EL CID — Restaurant in Paramus

May 17, 2025 UPDATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My husband and I have been going to El Cids for close to thirty years. We missed it when it was closed for two years. There's really no other place like it. So when we learned new owners were reopening the restaurant, it was a nice surprise. But, would we still be able to get all our favorite dishes? Today we found out. Not only did we find everything we love on the menu, but also found the garlic shrimp were bigger, the spicy steak tips even more tender than we remembered, but the entees were excellent! I had the surf and turf. Perfection! My husband had the shrimp and chicken marsala. We were so full that we couldn't finish and had to take home the rest of our entees. The cappuccino was twice the size as it used to be and just as magnificent! My husband had the sangria and enjoyed it as much as before. If you're a fan of the old El Cids, you will be pleased to know that the only thing that has changed is the paintings on the walls. The menu has been slightly adjusted to include all the hit dishes we all love. I'm so happy I paid a visit to the new El Cids, I must say, they clean up nice! Thank you everyone for the wonderful food and friendly service. You haven't missed a beat and I would never have known two years have passed had it not been for missing this beloved family restaurant so much. Welcome back! There's only one thing I would love to see added. Live music.🎶

March 2025 El Cids has reopened with new owners and a few adjustments to the menu.

Thank you to all the servers and especially the chefs for decades of fine food and drinks! El Cids was a great place! 7/11/23

March 6, 2023, El Cids is currently closed indefinitely. Renovation is in prorgess at this time. There is no update on when or if it will reopen. Thanks

9/19/21 FINALLY! EL CIDS HAS REOPENED AND THE SERVICE AND FOOD IS BETTER THAN EVER! For almost two years this wonderful restaurant has kept its doors closed to protect their loyal customers from the pandemic! Now they have reopened at 100% capacity and a delicious new temporary limited menu with all the old favorites still on the list of yummy selections! Stay tuned, the menu is evolving to even higher yumminess, who would have thought it could get any better? Oh and the sangria is the best there is on the planet! GO ENJOY YOURSELF WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, EL CIDS IS BACK! CHEERS!🥂

No other high end restaurant offers such decadent selections, by far the best anywhere! The consistency of the spectacular portions amazes me! I love El Cids, so does my entire family! The people who work there are the best I've ever met, they make our dining experience a delicious adventure! Try their red sangria, no...

I’ve been coming to El CID in Paramus, NJ for years with my best friend, and we’ve always enjoyed our visits—until now. Recently, my wife and I, along with our close friends (also a married couple), returned for what we hoped would be another great dinner. Unfortunately, this visit left us extremely disappointed.

We ordered several dishes, including our usual favorite—the spicy tips—listed under the appetizer section, as always. Our wives split the Chilean sea bass with yellow rice, and we added a few other appetizers. Most of them were underwhelming and bland, with the exception of the stuffed scallops, which were excellent.

When the food arrived, things started going downhill. The spicy tips—which are supposed to come sizzling on a hot metal plate with cherry peppers and onions—were instead served cold and bland, not sizzling, and presented as full entrées, not appetizers. Each came with its own side of rice and chips, even though the waiter had only offered one order of each for sharing. The rice and meat were both cold and tasteless.

We flagged down our waiter to express our concerns, and he brought over the owner. Now, I own a business myself, and I understand the importance of listening to clients and acknowledging when expectations aren’t met. Unfortunately, this owner did the opposite. He wouldn’t even look at me—he turned his back to me and spoke only to my friend, ignoring the fact that I was the one addressing the issue.

Rather than apologizing or trying to understand our perspective, the owner arrogantly defended the food, claiming, “There’s no way the food is bad—I spent $6 million to buy this place.” That statement alone said everything about his attitude. Instead of being customer-focused, he made it about his ego and investment.

We made it clear we weren’t looking for a discount or a comped meal—we just wanted to voice that the food did not meet the standards we had come to expect after years of visiting. Despite his condescending offer to remove the spicy tips from the bill (which he didn’t follow through on), we insisted it wasn’t necessary. What we really wanted was acknowledgment and respect as loyal patrons.

Sadly, what we got was arrogance and dismissal. After this experience, we won’t be returning. The food, the service, and especially the attitude from the top make it clear that El CID is no longer the restaurant we once enjoyed. You can keep your $6 million investment—we’ll take our...

I’ve been coming to El Cid regularly for years, pre-COVID with the older management and now with the new management in tow. I was disappointed when they closed a few years back, as it had been a staple place for me to enjoy dinners with friends, business meals, casual drinks at the bar, and a few family occasions.

El Cid is a consistently excellent restaurant. What makes El Cid stand out in North Jersey is the rare combination of warmth, quality, and humility. The food speaks for itself. The staff treat you like a guest, not an inconvenience.

The steaks are always cooked to perfection and rival (if not exceed) those I’ve had at so-called “premium” steakhouses. The apps are vibrant and flavorful. And the sangria is, without exaggeration, the best in Bergen County. Their portion sizes are generous, and the pricing is fair considering the quality and consistency of the experience.

But what truly differentiates El Cid is the service. There is no performative arrogance here. You’re never looked up and down at the door, nor made to feel as if you should be grateful to be seated. The staff, from host to bartender to server, are attentive, professional, and respectful. It’s a well-run ship with zero pretense.

Even when busy, which they often are, the service never suffers. The kitchen runs like clockwork, and drinks arrive promptly. If you’re a regular, they remember you. And if it’s your first time, you’re treated like someone they want to see again.

It’s worth noting that El Cid isn’t trying to reinvent itself post-pandemic with arbitrary rules, gimmicks, or inflated prices. If anything, they’ve doubled down on what made them successful: quality food, gracious service, and a welcoming environment. It’s the kind of place you recommend without hesitation because you know the person will have a good time, and that’s increasingly rare.

Places like this are becoming harder and...