Wow am I glad I discovered this place. It is fantastic! Seriously seriously fantastic. I love Cuban food and unfortunately there isn’t much of it in London. So disappointing. And the places that do exist are just not good quality or very authentic. This place is right on. And I’m not just talking for London standards, I’m talking for universal standards. The food here is delicious and real and I highly recommend it.
We went on a Saturday night. Pretty full. I’m not sure if you need reservations typically, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. This Saturday night was particularly busy apparently, so our food did take a very long time to come out, but not only were we compensated with a complimentary dessert, the wait was so so worth it.
We ordered the Ropa Vieja, about as classic of a Cuban dish as it gets, and the shredded steak was cooked to perfection, melted in your mouth, and was unbelievably flavorful. It comes with white rice (with a bit of oil), black beans, veggies, cassava, and plantains. We asked for no plantains and more veggies instead, which they said was no problem (although I’m not sure we did end up getting more veggies to be honest). The vegetables were yucca, broccoli, and carrots. These were all flavorful on their own and a great addition to the dish. The cassava was a big hit. It was mashed and delicious. What an amazing dish. I highly recommend this – it is a star.
We ordered an extra side of rice because there is an ample amount of meat in the dish with delicious sauce that begs for rice to soak it up. The rice was expensive (£3.50) but was a generous portion.
We also ordered the arepas, served two to an order. These are maize bread pockets, essentially, so definitely have that corn taste. They are filled with avocado, parmesan cheese, and some salad-like mix (carrots, lettuces, and tomato). So great.
The tres leches cake was also great. It’s a small piece, but very moist (soaked in three milks – evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream), and topped with a thin layer of frosting and coconut flakes.
The manager was very nice and apologetic about the delay. They were great with customizations and accommodating any requests we had.
Ambiance is casual, but nice. The place has personality to it. Dimly lit at night and lots of wood around (tables, floors, walls).
I will absolutely be back and would really encourage you to give it a try!
