Victor's Cafe

(212) 586-7714

236 W 52nd St (Between B'Way and 8th Avenue)
New York, NY 10019 40.762928 -73.983728

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Neighborhoods: Theater District - Times Square, Midtown

victorscafe.com

Years in business

Established in 1963

Hours:

Mon-Thurs 1130am - 11pm

Fri-Sat 1130am-12am

Sun 1130am-11pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 10.17.11

What People Are Saying About Victor's Cafe

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Salsa music, swaying palms and a courteous, accommodating waitstaff are this stalwart's formula (it opened in 1963) for transporting customers to Batiste-era Cuba. It's a great spot for groups and a favorite among celebs--Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony are regulars. – – The Food – Stick with traditional fare. The moist, hearty Cuban tamale, served with a mild pepper sauce, makes a nice starter, as does yuca con mojo, a surprisingly delicious boiled root vegetable. The best entrees have the least appetizing translations: ropa vieja, "old clothes," is…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Victor's black beans, rich and smoky, are some of the best in the city. Order extra.
What to Drink:
The garlic that infuses every dish will soon overwhelm your breath. The RX: Order a mojito and nibble a sprig of mint leaf before leaving.
ambiance
95.50999641418457% positive
  1. the decor is wonderful, the music hits home, the service is great!
  2. The atmosphere is inviting and the staff is A+.
  3. Perfect location, very nice ambiance and attentive service.
  4. but a very cozy, spacious haven in the middle of Times Square.
  5. The decor is lovely, giving the restaurant a tropical yet sophisticated feel that is enjoyable for both romantic dining or meeting a group of coworkers.
  6. Pretty atmosphere.
  7. The ambiance was so authentic and creative.
  8. This restaurant is great for business or a romantic evening which is saying something.
  9. highly recommend this place if you're going to watch any Broadway shows -- perfect location and the food is very good.
  10. Average Cuban food made better by friendly atmosphere
  11. What a fun place to be and enjoy great food and drinks!
  12. The atmosphere was quiet and the food was flavorful and unique.
  13. The food is very rich and incredibly expensive (be prepared to shell out some dough) but worth it if you are celebrating a romantic occasion.
  14. nice atmosphere, ok food
  15. The service was very good, the atmosphere was also very good.
  16. Great place with amazing food, great service and a nice atmosphere.
  17. However, the atmosphere and the service were nice.
  18. The music was fun and lively and the ambience was great.
  19. The service was lousy but the decor was nice.
  20. Delicious food, great waitstaff, great atmosphere, would LOVE to go back, this is NYC dining at its best.
  21. It was easy to get a table, atmosphere was charming, and the waitstaff was very attentive.
  22. Don't let the location fool you, Victors isn't a tourist trap-it's a great restaurant with excellent food, a great prix-fix option and a friendly staff.
  23. The decor is very interesting.
  24. Excellent food, fun atmosphere, great time
  25. In addition to the wonderful food, the waitstaff is extremely courteous and shows the perfect amount of attentiveness, and the decor is lovely.
  26. Overall, the atmosphere is very warm and inviting.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. Delicious mojitos, great desserts.
  2. Excellent choices from the price fixed menu, great little dessert, and very good glass of Argentinean Cabernet.
drinks
87.5% positive
  1. What a fun place to be and enjoy great food and drinks!
  2. We then proceeded to drink their fabulous mojitos (these are the best we have tasted).
  3. got raspberry mojito and quite frankly it was one of the best mojitos I've ever had and probably one of the best mixed drinks I've ever had, period.
  4. The white wine sangria was EXCELLENT.
  5. Oh, the drinks were very good as well.
  6. The food is amazing and the drinks are just as good.
  7. The meal was merely adequate and the wine was seriously overpriced.
  8. Make sure to have some cocktails with lunch/dinner - our Mojito's and Sangria were awesome.
food quality
88.5099983215332% positive
  1. Our favorite dishes were the "vaca frita", the snapper coated in crushed plantains, "croquetas", and their "ropa vieja
  2. great cuban food
  3. What a fun place to be and enjoy great food and drinks!
  4. am latin and I know what good caribbean food tastes like and this was not it.
