Happy hour at its finest. Stopped in on a Friday afternoon for happy hour. What a delight. The food and service is amazing. Not only are they attentive, the owner came and checked on us twice. The drinks were delicious and made fresh right in front of us and not premade. The appetizers were authentic and delicious. One of my new favorite spots! read more

See all

Will return. Many black and white photos on the walls are beautiful and interesting. Girls in the bathroom walls are provocatively enchanting. 1958 was the last year that the Cubans existed as a whole on the island. Since then, one million plus hit the roads around the world for a new home. This owner came to US. The stems look nice but are rather thick. Good service with delicious food: Empanada with spinach & cheese Marquitas con Guacamole Croquetas de la Casa Cod sandwich Guajiro - pork All three are great, except the sandwich is tasteless. No hooks under the bar counter. The only handicap is the regular high ceiling. The two men band plays before we left for our opera. Next time Will return. Many black and white photos on the walls are beautiful and interesting. Girls in the bathroom walls are provocatively enchanting. 1958 was the last year that the Cubans existed as a whole on the island. Since then, one million plus hit the roads around the world for a new home. This owner came to US. The stems look nice but are rather thick. Good service with delicious food: Empanada with spinach & cheese Marquitas con Guacamole Croquetas de la Casa Cod sandwich Guajiro - pork All three are great, except the sandwich is tasteless. Using cigar box for bill is cool: The Library in St. Pete uses book No hooks under the bar counter. The only handicap is the regular high ceiling. The two men band plays before we left for our opera. Next time read more

Cuba 1958 - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

We walked into Cuba 1958 for dinner last night and fortunately got a table. Best to make reservations, especially during the season. We ate pretty early and the restaurant got louder and busier by the time we left. I don't know much about Cuban food, Cuban sandwich sure but real traditional meals not so much. Cuba 1958 presents themselves as a traditional somewhat upscale restaurant with good service, subdued lighting, and white tablecloths. My wife and I started with Empanadas de Pollo and Empanadas de Espinaca, a chicken empanada and a spinach, onion, and Manchego cheese empanada. Both pastries had great flavor. They came with a container of Cachucha sauce for dipping. My entrée was Lechon Asado, roasted pork with onions, seasoned with a traditional citrus garlic marinade. I didn't pick up on the marinade part, but whatever they did made a large pile of shredded pork taste quite good. For my sides I got yellow rice and tostones. I didn't care much for the tostones, expecting something sweeter. As a popular item in Cuban and Latin cuisine, I have no doubt it was exactly what people love. The rice, a familiar side to me, was excellent. All in all, we had a nice dinner and were glad we gave Cuba 1958 a try. read more

See all

Hola como esta. Hey lady took me to Cuba 1958 for Father's Day and I got to say I do appreciate it I love Latin food. This place was well lit and had a good vibe family vibe and you know couples vibe. Very clean. They didn't have a huge menu because it was Father's Day so it was a special menu. The service was definitely on point can't complain about that there very welcoming as soon as you walk in the door. The smells well your nasal cavity ate before your oral cavity did the fragrance of the foods that were being cooked oh wow wow wow wow definitely makes you say yes this is the place to be. I will say some of the dishes are kind of spendy but again the food is really good and if you can't cook Latin food or in this case Cuban food take your booty butt there it's going to be worth it I think the highest dish they had was 40 bucks. I ordered a rice and seafood dish damn tasty came with chorizo shrimp scallops it was either calamari or cuttlefish I kind of think it was cuttlefish rice had a very good broth with it over the top flavors exploding out of there well technically exploding in my oral cavity can I say that. Anywho I suggest that if you are in the mood for some good Cuban or Latin food take yourself there treat yourself you deserve it and support that local restaurant there. read more

See all

Visiting a friend and he got a reservation for Cuba 1958. We were quickly greeted by the friendly staff and seated. Dim and casual environment with a huge bar with drinks to choose from. We never had Cuban food before so took a bit to go through the menu. So much variety. Ended up ordering Masas de puerco which is fried pork chunks in a mojo sauce with grilled onions accompanied by Cuban rice and sweet plantains. By the time we had some wine and chatted the food was already coming out. Talk about a flavor bomb! Pork didn't even feel fried it was so tender and fall apart. Nice citrusy cumin taste with every bite. The plantains were sweet and soft while the Cuban rice was bold. All around great dinner and looking forward to come back to Cuba 1958! read more

