MamaJuana Cafe in Waterbury is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, lively, and inviting. It is the kind of place where you can settle in, enjoy a delicious meal, listen to great music, and truly have a memorable night out. The background music made the experience even better, with Chayanne's "Bailando Bachata," Romeo Santos, Nicky Jam, and other amazing Latin artists creating the perfect upbeat, feel-good vibe. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Our waitress, Angie, was wonderful--friendly, professional, and incredibly attentive. She made sure we had everything we needed and checked in throughout the meal without ever making us feel rushed. The entire staff was welcoming and attentive, which made the experience feel even more special. We began with the Empanadas de Queso, and they were easily a perfect 10! They were fried to a beautiful golden crisp without being overcooked, with a light, flaky exterior and a warm, perfectly blended cheese filling. The cheese was savory, creamy, and melted perfectly with every bite. The sauce served on the side was the extra touch that took them to another level--so flavorful and delicious that it left us wishing there was more. This appetizer is an absolute must-order. The Yuca Bites were another highlight. They were crispy on the outside while remaining soft, warm, and tender inside. The seasoning was just right--flavorful without overpowering the natural, comforting taste of the yuca. Every bite had a satisfying crunch followed by a smooth, buttery texture, making them incredibly easy to keep reaching for. They were simple, well prepared, and full of delicious flavor. The Rice and Green Pigeon Peas was also very good. It was not the traditional Puerto Rican-style rice and peas, but it had its own delicious flavor and character. The rice was fluffy, nicely seasoned, and complemented by the hearty, earthy taste of the green pigeon peas. It was a satisfying side that paired beautifully with the rest of the meal. The Salmon Fettuccini was outstanding. The salmon was cooked perfectly--tender, moist, and flaky, never dry or overdone. It blended beautifully with the fettuccini and flavorful sauce, creating a comforting dish with a wonderful balance of creamy pasta, savory seasoning, and fresh salmon. The flavors came together so well that every forkful was just as enjoyable as the first. For dessert, we had the Tres Leches and Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. The portions were on the smaller side, but they were still absolutely delicious and the perfect sweet ending to the meal. The Tres Leches was moist, soft, and wonderfully rich, with that classic sweet, milky flavor that melts in your mouth. The Bread Pudding was warm, comforting, and full of sweet, spiced flavor, while the scoop of vanilla ice cream added a smooth, creamy contrast as it slowly melted over the top. Both desserts were satisfying and definitely worth ordering. Overall, MamaJuana Cafe delivered an amazing dining experience. The food was delicious, the service was impeccable, and the music and atmosphere made the night feel fun and memorable. Angie and the staff made us feel genuinely welcomed and well cared for. We are already planning our return and cannot wait to go back on a night when the DJ is there for an even more energetic and festive experience. If you are looking for flavorful food, attentive service, great Latin music, and a welcoming atmosphere in Waterbury, MamaJuana Cafe is a place you absolutely need to experience! read more

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I've been here three times and keep forgetting to leave a review but here it is! I can't break it down by dish since I've been here a few times and have tried a few things from their menu but highly recommend you visit. Location is great, lots of parking and it feels safe. Inside the restaurant there is a lot of space and the way it's set up makes it feel very open. They always play Spanish music which is one of the reasons I love coming here. Make me feel like I'm on vacation LOL! As a girl there's a lot of cute places to take pictures. This spot is cute to come with your girlfriends. The birthday song the play is so fun and really gets everyone excited. The service is a bit inconsistent- there have been times I've gone and they're not really too friendly or personable and then there are times that they're very friendly. I went yesterday and our waiter was William and he was so fun, he was dancing while taking our order :) I love love their food. It's always an explosion of flavor. This time when I went it stood out to me more, I had just had dinner at Don Coqui in Edgewater the night before and WOW!! If you ever thought about Don Coqui please save yourself the drive, money and stress cuz Mamajuana is where it's at!!! Their food is 100x better than Don Coqui. Their drinks are always on point and service is generally fast. Highly recommend this place. Great for birthdays or just any occasion. You'll surely have a great time! I dare you to not dance in your seat while you eat LOL ***PS- they do not share this info when walking in BUT they will charge a fee for using credit card. I think it's bs and their only downfall. I'd understand it if they were a small little restaurant cuz those merchant fees suck but they're a pretty big location so they should be able to handle those and I don't think it's ethical that they do not disclose this info anywhere. So BEWARE. I believe it's like a $5 difference from paying cash. read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Mofonguitos - GET THIS!!! - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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Wow! Who would have thought this place existed in a Walmart plaza in Waterbury?! Location is definitely a little awkward but once you step inside the whole place is a vibe! There are photo ops as soon as you walk in the door. The music is upbeat and pumpin, the staff was lively and soo awesome! And the food?! The food was delicious! So much flavor in the sauces and cremas, I was genuinely impressed. I had the shrimp and yuca dish and it was a 10/10! Drinks were flowing and desserts were creatively prepared and yummy. It was my friend's birthday and they even came out with her own dessert with happy birthday written on the plate with chocolate sauce. They came out singing with instruments and helped us to celebrate! It was a great night and I enjoyed everything about it. I will definitely be back! read more

