Cubana Cafe

“Always had the seafood soup (delicious and has a great mix of seafood etc with a kick) then their ropa vieja or garlic shrimp with coconut rice.”

“I'd highly recommend the soups, chickpea salad, rice beans or pork dishes as well!”

“Try the "ropa vieja" (shredded pork with moisty olives), the typical cuban dish, as good, but different, as the one the chain Chipotle has.”

Cubana Cafe

Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes

Price range.

$$ Price range $11-30

8 reviews

  1. cute place, great service, but the elote was just boiled and very watery, huge disappointment (I love elote).

    I enjoyed the gratis chips/salsas – they were interesting and yummy.

    I honestly forgot what else I had – it was that forgettable.  

    won't be back.

  2. I only did take out, so I can't speak to the full experience but from what I can tell, this place is great. Neat spot, nice people… it has them both.

    Got a Cuban sandwich and it was bursting at the seams with meat… what more could I really ask for?

  3. Disappointing food, slow unfriendly service, and apparently cash only (at least during brunch). I guess credit card fees would put them out of business.

    Just avoid and go elsewhere. Don't let this place let you down by destroying a great cuisine.

    Pulled pork is salty dry meat with no seasoning or additions, just a pile of lousy salty meat.

    Rice is practically rice-a-roni from a box.

    Black beans are straight from a can with no flavor either. It's all bland, tasteless and not worth paying for.

    I can't keep going with this negativity because I'm so filled with u satisfied rage after this meal here. How anybody would go beyond a 3-star review is mind boggling.

  4. Crowded, to the point where you can't even get into a table without moving someone else's table– we were fortunate that not every table was filled, but if it was, could you imagine?? You would knock over other people's dishes just trying to maneuver out so you could either leave, go to the bathroom, or refill your water glass! Due to the close proximity of the tables and subsequent people AKA body heat, be prepared to be very warm while eating, to the point where you're actually sweating.

    Other decor– mediocre, nothing really stands out about the place. Well, the salt shakers are mini bottles of rum/alcohol with holes poked in the cap/lid. That was unique and cute.

    Service was quick and friendly, so no complaints there. Definitely very hard working people.

    Onto the food:

    Plaintain chips were the appetizers and they were tasty- not oily, full of flavor, and very crispy. I had better chimichurri sauce, that appeared blended and lacked flavor, other than the main ingredient involved.

    We ordered the Empanada of the day- which were two small beef filled empanadas.

    I was a bit disappointed with my dish, the Palomilla – which was garlic lime chicken, rice and beans. The chicken was tender enough, but I didn't taste any flavor other than copious amounts of salt. The rice was light, not traditional white rice, but subtle enough taste to complement the dish. I was disappointed with the beans- for some reason I was expecting black beans. In other pictures for this place, I saw black beans, so either my dish came with just red kidney beans, or they ran out of black beans, OR changed their menu. Also, the chicken came with a lot of cooked onions, something I enjoyed. So, overall the dish was edible, fairly enjoyable, but a little lackluster. It filled my stomach and got the job done, but combined with everything else, I'm not sure I would come back here.

    If anything,I'd be partial to takeout.

  5. Decent Cuban food for a great price. I live right around the corner so the cheery bright blue restaurant always seems to invite me in. The happy hour specials here are great, and the drinks are nice and stiff. Great empanadas, average elotes (nothing beats Cafe Habana's), and huge mains. I tried the Buena Vista Pollo (thin pounded chicken topped with mango salsa) and wasn't particularly impressed with the dry piece of meat, but sticking to some of the more classic dishes like Ropa Vieja, Arroz Con Pollo and the Cuban Sandwich didn't disappoint. The tres leches cake for dessert was perfect with a nice glass of red.

  6. Awesome cuban sandwich and elote. I also really enjoyed the chickpea salad that came with my sandwich. My sandwich, my boyfriend's, and a side of elote for $23.50 made it the cheapest brunch I've had in awhile.  And with $5 mimosas, sangrias, and mojitos through 5pm on the weekend, I'd have still made out like a bandit.

  7. Whenever I see a guy who's attractive, I'll say, "My ovaries want that!"

    The same can be said for Cuban and steak sammies. There's nothing more satisfying than crispy bread, some meat, sauce, all stacked together. My ovaries, well more like my stomach liked that!

    The chips and guacamole rocked too!

    We stayed for a while and the waitstaff was so accommodating, refilling our cervezas and agua. Si, se puede.

  8. My husband and I had our first date here in 2009. Tonight the restaurant wasn't as busy? 3 stars for entrees, 4 stars for dessert.

    Shrimp and avocado salad is delicious – well dressed, shrimp well seasoned, many big chunks of avo and mango. Elote was just ok, kinda cold and not sweet, maybe bc it's not corn season?

    Goat cheese empanadas weren't tasty, also kinda cold. Filetilla is just sliced hanger steak with peppers and onions without much flavor served with white or yellow rice and black or red beans.  Side of plantains always goes well.

    The entrees weren't great but the deserts were amazing!  Flan is the best I've had in a while and coconut bread pudding was warm and delish!

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Smith Street 272
11231 NY US
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Monday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Tuesday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Wednesday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Thursday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Saturday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Sunday, 9:00 am - 12:00 am