I've come here several times in the past few weeks, ordering an assortment of things and usually spending $20 - $40. The pastelitos and croquetas are pretty much the same as in any other Cuban bakery - 'good enough.' (The meat in the pastelitos is a bit too pink but that is sometimes found in pastelitos and varies by bakery.) Don't let the lines fool you -- it seems to me that about 90% of its customers are tourists. It has business due to its location, not due to its product - i.e., a tourist trap. Still, the product is good enough and the desserts are tasty.
Well, today was an eye-opener. ***If you want croquetas that are FREEZING COLD IN THE CENTER and INEDIBLE, this is your spot.***
As part of my order today, I ordered 12 croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes) and several pastelitos. The wait was longer than even usual (did I mention the employees here are often conversing and joking with each other and seem annoyed to have to stop chatting and take your order? Good luck even getting their attention). They finally then mentioned the long wait was because they were frying the ham croquetas, as they had run out. No problem. So I waited and ultimately received my order.
I then sat down outside to have one of the croquetas before driving away, and... I honestly want to gag even thinking about it... the center inside was FREEZING COLD and HARD... (i.e., NOT READY FOR CONSUMPTION). Picture a TV dinner that you didn't leave in the microwave long enough and the center is still freezing. I tried not to gag.
I went back in and, discretely/politely (so that other customers would not hear) informed the cashier (whom I'd paid and tipped),"I think the croquetas weren't ready. They're freezing cold in the middle."
Hang on for the best part -- SHE TELLS ME THAT'S WHAT CROQUETAS ARE LIKE! (Hm, I'm a Cuban American who's been eating croquetas her entire life. No, croquetas are not freezing 'cold' and hard in the center.)
This is like telling someone a steak that is freezing cold in the middle is totally normal and "that's how it's served."
Only after I insisted did she begrudgingly tell the lady who was deep-frying... to fry them some more. That employee had nearly as bad an attitude (awful) and was giving off the 'Hm, just eat your croquetas freezing cold and hard, lady' vibe. When she gave them back to me, she just merely pushed them towards me on the counter, without any "Sorry, for giving you disgusting, frozen, inedible food."
(This also appears to indicate that they don't make the croquetas fresh on site (?) but rather they arrive frozen and what you're getting is merely a frozen-food that has been thrown into a deep-fryer and then sold to you. ??)
So anyway, if you like your meat freezing cold and hard inside, definitely order here. Also, if you like the worst customer-service imaginable, you will enjoy this place. Good luck getting the attention of the employees. read more