A greaaaaat place to try exotic food! The atmosphere at night is just so good and suitable for events such as dating. The cheesy ball (I cannot remember the name) is so special! And all the dishes that I just randomly chooses from the menu is good. Recommend: tequila
I’ve been here a few times and I have got to say that I enjoy the drinks just as much as the food and ambience here!
It was my first time trying tequila shots.. and let me tell you, I am now hooked!
It was smooth and the pink salt they gave us were so nice compared to table salt you’d usually receive
Can’t wait to come back for more!
The Cuban Place is the perfect spot for delicious Latin food and live salsa dancing and music.
My favourite dessert, I’ve gone back time and again for us the Café y Caramelo - coffee and chocolate mocha dome with candied peanuts, sweet peanut roll & salted caramel ice cream.
The service, the ambience, the music the food, the dancing, the VIBE!! ... Excellent! Cannot recommend this place enough on a weekend or a weekday...
The Cuban Place offers great food & drinks, if you happen to be there on Friday/Saturday night, they also have a live band playing Cuban & Latin American music. Salsa anyone? Pictured are Hemingway (rum based cocktail), pork ribs, drunken soft shell crab taco, pork loin medallions & quesadilla de chorizo. I just found out they also have $1 taco nights, sure will be going back!
I visited this restaurant on a Friday night. It is the first time I've tried Cuban food. I found this place through Zomato and was captivated by the reviews and high ratings. Upon entering this restaurant at around 7pm it was a little quiet but give it About half an hour more and there were people lining up for tables. I tried the "Cuban Experience" to try a little bit of everything. Everything was delicious and well seasoned. I especially love the steak, chicken tacos and sliders. To top it off there was a live band playing. I highly recommend this place!
First time I visited the Cuban Place was in Jan 2017 with my cousin for lunch - we had some cocktails and tacos with some sides - delicious! I returned late last year with my partner and sister for dinner. We ordered an eye fillet (stunning!), linguine and a few side dishes - the food is amazing. They have a large selection of cocktails with a smaller selection of food but everything was great and flavoured well. The service was a bit slow and the wait for food was slightly longer than expected.. but otherwise we had a great experience :)
Jeannie June Kurniawan
+4
First trial to eat cuban Food and I loved it.. the cheese puff and the Yuca fries are my favourite.. their lamb also Nice If you like something heavy..
The Cuban Place has an amazing vibe (live music and decor) great drinks (highly recommend the passionfruit mojito) only to be let down by average food and an average menu.
Amazing place, so lively.. good staff! How should I praise the food, umm delicious..!! Loved it.. funky ambience and cool Spanish music..! Go for it :)
Drinks are delicious but can be a bit too strong if you can't handle your hard liquor. Food is appetising and if your friends are vegos it's also a good place to take them to enjoy the delicious foods. Recommend their cocktails
Great food, cocktails and theme. The cuban place covers all bases if youre into it. Ordered the cuban experience which was filled with awesome flavors and left us full. While the cocktails were full of flavor and alcohol just the way they should be. Check it.
I gave my partner choice of one venue for our Sydney weekend and he didn't do too badly with this pick. I have a feeling it would have been even better for dinner as there was bongo drums set up with some other instruments and I can only imagine the dance floor goes off of an evening with the live band. The interiors were fantastic from the cool murals on the wall to the illuminated liquor cabinet to the stunning gallery wall full of bright prints that made you ache to visit Cuba. The cocktails were fruity and yummy and the food full of flavour. We had the Cuban chicken tacos which were delicious but a little watery. Whatever the sauce was in there it was very thin and dripping all over the place. We then both ordered the Cuban plate with lamb which was brilliant value at $15 (the same price as the 3 tacos) a great little lunch option. We actually didn't need to order the tacos too as we could barely finish all the food (#greedy). The yoghurt braised lamb was super succulent but I would have liked to have seen a sauce on the plate maybe even a hearty dollop of yoghurt or sour cream to freshen it up a bit (maybe I'm leaning too far into Mexican territory here). The potato accompaniment was fantastically seasoned and super delicious but the beans were a little salty. Again something to freshen it up would been great even if it was just a zing of lime. Overall good value and I can't stress enough superb atmosphere
Went here on a Friday night when the restaurant opened at 6pm - the bar was packed and loud, and the restaurant filled up quickly.
