Enjoy Cuban coffee at one of New Jersey's many authentic Cuban restaurants.
While New Jersey may not be known for its Cuban restaurants, if you start to crave croquetas, paella, sangria, mojitos or a traditional cortadito, there are several restaurants in New Jersey that offer traditional Cuban fare in cities such as Montclair, Freehold, and Rutherford.
Cuban Pete's
Cuban Pete's is decorated in a Cuban style reminiscent of an era past and is recognized for its authentic cuisine. Menu items include traditional Cuban dishes like paella, and skirt steak and grilled chicken, all served with black beans, rice and Latin potatoes. There is also a tapas menu with traditional Cuban small bites like empanadas, goat cheese fritters and stuffed peppers, which are great for sharing. An extensive selection of sangrias, with dozens of variations from Habana Banana to Limonada Espoñola, are available. Cuban Pete's is open seven days a week from noon to 11pm, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cuban Pete's
428 Bloomfield Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042
973-746-1100
cubanpetesrestaurant.com
A Little Bit of Cuba
A Little Bit of Cuba is a 75-seat restaurant with a casual setting. Instead of bread, thin strips of plantain chips with dipping sauce are served on the house. There’s a wide selection of traditional Cuban appetizers to choose from, though you may want to save your appetite for the large-portioned main dishes. Specialties include the churrasco a la parilla, a grilled skirt steak served with sides of white rice and black beans. Classic Cuban desserts such as house-made flan and tres leches are offered as well. A Little Bit of Cuba is open for lunch and dinner with prices for dinner entrees priced between $17 to $27.
A Little Bit of Cuba
401 West Main Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
732-637-8594
alittlebitofcuba.com
Mambo Tea House
With bamboo wood floors, Cuban cigar wallpaper and bright green and fuchsia walls, Mambo Tea House sets a cozy, eclectic mood in which you can enjoy contemporary Cuban cuisine. Lunch menu items include steak sandwiches and authentic Cuban entrees like Bistec Pallomilla and Ropa Vieja. The dinner menu offers a more elaborate list of home-cooked classics and traditional side dishes. Mambo Tea House is open every day except Mondays for lunch and dinner. Occasionally, there is live Latin entertainment.
Mambo Tea House
98 Park Ave
Rutherford, NJ 07070
201-933-1262
mamboteahousenj.com
Tags: Cuban Pete, Little Cuba, Mambo House, traditional Cuban, authentic Cuban, black beans, Cuban restaurants