Cuban Pete's 428 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, NJ 07042 Angus Beef Picaña As I entered this restaurant through a long tropical hallway bedecked with vibrant palm trees, I immediately sensed I was going to be in for a treat. The exterior dining area has an authentic tropical vibe with a cascade to the side. The interior dining room also has the same feel; the decor includes additional palm trees and Cuban cigar boxes. The Latin American themed background music enhances the atmosphere making me believe I was actually in Cuba. There are no physical menus available. Scan the QR code at each table to view a full menu directly from your device. I actually think this is an excellent idea because there were illustrations for every entrée and side. Manager Joe introduced himself and offered a free virgin piña colada sample. (This location is BYOB.) It was on the thicker side and very creamy. The mocktail is on the pricier side, but it is served in a full size pineapple; I'm definitely planning to order it for a future visit. The angus beef picaña was an excellent portion. The serving size was overwhelming, which is definitely a good problem. I was able to make two leftover meals out of it. The steak was served piping hot and the meat was unbelievably juicy. It included a mango pico de galo and creamy garlic sauce. Although I didn't care for the taste of the pico de galo, the garlic sauce satisfied my taste buds on all counts. It included two sides of my choice. There was a variety of choices and the only problem I had was choosing because I wanted to try them all. I decided to explore the yuca frita and arroz moro. They were the backbone to this plate. While I was dining, a photographer was approaching tables. I don't recommend this service, unless you are dressed to impress for a large gathering or memorable event. Cuban Pete's is on the pricier side, but the food quality is excellent and the portions are enormous. I highly recommend this Latin restaurant on all counts. #cubanpetes #montclairnj #angusbeefpicana read more

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I really wanted to give this place another chance because my family and I were in the area, and the location itself is really nice. Unfortunately, after three visits over the years, I don't think we'll be coming back. My husband and I first came here on a double date about 9-10 years ago, and we thought the food was mediocre. We tried it again maybe six years ago with a large party, and the food was still below average. We also had an issue with the bill that night. Fast-forward to now: I decided to give it another chance, even though my husband specifically said he didn't want to go back. Well... I should have listened to him. Whenever we go out, I order my toddler's food immediately, before we even look through the rest of the menu, so her meal can come out quickly. We ordered her chicken tenders, and when they arrived, they were RAW inside. Serving undercooked chicken is obviously a serious concern, but especially when it's a meal being served to a small child. At that point, I completely lost confidence in the kitchen and didn't feel comfortable ordering anything else. I do want to say that the staff was extremely friendly and gracious, which honestly made me feel bad telling them that we were just going to leave. The service wasn't the problem at all. It's such a shame because the place itself has a lot of potential and the staff was lovely, but after multiple disappointing experiences--and especially being served raw chicken this time--the food quality and kitchen execution simply aren't where they need to be. :( read more

This was a large spot with outdoor seating and island vibes. It was very reminiscent of what Cuba looks like from the décor to the tables and waiter outfits. The service was friendly and the menu had a ton to choose from. Five different tapas were ordered, and I will describe my thoughts on each. Platanos Rellenos ($9.31) - This was stuffed plantain with ground beef and queso Blanco. This was very good. They were nicely fried and of good size. There was plenty of the appetizing beef and queso as well. Camarones Al Ajillo ($12.43) - This was sauteed shrimp in a double garlic sauce. This was okay. I liked the toasted bread provided, but some shrimp pieces were fishy, and the garlic was essentially just all garlic, a little too much as surprised as I am to say that. Bocaditos de Sandwich Cubano ($9.31) - This was essentially cut up Cuban sandwiches. This was the best item tried. It was very tasty with tender meat as well as the nicely toasted bread. Shrimp Ceviche ($15.59) - This was alright. The shrimp and red onions needed to be cut smaller. There was a ton of shrimp present, with just enough flavor. Croquetas ($9.95) - These were nicely fried as well. The filling looked odd since it was all grinded and mashed up, but it was good. It seemed to be some type of ham present in there, but who knows. Will I go back? Probably. read more

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Nice decor. Also has outside dining. Byob. Can get very busy and when its busy theres no waiting space which is annoying . Food is delicious. I love the coconut rice. We ordered the Ropa Vieja which was delicious and a big portion. When order sangria just go for the basic one because we ordered the strawberry flavored one and it was too sweet. read more

