This place has been on my "must visit" list for a long time and I finally got the chance to go. Loves: + Sandwiches are huge for $16ish, but you can also get a half size cubano for $9ish + Smoothies are good value, like $6 + Small yet cute little dining area + Really nice and friendly staff (one of the guys has run NYCM twice and went sub 3!) + Accepts credit cards There's a regular menu and a specials menu, and quite frankly there is something for everyone. Thanks for a lovely afternoon, Cubana Cafe! :) read more

Cubana Cafe - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Great Cuban food, great service, very friendly and reasonably priced. We eat here or order out frequently and have liked everything.

Great service and food. Stopped in for happy hour and was not disappointed. Tried the N.A. lemonade, it was freshly made. Great flavor! Husband had the rum punch, it was strong and delicious! We had the croquettes and beef empanadas. We could've eaten 4 orders of the croquettes! The mayo dipping sauce had the perfect level of heat. read more

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I ordered takeout with high hopes but oh man what a DISAPPOINTMENT! This is not authentic Cuban food, beans should've been black but they serve red beans with their plates and the ropa vieja was an olive stew! Barely any beef and the beef itself just tasted and reeked of olive! I can't even eat olives! Not worth the hassle and even the presentation was super sloppy and these divider plates if the driver is not careful spills all throughout read more

Cubana Cafe - Ropa viwja - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Exactly what we needed when we needed it. The guacamole was fantastic. House wine was just mediocre. Everything else was good but I would not go out of my way for a second visit. The owner was actually incredibly rude to one of our family members. I thought it might come to blows but thankfully that didn't happen. It was a cute little neighborhood place that met the need. read more

Cubana Cafe - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

At lunchtime Cubans Cafe seems to do a booming take out business w. the result that eat in customers are given B list status. The Cuban sandwich that I had was inferior - too much deli ham. The service was slow and the server kept sneezing and one could not help but feel that he should have taken a sick day. Server was very neglectful - sitting at bar texting. My companions had: huevos rancheros - acceptable and chicken which was not. I did not feel that the place was clean enough. I don't intend to return. read more

Great! Authentic, delicious Cuban food with a nice aesthetic. I've been here a couple times and it exceeds expectation each visit. Drinks are great, prices are VERY reasonable and staff is friendly and attentive. Probably one of the better food options in this area. read more

Great food and service! Cute, small neighborhood place with bright decor. The scrambled eggs with snow peas and chorizo was amazing, and come with home fries and salad OR rice and beans. Really loved the coconut cappuccino as well--a yummy, rich coffee drink w both foam and coconut milk. Amazing prices for the value. read more

Cubana Cafe - Scrambled eggs with snow peas & chorizo - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

First time here tonight with my partner & he got the Cuban sandwich & I got the veggie burger with yucca fries & they both were so delicious! Staff was super-friendly & attentive -- very warm vibe -- we'll definitely be back :) read more

Cubana Cafe - Veggie Burger - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I am the vegan of the group and although my options were a bit limited, I enjoyed the food. I ordered the arroz con vegetales, chips and guac, and tostones. I really enjoyed the arroz con vegetales! A great ratio of vegetables to rice. I do wish there had been a vegetarian protein options because I definitely left a bit hungry. Overall, I had a good experience and the atmosphere of Cubana Cafe was so cute. As the non-vegan of the group, I ordered the Arroz con pollo. It came with rice and beans and it was a very large portion so I had leftovers. Chicken was cooked well and you had a choice of rice, I got the yellow. The elote was perfectly seasoned and there were chips and guac for the table. The shrimp ceviche came with a fruit salad and it was delicious. The only thing I wanted to mention, we had a few vegans that ordered the 'Yucca with Mojo'. On the menu it doesn't state any dairy in the dish and so we thought it was safe to order. When it arrived, it seemed to have a dairy sauce covering the entire top of the dish. Although tasty, they weren't very eager to replace the dish so we just handed it over to the rest of the table and shared it while the other folks had to order something else. Overall, it was a cozy restaurant with tasty food. read more

