While I can't comment on the immediate area I can definitely say there is better Cuban not too far away. The soup was too salty, beans under salted. The lechon asado was boring and the churasco was greasier than a well cooked skirt steak should be. Service was very good though.
(3)
Kevin W.
Great Cuban food for a nice price! Every time we go to Florida we make sure to go here for either lunch or dinner.
(4)
Gary L.
Tasty, home style food. The interior was surprisingly more upscale than you would expect from it's location in a strip mall. Very attentive service with a large selection of items to select from. I started with the Sopa de Pollo, a cup of home made chicken broth that paired nicely with the toasted bread and butter brought by the server. I was hungry and ordered the Chilindron de Carnero, two huge whole lamb shanks that were fall-off-the-bone tender served with three sides. The waiter recommended the white rice, beans, and plantains and these were perfect with the creole sauce that braised the lamb shanks ("tasty but not spicy hot".) Other sides you could order with the dinner include: Yucca, French Fries or Steamed Vegetables. Plenty of food for $14.99, but I had over-ordered and would have been sated with just one piece of the lamb for $11.99. Topped off the tank with the rich, sweet flan. Yowsa! Thick with cream, eggs and caramel topped with a cherry. Nice finish to a great meal. Not exactly cheap eats, but great quality and care put into the food and a nice treat for date night or family night out.
(4)
Jane P.
Padrino's was great - was in Boca visiting family for a few days and was looking for a good, reasonably priced lunch spot... and of course, found it on Yelp! The plaintains were done perfectly, the black beans were more flavorful than they had to be, the tilapia was fresh and clean, and the pork was awesome. Cafe con leche was sweet and a good end to the meal. In the strip mall hell that is Boca Raton, it was a pleasant surprise and service was prompt and friendly. Good deal too, around $10 for a lunch entree with coffee.
(4)
Bryan B.
The food was pretty good. Everyone at my table had the Paella and enjoyed it. I had the Vaca Frita which was surprisingly not dripping with grease. The service was a bit poor but then again there were only two people serving one side of the restaurant during a heavy time. With that said I did enjoy my experience and if you are looking for a bit of Cuba in the Palm Beaches then this is a good place to eat. Enjoy!
(3)
Maria C.
Great place for a quick lunch. Delicious Cuban food that feels like it's being prepared in a little kitchen, with a lot of dedication. My husband had the ropa vieja and I had a steak with rice, beans and fries. It was great and we were in and out in less than 1 hours, so it's convenient if you don't have a whole lot of time. But it is a nice experience and the service is great.
(4)
David D.
My girlfriend and I go here pretty often. Other than 1 or 2 dishes that we have ordered, the food here has been excellent. Our favorite dish is the churrasco skirt steak. However, I do not like their other steaks like the fried beef steak. Their bistec de pollo (chicken steak) is good if you like onions, which I do. The chilindron de carnero (lamb in a red/brown) sauce is awesome. Sometimes I get their arroz relleno which is like chicken with yellow rice and mozerella baked on top. As far as sides go, their beans and rice is good. Their black bean soup is the same as a portion of beans--as far as I can tell. I really recommend their plantains, both the fried plantains and the tostones. My tip if you go here is not to fill up on the bread. It's very tempting.
(4)
K S.
Both my husband and I were once married to Cubans, so we both had lots of chances to enjoy homemade Cuban food prepared by a woman right from Cuba. :-) We LOVE Padrinos. All the food we've tried is absolutely authentic. congri was not on the menu the first time we went, so I asked if they had that available, and they do! I've found no other Cuban place that has congri available. That said, the service isn't wonderful here. It's okay. Some times it's better and some times it's worse. To us, to be able to give our mouths that experience we love, makes it worth it. We don't tip well, there, usually, and we're 20%-25% types for great service.
(4)
Steve S.
this is my choice for best cuban food outside of miami. i have been coming here for years, and everything is always excellent. the palomilla steak and lechon asado are my favorite. if you have a craving for good cuban and can't make it all the way down to miami, do yourself a favor and stop in here. you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Ann D.
This is one of our favorite Cuban restaurants. We try and go there about every 10 days for the lunch buffet. Wide variety of meat dishes and a lettuce salad for $8.99. No vaca frita on the buffet, but good nonetheless. Mojitos are good too.
(4)
Lele W.
