Cuba Libre is a really good option at the Tropicana in AC for several reasons given below.
1) Food is really good and if done correctly can be cost effective. I highly recommend splitting the tasters menu (40/order) between two people, you get basically small portions of the whole menu spend 20 dollars per person and are left at the right kind of full, where you can drink all night, gamble all night and won't feel that late night drunken hunger... Ok you might if you stay up past 4-5. OK so if you're like me you'll probably eat before you sleep. but you get the point. Cost effective and really good food.
2) the vibe in Cuba Libre really sets the tone for the evening! it has a really nice ambiance which energizes you for a long night of partying. I strongly believe in atmosphere and this place has  really it; good music that keeps you jiving in your seat while you chew on that crab or shrimp ceviche, really attractive and attentive wait staff and best of all strong drink.
3) Go early. No point coming here to eat at 11 pm. Start off the night at 730-8 with Cuba libre and I gaurantee you your trop experience will be that much better unless you get killed at the casino.
Overall, average to meh quality food and slow service.
Our server was well meaning, but young and most likely new, and the timing of our service was off, with our drinks not on the table until we'd been there half an hour.
The food was decent, but had obviously been prepared earlier by the time we got it.
The Mojitos are tasty, but could be in slightly bigger glasses.
This place was awesome! We were immediately seated and it was a Friday night on Memorial Day Weekend. We decided to get dinner here before a show at the Casino a friend that I was with recommended it so we tried it and we were all very pleased! the employees were all very friendly and smiling. I was with 3 other people so we all tried to order something different and taste each others meals. Bread with mango cinnamon butter is brought to the table and I have to say our table ate about 3 baskets of the bread with the butter because it was just so good. I ordered the Shrimp ceviche which I thought was very fresh and a large amount for just myself so I ended up splitting it. I had a coconut mojito which was delicious I ended up ordering a second one and a third one because it tasted so good. I ordered the Pompano a la Plancha (Citrus marinated Florida Pompano fillet, fried rice and baby sprouts salad. Sweet chile-citrus and sesame sauce)  which was very good and the fish was cooked perfectly. I also tried the Seafood Paella (Jumbo shrimp, little neck clams, mussels, Mahi-Mahi fillet, squid and baby octopus. Saffron short grain rice.) which was excellent as well and the serving was very big.  Both meals were delicious However, next time i go I will order the Pompano a la Plancha again because to me it was an excellent dish. For dessert I tried the Dulce De Leche Ice Cream, Tres Leches, Cuban Flan, and Banana Bread Pudding! All 4 were amazing! I really can't choose one over the other because they were all so good!  The Dulce De Leche Ice Cream had a great richness and flavor. The Tres Leches cake was moist and flavorful as well. The banana bread pudding was very good and people at my table put the dulce de leche ice cream with the bread pudding which also went well together(how could they not?). The Flan was delicious as well.  I also had the Café Cuba Libre which is cuban coffee with steamed coconut milk which was heavenly! I am not usually a coffee person and I was hesitant to try it but oh my goodness it was yummy! You can add a shot of spiced rum to the coffee if you would like but I didn't do that so maybe next time I will try it and see how I prefer the coffee. Wow, what an amazing meal we had! The restaurant itself made you feel as though you were in Cuba. One of the persons at the table was a picky eater and does not eat any seafood and this person still had an amazing meal (in fact this is the person who recommended it). I would definitely recommend this place to anyone!
Review Source:Ate dinner at this location last night and the overall experience was not worth the expense.  Ordered drinks, tapas and dinner.  The mojito was okay, not particularly flavorful despite the description of fresh fruit flavors and pressed sugar cane and mint.  The tapas were bland (yuca fries and mussels) however the portions for the tapas prices were fair.  The gaucho dinner for two was overly salty and the meat overall was overcooked and dry, especially the steak that was requested to be medium and it was clearly well done.  The chicken was the exception, it was flavorful and tender. The onion rings were a huge disappointment considering it is the only item accompanying a huge portion of meat.  The breading was soggy and not at all crisp.  The three  sauces provided with the gaucho special were a nice variety. The restaurant service was okay, the waiter was attentive initially, however we had arrived early and as the restaurant became busy he was distracted with other tables that didn't seem to be near our area. Overall, most likely would not return.
