Rou Bakery

I can’t say enough good things about this Uruguayan Bakery. If you are in the neighborhood definitely stop by in the morning for some delicious pastries and a café. I think their lunch and dinner options are even better. From raviolis to milanesa you can’t go wrong. If you aren’t from Uruguay or familiar with the culture, you have to try the Chivito (steak) sandwich. It’s amazing.

ROU Bakery is an Elizabeth institution; an amalgam of working-​class Uruguayan and what remains a post-​European-​epicurean nostalgia. It’s been around for 25 years, serving pastries, and in recent years, pasta and Uruguayan delicacies, such as Pasqualina, handmade Gnocchi, empanadas, Chivito, Milanesas, etc.
Now to some, you may think, «Well, that just sounds like Italian.» Yeah, you’re right, except that you forgot one little fact: 40−50% of Uruguayans descend from Italian immigrants, so the cuisine is a blend of meat and pasta.
Humberto Perrone, current owner of ROU, has done an amazing job with keeping the food consistent, as well as having it remain a focal point for the Uruguayan community. The irony is that ROU is actually more Italian than any other NJ Italian bakery/​restaurant I’ve been to.
But, hands down, one of the best food spots in Jersey, this place is legendary — 25+ years can attest to it.