Mediterraneo — Restaurant in Bayonne

This was our third and final visit to Mediterraneo because of something far more important: food safety, quality, and service.

Our first visit was incredible great food, great service, everything you hope for. But it’s been downhill ever since. During our second visit, the experience started to unravel: The lobster combo we ordered was just bad. The lobster was old, overcooked, and mushy.

The steak we ordered medium came out like beef jerky.. dry and well done.The only thing done right was the chicken. Disappointing, but we gave it another try.

July 22, 2025, our third visit, was the last straw. I came with my mom and dad. The meal started okay—but then came the lobster. It reeked of ammonia. I've never smelled lobster like that before. A quick search confirmed what I already suspected—lobster that smells like ammonia is spoiled, broken down, and unsafe to eat. Full stop.

We immediately called the waiter over. He admitted it all came from the same batch and offered chicken as a replacement nothing comparable, nothing close. They removed just a few dollars from the bill, and that was it.

Let me be clear: this was never about money. This was about being served food that could make someone seriously sick and having it brushed off with a casual swap for chicken and a minor discount. After a few back and forths, once he realized how serious this was, he offered a quiet “I’m sorry.” No accountability. No real solution.

And even after that, I still left an 18% tip—because I respect the people working the floor. But what happened in that kitchen? Totally unacceptable.

If a restaurant is willing to serve spoiled seafood and then fail to properly address it, that’s a red flag for anyone who cares about food and service. Trust and believe it’s not about what I paid, it’s about what I was served. We...

I'm not sure what manager was working there when I ordered that night but he was extremely rude. I called up ahead of time and asked for one order of grilled lamb chops for pick up, they said it would be 25 minutes. I arrived there and the man working there gave me one look up and down and told me it would be $52 before tip. I was a bit baffled because I've eaten there before and it had never cost that much but I didn't want to make a scene so I handed him my debit card. He comes back and tells me, it's going to be $54.00 [I checked online and it says $29.00 for lamb chops so I was correct in feeling like he was ripping me off. For some reason he decided to charge me almost double]. Then he said he was charging me a 4% credit card fee (also something I've never seen at Mediterraneano). Taken aback at the price increase and also this new "credit card fee" I had never seen before, I politely pointed out to him that I had paid with my debit card. He then demands to see the card I had paid with, as well as my identification and threatens to call my bank. I give him my cards and wait and he has me there for 15 minutes waiting for food that is already ready, then tells me that this is common procedure. It's not, what it is is some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced. What I didn't tell him is that my dad often orders catering from Mediterraneo for last minute birthdays and holidays. Well, the manager's behavior was disgusting so I don't think that will be the case anymore. There are plenty of nice Spanish restaurants in Newark where they know not to treat their loyal paying customers like...

Unfortunately this place has gone downhill. And unfortunately I will not be going back. I will spend my $400 somewhere else. I had grilled pork chops that were so dry I could not drink enough water to wet my mouth. The white sangria that we ordered came out pink. We ordered another that came out Orange. Zero consistency. My wife had the skirt steak which had zero flavor and was covered in oil. The wait staff looked so miserable like they just didn't even want to be there. The potato chips that they brought to the table were like rubber and cold. When we requested a different plate of them they we're almost argumentative and reluctantly brought out another plate that were just as bad.This is what happens when you reheat potato chips that are sitting around all day. Just a horrible experience all around. The only recommendation I would give for this place is to go somewhere else. It's unfortunate that a place that used to be so good and has turned into a place that is so horrible. I will not be going back! Oh and let us not forget about the 3% service charge they hit you with for using a credit card. And then you're expected to leave a 20% tip. I think...