(212) 633-1570

200 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011 40.743537 -73.999762

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

chelseadining.com/cubacafe/in…

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Mojitos

Restaurant Special Features:

Brunch, Margaritas, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar

Cuisine:

Tapas / Small Plates, Latin American, Seafood, Cuban

Bar & Club Special Features:

Specialty Cocktails

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Cuba Cafe

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Traditional Cuban fare--tapas and mains--in Chelsea served with a tropical flair; full bar selections include the restaurant's popular mojitos.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Show up for the daily happy hour between 4pm and 7pm and get $5 mojitos, classic daiquiri de cubas, margaritas, sunburns, cuba coladas, caipirinhas, la playas, sangria, beer and wine.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great food, fun atmosphere, awesome people, this place is highly recommended.”
  2. “We took over the Hemingway Room which was charming ,cozy and beautifully set with lots of candles and white table cloths.”
  3. “The atmosphere was great!”
  4. “The ambience was good.”
  5. “It was bumpin and totally fun inside, with the palm trees and the fun tropical fans, its totally my kind of place.”
  6. “The ambience is very cool,with the lighted palm trees and loud music.”
  7. “The decor was fun and authentic.”
  8. “would def recommend this place to families, couples, anyone who is looking to eat a great meal in a comfortable atmosphere.”
  9. “The staff was so attentive and fun.”
  10. “The ambiance was perfect for conversation with friends or a date night out.”
  11. “But other than that, everyone else at the restaurant seemed to be having a wonderful time, which sets a good ambience.”
  12. “The atmosphere is very warm and tropical.”
  13. “Fun lights lit up the bar, and it had a very cool ambiance.”
  14. “... but good atmosphere”
dessert
80.0% positive
  1. “The only problem is that the entree portion are big so there is no room for dessert.”
  2. “The chorizo stuffed chicken was so-so, the potatoes and tostones were okay, the dessert (brownie with icecream and cookie) was surprisingly bad, the food is overpriced for what you're getting.”
  3. “The best yet was the desserts,we ordered three for the table.”
  4. “We ordered one for the table,the chocolate domino cake,rich choclate layers with a hard chocolate top with a domino design on top.”
  5. “The birthday cake was wonderful, sorry I didn't order 2.”
drinks
79.48999881744385% positive
  1. “will go basically anywhere if the drinks are good, but this place has great drinks AND good food!”
  2. “The place was full,but we managed to find room at the end of the bar.”
  3. “We had our happy hour drinks at the bar -their $5 Cuba Colada is great.”
  4. “best service, happy hour drinks for everyone!”
  5. “had a great meal here last night, cute cafe, open air seating, good food, only to find out that the happy hour prices are for the bar only!”
  6. “The service was very good considering the place was full,and a wait at the bar.”
  7. “would recommend the mojitos and food, just beware you'll have to sit at the bar for any specials.”
  8. “After a wonderful dinner with great mix of music the host sent after dinner drinks to our table.”
  9. “Fun lights lit up the bar, and it had a very cool ambiance.”
  10. “asked the bartender what the best drink was, and he said the mojito or the sunburn.”
  11. “The bar was full and waiters running back and forth with food and drinks.”
  12. “After a few ,We ordered some tapas at the bar,everything was very good even the music was great.”
  13. “This is a great place to eat,drink and enjoy the nite.”
food quality
80.12999534606934% positive
  1. “the service is good and the food is excellent.”
  2. “Excellent food - great service”
  3. “It's not really authentic Cuban cuisine, but it's still a good meal (almost like comfort food) at a decent price.”
  4. “HOWEVER, the food was bad!”
  5. “And the warm, complimentary cheese bread (available for dinner only) is a worthwhile treat.”
  6. “would def recommend this place to families, couples, anyone who is looking to eat a great meal in a comfortable atmosphere.”
  7. “The killer mojitos and the best cuban food in Chelsea.”
  8. “The service was also very good, the food came out extremely quick and it you can tell that they use fresh ingredients.”
  9. “The seafood was so fresh.”
  10. “The chorizo stuffed chicken was so-so, the potatoes and tostones were okay, the dessert (brownie with icecream and cookie) was surprisingly bad, the food is overpriced for what you're getting.”
  11. “fine and complex mix of nuevo-latino ingredients make you aware that every bite closer to the end of the meal is the sad reality that you won't have food this good again soon, most likely.”
  12. “The pork tenderloin was tender and the sauce was really good,the yucca fries was something I never had ,they were great with the pork.”
  13. “We had dinner last week at Cuba Cafe and the food was the best I have had so far in New York.”
  14. “The decor was fun and authentic.”
  15. “If you want good food,mojitos,service,go to Cuba Cafe.”
  16. “The food was also very good.”
  17. “okay food, bad service”
  18. “The food was outstanding.”
  19. “The mojitos and caprihina's were divine as was all the food.”
  20. “remember the food and the great mojitos.”
  21. “Cuban food is my favorite.”
  22. “Poor, poor food”
  23. “Great food, fun atmosphere, awesome people, this place is highly recommended.”
  24. “The food was very good,not spicy or greasy.”
