Cubana Cafe

Bad review from Pierre in 1,2,3.....

Good review from Biff in 1,2,3...

Went here a few weeks ago for brunch and really liked the food, the ambience, the music, etc. I won't say the service was slow so much as it was "relaxed" (after all, what would one expect at a place called the Cubana Cafe?). The other people I was with all enjoyed it as well.

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sorry to disappoint, haven't been...

Don't go Pierre, you'd hate it.

Me? Love it. The elote is off the hook and if you are a meat eater, the skirt steak sandwich is excellent. Drinks are strong and good. My only complaint is the cramped quaters. I never knew you could fir 200 people in a room smaller than my living room.

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Bruch was good, had the crab cake sandwich. Mojitos pretty darn good. Since I don't do the beef/chicken/pork thing, I cannot comment on the rest of the menu.

Staff was crazzed, but nice.

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Was there a few times when it first opened up. Haven't been back in years. Why? I'm Cuban, and if you can't make good black beans and rice don't bother opening up a Cuban restaurant. The cheaper Puerto Rican type joints up Smith blow this place away.

not bad, not great! much better pan-latin fare, but you get what you pay for and the food is consistent.

two cents...

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Cubana Cafe is great, and they make the most amazing mango margarita - or I think that's what they call it, if I remember correctly - basically mango nectar and some liquor - it's heaven.

For some reason at a lot of the popular new restaurants in Brooklyn, fake is the new real! I don't quite understand why but I guess it's cool to make so-so fake food as long as the interior has special decor.

Decent review for seemingly inexpensive food. I'll definitely be trying it.

hated it! food was blech and waitress was completely out of it. I wanted to love it, but really, really didn't. sorry...

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I like this place even though I am Latin and am aware that it is not 100% authentic. That said, the empanadas, Cuban sandwiches and the picadillo with either beef or turkey are quite tasty. It is incredibly cramped inside so the outer tables are worth the wait. Brunch is OK, as is the service.

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this is my favorite place on smith street. cheap, tasty food. so what if it's fake cuban. the vibe is fun and the drinks are strong. try the shrimp quesadillas. i only go to this place during off hours, because as others have mentioned it does get packed and there can be a wait. last time i went was about a month ago and it was cash only so come prepared.

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Not very good food, not very nice space. Not sure why it's always so busy.

That said, I would like to commend Brownstoner for finally profiling a place that some people might not have already heard of. Too bad it isn't very good.

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This place is so horrible, I went because I walk by it every day and it always looks crowed. Just proves just because it's popular doesn't mean its good.

The service was horrible, the food was at best bland at worst lacked any imagination.

Cramped inside, so if you feel the need to try tasteless fake spanish food wait for an outside table.

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horrible food - my wife grew up in miami and what makes the trip to my inlaws worthwhile is the close-to-god deliciousness of cuban food. The worst cuban chain restaurant in miami is better than this greasy, flavorless attempt at cuban food. Please, someone convince the owners of la caretta to open up shop in brooklyn, or even sophie's....

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I enjoy eating here, the food is tasty and consistant if not mind-blowing and I mostly just enjoy the vibe. The drinks are great.

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I don't know anything about authentic Cuban cuisine, I was in Havana about seven years ago and I encountered very little food, let alone cuisine. I like this place and the picadillo is sooo good.

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For photos as descriptions check out: http://eatbrooklynfood.blogspot.com/2008/08/cuban.html

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