3 stars if it's wasn't too expensive. Menu is alright in theory, but food is prepared without care, things were off, no quality control, steak was average, ingredients in sides/apps/starters where not fresh, very filthy seating and overall table ware. DOES NOT deserve the high priced items or overall popularity.
(2)
Sara S.
The food was fantastic. I had the Piquillo Peppers and Shrimp in Pepper Sauce. Both were great. The service wasn't awful but wasn't great either. That said, I will definitely be back. There are so many more things on the menu I want to try.
(4)
Mel C.
Not 5 stars due to service, but the food is out of this world... I love the small plates, but don't fill up because the entrees are worth it... Get there early to avoid waiting, it's a tight fit when there's no outdoor seating, it's the type a place that'll have you staying for a while... Nice Hoboken spot.
(4)
Fredd P.
Came here for father's day because my dad loves Latin cuisine. The first we notice was there little oven and South American vibe the restaurant gave. There appetizers appears and taste was top noche. The main dishes there served was fabulous. There duck was so good moist just thinking of it is making me drool. The dulce de leche ice cream was the best I ever had and would recommend everyone to try. The only negative thing would say it expensive. We spent $180 on four people. If you want to take out a group of people and don't mind paying I would recommend this restaurant to impress.
(4)
Aracelly C.
Delicious food, really good drinks (especially Chilcano) and attentive service. My boyfriend and I came here not knowing how packed it gets as soon as they open, with that said we didn't experience any problems on being seated as soon as we walked in. Not sure about the negative reviews, but I would definitely recommend this place. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Aliza N.
Love this place. Everything is perfect. nice ambiance. great food.
Food is 5+ stars, service is 3.5 stars. I love eclectic food and this place was exceptional in theory and execution. Listen to other people's recommendations as far as specific dishes. The only bummer was that the staff wasn't very helpful when it came to recommendations. Most people would find this menu daunting, and it wasn't an issue since I eat anything, but if you were looking for a little more explanation of the dishes you might feel left out. Still, if you're bored with normal food choices, check this place out!!
(4)
Jay W.
I REALLY wanted to give these guys 5 stars! The food was great! My wife had the mixed fish platter, and I had the duck. They were absolutely delicious! The problem, and the reason for my rating, was the service and the ambiance. The place is way too noisy. I think it would be great if they could move this restaurant into a bigger space to fix this issue. When you go out with someone, you want to conversate, not yell. The bigger issue was the service. The host looked out for us, so I can't be mad at her. But everyone else took their sweet time. We did not receive our order for about 45 minutes. Again, this is not a huge place, so what's the deal? An ideal waiting time is 10-15 minutes. I would recommend this place to a friend because the food is excellent. However, you need to have a LOT of patience, because it takes forever to get your order.
(3)
Jonathan A.
When you step into this place the amazing smell will hit you like a ton of bricks. Its probably the combination of the South American spices and the wood burning oven. Your senses are already heightened and you have not even eaten anything yet. The Ceviche de Camarones de Jipijapa (shrimp ceviche) was excellent and the fried yellow plantains were great. For my entree I had Picante de Camarones (spicy shrimp), which was also very good. The service was great and paced very well. I will definitely go back to this place. The menu has many options and I want to try them all. If you are in the area, give this place a try.
(4)
Paul J.
I don't get the hype about this place. This is my second time eating here, (i always try everything twice) and I left with the same meh feeling as the first time. The smaller plates are incredibly small (usually consisting of 1 to 2 items) and pretty expensive given the size of the portions. They are really the best things on the menu though. Ive had the Piquillo Peppers twice: Pimientos de Piquillo Rellenos de Calabaza y Queso Manchego - $12 Piquillo Peppers filled with Pumpkin and Manchego Cheese, They are pretty good. (2 small pepper pieces, it looked like one pepper cut in half and then stuffed) The Spinach with bacon-onion sofrito, manchego and parmigiano was pretty good too. (2 small size empandas stuffed) The Pizza Serrana - $10 (serrano ham, manchego, aged parmigiano reggiano, red onion, andean ajà amarillo) was my favorite. This was delicious and my favorite thing of the night. Also quite small, about 4 inches in diameter or roughly the size of one normal slice of pizza. The Salprieta - 10$ Roasted Ripe Plantain with Fresh Cheese, Curd, and Peanut Seasoning Mix. One roasted plaintain with 3 dipping sauces. This was also pretty good. This was the ladies favorite. The previous time here i had the churrasco as its a common staple in cuban food and it was pretty lame. GF had the octopus and it was definitely not the way a good grilled octopus should taste. It was extremely fishy in flavor leading us to believe it may have been canned octopus rather than fresh. The service was also pretty laid back and unattentive. Definitely had a dry glass of water for the majority of the night. To recap: the small plates are good but a terrible value for your money. The price of the food is not helped with the lazy feel of the service. I probably won't go back again unless someone convinces me otherwise.
(3)
Tully O.
Delicious!! Amazing service, impeccable and unique dishes. I go here a lot and I'll be back again some time soon.
(5)
Tanya G.
Authenic South American scrumdiddlyumptious tapas. The restaurant is cute and cramped. The menu, food, and servers are South American to the bone. The tiny spot is filled with endearing accents and smells of good food to come. Warmed Flatbread: Perfectly charred and soft out of the brick oven, it's cut into delicate little triangles and served with a lightly sweetened cinnamon butter. BEWARE: The butter looks like hummus, so don't be like me and scoop up a massive amount with the bread and pop the whole thing in your mouth. Piquillo Peppers Stuffed With Pumpkin and Manchego: I was hesitant...I wasn't sure about the combination of flavors. But, to quote my friend, it sounded "special" so we ordered it. So glad we did, It was fantastic. Two stuffed peppers swimming in a velvety white manchego cheese sauce oozing into the pumpkin filling. Chicharrón de Pollo Novoandino (Quinoa-Crusted Chicken Fingers): Nice chunks of white meat chicken in an interestingly sour quinoa crust paired with a vinegary dipping sauce. Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca (Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce): Super delicious shrimp topped with a tasty sauce, sitting on an indistinguishable bed of a delightful vegetable concoction. Chorizo Pizza: The same flatbread mentioned earlier with thick medallions of chorizo and red peppers on top. Meh. I should've known better than to order "Pizza" in a South American restaurant. Fried Sweet Plantains: Piping hot and prettily plated, they had a crunchy, caramelized exterior and a creamy, sweet interior. Guarapita de Aragua (Venezuelan Rum and Passion Fruit): It was light and refreshing with a delicate fragrance of cinnamon. It was a perfect balance of sweetness and flavor that complimented the night. Now, a side note about the service. As I have already mentioned, this place is authentic to the core. That being said, the service is of South American nature...servers have a laid back demeanor and dawdle around the restaurant rather than taking your order. Every time I've been here we need to ask for our orders to be taken. Just be aware that service is lax so you might need to be more aggressive than usual. However, Cucharamama is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants of Hoboken.
(4)
Richard H.
Finally made it into Cucharamama for dinner last night. Very happy with the decision, and a little upset with myself that I waited so long! I would advise reservations on a Friday, glad we had them. Place was packed from when we got there at 8, to when we left at 10. Not uncommon, obviously, but (much like sister restaurant Zafra's), this is not a large space. Looked like seating for 50-60ish. Awesome, awesome ambiance. Decor was cool. It was a little too dark, but not terrible. Service was on point. I can't remember if our server gave us his name, but he was relatively prompt, and able to recommend a cocktail that would pair w/the salmon dish I had. I know, most people don't request a cocktail to pair with their meal, but I wasn't in a mood for wine, and I didn't want something overly sweet or overly strong. So my salmon was great. I would get again, but there were so many other things on the menu I wanted to try! My fiance had the duck, which was really good also. Definitely going back to Cucharamama!!
(4)
Marla M.
I was there on Friday April 4th 2014 we were a party of five, we got there about 10:00 pm and the hostess told us that the wait was going to be about 10 min it took longer more than that about 40 min when we finally got a table it was like 10:45 when we were sitting down at the table foe about five min the hostess came to the table and quote "by the way the kitchen is closing at 11:00 pm" after we waited so long with out knowing anything about it because the hostess did not let us know while we were waiting and when we were complaining to her because she did not let us know before she got very up set and responded very very unprofessionally, we got up and left. We did not like that at all
(1)
Lisa B.
Fantastic food and drink. Yes it is expensive but it is totally worth it. Great for a date/double date. Highly recommend!
(4)
Leah M.
Technically 3 stars because the food (what we received of it) was actually quite delicious. Unfortunately the service was so incredibly terrible/slow/nonexistent that I could never recommend this restaurant to anyone. We were a party of four crammed into a small table, regardless of almost no-one else in the restaurant. It would have been nice to not have my bf in my lap, elbowing me all nite. Especially becuase there was a sea of empty tables. Inconsiderate. The server knew very little about the drink menu. Or the menu, in general. We ordered drinks, a bunch of tapas plates and an entree per couple. This is after navigating the exptensive and confusing menu, with which we were offered no help or explanation. Do they really work here? The tapas come out timely. Are delicious. We talk, drink, eat. Getting better! The entrees come out. We are missing a side dish. No server comes to check in, or give the missing food. No server to be found, in fact, on the floor. For 20 minutes. We finally flag someone down, they are confused, what food? We order more, since are still hungry. This food also does not come. They bring a dessert to compensate for all the missing food, yet there is no explanation for why food that we ordered never, ever, ever, came. Get me outta here and never bring me back!
(2)
Nicole J.
Fabulous food with cool latin vibe. Everything I have had has been awesome. The duck tamale is a must!
(5)
Scott S.
The food is 5-star all the way. The only reason I have to give it four stars is because of the service (like many have also said). Over the summer I went here for an early dinner around 530 on a Saturday and the place was empty. They said they couldn't seat us because of reservations. I mean, cmon....we can't have dinner for an hour, hour and a half because they have reservations to book the place by 630,7ish?...The place was literally empty, I think there may have been one table..They said we could eat outside if we wanted. It was about to POUR! which 20 minutes later it did.. Anyway, made another rez and had dinner here friday night. Even with the rez I had to wait a half hour, which is fine, thats pretty typical of places in demand. But the service during the dinner was very slow (not like comfortable and relaxed like in Europe), but just slow and never brought drinks we ordered..stuff like that...although once we ordered the food came out really quickly. So when all is said and done, I have to knock a star off of the review for service. Is it enough to make me not want to return? No F'n way! The food is RIDIC! Once they gave us the bread with the sweet butter, I knew the food was gonna be phenomonal...For two of us we ordered 3 or 4 apps and a main course to split, and that was a perfect amount of food...Along with 4 mojitos and I was set.. The aps we ordered were the rice and cheese croquetts, chorrizo, and beef empanadas...The main course was a chicken dish from the wood burning oven...The food is incredible...the menu is huge, so I cannot wait to come back and try different things on the menu.. Tastewise, I would say its easily one of the top few restaurants I have ever been to in my life. The price wasnt bad either...sure the portion sizes are a little small, but that can be expected for high end food...total meal was like $115 for 2 with tax, tips and a few drinks each.. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Yelper G.
While this restaurant provides excellent food and drinks, I still need to give this place only 1 star due to the frost bite my entire group experienced last night after we were seated by the windows. There is zero insulation of the windows and you can actually feel a draft. We all froze our asses off. Not the kind of experience you'd expect after paying over $1000 at this establishment. Anyways, bottom line is avoid this place like the plague in the winter and only go in the summer.
(1)
Elias M.
Nice ambience. Poor service. Overpriced food. I ordered the beef empanadas and I got Two tiny close to a bad joke tiny serving of dough for 9 dollars and it had two tiny pieces of meat and they were not even thay good. A small plate of plantain chips for 7 dollars. Oh boy. There are far better places to eat. Pass this joint up if you can. Otherwise if you must go ask about portion size. All in I spent 30 dollars only to go home and cook, something I was trying to avoid, because I was still hungry.
(1)
Adam K.
The food here is great, if a tad pricey. Can't go wrong ordering just a bunch of the tapas offerings. Staff is courteous and knowledgeable. I'd even recommend sitting at the bar if you can since the bartenders are super friendly and helpful. A great meal, if a tad on the pricier side!
(4)
Hugo E.
If you want to tour Latin America in 3 hours.. this is it OWTR! Pros: Great assortment of Latin dishes from all over Great vibe BRICK OVEN!! Parking nearby (wow) Cons: Slightly small Very busy every night Menu: The menu here was fantastic! Peruvian, Brazilian, Argentinean, Ecuadorian, Cuban even Spanish are all represented cuisines. It's like the "who's who" of Latin American Food. Great idea and great execution... Love it. Gotta Try: Pulpo Olivo Jalea de Calamares Chorizo Argentino Medio Pollo from the oven Bandejita Paisa (if you are a ravaging carnivore) Food Quality: Immensely fresh and flavorful, really encompasses the strong beautiful flavors of Latin cuisine and take the "home" versions of foods and hits it up with some professional pizzazz! Drink: Pisco SOUR... amazing... moving right along - don't skip the great selection of red wines they have. Argentina and Chile in the house.. and well worth it. Ambiance: Very dark, mysterious with the wood-oven sitting on center stage. lots of small tables sitting in small space where people are whispering or laughing their day away. Big mix of customers from all over and all types. Great romantic qualities. Candlelight style without charging you the world. Service: Friendly and professional who really try to make you feel great about dining out. Very quick on their feet and maintain a great level of service throughout. Never had a complaint and will bet that I never will. Cost: Right on par with the restaurants in the area but not overpriced at all. Definitely more expensive than a family owned business of the cuisines I named, probably closer in price to some Iberian places. However - you do get what you pay for, which always makes it better. Conclusion: A great vibe, a great environment and excellent food gives the place just enough of fun and fine at the same time. H-Cane's final spin. This is one of those places that is an ace in your hand. You can embark on a serious campaign that shows your "cultured side", you "wine rep" and your "romantic rescue-person" all at the same time. Don't bring the kids.. but you may make some cause of this place. GO!
(5)
Aja D.
Very disappointed that we didn't get to eat the place because they made my boyfriend and I wait over two hours to sit down, we just got fed up after being told several times we were next. I think they really need to work on their service and time management.
(1)
Abby R.
Can't pronounce the name of this place, but love their food. Been twice, sat at bar in front of wood burning oven both times, and have only ordered apps, but really enjoyed the food on both occasions. Duck tamales, pumpkin and manchego something, and the Argentinian sausage are some of my favorites (all $12 and under). Mojitos are good (even the gin ones and I hate gin!) but cost as much as the apps, so they add up quickly! Make reservations if you want to sit at a table or sit at the bar and enjoy the fire (they have outdoor seating too).
(5)
Steve M.
Place is always mobbed so make a reservation but the food and drinks are superb. Favorite Latin cuisine in Hoboken and possibly in the entire area.
(4)
Keith O.
other then being a bit on the expensive side this is my fav restaurant in hoboken, such great food
(5)
Mars X.
Food & drinks are very good and although it's a bit on the expensive side, it's worth the splurge now and then. The skirt steak was tender & cooked to temp, the shrimp was fresh, the Ocopa de Mani y Huacatay (potatoes in a creamy sauce) isn't over cooked, the beef empanadas are some of the best my husband had that wasn't home cooked, and the caipirinha (Brazilian cocktail) is amazing. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the outdoor seating is quaint (weather permitting of course). There's only on-street parking but it is Hoboken after all. Just be sure to park on the non-resident side and feed the meter (before 9pm). So why am I only giving 3-stars? Glad you asked... The 1st time I went there the service was good. The 2nd time, a waiter spilled a drink on my husbands back. It was an accident & luckily it was just on his jacket so no reason to make a fuss. The 3rd time my sister & I were rushed out because it got busy. We were enjoying our last drink after dinner over a good conversation & we could hear the hostesses & a waiter talk rudely about us (almost as if they didn't care if we heard them). They made us feel so uncomfortable we left & needless to say I haven't been back since. Regardless of my service experience I stand by my opening statement, which is that the food & drinks are very good so with that in mind I think it's worth it to anyone to give this restaurant a try (even once).
(3)
Les A.
I am always concerned about dining at an "award winning" and "famous Chef" type of restaurant. So often, the top chef's are barely around any longer or their input is so limited that the ratings should have expired quite some time ago. I am so very pleased to report that this is NOT the case at Cucharamama. I called around 3 pm on Saturday and left a voice mail to seek a reservation for 4 at 7 pm. At about 530 I was called back and the time confirmed. We arrived a few minutes early and were promptly seated at a lovely table at the front window. Our waiter was wonderful in both his level of service and recommended dishes. Frankly, I cannot believe that there is anything on their menu that would not be great but we asked for suggestions and likely had some of their finest items. We started off with a lovely bottle of a recommended Malbec to accompany the small plates of their octopus, the duck breast tamale, a shrimp cerviche and the mussels in dark beer. Main plates included the skirt steak, grilled duck breast and the salmon. Each dish and the accompanying sides of sweet potato puree or quinoa or grilled potato was perfectly prepared and delicious. We ended with their chocolate bread pudding in a cafe con leche sauce; a great ending to a 5 star meal.
(5)
Andre P.
While the portions are small and the menu a little expensive, the experience is huge. The food seems to be all-things-South-American and centered on Andean food. The food is very good and indeed small portions, but rather filling. The atmosphere lets you escape Hoboken to relax into the meal. The Peru national drink is worth a shot and the wine by the glass is good. Very enjoyable!
(5)
S.L B.
We visited Cucharamama last night and the overall experience was positive. We were seated at the back of the restaurant close to another table but the servers brought over ice water, menus and bread over very quickly. The bread was warm and the butter that accompanied it was sweet and scrumptious. We ordered cocktails, a mojito for my boyfriend and a frozen daiquiri for me, both were a hit. My daiquiri had a perfect alcohol to sweetness ratio. We ordered two apps to share. The calamari came out insanely quick but it was cooked perfectly with a crunchy batter and an addictive spicy dipping sauce. The second app we chose was a spinach, bacon and onion empanada. These were nice with the smoky bacon flavor being a little strong but the side vinaigrette it came with was delicious. We then picked out two glasses of Spanish Rioja to go with our entrees. I chose the Saice, a spicy beef stew that came with rice and beans. The stew itself was a deep red and I could've taken a bath in it. It was spiced but not overwhelming and it worked beautifully with the awesome sweet beans. The beef itself however was too rare and chewy. I wasn't asked it I wanted it rare or not so I'm not sure if that is how it is served in South American cuisine but I believe stews in general should have tender well cooked beef. My boyfriend had the special entree available only on Thursdays. It was a medley of meat, skirt steak, Colombian sausage and pork. He asked for the skirt steak medium rare but it came out rare. The sausage wasn't to his taste but the pork was a big hit. It was fatty but crunchy on the outside and full of flavor. The arepas and plantain that came with the dish were also nice. The service was friendly and quick and we are definetly coming back here. However we would probably just stick to the items from the wood burning oven rather then the traditional entrees.
(4)
Froilan O.
We came out for my birthday and overall we had a good experience. In terms of ambiance it's cozy but a little crowded (it is hoboken after all) This place is definitely special and the menu has various South American dishes that are perfectly cooked. The drinks are also very good and unique. The only complaint I have is that the portions of the appetizers and some of the entrees are RIDICULOUSLY small in comparison to their price. This issue almost made me give 3 stars but the great quality of food saved them. I really hope they re-evaluate the portion sizes for the amount of money they are charging. In addition there is a charge for cutting and distributing a cake if you bring one from outside $3 a person which I also think is expensive. I'm surprised they didn't charge for the glass the tap water was served in.
(4)
Mercy A.
I had high hopes for this restaurant, I really did. It comes up on many lists as a must- go-to place. In fact, just last month it was in New Jersey Monthly's 25 Top Restaurants. So, we ventured in for brunch on a cool Fall day. It was completely empty except for the two guests eating outside and we chose to eat inside, near a window. The Cons -Waiter came by to see us about every 15 minutes -There were flies milling over our food. -Waiter came by to see us about every 15 minutes. Oh, I already said that, huh? This really did sort of ruin the experience for us. We ordered Tacu, Tacu a Caballo, which is Peruvian rice, beans, and eggs. We absolutely loved that dish. We also ordered the Churrasco con Yuca Gratin. The steak smelled way too meaty and was far too chewy. We took one bite and begged to have it taken away. The waiter was super gracious about it and recommended a Tamale with bacon, which was finger lickin good! For good measure, we ordered the Venezuelan black beans, which are just the right amount of sweetness....delish- could have eaten these solo. I enjoyed what we ate, but having to swat away flies and harass people for our waiter sure did put a damper on the experience.
(3)
Dave F.
Really tasty and very different from the usual assortment in Hoboken. The octopus is really good, and the drinks are spot on. Only thing is this place will run you more than your usual place in Hoboken. Expect to be over $100 for dinner for two with drinks. Totally reasonable compared to NYC, but a little on the high side for Hoboken.
(4)
Matthew C.
Chuchuramama is a nice little restaurant with a wonderful decor. I took my family here since it was around the block from my apartment. The interior was a bit cramped and we had to be seated at different tables. The menu was very interesting and the chicken was delicious. I may not be going back to try it again but I was glad I tried it.
(3)
Kristen H.
My husband and I went to Cucharamama last night. I have read about it several times online and we love Zafra, it's sister restaurant. We made reservations, but when we got there, it was empty, so we could have walked in. They have cute outdoor tables, but we opted to sit inside for the ambiance. The drink menu is extensive and filled with interesting aperitifs. My husband ordered an "El Viejo" Ti-Punch, which is aged rum on the rocks with a twist, vanilla and a cinnamon stick. It was delicious! I opted for a classic margarita -- that was good, as well. Most things on the menu look enticing. We ordered the Empanada de Espinaca, two spinach empanadas with manchego and bacon. These were amazing. They serve a pita type bread with spices and a sweet cream butter -- also wonderful! For our entrees we ordered the Pastel de Choclo Chileno, a Chilean beef and chicken potpie, with a corn crust and Costillas de Res con Costra de Papelón y Mostaza, Quinoa y Acelga Salteada, braised short ribs in red wine sauce with stir-fried quinoa and swiss chard. The potpie was very tasty, albeit a bit heavy. The ribs were tender and flavorful, although drenched in sauce. Next time, I would order the sauce on the side. The quinoa was a bit dry. We also ordered Patacones, golden fried green plantains, as a side dish. These were pretty good, though I've had better. All of the food was rather heavy, but we decided to taste some dessert anyway. We ordered a chocolate flan and a gigantic millefeuille, with dulce de leche and walnut between the pastry layers, covered in a Malbec meringue. When the desserts came out, we were shocked at how large the millefeuille was! The meringue was creamy and light and the layers were crispy and the fillings were very sweet. The flan was tiny in comparison! The flavor of the flan was great, but the texture wasn't as creamy as I prefer my flan to be. Overall, I would recommend Cucharamama for good South American cuisine. I also like that it stands out from the usual-type Hoboken restaurant fare. The service wasn't that great. We waited here and there, luckily we weren't in a rush or it would have bothered me more.
(4)
Danielle D.
My girlfriend and I ate here on a Tuesday night. The service was a bit slow, but we were catching up so we didn't mind too much. We ordered drinks - I had a Capirinha - nice and strong! For our meal we each had 2 small plates - I had Venezuelan chicken tamales (delicious!) and the shrimp ceviche, which was not exactly ceviche - the shrimp were cooked. And there were only 4. We split a chocolate bread pudding that was rich and not too sweet so I liked it. So overall, it was very tasty, but a bit expensive for the amount of food you get ~ $40+ each for a drink + 2 small plates + shared dessert.
(4)
Julia N.
Absolutely fantastic. Such a breath of fresh air, leaps and bounds away from the standard (but good) pub grub/ bar food offered in Hoboken. The chef just won the James Beard award and it was certainly deserved.
Love their tapas, great selection and good for vegetarians too.
(4)
Adam B.
I've said it before, but if Yelp would allow half stars I would give this place 4.5. To be honest, before Sat night I never even knew this place existed. And when I heard that we would be going to a place called Chucharama I giggled a bit because, well, because it is kinda a funny name, no? Anyway, we come in without a reservation on a Sat night because we had no clue it would be so busy. Wrong! Obviously no one likes waiting, but it wasn't that big of a deal to us. So we gave the hostess our number and we went around the corner and had a few drinks. Around 40 mins later we walked back without receiving a call from them. Call it intuition, or whatever you want, but we just felt it was an appropriate time to mozy on back. When we arrived at the restaurant there still was no seating available (this was at like 10pm, almost) and while it was a bit frustrating it definitely indicates how good the food is. After standing in the entrance for no more than two mins the hostess comes up to us and graciously offered us a quiet seat in the back, instead of the bar, simply for being so kind while we waited. How often does that happen!? I'll answer that; rarely. Once seated we really got to enjoy the coziness of the place. The dim lighting, the flickering of the wood burning oven, the beautiful accents in the architecture inside - everything just made it an enjoyable setting. And this is still considering the amount of noise and foot traffic of people at the bar waiting to be seated... None of that really mattered though for some odd reason. Onto the meal: My fiance and I ordered a really tasty Pinot from Argentina. It was a drier version of its California counterpart, but the flavors were distinct and it paired very well with our meals. Speaking of, holy shit the food was good. For an app we ordered the chorizo with peppers and onions - out of sight. For entres we ordered the skirt steak and a pulled pork leg. Holy hell did they capture flavors. Now, clearly from my name you can see I am not Spanish, and I did not grow up around Spanish cooking so my reference point is from the amount of different Spanish restaurants I eat at (a lot) and my fiance being Spanish, and her family cooking absurdly good food. That all being said, this is now her favorite South American restaurant in the area. Do yourself the favor and go here. You may have to wait, but that's ok - go with the mindset that it's worth it and it will be. I will be often, and eventually hope to tackle the whole menu.
(4)
Anthony V.
My girlfriend's parents came into town for dinner the other night and after a long game of "You pick the place", "No, you pick the place"...we decided on Cucharamama since it had a bar and was close to our apartment. We did not have a reservation but figured since it was midweek there would be a short wait at best. When we walked in the door there were plenty of open tables so we were seated promptly at a table for 4 in the back. The wine list was decent but the first two bottles that we ordered were out of stock, both Malbecs - a South American wine (!) The menu was full of authentic South American fare, much of which I couldn't understand until I read the English descriptions. When we placed our order my girlfriend's first meal choice was also out of stock. We shared an empanada appetizer. I ordered the duck entree with pureed sweet potatoes and a quinoa side. The appetizer came out quickly which was two small empanadas with what seemed like a cilantro & oil dip. They were crispy and flavorful without filling us up too much for dinner. The entrees came out fairly quickly. The duck was cooked perfectly and extremely tender and juicy. The breast was perfectly sliced in bite sited pieces that, when dipped in the sauce or paired with the pickled onions that it was served with was great. The sweet potato puree was tasty, creamy and not overly seasoned, which i liked. The quinoa side was creamy but the only drawback were the hard bits of what seemed like uncooked quinoa. Overall, I was impressed with my meal and experience. The service was a bit pushy but I will definitely go back and give it another shot.
(4)
Diane B.
Have only gone twice and both times was pretty good. Will keep going back.
(4)
Joe M.
Let's start out by saying the food here is authentic and wonderfully prepared. Anything coming out of the wood-burning oven has a phenomenal smoky flavor and just the right amount of char. On the other hand, the service on Friday leaves a bit to be desired. Arrived at 9:00 for a 9:15 reservation. At 10pm (still waiting) we were offered drinks by the owner. We graciously accepted, until the check for the complimentary drinks. We were seated at 10:20 and waited until 10:45 to get menus. Once the order was in, the food came out very quickly, maybe 20 minutes at the most. Would highly recommend this restaurant, but would say to try and go in an off-hour. The Pollo Asada was out of this world and the beverages prepared at the full bar have a modern twist on traditional latin drinks. I especially enjoyed the drinks prepared with Pisco, a Chilean liquor,
(3)
Anna S.
So delicious! I don't know if the dishes are unusual for the cuisine but they are unusual for me. And I'm using unusual in a good way. Portions are laughably small sadly.
(4)
Jonathan B.
After reading the other reviews here, I expected Cucharamama to be a place with descent but pricey food in a nice setting with slow/inattentive service. Instead, I ended up having one of the best dining experiences I've had in a very long time. My friend and I had reservations for 5:30 on a cold Thursday night. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by the warmth and aroma of the wood-burning stove. We were the first two patrons there and were seated near the stove. First Course: We were having something heavy for our entrees, so we wanted to share a light appetizer. Our server recommended the peppers stuffed with squash. I've never been much of a squash fan, but my friend kicked the sound of it and I'm glad she did. I wouldn't go so far as to call the dish "amazing", but it was very good. Main Course: There were several seemingly good options on the menu, but we decided to share two dishes. First up was the grilled duck. I'd recently had a duck dish at the top restaurant in Baltimore and while that dish was excellent, this one outshone it. The duck was cooked perfectly and the presentation was very nice. The accompaniments were ok, but didn't really stand out. Next up was the star of the night--braised short ribs. I don't know who came up with the recipe, but had they been there that night, I would have married them on the spot! The short ribs were amazingly tender and the sauce was other-worldly. As good as the duck was, this easily topped it. Both dishes were pretty huge and I ended up taking home a nicely wrapped doggie bag. Dessert: We finished the meal with chocolate bread pudding in a shallow bowl of cafe con leche. The cafe con leche was a nice touch, but the dish was unremarkable as a whole. It was by no means bad, but compared to our entrees, it was just so-so. Summary: This place definitely wouldn't make anyone's "Cheap Eats" list, but I have certainly paid much more for food that wasn't nearly as good. The meal described above (plus a $35 bottle of wine and an order of tea with dessert) came out to $116. In my mind this was more than reasonable considering the quality of the meal, wine and service. I'll definitely be making a return trip.
(5)
Marissa R.
Food ****1/2 Creative South American that is delicious and fresh. Loved the duck tamales. Decent wine list....cocktails seemed a little to sweet for me! Decor ***** A great place to go to feel like your out for a special evening. Very warm and relaxing atmosphere with an authentic feel. Service**** Well mannered and informative. Recommended the Mate Tea and it was phenomenal! Gave us enough time to relax between courses. Overall ****1/2 One of five best spots in Hoboken that is comparable to dining in NYC. If your looking for a cozy, tasty and memorable dinner , this is your spot!
(4)
hp F.
We party of 4 went there last night. it was a great latin american restaurant. we had 4 different apps and 4 different cocktails. i think the grilled octopus was the best. my "milk shake" cocktail had just the right amount of sweetness. the half chicken entree was great, juicy chicken roasted to perfection. I think they need to step up with the service a bit. many bus boys around but only like 2 waitstaff to take orders so we had to wait for a bit. the menu is also a bit difficult to read so if they can simplify it with a clear fonts and print, I think it'd be even better.
(4)
Craige M.
Clearly the time to go to Cucharamama is on a Friday in the summer when many have abandoned Hoboken for the beach. It would have been a 20 minute wait for a table with no reservation, which is no big deal. But there was immediate availability at the bar. I will definitely return to this restaurant and there is a good chance I would sit at the bar again, too. There are no issues with waiting for your server to wander by when you're sitting at the bar. Plus, you get to watch the chefs prepare and cook food in the wood stove. We went the all-appetizer route. It was not hard at all to come up with 5 things that sounded good to both of us, even considering I didn't want any olives and Jeff doesn't eat meat. The shrimp skewers were delicious. The kale was nice and garlicy. I wasn't crazy about the potato and cheese tamale, but Jeff liked it. It tasted milky to me. My favorite were the mini onion and blue cheese empanadas. The crispy plantains came with a tart cilantro dipping sauce. My rum on the rocks with a twist of lime and a splash of vanilla was also delicious. Jeff had a Peruvian beer. Our bill came to $62. We were full and very satisfied with our meal. The entrees average about $22, so I think we would have probably spent more if we'd gone the route of an app plus two entrees. The hostess was incredibly nice and even came to remove our menus when she noticed me looking for a place to set them aside after we'd ordered. The bartenders were very busy, but they never kept us waiting long when we asked for water refills or to place our orders. Everyone was quite pleasant. And the menus were completely pristine and easy to navigate. One thing I will say is that the food is not representative of one single country, so if you are looking for food from one area, you will be disappointed. But if you just want delicious South American food, this would definitely be the place to go.
(4)
Kristen R.
Might be my new favorite restaurant in boken. Went here on a Friday night and made a rez in advance - seated us right away at a table near the back. The ambiance is warm and they keep it pretty dark. There is outdoor seating available but I think being inside is part of the experience, unless you can't handle the heat of the wood burning oven. I tried a Pisco sour for the first time... Could have slammed a handful more but at $9 a pop, it didn't seem worth it (especially since half the drink was the top foam). Had spinach empanadas and chorizo to start, both were good but would like to try others next time. I had the duck entree and my date had the skirt steak. The duck was a bit overdone but still tasty, skirt steak was perfect and tender. I'm excited to go back to Cucharamama and try more of the menu!
(4)
Peter M.
Favorite place in Hoboken. I come in here all the time. The appetizers are the stand outs. The duck tamale is incredible...do not miss this dish! The entrees are huge and we end up splitting one and ordering a ton of apps. You need a reservation on the weekends. During the week you can just walk in about any time.
(5)
Autumn P.
Absolutely delicious.. I would definitely go back on a not so busy night (v-day).. Food was great and seemed pretty authentic. I cleaned my plates. Alot of choices in terms of food and drinks. If you like Spanish food go take a gander at the menu!
(4)
Mitchell D.
Came here on a Tues night with one other person for drinks and a few apps. Every dish we had was EXCELLENT. It made me want to go back to school so I could make more money and eat this well ALL the time. Each dish was a little tiny work of art, with complex flavor profiles and aesthetic presentation that, if you're one of those people, will make your puny instagram filter unnecessary. I like the small portions so you don't overeat, and you are left with the pleasant memory of the unforgettable taste, with the clever chef's work providing a dichotomy of satisfied curiosity against the desire for more. Fantastic cocktails - creative and classy. Quite fitting wine selection. The real reason for the 3 stars is the service, which was somewhat inhospitable. I left there with the distinct and sad feeling that the staff was surely better than me. We were given a hard time about walking in 45 mins away from kitchen closing (Tues night, 2 pp, we arrived at 9:15, kitch closes at 10), and placed closest to the door where the cold air was drafty. Despite the feeling that we were arriving rudely late, we were also given attitude when we just ordered a few quick apps tapas-style and no main course. Hey, we weren't super hungry, we just wanted a few drinks and some apps, the place was half full, and we knew we'd be in & out fast! Why the snottiness? Plus if the staff were in a hurry to move us, they quickly forgot, because they was more preoccupied with their iPhone than refilling our $12 drinks. The decor is beautiful and interesting! Authentic, well thought out. Very artistic, moody and transporting. If they lowered the prices by a dollar or so and asked their staff to be more welcoming, I think there'd be more butts in the seats.... but I'm not sure that's what they're going for, and that's ok. I'm sure if I arrived at the proper time and ordered the most expensive items, I could curry the staff's favor, but I'm a casual person, so this place just isn't going to be on my rotation.
(3)
Min A.
Thought it was overpriced and the portions were small. We actually left after ordering empanadas and a salad and waiting a long time to get our servers attention to ask for the check. We walked down the street to eat somewhere else... It definitely has some appeal, but cramped. We both agreed we were not impressed with the food or the service.
(3)
Mel C.
If you like Zafra's Kitchen then you'll love this place! The girls and I usually default to the same restaurants on the weekend when we forget to make reservations. We had been meaning to try this place, and were we glad we did! The first thing about our experience was that the service was great. Our server was both helpful and had great recommendations. We had two rounds of drinks ranging from pisco (peruvian brandy) mixed with ginger ale, lime/pineapple juice, etc... and I loved it. I'm not big on sweet drinks, and he made sure that the drink was fresh and tasty but not that sweet aftertaste you get with drinks that have processed sugar drenched in them! My other friend didn't know what she wanted, so he surprised her with a cinnamon style drink... which she enjoyed as well. We had the calamari and shrimp fritters to start off, which were both fresh and delicious! For entrees, we weren't sure what we wanted to get, because there are a ton of tapas style dishes but then main dishes as well. I wanted to try all of them... but on the server's recommendation went with the Pechuga de Pollo Asado.. a very yummy chicken dish with plaintains and eggplant. There was some sort of jalepeno glaze on top that gave the dish a little kick, but for someone that sometimes fear spice, it was great and definitely added to the dish. We ordered a side dish of their arroz con queso (as one of the girls notoriously loves rice & cheese), and that quite possibly will cause her to go there everyday until she leaves Hoboken. It was a Peruvian version of mac n cheese to say the least! Very interesting and tasty. The entire ambiance of the restaurant is nice too, with very spanish style decor, fire wood burning oven, and dim lights. We had no problem hearing each other amongst the crowded restaurant either. Great place to go with friends or even on a date (slash my boyfriend is well aware of where he's taking me the next time he comes to visit)... Total bill was about 55 (incl tip) per person for appetizers, two drinks, and main dishes split amongst four girls... and it was a ton of food to give you a sort of price range! Cheers!
(5)
Thomas F.
I have to say that, even after reading the rave reviews, this place not only lived up to its well-deserved reputation, but surpassed my high expectations! The Tapas appetizers were terrific (we had the Calamari, the Cracked Corn Tamales w Braised Duck, both of which were sublime, and then the Beef Empanada, also a treat). The Skirt Steak was cooked to perfection, juicy and tender with an awesome flavor, and the Organic Roasted Chicken was out of this world. Capped it off with rich aromatic coffee, and two delicious desserts...in fact, the chocolate bread pudding was delicious, but the Puff Pastry Meringue was absolutely outrageous! So, as to the very few negative reviews here...ignore them. Yes, the food takes its time coming out...during which we enjoyed a very lively conversation...but the wait staff were always attentive and charming. The bar is lively, the ambiance unique, outdoor tables in nice weather, and overall...well-deserving of 5 stars all around! BRAVO!!!
(5)
Maria G.
Fantastic restaurant, a true gem. Been a few times and intend to keep coming back. The food from the wood-burning oven is just incredible. Amongst tapas, my favorite are the arepas and the bacon tamal, both are amazingly good. For the mains, the half-chicken and the salmon are delicious, juicy and flavorful.
