Rancho Mateo - North Bergen

The food is quite dry, and they seem unable to prepare even a basic steak properly. Their seafood is overcooked as well. The drinks are overly sweet, and the margaritas are of low quality. The customer service and overall experience leave much to be desired; it's neither decent nor professional. The staff is rude, and the service is mediocre, meaning you'll spend more time waiting than actually eating or enjoying your time. I would never return to this place, even if it were the last restaurant available. There's nothing special about it, and nothing worth missing.

The food here is excellent, and the portion sizes are quite generous. The layout of the tables makes the restaurant feel a bit cramped, but I can see why, given the high volume of customers. Their bandeja paisa is particularly delicious, and even the small picada is notably large.

The filet mignon was unfortunately overcooked. I ordered it medium, but it arrived well done—tough and chewy. Additionally, there was a mistake with one of my side dishes.

Service: Dine-in Meal Type: Breakfast Price per Person: $10–20 Recommended Dishes: Bandeja Paisa, Tres Leches Cake, Skirt Steak, Picada Familiar, Entraña Mateo, Tostones Vegetarian Recommendations: I highly recommend trying their vegetarian options, which are well-marked on the menu. Parking Info: There's plenty of parking available with free parking lots nearby.

The food was fantastic, and the service was exceptional. I dined in for lunch, and the price per person was around $20-$30.