Lidia's Cafe

4.3 (34)

$30 and under

Cuban

117 N Union Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016

About this restaurant

Romantic
Good for special occasions
Innovative

LidiaÕs Cuban Kitchen is a Cuban-themed restaurant on a mission to serve homemade, authentic cuisine, with the use of only free-range meat and locally grown produce, and traditional recipes. LidiaÕs Cuban Kitchen hopes to evoke the taste of Cuba within all its diners. The menu features some of the all-time Cuban favorites, such as empanadas de carne, chorizo a la plancha, the legendary Cuban sandwich, lechon asado and the classically Cuban flan de caramel. It is sure to please any palate and the colorful dŽcor will definitely delight. LidiaÕs Cuban Kitchen has now started offering vegetarian and gluten-free foods as well.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

There’s more to explore

Discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Scan the QR code to discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Open app

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Cuban, Vegetarian / Vegan
Hours of operation
Tue, Wed 11:00 am–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–6:00 pm
Website
http://www.lidiascubankitchen.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
117 N Union Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016
Neighborhood
Colonia
Parking details
None

Calamari Frito
lightly battered fried calamari served with our sweet and spicy sauce and papperoncini aioli
Croquetas de Jamon
croquettes filled with herbed ground ham
Cuban Nachos
plantain chips with picadillo and all the sides
Empanadas
3 to choose from: picadillo or spinach & manchego cheese or chicken
Camarones al Ajillo
pan-roasted garlic shrimp
Papa Rellanas
potato ball stuffed with beef
Chicharon de Pollo
chicken lollipops
Masitas de Puerco
twice-cooked pork chunks
Pork Wings
appetizer size seasoned pork shanks
Chorizo a la Plancha
grilled spanish sausage
Tostones con Picadillo
fried plantains with picadillo

Ensaladas y Sopas

Ensalada con Mango y Pina
mixed greens with mango & pineapple
Ensalada Caesar
caesar salad; add chicken
Ensalada de Aguacate
avocado salad
Ensalada a Mi Manera
mixed green, avocado, tomatoes, red onions
Caprese Salad
fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil
Soup of the Day

Our Famous Cuban Sandwiches

Sharing Charge

Cuban Sandwich
layers of roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles on Cuban bread (sharing charge)
Dinner Cuban Sandwich
choice of rice & beans, congri, maduros, tostones or yuca

Sides

Rice
Cuban style white rice
Congri
rice & black beans
Frijoles
black beans
Maduros
sweet plantains
Tostones con Mojo
fried plantains with mojo
Yuca con Mojo
boiled yuca with mojo
Yuca Frita
fried yuca
Papas Fritas
french fries
Mariquitas
Cuban plantain chips
Angel Hair Pasta
Meatballs (Two)
Vegetable of the Day

Entrees

Entrees served with choice of Rice and Beans or Congri; Sharing Charge

Pollo Criollo
half of a roasted chicken with lime and garlic mojo
Pollo a la Plancha
grilled chicken breast smothered with onions
Cuban Pollo Empanizado
breaded chicken cutlet steak
Cuban Bistec Empanizado
breaded palomilla steak
Cuban Palomilla Steak
tender grilled sirloin steak smothered with onions
Churrasco (12oz)
grilled skirt steak with our chimichurri sauce
Picadillo
ground beef Cuban style served with white rice
Ropa Vieja
twice-cooked pulled flank steak
Vaca Frita
shredded flank steak marinated in lime and garlic and then seared until crispy ~ served with salpicon & white rice (meat is crispy)
Lechon Asado
roasted pork Cuban style
Lechoncito
house specialty roast pork shank – served with white rice and salad
Camarones Enchilados
shrimp in creole sauce
Paella Cubana
savory spanish rice with shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams
Pargo Frito
whole fried red snapper served with potatoes
Salmon
served on a bed of sautéed spinach with a touch of garlic and chucks of pineapple &mango
Rabo Encendido
braised oxtail simmered in red wine
Vegetarian Dishes
available upon request ~ please inquire