  5. The mojitos in particular are delicious---be sure to try the Coconut Mojito, which will transport you to a sun-drenched tropical island with just one sip.
  6. Delicious, authentic Cuban cuisine.
  7. skipped the appy and ordered a delicious Sugarcane-glazed Salmon over Sauteed Spinach.
  8. Dinner was very tasty and all the food combinations really enhanced each other.
  9. The food was good.
  10. The Ropa was good but were is the rice?
  11. Threee years ago, I had a delicious boliche with fufu there (as a Cuban, I know what a good boliche should taste like).
  12. Average Cuban food made better by friendly atmosphere
  13. You want good latin food, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, etc. walk up to ninth avenue - that is where the REAL latin food is.
  14. The Empanada's were the best I have had anywhere and the Ropa Vieja was good, although they served it with white rice (usually yellow, which is better).
  15. The best Cuban food in the city!
  16. Honestly if you want to eat good cuban food in a casual place and enjoy just a little of the culture just check out Sophia's Cuban Cuisine on Lexington.
  17. The meal was merely adequate and the wine was seriously overpriced.
  18. In general, if you want good authentic latin flavor, take the subway uptown to Spanish Harlem.
  19. The Sangerias were yummy (good size glass) and the Seafood Paella was even yummier (you actually get a whole half of a lobster!
  20. wonderful food and service
  21. enjoyed lunch at the yummy midtown eatery Victors Cafe, where my co-worker ordered the Smoked Ham Croquettes with Savory Sauce as an appetizer and the Shredded Churrasco with Mojo Sauce.
  22. We started with MOJITO's a hose speacialty which was fresh and tasty followed by the appy
  23. It was one of the best dishes I've had in a while.
  24. Excellent Cuban food, among the best in the city.
  25. Smoked ham croquettes with Lulú's savory sauce of roasted tomatoes and cachucha peppers.
  26. It's a theatre-district crowd and their prices are probably a bit more than other Cuban places in other areas (West Village, downtown) but the food is good.
  27. The price is too pricey for the type of food.
  28. The food is very rich and incredibly expensive (be prepared to shell out some dough) but worth it if you are celebrating a romantic occasion.
  29. had Vieja Ropas (old clothes), which was super yummy!
  30. Highly recommend Red Sangria (delicious :)
  31. The black beans & rice were very good.
  32. The food is phenomenal (I am especially fond of the ropa viejo) and the sangria is probably the best I've ever had.
  33. Don't let the location fool you, Victors isn't a tourist trap-it's a great restaurant with excellent food, a great prix-fix option and a friendly staff.
  34. The ambiance was so authentic and creative.
  35. The mojitos were the best I have ever had and the food exceeded my expectations.
  36. The main course-- I got arroz con pollo, was tasty enough and the price was reasonable especially as they gave huge portions.
  37. The food was fair, but the hostess and manager were rude and unaccommodating.
  38. Served with Victor's famous black beans and white rice.
  39. It's guaranteed good food and service.
  40. The Bartolito appetizer was great as was the rest of the meal.
  41. Even if you don't like Cuban food go for the sangria.
  42. They are located in a highly traffic area and market themselves as a latin restaurant that serves up excellent Cuban food.
  43. Excellent food, fun atmosphere, great time
  44. Great place with amazing food, great service and a nice atmosphere.
  45. In addition to the wonderful food, the waitstaff is extremely courteous and shows the perfect amount of attentiveness, and the decor is lovely.
  46. highly recommend this place if you're going to watch any Broadway shows -- perfect location and the food is very good.
  47. This was my firts time at Victor's and food was so good that for sure I am coming back.
  48. The food was good but they are trying to take a simple culture of simple people and make it very upscale.
  49. The appetizer was horrible, the bread was as hard as granite, the fried plantains where cold and non-crispy, and the rest of the appetizer was just horrible.
  50. Great food, service was friendly, my 1st night in new york was made very memorable by this place.
  51. They have the best beans!
  52. Not only did they not have the full menu (only 2 of 3 apps) they also had run out of the Lechon (a signature dish) and the menu was misrepresented online (listing a shrimp dish) which was later removed!