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Made a reservation for Valentine's Day and it was completely over booked, the line was through the door with people waiting for their reservations. I personally made a reservation for 7pm and wasn't seated till about 7:30 while waiting in line. The restaurant was fully packed with tables set for 2 and a few bigger tables set for slightly larger parties. There was also live music playing throughout the night. Once we reached the front desk we were offered a "fixed" menu that included an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert for a total of $85 per person with no drinks included for said package. The food was delicious however the wait time between each plate was far too long in addition to this it took 4 attempts to get water served to our table. We decided to cut our meal short and have our remaining entree wrapped up as well as the desserts. Which brings me to my final point. At my previous visit to mamajuana cafe with a full table of 6 each with 5 alcoholic beverages, 5 entrees, and 1 appetizers. The bill was about $420-460 (give or take a bit as it has been a while) with tip included. For our 3 course meal for 2 the bill with tip included was $309.87. Although I would probably still come to the establishment to grab another bite I would recommend refraining from coming on a holiday such as Valentine's Day if you don't want to drop a heavy dime on the food. read more

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Had a chance to stop by a couple weeks ago on a Fri for dinner and was greeted so graciously checking in for my resy. The vibe was excelllent! Great music but not too loud where I could still conversate at my table. Staff was attentive and friendly. We started with drinks and appy's. We got the fried calamari and shrimp con tostones. The shrimp could've used a little more seasoning. I enjoyed the twist on the calamari, light and delicious. The drinks were on point, loved both of them. For the main we got the salmon w/ mashed potatoes and the rice & beans with oxtails and sweet plaintains. Salmon was seasoned and cooked perfectly! The oxtails were a little fatty but the flavor was there. Rice and beans were sooo good! There were a few bdays in the building and I love how they celebrate your day. I will return for great food and drinks with music and vibes! read more

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The music and food was good, went for a girls night . We had shrimp and steak appetizer and calamari. And salmon , both different ox tails dinner which was delicious. And lychee martinis were amazing definitely will be back soon !! read more

Great Food, Service, Prices were High but worth the food. The services charges are up high end restaurants in the City. Best tasting drinks and manager and staff were Great. Went during the week , weekends sound to loud and crowded but we will see. read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

We got there for our 11:45pm Saturday reservation on time. Seated immediately. It seems we came at the tail end of dinner because when we walked in it was super crowded with laughs, smiles and full bellies. Cleared out very quickly after that. Important to note: when we were seated we were told the kitchen closes at midnight. I'm not sure how it works on a daily basis but that Saturday night was the cutoff time for food. My husband ordered an Old Fashioned and I ordered a frozen margarita. Both drinks were very good. We ordered the tostones with fried cheese and Guac. What a treat! Great portions as well. My husband ordered the Mamaburger that came with fries and I ordered the flank steak (med rare) that featured white rice and beans as a side. He enjoyed his burger. Was almost gone in an instant ! My entree was very good. My steak was cooked to perfection and the rice and beans were hot and fresh. The plating could've been a bit better, it was difficult to eat the rice and beans without some falling off the plate now and then. Overall we had a wonderful time. Music was great, great food, great drinks. Whenever we visit Waterbury again we will def return! read more

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From the warm welcome to the delicious food and drinks, everything was amazing--it was truly a whole vibe!