Let's Not Forget Joe

Joe's dishes are served with Angel Hair Pasta

Joe's Sunday Gravy
Ravioli
Chicken Parmigiano

Kid's

Chicken Fingers with Fries
Cuban Slider Burgers (Two)
Spaghetti & Meatballs

What 34 people are saying

Lidia's Cafe reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

4.3

4.3 based on all time ratings

4.5Food
4.2Service
4.1Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

34 Reviews

p
portuguesechic
Orlando15 reviews
3.0
Dined on March 8, 2020
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Was able to get a reservation easily, which is usually not the case. The dining hall seemed short staffed. We waited a long time for our appetizers, which were then mistakingly given to another table. We requested a new appetizer. When it came, it was wrong. We had requested 2 meat and 1 chicken empanada. we got cheese and spinach instead. When our entrees came out, everything was good. It was my second time there and I enjoyed it both times.
1 person found this helpful
s
stephens Gold
New York City23 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great everytime.
Is this helpful?
AK
AcerKK
Greater Boston19 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 8, 2020
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service. No rush. Delicious food. Reasonable prices
Is this helpful?
F
Fran51
New York City43 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 2, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I had the ropa vieja which was very good, however, my husband had ordered the paella cubana and it was missing scallops. We will try something different next time. The waiter was excellent!
Is this helpful?
LK
LoraineK
New York City2 reviews
4.0
Dined on January 4, 2020
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We enjoyed the food and will come back again to Lidia's.
Is this helpful?
CF
ChrisF
New York City7 reviews
5.0
Dined on December 27, 2019
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service and food
Is this helpful?
W
Wmdg Gold
New York City87 reviews
1.0
Dined on December 15, 2019
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 1
Lidia’s Kitchen this was NOT! The food was mediocre and lacks the seasoning and flair the original owner had! Lídia cooked with gusto! 1-Ropa vieja was unsavory and lackluster 2-roasted chicken salty and soggy 3- lechón tasted like an old piggy in the blanket? Really sad version 4- tostones was the only redeeming dish The ambiance as per the new owner; is cafeteria style lighting! If you go out to dinner to sit under bright lights ; you might as well go to the local fast food chain! Truly a worn out and tired restaurant! A truly underwhelming experience! Too bad the restaurant continues to call itself “ Lidia’s” IT IS NOT! It’s over! Not going back ever! If I want Lidia’s real version of Cuban; I will drive down to the beach !
Is this helpful?
AP
AlfonsoP Gold
New York City17 reviews
2.0
Dined on November 28, 2019
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Although the service was good, I can not recommend Lidia's. We ordered the snapper, pollo asado, ropa vieja, and churrasco. The best plate was the churrasco. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes were bland. We also ordered a side of the fried yuca but it was disappointing.
Is this helpful?
KG
KristiG
New York City3 reviews
5.0
Dined on November 2, 2019
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
We loved the plantain nachos, the spinach and cheese empanadas and the chorizo to start. Our group also enjoyed our main courses and my carne paella was so massive that we've had 2 more meals from it. It's a pretty low key atmosphere so if you're looking for fancy this is not the place. Our service was fine and on the menu it says they work on Cuban time. It may not be the best choice if you're in a rush but if you want to catch up with friends over some good food, I'd highly recommend it.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on November 2, 2019
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always great food and a great atmosphere.
Is this helpful?

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Cuban, Vegetarian / Vegan
Hours of operation
Tue, Wed 11:00 am–9:00 pm Thu–Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–6:00 pm
Website
http://www.lidiascubankitchen.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
117 N Union Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016
Neighborhood
Colonia
Parking details
None

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Lidia's Cafe

About this restaurant

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Appertivios

Calamari Frito

Croquetas de Jamon

Cuban Nachos

Empanadas

Camarones al Ajillo

Papa Rellanas

Chicharon de Pollo

Masitas de Puerco

Pork Wings

Chorizo a la Plancha

Tostones con Picadillo

Ensaladas y Sopas

Ensalada con Mango y Pina

Ensalada Caesar

Ensalada de Aguacate

Ensalada a Mi Manera

Caprese Salad

Soup of the Day

Our Famous Cuban Sandwiches

Cuban Sandwich

Dinner Cuban Sandwich

Sides

Rice

Congri

Frijoles

Maduros

Tostones con Mojo

Yuca con Mojo

Yuca Frita

Papas Fritas

Mariquitas

Angel Hair Pasta

Meatballs (Two)

Vegetable of the Day

Entrees

Pollo Criollo

Pollo a la Plancha

Cuban Pollo Empanizado

Cuban Bistec Empanizado

Cuban Palomilla Steak

Churrasco (12oz)

Picadillo

Ropa Vieja

Vaca Frita

Lechon Asado

Lechoncito

Camarones Enchilados

Paella Cubana

Pargo Frito

Salmon

Rabo Encendido

Vegetarian Dishes

Let's Not Forget Joe

Joe's Sunday Gravy

Ravioli

Chicken Parmigiano

Kid's

Chicken Fingers with Fries

Cuban Slider Burgers (Two)

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Overall ratings and reviews

Additional information

Not available on OpenTable