Food: We had the guacamole with plantain chips ($12) which was nice, if a small serve of guac. Followed that by the chicken, lamb and fish tacos ($6 each, minimum of 3 tacos). They were definitely not traditional tacos - what tacos have lettuce except TexMex?! The fish tacos were the best, the chicken ones average. Finished dinner with the banana pudding ($17), which was really a warm banana cake - it was okay.
Drinks: $10 mojitos - what's not to love?! The fact that they put lime juice in them. And then top them with a full tall glass of ice, so you have hardly any actual mojito. Maybe the more expensive version is better?
Service: slow. Recommend ordering your drinks at the bar rather than getting table service.
Atmosphere: definitely not a date restaurant, super loud. Good vibe though.
Overall, would come again but only for drinks!
Came here to celebrate my friend' graduation. We got there at 4pm and was told that the restaurant wont open till 5pm. Which was fine, we waited and chatted. By 5pm, we went to the bar for some mojito ($10ea) it was a good mojito and it went a long way. We wanted to take our mojito to the restaurant to go with our meal. We were then told that the restaurant wont open until 6pm!! By this stage we were starving. Im taking off 1 point due to the miscommunication.
We ordered some cheese puffs and boy they were good. By 6pm we were able to get into the restaurant, i had the cuban pork/beef stew $26 (Marinated pork and beef stew with black beans, a farofa crumb, crunchy speck and a broccoli puree) it was delicious,it was a heavy and hearty dish. It was perhaps a bit too much after eating all those cheese puffs. I do have to note that the broccoli puree was barely visible to the naked eye and wouldve liked a bit more. The crumbs had bananas in them! It was a really interesting dish.
My friend has the vegetarian linguine and she demolished it.
Service was really good (a part from the miscommunication) and staff were attentive.
Will definitely be returning for taco tuesday!
@thecubanplace knows their deliciously Cuban cocktails! Try the Havana Mojito for just $10 or this divine Daiquiri for $15👌🏻They also do a $59 share plate banquet between 2 people, tremendous value! One of my fav places, get there early on a Friday afternoon to beat the crowds. @mybondisummer @thecubanplace
Came here on a Wednesday. Thought the place was empty when I first arrived and almost turned away. Butttt... walk around the corner and it seems quite busy given the day and time!
The food was AMAZING! I was impressed by how authentic it was. The music and the general atmosphere was very fitting.
The only thing that could be improved was the speed of service
I went to the cuban place with my family last night and was amazed by the impeccable service, fun vibe, and delicious food and drinks. The owner came out and gave us suggestions on what to order with food and drinks. He told us one of the bartenders just went to Japan and won an award for bartending there. The Mojito was just perfect so kudos to the bartender. We ordered a bunch of share plates, tacos, and a larger main and it was all incredible. We complimented the chef and then he came out and spoke to us! He was so lovely. All around an incredible place and I will definitely be back.
Surprisingly good food and the cocktails are great. A little loud but there was no rushing of us to move from our table which made us feel comfortable and relaxed.
Very tasty food with a relaxed and easy atmosphere, definitely worth the visit . The presentation of the food is well thought out. Although being more on the pricy side I would recommend this place to friends looking for a good night out.
If you're looking for some yummy food, delicious cocktails and a cool, chilled out vibe, look no further than the Cuban Place. Located conveniently in the CBD, its a top choice for a night out on any occasion. They offer so much more than just your standard restaurant - you still get that mouth watering food and friendly service, but it's served alongside some funky traditional beats and an extensive wine and cocktail menu to boot!
I need to start with the cocktails because they were definitely a highlight. I got the Arena Sagrienta, which was a deliciously sweet infusion of pineapple, cherry and lime flavours. As an avid fan of a good cocktail, this was perfect because it wasn't sickly sweet. You could taste the beautiful fruity flavours, but it was still nicely balanced with the alcohol flavours. My friend got a passionfruit mojito, which she could only describe as 'wow'. It was strong, punchy and looked divine.
For food, we started with a medley of tacos. The fish taco was my personal favourite, being deliciously crispy and deep fried and drizzled with a sweet chilli sauce. In combination with the fresh salad and tortilla bread, each mouthful was this explosion of textures and flavours. I also had a chicken taco, which truly was lovely, but I definitely could not go past that fish.
The meatballs were another highlight. Served in a rich and indulgent tomato sauce, they were cooked to perfection and literally melted in my mouth. The tropical salad was also really surprisingly good. Definitely one of the best salads I've had in a long, long time. The combination of rocket with sweet fruits like orange, grapes and pineapple, then the nuts thrown in there for a bit of crunch - it just worked perfectly.