  25. “would recommend the mojitos and food, just beware you'll have to sit at the bar for any specials.”
  26. “good food”
  27. “It's too bad because the food was pretty good.”
  28. “Mediocre food.”
  29. “lived in Miami, among thousands of Cubans for 5 years and never had a Cuban meal in a restaurant that was better than mediocre.”
  30. “Great seafood”
  31. “All the ingrediats seemed really fresh and it was a well thought.”
  32. “The bar was full and waiters running back and forth with food and drinks.”
  33. “really good tropical food, the service was really nice , fast and helpful.”
  34. “You will enjoy the food.”
  35. “will go basically anywhere if the drinks are good, but this place has great drinks AND good food!”
  36. “The food here was wonderful!”
  37. “Great selection of appetizers so you can try a few different things - like the shrimp tamale which was excellent.”
  38. “My freind had the camarones enchilados very tasty with seven jumbo shrimp.”
  39. “The pina coladas were pretty tasty!”
  40. “We ordered pitchers of sangria {the best we ever had in New York so far} The food was fabulous and the service was very exciting.”
  41. “We had ceviche (gross red stuff on it), fried oysters (you had to find the oyster through all the breading), salad (which was actually quite decent), and grilled shrimp (again, poor).”
  42. “My freind had the giant shrimp special,both was out of this world,the sauces tasted so good I asked for the recipe,but the chef was busy.”
  43. “had a great meal here last night, cute cafe, open air seating, good food, only to find out that the happy hour prices are for the bar only!”
  44. “The food is excellent”
  45. “The food is good and the music wants to make you get up and dance.”
  46. “The food is not memorable.”
  47. “ordered the empanadas sampler, crab croqueta, and something else I don't remember but I remember (all appetizers) thinking this was the best Cuban meal I had ever eaten.”
  48. “The sangria was great and the cheese filled bread was fantastic.”
  49. “My pal had the shrimp with garlic and I had the red snapper,both entrees were really,really good.”
  50. “The food was great, the sangria delicious and the service was incredible!”
  51. “Seafood is terrific and the chicken and others are up there, too.”
  52. “The seafood paella wasn't all that great and it was very sandy too, I remember.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Great selection of appetizers so you can try a few different things - like the shrimp tamale which was excellent.”
overall
86.66999816894531% positive
  1. “If you want the best mojitos this is the place to get them.”
  2. “will go basically anywhere if the drinks are good, but this place has great drinks AND good food!”
  3. “This is a great place to eat,drink and enjoy the nite.”
  4. “nice place to go celebrate a BD or a promotion.”
  5. “The service was very good considering the place was full,and a wait at the bar.”
service
83.90999794006348% positive
  1. “Excellent food - great service”
  2. “The service was excellent.”
  3. “The staff was STILL attentive and no one tried to shoo us out!”
  4. “The staff was so attentive and fun.”
  5. “really good tropical food, the service was really nice , fast and helpful.”
  6. “The service was very good considering the place was full,and a wait at the bar.”
  7. “If you want good food,mojitos,service,go to Cuba Cafe.”
  8. “The waiters were so nice and polite.”
  9. “The service was the best we experienced in NYC- by far.”
  10. “The bar was full and waiters running back and forth with food and drinks.”
  11. “The food was great, the sangria delicious and the service was incredible!”
  12. “The host was friendly and chatty.”
  13. “The waitress was so nice, she took very good care of us.”
  14. “The service was good and not pushy.”
  15. “The service was very attentive.”
  16. “best bartender”
  17. “okay food, bad service”
  18. “asked the bartender what the best drink was, and he said the mojito or the sunburn.”
  19. “The service was very friendly.”
  20. “The service was also very good, the food came out extremely quick and it you can tell that they use fresh ingredients.”
  21. “They were very attentive, esepcaillu to details such as making sure our water glasses were full.”
  22. “The service was great.”
  23. “The service was absolutely the best.”
  24. “best service, happy hour drinks for everyone!”
  25. “Great food, fun atmosphere, awesome people, this place is highly recommended.”
  26. “The service was good and really pro.”
  27. “We ordered appetizers that never came, the waiter was slow despite the fact that he wasn't busy, never refilling our water glasses.”
  28. “the service is good and the food is excellent.”
  29. “We ordered pitchers of sangria {the best we ever had in New York so far} The food was fabulous and the service was very exciting.”
value
55.56000232696533% positive
  1. “had a great meal here last night, cute cafe, open air seating, good food, only to find out that the happy hour prices are for the bar only!”
  2. “The chorizo stuffed chicken was so-so, the potatoes and tostones were okay, the dessert (brownie with icecream and cookie) was surprisingly bad, the food is overpriced for what you're getting.”
  3. “It's not really authentic Cuban cuisine, but it's still a good meal (almost like comfort food) at a decent price.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “We ordered appetizers that never came, the waiter was slow despite the fact that he wasn't busy, never refilling our water glasses.”
  2. “The service was also very good, the food came out extremely quick and it you can tell that they use fresh ingredients.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/02/11