I'm so excited that it finally opened! The location in Queens is fantastic, and I was really looking forward to this opening, even if I'm not sure if they're related to anyone else. I decided to drop by on Friday for some drinks and appetizers, and let me tell you, I'll definitely be coming back! The drinks really complement the vibes and ambiance perfectly. My favorite bite was the mamajuana roll--those ripe plantains with steak, shrimp, and avocado are just amazing! Since it's recently opened, I'm looking forward to coming back for a full experience. I did notice that the staff was still getting used to the new location, which led to a few little mishaps, like missing appetizer plates. But honestly, it wasn't a big deal for me; I totally understand that these things happen. read more

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There was some good and some bad. We are looking for someplace to stop and have an afternoon snack and drink. The good: nice bar, great prices for happy hour The food: the chicken app wasn't for me, I didn't like that it was dark meat, I found it chewy and fatty which was a shame because the breading was delicious and the sauce was too, I just don't care for dark meat chicken prepared like that. My partner didn't mind. The chicharron ceviche I felt was lacking flavor. The meat tasted dry/overcooked, the yucca needed salt. The service: just ok, it wasn't until we were leaving that I realized our waitress didn't speak that much English which I believe was probably why I felt she wasn't that attentive. In her defense we were seating at the bar (no one else was there)I just kind of felt like if we needed something we had to ask, as opposed to someone checking in. The bill: I was annoyed by a couple things with the bill. I had handed over my credit card. I noticed that the amount was a few dollars more so I asked for the original receipt. I was charged a credit card surcharge. Connecticut law prohibits charging a surcharge for credit cards, please see below state statue. Connecticut law Sec. 28 of Public Act 24-142 prohibits a business from charging a customer a surcharge, which is any additional charge or fee for using one payment type (usually credit card) over another payment type (usually cash). I also noticed that I was charged a 15% "propina incluida" ... being the rest of the receipt is in English except for that one line feels dishonest. I don't speak Spanish I googled it to verify that did mean tip. We always tip a minimum of 20% anyways, which I left the difference in cash, I just didn't like that no one told us it was included, kind of made me feel like they expected you to tip twice being there was a tip line on the credit card receipt which did not show these totals. Overall can't say I would return, But I hope my review can be helpful. If the business owner is reading this I would suggest removing the credit card surcharge before someone files a complaint with the state of Connecticut Attorney General office, which can be done right on their website. read more

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Amazing food and atmosphere! From the tropical drinks to the authentic food definitely a 10/10. Service was great too.

Pros: Great atmosphere. Birthday pop-up from staff was fun. Food presentation. Cons: Wait time for table service was extremely long and rushed. Prices are a bit on the higher side. Waited about an hour for appetizer and about 2 for dinner. They did allow us to stay at the table longer than the reserved time. Kinda made up for it. read more

Good food, great service music on point very clean price is good for the quality and amount of food

Omg! Drove 45 mins and it did not disappoint! Great food service and the decor was amazing. We were greeted by the hostess she was very nice and inviting our waiter William phenomenal and very detailed we were celebrating a bd for a friend when he greeted us he immediately acknowledged and wished her a happy birthday which I thought was very special. The food recommendation was spot on we had the tres golpe sushi and the chicken bites and mashed avocado great starters. The food was great a presentation was top tier. The music and the vibe was amazing. Cannot wait to come here again. Don't stop what you're doing it's working! read more

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Food and drinks were really good. We went for a bday brunch and we had a great time. Great music and good service read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Trifongo with shrimp - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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We arrived at the restaurant as a party of five. Although there was available seating, the manager refused to let us combine tables, so we ended up sitting separately. The music was at a good level, but the service and food were disappointing. My mother ordered mofongo, and the waitress informed us they had run out of plantains because of the Valentine's Day holiday the day before. I ordered sancocho, and it came out cold. I asked if they could reheat it, but it was still cold when it came back. My nephew ordered a drink, and it took a long time to arrive. When the check came, he had to ask for the drink again because it was already charged even though he still hadn't received it. On top of everything, the heat inside the restaurant was extremely high, making the experience even more uncomfortable. The manager was very rude and the waitress was nice but not attentive . read more

Service was really slow... I request something and they never did it food took long waitres was not around for refill drink.. it was my first time going and last time.i was not happy.. read more

