I came in for lunch on a solo date and asked if I could be seated outside. Although there were open…read moretables available, the staff seemed a little reluctant and initially offered me a seat at the bar. I preferred to sit outside, so I was eventually able to grab a table and a menu. It took a little while for someone to bring water and utensils. By the time they came over, I was already ready to order. I ordered the bistec encebollado and was impressed by the portion size! they give you a generous amount of steak. Unfortunately, the steak had quite a bit of fat around it, which isn't my favorite. When the food arrived, the rice was packed into a small cup, which made me think everything would be served hot. Unfortunately, none of the food was warm. Everything was room temperature and lacked flavor. Because it took a while for my meal to arrive, I got the impression that it may have been sitting out before being served. I ate it as it was because I didn't want to wait any longer. Taste-wise, the steak needed more seasoning, although the beans were good. Overall, the meal was average. After finishing, I asked for both a to-go box and the check. About 10 minutes later, the check arrived, but no box. One employee, William, really stood out. Whenever he stopped by, he was attentive, friendly, and on top of things. I appreciated his service and how proactive he was in checking on guests. Overall, the service had some delays, the food temperature was disappointing, and the flavors were underwhelming, not sure if I'll try this place again.

Delicious ceviche, seafood paella, and margaritas. Upstairs…read morehas a more intimate vibe

Well, I'm back a second time around the sun, only to try the Cuban sandwich this time. I grabbed it…read moreto go because I was in a rush to head back home to try to make some beautiful music for everybody to dance to. Now, me being the true man that I am--with hair on my chest, a deep voice, and amazing muscles, can't forget about the skin of bronze--well, just like any man, I love a good sandwich. I got that Cuban sandwich this time, and I would never regret it. The layered meat with the cheese on top was to perfection. The outside of the bread had a crisp crunch, but yet it was soft on the inside. It wasn't too much meat, and it wasn't too much cheese; it was a perfect blend. Then, there was a special sauce--this sauce that they gave me along with the fries. I've had a lot of sauces over the years, and this was the best sauce I've ever had. And I've had a lot of sauces, and I know a lot of sauces, and all the sauces know me as well. I finished it off, of course, with a bottle of cola, because one day I hope to be like Warren Buffett and drink cola every day and hopefully become a billionaire. But until then, I will be constantly eating at this restaurant day in and day out. And of course, my next thing to try is the coffee, because I've noticed they had a beautiful coffee maker right behind the counter. I hope my review helps make your decision on whether you want to eat here or not. Branden-Lee AKA B L E E

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Lancaster PA. Everything was flavorful and fresh, even…read morearound closing time. The woman that waited on me was extremely nice and helpful with my orders. I'll definitely be returning soon. Portions are also very big.

Recalling the excellent Cuban restaurant we frequented in Norcross, GA we met up with friends at…read moreCuba Libre. The decor is beautiful. "Like a Disney World set!" I said. Air conditioning was cranked-up high. I was freezing. And music was a bit loud. But we were there for the food. And here's what we thought: ** El Cubano is a pressed Cuban sandwich. I chose it because it came with a salad, what they call 'tropical chips' and a cup of black bean soup. The soup was flavorless, the chips -- are they strips of fried plantain?! -- delicious, and the salad, fine. The sandwich is okay, my husband favoring his more than I did mine. (Good thing cause he's getting the half I didn't eat, for lunch today.) ** The winning dish may be Levanta Muerto Seafood soup with mussels, crabmeat, shrimp, and scallops in a rich broth. ** Sangria is disappointing with barely present, minced fruit. Tasted like cheap and weak red wine. A half pitcher fills about four glasses. When seated, you're presented with a basket of toasted bread and a ramekin of infused butter. It looked like turmeric, but surprised! It was sweet, likely cinnamon-sugar. A nice touch. We arrived literally eight minutes after happy hour ended, so we missed their discounted drinks. As the server said, we would have had to sit at the bar, which I would have done but my friends likely wouldn't. Oh well. Anyway, service was fine, prices a bit high, food was okay -- doesn't compare to Norcross! -- and reservations strongly suggested.

Went to Cuba Libre with some yelpers. We did the secret menu which was an amazing deal. The inside…read moreis so pretty. It looks like what I think Cuba would look like. There are big manual fans at the top which were pretty cool to see. The place also has a decent happy hour menu but only available at the bar. The table got bread and mango butter. I really liked how crispy the bread was. It had been pressed down very thin. I got the empanadas which were really good. The main dish (pinchos de camarones), had way too much salt on it. It was nice they had shrimp that also incorporated a kimchi salad. For dessert, the tres leches cake was a delight. I liked how spongy the texture is.

