Asia de Cuba

10/20/09

Must go back!

by PussyCat

I took my a family members from out of town here. They were amazed with the decor and more amazed with the food. The short ribs were SO GOOD!! And the dessert was really good too. When you look at the menu, the prices seem a bit much, but since you are sharing, its pretty average. Can't wait to go back..

• Pros: Food, Service, Decor
• Cons: None

10/03/09

Delicious Food

by CityBabe

The pork dish was phenomenal as was the calamari salad. The fried wontons were ok but not a favorite. My friend and I went during restaurant week to make it affordable. The dishes are all shared which stems from the large portions of food. We sat upstairs and overlooked the people eating at the tables downstairs and could see what they were eating and if they enjoyed it or not. From what I could see everyone there was satisfied. I'll definitely go back.

• Pros: Good service, ambience, didn't rush us
• Cons: Expensive but worth it

Perennially popular eatery fuses Asian and Latino flavors.

by Josh Ozersky

With its billowing white curtains, two-story Philippe Starck design and sashaying samba music, Asia de Cuba still draws sexy crowds nightly, and the food hasn't changed much over the years either. There are still immense portions of big, gratifying proteins ranging from crispy calamari salad with chayote and hearts of palm to miso-cured Alaskan black cod, to Cuban black bean and edamame salad. The food is solid and dramatically presented, but more importantly it's always exactly the same--in a good way, like the restaurant experience as a whole. The youngish crowd, which tends to congregate in large parties, generally comes for the good times as much as the food.

08/19/09

Dissappointing Meal from a Resident NYC Staple

by greenplantain

First of all, no salad should have bananas. Second, my co-worker and I ordered an entree dish of Cuban bbq chicken that came with an order of coconut sticky rice. I am not usually a critic, but when I go to NYCs fancier restaurants, I expect more than chicken slathered in bbq sauce with some extra spanish seasonings; I can do that at home. We ordered some fried plantains on the side which were cut really thick and were not cooked properly. We subsituted that for some plantain rice which was way too salty. The service was not spectacular. I had Asia De Cuba on my list of places to eat here in the City, but must say that I was very very disappointed. It is very rare that that happens when I dine at the better places.

• Pros: Restaurant Week Price, Thank God
• Cons: Food was horrible!!!!!

07/28/09

Holy Cr@p thats a lot of food!

by PortuGirl

We were there on a Saturday, I guess the waiter had too many tables, cause he was rushing the whole time. He did a good job, but I just felt like he wanted to go home. The place itself is very nice- and the entrees feed six!! I would try it again another time.

• Pros: Cool vibe- Good Cocktails
• Cons: Weird service

06/25/09

Decent

by nyc99999

Decent

04/03/09

Great food and ambiance

by TerryK123

Loved this place years ago and it's still just as good. Like the fusion aspect of their menu... very creative. Flavors are well-balanced and sexyy. Calamari salad is wonderful and there are really no bad choices. Great drinks too!

• Pros: Amazing food and great crowd
• Cons: None

04/01/09

great wine list

by texmex422

I'm an attorney who (even with this economy) still dines out with clients or associates several times a week. I went on the advice of a colleague who likes to go here for drinks. I wanted a second opinion (sorry, Emma), so I looked the place up on Citysearch.

After reading some of the reviews I was naturally wary, but decided why not? I could always exercise my right as a consumer and not return.

I got to the restaurant not expecting much, but was definitely not disappointed. In fact, the food was very good. Not great, but still very good. The calamari salad stands out, and the bass. I wasn't too fond of the chocolate dessert, but then I prefer my dessert in a snifter.

What really made the dinner memorable, though, was our waiter. Take it from someone who busted his backside waiting tables through college and law school at far less upscale places in Austin, this guy was good and he knew his wines. I don't remember his name, just that he was very friendly and had glasses. He guided my client through the wine list, made knowledgeable recommendations that more than succeeded, and followed up (but not intrusively) to make sure we were enjoying ourselves.

Maybe it was the fact that it was four men in suits who might be apt to spend a little more, instead of some of the more casually dressed customers we saw. I don't know, but I do know that we received attentive, personalized service that made our night.

• Pros: wine list, food

02/11/09

highway robbery

by leesee33

I recently went to asia de cuba for the first time with a group of friends and was simply astounded at what an all around horrible experience it was. Our waiter was rude and scoffingly asked my friend where she was from when she hadn't heard of one of the flavors of sorbet. He also made inappropriate sexual jokes while serving us our $80 dinners. The food was all right but nothing to brag about. I would say it was on par with Havana Central if you are into cuban food. If you do go there the calamari salad was the only dish I really enjoyed. All of their dinners are served family style and things come out when they are ready so you are pretty much forced into sharing everything or stare at your dinner get cold while you wait for everyone else's. I worked at a much less classy restaurant when I was younger and always managed to get everyone's dished out together. I understand that family style ethnic food might be trendy but serving people's entrees separately will never be trendy in my opinion. The bathroom made me feel like I was on an airplane. The light up picture of a water fall made me feel like I was at an all you can eat chinese buffet. Actually I kind of wished that I was because I left dinner starving.

• Pros: Good calamari salad
• Cons: everything else

02/10/09

NEVER AGAIN

by metlet

First off, the waiter was extremely rude to our table and we were forced to pay 20% gratuity which I find to be a bit over the top. The food wasn't that great and did not come with sides. I was still hungry after we left the restaurant. The cakes were dry and were probably sitting there for days before being served to us. We were told to split 2 appetizers and 3 entrees between 9 people and it was not enough food. I wouldn't recommend this place.