(5)
Samuel G.
I discovered this place just walking by in Hoboken....and i am glad i did! This restaurant has something special to it. First the food is excellent. They have a very long menu and most of it looks really interesting and new. I highly recommend to try a course from the "wood-burning oven" list. The dessert list is also amazing. Try the millefeuille with meringue on top or the Dulche de Leche ice cream. The only downside would be that they do not have any non-alcoholic drinks except the regular sodas... I was a bit disappointed. The decor is really good, you will not feel in Hoboken at all. The room is warm and well decorated. The staff is knowledgeable and nice. Overall a great experience. Perfect for all occasions, really.
(5)
Fiddos J.
I wasn't really impressed with the food or the service. The beef was tough, the quinoa overcooked, the empanadas were ok, the shrimp soup couldn't decide if it was a savory dish or a dessert and the waiter was no where to be seen for large periods of time. I think we saw him only 4 times during the entire meal. That's one of the major problems I noticed with the other dishes too - much too much sugar in everything. A suitable flavor profile to a 3yr old kid maybe ... I prefer my food to have some complexity and depth.
(3)
Hiep N.
Food here is legit. I came here with some friends and we order a bunch of small plates and I ordered the skirt steak. I highly recommend the empanadas and tamales. The skirt steak was a bit on the salty side, but it was a huge portion and cooked perfectly. My buddy got the short ribs that were a bit tough and they weren't cooked long enough so they weren't falling off the bone. Service was mediocre at best. I made a reservation early in the week and specified indoor seating. When I arrived they said that we would be seated outdoors. We went outside and he placed us right next to the door next to a cigar smoker. It was 92 degrees and humid and I told him this wasn't going to work so despite his wishes he moved us inside.
(3)
Pavel S.
Skirt steak was awesome! Good service and nice selection of wine and food. Great smell of firewood inside. Love this place.
(5)
Clint B.
This place has a great menu! Take a date, eat the skirt steak the sauce on the potatos is great. Next time I want to try the salmon they cook it in the wood burning stove!
(5)
Paulie B.
Hoboken Foodie believes this to be one of Hobokens best eateries. From the moment you walk in and get a whiff of the wood burning oven you realize you're in for a treat. I must admit the menu was a bit overwhelming but the server was great and walk us through it. The bread they serve is somewhere between pita and naan and is slightly seasoned. It is served with a sweet butter that is somewhat melted, very nice. The pizzas, although small are off the charts delish! I tried the blue cheese and carmelized onion empanadas and they were excellent. The tamales were the best I've ever tasted. All in all this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in the Mile Square in some time.
(5)
Alison C.
Cucharamama is one of the best restaurants in Hoboken. Situated several blocks west of the busy Washington Street, this spot is really a hidden gem. New Jersey Monthly even named it one of the best Latin restaurants in the state. The service is knowledgeable, quick, and friendly. The prices are comparable to those in Manhattan, but the unique wood-burning oven and flavorful dishes make it worth the money. My friend and started our meal with some terrific Latin-style cocktails that were small but very strong. The Chicapa, made of Pineapple chicapa and Zacapa rum, was sweet and potent. My friend and I shared the Camarones Tatacua, which were jumbo shrimp roasted in Panca Pepper Sauce and baked in the wood-burning oven. They came highly recommended by our waiter and did not disappoint. The sauce was packed with flavor, and the shrimp were fresh and plump. beef empanadas were also delicious. As an entree, I had the Boneless Chicken Breast coated with Adobo seasoning, a pumpkin & mango sauce, and baked in the wood burning oven. It was served with plaintain and eggplant puree. While the dish offered a variety of flavors, they all complimented each other perfectly. The chicken was extremely moist and fell off the bone. Though the place gets packed, especially on the weekends, it is worth the wait.
(4)
Melly G.
Don't expect stellar service....but come to enjoy the food that is prepared in the wood burning stove. The food was so delicious that I actually witnessed my boyfriend scarf down a large piece of steak off a friend's plate when he got up to go to the bathroom. That should be a review in itself, no?
(4)
Ben M.
Best restaurant in Hoboken...hell, in all of NJ. Literally everything is good, I have had the whole menu. Highlights...empanadas, pizza, and on Thursday they have a meat plate special for a meal. It will rock your world. And for a drink...they have a bunch of really fun south American rum drinks that are great. But try the mammopolitan (it is pink and comes in a martini glass...so don't judge me) It is outstanding.
(5)
Rudiger H.
I live in Hoboken and think this place is very cozy. I do agree with many reviews that the skirt steak was average at best and very tough. However, the half chicken dish is excellent. Overall, slightly above average.
(3)
NotTelling P.
Great drinks; very good food; good, but cold service and high prices, make this place not worth a trip. If you are in the neighborhood and are flush with cash, then I would recommend it. The empanadas with spinach and the pizza were excellent. But the short ribs were smothered in a too rich sauce.
(3)
Adam K.
I have been looking to eat here since it opened years ago, but stayed away given the consistent "pricey" description. The warmer weather has returned so I needed a mojito, so I finally decided to try out the place. The mojitos were tasty and worth it, and the appetizers were good as well. I did like the wood burning stove at the bar that they cook everything in. A nice place to go when you want to spend a little.
(4)
L L.
I sadly have to give this restaurant a 1 star for BRUNCH ONLY! They get a 4 star for dinner! I will say that on a Sunday when there are hardly any tables and a fully staffed wait staff they should be more accommodating. Instead my bf and I waited 2 hours for our brunch and had to go in several times to remind them we are still here! They brought us water and took our order after 40 minutes of waiting. In the meantime we saw other guests pick up and leave after 15 minutes of non service! The food was AWFUL! Don't know if they have a different chef during the day then at night but I ordered a pretty basic burger medium and it came out well done and flavorless! My bf ordered something (pork belly and eggs) which was so salty that had he had a blood pressure issue he would've been dead after the first bite. All in all...I would come again for dinner but NEVER EVER again for brunch!
(1)
Food L.
Now let me start by saying that I'm Peruvian...born in Peru and i've been back on average once per year...so i've been back there at least 24 times. I've been to the slummiest places (eating in the ambulantes en la Victoria) to the nicest of them (the most pituquito or trendy/high end places). What matters most for me and my family has always been taste and quality of the food (authenticity usually doesn't hurt either). So let's begin with this review. Now i feel like this restaurant isn't catered to my Peruvian palate, but considering that they were all about south america and mainly focused on PERU, well i expected a heck of alot more. And because of this initial research on my part, i already came in weary of the place.... I'm not about the service/ambiance/decor, i gave this place 2 stars for the following reasons... 1) I had the Pollo al horno in a peruvian style...i didn't understand what was peruvian about this. You need alot more aji panca and the sides of camote with some other sweet sauce was not to my liking. It lacked authenticity and peruvian flavor. 2) I also had the fried quinoa dish which was good but lacked salt. 3) Chicken anticucho was sadly not very flavorful, once again lacking the peruvian taste. And once again needing more aji panca. 4) Their butter with that flat bread was actually good, probably the highlight of the evening. So coming from a Peruvian, this place is a thumbs down...only their decor, service, and butter/bread saved them from a 1 star. I saw many non peruvians there so i'm imagining it's for them and not for me. Peruchos, sigan buscando
(2)
Kevin C.
Do not buy a gift certificate here. The owner is a thief.
(1)
Brian D.
great cocktails, menu & ambiance
(5)
Kevin H.
Best food in Hoboken. Bartender is a great man and makes incredible drinks! Love the mojitos. From what I've had all food has been cooked to perfection. For appetizers, the ceviche, chorizo and squid are great. For dinner, you can't go wrong with the duck, skirt steak, or short rib. Awesome stuff!
(5)
Victor S.
Let me start by saying good things about the restaurant. The ambiance is phenomenal. The decor, colors and layout are great and they compliment each other. However, the chairs on which we sat were very uncomfortable. They seemed very old and lacked cushion. I felt I was sitting in a toilet seat. They were covered in cheap seat covers that were so dirty that it was hard not to notice. I have no complain about the service, except that we had to wait a little for a highchair which they brought from their other restaurant Zafra, even after we made clear in our reservation that we needed it. But that was not a big deal. The big deal is the food. It is good food, but they have to make sure that they call it as it is in the menu. I'll explain. My wife ordered Sango de Camarones, which was advertised in the menu as ecuadorean plate. When she got it, she was dissapointed to see that they took the liberty to change the recipe adding coconut milk and instead of being a dense puree of corn, it turned out to be a soup. They should have listed it as "our take on Ecuador's classic" or something like it. They do have a good selection of plates from different latin american countries and the concept is very good. Maybe we just tried something that they don't master well and we should give them a second chance. Regardless, if you are interested in authentic South American cuisine, this is not a good place.
(2)
David S.
The food at this place is amazing. All of the dishes have amazing flavor and each entree is truly unique. I would say that this place is the best restaurant in Hoboken if you appreciate ethnic food and trying something different. I've eaten here several times and have tried a number of dishes and they have all been spectacular. Everyone I've come here with has also loved the food. They put a lot of effort into everything they make, even the flat bread pieces you get when you sit down are tastefully seasoned and the butter is lightly flavored. This is one of the more upscale places in Hoboken and its definitely worth trying.
(5)
M R.
Make reservations to come here. Good food, not very authentic latino food (more like modernized latino) but good nevertheless. Classy? yes! Modern? yes! with low lights and elegant yet contemporary ambiance. Price? Eeeesh, yeah. Don't go here if you're on a budget but do go here if you can. Dinner for two? $85 just appetizer, meals and soda (Inca Kola, yum!) Decent medium sized portions.
(4)
Jessica C.
This place had the best skirt steak I have ever had! The place is small and gets packed, so remember to make a reservation. This is Hoboken... so parking is tough. I haven't really had anything else on the menu other than some plantains, chorizo, and dessert, which I think was a chocolate flan...if I remember correctly. I remember my friend ordered the rib eye every time we went, but half of it was fatty. The flat bread and sweet butter is delicious.
(4)
Almando p.
I thought it was very good! I had Arepas and short ribs, I forgot the other dish but I thought every thing was good. If you want to go to a nice restaurant with excellent food. I thought the short ribs were amazing. I like the ribs that are soft and tender when you bite. I would definitely go to this place again. The mojito was very good too. Actually, I had two of them.
(4)
Carrie O.
I wish I could give this little place 5 stars, because the food was so good, but, unfortunately, their service brings my rating down. Went here on New Years Eve for dinner with friends before the ball drop. We made a reservation in advance and asked to change our reservation as the day got closer because our numbers grew. The restaurant was unable to accommodate and we ended up having to kick 2 people out of our dinner... awkward. Now, I know it's new years eve and places get booked, but when we got there it was clear the place could have easily accommodated our additional people. They had enough room / empty chairs. Also, when we made the reservation, they said nothing about it being prie fixe. When we got there, they were trying to jack their price an extra $20 because it was New Years. When we explained to the hostess that we made the reservations under different knowledge, she wasn't helpful. When we asked to speak to a manager, she left to get him and never returned. We actually had to go ask again for the manager. The manager, to his credit, allowed us to eat off the regular menu. Anyway, like I said, the food was great. The appetizers were great. Everyone was very happy with their main dishes. But the service was SLOW! We told them we were leaving before the ball drop, but as the minutes ticked closer to 12, we got nervous. So we asked for our bill when the main dishes were served. Did the waiter bring it? No. We had to ask a second time. I know, it's new year's eve, and they're busy. But it's new years eve and i'm trying to enjoy myself and actually get to see the ball drop live. Bottom line - great food, not great service - not good for groups, and NOT good for new years eve.
(4)
Natasha P.
Amazing! Followed other reviews and got the braised ribs. My boyfriend got the skirt steak. We shared and still had some left over. I eat beef about twice a year and it was completely worth it. Sat at the bar and the service was great. Definitely check this place out!
(5)
Kim P.
Amazing place!! I've been here twice and can't say I had anything I didn't like. Great drinks (try the pisco sour!) - I also really liked the Ocopa de Manà y Huacatay (potatoes in a cream sauce), chicken croquettes, the Crema de Frijoles Blancos y Tomate soup (white bean & tomato cream soup), and basically all the empanadas. I never had an issue with service, but I've always made a reservation, so points go to keeping the reservation, seating us on time, and getting our drinks and food out fast. The inside is beautiful and there is also outdoor seating. I would love to give 5 stars, but I just wish the prices were just a little bit lower - especially on the drinks. You can easily spend $50/person. Its definitely worth spending a little extra on, but I thought they were just a little over priced.
(4)
Alex C.
I went to Cucharamama last Friday and was actually overwhelmed by how good the place was and flavors used in all the dishes. My mom had read about the restaurant owner in gourmet mag some time ago and wanted to try this place out as it was all South American cuisine redone. Just an FYI the menu (both drinks, apps and entrees) is very extensive, complex and gets expensive - if you do not like South American cooking at its finest stop reading. It probably took us 15 min to get our bearings, anyways we started off with drinks and about 4 apps. The drinks were great, I had some Brazilian cream passion fruit thing with a cinnamon stick in it, and we also got a bottle of Malbec. We started with the mussels, beef empanadas, tamales, and shrimp. The mussels were outstanding, they were in this amazing broth and you could drink as a soup. The other 3 did not disappoint either, the complex flavor of the tamales were really cool - delicious and hard to explain (try them!). The real winner of the apps was the stuffed pepper, this thing was fucking amazing. As a person who really does not like peppers whole (except for some flavoring) this thing was delicious. I could eat about 10 and it was well worth the 5 min of heartburn. The entree I had was pork loin (shredded w/ delcioius seasonings unknown) side of white rice, an onion bean salad and bowl of beans. Again, very good and I ate about half as I was stuffed from all the previous apps. Dessert was good, not great, we had a chocolate flan that tasted like it had booze in it but it did not and dulce de leche ice cream. It was a good finisher but no where near as good as the rest of the meal. The ambiance is great, very quaint little date spot with the wood burning stove right in the front. Dudes, if you want to get laid, take the chicks here, drop some coin, enjoy the food and let the restaurant do the rest (see Seinfeld for further assistance). Place was great and I cant wait to try her other Hoboken restaurant
(5)
Steve S.
Great South American appetizers and entries. Real good drinks too. A little pricey, but definitely worth an occasional splurge. aGreat for taking out of towners.
(4)
Rebecca R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken, which I always save for special occasions. Everything I've tried on the menu is delicious but my favorite is the Skirt Steak. The ambiance is soothing, chic, and upscale with a Latin twist. Fun cocktails and a lovely wine selection. The service can be spotty; I definitely remember instances waiting too long for the server when the restaurant gets crowded, but to me it's worth it for the food.
This is my favorite restaurant in Hoboken. I've been to Cucharamama a few times and it just keeps getting better. The atmosphere is perfect for a special occasion or a fun night out. The service has always been great, the food is amazing, the wine list is awesome...I can't say enough good things about Cucharamama!
(5)
Helen W.
I ordered the cerviche, octopus and skirt steak to share with someone. The cerviche only had 4 pieces of shrimp and the rest was yuca. The octopus was mushy. There was too much sauce. The skirt steak was good and the mash potatoes with cheese and scallions that came with it was delicious. The sangria was amazing.
(3)
Kevin L.
Absolutely amazing. The rare occasion where only silence emerges after your group's collective first bite as you and the others try to find the proper words to describe your sudden states of euphoria.
(5)
Miriam K.
Cucharamama is one of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken. The ambience is beautiful - authentic South American decor with a wood burning stove. The outdoor seating is also a nice touch in the Spring/Summer. I have never been disappointed in a dish here. They bring you fresh bread out of the oven with delicious butter and their cocktail menu is full of different wines and South American speciality drinks (I got the mojito last time and loved it). I would recommend the calamari as an appetizer as well as the peppers and ceviche. I would suggest getting only one appetizer for 2 people because you really want to be able to savor your main dish (unless you order all appetizers which is also another good route to go). The prices aren't too bad but it's definitely a special occasion-type place. Try Zafra's if you're looking for a more affordable/byob version of this very special restaurant.
(5)
Carrie H.
My husband brought me here for my birthday this year and it was amazing. I've been in Latin America and loved the food and this was really on par. We ordered based on the waiters recommendation's and everything was delicious, the duck tamales really stood out. I can't wait to go back. The only issue we had was the hostess messed up our reservation and wasn't the friendliest about doing so, but once the manager was aware she quickly resolved the situation and we were seated.
(5)
Andrea R.
My husband and I are in our late 20s and big foodies. I promise you this restaurant will not disappoint. Everything we ordered from the unique table bread to the indescribable puff pastry dessert was packed with flavor. Service was amazing. And the drink menu was fantastic. We went for a romantic dinner, but I will def be going back with my girlfriends for a few drinks and some apps. It's pretty small inside, so if you are looking for the big restaurant feel, this is not the spot for you.
(5)
Frank R.
If you want a guaranteed good time out avoid this place for dinner. As mentioned by other reviewers the service - more specifically the hostess and her ability to actually respect reservations is terrible. What makes it worse though is that not only does she not respect reservation times she has a terrible attitude and a holier than though approach to people. I have stopped coming for dinner because of the hostess. It is right around the corner from me, so it was convenient on cold nights, but now I'll go to Zacks or Zafra (same owner as Cucharamama but way different feel and service). As others have mentioned, I've had to wait 30 - 45 min for a reserved table before. Once it was longer when I was with a party of 8 but after the 45 min mark we got up and left. The last time, without getting into the details, the hostess got upset at my wife who was 7 months pregnant (so clearly showing) for taking a seat at the bar with me while we were waiting for a table (for a reservation time they had not respected) and not drinking alcohol (really!). The food is pretty good - some items are very good, but not worth the price. You can have an equally good meal at the Cuban Restaurant for 3/4 of the price, better service and more enjoyable ambiance.
(2)
Kimberly N.
I was expecting more from this place given its accolades. We were neglected by the server and he didn't even apologize. We were seated by the bathroom and it was a very uncomfortable and busy spot, continually being knocked by people walking through the narrow walkway. There was a huge marinara stain on my seat that the hostess did not seem to be concerned with - I was just glad it was already dried and didn't stain my white dress. The pork belly tamale was delicious and the honey butter with the bread was wonderful. The rest of it was just decent. My salmon and my boyfriends ribeye were both overcooked. Other than the service nothing about this place was completely offensive, but I expected more from a James Beard winner.
(2)
G T.
This place has awesome food. awesome- very cool decor in a intimate environment. i read the other reviews...and this place doesnt have bad service. it has slow service~ and i think there is a difference. everyone is super nice, just slow. if you have been to the Caribbean, it's akin to that kind of service- will definitely go back. awesome food.
(4)
Nicole W.
Love the atmosphere at this place! Perfect for a date night. Great mojitos and love the skirt steak! If you you like this place you have to check out their sister restaurant Zafra across the street.
(4)
Jarett C.
The only place I've been for tapas in Hoboken. There's a lot of variety and everything was very good. It's a bit pricey but worth it.
(4)
Khody A.
I went with a traditional course of steak, fries, and rice. It was good.
(4)
Tom P.
Beautiful dining expereince on all levels - the place itself is very warm and inviting and the food never dissapoints - the only thing really lacking is the service - very cocky but worth dealing with the crankiness for the unique cuisine served.
(4)
Sergio M.
Service was excruciatingly slow, inattentive servers, unfriendly- basically inexperienced cheap labor. It took 30 minutes just to get the menus without any beverage being served- it was not full, and there it was adequately staffed but poorly managed- on a Friday night! Menu was unrepresentative of Latin flavors, not the greatest layout, printed on cheap material prone to get dirty (surprisingly almost all in my table were). The menu offered limited vegetarian options (I think it was less than 5). Food was plain, really small portions, wine selection was poor and could have been done a lot better to complement the food. Prices were high for what it was worth and the terrible service. Did not get dessert as everyone was already fed up with the service. Ambiance was the only good thing, although the music was at times tacky. There was a light malfunction I noticed and was rather an important one. Being in the hospitality industry and knowing what to look for in F&B, this place was under performing its potential (turnover and up-selling seemed terrible). Coming from Latin America I was terribly disappointed after reading great reviews and simply judging it from the outside coming in.
(1)
Lisa H.
We have been so excited to try this place. We love South American/Latin cuisine, especially with a wood fire oven. We decided to celebrate out 6th Anniversary here. We started with the White Sangria (on recommendation from a relative). The Sangria was amazing! It had a grapefruit twist to it which was different but really worked. We decided to go with a bunch of small plates and one entree. We ordered beef empenadas, spinach & bacons empenadas, wood fired shrimp & pepper puree, shrimp ceviche, a grilled pineapple and pumpkin salad and the half grilled chicken entree. For starters, their menu is pretty big which is great but I was a little bummed there were no specials. I like specials, even if they already have a lot to choose from, but it's not the end of the world by any means. So let me break down what we had. The beef empedadas (2 small emps per order) came first and they were ok. I have had better. I did get a small grizzly piece of meat in mine which turned me off to it I think. They were my boyfriends pick... Boyfriend 0 for 1. Next up was the hot shrimp w/ pepper puree (4 shrimp). LOVED it! The shrimp were a good size (I hate small shrimp), nice low spice heat and the puree was amazing. Good pick on my boyfriends part, 1-1. The pineapple & pumpkin salad was next. This was my idea and SO happy we got it. It was very refreshing and came at the perfect time to break up the meal. It was almost like the sorbet between courses. The pineapple was fresh and the pumpkin was perfect! There are no greens with this, which the waiter mentioned, and that was just fine. We loved it. Me 1-0. :) We got the spinach & bacon empenadas next and these were much better than the beef but the side dipping sauce was the same and it just lacked flavor. So although I thought the empanadas would be my favorite part of the meal, they were probably my least fav. Damn, me 1-1. Next was the ceviche, which was okay. I wasn't loving it. My boyfriend liked it, but to me it was a very strong weird tomato soup sauce that I didn't care for. We will call this one a wash sincewe both wanted it and didn't agree on the outcome. Last was the half chicken. Although I was pretty full at this point, my boyfriend really wanted the chicken and I am so glad he did. It was hands down, my favorite thing we ordered. The chicken was perfect! Simple, juicy, smokey, amazing. Boyfriend takes it with a 2-1! So what else... the ambiance is wonderful. They have outside tables but we wanted to sit inside and enjoy. It's beautiful, the chairs are comfy, the tables are not on top of one another (a pet peeve of mine in small places) and the service is great. I read in other reviews that the servers were on top of you... we didn't experience this at all. Huge A+ for service. The bread starter is yummy with the honey butter. We look forward to going again and I want to trying the salmon entree which went by me and looked AMAZING. We also want to try dessert and maybe one of the pizzas. So overall... listen, I like Sabor in West New York Much better and given the choice, Sabor takes it for sure, but this place is good, adorable and an easy walk. We are fans and will be back.
(4)
Jon S.
This is my favorite restaurant in hoboken! Fantastic food and decor and the service is great. Highly recommended if you like Spanish food and wood burning ovens!
(5)
Amanda P.
Food and staff is amazing
(5)
Maria V.
I signed up for yelp just to write this review. let me start from when you would walk in the hostess are friendly they didn't greet you. I went on a saturday night for a birthday celebration and it was the worse experience yet!! It was a group of us. They had us basically all seating on top of each other no one was comfortable at all. We reserved seating a week ahead. The waiter didn't make us feel welcomed... Felt has if he was bothered by our big group. The serve was extremely slow. Took forever for your drinks and food. And to top off the bad serve they handed me rare cooked food. Something I didn't ask for!! We asked to speak to the manager and it got no where, didn't even apologize! No one was really enjoying the place we thankful made the best of the awful location since we were together. Alot of us wanted to leave to go up the block to the Italian pizza place. I won't recommend this place to anyone! Also please be aware If your anything other then Caucasian they won't serve you as you should!!! If your Caucasian you'll have great serve I notice from others seating around us. Hope this helps someone planning a gathering there...
(1)
Caroline Z.
I hate to give this place such a low rating because I really loved everything about it, the decor, the food, the wine...up until the food poisoning. I had ordered a small soup and a shrimp appetizer, and a glass of white wine. Nothing major. Perhaps they sourced their shrimp from the Gulf, because not an hour later I was vomiting and collapsing on the PATH platform, which was shortly after my vision and hearing started to get dim and I broke into a cold sweat on the train. I have never had this reaction to food before, and I generally enjoy all types of food. If you choose to go, be very careful of the seafood at this place. Needless to say, I won't be back.
(1)
Maxwell G.
best restaurant salmon I have ever had. . ... HANDS DOWN! it's wood grilled in their oven. Amazing. The rest of the menu is pretty tasty too. can't really go wrong. They have some interesting Malbec'sin their wine selection too.
(5)
Fang S.
It was a good dinner. I heard good things about the place for a long time. We could finally get a table tonight. The tables outside were not as fancy as the ones inside. And the tables were too close to each other. But we didn't have a choice because we didn't have a reservation. The food was good. It was a little overpriced. You can find food with this quality in the city for cheaper. Hoboken needs more variety of good value restaurants.
(3)
MICHAEL R.
Great food great place to impress wife or girlfriend.
(5)
La L.
Yum. Don't miss this place if you live in Hoboken. Get the girls together and go. It's a bit pricey so it's not an everyday spot.
(4)
Michael z.
We have been here many times since it opened. Cucharamama was spectacular when the place opened - the Chilean wines were great (try the Carmenere) and the oven-cooked items were delicious. My wife is vegetarian, and they put together a generous vegetarian platter for her with most of the vegetarian appetizers and side dishes. However, over the years this place has slipped - service is sloppier, handling reservations became error-prone, and the presentation of the food is less stellar. The food is still good (the bread and butter they serve as an appetizer is wonderful), but lately the vegetarian platter got smaller and had fewer dishes on it - for the same price. The main dishes are still OK, and it's probably still a good date spot, but it's no longer trying as hard to please as it once was.
(3)
Jaslene S.
bad food, dried burnt chicken fingers..zero flavor, extremely dry fried ribs for appetizers! there were flies buzzing in the dark, dingy room...huge disapointment!... the worse food experience!
(1)
rene P.
was skeptical about this place after reading reviews. happy we went. the food is excellent. Highly recommend the beef short ribs. Nice and tender and quinoa is good too. I enjoyed the drinks especially the sangria. the bread is delicious. We sat at the bar and received the best service. can't wait to go back.
(4)
Elmo G.
My husband took me there for my birthday. Very nice, but the place was packed, and almost gave an impression of a fast food restaurant... Food was tasty, but later that night, I found out I had a food poisoning...someone probably forgot to wash their hands in the kitchen. Never again. So much money for a stomach ache....! ;o(
(2)
Kelly A.
This is a New York quality (and priced) place on a little side street in Hoboken. Fantastic Latino food in a cozy and elegant setting. Love the wood burning oven that's just behind the bar. It really sets to mood for the place. I've actually sat at the bar with a friend for dinner and we made friends with the bartender, the chef and an interesting guy who was dining alone. They also have outdoor white tablecloth tables outdoor when the weather is nice. You have to try to latino drinks - all made with fresh ingredients. Mojitos, Caipirinhas, Margaritas...oh my! They also have a great wine list. Oh yeah, and the food - heavenly! This is a first class joint! And if you can't afford to splurge here, the owners have a BYOB Latino resturant down the street, Zafra.
(5)
Amanda S.
Excellent food. The pumpkin and grilled pineapple salad is to DIE for. Nice selection of wine and beer. My only gripe was that we went to the place relatively early on a Friday evening (around 6:00) and the place was empty. We didn't have reservations, and apparently, that was a problem for them. They made a big deal about it, and we asked if we could sit outside. After some huffing and puffing, they let us sit outside. We finished our meal in about an hour and a half, and by the time we left, the place wasn't even half full and about 2 tables were seated outside. Calm down, Cucharamama--you're in Hoboken. Don't make it so difficult for people to eat at your restaurant.
(4)
Rob P.
Met a few local friends here for dinner on a Saturday night. Nice atmosphere and good drinks (mojitos a bit too sweet, so ask for little, if any, simple syrup for a more balanced cocktail). Overall impression of Cucharamama, unfortunately, was just mediocre and forgettable. Tapas portions, while supposed to be small, were generally TOO small for what's being charged, and some were complete misses in terms of taste. I can forgive small, expensive portions if the taste and quality are A++, but that wasn't my impression here. Entrees were also disappointing, at least what came to our table. My cannelloni was mushy and swimming in a tepid, heavy cream sauce. It reminded me of a frozen dinner from Trader Joe's but with an extra helping of gloppy sauce. It lacked finesse and felt like a lead bomb in my stomach afterwards. One friend got the strip steak, which looked delicious, but was so tough and chewy that she decided she had enough after eating only half. I could go on, but the bottom line is that the price-value-quality relationship at Cucharamama isn't in correct proportions. It's just okay and not a stand-out for the type of cuisine being served. While not awful, I'm pretty sure I won't return. There are many better options in north Jersey for this cuisine.
(2)
david o.
Good food at healthy prices. Nice selection of wine (and by the glass too which is a plus) as well as a full bar and some specialty drinks are available. The food was very good, and the waiter was very accomodating.
(4)
Vivian C.
This place doesn't even deserve a star. The staff is absolutely rude. The place is tiny and has no where to have you wait for "your reservation". Yes -I arrived on time and still had to wait for my table. with nowhere to go I basically stood in the doorway and got a snide remark from a waiter passing for standing there. Go to Amanda's, dino & harry's or Anthony David's if you want good food, great service and friendly people.
(1)
Al D.
I love spanish food, especially real home cooking - from Cuban, Argentine, Puerto Rican, to Peruvian - I have tried them all. I checked out Cucharamama at Hoboken with my girlfriend for dinner on Frida based on my sister's suggestion. Visually, tt was a good impression for me, small and cozy inside and diners enjoying the outside as it was a beautiful evening when we went. I made reservations so right away we were seated close to the fireplace behind the bar. I think the place was more Argentine than typical hispanic food - with perhaps some fusion mixed in. I had some bacalau fritters for appetizers and ceviche shrimp. The dinner was fine for me, although my girlfriend wasn't too excited about it - she also loves spanish food and is an excellent cook. But her chicken on a stick was dry and she some rellenos-type meal that she wasnt too excited about. The deal breaker was the price - it was definitely geared towards tourists and those willing to spend for the atmosphere alone. I've had better chimichurri and their yerba matte at $8.00 - are you kidding me? its basically tea...lol...anyway, the atmosphere was quaint and food was ok - but it shouldnt be NYC/tourist prices.
(2)
Stephanie B.
May be pricey for Hoboken, but the food is way above average. Not necessarily traditional South American in all cases, but very good. Lots of interesting choices for all types of eaters, good wine, and great Pisco Sours.
(4)
Helen P.
While their menu of artisanal South American food is creative, the value is not there due to the small portion sizes, missing dishes and lack of parking. When my boyfriend and I went there, there were 2 dishes that were unavailable: spiced chocolate flan and the shrimp and hearts of palm salad. While it's understandable that a restaurant may run out of 1 dish, it's annoying when it happens twice during the same meal. It creates the negative perception that the restaurant does not do proper inventory planning. Given the amount of effort it takes to get to the restaurant and the prices that they charge, it's not unreasonable to expect an exemplary dining experience. The spiced flatbread with butter is a nice change from the typical bread and butter that restaurants serve. The drinks are flavorful but would be more enjoyable if they were larger. The salted cod fritters and grilled octopus salad were delicious but the puff pastry dessert was mediocre (the portion was gigantic but the size could not compensate for the lack of taste).
(2)
trisha b.
so good! went here on a sunday night and they easily took our reservations. had a choice of sitting in the front or the back of the restaurant. people in my party ordered the shrimp skewers and the shrimp corn chowder to start - both delicious! i split the salmon and the camarones picantes with the canary beans. the portion of the salmon was huge and it came with the crispiest little delicious potatoes. the camarones were spicy but not overwhelming and had potatoes marinated in the sauce as well. the chimichurri steak was also ordered in my party and they were not skimpy with that portion either. dulce de leche helado and apple crepe for dessert! will definitely be making my boyfriend take me back there again!
(5)
Matthew S.
Went there recently with some friends after about a year and the place has gone downhill. I used to really enjoy this place. I found the atmosphere great, decent drinks, and very good Latin food. The atmosphere is still great, however we were less than impressed by the service and equally unimpressed with the food. Upon being seated at the one specific table we asked not to sit at, the hostess would not move us even though there were tables available, it took around 10 minutes before the waiter came over to ask for our drinks. The service remained sloppy and sub par for the duration of the evening. The food was ok at best, with three of us ordering the same piece of meat cooked to the same temperature, and we were all served meat that had been cooked to different temperatures. One still mooing, one that could double as a handbag, while the third not being "just right" but half and half. The sides lacked flavor altogether and the portions seemed to have shrunk. We all felt something was missing and were really turned off by the service. The cost benefit ratio just isn't there and far better places exist with much better value.
(2)
Lauren B.
Service was good. Very nice, waiter came to check on us only once, buslady was good-- came by alot to refill waters, wrap food, etc. Food- Their bread looks like pita, but is so soft and delish, almost like naan. Comes with sweet butter. Very good. We got Croquetas de Arroz y Queso- very good!! And the sauce was divine! Choritos (Mejillones) en Salsa (mussels) they were very good too- my friends loved the sauce. Fragrant White Bean and Tomato Cream Soup with Cabrales Cheese and Onion Empanaditas Fresh from Our Wood-Burning Oven - this was not as good as I'd hopes, almost tasted like enchilada sauce, and the little empanadas with it were too bluecheesey for me, but my friends loved them. Llapingachos de Yuca con Uchu-Puka Yuca and Cheese Griddle Cakes - these were very good too. Yuca Gratinada- not alot of flavor :( Arroz con Queso Barranquillero Colombian Rice with Queso Blanco- this was amazing. I reallllly liked it. Definitely try it. Everyone at the table couldn't get enough. Pata de Chancho al Estilo de Tacna Peruvian-Style Roast Leg of Pork in Ajà Amarillo Adobo - she loved it, her plate was clean. it came with a piece of the fat, and she loved the crispiness of it. Costillas de Res en Salsa de Asado Negro Venezolana Braised Short Ribs in a Red Wine Sauce and Brown Loaf Sugar and Cacao, Stir Fried Quinoa and Swiss Chard- He loved his as well, another clean plate. Entraña (Churrasco) con Chimichurri Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak with Chimichurri, Colombian-Style Potatoes with Tomato and Cheese Sauce- this was very good. the chimichurri was spicy which he really enjoyed and his side of potatoes with the sauce was very good. Had white sangria, big glass, $11.00, was decent.
(4)
Gerald G.
Ok today I decided to try this place out to see if it lives up to the hype - 2012 Best Chef 2014 James Beard Runner up! About me: Serial Foodie - Supper Club Member!!!!!! Etc... Etc.... I really love food and will travel anywhere for the best foods $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I just left this place it's all hype a product of non foodies and marketing lots of fake reviews and not so authentic cuisine. Not to mention it's in Hoboken N.J. 5 min up the hill to Jersey City NJ and there's 50 places that serve better Food for 10$ a Meal I had a Bottle of Mineral water the Octopus appetizer and The Organic Half Chicken it all came served with cheese and onions Low quality food and My chicken was Bloody I paid the 48$ tab 25$ for half bloody Chicken Wow!!!!! Note: To staff I sat by the oven: I expressed I didn't eat bread I also left a 6$ tip after I told the waiter my chicken was Bloody and he said to me Oh sorry!!! Nice service;)
(1)
Justin L.
Meh Service And high price. Skirt steak lacked much Flavor. Small plates were good. Not good for groups.
(3)
Ann K.
If it were possible to give separate reviews for food and service, Food would get an easy 4.5-5 stars, while service would be closer to 1.5-2. First and foremost, the food is excellent. I have come multiple time and tried many of the appetizers (some personal favorites are the crispy calamari, the Peruvian ceviche, the blue cheese empanadas, and the croquettes), and all were delicious, well executed, and great for ordering multiples/sharing with the table. My go-to entree is the entrana (skirt steak) with chimichurri sauce. YUM! I have also had the braised short ribs, and have tried some of my boyfriends' mussels which were flavorful and perfectly cooked! All-in-all, a fantastic food experience. However, the service at our most recent dining experience definitely overshadowed, and nearly ruined our enjoyment of the food. I had called and made a 7:30 dinner reservation for 6 people on a Friday night. Knowing the small capacity of the establishment, I called and made a reservation 6 days prior. My party (of out-of-town guests on their first trip to Hoboken) arrived at 7:30 and checked in with the hostess. She acknowledged our arrival and checked my name off of the list on her reservation sheet and walked back into the restaurant to check on the status of our table. A minute or two later she came back and informed us that our table would be another 30 minutes because the previous table was lingering longer than expected, but she offered for us to sit outside instead. There were some "cold-blooded" women in our group who mentioned they would prefer to sit at our reserved table inside when it was ready. We asked if we could sit around one of the empty outdoor tables and order drinks/peruse the menu while we waited for our table to become available. She said "absolutely!" and so we had a seat. And we sat. And sat. And saaaaattttttt..... With not a single menu/waiter in sight. Finally one of our group went up to the hostess station and stole a drink menu for us to look through. Finally, a waiter came to take our drink order. At about 8:15, a member of our party walked up to the hostess table to inquire about the status of our table, to which he was told "Only another 20-30 minutes, now". We were seconds away from cutting our losses, leaving the restaurant, and finding something elsewhere. When I confronted the (16 year-old looking, clearly overwhelmed) hostess, I made it very clear that it is unacceptable to keep a group waiting for a reserved table well over an hour. I also asked her to "take care" of our group for the evening, as we had not been treated with the experience we were expecting when we made the reservation. After that confrontation, our table was mysteriously ready in minutes (hmmmmm, curious.....). From that point on our dining experience was much better. The manager sent over a PLETHORA of complimentary appetizers, all of which were delicious, but we had to wait a VERY long time to see a waiter & order appetizers. At one point everyone at our table had an empty drink and we had to wave the waiter over to order more. By the end of the evening (and a few drinks later), we had ALMOST forgotten about the start of our evening. I will still visit Cucharamama, as it is one of the few truly exceptional dining experiences in Hoboken. BUT be aware- service is NOT a priority for this restaurant!
