Mambo Café — Restaurant in Pleasantville

First, I have to add the disclaimer that I'm originally from Elizabeth, NJ and then moved to Union, NJ.. Colombian food is like childhood and DELICIOUSNESS for me. I absolutely love good Colombian food.

We stopped off at Mamboa Cafe and picked up a class bandeja paisa (of course) and there is a choice of ground beef and steak. Get the steak, obviously. The meat is thicker than most Colombian restaurants which means it was dried out in the cooking process. I was absolutely impressed if not blown away by their preparation here. The chicharon is the star of the show of course and the portion size was generous and well prepared. EVERYTHING about a bandeja paisa is amazing for me. There's simply no better dish at a Colombian restaurant (for me).

We also ordered a $10 pernil entree which came with a ton of pork, rice, beans, and two large tostones. Omg this was literally the best bang for your buck at $10.

The Cubano was slightly disappointing. It had the makings/ingredients of a cubano but it wasnt pressed properly as a a classic Cubano should have. We went home and grill pressed it again and it was better leftover at lunch. The portion size again was huge and came with a crazy amount of crispy hot french fries.

In addition, I ordered an assortment of breads, dessert/flan, and empanadas to go. Very good. The breads weren't the best I've had but decent. Empanadas are better at my spot near home but everything else was quite excellent and I'll definitely be back!

PS the young woman who helped me was so friendly and patient with my questions. I really appreciated her smile (even under a mask I could tell she...

I have been in food service for over 25 years so I tend to be more critical of the little details. My party of five was greeted warmly and seated for breakfast. We first ordered coffee and water. When it arrived we were not provided spoons and waited 3-5 minutes after requesting them. No one likes there hot coffee cold. We had the chicken and cheese empanadas and the beef and cheese empanadas to start. They were amazing. Top three in empanadas that I’ve had from all over the world! We all ordered our entrees and the meals took about 40 minutes to come out. Mind you the restaurant was fairly empty and its breakfast time. We noticed other patrons that came in after us being served first which sometimes happens when you have a larger party but we were only 5 not 8-10 and its breakfast. No steaks just pancakes and French toast w/eggs. When the food arrived the pancakes, French toast, and waffles came with no butter so we had to wait for that 3-5 minutes so now the butter is not melting on hot food as it should and the waiter proceeded to auction off the food, always an industry faux pas! Also the choice of breakfast meats was all things pork and turkey bacon. A choice of a vegan sausage, beef, or other turkey products would have went a long way. The food was average in my opinion, the service sub par. The empanadas saved the day. I would probably like to try the rest of their menu but as take out because the service dining in needs drastic improvement! Good...

Mambo Cafe emerged as our spontaneous favorite for pickup, revealing a hidden treasure trove—their dazzling bakery. The empanada symphony, starring chicken and cheese, chicken, beef, and the dynamic duo of beef and cheese, delivered a culinary crescendo that left us convinced they're the reigning champs in Atlantic County!

We ordered la bandeja paisa, and it was more than enough food to split the order which was a match made in foodie heaven, each bite an ode to delectable delight. Kudos to Mambo Cafe for making our takeout date feel like a five-star dining experience.

However, DoorDash , while convenient, left us with a tinge of sorrow—no access to Mambo Cafes amazing baked goods via delivery 🫤.

Mambo Cafe isn't just a restaurant; it's a culinary utopia with a dazzling ensemble of hot dishes, sweet treats , freshly baked breads, and desserts that could make the angels weep. The staff's professionalism and charm were the cherry on top of our delightful experience. Consider this a public service announcement: Mambo Cafe has secured a permanent spot in our hearts and taste buds.

It's not just a place; it's a lifestyle, a haven for all-day indulgence and gastronomic excellence that I can't wait to brag about to anyone with elevated taste buds and a penchant for...