And I think that highlights exactly what the Cuban Place does best - it combines and balances everything perfectly. Whether that is combining flavours and textures to make a knock out dish, or having a perfect balance of food, drinks, service and atmosphere to make an outstanding venue. The Cuban Place will definitely be a memorable dining experience, and I'll certainly be back soon!
The Cuban place has an amazing atomosphere, good food and great live Latin music. We got given two free Havana margarita's from one of the lovely staff members. I was highly disappointed that we had to wait almost 2 hours for a table, when we were told 9:30 (only to find that when we spoke to another staff member they were apparently holding the table the whole time and no one had contacted us). We walked in at 8:30 and were only seated at 10:30, with the kitchen to close at 11. I was highly annoyed by the fact that we only just got our food when the bill got dropped on our table and we're harassed by several staff after this to give payment (The kitchen was closing and not their tills); couldn't for the life of my try and enjoy my food without being harassed and allowed to finish my food before paying. The food was amazing, but I wouldn't wait 2 hours if the place wasn't as entertaining as it was. I really wanted to give this place a 4, but their lack of customer service on the restaurant side of things was appalling.
The Cuban on York is a fun, vibrant and welcome escape from the CBD streets. Rumored to have the best mojitos in town and after trying them today - I most certainly agree! What makes them so great? The mint is whole and not crushed which avoids the annoying pieces getting through your teeth, there is no use of sugar syrup here and it's only the best with the premium version of the mojito using Havana 7 rum. At only $1 more for this option you will want to order this each and every time!
Now to the food - great for sharing with plenty of snack and larger lunch options. We had the Elote de Havana or as I like to call them popcorn lollipops - grilled corn cob with jalapeño and Cuban aioli. The tacos are a must! We sampled the crispy fish, chicken and the pork & beef. Each had amazing flavor but the fish would have to be my top pick for a fresh and flavorsome taco. If you want a larger option the Plato Hecho is the Cuban style plate for you and includes steamed rice, beans, potato, green salad and your choice of beef, lamb, chicken, fish or a vegetarian option. We went for the beef which was a standout and worked well with the deliciously flavored potatoes and rice. Pair this with the tropical salad which is a mix of fruit, nuts, rocket and feta and you will not be disappointed.
The restaurant has an excellent vibe with a full bar area, outdoor balcony and large indoor dining section perfect for small or large groups. This is the spot for a city lunch or after work cocktail with happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays meaning those killer mojitos are only $7! The Next Rush
Come into the Cuban, let the staff take it away with their recommendations and enjoy the upbeat atmosphere
Cuba as you know is a melting pot of Native American, Spanish, African & Carribean cuisines and The Cuban Place is Sydney's manifestation of that place once isolated from the rest of the world politically. Coupled with the tropical climate, it's dishes are adorned with exotic seasonal fruits, designed to share and accompanied with a good blend of rum / whiskey into a thirst quenching cocktail.
We started off with the TACOS CUBANOS (Corn Tortillas) with your choice of protein. Hard to choose – we ended up sampling the succulent chicken, fresh fish and traditional tender pork/beef versions. Nice thin tortillas that allow each protein to subjagate their carefully seasoned flavours with accents of fresh tomato. The PLATO HECHO features the staple of this type of cuisine with rice, black beans and salad – we had ours with the beef which was a beautiful medium cook. A wonderful accompaniments to this was the ELOTE DE LA HAVANA – 'corn cob lollipops' as @coffeebrunchanddinner referred to them, with suspended streams of housemade jalapeno, cuban aioli & manchego cheese with popcorn garnish. Nice little 'life stages' thing in this with superb flavours.
Among our Havana cocktails stood out the signature mojito with preimum rum, sugar cane juice – there's a real high power taste and authenticity in this which is hard to describe in comparison to standard grainy. mulched lime (not the way to do it in Cuba by the way) varieties you find in many places in the city. Weaving in sips with our ENSALADA DE LOS TROPICOS does take you out of this world in its pure simplicity. Possibly because of the use of seasonal fruit, nuts, fetta, rocket and citrus dressing in this salad – the combination with their Havana potions complement each other so well.
The space is quite large with a 'cigar room' where you can purchase and enjoy this luxury item coveted for decades before the lifting of embargos. An outside balcony with feature barrels and lush greenery sets the tone of the place and it's easy to imagine the feel of the place during their live entertainment nights with Latin music and Flamenco dancers. The walls capture the spirit of celebrations had here with a tradition to literally 'leave your mark' with a collection of signatures, messages and art all over the feature walls left by patrons capturing the community feel and embodied by the staff and managers. These things to me capture that communal, hospitable, relaxed and carefree culture of Cuba. Definitely a must visit!
