The Cuban

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!

From the simple outside you would not expect such an expansive and cozy space inside.<br><br>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.<br><br>Great cocktails too.

Yeah this place was brutal. We waited over an hour and a half for our food. The waitress blamed it on us, because “we didn’t get our order in on time” even though no one was there to take our order. Then when the food came out, it was somehow rushed - the steak came out so raw it could still moo. I wouldn’t have written this review, but the waitress literally had the audacity to include gratuity. Very disappointing but hope others’ experience is better than mine.

🍽️🇨🇺 Fun Cuban spot on Washington Street 🇨🇺🍽️<br><br>Tried The Cuban on a Thursday evening and overall it was a solid experience, especially since Hoboken doesn’t have many Cuban spots<br><br>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<br><br>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<br><br>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<br><br>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 🍷<br><br>Service started off strong, but towards the end it got a bit busy and we were waiting a little while for the check<br><br>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 🇨🇺✨

UPDATE:<br><br>NO ONE has followed up.<br><br>Avoid The Cuban - they refuse to take accountability for a deeply unsanitary unacceptable dining experience and despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue.<br><br>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.<br><br>The lack of direct accountability and common decency from a place promising hospitality is extremely alarming.<br><br>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.<br><br>ORIGINAL REVIEW:<br><br>I don’t take leaving negative reviews lightly as I would much rather support a local business.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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:<br><br>* 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.<br><br>* 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.<br><br>* 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.<br><br>* Dinner was not served until 9:30pm. After nearly three hours of waiting for entrees, some guests had to leave without ever receiving food.<br><br>* The included coffee, tea, and dessert — part of the prepaid package — were never offered or served.<br><br>* 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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.

DO NOT I repeat DO NOT have a large party here or dine here on a crowded night. I hosted a surprise birthday dinner party for my boyfriend at this location, and from the very start of booking the party to the actual night of the surprise, everything was a total disaster. We went in person a few days later to speak to the manager about our experience and give feedback and request a partial refund. The manager wasn’t there that night but we were assured that he would call us so that we could discuss. Of course he never did…<br><br>The first and most egregious offense was that we were sat in the second floor loft area with a leaking ceiling in the middle of the room from overflowing toilet water in the bathrooms above (see picture attached). This was actually disgusting, and food and drinks were being walked through the drips all night. 2 people from our party actually wound up getting sick for the rest of the weekend, and we suspect it was from that, as there was no possible way to avoid the leak from dripping on our heads, hands, lips, and plates of food. This had to have been a health code violation.<br><br>Not only did we have to deal with that all night, but I was told that we would have the entire “room” to ourselves, since I had more than 20 people in the party (I had told them we had 25 people). When we arrived, there was one single couple that was upstairs in the loft with us, which was not only so awkward for everyone in the room, but made it so that there weren’t enough seats for everyone in our party. The service was insanely slow, and we only had a single waiter for our large party, taking drink orders from a few people at once, running downstairs to put them in and then single handedly coming back up to deliver them, just two at a time, a while later. It was about an hour and a half after the start of the party before any appetizers started coming out, even though I had chosen a prixe fix menu and was assured that the kitchen was prepared for us. Once apps did start coming out, they came piecemeal AND only for our table alone. I’m talking one plate at a time, not even all at once, even though I had chosen 4 apps from the menu. Some were hot, some were cold bc of the timing of them being delivered.<br><br>There were two other tables of 8-10 people, who hungrily watched us eat our plates of appetizers and finish them before any semblance of food came out for them. After the apps were finished coming out and devoured within seconds, we waited and waited for the main courses. It felt like literally forever. At this point, it was 8:45pm and some guests started to leave bc they had been there for almost 3 hours and had a long drive home. We demanded an ETA for when the food would be ready so they could eat before they had to leave, but we were told another 15-25 minutes for food, which was apparently what they had said 15 minutes before that. Unfortunately, our guests had to leave before they even got to taste an entree.<br><br>We waited another 45 mins for the entrees to finally be put on the table. It was 9:30pm when we finally were able to eat dinner…the party started at 6:30pm. I brought our own birthday cake to celebrate and they offered to cut the cake for us…another 20 minutes goes by before they came up with a knife and plates and silverware to actually cut the cake and serve it. As a cherry on top of the night, as soon as we walked out the door I realized that we didn’t receive, nor were we even offered, the coffee, tea and dessert that was included in the prixe fix menu I chose. We were so anxious to get out of there bc we had been there for so long and so done with waiting around that it didn't even occur to me. So we didn’t even get everything I had paid for.<br><br>The whole night was a monstrous display of communication, cleanliness, time management, and customer service on the restaurant’s part and unfortunately I feel super disappointed that I spent as much money as I did there.

If I could give 0 stars I would. This place is not worth anyone’s time. We went out for my brother’s birthday and we had to wait nearly 3 hours for our appetizers and food. They were really good at refilling the waters- so I guess that’s worth the one star. They often forgot who asked for what drink, very unorganized. I didn’t even know which one was the waiter. When the food came out it was not worth the wait. My boyfriend’s burger was still pink and he requested well done. The food was very distasteful and everyone was highly disappointed. Especially being must of us drove a distance. We also had to request the check serval times. I’m sure there are a lot of other places in the area that are worth going to but this place is not.

