Lena y Carbon is one of my favorite Peruvian chicken restaurants in New Jersey. The chicken is…read morealways full of flavor and incredibly juicy. In my opinion, 1 PM is the perfect time to go--right after the chicken comes off the rotisserie. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the ceviche. The fish doesn't taste or have the texture I would expect from corvina. Honestly, I suspect they may be using basa or another less expensive fish, because there is no way this tastes like corvina to me. The chicken is definitely a winner, but the ceviche needs some work.

I visited for my sister's graduation dinner with a party of 7 and unfortunately had one of the…read moreworst dining experiences we've had. From the beginning, our server was extremely inattentive and dismissive. She repeatedly pushed us to order a seafood boat even after we clearly explained that multiple people in our party have seafood allergies. We ultimately declined it because we did not feel comfortable risking cross contamination. After that interaction, the service noticeably declined. Our table was largely ignored while nearby tables were attended to regularly. Food came out one person at a time over the course of nearly an hour, so we were unable to eat together. Some meals arrived cold, appetizers came after entrees, and we were never properly checked on. We had to get our own utensils because none were brought to the table and drink refills were never offered. To make matters worse, when we were ready to leave, we waited over 10 minutes just to receive the check because our server continued ignoring the table. An automatic gratuity was already included and when I expressed concern about paying full gratuity for such poor service, I was simply told it could not be removed, with no effort to address the situation or involve a manager. We understand restaurants get busy, but this was supposed to be a special graduation celebration and the experience completely ruined the atmosphere for our family. Very disappointing experience overall and unfortunately not a place we would return to.

After nearly 40 years, I finally returned to Spanish Tavern in Newark, and I am happy to say it is…read moreevery bit as wonderful as I remembered. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and ensure everything was perfect throughout our meal. My wife ordered the salmon topped with crab, and it was outstanding--tender, perfectly cooked, and a very generous portion. I had shrimp with pepper sauce was equally impressive, packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. The sides of fresh vegetables, yellow rice, and the homemade potato chips complemented the meal beautifully. Dessert was the perfect ending to a fantastic evening. The flan was simply incredible--smooth, rich, and full of flavor. The chocolate cake was absolutely decadent and worth every bite. Spanish Tavern offers plenty of convenient parking and a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes it ideal for a date night, family dinner, or special occasion. What impressed me most is that after four decades, this restaurant continues to deliver outstanding food, exceptional service, and a memorable dining experience. Some places come and go. Spanish Tavern has stood the test of time, and for good reason. It remains a truly special place to enjoy great food and even better company. Highly recommended! I'd rate it 5 stars without hesitation.

We came here for dinner on a weeknight, a bit late, and were quite literally the only party in the…read morerestaurant seated for the rest of the night. They had a decent amount of servers and one or two parties at the bar when we sat down, but no one else came in to get seated which was interesting given how many tables they had and how nicely everything was set. The vibe of this restaurant felt a little more upscale than we expected so staff were in black tie dress, but since no one else was there, we didn't feel too out of place. Menu had a good selection of dishes and we shared a few for the entire meal. Taste was fine, solid and decently priced. I enjoyed the paella. Overall, not a bad experience, just felt a little eerie due to the lack of patrons. We enjoyed it nonetheless and wish Spanish Tavern more success!

Moldy cheesecake(which was replaced without our approval). Reading the reviews we're apparently not…read morethe first to receive mold in their dessert. Will not be ordering again.

Pollo Dorado was a really good spot for a flavorful meal. The chicken was well-cooked, juicy, and…read morehad a nice balance of seasoning that made it enjoyable without being too heavy. The sides complemented the main dishes well, and everything tasted fresh. The atmosphere was simple but comfortable, making it a nice place for a casual visit. The staff were friendly and service was fairly quick. Overall, a solid choice for good food, with just a little room to make the flavors even more memorable.

The women who runs this place reminds me of my grandma... she's so nice!…read more Came here for lunch and the meal was great. They have 9$ lunch specials on weekday's, which I got, while my friend got the ceviche. Both our meals were fantastic- you can tell the corvina was super fresh while my soup and pork chop was cooked to perfection. Make sure to get the emoliente- it's freshly brewed and very unique. It kind of reminds me of sweetened herbal tea with barley and fruit overtones.

