The Cuban Restaurant & Bar (Hoboken)

“I had an excellent time at The Cuban! The appetizers were generously portioned and delicious. My favorite dish was el cubano which was a really top quality Cuban sandwich. Additionally, I left my bag at the restaurant, and when I called them, they were so beyond helpful and amazing people. I recommend this spot for a lovely dinner or lunch if you’re ready to eat!”

“🍽️🇨🇺 Fun Cuban spot on Washington Street 🇨🇺🍽️ Tried The Cuban on a Thursday evening and overall it was a solid experience, especially since Hoboken doesn’t have many Cuban spots We sat inside and got a few things to share. Started with the empanaditas, which came with spinach and cheese, chicken, and beef 🥟 All were good, and the sauces on the side definitely made them better For mains, we got the Paella de Valencia 🦐 There was a generous amount of seafood, which I liked, but the rice was a little mushy. Not sure if that’s the style, but it was still flavorful overall We also tried the Pollo Criollo Plato and this was probably my favorite dish 🍗 The chicken was tender and the plantain fried rice was really good, super flavorful and a nice switch-up from regular rice We split a sangria pitcher too, which was yummy and actually gives a lot more than you’d expect, probably closer to 7 or 8 glasses 🍷 Service started off strong, but towards the end it got a bit busy and we were waiting a little while for the check Overall, I’m glad I tried it. It’s a fun, different option for Hoboken with solid food and good portions. Not sure if I’d rush back, but definitely worth checking out at least once 🇨🇺✨”

“Tried Cuban food for the first time and it was an amazing experience! The portions were generous, and the flavors were incredible. Our waiter was attentive and made sure all my allergy restrictions were carefully followed. They even made us custom mocktails that were absolutely delicious. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with Spanish music playing in the background and a cozy interior that made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend this place!”

“From the simple outside you would not expect such an expansive and cozy space inside. Love the atmosphere, the service was excellent and the food was superb! It was a busy Saturday night and even when told it would take a bit for food to come, the service was speedy and food was hot and delicious. Great cocktails too.”

“UPDATE: NO ONE has followed up. Avoid The Cuban - they refuse to take accountability for a deeply unsanitary unacceptable dining experience and despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue. The public response on Google reads like a cold AI regurgitation of our review and the actual party host, Brie Rano, never received the promised call. The lack of direct accountability and common decency from a place promising hospitality is extremely alarming. Disappointed this could not be properly addressed with the promised phone call, we were hoping for a genuine human response along with a real resolution. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I don’t take leaving negative reviews lightly as I would much rather support a local business. However, after attempting to address this directly with management multiple times and being met with zero follow-up and continued avoidance of responsibility, I feel obligated to share our experience. What we dealt with went far beyond poor service. It was unsanitary, chaotic, and frankly a potential health hazard that warrants review by the health department. We arranged for a private loft space on Valentine’s Day to host a surprise birthday dinner for 25 guests with a prepaid prix fixe menu. From start to finish, the night was a disaster: * We were promised a private loft space, yet two other couples were seated upstairs with us, leaving some of our guests without proper seating and creating an awkward, cramped setup. * From the moment we arrived, buckets were placed in the middle of the party area due to a leaking ceiling caused by overflowing toilet water from the bathroom above. Water dripped into the dining area all night — onto guests, tables, and plates. There was one bucket gathering brown water from the ceiling when we arrived and at least three by the time we left. Food and drinks were carried directly beneath it and the floor was soaked. This is a serious health code concern, and notably, two guests became sick after the party. * We appeared to have one single server for 25 people, resulting in extremely slow service. For a 6:30 reservation, appetizers began arriving 90 minutes later — one plate at a time — some cold by the time others were served. * Dinner was not served until 9:30pm. After nearly three hours of waiting for entrees, some guests had to leave without ever receiving food. * The included coffee, tea, and dessert — part of the prepaid package — were never offered or served. * After requesting to speak with a manager about the experience and a possible partial refund, we were told we would receive a call. That call never came. This was not a matter of a busy holiday or a minor delay. It was a complete breakdown in cleanliness, staffing, communication, and accountability — compounded by management’s lack of professionalism and refusal to take responsibility afterward. I attached photos from the moment our guest of honor arrived at the surprise party, and an additional photo of what the additional buckets looked like at 8:43 PM while we were still waiting for our food to arrive. I genuinely hope ownership takes this seriously before anyone else books a party or chooses to dine here, because no one should have to experience what we did.”