Review The Cuban Place - Sydney

Good cocktails. Food quality is not good the potion is small. Most of menu is overpriced. $37 steak only comes without side. With side, its approx $45.. not worth it at all! Service was very very slow. I might go back for the bar. But NOT for restaurant.

Mains and starters were decent, steak was cooked nicely but desserts were lacking in quality. The churro was about the size of half a pen and the chocolate dessert portion and plating was not what I expected for $15. We had the Cuban experience which gave mini portions of 4 starters, 3 mains, a salad and rice and little piece of churro for $59. Also the service was lacking, we had to walk up to order or get the waitresses attention and she forgot about our drink order so after we were 3/4 done our meal we told her to just forget about it as she didn't even key it in to begin with. Understandably it was a busy night so maybe should have had more people staffed.

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!

Not bad not great, staff werent attentive except when rushing us out, and asking for a tip. Food isn't really Cuban, but it isn't bad

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!

It was a date night and the Mrs decided on this place. Tucked across the road from QVB, it's certainly an interesting location. We were upstairs at the restaurant. Service was swift as it's a cold Thursday night. Seated not far from some abandoned furniture, we were served quickly. Food was tasty but not overwhelming. Tacos (minimum of 3) were certainly priced above average. The cervce was a hit though. No alcohol and it came to 67 bucks. Hmmmm

Back in July 2016 we went to The Cuban Place. It was good to find this unique Cuban restaurant amongst the proliferation of Asian food outlets that are everywhere. Finally somewhere with great unique flavours, wonderful welcoming atmosphere, good music, and food and drink from a culture that has been closed to the average visitor for decades. We tried their tasting plate - forgot its name - and was 3 sample entrees, 3 sample mains, and a desert. I initially thought it wouldn't be enough food but I was quite full by the end. And the food samples were fabulous. You really must give it a go. We matched the meal with a very yummy Pinot from Argentina - again I forgot its name .... Trumpeter something. Clearly we had a great night - good food and drink. We thought we'd definitely be coming back. Then in December 2016 we did come back. So on my recommendation I took my team for a Christmas team dinner here last night. And I was quite disappointed at the evening. Initially the service was a bit slow - the place only had a few guests at the time, so i suppose the wait staff hadn't got into "high gear" mode yet. Anyway, we ordered wine to start. The waiter came back saying they didn't have any bottles of the type we ordered (an $80 Syrah), but suggested a different one, that was "similar in quality and price". We thought, let's give it a go. We soon realised that it was not the "same quality" nor worth the same value. So we looked up the bottle on several online wine retailers and found it was a $20 Shiraz. To their credit, the restaurant waived the cost of the bottle when we raised this issue - but it should not have happened in the first place. Then the entrees came out. We had 4 in our group. One eating his own choice, but three of us eating from the tasting menu. The entrees were delivered thus: one serving on his own plate, and the other two servings mixed together on a single plate, with the waiter saying just split it apart yourselves and share. Um...OK. Annoyed but whatever. Then the same thing happened for the mains. I'm sorry but when I go to a restaurant and spend big money on a meal I expect my own dish and expect not to have to split meals apart at the table. Am I being too critical, maybe. But it felt like a poor effort on the restaurants part. Then they brought out "desert". And this was a poor effort. Just a single 2 inch piece of Churros with some chocolate sauce drizzled on top. That ain't desert. That's something you have with a coffee AFTER the desert. The last time I was here the desert was a good decent size - and wasn't a dodgy piece of Churros. I am very disappointed at the poor effort made tonight, by the bad service, by the bad plating up, by the meager dessert, by the "wine incident". It felt like we were being treated like cattle. I got the impression that they thought "oh, they're just a bunch of blokes out for a christmas piss up, so let's rip them off as they won't notice". How wrong they were. I've reduced my initial rating from 5 down to a 2.

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!<br/><br/>It was my first time trying tequila shots.. and let me tell you, I am now hooked!<br/><br/>It was smooth and the pink salt they gave us were so nice compared to table salt you’d usually receive<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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!

