In most cases, running out of food is a bad thing. But on the first day Carmen’s Cocina opened in Beachwood, they sold out of everything before closing. To Owner Donna Gonzalez, this was a sign her Puerto Rican cuisine was just what Ocean County needed.
Carmen’s Cocina is a 1,700-square foot fast casual spot that serves meals in takeout containers (there’s no table service). They can seat 54 diners inside the restaurant. Though Donna also owns a catering business, she is new to the restaurant industry. Her cooking experience comes from watching her friend Carmen Velazquez cook Puerto Rican food. Donna named her restaurant Carmen’s Cocina out of gratitude.
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“I love the food so much that it just stuck with me,” Donna says. As for why Beachwood is the right location for her restaurant, the answer is simple: “I figured I would bring something around here that they haven’t had before.”
Fresh Made Puerto Rican Cuisine
Everything at Camen’s Cocina is made fresh daily. At the moment, their most popular menu item is the empanada, available with either beef or chicken. They serve empanadas in orders of one, two, four, six, or even 10. Donna says that since opening, she’s sold about 7,000 empanadas in the first three months. Likewise, the Carne guisada (beef stew) is also a hit. This is a small platter served over white rice. In addition, most of the menu options that include beans are fan favorites. “We can’t keep beans,” Donna says. “They keep running out.”
In fact, their Arroz con gandules (rice with peas) is so popular Donna can only serve it on weekends. The combination of high demand and long cooking time makes it only possible to make on Saturdays and Sundays. “My menu is small,” Donna says. “We have something in every category. We can’t put too many things on the menu since it’s a lot of work to cook food fresh daily.”
Visit Carmen’s Cocina at 244 Atlantic City Blvd in Beachwood.
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Carmen’s Cocina FAQs
Yes, they do accept reservations.
Yes, they do have gluten-free options.
Carmen’s Cocina offers vegetarian options yes.
They do offer takeout, yes.
No, they do not offer delivery.
No, they don’t serve alcohol.
They do not have a kids’ menu, no.
All Photos: © Carmen’s Cocina
