Cuban restaurant?

[CattailGal]

Any recommendations?

TIA,

KC

 

[jctwizzer]

we liked Bongo's ....but then, we're not experts on
Cuban by any means

 

[DOOM1001]

I'm Cuban American living in Miami,so I have to know about Cuban restaurants,however when I go to Orlando I'm not searching them out as I get enough of them here.As far as Bongo's goes,I've never eaten in the restaurant mainly because I tried their Medianoche sandwich in their take out window which is the same as a Cuban sandwich in a sweeter egg bread and it was clearly the worst medianoche sandwich I've ever had,even a little hole in the wall place down here makes one 20X better.I'm sure the inside restaurant has to have somewhat better food than that sandwich I had in the take out window otherwise I can't imagine how they've been open for so long.The other Cuban places in the area that I know of are the Columbia restaurant in Celebration which is a Spanish/Cuban place that's been around for over 100 years with the first one located in Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood.I've eaten at the Columbia restaurant in Celebration and St.Augustine and I have nothing bad to say about it.Again it's a Spanish/Cuban mix so not everything on the menu is pure Cuban,it's also more upscale when compared to the typical Cuban places you have in Miami like La Carreta,Versailles and Sergio's,so be prepared to spend more.Another place I've seen but not eaten in the Orlando area is Cuba Libre in Pointe Orlando on International Drive by the convention center,I have no knowledge about this place just letting you know it exists.There's been other posts before asking this same question and some locals have mentioned a place up in Casselberry which is away from the tourist areas.

 

[CattailGal]

Thanks for the suggestions. We're "Miami natives", now living in Tenn. DH is of Cuban heritage. We miss the Cuban food!!

KC

 

[royaltybuff]

http://cubalibrerestaurant.com/i/orlando/

Cuba Libre

Any recommendations?

TIA,

KC

 

[sgtdisney]

We had some good meals at Padrino's Cuban Bistro. You would probably need a car to drive there, as it's east of Disney off of John Young Pkwy, but it is very highly rated on Tripadvisor, for a reason. Night and day compared to Bongo's which used to be good many years ago, but lately has been lack lustre. Never tried Cuba Libre, may need to try that sometime althogh it looks to be more expensive than Padrino's. http://www.padrinosbistro.com/home.htm

 

[deej696]

I would rank Columbia above Cuba Libre or Bongo's. My one meal at Cuba Libre was pretty lackluster, and the latter is Disney's version of Cuban....

 

[delilah]

We are also fans of the Columbia restaurant. My husband is Cuban, and from Ybor city, and actually, the founders of the Columbia restaurant were friends of his father.

 

[bankr63]

Bongos = our worst restaurant meal ever! Everything came lukewarm off of a steam table. Yech!

Not Cuban, but have seen a couple of recommendations for Tropifongo (Puerto Rican) takeout place at 3160 Vineland. Have been carrying around the address for years, but still haven't made it there.

 

[2girlsmom]

I agree that Bongo's is NOT good, we get better and more authentic cuban at the mall food court in Tampa, and actually had better by far in Omaha, NE! Bongo's may have been decent at one time, but when we went last year it was dry, lukewarm meat from sitting out, and virtually no seasoning; the only good thing for my 12 year old whose birthday dinner it was, was that they served Iron Beer, which she dearly loves, LOL.

 

[MsRoseN99H]

Glad I stumbled on this one. We have an ADR for Bongos... may need to rethink. Thanks so much!

 

[JimMIA]

We LOVE Columbia, and eat there every single trip to Orlando (or St Augustine, or Tampa, or Sarasota, or ...)

But I agree with DOOM1001, I consider it somewhat different from the Cuban restaurants here in Miami. To me, Columbia is more Spanish, or maybe old Cuban (as in 1800's) compared to the much simpler food, with less expensive cuts of meat, and very casual atmosphere that we're used to here in Miami.

Whenever this gringo wants palomilla con papas fritas, I go to Rio Crystal or La Carretta (or Casavana, which is the restaurant Sergio left behind and which is better than Sergios).

If I want fine dining, I would go to Columbia.

 

[GoBears 1980]

Glad I stumbled on this one. We have an ADR for Bongos... may need to rethink. Thanks so much!

Those comments are from two years ago.

I like Bongo's, just not sure I'd call it great Cuban food, but than I've never found great Cuban in Orlando. If you expect Miami level Cuban, you will be disappointed.

I think Padrino's is the best Cuban in the area.

 

[MsRoseN99H]

Those comments are from two years ago.

I like Bongo's, just not sure I'd call it great Cuban food, but than I've never found great Cuban in Orlando. If you expect Miami level Cuban, you will be disappointed.

I think Padrino's is the best Cuban in the area.

Thank you for the information! Being from NH we'd have no clue what good Cuban food was

 

[happy2012]

My DH & I were talking about how we have always wanted to try Bongo's.

 

[JaxDad]

Not Cuban, but have seen a couple of recommendations for Tropifongo (Puerto Rican) takeout place at 3160 Vineland. Have been carrying around the address for years, but still haven't made it there.

We love Tropifongo!

 

[DOOM1001]

I agree that Bongo's is NOT good, we get better and more authentic cuban at the mall food court in Tampa, and actually had better by far in Omaha, NE! Bongo's may have been decent at one time, but when we went last year it was dry, lukewarm meat from sitting out, and virtually no seasoning; the only good thing for my 12 year old whose birthday dinner it was, was that they served Iron Beer, which she dearly loves, LOL.

Definitely not a fan of Ironbeer,don't like the flavor and it always seems flat.Materva on the other hand is another Cuban soda that's amazing.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

If you don't mind traveling, some of the better rated Cuban restaurants in Orlando: Black Bean Deli, Zaza New Cuban Diner, and Los Autenticos.

Most of the best eats in Orlando are near downtown, not in the chain-dominated tourist corridor.

 

[NinaBella]

I live in Tampa and we are not big fans of the Columbia restaurant. It's overpriced and food is just average. Service is terrible. We have been to both the one in Ybor and St. Augustine and were not impressed. We tend to have office luncheon (military going away lunches, etc) and they pick the Columbia restaurant so we are obligated to attend. It's well known but over rated.

 

[Grumpy92]

I am another S Floridian. DO NOT go to Bongos. It used to be good but is terrible now. Took a co worker there for dinner the service and food were awful. The Columbia is a good restaurant and they do have a very good Cuban sandwich. Love their 1901 Salad.
Zaza's is another good one.