Local Mexican Restaurants - New Providence and Meyersville, NJ

There are plenty of Mexicans in New Jersey. There are also plenty of Dominicans, Cubans, and those from Nicaragua and Honduras. That doesn't mean there are plenty of Mexican restaurants. The chains like Chili's and Taco Bell dominate the state roadways. Small local restaurants are found in strip malls and sometimes in downtown areas. Here are some eateries in north central Jersey that cater to the general crowd.

Casa Maya. This quaint Mexican restaurant is set on a triangular plot of land that faces a traffic circle. Not one of the big traffic circles that drive commuters nuts but a small round intersection that is the nub of one section of Meyersville. People who have been visiting The Great Swamp or bikers who discovered Meyersville Road back when it was really rural still come back for the restaurants.

Casa Maya has outlasted the American restaurant that is katy-cornered from it by a long shot. While the Meyersville Inn with its colonial trappings has gone through several transformations (it was Creole at one time), Casa Maya has remained steadfast. Like a loyal wife whose neighbor has gone through several divorces, the Mexican café can keep its head up high.

The food is not overly spicy which is one reason I like the place. I have never loved having my mouth fired up Their salsa is homemade and is served with chips While many people go for the enchiladas or the fajitas I actually had a steak here and it was pretty good. - and much more reasonable than a steak at an American eatery.

The décor is a New Jersey version of Mexican which means you are going to get booths and kitschy décor.. The cuisine is based on the Sonora area so it may not be the same as the Tex-Mex stuff that people in the southwest have come to think of as Mexican.

This is a BYOB which is what most people prefer because it certainly brings down the cost of an evening out. But if you feel you have to have a Margarita with your Mexican food then mix up a batch before you leave and bring it along in a thermos. Frankly, beer goes best with Mexican food, but of course if you prefer wine then bring your own bottle.

Casa Maya is located in Meyersville which is part of Long Hill Township. Because it has a small parking lot in back and there is no parking allowed in the front because of its position on the triangle, either get there early or park across the street at the antique store and walk over. The place can get very crowded on Saturday night so plan ahead..
Address: 615 Meyersville Road, Meyersille. Telephone:908-580-0799, Website: www.casamayamexican.com

The proprietors have opened up a second restaurant in High Bridge so people can sample the food without getting lost in the Great Swamp. (Actually, Casa Maya is not in the Great Swamp, as some reviewers would have you believe, but very close to one of its many entrances.)

Jose's Cantina. Jose's has been around in New Providence for about twenty years. It was one of the first Mexican restaurants to open up in an area where Italian restaurants are the norm. It is located in the heart of the business district in NP which means it gets a lot of drop-in traffic for lunch. Some people say it has gone downhill a bit from the 1990s but it is still going strong and has opened up a second location in a strip mall in Warren Township.

Here again, this local Mexican eatery is a BYOB and that is no problem since there is a liquor store practically next door.Some of the dinner prices are a little high, but if you stick to your basic fajitas, tortillas you can certainly get a meal for under twenty dollars including a soft drink, tax and tip.

Mexican food is peasant food, and you either like fajitas and burritos or you don't. Some of the authentic dishes here are cactus enchiladas, which are very good and chicken mole which is an acquired taste. The ice cream in a tortilla shell topped with sugar and cinnamon is always a hit. At $6.95 you would certainly want to share it with one or two other people.
Address::24 South Street, New Providence, NJ. Telephone: 908-464-4360. Website:www.josescantina.com

The second location for Jose's Cantina in the Quail Run Shopping Center in Warren has easier parking since the mall has a large back lot .However, there have been complaints of slow service at this location and I have not visited it myself. The menu is the same.
Address:: 125 Washington Valley Road, Warren. Telephone: 732-563-0480