Review Source:The overall environment here doesn't pale in comparison to the location in Washington, D.C. The D.C. spot makes you feel like you're in Havana. This location is in the mall and it just doesn't have that Cuban vibe. I guess you have to go and see for yourself.
But, the quality of the food and drinks seems to match (or at least come close) to the D.C. location. I highly recommend the mango mojito. Delicious.
Not a bad place to stop en route to or from the casinos. Just don't expect the same kind of atmosphere at this location if you've been to others.
My boyfriend and I decided to try this place out for brunch because it received decent reviews.. It's a decision we both ended up regretting.,
Our dining experience started
Off pretty bad., it took our waiter a while before he actually took our order.. Then it takes even longer for them to bring out the food.. The restaurant wasn't even packed..
We ordered 2 mojitos, tapas, and the meat/seafood platter..
First came the mojitos which were served in a small narrow glass which costed about 11 each.. Pretty pitiful.. We had to send the mojitos back cause the basil leaves were brown n rotted.. We asked for a replacement and we got another mojito with rotted leaves in it again... They obviously don't care what the hell they are serving the customers.. Oh and by the way please double check the receipts for errors cause our waiter didnt remove the mojito charge on our bill...
The tapas was okay....
The portion size of the main meat/seafood dish was a disappointment.. It consisted of one piece of shrimp, small piece of chicken, skirt steak the size of my palm.. The only large portion of the dish was the watercress salad which filled the plate.. And the dish costed $17..
Overall we spent $60 on a meal that barely left us full.. And now we are deciding where to eat next since we are still hungry!
People.. Save your money and time.. This place is definitely not worth it!!
Three stars for the food and one star for the mango cinnamon butter alone.
While at the Tropicana, I decided to break away from my usual lunch spots and try Cuba Libre. There was no one at the bar, so I figured I should give the bartender something to do. The first thing he did was make me a delicious Margarijito. Not sure if it was 8 oz. for $12.00 kinda delicious, but very good. He then went over some of the highlights on their weekend Brunch menu with me and I decided on the Cuba Libre Chicharrones, a unique meat dish blend of pork, chicken and beef.
As I waited for the meal, I fell in love with the butter served with a small basket of toasted bread. I probably would have been content just sitting there and spreading and eating that the rest of the time there. The bartender said some people return just to eat that sometimes. I have no doubt; so sweet and so tasty!
Although the food and service were very good, I think their prices are a little inflated, even despite being located in the casino resort. But it is something different from the norm and worth a visit.
After our great experience of this chain in Washington DC last year we were eager to try the one in AC at the Tropicana.
First of all it feels a lot more down market and smaller than the one in DC, it had a much more "sketch" feel to it party because it's at the Tropicana. (Which is just as bad as the one in Vegas)
We opted for the Empanadas which come with a delicious sauce, I can't remember what it was. They were tasty but not hot enough, they were lukewarm when they turned up at the table. We also ordered the Gaucho platter again and we were reminded by the waiter that it's $33 a head rather than $33 for two. Thanks but we can read. It arrived and again was very good but again despite arriving on a sizzling plate I felt the meat wasn't hot enough - we enjoyed it regardless.
The service was so so and our waiter took around 20 minutes to get a drink refill.
I wouldn't return to this location but I'd like to try the location in Philly at some point.
Decor was really nice and fun. The food was decent and well priced. Iv personally had amazing Cuban before and it didn't compare. Â I ordered a Cuban sandwich and it was not pressed so that's a big no no for me. Â It came with plantains that were like potato chips very bland. Â Boyfriend had skirt steak. Good flavor but very very chewy. Mojito were excellent but small as can be.
