If you're traveling through Sebring, skip the fast food and make a stop at Havana Restaurant and…read moreBakery! While traveling to Miami, we stumbled across this little gem, and I'm so glad we did! We ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on Cuban bread, and let me tell you this thing is HUGE! It was easily big enough for two people to split and was loaded with bacon. The Cuban bread was absolutely perfect fresh, soft, and delicious. Of course, we had to pair it with a café con leche, and it did not disappoint! Then came the pastries because you can't visit a bakery and only order one thing! We tried the cheese pastry, guava pastry, and apple turnover, and every single one was delicious. They had the perfect amount of sweetness without being overloaded with sugar, so you could actually taste the amazing guava flavor. We even took home a whole platter of guava and cheese pastries for the family. Unfortunately for me, they were completely devoured before I could get a picture! They have plenty of seating if you want to sit and enjoy your food, or you can grab everything to go. The service was fast, the food was delicious, and it was SO much better than grabbing another fast-food meal on the road. Definitely add Havana Restaurant and Bakery to your road trip food stops! You won't regret it!

We dined inside and felt very comfortable, like we were in a dining room. They must've finished…read moreremodeling the side seating area because all the chairs all had back support (last time I went they only had stools)! The same kind man took our order and made us feel welcome. I loved the chicken with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. I'm excited to try more things on their menu!

This deli is unassuming and easy to pass by being located inside a Citgo gas station. But, trust…read moreme, you want to make a point to get yourself there! When you enter the gas station store turn right, walk ahead and you'll end up at the counter for Belkis. Fast, super friendly service. Great portion size and prices. Exceptional food! No contest the BEST cuban sandwich I have ever had. Exemplary meat/filling to bread ratio. The bread was fresh and perfectly crisp with garlic (I'm pretty certain) grilled onto the outside of it. The meat was tender and not at all greasy. There was the perfect amount of ham to pork to cheese to pickles to mustard. All around there was not a single thing I did not love about my cuban! I also got a very large portion of plantains. They were hot and cooked to the best texture. The Cuban and the plantains cost me $22 and supplied me with two and a half meals.

I know this place already has a lot of hype but it lived up to it imo. In the back of a gas…read morestation, this Cuban woman made the best Cuban sandwich I have personally had. She was very friendly and made it fresh in front of you. The smell of roasted garlic when she is making it makes you so ready to dig in. The sandwich was also huge and well worth the $15 price. Only thing I'd say is I was in need of a little more spice or hot sauce, which is more on me than her. Definitely coming back

This is a Hole in a Wall, you blink, you miss it. Both…read morethe exterior and the interior is nothing to look at but the food is great. I ordered the yellow rice rice with black beans and roasted pork with yucca. The meat was succulent and the beams had a great flavor to them. The yucca was passable because only some of them was fully cooked to it was chewy but the flavor was still good. Unfortunately the yellow rice was bland, no sazon. So that's why I'm giving it 3 stars but I would go again.

Food was delicious - especially the arroz con leche. They sell hot coffee my accommodated my…read morerequest for iced. I wish the restaurant was a bit more decorated, but truthfully the low prices and quality of the food would make future visits worth it. My meal was less than $10 & my coffee was less than $3. Highly recommend.

I went multiple times to this restaurant and never failed with their amazing service , very tasty…read morefood and drinks and cozy atmosphere. Definitely recommend .

Excellent food and good atmosphere. I recommend if anyone happens to be in the Orlando is a must to…read moretry.

This is one of the most authentic Cuban restaurant here in Lakeland it's a very small place with…read morenormally just one waitress she's also very nice I had the pork with black beans and rice and sweet plantains don't forget to get your Cafe Con Leche with real sugar it's the bomb the inside is very quaint and they have a lot of different sweets that you can buy but most of the time they're gone so if you see them buy them. Honestly I've been coming here probably 15 years maybe I can't remember. I can honestly say that I've never had a bad meal here ever.

Parking can get hectic during lunch time and the seating fills up fast but the food is great. Nice…read moreowners. Some things sell out quickly so if you're looking to snag something for a late lunch or dinner, you may miss out.

This place is seriously delicious! Order at the front and seat yourself. The food is served very…read morequickly.