Had value for money food. The tacos are really amazing and had live music as well. :) although the service was really slow, which was something understandable during a Friday night, food compensated for their loss.
Went there for lunch on a weekday. Was very quiet (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) so we got really attentive service. The group of us sat at a booth which had some of the oddest ergonomics ever. We had to extend our arms fully to eat our meals. Maybe opt for the regular tables next time.
Menu was overall pretty pricey, so we opted for the $15 lunch menu, which gave us a choice of lamb/chicken/fish in combination with some beans, rice, potatoes and salad. The meal was served promptly and the food was delicious, with the exception of the fish (which really was more of a fish-cake)
Do remember to bring some cash along, they charge a 2% fee for cards, even if you opt to pay via debit.
Overall will definitely come back again!
Two dollar tacos ah man can't beat it, the beer and wine selection was pretty impressive too. Big space, great for groups and I hear they organize beer and wine tastings
Such a fun place for a taste of Cuba. The live music was such a great touch of fun! We made a booking and i'm glad we did, it was pretty packed! I had like 3 havana mojito's, which were pretty fantastic, especially for $10 (such a change from having to pay $16-$18)
We then ordered some food, entree was tacos, I had the Vegetarian Taco minus the cheese as I am Vegan, and it was fabulous, really tasty and surprisingly filling, my friends had chicken and lamb tacos respectively and they both assured me they were beautifully seasoned and tasty. Next I had grilled corn, unfortunately there was no vegan alternative to the aioli which was kinda sad as the corn was missing that extra something (you know what i mean!) My friends had the grilled chicken and Marinated pork and beef stew and I have solid confirmation that the marinated pork was lovely but the chicken needed an accompaniment as it was quite disappointing without some salad or veg?
All in all it was a fantastic evening, with great music, really accommodating service and nice food! I really do recommend this place to quench any Cuban cravings you may have!
Not the sort of place you go to for a quiet dinner. Tacos were pretty good had a fish, lamb and a beef and although the service was slow it was friendly. Biggest disappointment was the size of the corn... it was bloody tiny... nice but way to stingy.
Ahhh The Cuban Place... awesome mojitos, great music and even better dance floor where I have had many a boogie with complete strangers.
I think that's what is so great about the place. You feel like you have been transported to Cuba and are no longer in Sydney still in your office clothes after finishing work on a Friday afternoon.
Love it!
A large Cuban/Latin restaurant bar near QVB. Have a meal, then dance it off. The restaurant has wooden floors with latin themed murals and pictures decorating the walls. Set the mood with some latin back ground music.
The staff were friendly and attentive. The drinks list had a number of cocktails including the famed mojito, there were also a number of South American wines listed. We got the passion fruit mojito which was delicious.
We decided to share some small plates to start including the Elote De La Havana which is grilled corn lolli pops, served with jalepeno aloli, secret sauce and popcorn! Loved it! We also got the Los 3 Platitos Cubanos which was 3 soft brioche buns with different fillings: lamb, adobo (pork and beef mixture) and chicken with mustard and pickles.
For our mains we went with the tender rib eye fillet; a great steak, cooked as requested with a side of rice and beans and we also ordered a side salad. We also shared the Ropa Vie De Cordero -slow cooked braised lamb shoulder which very nice served in a crispy burrito bowl with tomato salsa.
To top off the meal we went with the ever popular churros with chocolate sauce and Dulce de leche. Simply delicious.
Spice up your life with a little latin flair at the Cuban place.
Perfect vibes for a night out.
Food and drinks takes a while to be served, especially on weekends, although the wait was definitely worth it. Although the menu is limited, can't wait to go again.
Quiet enjoyed my time here, was lively and welcoming environment with good drinks. Its like little Havana in Sydney so its different from other places. If you like salsa and cuban rum and great atmosphere u won't regret going.
We went for lunch to The Cuban Place to try out something new. The place is awesome! High ceiling, no crowd and plenty of space splashed with Cuban vibe.
We went for Plato Hecho which is a Cuban lunch plate consisting of rice, super tasty roasted potato, stomach filling black beans, green salad and your choice of meat. We had fish fritters (yum!), beef steak (yum!yum!) and Cuban grilled chicken (yum!yum!yum!).
