Residents of Downtown Jersey City who were looking forward to a new Cuban restaurant in their neighborhood will have an uphill climb ahead of them. That is because Casa Cubana, the long-awaited business that was slated to open in the old Manhattan Florist space at 363 Grove Street, will not be coming to Ward E after all. However, the proprietors of the restaurant have confirmed to Jersey Digs that they will instead be opening up shop in The Heights section of the city.
Co-owner Gerardo Perez called the neighborhood “up and coming” and said that choosing The Heights instead of Downtown was a “good opportunity for us long-term.”
Casa Cubana’s new location will be at 1007 Summit Avenue at the corner of Charles Street. Viewers of the former Spike TV network might recognize the space because one of its former occupants, the Tres Cuartos Bar and Laguna Lounge, was featured on “Bar Rescue” in 2014.
The new use of the corner property will feature a far different selection of menu items when it opens for dine-in service at some point within the next three to five months. Patrons will be able to choose from foods such as roast pork, ropa vieja, ham croquettes, and Cuban sandwiches, according to Perez, who explained that “we’re trying to bring that authentic Cuban feel and Cuban cuisine to the area.”
Perez owns the business along with his sister, Diana Mastrodimos, though their entire family is involved in the operation. In fact, many of the delicacies served will be made from recipes passed down from their grandmother.
Although the restaurant itself is not yet open, the owners are already using the kitchen in the space in order to accommodate catering requests and weekday delivery orders in the local community.
Perez and Mastrodimos previously owned the Agozar restaurant on Bowery in NoHo, but closed the business in November, serving Manhattan for 15 years.
