Alvarez Cafe

I can’t believe that Alvarez Café, the most famous and iconic restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey has closed, I did a little Googling research and it says “temporarily. closed”. I don’t live anymore in Elizabeth that’s why I didn’t write a review about Alvarez Café and its great steaks and Cuban food. I hope this is only a short break for one of the “places I remember all my life..”

I have been eating here since I am a little boy, and as an adult I take my family here, even now order Christmas Eve dinner here. If you want to experience good ol' home made authentic cubin cuisine, this is the place to go! The atmosphere is still warm. Highly recommend.

Ever so nice staff! Friendly all all around food was off the charts good to me! Def returning for another date night!

Food is just okay nowadays, was better years back. The cook only understands all meats well done even after telling the waitress steak medium cooked, forget about getting breaded steak or chicken, it's like eating sand paper. The rice is pretty decent & Service really isn't bad. Last but not least the pricing is a bit overpriced for mediocre food.

We really loved this place. The food was great and super service.

Anyhow back to the review. This spot is located on a Main Street and its metered parking. If you speak Spanish yall be golden here, if not the menu has numbers and pictures. We order the Garlic shrimp, steak and onions, fried snapper and pork chunks. Everything was awesome. Great seasoning and cool presentation.

I came here starving looking for a quick bite to eat in the area. I sit down at the bar & order steak sandwhich with fries. The food was delicious & cheap. I love how authentic the place is and I think the owner was the one who served me. I also had the espresso which was the strongest thing ever I loved it.

The food, the people, the environment, absolutely wonderful. I have been coming here since I was a child. My family comes here and my children. Tato is my favorite person in there. He provides great service, very attentive, and hilarious. He is pretty much like family. They just need someone better with their marketing

Ordered chicken with rice and beans/plantains and when the food was coming out the waitress smelled the food ... which was odd. When it came to the table I was overpowered by a foul smell and there was what tasted like grissels in every bite. I ate a few bites and told the waitress I literally couldn't stomach it. She mentioned something to herself and never comped the meal so I had to pay full price for something I only tasted! Poor customer service, will not come again.

The food is ok, even thou it can use a little more seasoning. The BIG issue or problem that I incur when taking food out is the "price" for some reason they are always, always charging me the wrong amount Being that I order the same things when I visit them, I know the prices by heart and have to tell them they are wrong.... how convenient for the restaurant to charge more to each of the customers, they will always have a profitable year!