Review Source:Love this restaurant! Decor/theme is great, nice vibe & the food is amazing!! We went for dinner with a bachelorette party of 9 girls (def a good spot for a larger group). My favorites: Ropa Vieja, Arroz con pollo (although no one cared for the hard boiled egg), and the mojitos were amazing in taste, but not too strong in alcohol. Either way, it was all delicious!
Review Source:We went here for drinks and snacks and it was so delicious that we came back a few hours later for dinner! The drinks are high quality- I recommend the grilled pineapple mojito (uniquely flavorful), the food is a on point modern interpretation of traditional Cuban cuisine, and the service is attentive and friendly. We look forward to going back next time we are in AC!
Review Source:Beautiful restaurant. I've never been to Havana but I can imagine it being just like the restaurant's design. The bread was toasted and buttery and instead of butter or olive oil they served a scoop of a sweet, coconut, dulce de leche type of spread. I was very surprised by it. It was delicious and went very well with the bread. The rose moscato was indeed fruity and floral. The vegetarian ravioli left much to be desired. I don't know why but I just didn't feel satisfied.
I'd come back on the weekend when they turn this restaurant into a dance club but I wouldn't count too much on the food.
I can't believe I didn't want to go here prior - I loooved my dish - forget the name but it was one of their signature dishes - a bowl of spicy thick rice w/ chicken thighs, asparagus, peas, mushrooms and hard boiled eggs (sounds strange but soooo delish!). Â THe atmosphere was very loud and I was a bit bugged b/c I was so tired and just wanted to relax and talk w/ my man but that's the only negative. Â I LOVE this place :) Â Will DEFINITELY go back!!!!!!
Review Source:Great food for reasonable price! Â Had the ropa vijea, empanadas and flan off the prix fixe menu. Portions were generous and flavor was well developed and authentic throughout. Food was cooked to perfection! Â Also had the grilled pineapple mojitos which can prove dangerous since they're so good! Â Def a must see if you're at The Tropicana, from two picky New York palettes!
Review Source:This literally is the only reason why I go to Atlantic City. I am not a gambler- in fact I would rather just toss my money at the waitress while she brings me delicious food.
This place is a GEM- and that is an under statement. My boyfriend introduced this restaurant to me, and I make sure we go everytime we are in town.
I do recommend making reservations every time you go- even if you think it's off season or if you think the casino is looking a little slow- dont assume there will be a table there. Because if you miss out all over a reservation you will hate yourself for the rest of your life.
First and foremost- PRESSED CUBAN BREAD AND MANGO BUTTER. I am not yelling at you I am just trying to get my point across. Dont turn this down- dont be that person that says "Oh Im trying to cut down on my carbs". Shut up, take the bread, load it with butter (ask for extra because you will want it) and shove it in your mouth. Im serious about this bread and butter and you should be too.
The only change Ive noticed on the menu between our two recent trips- were the dipping dishes for the plantain and malanga chips. The recent dishes are black bean hummus, the rum-cured smoked marlin salad and their own salsa. I have never in my life had the black bean hummmus. In fact I have never liked any hummus that Ive tried and for that matter I dont eat chickpeas. this time I made sure to take some extra black bean hummus home back to our hotel room-its delicious. Ive googled recipes since then and some show using the black beans in addition to the chickpeas (yuck) or substituting the chickpeas with the beans- not sure what CL does but its amazing. I will actually try both recipes at home to replicate the dish. Im not a seafood eater but my boyfriend said the rum-cured marlin salad was delicious- there was none left on the plate. I do like their salsa- its not chunky and seemed to have been pureed- but there is just enough heat to it to not burn your mouth but still have delicious flavors. HIGHLY recommend this appetizer. Feel free to ask for more chips if you have some dip left over- dont be shy. You may get charged for it but you can ask for some of the left over chips and extra sauces to go home. Its even better later on.
We've also had their empanadas- they are very tasty and the presentation is absolutely adorable. They are average size but great for sharing- the chicken is really good- the corn and cheese sauce inside totally makes it and is probably my favorite. My second favorite is the pulled pork.