Had catered food from this place that relatives in Westfield served , the pernil was excellent as…read morewere the rice and cooked plantains . There were a little bit of leftovers which I snagged and ate them that night after returning home .

so so so yummy!! and the restaurant was beautiful although we did takeout. they were really kind!!read more

Four stars price and value. Ordered two plates with my brother and I roasted chicken stood goat…read moremeat two drinks and then all it came up to $26 for both combined.. I felt like the goat needed a little more seasoning I needed to be cooked a little more the rice perfect what you expected. The beans are a little more seasoning of besides that it was great. It was wonderful the gravy that accompanied the still goat delicious that was like full of all the flour. It was fantastic the roasted chicken oh wow that chicken was so good. I just wish I ordered it. It was juicy it was tender. It was full of bowl flavors. It gave you Spanish style, roasted chicken.. overall this seems like a go to spot in Allentown for good Dominican food

I like their food! I tried the chick, beef stew( 2 kinds of beef) . Beef is a bit chewy, but still…read moregood!

Wow! This place is great. Small restaurant but huge in taste. We had the San Juan Cubano and the…read moreCruz Cubano. Both sandwiches were amazing, well seasoned and toasted to perfection. Their juices (or juice) since they only had Maracuya the day we went, was very good also. For a place you order first, and sit down after, they are very attentive and checked on us twice to see if we wanted anything else. I don't usually give 5 stars, but I was really impressed by this place. Definitely worth a try-- just a few minutes off of exit 3 of the NJ turnpike.

I really enjoyed my food! I got the La Fortuna and it was delicious. The ambiance was very nice and…read moreI liked the ceiling clouds. The Cashier was super nice and she took our trash out of the way. They even gave us some nachos because someone double ordered. My friends and I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend!

This summer my partner and I decided to take a day trip to Philadelphia, and were wandering around…read moreCentral City and stumbled upon Bodega Bar. It looked so dim, moody and inviting inside, it was a warm summer day, and we decided, why not? I cannot tell you how terrible of a choice this was. We decided to sit in the back patio, because it was a beautiful day, but were quickly discouraged because it was filled with some unexpected guests ... RATS! Understanding that we were in the heart of Philadelphia, we understood, and quickly changed our minds and decided to move inside - but what we saw inside was even more terrible. We spotted actual cockroaches scurrying around the bar. We never like to cause a fuss, realized that urban places sometimes struggle with pests, and decided to stay, possibly against our better judgment. We ordered the recommended fish tacos (they were admittedly mediocre, but got the job done), and we left unhappy and under fed. Out of all the amazing establishments in this beautiful city, it wasn't our favorite.

Bodega Bar is a great spot for a late happy hour in Center City. I went on a Thursday, and the…read moreplace had a lively atmosphere with lots of college students hanging out, which gave it a fun, energetic vibe. The drinks were really good and definitely the highlight of my visit. The food was just okay and wasn't my favorite, but the great energy, drinks, and overall atmosphere made up for it. I'd definitely go back for happy hour and cocktails, even if I skipped the food next time.

This is my second time coming here. It was a yelp event that brought us here first and it was…read moreamazing. I will say parking is street parking or side streets and can get a little crazy on weekends. Service is always great and you feel like you are a part of the family here. Food is always fresh and amazing. Anytime I am near here we stop regardless of being hungry or not. I absolutely am obsessed with their vaca frita and black beans. It's a huge portion so leftovers are always good. My boyfriend always orders their cubano as he said it is the best one he has ever had. Their Maduros are also sweet and crisp and never greasy. We also tried their choripan sandwich and it was awesome. We've never had thinly sliced chorizo which eliminates the usual oil and messiness. Always an amazing meal. We also tried their pineapple Cuban smoothie and ended the meal with their delicious flan.