APRIL FOOLS ALPHA AND OMEGA 3

by REVIEW

Well ...thier is no review from me.......cause ...

when i dialed the number on o bueatiful..50 degree sunny April 2nd 2011 ....Thinking omega 3 for me and my Lima Latin lover.. (it is during a late saturday afternoon taste bud call to eat Cuban style omeg 3) I searched on city Search for a cuban style "Piscado"or "Seafood/fish" (menue in Chelsea..)

I was april fooled ...thought I found my alpha and omega 3

in the City Search listing in a Chelsea location that serves... "Piscado" ...the restaurant is or I should say ..was called

"Cuba Cafe" but ... through some fate of an April foolery ...no joke ..no one answered the phone...the joke was on me..?!

I love Cuban food that is priced for "reccession taste buds" that also holds the quality of taste...and service that is attentive..in Chelsea ..or anywhnere for that matter ..in NYC

Now that I have been April fooled ...it is past 5 PM and .my taste buds still crave "Pisacado"...so... if any one knows of a Cuban style Piscado type menu (that answers thier phone) ...

please list it in the review section below.. .cause Cuba Cafe is obviously shut down ...??? and should be taken off the City Searcgh listing ..theyn were "called" and didint rise to the moment..

I wonder if it is due the the credit card complaint listed above..

that I read as i was browsing the reviews above..??

oh well..this is NYC ..and I will keep my City Search for "Piscado "

only prepared by "Cuban style"...Chef...

I also love "Paella" mabe that is what I will search for (another great Cuban dish that includes rice)

Paella includes avery thing you can think of from Seafood to Meat ..also..but I am staying away from starch (rice)(FATTINING) .... so its Piscado for me before the sun sets on this OMEGA 3 day in 2011 foolery in NYC

thank you from a born NYC reviewer..."think omega 3 both for you you loved one and me "

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/03/10

LOVE CUBA CAFE!

by Huskyy

I've been to Cuba Cafe several times. Sometimes I go for the drinks and sometimes for the food. Either way, you can't go wrong. Delicious food at good prices and drinks served with a smile. RECOMMENDED!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/02/10

Great food & drink! A great chelsea spot

by TSpector

I have had drinks at the bar with some friends a couple times before and had a blast but recently ate there for the first time.

Started with the chicken empanadas which were great but they were shadowed compared to the sirloin steak which was served with a jalapeno sauce and yucca fries.

The waiter was friendly and prompt and its definitely a spot to return and eat at!

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/11/10

Good mojitos, questionable handling of credit cards

by MD Mom

WARNING- do not use your credit card.  After having a nice time, I tried to pay with my AMEX. Declined.  Surprised, I paid with another card. Next day I called AMEX to find out the problem. They said my card was NOT declined and no transaction was made or it would have shown up on their server. Hmm...

I pulled out my receipt to call Cuba Cafe and to my horror-- MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER WAS PRINTED IN FULL ON MY RECEIPT.  Even my expiration date was printed.

After canceling my credit card, I finally talked to the manager at the Cuba Cafe who was pretty useless. Strange excuses about the AMEX decline and even more about my credit card security breach. Bottom line, use cash or be prepared to put your credit identity in jeopardy.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/23/10

Great Location, Even 'Greater' Food!

by GermanGirlWithCurls

This was our (hubby and me) 2nd dinner while staying in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan and was by far the best! We walked in to be greeted by a friendly bartender and attentive server. The music was fantastic, made me want to get up and dance! I had the scallops with arroz y frijoles (beans and rice)...by far the best scallops and beans and rice I've ever had. The scallops were huge and so juicy...and I could have sipped on sangria all night long. It is a mid-priced menu, typical for Chelsea restaurants. Expect to pay at least $50-$60 for two people for good dinners and a drink or two. Worth every penny. Will DEFINITELY return to this restaurant next trip to the Big Apple!

  • Pros: GREAT Cuban/Spanish food/GREAT MUSIC!
  • Cons: Maybe a little small, but it IS Manhattan :-)

The Details on Cuba Cafe

Place Categories:

  • good tropical food
  • best service
  • best frozen mojitos
  • great nice place
  • great fun atmosphere
  • mediocre food
  • best happy hour drinks
  • great cuban meal
  • great sangria
  • too rich everything
  • terrific seafood
  • great latin music
  • fun staff
  • full place
  • polite waiters
  • good ambience
  • mediocre restaurant
  • favorite cuban food
  • most unique mussels
  • best dessert
  • fantastic complimentary cheese bread
  • that great seafood paella
  • very cool ambiance
  • really good entrees
  • waiters bar
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