Cuzin's Seafood New Brunswick, NJ — Restaurant in New Brunswick

I had lunch/early dinner at Cuzin's yesterday. This was my second time eating there. The first time was good. The food was average, but I was with my family, and eager to try this new place. This time, the experience was awful and weird. I was alone, so I sat in the bar area at a table. The place was pretty empty. My waiter came over and took my order, but he seemed distracted and unfriendly. Bread and water were bought over by another server. My order was delivered shortly after. I ordered the colossal crab salad (pieces of unseasoned, undressed crab on a bed of lettuce) and truffle fries (French fries with powdered mushroom seasoning and parmesan cheese sprinkled on top). The fries were okay, but the crab salad tasted off, flat, and flavorless. Not like any crab I've tasted before. My waiter never came back to check on me. I finally grew tired of waiting and after attempting to catch the attention of another server. I was ignored. Finally, I caught the first waiter's eye. When he came over I told him about the crab salad and told him I would pay for it and to bring me a crispy shrimp. I would eat a couple of and take the rest home. He insisted on removing the cost of the crab salad. A few minutes later, the bar manager came over and asked me about the crab salad and I gave him my feedback. I asked him if it was fresh or pre-peeled and stored to be served later. He told me it was peeled fresh. A bit later, the crispy shrimp was delivered to my table, hot and fresh. Here's where it gets weird. The first waiter approaches the table with a cook from the kitchen. He has a small dish of crab and asks me to taste it and tell him how it tastes. This crab tasted better than the crab they previously served, but it was NOT a fresh crab from the shell. I told him it tasted better. He then says, "It is from the same can." I replied, "It doesn't taste the same." I also told him the manager told me the crab was peeled fresh. I called the manager over, and he agreed that he told me that and apologized for the error. The crab they first served was definitely not from the same can. As I sat there waiting for my food to be packed, it dawned on me what the waiter and that kitchen staff were trying to do. The entire act was an attempt to invalidate my opinion of the crab. I then called the manager back over, as he seemed to be a nice enough guy, and did apologize for the mess. I told him I was upset about the "taste test" and he assured me he would speak to the general manager about it. He agreed it was unnecessary, as the matter has already been settled. He then suddenly went full-on QAnon in what was previously a friendly conversation! Jumping from Oprah not being seen in public, to Dr. Fauchi to COVID to CRT, etc. So unprofessional! I just sat there and listened and continued to be cordial, but got out of there as soon as I was given the check and takeout bag. Needless to say, I will NEVER be returning. One of the few days I could take for...

One and Done – Disappointing Experience from Start to Finish

I was genuinely looking forward to dining at Cuzin’s for a special celebratory dinner, but unfortunately, the entire experience was a letdown. From the moment we arrived, things went downhill.

Parking: Before heading in, I asked the staff about parking on the street out front and was assured there was no need to worry about the meter. I double-checked to avoid any issues, but still came out to a $52 parking ticket. When I brought the ticket inside, the same staff member insisted that on Sundays the “app” says parking is free—clearly incorrect. The manager dismissed the issue, chalking it up to the employee being “new” and showed zero concern or accountability. I asked if anything could be done, like splitting the cost or offering a small gift card as a gesture, and was told “no” with a shrug. No empathy, no ownership, just indifference.

Appetizer: We asked about the portion size of the shrimp appetizer and were told it was a “good portion.” What arrived were three shrimp. I wouldn’t call that generous by any standard. Maybe my expectations were off, but that felt more like a sample than a starter.

Entrees: We ordered the paella and the stuffed flounder. Both dishes arrived lukewarm—not even hot. When we mentioned it, the staff gave a half-hearted apology with no offer to remake or even record the issue. The lobster mac and cheese that accompanied the meal was another letdown—maybe a 3.5 out of 10 at best.

Extras: We were told that water wouldn’t be charged, yet it showed up on the bill at $7. Dessert, which was supposed to be complimentary for the occasion, was also charged. When we brought this up, the server had no explanation and the charge remained.

The biggest disappointment wasn’t just the food or the misinformation—it was the complete lack of care from the staff and especially management. I was cut off repeatedly while trying to explain the issues and made to feel like a nuisance rather than a paying guest.

There are too many better dining options nearby-delivering both quality and professionalism. I won’t be returning to Cuzin’s, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable or respectful...

Cuzins Seafood and Clam Bar’s New Brunswick operation has been a long time coming, filling the site that was occupied by the much-missed Due Mari. The space is big, with a dramatic bar area and then a large area of tables with exposed brick and interesting woodwork. A couple of things strike. One is that it is noisy – all those hard surfaces bounce the sound around, particularly when busy as it was at 6.00 on a Wednesday. The other is a large glass freezer of joints of meat; this is maybe slightly odd for a seafood restaurant and perhaps somewhat disconcerting for pescatarians.

Service was attentive but a little chaotic – they are still settling in so that is not surprising. They were very late with one main, but knocked it off the bill which was a good recognition that there was an issue. There were two big menus, the specials was nearly as long as the main food menu. Bread was decent, maybe a little undecided whether it was toasted or just a bit dry. It was good to arrive with a mix of olive oil, butter, and tomato. Oysters were excellent in flavor. The shucker may need a bit more practice in avoiding fragments being left in the oyster though. Great horseradish as well as other options.

For mains we had swordfish and lobster roll. The swordfish had a good flavor, although it lost delicacy through being a bit overcooked. The mash and spinach with it were good in a comfort-good type way. The lobster roll was a bit too busy, obscuring the central role of the lobster. The asparagus with parmesan side was awful. The asparagus was tough. The parmesan was in a big glutinous matt. What should be an outstanding complement (as Salt next door can do) was a failure. And the truffle fries were deeply disappointing – it felt like they had sat around for a while and got soggy.

The seasonal pecan crisp of the day we had for dessert was also ordinary. The if it says crisp it should be crisp; it wasn’t. The wine by the glass options were fine although the house prosecco was rather too sweet for our taste. Overall, it was a decent evening with positive ambience and some good aspects. A bit of room for improvement – we will be going...