Mambo Cuban Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Union

I have dined at Mambo MANY times and it became my favorite restaurant, so when I was looking to plan an event I decided what better place than Mambo? WORST DECISION !! The first problem started the moment I called to inquire regarding an event in January 2024. The hostess on the phone only spoke Spanish and had no idea what I was saying so I had to then go there in person to speak my broken Spanish. I was then referred to Nathalia, who also did not speak English and instead of an email address she gave me a number to contact her through WhatsApp. Again all her messages were in Spanish and I confirmed the menu and pricing with her via WhatsApp using Google Translate. A few days later, I met the manager Camilo Castellanos to sign the contract, confirm the menu I wanted, which was a custom package #2, and make a deposit. My initial meeting with Camilo, he was very accommodating and he confirmed everything.

The week of the event (September 2024) I called to confirm the details and the hostess who would answer the phone again not knowing any English would tell me the manager is not there (2 days in a row). After the third day telling me there is no manager, I had to use my broken Spanish with anger, and she put me on hold and then miraculously the manager was there. I spoke to Camilo who had no information of the event in front of him and asked if I had a signed contract? He then told me I could not come to set up until 1 hour before the event because he wanted to use downstairs for lunch even though it was a Friday and the restaurant was dead during the day. Once guests arrived appetizers were brought out before drink orders were even taken. It took 30 minutes for guests to have their drinks. They were clearing appetizer plates and guests still didn't have drinks! The food that was served was COLD and to make it worse it was not the menu that was confirmed and was missing items and was completely wrong! After speaking up to a waiter saying we are missing food items, Camilo came out and tried to tell me that I had booked package #1. I told him absolutely not and he then left and came back with my event folder and pulled out the signed contract that clearly stated "custom package 2" he then made me, at my own event show him the menu that I had given him on my phone. He did nothing to resolve the issue and I am extremely disappointed. We didn't even get the Ropa Vieja we had asked for.... this place is a complete disaster !!

In order to run a business, first you need the person on the phone and handling the events to at least be bilingual! Also, very unprofessional to be using WhatsApp to book an event with a client. Then for a manager to accuse the client of being wrong and then clearly having the contract state that the client is correct is just embarrassing and a disgrace. Finally, their restaurant photographer came downstairs at my event and started taking pictures of my guests and my guests thought the photographer was my vendor until they were hounding them to pay and giving them a framed photo like we are at Disney World.... disgusting and should not happen at a private event!! My advice: go anywhere else to...

So I waited a while to try this place. I have alot to say. So I will say alot without saying to much. I was there with a friend for a late lunch about 3:00pm. The Valet Parking reminded me they work on tips. Kind of cheapened that experience.

We were seated right away the wait was not long. The waiter made his was over to our table. We ordered the Sampler Platter. I forget what it is called. The Croquettas and Papa Rellena where good. The Tamal was sweet but very dry. The chicharones. Where etreamly dry. Its like they were fried like 3 times or sat under a heat lamp till they dehydrated. Totally flavorless. The few corn fritters. Were crunchy and sweet as expected.

So I always order a Cuban Sandwich when ever I visit a Cuban Restaurant. I took a few bite. The Sandwich looked dry and the presentation was ok. So I bit into it. The mustard and pickels were really over powering. I couldn't taste the pork ham or cheese. I pull a piece of pork on its own. It had good flavor. But it was lost and didn't come through. The mustard and pickels killed it. I dont recommend it. I dont like the hard bread they use. Few people can pull of a Good Cuban Sandwich. I only ate half.

So my friend ordered the Ropa Vieja Congri and Yuca. The Congri was good. The yuca was ok. The Mojo for the yuca wasn't great. The Ropa Vieja was tender but the tomato sauce was sweet. Thank to her for sharing a little of everything.

The truth is the food was disappointing. Only because I heard so much. All the great reviews and friends enjoyed it. I was disappointed. It's hard to judge a place. When your limited on you experience with the menu.

This is why I won't return to try it again any time soon. Really good service can allow one to forgive not so great food. But when you have awful service and not so great food. You are left with a really bad experience.

From when we ordered our main course. It took nearly 40 minutes. The people next to us arrived after us. Ordered way more food and were eating before us. We had to ask the waiter twice. The second time he said the manager was aware. I asked to speak to him. He never came. The last straw was I had to get up and find someone to give me the bill.

The decor is really nice. They did a nice job there..but the whole experience is like a Rumba Cuban Knock Off. Poor service Totally Ruined it.

I would give this place 7 out of 10. Its an enjoy at your own risk for me. I am one and done. Unless I have. Future change or heart. I left...

My most honest review about this place.

I can assure that our waitress was phenomenal! He took his time to explain everything & very attentive.

I made a reservation 1 week prior to the date. A woman answered the phone and I told her I needed a reservation for 18 people. She transferred me to the manager because she said it was a large party. Manager tells me he cannot assure me that the table would be ready for 7 PM on a Saturday because they get very busy so we would have to wait around 10-15 minutes. Cool! I tell my guests to arrive around 7:05-7:10. When I get there at 7:00 on the dot, they tell me if half the party is not there by 7:15 the table will be given to someone else. I've been to sooo many restaurants where you make a reservation & you get seated right away & wait for your guests there. I explain to them what the manager had told me & also advised them that 11 out of 18 people were coming because if you know everyone around this time either got a cold or covid. They still would not give us the table. They were being rude & making me look as if I was crazy for what I was saying (I wish I had gotten names, that was my mistake as well) Luckly 5 other guests arrived & we were finally seated.

Food & Drinks took a LONG time to come out. Food taste was ok but cold - not great. Meat & chicken was SO hard to bite into, most of my guests left their food on their plate.

Valet really had to remind us that they worked for tips?? They made my cousin zelle one of them while blocking her entry to her own car?? Then they lost my other cousins Key fob & he assures that he saw when one of them put the key fob in his pocket when he arrived. It was a total mess. I really expected more of this place specially because I would get ads & stuff. A big...