They hung up on me twice for not speaking spanish (i do know enough to place an order, they just…read moredidnt give me the chance), before i was able to place an order for take away. A modest restaurant, that seems to be run by family/close friends, which turned out to be some of the best peruvian food ive had in New Jersey so far. I really was craving ceviche and peruvian fried rice when I stumbled on this local store on Yelp. I did have difficulty placing an order at first, but once the man realized i speak some spanish and wanted to order food, he seemed to try to apologize and took my order. When i came in for pickup i was greeted by two workers who did indeed only speak Spanish. I think they forgot to cook my order because when i asked them about my pickup, the man was startled and asked me to wait an addition 10 minutes. After waiting, i received my order and paid (cash only). As a side note, they do have two small tables set outside for those who want to dine in. Despite the issues I had with getting my food, i have to say I am very impressed with the amount and quality of food. It really took me back to food in Peru and I was so happy to have found a good local shop. We asked for the spicy ceviche mixto and arroz chaufa mixto as well. The ceviche had a very good kick and was the best Ive had in NJ. Arroz chaufa was served in a large tray and was an unbelievable portion size. It looked and tasted very home-made and definitely could serve at least 2-3 people. For the price, taste, and quality of food, i dont think you could find better in NJ. It definitely adds fierce competition to larger peruvian restaurants. I know I had difficulty ordering but I do appreciate the hustle of a family serving its community. If you speak spanish or are willing to pick up google translate Id definitely recommend coming here. Will be back!

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.

From beginning to end, everything about our experience was exceptional--the food, drinks, service,…read moreatmosphere, and music all came together perfectly. The hanger steak and Brazilian pork chop were absolutely delicious, and the sautéed mushrooms and collard greens were simply outstanding. Every part of the meal exceeded our expectations, and we had a wonderful time overall!

I did not expect to enjoy this restaurant that much! It's unfortunate that it's located far into…read moreNewark, but I'm so happy I was able to try it. They had a wide variety of food, all ranging from beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and some vegetarian options. They had an extensive wine menu, and my boyfriend joyfully enjoyed a glass of wine. I got the brazilian fried chicken, which was extremely flavorful, and i was surprised there wasn't any breading on the chicken as typical fried chicken does. I much preferred the no-breading style, which I think is the Brazilian way. I would have preferred a boneless dish, as there were quite a few pieces with bones, and it was pretty oily at the bottom of the dish. It came with two very large sides, and totaled around $25. 100% would recommend this dish, but I do think at a lower price point, this could make do with just one side, instead of two, as the main dish was quite large enough to fill me up. My favorite part of this meal was the garlic butter bread that they provide for free. It comes out extremely fresh with lots of chopped up garlic, which is my favorite part of garlic bread. It was a great way to start the dinner off. The service was great and the waiters were extremely attentive. They regularly checked up on how we felt about the food and filled up our drinks. The restaurant was pretty empty while we were dining, but the space was laid out very nicely and the decor was beautiful. Would come again if it wasn't so far!

My partner and I were just walking around our neighborhood when we randomly stumbled upon B52--and…read morewow, what a find! We heard great music playing (they had a DJ and karaoke!) so we decided to check it out. Total vibe from the minute we walked in. The best part? The food. Seriously amazing. I got this trio plate where you can pick three different items, and everything was so good it was hard to choose a favorite. My partner never likes ceviche, but I told him, "Just try it, this one's different"--and next thing I know, he's taking mine! Haha. The staff was super friendly, the energy was fun, and the DJ could really sing too! We'll definitely be back. This place was a whole vibe from start to finish.

Kind of a mom and pop corner bar that serves great peruvian food. Be ready for it to be extremely…read moreloud in their bc they like to do kareoke or have some live music and such. it's a fun vibe and good for quick eats. Ceviche is great, staff is friendly, owner is kind and always there. This place is a classic

Ordered from here the other day for lunch. As I was busy in meetings and things and had no time to…read morecook lunch. The chicharrones were succulent and well seasoned! Wish I ordered more of them, lol. The baked chicken was moist and tasty, the rice was good and the plantains were pretty good and were not greasy. They have a pickling onion like container that came on the side. I added it to the rice and damn, it brought everything up a notch. Right amount of heat and pickling, next time I'll order extra and add it to everything!!!

The food is delicious it's hard to find good Latin restaurants these days glad I found it.read more