Every time i come here its such a hit!!! It's definitely one of my favorite hole in the wall places…read morethat I've been coming to for about 8 years. The food is probably the closest you can get to actual Spanish tapas but what i love most about this place is that everythings got flavorrrrr For our table of 4 we got CROQUETAS with their house cured chorizo- very good POLLO FIORENTINA- chicken was so tender and packeddd with flavor! BARRIGUITA- plentiful serving for a tapa, we loved the potatoes it came with too CHICHARRON DE POLLO- flavorful chicken and easier to eat than you think TARTAR- delish but small Chipirones- sooo delicately breaded you can barely tell, was great COSTILLA A LA PLANCHA- plentiful for a tapa, we recommend cooking for longer since its traditionally a tough cut of beef SAUTED VEGETABLES- tastey and not mushy thankfully! MILLIONAIRE CAIPIRINHA for my drink. was soooo good, not too sweet and not quite as sour as a margarita, was perfect for me!

Casa d'Paco is a great spot with a really cool setup. When you first walk in, it feels like a…read moresmaller, quiet place with a nice bar but then you realize they have an additional space on the side which completely changes the vibe in a good way. When I was there, they had a DJ playing, and it added energy without being too loud or overwhelming. The Service was very good, the waiter answered and helped with all our questions. The food was absolutely amazing really flavorful and well done. Just be a little prepared that most dishes come in smaller portions. But the quality definitely makes up for it. I ordered the paella, and it's easily enough for two or even three people and it was well worth it. Really delicious. The drinks were also definitely worth trying while you're there. The only thing I wasn't big on was the desserts they didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal. But overall, great atmosphere, excellent food, and a fun experience. I'd definitely come back.

Sazon Latino, located on Main Street in Boonton just a few steps from the NJ Transit station, is…read moredefinitely a hidden gem. It's a very casual, cafeteria-style spot with a semi-open kitchen, but don't let the simplicity fool you -- the food is incredible and the staff here is friendly and patient. The highlight of the experience is the small buffet that features a variety of freshly-made Latin cuisine -- including pulled pork, chicken and beef stews, and other traditional Latin entrees and sides. You can build your own plate by selecting one or more entrees and sides - which are priced accordingly. As a 'gringo' who wasn't entirely sure what everything was, I really appreciated them taking the extra time to explain all the different options and give me their honest recommendations. The counterstaff is bilingual and were pretty patient with my elementary school level Spanish vocabulary and grammar. I ended up going with the pulled pork platter with two sides ($7) and it was terrific -- the perfectly seasoned and tender pork, black beans and rice, and macaroni salad were delicious and very filling. You can tell they use fresh ingredients, and the portions are very generous for the price. If you're looking for authentic, home-style Latino food in a laid-back setting, this is the spot! PRO TIP #1: Bring a bottle of wine or beer from home to enjoy with your meal. Sazon Latino is a BYOB establishment and does not serve alcohol. PRO TIP #2: Sazon Latino offers free off-street parking in a small lot behind the restaurant and there's plenty of free on-street parking on Main Street.

Food is delicious really. I went on a date the 1st time I was here and we brought our own bottle of…read morewine. The food was very good and the staff here are so pleasant! Then I went with friends after that...food was still delicious and staff was great. I recommend eating here if you like authentic latino food. You will leave full and happy with your experience here!

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.

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.

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.

Came here on Friday evening. It wasn't too busy. We parked on a near by road. We were greated and…read moreseated. We received complementary bread that was warm, with garlic butter. And complementary spanish potatoes (chips). We ended up ordering the grilled salmon with a side of mash, and a chicken dish that I can't remember the name. Both were pretty good. We then ordered the Tres leches and the bread pudding for dessert. I didn't like the tres leches, the texture was off, but the bread pudding was a 10 out of 10 I highly recommend. Food 8/10 Service 10/10

Enjoyed a birthday dinner here and everything was pleasant! The food was all very good and large…read moreportions. The staff are professional and the ambiance is high-end. The octopus was my favorite! All the seafood was very fresh.

The ambiance is amazing it brings you back to Spain and the staff is extremely friendly. It's…read moreupscale but not snobby, you will get an amazing meal and drinks and leave happy. Our group ordered the Seafood Paella and had plenty for leftovers, stuffed sole, branzino, grilled octopus, salad and numerous drinks including their sangria. The Paella was full of flavor and a very large portion, two people ordered one to share and even sharing it with the other three in the group there was a ton left. The stuffed Sole was well sized and filled properly with shrimp, scallops and more. Highly recommend and it was cooked perfectly. The mash potatoes were a miss that came with it not seasoned and bland. The branzino was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. The grilled octopus was a little chewy which was disappointing but it was packed with flavor and would try again. If you're in Newark and want an amazing meal, highly recommend this place just note it's not cheap but it's worth every penny.