The last time we went Chris went with the 15 tastes of cuba. It sounds like alot of food and it actually is but the portions are so small (and really just for tasting) that you dont feel like a fat @ss after (LOL). If you are really torn with what to eat and youre not a picky eater like me this may be good introduction to half of their menu. This last trip he had the Vaca Frita- and this has become his go to meal. The steak was perfectly braised and even though he didnt even need a knife he got one anyway. He loves onions and they were carmelized to perfection. Their black beans are to do for as well.
For the entrees my go to is the Vieja Ropa- this is the only entree I will eat there only because its so good and if it aint broke why fix it? White rice comes on the side. The sauce in the meat is perfect- just enough acidity and not watery/runny. It comes with maduros (sweet plantains) on top (2) but theres also some cut up and blended into the meat.
Between the plantain chips, the bread and mango butter and our entrees we dont have room for dessert so I cant comment on that part of the menu. I think that should be a good thing that the food is that good that the dessert part just doesnt exist for me.
P.S. Mango Mojito- do it.
We found this sexy little gem last night while walking around the "quarter" at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. It was, by far, the best overall experience we had in AC.
We came for the Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials and stayed all night. Service was phenomenal across the board. We ordered the mixed grill for two which featured breast of chicken, skirt steak ,shrimp, sausage and sirloin. Everything was excellent. Don't skip the sangria or the mango butter-great stuff!
Definitely a restaurant I'll go back to when I return!
This is the most affordable restaurant in all of Tropicana. It has a very dimly-lit setting (which I like...a lot) and the food was great - I had the Ropa Vieja and I would have licked the plate afterward if it weren't considered bad manners. Will come here again for sure. Maybe if I didn't lose all of my money at Roulette, I would have tried a mojito.
Review Source:This place is everything you would expect from a higher class restaurant in Atlantic City.
I came here included in a group of 15 for my girlfriends birthday and it was really a great time. Trying to get 15 people to be happy about going to a Cuban cantina is not the easiest thing to do. We had mojitos and sangria which were very tasty but lacked alcohol. The place was surprisingly clean and very well decorated. I agree with someone else's review that it was a little dark but that is fine by me. I am a creature of the night!
My one friend got the flank steak and let me try it. Amazing. Simply put. And I am a steak monger! Secondly. I had a pulled steak dish with rice and beans that I was very skeptical on at first when it was put down in front of me but that turned out to be freakishly good too.
Our waiters name was Eddie. I give this guy good credit. He was very attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant with our big group of crazy hooligans.
However, my brother did find a couple pieces of shredded plastic in his food. But, the manager came over and apologized and did the right thing by getting him a free app and taking his meal off the bill. (Bravo sir)
Seeing as that being the only thing I can complain about... Go try this place for yourself!
I've been to this place twice; once i drove to AC just to eat dinner here! The restaurant is pleasant, but dark; I feel that's more to create a sense of intimacy in a room with 40-foot ceilings though. The Service is a little sparse, but the food... oh man.
   My girlfriend has had the Lechon Asado twice, because she says nothing else will be as good as that. Its a great blend of sweet, spicy and savory all in each bite the way they layer the ingredients. I've had the Visit to Havana ( excellent ) and the Churrasco a la Cubana ( very good), both winners in my book.
   One last note: the bread they give you, toast with cinnamon butter, is probably the best bread I've ever had at a restaurant!
I recenly came to Atlantic City with my family and on our last night we tried out Cuba Libre. Â My recommendation is, if you're in the area of the Tropicana, go here.
Their appitizers and specials were well above what we expected and there overal service as a waitstaff was phenomenal. Â We started with the main appitizer that included blackbean hummus which I thought was quite fitting for a peak into the main dishes. Â Everything that we ordered had a ethnic taste and had a hint of lime to it. Â Definitely different from any other place we went in AC.
Like I previously said, I would make it a point to try out Cuba Libre as their atmosphere was relaxed and just the overal tone of the evening was fun and exotic.
I have been to both the Philly location and AC, and I don't know why I like this place so much but I do. Â Correction. Â I do know why I like this place. Â Freaking MANGO BUTTER. Â I could eat that stuff all day, I swear there must be some kind of addictive fairy dust in there that makes me wish I could eat a stick of it.