I have been wanting to go to mamajuana cafe in Waterbury for the longest. Growing up in New York City this was one of my favorite places to grab food and turn up. Since my parents came up to CT this Sunday, we decided to all give it a try. There is no way you can miss this location , it is huge! The building is beautiful on the outside and as soon as you step in. The aesthetics were gorgeous and there are alot of opportunities to capture your date night photos. Now to the service , our waiter William was very welcoming. He was relatable and treated us like family in this restaurant. He let us know if there is anything we might have an issue with to let him know right away and he will support us with our concern. Our orders were taken immediately and from the drinks , to the aps , to the entrees, and desserts, all was incredible. The very minor concern was the mamafongo my sister had , on the menu it did not say it contained a cheese sauce and she is lactose intolerant. They did make this right by bringing her a new mofongo which she loved. Everything pictured is what we ate and drank and we had not one complaint. We did spend $440 so while it was incredible it would not be a place we go to every weekend( I would go back just for the bread pudding lol )I do 100% recommend this restaurant. read more

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Amazing always a good time great scenery amazing workers they always make sure they take care of the customers

Amazing food, friendly staff, can't wait to come back. The Mufongo was delicious. Beautiful place, I will be going back in the summer

Good experience, everyone's food was good and the service was SPOT ON! Was there for a birthday dinner with 16 guests and we were able to get table with 0% hassle. read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Coconut shrimp plate - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

Made a reservation didn't get table service after 25mins of being seated and that's because I stood up and talk to who ever was in front being the host. She apologized and said first drinks was on them because of their "mistake" ended up charging for the drinks anyway... Music was too loud. Food was okay. 7/10 read more

This was a spontaneous dinner plan. We've driven by numerous times and always said we have to try it. Today was it and it was more than we expected. We sat for 15 minutes before summoning anyone who'd listen to see if there was a server for our table. Not a great start however the place is beautifully decorated, lively and clean but way too loud! Our date night was without conversation because we couldn't hear each other speak. We typically order different things so we can try more variety but we couldn't work that out not knowing what each other was saying. We ended up getting two dishes both with oxtail. But let's refocus on the food. The menu was full of variety and unique dishes all sounding and looking delicious. The fettuccine oxtail was definitely different and full of flavor. Somehow the fresh mozzarella didn't make it to my bowl but nonetheless it was enjoyable. Rabo Encendio looked amazing and seemed to hit the stop for my husband as he left nothing beyond. I love mofongo so we started with the mofonguitos. They were presentable but crunchy and not like mofongo I've had before. Ultimately, the food was good and we'd go again... on a different day may be a different experience. read more

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Awesome atmosphere and food! Went with friends and have been on date night as well. Would definitely go back!

Expensive and deceptive pricing. My fiancee and I went here for dinner last evening (4-28). Between the 2 of us, we had a total of 2 cocktails, 1 soda, 2 appetizers, 1 entree and 1 dessert. The tablet-menu did not make any mention of a mandatory tip being added to a bill. When the bill arrived, we were shocked at the price: $165.42. When we reviewed the bill with the staff, it was pointed out that the gratuity of 15% was ALREADY added in. I asked how - if it was a gratuity and we were only a party of 2 - was the tip already included? The response was that was the policy of the restaurant. I said that, by definition, a gratuity was optional and at the discretion of the customer. They politely disagreed, then added we could tip higher if we chose. I told them I was not sure that making a tip mandatory was even legal and they assured us that it was and was the custom of many other restaurants. I have no idea whether or not that is true, but I paid the bill of $165.42 with my credit card. The bill given to me also had a space for Gratuity beneath the total of $165.42, perhaps for those unsuspecting customers who didn't realize they were already paying a 15% tipping charge. read more

I ordered the stuffed snapper and El Pepe cocktail. My husband ordered the mamafongo and a manhattan drink. We also ordered an appetizer with chicken and I apologize I do not remember the name but the taste was WoW. Our server was the sweetest most amazing. She was very attentive The reason I did not give 5 stars was because I didn't care for the fish that much and it was a bit pricey. Very flavorful and big portions. read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Seafood stuffed snapper - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

To start off the worst tasting Latin food I have ever tasted. I have been to Columbia several times. This wasn't even close to being even authentic to start off. If you wanna sit outside in the parking lot next to the freeway, feel like a street bomb tableside atmosphere moved inside service was terrible. Servers did not even consider being Customer Service minded. Also, the place was very dirty. I would not recommend this place even if they offered free meals or Latin food ever they should close their doors, terrible location and hold onto your wallet. They'll try and clean you out for every penny that you have and lie to your face about certain charges tips surcharges They should be ran out of town Bandidos stay clear of this establishment. read more