We love this place. The food and the atmosphere is friendly as always…read more Considering the state of our country and the world I question how anyone could possibly trust white Americans again. I find it hard to trust my bigoted countrymen. But we went to see Elio today and it reaffirmed my belief that one of my heroes from childhood was correct. "Despite everything, I still believe that people are good at heart." That is a paraphrase from Anne Frank's' diary-but it still stands. This is a poem I wrote today. I asked Google to translate it into Spanish. I hope that it conveys the true spirit of what America really stands for. El globo que solía poseer - Un poema para James Conocí a un hombre en su último aliento Su carrera casi acabada En su habitación había un globo De esos que solían vender El eje, de bronce y dorado Representando al mundo Con fronteras desactualizadas Y pueblos fronterizos ya olvidados Pero las mismas guerras siguen luchando Le pregunté si había amado bien Sonrió, más amplio que el cielo "Oh sí, muchacho, mucho he amado No puedo esperar al siguiente; La vida que cargo aún me lleva" Miré ese globo Una vez más... el mismo globo que lo conoció bien y nos deja, aún gira Pero las guerras aún arden Cuando termine, ya no Tendrá necesidad de globos O guerras O pueblos con nombres olvidados Supongo que las guerras son para los vivos - Deseo que su globo pudiera Dejar de girar Suficiente tiempo para ver Un globo sin guerra Sin miedo, ni una sola lágrima Y fronteras con papeles que solo digan "Bienvenido de nuevo Te hemos echado de menos."

Christine and the rest of the staff are always a pleasure. Food is always fresh and made to order…read more The fish dinner with rice and black beans is a household favorite. Helpings are generous. Come as a customer, leave as family!

"We found an absolute gem in downtown Bartow! This authentic Cuban restaurant had some of the best…read moreCuban food we've had in a long time. The Cuban sandwich was perfectly pressed and packed with flavor, and the fried pork with onions was tender, seasoned perfectly, and absolutely delicious alongside the yellow rice and black beans. Every bite tasted homemade and authentic. The atmosphere made the experience even better. The walls were filled with quirky, fun artwork, vintage Cuban décor, and old antique signs that gave the restaurant so much character and charm. You could tell a lot of love and personality went into creating the space. The staff and owner were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. Great food, great people, and a fun atmosphere -- definitely a place we'll be coming back to whenever we're in Bartow!"

My friend and I visited El Ambia in the evening and were greeted by the lovely waitresses as we…read morewalked in through the lower entrance. I ordered the traditional Cuban pork, and my friend ordered the Pan con Bistek. The food came out quickly and was very tasty. The Cuban pork was a very generous serving and I left properly filled up. ¡Tienes que ir este restaurante! Las camareras son muy simpática y la comida es deliciosa. También ellos tienen una buena selección de cervezas. El Presidente es mi favorito.

We recently visited La Ambia Cubano and had a pleasant overall experience. The waitress was very…read morefriendly and welcoming, which made us feel comfortable right away. Although there was no live music during our visit, we still enjoyed the warm, inviting ambiance. I ordered a mojito, which was fresh and delicious. For my entrée, I had the ropa vieja with rice, beans, and sweet plantains. The beef was tender and flavorful, though it could have used a bit more tomato-based sauce. The rice and beans were excellent, and the plantains were a great addition. My husband ordered the Cuban sandwich, which was generously filled with pork, but the meat was a bit dry and could have used more ham for better balance. Overall, we enjoyed the food and service, with a few minor drawbacks. We would consider returning and rate La Ambia Cubano 3 out of 5 stars.

The owner had TONY make sure I came back in to enjoy the meal I had ordered last night! THIS made…read moremy night after a LONG 12 hour work day!! PHOTO OF MEAL ATTACHED! UPDATE: thank you TONY for reaching out! I'm sure that being busy it's hard to answer the phones... I do appreciate your attention and for offering to make it right... I definitely am looking forward to trying more things on your menu and becoming a repeat customer! Tried to call various times got home and you forgot to put the black beans in the bag.... I live an hour away so I'm sad to eat plain white rice Hope you can see this and call me back.

Their lunches and dinners are always fresh, juicy and delicious! I absolutely love their food!…read moreEspecially their yuca con mojo and ropa vieja! Salad was so on point too! My favorite Cuban spot by far! You leave feeling full and satisfied!

10/10 -- Highly Recommend Cuban Island!…read more We went to Cuban Island around 5 PM and were greeted warmly and seated right away. The restaurant is currently being renovated, and it's already looking really good! Our waitress, Barbara, was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive. I started with a mojito, and WOW--it was honestly one of the best mojitos I've ever had! So refreshing and smooth that you barely taste the rum, but watch out... it can smack you in the back of the head! For dinner, I ordered the ropa vieja because I had been craving it so badly, and boy, did I find the right place to satisfy that craving! The meat was incredibly tender and juicy, with that rich, tomatoey sauce I had been looking for. It was absolutely delicious. My husband, of course, ordered the Cuban sandwich, and he absolutely loved it. The pork was so juicy and moist, and the bread was incredibly fresh and delicious. Then Barbara came by and told me about the $10 pomegranate martini special. Obviously, I had to try it--and that was delicious too! Overall, 10/10 experience. Great service, amazing drinks, and delicious, authentic-tasting food. We left very happy and will definitely be back. I super highly recommend Cuban Island!

Man, in Florida and all I wanted was a good Cuban meal and they delivered! Service was amazing,…read morevery cute little restaurant but everything was better than I could've asked for.