You know, I've never been at a restaurant that simply seems to "throw" food at their guests. I…read moremean, a LOT of food. Damn. Ok - almost too good to be true, right? Well, let's get started: We sat down. Water and menus came, a drink order was put in, and before we knew it, bread, olives, and a salad (all unordered, all appreciated) appeared. The bread was warm (as God intended) and the salad nicely done up, already with an Italian dressing. The olives were spicy and yummy! Ok - not ordered, but I wasn't going to argue! We ordered a seafood paella - holy moly! It was like a 14" in diameter deep dish when it came out! Tasty, lots of mussels, shrimps, scallops, even a bit of lobster..... wow. I ordered chicken picatta - expecting thin strips of chicken in a nice sauce on top of pasta....damn. I got two flat, pressed chicken breasts on pasta. Can anyone say too big by half??? Wow. Couldn't finish it. And here's where the "food being thrown to us" came in- we got a side of green beans AND a side of seasoned rice AND a side of homemade potato chips (that needed salt but still). Damn. After declining dessert, they STILL brought us 6 little churros with a dark chocolate dipping sauce. WOW. Call me totally amazed. The pricing wasn't outrageous, and the food was absolutely BOUNTIFUL and yummy! The ambiance was amazing- old school in a classy way. And the service was absolutely ON POINT. Can't speak highly enough of this place! Nicely located in Ironbound and close to Newark Penn - will I come again? Yes. But I'll need room at the hotel for the leftovers! Yummy.

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!

Celebrated a friends 30th birthday. The food, service and ambiance was on point. Everything was…read moredelicious and we will definitely be coming back!

There is no shortage of restaurants along the Hudson, but few feel as warm and inviting as Basque…read moreTapas Bar in Rockland County. Nestled just a stone's throw from the Tappan Zee Bridge, the intimate Spanish restaurant offers an experience that is both approachable and memorable. Where some menus can overwhelm diners with endless selections and unfamiliar terminology, Basque takes a more refined approach. The menu is modest yet thoughtfully curated -- ideal for those exploring Spanish cuisine for the first time. Begin with a selection of tapas before choosing from one of their signature paellas, including seafood, meat, vegetarian, or surf-and-turf options. Pair the meal with a pitcher of sangria and settle in while the kitchen prepares a dinner worth savoring alongside good conversation. Beyond the meal itself, the village of Piermont provides the perfect setting for an evening stroll along the river. It is a charming way to end the night before heading back across the Hudson and down into New Jersey.

I sat at the bar and had garlic shrimp and cod croquettes and both were delicious. Sat and talked…read moreto some of the locals and regulars at the bar, which gave it a very homie feel. Don't be afraid to talk to people you don't know, they'll surprise you. Surface was great very attentive. I would recommend even though I had some appetizers and didn't have any entrée. But from what I saw, the entrées looked delicious. And smelled good too.

My parents and I used to live in Spain, and Casa Vasca is one of the few Spanish restaurants in the…read moreU.S. we actually enjoy going to. We love the paella -- authentic, flavorful, and reminds us of our time in Spain -- and the octopus is also fantastic, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The prices are very reasonable, making it a great spot for a hearty meal. The only downside was the Old Fashioned, which was terrible and not worth ordering. Aside from that, it's a solid place for anyone craving real Spanish flavors without leaving the U.S.

Grubhub Order: - Tacos Fritos de Pollo…read more- Papusa de Queso - Horchata I definitely want to circle back and try more of this menu. The tacos were soooo goood! I definitely recommend that dish. It actually wasn't bad being a delivery order either. I was worried about the lettuce but everything was really good. The papusas were good. I though there was loroco in the cheese though? Wasn't as flavorful as I am used to but still pretty good. I noticed there was a loroco papusa though... but is there cheese in it too? That's way I didn't get it. Maybe I will next time. The horchata is legit. So fresh! Definitely will be ordering again.

I ordered delivery so I can't speak to the ambiance or service. I will say that it was probably…read morethe best chicken tamal I've ever had. The masa had amazing flavor and the chicken was melt in your mouth. The pupusas revueltas had good flavor but a bit dense. I don't have a lot of experience eating Salvadorian food but I was not a fan of the plantano relleno. They should explain on the menu what the items are because I was not expecting what I got. To me a relleno is filled with meat but this was filled with a sweet cream. . It's not for me but I won't penalize this place for that.