I was in the area and was in the mood for Cuban food. We came on a Sunday right when they opened…read moreand the servers were very welcoming. My husband got the fried pork chops with red beans and rice. I ordered the chicken in garlic sauce with black beans and rice. We shared an order of tostones. We were both very pleased with our dishes. My chicken was very good and a large portion. My husband's pork chops were amazing. We both enjoyed the sides as well. The restaurant itself was beautiful and I loved the congas at the bar. Will definitely be back next time we are around here.

Mambo Cuban restaurant & Lounge on Bloomfield Ave is 100% highly recommended! The food was…read moreabsolutely delicious, the atmosphere was incredible, and the service was excellent. From the moment we walked in, the manager was welcoming and attentive, immediately making us feel comfortable. Our waitress, Evelin, was wonderful she took the time to explain each dish and helped us choose exactly what we were craving. We had an amazing night that truly exceeded all our expectations and more. Great food, great service, and an unforgettable atmosphere. We'll definitely be back

This place is a hidden gem! My boss and I were near there for a work event, and happened upon this…read moreplace. The ambiance during the day is meh, as it's a nighttime spot; however, the food and drinks more than made up for it! The value proposition was fantastic, as the bill was very reasonable. The service was courteous and efficient. I would definitely recommend this place!

Late night we decided to visit the lounge. I have never felt more comfortable or welcome at a…read morelounge. The service was over the top amazing. The drinks were delicious and strong. The music was great. I cant wait to come back and try the food.

WIFE and I was hungry. She had a cuban sandwich from here a few weeks ago, and said was good. So we…read moredecided to go to restaurant and dine in. This place was delicious!! Real Cuban food. The oxTails were amazing, the steak n rice so tender and flavorful. Mom and daughter was in giving great customer service, was like I was at my wife's family house. We will be back!

I would give Cha Cha in Kenilworth 2 stars…read more This was my first visit, and while the service was friendly and welcoming, the food itself was very disappointing. I appreciated the complimentary yuca fritters with special sauce, which was a kind gesture. However, the overall quality, freshness, and authenticity of the main dishes did not meet expectations. Parking is very limited street parking. The Cuban breaded steak was the biggest disappointment. A proper Cuban-style breaded steak should be thin, tender, savory, garlicky, slightly citrusy, well-seasoned, evenly breaded, and pan-fried until crisp and golden. The version I received tasted oddly sweet, the breading separated from the meat, and the steak had a gummy texture with an old-looking color. It did not have the freshness or clean savory flavor expected from this classic dish. The red beans were very concerning. They tasted strongly like vinegar, and I had to spit them out. When I looked closer, there appeared to be a white, murky-looking substance in them. Beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless something is wrong. Cuban-style red beans should be creamy, savory, aromatic, and well-seasoned with garlic, onion, peppers, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The white rice was also not acceptable. It was hard, did not taste fresh, and had a vinegar-like smell and flavor. It appeared as if older rice may have been mixed with newer rice. Proper Cuban white rice should be fluffy, clean-tasting, separated, and neutral in flavor. The moro with black beans and rice was better than the white rice, but still lacked depth. It needed more bay leaf flavor and stronger Cuban seasoning. A good moro should have a rich, savory base from sofrito, garlic, peppers, onions, beans, broth, herbs, and slow cooking so the rice absorbs the flavor. The oxtail was tender and okay, but it did not fully deliver the deep, rich Cuban-style flavor I expected. Traditional Cuban oxtail should be slow-braised with garlic, onions, peppers, tomato sauce, wine, herbs, and spices until the sauce becomes rich and the meat is deeply seasoned. This oxtail tasted acceptable, but it seemed as though it may have been prepared a day or two before and reheated. I understand that many restaurants legally prepare certain foods a day ahead, especially dishes like beans, stews, and oxtail. However, food should still taste fresh and be stored, cooled, reheated, and handled according to food safety standards. Sour or vinegar-like flavors in rice or beans can sometimes indicate fermentation, spoilage, or improper storage, and that should never reach the customer. The best part of the meal was the dessert. The vanilla flan was very good, and the coconut flan was excellent. The coconut flan was rich, creamy, and full of coconut flavor, with shredded coconut pieces that added texture and made it stand out. That dessert showed real potential. The prices were reasonable, but reasonable pricing does not make up for poor freshness and low food quality. It did look like they may do better with sandwiches and empanadas, which I did not try and perhaps should have ordered first. I cook Cuban food, Puerto Rican food, and other traditional dishes myself, and I lived in Miami for over nine years. I also learned from Cuban friends who cook authentic Cuban food at home. Because of that, I know how these dishes should taste. In my opinion, the dishes I tried did not represent Cuban cuisine with the freshness, authenticity, seasoning, or care it deserves. The restaurant may have people who know how to cook, but based on this visit, it seems the kitchen has lost some of the authenticity and discipline needed to serve fresh, properly prepared Cuban food. Food that tastes sour, vinegary, old, or questionable should never be served to customers. The service and desserts were the highlights, but the main dishes need serious improvement in freshness, food handling, seasoning, and respect for authentic Cuban cuisine. There are several areas that need improvement. Freshness and food safety should be the main priority. Rice and beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless intentionally prepared that way, and food that seems old or questionable should not be served. The breaded steak should be freshly breaded, crispy outside, tender inside, and properly seasoned with authentic Cuban flavors like garlic, citrus, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The rice should be fluffy, the beans creamy, and the oxtail deeply seasoned and fresh-tasting. I believe the restaurant may have cooks who understand Cuban cuisine, but the kitchen needs to reconnect with freshness, consistency, authenticity, and stronger food handling standards. Cuban food is rich in flavor, comfort, and cultural pride, and with improvement this restaurant could better reflect that tradition.