Unfortunately, I had a very disappointing experience at the Cuban on Valentine's Day. I was really looking forward to having Cuban food with my fiancé. We waited an hour for our appetizer. All 3 floors of the Cuban were filled to the brim. They were still accepting walk-ins.<br><br>When we waited for another hour for our entree, we weren't sure if the food would ever show up. We were hangry, and so were the other couples surrounding us. The waiter told us that there are only 2 cooks in the kitchen. I try to get the waiter's attention multiple times to pay for our appetizer and leave. The waiter kept telling us the food was on the way, but it never arrived. I felt like we were stranded there, and we obviously don't want to dine-and-dash.<br><br>We were finally able to get the host's attention and the host offered not to charge us for the appetizer. It was really infuriating to see the restaurant still letting people walk in despite not even able to serve food to the existing customers. The two-hour wait in the restaurant with only an appetizer served truly ruined our Valentine's Day. I was really looking forward to trying out the Cuban. The poor staffing and management really ruined the experience for us, as well as for so many other couples that day.

If you’re looking for a place that instantly transports you to Havana through food, music, and atmosphere, The Cuban is a must-visit. I recently had dinner here, and I can honestly say the food was nothing short of amazing. From the moment you walk in, the vibrant décor and Latin beats set the mood, but it’s the flavors that make this restaurant truly unforgettable.<br><br>We started with the empanadas, and they were perfection: crispy on the outside with a rich, flavorful filling that felt both comforting and exciting. The plantains were another standout. Sweet, caramelized, and golden-brown, they hit that perfect balance of crispy edges and soft, tender centers. They’re the kind of starter you could happily order over and over again.<br><br>For the main course, I had the ropa vieja, and it absolutely blew me away. The beef was tender and juicy, cooked low and slow in a savory tomato-based sauce with peppers and onions. It paired perfectly with the rice and beans, which were seasoned just right. Every bite felt like home-style cooking, elevated by attention to detail and flavor. A friend at the table ordered the garlic shrimp, and I stole a bite. It was incredible. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked, swimming in a garlicky butter sauce that was so good you wanted to mop it up with bread.<br><br>Of course, you can’t have a Cuban meal without a proper drink, and The Cuban did not disappoint. The mojito was refreshing and balanced, with fresh mint and lime giving it that burst of brightness without being overly sweet. It paired beautifully with the food and made the whole meal feel even more festive.<br><br>We ended with dessert, and the flan was smooth, creamy, and just the right level of sweet. The churros were also a hit: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and perfect for dipping. It was the kind of ending that leaves you smiling all the way home.<br><br>Beyond the food, the service deserves a shout-out. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. They checked in often enough to make sure we were taken care of, but never in a way that felt rushed. The atmosphere overall is lively but not overwhelming. It’s a spot where you can have fun with friends, enjoy a date night, or even bring family for a special meal.<br><br>Overall, The Cuban has everything you want in a restaurant: amazing food, great drinks, friendly service, and a fun, energetic vibe. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again because you know every visit will be as good as the last. If you’re craving authentic Cuban flavors in a vibrant setting, this place should be at the top of your list.

This place has such a fun vibe from the moment you walk in. The place gives off real Cuban energy with the decor and music. Starting off with a coconut rum drink was very refreshing and fresh never had anything as such before. We tried the empanadas and they were fresh with a flavorful twist, especially with the black bean puree on the side. The aguacate chips with Cuban-style guac were surprisingly good. I wasn’t expecting much but they were honestly a standout.<br><br>We also ordered the vegetarian paella and it came out sizzling, packed with grilled veggies and full of flavor. The food overall was hot, fresh, and worth every bite.<br><br>The staff inside was super friendly and warm, except for the Indian host at the front who gave us a weird look when we walked in. No smile, no greeting, just felt like she didn’t want us there, which made things awkward for a second. It stood out because everyone else was so nice and welcoming.<br><br>Apart from that, everything was great. The food was 10/10, and I’d definitely come back again to try more. The whole place has great energy and makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a little slice of Havana.

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!

I was not expecting to find a Cuban restaurant this good in Hoboken.<br>Definitely recommend the Ropa Vieja, the Churrasco, churros and tres leches.<br><br>We also ordered a whole fried red snapper, but as expected fish it’s not their specialty.<br><br>Prices are reasonable.<br><br>We got Espresso Martini and Guava Mojito (my favorite).

Food is so good! Both steaks were juicy and tender and flavorful! Great service as well! Decent cocktails.

Great service and decent pricing. Food left a little more to be desired. Shrimp was a little bland as was my salmon. The paella and the steak were good.

We have been here many times, and it was fun every time. The drinks are nice, staff are friendly, and the latina music always brings fun in the air. The food is good here, beautifully presented and nicely flavored. The quality has been consistent, and it stands out in the neighborhood. A lot of fun at this place when the weather gets warmer. Having a couple of mojitos outdoor in the summer here is priceless.