About this spot

Pico Y Pala Restaurant has quietly become one of the most-praised Dominican spots in the Passaic area — rated 4.9 out of 5 stars across platforms and earning regulars who stop in multiple times a week. Located at 44 Monroe Street, this casual counter-service restaurant serves real Dominican home cooking: simple, fresh, generous, and affordable. It's the kind of place that feels like someone's kitchen, because in many ways it is.

The menu covers the full Dominican repertoire. Breakfast brings Mangú con los Tres Golpes (mashed green plantains with fried salami, cheese, and egg), fresh-squeezed jugos, and empanadas. Lunch and dinner feature pernil (roasted pork), pollo guisado (stewed chicken), churrasco, mofongo, sancocho, and a seafood boil alongside rice, beans, and fried sides. Picaderas — Dominican-style fried platters — are a crowd favorite, and the combo plates make it easy to sample across the menu.

The setting is no-frills, clean, and welcoming. Service is fast and friendly, and the portions are exactly what you'd hope for. Whether you're a nearby regular or discovering Passaic's Dominican food scene for the first time, Pico Y Pala is a must-visit. Open Tuesday through Sunday.