Cuban Pete's - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Dear Yelp, Haven't been here in over 10 years. Decided to try "someplace new" with our daughter. Everyone enjoyed the service and their meals. My husband had some Cuban sandwich for an appetizer and raved about it. We all split guacamole and plantain chips, which was very good. Ratio of guac to chips was off so we had to ask for more chips, no problem. For dinner, they both had steak with the sauce on the side. Came with tostones and coconut rice, yum! I had the mango chicken and it was perfection. Portion sizes were ample, we have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Total bill was $130, which was discounted for cash payment. Felt appropriate for the amount of food on the dinner plates. We also ate midday on a Saturday, so no wait. We are already making plans to come back. Love, Nicole read more

Cuban Pete's - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Dining at Cuban Pete's was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, with soft lighting and comfortable seating that makes it easy to relax. Our server, was attentive and friendly, offering great menu recommendations without ever rushing us. Prices are very reasonable for the high quality of the food and the level of service. Highly recommended for dinner or a date night!" The food and service is outstanding and don't carry the high ticket price like Soyola Restaurant in Montclair; NJ. Where the manager is rude and the food was ok. read more

It's a beautiful night out. There were a lot of people waiting but it only took about 15m to be seated in the outdoor area. The ambiance is beautiful outside. Lights strung above and a lot of greenery. Our waitress was probably the worst that I ever encountered here. It took her 20min to bring our waters out. She never came back to check on how the appetizers or entrees were and came back with my lemon when we were almost done w the entire meal(I had asked for it when we first sat down). Most of the food was fantastic. The flounder was perfectly cooked. The shredded beef dish was good but a little over salted. The mango habanero wings were amazing. The fried cheese appetizer was undercooked so the cheese was still hard inside. I would go back but definitely would make sure we got a better server. read more

Cuban Pete's - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I have been enjoying Cuban Pete's for years The plaza is always fun lively and fun One of my guests thought it was loud so they sat us in a quiet corner The food and service are always on point read more

Came to Cuban Pete's and immediately loved the unique setup--it's not your typical restaurant layout. The space is made up of a bunch of smaller, colorful buildings surrounding a lively courtyard, which gives it such a fun, almost transportive vibe. I ordered the ropa vieja, and it did not disappoint--tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The black beans on the side were just as impressive, rich and delicious and a great complement to the dish. Between the atmosphere and the food, it's definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more

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OK, I know this place has been here for a very, very, very long time, but please please you guys need a makeover desperately. It looks very dingy dirty dusty. You guys need to just gut everything out and start over with that being said, we came here for my friends's birthday dinner. I had the beef stew which was horrible because it was a little sweet. I do not like my food, especially my meat in sugar, so I did not enjoy that it was a huge portion also for one person my friend had I believe was the Churrasco and my other friend had the garlic shrimp, which was not good at all did not taste like garlic at all. You guys need to do better please you guys been here too long to not get it, right. read more

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Stopped by for a family outing and they were nice and accommodated our large party. I waiter was nice, but I'm not sure if he was new because he seemed a bit flustered & we felt like he took so long to bring out basic things like water/cups and utensils. For my entrée, I got the oxtails which were delicious as always. Everything was very flavorful and the portions are great. They're also BYOB and there's a liquor store conveniently located across the street. I took off a star just for the long wait times & the music was also ridiculously loud. You couldn't even hear the person in front of you. I've been here a few times and I don't remember it ever being that loud but it made it hard to have conversation for sure. I'd def come back but probably sit outside where there's less music/noise. read more

I had high expectations based on a previous visit, but unfortunately, this experience was quite disappointing. We started with the tostones and guacamole, which were unfortunately not enjoyable. The tostones tasted as though they had been reheated or possibly came from a pre-packaged product. The rabo encendido was overcooked and lacked the expected flavor and spice. My husband was especially looking forward to the asopado de mariscos, but unfortunately, it was extremely bland and tasted more like boiled water than a flavorful seafood dish. The service was adequate overall. Jonathan was attentive and did his best to take care of us, which we appreciated. One final detail that surprised me was the quality of the silverware. It felt extremely inexpensive and did not match the overall dining experience I expected. Overall, this visit fell far short of my expectations, especially considering how much I had enjoyed my previous experience. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback into consideration, as there is certainly room for improvement. read more

This is an interesting restaurant. It is comprised of several little buildings around a central courtyard and you dine in any one of those. I decided to have two appetizers rather than an entree. Mainly because those two piqued my interest and my gf didn't want apps. I had the Camarones Al Ajillo and chorizo al vino. Both of those were delicious. The shrimp was in a very e light but tasty garlic sauce. The chorizo al comp was a wine sauce but it didn't reek of wine. It was very balanced and tasty. We enjoyed our meal very much. Service was great and the portions are generous. read more