My husband and I stop at the Padrino's on Hallandale Blvd. every time we're in FL. I almost always get the chilindron de carnero because it's *so* good - & as noted below, the one-shank portion is more than enough when you take the three fantastic side dishes into account. They often have a fish or shrimp special of some type and those have never disappointed. Even with a bottle of wine (slim pickings, but a perfectly serviceable Santa Ema merlot), it's a struggle to spend $50. I only wish they would open a branch in Chicago.
(5)
Kevin N.
Pretty decent place to get medium-priced Cuban food in the Mission Bay Plaza. Parts of the food were really good, and other items were just so-so. Had an appetizer which was amazing, but I cannot remember what it was. The problem with Padrino's, really, is its price-point. There are so many places to get good Cuban food around here, that when I want to spend $10-$14 on an entree, I'll go somewhere that is really good. What I really want in a place this close to home is somewhere I can just head to and get a good sandwich or grilled meat w/ beans and rice. They may have this, and I am definitely going back to check on it.
(3)
Daniel S.
This is excellent Cuban food and everything we had was delicious. We had avocado salad, grilled steak salad, lechon asado, vaca frita, sangria and a few other items. Everything was well executed and delicious. The service was very good and the prices were very much in line with expectations, averaging $5-$15.
(5)
Angie B.
This was my first time eating Cuban food, so I have no other places to compare Padrino's to, but I would say that it was pretty tasty overall. Vegetarians, stay away... there was a sad looking salad and steamed vegetable option that I saw but did not eat... this place is carnivore city. The menu seemed pretty expansive; my husband and I decided to share a $15 plate of baby back ribs with guava bbq sauce, and there was plenty of food. We had the beans (which were EXCELLENT), rice (I thought yellow rice would be standard but no, it is white rice so if you want the yellow ask for it), plantains (decent but nothing to write home about), and yucca (kind of strange texture, interesting onion/oil dipping sauce, sort of tasty but definitely different). We also split a dessert, the tres leches cake. I thought it was too sweet but my husband loved it. We are just visiting so I doubt we'll come back to Padrino's, but if we lived here I would definitely come back for the beans. Delish.
(3)
Elizabeth H.
We found this place online while in town on a business trip, trying to find good Cuban food. We were disappointed. Maybe we just don't like Cuban food... we'd never had it before. Lets say this: if you like food that is fried fried fried you will love it. Maybe it is what we ordered. Maybe it was the waiter. I told the waiter I didn't eat much meat - what did he recommend? ...and he recommended the steak. My husband asked him what is popular and he got a dish that was basically deep fried chicken cordon bleu - chicken breast stuffed with overly salty ham and cheap mozerella. After a few bites, his comment was "fresh from the freezer into the fryer." His sides were rice, beans and plantains. Plantains were definitely the highlight of the meal. My bowl of "Bean Soup" was the same as his beans. Just a BIG bowl of beans. Just beans. Yep. Not sure if this is traditional or what, but it was boring boring after 3 bites. I squeezed in lime from my water and threw in a ball of mozerella from Hubby's chicken into it to make it more interesting. We tried the sangria, which was good/standard. We tried the Cuban appetizer assortment which we soon realized was all deep fried. Had a salad, which was almost exactly was what it said on the menu, iceburg lettuce, tomato slices (w/ a side of vinegrette), but was missing the onions. Everything was ok, nothing really jumped out. Lots of kids there - probably like the fried stuff. Service alright, checked in regularly but as noted above, gave beyond lousy recommendations. Not a good intro to Cuban food. Will try again somewhere else.
(2)
Jen G.
This is one of my favorite go to spots. The staff is so incredibly nice and attentive every time. My husband and I are here pretty often either for lunch or dinner. The food is always good. If you want a great Cuban restaurant look no further. I usually get the Bistec Palomilla which is always perfectly cooked and I ask them for 1/2 the onions and they happily oblige. I also have had the Arroz Relleno which is an amazing chicken dish I call it my Cuban Lasagna, the chicken is layered with mozzarella and yellow rice ... Delish!!! My hubby had the Bistec de Pollo Relleno it was moist and very tasty. I'm so happy I live so close to Padrinos I always leave happy and very satisfied! Dependable, very reasonable and generous portions can't go wrong here :) oh and don't forget to have a Mojito the Mango Mojito is so good.
(4)
Rosalind R.