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I used to love this place back when they had two locations in brooklyn. So on one of my self care days I figured I would revisit this Cuban cafe. It wasn't crowded and they had indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the coconut marg and it came out quick and I found it to be quite tasty, not to strong but good enough. I ordered the Ropa Vieja with coconut rice and beans. First red flag my food came out with a hair on it. I should've asked for them to just give me the bill because when they came out with the second dish. I couldn't stop thinking about the hair that was in the first dish. They say we eat with our eyes first and the food just did not look appetizing. I'm not sure if I will be back. But if you check it be sure to bring cash or have your Venmo ready to pay the bill read more

Cubana Cafe - 15. Ropa Vieja Plato - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cubana Cafe rules. I've been here many times now and have enjoyed a variety of dishes. My favorite is the arroz con pollo, which is roasted chicken in the most delicious tomato sauce, with rice (your choice of white, yellow, cilantro or coconut) and black beans. The chicken is always so tender it falls right off the bone. It's a bit of a nostalgic dish for me since I grew up in a half-Latin household where arroz con pollo was a staple. I'm also a fan of their guacamole, ropa vieja, and quesadillas. All of these pair well with their large selection of refreshing cocktails. I'm a huge fan of their caipirinhas, but you also can't go wrong with a mojito or margarita. During summer they have live music on Sundays. The whole vibe is fun and casual. Makes you feel like you're at an outdoor cafe in Havana! It's cash-only, but they have an ATM on-site. read more

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Always so good. The picadillo is perfect. I love the selection of coffees (cortadito, coconut cappuccino, etc.) The music, the atmosphere, even the air circulation ... it's always just right. I love that they have the entire front of the restaurant open to the outside when the weather is nice, just a great place to sit for a meal. Oh, and weekday brunch menu! read more

Cubana Cafe - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Late post - had a craving for brunch and I remembered I went here over the summer and forgot to review. This spot was on smith on a quiet street with open seating where we got to people watch and catch the nice summer breeze. Although the block was quiet the resturant was bustling. Atmosphere was filled with cuban decor, celia cruz music and the smell of cilantro and rice n beans. I was there with kids with a healthy pallete and ofcourse the settled on pancakes with fresh fruit. Totally worth it. The resturant was very kid friendly. Menu was resonably priced as well. You can have a taste of havana right in brooklyn. Two bonuses, free plaintain chips and the best fresh squeezed orange juice i have ever had. Pics provided. read more

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3.5 stars. I was certain that I reviewed Cubana Cafe a couple years ago but apparently not. I've been to Cubana Café plenty of times in the past and it remains to be a solid and satisfactory option on Smith Street. There is a lot of color going on at this Café--the décor, the food/ drinks, glassware and serving dishes. I think the atmosphere is adorable albeit a bit loud due to the music and close quarters, but it definitely works as a crowd pleaser for many. The menu is diverse with unbeatable happy hour specials for both food and drink throughout the week. In addition, there are daily specials such as burrito night or roasts. The half chicken (one of my past favorites) served with rice and beans used to be a permanent $10 staple on the menu; however, at $14.95 it is still a good value. Yes, prices have risen everywhere, but check the menu for their daily specials including the 1/2 chicken with rice/beans. I've tried their brunch, drinks (good mojitos), dinners, sides and have usually been satisfied. On one occasion a couple years back, I wasn't happy with my dinner regarding how it was prepared, but the manager/owner(?) made sure that it was replaced to my satisfaction. Upon my recent visit, it was just drinks and a side for me since I already had eaten a bit earlier. The side category is a good way to go if you don't want an entrée but yet something substantial. There are a lot of options. I ordered the Yucca Mojo which was boiled yucca with onions and a sour cream/yogurt topping. All the flavors combined allowed it to be exactly what I was looking for--filling and tasty. The other entrée ordered was grilled chicken with rice and beans topped with onions. It looked delicious and got two thumbs up. Service, at first, was lackluster meaning it seemed everyone else was being served but us. I really like the complimentary plantain chips served with salsa and cilantro on the side. Honestly, I cannot state if this is authentic food, but it works. All in all, Cubana Café meets expectations and with its festive atmosphere, results in a good time. Note: there is only one restroom and this place is CASH ONLY---both of which cramps my style a bit. read more

