We had reservations for a group of 6 on Thursday evening and arrived a little before our scheduled time. We were greeted by the hostess and taken upstairs to a large round table in the back. It was perfect for our group. We loved the decor inside and outside of the restaurant. It send you back in time. Nicholas was our server and he was very attentive and helpful. We started off with the Cubanchos and everyone enjoyed them. For drinks, I had the Old Havana Fashion, which was delicious and my wife had the Canchanchara. I also had a Carib beer at the suggestion of our server. For dinner, I had the Lechon Asado and it was delicious. The pork was tender and I also enjoyed the flavor of the Congris. It also came with Yucca Con Mojo. I had never had Yucca before so I didn't know what to expect. It was very good. My wife had the Churrasco. She loved it. Everyone in our group enjoyed the drinks and the food. I don't think any of us were able to eat all our food so there were plenty of leftovers, which were sent home with our friends. We will definitely be back. read more

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Excelente ambiente y la comida espectacular con la presencia de la santería Ceviche de camarón de entrada Vaca Frita Yuca al mojo read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Menús - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

-Service and quality as always, top-notch, and the Cuban flavor is present, making you feel right at home but... something essential has been lost: the taste of the coffee, a Cuban needs that finishing touch after every meal, and this has been a total disappointment. Servicio y calidad como siempre, el sabor Cubano presente como si estuvieras en casa pero...algo esencial se ha perdido y es el sabor del cafe, el Cubano necesita ese toque al final de cada plato, a sido una decepción total el mal sabor del café "Cubano" según la carta read more

Just go! See for yourself why this place would get 10 stars if they could. Ambience perfect Service perfect Food perfect Drinks perfect Price perfect Music perfect If I lived in Louisville I'd be here every single weekend. read more

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I'm so excited I finally got a chance to come here! It's been on my list for a while now and today I got lucky because right when we walked in there were two seats at the bar! I got the second most popular dish and the chicken breast tasted so juicy!! I can't believe how much flavor it was in just one bite. I also enjoyed the black beans, probably the best beans I've ever had! So good! This dish was prepared so well, every bite made me so happy lol I also got the passion fruits mojito! Highly recommend. Also the bread they bring out before your meal is amazing! The two different butters go so well with it. I can't wait to bring my mom here when she's in town, the vibe of this place is amazing. Service was great and I loved the uniforms the staff wear. As soon as you step into the restaurant, you immediately feel like you're in Cuba! This is such a special place and I can't wait to come back. read more

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My all time favorite restaurant here in Louisville. Whenever a friend comes to town, you can never go wrong bringing them here. The food is always so delicious and their desserts are so fire. My favorite part are the free appetizers of bread and butter. I usually order the pescado or the steak. Both very good options. Sometimes the fish can be dry though. The portion size is huge! Can't really complain. I always bring a box home. Somewhat of a con is that it can get busy on weekends, but I usually get seated with 30 minutes. Likewise, I could always tell the servers always try their best to give good service. In terms of the ambience, they have live music, it's always a great vibe but it can be super loud at times if you want to have a conversation with friends. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Pescado Crujiente - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Ok.... I usually visit an establishment at least twice before making a review.... Unless.... its very bad.... OR Very Good!!! Guess which one this was?????..... Okay..I'm sure the 5 stars kinda gives it away!!!.. But.. This was some all around goodness.. from me hearing about this place from a friend last week... to actually meeting that same friend and his wife there with my oldest children.. And we were Not disappointed!!.. Everything from the atmosphere... The amazing service and hospitality... the the knowledge we gained about not only Cuban food but their traditions and why they cook what they cook... I really wish I could remember what we ordered, but the excitement was so overwhelming we just ordered and ate!.. the pictures does absolutely no justice to the flavors!! I'm certain that whatever you order will be prepared with Cuban tradition and Love!! Well worth the visit! read more

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The best Cuban food north of Florida. Never had such delicious food. The ceviche was flavorful with a slit garlic, lime tomato base. The Cuban sandwich was a good size and the pork was freshly made. Highly recommend and will try others the next time I come back. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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I have been thinking about this place for the last two months since my last meal. The vibes and atmosphere are top notch. The service is outstanding. This is a must stop when in Louisville. Order: Lechon asado. Perfectly cooked juicy flavorful pork. The rice/bean mixture was flavorful and still had a great texture. Delicious and filling after a long day of bourbon sampling. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Enchilado de Camarones - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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La Bodeguita is the best Cuban dining experience in Louisville, if not Kentucky. Full stop. The cubano is to die for, as are the papas rellenas. I also haven't had a better margarita in Louisville. My only warning is to try to make a reservation if at all possible, as the place almost always has a wait to get in. Past that, there is very little parking, so you may need to find a spot on the street. read more

