Little Cuban spot close to my significant other's apartment in the east village. Well-known to be awesome for drinks. I came here to celebrate after a career milestone with some friends. A visually-appealing woody interior with posters lines the wall. Vaguely Cuban accents with a very pleasant crowd. Everyone knows each other here, the staff and patrons, and it's very much a neighborhood feel when I went on a Friday evening. Drinks were strong yet delicious. Me and my significant other got the churrasco (flank steak) and the nachos. The nachos had a ton of substance. Lots of ground meat, a dollop of guac, and sour cream. Cheaper yet still very satisfying. I asked what the server usually gets. She said the flank steak is her favorite so I ordered one of those medium rare. It came out perfectly cooked with a chimichurri sauce and served with rice and beans. Super packed with flavor and yummy. My girlfriend is not a fan of "slabs of meat" but really couldn't give enough of this meal. Overall, successful meal. I found great value in this visit read more

Cantina Cubana - Nachos and churasca - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and finally visited with a group of 5. We were able to get a table without a reservation at around 6:00 pm on the first Saturday night of the New Year. We were warmly greeted by one of the servers before being seated at a table near the window. The standout dishes we enjoyed were the Ropa Vieja, Salmon, and the Calamares Ricardo. The Red Sangria was also solid. While the guacamole in the guac and chips was good, I think they used store bought Tostitos for the chips:( Our group wasn't that fond of the Tres Leche either, as it was a bit grainy and covered in chocolate sauce. While service started off strong in the beginning, it declined throughout our meal. Came to learn that an automatic tip was added, which may explain why. If you're in the area, it's worth giving it a try, but I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here. read more

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I ate at Cafe Cortadito a number of times but this was my first time at this location I certainly was not disappointed The food, drinks, service and staff were all amazing My friend had a Cuban sandwich and I ordered a chicken dish which were both delicious But by far the star of the meal were the Maduros - just perfect read more

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Yes, folks, this place is great. I have been a customer for several years, when they were known as Cortadito in the same area. The food is always excellent here, and the owners are wonderful people. Go and have some great food there. You will not be disappointed. read more

I went here a good while ago with a group in the early evening. I don't remember it being particularly loud and the service was pretty friendly. In general, it's a tad pricier than other Cuban spots and I wish they had their brunch sandwiches such as the Cubano during dinner hours as I likely would have preferred that. I went with the Vaca Frita for $23.95 listed as pan-fried shredded skirt steak flavored with mojo criollo sauce. The dish as per others entrees are served with arroz y frijoles/rice and beans. The presentation was nice though I found the meat a tad salty even for this dish. The shredded beef had a slightly chewy texture otherwise as expected with the sweet onions helping with both texture and helping a bit with the saltiness though I wish they were grilled a tad more. The beans and rice were standard/fine outside of the nice presentation. I got a side of Maduros/Sweet Fried Plantains for $5.95 which were fine. They could have been caramelized a bit more but the flavor was still good. The food was the definition of a 3. A bit pricey for the quality but hey it's Alphabet City. I'd probably order the Rabo next time unless they add their cubano to their dinner menu. 3.1 estrellas. read more

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What a great restaurant! We sat outside, and enjoyed the ambiance. The food was simple, but great, and the mojitos - strong and delicious! Will definitely be back. Service was very good. read more

The best Cubano I've had. I believe they use a fresh Italian loaf pressed ultra thin. Couple slices of smoked ham. Perfectly layered pulled pork. Cheese, mustard, and carefully placed pickle chips. Generously seasoned exterior which creates these pockets of ultra flavorful char. Please DM if you've had a better Cubano. This is likely the G.O.A.T. Aside from the life changing Cubano, I had a mezcal margarita. Pretty solid. I also had a Cuban coffee which is generously sugared and another must order. Small and intimate atmosphere. The hostess is so welcoming. She's the perfect tiaita. Incredibly welcoming and accommodating. To top it off we were graced by a fellow who had a painting of himself on the restaurant. Such an East Village moment. One restroom which was spacious, single occupancy and had on side handicap accessibility bar. Loved that the paper towels were held in a Cohiba box. read more

