"Pros: The staff at Serra were friendly, courteous, and genuinely helpful—true gentlemen on the Saturday afternoon shift. I’m sorry to have to write this review because they truly did a great job on service.
Cons: The food was overpriced and poorly prepared, which was unacceptable. The salmon portion was small, partially burnt, and incredibly dry—unacceptable at any price, especially $32. I pushed through as best I could, but it lost all appeal from the first bite. The risotto served alongside was quite good, though. A $10 order of empanadas included three pieces, but biting into them revealed they were almost empty—the cheese one was basically a fried hollow shell. Truly shocking and insulting. If I expected to be robbed, I’d imagine a mugging, not being shortchanged on empanadas. The worst was the $16 sausage—just one lone sausage—which made us laugh in disbelief. At least put two on that flambé dish! It felt like a total rip-off. The calamari was decent but unsurprisingly overpriced for the small portion.
Overall, it was a terrible meal, and I really regret saying that because Serra’s staff was excellent, and the restaurant itself is clean and comfortable. However, the prices are so high that I feel compelled to mention it. Two weeks ago, the same group in my party dined at a nearby BYOB place and enjoyed ten times better food for almost $40 less. I won’t name that restaurant, but the salmon entrée was not only cheaper but twice the size and delicious. This isn’t just about the food, it’s about feeling taken advantage of. After all our years enjoying Portuguese cuisine in Newark, we should have known better, but trying new places is always a gamble—hit or miss.
When I think of Portuguese restaurants, I expect generous portions, excellent service, and perfectly prepared seafood. At Serra, despite the outstanding service, we were shortchanged on the good stuff yet still charged premium prices. No way, José.
Again, apologies to the waiters—Serra’s team went above and beyond for us. But next time, we’ll head to Ironbound."
Cod With Cream
