Thoughts on bongos cuban cafe

[kirbsam]

We are thinking of eating here before our evening at cirque de soleil. We are not extremely adventurous eaters, but we all liked boma. Any thoughts on this restaurant are appreciated. We are from wisconsin and I have no idea what cuban cooking is like. I have seen the menu, but that was not much help.

 

[adrock1976]

If you are not very adventurous eaters, this might not be the restaurant for you. You will find many dishes are spiced (not hot) and flavorful. However, you mentioned that you like Boma, which has very flavorful and highly seasoned dishes. At the same time, with black beans and rice, fried plantains, and many chicken and meat dishes, you may find something that you like. Without knowing your personal tastes, I would say that if you like seafood, that section of the menu would be less of a stretch out of your comfort zone, possibly. Hope you have a great meal.

As an aside, if you are looking for food close to the Cirque theater, you may enjoy the fare at the House of Blues.

 

[WDWOKW92]

When we ate at Bongo's 3 years ago my wife (half Cuban and very familiar with the traditional dishes) said it was okay,... neither great or bad. Now that being said, we ate at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe (in the same area as Bongo's) this past year and it was delicious! Try the carrot cake,... it is to DIE for!

 

[Princess Michelle]

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[bavaria]

I've heard mixed reviews over the years, as many seem to think that the food is modified for American tastes, as at several WDW restaurants.

Last week a colleague of mine kept going on about Bongo's and how much he loved it when we had been there in the past. Since it's directly in my line of vision from SSR, I hopped over for a quick dinner.

Service was good, unobtrusive but very very attentive. The busser cleared my table in seconds (when was the last time one had a busser at a WDW restuarant, where most CM's are so overworked?)

I probably should have sat outside for the view - inside was ok, but a little loud to my taste.

Food was excellent, and a very large portion.

Of course my positive experience did require an email to my colleague to advise him of my visit - he didn't appreciate it as he won't be able to enjoy Bongo's anytime soon.

And if it helps, he is the ultimate steak and potatoes man who prefers Outback and Lonestar to anything else....

 

[LindaR]

My "thoughts" on Bongos.................we went there for lunch........food was ok (I had a sampler appetizer as my meal so that I could try a variety of things and DD16 had a chicken/rice entree)........however the SERVICE was among the worst that I have EVER encountered anywhere and you could not pay me to go back.

The restaraunt was basically empty (early lunch) and the waitstaff stood around and talked and refused to service their tables (remove plates, refill glasses, ask how the food was, etc) and even when we signalled to our waiter, he would not come to the table! When we were finished (he DID stop by to drop off the bill), I placed a $100 bill in the folder (our bill was something like $37) and he asked if I needed change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told him YES, I NEEDED ALL OF MY CHANGE. I was so amazed at the rudeness and lack of service and just plain "tackiness" of the whole experience and did not leave any tip.

I would spend $37 at McDonalds for two hamburgers before I'd ever go back to Bongos!

 

[Forever42]

I had a cuban sandwich and being from Tampa I've had a lot of cuban sandwiches in my life, Bongo's ranks up there with the best of them.

My sentiments exactly, growing up right next to Tampa myself La Teresita is still my favorite, though!

I'm always posting on these Bongo's threads, but we love the restaurant, find it fairly authentic and delicious. As I always say, we'd go back more often if they take DDE. We've never had a problem with service, either.

 

[bavaria]

Once again Forever42 and I agree on restaurant choices. What's scary is that my meat and potatoes colleague and I agree - we eat out together five nights a week and it's always an argument....

Re the service - once I got past the crowd of teenage greeters service was excellent. But everyone gets an off night now and then.

 

[Lizzybee]

We are from (almost) Wisconsin (just across the border South of Kenosha)too and really enjoyed Bongos. I had not had Cuban food before but was a little familiar with some things like plantains as I lived in Mexico. I believe there were choices on the menu that wouldn't be really adventurous.

 

[Mykelogan]

Just thought I'd add another positive review. I had a great meal there in February and I was literally the only person there! hehe It was right after they opened for the day. My server was very attentive and the food was delish. I had the Chicharrones de pollo, which was crispy deep fried chicken chunks with a cuban mojo ( strong lime flavor) sauce, with rice and plaintains. I also had the Tamal en hoja appetizer, which was a pork tamale. All were excellently prepared. The dessert selection was great too but I was too stuffed to try anything. I wanted to try the Tres Leches cake and see if it was authentic.

Good luck deciding!

 

[LSUwest]

We ate there in '98 and loved it. We ended up eating there 2 or 3 times in fact. I'm an adventurous eater. My wife is not. I think it was our first sample of cuban food. They had a tropical fruit tray appetizer (which I dont see on the menu @ allears anymore) which was really good. It was also our first Tres Leche cake.

I'm not sure how much has changed, but even though we are on the meal plan, we will definately go back in December.

 

[Forever42]

Once again Forever42 and I agree on restaurant choices.

We should have dinner together sometime

 

[bavaria]

Well, gee, I was available to do a shared birthday dinner with the three of us this past weekend - WHERE WERE YOU??

I had a nice dinner at Bongo's as mentioned.....

 

[blueangel]

We ate there a few years ago and the food was mostly just ok, but they were soooo slooooooow. We had Cirque tickets and barely made it.

On the other hand, whatever they did to the rice was fantastic. Anybody know what it is?

 

[Forever42]

Well, gee, I was available to do a shared birthday dinner with the three of us this past weekend - WHERE WERE YOU??

I had a nice dinner at Bongo's as mentioned.....

Party for the Senses on Saturday and a Greek festival up in Maitland on Sunday

 

[OrlandoMike]

Anytime someone asks where to eat before Cirque I always recommend House of Blues. The food and service are among the best at the West Side.

Bongos, IMHO is nothing more than a very expensive joint seriving food you could get much cheaper in "true hispanic" neoighborhoods in Orlando.

 

[JMD]

I don't like Bongos. I've had authentic Cuban food many times and Bongos is just not that good. But I do like to sit at the takeout window outside and get a Cafe Cubano.