My friend introduced me to this place and I loved it as it was very lively. The Latin music was good and the mojitos they serve is great. The food was a bit on the expensive side. <br/>Service - 2/5<br/>Drinks - 4/5<br/>Ambience - 4/5<br/>Value for Money - 3/5

First time having cuban food, although I’m not really sure what Cuban food entails. It's sort of like Mexican but not really. You actually go upstairs to go to the entrance, which had surprisingly quite a lot of seating and relatively expansive for a CBD restaurant. Thanks Dandelion for booking the group dinner. It was a ‘surprise’ location for dinner, and she took us here since they had 50% everything from a Dimmi deal, and it’s also nice to try something different (this post is more than 2 months delayed...)

Food didn’t taste good and meat felt wet and not marinated well. Drinks however were great - do try the Pablo Escobar. Ambience was a bit too dark and dingy, and I’d say the wait staff were pleasant.

So many times work places / people I know have their end of year events at this place. I went once and I wouldn't bother going again. Poor service and bad attitude. Not worth wasting precious time over

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 :)

This is a review for the bar. We came after dinner for some cocktails, live music & some dancing. We got there about 10pm on a Sat night. Downstairs it's a beach themed bar, decked out with sand all over the floor. The sand & the boom boom music wasn't really our thing so we headed upstairs. Upstairs they have a restaurant & a bar with Latin music, there was also a band playing live. It was a lot more crowded, and there wasn't much room to hangout in front of the stage or bar. It took us ages to get to the bar to order some cocktails, the bartender weren't friendly & got one of the order wrong. The band finished & we were able to grab some seats, then they put on the music for dancing. Vibe & music were good, but too much hassles to be bothered with for a good night out.

I enjoyed every dish that we ordered. However, the reason I'm awarding only 3 stars is because I could see that most of the dishes were not made to order. Food was served within 5-10 minutes and I could tell the meat balls and braised lamb for example were probably just “scooped” out from a larger pot in the kitchen. Overpriced to pay $32 for lamb, when it resembles food court style food?

Overpriced food and drinks. The service is super slow. The waiters have to be called out many times before they come to take your order. Not coming again!

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..

We attended this restaurant last minute as we were seeing a show at the state theatre. The hostess was friendly, accommodating and we were seated quickly even without a booking. The restaurant itself is quirky in an old Sydney Bar type setting. We were seated and didn't wait to long with our waitress my partner ordered a beer and I requested table water a short time later the hostess came to tell us the beer from the menu my partner ordered had run out so my partner ordered a different beer and then 2 minutes later our waitress came to take our order when I asked for a little extra time she walked off in a huff. The restaurant seems to have a new menu which doesn't seem to have any meals that aren't made on the spot, they all seem to be prepared stews and sides that only require reheating which is really disappointing compared to the previous restaurant menu which had taco's, corn cobs, and other fresh items. The waitress came back and informed us that they had run out of my partners beer order to which I informed her we had already ordered something different with the hostess to which she acknowledged and went to walk away I asked if we could order some food now so she took our order. As we couldn't decide on anything from the mains we decided to get the cheese puffs and the cheese flautas (Special) I also requested another glass of water as I had finished mine. Our food came out relatively quickly it was tasty but both small very, very small serving sizes for the exorbitant price, I did not receive my water. We finished our entree's and left. definitely wouldn't eat here again. <br/><br/>PRO'S: - Hostess was lovely<br/> - They have an Entertainment Book voucher<br/><br/>CON'S: - Menu very limited and very not exciting <br/> - Waitress was disinterested and unhelpful <br/> - Food serving size very small and over priced<br/> - Restaurant was very dark which made it hard to see what you were eating. <br/>

Food came out cold and is overpriced. Mojitos and other cocktails are decent, just don't come here for a meal. Ambience is not too bad, service was great when I went.

Absolutely terrible. Melbournian in Sydney and was looking for a good restaurant. Based on the reviews I thought it would be amazing, it was terrible. Food quality is likened to what you would find at taco bill. Guacamole with no flavour, Mojito full of ice and sugar, ceviche was served in a drinking glass. It was quite a bizarre dining experience, we ordered starters and left. I cannot believe this is a 4 rating - Sydney lift your game!!!

