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I had dinner at Old San Juan in Saddle Brook the other night and I will never go back nor do I reccommend this to anyone else. The food was good even though it was served cold. The reason I will not go back there is that the management is horrible. They messed up our reservation and then had the nerve to start closing the place up when we hadn’t even gotten our cold food. When we asked to speak to the mananger/owner it took four times of asking and then she came over with an attitude. I feel that since we were not of Spanish decent we were treated poorly. If you are not a latino don’t bother going to this restaurant.

Posted by: Jerry, None | Feb 09, 2009 15:04:04 PM |

to whoever wrote that bad review: i think u were in the wrong place at the wrong time. i’ve been to this restaurant every wknd for the last 3wks and i must say the food might take a little time to come out sometimes, but it’s worth the wait. I must say, to make race and issue is downright a defamation of character and u should use your words wisely...More power to u old sanjuan. BTW, I;m asian..

Posted by: jenna, None | Feb 16, 2009 22:14:43 PM |

The old saying comes to mind. "You can’t please all of the people all of the time". The reservation wasn’t messed up, the party of about 16 to 18 came in at different intervals; they didn’t all arrive at the same time. Also the party that had a reservation before this group just wouldn’t leave because they were having such a "Great Time". I believe it isn’t a good idea to force people out of a restaurant before their time, they should be allowed to leave on their own. The establishment closes at 10:30 PM and this reservation was booked for 9:00 PM. On a very busy night, we are talking about the kitchen going on for about 10 to 11 hours non stop. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to book such a large party so late into the night. Poor judgement on both sides. Humans do tire out.
Replacement dishes for food that came out cold were offered but turned down.
The customers that frequent this restaurant are very diverse in terms of nationality, therefore it is an out right insult to suggest that race had anything to do with this matter. Management did do everything in their power to resolve this matter in a professional manner, but alcohol does have a tendency of clouding the mind. BYOB stands for Bring Your Own Bottle, not "Bring Your Own Bar". There was alot of drinking going on at this table.

Posted by: John, None | Feb 16, 2009 12:54:21 PM |

Take a look at these reviews..


Great atmosphere, excellent food and generous portions. Everything is made fresh! “Second Helpings” is exactly what you’ll want to have!! You’ll make this a regular eatery.

Posted by: Yvette Bronx, NY | Dec 12, 2008 at 01:55 PM

let me tell you it is a must visit restaurant food excellent, service great, especially my favorite susan not only beautiful but the best asset to the place, guys she a must keep for this place getting back to the food , if you want to eat fresh home made food this is your place. atmosphere very cozy and quaint. pernil churassco, cammarrones, pechuga a la jillo off the hook.... don’t wait too long to eat at the best latino restaurant in nj.. richard

Posted by: richard | Dec 24, 2008 at 01:48 PM

best in the west food great service excellent beautiful atmosphere

Posted by: shelly | Dec 24, 2008 at 01:54 PM

great service A food A++++

Posted by: freida | Dec 24, 2008 at 02:04 PM

Posted by: Bob, None | Feb 16, 2009 14:26:56 PM |

Take a good look at these reviews.....


Great atmosphere, excellent food and generous portions. Everything is made fresh! “Second Helpings” is exactly what you’ll want to have!! You’ll make this a regular eatery.

Posted by: Yvette Bronx, NY | Dec 12, 2008 at 01:55 PM

let me tell you it is a must visit restaurant food excellent, service great, especially my favorite susan not only beautiful but the best asset to the place, guys she a must keep for this place getting back to the food , if you want to eat fresh home made food this is your place. atmosphere very cozy and quaint. pernil churassco, cammarrones, pechuga a la jillo off the hook.... don’t wait too long to eat at the best latino restaurant in nj.. richard

Posted by: richard | Dec 24, 2008 at 01:48 PM

best in the west food great service excellent beautiful atmosphere

Posted by: shelly | Dec 24, 2008 at 01:54 PM

great service A food A++++

Posted by: freida | Dec 24, 2008 at 02:04 PM

Posted by: Bob, None | Feb 16, 2009 14:29:51 PM |

Who ever wrote that negative review you would have to be drinking,I frequent Old San Juan and everytime time i have gone there i’ve had a wonderful time. Food is great and so is the service. And by the way iam not latino!!!!!!

