Conga Café is a quaint restaurant with a modern feel, yet it has elements that remind you of home. Not only will you have the opportunity to taste delicious and familiar flavors at this cozy establishment, but thanks to its sister restaurant, you can add some spice to the mix.
Lenny and Raquel Calvo owners of Conga Café recently partnered up with Amara and Jorge Luis Arias to add a welcomed addition to their restaurant. It is called, Que Chido, which in Spanish means, how cool.
I sat down with Amara Arias and she explained in wonderful detail how this new venture will attract people from the community and tourists alike.
Amara says it best,
“A Cuban family and a Mexican Family coming together to form this concept.”
And what a concept it is! There are two restaurants under one roof! They are both divided by a sound proof glass door. Which enables the patrons to enjoy either Cuban or Mexican music without the interference of other music playing in the background. Each side has its own individual and unique décor reflecting the country they represent. One of the neat things about this clever idea is that it doesn’t matter which restaurant you’re sitting in, you still have the option of eating anything off the shared menu. So if you’re sitting on the Cuban side you can order from the Mexican side, vice versa.
Not only can you enjoy wonderful food that is accompanied by music from its native land. Upon your visit to this establishment, you can also appreciate the aesthetics of the restaurants.
The owners took meticulous detail when it came to the ambience of the restaurants. For example, on the wall of the Conga Café, there is an exact miniature replica of El Malecon from Cuba. It’s quite lovely and impressive, as it extends from one side of the wall, all the way till the other side of it.
The same can be said about Que Chido. The adornments in the restaurant were handpicked in Mexico.
Everyone should visit this eatery. Not just because of the food, atmosphere and music. You'll also want to take a gander at this place because Que Chido comes with a new batch of cocktails, that were created by one of the owners himself, Jorge Luis Arias.
One of the primal ingredients used for most of their contemporary, Mexican inspired drinks is Mezcal. Mezcal is a Mexican distilled spirit that is made from the agave plant. It is somewhat different from Tequila as it is richer and sweeter. Jorge Luis Arias shared a heartfelt story about the inspiration for one of his drinks that he named Miranda.
During his time as a bartender Jorge Luis Arias developed a loyal following. One of those loyal customers turned into a friend called, Miranda. Miranda was a transgender woman that would on occasion wear flowers and made sure to always tip Mr. Arias a 50 dollar bill every time she visited him. Upon hearing of her death, Jorge Luis Arias decided to design a drink that would be fitting of the name Miranda. It includes, Elder flower liquor, egg white, lime juice, rose water, Hibiscus syrup (made in-house), Mezcal, crushed rose buds and topped off with an edible flower. Miranda would be proud.
New and inspired drinks wonderfully accompany the delicious cuisine that is served in this establishment. The Chef, “Don Coqui” certainly makes sure of that. He also happens to be the father of Amara and Jorge Luis Arias.
The Conga Café's menu is a Cuban, Latin fusion delight. One of the tasty entrees that is served at the restaurants is called, Milanesa de Mina. It is a recipe perfected by the Abuelita of the Calvo family. Its origin is from Argentina, and it couldn't be any yummier. It is breaded beef with rice on the side, topped off with mouth-watering black beans.
And if you are in the mood for a taste of Mexico you can always order Que Chido’s pride and joy, Tablon del Mercado inspired by the market in Oaxaca, Mexico. The entrée consists of beef, chicken and pork, accompanied by avocado, tomato, fresh cheese, lettuce, onion, lime wedges, giant jalapeño, served with tortillas. As an extra bonus, it comes with grounded up chorizo as a topping.
Make sure to check this place out! It has great food and a lovely staff. And if you ever have an upcoming celebration, this is the place to book your next party. They have ample space upstairs for such events.
Just remember, on your next visit, make sure to order the Miranda.
Located at: 1218 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Union City, NJ 07087