  53. Delicious food, great waitstaff, great atmosphere, would LOVE to go back, this is NYC dining at its best.
  54. Coming from a cuban family I can assure you that this cuban food is awesome and delicious.
  55. love it all--my fiance is Latin so he can usually tell me if I like an "Americanized version" of the real thing or if it's truly authentic (BTW, I tend to only like the latter).
  56. Victor's Cafe is such an authentic Cuban restaurant.
  57. The black bean soup is delicious.
  58. wonderful dinner, excellent service, pleasant staff, fantastic food.
  59. Unless you enjoy heavy, greasy, bland cuban food, steer clear of this place.
  60. The service was mediocre at best, the food was overpriced and tasted badly.
  61. We are Cuban so being able to enjoy truly authentic, high quality Cuban food is always a pleasure.
  62. very tasty, great service, friendly.
  63. had the ropa vieja and flan which were delicious if not memorable.
  64. The food was present very pretty, however the food was not as good as authentic Cuban Food taste, this restaurant is not recomended for Latin people instead for people who are trying Cuban food for the first time.
  65. Great food, reasonable prices.
  66. The atmosphere was quiet and the food was flavorful and unique.
  67. The food is delicious.
  68. The food is amazing and the drinks are just as good.
  69. nice atmosphere, ok food
  70. Waiters had a great knowledge of the menu, environment is coll, food is pretty good and the presentation is great, and the price it is in the average for mid town New York.
  71. Great service and excellent food!
  72. the sangria is excellent this is a perfect place to make a great first impression on a date but make sure they are worth it because it is pricey but the food is well worth it and then some the staff is a very helpful
  73. Good food, if nothing spectacular.
  74. Highly recommended to anyone who has no idea was Cuban food is like, and/or has a lot of time & money to spend on overpriced, mediocre restaurants.
menu variety
80.0% positive
  1. Excellent choices from the price fixed menu, great little dessert, and very good glass of Argentinean Cabernet.
  2. The sangria was wonderful and the menu had a really great selection sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
  3. Not only did they not have the full menu (only 2 of 3 apps) they also had run out of the Lechon (a signature dish) and the menu was misrepresented online (listing a shrimp dish) which was later removed!
  4. was told there was no cocktail list although there is quite an extensive one online, perhaps that was a ploy to order the blah, overpriced Sangria pitcher.
  5. Waiters had a great knowledge of the menu, environment is coll, food is pretty good and the presentation is great, and the price it is in the average for mid town New York.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. My new favorite restaurant in the city.
  2. Don't let the location fool you, Victors isn't a tourist trap-it's a great restaurant with excellent food, a great prix-fix option and a friendly staff.
  3. The amosphere promoted mingling and looks like a good place to relax afterwork or a broadway play.
  4. great place, good service
  5. Victor's Cafe is a very nice place to eat when you're in the city.
  6. We have been coming to Victor's Cafe for many years and we have to say this is definitely the best Cuban restaurant in Manhattan.
  7. Honestly if you want to eat good cuban food in a casual place and enjoy just a little of the culture just check out Sophia's Cuban Cuisine on Lexington.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. Delicious food, great waitstaff, great atmosphere, would LOVE to go back, this is NYC dining at its best.
  2. The staff is friendly and courteous which is why I continually come back for more.
  3. really love this place and will definitely return.
service
84.7599983215332% positive
  1. The waiter was a little slow.
  2. Excellent service!
  3. The food was good but they are trying to take a simple culture of simple people and make it very upscale.
  4. The service was very good, the atmosphere was also very good.
  5. Overall, the autmosphere was great, service fast, and prices not to bad for NYC.
  6. The food was present very pretty, however the food was not as good as authentic Cuban Food taste, this restaurant is not recomended for Latin people instead for people who are trying Cuban food for the first time.
  7. The waiters where not that attentive, only asking for refills and such, not the classics like "is everything fine.