The food is excellent. Great flavored and nice generous portions. Very nice presentation. I highly recommend this restaurant. It has remained,in the same family for decades. The service is,very genuine and warm. Simply Excellent!
(5)
Mary C.
Last Thursday I was treated to dinner and the food was excellent ! I had picadillo, lechon asado, arroz blanco & frijoles negros, maduros and salad OMG! DELICIOUS!
(5)
Derek K.
Being one of the most authentic and friendliest incarnations of classic home-cooked Cuban food, my family, ever since leaving the communist-conquered country in 1960, has been eating at Padrino's for decades. For the majority of that time, we have been making the trek to Hallandale or Plantation for one of their other two locations. Finally, in 1996, this Boca Raton location opened up. For more of my thoughts on the food itself, check out my review of the original (Hallandale) Padrino's. As for this location, I've eaten here enough times to be able to say that both food quality and service completely live up to the high standards set by the other locations, to the point where I have not a single complaint. It so happens that I usually come to this location for lunch, and while the dinner great, the lunch buffet is also an incredible deal that is not to be missed. Served on weekdays from 11:30am - 2:30pm, you get an all you can eat buffet for $9.99, which features virtually every crucial item from the dinner menu. In spite of it being buffet style--which I tend to avoid--amazingly, the food manages to stay fresh. While good Cuban food may be a given in the Miami area, it should not be taken for granted here in Boca. I guarantee you will not find any other Cuban restaurants that come close to the quality and value you get here. Order some Tostones, Iron Beer, and Vaca Frita, and finish with a Flan and a cortado, all the while imagining yourself 60 years back in time in a small restaurant in Havana. After all, it's cheaper than the current price of going to Cuba, and the food here is probably better anyway.
(5)
Jessica B.
Probably the best meal I had on my vacation to south Florida. My party went late on a Sunday night but the staff was friendly despite the fact we came in half an hour before close. Juan was our server and was very polite and accomodating the entire visit. I've not tried much Cuban cuisine so I got the Lechon Asado that was recommended to me by my fellow patrons. The food was very good, in my opinion. The pork was perfectly cooked and tender. The plantains were okay, not as sweet as I've had elsewhere. My only complaint that the mojo was a little strong but I was told that is usually how most people prefer it served, I'm just not a fan of pungent garlic taste/smell. I would gladly return next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Andrea V.
Ahhhh!!! This place was terrible! I was pretty bummed about it. I saw all the reviews and wanted to try it. Most reviews I read said that it was a hit or miss and I missed the good stuff. That's for sure. I ordered the Arroz Relleno. It was so bland. It came with mozzarella on top that was flavorless. The chicken was so dry. For the sides I ordered the black beans and the steamed veggies. The vegetables were far from steamed - they were also dried out like the chicken. The only good thing I had was the yucca appetizer with bacon. It says they serve it with a garlic sauce but they served it with ranch dressing instead. The service was bad too. Our waitress never checked up on us and they never brought us silverware (not even when they brought the food out). The food was so bad that I had my bf take me to another restaurant for dessert! So he took me to a Colombian restaurant that his step mom recommended and we had their alfajores which were amazing! I will be reviewing the columbian place as soon as I find the name! :p P.S. Don't go to this restaurant.
(2)
Bill B.
A below average Cuban restaurant. Their paella was nothing more than a bowl of yellow rice, schimp and chicken-hardly a paella. No pan-no crust. Have to admit though, their grilled chicken livers were fabulous and while I would not go back for their Cuban I would take out the livers. You can do much better at other Cubano restaurants.
(2)
Camila O.
My family's go to place for Cuban food in Boca Raton.We have celebrated many family birthday parties here. They are very accommodating for large groups, especially if you call ahead. As for the food, our favorites are ropa veija, chilindron dos piezas, Cuban sandwhich and the Cuban coffee!! Yum and the bread here is toasted and seasoned as an appetizer for the table while the food is coming. I've only gone to dinner here, but I did see that they offer a Buffett style option during lunch in an ad.
(5)
Andres C.
Undoubtedly, the best chicken quesadillas I have ever had! Plus... with a Groupon, dinner for my family was only $3.62
(5)
Ted S.