I don't write many reviews, but all in all this place was amazing! The atmosphere was great. I couldn't stop moving to the beat of the music. It was loud enough to enjoy, yet still perfect for conversation with the people I was with. The food and drinks were divine. And don't listen to any other reviews about the tres leches. It is amazing. So good! After having theirs, I think I've found a new favorite dessert. The service was attentive and friendly, and I can't wait to go back! read more

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Food was amazing & so was the ambiance. The stuffed plátanos with shrimp were delicious! read more

Cantina Cubana - Maduros - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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Clean , pleasant atmosphere, Fast service, great food and drinks this was our first time at the new location and we will definitely be returning! read more

We needed some dinner after checking out an art exhibit on Avenue B, and Yelp presented me with Cantina Cubana. While there was only one [positive] review available, I went over the menu on their website and it seemed promising. Due to the mild weather, we elected to sit outside though the inside looked appealing as well. Being on a corner and the weekend before Halloween meant prime people watching. I was learning towards the ropa vieja ($22.95) but I went with the vaca frita ($23.95) and a side of maduros ($5.95) to share. The server said that the vaca frita ("pan-fried shredded skirt steak flavored with mojo criollo sauce") came with rice and beans, works for me. I also made sure that it didn't contain cilantro.  The vaca frita portion was quite generous and tasty, and I found myself rapidly becoming full. The white rice was also of a plentiful nature though the beans were in a small cup which I initially mistook for a sauce. The maduros came out hot, tender, sweet, and nicely caramelized on the sides, yum!  Service could've been somewhat more attentive, but it was polite and helpful overall. The tables were pretty wobbly though. Due to being limited on time, I wasn't able to scope out the desserts but going by dinner, I'm sure they were quality. Do check out Cantina Cubana if you find yourself in Alphabet City! read more

Cantina Cubana - Menu - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Good food but I find it overpriced for the amount of food (examples tacos come with no rice, beans, etc.). Cute patio and nice vibe.

This is the best Cuban Sandwich!!! Everyone is so nice and the place has a lovely aesthetic. I foresee this to be the new "in the know"spot for great food. Bravo!!! read more

This restaurant delivered on its basic purpose. Employees demonstrated perfect service skills. The dishes deliver satisfaction and nutrition. This restaurant delivers reliable results. I want to explore more of their menu soon. read more

Came in on July 5th and they were just opening. It is a cute restaurant and the music playlist was wonderful. We ordered mimosas and they were yummy. I had the Chicken over rice with beans and an egg. I try to stay away from beans for dietary reasons but they were irresistible. They were buttery and not dry and I think about those beans often. The chicken was tender, and had a great grill taste that made it a simple but delicious meal on a stupid hot day. I really enjoyed myself and the servers were super nice and quick. 10/10 would return no question. read more

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This restaurant deserves more recognition. Cantina Cubana chooses better starting materials. Workers at Cantina Cubana welcomed our family with open arms. The atmosphere here feels authentic. This restaurant ensures customer happiness. read more

Food, ambience and service were all above and beyond....I had the snapper, it was excellent

A Latin jewel in the middle of LES. Among all the bars and lounges, you have a cozy dinner spot to meet with friends or a date. The food is very tasty and the service is amazing. I had the Lechon special (roasted pork). It didn't feel greasy, yet it was succulent and juicy. Topped off with maduros (fried sweet plantains) rice and beans. And yes, the maduros had crispy edges, just like I like them. read more

Cantina Cubana - Lechon - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

DELICIOSO TODO!! Sin palabras. Se nota que hacen la comida con calidad y amor!! Muy bien servicio read more

Cantina Cubana - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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What a great place! Best Cubano I've ever had. Ropa Vieja was so flavorful. Can beans be any more delicious! And the drinks were tasty and generous. Really pretty. Perfect for date night or dinner with friends. Go! read more

This Cantina Cubana brings joy with every plate they serve. I get complete satisfaction from this place. The dishes contained unfamiliar elements of high standard. The workers offer exceptional service and truly care about their products. My family members unanimously want to return. read more

The ambiance was warm and inviting. The service was excellent. The food and drinks were delicious.