Posted by: Terry, None | Feb 16, 2009 14:42:58 PM |

first and foremost i would have to disagree with the first review. I frequent Old San Juan Latin Restaurant with my family. I have been going there since it opened backed in December. I would have to say that the food and service has been consistent since day one and trust me race does not play a role at this establishment. i myself am not of latino descent!!!!! they are the most wounderful staff i have ever met and for anyone to say different is a complete insult and lie. Now as for the food it is what it is DAM GOOD... AND NOT COLD. People one thing I have learned in life is Judge for yourself and trust me you will not be dissapointed.

Posted by: fabian, None | Feb 16, 2009 15:22:26 PM |

come one people old san juan is the happening place food is great, service let me tell you they make you feel like family and i too am not of latin decent.

Posted by: lesly, None | Feb 16, 2009 15:29:50 PM |

to the person that wrote that review about management sorry mamita!!!!! NOT..... they are the most professional people i have ever met

Posted by: john, None | Feb 16, 2009 15:34:50 PM |

I have been to Old San Juan alot of times and the food is off the hook. The service is Great and the people wonderful, only a hater could go out of the way to even take time to post comments like that. You can not please everybody and I’m not Spainish. Get a LIFE!

Posted by: Jillian, None | Feb 19, 2009 07:05:08 AM |

Oye Pero Mira ! OOOh no you didnt. for the one that sayed the negative estatemen...is no true and thats the famnation of character ok! the food is really good there. mmmmm yummy jus thinking about it ok! arrozz frito con abichuela ay mami que ricisimo. 5 estars !!! Oh and im not spanich im Russian haci que besame el fondillo.

Walter

Posted by: Walter, None | Feb 22, 2009 19:46:40 PM |

"I have been to this restuarant twice both for lunch and dinner. I have to say the food is good. However the attitude of the staff is not one I would recommend and unfortunately it ruins the experience. Last time we were there we had to wait 30 minutes for a table. (yes tables sat empty for a few minutes which made it more annoying). We took our order as soon as we sat down because we had thirty minutes to look at the menu.

Once they took our order we never saw our waitress again which match with our previous expereince. She did come over this time to tell us our food would be out in a few minutes but last time we never saw her again. There were about 4 waitress I saw on our side of the resturant and 2 young kids and a girl running beverages and cleaning tables, their is a host, a guy running food, and another guy coming out occassionaly which I am unsure of what he did. One side of the resturant has 3 or 4 booths, a bar area with a girl behind that as well. (it is bring your own by the way). Our side had maybe 3 booths and 5 or 6 tables. It is not the biggest place to begin with. But with all that staff I would think they would check on you. I have been in small pizzerias that check on you more. Let alone a staff of over 10.

After about 35 minutes my boyfriend started to get annoyed and asked about our food. Because after we came in a 16 person party was seated and given apps. They came in at least 15 minutes after us so to see them with hot apps was confusing since we were a party of 2. The host was definsive and never apologized for the delay. Said he would look for our waitress. 10 or 15 minutes later our food came out. Also so did the party of 16 about 5 minutes later. The host came over and yelled my boyfriends name (i guess he remembered from the wait list) and made some coment about isn’t it worth the wait. THE ANSWER IS NO, RICE AND BEANS ARE NOT WORTH WAITING OVER AN HOUR. He then later on when I went to the bathroom made some comment about men getting impatient about having to wait for their food and seemed annoyed with his even mentioning where is our food.

I would recommend these owneres and staff members take some type of class on restaurant management because it was clear they had no experience. It should not be a 2 hour expereience for rice and beans and you should not have to follow up on your food, your drinks, and your check. Both times were were there we were going to get desert but were frightened we would never see home."

