The food was absolutely amazing. I have to go back when I'm back in NJ. The staff is friendly and…read moreattentive.

Rancho Mateo is huge, the place could easily accommodate hundreds of diners. The decor is great and…read morethe life music was fantastic. They also have ample parking and valet. Now, the food is a different story. There were 4 of us in the party and two out of the four entrees were disappointing. I had the carne llanera and this was by far the weakest dish out of the 4. The other plate that was ok, but not great was the churrasco montañero. The meat was not a good cut and had way too many fatty pieces. The entraña à la parrilla was by far the best of the 4. This one was well cooked and flavorful and a great cut of meat. The second one was the pechuga encebollada, this one was very good and the caramelized onions were perfectly cooked. We also had the empanada appetizer which was very good as well. The service wasn't bad, but they did get one of the orders wrong and we were half way through our dinner before the correct dish arrived. Rancho Mateo is a beautiful restaurant in a great location, but the inconsistency in the quality and flavor of the food makes it a one-and-done experience for me. There are much better options for Colombian food in the area.

The store owner and manager are AMAZING!! Compassionate and caring with not just their food service…read moreBUT customer service. Very humane and cozy place to just eat good food and unwind! Their prices are also fair compared to the rest of Elmora Ave in comparison to the quality of their foods. Please visit and enjoy! Cus I know I d

We always love Nicole's. Their salchipapas and lunch deals are our favorites. The service is…read moreexceptional and inviting. They're always so sweet, helpful, and welcoming. We can be a bit extra with our specifications and they always nail it and smile at us. They have a nice patio area that looks amazing for summer and the inside is cozy but not too packed.

Solid spot for empanadas around the area. They were juicy and tasty with the sauce they provide…read more Depending on the empanadas, they range around $3 which is pretty decent for the size of the empanada. Workers were really nice and told us all the empandas they had and what the empandas had inside. We bought 6 empanadas and the cashier gave us a free drink with that. Which I thought was really kind for them to do. Overall, I would come back here whenever I am around the area and try the other foods they have.

Delicious food for a great price! Recommend checking this place out for some authentic Ecuadorean…read moredishes! Also super friendly staff!

Awesome experience....fair prices... quality service... and tasty food!…read more Only Suggestion: I understand it is a spanish/columbian restaurant, but your staff should be fluent in both english and spanish. Thankfully I speak spanish. ---- Ordered empanands, cubanos, mixto, & classico sandwich

Awesome Colombian place in Plainfield with a parking lot right next to the establishment. Entrees…read moreare delicious and some of the best shakes I could get on the stretch of Park Ave. I've been usually doing sit down and eat and I recommend eating inside. When I got take out once they gave me Chicharrón that didn't hold up to the usual quality. It was more like scraps. However, I'm willing to overlook this as in the past, I'm always treated to such good food and friendly service.

This place is conveniently located across from the Union County Courthouse. My family and I stopped…read moreby here for a quick bite before the sheriff sale. Communicating with the employees there was a little difficult as they didn't speak English well, but they understood we were in a rush and directed us toward the faster meals. They prepared everything in a timely fashion and, despite the language barrier, had pretty good service. For simplicity sake, we got their chicken special combo. The highlight here was their green sauce, rice and beans, and their yummy half popped corn. The chicken was well cooked and not dry. Their fries and sausage was literally just fries and hot dogs. A little disappointed, but no big deal. If I'm passing by here with a little more time, I'll stop by and try some of their other dishes.

Sometimes, being spoiled really sets the bar too high for places to match. For Peruvian style…read morerestaurants with roasted chickens, ceviche etc. Pio Pio remains my gold standard a decade after my first visit to the esteemed chain. That said, I do my best to temper my expectations whenever I go to a place like Sofia's, which strikes me as more of a mom and pop standalone than part of a chain of restaurants in New York City. I was nearby and I needed lunch so I stopped by Sofia's to get some food to take home. The exterior is a tad off-putting to be honest. The awning is black and the "Sofia's Restaurant" lettering is very worn, to the point where at first I was unclear if the restaurant was even open. I peeked inside and saw activity so in I went. The interior features rest rooms near the entrance, a counter to the left and seating to the right. It looked good inside, and quite a contrast from what I expected from the exterior's appearance. The staff was nice (not overly effusive, but not rude either) and took my order quickly. So here's what I tried: CHICKEN Like so many places with this style of menu, you can order a roast chicken. You can get a quarter, half or an entire chicken. I wound up ordering a whole chicken so I'd have left overs for a couple days. This also let me try both the white and dark meat sections. Overall, the chicken is good. If I were to place Pio Pio's chicken as an "A+", this chicken is basically a "B-". The chicken was moist and well cooked, but it was not marinated as well as I would have liked. Even the heavily seasoned skin did not have the flavor punch I am used to from Pio, but would I get it again? Sure. It does the trick in a pinch. With the chicken you get their version of "green sauce" which is...okay. Again, if we are to hold Pio's as an "A+", this would be a "B-". There is good flavor, but it does not have the flavor hit I had hoped for. SALAD The side salad order features iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and a couple chopped vegetables. A creamy dressing is drizzled on top. This was fine as a side to the chicken. It wasn't anything to write home about, but I didn't dislike it either. MADUROS Perhaps the most disappointing of the dishes I purchased. My favorite maduros come from either Pio Pio or Sophie's Cuban Cuisine. They should be well cooked, not dried out and of course, sweet. These were sweet, but the texture was bad. These had clearly been deep (deep) fried in oil far too much, so they were overly oily and falling apart. Worse, the order was *swimming* in a thick layer of oil in a plastic container that had a nice opening, causing this to leak all over the rest of my order. Never again. Overall, Sofia's is okay, but it's not great. If I'm in the area again I may get the chicken again and perhaps try some other dishes but I won't be going out of my way to visit.

They have been on a role lately. Our first experience was not great. However since then we have had…read more5 good experiences. What I like is their consistent delivery of flavor with regards the Jerk and Curry chicken and the tenderness of the Oxtail. The cabbage is flavorful with a hint of spiciness, and the plantains are usually sweet. The patties are delicious, especially the Veggie. They are made in house and they often run out by 5pm. They say the Festival is available on the weekends but they never have when I place my order. I would suggest calling ahead to place your order the seating area is very hot and can become quite crowded.

I love jamaican food so it's nice that I don't have to travel all the way back to Brooklyn just to…read moreget some. The platters are pretty hefty and I always end up having leftovers. The oxtail is tender, the curry chicken is flavorful, and the mac and cheese is pretty good too. There's only street parking, but I don't mind it because i'm typically in and out unless there's a line. If you're looking to get a beef patty or another specific food, I recommend to call ahead of time and check if they've run out or not. It's more of a take out place so it's small inside, but that's ok because I'd rather enjoy the food at home anyway.

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+

I got the small Bandeja Paisa and it was fantastic. So much food, I even had to bring some home…read more Compared to others Bandeja Paisa's I've had in the past I'd say this was probably the best deal for one I've gotten. Will be coming here when I come back to Elizabeth.

Pleasant spot for a brunch meal. The menu had a lot of options. I loved how they gave us empanadas…read moreas complementary bites upon sitting down. The workers were all pretty friendly as well. I think the food is very comforting but not a culinary must-try. Seems like a staple in the community though and I can appreciate that.