We also tried out the Cuban tacos which to be honest don't differ much with Mexican tacos flavour wise. Had black beans taco (more Cuban than the rest), chicken taco (lovely) and beef & pork taco (awesome taco full of pulled meat).
Plus: one of my mates had a birthday complimentary mojito
I quite enjoyed this place with its live music and buzzing atmosphere. Mojitos are well priced and the food is delicious. Best cassava chips I've tasted. We had the sliders, meatballs, chicken tacos for starters and the lamb and linguine for mains. I wouldn't recommend the meatballs or the pasta but the other food was very tasty. Would come back.
My partner and I booked the Cuban place for dinner on Friday night as I had read good reviews ! The waitress was nice although there was a little confusion between who was looking after our table and we got asked or our drinks and food orders about four times. We had to order the mojitos as they were known for them, and we also settled on the tasting menu. The mojitos were good although a little too full with ice. The food was absolutely delicious the chicken tacos, slow cooked lamb, ceviche and the churros were to die for! Again at the end the service was in shambles and we asked for the bill and after waiting quite awhile my partner just went up to pay as it was clear they had forgotten. Overall still a good dining experience and I probably would come back for the yummy food!
Loved the place, the ambience and the cocktails at the bar. Never really got to have the food as I always came here late. Will try to visit on a weekday for dinner.
Almost the entire entree menu was ordered. The menu that's available at the eatery differs from the menu online here. Dim lighting and the toilet door is tucked at the back of the restaurant, basically unisex as multiple males would exit a cubicle clear with a female sign.
The highlight definitely were the 3 brioche buns (adobo: pork, chicken and lamb). The brioche itself was delightfully sweet.
We had all the tacos listed on the menu and I highly recommend the vegetarian option (tabouli makes it refreshing), the adobo (tender pulled pork). The lamb taco was decent though chicken taco was average.
Black beans, a side, were enjoyable. We also had the cheese puffs which were nice to eat as soon as they come. Unfortunately after a short while, the cheese became unpleasant: hardened and rubbery. It came with two dips, one sweet chutney-like and one creamy aioli-like. The prawn entree was presented on a fried tortilla and bed of plain nachos. That was quite tasty to the boys and highly recommended. Though they don't seem to provide dips for the plain nachos, sadly goes to waste.
Friend ordered a wagyu steak which he stated was a decent chunk of meat.
I enjoyed the service, waitresses were pretty girls in casual red dresses and red lipstick but the food came out reasonably quick. Unfortunately being seated in the booth caused a bit of back pain as the tables weren't wide enough, requiring eaters to lean forward at the edge of the comfy couch. I'd recommend for others to request a table seating.
I am happy we opted for entrees rather than mains as we were after a variety of tastes though it was basically bread/nachos and meat/beans with a pinch of greens. Overall it was a decent eating experience though it didn't call for me to return. If they offer more vegetarian options or a soup-based dish then I'll be up for it :)
Was recommended to come here as the only place to get a real mojito in the city... And it didn't disappoint! Drinks took a bit of time but in fairness they were busy. But if you love a mojito or any other cocktail for that matter you'll love this place..
In the midst of our exams, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a night off and join the Zomato x The Cuban Place meetup, ready for a night of surprises, decadent wines and great Latin American eats! We were given an amazing tasting menu that included an appetiser, entrée, main and dessert. These were paired with some exquisite wines, which were all from South America as well. The appetiser was a Hiramasa Kingfish Cerviche served Mojito style, and it was so nicely plated, and a beauty to look at. The fish was so fresh and flavoursome, and had been cured nicely, leaving the lightness of the fish intact, and we had some lovely brut bubbly to go along with it!
Located near QVB is The Cuban Place, and just like an emerald, it is a little gem hidden in a hole in the wall waiting to be discovered. The Cuban Place is HUGE and I don't mean like Kim Kardashian Huge, I mean Beyonce huge!! They have a split level venue which caters for functions, casual dining or pleasant dates.. wink wink!
