Specializing in Puerto Rican fare, the restaurant will replace Taste of Portugal, which closed in 2009 after more than two years at the East Cherry Street location. At one time the space housed the popular Eat To The Beat Cafe.
Casa Borinquen is family owned and operated by Rahway residents. I met the co-owners while I was strolling downtown on Sunday and they were putting some finishing touches on the place.
The building is among several East Cherry Street properties owned by Dornoch.
The grand opening of Chess Mates, originally scheduled for March 1, was postponed. No new grand opening date has been set, but construction has been delayed due in part to the recent inclement weather.
The chess cafe will occupy the second retail space in Park Square on Irving Street, next to Eyes On You.
Hey Mark, do you know if this place will be a BYOW, as Taste of Portugal was?
I don't know for sure, but my guess (and that's all it is) would be yes.To be sure, give them a call 732-669-7175
It looks really lovely inside, they did a great job of fixing up the place. I wanted to go this weekend, but the weather (obviously) kept me inside 🙁
I wonder if it is bring your own wine etc.. I guess one of us will have to find out.. You must report back hehe
I did stop in there during the storm this weekend to take some food to go. They were not seating customers as their ceiling started to collapse due to the rain. Unfortunately…it was one of the worst meals that I have tasted in a long time. I will not be returning there.I did ask them and it is BYOB.
I recently went to Casa BOrinquen and I have to say i have never had such a great meal. THere food is just like home cooked food. The flavor is incredible its actually the best latin cuisine i have ate in a long time. The service is awesome and i will definetely be a regular at this restaurant. Also its BYOB! P/S this restaurant actually brings me back to my roots of Puerto Rico.
I WENT THERE WITH MY FAMILY AND IT WAS GREAT,FROM SERVICE TO FOOD,NOW A DAYS WERE CAN YOU GO AND GET A GREAT SIZE PORTION FOR A GOOD PRICE,I WILL BE A REGULAR CUSTOMER AT OUR NEW RESTURANT IN TOWN.CATHY
The place will be closed within 6 months. Gotta love the self-promtional blogs though.
If you're going to shill, at least make it plausible.Something like… "food was excellent, but had to ask twice for a steak knife" Or….Everything was prepared as ordered, wait staff was friendly, but water glasses weren't refilled expeditiously.A new place is always going to have some kinks to work out in the first few weeks. If they truly are that polished to the point of perfection on the first weekend, my apologies.
some people are making comments on "what they don’t know" about so i just have to comment 2 … every thing at casa borinquen was so amazing i can’t even believe to describe – u have to just see for yourself. food awesome, latin, services unbelievible,AND a price u won’t find any where these days with BYOB. which is very convenient just imo. there was one small problem with my spoon (it was bent a lil but the issue was soon resolve and did not effect the experience in any way. lol did i say i love this place? crazy delicous … u will see its like time travel back to a place of tropical sun and tasteSUSAN K
OK, let's everyone get under control here. It's getting a little thick on both sides…easy up on the ALL CAPS (and maybe improve the typing/spelling).If you're going to go to either extreme on your opinions, at least put your name on the comment. And can there really be that many people who read this blog and already have been to this place, which only opened days ago? It is a little suspicious people.My suggestion, as always, is, don't anyone else's word as gospel, try it for yourself. To each his own.
Just had dinner last night at casa borinquen. The food was amazing. Definetely will be back again.Iris and Peter DiazP.S. The Chef and the staff are very friendly and attentive.
I ate there last night also. It was terrible.
Considering the Rahway merchants often do such a poor job at marketing and promoting themselves on the web (aside from Cubanu and Luciano's – any correlation that those are two of the very few newer establishments that have survived for more than a couple years in downtown??), can someone recommend a dish that they had? How was it prepared? Not all of us are familiar with traditional home-style Puerto Rican cuisine and would like some input aside from "everything was just sooo awesome."And I do realize having a website does not equate to restaurant success: see David Drake, but there's no excuse to not have something out there, anything… hosting is pretty much free these days! Screw the val-pak's…Does anyone even look through those things?? (unless you need new custom closets, siding and chimney sweeping)Just to have one place where we can see scans of some local merchant's menus would be great. We're not talking menupages here, but it's so short-sighted to open up a new business without letting people even know you exist, especially on some of these lower traffic streets like Cherry and behind Main, where The New Nile failed after a short run.
Ok after reading all this BS from unknowns I think I'm going to have to pick up dinner there and judge for myself. I'm a long time poster at Chowhound, and you all can look me up there yourselves when I post my review, to see I'm not some run of the mill anonymous shill ok 😛 Oh but I won't go tonight. It's St. Paddy's Day and I'm making a nice corned beef and cabbage for my Irish boyfriend 🙂
Eileen and FrankStopped by yesterday for a late lunch and I was very impressed. My husband And I are the type of people that like to try out diffent types of food and we were not disappointed are food was great and the staff was excellent.Having never ate Puerto Rican Cuisine it was delicious. I was hesitant to go after reading some of the reviews but like they say go try it yourself. My husband and I are long time residents of Rahway and will be stopping by often. Try the Pina Colada it was excellent.