Food came out quick and it was super good! Steak cooked perfectly, mahi mahi was crisp and hot, plaintains were supa ripe! The place was clean and both casual and cozy and the service was great. read more

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If you enjoy a lively dinner scene, this is a hot spot! It was quite loud at the front with the live music at the bar. We had to wait a while, but it was worth it! We got a table in the cigar room which was quieter than the downstairs dining. All of the food was delicious, but I think the cubanos were the highlight! Absolutely recommend this place for cuban food in Louisville. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Cubano - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Honestly one of the best meals I've had in a while. Loved the ambience and decor as well. Pollo al mojo looked a little beige but flavor couldn't have been farther from that. Plantain chips were v crispy. The real stars were the Cubano and Havana mojitos. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Top 2 sandwiches I've ever had maybe not 2. 100% worth the drive from Lexington read more

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My wife and I made reservations here for dinner prior to a comedy show at The Brown. The reservation process was easy online. The place is decorated in a 1950's Cuban style which was very cool. The food was amazing. My wife has not really enjoyed Cuban food in the past, but she loved this. The cocktails were really good too. Everything was great. It's casual dress, and entree prices are 25 a 30 bucks. Bread is served complimentary. We highly recommend. read more

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Had so much fun checking out La Bodeguita de Mima in Louisville. The musicians playing and singing were so talented and we couldn't help but stop our meal and listen because they were so good. The Ropa Vieja had a really flavorful taste and the meat was cooked well and then served in a can. The staff told us how following the Cuban Revolution, Cubans faced economic hardship and relied on the Soviet Union for trade, during which they imported canned goods like this. Although the taste was definitely not straight from a can, it was nice to see how they were preserving history and we even got to take the can home as a souvenir. The fried plantains were also really tasty, and it came with a bowl of black beans. The arroz con pollo a la chorrera was the perfect comforting dish, and reminded me of porridge since it was soupy. Empanadas were steaming hot and I loved how crunchy the shell was in comparison to the meat inside. We got a mix of beef and chicken! The staff was so friendly and I loved how festive the atmosphere was, with other guests recommending dishes and sharing jokes with us. Can't wait to be back! Getting a reservation is recommended for weekend dinners, since it is a popular restaurant. They have a parking lot with designated spaces, which was helpful as well! read more

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La Bodeguita is a gem located in the heart of Nulu. The restaurant specializes in authentic Cuban cuisine and cocktails. The dishes are cultivated and curated to perfection!!! The customer service is phenomenal and ambiance and decor is beautifully decorated. The moment you walk into the restaurant you will experience the rich Cuban history. The restaurant has a small parking lot and a patio area. I would highly recommend this restaurant; however making reservations is suggested as this restaurant is always booming with business. Hands down my favorite restaurant in Nulu and Louisville! read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Salmon, plantains, and rice. - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Loved this place. Will definitely come back. We tried the croquettes for appetizer. It was so delicious. For dinner I had the steak. It was sooo good as well. Steak was cooked perfectly on the rarer side. For dessert we had the chocolate cigar. Presentation was nice and it was basically somebody opening the box and smoke coming out. I will say I was a bit disappointed that they did not do the birthday celebration for my friend's bday, which I had informed them about. Other than that- the prices are fairly reasonable and I would even say below what I expected. Would come back, and hopefully they'll help make the next special occasion memorable. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Outside - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

We went to this delicious restaurant last night. We got the Ceasars salad and they give you a healthy portion. We got the mini tacos with stewed beef; they're delicious. We enjoyed the veggie empanadas. My wife ordered the encrusted Mahi Mahi. That's probably her favorite meal there. Our waitress was Mia. She was good. I would've liked more water refills. I ordered the carnival extra well done. They were delicious and crispy. I substituted the sweet plantains for tostones which are the same banana but instead fried to look like a round cookie and less sweet. I also substituted the rice for yucca. That is a root almost like a potato but better. My son got the vaca frita which is beef. Another tasty dish. They give complimentary bread with different types of butter. They do give a military discount. We will always return. read more

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This place is amazing! There's a reason they have a zillion five star reviews. We visited here on a weekday for lunch and made reservations in advance, knowing how hard it can be to get a spot here. We ended up in a cozy room upstairs and quite frankly I think we would've been happy with any room in the house because it all felt so cozy and like you were in someone's kitchen. Our order included a chicken olive dish, Ropa Vieja, some of the fabulous complementary bread with two different types of butter. We especially loved the homemade guava butter and a dynamite Mojito with a sugarcane stick. It definitely took us back to our past visits to Cuba and Miami. The staff was very friendly and the overall experience was kid friendly. You can't beat their festive and vibrantly decorated location in the heart of NuLu, the space oozes Cuban vibes with moody lighting, a cozy interior and vibrantly painted exterior including a mural and old car. Dreaming about future visits already! read more