Another nice surprise to the Main Street dining scene in Sarasota. I gotta admit I didn't know what to expect as I'm not a frequent Cuban food diner. I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was nicely decorated inside and out. We opted to dine on the patio which was beautiful, certainly will be the best spot come fall time. As for the food it was very good, we ordered the strip steak, amazingly tender and tasty and the chicken and onion dish which was good as well. Great evening and great service from the team at Cuba 1958. We'll be back read more

See all

Great food and service! Authentic Cuban cuisine in a beautiful setting. Street parking outside. Not too busy on a weekday afternoon! read more

See all

Overall we had a very nice experience at Cuba 1958. Our waiter was very nice but he seemed to be running between a lot of tables so we could tell he didn't have much time to stop and talk to each table or walk them through the menu. Our party started with the ceviche, tamale, sweet plantains and garlic shrimp. Those who had the ceviche found it to be delicious and very fresh. The tamale itself was very good and a perfect balance of sweet corn and salt. Unfortunately the pork on top was largely flavorless which was disappointing. The sweet plantains wrapped in bacon were wonderful and the honey on the plate was a perfect compliment. The garlic shrimp were delicious and beautifully sized shrimp. We were disappointed at how small the portion was, coming with just 4 shrimp. For main courses our table had the churrascho skirt steak, the ropa vieja, the fried pork, and the fried chicken with chorizo. The fried pork and fried chicken with chorizo were both delicious and flavorful. Both were also very generous portions and were enjoyed by everyone. The skirt steak was considered the best plate on the table with everyone commenting on how tender it was. Unfortunately the ropa vieja was a universal disappointment as we all felt it was very salty and tough which is unusual for that dish. Our biggest issue with the restaurant is the ambience which is pretty awful. The restaurant is insanely loud with us needing to yell at one another just to have a basic conversation. I'm not sure who was running the thermostat but we were there on a September night in Florida and our waiter was visibly sweating because it was so warm. By the time we left we found the outside temperature of 80 degrees and humid, refreshing. It also feels like there are too many tables for the space. The restaurant was not full by any means and yet we still felt like we were sitting on top of everyone and were constantly getting bumped as people walked by. read more

Incredible fun place to have lunch. The service was fantastic and the menu was full of great choices. read more

See all

Visited with my Cuban friends as they guided me on a culinary journey of old Cuba - it was fantastic! Love the interior vibe - lively and energetic. My Cuban friend ordered in Spanish and hand picked my entire menu. Will absolutely return. Loved the drinks, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Divine! read more

See all

Visited Cuba 1958 with family last night. We were able to get a reservation easily for our group of 6. We were greeted immediately by one of the owners, Luis. He gave us the background of the name and introduced us to the other owner and their family. It was very welcome right from the start. Our waiter was wonderful with suggestions. My little one had the croquetas de jamón (ham croquettes). They come with a cachucha sauce that was a wonderful addition. She ate all 4 of the croquetas! She also ordered a side of white rice and black beans and really enjoyed it as well. I ordered the camarones al ajillo. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the sauce had a wonderful flavor profile. The moro rice and garlic yuca were delicious as well. The flavors were amazing. My parents had the grouper and were very impressed. The portions were sized very well. I also ordered a mojito and espresso martini which we delicious! We will definitely be back on our next vacation! read more

Cuba 1958 - Camarones al Ajillo - sautéd shrimp in a white wine, garlic, olive oil sauce. - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

12/24-sat at the bar for HH. Great service and good cocktails. My smoked old fashioned was good. My wife's Cosmo was great. Danny, the owner, gave us a tour of the back patio. This is a hidden gem and a beautiful area to have dinner. One of our favorite places in Sarasota. read more

Cuba 1958 - Smoked old fashioned - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Great service, food and atmosphere! Staff were helpful & friendly. Went for lunch and enjoyed every bite. Would definitely recommend and will be back when we visit next. read more

See all

We had a great experience. Very friendly staff. The appetizers were amazing. We had tamales, patacones, a pork dish. I LOVED all of them. I got the paella to share with my friend and that what's taking the star down. It was a little soupy. The seafood in it was good but the rice was salty and wet. Not the best. Everyone else loved their entrees so maybe Cubans aren't known for paella. read more

This place is closed and it states it open until 10 pm. False advertisement! Don't lead your clients to a closed restaurant.

