Rudy’s Restaurant, the new eatery in downtown Hightstown, has the town raving with its filling portions and mouth watering Guatemalan flavors.
Owners Rudy and Zhamilet Martinez have dedicated their time and effort turning a small locally owned restaurant into a buzzing business. During peak hours, you will see large parties patiently waiting outside the doors for a table. Do not be discouraged, it is very much worth the wait.
With only $13 in your pocket, you can get a big platter with rice and beans and a protein of your choice, as well as a freshly made Guatemalan authentic drink. Enjoy fries and a sandwich with a fountain drink, and still have money left over.
It’s no wonder dinner and lunch rushes are their busiest times, but it is all worth it when you receive a nice hot plate of personally favorite “La Picada” which translates to the picking. This dish includes a variety of meats including fried pork cracklings, cubed grilled chicken, and diced pieces of steak with sweet cassava and fried plantains.
It’s no surprise that this small business has made a big name for itself. Rudy’s Restaurant became the talk of the town when they relocated from Manalapan, Freehold to Hightstown Main Street, and then quickly making their first appearance as a locally owned business when attending the 8th annual Latino Festival.
Hosted by RISE, a community support service, on August 21 – it included musical performances, craft vendors, and of course food from local restaurants, where Rudy’s Restaurant sure caught the eyes and noses of many. As a result, from the positive reviews, townies and outsiders have been pouring into Martinez’s doors.
The impact of coronavirus was fraught for many local business owners, and Martinez became overwhelmed with emotions recalling the moment he and his wife accepted closing down in Manalapan was for the best. But the heavily trafficked area where they currently reside has had a positive impact, so much so that Martinez couldn’t put into words how grateful he was. “This was a blessing in disguise,” he shares.
Raul Perez, a Guatemalan local indulging in his breakfast, commented in Spanish how “Rudy is so famous, everyone knows him!” Martinez interjected in Spanish with a quip of his own, “Everyone is family when they walk through those doors but no, I am not famous. My FOOD is famous. The best fair prices and good food.”
