Cuban Foodies

Our Sunday after church with family, wife & I, eldest daughter, youngest daughter and two youngest grandkids. Visited on a recommendation from a friend and online ratings.Small but comfy, we found a table for 6 right by the window. I was surprised that a server came to wait on us. Mayte took our drink orders while we glanced at the menu. We decided on the Family Meal with Ropa Vieja and Pollo A La Plancha, with Yellow Rice and Black Beans. Grandkids also wanted Fries. We also ordered one each of Empanadas, Beef, Chicken and Spinach and an order of Mari-k-tas Plantain Chips. Shortly Mayte brought our Plantain Chips, followed by the assorted Empanadas. The Chips were great, fresh, hot and crispy. I divided the Empanadas into sections so all could try some. They were good, but not hot and had apparently been in the warmer I saw earlier. Disappointing since I was the one that really looked forward to them. Next came Cuban bread, crispy and terrific. Then our meals came. A huge bowl of yellow rice, a nice bowl of black beans, fries, and bowls of Ropa Vieja and Chicken A La Plancha. The meats were delicious, full of flavor. The rice was very good and the beans were the best I’ve ever had. And the fries were terrific, hot and crispy and super tasty. Bread was so tasty we had to order more. And of course Momma had to get desserts to share. The Rice Pudding was great, took me back to my childhood. The Flan was ok, not a big fan of Flan. Sadly they no longer have Tres Leche cake. The food was excellent and the service was great. Definitely the best Cuban food I’ve eaten in years. The only disappointment was the Empanadas. They can be pre-made and cooked fresh very quickly. But not enough to deter a 5 star rating. Another “must try” place.

Great menu, good variety of food and drinks. Nice restaurant, well decorated. Everything in the menu looked amazing. Very large portions !! The coffee was one of the best I had in a while ! I'm definitely coming back to try ... everything !! ...the service was amazing, very courteous and proffesional.

"I recently visited Cuban Foodies in Tampa and I was blown away by the experience. The coldest beer I've ever had in the area paired perfectly with the delicious pork dishes. The restaurant truly embodies the essence of Cuban cuisine and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a taste of authentic flavors. A must-visit for foodies and anyone seeking a top-notch dining experience."

What a great experience. First of all, I am Cuban and my mom cooks amazingly. So my standards are high. The plantain Mariquitas are well done and traditional. They came accompanied with a tomato based dipping sauce, however I prefer the traditional lime/garlic sauce. The Yuca Fries are perfect, crispy and light with a great dipping sauce. I had the Fricase de Pollo (chicken fricasee very similar to an Italian Cacciatore) and it could be no better. The sauce is the traditional Cuban base and tasty. For dessert I had the Flan and was pleasantly surprised to see that they drip a little guava marmalade in the plate. The kitchen not only cooks traditionally but also plates very nicely. The ambiance feels classy and very Cuban...they even have an elegant Cuban Domino table set and ready to be used. Service was friendly and efficient. A great experience and much more authentic than the other Cuban restaurant located across the street, which left me unimpressed a few weeks back.