Coffee and chocolate Mocha Dome with candied peanuts, sweet peanut roll and a dollop of salted caramel ice cream. Black beans are an integral part of Cuban cooking and cuisine, together with bay leaves, garlic, rice and red kidney beans. The classic and pervasive presence of black beans and rice had resulted in a traditional dish called "Moors and Christians". Sofrito, a heady seasoning mix of green pepper, Oregano, ground pepper and onions, results from quick frying. This had led to my prior silo perspective about Cuban food, the preoccupation with sauteing as a cooking technique, plus the imagery of the tropical climate, sugar cane plantations and laid back non-chalance, especially before the USA removed long time embargoes on the sizeable island nation in the Caribbean.I had missed the point. Being located at the cross roads of African slave routes, Spanish adventurers, indigenous Taino tribes, French Caribbean and Portuguese trading routes, and Arabic ingredients, Cuba had years of experimenting with fusion, diverse cultural vibes and ingredients. I am reminded that many of the produce we take for granted in culinary disciplines today were originally from near Cuba - all types of chillies, tomatoes, corn, cocoa, potatoes and more. I was amazed when I was told there is a significant Chinese quarter in Havana. Cuba is relatively near to Florida USA compared to Australian travelling standards. So there you go, my earlier pre-conceptions about Cuban cuisine were properly and rightfully smashed at this very juncture.
The Cuban Place is only a 3 minute walk from Town Hall station, so it’s quite the feat that I had never come across it. Luckily, a recent Zomato meet up was held here so I had the opportunity to taste their delicious food and enjoy the wine pairing that had also been organised.
Colour of the night was red, with waitresses in lovely red dresses and waiters with red suspenders! Adds to the character of the place and it really set the mood for the night with genuinely welcoming and friendly staff. We were given a glass of wine with each course with an explanation to help us understand and enjoy it more. I don’t have a vast knowledge on wine, however have no doubt that each pairing was wonderfully matched. In fact I found the dessert pairing (Santa Rita Late Harvest Moscatel of Alexandria) particularly impressive, to the point I was looking around for seconds!
We were presented with a kingfish ceviche at the beginning of our meal, which I heard was not yet on the menu and the chefs were after some feedback. This needs to be put on the official menu asap! It was so delightful with the plump kingfish which was so tasty I could have easily finished one off myself. Really fresh and zesty, I can see it being quite a hit.
I chose the entrée of green banana and potato gnocchi which was another tasty treat. The consomme was extremely light which might be a bore for some, but once you have it with the gnocchi it all falls into place. The burst of saltiness from biting into the gnocchi with the inoffensive, light soup makes for a superb flavour combination. And the presentation was on point – a winner!
The fish of the day being barramundi, came with a Varadero sofrito confit, kipfler potatoes, and crispy leek. I cannot deny how well the fish was cooked and how great it was with the leek on top, but overall it did feel a little bland for me personally. The main too was presented beautifully, and a decent serving size also.
The finale was the highlight of the meal for me. I had the sticky banana pudding dessert and it was just impeccable. Not having much of a sweet tooth, usually I struggle to finish desserts by myself, but certainly not for this amazing pudding. It was ridiculously soft and as soon as you took a bite with the whipped coconut cream on top, it just melted in your mouth. In a matter of minutes, I had absolutely devoured it and was longing for more. Judging by the reactions of those around me, it seems the other dessert being a coffee and chocolate mocha dome with candied peanuts, sweet peanut roll with salted caramel ice cream was also a hit, so The Cuban Place must have perfected their dessert game!
Such a great place to wine and dine – they have a lively atmosphere and some fresh, tasty food. Definitely worth checking out, especially as they’re in such a convenient location too!
Times are changing for Cuba and the romanticised scenes of weathered vintage cars coasting the streets of Havana and popularised visions of the island culture sketched by authors like Hemmingway are quickly slipping into the mists of time. Change might be underway, but many of us will always be drawn back to the vibrant, patinated aesthetic of Cuba in the 50’s and 60’s. It’s that nostalgic snapshot of Cuban culture that The Cuban Place, in Sydney’s CBD, draws you into as you step through its doors. Latin rhythms lure you into an open, relaxed bar and dining space with a warm wood and leather décor. It’s an engaging mix of texture and tempo with live music and graffiti walls alongside cosy booths and soft lighting.
*Coco & Vine dined as guests of The Cuban Place.
I came here a while ago with a group of friends. We loved the vibe and cocktails (mojito to be exact), but we left disappointed at the food.
So when I had the opportunity to re-visit this restaurant and tried out the new menu, I was amazed what a refreshing change it was from the old menu. Our friendly and knowledgable host explained the menu and recommended popular and her personal favourite dishes. That helped to narrow down the option. Very quickly we decided on two entrees and two mains, all to share between the two of us.
The wine list was all from Chile and Argentina. I wasn't very familiar with South American wines and relied on staff's recommendation. I started with a Chilean bubble and followed by a Chilean shiraz, both were very good.
