Patria Restaurant and Mixology Lounge received a fairly positive review from The Star-Ledger/nj.com earlier this month. It was described as “fun and savvy, a smart, stylish mix of urban culture, food and music.”The review gave kudos for some “exciting concepts” as far as the menu — watermelon mojitos and crab cake sliders — and big thumbs up to the desserts, but “for the most part our dinner seemed like a gentrified version of Latin cuisine. It was fine enough, but not as fiery and exciting as the place itself.”
But it’s not without its drawbacks: “As night falls, Patria becomes less a restaurant and more a club. (Which means departing dinner guests run smack into that line of eager dancers. Which also means there will likely be a wait for your car; it’s not easy to retrieve a vehicle from the too-tiny kennel out back.)” That it’s more a club than restaurant is not a drawback, but it’s that there have been issues regarding double parking and illegal parking in the neighborhood, as well as some complaints about late-night noise.
Patria opened in December after much of the year was spent renovating the West Main Street space formerly occupied by El Bodegon restaurant. There are two reviews of Patria on Yelp and has been rated on Open Table as well. If you’ve paid a visit, let us know what you think in the comments section below.
In other restaurant news, in case you hadn’t noticed (since it can be difficult to pinpoint the location), Little Portugal is open for business. Technically located at 1507 Main St., the restaurant is in the space formerly occupied by The Back Porch (and later The Original Nile), behind the River Place apartments and accessible by an walkway from Main Street.
While we’re on the topic of restaurants, The Rail House 1449 last week started serving lunch, and Friday is the annual Taste of Spring at the Recreation Center.
I went to Patria about 5 or 6 times so far. The first three times the food was very good, so good in fact that I brought my friends from NY. Unfortunately the meal was terrible and service excruciatingly slow. When we told them there was no attempt to appease us. I didn't go back again for a few months, until my parents and I went to a show at the arts center and my mom wanted to eat there. Both the food and service were excellent. I guess they got their act together. They have to figure out the parking. Hint – don't park in back. It will take forever for you to get your car.
RailHouse received a very good review in the NYTimes.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/nyregion/at-rail-house-1449-try-scallops-or-apple-tart-review.html
I've been to Patria twice with my wife and friends. Food is good, not great. But the decor and the service and the drinks and the ambiance are excellent. I'm glad we've got a place like this in the neighborhood.
I'll bet the food and drinks are wonderful…just don't live around it. If you do, be ready to fight for street parking, deal with loud drunken patrons who don't care at all that they're in a town where people live (caught one guy urinating in the middle of Irving St…others vomiting, throwing garbage, etc.) and who at times accost the residents when they confront them, and now and again feel freely to share the music that can boom all the way down the block. I applaud a thriving business in Rahway, we need it- but I wish the police would just care a little/do something…or just wish that most of the patrons would just grow the F up.