FYI I My husband had white rice/red beans and steak and I had a dish called Soncocho(which is like beef stew) it was delicious so i highly recommend it and also for appetizers we were given a sample of everything not nowing how to spell it or say it I wont even try but it was great.
i have recently been to casa borinque and thought the place was great.The white rice with red beans and roast pork was awesome. i deffintly agree with eileen the pina colada are smashing-Aaron B
Just finished my take-out meal from Casa Borinque and it was very good. My BF and I picked up dinner tonight; I had the Pernil with black beans and white rice with another side of the sweet plantains and he had ribs (short ribs actually) which was in served in a sauce with potatoes and carrots. Both, absolutely lived up to expectations of what I expect from this type of cuisine. I also ordered a Pina Colada which was nice and icy. They didn't have the right sized take-out cup so they took of $1, kind of nice of them to do so (frankly I wouldn't have realized it myself as it was plenty large for me anyway). Portion sizes were good, I couldn't finish mine and have enough for lunch tomorrow. Price came out to $30 and change for the 2 meals, and extra side and 2 drinks (he had a coke). The people working there were really pleasant and friendly. We'll be back for sure.Also, why those people who posted such negative things felt the need to do so is beyond me. I'll never understand some people on the interwebz 😛
This place was great. I'm not a fan of the other restaurants that are walkable to me – they are just ok. I'm surprised too because puerto rican is not my favorite cuisine, but this is now my favorite restaurant in downtown rahway. Next time, I gotta bring my own wine.The flan is small but priced accordingly.Our waiter seemed new and a little confused but I guess because they are new. If you don't get the dipping sauce for your tostones ask, and ask for more. We loved it.
I just received my take out order and I must say, I will never be dinning there again. For the price I expect better portions of food. Tostones undercooked (soggy), pasteles are tiny. empenadas are small and soggy with oil. I'm Puertorican grew up in a Spanish neighborhood, and I mainly dine at Spanish restaurants. Not once have I been compelled to express disappointment. I haven't dined in the restaurant so I cannot comment on the ambiance. But as far as satisfaction goes it fails. Does not taste like home in the least. And are no where near to your average portions from a Spanish restaurant. Next time I will save my money and cook it myself.
picked up lunch from here today I was so happy to see a Puerto Rican restaurant in Rahway- when i seen the tray they put my food in (like the chinese trays) i thought to myself this food gotta be great because the portions are small for the price-i was really disappointed the pernil was really really salty the arroz con gandules was horrible and their platano maduros where actually the frozen ones which is a shame when a spanish restaurant serves frozen maduros and pre cooked rice – they are really representing spanish food horribly and i just think its a shame if anyone knows of any really good spanish food in Rahway please post 🙁
Passing through we found our much needed Puerto Rican restaurant around our area. I loved their food and the people were very friendly, my husband and I picked up a bottle of wine and we had a very good meal arroz with gandules (pigeon peas) and mofongo. I can smell a clean table and floors from far away and I did notice it smelled clean which to me is very important if I smell a badly cleaned table it'll be a turn off and I will not return. Only one thing that I did not like and that is their loud jukebox. I know they can get a better clientele of people of all nationalities if they change their style of music. I love quiet, soft music restaurants, like the Peruvian restaurant we frequent in Dunnellen, they have instrumental low playing mostly spanish songs with no lyrics its so nice and relaxing. My parents come from the same town in Puerto Rico that the owners do "San Sebastian" which makes me feel like this is family. But my husband and I believe that loud jukexbox salsa music will only bring them a different clientele of people who might cause them problems in their business with Rahway police. My advise guys? Is to get rid of the jukebox before this restaurant turns into a hang out of problematic customers.
Sorry I forgot to sign the comment of loud salsa music, our names Carmen and Joe Perez of Colonia, New Jersey.
This is a family owned and run business. I've been in several times since they've opened. A regular to this establishment and a resident of town…of Puerto Rican background. I love the place… Their food is authentic and very good. I've had their Pernil, Pasteles, Arroz con Gandules, Rellenos de Papa, Bacalaitos, Alcapurrias, Carne Guisada,etc, and they were all delicious. They haven't gotten the hang of the Jukebox… which inadvertently turns on when they have their other music playing… but they will. Their clientele is ethnically and economically diverse. As we say in PR, "Mi Casa es Tu Casa". They are open for business and will serve their patrons. They are lovely people trying to bring something ethnically different, authentic and nice to Rahway. They are also open to suggestions… and are eager to please their patrons. I hope everyone gives them a try as suggested here. We have a saying,"Pa' los gustos se hicieron los colores" which basically means "different strokes for different folks". Try it for yourself and if you like it, go back and bring your bottle of wine. If you don't, there are other restaurants that I'm sure will please your palate. Rahway is finally coming around after years of struggling for renewal. Many businesses have come and gone: Eat to The Beat, David Drakes, etc… Let's be supportive of those who have dared to and invested in our community! Por Favor! Gracias.
all i have to say is that I've been there once and will never go back/ it is no where near authentic and overpriced Im not Puerto Rican but have visited the Island several times and love the cultural overall the food, and my opinion is i do not like it as you can see most of the post are negative seems like only the owners are posting positive feed back which is understandable..best of luck to this place but it will not last long sorry 🙁 Adel Pierre
I am from Puerto Rico and I am from New york city originally, up until about a year ago. This food is authentic and pretty good as far as Puerto Rican restaurants go I should know I have tried A LOT of them. One thing I noticed about N.J. it is very hard to find good food. I heard people rave about Beanas on St. Georges, Jose Tejas, these places have the worst food I have ever eaten. I have gone back to them several times thinking I just ordered the wrong thing, the next will be better. NOT! So if you think those places are good do not bother trying Puerto Rican food or anything different, your taste buds are stuck in Jersey and your not gona like it. In New york city the retail store rents are high and a restaurant on every corner. If your food is not good you will be dead in a few months. Not like here, you can have lousy food and the place is packed becuase no one knows any better. If you don't know, you don't know, it is that simply.