Cabana has been my favorite Caribbean-latino restaurant since I was 8. A Forest Hills gem. They have locations in Manhattan, as well. A testament to their success. Ambiance: A little crowded, lively. Definitely not a place for a 2+ hour dinner. I'm usually out in under 2 hours. Colorful decor, small spaces for seating, outdoor seating in the summer. They can make you wait a while for a table or you can be seated right away. It really varies. They have a small bar area if you have to wait. They DO NOT seat without the whole party. Drinks: The red wine sangria is the only thing you should ever drink there. Though, ask that they lessen the sugar. Over the years, the sangria has gotten sweeter. Not sure if it's a change in the wine or maybe the actual amount of sugar added. Either way, it's not as great as it was in the past but it's still my favorite red wine sangria in NYC. I've heard good things about the mojitos but I would never betray my sangria. Food: Like the sangria, it's not the same as it was in the past. But, it's still amazing. Best things to order: 1-Churrasco, medium rare or rare (it cooks a lot on the plate) with rice and beans or salad if you want to be healthy, 2-coconut shrimp (the dressings/accompaniments used to be different cause it doesn't taste as good to me but still worth ordering now), 3- the plátanos rellenos is possibly the best platano dish in NYC-get the mixture of the meats (fried plaintain cups filled with meat and accompanied by the best garlic oil), 4- CABANA BANANA FRITTERS (I could die on those banana fritters and the simple banana ice cream that comes with it). My parents always used to order Paella, Chicharrones de pollo, and salmon salad. Those are pretty great dishes but not stand out like the ones above. Pricing: It's fairly on the expensive side for Forest Hills. I think it's absolutely worth every dime. Y'all have no clue how difficult it is to make plátanos rellenos so uniformly. Service: Very average. Nothing has ever stood out as bad or particularly good over all these years at any location. I would be AMAZED if you went and didn't like the dishes I listed. Love this place! Tip: Keep your garlicky oil sauce from the plátanos rellenos for your churrasco-it's better than their chimichurri. read more

Cool and fun spots in FoHi! I was thinking a 3.5 rating, but rounded up to a 4 and I will get into how they can earn the full 4. I have only been here for the lunch specials. They offer reasonably price lunch specials that include soup, rice and beans. We ordered the CHICHARRONES DE POLLO and ROPA VIEJA. Both dishes were tasty. The ROPA VIEJA was a bit small, it could have been better if the dish had as much meat as the pollo dish. We also ordered the seafood paella, which wasn't on the lunch menu. I would order all 3 dishes again. Now for the next 1/2 point knock. My whole party felt disrespected by the waitress. We understand a larger bill leads to a larger tip. The waitress did her best to keep reminding us. She asked us 3 different times if we wanted more than just water. I have had the pina coladas here before, they were ok. For this meal, we all just wanted water. The paella can easily feed 2 and she reminded us a couple of times that we could be short a dish. Then after offering to explore the dessert menu and deciding not to order dessert, she seemed very surprised. Finally, not sure if this is standard procedure, but she collected our unused appetizer plates and instead of putting them in the dishwashing bin, she just returned the plates to the unused stack to be used again later for different guests. We were touching those plates. We do not plan on identifying this waitress. Instead, we just want to let management know that we had a nice experience, but this waitress put a bit of a damper on it. We will likely return, but probably won't be in a rush. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. The tostones rellenos we very good, although much hotter (temperature) than I expected which caused me to burn my mouth a bit. Despite that we were very pleased with our meal. Service was good as well. I would return! Sidenote: the couple seated next to us made us feel slightly awkward. Neither spoke to each other the entire time and both were constantly on their phone. WEIRD. read more

This place used to be good .. not sure what happened but it's fallen off .. we paid 124$ for a disgusting meal you can tell they used frozen seafood I had the paella .. it smelled delicious but tasted terrible .seafood was overcooked and rubbery . I couldn't even finish it ! The service was terrible .. we were ready to order and the server only wanted to take drinks and apps first only to come back 3 mins later to take our food order I didn't see the point . And she was rude .. didn't check up on the table we had to wave her down for everything. I will never come back here I don't recommend anything that was good about the food here. read more

Been coming here for years. It's my go to spot for great food, great service and great drinks. Come in hungry!. Vegetable fritters, jerk chicken wings, yuka fries, and churasco with extra chimichurri and red onions. We split that order between two people and leave stuffed! If you are in a drinking mood their sangria and their mojitos (that come with real sugarcane) are great. It gets a bit crowded and they dont take phone reservations so call ahead and see if there is a wait. I usually put my name down and walk at the park or down Austin Street and build up a bigger appetite. read more

Cabana - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Very good food and waiters are on point ! Pleasure to eat here and will be going back soon !

