Reviews & Ratings for Cubana Cafe

Citysearch Editorial Review

by Melanie Berliet

This Soho restaurant’s bright blue awning with large red letters heralds the cheery scene that awaits beyond its doors, despite being located below street level. A turquoise tiled bar in back and colorful, fruit-print plastic tablecloths complement the upbeat Cuban music that plays consistently in the background. In addition to its sunny vibe, customers are drawn to Cubana Cafe because of its seriously low prices. Platos grandes like roasted chicken served with rice and beans ($11) and pulled pork with yucca and red onion relish ($9.50) are sure to fill you up, as is the tasty the traditional Cuban sandwich ($8.50).

Cheap Good Cuban

by eatallthetime

I love, love, love this place for food and price. Can't go wrong with their cuban sandwich. The atmosphere is quaint and feels like Cuba. Not pretentious at all and the drinks are not bad either. Go for the simplicity and homestyle cooking and have a good time with friends or love ones. Never a bad meal, ever.

• Pros: cheap/fresh/great sandwich among meals
• Cons: none

Great Place

by antlooch

Cubana Cafe has great food and great atmosphere. Very casual and friendly. A great neighborhood spot.

• Pros: nice, relaxing place
• Cons: sometimes crowded

Great spot for lunch or dinner in Soho

by nymark2

I was with a friend on a Saturday wandering around Soho. We were looking for somewhere to eat and found this place. We were amazed at how inexpensive the prices are. We had a pitcher of Sangria that was full of apples. It was the best! At the waitresses suggestion, I had pounded chicken with mangoes. It was very flavorful and came with rice and beans for only $10. The place is small, but the atmosphere is very cozy and comfortable. Service was excellent! Highly recommended and inexpensive for Soho! I will definately go back.

• Pros: Great Sangria, inexpensive

Such a cute, little place!

by prettyinpuma

I am so happy I found this place! I was wandering through SoHo on a Saturday afternoon, starving and looking for something other than the typical brunch options that seem to be offered by every single restaurant in the area. The restaurant is very tiny - can probably fit about 30 people MAX! However, if you get a spot, you're in for a great meal. I had a glass of sangria and the Picadillo Cubano - ground beef, green olives, raisins and something else I can't remember. My boyfriend had a mojito and one of the hanger steak sandwiches. The sangria was great (I'm very particular about my sangria!) and my boyfriend really enjoyed his mojito, although I thought it looked like it had way too much mint in it. It was pretty big though and only $6! Anyway, my meal was soooo great! I don't know what they used to spice the beef, but it was really flavorful. The atmosphere was great, too. The walls were brightly painted and, even though it's below the sidewalk, the sun came streaming in through the windows to really light the place up. The size of the place added to it because I felt like I was in someone's kitchen. The food is also really cheap - the Picadillo Cubano came with red beans and rice for only $10! The sandwiches are like $7 or $8, but they only come with a side of chickpeas, so you should order a side if you're really hungry. This place offers a great , relaxed alternative to the restaurants in the area.

• Pros: Very cute, good food, good prices
• Cons: Tables are very close together

Poor Treatment

by washsqpark

I ordered in and the portions were tiny for the price. I called to nicely complain and they were rude. I was told that the owner would be back at 8:30 pm and when I called, a "man" told me the owner would return after New Years. Seriously dissapointed. I will stick with Cafe Habana. Not a smart way to treat a customer and a neighbor. I placed this same review on the Brooklyn location by accident. I don't know about that place, but the Manhattan one is bad. Read above.

• Cons: Small portions and rude!

Tiny but tasty...and cheap!

by alexandraleigh

Petite is the word for this cute little Cuban place...but our elbows were bumping the other diners only because we were eating so ravenously. The food was hearty and inexpensive; I don't know about its Cuban authenticity but I adore huevos rancheros and theirs was among the best I've had. Very cute and memorable place for a cheap date.

• Pros: Low prices, good drinks.
• Cons: Awfully cozy.

Rude and Shady Customer service.

by yayboy

Do not book a dinner party at Cubana Cafe.

I called the restaurant to set up a dinner for 20 people a week and a half in advance (contrary to the CitySearch profile they do take reservations) and asked if there would be any problems with a group that size or larger and people trickling in throughout the night if they wanted to have drinks. I was told that it was fine if we didn't mind being a little cramped. I called them a few days to confirm and again the day of and everything seemed fine.

But when I arrived for dinner the manager suddenly demanded that I guarantee him that we spend a minimum. He also wanted it calculated on a per-head basis even though I had told people if they wanted to come later just for drinks that would be fine. Being asked to gurantee a minimum at the last minute was a shady move especially because I couldn't change my dinner party at the last minute. We met the minimum easily but the nature of the request was rude and added an unnecessary stress.

I've done dinner parties like this at Sala years previous but decided I wanted a switch but I think I'll head back to Sala where they are super-friendly and helpful in setting up a dinner party for you and don't pull any stunts like this.

• Pros: Foods pretty good
• Cons: The manager is not trustworthy

eh

by theresax

Went there for dinner last night w/ my boyfriend and a friend after work and got there around 7 so we were able to score seats in this tiny cramped space. prices were reasonable but the portions were really small. I had the ropa vieja which was pretty bland, my boyfriend had the chicken breast w/ mango salsa which was ok but nothing special, and my friend had the chicken quesadillas which were tiny and plain. Dont think I would come back but at least their drinks were good.

• Pros: drinks, cheap
• Cons: too cramped, food is bland

User review by lucy36

by lucy36

my friend and I went there last friday 3/31/06, we weren't sure where the place was but we finally found it. Is most cozy and lively place I have ever seen. The music is great and so is the service. I had the mesculin salad with avocados,mangos and fresh shrimps. Delicious! I would definitely go back.

• Pros: inexpensive, good food
• Cons: no fried platains