After so many years of coming to this restaurant and loving it every single time, I can't believe…read moreI'm leaving this review. I'm not sure if it was because it was midweek or if the chef was simply off his game on this night, but the experience was disappointing overall. The first thing I noticed when I sat down was that my knife was dirty. I ended up taking another knife from a different table. The ambiance, as always, was wonderful, and there were only two other tables occupied, so the restaurant was not busy at all. They started us off with soup, and it was chicken noodle soup. I was honestly very disappointed. When I go to a Spanish restaurant, especially one like this, I expect something traditional like caldo gallego or a similar house soup -- not chicken noodle soup that I could easily make at home. For appetizers, we ordered shrimp in garlic sauce and calamari. Both were absolutely delicious and honestly the highlight of the meal. We also had to ask the waiter for bread, and when it finally arrived, we were each given one very small roll. Our main entrées were sautéed tilapia and shrimp in lemon sauce with mashed potatoes and string beans, and breaded veal cutlet Milanese with mushrooms in a wine and brandy sauce over mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, neither entrée stood out the way meals here usually do. The tilapia was sitting on a bed of mashed potatoes and absolutely swimming in lemon sauce. There was so much sauce that it completely soaked the mashed potatoes and vegetables. I could only eat the top portion of the fish. My husband also mentioned that his breaded veal was very oily. The waiter never returned to ask if we wanted anything else to drink. The water had no ice and felt warm. We also had to ask for additional bread. I'm used to bread being left at the table, not rationed piece by piece. When the waiter asked if we enjoyed our meal, I politely explained that I did not care for mine and why, especially since most of it was left untouched. He looked at me like I had ten heads. I truly hate writing this because this restaurant has been one of my favorites for years, but this visit just did not live up to the standard I've come to expect.

Yummy! Authentic Spanish food and hospitality. Went for lunch one day just by happenstance. Wanted…read moreto try some authentic dishes-- not paella, since so many places offer that. Got the soupy rice dish (forget the name) with shrimp. SO satisfying! They offer complimentary soup ahead of your entree, along with bread. It was hard not to overeat! Huge portions too, btw. Very generous. Sat at the bar. Bartender was hard working, serving all the customers who were sitting at the bar as well as keeping up with bar needs. Very friendly. Looks like the place can get busy for dinner so probably best to make reservations.

Recommend, food taste you have to go and check it out, service was friendly and super helpfulread more

Service was great, we dined outside since weather was nice. Parking is limited street parking and…read morethe bad part about dining outside are the cars parking with lights on you. Now let's get down to the food, the diners around us had interesting looking plates. We were not that hungry so we only ordered entrees. I ordered the shrimp cavatelli and my friend ordered the penne allá vodka. Food was ok mine was a little bland. My friends did have good flavor. I did have nice pieces of shrimp but they were inconsistent in size. We did order a full bottle of wine. They also brought out bread but it needed some seasoned olive oil dipping sauce. At the end of our meal they did give us some complimentary lemoncello shots. I also did get the affogato which was good. All in all a good experience I think I would order something else next time.

Excellent food!! If you're looking for authentic Colombian food and large portions this is the…read moreplace to go. Everything is super yummy; we ordered the Churrasco and it was cooked to perfection; the Lomo Saltado was sooo yummy that I eat it first and then ate my rice and sweet plantains. The kids meal portions are sooo generous that even an adult can order it and be satisfied; my kids ordered the " Bandeja Paisa" which is rice w/red beans; steak; fried egg; sweet plantains and Fried Pork; the Steak and Fries. We also ordered the "Red Snapper" which I was a little hesitant due to I'm from the Caribbean and I have high standards when it comes to seafood; and the fish fried to perfection; fish was crunchy and well seasoned. Our server was the sweetest and most attentive server we've ever had; making sure we had everything we needed. This restaurant had really nice outdoor seating if you wish to eat outdoors. Another thing is this place is super clean!! The bathrooms are impeccable!! Definitely a great place to enjoy great Colombian food with great ambiance The only thing I regret is not taking pictures of the food; we were all hungry and the food smelled so good we didn't have time. Lol

This place's food is just a disappointment every time. They…read morecall themselves a Colombian restaurant but the flavor is not up to the standards . The empanadas taste really bad The pandebonos taste really bad The list could go on ... Service how ever ,is ok. Not bad

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

These reviews are a bit harsh- newer restaurant, spent some time working out the kinks…read more I've been several times and the food has been on point! I always do takeout but the staff has guided me through the menu and made suggestions. Very kind and helpful. I always get empanadas and fried plantains. I split a Cuban with my husband and we also split the shredded beef with yellow rice and beans. Plenty of food and enough for lunch tomorrow! Added to my rotation! Also- beautiful murals inside, worth the visit for sure.

