Mama Roomba — Restaurant in Bakersfield

This is a cute spot. There is plenty of available parking on the street and 2 hrs free in the structure across the street. The restaurant itself has a bit of a Cuban style. It's colorful and feels familial despite it being on the small side. It does get very crowded at times but they do have some outdoor seating (as temps rise in summer months, I'm hoping they will have misters or something to keep people cool). The service staff was friendly. They were busy but never brash with the customers. Service of the food depends on the dish and during busy times it seems as if they made similar dishes at the same time instead of by the table order. I didn't mind that as it worked for a small crowd. The food was flavorful. I have had the tortilla soup from this and other restaurants and feel like this one at this time was the best I've tasted this far. I had the Salmon over mango salsa. It was good. I felt like the Salmon was cooked well but there was some missed opportunities in the flavor profile of the dish, especially the mango salsa. The platanos with black beans were good. Not too sweet. It paired well with the Salmon with mango salsa. The jerk chicken tasted great. The chicken was juicy and the au jus/sauce on the dish tasted a bit like Mole which made me want to go back for more. Overall I'm happy with this place and I'm glad they have stuck around as long as they have. I would definitely recommend...but if they get busier, I hope they...

Located in the heart of downtown, this little gem had made a name for itself! Guy Fieri was right to come here and put it on traveler's radar. Location: The vibe is what I would expect from a chic Bakersfield eatery to be. It's clean, bright, relaxed, and full of color. Service: Full 5 star for the only waitress in the entire facility! She was very attentive to everyone's needs right from entering the building. She brought a high chair immediately and the open seating helped us feel at home. Kind, positive, quick, and not overly chatty. Food: we had multiple people in our group so that we got to try a carries of dishes. If you are looking for your run of the meal good then you'll want to go somewhere else. They did a fantastic job incorporating culture and flavor into every bite. The fried chicken is real fried chicken and the sauce sends it into space with flavor. For my weak tounge, everything was on the edge of too much spice. Sweet potatoes fries were crispy and sent my taste buds on a wild ride that smoked with the habanero ketchup sauce. The pasta just wasn't hitting the spot with our party. Grilled chicken pesto on the other hand was filling and delightful! Will go again. Great place to bring out of towners due to it's claim to Fame and it will...

I walked in to the restaurant and it is really small. I took one of the four tables in their 5 ft by 15 ft patio and was given the menu. As I was given the menu the waitress tells me that they are out of the specialty dishes of the house, I look at the menu and find something I have been craving for since I am not traveling to South America as often. I order their "Ceviche Peruvian style with Avocado" and the "Brazilian Churrasco. I don't think their chef has been out of Bakersfield at all. After waiting 20 minutes I was served a plate with 5 whole shrimps around a half avocado which had some pico de gallo on top of it. That was a shrimp cocktail. I asked the waitress to take it back and did not want it. 15 minutes later for a total wait of 35 minutes I get served a plate with a 1 lb piece of meat, nothing else on the plate but just the meat. Wow, I could not believe it, I like my meat Medium-rare, this was well-done, I know I asked them for Medium-rare, they did not listen or the "Chef has no idea" I had seen the show on TV the night before "Diner, Drive Inn and Dives" or whatever is called, I have to say that the show and the restaurant are a Fraud. Don't waste your time or money going there.I am an Electrical Engineer who travels a lot.Would never...