Maria Mentiras Bar & Grill

Great place! Awesome establishment with good service. Yuca fries and Maria mentiras paella are to die for! The red sangria is absolutely delicious. Must try’

The churrasco was great with the fries were great and the Marikaditas as an appetizer is perfect.

I went with my fiancé, sat at the bar, and was completely ignored. There were maybe 10 people in total, so it wasn’t full. There were several workers behind the bar, but all ignored us. I sat for about 20 minutes, then I decided to get up and leave. I let the person at the door know that we were leaving because no one paid attention to us, and all she said was «OK»… She basically did not care. I don’t understand how a place this horrible stays in business. I work hard for my money and when I go out to an establishment, I expect good service. I will never go back, nor recommend this place.

Five stars for brunch… twenty bucks for unlimited mimosas, app., entrée, dessert, and live music? sign me up every sunday. Love the drinks especially the chocolate martinis. Free parking and its a cute spot. Waiters r very friendly and helpful. The ceviche is average and some of the entrees weren’t very good. Come for brunch, drinks, and apps.

I celebrated my birthday here and had a good experience. My food was delicious and i tasted the salmon and was in heaven! They also allowed me to bring in my cake and gave me plates for the table :). Sangria was yummy!

Cute place we found on accident. It was clean, charming and quiet. Though we had a slight communication issue, we had a great time. The food was excellent and the sangria was amazing.

We are loyal customers at Maria Mentiras. We love the atmosphere, the drinks, and definitely the food! Obviously when my wife and I decided to get married, this restaurant was the perfect setting for our reception. We didn’t have to decorate alot because the restaurant already looked great, they help you put up any decoration you want and serve any extras like the wedding cake that you bring. We had a delightful staff helping us, Moises David was excellent! Our night was truly special, and our guests keep raving about the food! Thank you so much!

Great happy hour specials that includes beers, wines, and cocktails. One of the better glasses of red sangria I’ve been able to find in town.
Latin bar and restaurant that offers great bar service is always going to make my list for a happy hour stop. The bar menu during happy hour is full of cheap eats if your on a budget. The chicken wings we awesome. Lightly fried crispy wings and a side of buffalo sauce for dipping. Great bang for your buck value here.
The place is nice, with plenty of patrons and lots of local flare. The servers were attentive and quick. This is the second time we’ve come here. First was after we got one of those website deal offers. Glad we tried it, cause we made it a regular spot.
It’s especially great for people who are commuting back from the city via PABT. Just get off at the top of the hill in Weehawken/​Union City and it’s on the next corner. Super convenient.

Beautiful décor, excellent service, live music, great sangria and the churrasco is solid.
My only gripe is with the appetizers/​small plate/​tapas section. They need to offer better a selection with more generous portion sizes.

Note: After posting this review I have come back twice and the service was a bit better. I am not ready/​convinced to completely update my review yet but there may be some hope…
Ugh. This place…
It has sooooo much potential BUT there’s always something.
I got introduced through a Unilocal event and really loved the vibe. I decided to go back after a friend told me they have great live music Friday nights. The first time I went back was ok and the music really was awesome. The singer on Fridays does all kinds of Latin music and is really the only reason we keep going back.
The food is not amazing but it’s not terrible. The real problem is the service. When you go you’d think that the place just opened because it has those types of problems, kinks that just need to be worked out. Like not bringing out everyone’s dishes at the same time. last week I ordered a complicated dish and it came out before my friends salad… The waitress tried to blame it on the kitchen and said they do it ticket by ticket. This is basic food service you don’t bring out a meal for only one member of a party. In addition someone in my party tried to order White Zinfandel and the waitress asked us to repeat it in spanish. I cannot imagine being someone who doesn’t speak Spanish getting by at this restaurant. That’s a huge issue considering the changes that are going on in the neighborhood. It also indicates the staff knows very little about food and beverage. I think that would be fine at a random little hole in the wall on Bergenline but this is a different kind of place. You expect a staff that kind of knows what they’re doing.
Last night we went and it wasn’t bad until the end. the waiter did not ask if we wanted anything else did not say it was last call… Just placed the bill on our table and said «the restaurant is closing». It came off as so rude and it was 16 minutes before the restaurant actually closed. Someone I was with wanted to order another drink but clearly that wasn’t an option. I noticed the owner wasn’t there and that’s unfortunatly what happens in the restaurant business.
I want this please to succeed so bad. This is the type of place we need in the neighborhood, there’s nothing like it. If Maria could train her staff on service I really think that they could fill this place up even on a weeknight. The problem is you cannot get by with terrible service. I know eventually people are just going to get fed up and not go back.
If it were for music they get 5 stars. The food would get three and a half or even four maybe. That’s how bad the staff is they bring down the overall rating to a 2. I’ll continue to support this place because it’s easy to get to in my neighborhood and I love supporting small women owned businesses but I honestly don’t know how much more I can take with all the craziness with their wait staff.

