Closed for Business: El Pollo, 291 Fifth Avenue

El Pollo, the small Peruvian restaurant on Fifth Avenue between First and Second Streets, closed up shop recently. Many thanks to a couple tipsters for bring it to my attention, and for sending along the above photo. 

Opened in 2007, the 26-seat restaurant was best known for its rotisserie chicken and other Limeno-style fare (the chef/owner, Carmen, hailed from Lima and her cooking was based on old family recipes). Empanadas, stews, roast pork, and rice dishes were also on offer, as well as a solid lunch special that was quite popular. It was a simple, no-frills affair; just inexpensive homestyle Peruvian cooking. 

Thankfully, the original location, down on 70th Street in Bensonhurst, remains open. 

Comments

[CubanSlope]

Always said I'd go in one day. Never did. Now it's gone. I wish them luck. Place smelled good, at the very least.

[englebert]

their chicken was awesome and inexpensive. sad to see them go.

[ParkSlopePerson]

Shocking, a place I walked by constantly and almost never saw anyone in closed.

[JSS]

it was not a comfortable place to eat, which is why it was usually empty,but that had a reasonably good takeout clientele....

[president resident]

This sucks. It was much better for takeout than eat in. The chicken was really really good. It was a nice slice of diversity in the hood.

[Theodore]

Don't fret, we'll get another burger bistro or perhaps more frozen yogurt...

[wt]

best chicken in the hood is Purbird on 6th Ave and St. Marks.

You won't want chicken from anywhere else in PS after you try it...

[CubanSlope]

I've had Purbird. I like it. I still want it from Fleisher's, though.

[Matt]

We ate so many meals at El Pollo, possibly just hoping to keep them around a little bit longer. I'm saddened but not at all surprised to see them go. The music was weird, the service was uneven (always seemed to be a different host/waiter whenever we went), but the food was really good and very affordable. Adios, The Chicken!