Cubana Cafe - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I had a late lunch with co-workers. Everyone ordered at the counter. Our food was delivered at the table outside. It was five of us and it took about 10 minutes to have our orders on the table. I had a shrimp taco, chicken taco, corn and a strawberry margarita. My coworkers had a pork tostados, Cuban sandwich, and pork tacos. Everything was excellent. The margarita packed a punch. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Food is ok, but not authentic Cuban food. Drinks are good depending who is bartending, but manager is rude to the staff and the customers. Not worth it unless you like seeing workplace abuse while you eat. read more

This is probably my fifth time here and I always have a great dining experience from the food to the service. Prior, they were ***CASH ONLY*** but now they finally have VENMO so that's nice! Came on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm and was fortunate to have snagged one of the two enclosed huts they have set up outdoors. We had our own heater and air purifier as well. There was just two of us and it was comfortable, however I think you could fit three just fine. FOOD: I ordered the CHULETA de PUERCO and it was soooo good. smothered in caramelized onions. super juicy even though it was cooked through. you can choose between black or red beans - I got black. You can also upgrade your rice to either cilantro or coconut for an extra $1.50, and I always do it. WORTH IT! I got cilantro this time. DRINK: My friend and I ordered the half pitcher of red sangria ($13), which gets you about three drinks. vs single glass ($7). We should've ordered the full pitcher because we got a second half pitcher anyways haha who were we kidding!! anyway, the sangria was good. not too sweet which is how I like it. SERVICE: literally every time I've come here at any time of day, no matter how busy or slow they are, the service is always so great. very friendly throughout the entire visit from being seated to ordering to asking for the check. very polite and pleasant staff :) P.S. I ALWAYS GET THE ROPA VIEJA BECAUSE DUH. but I wanted to try something different today and it was really good. just wanted to give props to the forever star of the show! read more

Cubana Cafe - chuleta de puerco + red sangria - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cute small Cuban restaurant. They have a good lunch menu and brunch menu. I like their natural juice drinks also. The only downside is that it's cash only so make sure you come ready, or you can use an ATM they have on the premises. I had the seafood soup and it was good. They have it labeled as spicy, FYI, but I'm not much of a spicy food lover and I was able to handle it. It just had a light kick. I also had the yuca with mojo which was so good! I thought mojo would just be a sauce but it came loaded with onions and a white sauce. Whatever it is, was good. Haha read more

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Born and raised in a Cuban family...I am a little more critical than non-Cubans when it comes to our food. I'm hoping they were just having a bad day or this is owned by gringos because my abuelita would be disgusted if I ever served ropa vieja like this. It was hard...tough to chew and absolutely nothing like I've had during my 28 years on this earth My Cuban ancestors were not pleased. My empanada was missing some sazón plus the beef that I ordered. I guess I got chicken? I will pass on this spot and just cook at home from now own On the bright side...delivery was quick read more

Cubana Cafe - Where's the ropa vieja? - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Really cool cuban spot. Great bar, great interior decoration thats a cool homage to Cuba. I got the pulled pork plate with beans and cilantro rice, mixed it all together and it was fire. Service was great too, no notes. read more

Really delicious food! We came here and got the cuban sandwich and Palomilla Hanger steak sandwich. Both were full of flavor and great portions! The chimichurri sauce was so on point. We also got some of their delicious shakes and juices. Would highly recommend. Great ambiance too! read more

Ordered #31 Cuban sandwich and was not disappointed! The sandwich is made with roasted pork, sliced ham, swiss cheese, sliced pickle & chipotle mayonnaise (not rally traditional here, but a nice twist). Served with salad and chickpeas which were a tasty touch. Came mostly for the sandwich as I was craving one ever since returning from Miami. This is the closest you're gunna get in this part of Brooklyn. Cost about $15 for the sandwich which is a solid price point and brings it out of direct competition for Sophie's Cuban Cuisine (chain) which sells their cuban for $11- but is not nearly as crispy and tasty as the Cuban Cafe! The coffee is tasty and the service is friendly. They accept cards, have seating outside but is a rather small space, good for singles or small groups. I use this space as a meet up point for friends in the neighborhood as they have electricity outlets available. read more

Was in the mood for a nice sandwich today, so i ordered from Cubana cafe. I got a media noche and empanada. The media noche is not your typical media noche however it was tasty. It had a lot of pork so most of it fell out of the sandwich. The salad and garbanzo salad that come with sandwich are yummy. The empanadas i thought were going to be beef, i think it was chicken instead but I was ok with that because they tasted great and were not oily. I would definately order from here again. read more

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I love the Cubana cafe. The food is delicious and a good value. I just like the vibe. Always a treat.

