Berchal started selling the food of her heritage out of necessity—she lost her job and had two kids in college and two more in high school. Berchal first started the business out of her home, taking part in pop-ups, street festivals, and farmers markets. After a couple of years of hard work, the family opened a restaurant across from the old Lo Sole Mio location on 36th Street. In June 2024, the Berchal family moved into their new home at 16th and Cuming, serving dishes that, as she describes, come from cooking with their hearts.
When we visited Elie’s on a Friday night in July, I was instantly transported back to the Bronx and my youth. The first thing you encounter when you enter the fairly small open air restaurant is the aroma. It’s hard to describe the combination of plantains, fresh fruit from the many cocktails, and roasted pork, but without the perfect word, I’ll just go with—it smells like food heaven…