Padrino's is authentic Cuban! I love coming here! The fried plantain appetizer with the garlic onion topping is sooo good. We also get the calamari app and I don't know what the red sauce is that comes with it (maybe their own style of Cuban marinara), but it's absolutely delicious. Sweet and flavorful. I'm a fan of the Cubano sandwich. the meats, cheese and pickles meld perfectly with the fried bread! Not to mention the friend bread they bring before the meal is some of the best at any restaurant. I'll come back many times.
(4)
Night Ryder I.
Good food, good times. Enjoyed the Pig Roast (2nd Saturday of each month) with the fork tender meat and crispy skin. $15 Buffet includes garden salad, white rice & black beans (my favorite), boiled yuca & plantains and beverage. Tres leche wasn't as sweet as I've tasted at other places but it wasn't bad and a hefty portion, enough for two. Plan to return soon!
(5)
John M.
I love the food here. Service is always 100%. They have the best " tres leches" dessert in town.
(5)
Nan D.
Having lunch with my mom and baby. I have been here before, as they have good food, but I was disappointed with my visit here today. I had to put the baby on the booth, because they didn't accommodate the infant seat. Then I was told that there was 15 minutes left for the buffet. We rushed to eat and then I asked for a box. I had only served myself once but had weight loss surgery so I barely eat. I explained that to the server and then to the manager and finally got a discount for the meal but no box allowed. The server, however, was pleasant and the food is always good.
(3)
Chris P.
My wife and I got take out and we were very pleased. I had the Palomilla and my wife had Pollo. Both entrees met and exceeded our expectations. Rice and plantains were cooked perfectly. Even though we got take out, the place looked very nice for dining in, great ambience. The women at the hostess station were very nice and pleasant. We'd go back again!
(5)
Monica M.
Order the yuca the garlic sauce is fabulous! Also the empanadas were great! I ordered the lechon and it seemed dry and old like it was cooked three days ago and reheated. The rice and beans mixed was very dry and had stale rice.
(3)
Hillary V.
Padrino's is my favorite restaurant to visit when I'm in south Florida. This one is located in a pretty busy strip mall, so there's certainly not a lack of things to do before and after the meal. The staff at this location is nice, and it is exceptionally clean. But aside from all this what makes Padrino's the best is its food. I have never had a dish I hated here. My favorite is the bistec de pollo. I always get these scrumptious chicken steaks with a side of yummy black beans and rice as well as tender sweet plantains. Added to all this is a loaf of tasty and crunchy Cuban bread. This place should be your new favorite visit too!
(5)
Neil Z.
I have been going to this place for years. It never fails me. Food comes out quickly. If you go during the week it usually isnt too busy. Its pretty authentic. None of their seasonings are overpowering. Never had a dry chicken. I mention that because if you think about it, most cuban dishes are pounded thin so it can dry out real fast. Rice is great, not too buttery but still moist. No hard chunks.
(4)
AL P.
This place is definitely the best Cuban food in Boca Raton. Its a good thing they went to buffet lunch cause their service was lacking when it comes to serving. Have been coming here since it opened and it has kept up its quality although its had a few ups and downs since 1996. But then what hasn't in the past 20 years. So if your in the area you can come in for your Cuban food fix its definitely worth it for lunch...
(4)
Steven A.
I've eaten here several times for lunch. Very tasty buffet. Nice selections. Enjoyable and reasonably priced.
(4)
Janine S.
This is one of our local favorite go to places for take out . Best Cuban food in Boca . My only complaint is the restaurant is small so if yr planning on going at the prime times , expect a wait . That's why we usually just order for pick up . Very fresh food quality food . As "Latin " as it gets for Boca . Great margaritas if your dining in !
(4)
Chad H.
My wife and I stopped in for a nice lunch. I was craving a cubano sandwich after watching Chef the movie on our flight to Fort Lauderdale. So - this was my first one. I loved it and want to find a place near me that has just as good a quality sandwich when we get home. Bred was perfectly crispy, meat was tender and succulent, the flavors of the meats, mustard and pickles was outstanding. we each had one of their special cocktails as well - I had the pomegranate mojito and my wife had the coconut mojito. Both were tasty and had muddles fresh limes and mint that floated in the drink. A perfect drink! Loved it. This is probably a one-time visit as we are from California, but we hope to return someday if we come back to this part of Florida.
(5)
Alex F.
Worst Cuban food I have ever eaten. Arroz co pollo with broccoli need I say more. Never again
(1)
Alex W.
Although all the food was seasoned well and delicious, the service was terrible. We sat around for 12 minutes waiting for someone to take our order and then waited 45 min for the food. I left with a bad taste in mouth.