Nice place . Family type of dining atmosphere . Food pretty good as well .. staff were very nice as well . read more

Cabana - Chicken and shrimp in garlic sauce with plantains and rice - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Good for date night, girls night out or small group dinners I went to this place on a Saturday night. It was pretty busy but we were able to get a table within 15 min. Decor: it's a good-size restaurant with plenty of seats. There is also an outside patio area that is really nice, especially now during summer months. The ambiance is cozy, but the noise level is pretty high inside. Service: it was good. The waiter frequently came to check on us and offer suggestions for meals. My friend and I talked for a very long time and they never made us feel rush to leave, which I appreciated. Food: The food came relatively quickly and was delicious. I ordered the mix meat platter and she had a veggie dish. Both of them were tasty. The prices are about $$ with most meals between $15-25. Good fine! read more

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Amazing food and great service. Love this place. I had the skirt stake, yellow rice and black beans. Amazing. I also had a side of sweet plantains. Also great. And as an appetizer I had jerk wings. It was so good I couldn't stop eating them even though I am not a fan of spicy food. My friend had chicken and she loved it. read more

Cabana - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

I've been here a handful of times, so I've had a chance to try different items from their menu. There's always a wait to get a table during the weekends. Their tables located closer to the entrence are a little too close to eatch other, so try to sit in the main dining area. Also, don't come here for the service. The staff doesn't seem to smile much. Appetizers: Their Maduros (sweat plantains) are excellent. I'm not a big fan of Tostones, but they were pretty good here. I've tried their Calamari here, but I thought it was just decent. Entrees: My favorite of their steak is the Churrasco. I've had it twice here and both times it was cooked well and tasted very good. I didn't like their Ropa Vieja much, so I'd go for the Churrasco if you're not a fan of shredded steak. I also tried their Paella Valenciana which was excellent. Probably one of my favorite paellas from the area. The rice and beans that comes with their meals is good, but I've had a lot better at other Latin restaurants. I wish they'd put more beans on the plate. Try their flan for dessert. It's very good. read more

They change your silverware after each course! And change the paper on the table too! Very clean. Service is attentive but not overbearing. Water comes, menus too. Tostones and wings are really good. Arroz con pollo, shrimp with garlic and ropa vieja are similar with rice etc but have completely different and wonderful flavors!! Mojitos are strong! Cafe con leche and flan compete the meal. Come anytime always worth it. read more

The food is great and the service is even better! Went on a Tuesday evening and it was pretty crowded but the wait was not bad. I highly recommend this restaurant. They also have nice cocktails. If driving, parking is hard. read more

Cabana - Camarones al Ajillo - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Good Cuban food! Staff was very friendly took a while to get seated but the place was very nice.

The Cabana is a top notch Cuban restaurant. They have lots of delicious Cuban food which I love. It is a bit pricey but it is definitely worth it read more

First time here, my choice of traditional plate was very tasteful , veggies served in curry coco milk. Service was friendly and attentive, our server was friendly. Will return to try their other choice of foods. read more

Cabana - Coco cabana with Jumbo shrimp, squash, cassava, green peas, broccoli, carrots - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

We arrived on a weeknight and while it was packed, we were seated right away. The service was pretty good and friendly. The food we ordered however was very underwhelming. The jerk chicken while it looked good tasted flavorless and just not tasty at all. The playa salad was alright but too salty for my liking. The drinks were yum! Alas, we were disappointed with the food that I don't think it's worth coming back here again. read more

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The wait was a bit long and parking can be a pain in the area but the food was very good. I enjoyed my sangria and the salmon with black rice was well seasoned. I was very full and satisfied at the end of my meal and in a block full of restaurants, it is definitely a standout. read more

Stop in for takeout took 45 min to get food. The food is okay nothing special!!Nice an clean nice bar looks really nice!!Great place to take a date go a little early to look for parking don't forget the quarter have a Cubanan na time!!! Okay!! read more