Just in town visiting family. This place is awesome. Got an air-bnb nearby. The gentleman working…read morethe day we went in apologized for the wait cause he was working alone. Truly, each item we asked for was done well and came out very quickly. The bread was a special thing. They make it here. My Wife makes bread at home, so She's picky about stuff like that. She had high compliments on Her sandwich. If I lived here, I would be stopping by all the time.

Found this place by accident, haven't stopped going back. Great customer service. The food is…read moredelicious. The fact that the order keeps growing because more people from the office are joining when I order speaks volume. The ambiance is great, I look forward to sitting down and eating there one day soon.

Not that good , unfortunately I don't enjoy anything about Tu Cafecito Latino …read more My wife & I , try this small hole in wall on Elizabeth ave. we had the basic pork chop and rice , steak with shrimps which was burned to the second level stuck to the plate. No flavor with the rice and beans. Lack everything.....first & last visiting this new hole in the wall , on Elizabeth avenue.

Great Cuban sandwich, friendly service, very clean, and best of all, parking at the rear of the…read morerestaurant.

I normally do not choose Elizabeth, NJ as a place to go out for lunch or dine-in; however, El…read morePalmar Restaurant, makes it an exception for me. The restaurant and its staff just makes it such a wonderful experience. The ambience, immediately makes it comforting as a customer. More so, the food is absolutely amazing, and the proportions of the dishes are more than what an average person can consume (quality and quantity). A person can rarely find restaurants with welcoming experiences, and foods that many can enjoy with delight. I do recommend people to experience this wonderful restaurant and its amicable staff members. Therefore, as for the bad reviews, disregard them and try the restaurant's food at your experience. Regards, Andy G

The food is okay. I expected much more. But, honestly it can be a difficult take when fusing…read morecuisines. And while Puerto Rican and Cuban food has a lot of similarities. There are many differences and that's where the key lies. Hope this helps.

Great place for breakfast/lunch. We had the green salad with marinated chicken and the Cuban…read moresandwich with well done fries. Couldn't have been better. Reasonable price. Friendly service. Seek it out if you're in Elizabeth.

My all time favorite diner and people. Good food, good people. Anytime I'm in Elizabeth and have at…read moreleast 30 minutes to spare, especially if I'm hungry, definitely making the stop.

Shout out to our waiter, Enrique! He was amazing! Attentive and charismatic. We went for my dad's…read morebirthday and had a blast tasting all these delicious plates. The restaurant itself feels very intimate and full of character. They have valet parking (you'll need it in Newark)! Sangria is strong and the camarones al ajillo ! We will be coming back!

Casa d'Paco is a great spot with a really cool setup. When you first walk in, it feels like a…read moresmaller, quiet place with a nice bar but then you realize they have an additional space on the side which completely changes the vibe in a good way. When I was there, they had a DJ playing, and it added energy without being too loud or overwhelming. The Service was very good, the waiter answered and helped with all our questions. The food was absolutely amazing really flavorful and well done. Just be a little prepared that most dishes come in smaller portions. But the quality definitely makes up for it. I ordered the paella, and it's easily enough for two or even three people and it was well worth it. Really delicious. The drinks were also definitely worth trying while you're there. The only thing I wasn't big on was the desserts they didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal. But overall, great atmosphere, excellent food, and a fun experience. I'd definitely come back.

Food tasted so good felt like someone made it for me home made...you know what i mean...when it…read morehits the heart...i even started to cry a little

A small venue in a strip mall lot, so plenty of free parking. Simple interior with some original…read morePuerto Rican inspired art on the walls. Food is made to order, so if you're in a rush order ahead. Friendly & fun staff, not too busy to explain things to you. We had Alcapurria (Yuca), Cubano, Cheese Empanada, Papa Rellena, Chicharron Polo, Chimichurri Chicken, & a Vanilla Tres Leche. Everything was very good & definitely worth a revisit. A very casual place with a super chill vibe. Grades: Alcapurria (Yuca): A+ Cubano: A Cheese Empanada: A Papa Rellena: A+ Chicharron Polo: B+ Chimichurri Chicken: A Vanilla Tres Leche: A+

My wife and I went to La Caravana for an early dinner with the in-laws. It's a small restaurant and…read moreit's very busy. We have picked up takeout from this location multiple times and the food is always solid. The restaurant was packed, so we waited a few minutes for a table. For our dine-in visit, we ordered a whole pollo ala brasa, fries, salad, arroz chaufa, and the parrilllada caravana, which came with 1/4 pollo, chuleta, 2 anticucho, pancita, choncholi, rachi, chorizo, churrasco con papa dorada y choclo. It's a lot of food for a really good price. It's significantly cheaper than the Peruvian restaurants I visit in Passaic. The food came out very quickly, with plenty of the green aji. Everything was seasoned well, and very juicy. You could see and smell the smoke from the grills as you were eating. I only wish they had a bigger dining area and better parking.

This is our go to for some authentic Peruvian food!!! Everything on the menu is delicious and…read morefresh!! The Parrilla was excellent to feed 4 people. I think the service can improve; however, they were still nice. Perfect location to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. Love the environment and music!