Cuban Pete's - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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It was my first time here but I've wanted to come for years...I was hesitant because of reviews but I was pleasantly surprised. My husband and I ordered the pernil with tostones appetizer and the chicharrones and they were both delicious and so well cooked. For our mains we ordered the churrasco and the vaca frita. I ordered it with coconut rice and it was delicious! Portions were large, vaca frita was cooked well and the churrasco was well seasoned. Service was great, it was lunch time so not too busy. Great ambiance with a center courtyard with outdoor seating and plenty of indoor seating surrounding it. Will definitely be back when in the area! read more

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Friendly service ; trash food Not that many options for sides. They had like four different kinds of rice and their plate of veggies was disgusting Their Spanish Harlem sangria was disappointing; although I liked the other one with strawberries and coconut Would not return at all read more

Met a friend at Cuban Petes. First time here. Friend loves Miami so thought this would be great spot. We were seated right sway and service was fantastic. I want to highlight that there was a blind woman seated next to us and the level of care and attention the waiters gave her made my experience. The food was not the same experience. We got the chicken empanadas as starters. While cooked well, they lacked any kind of flavor. The pastry was bland and needed the sauce to have any taste. Needs seasoning. The Ropa Vieja meat was very good and plenty portioned. However, the fried plantains also lacked flavor. No glaze at all, just dry and spongy. Inedible tbh. The sangrias look absolutely delicious but i was driving and passed. Love to see food improve because the ambience and decor was awesome. read more

Cuban Pete's - Ropa.vieja rice and plantains - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Oh Cuban Pete's. I remember going here years ago when it wasn't as known as it is now. It is one of the busiest spots on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair. They have great decor and vibes with multiple different areas to sit and outdoor seating as well. For me, the quality has gone down while the prices have gone up. I have been here a few times recently and each time I left disappointed and still hungry. The service has always been good and the vibes are great, but that is about all that I enjoy when coming here. Unfortunately I don't think I will be returning as the food is not worth the price tag. read more

I love the ambiance at Cuban Pete's. It's lively and beautiful decorated. Great music. It can get a little loud inside as it gets busier. Service was a little slow but I was ok. The food was excellent and the portions were huge. Next time, my husband and I will try to pick something to share because we ordered two entrees (Ropa Vieja with shredded beef and Arroz con Pollo) and had a ton of leftovers. We also ordered the pineapple mojito, which doesn't have alcohol but you can bring your own. I would recommend skipping the mojito but I've had their sangrias before and those are delicious. read more

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In Montclair NJ, there is a restaurant transported me to the Caribbean. Cuban Pete's has the most relaxing and beautiful ambiance. The decor will take your imagination on a Caribbean vacation. The drinks are beautiful and delicious and non alcoholic. Don't worry, it's a BYOB. Bring your rum with you. The food takes your taste buds on a trip too. I had salmon with mango sauce. Drooling, sorry. Last, everyone gives great service but ask for Bonnie when you go. There wasn't an empty glass at the table and she was the BEST at food description. We're already planning a return trip. Next time with a larger group. Hope to see you there read more

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We have been coming here since 2009. It used to be amazing. I'm guessing there are new owners. While we've been here 50+ times over the years, we haven't been here in about 2-3 years now. We even had our rehearsal dinner here before our wedding. I was disgusted by the food today. We ordered oxtails, chicken lollipops, and the spinach and cheese empanadas. Everything changed, from the sauce they make the oxtails with to the ingredients they used for the empanadas. While I dislike leaving bad reviews, this place changed. Save you money and go somewhere else. read more

I hadn't been here in a while and unfortunately I have to say that the quality has gone down. The place is still nice and it has 3 areas you can be seated in, however, every table in our area (as we looked around at others) kept wobbling which was uncomfortable as we tried to eat. We were seated right away which was nice but our waiter kept rushing us to make a decision on our food, and before we were done with it, he kept asking if he could take it away - I get that is good to clear the table once done, however, we weren't even halfway done with it. Now onto the food: we got their pernil as an appetizer which was good, and so were the tostones. The ropa vieja was good but it wasn't as tasty as it used to be years ago, and the beans were a bit cold. We also got their red snapper and it was very fishy (red snapper is not considered a really "fishy" fish) which threw us off a bit. Overall, it was okay but I don't know if we'll go back. read more

Cuban Pete's - Red Snapper - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Ropa vieja... that's all I gotta say. 5* all day. My wife and I were there and I ended up meeting some other people who we didn't know... they wanted to try it at a later date, so I bought her a gift certificate fir the ropa vieja. Hope she reads this enjoy! read more