My favorite place!!! Local business with the nicest people and best food. Highly recommend!

Love this place! It's one of my neighborhood go to places! The food is so good, service is great and it has cute charming feel. The coffee is great too. We get the cafe con leche. Absolutely love the banana pancake dessert, not my typical vibe but it's my absolute fav there. read more

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Came here for dinner before bar hopping. Steak enchiladas was bland and meat was a little too tough for my liking but they didn't scrimp on the steak. Loved the coconut rice. It's a tiny place, Latin American vibes made me wanna dance on the floor even if it's not meant for dancing. I liked their coconut based drink even though my friend didn't. Not a bad place to hang out. read more

Cubana Cafe - Shrimp in garlic sauce and coconut rice - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Had a great time for my first time here with my family. I ordered the ensalada with medium-rare steak that WAS COOKED PERFECTLY & frozen mango Margarita. Vibe was nice, and they also have outdoor seating ! waitresses were nice and environment was clean! Will definitely come here again next time I'm in NY! read more

Meh is my overall rating for this place. To be fair, I'm Cuban from Miami and it's hard to compare the restaurants here to that. I'm not sure where the communication barrier lied between my waitress and I. I asked her a few questions about the menu and she just had me reread as if I hadn't read it the first time. I'm unsure why they incorporated so many Mexican dishes at a Cuban place. To be fair, I love both cuisines, but when I want Cuban food, I don't need quesadillas too. The food wasn't the best but also not the worst. I wouldn't go back. This place needs to re-evaluate the menu and slim it down to some Cuban classic dishes and maybe they could up the quality. read more

Cubana Cafe - Soda - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

So, I'm going on my lunch break and I really hadn't decided where I was going to go for lunch. I remember ordering Thai food 2 doors down from Cubana Cafe. That food was good but I remember it being super expensive and I wasn't going to do all that loot for lunch! Lolol :-) I wanted good food and looked up saw that this restaurant had an A rating (good because I'm not one for less than A ratings ;-)!). And being a Caribbean woman seeing it was Cuban food I thought this would happily remind me of the beauty and taste of the Caribbean. And though this restaurant is kinda small I totally got the feeling of being in Cuba!! The music was playing and the vintage miniature cars were so reminiscent of my thoughts of Cuba. Well here's what I ordered...Passionfruit Cuban Lemonade, Papas Rellenjos, Roma Vieja with Cilantro Rice and a side order of Platanos Maduros! The lunch came with an order of plantain strip chips with 2 dipping sauces. AMAZING!!!! read more

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Don't dismiss just because you aren't craving Cuban (at least during brunch). This cozy little spot has been a neighborhood staple for good reason. You'll experience excellent service and a very "non-rushed" atmosphere that can be rare during prime brunch hours. The pro tip is very much focused on the pancakes. Oh, you've read my review of Cafe LuLuc and know I have a high bar? Good to know insiders - these are the exact same pancakes (they are the same owners). If you're looking for savory, I'm highly partial to the eggs Benedict. The hollandaise is light and tangy and just the perfect amount on the eggs. Regular brunch cocktails like Mimosas, Bellinis and bloody Mary's are also quality and not overpriced. If you're finding the line at Cafe lu Luc to be too long to wait, head south on Smith and give Cubana Cafe a try - you won't be disappointed. read more