(3)
Lynn F.
Here dinner with my friend again today. I ordered the grill duck was OK but a little cold . the server was okay but the hostess was cold & rude, she doesn't seem that she like to be there.
(3)
Brandon E.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Hoboken. I don't always eat here, but when I do I prefer Cucharamama. Anyway, this place is outstanding and off Washington street which at times is nice to get away from. This is South American cuisine with some influences obviously from America but also Italian among others. I've been here four times now, mostly because it's not the cheapest place to chow down. We save it for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Each time I go the food has always been spectacular, I have eaten nothing here that I didn't like. This last time I got the braised short ribs in a red wine sauce. Great googlie mooglie. It was rich and heavy but man was it good. This was NOT light fare but wow the flavor was intense. I've also gotten the skirt steak, rib eye tried some chicken all good. The tamale's are outstanding no matter what you get, I suggest the one with duck on top. The little pizzas, delicious and a great starter. Seriously, I've tried a variety of their tapas style food as apps and it has always been a home run. The empenadas with bleu cheese in them, awesome. I've been for a couple birthdays now and they've brought out a desert with a candle in it each time, no fan fare or anything like a Chili's (thank god) but a nice gesture considering no one has asked them to do that. The booze, they have a variety of mixed drinks and concoctions inspired by South American spices, alcohol, mixology, etc. The punch, mojito, rum on the rocks is all excellent and ask them to give it a little kick and you won't be disappointed. Not a place to come and tie one on as the drinks run from $9-11. The only reason I give it four stars because a couple of times they had to really dig to find our reservation and that was kind of a pain. it's a solid 4.5 stars to be honest. If you live in Hoboken or are just visiting this needs to be a must try on your list.
(4)
D H.
I came early Sunday.. Around 4 pm for early dinner... No wait time... If you show up in the rush hour will have to wait for a long time. Had the short ribs and the caneloni... Pretty tasty... A little pricey... Make reservations for dinner to avoid waiting for to long... But be prepared to give your credit card for a no show up fee of 100$$$$
(5)
Julia G.
I had high hopes because I heard this restaurant was amazing and also owned by the same people as "Zafra" which I love. The food was good, as in, I would come back, but I probably wouldn't suggest it. I'm pretty sure our server forgot about us as he rarely came to our table & it took us forever to get our check. Also, the menu is quite extensive, but they didn't have most of the things we asked for. I would rather a restaurant have a more modest menu and actually have the items on it.
(3)
Sam E.
Amazing meal. Had to wait a bit for a reserved table, but well worth the wait. Had some drinks at the bar which were potent and delicious while we waited. To start, the bread and butter (yes, something that simple) was amazing. I don't know what's in that butter but Jesus! The appetizers were delicious. Very fresh and authentic. Had the chorizo, calamari and empanadas, all were beyond words. The churrasco was perfection. Can't express how good our meal was. Small place, but I think this is what gives it character.
(5)
Marc F.
Sub-par to mediocre food that certainly doesn't warrant the price tag. Absolutely HORRENDOUS service. Bread: What bread? Never got it. I could tell we were supposed to b/c there were butter knives on little bread plates at our table. Starters: Empanadas were good, soup was ok, fried fish was ok. Main courses: THE BRAISED BEEF WAS TERRIBLE. One of the worst dishes I've ever had at any restaurant. If you're gonna serve me a really cheap cut of beef, that's fine as long as you cook it right. Properly braised beef should be tender and stringy, but this was so chewy and wouldn't break apart when I chewed it. I pretty much swallowed it whole. Awful. We also got the seafood in coconut milk broth, it was just ok. I'd rather get a curry from Satay for half the price and twice the flavor. Sides: Plantains. I love plantains in general, these weren't bad. Dessert: None. I was so fed up at this point, it took forever to get the dessert menu, then forever to get the waiter to come take our order, so I just had him bring the check. Like I mentioned, the service was really bad. I understand that there are cultural differences, and I expect that service can sometimes be a little slower when going to Latin/South American restaurants b/c they're a little more laid back. But this was just terrible. After being seated, it took us like 10-15 minutes before any server even acknowledged our presence, then another 5 just to get a tiny glass of water. Throughout the course of our meal, our waiter was much more interested in socializing with other people than tending to us. If I wanted something (place an order, get a menu, get water), I kept having to stop him as he was passing our table, b/c he sure wouldn't stop on his own to see if we actually needed/wanted anything. Or I'd ask someone else if he was nowhere in sight. He was nice enough to bring the check to us quickly. I guess b/c he figured it was tip time. Yea, here's 10% buddy. I'm tired of people over-hyping Hoboken restaurants b/c they don't know what good food is. I came here excited, and left pissed off. There's just no excuse for that service and that braised beef.
(1)
K Lo ..
Ambience: great! Everyone was very friendly, very relaxed atmosphere, no rush to go anywhere. Food: well crafted, smartly executed, made with fresh ingredients. Portions not very big but well presented. Don't know how authentic, but everything was light, non greasy. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Price: $40 person with a drink and dessert. Make sure you have a reservation, you may never make it on a walk in basis.
(5)
Pat D.
This place does not take resavations, so be prepared to wait. And there is only parking on the street. Sitting in the front room of the resturant is where you want to be. The back of resturant seems a little too small and the table are too close together. If you are going to use the restroom that is located in the back of the resturant, you will have to pass a two seater table placed only a few feet from the bathroom doors. Honestly, I felt sorry for the couple sitting outside those bathroom doors because their meal kept getting interrupting with people passing by. Now the food and service. The service was good, but we had to ask two different servers for bread three times. Otherwise the service was good. My friend had the Salmon that was cooked in the Wood Burning Oven she thought the Salmon was great. I had their signature Argentinean-Skirt Steak dish cooked med. rare and it came with potatos/cheese - the steak was just ok, I found it hard to cut with the steak knife. Honestly, I have had better at other restaurants - the meat seemed as if they pounded it flat, there was no 'meatness' to it. My other friend had the Pata de Chancho "Roast Leg of Pork" this dish had no presentation, it was as if they just sliced the pork on the dish along with it's sides- It looked horrible and tasted like it looked, save your money. All in all, this is the last time we will be coming to this restaurant. One suggestion to the owner - since the business relies on a lot of repeat customers and new customers please UPDATE YOUR MENU 1) It is too wordy 2) Categorize your listing by Meat / Poultry / Fish etc; It takes the customer too long to figure out what is on the menu so ordering will take time - too confusing. **UPDATE MAY 27th, 2014, 12-24 Hours later my friend claims she got food poisoning from her Pork dish (she was the only person who ate Pork) she immediately followed the BRAT diet after the toxins left her body. (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) - so beware if you order the Pork.
(2)
Peter M.
Honestly who's rating these places? Either they have the staff rating or the owners ask all there friends to rate the place. This place was horrible. The waiter was rushing me to pick my drink didn't recommend anything. Then I finally picked and my drink came out it was call Flor De Jamaica .. It was vodka with a splash of grenadine and a cinnamon stick .. Disgusting. The food read mediocre on the menu but came out even worse then it read. I swear we felt like it was a process of elimination to pick something then when we finally picked we felt iffy about it. The food came out and is was terrible the pizza with manchego and Serrano ham pizza it was a mini size pizza that was super salty cubed Serrano ham which was weird . We expected thin sliced . Bottom line it was bad . We also ordered the cannelloni and that was a complete train wreck. I'm sorry must not be a good food night out for us but this place was awful. Or maybe our bar is set really high. Sorry I don't recommend this place . Service was very poor. Whatever happen to smiles and welcoming attitudes.
(1)
Emily R.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon with my friend and we fell in love with the place. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly - I especially love the wood burning oven and all of the bright colors. To start the complimentary bread they give you is AWESOME. It's almost like a pizza dough, cooked to order, and served with this delicious honey butter. My friend and I loved it so much we ended up having three servings (yes we did pay extra for it). We got the tamal, and tamal w duck breast - both were so good. This place is a little different in that they put toppings on the tamales, instead of stuffing them, but it yielded awesome results. The tamales themselves were so creamy we had to ask if they had dairy in them (my friend is allergic) but nope - turns out they are just that well made, and also made with baby corn to keep that tender texture! (Also the duck breast was delicious!) Next I had the pulpo and empanadas de carne. The pulpo was very good and definitely not overcooked like many other places. In fact, it may have been slightly UNDERcooked but still tasted great. Now the empanadas. I would come here just for those empanadas. I intended to order the onion and cheese empanadas, but when the waiter took my order he instead asked "the empanadas de carne?" Now I had clearly said the others, so I asked him if those were better - he nodded emphatically. I still plan on trying the onion and cheese ones next time but I am so happy I took his advice (whether it was accidental or on purpose I'm not sure) - these empanadas were DELICIOUS. They had a flaky crust and a perfectly seasoned meat mixture that wasn't just boring ground beef like other places, but tasted like it had the proper beef, olive, etc filling. And oh my that chimichurri sauce. I had the chicapa and cafe con leche at various points that afternoon and would recommend both. Cute place, delicious food and drink, and not too expensive. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Lucienne D.
Would have given this place a better rating had the service been better. (The strategy is to sit inside, close to the center, and speak Spanish, which puts you at a definite advantage. Came here twice before with friends who were fluent in Spanish, and the dinner could not have gone more smoothly). A few servers do not speak English, but are all very friendly, and seem genuinely eager to provide a positive dining experience. Their kitchen is small, and the staff seems overwhelmed by trying to serve indoor and outdoor tables, as well. Winter dinners here feel far more cozy and organized. A reservation hostess called twice in two days to confirm the reservation. We arrived promptly, were seated quickly, and then waited 30 minutes just to have a server actually get to our table! A party of six came in 15 to 20 minutes after we were seated, and the server approached them in no time. That server caught my eye, as he realized that we had been sitting there a long time, and came over to us. Needless to say, the party of six shot us more than one nasty glance. But, then, am getting used to the more recent transplants to Hoboken, as entitled, older, wealthy looking types with terrible manners, who just assume being aggressive gets you everything here. The food was more uneven than I had remembered from previous dinners here. Crispy calamari was great. Cheese stuffed peppers arrived barely warm. Chicken croquettes were a bit boring. The tamales are far more interesting than Mexican tamales, but not as good as the last time I had tried them. Ceviche, Peruvian style, was a warm, spicy dish of a few cooked shrimp, swimming in a huge amount of onions and hot tomato sauce. Roasted leg of pork was reasonably good. Braised short ribs were sweet but very tender. The salmon was respectable, but bland. The hit of the night was the Pastele...a chicken and beef pot pie with some sort of cornmeal base, bursting with unusual flavors. Dessert, on the house, due to our long wait, consisted of baked pineapple compote and ice cream...really good! And then, we were treated to a brown sugar flan. The flan i would skip. It tasted more like gelatin than any specific flavor I could identify. I would give this place another try, but probably on a week night. Their other restaurant, Zafra, might be a better choice for a weekend, but it is BYOB..
(3)
Christopher Y.
If they sold just the tamale with duck sauce they'd be rich. Other dishes can be dodgy.
Meh. Went here a few months ago - meat was overcooked and tough...service wasn't stellar either (we sat at the bar) and a shrimp dish we ordered was so skimpy with the shrimp. We sat at the bar, and the waitress/bar-tender spent most of the time texting and playing with her phone. Then we got the bill and were surprised at how expensive this place was for the mediocre food. Don't get the hype at all. Not coming back. Much prefer the Cuban Place on 3rd and Washington.
(2)
Erica A.
I wish I could come back here and try every dish, which maybe I will! The menu is extensive and interesting, but not too far over the top. Most food on the menu are from Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, and I think there may be drinks from other countries such as Chile. I had the Chicharron de pollo (quinoa crusted chicken) and Brazilian black bean soup over rice. All was excellent and interesting. I also had the bread and topping that came to the table. The bread had a nice red colored spice (not really spicy) added to it and the topping was some type of creamy butter topping...I should have asked what it was exactly. It was a Thursday evening and not busy at all. The service was good and it was a great place to sit with a friend, chat and discover new foods. This would also be a great place for a date.
(5)
Umesh P.
This is a serious food place, no messing around and hence I am gonna get down to putting down my experience and not fiddle around with blah stuff. A little cramped place but one just forgets about it just with the arrival of their nice bread, so don't worry to much about space. We were a group of 5, 2 of them veggies(not a really good place for veggies quantity-wise). Started with cocktails, all of us had five different ones and none were subpar. We couldn't get the one with dark chocolate and the first on their menu(one with a big description). LaFlorida, Guarapita de argua, caiprinha, chicapa all were good. I guess any cocktail would be good here. Apetizers and Tapas - Musses with spicy sauce and peruvian beer: although not super flavorful had a nice slight kick and the flavor or the beer nicely complemented the mussels Chorizo Argentino : sausage dish, very good Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce: Good Entrees: Btw, didn't get to share the veggie dishes as they were tiny portions and although was tempted to be mean and grab some of it, my good conscience chipped in(hate that during food events- feel like Cuchuramama visit is a an event) . I had the Medio Pollo de Patio al Horno - Roasted half organic chicken from the wood burning oven, aah just loved it. Fantastically Charred, juicy tender flavorful chicken on a bed of spicy potatoes. Picante de Camarones: very good Verdict: Don't waste time in reading my long review and just make reservations at Cucharamama and relish real good food and the nice latin paintings and handicraft around and last but least the wood buring oven which churns out the wonderful delicacies.
(5)
Joscelyne M.
I still love it here. The bread and butter they serve before the meal is awesome! Love it every time I go.
(4)
Mandy S.
This was a really cool place to get dinner! My husband and I split 4 small plates and they were all delicious. Admittedly, the most adventurous thing we tried was the Duck Tamale, but everything was PRETTY good. This wasn't even close to gourmet, but they seemed to try hard. (Like, the "Chorizo Argentino con Pimientos y Cebolla" is nothing more than a chorizo sausage cut in half with red peppers and onions with a $10 price tag slapped on there.) The service wasn't THAT great, which is why I docked a star. I had to prompt our waiter to talk us through the menu, prompt him for suggestions, ask him about serving sizes for the two of us. There was definite room for improvement there. The bus girl was a far better waitress than our waiter was. The prices were pretty steep for what you get- most small plates are around $10, and when they say small, they are SMALL. You cannot leave saying you got your money's worth as far as value of food is concerned. But we loved the experience! Even though we only had a choice to sit either by the door or by the bathroom, the atmosphere was still nice.
(4)
Rosie C.
The second I walked in and smelled the wood burning stove, I fell in love. I went to Cucharamama on Friday at 7 without a reservation and was seated immediately, but the table was right next to the only narrow walkway, so I felt a bit squished and in the way. We made the mistake of ordering the calamari because we were intimidated by the menu. Not that the calamari was bad--it was excellent--but we immediately regretted not choosing something more Peruvian. Unfortunately (perhaps because of a language barrier), our waiter wasn't overly helpful with suggestions. And worse, he had to stand in the narrow walkway while speaking to us, so we didn't want to hold him up. Both of us ended up wishing we had ordered something else. Luckily, we decided to split the plantain, which was a huge hit, as was the flavored bread and butter served before the meal. All in all, it was a wonderful change from my usual Hoboken fare--very different than everything nearby. Though I wasn't blown away, I am very excited about the possibilities for my next visit.
(4)
Sarah C.
Came here with a group of seven on Saturday night, and was a little nervous, given the reviews criticizing the service. I'm glad to say I had a stellar dining experience from start to finish over the course of 2.5 hours. Started out with malbec, while the rest of my party opted for more exotic cocktails - the mojitos, white wine sangria, and pineapple-rum-brown sugar cocktails all looked excellent. One of my favorite parts of the dining experience (which would draw me out of Queens for a second visit) was the amazing cinnamon coated toasted bread with sweet butter - it was a challenge to back away from the bread in favor of leaving room for my entree. Ah, choices. Be sure to try the fried cod balls with garlic aioli sauce on the side, and the short ribs in red wine sauce. The atmosphere is one of the best parts of the dining experience - cozy is the first word that comes to mind - roaring oven behind the bar that doubles as a cooking oven. If I am ever in the neighborhood again (and my meal isn't comped, since it was a business meal), I would certainly return for drinks, and a ton of appetizers - there were a number of yummy looking empanadas and sides I was dying to try, and the main dishes are pretty expensive ($25) for what they are - duck, I understand, but skirt steak and short ribs, it seemed a little overpriced. However, no complaints from this happy diner!
(4)
Amanda D.
Three of my friends took me out to eat to Cucharamama last night for my birthday. Last year I went to Zafra (their sister restaurant up the block) and loved it. I'm originally from South America and am always hopeful I can find a great restaurant that serves great South American food! This is the place to go! The restaurant is small and dark, and has wood burning oven. The staff was very friendly and professional. Our waiter constantly checked up with us to see if everything was fine. The restaurant is more expensive than other Latin American restaurants I've been to, but it wasn't a problem for me considering its great service and food. For drinks, I ordered the Chicapa (Pineapple chicha and Zacapa rum). It was delicious! It was hard to pick only some appetizers since everything on the menu looked delicious. We picked the Chicharrón de Pollo Novoandino (Peruvian-Style Crunchy Quinoa-Crusted Chicken Fingers, Chino-Latino Sauce), and the Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca (Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce), to share. These were amazing! By the way, they also serve fresh bread from the wood oven, with a sweet butter (which happened to be the best butter I've ever tasted)! For our entrees, me and one friend ordered the Bandejita Paisa (Traditional Colombian dish consisting of skirt Steak, Pork Cracklings, Colombian Sausage, Arepa, Rice and Red Beans, Ripe Plantains, and Colombian Hot Pique Sauce). My other two friends ordered the Churrasco (Argentinian style skirt steak) and the Salmon. My dish was cooked to perfection! I've had the bandejita paisia from other restaurants, but this by far was the best I've ever eaten! We finished off by ordering the chocolate flan. The flan was good, but not great. The texture wasn't as soft as I prefer it to be. Overall, I definitely enjoyed my birthday dinner at Cucharamama and would highly recommend it for great South American cuisine!
(5)
Annmarie M.
Incredible. I'm a food publicist and this has to be one of the best meals I have had in my life. Maricel is a genius with her cuisine and no wonder she's a James Beard Award Winner for Best Mid-Atlantic Chef. We began with the table bread and homemade honey-esque butter. Phenomenal. I wish I could have this with every meal. We paired this with two of their incredible cocktails and some tapas. The tapas were quite tasty, but next time I think we will skip tapas and just enjoy the bread and our entrees. We enjoyed the mussels with pork belly in a beer broth - I still dream of it. The only downfall was I wish we had more bread to soak up the leftover broth when the mussels and pork belly were gone. We also enjoyed the chicken made in the wood burning oven... if you've never had a chicken cooked this way, this is the place to have it. Absolutely juicy and delicious. Will we be back? Multiple times - even if it's just for a smaller plate and the incredible cocktail selection. Also note: Voted in the top 10 best NJ Restaurants for many years in a row.
(5)
Jennifer V.
My favorite restaurant in Hoboken! I've been going here for a few years,and have never had a bad meal. Their drinks are always served STRONG - best mojitos in town! The bartenders are always friendly too. Definitely try the Churrasco or the short ribs - they are both to die for! They have tons or tapas - it's almost too hard to choose. The bread and delicious sweet butter they serve at the table is also a wonderful touch. One thing I will point out is sometimes even with a reservation you get stuck in a crappy table. The place is small and I hate sitting on top of people. More times then none we've been crammed next to another couple that we are practically sharing stories by the end of the night. Also on weekends the service tends to be slow...but I love the food so much I never mind! I wish I could afford to come back every night to try it all!! :)
(5)
Rob A.
Excellent South American (Peru/Ecuador/Argentina) cuisine! The place isn't that big and gets packed easily, especially the bar. Would recommend getting reservations. A nice selection of drinks that are all tasty and not watered down. A very large appetizer/tapas menu (2 pages!) so there is a lot to choose from. I had the calamari (Jalea) which was very crispy and tender. The side sauce was also great. For a main dish I had the 1/2 Chicken. It was incredibly juicy and moist. Excellent! Service is decent for a packed small place. Portions are perfect sized and everything is extremely fresh.
(4)
Alissa S.
I was very disappointed and I'm still upset because yesterday's dinner at this restaurant. We were okay until a dead cockroach was in our main course plate. The manager apologized with us but after this incident we couldn't stayed. It took us forever to try another restaurant and after that my husband got sick. I feel so disappointed
(1)
Claudia B.
I have been here twice and really enjoyed my meals here. However, the service was extremely slow on my second visit. It was a Sunday afternoon so I am not sure why. The atmosphere is great especially on a cold day when you get to sit next to that wood burning fireplace near the bar. I would recommend this place for a date night or drinks/tapas with a small group of friends.
(5)
MJ H.
We love the food here and we have always had great service. Order anything from the wood oven and you will be happy.
(5)
Alex V.
Love this little place! Went here with my wife, even though I wasn't really hungry, just wanted to snack a bit. Ended up getting the guacamole, which they make in front of you!! Also got the 3-meat combo, which comes out in a nice Mexican pot and comes with a piece of cactus. Really nice, fresh, grilled flavor. The service was good - pretty quick & friendly. Will certainly be back.
(5)
Ivan S.
I feel like every time I try a new restaurant in Hoboken, it's a total crap-shoot regardless of the yelp rating on it. This was one of the more disappointing experiences. We came in for a Sunday afternoon brunch. Before even ordering anything, we noticed at least a dozen flies quietly sitting on the wall next to our table. These were not your typical fat american flies. These were slightly smaller, maybe a Peruvian species or something. We weren't very hungry and decided to just get two appetizers and one main to share. The first of the appetizers was rice cheese croquettes which actually tasted good but were very small at only 3 bite-sized pieces. We also got the beef empanadas which were again tiny and a little burned. We had higher hopes for the arepas with caviar, but were let down again. We learned that arepas is actually a singular word and if you can imagine a spoon 4 times smaller than the teaspoon, that's how much caviar was provided. In the end $30 bought us about 8 ounces of mediocre food. Needless, to say we were still hungry and walked over to the Italian fare a few blocks up and got 2 gigantic arepas for $5 each that were so good they were worth way more than the whole meal at Chucharamama. This is one of those restaurants that is in business purely because of the gullibility of the Hoboken clientele. They think if the dish is half the size and costs twice as much as what you would expect at a normal restaurant, then it must be twice as good. This might be the case at nice French restuarants in the city, but not here.
(1)
Tracy S.
Dined here on a Saturday night. Hostess was very friendly. We didn't have a reservation, but they were able to seat us outside. The entire inside was fully booked. Everything we ate was really quite good. Starting with the bread and then to all the tapas we decided to share. Empanadas and tamales were specifically good. I would have given 4 stars if the service had been better. On the plus side, our waiter was nice enough and seemed well informed on the menu. We ordered glasses of wine and then a 2nd round towards the end of the meal -- it took almost 10 minutes to get the drinks each time. He then brought all of our tapas out -- with the exception of one. We assumed it would quickly follow, but we finally had to ask him where it was. My guess is that he forgot about it, but he said it would be right out and then he quickly brought it. No one checked back to see how our meal was and we sat with dirty empty plates on the table for quite a while. Finally a bus person stopped by to start to clear some plates and asked if we wanted to take home any leftovers. I said 'no' and to go ahead and take the dish -- but instead, she just left it there. After we finished dinner, we sat for quite some time before the waiter stopped back to ask about dessert - we declined and asked for a check. And sat again for a while waiting for it. At this point, it was starting to drizzle a little bit and we had to again flag him down to ask for the check. He finally dropped it and never came back to pick it up. Thankfully the bus person was able to take it into to process the credit cards. Bottom line is the food is really good, although a little on the pricey side for Hoboken. I would have no issue with this if the service was up to par.
(3)
Barry S.
The food is really good, nice ambiance, service is a little slow but overall very good expierience.
(4)
Andreas K.
Cucharamama is a great little find in otherwise ubiquitous and underwhelming Hoboken restaurant scene. The restaurant itself is small but very inviting and has a fun atmosphere. I've only visited once but everything we had was exceptional. The bread they serve is quite spectacular with a brilliant fresh butter. The menu was very extensive with something for everyone, although I found it a bit difficult to read given the layout. Our waiter was excellent and very helpful in explaining some dishes and making recommendations. If you're looking for a better and different dining experience I'd recommend Cucharamama. I will visit again.
(4)
Thea Z.
A unique restaurant that specializes in Southern American food that will leave your tastebuds happy and your inner self smiling. They have a variety of options on their menu that allows you to choose your own adventure whether it be a plethora of small plates or a family style main dish. It is a little on the pricier side so this place may be best saved for a special night out, but you know that it will be worth it. I gave 4 stars as I had to deduct one as not every single meal was amazing. So close though. The service was on point and the decor is great. Bonus points for the amazing smell of the wood burning oven wafting through the air. Lots of outside seating is a plus for the summer. Do yourself a favor and give this James Beard award winning restaurant a try!
(4)
Rebecca S.
From the moment you walk in, you feel as if you are in a welcoming Spanish home. The wood burning fire place and staff are welcoming and aim to make your dining experience a memorable one. The food is ok with the empanadas and dessert being the stars! However, be weary of the price. In a place with numerous affordable options, this one is not it. Save it for a special occasion or for out of town guests. I recommend coming for appetizers, drinks and dessert on a Saturday night. *dont forget to make a reservation! It fills up fast
(3)
Leyla R.
Awesome experience! Always go there when in the area and bring all my friends. Their tamales a must try. Highly recommend!
(5)
Pat B.
I've been dying to go to Cucharamama since it won a James Beard Award and dinner did not disappoint. Went with a friend and we started with white sangrias, perfectly sweet while packing a punch. For appetizers we had the shrimp ceviche and spinach empanadas. The ceviche was different with whole shrimp and a ton of heat but was delicious, wish the shrimp was chopped finer to scoop onto the delicious chips. The empanadas were delectably doughy and oozed with flavor. For our main we split the skirt steak with chimichurri, this is one of my new favorite restaurant meals. The steak was PERFECT in cook, tenderness and flavor. The side of potatoes in a tomato and cheese sauce was an incredible added bonus. Not to mention the bread that cooked in the stone oven is to die for with a semi sweet butter. I keep raving about the restaurant to everyone, can't wait to go back!
(5)
Nina S.
Amazing south american cuisine! I had the mango sauce chicken and it was just fabulous. A subtile mix of savors, cooked perfectly in their wood fire oven, amazing experience! Will certainly go back!
(5)
Ipek S.
I've been there a few times since I used to live a couple blocks away from them. They have huge plates with lots of varietal small sides that I enjoy.
(4)
Epi Curist Z.
I'm completely shocked on how this restaurant's chef is a Michelin award winner? You got to be kidding me. The food was not that good, not even close, which completely explains why the Yelp ratings don't match the Michelin award status. Strangely enough, the restaurant does not show anything about the Michelin award, so makes me wonder if the award had ANYTHING to do with FOOD? Of the dishes we had, only 1 was pretty good. The rest of the food was average at best. We were so disappointed and quite frankly, Michelin should STRONGLY consider taking this award away b/c it just makes them lose all credibility. Seriously, Michelin wants me to put this restaurant as the same level as 11 Madison or Per Se? It doesn't even come close to either of those. The last Michelin listed restaurant I went to was Cafe Juanita in Washington. Holly Smith was the chef who was mentioned in the Michelin review, she beat Cat Cora on Iron Chef. The food was unbelievable. Can't even imagine how you would compare the food with this restaurant. The service, especially the HOSTESS, has to get her attitude checked, maybe her default angry face as well. How many times do I have to ask for water before getting water? 3 times?
(1)
Rachael M.
We discovered this place a few weeks ago (thanks Yelp), and have been back twice in that time. Yes, it is that good. Seating inside & outside lends to a lovely atmosphere, staff are warm and swift to assist, whether seating you, helping with menu information (very knowledgable and gave good suggestions), and upon departure (no need to ask for the bill twice, but they also don't hurry you along to get their table back). Really looking forward to cooler months as inside is very cosy. Tamales are superb, as mentioned by other reviewers. Suggest the braised duck variety, wow. And their cocktails are lovely to start - Pisco Sour is very refreshing, my new favourite. (Not BYO, however wine menu has good options.)
(5)
Jackie F.
Since the service here is absolutely horrible and extremely slow, I have the time to write this review while I sit and wait for my hair to turn grey. It took approximately 35-40 mins for what it seems to be the only waiter on this entire block, to come take our drink order. This only happened because I had to personally hunt him down because we wanted our thirst quenched. At this point, I don't know what the food tastes like since we haven't received our meals, but it doesn't even matter. No food is worth this wait.
(1)
Z H.
The duck tamale is a must. The chorizo is only okay and the flank steak is good but not any different than another place. I like the ambiance but it's a bit cramped. It's nice to have in Hoboken but I don't know if a 27 zagat food rating is warranted
(4)
Rose J.
Such good food. If you like Peruvian food definitely come here. Service is good. Pisco Sour is a specialty Peruvian drink that everyone should try! We were celebrating my brother in law's birthday and I think we had reservations (my husband and I were late). There were 9 of us. We ordered tons of apps and all were delicious. I can't remember the name of my meal but it was AMAZING. It was a bunch of seafood in a spicy coconut milk. Kinda Thai like. So so good. I recommend this spot for sure!
(5)
Bklyn R.
This was my first time here. It was beautiful inside -we had reservations for the bar. It was wide and very comfortable for two. The service was excellent the food soooo freak'n delicious. We shared apps and a churrasco steak with sides. It was great. Drinks and desert to top it off. It made for a perfect evening. For my fellow mommy's reading this-it is not a place for babies or strollers or car seats. Make it a date night and get a sitter. It is worth it!. Pricing upper $20's-$30's a dish.
(5)
Ben Y.
No idea why this place was highly recommended to us and why it always seems to be busy, friends of mine were previously turned away without a reservation and I called ahead and was told reservations were necessary. Indeed the place seems to be a spot that gets a lot of repeat business but for me it's overpriced sub-par food. I regularly have far better at far less of an expense. I just don't get it... this place is puzzling. Let me put it into context, I wouldn't come back here based on the food, none of the 5 entrees we had were of any consideration we simply did not enjoy them. Then price made us just feel like this was a waste. I grew up in Argentina and have spent all my adult years in the US, and I regularly seek out and enjoy South American cuisine. This is NOT a recommendation I can give.
(2)
Jessica W.
This place gets packed so be sure to make a reservation or expect a wait. The food here is pretty awesome! We had the croquettes, skirt steak and a salad. I was stuffed but it was delicious. Our waiter was phenomenal... Never were our glasses empty. I was so happy with the service I wish I remembered his name but he had a shaved head with a scar running across the back from what appeared to be a surgery. I'll ask his name next time I go back, he was the best! Definitely a must to come eat here ! Try the original pisco sour, it was delicious!
(5)
Jamie P.
Most amazing South American cuisine ever. Innovative, creative and delicious. I can see why this restaurant earned a James Beard award. Amazing. Such an experience dining here. Service is impeccable as well.
(5)
Vicemily P.
I have not reviewed in a long time . Our experience was so bad that I'll take the time to review it. This place is HORRIBLE. It's supposed to be Latin Gourmet. *The food tasted good but 4 out of 6 people were sick the following day *It was snowing, and when we called to let them know we may be late they responded with "You have a 15 minute grace period, if you're not here by then we'll give your table away and charge $100 to your card! What kind of customer service is that? *The place is TINY, MINISCULE, and they cram way too many tables. People literally eat one on top of the other. It feels like you're in third world country. It's not worth paying so much money if the person next to you (not in your party) can literally breath on your food. *Our server was horrible. We were a party of 6 so gratuity is included. I guess he figured he didn't have to work for his tip. *took long to take our drink order *We had to chase him down to take our dinner order *kept forgetting things we asked for: lemon, soda, basic stuff *we had to chase him down for everything, *our busgirl deserved 100% of the tip I had a chicken with mango sauce that looked like it was for 5 year old. I couldn't believe how small it was. I will never go there, ever again.
(1)
Melissa G.
I really don't know how people don't give at least 4 stars!! This place is so great. The churasco steak is literally to die for. Share it though, it's huge!
(5)
Chris B.
This place is fantastic. Been here a hand full of times. The speciality cocktails are perfect for the restaurant. And the STEAK and potatoes are amazing!
(5)
Ruth W.
What a disappointment. The only reason I give this 2 stars is because our server was very attentive and the presentation was nice (not practical as the plates were too big for the tiny tables, but nice nonetheless). I found this restaurant by Googling "Best restaurants in New Jersey" - Google lied. I was so excited to go here, the thought of consuming flavorful and spicy South American foods almost had me salivating (I like food, a lot)... until I actually had it here. I had the Argentinian skirt steak with chimichurri, white rice and black beans. the steak was so tasteless, even with the chimichurri, our server had to get me a side of sauce so I could finish it. The rice was packed with butter/oil, so much that I actually stopped to imagine my arteries getting clogged. My boyfriend had the Peruvian-style Roast Leg Of Pork - which he was not impressed with. He had to request hot sauce to use as a dip. It was the most expensive, boring and tasteless meal I've had in a long time. Seriously, Cucharamama, would you at least offer authentic South American food that is as spicy as it should be or give us the option to choose how spicy we would like our dishes. I feel like your restaurant is catering to the locals and conforming every authentic dish to meet those standards. The food is so bland and so boring, it's beyond words. S/N: If you ant really good, authentic Peruvian food, try Coco Roco in Brooklyn. Nothing tops them.
(2)
Matthew W.
We just got home from dinner at Cucharamama. This was our fourth meal here. In general, the food is pretty decent, but the service has always been a bit iffy. Perhaps tonight our mistake was going on Sunday? We went early, hoping to have a quick meal. It took more than an hour for our food to arrive, although we ordered the moment we sat down. Twice we were told "your food will be right out." We were sitting outside and had to ask repeatedly for water. In the end, my wife's salmon was good, but my braised beef was bland and basically awful. It tasted like beef with peas and tomato sauce. Frankly, it seems this restaurant is loosing it's edge.
(2)
Gabi S.
I absolutely love this place for so many reasons. It has a great ambiance and lots of great options for food from many different South American countries. Also, the drinks are delicious!
(4)
Amanda N.
Another gem in Hoboken. We frequent Cucharamama for our date nights and it never disappoints. We know the menu so well, my husband and I share the same dishes every time: - Duck Tamale - Chorizo - Emanadas de Carne - Skirt steak Skip dessert, drink caipirinhas instead. The best in town.
(5)
Brian G.
Our waiter Manny was very good, helped explained the menu and accommodate to our wants. Brought family from PA and we all really enjoyed the food. Mojitos were awesome, everything was good. Parking isn't bad there are metered spots along the street, no issue for us at 7 on a Friday night. Service and ambience overall was very good. Food came out quickly. We spent nearly 2 hours enjoying ourselves. I would say $60 average per person was our bill, including $80 worth of cocktails ;).
(5)
Kristin P.
Service was not good; food was okay. Best thing we had was the pork tamales. Skirt steak (churrasco) was okay, not memorable.
(3)
Darren V.
Food here was really delicious, I highly recommend the skirt steak! Atmosphere was nice - not too formal, not too casual. The fire stove inside did make it a bit warm in there, but not a deal breaker. As mentioned, I had the skirt steak and their mojito, both were delicious. I was there with a group of 4 and everybody seemed to agree that the food was stellar. But... At the end of the meal, when the check came, there was a dead cockroach squished in the little book with the bill. That was pretty disgusting. I mean, not enough for it to ruin my meal, but other people would have probably been furious. If you think there aren't cockroaches or other creatures roaming the kitchens of all our local restaurants, you're only fooling yourself. Had it been IN the food, another story. So, I'll give it 3 stars. Food is worth 5 stars, finding a cockroach when you open the bill subtracts two. I only refer to you as "Cucaracha-mama" these days. I'll be back though... that skirt steak was killer.
(3)
priyanko b.
Very interesting menu but execution seemed to be lacking - the croquettes were ordinary, same goes for pot pie - sadly, the place is all style, no substance. Walked away thinking how could a place that seemed to have so much potential be so ordinary..
(3)
The Connoisseur X.
This place needs a lot of work. The restaurant has potential because the food is good but it really needs a uhaul with the staff and restaurant management. First: hostess needs an attitude adjustment. Let me make it very clear for you.... Biyach for no reason. To the hostess: If you don't want to work here then don't drown your doom and gloom on customers. Second: it took us 3 times to get a waiter to take our app order. Not starting off well. so instead we were ready with our whole order since we had all the extra time. Lol Plus: we got our overly priced green salad and chicken fingers pretty quickly. Then came the yucca gratin. It's a side dish, why did that come out with the apps? It should come out with the entrees. Absolutely ridiculous! Clearly, the chef and wait staff has no restaurant experience. And no knowledge of expediting. Ugh. James Beard award my ass. Who did she sleep with to get that award? It makes me upset when restaurants like this get highly esteemed awards as such. Did I mentioned she lost 4 times before she won? I wonder why she lost. Entrees: organic chicken. oh dear... Dry, the flavors don't work. Chicken was seasoned well with salt/pepper and spices but it just doesn't work with the mash seasoning. Please someone help these people!!! What is it with Hoboken and crappy restaurants!! I want to leave dinner now. Yes, it's that bad. Dry chicken for $28 and ruining an organic chicken (which I will question the integrity of that as well) equals waste of time and stomach space.
(1)
Marisela C.
One star because of terrible service experience. We went there a late Friday night and it was full. We were told to wait 10 mins, then 10 more and we ended waiting more than 30 mins. There is no waiting area so some us waited outside under an umbrella while it was raining. When we were finally sat we were told the kitchen was closing and we did have to hurry up. What? We wait more than 30 mins and you did not say anything or even handed the menu to look at it. However, the most incredible thing was about to happen the waitress got angry and left the table with airy words toward us. We decided to leave and needless to say we had a hard time finding a place to eat because it was already late. Finally, we went to Azucar and even though they were almost closing too they were very nice and prepare a delicious dinner for us. I owe you that good review Azucar.
(1)
Erin S.
