There was a long line when we arrived, but was able to get a seat at the bar without a wait. I…read morerarely sit at the bar but still received phenomenal service and delicious food. My wife ordered their Ropa Vieja and I ordered their Bistec de Palomilla. We both ordered their maduros and moros for our sides. Both dishes were delicious. The Palomilla was very tender and seasoned well. We also ordered a few mojitos and Cuba libres. It was also pretty cool watching all the action take place behind the bar. They had a special mojito guy would make about 6 mojitos at a time. Will definitely be back.

After seeing the star rating and the amount of reviews given this establishment such hype my…read moreexpectations were high. Forward to the end...it was good, but not great. My opinion, don't hate me cause I'm going against the grain here. The place itself is great. The covered patio seating area in the rear is wonderful. The service was good. The food...eh. At least my plate (Bistec En Palomilla) did not live up to the reputation. It wasn't flavorful and it definitely wasn't accompanied by enough onions...c'mon it should be drowning in onions. The mojitos on the other hand were excellent. From a price point perspective it's good as well. Will I go back?? No, I wouldn't.

Wow what a great Cubano sandwich. It was hot and as fresh as could be. We split it and it was just…read moreenough. The place is in bayside market but the directions had us on the wrong side of the place. When you walk in it is on the right near the water. The place is small but very cute and the customer service was excellent. It appears to be family owned and operated. They could not have been friendlier. Loved it.

We split the Cuban sandwich, which was plenty for two people. The sandwich was one of the better…read moreCuban sandwiches I have had although I didn't think it was exceptional. The garlic aioli they provide was good. The service was slow for it not being busy and we had a wait awhile to get two cans of Pepsi. The ambience is fine, right on the water in the midst of a touristy area with a few tables (Bayview Marketplace). Maybe that's your cup of tea but our search for the best Cuban sandwich continues.

Cafe La Trova is the real deal and then some. We came for dinner and got a full Little Havana night…read moreout of it. The food is the kind of Cuban cooking that makes you go quiet for a second: a beef and rice bowl with black beans, sweet plantains, and avocado that was rich and deep and comforting, plus a flaky empanada that disappeared in about four bites. Nothing felt like a tourist version of Cuban food. It felt like someone in the kitchen actually cares. Then the live music kicks in and the whole room lifts. A band right in the space, real Cuban son, the bartenders working behind that gorgeous bar like it is a performance of its own. The cocktail program is legendary for a reason, the cantineros are pouring with serious skill, and the energy is electric without being a chaotic club scene. Yes it is on the pricier side, entrees run into the thirties and up, but you are getting top tier food, world class drinks, and live music in one seat. Worth every dollar. Five stars, easy, and I am already trying to figure out when I can go back.

I'm going to start with the positives: the ambiance, food, and music were all excellent…read more Unfortunately, I have to warn future guests about our service experience. An older waitress served our table. She first brought us calamari that was undercooked, sticky, and raw. She replaced it with octopus, which was more expensive, and we agreed to keep it. We also asked for tap water, but she brought us bottled water instead, which cost $10. The restaurant was very dark, making it difficult to notice these things right away. Before we had a chance to review everything, the food was already served. When the check arrived, she pressured me to pay quickly, so I didn't have enough time to carefully review the bill. Later, I realized we had been charged for additional side dishes that we never ordered, which increased the total significantly. This restaurant is wonderful and doesn't need these kinds of tactics. I only wish they employed more honest waitstaff. My advice is to carefully check your order and your bill before paying so you don't end up spending extra money or dealing with unnecessary stress that could ruin an otherwise enjoyable evening. I truly loved the atmosphere and the food, but I was very disappointed by the service. For me, the ambiance and food deserve 5 stars, while the service deserves only 1 star. That averages out to a 3-star review.

Come for: any sandwich, any side…read more Know that: line gets long Wow...this place completely changed how I felt about cubanos. Never did I believe it could be so good. The restaurant is a classic touristy hole in the wall. You stand outside until ready to order, be prepared to wait 30+ mins. I ordered 2 sandwiches, cuban fries, and chicharrones to split with a friend. The cubano (5/5) and pan con bistec (5/5) were absolutely excellent. Both had a perfect ratio of meat and sauce. But what really set it apart was the crispy crusted bread. Spectacular! The chicharrones (4/5) were a steal - MASSIVE portion for like $5. Insane deal, and delicious. The cuban nachos (4.5/5) had their amazing sauce and garlic confit lechon on it. Delicious and would order both again. Overall, this is a tourist spot but one I don't think can be missed.

