I’ve been meaning to go to this tiny Cuban place in Bergenfield called “El Caney”.
It’s a stone’s throw away from our favorite Filipino pan de sal place. It’s been a while since I’ve had Cuban and I was ready for some picadillo, chuletas, pernil, and other Cuban standbies.
I tried their bacalau with fried plantains, black beans and white rice. I washed it all down with a tamarind soda. It was very good, like good home cooking should be. And also quite filling. I also got a guava empanada which I am looking forward to having for dessert tonight. It’s too bad they didn’t have the guava and cheese empanada. That sounds even better.
Iliana, the friendly waitress/cashier of El Caney, said they had regulars from NYC who visited every weekend. At one point during my meal, she took an order over the phone. Very shortly thereafter, a NJ Transit bus actually stopped in front of the restaurant and Iliana gave some take-home Cuban fare to the bus driver.
The bus driver and a growing number of people know – El Caney is worth the stop. I’ll definitely stop by again.