Posted by: Not Applicable, None | Mar 08, 2009 15:31:56 PM |

Review:
Hey not applicable this is for you!!!!!! I would have to say I guess your experience at Old San Juan wasn’t too boring. I read what you had to say regarding this restaurant and I would have to disagree with your experience; by the way I am one of the 16 people you commented about who was there eating. It is funny, I just so happen to get on this site to write about my experience that night; what a coincidence. By the way we placed our apps before going since we were such a large party and we are aware that this restaurant gets packed. So heads up if you plan to go back so you wouldn’t have to wait too long, or better you should rent the space for you and your man by the feel of thing you sound like you need vip service or rather treatment. Old San Juan can not be compared to a pizzeria; the food at this restaurant is cooked to order or are you used to fast food? If you are this is not the place for you or can you tell the difference by the feel of things; I guess not. I have waited hours to be seated at Red Lobster, Outback, IHOP; the fact that you waited 30 minutes should not fustrate you or should they get a happy bell that lights up when its your turn; I know that makes me happy!!!!! This is a busy restaurant with great food in that regards I have to agree with you however, I can’t believe you waited 2 hours for rice and beans. If you are going to exagerate a point it doesn’t become you and I don’t even know you, but I know your kind...the kind that go out want to be served fast as though you are the only one there. Face it, this place is so busy people unfortunetly have to wait, so if you decide to wait don’t complain about it later or post it as though is someone elses fault. And let me tell you, not only was the food great but you missed another great part of your experience, the dessert. The flan is so so so so so good it is a sweet note to end the night. So not applicable, don’t try and ruin someone elses experience by posting such stupidity because this is a great restaurant; and by the way my party of sixteen who you spent so much time analyzing had a great night and experience so people beware of haters and check it out for yourselves. Also next time go to Burger King and have it your way..........and lets see if anyone checks up on you there.

Posted by: nilsa, None | Mar 11, 2009 17:18:22 PM |

Review:
Hey not applicable this is for you!!!!!! I would have to say I guess your experience at Old San Juan wasn’t too boring. I read what you had to say regarding this restaurant and I would have to disagree with your experience; by the way I am one of the 16 people you commented about who was there eating. It is funny, I just so happen to get on this site to write about my experience that night; what a coincidence. By the way we placed our apps before going since we were such a large party and we are aware that this restaurant gets packed. So heads up if you plan to go back so you wouldn’t have to wait too long, or better you should rent the space for you and your man by the feel of thing you sound like you need vip service or rather treatment. Old San Juan can not be compared to a pizzeria; the food at this restaurant is cooked to order or are you used to fast food? If you are this is not the place for you or can you tell the difference by the feel of things; I guess not. I have waited hours to be seated at Red Lobster, Outback, IHOP; the fact that you waited 30 minutes should not fustrate you or should they get a happy bell that lights up when its your turn; I know that makes me happy!!!!! This is a busy restaurant with great food in that regards I have to agree with you however, I can’t believe you waited 2 hours for rice and beans. If you are going to exagerate a point it doesn’t become you and I don’t even know you, but I know your kind...the kind that go out want to be served fast as though you are the only one there. Face it, this place is so busy people unfortunetly have to wait, so if you decide to wait don’t complain about it later or post it as though is someone elses fault. And let me tell you, not only was the food great but you missed another great part of your experience, the dessert. The flan is so so so so so good it is a sweet note to end the night. So not applicable, don’t try and ruin someone elses experience by posting such stupidity because this is a great restaurant; and by the way my party of sixteen who you spent so much time analyzing had a great night and experience so people beware of haters and check it out for yourselves. Also next time go to Burger King and have it your way..........and lets see if anyone checks up on you there.

Posted by: nilsa, None | Mar 11, 2009 17:24:43 PM |

This restaurant is a great place to go once a month as we do. Our most recent trip was a little disappointing as if you visit enough, you can tell when the lady chef is not in the kitchen. The pasteles were taste-less & my chicken stew was dry (believe it or not).

Just because of this one time disappointment, we will still go back. There are so many pros - prices, the staff is super, portions are fair & the salads are fresh. The downside is the long wait for a table on the weekends when you are famished as well as the parking (I’m waiting for the neighbors to start complaining!!)

These ladies have a super place, the consistency of the food needs to be monitored as we keep our fingers crossed that the lady chef will come back - maybe she was just off that day??

Posted by: Anonymus, None | Apr 11, 2009 14:49:19 PM |