My boyfriend and I had heard good things about this restaurant and decided to go early on a Friday night. We arrived at 5 and didn't think a reservation would be necessary. After asking the hostess for a table for two, we were told that only outdoor seating was available. We sat outside for a minute or two before deciding that it was far too hot outside and explained to our waiter, Manny, that we would not be staying. He told us to wait for just a second and went and spoke to the hostess. We were then told that we could sit inside because most reservations were for 6 or later. Despite the miscommunication, I couldn't be happier that we stayed. Manny was an excellent server and our dishes came out very quickly. We had the Crunch Peruvian-Style Calamari as an appetizer and the Spinach And Walnut Cannelloni and Shrimp In A Spicy Peruvian Hot Pepper Sauce as our entrees. All three were absolutely delicious. 4/5 stars because if our server had not intervened and seated us inside we would have stuck outside and would have left unhappy. When I go back I'll be making a reservation just to be safe.
(4)
Mark B.
We had dinner here on Saturday night and had a great time! Getting a reservation has proved to be pretty difficult but we just happened to luck out (we called the same night, only a few hours prior). It makes sense though, as the place was packed (not an empty table available). The decor is great and pretty authentic. We sat right in front of the wood burning over so we got a little extra heat (which was very welcomed given that it was a chilly night). The staff was friendly and attentive, returning to take our order and/or deliver food/drinks promptly. Our water glasses were always being refilled as well. The food was the really high point. It was all delicious! Starting w/ mojitos, the bread and warm butter and the Calamari we knew we were in for a treat. The Calamari... "Jalea de Calamares con Ajà de Rocoto"...probably the best we've had in a LONG time (the breading and the sauce was unique and very tasty). For dinner we had the Costillas de Res en Salsa de Asado Negro Venezolana con Papelón y Cacao, Quinoa y Acelga (braised short rib) and the Entraña (Churrasco) con Chimichurri Rojo y Papas Chorreadas con Hogo Bogotano (Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak) and both were EXCELLENT. We really could not stop eating even though we were completely stuffed (and therefore did not have dessert). This is one of our new favorite spots in Hoboken and definitely one of the best places in town. We will certainly be coming back as I bet there are many more fantastic things to be had on the menu.
(5)
Kristy M.
My favorite place in town!! Wonderful food, great service. When you walk through the doors it's like you are transported to a different locations.
(5)
Christine R.
Yum! This place was super authentic and delicious. Get the chorizo and spinach empanadas to start... get more than 2 starters depending on how hungry you are - they are small-ish, but still good for sharing. I ordered the pechuga de pollo and it was out of this world. There are so many things on this menu. Must come back and try them all.
(5)
Emily D.
I'm going to say that I liked it and I will give it another shot. I loved the atmosphere. The bar is very funky and the decor made it feel comfortable and unique. The chairs were quite comfy and the table is a good size, even if you order multiple appetizers and drinks. The waiter was very nice and helpful. The busers are on the ball and always make sure you have water and empty dishes are cleared. The food was a little inconsistent. The shrimp ceviche was overpriced but delicious. There were only 4 average sized shrimp for $14. I absolutely LOVED the duck entree. It was cooked to perfection and the sauce didn't overpower the meat. My boyfriend and I both agreed that it may be the best duck we've had. He ordered the short ribs. He was not impressed. I thought the flavor was nice but they did come out barely warmer than room temp and were cold quickly. Drinks were also delicious. I recommend giving it a try for sure, but it won't be my new favorite place anytime soon.
(3)
Mimi L.
SO DISAPPOINTED! I came here on a Sunday afternoon it was very quiet but still waited forever for someone to attend us. I waited forever for my drink, I saw the bartender make my drink and left it on the bar and watched my waiter just stand there and talk to the other waiters and bartender for about 10 mins just letting my drink get watered down. I ordered an appetizer and it was horrible..the fact they took forever to serve us we didnt order an entree.
I'll say it once, I'll say it 1000 times. Anyone who thinks Hoboken has great restaurants has never ventured across the border into Manhattan. Tonight was the 2nd time I've been here in 5 years. The reason they only get 2 stars instead of 3, is because for a place that's written up as the end-all-be-all of latin american cuisine, for a chef who's repeatedly touted as "one of the best around" they are held to a higher standard than your 'average' gastronomie. When the best part of the night is the bread and butter, you know there's better places. The ceviche was halfway decent but could have benefited from chunks of tilapia or any kind of fish instead of just 4 shrimp and a bunch of onions. the skirt steak was once again tough and fairly bland. even the chimichurri was flavorless and tasted mostly of oil so I didn't even bother with it. My girlfriend had the boneless chicken which was just okay. the best part of that was the sauce from the chicken should have been used on the steak. Oh, and according to her, I make a better mojito in our kitchen than they do. If you want great latin tapas-style food, venture across the river to the yuca bar on Ave A and 7 st. Try the salmon ceviche, the espresso ribs, the guacamole, and pretty much anything else. It's terrific and half the price. If you're gonna reap the rewards of being considered the best around, you'd better live up to the hype. You're welcome.
(2)
Rosa M.
Disappointed. .. This has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. I've recommended it to many people and have brought many people there. .my last 3 visits were disappointing. Service was slow. Timing was bad. We kept waiting for something....The portions seemed to have shrunk over the years....I don't know what has happened there in the last few years but I wish the would retrain their staff and and make the guests feel more comfortable and be attentive. It's not always about just serving a great churasco and having a chic decor...CUSTOMER SERVICE RULES! Even their hostess showed no hospitality. She seemed inconvenienced. ... Please Cucharamama! !!! I want to go back! Time to clean house and give the same value...Quality ..and hospitality you had years ago. ( Im giving 3 stars only because it deserved 5 in the past and 2 recently)
(3)
Rachael A.
Not at all impressed with this restaurant. Tried the octopus and calamari for appetizers. Octopus was very good-best dish of the night. Calamari was fine. For entrees my husband and I ordered the wood fired organic chicken and pork with canary beans and rice, and for our two kids we ordered the shrimp kabobs with sides of creamy quinoa and tostones. It took an hour for the entrees to arrive but they forgot the shrimp, quinoa, and tostones. We reminded the front of house manager, who brought our food, but the shrimp and sides still never came. No one came to check on us after the food arrived, and it was only when our waiter came out to check on another table, about 15 minutes after my husband and I received our food, that we grabbed him to say the shrimp and sides didn't come and we wanted our check. He wound up bringing the shrimp but not the sides. Although they comped the shrimp, I Would have expected an apology from the manager or something, perhaps an offer for dessert for the kids since they didn't have a meal, but they honestly didn't seem to care. Further, although I had asked our waiter for the check, I then had to go inside to ask for the check a second time. As far as the food goes, my chicken was fine, but my husband said his pork had no flavor. All in all, it was a complete waste of two hours and $115.00.
(1)
Elizabeth T.
Came here on a wednesday night and it was packed! My boyfriend and I sat at the bar which was a great idea because we got to see everything come out of the wood burning oven! We ordered a shrimp appetizer which was delicious but expensive (as expected though) Our entrees took a while to come out unfortunately. I got the argentinian steak and my date got the salmon. The steak was very tender but a little under seasoned. The sides were great. The salmon was overcooked but okay. The dessert looked great but we were too full. With our drinks, 1 app, and 2 entrees it came out to over $100, a little pricey. Next time I would just get drinks, a couple appetizers, and dessert. I would definitely recommend it for a date night, great ambience.
(4)
leslie r.
This my favorite restaurant of ALL TIMES! I have visited the restaurant over a dozen times and have always had a great experience. Gerardo is my favorite! His suggestions have always been perfect. The bartender Raul is a master behind the bar! His cocktails and sangrias are AMAZING! I have tried many things on the menu and I couldn't pick a favorite because everything is just so great and flavorful. The place is small dark and very intimate so make sure to get a reservation at least a day before. Cucharamama is listed as one of the top 30 restaurants to visit in the Tri-state area and they definitely deserve it! Keep up the great work and hopefully I'll visit Zafra (their sister Resturant) soon.
(5)
J M.
I've been here for dinner twice, both times were very good. The place is fairly dark inside, I guess they try and go for a quitter ambiance. I will say the food I've had from here both times was good across the board and I would go back.
My date and I had booked a table for two. We arrived at the appointed time. The first table offered to us was right by the door and offered no ambiance. Why a table was placed there which could be a clear hazard when leaving the restaurant is unsuitable. A second table way in the back was placed again as a hazard. The wait staff had barely enough room enter or exit the kitchen. Clearly this restaurant does not value a client's reservation, let alone the cramp seating arrangements afforded to its customers. I doubt that I will return.
(1)
lauren f.
I have been to Cucharamama a number of times and always leave befuddled as to what the hype is about. I've tried many dishes and the chicken and meat dishes are always dry and the shrimp portions minuscule. The stuffed peppers in cream sauce are delicious but only two little ones come and it doesn't warrant a whole trip to the restaurant. The service is regularly terrible. Same as some of the other comments - constantly asking for water, long waits for drink orders and a general disregard for proving attentive service.
(3)
Nora S.
Our first time here - didn't know what to expect or how to order. Did really get any helpful help from our waiter. Although he did recommend a few items, we just weren't sure what it all was. What we ordered was good, but for the price, I would find another place. I might try it again..
(3)
Ethan H.
Everything was original, delicious, and perfect. The staff made sure everything, right down to a water glass with one sip had been refilled. The waiter encouraged us to get less of one item, instead of trying to push anything we didn't want. The food itself: perfect from start to finish, with a world class chef in charge. I cannot wait to come back and also visit her other restaurant just up the street. To the cooks and front of the house staff, BRAVO!!!
(5)
Victoria S.
Had a great dinner here last month. The skirt steak is HUGE. Barely finished half... The empanadas are yummy and very delicious some kind of a pork belly appetizer.. Great drinks, service and atmosphere.. make sure to make reservations!
(4)
Maria C.
Great place love how they have dishes from all of south America. It is also greaf for a family outing there is something in the menu for everyone. And the mojitos are awesome
A favorite in town. Excellent food and ambiance, the wood fire makes for a cozy atmosphere, especially during fall and winter. Good wine selection and fantastic food. The stuffed peppers appetizer is amazing (Pimientos de Piquillo Rellenos de Calabaza y Queso Manchego). I'm trying to get through all items on the menu (made good headway) as they all sound great. A little on the pricy side, so expect that going in, but it's worth it.
(5)
Matthew S.
Was great until I went into men's bathroom and hostess was w waiter in there and closed door in my face. Rude....after all this money I spent there are plenty of others to goto.
(1)
Sarah K.
Pricey but yummy if you know what to order. The place is always packed on weekends/nights so make sure you have a reservation.
(4)
Paul M.
I dine out a lot and don't wright as many reviews as I should. This is now the 3rd time I've eaten here, which says a lot. If you ride the path, walk up the street sit at the bar and let them feed you. I promise you will be very glad you did. If you happen into Hoboken and don't want to deal with Washington St. try this place.
(5)
Jami A.
I've heard such wonderful things about Cucharamama and I live conveniently around the corner so when the opportunity arose to dine there for my roommates birthday I was excited. Unfortunately, I dont really get what all the hype was about. As far as atmosphere goes its very cute. South American inspirations all over the restaurant. The staff is pleasant. Their bar is lacking. They do make a great Margarita though (Mamarita). We split a few apps for the table which were good not great. Very small portions. We ordered: Chicharron de Pollo Novoandino otherwise known as chicken fingers Chorizo Argentino aka sausage and peppers Camarones Tatacua- shrimp And 1 Beef and 1 Cheese & Onion empanadas All were good the beef empanadas stood out the most. For my main dish I ordered the Saice or spicy braised beef with rice and beans. I enjoyed it. In my opinion that and my mamarita's were the best parts of my meal. Everyone else at the table ordered the Churrasco which was a huge portion of skirt steak. They all enjoyed. Overall it was a pleasant experience and the food was good but again it wasn't as great as I had heard. I was a little disappointed. I would go back though.
(4)
Jason W.
An great food experience every time. The plantain 'sparks' were not nearly as good as the tostones though. My wife and I almost always choose a bunch of small plates instead of the full entrees, although they are good too. The bread they offer while waiting for order is amazing. Lighting is romantic but sometimes a little too dim to read the menu. Recommend a reservation on Friday or Saturday nights, as its getting too many fans.
(4)
Lynn O.
Everything here was insane- so delicious, one of the best restaurants in Hoboken by far. I had the best mojito I have ever tasted here! Also each food item was better than the last, just WOW!
(5)
jared g.
I wanted to give 3.5 stars. Food was good but not great. A little overpriced, but not expensive. 2 blocks from my condo and I don't know if i would go back.
(3)
Mog C.
The worst part of Cucharamama is getting a table but if you just eat early (6ish), you can walk in and get seated immediately. After a busy day of unpacking, we walked in sans-reservation and had no problem getting a table. We were warned that they needed the table back by 7:30pm but given how tired we were, that was not a problem. Will R. had the Saize which is sort of the Bolivian take on Ropa Vieja. I stuck safely to the Churrasco. Both of us were VERY happy with our dishes. We'll def be back. Decor is very nice and perfect for a date night.
(4)
Jason C.
In Hoboken NJ lies a restaurant whose chef won the 2012 James Beard Award for the Best-Mid Atlantic Chef and has gotten a food rating as high as 27/30 on Zagat. The recipient is a chef named Maricel Presilla and this is her flagship Peruvian restaurant. And for the folks who may be interested, she smashed several DC finalists for the award: Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, Va. Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C. Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C. Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C. Ouch. So Maricel killed several of DC's finest. I saw that list and I HAD to see what this place had to offer. I was willing to put my DMV pride at stake for being the first elite in the DMV area to review this place...so here goes. Decor: The focus of this restaurant is on the wood-burning oven that is in front of the bar area. This wood oven is shaped like a semicircular Italian wood burning oven used to prepare Pizzas. I admit this is something that you don't see often in restaurants and it is quite romantic. There is a slew of appetizers and food you can order from the menu that is prepared in the oven...and obviously I did so. Appetizers: From the wood burning oven we ordered- Empanadas de Carne (Beef Empanadas)-the empanada was thick and had a trace of a slightly burnt exterior from the wood oven. Unfortunately, the small amounts of beef combined with a very thick crust made it difficult to enjoy the right proportions of meat that would have made the dish tastier. (3*). Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca (Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce)- contrary to what I expected, the shrimp was bland. I could not taste much of the pepper and it was not spicy (2.5*). Main Dish: Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak with Chimichurri (2*) - this is supposed to be the #1 main dish in the restaurant. The skirt steak was of a low quality meat and extremely tough. In addition, the marinade was only present on the top surface of the meat. Once you bit into the meat, it was completely flavorless from the center of the meat and onwards. I recommended this dish to a party who sat adjacent to us. After finishing the meal, I noticed that the dish was untouched after a bite. I'm certain they shared the same sentiment with us. Peruvian-Style Roast Leg of Pork in Ajà Amarillo Adobo, White Rice and Stewed Canary Beans -(3.5*). It was a decent pork dish that was moderately tender and shredded similar to pulled pork dishes found in bbq restaurants. It terms of the flavoring or spices there was nothing special about this dish but the taste was acceptable. Dessert: Millefeuille with dulce de leche and walnut between the pastry layers covered in a Malbec meringue -(5*). This dessert is an absolute knockout. The meringue is covered with a very light cream that has a taste and texture similar to marshmallow. The bottom layer had a crunchy pie and the cream/pie combination with a hint of walnut made this one of the most outstanding dessert dishes that I ate on the east coast. I would compare this dessert dish and put it on par with: 1) Brian Voltaggio's dessert dishes at Table 21 in VOLT 2) Capogiro Gelato (philadelphia, PA) 3) La Sierene's Iles Flotantes, Crème Anglaise et Caramel aux Amandes in NYC I was incredibly tempted to raise the overall yelp ratings for this restaurant to a 4* just because of this one dessert dish. That's how good it is. If I were to make a recommendation, I would go to the bar, grab an appetizer or two from the wood fired oven (things I did not try), order a Pisco Sour, and...of course the Millefeuille. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. As for this restaurant knocking off Restaurant Eve, Rasika, Komi, and Obelisk? I share the same sentiment as Cathal Armstrong's wife: twitter.com/restaurant_e… I still take pride in my DC restaurants!
(3)
Jeremy W.
I'd been meaning to check this place out for a while and finally did last Friday. It's an actual restaurant as opposed to most of the places (aka tv-rich bar and grills) in Hoboken and was a nice change. The oven baked bread and sweet butter are a great start. The tapas were all pretty good; in order: the serrano ham pizza is can't miss, Plátano Asado was interesting with the peanut and cheese accompaniments, duck tamal was rich, and shrimp ceviche was very tasty with the plantain chips to dip in the sauce. The empanadas were above average, but also priced accordingly. We also tried the Chicharrón de Pollo (chicken fingers) and calamari to see if they were unique, and though they were above average, I could skip those next time. With a wine list with a dozen or so options between $30-$50 and tasty $10 cocktails, I found the place to be more reasonable than I expected ($200 including the above, 2 bottles of wine and a round of drinks after tip). A brief note to Ivan S. and other like-minded city-centric dining elitists: you don't have to like every place in Hoboken, but please keep your insults of the clientele (aka me) to yourself and leave your pretentious attitude across the river. We're not particularly impressed by you either.
(4)
Jeff D.
Great food, great atmosphere. A little pricey but it is worth the $$$. Small place, make a reservation on the weekends. Not particularly kid friendly but great for parent's night out. Get the short ribs.
(4)
Andrew C.
The food and the atmosphere were great. I would give them five stars. However our service was definitely lacking, as other reviewers have also noted. Our server forgot about our table numerous times. It took 15 minutes to get the drink I ordered. It took about 15 - 20 minutes to get the waiter to come to our table to take our order after they cleared the bread plates .. It took about 20 minutes or more to get a dessert menu after we finished eating. The server was nice and knowledgeable just inattentive. Service 2 stars. I gave this place 4 stars because I liked the food and atmosphere so much.
(4)
Sarah R.
The skirt steak was out of this world! The chimichurri was phenomenal! We ate empanadas and plantain chips (super spicy!!!) to start, skirt steak and pork (pata de chancho) in an adobo sauce for entrees, and the dulce de leche ice cream and cake for dessert. We had two cocktails and a glass of wine, plus a soft drink and cafe con leche - all for under $130 - so reasonable! There's nothing we ordered tonight that I wouldn't order again!
(5)
Liz S.
Food is flavorful and simply prepared. Staff is friendly and accommodating from start to finish. The place is small but it's still worth the go. Went with a large group and everyone ordered something different. No one had a bad thing to say about their meals sooooo clearly you can't miss with this place. If you happen to sit at the tables on the right when you first walk in, be warned that it may get a little warm. It's right near the brick oven. At first I just though my yummy mojitos were making me feel a little toasty but then a friend pointed out that the oven was crankin' behind me so I immediately felt less like a lush. But I digress...
(4)
Tanya F.
delish!!!!
(4)
Kristin R.
This is one of the top restaurants in Hoboken. Everything was absolutely delicious. The short ribs and skirt steak were fantastic. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. They are very knowledgable about the menu and offer great suggestions. They have an extensive special drink menu- I would recommend the Mammapolitan and the Mojito! You won't be disappointed. Be sure to make a reservation, and stop by the bar for a drink before dining.
(5)
Liz D.
This is a great place. The food options are so fantastic and the place is super cozy. We have taken friends here from out of town and had a great time.
(5)
German R.
Delicious. Plain and simple. The location is nice and staff is adequately friendly. The food had an authentic flare with a nice combination of feeling homey yet taste bud provoking. Overall, nice plan for a Sunday brunch.
(4)
Mer K.
Try It. Went for the $25 early dinner special (which apparently includes having the restaurant all to yourself, bonus). Nice atmosphere, good value. Meal included an app, entree and desert. Had the chicken, which was good though not write-home-about-it amazing. Would give it another chance as it could have been my ordering that was lackluster since I've only heard first hand rave reviews of Cucharamama. The atmosphere and the staff were wonderful, and being known as one of the higher end restaurants in hoboken, the dinner special is a good value for a weekday date night, and a nice excuse to "spoil" someone you love (or someone who is willing to be dragged along in the name of good gastronomic exploration). Tip: Catch the early dinner special 5PM - 6PM, M-F
(3)
May L.
Love, love, love this place. The food is always delicious. I've ordered for parties from here all the time. They're consistent with their food every time. If you're in the mood for good Cuban cuisine then this is your goto place. Also try their sister restaurant around the corner - Zafra.
(5)
Dorrie B.
Yum!!! Food is amazing, service meh, that's why a 4 not a 5. Definitely try the quinoa!
(4)
Steven P.
Went there yesterday for anniversary dinner. Dinner had special meaning as we used to live in the condos across the street and looked down on it. At that time, however, it was a dive bar. It has surely changed! We started with the plantain chips and the yucca with cheese cakes. I am warning you now. The spicy dip that comes with it will burn a hole in your digestive tract if you aren't careful. That said, the appies were great. Three of us had the skirt steak, and it was out of this world. I had the braised beef. I didn't realize it was more or less a stew, but even so, it was excellent. Tasty and super tender and perfectly spiced. Their white sangria, sold,by the glass, although ridiculously over priced, was excellent. We did not have dessert. Can't give it five stars due to overpriced drinks, little bugs flying around, slowish service, and poor air conditioning. Still, for the food, it was excellent.
(4)
Maria C.
Working for a global company and trying to give the restaurant business on a Monday no less at 35-40 people guaranteed!!!!!!!!!!!! They priced me at $150 a person, after I followed up with multiple emails. Is business really that excellent on a Monday in Hoboken re: a restaurant. I find that hard to believe as I lived there for a few years. Not the best business practice as I worked and currently work with high level executives that do business in these areas at great length. Unfortunately, they missed on great business on that day but repeat business due to referral among colleagues. Zagat reviewed that business at an average meal $48.
(1)
Alex M.
Really inventive flavors, if somewhat inconsistent. The service is excellent, except for the hostess who was fairly awful and rude (this was a while ago so can't be sure she's even still there). Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Brad M.
I've eaten at Cucharamama before and really enjoyed their fabulous brunch, but for the most part my wife and I usually go to Zafra across the street. Our most recent experience at Cucharamama soured us so much that we will never patronize this establishment again. When we arrived the hostess told us the only available seat was the table closest to the door (literally 2 feet from the curtain). It was below freezing out so I told her it was too cold for my wife to sit there. We asked if we could sit somewhere else since there were many other empty tables available. The hostess said no. So I asked if we could sit at the bar, and she said no. So next I asked how long she thought the wait would be for a different table. She said we couldn't sit at a different table... but added: "I could probably help you guys out if... you know..." and then motioned toward her hand. I guess they save all of the empty table for people that bribe the hostess, but I'm sorry, but I'm not greasing your palm to get a table at your half-empty restaurant. We took our business elsewhere and had a great dinner at Zack's next door.
(1)
Jamie P.
First time at this restaurant was a few weeks ago. Service was good. Food was delicious. We had mussels, chorizo and skirt steak. Good drinks as well.
(4)
Sui B.
Foodies, listen up, this is a must stop and eat place in Hoboken. Despite not being on Washington St (Hoboken's main street), this joint is packed! The food and drinks are all amazing, no wonder there are signs everywhere for best restaurant/chef awards. The hot pita bread they serve when you first sit down is amazing (even though I'm on my no carb after 4 pm diet, I had to cheat a little bit for this pita bread, and it did not disappoint!) My only complaint is one of the bartenders who was just not friendly, at all. She didn't even bother to respond when a customer asked her for a cocktail napkin, which he ended up getting himself... our waiters were extremely nice though.
(4)
Rona G.
So, I have to say I had wanted to try this place for a long, long time and their sister restaurant, Zafra is great, and where I went on NYE this year. Tonight was an awful experience but I'm giving two stars based on A. Only ordering tapas and didn't try their entrees and B. The food was tasty (but nothing extraordinary for the price). The night was ruined the second I walked in. Although my husband and I (and toddler) had a reservation, the banter between the hostesses of where to put us 'lepers' that dare bring a youngster out after 7pm went on way too long, to the point where it was so uncomfortable I said 'I'm sorry is there a problem?' The meaner of the hostesses said 'sorry, we're overbooked' to which I replied, 'But I have a reservation?!' and she said 'But you called today'...Ok, so instead of taking my spontaneous yet responsible reservation for 2 adults and a baby, I should have been told then they were overbooked at the time of my call. Regardless, we were seated by the door and I was fine to not have to engage with that one witch anymore. The hostess continued to sit people at the bar, yet there were a ton of empty tables in the front of the restaurant. I'm not here to judge their reservation method, but those tables were not filled our entire time there. So on to the food...It was tasty enough, but $11 for a thomas's corn cake and other tapas in the same price range for barely any food, $74 later I came home hungry. I am not a stranger to small plates, and one of my favorite places in the city is Pipa in the Flatiron district, but this was not as special. in all fairness to them, the entrees would have probably been the way to go, as the skirt steak looked great, but thanks to the attitude of the hostess ,I will only stick to the sister restaurant which is BYOB as an added perk.
(2)
Benny B.
Great food, Awesome atmosphere. Get the skirt steak!
(4)
Blossom V.
Roasted Salmon and potatoes oh mama Mia chucharamama!!!! The mini empanadas are delectable and for dessert try the chocolate flan with peppercorn and cappuccino chips a great place with a family feel and exotic dishes..
(5)
Kailynn A.
I stumbled into Cucharamama after a poetry reading at the Hoboken Library, and it was a phenomenal surprise. The food was a bit pricy, but the quality was out of this world! I ate outside, and it was the perfect evening. The setting was gorgeous, and a cute panel separated restaurant goers from the street.... you could people watch, but they couldn't people watch you. The food itself was beyond delicious. I only give it 4 stars for the portions, but it was perfect for sharing with a friend. (Sharing also lets you try a lot more...) I will definitely be back!
(4)
Sid N.
Cucharamma is one of the best of the dinner spots I've gone to in Hoboken. Me and my dining partner shared 4 appetizers, an entree, a desert and several of their specialty drinks. Though we enjoyed the meal I'll have to lean on 3 stars for this one due to reasons that are provided below. The short rib entree "Braised Short Ribs in a Red Wine Sauce and Brown Loaf Sugar and Cacao" was spectacular. Its an amazing hunk of tender meat, the largest short rib portion I have ever had, marinated in something that included chocolate, of course. The dark chocolate seemed like a taste that should always be infused in a short rib. The specialty cocktails we tried were also top notch. The capirinha I had was just 'pretty good' but the very unique and elaborate drinks on the menu, which will stand out in their length of their names, will all surely delight, as the two we tried were very tasty. The small plates we had were a mixed bag. We had plantain and yuca dishes that were alright and two shrimp dishes, where one succeeded and the other failed. These are a bit pricey for tapas, which is what they are, since they seem to be just decent tapas. We didn't finish most of those small plates but I didn't feel the usual guilt associated with leaving half an appetizer behind (and no desire to 'bag' them either). The ceviche small plate was definitely the sore point. For one thing, one of the two ceviches listed was certainly not ceviche as it was made with roast pork. The other did not feature fish and instead whole shrimp. This wasn't "ceviched" in citrus as one would expect but instead in a tomato and onion mix. I am not a ceviche expert, but I have enjoyed it in Latin America, Miami and New York, enough to know what the dish should taste like. Though I have enjoyed ceviche of varying quality, none resembled this dish. It may be an authentic variety of ceviche, but if you are a Peruvian restaurant claiming to serve authentic food, you probably wouldn't serve this as your sole ceviche. Wouldn't a Turkish restaurant ensure to serve a decent kebab? It also was subpar in taste. You do expect cubed fish in a ceviche and much of appeal is in the unique texture of fish flesh prepared this way (with citrus). The tomato base of this variety dominated all else. I reckon an experience at Cucharamma can turn out much better, but I can only reflect on my own. They deal with an elaborate and extensive menu, which aims to capture all of South American national cuisines (with a Peruvian base?). I was wondering what the fire oven cooked shrimp dish that everyone was ordering (we sat by the oven) was but failed to pick it out. It would make sense for the management to stick to the best in their menu, do a better job with the menu text layout and presentation or have the waiter guide new visitors through the menu a bit better.
(3)
Vikrant B.
We went on Saturday night without reservation but were lucky to get 4 bar seats near the wooden oven. We ordered 4 entrees and shared 2 appetizers. The complimentary bread was very good and we actually got a second serving. Chicken potpie was good and flavorful. The chicken from the wood burning oven was great and quite different. The Salmon was above average. Chorizo was good but we were served two small pieces so not sure if its worth the price. The drinks were average. The choclatey cocktail was too sweet. Overall the food was good I would go for it but the service was below average as the waitress was not attentive at all and did not even bother to explain us the different dishes when we asked them.
(4)
Eric R.
After such high reviews I heard about this restaurant, I left very disappointed. Granted South American food is not my wheelhouse, so for experts in the cuisine please take my 2cents lightly. I couldn't make head or tails of the menu. I wish it was a little more friendly towards rookies of the Spanish language. The service was very slow and I felt that the food took forever to prepare. Thankfully there was delicious bread with this custard butter which was to die for. It was like eating mini pancakes. My dish was just a mess to my eyes. It was a thin crepe stuffed with chicken and it was too much for me. My dates dish of BBQ chicken was awesome. I just wanted more for my first experience however I am openhanded for a second go around with some more guidance.
(2)
Tinnee P.
Great service, nice and intimate and the food is so good. Can't wait to go there again
(5)
Scott G.
Not impressed. Read some really good reviews but didn't get the same experience. I think the poor review starts with the hair that was on our bread plate. Even at that, I was keeping an open mind. Things didn't improve with my app - Pulpo al Olivo, which is Octopus in a Peruvian Black Olive and Panca Pepper Sauce. Now I've had octopus countless times, typically fried, grilled or ceviche. I don't believe this octopus is prepared using any of those methods. The texture was very unusual. The outer layer of the octopus felt a bit fatty and the inner part was (too) soft all the way through the bite. Also, the sauce was like an olive cream sauce. Had to ask myself several times 'why did I order this? Perhaps it's my fault for being adventurous. I couldn't eat three bites. The only way I was able to eat a second bite was to pretend I was Andrew Zimmern, from Bizarre Foods. At $14, a total throw away. My wife's app was the Llapingachos de Yuca con Uchu-Puka, which is a very tasty Yuca and Cheese Griddle Cakes with a Spicy Sauce from the Ecuadorian Amazon. For my entree, I went with the Saice, which is a skirt steak that's been cubed and braised. A little spicy, which I like, but very one note-ish. I feel like I would've been better off with a classic skirt steak with chimmichuri sauce. For an entree, my wife ordered the Picante de Camarones, which is Shimp in a Spicy Peruvian Hot Pepper Sauce with Fresh Cheese, White Rice, Peruvian Canary Beans. She said it was very good, although it was accompanied by undercooked rice. That segues to the mention of pathetic service. While the rice was quickly replaced, not once did the waiter ask me about my meal. Maybe it's my fault for expecting the waiter to want to make up for the hair on the plate but he simply didn't care. For over $100, with a drink, the experience was disappointing. That said, I feel like there's potential here so I'd consider going back but would have to stay basic.
(3)
Sagine V.
Had a great meal. Great bar and fabulous ambiance.
(3)
Nicole F.
The food is amazing but the service is awful. They have always had slow service but the last two times I have gone I have dealt with a rude hostess (messed up or reservation and sat people before us then tried to give us an awful table or stick us at a small counter spot with a plant in our face) and servers that just do not care. We were a party of 4, and I came five minutes later than everyone else they all had water and it took us over 10 minutes to get someone to come to bring a 4th water and take drink orders. When we went to pay the check we gave them the credit card to run and called a taxi, the taxi came 10 minutes later and the check still had not come back for us to sign when I got up to find it the hostess told me it would be there in a minute...took another 3 minutes.
(3)
Meghan M.
Went for dinner this time around and it's still delicious! We shared the corn tamale as an appetizer and it was quite good. Not as sweet as we expected but perfectly constructed with moist texture and great flavor. For my entree, I ordered the mussels appetizer which was plenty of food. The sauce had a kick to it and the mussels were good (but it's hard to screw them up). Of course, the highlight of the evening is that amazing paprika dusted flatbread along with honey butter...SO good. And that heaping serving of white sangria wasn't too shabby either! Ambiance makes this a perfect cold-weather date destination. 4 stars yet again Cucharamama!
(4)
John F.
Great little restaurant and beautiful Latin American decor. Food was fresh and packed with flavor. Our drinks were really good as well, so kudos to the bartender. Even those little grilled pita things with that buttery spread (I have no idea what it's called) were so good. The service was prompt. Maybe a little too prompt (I don't like when the waiter starts clearing the table before everyone is finished with their meal). I tried to crack a friendly joke with our waiter and I don't think he got it. No big deal. I know I'm not that funny anyway. Plenty of outdoor seating in the summer and dining indoors in the winter is nice as well. Try to get a seat near the wood burning oven.
(4)
Cristina R.
The food was OK here. I'm very familiar with Venezuelan and South American food. I think you could still find something more satisfying. Do not order the pizza. It's the size of the Celeste pizza that costs 99cents at Shoprite but they charge you $10. They aren't stingy with the alcohol so that's a plus.
(3)
Ramel K.
Hated it - poor service food was not good at all. The waiter was one of the most pompus people on the planet. I have badmouthed this place all week for the terrible way we were treated. I know that restaurants sometimes have an off night but this way worse than an off night. Wouldnt go back here ever
(1)
Lyndon L.
I've never written such a negative review in my life and usually agree with yelpers. But this was the most horrific experience I've had on yelp. We went here on a Saturday night. No reservations so I expect to wait a little. We arrived at 8:11pm. We were told there was about a 35 minute wait. Ok, not too bad. Gave my number and we went to the corner bar for a drink. We returned at 8:40ish to get an update. We were told 30-40 MORE minutes. We were told it was busy. Well, ok they must have really good food so we went on a little walk to the bar and grabbed dessert for after dinner when we got home. At 9:10ish we went back. They sat a couple who had come in after us. They then told us we had the next table. I saw several people leave and the hostess call a couple that their table was ready. We were 4 th on the walk-in list from what i saw. This couple wasn't there before us. At 9:40 we said we were leaving and were very upset with their service. Magically at 9:46pm I got a call saying they had a table open- AFTER we'd made our complaint and left. 8:11-9:46= 1 hour and 35 minutes to wait while being miss lead 3 time about how long it would take to get a table. I find this extremely unprofessional and the time we spent was egregious and the misdirection offensive.
(1)
Dana L.
Love this restaurant. Brunch is sooo good. The french toast is delish, and there isn't much better than their hot chocolate, but $6 for a cup of hot choc is silly. Dinner is also wonderful, and so are their drinks. Big fan of their bread, which is covered in a cheddary powder that reminds me of doritos. I call it "dorito bread" :)
(4)
Melyssa B.
My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday. It's pricey, but worth it. We were slightly forgotten by our waiter for a good 20 minutes, but they rectified the situation by giving us free drinks so I can't be mad. Nothing like a free mojito to calm you down and make you forgive and forget :) The appetizers are satisfying, but not large. We split the Chilean beef and chicken pot pie as our entree. We were extremely full by the end of it and it was one of my favorite things I have ever eaten (I'm fantasizing about it as I write this review). Normally I'd say skip the cocktails because they are expensive, but the drinks here have depth and are not overly sweet. The Horchada is te best way to end your meal at Cucharamama.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Food Critic X.
3 stars if it's wasn't too expensive. Menu is alright in theory, but food is prepared without care, things were off, no quality control, steak was average, ingredients in sides/apps/starters where not fresh, very filthy seating and overall table ware. DOES NOT deserve the high priced items or overall popularity.
(2)Sara S.
The food was fantastic. I had the Piquillo Peppers and Shrimp in Pepper Sauce. Both were great. The service wasn't awful but wasn't great either. That said, I will definitely be back. There are so many more things on the menu I want to try.
(4)Mel C.
Not 5 stars due to service, but the food is out of this world... I love the small plates, but don't fill up because the entrees are worth it... Get there early to avoid waiting, it's a tight fit when there's no outdoor seating, it's the type a place that'll have you staying for a while... Nice Hoboken spot.
(4)Fredd P.
Came here for father's day because my dad loves Latin cuisine. The first we notice was there little oven and South American vibe the restaurant gave. There appetizers appears and taste was top noche. The main dishes there served was fabulous. There duck was so good moist just thinking of it is making me drool. The dulce de leche ice cream was the best I ever had and would recommend everyone to try. The only negative thing would say it expensive. We spent $180 on four people. If you want to take out a group of people and don't mind paying I would recommend this restaurant to impress.
(4)Aracelly C.
Delicious food, really good drinks (especially Chilcano) and attentive service. My boyfriend and I came here not knowing how packed it gets as soon as they open, with that said we didn't experience any problems on being seated as soon as we walked in. Not sure about the negative reviews, but I would definitely recommend this place. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Aliza N.
Love this place. Everything is perfect. nice ambiance. great food.
(5)Greg W.
I have been twice. I don't understand why everybody loves this place. It's ok at best. I tried a bunch of the different smaller plates the second time I was there after doing a standard appetizer entrée the first time. Everything was ok, nothing spectacular, nothing bad. Sorta pricey for the quality and experience. $35 for the rib-eye? I can go get a real rib-eye at Del Frisco's for $42, come on!
(2)Duncan B.
Food is 5+ stars, service is 3.5 stars. I love eclectic food and this place was exceptional in theory and execution. Listen to other people's recommendations as far as specific dishes. The only bummer was that the staff wasn't very helpful when it came to recommendations. Most people would find this menu daunting, and it wasn't an issue since I eat anything, but if you were looking for a little more explanation of the dishes you might feel left out. Still, if you're bored with normal food choices, check this place out!!
(4)Jay W.
I REALLY wanted to give these guys 5 stars! The food was great! My wife had the mixed fish platter, and I had the duck. They were absolutely delicious! The problem, and the reason for my rating, was the service and the ambiance. The place is way too noisy. I think it would be great if they could move this restaurant into a bigger space to fix this issue. When you go out with someone, you want to conversate, not yell. The bigger issue was the service. The host looked out for us, so I can't be mad at her. But everyone else took their sweet time. We did not receive our order for about 45 minutes. Again, this is not a huge place, so what's the deal? An ideal waiting time is 10-15 minutes. I would recommend this place to a friend because the food is excellent. However, you need to have a LOT of patience, because it takes forever to get your order.
