Marilu & Daysi

What it is

Marilu & Daysi, spelled Marilu & Deisy by Gothamist, is a small Dominican restaurant at 206 Audubon Ave. Gothamist reported in September 2025 that sisters Delsia “Deisy” Morel and Marilu started a lunch takeout business out of their apartment in 1998 and opened the restaurant in 2007. Marilu has since retired, and Deisy is in the kitchen every day.

Who it’s for

Hospital workers and neighbors who want a home-cooked Dominican meal, and anyone looking for breakfast. Gothamist describes a cash-only spot with three tables, a handwritten white-board menu, an ATM and a wooden counter.

Standout details

Gothamist says the breakfast mangú con tres golpes, mashed plantains with fried salami, eggs and cheese, often sells out by 10am, and that Morel mashes 60 plantains by hand each morning. Best sellers include bistec encebollado and pollo guisado, with bacalao also on the menu. Dishes come with rice and a choice of stewed beans. It is open on Christmas Eve, when it serves pernil. City inspection records show an inspection on September 28, 2026, and Google reviews continue into 2026.

Honest verdict

A neighborhood favorite worth a visit for the food and the family story. Gothamist’s closing time of 6pm and a Google-sourced listing of 8am to 5:30pm agree, so plan for daytime. The same address is also listed on delivery apps as Real Sabor RD, a Dominican fast-food menu with later hours, and the restaurant’s own site shows 8am to 11:45pm, which may reflect that delivery menu; that connection is my inference. With no printed menu, one 2024 review complained of a high bill, so ask prices first.