This restaurant knows how to make customers happy. Workers deliver okay service, with room to improve. The dishes impressed apart from individualized attention. Both the cooking and service shine here. This place will satisfy your standards. read more

Came here for Mother's Day without reservations and got seated right away. Food was delish! My husband and girls enjoyed their entrees and my mojito was perfection! Def recommend spotting in if you're around the way. This spot won't disappoint. The owners are super friendly and humble! What's not to love about everything I just mentioned?! Go here, NOW! read more

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From former owners of cafe Cortadito, Husband-Wife combo Patricia and Ricardo have returned with a truly remarkable restaurant in a tremendous location on the lower east side. There are no bad dishes here, but some standouts include the plantain chip guacamole, steak and eggs and the Cuban sandwich. This is my favorite restaurant in nyc ! read more

Shrimp quesadilla was very good. Good drinks, music, ambience, and service too. Great for a happy hour or pregame.

Amazing food and drinks with great staff. I got the cubano this time and it was out of this world! You should definitely check Cantina Cubana out! read more

Their Churrasco is one of my favorite meals I've ever had, and it's perfect every time. The restaurant has a fantastic vibe, it's super cozy and welcoming and they've clearly put a lot of though and effort into creating a nice dining room. The service here is always top-notch, making the whole dining experience really enjoyable. read more

Cantina Cubana - Churrasco - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Incredible and reasonably priced. I would recommend the cubano and the strawberry margaritas.

Delicious food, excellent drinks, very caring owners, nice comfortable atmosphere, arroz con pollo perfectly cooked, calamares tender and made to order, flan had perfect texture read more

I got the vegetarian plate. It consisted of fried plantains, rice & beans, and an avocado/pineapple salad. The plantains were bombbb! However, the amount of rice & beans (especially the rice) was sooo small for the $20 price of the meal. The salad didn't really add much to the meal and seemed like more of a filler for the small amount of rice and beans. Next time I'd prob just get several side orders of plantains lol. Ps. The place itself is sooo cute! Nice outdoor seating too read more

Amazing food and drinks. They use to be located around the corner, but they re opened in a more spacious, comfortable place. Service is always super fast and friendly. Can't ever go wrong with some good authentic Cuban cuisine. 10/10 read more

Cantina Cubana - Piña colada - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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This place was 15/10. Everything was phenomenal. Walked in no reservation for 2 people. They sat us at a great table. Service was immediate, great wine, entrees out 15 min after we ordered. Had the ropa vieja and the skirt steak. Both were delicious! Waiters were so great. Cant wait to come back. read more

Exceptionally delicious Cuban food, wonderfully gracious and welcoming family-run restaurant, and cozy comfortable ambience! We have family in Miami and so eat out lots in Cuban restaurants there. The food here in Cantina Cubana is as good as the best local Cuban restaurant in Miami and better than any other we've ever had in NYC. read more

Cantina Cubana - Cantina Cubana Christmas Tree - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Cantina Cubana (which used to be Cafe Cortadito down the block) is an amazing family-run restaurant, and the owners are the absolute BEST. The food is always incredible and the overall space of this spot is genuinely warm and welcoming. I've been enjoying their food and service for the past almost 10 years now, and it never disappoints. Highly recommend for those that want great quality food while supporting a small business ran by great people. read more

Highly recommend. We really enjoyed our meal. Great food and nice atmosphere. Good service.

Such an amazing restaurant with delicious food and fabulous owners. I love this restaurant and go back here every time.

The service was overall great! Nice ambiance! Food was also good too when I was with my mom. I ordered a cheeseburger and it was bland but I didn't mind. The cup that I drank from was a little dirty so I got a new one. My mom ordered a steak salad and it had more seasoning. But the restaurant was good overall read more

Absolutely loved!! This restaurant just opened, is beautifully designed, and has a wonderful, candlelit and warm ambiance. Medium noise level and great corner location. The food was AMAZING, especially the beef tacos, the guacamole, and the Vaca Frita. The margaritas could have been better but the mojitos were great. The service was a little disorganized, but I'm sure with a little more time they'll be running smoothly! read more

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I ordered Ropa Vieja which I found to be salty it was acccompanied by a small portion of white Rice and and a Tiny portion of black beans.I had to ask for another portion of rice and was charged an extra 5.00 dollars. The pina collada cocktail was very good but loaded with ice cubes and served in a double old fashion glass. read more