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.

Not even worth 1 star.  Incredibly slow, poor service.  My boss offered this criticism to the the guy behind the bar, Luca, who was defensive and rude.  Poor attitude and clearly a reflection of the service we received last night (or lack thereof).  No wonder why they were quiet...<br/><br/>Here's a tip, having worked in the hospitality industry myself and having over 20 years of hospitality experience between the people in my group last night, when customers offer criticism, you apologise and you take it on board, even if you disagree.  It's an opportunity to learn and not an attack of personal character.

We attended a birthday last Saturday at this venue and the service was lacking.<br/><br/>The host had ordered food to arrive at 7PM and only a small portion of it came out; the rest of the food arrived an hour later.<br/><br/>The bartender was evidently high and language was a barrier. The mixed shots were watered down and the tacos we ordered were given to the wrong group.<br/><br/>The upside was the décor - where else in Sydney are you going to find a basement bar that resembles a sandy paradise?

Place is ok. Not somewhere I would recommend or go back for a second time. Unfortunately the food wasn't as flavourful as Cuban typically is. They also didn't have some type of Cuban sandwich which is always a go to at a Cuban restaurant.

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 :)

Disappointing all round. Such a nice bar downstairs let down by a restaurant which is just going through the motions. Service is quick considering most food is pre-cooked.

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.

We went for after work drinks on a thursday night and they had happy hour with 7 aud for mojitos & cuba libre, really good thing! They tasted nice, but the mojito was filled with ice, it lasted less than 5 min. Good atmosphere and nice staff, only bad thing was the poor mojito.

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

Ok, where to start with this dive...<br/>We arrived on a Saturday evening at 6pm and there was no ambience or vibe in the joint. Understandable as it was quite early on a Saturday. <br/>Through booking online we got complimentary mojitos which was a great start.<br/>To start we had the king prawns and plantain chips with guacamole. The prawns at $15 with a maximum of 6 tiny pieces of prawn on a bed of guac and a crispy tortilla were a disappointment. The chips with guac were good, although it was a small portion. <br/>The mains we ordered were overpriced and below average. The lamb was basically bland taco filing, the baramundi was swimming in capsicum; much to the dismay of my capsicum hating girlfriend, and overcoooked - for $35 we would have expected a more sophisticated dish. The $55 Malbec was a dismay. $150 later, we were not satisfied. <br/>Won't be returning here.

Went here on a Friday night when the restaurant opened at 6pm - the bar was packed and loud, and the restaurant filled up quickly.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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?<br/><br/>Service: slow. Recommend ordering your drinks at the bar rather than getting table service.<br/><br/>Atmosphere: definitely not a date restaurant, super loud. Good vibe though.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>My friend has the vegetarian linguine and she demolished it. <br/><br/>Service was really good (a part from the miscommunication) and staff were attentive. <br/><br/>Will definitely be returning for taco tuesday!

This place looked funky the bar staff are amazing,cocktails where amazing however the food service is pretty average, the food came out cold they forgot items, the some waiters where all over the shop , I ordered the chicken taco the fish taco and vegetarian! The best one was vegetarian one

I wanted to try the famous Tacos at the Cuban Place after looking at all the positive reviews on Zomato and TripAdvisor. I ordered three but it didn't arrive after 40 minutes. There was neither any explanation nor service staff at the bar counter. Disappointed.

After the rave reviews, I suggested this place for a girls night dinner. Needless to say, I was incredibly disappointed. I had the fish tacos and the chicken tacos, both of which were below average and over priced. As soon as it was placed on the table, I was underwhelmed. The fish was crispy, but under seasoned with far too much ice berg lettuce than necessary. It was basically flavourless, albeit for the tiny bit of sauce. The chicken tacos were dry and they seem to have a real issue with the filling to taco ratio. <br/>My friend ordered the fish of the day and while the fish was cooked nicely, it was just swimming in this weird sauce with a spattering of uncooked tomatoes. For 32 dollars, it was just not worth the money. <br/><br/>The saving grace were the mojitos! They were delicious, not too sweet with a nice hit of lime and mint. <br/><br/>All in all - go for a drink, soak up the ambience but definitely eat dinner first.