  8. It was easy to get a table, atmosphere was charming, and the waitstaff was very attentive.
  9. had trouble getting taxi's all day so I asked the hostess if someone could hail me a taxi she said I would have to do it myself.
  10. Service is friendly.
  11. We were seated immediately and was greeted by our friendly waiter.
  12. The service was lousy but the decor was nice.
  13. It's guaranteed good food and service.
  14. very tasty, great service, friendly.
  15. Average Cuban food made better by friendly atmosphere
  16. Courteous and friendly greeting and attentive service.
  17. wonderful dinner, excellent service, pleasant staff, fantastic food.
  18. Our waiter was friendly and apologetic, although I felt rushed, but I guess I didn't mind, it was not a restaurant I wanted to be in much longer, or ever again I dare say.
  19. wonderful food and service
  20. Perfect location, very nice ambiance and attentive service.
  21. The food was fair, but the hostess and manager were rude and unaccommodating.
  22. Great service and excellent food!
  23. Great place with amazing food, great service and a nice atmosphere.
  24. The staff is friendly and courteous which is why I continually come back for more.
  25. The service was mediocre at best, the food was overpriced and tasted badly.
  26. Don't let the location fool you, Victors isn't a tourist trap-it's a great restaurant with excellent food, a great prix-fix option and a friendly staff.
  27. The service was excellents, however the price was too expensive for the flavor and the portions.
  28. The service is warm and attentive but can be a little off during pre-theater hours.
  29. the decor is wonderful, the music hits home, the service is great!
  30. The atmosphere is inviting and the staff is A+.
  31. the sangria is excellent this is a perfect place to make a great first impression on a date but make sure they are worth it because it is pricey but the food is well worth it and then some the staff is a very helpful
  32. I've never had a bad experience with the service.
  33. However, the atmosphere and the service were nice.
  34. Great food, service was friendly, my 1st night in new york was made very memorable by this place.
  35. great place, good service
value
61.66999816894531% positive
  1. the sangria is excellent this is a perfect place to make a great first impression on a date but make sure they are worth it because it is pricey but the food is well worth it and then some the staff is a very helpful
  2. The prices are really not bad for that part of town.
  3. Highly recommended to anyone who has no idea was Cuban food is like, and/or has a lot of time & money to spend on overpriced, mediocre restaurants.
  4. The food is very rich and incredibly expensive (be prepared to shell out some dough) but worth it if you are celebrating a romantic occasion.
  5. It is an expensive dinner but well worth it.
  6. Great food, reasonable prices.
  7. am not a sangria fan and I didn't think it was particularly good, but I am told that if you like Sangria, the one at Victors is definitely worth a try.
  8. The price is too pricey for the type of food.
  9. The main course-- I got arroz con pollo, was tasty enough and the price was reasonable especially as they gave huge portions.
  10. The service was mediocre at best, the food was overpriced and tasted badly.
  11. but try Cabana restaurant just as good and less expensive.
  12. I'm not sure who the reviwers are that posted good reviews below, ut the experience was poor and fairly expensive.
  13. was told there was no cocktail list although there is quite an extensive one online, perhaps that was a ploy to order the blah, overpriced Sangria pitcher.
  14. The prices are very reasonable for the area.
  15. Waiters had a great knowledge of the menu, environment is coll, food is pretty good and the presentation is great, and the price it is in the average for mid town New York.
  16. The service was excellents, however the price was too expensive for the flavor and the portions.
  17. It's a theatre-district crowd and their prices are probably a bit more than other Cuban places in other areas (West Village, downtown) but the food is good.
  18. The meal was merely adequate and the wine was seriously overpriced.
  19. Excellent choices from the price fixed menu, great little dessert, and very good glass of Argentinean Cabernet.
  20. Overall, the autmosphere was great, service fast, and prices not to bad for NYC.
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. The waiter was a little slow.
  2. Service was a bit slow.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/13/11