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I will start by saying I would hop on a plane just to eat here. We recently spent a week in NULU to enjoy the bourbon trails and Louisville. This place was right across from my hotel. Not only is it eye candy and the outside drew me in, but the inside vibe is so cool. (That's if you are seated in the house) We are here twice, it's that good. The empanadas are amazing. The Papa Rellenos is amazing. The chicken and rice is amazing. I wish I could have tried it all! Every dish was absolutely delicious! Service was good, and they had some amazing drinks but I stuck with the New Old Fashion. Just a note, if they sit you in the expansion area, it's a bit like a Mexican restaurant vibe, still great, just not as good as the house. They had live music and it was exquisite! read more

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The bast Cuban in downtown Lou. A must stop for all visitors to town. Take sure to hang in the bar for awhile too

We were visiting Louisville for the weekend and looking for something unique and delicious and we struck gold with La Bodeguita! We waited about 20 minutes for a table on a Friday night, and our server was both friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She let us know that all of the dishes are family recipes and helped us decide on an appetizer of what looked like mini beef tacos. The pulled beef was so tender and full of flavor and was topped with homemade guacamole. My husband ordered the Cubano sandwich which came with plantain chips and I ordered a chicken and yellow rice dish, Arroz Imperial. We cleaned both plates because it was too good to leave any leftovers. The Cuban sandwich was one of the best we've ever tried, the pork was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the mustard added a nice kick. The pickles were clearly house made and the bread was fantastic as well. My rice dish was the quintessential cheesy, warm, comfort food. The chicken thighs were seared and juicy. The flavors were off the charts and the spice wasn't overwhelming. The bar is known for their mojitos but I've recently stopped drinking alcohol - thankfully the server clued me in to their virgin mojito and with the fresh mint and lime, I didn't miss the rum at all! We ended the night with the bread pudding which was different than traditional bread pudding in that it was a solid piece of cake-like bread soaked in caramel and cream. Needless to say, we polished that plate as well! During dinner we got to participate in an impromptu conga line and got to enjoy some lively Cuban music. The whole restaurant was full of a party-like energy that was infectious and only added to our enjoyment of the evening. La Bodeguita truly provided a five star experience and we'll be making a point to return the next time we're in Louisville! read more

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Tons of seating and conveniently located next to a parking garage. Tried the empanadas and they were amazing and super hot! The drinks were mixed perfectly, not too much but just enough alcohol. The Cuban was so big I had to take it home. Great service and atmosphere as well! We'll definitely be back! read more

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This little Cuban gem is the best restaurant in the NuLu Area. The vibe is wonderful and the service was great too. Evalin provided some great suggestions. Our favorite item was the vegetarian Empanadas Cubanas. I had the mahi-mahi cruiente and my bride had the vegetarian Tamal. I also highly suggest the Forbidden Mojito. It was delicious!! We highly recommend you give this place a try. read more

Such a cool restaurant in the Nulu district of Louisville. Came here on business and happened to come across this great little Cuban restaurant. This place is pretty big, with many different areas to dine, including a large covered patio with live music which was such a nice treat. The decor is what you would expect going to a Cuban restaurant, very lively and colorful. Our waitress was nice and attentive. Food was delicious. The only thing I didn't care for was the chicken in my rice dish. Maybe this is authentic and most people really love it, but the chicken seemed very cartilaginous and not what I expected. I figured or assumed it was white mean and or even dark meat but not this. My fault for assuming and not asking though. Otherwise, everything else was good and I would definitely come back here if I ever make it to Louisville again. Highly recommend you stop here, everything else was fantastic. read more

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From start to finish, La Bodeguita de Mima was a fantastic experience. My only regret is that we didn't order more food! Our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She suggested the mojito because it was the best and she wasn't wrong! The mojito was perfectly sweet, minty and dangerously good, if you know what I mean. We ordered the ensalada Cubana, camarones al ajillo and the churrasco. The salad was huge, great for sharing. Both the shrimp and churrasco were perfectly seasoned and cooked. We hope to return soon to order more and dessert too! Inside and out, the decor was amazing. Bright, rich colors with a nod to Cuban heritage throughout. Each corner and room was different and absolutely lovely. Reservations are highly recommended and certainly made the experience seamless upon our arrival. There's a reason this restaurant has so many five star reviews and from so many people around the country so if you are in the area, don't miss out on the opportunity to give this place a try at least once! You won't be disappointed in any part of your experience here! read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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The restaurant is 2 hours away but we drove here specifically for this reason! And it met... exceeded... expectations! Shrimp Ceviche was delicious! I needed a spoon to eat it all. The pollo a cherrro had a tomato sauce with fried green plantain. Yum. My SO got the pollo with a side of black beans, rice, and sweet plantains! Love love love the fried sweet pl read more

