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The new restaurant recently opened in Bergen County. Manny Fernandez and Audrey Pacheco, who have been married for 20 years, originally opened a takeout restaurant in Bogota, but patrons requested a spot with more space, and they settled on a location in Bergenfield at 260 S Washington Ave.
At The Cuban Around The Corner, Pacheco handles the front, while Fernandez is in the back making his famous Real Deal Cuban sandwiches. Pacheco estimates they sell about 25 a day. Other popular dishes include ropa vieja, a combination of shredded beef and vegetables and pernil, a slow cooked pork roast.
"Cuban cuisine has a lot of flavor," Pacheco said. "It's not healthy food, it's flavorful food."
Customers have told the Pacheco they are filling a void in the community, which lacked a Cuban option.
"We've had a lot of Cubans who live in town come out," Pacheco said. "We didn't know they lived here."
The husband and wife team weren't interested in offering anything fusion, they wanted to make the food they ate growing up that Cubans would recognize.
"It's been great," Pacheco said. "The Cubans love it and non-Cubans like it too. We're offering authentic Cuban recipes prepared by a Cuban chef. That's what sets us apart from other Cuban restaurants."
Pacheco said she is touched by the support she's received from people in Bergenfield.
"The town has been amazing," Pacheco said. "So many people have come out to support us. The neighbors have been so welcoming. We're really happy here. It's a great town."
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