Made in Dominican Republic — Restaurant in Saddle Brook

It’s unfortunate that we have to leave a bad review for such a highly rated restaurant, but it seems that maybe things are going downhill, especially since someone else also left a negative review for that same day.

We had placed a pickup order over the phone and went to the restaurant to get it. The disappointment started right from the pickup, with a staff member who was clearly disinterested. There was no greeting, no warmth—just a cold, indifferent attitude that set the tone for the rest of the visit. Given the other reviews and the fact that this is a small family-run place, we expected some minimal engagement.

Anyway, while he was packing our order, we noticed he gave us a small yuca fry instead of the large we ordered. When we asked, he said they had run out. We understand this happens, but it's something that should be mentioned proactively, not left for us to discover and inquire about on our own.

The bigger issue was the mofongo, which came covered in a white sauce. When we asked, the staff member said it was cheese. My husband has a milk allergy, and we were both clearly concerned. I even asked my husband out loud if we should reorder it without cheese since that was his main dish, but the staff member didn’t acknowledge us at all—no apology, no offer to fix it, nothing. Just silence and indifference. Mofongo doesn’t typically come with cheese, and the menu didn’t list cheese as an ingredient.

When it came time to pay, the lack of communication continued. The staff member asked how we’d be paying, and we said credit card, and only after the transaction began did we see there was a service fee added on top of the meal costs. That would’ve been the perfect time to mention that there was an extra charge for using a credit card -- especially since he asked about the payment method - but nothing was said and we didn't see anything obvious posted about it.

We were still excited to try the food on the way home, but sadly it didn’t meet expectations. We ordered many things to try. The yuca fries, maduros, and plantains were good, but the rest was disappointing. The rice was extremely dry, the chicharrón was mostly fat and the pieces that weren't fatty were dried out and tough to chew. The mofongo, despite being covered in the cheese sauce, was dense, really dry and hard to swallow without drinking a lot of water. The pernil was okay, but the container was mostly filled with dry, inedible rice with very little pork.

By the next day, the leftovers were even drier and ended up in the trash—which we really hate doing. Normally we look forward to leftovers!

I'm not sure what happened, but what a...

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner Chris for the 1st time in early May. Couldn't be a more pleasant human being. That has proven true each time I've seen him. Always promptly attentive to my needs/requests. Takes time to explain a dish if my eyes take in something that looks delectable that I have yet to try. That actually happened today. I had Chofan for the 1st time ever after asking him what it was. Delicious 😋. Chris likes it with a bit of hot sauce. When I got home I put some on it. Now I like my Chofan with a little hot sauce as well.👍 Also had Stewed Chicken w/White Rice & Black Beans. Very tasty. I enjoyed the balanced seasoning.

I like to start with the basics. I figure, if you can hit a home run with the basics, then the more exotic creations should be awesome. Thus far, Chris and his team haven't disappointed. I had a Beef and a Chicken Empanada my 1st visit. Those were great. Nicely stuffed with well seasoned meat. Not greasy.

The food is always fresh. In fact, to ensure its freshness and that there's little to no waste, they don't make an enormous amount of certain menu items. I found out the hard way when I came in for Bacalao...all gone!😔 So now I know, the early bird gets the Bacalao!

Thank you Chris, your wife, and team for bringing a lot more flavor to Saddle Brook. Be sure to check them out fam...you won't be...

Made in Dominican Republic is a hidden gem that deserves way more hype. I came in craving something real, and this spot delivered from start to finish. I had the pernil with rice and beans, and it was honestly next-level. The pork was fall-apart tender, juicy, and full of deep flavor — no shortcuts here. The rice and beans were cooked perfectly, like someone’s Dominican mom was in the back making it from scratch.

Then came the flan… and man, that flan slapped. Silky, rich, not overly sweet — just real-deal homemade flavor that hit the spot.

What really made the experience even better was the owner, Chris. You can feel his passion the second he starts talking about the food. He emphasized how everything is made fresh, and you taste that in every single bite. It’s rare to find someone who puts that much pride into their craft, and it shows.

The whole vibe was warm, welcoming, and authentic — super clean, great music, and the kind of spot where you want to stay and vibe after your meal. You’re not just eating — you’re experiencing a little piece of DR right here in Jersey.

This place? 10/10. No notes. I’ll be back — and bringing...