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I was very disappointed with the service and the food at the Cubana Cafe. First of all, the name is a misrepresentation. To my experience, this is not a Cuban Cafe nor is the menu a representation of Cuban food. On the contrary, the food is solely Mexican food, with two or three dishes which are named after Cuban dishes. The waiter service was adequate. However, the waitress for our table had problems understanding Spanish and English. She also brought me a dish which she included in my menu which I had told her to cancel during my order. The restaurant is small and after a while they will ask you to leave. The food was a bit pricey and the portions truly small for the price. I ordered a Vegetable Quesadilla, and when they arrived they were the smallest Quesadillas I had ever seen. They were perfect for a child not an adult. As a result, I would not visit their cafe again and they should change their name to Mexicana Cafe. This Cafe as far as I am concern is not a Cuban Cafe but a Mexican Cafe. I would not recommend anyone to visit this cafe who wants to enjoy Cuban food. read more

This place so cool , the food , service, atmosphere all 10/10 points . You must come and try . Today I got 3 dishes , start with seafood ceviche so yummy and signature Cubana Benedict Also delicious and i got empanadas cream cheese as my dessert . This place made my day ! Im so happy read more

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Came here on Saturday night and it was not super busy but just had a good amount of people. My friend and I both ordered the Cubana plate - the ground beef version and it was delicious with the hot sauce they provided. It was savory and the coconut rice really was a nice touch with the sweetness. Would leave a higher review, but the service was incredibly slow. I signaled for the check multiple times and still took a long time. It shouldn't take too long since it was not a packed night. So pretty much the service is slow and wished it was faster because we just sat around and had to go somewhere. Great food, great area and awesome vibes inside. read more

Cubana Cafe - Cuban Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Will come back for the Cuban Sandwich. The garbanzo bean salad is a new favorite! Not too crazy about spice, but I ordered the steak tacos anyways - glad I did. The yucca fries are delicious too. read more

Cute little Cuban place in Brooklyn. Food was delicious, the service was decent (it took us a bit of time to get our check) but it was a great outdoor-ish eating experience on a hot late summer day. The Cuban sandwich and the pork empanada was spectacular, I'd go back! Heads up- this is a cash only restaurant! read more

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I came today ...Monday for a quick drink since I was waiting for a tow. I encountered the most unfriendly and mean looking female bartender with dark hair. She never smiled once and had a I don't want to serve you attitude. To add insult ...I ordered a drink and it took 10 minutes. I sat down for 5 ...went to the bathroom ...came back and the drink wasn't there. I watched her clean her area ...go to the kitchen area to get more glasses ...stack them in the bar. I should of walked out. I regret not doing so. I saw the male host / manger ...who came out later and was super friendly order her to make my drink. That's when she did it. It was so sour ...like her attitude. The host was kind enough to fix it. I didn't bother asking the bartender. I don't think I will be back. read more

Very tasty and authentic. Cute decor and very good service. Loved my cordadito and maduros especially

THIS WAS NOT CUBAN FOOD! Last night I ordered from Cubana Cafe and to say I'm extremely disappointed would be an under statement. I ordered ropa vieja with a side of tostones and another of yuca with mojito. First of all, I'm Cuban and this was not Cuban food, this was definitely cooked by a Mexican, I can tell by the white cream on the yuca and the hot sauce with the tostones which had corn in it, that's not how Cubans cook, mojito is garlic sauce, not hot sauce, and definitely without corn in it. If Cubana Cafe wants to try to start some new Cuban-Mexican Fusion, that's fine but call it that then, don't just piss on me and tell me it's raining. Here's the worst part, the main course, the ropa vieja, the reason why I ordered out in the first place, wasn't Ropa Vieja at all! Instead of being Cuban style shredded beef, Ropa Veija, what I got was some kind of bland Pepper Steak instead. Horrible. Then the portions! The portions are so small that even with the extra 2 sides i ordered of tostones and yuca, I was ok, but not full. Meanwhile when I order from the Dominican spot a couple of blocks away from them, there's enough food for 2 people or a couple days, and it's much tastier and a lot cheaper! Cubana Cafe's food comes in one of those food compartment trays like they use in the schools or hospitals, but smaller. There's a compartment for the meat then 2 smaller ones for the rice and beans, meaning you only get about 3-4 spoonfuls of rice and beans. The whole experience was just so disappointing, Cubana Cafe will never get another dollar from me, they should be ashamed of themselves! read more