Cuban Pete’s, a beloved Montclair eatery, has recently found itself at the center of a local debate concerning its sangria. Dominick Restaino, the owner of Cuban Pete’s, reached out to share his side of the story, aiming to clarify the situation and address concerns regarding the restaurant’s operations and adherence to New Jersey alcohol regulations. Restaino, who also previously owned Mexicali Rose for a decade before selling it in 2004, emphasizes his long-standing commitment to the Montclair community and his dedication to serving authentic Cuban flavors.
Restaino explained that after selling Mexicali Rose, he initially moved to Florida with plans to open a Cuban Pete’s there. However, due to a series of hurricanes, he decided to return to Montclair, “Emerald City,” and establish Cuban Pete’s. The process of obtaining a New Jersey wine license proved lengthy, taking eight months for state approval. Just two days before the planned opening, a setback occurred when a representative from a New Jersey winery informed Restaino that they could not supply wine for his sangria concept.
Crowd enjoying an event in Montclair
According to Restaino, the winery representative stated that his sangria concept was seen as circumventing the wine license regulations, which require wine to be sold by the bottle, not by the glass, unless served straight. Despite this, the winery itself sells bottled sangria, creating further confusion for Restaino. Faced with this challenge so close to opening and having already invested his savings and erected approved sangria signs, Restaino sought a solution.
Drawing on his extensive 31 years in the restaurant industry, Restaino, at 39 years old, opted for a traditional approach to sangria preparation. He decided to “cook” the wine with fruit, a method intended to both enhance the flavor and reduce the alcohol level, ensuring compliance with New Jersey’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws. Restaino highlights that the ABC was aware of his sangria signs and his intended approach.
The issue escalated when the ABC insisted on the removal of his sangria signs, claiming that serving sangria necessitated a liquor license. Restaino contests this, citing Webster’s Dictionary definition of sangria as “a usually iced punch made of red wine, fruit juice, and soda water,” arguing that fundamentally, “wine + fruit = sangria.” He draws an analogy to other culinary preparations involving alcohol, such as vodka in penne alla vodka or wine reductions in sauces, pointing out that sangria, especially when cooked and diluted with fruit and juices, often contains a lower alcohol content than these dishes.
During a visit from the ABC, on the day of his arrest, Restaino notes that inspectors found 29 cases of wine with only 9% alcohol content on his premises. He reiterates that the cooking process and the addition of other ingredients further dilute the wine, resulting in a sangria that adheres to state ABC laws. Restaino emphasizes his Spanish heritage and his belief that Cuban Pete’s serves “real sangria,” distinct from versions he’s seen elsewhere that incorporate hard liquors like vodka, whiskey, or cognac, which he considers inauthentic.
Restaino expresses a sense of irony, suggesting that the actions of the ABC, the state of New Jersey, the Montclair police, and even the media attention have inadvertently boosted the popularity of Cuban Pete’s sangria. He now offers 20 different tropical sangria flavors. He attributes his arrest to a misunderstanding of sangria’s true nature and definition. Despite feeling targeted, Restaino states his willingness to cooperate with the ABC, even if it means removing the sangria signs, underscoring his respect for the law.
Looking ahead, Dominick Restaino plans to turn this experience into a positive by hosting special events at Cuban Pete’s to raise funds for organizations like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) once the legal matter is resolved and he is found not guilty. He aims to contribute to educating the community about responsible alcohol consumption and drunk driving prevention. Concluding his statement, Restaino reaffirms his love for Montclair, “Emerald City,” and his commitment to his dream, ending with “God Bless.”