We got sat at 8:32 and then waited around for some time before we even got acknowledgment. Then ordered everything at 8:45 once the waiter came to us. At 9 the person who appears to be the manager told one of the ladies to open our wine and bring us glasses. Then we waited around bit longer for the appetizer. We got the papa rellena, which is delicious with the green sauce. It didn't come with any sauce but the manager I think heard me say something about it and offered to bring some out. We appreciated that. Our food came out at 9:45. By this time we were really hungry and the food was really good. So we overlooked the wait. I got the Rabo and my husband the full fish. For dessert we got the tres leches. That was not good at all. It was very dry. Either it was old and dried up or just not good tres leches. Overall, the food is good and they perhaps just need to hire more staff to provide better service. The waiters looked stressed. read more

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The quality of the food and service have declined a lot. I've dined in and ordered takeout throughout the years but my last experience wasn't good due to an order being prepared wrong and no resolution from the manager as promised. Here's a tip for anyone ordering takeout: Check every single container to be sure the order is right and plan to wait at least an hour longer than the promised time for pickup. I won't be spending another dime here. read more

Cuban Pete's - When your carne con papas is all papas & a teaspoon worth of shredded carne. Looks like they scraped this from someone else's plate. - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Food: Stale, over cooked & somehow cold... Service: terrible Don't believe the reviews about this place Terrible on all fronts. I would make this review longer but they took enough of my time read more

The service - slower than watching paint on a wall dry. I say this after four times being there on not a busy night. The ambiance - love it! The music - love it! Seating- oh in the corner or always by the bathroom. Even when there are a ton of tables open. Food - vaca frita is a lil too fried like it's so chewy it makes my jaw hurt. They only have one dressing for the salad. The red snapper is amazing. The mesitos de puerco are big chunks but good. Flan is okay. Parking- the first couple times I parked towards the back so I had to walk up a large flight of stairs. There is parking in the front if you can find it. Not very handicap friendly unless you find parking in the front. read more

The food is delicious, service is fast and friendly, and the place is huge so easy to get a seat. The ambiance is ok but can be loud and sometimes cold based on where you are seating. But the food more than makes up for it. Everything I've had here is so good but I always get the oxtails when I'm here with coconut rice. read more

It was my first time here but the food was amazing. I had oxtail with arroz y beans y plantain. Drinks were ok but you can bring you own alcohol. Ambiance was nice and cozy. We were seated right away but the wait for the food was a lil long. All in all the experience was good. I would go again. read more

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Cuban Pete's used to be amazing back in 2017-2018. Went back in 2025 and it was terrible. It had lost its touch. Pretty large quantity however not great quality. The Cuban chicken sandwhich chicken was sickening, absolutely dry and weird texture. Could not even eat it. Really disappointed. read more

The atmosphere is great all the time, the service was amazing. The food we order was great & filling too. We order just appetizers actually . read more

I placed a order of tostones For pick of I picked it up and when I opened the box of tostones they looked like it came out of a frozen box not fresh at all so I recomen no one to eat them they where horrible read more

You feel like you've been transported to Cuba. The waitstaff, the decor, the food is all top notch. If you're in Montclair this restaurant is a must try. read more

I had a such a great time coming here. My favorite part is that it's pet friendly!! Aside from that, the space felt super tropical and definitely reminded me a little of Cuba. The food was super yummy and it is also BYOB! Our server was on top of everything and made us feel super comfortable. read more

This place is not what it used to be several years ago. I've been here multiple times but after the Covid debacle and what was communicated by ownership to non-latino, specifically African American patrons, I've chosen to remove this venue from my options. But Friday night, a friend wanted to go so I indulged her as we were having dinner after 9 pm and looking for places to eat in Montclair after 10 is not an easy task. The place was quite quiet and empty from what I've been accustomed to several years ago. But we were seated promptly. QR codes at the table to review menu. We ordered whole snapper, chicken lollipops and shredded beef dish. My friend had to return the fish dish as it was overcooked on tasted very greasy like it was cooked in dirty oil. It appeared that way too. My chicken lollipops were good. They were accompanied by white rice and bean and I substitute plantains for tostones. Service was good. read more

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I recently made an online order for pick-up. I was called shortly thereafter to inform me that the item ordered was only available on the weekends (therefore it should not have been an online option on a Monday). The young lady suggested other menu options but I declined. She said a manager would call me back for a refund. No one called. I waited 2 days and went to the store. Waited over 20 minutes because no one could find the manager. When he finally appeared, he stated since he is new, he was unaware how to process my refund. He promised to call me back the same day or the next day after consulting with another staff member. I called back the next day, the manager was not around but told the staff he would call me back. Needless to say, he did not call me back and no one has refunded my money. This is terrible customer service and bad business. I am yet to receive my refund. Please don't waste your time. read more