My husband and I had a wonderful dinner and evening at Cuba 1958. We did make a reservation and ended up arriving earlier than anticipated and they graciously accommodated us. There's an extensive cocktail, wine and beer menu and we easily found delicious beverages to sip and enjoy In between tapas courses. Paella is a favorite and not something we get to enjoy very often so it was an easy choice to split it as an entree and get a few tapas plates and a salad to share. Everything was absolutely delicious with excellent presentation. My favorite tapas plates were the fried plantains with guacamole and salsa and the sautéed shrimp. The food was so spectacular we ended up extending our evening at Cuba 1958 sharing their flan and ordering specialty coffee drinks also delicious. The owner personally stopped by our table to check in and make sure everything was ok and it was a very thoughtful and nice touch to cap off a great dining experience. The restaurant was full of tables of couples out to dinner, large groups of friends and families and everyone seemed to be having a nice evening. Our waitress was very attentive and we will look forward to future visits. read more

Fantastic for Cuban Food. Food was flavorful and delish! Service was top notch and the drinks were chilled. Customer service was outstanding and the place is surrounded by shopping stores in case you want to walk around town after food. read more

See all

From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed with warm smiles and genuine Cuban hospitality. The atmosphere is vibrant and inviting -- it truly feels like a little corner of Cuba right here in the city. The service was outstanding -- attentive, friendly, and fast. Our server took the time to explain the menu and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal. Thank you. Luis, Daniel and Arturo. read more

Great place great food the vaca frita was amazing. Had that char taste to it . Crispy outside tender juicy inside and flavorful. Almost like they brined it. The kicker here is the "picante sauce" i think the chef makes it. While it isn't authentic Cuban. It's just so good! Especially with the vaca frita. The guava cheese empanadas for dessert were bomb! Can't wait to come back to this place. read more

This place was top notch, authentic Cuban cuisine. Our waiter, Ortuto, was perfectly attentive. We all loved the multiple food options and cocktails we ordered. We loved the authentic vibe too! This a definite repeat place! read more

Food was great! Finally an authentic Cuban spot! Chicken could feed a family of 5! read more

See all

Amazing food and service! We had a 1.5year old with us, and they were very attentive to our needs. Their popular dish item, the pork, was delicious! From the side dishes to the main dish, everything had so much flavor! Would recommend!!! read more

Stumbled upon this place while meandering around downtown Sarasota and couldn't have been happier eating there. First off, very reasonable prices for a fancy restaurant with fancy food. Second, I'm so glad that I asked the server for his recommendation for dish. Tried the Ropa Vieja with sides of maduros and black beans. Sooooo delicious! Not sure if I'll ever be back this way, but would almost be tempted just to eat here again. read more

Cuba 1958 - A cute way of giving you your check - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

Long wait service times...sad cocktail presentation - won't do that again! Steak entrees very tasty. Shrimp entree bland. Plantain with guac app my favorite. Not really worth the price! read more

Cuba 1958 - Cosmomojito - served 1/3 empty! Bad presentation! And not much alcohol. - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Visited Cuba 1958 and was pleasantly surprised at the authentic Cuban food. We had visited Cuba in 2019 and found that both of our meals duplicated the flavors we remembered having while there. The atmosphere was reminiscent of Cuba with all the photographs on the walls. Luis, our server, was very helpful in explaining some of the dishes we weren't familiar with and was very attentive. Will definitely be returning to try some of the other dishes out! read more

See all

Cuba 1958 has the best authentic Cuban Cuisine in town. If you are craving a perfect "Cubano" sandwich, you need to go there ASAP. Their coffee and great attention to detail make the experience very unique. Their bar is always crowded with the friendliest people. You are transported to La Mallorca in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Expect a festival of flavors in their food. Love their 1950's glamour! They did not disappoint, on the contrary, they made our night unforgettable! read more

Cuba 1958 - Mixology at its finest! - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

Really nice place with authentic Cuban cuisine Great food and service and also nice ambiance...a bit pricey but in all a really nice place for a special occasion. Been there once and planning on a second visit soon read more

Had a cuban sandwich takeout. Very good quality and like Miami style without salami. Looked nice inside, planning on going back with friends who are Cuban's. Plenty of staff, looks professional. read more