It didn't take long before the entrees got served. Grilled calamari and chorizo served with corn nacho and salsa was delicious. The calamari was so tender, chorizo gave the dish extra layer of flavour and corn chips brought extra texture. What a good combination of flavour and texture. Both my friend and I loved this first dish. The second entree was twice cooked pork neck served in cream corn puree. Again the meat was so tender and cut right through, the creamy corn complemented the pork beautifully. Both entrees were of very decent portion.
For mains we ordered fish of the day - pan fried barramundi with kipfler potatoes topped with crispy fried leek and chicken with okra quinoa salad. What impressed me the most from these two main (or in fact the whole meal) was how well the choice of different ingredients work together. The softness of potatoes worked perfectly with the crispiness of leek chips; likewise the chicken breast worked well with quinoa. Each dish had multiple layers of flavour and texture from each ingredient, which made each dish tasty and well balanced.
Just when I thought nothing could top off the calamari or barramundi, I was in for another treat when the dessert was served. Oh my, it was one of the best chocolate dessert I had in a long time. Coffee chocolate mocha, sweet peanut roll, candied peanuts and salty caramel ice-cream. Do I need to say more? The chocolate was so velvety, rich, and smooth; the peanut roll was equally luscious. It was so beautiful we wished there was more, especially more ice-cream!
The service was impeccable. Not once our water glasses were left empty. The timing between each course was perfect too. As we were leaving, the live band was performing on stage and the dance floor was about to start as well.
I couldn't say my first visit to Cuban Place was memorable but the second visit definitely changed my mind about this restaurant. The new menu was a great improvement. The service and vibe were consistently good on both visits. We left full and satisfied. I still couldn't stop thinking about that chocolate dessert!
The Cuban place, a place where music the decor and even the staff makes you feel like you've left Sydney CBD and been transported to another country.
With a wall of different rums, they pride themselves in serving you the only finest and offer a variety of different flavours to suit your taste.
Getting to the food, hearty tasty and juicy food.
Ranging from nachos with generous toppings to tacos and crispy roasted potatoes topped off with delicious slow cook pulled Meat.
So if your after a evening feed and need to unwind after a stressful day, pop in to this shop for a meal which will surely satisfy.
Baz Juan Pablo Sanchez
+4.5
For me one of the best bars about town, fun, vibrant and full of atmosphere, this place has it all.
Oh did I also mention the great food and the even better Mojitos ?. Famous for the latter and one drink and you can see why.
Service is always friendly, knowledgable and polite. It's no wonder they're all packed to the rafters
I had a completely faultless and superb dining experience at The Cuban Place. I didn't realize how huge the venue actually is, we chose to sit within the rum room, which is a small little tucked away nook, it's intimate and truly beautiful.
Our waiter was impeccable (I regret I didn't ask for his name), he was knowledgable, charismatic and attentive. Any question we had, he was ready to answer and he really new his rum!
The food was sublime. Ordering the gnocchi and chorizo dishes for entrees, they both came out presented beautifully and the gnocchi melted away as soon as it entered your mouth. Chorizo is probably one of my favourite things in the world and The Cuban Place's had my mouth in a frenzy; it was delicious! I think I left my partner with only one piece for himself because I demolished it.
For mains with had the chicken and the slow cooked lamb. The lamb was winner for the mains title, not because the chicken wasn't incredible, but because the lamb was so flavoursome and I died a little bit inside when we finished it.
You definitely can't leave without dessert. My favourite was the cafe y caramelo, a coffee/chocolate dome with peanuts and salted caramel ice cream - it was pure heaven. I also dabbled in the sticking banana pudding and passion fruit custard which were both unique and oh so yummy.
I recommend anything on the cocktail list and don't think a single thing on this menu could ever disappoint me. Highly recommend.
Went here for drinks with a friend on Thursday. The happy hour specials are the best. Half price Mojitos!! Yes please!! Really good drinks!! I didn't eat anything but the food menu looks really interesting and I'll be returning to eat. The space is nice with lots of small areas and seats.
Very hospitable and friendly here. The service was attentive. I had Yuca Chips, Elote Con Queso, Taco De Pescado, Plato Hecho With Lamb, and Pudin Di Banana. The food was really tasty. I liked the lunch time special Plato Hecho as it fills you up and is very good value. We came here during the Dimmi 50% off special so anything off the a la carte menu was discounted. The Yuca Chips and tacos came after our mains but no problem as it was quite quick after they realised the mistake and apologised for it.