I had the salmon del chef. Delicious.
I ordered the kids meal for my daughter. Carnita asada with 2 sides. It was tough. She wouldn’t eat it and wanted my salmon. But the price is $ 5.99 which is a good price if your kid eats the meal.

Finally trying out this spot. The menu looks delicious. The waitresses don’t speak any English and I feel bad! I’m trying though… People are eating and drinking right now. The manager had to take over to make my Mojito. I didn’t know I ordered something difficult. Sad day!
The empanadas were pretty good. The salsa was a great combo. The mango drink made by the manager was delicious!
You can tell ONE of the bartenders is still learning how to make drinks. (This was in the afternoon).
It’s about 500pm and the REAL bartenders are here!!! Yeahhh.
I’m still wondering why it’s ok that everyone ONLY knows Spanish in jersey. It’s sad for me because, I love jersey, BUT I can’t order the tasty food! :/​
I need Spanish speaking friends ASAP!

Food: 4 stars
Service: 5
Boozy level: 4.5
Ambiance: 5
My fiancé and I enjoyed Sunday drunk brunch here today. Everything was exceptional, from the food to the live music they had going. You can’t find unlimited drinks brunch that lasts two hours for $ 20 anywhere else. This place offers that with three courses. I had the Mac and cheese which was great. My fiancé had the creamy chicken with spinach wrapped in tortilla. he loved his appetizer.
For our entrees, I had the steak and eggs (carnes and huevos) with home fries and it was really good. Large portions and the food came out relatively fast. My fiancé had the eggs Benedict and I stole a bite and it too was very good.
Our server was attentive and sweet. She spoke mostly Spanish but we were still able to communicate with her and everything went smoothly.
They had a live band playing but they weren’t overly loud… just blended perfectly to the overall ambiance.
We’d been here for dinner before and had enjoyed ourselves then also.

I’ve come here twice now. Once with a groupon for dinner and the other time for Sunday brunch.
First, the food and drinks are excellent! Everything tastes great. Second, Their brunch menu is awesome because for only $ 20 you get a choice of appetizer, choice of entrée and a dessert. The brunch special also comes with unlimited mimosas or blood Mary’s. Third, wish service was a bit better. It takes the waiters some time to come up to your table to get your drink/​entrée orders, but once they do everything is great. I’d give this place another third try.

I had a wonderful time at Maria Mentira’s at a recent elite event, and was waiting for the perfect occasion to come back. Boozy (and reasonably priced) brunch sounded like a natural capper to a weekend of fun with the fabu Nile H. The food, once we got it, was great. However, the service was abysmal. I do grant some leeway for language barriers but every waitperson should know what’s on the menu and what the daily specials are.
Us: What’s the fruit tart of the day?
Waitress: Profiterole?
Us: No, profiterole is something different, what’s the tart?
Her: Ah, good, profiterole *walks away*
A quick summary: Friend’s coffee was a café con leche, Her veggie and cheese omelet was served with pork products twice, then waitress tried to add an upcharge when she gave up and requested something else. She backed down when we asked for a manager, who never did come to the table. She asked if we wanted another carafe of mimosas; we answered in the affirmative, then watched her roll silverware for 20 minutes while we waited with empty glasses.
When my aunt joined us late after getting stuck in traffic, she received a full and fairly competent rundown on how to order, what the tart was (apple), and got a 2 bite check-in…all in Spanish. My steak and eggs were cooked well but the kitchen pre-​cut my whole steak into chunks. It got cold quickly and looked like dog food on the plate.
If the service had stood up to the food and décor, I would gladly become a regular. As a customer, my brunch experience was frustrating and unsatisfying. As the hostess to an out of town guest, it was embarrassing. Suggestions for brunch spots are welcome, I owe my dear friend an outing to make up for this circus.