Cuban Breeze blows hot and cold (hit or miss). The kids' meals were a hit, but some dishes, like…read morethe tasty Ropa Vieja and bland Cubano were both dry, leaving us craving moister meat or sauce. The Yucca Fries had potential, but without the missing citrus sauce, they fell flat. The Carrot Cake would have been good if it wasn't so sweet. Overall, it's a good spot for the little ones, but inconsistent otherwise. NOTES/TIPS: **Excellent, fast service. **Easy shared parking with high turnover in the same plaza as Dunkin Donuts, USA Karate. **On Doordash.

Super friendly! Tacos were great. I would definitely recommend! Nice portions and good price.read more

A simple Costa Rican restaurant (sodas) a true gem in Summit...feels like eating at home and the…read morebaked goods are delicious... Pizza?, yes but It's really a place for comida de Tico

First time here and was immediately pleased with the friendly welcome and engagement of every…read moresingle employee. It's like entering someone's home. This offers a wonderful variety of Latin American cuisines and dishes that taste very close to your parents and grandparents cooking. We enjoyed an Al fresco lunch starting with delicious empanadas and fruit juices. We ordered "country specific" trays and found the food to be very tasty and fresh. The service is very attentive and the place is comfortable and clean. The indoor dining area is small and well ventilated. We saw a lot of people getting takeout. I would return here. My couple of suggestions are for them not to always drop off plastic straws (ask if folks need straws) and offer bottled hot sauces rather than small servings served in plastic containers. Just be more conscious of the use of one time use of plastic.

It's understandable that these are decent prices for the area. But glad that there is a Colombian…read morerestaurant in the area. So it does hit the spot when I'm in the area.

It's been awhile but like before NEVER disappoints. Everything is delicious and packaged perfectly…read morefor delivery..Back in my dinner rotation.

I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE GREEN SAUCE IS HANDLED…read more I sat down to eat here twice this summer. I had the chicken, rice and beans, and obviously it came with the green sauce. When I was ready to pack up my food, I asked for a container so I could take my leftover green sauce with me, and the waitress told me that I could not take the green sauce. I couldn't understand that for the life of me. Why wouldn't a customer be allowed to take the sauce that came with their meal? Because I found that so strange, I started paying attention to what was happening with the green sauce whenever I came into the restaurant. The last two times I was there, I personally watched a waiter and a waitress take the ceramic bowls containing the green sauce and use the small spoon that comes with the bowl to pick out what appeared to be pieces of food from the sauce. They then took the bowls to the back. I don't know what they do with the sauce after they take it to the back, and I'm not claiming that I know what happens to it. But seeing employees picking pieces of food out of the green sauce that had been sitting on a customer's table and then taking the bowl to the back made me very uncomfortable. At that point, I started wondering if this is why customers aren't allowed to take their leftover green sauce home. Listen, the chicken is good. The yellow rice being mixed with white rice is confusing to me, but the chicken itself is good. However, after personally witnessing what I described above, I no longer feel comfortable eating the beans, rice, or especially the green sauce there. And that really bothers me because the green sauce actually tastes really good. But now it grosses me out. Sometimes when I eat chicken, I'll dip the chicken into the green sauce, take a bite, and dip it again because it's my food and my sauce. So naturally, seeing food particles being picked out of a sauce bowl that had been sitting on a customer's table made me question the food-handling practices. I'm not saying that I know what they do with the sauce after it goes into the back. I'm telling you what I personally saw. There are way too many Peruvian restaurants for me to spend my money somewhere when I've personally witnessed something that makes me uncomfortable about their food-handling practices. I would really like an explanation from management as to what happens to the green sauce after it is returned from a customer's table and why customers are not permitted to take their leftover sauce home. That's my concern. I saw what I saw, and it made me uncomfortable enough that I don't trust the green sauce anymore.

Great Food and service I was very surprised, their…read morerotisserie chicken was AAOK, the green sauce amazing and their pisco sour very good. Definitely will come back! Great job Palacio.

The food is excellent and very tasty. The arroz chaufa is very good and so are the clams they…read moremarinade.

This is my second time coming here. It was a yelp event that brought us here first and it was…read moreamazing. I will say parking is street parking or side streets and can get a little crazy on weekends. Service is always great and you feel like you are a part of the family here. Food is always fresh and amazing. Anytime I am near here we stop regardless of being hungry or not. I absolutely am obsessed with their vaca frita and black beans. It's a huge portion so leftovers are always good. My boyfriend always orders their cubano as he said it is the best one he has ever had. Their Maduros are also sweet and crisp and never greasy. We also tried their choripan sandwich and it was awesome. We've never had thinly sliced chorizo which eliminates the usual oil and messiness. Always an amazing meal. We also tried their pineapple Cuban smoothie and ended the meal with their delicious flan.

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.