(3)Jonathan A.
When you step into this place the amazing smell will hit you like a ton of bricks. Its probably the combination of the South American spices and the wood burning oven. Your senses are already heightened and you have not even eaten anything yet. The Ceviche de Camarones de Jipijapa (shrimp ceviche) was excellent and the fried yellow plantains were great. For my entree I had Picante de Camarones (spicy shrimp), which was also very good. The service was great and paced very well. I will definitely go back to this place. The menu has many options and I want to try them all. If you are in the area, give this place a try.
(4)Paul J.
I don't get the hype about this place. This is my second time eating here, (i always try everything twice) and I left with the same meh feeling as the first time. The smaller plates are incredibly small (usually consisting of 1 to 2 items) and pretty expensive given the size of the portions. They are really the best things on the menu though. Ive had the Piquillo Peppers twice: Pimientos de Piquillo Rellenos de Calabaza y Queso Manchego - $12 Piquillo Peppers filled with Pumpkin and Manchego Cheese, They are pretty good. (2 small pepper pieces, it looked like one pepper cut in half and then stuffed) The Spinach with bacon-onion sofrito, manchego and parmigiano was pretty good too. (2 small size empandas stuffed) The Pizza Serrana - $10 (serrano ham, manchego, aged parmigiano reggiano, red onion, andean ajà amarillo) was my favorite. This was delicious and my favorite thing of the night. Also quite small, about 4 inches in diameter or roughly the size of one normal slice of pizza. The Salprieta - 10$ Roasted Ripe Plantain with Fresh Cheese, Curd, and Peanut Seasoning Mix. One roasted plaintain with 3 dipping sauces. This was also pretty good. This was the ladies favorite. The previous time here i had the churrasco as its a common staple in cuban food and it was pretty lame. GF had the octopus and it was definitely not the way a good grilled octopus should taste. It was extremely fishy in flavor leading us to believe it may have been canned octopus rather than fresh. The service was also pretty laid back and unattentive. Definitely had a dry glass of water for the majority of the night. To recap: the small plates are good but a terrible value for your money. The price of the food is not helped with the lazy feel of the service. I probably won't go back again unless someone convinces me otherwise.
(3)Tully O.
Delicious!! Amazing service, impeccable and unique dishes. I go here a lot and I'll be back again some time soon.
(5)Tanya G.
Authenic South American scrumdiddlyumptious tapas. The restaurant is cute and cramped. The menu, food, and servers are South American to the bone. The tiny spot is filled with endearing accents and smells of good food to come. Warmed Flatbread: Perfectly charred and soft out of the brick oven, it's cut into delicate little triangles and served with a lightly sweetened cinnamon butter. BEWARE: The butter looks like hummus, so don't be like me and scoop up a massive amount with the bread and pop the whole thing in your mouth. Piquillo Peppers Stuffed With Pumpkin and Manchego: I was hesitant...I wasn't sure about the combination of flavors. But, to quote my friend, it sounded "special" so we ordered it. So glad we did, It was fantastic. Two stuffed peppers swimming in a velvety white manchego cheese sauce oozing into the pumpkin filling. Chicharrón de Pollo Novoandino (Quinoa-Crusted Chicken Fingers): Nice chunks of white meat chicken in an interestingly sour quinoa crust paired with a vinegary dipping sauce. Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca (Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce): Super delicious shrimp topped with a tasty sauce, sitting on an indistinguishable bed of a delightful vegetable concoction. Chorizo Pizza: The same flatbread mentioned earlier with thick medallions of chorizo and red peppers on top. Meh. I should've known better than to order "Pizza" in a South American restaurant. Fried Sweet Plantains: Piping hot and prettily plated, they had a crunchy, caramelized exterior and a creamy, sweet interior. Guarapita de Aragua (Venezuelan Rum and Passion Fruit): It was light and refreshing with a delicate fragrance of cinnamon. It was a perfect balance of sweetness and flavor that complimented the night. Now, a side note about the service. As I have already mentioned, this place is authentic to the core. That being said, the service is of South American nature...servers have a laid back demeanor and dawdle around the restaurant rather than taking your order. Every time I've been here we need to ask for our orders to be taken. Just be aware that service is lax so you might need to be more aggressive than usual. However, Cucharamama is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants of Hoboken.
(4)Richard H.
Finally made it into Cucharamama for dinner last night. Very happy with the decision, and a little upset with myself that I waited so long! I would advise reservations on a Friday, glad we had them. Place was packed from when we got there at 8, to when we left at 10. Not uncommon, obviously, but (much like sister restaurant Zafra's), this is not a large space. Looked like seating for 50-60ish. Awesome, awesome ambiance. Decor was cool. It was a little too dark, but not terrible. Service was on point. I can't remember if our server gave us his name, but he was relatively prompt, and able to recommend a cocktail that would pair w/the salmon dish I had. I know, most people don't request a cocktail to pair with their meal, but I wasn't in a mood for wine, and I didn't want something overly sweet or overly strong. So my salmon was great. I would get again, but there were so many other things on the menu I wanted to try! My fiance had the duck, which was really good also. Definitely going back to Cucharamama!!
(4)Marla M.
I was there on Friday April 4th 2014 we were a party of five, we got there about 10:00 pm and the hostess told us that the wait was going to be about 10 min it took longer more than that about 40 min when we finally got a table it was like 10:45 when we were sitting down at the table foe about five min the hostess came to the table and quote "by the way the kitchen is closing at 11:00 pm" after we waited so long with out knowing anything about it because the hostess did not let us know while we were waiting and when we were complaining to her because she did not let us know before she got very up set and responded very very unprofessionally, we got up and left. We did not like that at all
(1)Lisa B.
Fantastic food and drink. Yes it is expensive but it is totally worth it. Great for a date/double date. Highly recommend!
(4)Leah M.
Technically 3 stars because the food (what we received of it) was actually quite delicious. Unfortunately the service was so incredibly terrible/slow/nonexistent that I could never recommend this restaurant to anyone. We were a party of four crammed into a small table, regardless of almost no-one else in the restaurant. It would have been nice to not have my bf in my lap, elbowing me all nite. Especially becuase there was a sea of empty tables. Inconsiderate. The server knew very little about the drink menu. Or the menu, in general. We ordered drinks, a bunch of tapas plates and an entree per couple. This is after navigating the exptensive and confusing menu, with which we were offered no help or explanation. Do they really work here? The tapas come out timely. Are delicious. We talk, drink, eat. Getting better! The entrees come out. We are missing a side dish. No server comes to check in, or give the missing food. No server to be found, in fact, on the floor. For 20 minutes. We finally flag someone down, they are confused, what food? We order more, since are still hungry. This food also does not come. They bring a dessert to compensate for all the missing food, yet there is no explanation for why food that we ordered never, ever, ever, came. Get me outta here and never bring me back!
(2)Nicole J.
Fabulous food with cool latin vibe. Everything I have had has been awesome. The duck tamale is a must!
(5)Scott S.
The food is 5-star all the way. The only reason I have to give it four stars is because of the service (like many have also said). Over the summer I went here for an early dinner around 530 on a Saturday and the place was empty. They said they couldn't seat us because of reservations. I mean, cmon....we can't have dinner for an hour, hour and a half because they have reservations to book the place by 630,7ish?...The place was literally empty, I think there may have been one table..They said we could eat outside if we wanted. It was about to POUR! which 20 minutes later it did.. Anyway, made another rez and had dinner here friday night. Even with the rez I had to wait a half hour, which is fine, thats pretty typical of places in demand. But the service during the dinner was very slow (not like comfortable and relaxed like in Europe), but just slow and never brought drinks we ordered..stuff like that...although once we ordered the food came out really quickly. So when all is said and done, I have to knock a star off of the review for service. Is it enough to make me not want to return? No F'n way! The food is RIDIC! Once they gave us the bread with the sweet butter, I knew the food was gonna be phenomonal...For two of us we ordered 3 or 4 apps and a main course to split, and that was a perfect amount of food...Along with 4 mojitos and I was set.. The aps we ordered were the rice and cheese croquetts, chorrizo, and beef empanadas...The main course was a chicken dish from the wood burning oven...The food is incredible...the menu is huge, so I cannot wait to come back and try different things on the menu.. Tastewise, I would say its easily one of the top few restaurants I have ever been to in my life. The price wasnt bad either...sure the portion sizes are a little small, but that can be expected for high end food...total meal was like $115 for 2 with tax, tips and a few drinks each.. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Yelper G.
While this restaurant provides excellent food and drinks, I still need to give this place only 1 star due to the frost bite my entire group experienced last night after we were seated by the windows. There is zero insulation of the windows and you can actually feel a draft. We all froze our asses off. Not the kind of experience you'd expect after paying over $1000 at this establishment. Anyways, bottom line is avoid this place like the plague in the winter and only go in the summer.
(1)Elias M.
Nice ambience. Poor service. Overpriced food. I ordered the beef empanadas and I got Two tiny close to a bad joke tiny serving of dough for 9 dollars and it had two tiny pieces of meat and they were not even thay good. A small plate of plantain chips for 7 dollars. Oh boy. There are far better places to eat. Pass this joint up if you can. Otherwise if you must go ask about portion size. All in I spent 30 dollars only to go home and cook, something I was trying to avoid, because I was still hungry.
(1)Adam K.
The food here is great, if a tad pricey. Can't go wrong ordering just a bunch of the tapas offerings. Staff is courteous and knowledgeable. I'd even recommend sitting at the bar if you can since the bartenders are super friendly and helpful. A great meal, if a tad on the pricier side!
(4)Hugo E.
If you want to tour Latin America in 3 hours.. this is it OWTR! Pros: Great assortment of Latin dishes from all over Great vibe BRICK OVEN!! Parking nearby (wow) Cons: Slightly small Very busy every night Menu: The menu here was fantastic! Peruvian, Brazilian, Argentinean, Ecuadorian, Cuban even Spanish are all represented cuisines. It's like the "who's who" of Latin American Food. Great idea and great execution... Love it. Gotta Try: Pulpo Olivo Jalea de Calamares Chorizo Argentino Medio Pollo from the oven Bandejita Paisa (if you are a ravaging carnivore) Food Quality: Immensely fresh and flavorful, really encompasses the strong beautiful flavors of Latin cuisine and take the "home" versions of foods and hits it up with some professional pizzazz! Drink: Pisco SOUR... amazing... moving right along - don't skip the great selection of red wines they have. Argentina and Chile in the house.. and well worth it. Ambiance: Very dark, mysterious with the wood-oven sitting on center stage. lots of small tables sitting in small space where people are whispering or laughing their day away. Big mix of customers from all over and all types. Great romantic qualities. Candlelight style without charging you the world. Service: Friendly and professional who really try to make you feel great about dining out. Very quick on their feet and maintain a great level of service throughout. Never had a complaint and will bet that I never will. Cost: Right on par with the restaurants in the area but not overpriced at all. Definitely more expensive than a family owned business of the cuisines I named, probably closer in price to some Iberian places. However - you do get what you pay for, which always makes it better. Conclusion: A great vibe, a great environment and excellent food gives the place just enough of fun and fine at the same time. H-Cane's final spin. This is one of those places that is an ace in your hand. You can embark on a serious campaign that shows your "cultured side", you "wine rep" and your "romantic rescue-person" all at the same time. Don't bring the kids.. but you may make some cause of this place. GO!
(5)Aja D.
Very disappointed that we didn't get to eat the place because they made my boyfriend and I wait over two hours to sit down, we just got fed up after being told several times we were next. I think they really need to work on their service and time management.
(1)Abby R.
Can't pronounce the name of this place, but love their food. Been twice, sat at bar in front of wood burning oven both times, and have only ordered apps, but really enjoyed the food on both occasions. Duck tamales, pumpkin and manchego something, and the Argentinian sausage are some of my favorites (all $12 and under). Mojitos are good (even the gin ones and I hate gin!) but cost as much as the apps, so they add up quickly! Make reservations if you want to sit at a table or sit at the bar and enjoy the fire (they have outdoor seating too).
(5)Steve M.
Place is always mobbed so make a reservation but the food and drinks are superb. Favorite Latin cuisine in Hoboken and possibly in the entire area.
(4)Keith O.
other then being a bit on the expensive side this is my fav restaurant in hoboken, such great food
(5)Mars X.
Food & drinks are very good and although it's a bit on the expensive side, it's worth the splurge now and then. The skirt steak was tender & cooked to temp, the shrimp was fresh, the Ocopa de Mani y Huacatay (potatoes in a creamy sauce) isn't over cooked, the beef empanadas are some of the best my husband had that wasn't home cooked, and the caipirinha (Brazilian cocktail) is amazing. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the outdoor seating is quaint (weather permitting of course). There's only on-street parking but it is Hoboken after all. Just be sure to park on the non-resident side and feed the meter (before 9pm). So why am I only giving 3-stars? Glad you asked... The 1st time I went there the service was good. The 2nd time, a waiter spilled a drink on my husbands back. It was an accident & luckily it was just on his jacket so no reason to make a fuss. The 3rd time my sister & I were rushed out because it got busy. We were enjoying our last drink after dinner over a good conversation & we could hear the hostesses & a waiter talk rudely about us (almost as if they didn't care if we heard them). They made us feel so uncomfortable we left & needless to say I haven't been back since. Regardless of my service experience I stand by my opening statement, which is that the food & drinks are very good so with that in mind I think it's worth it to anyone to give this restaurant a try (even once).
(3)Les A.
I am always concerned about dining at an "award winning" and "famous Chef" type of restaurant. So often, the top chef's are barely around any longer or their input is so limited that the ratings should have expired quite some time ago. I am so very pleased to report that this is NOT the case at Cucharamama. I called around 3 pm on Saturday and left a voice mail to seek a reservation for 4 at 7 pm. At about 530 I was called back and the time confirmed. We arrived a few minutes early and were promptly seated at a lovely table at the front window. Our waiter was wonderful in both his level of service and recommended dishes. Frankly, I cannot believe that there is anything on their menu that would not be great but we asked for suggestions and likely had some of their finest items. We started off with a lovely bottle of a recommended Malbec to accompany the small plates of their octopus, the duck breast tamale, a shrimp cerviche and the mussels in dark beer. Main plates included the skirt steak, grilled duck breast and the salmon. Each dish and the accompanying sides of sweet potato puree or quinoa or grilled potato was perfectly prepared and delicious. We ended with their chocolate bread pudding in a cafe con leche sauce; a great ending to a 5 star meal.
(5)Andre P.
While the portions are small and the menu a little expensive, the experience is huge. The food seems to be all-things-South-American and centered on Andean food. The food is very good and indeed small portions, but rather filling. The atmosphere lets you escape Hoboken to relax into the meal. The Peru national drink is worth a shot and the wine by the glass is good. Very enjoyable!
(5)S.L B.
We visited Cucharamama last night and the overall experience was positive. We were seated at the back of the restaurant close to another table but the servers brought over ice water, menus and bread over very quickly. The bread was warm and the butter that accompanied it was sweet and scrumptious. We ordered cocktails, a mojito for my boyfriend and a frozen daiquiri for me, both were a hit. My daiquiri had a perfect alcohol to sweetness ratio. We ordered two apps to share. The calamari came out insanely quick but it was cooked perfectly with a crunchy batter and an addictive spicy dipping sauce. The second app we chose was a spinach, bacon and onion empanada. These were nice with the smoky bacon flavor being a little strong but the side vinaigrette it came with was delicious. We then picked out two glasses of Spanish Rioja to go with our entrees. I chose the Saice, a spicy beef stew that came with rice and beans. The stew itself was a deep red and I could've taken a bath in it. It was spiced but not overwhelming and it worked beautifully with the awesome sweet beans. The beef itself however was too rare and chewy. I wasn't asked it I wanted it rare or not so I'm not sure if that is how it is served in South American cuisine but I believe stews in general should have tender well cooked beef. My boyfriend had the special entree available only on Thursdays. It was a medley of meat, skirt steak, Colombian sausage and pork. He asked for the skirt steak medium rare but it came out rare. The sausage wasn't to his taste but the pork was a big hit. It was fatty but crunchy on the outside and full of flavor. The arepas and plantain that came with the dish were also nice. The service was friendly and quick and we are definetly coming back here. However we would probably just stick to the items from the wood burning oven rather then the traditional entrees.
(4)Froilan O.
We came out for my birthday and overall we had a good experience. In terms of ambiance it's cozy but a little crowded (it is hoboken after all) This place is definitely special and the menu has various South American dishes that are perfectly cooked. The drinks are also very good and unique. The only complaint I have is that the portions of the appetizers and some of the entrees are RIDICULOUSLY small in comparison to their price. This issue almost made me give 3 stars but the great quality of food saved them. I really hope they re-evaluate the portion sizes for the amount of money they are charging. In addition there is a charge for cutting and distributing a cake if you bring one from outside $3 a person which I also think is expensive. I'm surprised they didn't charge for the glass the tap water was served in.
(4)Mercy A.
I had high hopes for this restaurant, I really did. It comes up on many lists as a must- go-to place. In fact, just last month it was in New Jersey Monthly's 25 Top Restaurants. So, we ventured in for brunch on a cool Fall day. It was completely empty except for the two guests eating outside and we chose to eat inside, near a window. The Cons -Waiter came by to see us about every 15 minutes -There were flies milling over our food. -Waiter came by to see us about every 15 minutes. Oh, I already said that, huh? This really did sort of ruin the experience for us. We ordered Tacu, Tacu a Caballo, which is Peruvian rice, beans, and eggs. We absolutely loved that dish. We also ordered the Churrasco con Yuca Gratin. The steak smelled way too meaty and was far too chewy. We took one bite and begged to have it taken away. The waiter was super gracious about it and recommended a Tamale with bacon, which was finger lickin good! For good measure, we ordered the Venezuelan black beans, which are just the right amount of sweetness....delish- could have eaten these solo. I enjoyed what we ate, but having to swat away flies and harass people for our waiter sure did put a damper on the experience.
(3)Dave F.
Really tasty and very different from the usual assortment in Hoboken. The octopus is really good, and the drinks are spot on. Only thing is this place will run you more than your usual place in Hoboken. Expect to be over $100 for dinner for two with drinks. Totally reasonable compared to NYC, but a little on the high side for Hoboken.
(4)Matthew C.
Chuchuramama is a nice little restaurant with a wonderful decor. I took my family here since it was around the block from my apartment. The interior was a bit cramped and we had to be seated at different tables. The menu was very interesting and the chicken was delicious. I may not be going back to try it again but I was glad I tried it.
(3)Kristen H.
My husband and I went to Cucharamama last night. I have read about it several times online and we love Zafra, it's sister restaurant. We made reservations, but when we got there, it was empty, so we could have walked in. They have cute outdoor tables, but we opted to sit inside for the ambiance. The drink menu is extensive and filled with interesting aperitifs. My husband ordered an "El Viejo" Ti-Punch, which is aged rum on the rocks with a twist, vanilla and a cinnamon stick. It was delicious! I opted for a classic margarita -- that was good, as well. Most things on the menu look enticing. We ordered the Empanada de Espinaca, two spinach empanadas with manchego and bacon. These were amazing. They serve a pita type bread with spices and a sweet cream butter -- also wonderful! For our entrees we ordered the Pastel de Choclo Chileno, a Chilean beef and chicken potpie, with a corn crust and Costillas de Res con Costra de Papelón y Mostaza, Quinoa y Acelga Salteada, braised short ribs in red wine sauce with stir-fried quinoa and swiss chard. The potpie was very tasty, albeit a bit heavy. The ribs were tender and flavorful, although drenched in sauce. Next time, I would order the sauce on the side. The quinoa was a bit dry. We also ordered Patacones, golden fried green plantains, as a side dish. These were pretty good, though I've had better. All of the food was rather heavy, but we decided to taste some dessert anyway. We ordered a chocolate flan and a gigantic millefeuille, with dulce de leche and walnut between the pastry layers, covered in a Malbec meringue. When the desserts came out, we were shocked at how large the millefeuille was! The meringue was creamy and light and the layers were crispy and the fillings were very sweet. The flan was tiny in comparison! The flavor of the flan was great, but the texture wasn't as creamy as I prefer my flan to be. Overall, I would recommend Cucharamama for good South American cuisine. I also like that it stands out from the usual-type Hoboken restaurant fare. The service wasn't that great. We waited here and there, luckily we weren't in a rush or it would have bothered me more.
(4)Danielle D.
My girlfriend and I ate here on a Tuesday night. The service was a bit slow, but we were catching up so we didn't mind too much. We ordered drinks - I had a Capirinha - nice and strong! For our meal we each had 2 small plates - I had Venezuelan chicken tamales (delicious!) and the shrimp ceviche, which was not exactly ceviche - the shrimp were cooked. And there were only 4. We split a chocolate bread pudding that was rich and not too sweet so I liked it. So overall, it was very tasty, but a bit expensive for the amount of food you get ~ $40+ each for a drink + 2 small plates + shared dessert.
(4)Julia N.
Absolutely fantastic. Such a breath of fresh air, leaps and bounds away from the standard (but good) pub grub/ bar food offered in Hoboken. The chef just won the James Beard award and it was certainly deserved.
(5)Jennifer R.
This place is unlike any other place I've ever eaten at before. Once you can navigate through the enormous menu, you're in for a real treat. I've eaten here twice and never had anything that I didn't absolutely love. For apps, I would recommend the Chicharrón de Pollo Novoandino, Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca, and Papas Chorreadas con Hogo Bogotano. For entrees, I would recommend the Medio Pollo de Patio al Horno de Leña con Berza Salteada o Puré de Papa con Pirque (half chicken), Costillas de Res con Costra de Papelón y Mostaz with Quinoa y Acelga Salteada ( short ribs), and Braised Pork Belly and Mussels "Alentejano". You really can't go wrong with anything here. The presentation on the plates is also beautiful. I would also recommend making reservations. The first time we came was on a Friday night and they were very busy, and even when we went most recently on an early Sunday evening, I'm glad we made reservations because it started to get busy.
(5)Kelly O.
Love their tapas, great selection and good for vegetarians too.
(4)Adam B.
I've said it before, but if Yelp would allow half stars I would give this place 4.5. To be honest, before Sat night I never even knew this place existed. And when I heard that we would be going to a place called Chucharama I giggled a bit because, well, because it is kinda a funny name, no? Anyway, we come in without a reservation on a Sat night because we had no clue it would be so busy. Wrong! Obviously no one likes waiting, but it wasn't that big of a deal to us. So we gave the hostess our number and we went around the corner and had a few drinks. Around 40 mins later we walked back without receiving a call from them. Call it intuition, or whatever you want, but we just felt it was an appropriate time to mozy on back. When we arrived at the restaurant there still was no seating available (this was at like 10pm, almost) and while it was a bit frustrating it definitely indicates how good the food is. After standing in the entrance for no more than two mins the hostess comes up to us and graciously offered us a quiet seat in the back, instead of the bar, simply for being so kind while we waited. How often does that happen!? I'll answer that; rarely. Once seated we really got to enjoy the coziness of the place. The dim lighting, the flickering of the wood burning oven, the beautiful accents in the architecture inside - everything just made it an enjoyable setting. And this is still considering the amount of noise and foot traffic of people at the bar waiting to be seated... None of that really mattered though for some odd reason. Onto the meal: My fiance and I ordered a really tasty Pinot from Argentina. It was a drier version of its California counterpart, but the flavors were distinct and it paired very well with our meals. Speaking of, holy shit the food was good. For an app we ordered the chorizo with peppers and onions - out of sight. For entres we ordered the skirt steak and a pulled pork leg. Holy hell did they capture flavors. Now, clearly from my name you can see I am not Spanish, and I did not grow up around Spanish cooking so my reference point is from the amount of different Spanish restaurants I eat at (a lot) and my fiance being Spanish, and her family cooking absurdly good food. That all being said, this is now her favorite South American restaurant in the area. Do yourself the favor and go here. You may have to wait, but that's ok - go with the mindset that it's worth it and it will be. I will be often, and eventually hope to tackle the whole menu.
(4)Anthony V.
My girlfriend's parents came into town for dinner the other night and after a long game of "You pick the place", "No, you pick the place"...we decided on Cucharamama since it had a bar and was close to our apartment. We did not have a reservation but figured since it was midweek there would be a short wait at best. When we walked in the door there were plenty of open tables so we were seated promptly at a table for 4 in the back. The wine list was decent but the first two bottles that we ordered were out of stock, both Malbecs - a South American wine (!) The menu was full of authentic South American fare, much of which I couldn't understand until I read the English descriptions. When we placed our order my girlfriend's first meal choice was also out of stock. We shared an empanada appetizer. I ordered the duck entree with pureed sweet potatoes and a quinoa side. The appetizer came out quickly which was two small empanadas with what seemed like a cilantro & oil dip. They were crispy and flavorful without filling us up too much for dinner. The entrees came out fairly quickly. The duck was cooked perfectly and extremely tender and juicy. The breast was perfectly sliced in bite sited pieces that, when dipped in the sauce or paired with the pickled onions that it was served with was great. The sweet potato puree was tasty, creamy and not overly seasoned, which i liked. The quinoa side was creamy but the only drawback were the hard bits of what seemed like uncooked quinoa. Overall, I was impressed with my meal and experience. The service was a bit pushy but I will definitely go back and give it another shot.
(4)Diane B.
Have only gone twice and both times was pretty good. Will keep going back.
(4)Joe M.
Let's start out by saying the food here is authentic and wonderfully prepared. Anything coming out of the wood-burning oven has a phenomenal smoky flavor and just the right amount of char. On the other hand, the service on Friday leaves a bit to be desired. Arrived at 9:00 for a 9:15 reservation. At 10pm (still waiting) we were offered drinks by the owner. We graciously accepted, until the check for the complimentary drinks. We were seated at 10:20 and waited until 10:45 to get menus. Once the order was in, the food came out very quickly, maybe 20 minutes at the most. Would highly recommend this restaurant, but would say to try and go in an off-hour. The Pollo Asada was out of this world and the beverages prepared at the full bar have a modern twist on traditional latin drinks. I especially enjoyed the drinks prepared with Pisco, a Chilean liquor,
(3)Anna S.
So delicious! I don't know if the dishes are unusual for the cuisine but they are unusual for me. And I'm using unusual in a good way. Portions are laughably small sadly.
(4)Jonathan B.
After reading the other reviews here, I expected Cucharamama to be a place with descent but pricey food in a nice setting with slow/inattentive service. Instead, I ended up having one of the best dining experiences I've had in a very long time. My friend and I had reservations for 5:30 on a cold Thursday night. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted by the warmth and aroma of the wood-burning stove. We were the first two patrons there and were seated near the stove. First Course: We were having something heavy for our entrees, so we wanted to share a light appetizer. Our server recommended the peppers stuffed with squash. I've never been much of a squash fan, but my friend kicked the sound of it and I'm glad she did. I wouldn't go so far as to call the dish "amazing", but it was very good. Main Course: There were several seemingly good options on the menu, but we decided to share two dishes. First up was the grilled duck. I'd recently had a duck dish at the top restaurant in Baltimore and while that dish was excellent, this one outshone it. The duck was cooked perfectly and the presentation was very nice. The accompaniments were ok, but didn't really stand out. Next up was the star of the night--braised short ribs. I don't know who came up with the recipe, but had they been there that night, I would have married them on the spot! The short ribs were amazingly tender and the sauce was other-worldly. As good as the duck was, this easily topped it. Both dishes were pretty huge and I ended up taking home a nicely wrapped doggie bag. Dessert: We finished the meal with chocolate bread pudding in a shallow bowl of cafe con leche. The cafe con leche was a nice touch, but the dish was unremarkable as a whole. It was by no means bad, but compared to our entrees, it was just so-so. Summary: This place definitely wouldn't make anyone's "Cheap Eats" list, but I have certainly paid much more for food that wasn't nearly as good. The meal described above (plus a $35 bottle of wine and an order of tea with dessert) came out to $116. In my mind this was more than reasonable considering the quality of the meal, wine and service. I'll definitely be making a return trip.
(5)Marissa R.
Food ****1/2 Creative South American that is delicious and fresh. Loved the duck tamales. Decent wine list....cocktails seemed a little to sweet for me! Decor ***** A great place to go to feel like your out for a special evening. Very warm and relaxing atmosphere with an authentic feel. Service**** Well mannered and informative. Recommended the Mate Tea and it was phenomenal! Gave us enough time to relax between courses. Overall ****1/2 One of five best spots in Hoboken that is comparable to dining in NYC. If your looking for a cozy, tasty and memorable dinner , this is your spot!
(4)hp F.
We party of 4 went there last night. it was a great latin american restaurant. we had 4 different apps and 4 different cocktails. i think the grilled octopus was the best. my "milk shake" cocktail had just the right amount of sweetness. the half chicken entree was great, juicy chicken roasted to perfection. I think they need to step up with the service a bit. many bus boys around but only like 2 waitstaff to take orders so we had to wait for a bit. the menu is also a bit difficult to read so if they can simplify it with a clear fonts and print, I think it'd be even better.
(4)Craige M.
Clearly the time to go to Cucharamama is on a Friday in the summer when many have abandoned Hoboken for the beach. It would have been a 20 minute wait for a table with no reservation, which is no big deal. But there was immediate availability at the bar. I will definitely return to this restaurant and there is a good chance I would sit at the bar again, too. There are no issues with waiting for your server to wander by when you're sitting at the bar. Plus, you get to watch the chefs prepare and cook food in the wood stove. We went the all-appetizer route. It was not hard at all to come up with 5 things that sounded good to both of us, even considering I didn't want any olives and Jeff doesn't eat meat. The shrimp skewers were delicious. The kale was nice and garlicy. I wasn't crazy about the potato and cheese tamale, but Jeff liked it. It tasted milky to me. My favorite were the mini onion and blue cheese empanadas. The crispy plantains came with a tart cilantro dipping sauce. My rum on the rocks with a twist of lime and a splash of vanilla was also delicious. Jeff had a Peruvian beer. Our bill came to $62. We were full and very satisfied with our meal. The entrees average about $22, so I think we would have probably spent more if we'd gone the route of an app plus two entrees. The hostess was incredibly nice and even came to remove our menus when she noticed me looking for a place to set them aside after we'd ordered. The bartenders were very busy, but they never kept us waiting long when we asked for water refills or to place our orders. Everyone was quite pleasant. And the menus were completely pristine and easy to navigate. One thing I will say is that the food is not representative of one single country, so if you are looking for food from one area, you will be disappointed. But if you just want delicious South American food, this would definitely be the place to go.
(4)Kristen R.
Might be my new favorite restaurant in boken. Went here on a Friday night and made a rez in advance - seated us right away at a table near the back. The ambiance is warm and they keep it pretty dark. There is outdoor seating available but I think being inside is part of the experience, unless you can't handle the heat of the wood burning oven. I tried a Pisco sour for the first time... Could have slammed a handful more but at $9 a pop, it didn't seem worth it (especially since half the drink was the top foam). Had spinach empanadas and chorizo to start, both were good but would like to try others next time. I had the duck entree and my date had the skirt steak. The duck was a bit overdone but still tasty, skirt steak was perfect and tender. I'm excited to go back to Cucharamama and try more of the menu!
(4)Peter M.
Favorite place in Hoboken. I come in here all the time. The appetizers are the stand outs. The duck tamale is incredible...do not miss this dish! The entrees are huge and we end up splitting one and ordering a ton of apps. You need a reservation on the weekends. During the week you can just walk in about any time.
(5)Autumn P.
Absolutely delicious.. I would definitely go back on a not so busy night (v-day).. Food was great and seemed pretty authentic. I cleaned my plates. Alot of choices in terms of food and drinks. If you like Spanish food go take a gander at the menu!
(4)Mitchell D.
Came here on a Tues night with one other person for drinks and a few apps. Every dish we had was EXCELLENT. It made me want to go back to school so I could make more money and eat this well ALL the time. Each dish was a little tiny work of art, with complex flavor profiles and aesthetic presentation that, if you're one of those people, will make your puny instagram filter unnecessary. I like the small portions so you don't overeat, and you are left with the pleasant memory of the unforgettable taste, with the clever chef's work providing a dichotomy of satisfied curiosity against the desire for more. Fantastic cocktails - creative and classy. Quite fitting wine selection. The real reason for the 3 stars is the service, which was somewhat inhospitable. I left there with the distinct and sad feeling that the staff was surely better than me. We were given a hard time about walking in 45 mins away from kitchen closing (Tues night, 2 pp, we arrived at 9:15, kitch closes at 10), and placed closest to the door where the cold air was drafty. Despite the feeling that we were arriving rudely late, we were also given attitude when we just ordered a few quick apps tapas-style and no main course. Hey, we weren't super hungry, we just wanted a few drinks and some apps, the place was half full, and we knew we'd be in & out fast! Why the snottiness? Plus if the staff were in a hurry to move us, they quickly forgot, because they was more preoccupied with their iPhone than refilling our $12 drinks. The decor is beautiful and interesting! Authentic, well thought out. Very artistic, moody and transporting. If they lowered the prices by a dollar or so and asked their staff to be more welcoming, I think there'd be more butts in the seats.... but I'm not sure that's what they're going for, and that's ok. I'm sure if I arrived at the proper time and ordered the most expensive items, I could curry the staff's favor, but I'm a casual person, so this place just isn't going to be on my rotation.
(3)Min A.
Thought it was overpriced and the portions were small. We actually left after ordering empanadas and a salad and waiting a long time to get our servers attention to ask for the check. We walked down the street to eat somewhere else... It definitely has some appeal, but cramped. We both agreed we were not impressed with the food or the service.
(3)Mel C.
If you like Zafra's Kitchen then you'll love this place! The girls and I usually default to the same restaurants on the weekend when we forget to make reservations. We had been meaning to try this place, and were we glad we did! The first thing about our experience was that the service was great. Our server was both helpful and had great recommendations. We had two rounds of drinks ranging from pisco (peruvian brandy) mixed with ginger ale, lime/pineapple juice, etc... and I loved it. I'm not big on sweet drinks, and he made sure that the drink was fresh and tasty but not that sweet aftertaste you get with drinks that have processed sugar drenched in them! My other friend didn't know what she wanted, so he surprised her with a cinnamon style drink... which she enjoyed as well. We had the calamari and shrimp fritters to start off, which were both fresh and delicious! For entrees, we weren't sure what we wanted to get, because there are a ton of tapas style dishes but then main dishes as well. I wanted to try all of them... but on the server's recommendation went with the Pechuga de Pollo Asado.. a very yummy chicken dish with plaintains and eggplant. There was some sort of jalepeno glaze on top that gave the dish a little kick, but for someone that sometimes fear spice, it was great and definitely added to the dish. We ordered a side dish of their arroz con queso (as one of the girls notoriously loves rice & cheese), and that quite possibly will cause her to go there everyday until she leaves Hoboken. It was a Peruvian version of mac n cheese to say the least! Very interesting and tasty. The entire ambiance of the restaurant is nice too, with very spanish style decor, fire wood burning oven, and dim lights. We had no problem hearing each other amongst the crowded restaurant either. Great place to go with friends or even on a date (slash my boyfriend is well aware of where he's taking me the next time he comes to visit)... Total bill was about 55 (incl tip) per person for appetizers, two drinks, and main dishes split amongst four girls... and it was a ton of food to give you a sort of price range! Cheers!
(5)Thomas F.
I have to say that, even after reading the rave reviews, this place not only lived up to its well-deserved reputation, but surpassed my high expectations! The Tapas appetizers were terrific (we had the Calamari, the Cracked Corn Tamales w Braised Duck, both of which were sublime, and then the Beef Empanada, also a treat). The Skirt Steak was cooked to perfection, juicy and tender with an awesome flavor, and the Organic Roasted Chicken was out of this world. Capped it off with rich aromatic coffee, and two delicious desserts...in fact, the chocolate bread pudding was delicious, but the Puff Pastry Meringue was absolutely outrageous! So, as to the very few negative reviews here...ignore them. Yes, the food takes its time coming out...during which we enjoyed a very lively conversation...but the wait staff were always attentive and charming. The bar is lively, the ambiance unique, outdoor tables in nice weather, and overall...well-deserving of 5 stars all around! BRAVO!!!
(5)Maria G.
Fantastic restaurant, a true gem. Been a few times and intend to keep coming back. The food from the wood-burning oven is just incredible. Amongst tapas, my favorite are the arepas and the bacon tamal, both are amazingly good. For the mains, the half-chicken and the salmon are delicious, juicy and flavorful.
(5)Samuel G.
I discovered this place just walking by in Hoboken....and i am glad i did! This restaurant has something special to it. First the food is excellent. They have a very long menu and most of it looks really interesting and new. I highly recommend to try a course from the "wood-burning oven" list. The dessert list is also amazing. Try the millefeuille with meringue on top or the Dulche de Leche ice cream. The only downside would be that they do not have any non-alcoholic drinks except the regular sodas... I was a bit disappointed. The decor is really good, you will not feel in Hoboken at all. The room is warm and well decorated. The staff is knowledgeable and nice. Overall a great experience. Perfect for all occasions, really.
(5)Fiddos J.
I wasn't really impressed with the food or the service. The beef was tough, the quinoa overcooked, the empanadas were ok, the shrimp soup couldn't decide if it was a savory dish or a dessert and the waiter was no where to be seen for large periods of time. I think we saw him only 4 times during the entire meal. That's one of the major problems I noticed with the other dishes too - much too much sugar in everything. A suitable flavor profile to a 3yr old kid maybe ... I prefer my food to have some complexity and depth.
(3)Hiep N.
Food here is legit. I came here with some friends and we order a bunch of small plates and I ordered the skirt steak. I highly recommend the empanadas and tamales. The skirt steak was a bit on the salty side, but it was a huge portion and cooked perfectly. My buddy got the short ribs that were a bit tough and they weren't cooked long enough so they weren't falling off the bone. Service was mediocre at best. I made a reservation early in the week and specified indoor seating. When I arrived they said that we would be seated outdoors. We went outside and he placed us right next to the door next to a cigar smoker. It was 92 degrees and humid and I told him this wasn't going to work so despite his wishes he moved us inside.