(2)
Scott G.
If you've never had Cuban good before and have no other option, I guess this will give you an idea - but if you've ever lived in Miami and eaten real Cuban food, you're not gonna be happy here. Save the calories and drive down to Calle Ocho once or twice a year to get your fill - it's worth it.
(2)
Margaret K.
I took my advice and avoided this place for about 3 years... However, I'm not one to hold grudges and I also read some favorable reviews so I decided to give it another chance. Wow! I'm glad I did! The staff changed and they have super great service now and the inside was spruced up complete with large pictures of 1950s Cuba- super interesting. The food has always been amazing and that was never a complaint. It is back on my favorites list.
(5)
Karen F.
The last meal we had here (last weeK) was the stuff of legend. Every bite, every sip from the Cafe con leche to the grilled tilapia to the sweet maduros, fluffy white rice and rich savory black beans is what I dream of when visiting my snow bird parents in boca. Sure we have Alma de Cuba and a few other overpriced Nuevo-Cubano joints in Philly - but Padrino's makes me swoon. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Better than Versaille in Miami (calle Ocho)!
(5)
K V.
The food was pretty good...a bit of a strange taste though... I think it's the oil they use or some seasoning...the rice and veggies had a weird after-taste...my bistec de pollo was good though!
(3)
Evan R.
When you think Boca Raton, you don't equate that with Cuban food. However, Padrinos is a good option if you live nearby. Having lived in Miami for a number of years, I know what good Cuban food is. Padrinos is the closest thing to authentic Cuban food you will find in Boca Raton without driving over an hour to Miami. Padrino is is a chain restaurant, however,it still maintains a level of authenticity. I had the Cuban Sandwich the last time I was there. It tasted great! The Cuban bread that they serve before your meal is the same type of bread that they use for the Cuban sandwiches. It is delicious! I compared that with a house lemonade and it was amazing. Their house lemonade is not like any other lemonade. It's almost like limeade . A couple of times a month they will hold a pig roast. I have not had the opportunity to try it however I have heard good things. It's worth a shot. The staff was courteous and friendly. The prices are reasonable.
(4)
Shannon P.
I enjoyed a great meal here and a delicious Guava Mojito. Ate the braised Lamb with yellow rice and yucca croquette. Nice place
(5)
Peter V.
Very authentic tasting Cuban food. Just like my aunt used to make when I was a kid. I had the Paella and tasted the Vaca Frita. Both were superb. The yuka was the best compared to any other Cuban restaurant I have ever been to. Very clean and super friendly wait staff. A++++
(5)
D. L.
Fabulous! I would have posted a picture but I ate everything too fast :) To start, I've never eaten Cuban food before so this was a great introduction for me. I walked in, was greeted eagerly and the place is very clean and up kept. Even the servers looked super sharp. I got a togo order, I couldn't tell you what I ordered, (my spanish sucks) but it had yellow rice, peppers and chicken and it was very flavorful. Came with 2 side choices, I got the steamed veggies (zucchini/squash/broccoli/cauliflower) very simple, could have used some seasoning, and I got the sweet plantains. Those were perfect. Took about 10-15 min for my order - exactly what she quoted me. Portion size was huge, I have enough for 2 people, and the price was spot on. I will be back to try more!
(5)
Jerry S.
This is our current favorite little Cuban restaurant. We get the c Cuban sandwiches and ropa veija. It never let's us down. Plenty of seating inside and out.
(5)
Christian M.
After ordering repulsive takeout from Padrino's about 6 months ago, I finally decided to give them another chance thinking I may have better luck with dine-in. While the food was good (for the area), the service was slow and not friendly. The young host was friendly --though unseasoned. The waitress was anything but friendly. She was not rude but it was painfully obvious that she was not happy to be there. Service was extremely slow for there being so few patrons in the restaurant. For example, our two cups of soup took 20 minutes after ordering. I may try again, but not anytime soon.
(3)
Lourdes A.
I have only been to Padrino's three times for their lunch buffet. I love their food! Everything is so tasty and flavorful! Since this is my food of choice, I could come here everyday if I could! The staff is very friendly and quick on the service. Will be returning.
(5)
Davis N.