Good looking place in the heart of Union City. Food is tasty and reasonably priced. The place stands out compared to the rest of Union City restaurants. Great clean décor and very stylish. They are willing to work with you for bar packages for groups which is great.
The bartenders need to iron out the routine of their job but that comes with time.
Best place in the area.
Have Fun

I have been here a few times with colleagues. The food is good, the drinks are good, the prices are good, but the service can be lacking. When I am in a restaurant or bar such as this one, I feel that the customers should be the center of attention for the servers and bartenders, especially when its not too busy. Here, I find that they are more interested in talking with each other or the few customers they are friends with.
They just don’t seem to pay very close attention to what they are doing. As someone who has worked as a bartender and server, I do feel that I have very demanding standards. That said, I had to wait a very long time to order food before I could get someones attention (and there were 3 bartenders working and 4 patrons).
I will continue to give them a try. As I said, I like the food and prices.

I went to an Elite Unilocal event here and was totally impressed by the ambiance, the food and the service that I had to go back and bring my friends. So, not even a week later, on a Saturday night, I returned with 4 others.
During the event, we only got to taste appetizers and they were all amazing, which made me really crave to try the entrees. 4 of us had the skirt steak which was just delicious, tender and a generous amount. The only thing was that, I had asked for mine to be medium rare but it came closer to medium. I think because it was served on a sizzling platter that it continued to cook as it was sitting there. It still tasted great though. My other two friends were very happy with their filet mignon and tilapia. Oh, and I must mention the flan… mmmmm… one of the best I’ve ever had.
At around 9.30pm, the DJ arrived, and the place started to really fill up. The DJ was great and very accommodating with our requests. Everyone had a great evening which was such a relief for me because I was raving about this place and felt «under pressure» to deliver. Everyone also loved the ambiance and especially the bar which is warm and inviting… it makes you just want to linger… In addition, Maria, the owner stopped by at our table and made everyone feel at home.
I am so happy to have found this place through the Unilocal event, i would never have discovered it on my own since it’s not exactly close to home. If this place were close to home, it could be dangerous because I could see myself sitting at the bar every night… LOL!

This place was the best Spanish restaurant so far I have ever been too! We ordered ceviche and it was delicious!
Salmon & Shrimp was the best ever!
Churrasco was amazing!
Will do go again!!!

Sunday Brunch review.
It has been awhile but this is the favorite meal of my wife and I. Weekend Brunches. We came to Maria Mentiras Bar & Grill and wasn’t disappointed.
For the value, as I said in my tip, $ 19.95 for three courses (appetizer, entrée and dessert), plus unlimited mimosas while you are eating. Such a deal! You just can’t beat it.
For our appetizers we had the Rollitos De Pollo (reminded me of egg rolls) a flour tortilla filled with creamy chicken and spinach which is deep fried. The other appetizer was the Queso Frito, which was a ham and cheese sandwich also fried. Both were delicious and we didn’t leave a crumb.
For our entrees, I had the Tostada Francesa (French Toast) it was covered with fresh mango and I had scrambled eggs on the side. I was a little thrown off but not having powdered sugar and syrup, but still it was very good. The wife had the Carne & Huevos which is skirt steak served with home fries and supposed have poached eggs. The eggs that came out were fried but that didn’t stop us from eating it. The steak was done perfectly (medium rare) and was seasoned well.
After all this food we only had room to split one dessert, the apple tart, which was a great apple filling served on a crispy sweet tortilla topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and raspberry sauce. It was a very nice presentation (not to say we didn’t tear into it and finish the whole thing!)
Now the mimosas, were served in flutes along with a carafe already filled, as soon as we finished the carafe another was brought out.
Our waitress Brenda was very friendly and attentive, even offered a couple of tips about their signature drinks.
It was a very pleasant afternoon meal with the wife, complete with a violinist performing all types of songs, including Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and the Bee Gees. Just something I never thought I would hear at a Latin restaurant, but found it quite interesting.
Will definitely come back again in the future.