What: Rumba Cubana is Hamilton Park’s newest restaurant serving up classic Cuban and Caribbean eats 7 days a week. It’s located in the base of the Park Francis building at 237 Pavonia Avenue.
Interior: Tropical chic meets old-world Cuban charm at Rumba Cubana. We loved the colorful art work, giant palm trees, and wicker pendant lights, which give the space a relaxed, Caribbean vibe. The restaurant is fairly large with a dedicated bar area and multiple tables for groups and parties of two. There’s also a small outdoor section for al fresco dining.
The Menu: In a word: overwhelming. Choice is always good, but Rumba Cubana’s tapas/appetizer menu alone has over 20 options. It’s like a Cuban version of The Cheesecake Factory. That said, you can expect to find traditional staples like ropa vieja (slow-cooked shredded beef with tomato, peppers, and onions) and lechón asado (Cuban-style pork with grilled onions and mojo) alongside Caribbean dishes like mofongo. In terms of pricing, tapas range from $2.95 to $9.95, whereas dinner entrees run the gamut from $6.95 to $26.95. However, most dishes are comfortably priced at or under $15.95, which makes dining at Rumba Cubana an affordable night out. The wine list also has multiple sub-$30 bottles of wine. Cocktails, batidos (shakes), and other beverages, however, have no pricing whatsoever, which is odd considering everything else is transparent. Our dinner for two with one appetizer, two entrees, one side, one dessert, and a pitcher of sangria came out to $80, which is on the lower end for downtown Jersey City these days.
Paella Rumbera, $26.95
We Loved: The ambiance at Rumba Cubana is terrific. It’s lively and downright fun with plenty of old-school sons playing in the background. We tried a few dishes and standouts include their paella ($26.95), which comes with a meaty lobster tail, mussels, clams, calamari, chicken, and fish in a saffron rice. It’s the priciest item on the menu, but can easily feed up to three. Despite its unexciting presentation — the Shrimp Mofongo (mashed fried plantains with shrimp) is also great, though it’s definitely heavy on the garlic. On the tapas side of the menu, the Guac with Pineapple may sound odd, but both ingredients compliment each other well. We also liked the Croquetas de Jamón (ham croquettes), which are perfectly crisp on the outside with a soft, ham-filled center and the Flan de Coco — a silky, smooth custard topped with sweet, coconut. It’s worth every calorie.
Guacamole a lo Cubano, $6.95
Could Be Better: Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes for a table if you go on a Friday or Saturday night. You can opt to eat at the bar, but even the bar area can get crowded (and loud). The food at Rumba Cubana is good, but because the menu is so extensive, I feel that every experience will be different. Also, I’m not usually one to care too much about presentation, but some of the dishes can look deary despite being flavorful. The Pescado Relleno (fish stuffed with crab meat), for example, is delicious, but doesn’t look appetizing at all. Our only bad experience was the Boniato Frito (fried sweet potatoes), which were grainy, dry, and served lukewarm. Service is fast and adequate, though I’ve definitely been to friendlier spots.
Final Take: Rumba Cubana is a festive restaurant with good, abundant food at reasonable prices. The menu is over the top, but on the plus side, you’ll find something for everyone.
Filete de Pescado Relleno con Cangrejo, $16.95
Croquetas de Jamón, $2.95
Ceviche, $6.95
Flan de Coco
Mofongo de Camarones, $12.95
Boniato Frito (Fried Sweet Potato)
Rumba Cubana | 237 Pavonia Avenue | www.rumbacubana.com/jerseycity/
