Restaurant Valencia

Categories: Restaurants

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1. 
   User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

   by AnDee

   08/17/2008

   Yup, gotta give Valenca five stars. Not because it's the fanciest restaurant I've been to, but because the food is always tasty & delicious, the service is great (they do not rush you - they allow you to enjoy each course), and it's just a lot of fun. We love to bring our friends here to share the experience. We just had our son's 25th birthday celebration at Valenca with 6 of his friends and they adored it. The final bill for 10 people could not have been more reasonable, and we all brought home leftovers. Five of use had the filet mignon on the lava rock and it was melt-in-your-mouth tender. I cut up the second piece of filet and cooked slightly on the lava rock to bring home to have for lunch.
   My all-time favorite appetizer is not really on the menu. They offer clams with chorizo in a garlic broth, but instead I substitute mussels - I never liked mussels until having them at Valenca. The mussels are sweet and tender and the broth is flavorful - sop it up with a chuck of the fresh crusty Portuguese bread. I tasted the fried calamari tonight and it was perfectly fried and tender with a yummy marinara sauce. I also tried the chips that came with the entree and they were perfectly crisp - not a soggy one among'em.
   
   We've eaten in the more upscale dining room (the side with table cloths and a big unlimited bowl of salad included with dinner) and in the more casual side (tv's, no table cloths, and a big bar) and each time we have a terrific meal. We've also gone to the take-out section and brought home the rotisserie chicken and it was yummy. When I'm not sure where to eat out, Valenca is one of three restaurants in the area I'll go to over and over again.
   
   Some people have commented upon the service not being attentive, and we've found it very professional and friendly. Whether we need a new hot lava rock to continue cooking our filet mignon, or anything else, the wait staff is there to please. We've noticed lots of family parties each time we go there and you can tell how much fun they are all having.
   
   If you are in the Elizabeth area (2 minutes from Newark Airport), or even if you need to drive a distance, take the time treat yourself to a soul-satisfying meal at Valenca.

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2. 
   User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

   by BABY RUTHEY

   08/02/2008

   I have been going to Valenca for the past 12 years. I lived in Princeton for many years and would make it my business to find a reason to go to Valenca . I have celebrated many occasions here. I now live in Elizabeth, only a block away. Great for me. I go to Valenca for lunch and dinner every chance I get. When I want to eat privately or get home late, I call and place my order. In less than half hour, my lunch or dinner is ready for pick up. I have never had a bad experience either with the wait staff or my meals. As a matter of fact, since moving here 2 years ago, we are on a first name basis. I even have my own table! I love this place. Since moving here, when my friends come to visit, I do not cook for them anymore. I tell them I am taking them to the best dinner experience they will ever have and will never forget. For those that complain and want to go to Newark to eat. Go right ahead. There is no place like Valenca. Awesome place, awesome food!!

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3. 
   User Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

   by Mr. 908

   07/25/2008

   I live around the corner from Valenca and let me tell you, the service is the worst I've ever experienced in my life. Sure it looks nice from the outside and the food is pretty decent but I don't know how many times they messed up my order (I order salmon with mixed vegtables and they give me chicken with plain broccoli) when I ordered take out. But the worst thing about going to Valenca is the service. It seems like if you're not Portuguese, or a white american they'll treat you like you don't even exists and walk right past you while they serve everyone else. Its happened countless times so when I see an african american or hispanic couple sit there for about 25 minutes while the employees are walking right past them avoiding any kind of eye contact meanwhile they're asking their "other" customers if they need a refill its not surprising. I even try to explain to customers that if they can't get used to it then don't bother coming cause I've been complaining for 10 years and I'm just starting to get halfway decent service. Things got so bad one time it got to the point that I rudely banged on the table out of frustration just to get there attention. Cause a lot of the times They'll stand right in front of you not doing anything, AVOIDING EYE CONTACT WITH YOU, pretend like they don't hear you meanwhile the guy next to me is on his 4th beer since you got there and getting all the service he needs. The food is decent and the place looks nice but the service is horrible. I can't count how many times I've complained to the owner but nothing ever seems to get done. Sure he'll by a round of drinks for me and my friends and apologize on the behalf of his employees but 1, thats not gonna make the service any better. And 2, If he did that for every unhappy customer he'd be out of buisness. You might have some employees in here giving it a false 5 star review but They know and I know that the service is pathetic. Sorry Martin (the owner) I gotta be honest. Maybe now you'll make sure your employees do their job the right way.

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