Tres leches cake for dessert is pretty darn yummy.
The ambiance is great for dates or a night out with friends. Â Wouldn't really recommend it for a family outing. It's too dark and too loud to really have any sort of real conversation. Â Their food is pricey, but I always leave their full and satisfied. Â I happen to love Latin music, so it always puts me in a good mood to shimmy a little in my seat while I eat.
I was a little nervous as a vegetarian to come to this place but it really isn't that bad. I didn't think it was spectacular but it wasn't terrible too. I wouldn't mind coming here again but I wouldn't make it the first place I chose.
I ordered the vegetarian empanadas and was pleasantly surprised that it had vegetarian chorizo (which I love), I could only eat 2 of the 3 I ordered but I like that you can order 2,3, or 4 - meal or appetizer! Everyone else ordered different dishes: steak, fish, chicken and rice - they all liked their meals as well. The dishes are a decent size and they have tons of drinks to choose from. The waitress was very helpful and very attentive.
Afterwards, we stayed there to dance and have drinks. Downstairs plays music for more salsa/Latin dancing, whereas the top floor plays more club/hip-hop music. Bar on both floors and you can go outside and drink on the little balcony outside. Upstairs is much smaller than downstairs but it doesn't get as crowded. They gave out glow necklaces, which was a fun plus for us! I think if you want to go dancing that isn't going to be obnoxiously crowded like Providence than this place is a good go to.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I died and went to Cuban Sandwich heaven.
Now I grew up in an area that there were ZERO Cuban restaurants, so I can't say I am a Cuban Sandwich-guru, but this one was the best I ever had!! I am usually a fast eater throwing all the food into my mouth, but this sandwich, oooh did I savor every bite...Mmmmmm, wish I got two.
I also had a  blueberry mojito -- very good!
My boyfriend also enjoyed his food, especially a soup with a ton of seafood in it.
OMG! 3 words: PASSION. FRUIT. MOJITO ....(drool)...just give me a bucket of that stuff and a straw. The absolutely, most delicious drink I've ever had! I'm kinda sad I'm not drinking any as I write this....*sigh*
Anyway, moving on...service and food was great! Our meal started with a basket of delicious buttered toast, served with a mango butter (be careful not to fill up on the bread because it's totally tempting to do so). The food was good, albeit it slightly salty. The side dishes were the best; we ordered the tostones, sweet plantains and yucca fries as side plates and they were all fantastic.
The ambiance was great except that it was almost too dim to even read the menus. Overall, my friends and I had a great time here and would definitely go back!
Came here for a late lunch on Saturday afternoon. They started us off with Toast and Mango Butter..delish!!
The waiter was very patient and friendly..we were undecided as to what to order, but eventually figured it out..
Had the Vaca Frita for my entree which was really good.
It's shredded Flank Steak with Onions. The steak had a bit of sweet/tangy flavor to it which was orally pleasing..it came with white rice and Cuban Black Beans..yumm! Perfect combination.
I like the ambiance as well..it's dimly lit and extremely spacious.
I'll definitely be back.
To start off - food is a 5. Waitstaff is a 5. The "door greeters" that think they are bouncers ruined the experience for me. The management while initially trying to side with the awful employee, quickly joined my side, but not before trying to tell me I was wrong. Here is the story:
I've been many times, and always had an excellent experience. While a bit pricey (and $11 well drinks really aren't worth it) the food menu is quite good. And the waitstaff phenomenal. This year for my birthday my family came from New England, and we went here on my recommendation. Once again, an excellent meal.
After the meal, some friends joined us in the bar. Between 10 people and the dinner, easily over $500 spent. After receiving a call from our babysitter, we decided we had to head home at about 10 pm. I needed to cash out a casino voucher (how convenient there is a machine right next to the restaurant) so I went to do that quick. The bouncer said have a good night and I told him I'd be right back. He said ok. I walked no more than 10 yards. One minute later, I returned and he wouldn't let me in, saying I didn't meet dress code. Baffled, he told me my collared shirt, nice jeans and clean sneakers were inadequate for the empty restaurant and overpriced bar.