(3)Pavel S.
Skirt steak was awesome! Good service and nice selection of wine and food. Great smell of firewood inside. Love this place.
(5)Clint B.
This place has a great menu! Take a date, eat the skirt steak the sauce on the potatos is great. Next time I want to try the salmon they cook it in the wood burning stove!
(5)Paulie B.
Hoboken Foodie believes this to be one of Hobokens best eateries. From the moment you walk in and get a whiff of the wood burning oven you realize you're in for a treat. I must admit the menu was a bit overwhelming but the server was great and walk us through it. The bread they serve is somewhere between pita and naan and is slightly seasoned. It is served with a sweet butter that is somewhat melted, very nice. The pizzas, although small are off the charts delish! I tried the blue cheese and carmelized onion empanadas and they were excellent. The tamales were the best I've ever tasted. All in all this was one of the best dining experiences I've had in the Mile Square in some time.
(5)Alison C.
Cucharamama is one of the best restaurants in Hoboken. Situated several blocks west of the busy Washington Street, this spot is really a hidden gem. New Jersey Monthly even named it one of the best Latin restaurants in the state. The service is knowledgeable, quick, and friendly. The prices are comparable to those in Manhattan, but the unique wood-burning oven and flavorful dishes make it worth the money. My friend and started our meal with some terrific Latin-style cocktails that were small but very strong. The Chicapa, made of Pineapple chicapa and Zacapa rum, was sweet and potent. My friend and I shared the Camarones Tatacua, which were jumbo shrimp roasted in Panca Pepper Sauce and baked in the wood-burning oven. They came highly recommended by our waiter and did not disappoint. The sauce was packed with flavor, and the shrimp were fresh and plump. beef empanadas were also delicious. As an entree, I had the Boneless Chicken Breast coated with Adobo seasoning, a pumpkin & mango sauce, and baked in the wood burning oven. It was served with plaintain and eggplant puree. While the dish offered a variety of flavors, they all complimented each other perfectly. The chicken was extremely moist and fell off the bone. Though the place gets packed, especially on the weekends, it is worth the wait.
(4)Melly G.
Don't expect stellar service....but come to enjoy the food that is prepared in the wood burning stove. The food was so delicious that I actually witnessed my boyfriend scarf down a large piece of steak off a friend's plate when he got up to go to the bathroom. That should be a review in itself, no?
(4)Ben M.
Best restaurant in Hoboken...hell, in all of NJ. Literally everything is good, I have had the whole menu. Highlights...empanadas, pizza, and on Thursday they have a meat plate special for a meal. It will rock your world. And for a drink...they have a bunch of really fun south American rum drinks that are great. But try the mammopolitan (it is pink and comes in a martini glass...so don't judge me) It is outstanding.
(5)Rudiger H.
I live in Hoboken and think this place is very cozy. I do agree with many reviews that the skirt steak was average at best and very tough. However, the half chicken dish is excellent. Overall, slightly above average.
(3)NotTelling P.
Great drinks; very good food; good, but cold service and high prices, make this place not worth a trip. If you are in the neighborhood and are flush with cash, then I would recommend it. The empanadas with spinach and the pizza were excellent. But the short ribs were smothered in a too rich sauce.
(3)Adam K.
I have been looking to eat here since it opened years ago, but stayed away given the consistent "pricey" description. The warmer weather has returned so I needed a mojito, so I finally decided to try out the place. The mojitos were tasty and worth it, and the appetizers were good as well. I did like the wood burning stove at the bar that they cook everything in. A nice place to go when you want to spend a little.
(4)L L.
I sadly have to give this restaurant a 1 star for BRUNCH ONLY! They get a 4 star for dinner! I will say that on a Sunday when there are hardly any tables and a fully staffed wait staff they should be more accommodating. Instead my bf and I waited 2 hours for our brunch and had to go in several times to remind them we are still here! They brought us water and took our order after 40 minutes of waiting. In the meantime we saw other guests pick up and leave after 15 minutes of non service! The food was AWFUL! Don't know if they have a different chef during the day then at night but I ordered a pretty basic burger medium and it came out well done and flavorless! My bf ordered something (pork belly and eggs) which was so salty that had he had a blood pressure issue he would've been dead after the first bite. All in all...I would come again for dinner but NEVER EVER again for brunch!
(1)Food L.
Now let me start by saying that I'm Peruvian...born in Peru and i've been back on average once per year...so i've been back there at least 24 times. I've been to the slummiest places (eating in the ambulantes en la Victoria) to the nicest of them (the most pituquito or trendy/high end places). What matters most for me and my family has always been taste and quality of the food (authenticity usually doesn't hurt either). So let's begin with this review. Now i feel like this restaurant isn't catered to my Peruvian palate, but considering that they were all about south america and mainly focused on PERU, well i expected a heck of alot more. And because of this initial research on my part, i already came in weary of the place.... I'm not about the service/ambiance/decor, i gave this place 2 stars for the following reasons... 1) I had the Pollo al horno in a peruvian style...i didn't understand what was peruvian about this. You need alot more aji panca and the sides of camote with some other sweet sauce was not to my liking. It lacked authenticity and peruvian flavor. 2) I also had the fried quinoa dish which was good but lacked salt. 3) Chicken anticucho was sadly not very flavorful, once again lacking the peruvian taste. And once again needing more aji panca. 4) Their butter with that flat bread was actually good, probably the highlight of the evening. So coming from a Peruvian, this place is a thumbs down...only their decor, service, and butter/bread saved them from a 1 star. I saw many non peruvians there so i'm imagining it's for them and not for me. Peruchos, sigan buscando
(2)Kevin C.
Do not buy a gift certificate here. The owner is a thief.
(1)Brian D.
great cocktails, menu & ambiance
(5)Kevin H.
Best food in Hoboken. Bartender is a great man and makes incredible drinks! Love the mojitos. From what I've had all food has been cooked to perfection. For appetizers, the ceviche, chorizo and squid are great. For dinner, you can't go wrong with the duck, skirt steak, or short rib. Awesome stuff!
(5)Victor S.
Let me start by saying good things about the restaurant. The ambiance is phenomenal. The decor, colors and layout are great and they compliment each other. However, the chairs on which we sat were very uncomfortable. They seemed very old and lacked cushion. I felt I was sitting in a toilet seat. They were covered in cheap seat covers that were so dirty that it was hard not to notice. I have no complain about the service, except that we had to wait a little for a highchair which they brought from their other restaurant Zafra, even after we made clear in our reservation that we needed it. But that was not a big deal. The big deal is the food. It is good food, but they have to make sure that they call it as it is in the menu. I'll explain. My wife ordered Sango de Camarones, which was advertised in the menu as ecuadorean plate. When she got it, she was dissapointed to see that they took the liberty to change the recipe adding coconut milk and instead of being a dense puree of corn, it turned out to be a soup. They should have listed it as "our take on Ecuador's classic" or something like it. They do have a good selection of plates from different latin american countries and the concept is very good. Maybe we just tried something that they don't master well and we should give them a second chance. Regardless, if you are interested in authentic South American cuisine, this is not a good place.
(2)David S.
The food at this place is amazing. All of the dishes have amazing flavor and each entree is truly unique. I would say that this place is the best restaurant in Hoboken if you appreciate ethnic food and trying something different. I've eaten here several times and have tried a number of dishes and they have all been spectacular. Everyone I've come here with has also loved the food. They put a lot of effort into everything they make, even the flat bread pieces you get when you sit down are tastefully seasoned and the butter is lightly flavored. This is one of the more upscale places in Hoboken and its definitely worth trying.
(5)M R.
Make reservations to come here. Good food, not very authentic latino food (more like modernized latino) but good nevertheless. Classy? yes! Modern? yes! with low lights and elegant yet contemporary ambiance. Price? Eeeesh, yeah. Don't go here if you're on a budget but do go here if you can. Dinner for two? $85 just appetizer, meals and soda (Inca Kola, yum!) Decent medium sized portions.
(4)Jessica C.
This place had the best skirt steak I have ever had! The place is small and gets packed, so remember to make a reservation. This is Hoboken... so parking is tough. I haven't really had anything else on the menu other than some plantains, chorizo, and dessert, which I think was a chocolate flan...if I remember correctly. I remember my friend ordered the rib eye every time we went, but half of it was fatty. The flat bread and sweet butter is delicious.
(4)Almando p.
I thought it was very good! I had Arepas and short ribs, I forgot the other dish but I thought every thing was good. If you want to go to a nice restaurant with excellent food. I thought the short ribs were amazing. I like the ribs that are soft and tender when you bite. I would definitely go to this place again. The mojito was very good too. Actually, I had two of them.
(4)Carrie O.
I wish I could give this little place 5 stars, because the food was so good, but, unfortunately, their service brings my rating down. Went here on New Years Eve for dinner with friends before the ball drop. We made a reservation in advance and asked to change our reservation as the day got closer because our numbers grew. The restaurant was unable to accommodate and we ended up having to kick 2 people out of our dinner... awkward. Now, I know it's new years eve and places get booked, but when we got there it was clear the place could have easily accommodated our additional people. They had enough room / empty chairs. Also, when we made the reservation, they said nothing about it being prie fixe. When we got there, they were trying to jack their price an extra $20 because it was New Years. When we explained to the hostess that we made the reservations under different knowledge, she wasn't helpful. When we asked to speak to a manager, she left to get him and never returned. We actually had to go ask again for the manager. The manager, to his credit, allowed us to eat off the regular menu. Anyway, like I said, the food was great. The appetizers were great. Everyone was very happy with their main dishes. But the service was SLOW! We told them we were leaving before the ball drop, but as the minutes ticked closer to 12, we got nervous. So we asked for our bill when the main dishes were served. Did the waiter bring it? No. We had to ask a second time. I know, it's new year's eve, and they're busy. But it's new years eve and i'm trying to enjoy myself and actually get to see the ball drop live. Bottom line - great food, not great service - not good for groups, and NOT good for new years eve.
(4)Natasha P.
Amazing! Followed other reviews and got the braised ribs. My boyfriend got the skirt steak. We shared and still had some left over. I eat beef about twice a year and it was completely worth it. Sat at the bar and the service was great. Definitely check this place out!
(5)Kim P.
Amazing place!! I've been here twice and can't say I had anything I didn't like. Great drinks (try the pisco sour!) - I also really liked the Ocopa de Manà y Huacatay (potatoes in a cream sauce), chicken croquettes, the Crema de Frijoles Blancos y Tomate soup (white bean & tomato cream soup), and basically all the empanadas. I never had an issue with service, but I've always made a reservation, so points go to keeping the reservation, seating us on time, and getting our drinks and food out fast. The inside is beautiful and there is also outdoor seating. I would love to give 5 stars, but I just wish the prices were just a little bit lower - especially on the drinks. You can easily spend $50/person. Its definitely worth spending a little extra on, but I thought they were just a little over priced.
(4)Alex C.
I went to Cucharamama last Friday and was actually overwhelmed by how good the place was and flavors used in all the dishes. My mom had read about the restaurant owner in gourmet mag some time ago and wanted to try this place out as it was all South American cuisine redone. Just an FYI the menu (both drinks, apps and entrees) is very extensive, complex and gets expensive - if you do not like South American cooking at its finest stop reading. It probably took us 15 min to get our bearings, anyways we started off with drinks and about 4 apps. The drinks were great, I had some Brazilian cream passion fruit thing with a cinnamon stick in it, and we also got a bottle of Malbec. We started with the mussels, beef empanadas, tamales, and shrimp. The mussels were outstanding, they were in this amazing broth and you could drink as a soup. The other 3 did not disappoint either, the complex flavor of the tamales were really cool - delicious and hard to explain (try them!). The real winner of the apps was the stuffed pepper, this thing was fucking amazing. As a person who really does not like peppers whole (except for some flavoring) this thing was delicious. I could eat about 10 and it was well worth the 5 min of heartburn. The entree I had was pork loin (shredded w/ delcioius seasonings unknown) side of white rice, an onion bean salad and bowl of beans. Again, very good and I ate about half as I was stuffed from all the previous apps. Dessert was good, not great, we had a chocolate flan that tasted like it had booze in it but it did not and dulce de leche ice cream. It was a good finisher but no where near as good as the rest of the meal. The ambiance is great, very quaint little date spot with the wood burning stove right in the front. Dudes, if you want to get laid, take the chicks here, drop some coin, enjoy the food and let the restaurant do the rest (see Seinfeld for further assistance). Place was great and I cant wait to try her other Hoboken restaurant
(5)Steve S.
Great South American appetizers and entries. Real good drinks too. A little pricey, but definitely worth an occasional splurge. aGreat for taking out of towners.
(4)Rebecca R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken, which I always save for special occasions. Everything I've tried on the menu is delicious but my favorite is the Skirt Steak. The ambiance is soothing, chic, and upscale with a Latin twist. Fun cocktails and a lovely wine selection. The service can be spotty; I definitely remember instances waiting too long for the server when the restaurant gets crowded, but to me it's worth it for the food.
(4)Geo C.
Excellent range of Latin American dishes.
(5)Peter A.
easily one of the most amazing restaurants I've ever eaten at. a south American, and mostly Peruvian based cuisine there are an immense variety of authentic and unique dishes that will blow your mind. add a wood burning brick oven to some of the dishes and you have guaranteed success. it is a typical tapas place so you have a choice of at least 30-40 types (I'm including side dishes) and then 10-15 main entrees. my father and i came for dinner one night (and it will certainly not be the last time) and had 6 tapas and 2 desserts. the desserts sadly (cause of my crazy sweet tooth) were the big downside. they were some takes on traditional items with a spin. for example we had the apple crepe which reminded me of an apple pie except it was open face with cinnamon sugar syrup apple chunks. also had the bread pudding but it was blah..both could have used some vanilla pudding although I'm not sure they have that since only I've cream listed was dulce de leche. they also do a spin on flan by adding spiced chocolate. espresso, brandy and tequila are some other items available. as for the tapas it seemed like one was better than the other. we had the shrimp ceviche..perfect mix of lime/avocado/onions; the side dish of plantain and eggplant purée which accompanied the pita bread started very well; had the serrano and manchego with toasted olive bread plate...loved how it was brought out on a cutting board for you to work with; the argentine chorizo cooked in the wood oven with peppers and onions was one of top dishes; the duck tamale (which beat even charritos around the corner) was perfectly made; and finally quinoa crusted chicken tenders were a nice touch. the best part of it all may have been the unique and delectable sauces that came with each plate and perfectly complemented the food..most especially with the chorizo and the tamale. i HIGHLY recommend this place in Hoboken and although for food I would have given it four stars because of the dessert it deserves the 5 star for the friendly and top notch service (very helpful and friendly staff). please do yourself a favor when trying to decide among the numerous places to eat in Hoboken and I guarantee you will not be let down.
(5)Brittany S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Hoboken. I've been to Cucharamama a few times and it just keeps getting better. The atmosphere is perfect for a special occasion or a fun night out. The service has always been great, the food is amazing, the wine list is awesome...I can't say enough good things about Cucharamama!
(5)Helen W.
I ordered the cerviche, octopus and skirt steak to share with someone. The cerviche only had 4 pieces of shrimp and the rest was yuca. The octopus was mushy. There was too much sauce. The skirt steak was good and the mash potatoes with cheese and scallions that came with it was delicious. The sangria was amazing.
(3)Kevin L.
Absolutely amazing. The rare occasion where only silence emerges after your group's collective first bite as you and the others try to find the proper words to describe your sudden states of euphoria.
(5)Miriam K.
Cucharamama is one of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken. The ambience is beautiful - authentic South American decor with a wood burning stove. The outdoor seating is also a nice touch in the Spring/Summer. I have never been disappointed in a dish here. They bring you fresh bread out of the oven with delicious butter and their cocktail menu is full of different wines and South American speciality drinks (I got the mojito last time and loved it). I would recommend the calamari as an appetizer as well as the peppers and ceviche. I would suggest getting only one appetizer for 2 people because you really want to be able to savor your main dish (unless you order all appetizers which is also another good route to go). The prices aren't too bad but it's definitely a special occasion-type place. Try Zafra's if you're looking for a more affordable/byob version of this very special restaurant.
(5)Carrie H.
My husband brought me here for my birthday this year and it was amazing. I've been in Latin America and loved the food and this was really on par. We ordered based on the waiters recommendation's and everything was delicious, the duck tamales really stood out. I can't wait to go back. The only issue we had was the hostess messed up our reservation and wasn't the friendliest about doing so, but once the manager was aware she quickly resolved the situation and we were seated.
(5)Andrea R.
My husband and I are in our late 20s and big foodies. I promise you this restaurant will not disappoint. Everything we ordered from the unique table bread to the indescribable puff pastry dessert was packed with flavor. Service was amazing. And the drink menu was fantastic. We went for a romantic dinner, but I will def be going back with my girlfriends for a few drinks and some apps. It's pretty small inside, so if you are looking for the big restaurant feel, this is not the spot for you.
(5)Frank R.
If you want a guaranteed good time out avoid this place for dinner. As mentioned by other reviewers the service - more specifically the hostess and her ability to actually respect reservations is terrible. What makes it worse though is that not only does she not respect reservation times she has a terrible attitude and a holier than though approach to people. I have stopped coming for dinner because of the hostess. It is right around the corner from me, so it was convenient on cold nights, but now I'll go to Zacks or Zafra (same owner as Cucharamama but way different feel and service). As others have mentioned, I've had to wait 30 - 45 min for a reserved table before. Once it was longer when I was with a party of 8 but after the 45 min mark we got up and left. The last time, without getting into the details, the hostess got upset at my wife who was 7 months pregnant (so clearly showing) for taking a seat at the bar with me while we were waiting for a table (for a reservation time they had not respected) and not drinking alcohol (really!). The food is pretty good - some items are very good, but not worth the price. You can have an equally good meal at the Cuban Restaurant for 3/4 of the price, better service and more enjoyable ambiance.
(2)Kimberly N.
I was expecting more from this place given its accolades. We were neglected by the server and he didn't even apologize. We were seated by the bathroom and it was a very uncomfortable and busy spot, continually being knocked by people walking through the narrow walkway. There was a huge marinara stain on my seat that the hostess did not seem to be concerned with - I was just glad it was already dried and didn't stain my white dress. The pork belly tamale was delicious and the honey butter with the bread was wonderful. The rest of it was just decent. My salmon and my boyfriends ribeye were both overcooked. Other than the service nothing about this place was completely offensive, but I expected more from a James Beard winner.
(2)G T.
This place has awesome food. awesome- very cool decor in a intimate environment. i read the other reviews...and this place doesnt have bad service. it has slow service~ and i think there is a difference. everyone is super nice, just slow. if you have been to the Caribbean, it's akin to that kind of service- will definitely go back. awesome food.
(4)Nicole W.
Love the atmosphere at this place! Perfect for a date night. Great mojitos and love the skirt steak! If you you like this place you have to check out their sister restaurant Zafra across the street.
(4)Jarett C.
The only place I've been for tapas in Hoboken. There's a lot of variety and everything was very good. It's a bit pricey but worth it.
(4)Khody A.
I went with a traditional course of steak, fries, and rice. It was good.
(4)Tom P.
Beautiful dining expereince on all levels - the place itself is very warm and inviting and the food never dissapoints - the only thing really lacking is the service - very cocky but worth dealing with the crankiness for the unique cuisine served.
(4)Sergio M.
Service was excruciatingly slow, inattentive servers, unfriendly- basically inexperienced cheap labor. It took 30 minutes just to get the menus without any beverage being served- it was not full, and there it was adequately staffed but poorly managed- on a Friday night! Menu was unrepresentative of Latin flavors, not the greatest layout, printed on cheap material prone to get dirty (surprisingly almost all in my table were). The menu offered limited vegetarian options (I think it was less than 5). Food was plain, really small portions, wine selection was poor and could have been done a lot better to complement the food. Prices were high for what it was worth and the terrible service. Did not get dessert as everyone was already fed up with the service. Ambiance was the only good thing, although the music was at times tacky. There was a light malfunction I noticed and was rather an important one. Being in the hospitality industry and knowing what to look for in F&B, this place was under performing its potential (turnover and up-selling seemed terrible). Coming from Latin America I was terribly disappointed after reading great reviews and simply judging it from the outside coming in.
(1)Lisa H.
We have been so excited to try this place. We love South American/Latin cuisine, especially with a wood fire oven. We decided to celebrate out 6th Anniversary here. We started with the White Sangria (on recommendation from a relative). The Sangria was amazing! It had a grapefruit twist to it which was different but really worked. We decided to go with a bunch of small plates and one entree. We ordered beef empenadas, spinach & bacons empenadas, wood fired shrimp & pepper puree, shrimp ceviche, a grilled pineapple and pumpkin salad and the half grilled chicken entree. For starters, their menu is pretty big which is great but I was a little bummed there were no specials. I like specials, even if they already have a lot to choose from, but it's not the end of the world by any means. So let me break down what we had. The beef empedadas (2 small emps per order) came first and they were ok. I have had better. I did get a small grizzly piece of meat in mine which turned me off to it I think. They were my boyfriends pick... Boyfriend 0 for 1. Next up was the hot shrimp w/ pepper puree (4 shrimp). LOVED it! The shrimp were a good size (I hate small shrimp), nice low spice heat and the puree was amazing. Good pick on my boyfriends part, 1-1. The pineapple & pumpkin salad was next. This was my idea and SO happy we got it. It was very refreshing and came at the perfect time to break up the meal. It was almost like the sorbet between courses. The pineapple was fresh and the pumpkin was perfect! There are no greens with this, which the waiter mentioned, and that was just fine. We loved it. Me 1-0. :) We got the spinach & bacon empenadas next and these were much better than the beef but the side dipping sauce was the same and it just lacked flavor. So although I thought the empanadas would be my favorite part of the meal, they were probably my least fav. Damn, me 1-1. Next was the ceviche, which was okay. I wasn't loving it. My boyfriend liked it, but to me it was a very strong weird tomato soup sauce that I didn't care for. We will call this one a wash sincewe both wanted it and didn't agree on the outcome. Last was the half chicken. Although I was pretty full at this point, my boyfriend really wanted the chicken and I am so glad he did. It was hands down, my favorite thing we ordered. The chicken was perfect! Simple, juicy, smokey, amazing. Boyfriend takes it with a 2-1! So what else... the ambiance is wonderful. They have outside tables but we wanted to sit inside and enjoy. It's beautiful, the chairs are comfy, the tables are not on top of one another (a pet peeve of mine in small places) and the service is great. I read in other reviews that the servers were on top of you... we didn't experience this at all. Huge A+ for service. The bread starter is yummy with the honey butter. We look forward to going again and I want to trying the salmon entree which went by me and looked AMAZING. We also want to try dessert and maybe one of the pizzas. So overall... listen, I like Sabor in West New York Much better and given the choice, Sabor takes it for sure, but this place is good, adorable and an easy walk. We are fans and will be back.
(4)Jon S.
This is my favorite restaurant in hoboken! Fantastic food and decor and the service is great. Highly recommended if you like Spanish food and wood burning ovens!
(5)Amanda P.
Food and staff is amazing
(5)Maria V.
I signed up for yelp just to write this review. let me start from when you would walk in the hostess are friendly they didn't greet you. I went on a saturday night for a birthday celebration and it was the worse experience yet!! It was a group of us. They had us basically all seating on top of each other no one was comfortable at all. We reserved seating a week ahead. The waiter didn't make us feel welcomed... Felt has if he was bothered by our big group. The serve was extremely slow. Took forever for your drinks and food. And to top off the bad serve they handed me rare cooked food. Something I didn't ask for!! We asked to speak to the manager and it got no where, didn't even apologize! No one was really enjoying the place we thankful made the best of the awful location since we were together. Alot of us wanted to leave to go up the block to the Italian pizza place. I won't recommend this place to anyone! Also please be aware If your anything other then Caucasian they won't serve you as you should!!! If your Caucasian you'll have great serve I notice from others seating around us. Hope this helps someone planning a gathering there...
(1)Caroline Z.
I hate to give this place such a low rating because I really loved everything about it, the decor, the food, the wine...up until the food poisoning. I had ordered a small soup and a shrimp appetizer, and a glass of white wine. Nothing major. Perhaps they sourced their shrimp from the Gulf, because not an hour later I was vomiting and collapsing on the PATH platform, which was shortly after my vision and hearing started to get dim and I broke into a cold sweat on the train. I have never had this reaction to food before, and I generally enjoy all types of food. If you choose to go, be very careful of the seafood at this place. Needless to say, I won't be back.
(1)Maxwell G.
best restaurant salmon I have ever had. . ... HANDS DOWN! it's wood grilled in their oven. Amazing. The rest of the menu is pretty tasty too. can't really go wrong. They have some interesting Malbec'sin their wine selection too.
(5)Fang S.
It was a good dinner. I heard good things about the place for a long time. We could finally get a table tonight. The tables outside were not as fancy as the ones inside. And the tables were too close to each other. But we didn't have a choice because we didn't have a reservation. The food was good. It was a little overpriced. You can find food with this quality in the city for cheaper. Hoboken needs more variety of good value restaurants.
(3)MICHAEL R.
Great food great place to impress wife or girlfriend.
(5)La L.
Yum. Don't miss this place if you live in Hoboken. Get the girls together and go. It's a bit pricey so it's not an everyday spot.
(4)Michael z.
We have been here many times since it opened. Cucharamama was spectacular when the place opened - the Chilean wines were great (try the Carmenere) and the oven-cooked items were delicious. My wife is vegetarian, and they put together a generous vegetarian platter for her with most of the vegetarian appetizers and side dishes. However, over the years this place has slipped - service is sloppier, handling reservations became error-prone, and the presentation of the food is less stellar. The food is still good (the bread and butter they serve as an appetizer is wonderful), but lately the vegetarian platter got smaller and had fewer dishes on it - for the same price. The main dishes are still OK, and it's probably still a good date spot, but it's no longer trying as hard to please as it once was.
(3)Jaslene S.
bad food, dried burnt chicken fingers..zero flavor, extremely dry fried ribs for appetizers! there were flies buzzing in the dark, dingy room...huge disapointment!... the worse food experience!
(1)rene P.
was skeptical about this place after reading reviews. happy we went. the food is excellent. Highly recommend the beef short ribs. Nice and tender and quinoa is good too. I enjoyed the drinks especially the sangria. the bread is delicious. We sat at the bar and received the best service. can't wait to go back.
(4)Elmo G.
My husband took me there for my birthday. Very nice, but the place was packed, and almost gave an impression of a fast food restaurant... Food was tasty, but later that night, I found out I had a food poisoning...someone probably forgot to wash their hands in the kitchen. Never again. So much money for a stomach ache....! ;o(
(2)Kelly A.
This is a New York quality (and priced) place on a little side street in Hoboken. Fantastic Latino food in a cozy and elegant setting. Love the wood burning oven that's just behind the bar. It really sets to mood for the place. I've actually sat at the bar with a friend for dinner and we made friends with the bartender, the chef and an interesting guy who was dining alone. They also have outdoor white tablecloth tables outdoor when the weather is nice. You have to try to latino drinks - all made with fresh ingredients. Mojitos, Caipirinhas, Margaritas...oh my! They also have a great wine list. Oh yeah, and the food - heavenly! This is a first class joint! And if you can't afford to splurge here, the owners have a BYOB Latino resturant down the street, Zafra.
(5)Amanda S.
Excellent food. The pumpkin and grilled pineapple salad is to DIE for. Nice selection of wine and beer. My only gripe was that we went to the place relatively early on a Friday evening (around 6:00) and the place was empty. We didn't have reservations, and apparently, that was a problem for them. They made a big deal about it, and we asked if we could sit outside. After some huffing and puffing, they let us sit outside. We finished our meal in about an hour and a half, and by the time we left, the place wasn't even half full and about 2 tables were seated outside. Calm down, Cucharamama--you're in Hoboken. Don't make it so difficult for people to eat at your restaurant.
(4)Rob P.
Met a few local friends here for dinner on a Saturday night. Nice atmosphere and good drinks (mojitos a bit too sweet, so ask for little, if any, simple syrup for a more balanced cocktail). Overall impression of Cucharamama, unfortunately, was just mediocre and forgettable. Tapas portions, while supposed to be small, were generally TOO small for what's being charged, and some were complete misses in terms of taste. I can forgive small, expensive portions if the taste and quality are A++, but that wasn't my impression here. Entrees were also disappointing, at least what came to our table. My cannelloni was mushy and swimming in a tepid, heavy cream sauce. It reminded me of a frozen dinner from Trader Joe's but with an extra helping of gloppy sauce. It lacked finesse and felt like a lead bomb in my stomach afterwards. One friend got the strip steak, which looked delicious, but was so tough and chewy that she decided she had enough after eating only half. I could go on, but the bottom line is that the price-value-quality relationship at Cucharamama isn't in correct proportions. It's just okay and not a stand-out for the type of cuisine being served. While not awful, I'm pretty sure I won't return. There are many better options in north Jersey for this cuisine.
(2)david o.
Good food at healthy prices. Nice selection of wine (and by the glass too which is a plus) as well as a full bar and some specialty drinks are available. The food was very good, and the waiter was very accomodating.
(4)Vivian C.
This place doesn't even deserve a star. The staff is absolutely rude. The place is tiny and has no where to have you wait for "your reservation". Yes -I arrived on time and still had to wait for my table. with nowhere to go I basically stood in the doorway and got a snide remark from a waiter passing for standing there. Go to Amanda's, dino & harry's or Anthony David's if you want good food, great service and friendly people.
(1)Al D.
I love spanish food, especially real home cooking - from Cuban, Argentine, Puerto Rican, to Peruvian - I have tried them all. I checked out Cucharamama at Hoboken with my girlfriend for dinner on Frida based on my sister's suggestion. Visually, tt was a good impression for me, small and cozy inside and diners enjoying the outside as it was a beautiful evening when we went. I made reservations so right away we were seated close to the fireplace behind the bar. I think the place was more Argentine than typical hispanic food - with perhaps some fusion mixed in. I had some bacalau fritters for appetizers and ceviche shrimp. The dinner was fine for me, although my girlfriend wasn't too excited about it - she also loves spanish food and is an excellent cook. But her chicken on a stick was dry and she some rellenos-type meal that she wasnt too excited about. The deal breaker was the price - it was definitely geared towards tourists and those willing to spend for the atmosphere alone. I've had better chimichurri and their yerba matte at $8.00 - are you kidding me? its basically tea...lol...anyway, the atmosphere was quaint and food was ok - but it shouldnt be NYC/tourist prices.
(2)Stephanie B.
May be pricey for Hoboken, but the food is way above average. Not necessarily traditional South American in all cases, but very good. Lots of interesting choices for all types of eaters, good wine, and great Pisco Sours.
(4)Helen P.
While their menu of artisanal South American food is creative, the value is not there due to the small portion sizes, missing dishes and lack of parking. When my boyfriend and I went there, there were 2 dishes that were unavailable: spiced chocolate flan and the shrimp and hearts of palm salad. While it's understandable that a restaurant may run out of 1 dish, it's annoying when it happens twice during the same meal. It creates the negative perception that the restaurant does not do proper inventory planning. Given the amount of effort it takes to get to the restaurant and the prices that they charge, it's not unreasonable to expect an exemplary dining experience. The spiced flatbread with butter is a nice change from the typical bread and butter that restaurants serve. The drinks are flavorful but would be more enjoyable if they were larger. The salted cod fritters and grilled octopus salad were delicious but the puff pastry dessert was mediocre (the portion was gigantic but the size could not compensate for the lack of taste).
(2)trisha b.
so good! went here on a sunday night and they easily took our reservations. had a choice of sitting in the front or the back of the restaurant. people in my party ordered the shrimp skewers and the shrimp corn chowder to start - both delicious! i split the salmon and the camarones picantes with the canary beans. the portion of the salmon was huge and it came with the crispiest little delicious potatoes. the camarones were spicy but not overwhelming and had potatoes marinated in the sauce as well. the chimichurri steak was also ordered in my party and they were not skimpy with that portion either. dulce de leche helado and apple crepe for dessert! will definitely be making my boyfriend take me back there again!
(5)Matthew S.
Went there recently with some friends after about a year and the place has gone downhill. I used to really enjoy this place. I found the atmosphere great, decent drinks, and very good Latin food. The atmosphere is still great, however we were less than impressed by the service and equally unimpressed with the food. Upon being seated at the one specific table we asked not to sit at, the hostess would not move us even though there were tables available, it took around 10 minutes before the waiter came over to ask for our drinks. The service remained sloppy and sub par for the duration of the evening. The food was ok at best, with three of us ordering the same piece of meat cooked to the same temperature, and we were all served meat that had been cooked to different temperatures. One still mooing, one that could double as a handbag, while the third not being "just right" but half and half. The sides lacked flavor altogether and the portions seemed to have shrunk. We all felt something was missing and were really turned off by the service. The cost benefit ratio just isn't there and far better places exist with much better value.
(2)Lauren B.
Service was good. Very nice, waiter came to check on us only once, buslady was good-- came by alot to refill waters, wrap food, etc. Food- Their bread looks like pita, but is so soft and delish, almost like naan. Comes with sweet butter. Very good. We got Croquetas de Arroz y Queso- very good!! And the sauce was divine! Choritos (Mejillones) en Salsa (mussels) they were very good too- my friends loved the sauce. Fragrant White Bean and Tomato Cream Soup with Cabrales Cheese and Onion Empanaditas Fresh from Our Wood-Burning Oven - this was not as good as I'd hopes, almost tasted like enchilada sauce, and the little empanadas with it were too bluecheesey for me, but my friends loved them. Llapingachos de Yuca con Uchu-Puka Yuca and Cheese Griddle Cakes - these were very good too. Yuca Gratinada- not alot of flavor :( Arroz con Queso Barranquillero Colombian Rice with Queso Blanco- this was amazing. I reallllly liked it. Definitely try it. Everyone at the table couldn't get enough. Pata de Chancho al Estilo de Tacna Peruvian-Style Roast Leg of Pork in Ajà Amarillo Adobo - she loved it, her plate was clean. it came with a piece of the fat, and she loved the crispiness of it. Costillas de Res en Salsa de Asado Negro Venezolana Braised Short Ribs in a Red Wine Sauce and Brown Loaf Sugar and Cacao, Stir Fried Quinoa and Swiss Chard- He loved his as well, another clean plate. Entraña (Churrasco) con Chimichurri Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak with Chimichurri, Colombian-Style Potatoes with Tomato and Cheese Sauce- this was very good. the chimichurri was spicy which he really enjoyed and his side of potatoes with the sauce was very good. Had white sangria, big glass, $11.00, was decent.
(4)Gerald G.
Ok today I decided to try this place out to see if it lives up to the hype - 2012 Best Chef 2014 James Beard Runner up! About me: Serial Foodie - Supper Club Member!!!!!! Etc... Etc.... I really love food and will travel anywhere for the best foods $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I just left this place it's all hype a product of non foodies and marketing lots of fake reviews and not so authentic cuisine. Not to mention it's in Hoboken N.J. 5 min up the hill to Jersey City NJ and there's 50 places that serve better Food for 10$ a Meal I had a Bottle of Mineral water the Octopus appetizer and The Organic Half Chicken it all came served with cheese and onions Low quality food and My chicken was Bloody I paid the 48$ tab 25$ for half bloody Chicken Wow!!!!! Note: To staff I sat by the oven: I expressed I didn't eat bread I also left a 6$ tip after I told the waiter my chicken was Bloody and he said to me Oh sorry!!! Nice service;)
(1)Justin L.
Meh Service And high price. Skirt steak lacked much Flavor. Small plates were good. Not good for groups.
(3)Ann K.
If it were possible to give separate reviews for food and service, Food would get an easy 4.5-5 stars, while service would be closer to 1.5-2. First and foremost, the food is excellent. I have come multiple time and tried many of the appetizers (some personal favorites are the crispy calamari, the Peruvian ceviche, the blue cheese empanadas, and the croquettes), and all were delicious, well executed, and great for ordering multiples/sharing with the table. My go-to entree is the entrana (skirt steak) with chimichurri sauce. YUM! I have also had the braised short ribs, and have tried some of my boyfriends' mussels which were flavorful and perfectly cooked! All-in-all, a fantastic food experience. However, the service at our most recent dining experience definitely overshadowed, and nearly ruined our enjoyment of the food. I had called and made a 7:30 dinner reservation for 6 people on a Friday night. Knowing the small capacity of the establishment, I called and made a reservation 6 days prior. My party (of out-of-town guests on their first trip to Hoboken) arrived at 7:30 and checked in with the hostess. She acknowledged our arrival and checked my name off of the list on her reservation sheet and walked back into the restaurant to check on the status of our table. A minute or two later she came back and informed us that our table would be another 30 minutes because the previous table was lingering longer than expected, but she offered for us to sit outside instead. There were some "cold-blooded" women in our group who mentioned they would prefer to sit at our reserved table inside when it was ready. We asked if we could sit around one of the empty outdoor tables and order drinks/peruse the menu while we waited for our table to become available. She said "absolutely!" and so we had a seat. And we sat. And sat. And saaaaattttttt..... With not a single menu/waiter in sight. Finally one of our group went up to the hostess station and stole a drink menu for us to look through. Finally, a waiter came to take our drink order. At about 8:15, a member of our party walked up to the hostess table to inquire about the status of our table, to which he was told "Only another 20-30 minutes, now". We were seconds away from cutting our losses, leaving the restaurant, and finding something elsewhere. When I confronted the (16 year-old looking, clearly overwhelmed) hostess, I made it very clear that it is unacceptable to keep a group waiting for a reserved table well over an hour. I also asked her to "take care" of our group for the evening, as we had not been treated with the experience we were expecting when we made the reservation. After that confrontation, our table was mysteriously ready in minutes (hmmmmm, curious.....). From that point on our dining experience was much better. The manager sent over a PLETHORA of complimentary appetizers, all of which were delicious, but we had to wait a VERY long time to see a waiter & order appetizers. At one point everyone at our table had an empty drink and we had to wave the waiter over to order more. By the end of the evening (and a few drinks later), we had ALMOST forgotten about the start of our evening. I will still visit Cucharamama, as it is one of the few truly exceptional dining experiences in Hoboken. BUT be aware- service is NOT a priority for this restaurant!
