El Pollitos on 5th avenue

Has anyone else noticed that Trattoria Mangia is now becoming El Pollitos? Isn't that a bit strange when just one block away is Los Pollitos? I mean, are they just trying to rip off the name, or are they just clueless?

I never tried Mangia before, I always got a strange vibe from the place.

Mangia and Los Pollitos have always been owned by the same people.

I saw that yesterday. I didn't get a chance to see if Los Pollitos moved from across the street. Did you notice?

No, it looks to be a new venture. I walked past this morning and the only thing that seems to have changed is the signage out front and the menu. Los Pollitos is still there and open as well. Today is their grand opening. Mangia was fun for brunch, ok food but unlimted mimosa's which was always fun.

Fuk, I hope the brunch doesn't change. I've taken many a brooklynian there for breakfast.

Yup, same owners as Mangia. I took a glimpse at the new menu this morning. It looks like its a little more expensive than Los Pollitos. They still have a wknd brunch with drink specials (a Mexican restaurant without a drink special is like corn flakes without the milk). I never tried Mangia, I don't know why, it never really stuck out to me either.

The owners of Los Pollitos had a squabble and went their separate ways. The chef and some of the waitstaff are now at El Pollito! The good new is El Pollito has $3 margaritas compared to Los Pollitos $5 during happy hour...

Los Pollitos is one of the worst mexican eateries here. Even their salsa and chips sucks, this is bad news for Mangia. Mangia though being weird, quirky, sometimes schizophrenic in changes in specials and interior decorations, has always had a good, solid and cheap brunch and I liked the weekend servers. I love the Italian manager! I hope he stays.

The only time we went to Los Pollitos, the food was not memorable, but the service was horrible but in a comical way that we still laugh about. Our waiter was just clueless and was straight out of Fawlty Towers.

The service at Los Pollitos had gone downhill the last time I was there. Maybe this explains it.

Both places were always owned by the same family. Some unfortunate stuff with the end of the family which owns Los Pollitos Building was sold to another person who's jacking up the rent. Family shifting operations to the Mangia location, with the Los Pollitos location probably done for by the summer.

Los Pollitos was always pretty average, which trumps the downright cheap mediocre that was Mangia. Slight upgrade, but nothing to see here unless you like your dining on a budget.

Well, Pollitos is a sister restaurant to the utter crap that is Maria's. Both have the worst mexican food ever. Picked up the new menu at Mangia/Pollitos and the old brunch is no longer available, it does not offer champagne only mimosas, and the mimosas at Pollitos are watery and bad.

Prices have been reduced for now, and they are probably trying harder curently to make it good, but in a year or less they will raise them to the old menu. So I guess take advantage if you liked the old Pollitos?

I'm checking out their burritos and brunch this weekend. Fingers crossed nevertheless.

trattoria mangia was quite a dumb name.

I just hope that the horrible rancid fry-o-lator smell being constantly belched out onto Sterling Place leaves. I doubt it though.

This corner deserves better.