My Magical Rainbow is Only Red and White

Walking along Park Ave from Weehawken to Union City, my ever-hungry eyes spotted a red and white awning down a side street. Ooo! Could it be? A Peruvian restaurant? Yes! We eagerly turned down 48th St. and, judging by the crowds and the specials posted, we had to check it out (food budgeting be damned! or so we thought).

The food at Dany’s is really cheap and the plates overflow. A shared order of chaufa especial (fried rice with seafood, chicken and beef) left both my husband joyfully stuffed. Unlike some other places, they do not overload on chicken and fatty beef while skimping on the seafood - there were plenty pieces of shrimp, calamari, and octopus (with some crab legs and clams as well).  That dish cost $15.

Our table also devoured the pollo saltado (chicken stir fried with tomatoes, onions, and french fries) which combines the ingredients with rice into a saucy, yummy mix — for just $10. The tallarin saltado (fried linguini with red pepper, onion, celery and beef) was heads and shoulders above the greasy pile of lo mein this dish is often compared to.

And the hot sauce! Out of this world - thick with fresh tomatoes and spices, it made my whole mouth tingle with joy and longing for more.

I don’t know what kept me from getting the ceviche - but now I have a good excuse to go back! And at just $43 split three ways, it wasn’t much of a budget-breaker.

Note: Don’t be surprised if you try calling a dozen times and it’s always busy; yes, they’re open and yes they are that good.

Dany’s Anticucheria & Parrilladas
112 48th St
Union City
201-223-0995

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A Cheap, Yummy Plastic-Coated Gem

We almost didn’t go inside Mucho y Rico. It is a Peruvian restaurant on Park Ave in Weehawken that really doesn’t look like much when you first go in. Plastic chairs, cheap tables with plastic tablecloths, and plainly painted walls. Stark. Unappealing. Small-diner-esque.

Call me a snob, but this is not the kind of decor I look for when I want to eat seafood. I’ll be honest - when it comes to seafood, I’m paranoid about unsanitary kitchens handling my shellfish. And I often feel the decor, even if it’s cheap, can give you a sense of how much they care for the kitchen. But since this place was Peruvian, I decided to put my fears aside for my obsession with ceviche.

While I can’t say I will never again judge a restaurant by its appearance, I am thankful I didn’t do so here. We actually ate there three times before I had a chance to write this review, and I must say, the portions are incredibly generous (most plates can easily feed two hungry people), and so far no dish has been a disappointment. The prices are wallet-friendly, and the service is warm and friendly. It’s not the best Peruvian food I’ve had, but it’s authentic and inexpensive (it’s clear where they’ve cut costs, and it’s not with the ingredients).

The meals are typical Peruvian food - tallarin saltado, chaufas, meat dishes with rice, tremendous-looking soups, several seafood dishes, and ceviches. They also have a special daily menu for $5.50 which includes soup, a main course, and soda.

Mucho y Rico
4114 Park Ave
Weehawken, NJ
(201) 867-5695

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