I eventually was let in for "5 minutes" to take are of my business, then "get out." I was appalled. I informed my party and we started to cash out. Keep in mind I've had 3 drinks in 5 hours. I don't party hard. This individual (clearly a victim of harassment in high school...really tall and scrawny) takes it upon himself to get in my personal space, trying to tower over me and "kick me out."
After this treatment I requested to see a manager, and he would not allow it. Ridiculous! Power trip!
What bothers me more is that their dress code (which apparently starts at 9pm) was loosely enforced. I had friends show up in flip flops and t-shirts at 9:30 and they weren't harassed. Furthermore 99% of the bar was dressed down in comparison. Why I was singled out I cannot tell you.
I was so frazzled by the incident I wrote their corporate office. Nowhere do they post their definition of dress code, just simply "applies at 9pm." I explained that I respect rules, but random enforcement and the way this individual treated a paying customer was uncalled for. They minimally stuck up for him, but I don't think they realized his threatening behavior and the fact I was denied a manager. They assured me he would be disciplined, and next time I want to go there let them know and I'd get VIP treatment.
Since having kids I don't get out as much as I used to, and what should have been a great night was spoiled by a power tripping fool.
I don't know if I will EVER go back. There is plenty of great food elsewhere.
I only came here after they stopped serving food for the nightclub.
Warning: the line gets long if you're not there by 10:30 pm or probably even earlier
Positive: no credit card minimum on drinks at the bar (DC does that EVERYWHERE and it's freakin ILLEGAL).
They have 2 floors here and the music is really good, i've heard better but it's really good, probably top 10 in terms of latin music.
They have a lot of security which is always a good thing, didn't see a single fight here. It was a very fun and chill evening. I'd def go back if I was in AC again.
Don't forget this place is in the Tropicana Hotel & Casino.
Cuba Libre tries hard to create a no surprise experience and it succeeds.
We came here for our first meal on our first night in AC. After meandering through the Tropicana, we arrived and were seated quickly. The decor is meant to suggest an outdoor square in Havana, but somehow it reminded me more of Disney World or Vegas than Cuba. The waitress went through the usual dining ritual of explaining the menu, but she too great pains to explain what everything would cost, what everything would include and every option we had in terms of pricing. At first I thought she was implying that she didn't think we could afford a $10 drink, but then I saw other waiters doing the same to other tables. We came to the conlcusion that because the primary patrons are gamblers, seniors and similar folk, their policy of explaination must be in response to troubles they've had in the past.
The drinks, especially the rum based ones are strong enough to do their job but not over the top. The food is forgettable, except for the table bread which was amazing. We left before the restaurant turned into the predictable salsa inspired rum bottle service nightclub so maybe the whole place got wild and crazy after we left.
I doubt it.
Have fun.
G
This place should be 3.5 stars because it was a little better than just average but I was not blow away.
The empinadas were good, the fried meet and potato balls were excellent and the 2 other small plates were decent. The drinks were good but I was expecting a much better Mojito from a cubana place. I thought it would be amazing.
I've been to their Philly location for brunch and it was great, so I was pleased to find that there was a Cuba Libre in our hotel while staying in Atlantic City.
We did a menu sampler where we had a taste of a handful of entrees as well as appetizers and desserts. Â EVERYTHING we tried was finger licking good, seriously, I wanted to lick my plate. Â The bread wiht the butter was a great starter, I could eat a basket of that alone and be happy. Â The potently delightful sangria paired with the dim lighting definitely set the mood for a romantic delicious dinner.
I feel the need to review the AC one since I had such negative things to say about the Philly one.
Came here Sat nite of my bf's bday and we had a blast! My big beef with Philly was the lame bartender and weak ass drinks. Â Not a problem here! The dj was good, great music selection, although maybe a little heavy on the merengue? We danced for hours, and had a great time. It was crowded but we found room to move without too much trouble. Â It's also off-season so I'm not sure how it would be totally packed.