We came here on a Sunday afternoon around 6 for dinner. They don't do reservations but I did call ahead asking what the wait is and the first time I called, the girl told me she didn't know and hung up on me. The second time when I called back she said there are tables and people are sitting down - but still couldn't tell me the wait time. We decided to show up anyways hoping for the best. We were lucky enough to be seated within 5 minutes. For appetizers, we ordered the cheese/guava empanadas, goat cheese fritters, platanos rellenos (stuffed plantain with beef & queso blanco), costillas (beef tip ribs) and datiles (almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon). The platanos rellenos were my absolute favorite along with the goat cheese fritters. For mains - my husband ordered the Bahama Coconut Fish, my daughter did the Island Shrimp Conga and I got the Churrasco Mango Kings and yucca fries on the side. Our 2 year old got a plate of coconut rice and we had him pick off of our mains. The steak came medium well (I wanted medium) but was delicious overall. Their coconut rice is perfection. My husband comes here just for the coconut fish. We sat in the courtyard and enjoyed the overall vibe - the table was seesawing a bit since the outdoor pavement isnt even. The tables are also very close to each other - good thing we left the stroller at home. They are BYOB and have a variety of juices, pitchers and mixers so feel free to bring your favorite liquor of choice. We got a pitcher of lemonade ($13) and called it a day. Overall good food & we were lucky not to have to wait long! read more

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Cuban Pete was an enjoyable meal. The entrance walkway to the rear of the restaurant was very nicely decorated and it felt like a tropical island vibe. The waitstaff is always attentive and do a nice job with birthday songs. Our entrees had nice presentations and our Strawberry Mojito pitcher was large enough for, at least, three people. Just keep in mind... this is a BYOB eatery. The Flan could have been better, but the Café con Leche had the perfect mixture and bold taste. Throughout the warm months, there is an outdoor seating area that looks inviting. read more

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I ordered the Paella. It was good but it was missing the shrimp, which is what I specifically ordered it for. Not one shrimp in my plate. I told the waiter and he didn't believe me, did nothing about. Such a disappointment. read more

This restaurant comes highly recommended by my friend who assures me no dish here is bad. Coming in, the entrance is slightly hidden in an alleyway between 2 stores, but I promise you won't miss it with a cute gravel walkway there to lead you to the front. Immediately, you are greeted by the cozy outdoor seating options, with a warm and romantic atmosphere that definitely offers date night vibes. There is also plenty of indoor seating, with a warm family atmosphere. While we were not celebrating any birthdays, a party a few tables down and had a very festive cheer with a drum to celebrate! Once the food arrived, I was quickly assured that the food was as good as the aroma in the air. I ordered the Lechon Asado and was the portion huge! I had enough left over for a whole other meal after I was done. It was garlicky, and the fat rendered off nicely, making all the pork so juicy. The plantains were faintly crispy and well caramelized, and since everyone at my table ordered beans with rice, it came in a side bowl for family-style serving. I'll be sure to give their pitcher drinks a try next time! read more

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I've been a loyal fan of Cuban Pete's for years because the food has always been delicious, but my recent experience was beyond disappointing. I ordered three meals: vaca frita, Cuban chicken (pollo cubano), and ropa vieja. When I picked up my order, they gave me a sandwich instead of the vaca frita. I went back to have it corrected, and after waiting 45 minutes, the new order they gave me was still wrong. The Cuban chicken meal they provided was nothing like the picture--it looked like boiled, colorless chicken, completely unappetizing. When I asked them to remove it from my bill, the receptionist, Deborah, said she couldn't do that. There wasn't even an apology. I then asked to speak with the manager. Deborah told me to wait in the side room, but after 15 minutes, I was informed that the manager, Gustavo, had stepped off the premises with no clear return time. I left my name and number, hoping for a call or resolution, but it's been three days, and I've heard nothing. Not only was I charged for the inedible chicken I left on the counter, but the lack of accountability and basic customer service was shocking. It's heartbreaking to see the customer service at Cuban Pete's decline like this. Mistakes happen, but the way a business handles them speaks volumes--and Cuban Pete's failed to handle this situation entirely. Unless they make changes, I can't see myself returning. read more

Cuban Pete's - What is advertised - Cuban Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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