@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

I was hoping for top notch tacos with all the rave reviews, but when I went there it was below average. GYG makes better tacos and is much cheaper. We ordered every entree and tacos, and I can't say I enjoyed any of them. The atmosphere was horrid, they seem to have electrical issues and the lights kept turning off.

Had a terrible experience on Valentines Day. Unfortunately we waited a long time to be seated and served our drinks and food. Food was cold and was very disappointing in terms of flavour. Staff and manager were rude. Much improvement needed.

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!<br/><br/>The food was AMAZING! I was impressed by how authentic it was. The music and the general atmosphere was very fitting. <br/><br/>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.

The Cuban place has great food, drink and service but I didn't particularly like the atmosphere. There was a live band when I went and they were pretty bad. The music was so loud that my friend and I couldn't hear each other talk while we ate dinner. Overall I didn't find anything exceptionally good to go back to there. Definitely worth experiencing once though.

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.

Two separate musics at the same time very loud (not that the volume was an issue, its was just a wast of love music).... La experiencia cubana ($59) not worth it.

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!<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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! <br/><br/><br/>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. <br/><br/><br/>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<br/><br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.   <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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)<br/><br/>Do remember to bring some cash along, they charge a 2% fee for cards, even if you opt to pay via debit.<br/><br/>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)<br/>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? <br/>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!

Ordinary. Think TGIFridays for Cuban food. Tried ordering 'courses', which our waiter dutifully noted, then brought all the food to the table at once. When we pointed this out, she laughed. Food was okay, but portions tiny. The mojitos are way too sweet - I'm guessing they are made with lime cordial. Great place to drink. (Not the mojitos!), and dance on the weekend when they have live music. I won't go back to eat.

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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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.<br/>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. <br/>To top off the meal we went with the ever popular churros with chocolate sauce and Dulce de leche. Simply delicious.<br/>Spice up your life with a little latin flair at the Cuban place.

Perfect vibes for a night out. <br/>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.

This is not Cuban food, food is a mix of Greek, Mexican, with whatever it's thought to be Cuban food. Terrible mojitos made with syrup, not real lemon juice or sugar. Ropa vieja made with lamb??!!! Guacamole with plantains??!! Fish tacos?!!! Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. I know this is Australia but it wouldn't to do harm to invest in a Cuban chef or do a bit of research of what real Cuban food is. Overrated and over priced.

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. <br/><br/>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!). <br/><br/>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). <br/><br/>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.

Great location ! Booked a table and was looking forward to it as the reviews seemed mostly good. Arrived and told by the front of house (even though I wouldn't go as far to say it was the standard front of house as it was tucked around the corner) she wasn't very engaging and asked us to wait 5 mins , so we said we would be at the bar 2 metres away. 30mins later we still were at the bar. We decided to leave as services and food looked below average. All the staff looked unprofessional as no one smiled and in the 30 mins of waiting not one person asked if meals were OK or if they could get a table something. Let down, but went to a lovely restaurant after so had a great night.

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.

The Cuban place is a great Cuban restaurant in the heart of the city. The food is traditional and tasty, and the mojito is fresh and lively. An intimate and moody setting, the Cuban place even allows diners to smoke Cuban cigars on the outside patio, while enjoying a nice drink. Been here twice, and the food was above average - love the atmosphere inside this restaurant!

I really wanted to like this place and was so looking forward to the experience.  On entering, the atmosphere was lively, the staff friendly and service prompt without being invasive. The wine and drink menus are comprehensive and well laid out; clearly highlighting Gluten Free options.  On ordering we made a very clear statement that all food served must be gluten free, this was confirmed back and said to not be a problem; after all the menu clearly listed the gluten free selections. But, when a battered fish taco arrived at our table I questioned whether indeed it was gluten free.  The waiter insisted that it was; so I started to consume it.  Only then did my better judgement identify that the fish taco, and the chicken taco too prove to contain gluten; I questioned the waiter again, which led to much debate between two waiters, each taking a different position. The kitchen confirmed our meals were not gluten free and offered to take our food back and prepare it again.  Good result.  Only when the food was served a second time and on this occasion the tortilla was indeed corn (noticeable difference form the first serving) the fish again was battered. There is no excuse for this.