(3)Lynn F.
Here dinner with my friend again today. I ordered the grill duck was OK but a little cold . the server was okay but the hostess was cold & rude, she doesn't seem that she like to be there.
(3)Brandon E.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Hoboken. I don't always eat here, but when I do I prefer Cucharamama. Anyway, this place is outstanding and off Washington street which at times is nice to get away from. This is South American cuisine with some influences obviously from America but also Italian among others. I've been here four times now, mostly because it's not the cheapest place to chow down. We save it for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Each time I go the food has always been spectacular, I have eaten nothing here that I didn't like. This last time I got the braised short ribs in a red wine sauce. Great googlie mooglie. It was rich and heavy but man was it good. This was NOT light fare but wow the flavor was intense. I've also gotten the skirt steak, rib eye tried some chicken all good. The tamale's are outstanding no matter what you get, I suggest the one with duck on top. The little pizzas, delicious and a great starter. Seriously, I've tried a variety of their tapas style food as apps and it has always been a home run. The empenadas with bleu cheese in them, awesome. I've been for a couple birthdays now and they've brought out a desert with a candle in it each time, no fan fare or anything like a Chili's (thank god) but a nice gesture considering no one has asked them to do that. The booze, they have a variety of mixed drinks and concoctions inspired by South American spices, alcohol, mixology, etc. The punch, mojito, rum on the rocks is all excellent and ask them to give it a little kick and you won't be disappointed. Not a place to come and tie one on as the drinks run from $9-11. The only reason I give it four stars because a couple of times they had to really dig to find our reservation and that was kind of a pain. it's a solid 4.5 stars to be honest. If you live in Hoboken or are just visiting this needs to be a must try on your list.
(4)D H.
I came early Sunday.. Around 4 pm for early dinner... No wait time... If you show up in the rush hour will have to wait for a long time. Had the short ribs and the caneloni... Pretty tasty... A little pricey... Make reservations for dinner to avoid waiting for to long... But be prepared to give your credit card for a no show up fee of 100$$$$
(5)Julia G.
I had high hopes because I heard this restaurant was amazing and also owned by the same people as "Zafra" which I love. The food was good, as in, I would come back, but I probably wouldn't suggest it. I'm pretty sure our server forgot about us as he rarely came to our table & it took us forever to get our check. Also, the menu is quite extensive, but they didn't have most of the things we asked for. I would rather a restaurant have a more modest menu and actually have the items on it.
(3)Sam E.
Amazing meal. Had to wait a bit for a reserved table, but well worth the wait. Had some drinks at the bar which were potent and delicious while we waited. To start, the bread and butter (yes, something that simple) was amazing. I don't know what's in that butter but Jesus! The appetizers were delicious. Very fresh and authentic. Had the chorizo, calamari and empanadas, all were beyond words. The churrasco was perfection. Can't express how good our meal was. Small place, but I think this is what gives it character.
(5)Marc F.
Sub-par to mediocre food that certainly doesn't warrant the price tag. Absolutely HORRENDOUS service. Bread: What bread? Never got it. I could tell we were supposed to b/c there were butter knives on little bread plates at our table. Starters: Empanadas were good, soup was ok, fried fish was ok. Main courses: THE BRAISED BEEF WAS TERRIBLE. One of the worst dishes I've ever had at any restaurant. If you're gonna serve me a really cheap cut of beef, that's fine as long as you cook it right. Properly braised beef should be tender and stringy, but this was so chewy and wouldn't break apart when I chewed it. I pretty much swallowed it whole. Awful. We also got the seafood in coconut milk broth, it was just ok. I'd rather get a curry from Satay for half the price and twice the flavor. Sides: Plantains. I love plantains in general, these weren't bad. Dessert: None. I was so fed up at this point, it took forever to get the dessert menu, then forever to get the waiter to come take our order, so I just had him bring the check. Like I mentioned, the service was really bad. I understand that there are cultural differences, and I expect that service can sometimes be a little slower when going to Latin/South American restaurants b/c they're a little more laid back. But this was just terrible. After being seated, it took us like 10-15 minutes before any server even acknowledged our presence, then another 5 just to get a tiny glass of water. Throughout the course of our meal, our waiter was much more interested in socializing with other people than tending to us. If I wanted something (place an order, get a menu, get water), I kept having to stop him as he was passing our table, b/c he sure wouldn't stop on his own to see if we actually needed/wanted anything. Or I'd ask someone else if he was nowhere in sight. He was nice enough to bring the check to us quickly. I guess b/c he figured it was tip time. Yea, here's 10% buddy. I'm tired of people over-hyping Hoboken restaurants b/c they don't know what good food is. I came here excited, and left pissed off. There's just no excuse for that service and that braised beef.
(1)K Lo ..
Ambience: great! Everyone was very friendly, very relaxed atmosphere, no rush to go anywhere. Food: well crafted, smartly executed, made with fresh ingredients. Portions not very big but well presented. Don't know how authentic, but everything was light, non greasy. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Price: $40 person with a drink and dessert. Make sure you have a reservation, you may never make it on a walk in basis.
(5)Pat D.
This place does not take resavations, so be prepared to wait. And there is only parking on the street. Sitting in the front room of the resturant is where you want to be. The back of resturant seems a little too small and the table are too close together. If you are going to use the restroom that is located in the back of the resturant, you will have to pass a two seater table placed only a few feet from the bathroom doors. Honestly, I felt sorry for the couple sitting outside those bathroom doors because their meal kept getting interrupting with people passing by. Now the food and service. The service was good, but we had to ask two different servers for bread three times. Otherwise the service was good. My friend had the Salmon that was cooked in the Wood Burning Oven she thought the Salmon was great. I had their signature Argentinean-Skirt Steak dish cooked med. rare and it came with potatos/cheese - the steak was just ok, I found it hard to cut with the steak knife. Honestly, I have had better at other restaurants - the meat seemed as if they pounded it flat, there was no 'meatness' to it. My other friend had the Pata de Chancho "Roast Leg of Pork" this dish had no presentation, it was as if they just sliced the pork on the dish along with it's sides- It looked horrible and tasted like it looked, save your money. All in all, this is the last time we will be coming to this restaurant. One suggestion to the owner - since the business relies on a lot of repeat customers and new customers please UPDATE YOUR MENU 1) It is too wordy 2) Categorize your listing by Meat / Poultry / Fish etc; It takes the customer too long to figure out what is on the menu so ordering will take time - too confusing. **UPDATE MAY 27th, 2014, 12-24 Hours later my friend claims she got food poisoning from her Pork dish (she was the only person who ate Pork) she immediately followed the BRAT diet after the toxins left her body. (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) - so beware if you order the Pork.
(2)Peter M.
Honestly who's rating these places? Either they have the staff rating or the owners ask all there friends to rate the place. This place was horrible. The waiter was rushing me to pick my drink didn't recommend anything. Then I finally picked and my drink came out it was call Flor De Jamaica .. It was vodka with a splash of grenadine and a cinnamon stick .. Disgusting. The food read mediocre on the menu but came out even worse then it read. I swear we felt like it was a process of elimination to pick something then when we finally picked we felt iffy about it. The food came out and is was terrible the pizza with manchego and Serrano ham pizza it was a mini size pizza that was super salty cubed Serrano ham which was weird . We expected thin sliced . Bottom line it was bad . We also ordered the cannelloni and that was a complete train wreck. I'm sorry must not be a good food night out for us but this place was awful. Or maybe our bar is set really high. Sorry I don't recommend this place . Service was very poor. Whatever happen to smiles and welcoming attitudes.
(1)Emily R.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon with my friend and we fell in love with the place. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly - I especially love the wood burning oven and all of the bright colors. To start the complimentary bread they give you is AWESOME. It's almost like a pizza dough, cooked to order, and served with this delicious honey butter. My friend and I loved it so much we ended up having three servings (yes we did pay extra for it). We got the tamal, and tamal w duck breast - both were so good. This place is a little different in that they put toppings on the tamales, instead of stuffing them, but it yielded awesome results. The tamales themselves were so creamy we had to ask if they had dairy in them (my friend is allergic) but nope - turns out they are just that well made, and also made with baby corn to keep that tender texture! (Also the duck breast was delicious!) Next I had the pulpo and empanadas de carne. The pulpo was very good and definitely not overcooked like many other places. In fact, it may have been slightly UNDERcooked but still tasted great. Now the empanadas. I would come here just for those empanadas. I intended to order the onion and cheese empanadas, but when the waiter took my order he instead asked "the empanadas de carne?" Now I had clearly said the others, so I asked him if those were better - he nodded emphatically. I still plan on trying the onion and cheese ones next time but I am so happy I took his advice (whether it was accidental or on purpose I'm not sure) - these empanadas were DELICIOUS. They had a flaky crust and a perfectly seasoned meat mixture that wasn't just boring ground beef like other places, but tasted like it had the proper beef, olive, etc filling. And oh my that chimichurri sauce. I had the chicapa and cafe con leche at various points that afternoon and would recommend both. Cute place, delicious food and drink, and not too expensive. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Lucienne D.
Would have given this place a better rating had the service been better. (The strategy is to sit inside, close to the center, and speak Spanish, which puts you at a definite advantage. Came here twice before with friends who were fluent in Spanish, and the dinner could not have gone more smoothly). A few servers do not speak English, but are all very friendly, and seem genuinely eager to provide a positive dining experience. Their kitchen is small, and the staff seems overwhelmed by trying to serve indoor and outdoor tables, as well. Winter dinners here feel far more cozy and organized. A reservation hostess called twice in two days to confirm the reservation. We arrived promptly, were seated quickly, and then waited 30 minutes just to have a server actually get to our table! A party of six came in 15 to 20 minutes after we were seated, and the server approached them in no time. That server caught my eye, as he realized that we had been sitting there a long time, and came over to us. Needless to say, the party of six shot us more than one nasty glance. But, then, am getting used to the more recent transplants to Hoboken, as entitled, older, wealthy looking types with terrible manners, who just assume being aggressive gets you everything here. The food was more uneven than I had remembered from previous dinners here. Crispy calamari was great. Cheese stuffed peppers arrived barely warm. Chicken croquettes were a bit boring. The tamales are far more interesting than Mexican tamales, but not as good as the last time I had tried them. Ceviche, Peruvian style, was a warm, spicy dish of a few cooked shrimp, swimming in a huge amount of onions and hot tomato sauce. Roasted leg of pork was reasonably good. Braised short ribs were sweet but very tender. The salmon was respectable, but bland. The hit of the night was the Pastele...a chicken and beef pot pie with some sort of cornmeal base, bursting with unusual flavors. Dessert, on the house, due to our long wait, consisted of baked pineapple compote and ice cream...really good! And then, we were treated to a brown sugar flan. The flan i would skip. It tasted more like gelatin than any specific flavor I could identify. I would give this place another try, but probably on a week night. Their other restaurant, Zafra, might be a better choice for a weekend, but it is BYOB..
(3)Christopher Y.
If they sold just the tamale with duck sauce they'd be rich. Other dishes can be dodgy.
(4)Christine A.
Went last thursday for dinner. Had reservations and were seated right when we got to the restaurant which is always a plus. They serve this awesome seasoned flatbread with some kind of sweet butter? Yum! The appetizers and soup were absolutely amazing -Fritada Cuencana con Mote delicious take on a rib dish. flavors blended super well together -Encebollado de Cerdo con Yuca ceviche was unlike any other ceviche I've tried in the past. Just the right amount of acidity and paired beautifully with the avocado and onions. -Sango de Choclo y Camarones con Ajà de Choclo soup - I loved this soup. Really different from any other corn soup I've tried. More earthy flavors. Huge chunks of seafood. Amazing. -Empanadas de Cebolla y Queso - dough was nice - light and flaky. Caramelized onions and cheese. super. Entrees were decent but not as good as the starters -Medio Pollo de Patio al Horno de Leña con Puré de Papas con Pirque from the wood burning oven - the chicken was seasoned well but not as juicy and moist as it could have been. -Mejillones y Barrigada- The mussels and pork belly had an unbelievable sauce, but in the end the pork belly was just a little too salty and a little too fatty/chewy for my liking. I think it would have been better as an appetizer than a meal because the flavors just got too overpowering halfway through. Overall it was a above average meal and you really can't beat that ambience.
(4)Stephanie C.
Meh. Went here a few months ago - meat was overcooked and tough...service wasn't stellar either (we sat at the bar) and a shrimp dish we ordered was so skimpy with the shrimp. We sat at the bar, and the waitress/bar-tender spent most of the time texting and playing with her phone. Then we got the bill and were surprised at how expensive this place was for the mediocre food. Don't get the hype at all. Not coming back. Much prefer the Cuban Place on 3rd and Washington.
(2)Erica A.
I wish I could come back here and try every dish, which maybe I will! The menu is extensive and interesting, but not too far over the top. Most food on the menu are from Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil, and I think there may be drinks from other countries such as Chile. I had the Chicharron de pollo (quinoa crusted chicken) and Brazilian black bean soup over rice. All was excellent and interesting. I also had the bread and topping that came to the table. The bread had a nice red colored spice (not really spicy) added to it and the topping was some type of creamy butter topping...I should have asked what it was exactly. It was a Thursday evening and not busy at all. The service was good and it was a great place to sit with a friend, chat and discover new foods. This would also be a great place for a date.
(5)Umesh P.
This is a serious food place, no messing around and hence I am gonna get down to putting down my experience and not fiddle around with blah stuff. A little cramped place but one just forgets about it just with the arrival of their nice bread, so don't worry to much about space. We were a group of 5, 2 of them veggies(not a really good place for veggies quantity-wise). Started with cocktails, all of us had five different ones and none were subpar. We couldn't get the one with dark chocolate and the first on their menu(one with a big description). LaFlorida, Guarapita de argua, caiprinha, chicapa all were good. I guess any cocktail would be good here. Apetizers and Tapas - Musses with spicy sauce and peruvian beer: although not super flavorful had a nice slight kick and the flavor or the beer nicely complemented the mussels Chorizo Argentino : sausage dish, very good Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce: Good Entrees: Btw, didn't get to share the veggie dishes as they were tiny portions and although was tempted to be mean and grab some of it, my good conscience chipped in(hate that during food events- feel like Cuchuramama visit is a an event) . I had the Medio Pollo de Patio al Horno - Roasted half organic chicken from the wood burning oven, aah just loved it. Fantastically Charred, juicy tender flavorful chicken on a bed of spicy potatoes. Picante de Camarones: very good Verdict: Don't waste time in reading my long review and just make reservations at Cucharamama and relish real good food and the nice latin paintings and handicraft around and last but least the wood buring oven which churns out the wonderful delicacies.
(5)Joscelyne M.
I still love it here. The bread and butter they serve before the meal is awesome! Love it every time I go.
(4)Mandy S.
This was a really cool place to get dinner! My husband and I split 4 small plates and they were all delicious. Admittedly, the most adventurous thing we tried was the Duck Tamale, but everything was PRETTY good. This wasn't even close to gourmet, but they seemed to try hard. (Like, the "Chorizo Argentino con Pimientos y Cebolla" is nothing more than a chorizo sausage cut in half with red peppers and onions with a $10 price tag slapped on there.) The service wasn't THAT great, which is why I docked a star. I had to prompt our waiter to talk us through the menu, prompt him for suggestions, ask him about serving sizes for the two of us. There was definite room for improvement there. The bus girl was a far better waitress than our waiter was. The prices were pretty steep for what you get- most small plates are around $10, and when they say small, they are SMALL. You cannot leave saying you got your money's worth as far as value of food is concerned. But we loved the experience! Even though we only had a choice to sit either by the door or by the bathroom, the atmosphere was still nice.
(4)Rosie C.
The second I walked in and smelled the wood burning stove, I fell in love. I went to Cucharamama on Friday at 7 without a reservation and was seated immediately, but the table was right next to the only narrow walkway, so I felt a bit squished and in the way. We made the mistake of ordering the calamari because we were intimidated by the menu. Not that the calamari was bad--it was excellent--but we immediately regretted not choosing something more Peruvian. Unfortunately (perhaps because of a language barrier), our waiter wasn't overly helpful with suggestions. And worse, he had to stand in the narrow walkway while speaking to us, so we didn't want to hold him up. Both of us ended up wishing we had ordered something else. Luckily, we decided to split the plantain, which was a huge hit, as was the flavored bread and butter served before the meal. All in all, it was a wonderful change from my usual Hoboken fare--very different than everything nearby. Though I wasn't blown away, I am very excited about the possibilities for my next visit.
(4)Sarah C.
Came here with a group of seven on Saturday night, and was a little nervous, given the reviews criticizing the service. I'm glad to say I had a stellar dining experience from start to finish over the course of 2.5 hours. Started out with malbec, while the rest of my party opted for more exotic cocktails - the mojitos, white wine sangria, and pineapple-rum-brown sugar cocktails all looked excellent. One of my favorite parts of the dining experience (which would draw me out of Queens for a second visit) was the amazing cinnamon coated toasted bread with sweet butter - it was a challenge to back away from the bread in favor of leaving room for my entree. Ah, choices. Be sure to try the fried cod balls with garlic aioli sauce on the side, and the short ribs in red wine sauce. The atmosphere is one of the best parts of the dining experience - cozy is the first word that comes to mind - roaring oven behind the bar that doubles as a cooking oven. If I am ever in the neighborhood again (and my meal isn't comped, since it was a business meal), I would certainly return for drinks, and a ton of appetizers - there were a number of yummy looking empanadas and sides I was dying to try, and the main dishes are pretty expensive ($25) for what they are - duck, I understand, but skirt steak and short ribs, it seemed a little overpriced. However, no complaints from this happy diner!
(4)Amanda D.
Three of my friends took me out to eat to Cucharamama last night for my birthday. Last year I went to Zafra (their sister restaurant up the block) and loved it. I'm originally from South America and am always hopeful I can find a great restaurant that serves great South American food! This is the place to go! The restaurant is small and dark, and has wood burning oven. The staff was very friendly and professional. Our waiter constantly checked up with us to see if everything was fine. The restaurant is more expensive than other Latin American restaurants I've been to, but it wasn't a problem for me considering its great service and food. For drinks, I ordered the Chicapa (Pineapple chicha and Zacapa rum). It was delicious! It was hard to pick only some appetizers since everything on the menu looked delicious. We picked the Chicharrón de Pollo Novoandino (Peruvian-Style Crunchy Quinoa-Crusted Chicken Fingers, Chino-Latino Sauce), and the Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca (Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce), to share. These were amazing! By the way, they also serve fresh bread from the wood oven, with a sweet butter (which happened to be the best butter I've ever tasted)! For our entrees, me and one friend ordered the Bandejita Paisa (Traditional Colombian dish consisting of skirt Steak, Pork Cracklings, Colombian Sausage, Arepa, Rice and Red Beans, Ripe Plantains, and Colombian Hot Pique Sauce). My other two friends ordered the Churrasco (Argentinian style skirt steak) and the Salmon. My dish was cooked to perfection! I've had the bandejita paisia from other restaurants, but this by far was the best I've ever eaten! We finished off by ordering the chocolate flan. The flan was good, but not great. The texture wasn't as soft as I prefer it to be. Overall, I definitely enjoyed my birthday dinner at Cucharamama and would highly recommend it for great South American cuisine!
(5)Annmarie M.
Incredible. I'm a food publicist and this has to be one of the best meals I have had in my life. Maricel is a genius with her cuisine and no wonder she's a James Beard Award Winner for Best Mid-Atlantic Chef. We began with the table bread and homemade honey-esque butter. Phenomenal. I wish I could have this with every meal. We paired this with two of their incredible cocktails and some tapas. The tapas were quite tasty, but next time I think we will skip tapas and just enjoy the bread and our entrees. We enjoyed the mussels with pork belly in a beer broth - I still dream of it. The only downfall was I wish we had more bread to soak up the leftover broth when the mussels and pork belly were gone. We also enjoyed the chicken made in the wood burning oven... if you've never had a chicken cooked this way, this is the place to have it. Absolutely juicy and delicious. Will we be back? Multiple times - even if it's just for a smaller plate and the incredible cocktail selection. Also note: Voted in the top 10 best NJ Restaurants for many years in a row.
(5)Jennifer V.
My favorite restaurant in Hoboken! I've been going here for a few years,and have never had a bad meal. Their drinks are always served STRONG - best mojitos in town! The bartenders are always friendly too. Definitely try the Churrasco or the short ribs - they are both to die for! They have tons or tapas - it's almost too hard to choose. The bread and delicious sweet butter they serve at the table is also a wonderful touch. One thing I will point out is sometimes even with a reservation you get stuck in a crappy table. The place is small and I hate sitting on top of people. More times then none we've been crammed next to another couple that we are practically sharing stories by the end of the night. Also on weekends the service tends to be slow...but I love the food so much I never mind! I wish I could afford to come back every night to try it all!! :)
(5)Rob A.
Excellent South American (Peru/Ecuador/Argentina) cuisine! The place isn't that big and gets packed easily, especially the bar. Would recommend getting reservations. A nice selection of drinks that are all tasty and not watered down. A very large appetizer/tapas menu (2 pages!) so there is a lot to choose from. I had the calamari (Jalea) which was very crispy and tender. The side sauce was also great. For a main dish I had the 1/2 Chicken. It was incredibly juicy and moist. Excellent! Service is decent for a packed small place. Portions are perfect sized and everything is extremely fresh.
(4)Alissa S.
I was very disappointed and I'm still upset because yesterday's dinner at this restaurant. We were okay until a dead cockroach was in our main course plate. The manager apologized with us but after this incident we couldn't stayed. It took us forever to try another restaurant and after that my husband got sick. I feel so disappointed
(1)Claudia B.
I have been here twice and really enjoyed my meals here. However, the service was extremely slow on my second visit. It was a Sunday afternoon so I am not sure why. The atmosphere is great especially on a cold day when you get to sit next to that wood burning fireplace near the bar. I would recommend this place for a date night or drinks/tapas with a small group of friends.
(5)MJ H.
We love the food here and we have always had great service. Order anything from the wood oven and you will be happy.
(5)Alex V.
Love this little place! Went here with my wife, even though I wasn't really hungry, just wanted to snack a bit. Ended up getting the guacamole, which they make in front of you!! Also got the 3-meat combo, which comes out in a nice Mexican pot and comes with a piece of cactus. Really nice, fresh, grilled flavor. The service was good - pretty quick & friendly. Will certainly be back.
(5)Ivan S.
I feel like every time I try a new restaurant in Hoboken, it's a total crap-shoot regardless of the yelp rating on it. This was one of the more disappointing experiences. We came in for a Sunday afternoon brunch. Before even ordering anything, we noticed at least a dozen flies quietly sitting on the wall next to our table. These were not your typical fat american flies. These were slightly smaller, maybe a Peruvian species or something. We weren't very hungry and decided to just get two appetizers and one main to share. The first of the appetizers was rice cheese croquettes which actually tasted good but were very small at only 3 bite-sized pieces. We also got the beef empanadas which were again tiny and a little burned. We had higher hopes for the arepas with caviar, but were let down again. We learned that arepas is actually a singular word and if you can imagine a spoon 4 times smaller than the teaspoon, that's how much caviar was provided. In the end $30 bought us about 8 ounces of mediocre food. Needless, to say we were still hungry and walked over to the Italian fare a few blocks up and got 2 gigantic arepas for $5 each that were so good they were worth way more than the whole meal at Chucharamama. This is one of those restaurants that is in business purely because of the gullibility of the Hoboken clientele. They think if the dish is half the size and costs twice as much as what you would expect at a normal restaurant, then it must be twice as good. This might be the case at nice French restuarants in the city, but not here.
(1)Tracy S.
Dined here on a Saturday night. Hostess was very friendly. We didn't have a reservation, but they were able to seat us outside. The entire inside was fully booked. Everything we ate was really quite good. Starting with the bread and then to all the tapas we decided to share. Empanadas and tamales were specifically good. I would have given 4 stars if the service had been better. On the plus side, our waiter was nice enough and seemed well informed on the menu. We ordered glasses of wine and then a 2nd round towards the end of the meal -- it took almost 10 minutes to get the drinks each time. He then brought all of our tapas out -- with the exception of one. We assumed it would quickly follow, but we finally had to ask him where it was. My guess is that he forgot about it, but he said it would be right out and then he quickly brought it. No one checked back to see how our meal was and we sat with dirty empty plates on the table for quite a while. Finally a bus person stopped by to start to clear some plates and asked if we wanted to take home any leftovers. I said 'no' and to go ahead and take the dish -- but instead, she just left it there. After we finished dinner, we sat for quite some time before the waiter stopped back to ask about dessert - we declined and asked for a check. And sat again for a while waiting for it. At this point, it was starting to drizzle a little bit and we had to again flag him down to ask for the check. He finally dropped it and never came back to pick it up. Thankfully the bus person was able to take it into to process the credit cards. Bottom line is the food is really good, although a little on the pricey side for Hoboken. I would have no issue with this if the service was up to par.
(3)Barry S.
The food is really good, nice ambiance, service is a little slow but overall very good expierience.
(4)Andreas K.
Cucharamama is a great little find in otherwise ubiquitous and underwhelming Hoboken restaurant scene. The restaurant itself is small but very inviting and has a fun atmosphere. I've only visited once but everything we had was exceptional. The bread they serve is quite spectacular with a brilliant fresh butter. The menu was very extensive with something for everyone, although I found it a bit difficult to read given the layout. Our waiter was excellent and very helpful in explaining some dishes and making recommendations. If you're looking for a better and different dining experience I'd recommend Cucharamama. I will visit again.
(4)Thea Z.
A unique restaurant that specializes in Southern American food that will leave your tastebuds happy and your inner self smiling. They have a variety of options on their menu that allows you to choose your own adventure whether it be a plethora of small plates or a family style main dish. It is a little on the pricier side so this place may be best saved for a special night out, but you know that it will be worth it. I gave 4 stars as I had to deduct one as not every single meal was amazing. So close though. The service was on point and the decor is great. Bonus points for the amazing smell of the wood burning oven wafting through the air. Lots of outside seating is a plus for the summer. Do yourself a favor and give this James Beard award winning restaurant a try!
(4)Rebecca S.
From the moment you walk in, you feel as if you are in a welcoming Spanish home. The wood burning fire place and staff are welcoming and aim to make your dining experience a memorable one. The food is ok with the empanadas and dessert being the stars! However, be weary of the price. In a place with numerous affordable options, this one is not it. Save it for a special occasion or for out of town guests. I recommend coming for appetizers, drinks and dessert on a Saturday night. *dont forget to make a reservation! It fills up fast
(3)Leyla R.
Awesome experience! Always go there when in the area and bring all my friends. Their tamales a must try. Highly recommend!
(5)Pat B.
I've been dying to go to Cucharamama since it won a James Beard Award and dinner did not disappoint. Went with a friend and we started with white sangrias, perfectly sweet while packing a punch. For appetizers we had the shrimp ceviche and spinach empanadas. The ceviche was different with whole shrimp and a ton of heat but was delicious, wish the shrimp was chopped finer to scoop onto the delicious chips. The empanadas were delectably doughy and oozed with flavor. For our main we split the skirt steak with chimichurri, this is one of my new favorite restaurant meals. The steak was PERFECT in cook, tenderness and flavor. The side of potatoes in a tomato and cheese sauce was an incredible added bonus. Not to mention the bread that cooked in the stone oven is to die for with a semi sweet butter. I keep raving about the restaurant to everyone, can't wait to go back!
(5)Nina S.
Amazing south american cuisine! I had the mango sauce chicken and it was just fabulous. A subtile mix of savors, cooked perfectly in their wood fire oven, amazing experience! Will certainly go back!
(5)Ipek S.
I've been there a few times since I used to live a couple blocks away from them. They have huge plates with lots of varietal small sides that I enjoy.
(4)Epi Curist Z.
I'm completely shocked on how this restaurant's chef is a Michelin award winner? You got to be kidding me. The food was not that good, not even close, which completely explains why the Yelp ratings don't match the Michelin award status. Strangely enough, the restaurant does not show anything about the Michelin award, so makes me wonder if the award had ANYTHING to do with FOOD? Of the dishes we had, only 1 was pretty good. The rest of the food was average at best. We were so disappointed and quite frankly, Michelin should STRONGLY consider taking this award away b/c it just makes them lose all credibility. Seriously, Michelin wants me to put this restaurant as the same level as 11 Madison or Per Se? It doesn't even come close to either of those. The last Michelin listed restaurant I went to was Cafe Juanita in Washington. Holly Smith was the chef who was mentioned in the Michelin review, she beat Cat Cora on Iron Chef. The food was unbelievable. Can't even imagine how you would compare the food with this restaurant. The service, especially the HOSTESS, has to get her attitude checked, maybe her default angry face as well. How many times do I have to ask for water before getting water? 3 times?
(1)Rachael M.
We discovered this place a few weeks ago (thanks Yelp), and have been back twice in that time. Yes, it is that good. Seating inside & outside lends to a lovely atmosphere, staff are warm and swift to assist, whether seating you, helping with menu information (very knowledgable and gave good suggestions), and upon departure (no need to ask for the bill twice, but they also don't hurry you along to get their table back). Really looking forward to cooler months as inside is very cosy. Tamales are superb, as mentioned by other reviewers. Suggest the braised duck variety, wow. And their cocktails are lovely to start - Pisco Sour is very refreshing, my new favourite. (Not BYO, however wine menu has good options.)
(5)Jackie F.
Since the service here is absolutely horrible and extremely slow, I have the time to write this review while I sit and wait for my hair to turn grey. It took approximately 35-40 mins for what it seems to be the only waiter on this entire block, to come take our drink order. This only happened because I had to personally hunt him down because we wanted our thirst quenched. At this point, I don't know what the food tastes like since we haven't received our meals, but it doesn't even matter. No food is worth this wait.
(1)Z H.
The duck tamale is a must. The chorizo is only okay and the flank steak is good but not any different than another place. I like the ambiance but it's a bit cramped. It's nice to have in Hoboken but I don't know if a 27 zagat food rating is warranted
(4)Rose J.
Such good food. If you like Peruvian food definitely come here. Service is good. Pisco Sour is a specialty Peruvian drink that everyone should try! We were celebrating my brother in law's birthday and I think we had reservations (my husband and I were late). There were 9 of us. We ordered tons of apps and all were delicious. I can't remember the name of my meal but it was AMAZING. It was a bunch of seafood in a spicy coconut milk. Kinda Thai like. So so good. I recommend this spot for sure!
(5)Bklyn R.
This was my first time here. It was beautiful inside -we had reservations for the bar. It was wide and very comfortable for two. The service was excellent the food soooo freak'n delicious. We shared apps and a churrasco steak with sides. It was great. Drinks and desert to top it off. It made for a perfect evening. For my fellow mommy's reading this-it is not a place for babies or strollers or car seats. Make it a date night and get a sitter. It is worth it!. Pricing upper $20's-$30's a dish.
(5)Ben Y.
No idea why this place was highly recommended to us and why it always seems to be busy, friends of mine were previously turned away without a reservation and I called ahead and was told reservations were necessary. Indeed the place seems to be a spot that gets a lot of repeat business but for me it's overpriced sub-par food. I regularly have far better at far less of an expense. I just don't get it... this place is puzzling. Let me put it into context, I wouldn't come back here based on the food, none of the 5 entrees we had were of any consideration we simply did not enjoy them. Then price made us just feel like this was a waste. I grew up in Argentina and have spent all my adult years in the US, and I regularly seek out and enjoy South American cuisine. This is NOT a recommendation I can give.
(2)Jessica W.
This place gets packed so be sure to make a reservation or expect a wait. The food here is pretty awesome! We had the croquettes, skirt steak and a salad. I was stuffed but it was delicious. Our waiter was phenomenal... Never were our glasses empty. I was so happy with the service I wish I remembered his name but he had a shaved head with a scar running across the back from what appeared to be a surgery. I'll ask his name next time I go back, he was the best! Definitely a must to come eat here ! Try the original pisco sour, it was delicious!
(5)Jamie P.
Most amazing South American cuisine ever. Innovative, creative and delicious. I can see why this restaurant earned a James Beard award. Amazing. Such an experience dining here. Service is impeccable as well.
(5)Vicemily P.
I have not reviewed in a long time . Our experience was so bad that I'll take the time to review it. This place is HORRIBLE. It's supposed to be Latin Gourmet. *The food tasted good but 4 out of 6 people were sick the following day *It was snowing, and when we called to let them know we may be late they responded with "You have a 15 minute grace period, if you're not here by then we'll give your table away and charge $100 to your card! What kind of customer service is that? *The place is TINY, MINISCULE, and they cram way too many tables. People literally eat one on top of the other. It feels like you're in third world country. It's not worth paying so much money if the person next to you (not in your party) can literally breath on your food. *Our server was horrible. We were a party of 6 so gratuity is included. I guess he figured he didn't have to work for his tip. *took long to take our drink order *We had to chase him down to take our dinner order *kept forgetting things we asked for: lemon, soda, basic stuff *we had to chase him down for everything, *our busgirl deserved 100% of the tip I had a chicken with mango sauce that looked like it was for 5 year old. I couldn't believe how small it was. I will never go there, ever again.
(1)Melissa G.
I really don't know how people don't give at least 4 stars!! This place is so great. The churasco steak is literally to die for. Share it though, it's huge!
(5)Chris B.
This place is fantastic. Been here a hand full of times. The speciality cocktails are perfect for the restaurant. And the STEAK and potatoes are amazing!
(5)Ruth W.
What a disappointment. The only reason I give this 2 stars is because our server was very attentive and the presentation was nice (not practical as the plates were too big for the tiny tables, but nice nonetheless). I found this restaurant by Googling "Best restaurants in New Jersey" - Google lied. I was so excited to go here, the thought of consuming flavorful and spicy South American foods almost had me salivating (I like food, a lot)... until I actually had it here. I had the Argentinian skirt steak with chimichurri, white rice and black beans. the steak was so tasteless, even with the chimichurri, our server had to get me a side of sauce so I could finish it. The rice was packed with butter/oil, so much that I actually stopped to imagine my arteries getting clogged. My boyfriend had the Peruvian-style Roast Leg Of Pork - which he was not impressed with. He had to request hot sauce to use as a dip. It was the most expensive, boring and tasteless meal I've had in a long time. Seriously, Cucharamama, would you at least offer authentic South American food that is as spicy as it should be or give us the option to choose how spicy we would like our dishes. I feel like your restaurant is catering to the locals and conforming every authentic dish to meet those standards. The food is so bland and so boring, it's beyond words. S/N: If you ant really good, authentic Peruvian food, try Coco Roco in Brooklyn. Nothing tops them.
(2)Matthew W.
We just got home from dinner at Cucharamama. This was our fourth meal here. In general, the food is pretty decent, but the service has always been a bit iffy. Perhaps tonight our mistake was going on Sunday? We went early, hoping to have a quick meal. It took more than an hour for our food to arrive, although we ordered the moment we sat down. Twice we were told "your food will be right out." We were sitting outside and had to ask repeatedly for water. In the end, my wife's salmon was good, but my braised beef was bland and basically awful. It tasted like beef with peas and tomato sauce. Frankly, it seems this restaurant is loosing it's edge.
(2)Gabi S.
I absolutely love this place for so many reasons. It has a great ambiance and lots of great options for food from many different South American countries. Also, the drinks are delicious!
(4)Amanda N.
Another gem in Hoboken. We frequent Cucharamama for our date nights and it never disappoints. We know the menu so well, my husband and I share the same dishes every time: - Duck Tamale - Chorizo - Emanadas de Carne - Skirt steak Skip dessert, drink caipirinhas instead. The best in town.
(5)Brian G.
Our waiter Manny was very good, helped explained the menu and accommodate to our wants. Brought family from PA and we all really enjoyed the food. Mojitos were awesome, everything was good. Parking isn't bad there are metered spots along the street, no issue for us at 7 on a Friday night. Service and ambience overall was very good. Food came out quickly. We spent nearly 2 hours enjoying ourselves. I would say $60 average per person was our bill, including $80 worth of cocktails ;).
(5)Kristin P.
Service was not good; food was okay. Best thing we had was the pork tamales. Skirt steak (churrasco) was okay, not memorable.
(3)Darren V.
Food here was really delicious, I highly recommend the skirt steak! Atmosphere was nice - not too formal, not too casual. The fire stove inside did make it a bit warm in there, but not a deal breaker. As mentioned, I had the skirt steak and their mojito, both were delicious. I was there with a group of 4 and everybody seemed to agree that the food was stellar. But... At the end of the meal, when the check came, there was a dead cockroach squished in the little book with the bill. That was pretty disgusting. I mean, not enough for it to ruin my meal, but other people would have probably been furious. If you think there aren't cockroaches or other creatures roaming the kitchens of all our local restaurants, you're only fooling yourself. Had it been IN the food, another story. So, I'll give it 3 stars. Food is worth 5 stars, finding a cockroach when you open the bill subtracts two. I only refer to you as "Cucaracha-mama" these days. I'll be back though... that skirt steak was killer.
(3)priyanko b.
Very interesting menu but execution seemed to be lacking - the croquettes were ordinary, same goes for pot pie - sadly, the place is all style, no substance. Walked away thinking how could a place that seemed to have so much potential be so ordinary..
(3)The Connoisseur X.
This place needs a lot of work. The restaurant has potential because the food is good but it really needs a uhaul with the staff and restaurant management. First: hostess needs an attitude adjustment. Let me make it very clear for you.... Biyach for no reason. To the hostess: If you don't want to work here then don't drown your doom and gloom on customers. Second: it took us 3 times to get a waiter to take our app order. Not starting off well. so instead we were ready with our whole order since we had all the extra time. Lol Plus: we got our overly priced green salad and chicken fingers pretty quickly. Then came the yucca gratin. It's a side dish, why did that come out with the apps? It should come out with the entrees. Absolutely ridiculous! Clearly, the chef and wait staff has no restaurant experience. And no knowledge of expediting. Ugh. James Beard award my ass. Who did she sleep with to get that award? It makes me upset when restaurants like this get highly esteemed awards as such. Did I mentioned she lost 4 times before she won? I wonder why she lost. Entrees: organic chicken. oh dear... Dry, the flavors don't work. Chicken was seasoned well with salt/pepper and spices but it just doesn't work with the mash seasoning. Please someone help these people!!! What is it with Hoboken and crappy restaurants!! I want to leave dinner now. Yes, it's that bad. Dry chicken for $28 and ruining an organic chicken (which I will question the integrity of that as well) equals waste of time and stomach space.