It was a very popular spot to get a Cuban sandwich. The ambiance and service were great but the…read moreseating is limited so avoid going around peak times if you don't want to wait. They also have a service window to the outside so you can grab and go pretty easily. The Cuban was good.

Casual, comforting Cuban/American diner in south beach. I was given this rec by a friend and it did…read morenot disappoint! The menu has a wide variety of Cuban foods but I decided to go with my go-to: a Cuban sandwich. We ordered our food to go and it was prepared quickly. The sandwich itself was probably the best Cuban I've ever had. The pickles were a nice touch.

Not what I expected, but not bad! The food had good flavor. The ambiance is diner style so it looks…read moreoutdated on the inside. The service was not the best, but that's okay. The menu was more pricey than expected which was a bit disappointing. A lot of items were around $20 and the portions weren't huge. You do get complimentary bread! We ordered: Beef empanadas 2/5 Ropa Veja 3/5 Overall, I won't be back, but a lot of people seem to like it.

Lots of Yelpers hyped up the outdoor patio, but we came during a massive thunderstorm so we didn't…read moreget to check it out. The inside is cute also! We started with the goat cheese croquettes, which were delicious! The marmalade went well, and the pickles onions and jalapeños cut the richness and were a nice complement. Husband had the Masa de Puerco chino and loved it. Big tender chunks of pork, super flavorful. I had the abuela's ropa vieja, and it was perfect. I don't even usually like plantains, and the Maduros were delicious! Oh! And the Passion lemonade was SO GOOD!! Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Loved everything about the experience, and we're hoping to get back while we're in Miami!

We came here for dinner on our first night in Miami. We made reservations but it said outdoor patio…read morewasn't available. Regardless when we arrived they sat us outside which is exactly what we were hoping for. Our server was nice at first. Explained all the popular dishes got our drinks out very quickly. I think she stole our table from someone else because shortly after someone came and we told them we put our order in and he seemed a little bothered. Unfortunately, our other server disappeared and never checked up on us. We pretty much didn't have any napkins during our entire duration of our meal. At least that part was good. We started off with a couple of mojitos and their Vaca Frita Tostones. You get these homemade maduro tostones topped off with shreeded beef in a moon sauce, pickled onion, and aji Amarillo aioli. A very delicious dish that didn't last long. Shortly after we received our main dish. I really hate when they do that. My wife ordered their Abuelas Ropa Vieja and I ordered their Masa de Puerco Chino. My wife didn't really care for her dish much. We've had plenty of Ropa Vieja before and would have preferred a congri type of rice as opppsed to just plain white rice. My dish was 10/10. Like in the name of "chino" this is an Asian inspired dish with fried rice, maduros, pineapple confit and crispy pork. A very delicious dish. It could have don't without the little salad on top, but at least it ads color to the dish. The crispy pork tasted so amazing and the fried had so much flavor. Mix in some of the maduros and you get a sweet and savory dish. Would definitely be returning to try this dish again.

The food was great, the seating area was a bit uncomfortable though since the indoor seating was…read morepacked and very small and the outdoor seating was hot!

Stopped by here on a Saturday and loved it. We sat outside and had a perfect view of Washington Ave…read morebut it was shady and was well decorated around us. Our server was Christian and he did a great job accommodating us. We ordered a tostones avocado breakfast and an American breakfast. Everything served to us was incredible. The Cuban toast and the tostones made these dishes! We will be back!

I visited Havana about 20 years ago. I loved the beans and rice. So, we had to try an authentic…read moreCuban meal. I had their famous chicken, which is roasted in a special gravy sauce. It comes with fried plantains, fingerling potatoes and beans and rice. It was amazing! Chicken was perfect. The beans and rice were delectable. Service was excellent. Inside was a little small, but full of Cuban decor. Wife and son shared a Cuban sandwich. They loved it. The fries were also terrific. Highly recommend!

Classic Cuban flavors with rich, comforting dishes…read more Had the lechón asado (roasted pork) at Havana 1957 and enjoyed the meal overall. The roasted pork was tender, juicy, and packed with savory garlic-forward flavor. The crispy edges added a nice contrast in texture, and the mojo-style seasoning brought everything together with a bright, citrusy punch. It was comforting, flavorful, and paired really well with the traditional sides. Service was friendly and attentive, and the staff made the dining experience smooth even during a busy time. The vibe is lively and colorful, with a nostalgic Cuban café atmosphere that makes the whole experience feel festive and welcoming. It's a great spot for groups, casual dinners, or anyone looking to enjoy classic Cuban comfort food. Overall, a really solid Cuban meal with bold flavors and generous portions. I'd come back to try more of their traditional dishes and cocktails.