One of the best things about northern New Jersey is an abundance of good restaurants that don’t charge Manhattan prices. It’s especially good if you’re a fan of Latin American and Caribbean food.
But if you don’t feel like going to North Bergen, for instance, or (God forbid) Elizabeth, there’s Cuban Pete’s, in Montclair. We stopped in today, and were greeted by a funky fire hazard of a place, with some very good Cuban food. Prices are reasonable at a time when not much in Montclair is, and the food was delectable.
We started with appetizers. The chicken empanadas were not only tasty, but also juicy. This isn’t something to take for granted, since many of the empanadas you get these days are so dry, you can keep a few onhand in case you spill something. The real winner, though, were the piquillos rellenos: sausage and plantains stuffed in red peppers. The cream sauce on them isn’t particularly distinguished, but taken by themselves, they’re terrific.
The main courses also stood out. First was the Churrasco Mambo Kings; this was a chimichurri-topped grilled steak, accompanied by an understated coconut rice, and a mango/coconut baked sweet potato. Then there’s the Ropa Vieja (shredded beef), which was savory but slightly salty, with plain white rice and plantains.
The staff was friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. The atmosphere–good music, animated conversation, and a bright, cheery (but not obnoxious) decor–is inviting. The food is nothing to be ashamed of, either. Everything is prepared with a light hand, and just the right number of ingredients; this isn’t the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink style of cooking. All in all, it’s a good bang for the buck.
Cuban Pete’s is located at 428 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair NJ. Reservations are recommended (parties of 6 or more). Call (973) 746-1100
The good part about this article is the fact that there are many great restaurants in NJ. The part that I can not and will not agree with is the fact that Cuban Pete’s is mentioned on that list. Here is what I think about Cuban Pete’s and I am not the only one. The food or whatever they call it is not even worth the aggrevation.
My review is fair and realistic. I am not a kid and I am very serious about my dining experience. About a week ago, I might have given them 4 stars, because the food is pretty good and the service is ok. A little noisy for my taste, but fine, I am not a old man who can’t stand some loud music, but here is the problem.
We went out Saturday to celebrate my wife’s birthday. I can understand that they don’t take reservations and I knew that, but when most of the party was already in and waiting to suprise my wife, they were not allowed to sit unless we were there. Not to mention they were treated rude and unfair. When I arived, I approached the manager who had a extremely nasty tone for no apparent reason and he refused, I repeat refused to give us a table. Basically we were told to leave. For what? There was no problem up to that point and there was no attitude from our side. The only attitude I noticed is from the girl at the front desk and the manager. When I asked him if the owners knew how he manages the place, telling a party of 20 to leave. His reply was ‘I don’t care, you have to leave now!!’. I have never been treated like that in my life. That only tells me one thing, the place doesn’t care about their customers. You will not want to waste your time hoping that the management might be in the good mood. You do not want to bring your friends and family only to embarass yourself and hope that someone, like a manager will do you a favor. This is not some kid that causes problems. We are all professional adults with the families, kids, good careers and it was uncalled for.
Now, while we started telling this unfortunate experience to some people, we realize that it is not an isolated incident and strongly advice for people not to go Cuban Pete’s. Do not punish yourself and your party. Find a place that cares about you and your money. You will not be sorry you read this. It will ensure you avoid the same rudeness that we had to encounter.
Thanks for reading, and for your feedback, Jake. I’ve seen some pretty negative reviews on the web on Cuban Pete’s, many of them centered around the poor service received on the reviewer’s visit. All I can say, having been back to the place several times since writing the initial post, is that I haven’t generally had that problem. Yes, it can be slow — sometimes frustratingly so — if you go during, say, the dinner hour on a Saturday. But during each of our visits, the staff have been attentive, and the food fantastic.
Of course, with that said, if our roles were reversed, I’m guessing I wouldn’t be comforted by the fact that you got better service than I did.
As with any review, the usual disclaimer applies: Your mileage may vary.