I would give Cha Cha in Kenilworth 2 stars…read more This was my first visit, and while the service was friendly and welcoming, the food itself was very disappointing. I appreciated the complimentary yuca fritters with special sauce, which was a kind gesture. However, the overall quality, freshness, and authenticity of the main dishes did not meet expectations. Parking is very limited street parking. The Cuban breaded steak was the biggest disappointment. A proper Cuban-style breaded steak should be thin, tender, savory, garlicky, slightly citrusy, well-seasoned, evenly breaded, and pan-fried until crisp and golden. The version I received tasted oddly sweet, the breading separated from the meat, and the steak had a gummy texture with an old-looking color. It did not have the freshness or clean savory flavor expected from this classic dish. The red beans were very concerning. They tasted strongly like vinegar, and I had to spit them out. When I looked closer, there appeared to be a white, murky-looking substance in them. Beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless something is wrong. Cuban-style red beans should be creamy, savory, aromatic, and well-seasoned with garlic, onion, peppers, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The white rice was also not acceptable. It was hard, did not taste fresh, and had a vinegar-like smell and flavor. It appeared as if older rice may have been mixed with newer rice. Proper Cuban white rice should be fluffy, clean-tasting, separated, and neutral in flavor. The moro with black beans and rice was better than the white rice, but still lacked depth. It needed more bay leaf flavor and stronger Cuban seasoning. A good moro should have a rich, savory base from sofrito, garlic, peppers, onions, beans, broth, herbs, and slow cooking so the rice absorbs the flavor. The oxtail was tender and okay, but it did not fully deliver the deep, rich Cuban-style flavor I expected. Traditional Cuban oxtail should be slow-braised with garlic, onions, peppers, tomato sauce, wine, herbs, and spices until the sauce becomes rich and the meat is deeply seasoned. This oxtail tasted acceptable, but it seemed as though it may have been prepared a day or two before and reheated. I understand that many restaurants legally prepare certain foods a day ahead, especially dishes like beans, stews, and oxtail. However, food should still taste fresh and be stored, cooled, reheated, and handled according to food safety standards. Sour or vinegar-like flavors in rice or beans can sometimes indicate fermentation, spoilage, or improper storage, and that should never reach the customer. The best part of the meal was the dessert. The vanilla flan was very good, and the coconut flan was excellent. The coconut flan was rich, creamy, and full of coconut flavor, with shredded coconut pieces that added texture and made it stand out. That dessert showed real potential. The prices were reasonable, but reasonable pricing does not make up for poor freshness and low food quality. It did look like they may do better with sandwiches and empanadas, which I did not try and perhaps should have ordered first. I cook Cuban food, Puerto Rican food, and other traditional dishes myself, and I lived in Miami for over nine years. I also learned from Cuban friends who cook authentic Cuban food at home. Because of that, I know how these dishes should taste. In my opinion, the dishes I tried did not represent Cuban cuisine with the freshness, authenticity, seasoning, or care it deserves. The restaurant may have people who know how to cook, but based on this visit, it seems the kitchen has lost some of the authenticity and discipline needed to serve fresh, properly prepared Cuban food. Food that tastes sour, vinegary, old, or questionable should never be served to customers. The service and desserts were the highlights, but the main dishes need serious improvement in freshness, food handling, seasoning, and respect for authentic Cuban cuisine. There are several areas that need improvement. Freshness and food safety should be the main priority. Rice and beans should never taste sour or vinegary unless intentionally prepared that way, and food that seems old or questionable should not be served. The breaded steak should be freshly breaded, crispy outside, tender inside, and properly seasoned with authentic Cuban flavors like garlic, citrus, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. The rice should be fluffy, the beans creamy, and the oxtail deeply seasoned and fresh-tasting. I believe the restaurant may have cooks who understand Cuban cuisine, but the kitchen needs to reconnect with freshness, consistency, authenticity, and stronger food handling standards. Cuban food is rich in flavor, comfort, and cultural pride, and with improvement this restaurant could better reflect that tradition.

Ate here before a show at the Tower Theatre last night; wound up here as the higher-rated place(s)…read moreon the block were all BYOB and we hadn't brought anything, and wanted a drink with dinner. Mojitos and sangria were good (though don't try and order a martini as my friend found out). The chicken pincho i had was excellent, seasoned nicely and grilled perfectly; my friend's carne asada looked great and he enjoyed it to the last crumb. Definitely not a mess and the food was definitely NOT disgusting, it was all good (even the green salsa that comes with chips immediately as you're seated). I have gotten a lot of good recommendations from yelp - almost didn't want to try this place based on the bad review, and we're glad we didn't let that stop us.

We went with a group of 8 on a friday night and the chips and green salsa came right out…read more Wonderful! The sangria and magarita pitchers were great as well. The food was excellent, BUT we were one of a few tables and it took an hour for our dinners to come to the table. The food came out a few dishes at a time, and we felt awkward eating while others in the party didn't have their food. The management and staff was friendly, but didn't have much of an explanation for the slow service. We then enjoyed the dancing upstairs (although there was a separate cover charge). We were made to feel very welcome.

I never got nothing that lacks flavor,the quantity is good , the staff is always warm and…read moreinviting...u hating means u just a home cook who thinks yours is better and that's ok... Forme ya'll bomb.com!

El Unico is an interesting eatery. No website. No online ordering. No formal menu. Just point…read moreat stuff for your selection. Here's how it seems to work. For most everything, it looks kind of like a combination platter set up. Choose your rice and beans variation, options for meat, and all platters come with a side of french fries. At the time, all small platter options are $9. There are tons of different meat dish options to choose from. I got the rice and beans with a side of plantains. The flavor was decent and I'll get at least two meals out of the portions provided.