As someone of Cuban heritage with a deep appreciation for authentic Cuban cuisine, I had high hopes when I visited this Cuban restaurant last night. While the ambiance was undeniably beautiful and welcoming--the interior was tastefully designed and created a pleasant dining atmosphere--the experience fell far short where it matters most: the food and service follow-through. To start on a positive note, the waitress who served us was kind and attentive throughout the meal. Unfortunately, that's where the highlights ended. The food was, frankly, extremely disappointing. As a Cuban who knows what real Cuban food should taste like, I found the dishes completely lacking in flavor, authenticity, and quality. It was arguably some of the worst Cuban food I've ever had, which is incredibly disheartening given the restaurant's theme and promise. Adding to the disappointment, we arrived at 8:30 p.m.--well before the posted closing time of 10:00 p.m.--yet when we tried to order dessert around 9:30 p.m., we were informed the kitchen had already closed for desserts. This was frustrating and came across as unprofessional and inconsiderate, especially since we were still dining well within business hours. In short, while the décor and service staff were pleasant, the poor food quality and premature kitchen closure left a bad taste in more ways than one. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously, as there's clearly potential--but without major improvements to the food and customer service policies, I can't recommend it. read more

Really nice experience, great cocktails, food was delicious and the overall dining vibe was energetic. Can't wait for the patio to open read more

Cuba 1958 - Espresso martini - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We were planning to go to Colombia for lunch, in St Armands Circle, but we had too many commitments and couldn't make it there. Checked Yelp and realized we were a mile away from Cuba 1958. What a comfortable place! The host seated us right away and our waiter Janio was fantastic. We had the Bistec de Palomilia and Bistec de Pollo. Both were wonderfully flavorful with rice and beans. My wife is a huge flan fan. We ordered flan to go and it has been declared a 10 out of 10. We will be back to try more of the menu or maybe the happy hour, likely both. Thanks you and please consider opening another location in Southern Venice!!! read more

The ambience was fantastic and I was hoping the food would match. We have been to Cuban restaurants in Miami and for it was a home run. The empanadas were on point and the steak churasco and fried pork chunks were excellent. Capped off with great desserts and Cuban coffee made the dinner a visit we will be back for. read more

See all

Everything was great from the food, to the service, to the overall ambiance. My stepdaughter just moved to Sarasota and this will be our go to restaurant when visiting. Could not recommend more. read more

Cuba 1958 - Homemade Tres Leches Cake - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

If you like Cuban food, you will love this place. The service is phenomenal and the food is beautifully seasoned.

Omg! This place is just amazing from every aspect. The staff, the bar the seating the food!! Wow!! If you want authentic Cuban food this is the place!! read more

Cuba 1958 - Cuban Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

Room is nice. Service was poor. Brought entree while appetizer plates were still on the table. Waiter asked if I would like to wine with my entree when I was almost done with dinner, not very timely. Food was fine. read more

We stopped here for lunch today and had an absolutely phenomenal experience. The food was out of this world. I cannot say enough about how delicious the cuisine was. Our waiter and the rest of the staff were excellent as well. Highly recommend this restaurant with the most delicious Cuban food! read more

Our first time here, and will DEFINITELY be back! Our server, Jose, was fabulous. He not only recommended 'what' to order, but what 'not' to order with what we selected. Being said, we got one Especial and one Traditional cuban sandwiches with a side of black bean. Yum,, yum, yum, to all three. We were pleased with the portion of pork on the sandwiches. Before our entrees came out, we were treated to the traditional cuban bread with a garlic infused soft butter. The house wine was a generous pour for $9. Jose toured us to the rear outside covered porch, which is pet friendly. Did not use the comfort stations. Street parking on Main is $1.50 minimum. Did not know a block away is free parking for 2 hours. Will definitely note that for our return visit. Only open for six months (July 2024), this place will be packed for 'season'. Again, highly recommend, and definitely ask for Jose O, he is fabulous. Wasn't crowded at all for lunch on Saturday in January when we went. Again, highly recommend! read more

See all

Food itself isn't bad, but the over inflated prices aren't worth it. Fourteen dollars for five dollar piece of cake is an example. Places like this just take advantage of unknowing patrons. The rest of the menu's price points are the same as a five star restaurant and they don't come anywhere close to that. Just an average everyday restaurant! Save your money. read more

The food was amazing and I would highly recommend this restaurant. Food, ambience, service, authenticity were all worth 5 stars. Will be back! read more