Very Good

by forgetyou9

This place is always very consistend and good, I really enjoy the skirt steak with the Chimichuri sauce here.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/13/10

Best Cuban food in the area

by Latintreasure

Victor's never dissappoints. As a matter or fact, it has been the go to spot at the office for a couple of years. Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. I practically know the menu by heart.

Highly recommended for romantic date, group dining, etc.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/02/10

Great Decor. However, the food is not worth the price.

by RF004

I had heard mix reviews about this place so I decided to try it out for myself. When I arrived I was fully impressed by the high end decor and elegant style. However, I notice that as every minute passed by my experience began barreling down hill . Once I was seated I ordered two drinks which where just about right for $11. However, stay away from the appetizers. I ordered the Empanada De Yuca Rellena Con Langosta. I was expecting a decent sized appetizer for $16 which turned out to be two small patties with barely any lobster meat in them. I also had Croquetas Corral Con Salsa Lulú for $9 which resembled mozarrella sticks out of a freezer bag with "Salsa Lulu" . A fancy name for some tomatoe sauce. After the first disappointment and $25 into my meal my Paella was served. It was heaping with Seafood and tasted just about right. However, the rice was overdone and resembled a glop of oatmeal. For $40 this dish was a complete disappointment. Lastly, the $8 coconut was too sweet and had the consistency of peanut butter. I definitely wouldnt recommend this place unless all you care about is decor. However, expect to pay a high price and leave feeling ripped off. I suggest you try other restaurants like Cuba libre over in the Chelsea area or outside the borough where the food is good and 1/3 the price.

  • Pros: Great decor.
  • Cons: Great decor tarnished by noisy ambiance, high prices and
3 Star Rating: Average

02/06/10

GOOD FOOD & SERVICE .....but WATCH OUT!

by SUPERFAST1

OK ....... so for my wifes Birthday I planned a night out in NYC. A visit to MOMA....then dinner at Victor's Cafe and then a Broadway Show ( ROCK of AGES ) which BTW was fabulous...go see it. So lets get to Victor's Cafe. The service was very good, the atmosphere was also very good. We went during Restaurant Week in NYC and picked our meal off the prefixed Restaurant Week Menu. We started with MOJITO's a hose speacialty which was fresh and tasty followed by the appy ...... she had the --- Sopa de Pollo con Daditos de Aguacate y Maiz

Homemade chicken soup with corn and diced avocado, I had the --- Croquetas Corral con Salsa Lulú

Smoked ham croquettes with Lulú’s savory sauce of roasted tomatoes and cachucha peppers. Both were very good. Main course was -- Ropa Vieja en Nido de Platanos

Victor’s house specialty-Shredded Angus skirt steak simmered in garlic, tomatoes,

sliced onions and peppers nestled in a plantain basket. Served with Victor’s famous black beans and white rice...FOR ME and Sandwich Cubano con Mariquitas Surtidas

Traditional Cuban pressed sandwich with hand-carved roast pig, ham, melted aged Gruyère cheese,

pickles and mustard. Served with Caribbean vegetable chips FOR HER. Dessert we both had --- Flan Tradicional

Traditional Cuban-style egg custard. ALL for 35.00 per person not icluding the MOJITOS at 10.50 ea...which was all good....very good! Now the review we read all warn about the Sangria Pitcher.....we agree we saw several table ordered the 40.00 pitcher which serves 2 glasses of PUNCH like sanria......not worth it. We were offered a side salad with our miain course at the time we placed our order and said sure ......... here is your SECOND WARNING ...... SMALL salad of field greens and a sliver ( I MEAN REAL SMALL PIECE OF CHEESE ) in an 8" plate! @ 14.00 each !!!!! I did question our waiter when we got the bill which if all is fair portions and high quality I would say nothing....HOWEVER this was a RIP OFF ....... other than that eveything else was good. SO BEWARE ........ and ask the pricing UP FRONT if its not on the menu.

  • Pros: GOOD CUBAN FOOD IN NYC
  • Cons: PRICES are retarded on some items
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/11/09

great place, good service

by smariangold

Waiters had a great knowledge of the menu, environment is coll, food is pretty good and the presentation is great, and the price it is in the average for mid town New York.

  • Pros: excellent food great presentation
  • Cons: tables aren't level, music should be more authentic

The Details on Victor's Cafe

Place Categories:

  • good cuban food
  • great service
  • highly recommend place
  • nice fun atmosphere
  • great cuban restaurant
  • best mojitos
  • reasonable prices
  • friendly waiter
  • friendly staff
  • outstanding ropa vieja
  • very tasty wonderful dinner
  • very good drinks
  • very attentive waitstaff
  • overpriced restaurants
  • not like flan
  • good authentic latin flavor
  • very interesting decor
  • never bad overall experience
  • very nice perfect location
  • fairly expensive experience
  • romantic dining
  • recommend highly
  • authentic cuban food taste
  • excellent white wine sangria
  • famous black beans
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