Coimbra Restaurant — Restaurant in Newark

Everyone should look for their bad reviews, not everyone takes time to review business. Good reviews are usually posted by family and friends! Yesterday I was just floored at the reaction the manager/owner had. I order a good size order for my office staff. I made sure to repeat how we wanted the food seasoning cooked, etc. Very impatient errant man on phone very rudely said I already wrote that down! Ok so we get our delivery and everything is off. I called to talk to manager and the same rude man answered the phone, he didn't even want to here what was wrong, he just kept repeating your not happy bring it back will cook something else! Even though I told him I had no one to drive back. But suddenly our clerk walked in and I made a typed note so he can take back to Restaurant. 1-Your steak as you can see, is so raw, I cut it in three places trying to savage some of it, and my onions, vegetables are bathed in blood(I took a picture of it still have it), this is an office no where to cook it better.2-The bean rice was watered down, tasteless I assumed they were trying to cook it better, and sent a watery moosh.3-The stuffed crabs, consisted of four shells(no legs) full of what appeared to be dried rice,bread mix celery. It was so dry, and no taste or site of any actual crab. 4-The Spanish fries were so hard, not crunch but hard chewy(inedible).5-The small whiting fish fired, didn't have a drop of salt or seasoning of any kind. So our clerk got there handed all the food to manager, and note. Who ever manager/owner was took it back to kitchen, came out all mad blowing smoke told clerk THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH FOOD I LOOKED AT EVERYTHING TELL YOUR BOSS NOT TO ORDER FROM HERE ANYMORE!!! I WAS JUST WOW???!!! Does this man not know we have cell phones to take pictures, this was the word of four people who ordered? Ive ket bad foo before and just through away, nut when I decide I am hungry and its not fair to pay good money and let them think all is good we get attacked. Never had to deal with such rudeness, inconsideration and lies from any restaurant owner. Everyone has always wanted to accommodate customers, any owner as soon as they saw all that blood in tray and meat bright red, would of agreed with us, instead of saying that is medium. Medium is pink dude. NOT BLOODY RED!!! TELL YOUR COOK TO LEARN TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES AS THE OWNER! I will make sure all my City friends, family know of this assurance. UNREAL, IM PORTUGUESE THIS ATTITUDE IS SHAME FULL COMING FROM THE...

Had an event there and was truly disappointed. It's not the first time we've had an event there but it will definitely be the last. Signed a contract and on there we discussed paying cash so we wouldn't be charged extra with taxes, including the deposit. Also, I made sure the price given to us per plate was including gratuity and whatnot, so we could budget well for the event. Sure enough, at the end of the event as we go to pay, the owner, Alex, tried to charge us for a total number of place settings he put down when I gave him my head count, I was specific on ages and he tried to charge me plates for the infants, absurd. After, he then told me about leaving a tip, which I mentioned it was included when we discussed it and that even then I had given the waiter an extra tip in cash, and he complained and said I was cheap and that it was nothing, continuously insulting me. Excuse me, but when did I become the server's boss and in charge of their pay for the day? What a sour taste the owner and the server left. He refused to refill the pitchers of sangria at the table toward the end of the event and gave attitudes to the people requesting it. There weren't even pitchers at the tables once the food was served. Appalling. If I pay for it, I expect it. Not to mention the food, cold, some appetizers even tasted old as if they were reheated and repurposed from the event before. Not acceptable. Portuguese people are known to have good food and in good portions. It was slightly scarce and mediocre; I even had an Italian guest mention that my Portuguese event did not outshine their Italian parties. Again, embarrassing. Wish I picked somewhere else to have such a special...

We were so thoroughly impressed by our meal here on Saturday night that we ended up coming back two other times during a quick weekend trip to NYC. We even rode the PATH train into Newark FROM Manhattan on Sunday evening because we had enjoyed our first experience so much and knew we wouldn’t find a better meal.

My boyfriend is Portuguese and has extremely high standards for the cuisine. We have been to Portugal multiple times and we agreed that the meals we had at Coimbra equaled the best meals we had across the Atlantic. Just like a true Portuguese place, olives and delicious rustic breads were served right away. (But unlike Portugal, there was no charge!)

My boyfriend got squid for one meal (pictured) and octopus for another. Both were so tender and flavorful, and the potatoes and vegetable sides fresh and perfectly cooked. I ordered the barbecue chicken special (pictured) for two meals, it was so delicious.

The stuffed rock crab appetizer is also pictured, another A+. The caldo verde was better than some versions I had in Portugal. The flaming chourico and aletria and bolo de bolacha desserts were perfection as well.

The prices are extremely reasonable for the portions and quality delivered. The service is incredible. Pedro was so pleasant and welcoming and helped us out with his thoughtful recommendations. He remembered us when we came back and treated us so well each time. Nelson was also very kind and friendly and we really appreciated his attentiveness. We felt like we had made new friends.

We will definitely be back. This place is worth the drive from Maryland. I can’t wait to visit...