Great service. Really attentive and friendly. The menu was really interesting and accommodated a lot of different dietary requirements. Fab atmosphere too. Left a cash tip for the staff, but it looked like the hostess just put it in the till which is a shame. Will definitely be back!
Everything else was fantastic expect for the price. It's not just me, many friends went there and had to confirm the price twice.
Lovely deco really remind me of lovely havana, where drinks are more accessible.
The taco was very nice, one dollar each. It's not like the taco I had at Cuba. They are quite similar to the those I had at Mexico. Funny enough that the price is similar too.
My rating of this place could be misleading since I didn't eat anything here.
Went there after a friend told me that they have salsa night on Friday nights and we should go to practice. Word of caution: It is not a place for beginners especially if you're as afraid of dancing as I am.
Now, the reason I rate it high is that I simply the loved the atmosphere. The music was fantastic. The staff and crowd very friendly. Perfect place to go if you are out alone. What really set the right was that I was greeted in my native language by the barman who had a cliché mexican moustache. Everything from there on only kept getting good although I still get jitters when I remember how people were dancing like pros over there.
Cheers!
I love this place for the music, the atmosphere, the drinks, the happiest staff and most important the food. It's got great vibes and just makes you want to dance :)
Great place!
We went here mid week and it was super cosy and had a good atmosphere. Good for a date night dinner.
We ordered the chorizo (amazing) and the baked onion entree (super strange!) The onion wasn't bad, just a little different. Couldn't identify all of the items on the plate, and neither could the waiter haha
The lamb main was incredible! I would go back for this dish... Slow cooked with yoghurt and a side of crispy potatoes. Yum!
Nice ambience not too busy on a week day which is good. Love the lychee mojito!!! Perfect for a hot summer night. Ceviche was too sour. The fried chicken was a bit boring not enough spices. The Spanish chorizo was good as well as the main fish of the day.
Everything here is fabulous and superb. The food, The music, The bar, the ambience, the customer service. Bossman Kiko is very friendly and runs a tight ship of this place. Make sure drink a mojito and order everything on the menu. I highly recommend the cheese breads, Lamb shoulder and all the desserts!
2 originals please! That's a Mojito for those that don't know.
If you get to be here during their happy hour time frame which is only Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5-7pm you can snag yourself some Mojito's for the cool price of $7!
If you are with friends that opt to get the Grande Mojito basically a bucket of this delicious stuff will help you start the night in a cheerful mood! (You get straws to drink from the bucket so it feels like you are on spring break or something ;)
This places always seems like the first visit of your night out beacuse when you get there during happy hour its packed and then if you get there around 8pm the bar is your's for the taking.
I have yet to try the food as you tend to fill up on Mojito's then move onto the next bar hop. So i can only vouch for their liquids!
If you had enough of mint then opt to try the Mary Pickford. She's a little bit fancy but not too sweet.
Top place to go in the city! Fabulous atmosphere, awesome cocktails, delicious authentic Cuban food! I've recently been to Cuba, and the food at the Cuban place is even better than Cuban food! A must if your in the city!
I feel like the food and the bar don't really match. The foood is expensive and has more of a proper dining vibe, but the bar is fun and zesty so there is a mismatch. The moods don't really go together, I'd rather eat somewhere else with a more upbeat vibe and cheaper food before venturing down stairs. But having said that the food and service was not bad. The venue just sends too many mixed messages
For a post-negotiations victory dinner, we ventured to The Cuban Place for some authentic cuisine and a great night of music, food and celebrations!. We decided to get three dishes to share, and opted for two mains and an entree. The Pan de Queso, or tapioca cheese puffs, served with guava & quince relish and cuajada seca, were so delicious, and the cheese wasn’t too heavy or overpowering, especially with the tanginess of the accompanying sauces.
Interesting. Dropped in without a reservation and still got seated despite it being fairly busy. Mojitos are a must, beers so-so. The food was a bit hit and miss but the staff are happy to provide their opinions when asked. Steaks were awesome.
What a cool place, it's like going overseas without the thousand dollar experience. Great place to unwind and escape the city.
Service was good the drinks were strong and the Reggae music topped it off. I don't know... I think my first experience here is great.
Went here on a Friday night, great atmosphere. The staff and security are nice, very multicultural with people of all ages, also free entry which is always a bonus. Some drinks are pricey but the cocktails are worth a try, overall a nice place to have a good night out!
The service here was great, friendly bubbly waiters and great mojitos. This is the place you're looking for that's close to Town Hall station with good drink options and tasty food to match. The crab tacos are delicious!
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