(1)Marisela C.
One star because of terrible service experience. We went there a late Friday night and it was full. We were told to wait 10 mins, then 10 more and we ended waiting more than 30 mins. There is no waiting area so some us waited outside under an umbrella while it was raining. When we were finally sat we were told the kitchen was closing and we did have to hurry up. What? We wait more than 30 mins and you did not say anything or even handed the menu to look at it. However, the most incredible thing was about to happen the waitress got angry and left the table with airy words toward us. We decided to leave and needless to say we had a hard time finding a place to eat because it was already late. Finally, we went to Azucar and even though they were almost closing too they were very nice and prepare a delicious dinner for us. I owe you that good review Azucar.
(1)Erin S.
My boyfriend and I had heard good things about this restaurant and decided to go early on a Friday night. We arrived at 5 and didn't think a reservation would be necessary. After asking the hostess for a table for two, we were told that only outdoor seating was available. We sat outside for a minute or two before deciding that it was far too hot outside and explained to our waiter, Manny, that we would not be staying. He told us to wait for just a second and went and spoke to the hostess. We were then told that we could sit inside because most reservations were for 6 or later. Despite the miscommunication, I couldn't be happier that we stayed. Manny was an excellent server and our dishes came out very quickly. We had the Crunch Peruvian-Style Calamari as an appetizer and the Spinach And Walnut Cannelloni and Shrimp In A Spicy Peruvian Hot Pepper Sauce as our entrees. All three were absolutely delicious. 4/5 stars because if our server had not intervened and seated us inside we would have stuck outside and would have left unhappy. When I go back I'll be making a reservation just to be safe.
(4)Mark B.
We had dinner here on Saturday night and had a great time! Getting a reservation has proved to be pretty difficult but we just happened to luck out (we called the same night, only a few hours prior). It makes sense though, as the place was packed (not an empty table available). The decor is great and pretty authentic. We sat right in front of the wood burning over so we got a little extra heat (which was very welcomed given that it was a chilly night). The staff was friendly and attentive, returning to take our order and/or deliver food/drinks promptly. Our water glasses were always being refilled as well. The food was the really high point. It was all delicious! Starting w/ mojitos, the bread and warm butter and the Calamari we knew we were in for a treat. The Calamari... "Jalea de Calamares con Ajà de Rocoto"...probably the best we've had in a LONG time (the breading and the sauce was unique and very tasty). For dinner we had the Costillas de Res en Salsa de Asado Negro Venezolana con Papelón y Cacao, Quinoa y Acelga (braised short rib) and the Entraña (Churrasco) con Chimichurri Rojo y Papas Chorreadas con Hogo Bogotano (Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak) and both were EXCELLENT. We really could not stop eating even though we were completely stuffed (and therefore did not have dessert). This is one of our new favorite spots in Hoboken and definitely one of the best places in town. We will certainly be coming back as I bet there are many more fantastic things to be had on the menu.
(5)Kristy M.
My favorite place in town!! Wonderful food, great service. When you walk through the doors it's like you are transported to a different locations.
(5)Christine R.
Yum! This place was super authentic and delicious. Get the chorizo and spinach empanadas to start... get more than 2 starters depending on how hungry you are - they are small-ish, but still good for sharing. I ordered the pechuga de pollo and it was out of this world. There are so many things on this menu. Must come back and try them all.
(5)Emily D.
I'm going to say that I liked it and I will give it another shot. I loved the atmosphere. The bar is very funky and the decor made it feel comfortable and unique. The chairs were quite comfy and the table is a good size, even if you order multiple appetizers and drinks. The waiter was very nice and helpful. The busers are on the ball and always make sure you have water and empty dishes are cleared. The food was a little inconsistent. The shrimp ceviche was overpriced but delicious. There were only 4 average sized shrimp for $14. I absolutely LOVED the duck entree. It was cooked to perfection and the sauce didn't overpower the meat. My boyfriend and I both agreed that it may be the best duck we've had. He ordered the short ribs. He was not impressed. I thought the flavor was nice but they did come out barely warmer than room temp and were cold quickly. Drinks were also delicious. I recommend giving it a try for sure, but it won't be my new favorite place anytime soon.
(3)Mimi L.
SO DISAPPOINTED! I came here on a Sunday afternoon it was very quiet but still waited forever for someone to attend us. I waited forever for my drink, I saw the bartender make my drink and left it on the bar and watched my waiter just stand there and talk to the other waiters and bartender for about 10 mins just letting my drink get watered down. I ordered an appetizer and it was horrible..the fact they took forever to serve us we didnt order an entree.
(1)Michael G.
The food was a 2.5-2.75 with respect to taste. The chicken I ate was really undercooked. I couldn't see it due to the extremely dim lighting in the restaurant. I could tell that something was off with the texture while I was eating it. I then picked a piece off and squeezed in between my fingers and it didn't feel like cooked chicken should. I took a picture of my fiancées leftover chicken ( I ate almost all of mine and didn't realize till it was mostly gone) and added it to the photos section. The restaurant is very cozy, warm and inviting. There is absolutely no waiting room. My party arrived 5 minutes early and had no where to wait the total 25 minutes till our table was ready. We just kind of stood there in between the bar and diners. Make sure your food is cooked correctly!!!
(2)David F.
I'll say it once, I'll say it 1000 times. Anyone who thinks Hoboken has great restaurants has never ventured across the border into Manhattan. Tonight was the 2nd time I've been here in 5 years. The reason they only get 2 stars instead of 3, is because for a place that's written up as the end-all-be-all of latin american cuisine, for a chef who's repeatedly touted as "one of the best around" they are held to a higher standard than your 'average' gastronomie. When the best part of the night is the bread and butter, you know there's better places. The ceviche was halfway decent but could have benefited from chunks of tilapia or any kind of fish instead of just 4 shrimp and a bunch of onions. the skirt steak was once again tough and fairly bland. even the chimichurri was flavorless and tasted mostly of oil so I didn't even bother with it. My girlfriend had the boneless chicken which was just okay. the best part of that was the sauce from the chicken should have been used on the steak. Oh, and according to her, I make a better mojito in our kitchen than they do. If you want great latin tapas-style food, venture across the river to the yuca bar on Ave A and 7 st. Try the salmon ceviche, the espresso ribs, the guacamole, and pretty much anything else. It's terrific and half the price. If you're gonna reap the rewards of being considered the best around, you'd better live up to the hype. You're welcome.
(2)Rosa M.
Disappointed. .. This has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. I've recommended it to many people and have brought many people there. .my last 3 visits were disappointing. Service was slow. Timing was bad. We kept waiting for something....The portions seemed to have shrunk over the years....I don't know what has happened there in the last few years but I wish the would retrain their staff and and make the guests feel more comfortable and be attentive. It's not always about just serving a great churasco and having a chic decor...CUSTOMER SERVICE RULES! Even their hostess showed no hospitality. She seemed inconvenienced. ... Please Cucharamama! !!! I want to go back! Time to clean house and give the same value...Quality ..and hospitality you had years ago. ( Im giving 3 stars only because it deserved 5 in the past and 2 recently)
(3)Rachael A.
Not at all impressed with this restaurant. Tried the octopus and calamari for appetizers. Octopus was very good-best dish of the night. Calamari was fine. For entrees my husband and I ordered the wood fired organic chicken and pork with canary beans and rice, and for our two kids we ordered the shrimp kabobs with sides of creamy quinoa and tostones. It took an hour for the entrees to arrive but they forgot the shrimp, quinoa, and tostones. We reminded the front of house manager, who brought our food, but the shrimp and sides still never came. No one came to check on us after the food arrived, and it was only when our waiter came out to check on another table, about 15 minutes after my husband and I received our food, that we grabbed him to say the shrimp and sides didn't come and we wanted our check. He wound up bringing the shrimp but not the sides. Although they comped the shrimp, I Would have expected an apology from the manager or something, perhaps an offer for dessert for the kids since they didn't have a meal, but they honestly didn't seem to care. Further, although I had asked our waiter for the check, I then had to go inside to ask for the check a second time. As far as the food goes, my chicken was fine, but my husband said his pork had no flavor. All in all, it was a complete waste of two hours and $115.00.
(1)Elizabeth T.
Came here on a wednesday night and it was packed! My boyfriend and I sat at the bar which was a great idea because we got to see everything come out of the wood burning oven! We ordered a shrimp appetizer which was delicious but expensive (as expected though) Our entrees took a while to come out unfortunately. I got the argentinian steak and my date got the salmon. The steak was very tender but a little under seasoned. The sides were great. The salmon was overcooked but okay. The dessert looked great but we were too full. With our drinks, 1 app, and 2 entrees it came out to over $100, a little pricey. Next time I would just get drinks, a couple appetizers, and dessert. I would definitely recommend it for a date night, great ambience.
(4)leslie r.
This my favorite restaurant of ALL TIMES! I have visited the restaurant over a dozen times and have always had a great experience. Gerardo is my favorite! His suggestions have always been perfect. The bartender Raul is a master behind the bar! His cocktails and sangrias are AMAZING! I have tried many things on the menu and I couldn't pick a favorite because everything is just so great and flavorful. The place is small dark and very intimate so make sure to get a reservation at least a day before. Cucharamama is listed as one of the top 30 restaurants to visit in the Tri-state area and they definitely deserve it! Keep up the great work and hopefully I'll visit Zafra (their sister Resturant) soon.
(5)J M.
I've been here for dinner twice, both times were very good. The place is fairly dark inside, I guess they try and go for a quitter ambiance. I will say the food I've had from here both times was good across the board and I would go back.
(4)Marley L.
Fantastic experience tonight for my birthday!! Fiancé and I had the mussels, spinach empanadas, fried green plantains, calamari, two kinds of tamales (duck and milk something??), and of course...the complimentary bread out of the brick oven. Everything was amazing. My dining buddy said it was the best calamari he's ever had. I'm still HAUNTED by the empanada. The bread is oddly and overwhelmingly delicious. We got seconds. We will be back.
(4)John S.
My date and I had booked a table for two. We arrived at the appointed time. The first table offered to us was right by the door and offered no ambiance. Why a table was placed there which could be a clear hazard when leaving the restaurant is unsuitable. A second table way in the back was placed again as a hazard. The wait staff had barely enough room enter or exit the kitchen. Clearly this restaurant does not value a client's reservation, let alone the cramp seating arrangements afforded to its customers. I doubt that I will return.
(1)lauren f.
I have been to Cucharamama a number of times and always leave befuddled as to what the hype is about. I've tried many dishes and the chicken and meat dishes are always dry and the shrimp portions minuscule. The stuffed peppers in cream sauce are delicious but only two little ones come and it doesn't warrant a whole trip to the restaurant. The service is regularly terrible. Same as some of the other comments - constantly asking for water, long waits for drink orders and a general disregard for proving attentive service.
(3)Nora S.
Our first time here - didn't know what to expect or how to order. Did really get any helpful help from our waiter. Although he did recommend a few items, we just weren't sure what it all was. What we ordered was good, but for the price, I would find another place. I might try it again..
(3)Ethan H.
Everything was original, delicious, and perfect. The staff made sure everything, right down to a water glass with one sip had been refilled. The waiter encouraged us to get less of one item, instead of trying to push anything we didn't want. The food itself: perfect from start to finish, with a world class chef in charge. I cannot wait to come back and also visit her other restaurant just up the street. To the cooks and front of the house staff, BRAVO!!!
(5)Victoria S.
Had a great dinner here last month. The skirt steak is HUGE. Barely finished half... The empanadas are yummy and very delicious some kind of a pork belly appetizer.. Great drinks, service and atmosphere.. make sure to make reservations!
(4)Maria C.
Great place love how they have dishes from all of south America. It is also greaf for a family outing there is something in the menu for everyone. And the mojitos are awesome
(5)Crystal K.
I've been coming to cucharamama for the last two years with my fiancé and his family, and I have to say, this place never gets old. We are always greeted with sincerity at the door, and our servers. The food is phenomenal. My suggestions for any first time diners would be... Spanish octopus (the most tender octopus you'll ever eat) The stuffed piquillo peppers with pumpkin and manchego cheese The skirt steak with Spanish style potatoes and chimichurri The yuca and cheese croquettes The wine list is affordable and full of life. The desserts are decadent, and best of all, it's tucked away from the main strip, so you can enjoy a quiet but very full ambiance filled evening. Absolutely go.
(5)JB S.
A favorite in town. Excellent food and ambiance, the wood fire makes for a cozy atmosphere, especially during fall and winter. Good wine selection and fantastic food. The stuffed peppers appetizer is amazing (Pimientos de Piquillo Rellenos de Calabaza y Queso Manchego). I'm trying to get through all items on the menu (made good headway) as they all sound great. A little on the pricy side, so expect that going in, but it's worth it.
(5)Matthew S.
Was great until I went into men's bathroom and hostess was w waiter in there and closed door in my face. Rude....after all this money I spent there are plenty of others to goto.
(1)Sarah K.
Pricey but yummy if you know what to order. The place is always packed on weekends/nights so make sure you have a reservation.
(4)Paul M.
I dine out a lot and don't wright as many reviews as I should. This is now the 3rd time I've eaten here, which says a lot. If you ride the path, walk up the street sit at the bar and let them feed you. I promise you will be very glad you did. If you happen into Hoboken and don't want to deal with Washington St. try this place.
(5)Jami A.
I've heard such wonderful things about Cucharamama and I live conveniently around the corner so when the opportunity arose to dine there for my roommates birthday I was excited. Unfortunately, I dont really get what all the hype was about. As far as atmosphere goes its very cute. South American inspirations all over the restaurant. The staff is pleasant. Their bar is lacking. They do make a great Margarita though (Mamarita). We split a few apps for the table which were good not great. Very small portions. We ordered: Chicharron de Pollo Novoandino otherwise known as chicken fingers Chorizo Argentino aka sausage and peppers Camarones Tatacua- shrimp And 1 Beef and 1 Cheese & Onion empanadas All were good the beef empanadas stood out the most. For my main dish I ordered the Saice or spicy braised beef with rice and beans. I enjoyed it. In my opinion that and my mamarita's were the best parts of my meal. Everyone else at the table ordered the Churrasco which was a huge portion of skirt steak. They all enjoyed. Overall it was a pleasant experience and the food was good but again it wasn't as great as I had heard. I was a little disappointed. I would go back though.
(4)Jason W.
An great food experience every time. The plantain 'sparks' were not nearly as good as the tostones though. My wife and I almost always choose a bunch of small plates instead of the full entrees, although they are good too. The bread they offer while waiting for order is amazing. Lighting is romantic but sometimes a little too dim to read the menu. Recommend a reservation on Friday or Saturday nights, as its getting too many fans.
(4)Lynn O.
Everything here was insane- so delicious, one of the best restaurants in Hoboken by far. I had the best mojito I have ever tasted here! Also each food item was better than the last, just WOW!
(5)jared g.
I wanted to give 3.5 stars. Food was good but not great. A little overpriced, but not expensive. 2 blocks from my condo and I don't know if i would go back.
(3)Mog C.
The worst part of Cucharamama is getting a table but if you just eat early (6ish), you can walk in and get seated immediately. After a busy day of unpacking, we walked in sans-reservation and had no problem getting a table. We were warned that they needed the table back by 7:30pm but given how tired we were, that was not a problem. Will R. had the Saize which is sort of the Bolivian take on Ropa Vieja. I stuck safely to the Churrasco. Both of us were VERY happy with our dishes. We'll def be back. Decor is very nice and perfect for a date night.
(4)Jason C.
In Hoboken NJ lies a restaurant whose chef won the 2012 James Beard Award for the Best-Mid Atlantic Chef and has gotten a food rating as high as 27/30 on Zagat. The recipient is a chef named Maricel Presilla and this is her flagship Peruvian restaurant. And for the folks who may be interested, she smashed several DC finalists for the award: Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, Va. Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C. Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C. Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C. Ouch. So Maricel killed several of DC's finest. I saw that list and I HAD to see what this place had to offer. I was willing to put my DMV pride at stake for being the first elite in the DMV area to review this place...so here goes. Decor: The focus of this restaurant is on the wood-burning oven that is in front of the bar area. This wood oven is shaped like a semicircular Italian wood burning oven used to prepare Pizzas. I admit this is something that you don't see often in restaurants and it is quite romantic. There is a slew of appetizers and food you can order from the menu that is prepared in the oven...and obviously I did so. Appetizers: From the wood burning oven we ordered- Empanadas de Carne (Beef Empanadas)-the empanada was thick and had a trace of a slightly burnt exterior from the wood oven. Unfortunately, the small amounts of beef combined with a very thick crust made it difficult to enjoy the right proportions of meat that would have made the dish tastier. (3*). Camarones Tatacuá, Salsa de Ajà Panca (Shrimp in Panca Pepper Sauce)- contrary to what I expected, the shrimp was bland. I could not taste much of the pepper and it was not spicy (2.5*). Main Dish: Argentinean-Style Skirt Steak with Chimichurri (2*) - this is supposed to be the #1 main dish in the restaurant. The skirt steak was of a low quality meat and extremely tough. In addition, the marinade was only present on the top surface of the meat. Once you bit into the meat, it was completely flavorless from the center of the meat and onwards. I recommended this dish to a party who sat adjacent to us. After finishing the meal, I noticed that the dish was untouched after a bite. I'm certain they shared the same sentiment with us. Peruvian-Style Roast Leg of Pork in Ajà Amarillo Adobo, White Rice and Stewed Canary Beans -(3.5*). It was a decent pork dish that was moderately tender and shredded similar to pulled pork dishes found in bbq restaurants. It terms of the flavoring or spices there was nothing special about this dish but the taste was acceptable. Dessert: Millefeuille with dulce de leche and walnut between the pastry layers covered in a Malbec meringue -(5*). This dessert is an absolute knockout. The meringue is covered with a very light cream that has a taste and texture similar to marshmallow. The bottom layer had a crunchy pie and the cream/pie combination with a hint of walnut made this one of the most outstanding dessert dishes that I ate on the east coast. I would compare this dessert dish and put it on par with: 1) Brian Voltaggio's dessert dishes at Table 21 in VOLT 2) Capogiro Gelato (philadelphia, PA) 3) La Sierene's Iles Flotantes, Crème Anglaise et Caramel aux Amandes in NYC I was incredibly tempted to raise the overall yelp ratings for this restaurant to a 4* just because of this one dessert dish. That's how good it is. If I were to make a recommendation, I would go to the bar, grab an appetizer or two from the wood fired oven (things I did not try), order a Pisco Sour, and...of course the Millefeuille. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. As for this restaurant knocking off Restaurant Eve, Rasika, Komi, and Obelisk? I share the same sentiment as Cathal Armstrong's wife: twitter.com/restaurant_e… I still take pride in my DC restaurants!
(3)Jeremy W.
I'd been meaning to check this place out for a while and finally did last Friday. It's an actual restaurant as opposed to most of the places (aka tv-rich bar and grills) in Hoboken and was a nice change. The oven baked bread and sweet butter are a great start. The tapas were all pretty good; in order: the serrano ham pizza is can't miss, Plátano Asado was interesting with the peanut and cheese accompaniments, duck tamal was rich, and shrimp ceviche was very tasty with the plantain chips to dip in the sauce. The empanadas were above average, but also priced accordingly. We also tried the Chicharrón de Pollo (chicken fingers) and calamari to see if they were unique, and though they were above average, I could skip those next time. With a wine list with a dozen or so options between $30-$50 and tasty $10 cocktails, I found the place to be more reasonable than I expected ($200 including the above, 2 bottles of wine and a round of drinks after tip). A brief note to Ivan S. and other like-minded city-centric dining elitists: you don't have to like every place in Hoboken, but please keep your insults of the clientele (aka me) to yourself and leave your pretentious attitude across the river. We're not particularly impressed by you either.
(4)Jeff D.
Great food, great atmosphere. A little pricey but it is worth the $$$. Small place, make a reservation on the weekends. Not particularly kid friendly but great for parent's night out. Get the short ribs.
(4)Andrew C.
The food and the atmosphere were great. I would give them five stars. However our service was definitely lacking, as other reviewers have also noted. Our server forgot about our table numerous times. It took 15 minutes to get the drink I ordered. It took about 15 - 20 minutes to get the waiter to come to our table to take our order after they cleared the bread plates .. It took about 20 minutes or more to get a dessert menu after we finished eating. The server was nice and knowledgeable just inattentive. Service 2 stars. I gave this place 4 stars because I liked the food and atmosphere so much.
(4)Sarah R.
The skirt steak was out of this world! The chimichurri was phenomenal! We ate empanadas and plantain chips (super spicy!!!) to start, skirt steak and pork (pata de chancho) in an adobo sauce for entrees, and the dulce de leche ice cream and cake for dessert. We had two cocktails and a glass of wine, plus a soft drink and cafe con leche - all for under $130 - so reasonable! There's nothing we ordered tonight that I wouldn't order again!
(5)Liz S.
Food is flavorful and simply prepared. Staff is friendly and accommodating from start to finish. The place is small but it's still worth the go. Went with a large group and everyone ordered something different. No one had a bad thing to say about their meals sooooo clearly you can't miss with this place. If you happen to sit at the tables on the right when you first walk in, be warned that it may get a little warm. It's right near the brick oven. At first I just though my yummy mojitos were making me feel a little toasty but then a friend pointed out that the oven was crankin' behind me so I immediately felt less like a lush. But I digress...
(4)Tanya F.
delish!!!!
(4)Kristin R.
This is one of the top restaurants in Hoboken. Everything was absolutely delicious. The short ribs and skirt steak were fantastic. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. They are very knowledgable about the menu and offer great suggestions. They have an extensive special drink menu- I would recommend the Mammapolitan and the Mojito! You won't be disappointed. Be sure to make a reservation, and stop by the bar for a drink before dining.
(5)Liz D.
This is a great place. The food options are so fantastic and the place is super cozy. We have taken friends here from out of town and had a great time.
(5)German R.
Delicious. Plain and simple. The location is nice and staff is adequately friendly. The food had an authentic flare with a nice combination of feeling homey yet taste bud provoking. Overall, nice plan for a Sunday brunch.
(4)Mer K.
Try It. Went for the $25 early dinner special (which apparently includes having the restaurant all to yourself, bonus). Nice atmosphere, good value. Meal included an app, entree and desert. Had the chicken, which was good though not write-home-about-it amazing. Would give it another chance as it could have been my ordering that was lackluster since I've only heard first hand rave reviews of Cucharamama. The atmosphere and the staff were wonderful, and being known as one of the higher end restaurants in hoboken, the dinner special is a good value for a weekday date night, and a nice excuse to "spoil" someone you love (or someone who is willing to be dragged along in the name of good gastronomic exploration). Tip: Catch the early dinner special 5PM - 6PM, M-F
(3)May L.
Love, love, love this place. The food is always delicious. I've ordered for parties from here all the time. They're consistent with their food every time. If you're in the mood for good Cuban cuisine then this is your goto place. Also try their sister restaurant around the corner - Zafra.
(5)Dorrie B.
Yum!!! Food is amazing, service meh, that's why a 4 not a 5. Definitely try the quinoa!
(4)Steven P.
Went there yesterday for anniversary dinner. Dinner had special meaning as we used to live in the condos across the street and looked down on it. At that time, however, it was a dive bar. It has surely changed! We started with the plantain chips and the yucca with cheese cakes. I am warning you now. The spicy dip that comes with it will burn a hole in your digestive tract if you aren't careful. That said, the appies were great. Three of us had the skirt steak, and it was out of this world. I had the braised beef. I didn't realize it was more or less a stew, but even so, it was excellent. Tasty and super tender and perfectly spiced. Their white sangria, sold,by the glass, although ridiculously over priced, was excellent. We did not have dessert. Can't give it five stars due to overpriced drinks, little bugs flying around, slowish service, and poor air conditioning. Still, for the food, it was excellent.
(4)Maria C.
Working for a global company and trying to give the restaurant business on a Monday no less at 35-40 people guaranteed!!!!!!!!!!!! They priced me at $150 a person, after I followed up with multiple emails. Is business really that excellent on a Monday in Hoboken re: a restaurant. I find that hard to believe as I lived there for a few years. Not the best business practice as I worked and currently work with high level executives that do business in these areas at great length. Unfortunately, they missed on great business on that day but repeat business due to referral among colleagues. Zagat reviewed that business at an average meal $48.
(1)Alex M.
Really inventive flavors, if somewhat inconsistent. The service is excellent, except for the hostess who was fairly awful and rude (this was a while ago so can't be sure she's even still there). Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Brad M.
I've eaten at Cucharamama before and really enjoyed their fabulous brunch, but for the most part my wife and I usually go to Zafra across the street. Our most recent experience at Cucharamama soured us so much that we will never patronize this establishment again. When we arrived the hostess told us the only available seat was the table closest to the door (literally 2 feet from the curtain). It was below freezing out so I told her it was too cold for my wife to sit there. We asked if we could sit somewhere else since there were many other empty tables available. The hostess said no. So I asked if we could sit at the bar, and she said no. So next I asked how long she thought the wait would be for a different table. She said we couldn't sit at a different table... but added: "I could probably help you guys out if... you know..." and then motioned toward her hand. I guess they save all of the empty table for people that bribe the hostess, but I'm sorry, but I'm not greasing your palm to get a table at your half-empty restaurant. We took our business elsewhere and had a great dinner at Zack's next door.
(1)Jamie P.
First time at this restaurant was a few weeks ago. Service was good. Food was delicious. We had mussels, chorizo and skirt steak. Good drinks as well.
(4)Sui B.
Foodies, listen up, this is a must stop and eat place in Hoboken. Despite not being on Washington St (Hoboken's main street), this joint is packed! The food and drinks are all amazing, no wonder there are signs everywhere for best restaurant/chef awards. The hot pita bread they serve when you first sit down is amazing (even though I'm on my no carb after 4 pm diet, I had to cheat a little bit for this pita bread, and it did not disappoint!) My only complaint is one of the bartenders who was just not friendly, at all. She didn't even bother to respond when a customer asked her for a cocktail napkin, which he ended up getting himself... our waiters were extremely nice though.
(4)Rona G.
So, I have to say I had wanted to try this place for a long, long time and their sister restaurant, Zafra is great, and where I went on NYE this year. Tonight was an awful experience but I'm giving two stars based on A. Only ordering tapas and didn't try their entrees and B. The food was tasty (but nothing extraordinary for the price). The night was ruined the second I walked in. Although my husband and I (and toddler) had a reservation, the banter between the hostesses of where to put us 'lepers' that dare bring a youngster out after 7pm went on way too long, to the point where it was so uncomfortable I said 'I'm sorry is there a problem?' The meaner of the hostesses said 'sorry, we're overbooked' to which I replied, 'But I have a reservation?!' and she said 'But you called today'...Ok, so instead of taking my spontaneous yet responsible reservation for 2 adults and a baby, I should have been told then they were overbooked at the time of my call. Regardless, we were seated by the door and I was fine to not have to engage with that one witch anymore. The hostess continued to sit people at the bar, yet there were a ton of empty tables in the front of the restaurant. I'm not here to judge their reservation method, but those tables were not filled our entire time there. So on to the food...It was tasty enough, but $11 for a thomas's corn cake and other tapas in the same price range for barely any food, $74 later I came home hungry. I am not a stranger to small plates, and one of my favorite places in the city is Pipa in the Flatiron district, but this was not as special. in all fairness to them, the entrees would have probably been the way to go, as the skirt steak looked great, but thanks to the attitude of the hostess ,I will only stick to the sister restaurant which is BYOB as an added perk.
(2)Benny B.
Great food, Awesome atmosphere. Get the skirt steak!
(4)Blossom V.
Roasted Salmon and potatoes oh mama Mia chucharamama!!!! The mini empanadas are delectable and for dessert try the chocolate flan with peppercorn and cappuccino chips a great place with a family feel and exotic dishes..
(5)Kailynn A.
I stumbled into Cucharamama after a poetry reading at the Hoboken Library, and it was a phenomenal surprise. The food was a bit pricy, but the quality was out of this world! I ate outside, and it was the perfect evening. The setting was gorgeous, and a cute panel separated restaurant goers from the street.... you could people watch, but they couldn't people watch you. The food itself was beyond delicious. I only give it 4 stars for the portions, but it was perfect for sharing with a friend. (Sharing also lets you try a lot more...) I will definitely be back!
(4)Sid N.
Cucharamma is one of the best of the dinner spots I've gone to in Hoboken. Me and my dining partner shared 4 appetizers, an entree, a desert and several of their specialty drinks. Though we enjoyed the meal I'll have to lean on 3 stars for this one due to reasons that are provided below. The short rib entree "Braised Short Ribs in a Red Wine Sauce and Brown Loaf Sugar and Cacao" was spectacular. Its an amazing hunk of tender meat, the largest short rib portion I have ever had, marinated in something that included chocolate, of course. The dark chocolate seemed like a taste that should always be infused in a short rib. The specialty cocktails we tried were also top notch. The capirinha I had was just 'pretty good' but the very unique and elaborate drinks on the menu, which will stand out in their length of their names, will all surely delight, as the two we tried were very tasty. The small plates we had were a mixed bag. We had plantain and yuca dishes that were alright and two shrimp dishes, where one succeeded and the other failed. These are a bit pricey for tapas, which is what they are, since they seem to be just decent tapas. We didn't finish most of those small plates but I didn't feel the usual guilt associated with leaving half an appetizer behind (and no desire to 'bag' them either). The ceviche small plate was definitely the sore point. For one thing, one of the two ceviches listed was certainly not ceviche as it was made with roast pork. The other did not feature fish and instead whole shrimp. This wasn't "ceviched" in citrus as one would expect but instead in a tomato and onion mix. I am not a ceviche expert, but I have enjoyed it in Latin America, Miami and New York, enough to know what the dish should taste like. Though I have enjoyed ceviche of varying quality, none resembled this dish. It may be an authentic variety of ceviche, but if you are a Peruvian restaurant claiming to serve authentic food, you probably wouldn't serve this as your sole ceviche. Wouldn't a Turkish restaurant ensure to serve a decent kebab? It also was subpar in taste. You do expect cubed fish in a ceviche and much of appeal is in the unique texture of fish flesh prepared this way (with citrus). The tomato base of this variety dominated all else. I reckon an experience at Cucharamma can turn out much better, but I can only reflect on my own. They deal with an elaborate and extensive menu, which aims to capture all of South American national cuisines (with a Peruvian base?). I was wondering what the fire oven cooked shrimp dish that everyone was ordering (we sat by the oven) was but failed to pick it out. It would make sense for the management to stick to the best in their menu, do a better job with the menu text layout and presentation or have the waiter guide new visitors through the menu a bit better.
(3)Vikrant B.
We went on Saturday night without reservation but were lucky to get 4 bar seats near the wooden oven. We ordered 4 entrees and shared 2 appetizers. The complimentary bread was very good and we actually got a second serving. Chicken potpie was good and flavorful. The chicken from the wood burning oven was great and quite different. The Salmon was above average. Chorizo was good but we were served two small pieces so not sure if its worth the price. The drinks were average. The choclatey cocktail was too sweet. Overall the food was good I would go for it but the service was below average as the waitress was not attentive at all and did not even bother to explain us the different dishes when we asked them.
(4)Eric R.
After such high reviews I heard about this restaurant, I left very disappointed. Granted South American food is not my wheelhouse, so for experts in the cuisine please take my 2cents lightly. I couldn't make head or tails of the menu. I wish it was a little more friendly towards rookies of the Spanish language. The service was very slow and I felt that the food took forever to prepare. Thankfully there was delicious bread with this custard butter which was to die for. It was like eating mini pancakes. My dish was just a mess to my eyes. It was a thin crepe stuffed with chicken and it was too much for me. My dates dish of BBQ chicken was awesome. I just wanted more for my first experience however I am openhanded for a second go around with some more guidance.
(2)Tinnee P.
Great service, nice and intimate and the food is so good. Can't wait to go there again
(5)Scott G.
Not impressed. Read some really good reviews but didn't get the same experience. I think the poor review starts with the hair that was on our bread plate. Even at that, I was keeping an open mind. Things didn't improve with my app - Pulpo al Olivo, which is Octopus in a Peruvian Black Olive and Panca Pepper Sauce. Now I've had octopus countless times, typically fried, grilled or ceviche. I don't believe this octopus is prepared using any of those methods. The texture was very unusual. The outer layer of the octopus felt a bit fatty and the inner part was (too) soft all the way through the bite. Also, the sauce was like an olive cream sauce. Had to ask myself several times 'why did I order this? Perhaps it's my fault for being adventurous. I couldn't eat three bites. The only way I was able to eat a second bite was to pretend I was Andrew Zimmern, from Bizarre Foods. At $14, a total throw away. My wife's app was the Llapingachos de Yuca con Uchu-Puka, which is a very tasty Yuca and Cheese Griddle Cakes with a Spicy Sauce from the Ecuadorian Amazon. For my entree, I went with the Saice, which is a skirt steak that's been cubed and braised. A little spicy, which I like, but very one note-ish. I feel like I would've been better off with a classic skirt steak with chimmichuri sauce. For an entree, my wife ordered the Picante de Camarones, which is Shimp in a Spicy Peruvian Hot Pepper Sauce with Fresh Cheese, White Rice, Peruvian Canary Beans. She said it was very good, although it was accompanied by undercooked rice. That segues to the mention of pathetic service. While the rice was quickly replaced, not once did the waiter ask me about my meal. Maybe it's my fault for expecting the waiter to want to make up for the hair on the plate but he simply didn't care. For over $100, with a drink, the experience was disappointing. That said, I feel like there's potential here so I'd consider going back but would have to stay basic.
(3)Sagine V.
Had a great meal. Great bar and fabulous ambiance.
(3)Nicole F.
The food is amazing but the service is awful. They have always had slow service but the last two times I have gone I have dealt with a rude hostess (messed up or reservation and sat people before us then tried to give us an awful table or stick us at a small counter spot with a plant in our face) and servers that just do not care. We were a party of 4, and I came five minutes later than everyone else they all had water and it took us over 10 minutes to get someone to come to bring a 4th water and take drink orders. When we went to pay the check we gave them the credit card to run and called a taxi, the taxi came 10 minutes later and the check still had not come back for us to sign when I got up to find it the hostess told me it would be there in a minute...took another 3 minutes.
(3)Meghan M.
Went for dinner this time around and it's still delicious! We shared the corn tamale as an appetizer and it was quite good. Not as sweet as we expected but perfectly constructed with moist texture and great flavor. For my entree, I ordered the mussels appetizer which was plenty of food. The sauce had a kick to it and the mussels were good (but it's hard to screw them up). Of course, the highlight of the evening is that amazing paprika dusted flatbread along with honey butter...SO good. And that heaping serving of white sangria wasn't too shabby either! Ambiance makes this a perfect cold-weather date destination. 4 stars yet again Cucharamama!
(4)John F.
Great little restaurant and beautiful Latin American decor. Food was fresh and packed with flavor. Our drinks were really good as well, so kudos to the bartender. Even those little grilled pita things with that buttery spread (I have no idea what it's called) were so good. The service was prompt. Maybe a little too prompt (I don't like when the waiter starts clearing the table before everyone is finished with their meal). I tried to crack a friendly joke with our waiter and I don't think he got it. No big deal. I know I'm not that funny anyway. Plenty of outdoor seating in the summer and dining indoors in the winter is nice as well. Try to get a seat near the wood burning oven.
(4)Cristina R.
The food was OK here. I'm very familiar with Venezuelan and South American food. I think you could still find something more satisfying. Do not order the pizza. It's the size of the Celeste pizza that costs 99cents at Shoprite but they charge you $10. They aren't stingy with the alcohol so that's a plus.
(3)Ramel K.
Hated it - poor service food was not good at all. The waiter was one of the most pompus people on the planet. I have badmouthed this place all week for the terrible way we were treated. I know that restaurants sometimes have an off night but this way worse than an off night. Wouldnt go back here ever
(1)Lyndon L.
I've never written such a negative review in my life and usually agree with yelpers. But this was the most horrific experience I've had on yelp. We went here on a Saturday night. No reservations so I expect to wait a little. We arrived at 8:11pm. We were told there was about a 35 minute wait. Ok, not too bad. Gave my number and we went to the corner bar for a drink. We returned at 8:40ish to get an update. We were told 30-40 MORE minutes. We were told it was busy. Well, ok they must have really good food so we went on a little walk to the bar and grabbed dessert for after dinner when we got home. At 9:10ish we went back. They sat a couple who had come in after us. They then told us we had the next table. I saw several people leave and the hostess call a couple that their table was ready. We were 4 th on the walk-in list from what i saw. This couple wasn't there before us. At 9:40 we said we were leaving and were very upset with their service. Magically at 9:46pm I got a call saying they had a table open- AFTER we'd made our complaint and left. 8:11-9:46= 1 hour and 35 minutes to wait while being miss lead 3 time about how long it would take to get a table. I find this extremely unprofessional and the time we spent was egregious and the misdirection offensive.
(1)Dana L.
Love this restaurant. Brunch is sooo good. The french toast is delish, and there isn't much better than their hot chocolate, but $6 for a cup of hot choc is silly. Dinner is also wonderful, and so are their drinks. Big fan of their bread, which is covered in a cheddary powder that reminds me of doritos. I call it "dorito bread" :)
(4)Melyssa B.
My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday. It's pricey, but worth it. We were slightly forgotten by our waiter for a good 20 minutes, but they rectified the situation by giving us free drinks so I can't be mad. Nothing like a free mojito to calm you down and make you forgive and forget :) The appetizers are satisfying, but not large. We split the Chilean beef and chicken pot pie as our entree. We were extremely full by the end of it and it was one of my favorite things I have ever eaten (I'm fantasizing about it as I write this review). Normally I'd say skip the cocktails because they are expensive, but the drinks here have depth and are not overly sweet. The Horchada is te best way to end your meal at Cucharamama.
(4)