A girlfriend first told me about this place a couple weeks ago for a girls night. Unfortunately I did not make it, and I say unfortunately because after trying it yesterday I could kick myself. After walking out of another Latin restaurant in the area due to lack of service, I was elated to find the staff here very charming and kind. It was definitely a relief to have such warm service. My bf and I opted for the specials of the day. He had the salmon over black rice with a lobster sauce and 2 shrimp empanadas. While the sauce could feel a bit heavy, it gave a good contrast to the rice and salmon, which did not have as much flavor. Not a bad thing per se, as it balanced out the dish very well. I had the churrasco special with shrimp, yellow rice/black beans and tostones. Wow, I'm still salivating over the flavor profile. Unlike the steak on the regular menu, this doesn't come on a sizzling hot metal plate. Instead it comes folded on a regular plate. I ordered medium which left the skirt steak absolutely juicy and loaded with flavor. The tostones were flat more like the platano of a patacon which left them pretty dry. Luckily they had the chance to soak some of the tasty juices from the shrimp and steak. The flan was good, but nothing spectacular. The perfect touch is sweetness with the Cafecito Cubano we ordered. Prices can feel pretty steep. The churrasco special was $35 (only 3 pcs of shrimp) and the salmon was $25, felt a little backwards. However, it is a decent amount of food. Unless I'm the neighborhood I wouldn't go out of my way, but great to know the options exist! read more

Cabana - Churrasco special - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

I always come here for La Playa salad - it's exceptionally good! the best time to visit is on a week day right after 5 pm - it's not very busy yet. Our server was great, very attentive and thoughtful. I'm definitely returning. read more

Stopped in for the lunch special for the first time and I'll be back. I'm a lifelong Forest Hills resident and have seen many places come and go, but Cabana is going very strong. I've had dinner a few times, both have been good, if not a bit overpriced. This time I got there around 12 and got a table right away. There were a few other diners as well. Had the Pollo Empanizado. Breaded chicken fried with avocado, fresh lettuce, as well as tomato, black bean sauce and a tangy garlic scotch bonnet mayo. It was served on a crunchy pressed Cuban type sandwich roll with thin cut plantain fries and a spicy and tasty dipping sauce. There were plenty if other options all priced reasonably. Total was $21 with tip. I always tip between 25-30 percent, we all should. Only had a coke, no booze. I highly recommend the very reasonably priced lunch menu any day of the week! read more

Cabana - Good lunch specials - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

This is that Cuban restaurant that will have you going back over and over. Due to full houses and extremely long waits, I was finally able to make it here for a late dinner on a weekday, for a well overdue visit. We started with a salad - the Aguacate. Freshly tossed avocado, tomato, onions and greens - and the lime vinaigrette was just perfectly sour and well balanced. For the entrees we ordered - yes of course, the Churrasco. Perfect, perfect, perfect, down to the last bite. So flavorful, tender and juicy. This is a must get! Chuletas de Cerdo - the pork chops were indeed also very tender. Flavorful and cooked to perfection. I'm not sure if you can go wrong with a selection here... I will be trying their drinks on my next visit for sure! If I can leave a tip, I'd say to reserve beforehand or avoid peak hours. The waits are no joke! (& we see why) read more

Cabana - Aguacate - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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Had brunch here this weekend, once again they never disappoint, food is always good, drink are even better. Can be a little noisy at times but that goes along with the great atmosphere, I highly recommend this place if you like latin food. read more

this restaurant was one of the best cuban restaurant I have tried. The staff was super nice & pleasant. The paradila was great ! the meat was cooked to perfection, the chorizo and loganiza was seared perfectly, and the chicken had enough seasoning, and was juicy on the inside. I will definitely be coming back ! read more

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Delicious!!! Get the red sangria. Yellow rice and beans is great every time. My husband is from NYC but we live in KC now. Can't get authentic food like this in KC. read more

Food was out of this world amazing. I had the skirt steak and it was to die! So juicy and paired well with the pickled onions. We also had the fried banana dessert that we could not stop raving about between each bite. I would go back just for that dessert!! Service was good and it wasn't loud which was nice because we could hear each other talk. Would definitely recommend you check this place out if you are in the area! read more

Cabana - Fried banana dessert. Amazing - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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I enjoyed the Ropa Vieja. Plantains weren't sweet, coconut shrimps had no flavor to it. The hot sauce was bomb! Overpriced. read more

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From the service to the drinks to the taste of the food. Everything was amazing. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting the area. the setting is intimate. The waiters and waitresses were very attentive to us and helpful. We didn't have to ask for anything. Any time our water needed a refill, our waiter was right there to serve us. There was a group of 6 of us and no one had a complaint! read more