So bueno! Few months ago I got sick ( Just cold ) and because I'm latino I was loking for a real spanish restaurant to get a soup. I went to google and I found out about this restaurant, so I went and I gave it a try. I love it. Really really good food, the people are nice and everything was fast. I noticed that they also have a buffer available, I haven't being able to try it, but it should be good! The only reason why I'm giving it 4 starts its because I had to order a lemonade 2 times and I didn't like them. The way they make it its different, my friend said that it was good, but not for my tastes. Other than that, 10/10.
(4)
Stephanie S.
If I could I'd give this place one star. To begin with, I was there with my family of 5 for 30 minutes and no one had even stopped by to offer us beverages! Oh, and then the wrong drinks were brought! It was 45 minutes before we got any bread, and not even with butter! The food naturally took forever, and my ropa vieja was lukewarm. The waitress in the beginning of our meal said "I'm sorry but we got confused and didn't notice your table because we are in the middle of shift change". How do you not notice 5 people?? Talk about not knowing how to multitask! Even for Florida, this is bad service. While I know Cuban restaurants are notorious for being laid-back and slow, this is ridiculous! I hope the owners read this, because a manager with half of a brain would have at least offered complimentary dessert. We will never be back again!
(1)
Sandy M.
This is by FAR the BEST Cuban/Latin food restaurant I have ever been to. Whatever seasoning they use in their food makes this place exceptional. I had the buffet for lunch and OMG, it was to die for. I don't think I will be cooking at home anymore. And that's not all, their passion fruit mojitos was also very good.
(5)
Roberto B.
The $12 buffet lunch was adequate ,with the usual mix of Cuban dishes. Chicken was tasty, but fish was bland and mushy. Surprisingly, the black beans lacked flavor. Fried plantains were the highlight. Maybe we will give this one another shot.
(3)
Rodger L.
The best Cuban food in Boca, which ain't saying much, not many that compete. Would get lost in the shuffle in Miami, but good spot none the less. Come here quite often when looking for a Cuban fix. Try the Palomilla Steak, it is delish. Have that with a side of tostones. Black beans and rice are well above average. The service is very good. Also make a solid Cuban Sandwich, but avoid the Ropa Vieja. No me gusta
(3)
Peter C.
We had dinner at pardon's yesterday. As usual, it was very full and we had about a ten minute wait. The dinner was a mixed bag. One of us had roast chicken, which was excellent, but my wife and I had lechon asado (roast pork), which was not very good; in fact, it was dried up and even hard to swallow. There really don't seem to be any good cuban restaurants around any more. Where, oh where, has las Palmas of Margate gone (closed many years ago), with its delicious fricase de pollo (and many other dishes). Perhaps the time for Cuban restaurants in Florida is over. All the Cubans are now doctors and lawyers. Anyway, while this place is not a disaster, it has seen better days. I would give it a miss.
(2)
Liz N.
I enjoy Cuban food, so I was looking forward to agoood meal. I wasn't disappointed.. My friends and I were there for dinner. We had the sangria, which was refreshing; we even got exrtra fruit. The lechon asado was very tender, and the tostones were crisp but not greasy. The tilapia was also good, and everyone enjoyed the black beans and fluffy rice. No room for dessert - the portions are big.
(4)
Jamie L.
Reviewing the Service and the Cafe Con Leche, because that's all we had! In this area of Boca (when you're used to Miami-Dade) the Cafecito, Cafe Cubano, Colada, Cafe Con Leche pickings are SLIM. (Nonexistent.) Thank you, Yelp, for finding Padrino's for us. We were in a serious Jonse, and needed our Cuban Coffee Fix. Padrino's did it for us. The girl at the hostess stand was politely amused when I told her that I was used to Miami-Dade and NEEDED CAFE CON LECHE NOW COULD SHE MAKE IT TO GO FOR US PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE??? The price was fine... Less than Starbucks, more than I'd pay on Calle Ocho, but it's not fair to compare since this is the ONLY game in town. She made them fresh and they truly hit the spot. Gracias, Padrinos.
(4)
Katelyn T.
First time I came here, everything seemed great. Food had wonderful taste, mojitos made right (not like miami but good for Boca) and service, well she was nice it just took the food forever. Second time I was craving some good cuban and mojitos. We walked in and the host wouldn't even look at us and someone came in behind us and I guess they knew each other and they started talking which kinda got me a little pissed. Once we sat down my boyfirend and I ordered mojitos and came out horrible! It tasted like 99% simple sugar 1% mint. My boyfriend and I couldnt take the sweetness and asked for something else (which we never do) and the server was like "Oh there isn't even sugar in that." After that we got our food but took pretty long like the time before but the food was tasty. After all this I'm not impressed, maybe because it's in boca or maybe they need to retrain the staff.