It was good to find this unique Cuban restaurant amongst the proliferation of Asian food outlets that are everywhere. Finally somewhere with great unique flavours, wonderful welcoming atmosphere, good music, and food and drink from a culture that has been closed to the average visitor for decades.<br/><br/>We tried their tasting plate - forgot its name - and was 3 sample entrees, 3 sample mains, and a desert. I initially thought it wouldn't be enough food but I was quite full by the end. And the food samples were fabulous. You really must give it a go.<br/><br/>We matched the meal with a very yummy Pinot from Argentina - again I forgot its name .... Trumpeter something.<br/><br/>Clearly we had a great night - good food and drink.<br/><br/>We'll definitely be coming back.

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.<br/><br/>The highlight definitely were the 3 brioche buns (adobo: pork, chicken and lamb). The brioche itself was delightfully sweet.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/>Friend ordered a wagyu steak which he stated was a decent chunk of meat.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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 :)<br/><br/>

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.<br/><br/>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!<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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!<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>*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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.  <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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! <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>Getting to the food, hearty tasty and juicy food.<br/>Ranging from nachos with generous toppings to tacos and crispy roasted potatoes topped off with delicious slow cook pulled Meat.<br/><br/>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.

For me one of the best bars about town, fun, vibrant and full of atmosphere, this place has it all.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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! <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.

If you are looking for a good dinning place with good service and at a reasonable cost then this is not the place for you. If you have dinner at many latin restaurants before then you will surely be disappointed, But if you are looking for a pick up venue, then you might just end up going home a phone number of two by the end of the night - you have to work quick as lock out is as 12:30am on Saturdays. We order the Yuca chips and Platanos, the chips were cold and brown, the platanose took over 30 minutes to arrive and both came to $19.00 dollars, we ended up leaving and heading some were else to eat. Table staff had no idea to table numbers and service with a smile is non-existent. Mojito is very over priced for a shot of alcohol, some mint and 3 quarters of the glass crushed ice. The only upside is they have a live band but the venue is ridiculously badly proportioned with big booths and large tables throughout. You will be cramped the entire night having to pass through the little walk way gaps. Overall a very expensive for what it is, and expect to receive very little return. Also They throw you out at 1:00 pm with no were else to go.

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.

At this place you are really paying for the location, music and cool atmosphere rather than good food. If you haven't experienced latin american food like tamales or cebiche in other places, then you will find The Cuban Place acceptable. If however you have tried plenty of latin food, then you will likely be disappointed.

Food: mediocre and overpriced. Drinks: overpriced and staff continually push them. Service: it's like they had blinders on to tables that required service. Whenever we needed someone, nobody was around. We also arrived as a couple were having trouble getting in - both of them were wearing thongs, but only the man was denied entry. Double standards much? It's the CBD with a tonne of tourists around. This is hardly a place that should warrant a dress code. I question the bouncer's bigotry, as we also saw a gay couple denied entry for questionable reasons. Will never be going back.

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.<br/>Lovely deco really remind me of lovely havana, where drinks are more accessible. <br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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.<br/><br/>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 :)

Came here for lunch and tried the fried plantation,I like salsa on top but didn't notice much taste apart from that. Fish taco was alright.my lunch pork rice was ok but I was expecting more,my partners chicken was a little better. The lunch meal was filling by itself though it doesn't look large in size. My partner liked this place more than me. Prices on the slightly higher side but I love the ambience in here despite it being dark inside. Worth going just to look at the photos and paintings inside

Great place! <br/>We went here mid week and it was super cosy and had a good atmosphere. Good for a date night dinner. <br/>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<br/>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. <br/><br/>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! <br/><br/>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 ;) <br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>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! <br/><br/>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!