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The food was amazing and did not let me down. Order the fried calamari for starters and every bite was extremely savory. My main dish was the churrasco with white rice and black beans and must say it was cooked just as I asked and beyond tasteful. I will be returning toy this place a few more times and recommend that you try it to. It will not disappoint and the layo it was safe and enjoyable for my family and I. read more

Cabana - Churrasco with white rice and black beans - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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I moved to New York from Miami. I loved Cuban food and that is one of the things I missed. However, Cabana is now my go-to restaurant when i want to give myself a treat. The service and ambiance is welcoming and the food is great and authentic. read more

I've worked near this place for years, I finally started trying it out about a year and a half ago and loved it. I always go with the Classic cubano since it's not that easy to get a good cubano around here. The pork, cheese and just about everything is perfect with it. One thing to keep an eye out for is their lunch special. The cubano is on there and the sandwich comes with a soup and plantain chips but when it's not during the lunch special hours, it could be a bit pricey for a cubano. I would totally recommend it, especially dinning in since the scenario seems amazing (I usually get the take out haha). read more

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Intimate setting for Cuban Cuisine. Food is good, drinks are delicious. Please don't go without tasting the cortado coffee.

First time coming here and I can tell you it will NOT be my last. The food was so good and it is seasoned so well. I don't think you'll find anything you don't like in this menu. The mojitos and sangria were great. I had. It's red and white, and red was my favorite. Dessert was amazing. Had arros con pollo and empanadas, along with totones rellenos. I highly recommend this place. Dessert we had banana zeppolies and tres Lethe cake. The banana ice cream alone was amazing. I will be back and will tell everyone I know to go here. read more

Cabana - Latin American Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

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Giving it a star because I hope the menu changes soon! Same options and the food was too salty and it made sick ! Made home in time to throw up! I ordered the fish fritters (bacalaitos) no where close to an original bacalaito it was more like potatoes fritters with a pinch of fish (awful) stacked up one on top another and with smashed avocado between each fritter (presentation was poor). I also ordered picadillo, rice and beans (presentation was a turn off) yellow rice (overcooked) grown beef on top and a river of black beans laced around the rice making the rice a soup! Very turned off and will stay with the authenticity that Rincón Criollo in Junction Blvd serve the community with REAL CUBAN CUISINE this place is fake Cuban food! Never again ! Gave it a third chance dissatisfied every time. Manager never bother to acknowledge guess coming in or leaving!! Atmosphere, Food, Prices and Presentation I give them an "F" score! Including making sick today!! read more

Not my favorite place, last time I'll be returning. I don't know if they change the chef, but it was horrible. Cold and no taste.

I've been here and I really like it. It's been a while I have to go visit here soon. Food is good.

The food was quite good. I just need to try a different dish next time. Not a lot of food selection from the menu. I looked at the salad section but ended up ordering an entree. I met my friend here and she had dined at this restaurant in the past. She recommended a chicken dish with coconut and some vegetable. I ordered that and it came with rice and beans. I ate half of it and took half home because the dish filled me up quickly. The coconut sauce was too creamy so I felt full quickly. The taste was quite good. When it comes to the tea selection, they have a huge selection of teas. I picked green tea with lemon and honey. My friend had a split pea soup. Her dish came in a big bowl so that was her dinner. Service was good. The restaurant has lovely colors and decors. They stay true to the name and style. We were in a huge Cabana in the winter! Neat! read more

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I only ate here once and they are pretty pricey. Definitely worth the price tho. We ordered take out, when we walked in the door we was amazed by the aroma of food. How delicious it smelled. It was around noon the place was packed and not to mention the place isn't that big at all. It's a very tight squeeze. ( I would definitely suggest calling ahead when ordering take out). For two reason, the first being it's so tight you have to keep shifting around, and second they take a very long time to make the food. Which is also good cause that mean the food is fresh. I ordered from the Lunch Special the Carmencita which is Grilled Chicken Breast marinated in fresh Caribbean fruit juices and spices basted with jerk barbecue sauce served on a Cuban roll for $11.95 plus tax you also get a choice of soup or salad served with plantains and garlic mojo. It was good. I would definitely come back to try the menu. read more

We had the worse service ever in this restaurant after waiting over 10min to get seated. After placing our orders they took over 40min to get our order out , after several complains. They were serving everyone around us except us. I will never go there again, for me they miss treated us because we when there with our work clothes. read more

Meh. Latina here. Food was very oily, sangria was sweet. Bacalito taste pre-made. But most of all, bathroom was gross. Felt like it didn't belong here. They should clean it up and light a candle. However, service was great. read more