And super pretty in the atrium, the ceiling is painted to look like daytime which is confusing when you are drunk and it is 3 AM lol.
A Priest, a Rabbi, an Indian Tribal Princess, a Gypsy, a Flapper and two Angry Birds walk into Cuba Libre and...
That was our party of seven the Saturday before Halloween 2011.
We decided to stop at Cuba Libre for dinner, then settle at one of the Halloween parties taking place that night. I ordered the Churrasco a la Cubana and decided to walk on the wild side and order a Passion Fruit Mojito. While I was not impressed with my meal, the Mojitos were very good, so good in fact, the rest of the evening I remember in flashes as if a permanent strobe light was following me around... So good in fact that we ended up staying for the Halloween party at Cuba Libre and that was a blast.
We stayed at the bar on the second floor, it was packed with angels, demons and teletubbies all eventually making their way to confession to the one priest in residence. The bartenders whipped up the perfect concoctions and were fast and attentive, and the DJ spinning excellent mixes. It was on our way out towards the end of the night that we noticed that there was a much larger and livelier party taking place on the first floor with Salsa, Merengue, Bachata playing... Everyone up and dancing. We had no choice but stay and joined this other party as well!
If Halloween 2012 is a repeat crowd and ambiance at Cuba Libre, if it is, I am there!!!
============================================
This review is for a visit on Saturday, October 29, 2011
This is how I would break down the rating if I could:
Mojitos 4 stars
Dinner 2 Stars
Ambiance (Music and Crowd) 4 Stars
Of all the restaurants in Trop this is the one to stay away from . My wife is Cuban so we always try to eat either food from her heritage or mine.
food poor , service poor , price high. The next night we went to Carmines ,cheaper ,better, and faster. Too bad I can't give negative 3 stars!
MY wife and I were in the Tropicana yesterday and I noticed that they have a $30 three course prix fix Sunday through Friday's. Decision made we enter without a reservation and were seated immediately. I must mention that the restaurant is very dark, so dark we couldn't read the menus. The servers actually have small flashlights on their person and will provide upon request. Then we are handed a menu featuring a 15 course chef's tasting menu for $39.95 per person and we knew where this was going. Here is a link to this menu:
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcubalibrerestaurant.com%2Fi%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F02%2FCuba_15tastes_menu_1111.pdf&s=f8fcc90409818a5ae3ba54665c8193104a3be8ed289761ed5ebe914aedbbc6bc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://cubalibrerestaura…</a>
MY wife ordered a Pomegranate Mojito and I a Negro Modello. Before we knew it the first course arrived. A trio of dips (the smoked marlin salad was a highlight) with plantain and malanga chips. See the menu for the rest of the meal but our highlights were the skirt steak, the shrimp cocktail. Two small desserts and a cuban coffee (think a sweetened espresso) and we were happily sated. Go and check the tasting menu for yourself.
Since a few friends of mine traveled to Cuba a few months back and I couldn't go, this place served as the closest I could get to an authentic Cuban dining experience. Myself and a few big eaters were immediately settled upon arrival and were given some time to peruse the menu. My buddy and I opted to share the Plato Gaucho for Two, which consisted of NY strip, skirt steak, jumbo shrimp, chicken breasts, and sausage accompanied with spicy onion rings and a variety of dipping sauces.
Needless to say, us big boys practically licked the plate clean aside from the small amount of gristle and fat leftover. Steaks were cooked to our liking (medium rare) and were very flavorful. Shrimp and sausage was tasty as well. The chicken was not dried out and was also good. However, the onions rings were excellent! They were thick cut, big, and had a nice kick. I tried some of the sopa de frijoles, black bean soup, corn, and jack cheese. Also full of flavor. As far as food, ambiance, and service go, this was a five star experience.
Now, I did not pay for this meal but noticed that the plato was $33 per person! Whoa! Also, I noticed other yelpers complaining of weak drinks. We did not order drinks, so I can not speak for drink quality. However, I would recommend Cuba Libre as a special occasion dinner, but do not come here expecting a cheap meal.
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