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Easily one of the most favorite meals I've had in a long time. Everything at La Bodeguita clicks. Ambiance, service and food all work together perfectly. It was a very fun meal between our amazing server and the music. I was happy to be seated upstairs though. The music was quite loud on the first level and I'm a bit loud music averse at my advanced age ;) The papas rellenas appetizer was a favorite and the arroz imperial main blew my mind. SO much flavor. Wish I lived closer so we could dine here more often. read more

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Nulu has changed a lot from when I first started coming to this area. Previously, this was Creation Gardens, and behind it was Ghyslain when they had a store front. Since that time, La Bodeguita de Mimi has taken over the Creation Garden space. The brightly yellow painted house on Market Street makes you feel like you've just come in to an old friend's home. The restaurant is named after the owner's mother and there's portrait of in the restaurant. The space is lovely and expansive. There's a well appointed bar to your left as you come in and there are multiple seating areas on both levels and if it's a good day a gorgeous outdoors as well. The bar is cozy and you can find great options as you wait for a table. I highly recommend making a reservation if you can given how busy they are! Opentable makes it easy. The walls are lined with pictures from Cuba and other memorabilia. You'll have plenty to look at while you are waiting for your table. When you do get seated, you might be upstairs or downstairs. Word of warning if you are someone who has difficulty with mobility, I would recommend asking for a table downstairs. The stairs to go upstairs are a bit narrow. So I've been there quite a few times for various reasons, each time has been an experience because of the ambiance. So take in the interior and the memorabilia on the walls and the items on the mantles. The last time I went, we were celebrating a friend's birthday and the staff at La Bodeguita made sure that our friend felt very special. You may feel a little bougie in Nulu as this restaurant does not have a separate lunch menu. That's ok, I just you want my locals to be aware. If you are into cocktails, they have some really cool tropical options. Obviously Mojitos are on the menu as well as margaritas, sangria, coffee or non alcoholic fruit juices. My most recent visit, I tried a watermelon Mojito. It was such a pleasant surprise to have such a tropical drink in Louisville. My friend got a specialty- canchanchara- containing a special liquor, ginger honey and lime juice which she enjoyed as well. Additionally, while you're waiting for your meal, they will bring you out Cuban bread with two different types of butter. One butter is a cilantro garlic, and the other is actually a guava butter. It's on the sweeter side, but it is surprisingly tasty. For our meals, we had a variety of things. One friend got the tostones rellenos which is listed as the appetizer, but she just got it for herself. It was a perfect size for a small meal. Tostones are smashed, twice fried green plantains that become a crispy vehicle to top with fresh veggies and well seasoned meat. She really enjoyed how perfect this dish was. Two friends ended up getting the shrimp dish-camarones a ajillo-, which was really beautiful in presentation as well. It was almost like a soup with the shrimp soaking in the broth. They found it very flavorful and very delicious. One of my Cuban patients actually referenced one of the beef dishes at La Bodeguita because she found it to be very authentic. Now, whenever someone from the respective country tells you that they find the dish authentic you listen. The dish she was referencing is ropa vieja en lata. It comes to you in a can that they lift up to soak into the peppers and other vegetables. As a vegetarian, I've tried a few items on the menu. They have two specific dishes for vegetarians. One is very similar to a dish that you've probably seen at Havana Rumba. It contains a spinach and cheese empanada, yucca, beans and rice, and fried plantains. The other option is a vegetarian tamale. If you're not inclined for those specific dishes, then they have some really interesting salad options. The crunchy tropical is a salad with mango, jicama, beets, malanga,chayote, and a passion fruit vinaigrette which was so so tasty. This was not something that I could've easily replicated myself at home. Lastly, you must leave room for dessert. Dessert at this restaurant is not to be missed because this is where the restaurant truly shines. The caffe con leche affogato can scratch the itch for coffee with ice cream. The tres leches cake, a staple of a Latin restaurant- is 3 milks soaked into a cake. The standout dessert is the habano de chocolate which is a chocolate cigar that comes to your table in a cigar box. To summarize, plan your day out in Nulu, make a reservation on Open Table and go experience the Cuban cuisine of La Bodeguita de Mimi. You'll truly enjoy the food, ambiance and experience. read more