We had a reservation for 25 people and when we arrived they did not have enough seat. Few was seated at a different area away from everyone else after waiting 30 minutes for them to figure it out. Service for everything from seating some family to drink order to food was min 30 minutes wait. Food oxtail was bad, not tasty ,cold ,fat on meat and bone chips. Many family members had oxtail and same complain. Some family members had to order drinks at the bar because it was a long wait for them to bring drinks. The bar was fast when you went over there to order and pay separate. My order had to be sent back 3 times and rice was mushy. I asked for no calamari or mussels in food. After they brought food back they still had calamari in it and had to send it back. Next time I still found a few calamari in food and rice was mushy. They kept bringing beer to table that we did not ordered. We sent it back and they try to charge us on bill. Service was bad slow and after all that was forced to pay 20% gratitude. Reservation was required for the size of party . Was told that it was to make sure they had enough staff but apparently not true. I felt like we could have not made reservations and get the same poor service. read more

Never got my meal , other meal were cold ... they lost my credit card. Manager was no help. Am out state. Very disappointed.

A couple of my friends invited me to dinner at Mamajuana Café for my birthday, and it was a spectacular experience! The food was absolutely delicious, the drinks were on point, and the ambiance was perfect. From start to finish, everything came together for a truly fun and memorable night. We had such a great time--I can't wait to go back! read more

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food was good! it was packed make reservations drinks were good service was good music was loud read more

Mama Juana offers great food and drinks, and it's refreshing to have something new in Waterbury. However, I noticed that the waitstaff seemed inexperienced. It felt like there were a lot of managers around, but the servers didn't seem to have received proper training. Unfortunately, they made an error and charged me twice, which, while it was corrected, was still a big mistake, especially since my total was already over $500. Regarding the food, my Mar y Tierra had a good-sized lobster portion, but the steak was smaller than expected, and the mashed potatoes were a bit lacking. That said, the sushi and appetizers were delicious. Overall, good food but service needs improvement. read more

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Tried it for the first time with my sisters and we had a great time! Service was great, food was delicious and the ambience was dynamic! Ordered the goat, oxtail and other dishes plus dessert. It was one of my sisters birthday and they sang for her, it was so fun! Definitely returning and recommending to family and friends read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Tres leche dessert, yummy! - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

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Horrible!!! Food as far as brunch menu was disgusting very salty (and I can cook and cook with a lot of flavor) they served us a Caesar salad with the lettuce browning looked old ... then when explaining that they overcooked my egg because I wanted over medium which anyone knows that means a little runny she was almost argumentative with me saying that is what they gave me a medium egg it was fullllly hardened ... they just don't have good customer service .. I told them I did not want the food .. my husband didn't want his either and they told him because he took a bite of his he had to pay for his .. so he said ok even though he was disappointed ..they charge gratitude automatically and then have extra service charges AND if you pay with a card they charge you EXTRA it's just a shame I was looking forward to coming here and it was an absolute horrible experience I don't recommend this place at ALL save yourself the disappointment... I'm assuming it's just a good place to go to for drinks (but I didn't get a chance to try the drinks so I can't even tell you for sure )and music if that's not what your looking for don't go! read more

What an amazing place. We went there last night with a group of 9 of us and loved the food. Their drinks were on point ! I had some Brazilian rum drink that was amazing and went down a little too well. My spouse had a whiskey with passion fruit and cinnamon and vanilla - also quite good. We tried some of their rolls - a Waterbury and a. Mexican roll to start- then he had the oxtail - I loved the Waterbury roll so much I ordered one for dinner - The waitress provided excellent service and was there any time we needed anything. While we were there there were 4 other tables where they had birthdays and every time the entire service team came out - sang, and made the person feel amazing - the only thing I didn't love was the strobe lights - but this was a great spot ! Spot on decor and a comfortable setting to enjoy some great food and drinks read more

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Arrived and denied service due to an issue in the kitchen. Drive half hr to be turned away.

Great food and atmosphere. Food has good presentation and taste amazing. Everything is fresh. The waiters are friendly and attentive. read more

Mamajuana Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Waterbury, Connecticut

The food was awesome! The drinks were not just delicious but they were fun! Nice atmosphere definitely something different than other restaurants. People are very friendly pricing is reasonable. The bills do include a tip, but I had to tip extra because of a good service! read more

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Excellent service and great selection of dishes. Our meal was fabulous. Going again next week.