Campino Restaurant — Restaurant in Newark

I recently(on 09/26/24 at 12 noon) visited Campino Mercado in Newark, NJ for a business lunch with two colleagues. As a vegetarian, I was extremely disappointed by the complete lack of vegetarian options on their menu. Upon realizing this, I politely asked our waiter if they could accommodate my dietary needs by modifying an existing dish or creating a simple vegetarian option. The waiter claimed to have checked with the chef, but returned saying my request was declined.

I'm skeptical about whether the waiter actually consulted the chef or simply dismissed my request outright. It's hard to believe that a professional kitchen couldn't even prepare a basic vegetarian sandwich. Left with limited choices, I reluctantly ordered a Caesar salad. Unfortunately, the salad was a far cry from a traditional Caesar, consisting only of lettuce, croutons, and an unidentifiable dressing. The taste was underwhelming and did not meet the expectations of a quality Caesar salad.

The restaurant's inability or unwillingness to cater to dietary restrictions is a significant drawback, especially for a business establishment in a diverse city like Newark. In today's culinary landscape, it's surprising to find a restaurant that doesn't offer a single vegetarian item or show flexibility in accommodating such common dietary needs. My total bill was $53.15.

Overall, my experience at Campino Mercado was very disappointing. The lack of vegetarian options, coupled with the staff's apparent indifference to customer requests, makes it difficult to recommend this restaurant, particularly for groups with diverse dietary requirements. A restaurant should be able to provide satisfying meals for all its patrons, and unfortunately, Campino Mercado failed to meet this basic...

Despite the abundance of Portuguese dining options in Newark’s Ironbound, Campino has earned a spot on my return list. We arrived early on a Sunday evening around 5:30 PM and practically had the restaurant to ourselves initially, which created an intimate dining atmosphere. The space filled up nicely about 30 minutes later, suggesting this is a popular local spot. Our waiter was exceptional – friendly, personable, and knowledgeable about the menu. He took time to answer our questions and made us feel welcome throughout the meal. We started with a pitcher of red sangria that was absolutely delicious and perfectly balanced. My wife ordered the classic paella, which lived up to expectations with particularly fresh scallops that stood out. The rice was perfectly cooked and the seafood selection was impressive. I had the ribeye and shrimp, and despite one small issue, it was excellent. The steak was incredibly flavorful and tender – so much so that it didn’t need any sauce. My only complaint was that I requested medium but received something closer to medium-well. However, the quality was so good that it remained tender even when reheated the next day, which speaks to the kitchen’s skill. The restaurant offers private parking, which is a significant advantage in this busy neighborhood and makes it more appealing than some competitors in the area. With so many Portuguese restaurants to choose from in the Ironbound, Campino distinguishes itself through quality food, excellent service, and practical amenities. The minor issue with steak temperature doesn’t overshadow the overall positive experience, and I would definitely return and recommend it to others looking for authentic Portuguese...

Inconsistent kitchen. We came here as it was recommended by our best friends. i had a terrible experience. Starters, the bread was cold. I have never been to a Portuguese/Spanish restaurant where I have gone wrong ordering a Paella. The lobster and shrimp were overcooked...the lobster completely chewy and bland...I had to spit out the claw part because it tasted like pot water. The scallops although not overcooked tasted like nothing. The rice no flavor. The manager who was sitting right in front of us at the bar was called over...he literally disappeared after server went over to tell him...had a delayed reaction then comes over and say the lobsters are fresh. Sir...clearly said it was overcooked and bland and not about freshness. Then you want to come and ask if I want to order anything else...heck no!

Post Edit: You really have the nerve to say that when you got the Paella back only the claw was left. You are a LIAR! You took the Paella way after your delayed appearance. And I only ate two spoons of rice...which means that I barely touched it it still had 90 percent of the portion left...shrimp, sausage, chicken, and clams. What I did eat wasthe scallops. The lobsters which was only half of a lobster. I ate 1st which I told you tasted like a rubber band...I gave it a few more minutes to process then went to try the claw and that had a horrible taste that I spit out. I paid $32 for a plate I barely touched because it wasn't even worth to take home. LIAR! I wish I would have read the reviews before wasting my money here...because clearly I'm not the 1st person with nasty food. You should be ashamed...