Deep fried whole potato with oily sauce , so disappointed. We order lamb shank as a main course come with another 2 whole deep fried oily potato. Not reasonable price for $36

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.

We came on a Saturday night and within half an hour of sitting down, tables quickly filled up, so reservations would be recommended for a Friday or Saturday night. They have a bar area downstairs, which I think offer the same menu as the restaurant upstairs, but ambience is pretty quiet, so a table in the restaurant area would be the better option. The tables are well laid out, giving enough personal space, though it can get rather noisy when it is full. The live band is a great addition. Atmosphere is perfect for small groups, or a dinner for 2. <br/><br/>To start, we ordered the fried cassava chips, the twice cooked pork neck with quinoa ratatouille and the chicken wings. I am a massive fan of cassava chips and these didn't fail to impress. They were crunchy and golden and well seasoned. The jalapeño aioli served with it was a great accompaniment, but unfortunately it didn't have the jalapeño kick that I was hoping for. The pork neck looked rather dry upon arrival, but luckily it was tender and very nice when paired with the quinoa ratatouille. I would have liked some sort of sauce drizzled over the pork for extra flavour. The chicken wings were nicely cooked, but again, probably expected a sauce to dip them in. Overall, the starters and entrees, were a great start. <br/><br/>The mains were the braised lamb with confit garlic potatoes and tomato salsa and the corn tamales with a Cuban style pork cutlet. The lamb came out as a large mound of pulled lamb, so not what I was expecting. It was ok, but after a while it tasted rather boring. The potatoes were bland and didn't taste garlicky at all. The Cuban style pork cutlet was well cooked and I started to notice a pattern developing, because it too, needed a sauce to tie everything together. The corn tamale was interesting, but personally not for me. The plantain chips were deliciously addictive. <br/><br/>In general, I felt the food was ok, but not great and this was probably due to my disappointment with the mains. I thought the starter and entree options were much tastier, and sounded more enticing on the menu. Plus, there are plenty to choose from. I would love to come back, but this time, just order a variety of entrees to share, rather than any mains.

Ambience: Dark but not so noisy that you have to shout in order to be heard. Or maybe it was still early in the night.<br/><br/>Food: Hit and miss. Kind of overpriced I may add. Nothing special about the entrees, but drinks (mojitos) were okay.<br/>Service: Attentive<br/>Other: Live band music after 7pm. Which is always nice.

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.

Great Food--Don't Order Extra to Take Home for Later. We walked in without reservations and were able to get a table in the bar which was fine for us as we were there for food and not ambiance. One of the servers kindly helped me with the menu and made a couple of recommendations. We decided to take her advice and try a couple of other things as well. The food was delicious! For years we lived just a few hours away from Cuba (by boat), have Cuban friends and enjoy the cuisine. We really enjoyed the cuban take on lamb and I loved the tamale with the pork chop-cutlet. The fish was also quite nice.<br/><br/>Delicious as the food was we will not be returning. We often order extras since we are in a long-term hotel situation with no full kitchen access. I'm glad that we didn't do this at this restaurant and only had a small amount of food left over since we were informed as we were finishing that they could not provide us with a take away box; they don't have a license for that. It would have been nice to know that beforehand.

Great Food--Don't Order Extra to Take Home for Later. We walked in without reservations and were able to get a table in the bar which was fine for us as we were there for food and not ambiance. One of the servers kindly helped me with the menu and made a couple of recommendations. We decided to take her advice and try a couple of other things as well. The food was delicious! For years we lived just a few hours away from Cuba (by boat), have Cuban friends and enjoy the cuisine. We really enjoyed the cuban take on lamb and I loved the tamale with the pork chop-cutlet. The fish was also quite nice.<br/><br/>Delicious as the food was we will not be returning. We often order extras since we are in a long-term hotel situation with no full kitchen access. I'm glad that we didn't do this at this restaurant and only had a small amount of food left over since we were informed as we were finishing that they could not provide us with a take away box; they don't have a license for that. It would have been nice to know that beforehand.