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Great Vibe! Food Was Excellent! Walked In And Was Blown Away On The Atmosphere. Must Stop In Louisville! read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I cannot say enough great things about our experience! This place makes for a fun night! I also didn't realize how big this place was. They have several different seating areas. I loved that we got to be outside. The singer was amazing! There were two stages, one in the bar and one outside on the stage. Both were really good. Our food was served quickly and our server did a nice job helping us decide between a couple of things, including the dessert, which was so good! Mojitos are my favorite drinks and these were tasty! He also told us to stay for a couple minutes for the conga line. Highly recommend coming here! read more

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I love this place! The food is always consistent, the service is amazing. They have the best mojitos in town and their masas de puerco are the best! They have live music in the back, perfect for a fun night out with the girls. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Passion fruit mojito, please chew on the sugar cane! - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This place is SO cool! I love everything about the ambiance. Right when you walk in music is playing, the vibe is so fun. I would recommend making a reservation... it books up fast! I was looking for something a bit lighter that night for dinner so I had the Camarones Al Ajillo, the flavor was amazing and it was overly heavy. Our server was a young gentleman and he was pretty knowledgeable when we asked questions about the menu. I forgot to take pictures of everything we got. read more

Food was good. I ordered the camarones al ajillo and the lechon asado and split with a coworker. Both were good. My favorite was the rice from the lechon asado (super good, pretty salty in a delicious way) and the shrimp from the camarones al ajillo. Lots of garlic! Oh and maduros/fried plantains. Always good :) read more

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This restaurant is so good and fun! Indoor seating is romantic and beautiful. Outdoor seating is pretty. There is live entertainment on the patio. The music is so good! The tostadas on the appetizer menu are amazing and very large. I absolutely adore this restaurant! read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I'm not even sure how I ended up here I'm from Florida, have lived in both Miami and Orlando, and I'm surrounded by amazing Cuban food all the time. Yet somehow, among the rolling hills of Kentucky and the intoxicating aroma of the Angel's Share, I found myself eating Cuban food again. Was it the worst meal I've ever had? No. The best? Also no. Would I go out of my way to come back? Probably not. We stopped in on a Saturday night while exploring the Bourbon Trail on a bit of a detour, but my family had visited earlier this year and wanted to return. The place was packed and parking was a challenge. Tip: you can park at the AC Marriott garage next door for free just ask your server for the secret word to yell into the pay box when you leave. The restaurant itself is vibrant and lively and a bit loud. There's seating upstairs and toward the back. The staff were all friendly, and a couple who seemed like the owners were walking around making sure everything ran smoothly. This place is pricey and when i compare it to the Cuban food i have had elsewhere for much less it makes it more challenging to like.. Our table tried the Cuban sandwich, croquetas, empanadas, palomilla steak, and the cigar-shaped chocolate dessert. Everything was decent, but the dessert was the star of the night. I'm a big fan of smoked flavors drinks, meats, you name it but I'd never had a smoked dessert before. The smokiness was intense, and I loved it! It would pair perfectly with a smoked old fashioned. If only they had one... Bottom line: Good if you're nearby and want Cuban food or celebrating, but not worth a special trip. read more

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I was visiting during LDW from Chicago and did research on some restaurants to check out in Louisville. I was SO happy they have outdoor seating and allow dogs because I would've been so disappointed if I couldn't dine here. And oh my word, I was completely blown away! I could've shut my eyes and picked anything on the menu. We definitely over ordered. Everything was so flavorful and perfectly executed. I loved the live music, but our dogs started to get a bit overstimulated, so we ordered the Pescado Crujiente to-go, and wrapped up all the leftovers. The ambiance was such a vibe, fun, and friendly. We'd definitely come back if we're in town. read more

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Hands down one of the best Cuban spots I've been to. The food is packed with flavor and tastes homemade, not rushed or watered down. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the portions were solid for the price. read more

La Bodeguita de Mima - Cuban Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Ambiance, live music, food exceptional, service was great! Decor is fabulous. Food is prepared quickly. read more

This restaurant was twice recommended to me recently by two bartenders in Nulu as one of the top two places for dinner in the neighborhood (the other being the Mayan Cafe), so I decided to stop in recently after having only been there once before for dinner several years ago. It was a Wednesday night, and I sat in the bar area. The restaurant was hopping! I asked my server for appetizer recommendations, and he suggested a few including the empanadas so I got them and the beef choice. They were excellent! Even though I just got an appetizer, I still was served complimentary bread with two delicious butters. Like the last time I was there, the restaurant was very noisy, but I enjoyed the lively, happening environment and the delicious food! My server also was capable and nice. read more