(3)
Rick S.
We ordered takeout yucca , vaca fritas. Plaintains tostones, pollo . I am not keen on chains for Cuban food, but I have 2 say, it is pretty great food. I have had a lot if Cuban food and this ranks up there. Prices are very reasonable. I recommend this place highly
(4)
Gerry S.
This was a lucky find in boca raton. Traditional Cuban food. Padri is has been around for over thirty years. I've only ever had the lunch buffet, but everything I tried was solid. Very few Cuban restaurants make platanos as good. (If you get to Manhattan beach in California, you should go to Versailles and try their garlic chicken and plantanos. It's amazing!) Padrinos is not Versailles, but if you're looking for Cuban food in Boca Raton, there's really no place better. It's really three and a half stars but I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
(4)
Harry S.
New to Cuban food but if it's like this, I will definitely plan on putting Cuban food on my short list and this restaurant in my address book. Great, friendly service. Fresh, hot and delicious food. I had a fried pork dish with Yucca that I've never had before. Wonderful potato substitute. Desert was equally delicious. They had a nice spin on flan using cream cheese that was wonderful.
(4)
Colette S.
While it's not the best Cuban food I've ever had, it is pretty good. I've have only had their lunch buffet and I like most of it. I love love love their platanos (almost as good as the ones at Versailles in California). I would have given it three stars if it weren't for their flan. It is absolutely amazing! By far the best flan I have ever had.
(4)
raymond c.
not bad food if you like Havana then you will like this place food is good and people were nice price is ok for boca
(4)
Marietta R.
Food was great and staff friendly. Place was clean and good music playing. I will go again.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Food was really good, so was this service.
(3)
Sheila F.
Had lunch there today. We usually make it a rule to avoid buffet food. Even though they had a fine menu, the buffet looked so good we broke our rule. It had a large variety of meat an fish dishes along with the usual rice and bean dishes. There was also salad, fried platinos and fresh fruit.The only drawback was that it was all-you can-eat, and since it was all so good we ate a little too much. We finished with excellent Cuban coffee. The atmosphere was inviting, the staff was helpful and the price is right. We'll go back.
(4)
Dan C.
I have been to Padrino's a few times and I must put on my 1st string rotation. OMG I had the Chicken Asada. It was incredibly well seasoned. The portions are big but it was so good I finished it. The service was great. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a great casual dinner.
(5)
Shannon P.
Yum! Great Cuban food and the staff is super attentive. I Always get the skirt steak. My husband varies. Great every time. Def recommend it. Try to get there early as they get pretty busy!
(5)
Mike M.
What can I say, excellent food excellent and friendly service. I dined with some family and friends a few weeks ago and we wer accommodated wonderfully. Our party included 3 kids and they couldn't have been happier. If you reside in south Florida and haven't been to padrinos you are missing out. Churrasco is definitely the best I've had in a while, the black bean soup will knock your socks off ! Not being from the area I wasn't aware that it was a chain and now I realize why they have been so successful over the years.
(4)
Tim F.
Padrino's has returned back to fighting form, with improvement in service and food. Also very third Saturday is a pig roast. For $15 you can have all the pork you can eat, plus sides. The roasted pig is delicious and worth experiencing if you have never had it before.
(4)
Michael V.
Everyone was very nice and the restaurant was clean However i did not care for buffet and felt the food was a bit greasy. I should have ordered off the menu. I have had better.
(2)
Rita B.
**LECHON ASADO, YUM***I really wanted to try Cuban Food! We had to stop by LA Fitness, and lo and behold, "Padrinos Cuban Cuisine" was there! We came in around lunch time, we were the only customers! It was nice to be the only customers sometimes. A nice gentleman welcomed, sat us and took our orders. I had the Lechon Asado, (and he said that was great choice for first time!) The garlic butter complimentary bread was delicious. The Lechon Asado was GRRRRREEEAAAT! The Carmalized Onions, Roasted Pork, with the traditional plantains were great, and not to mention the rice had a flavor to it, either salt was added or butter, either way, it was great!!! I have to come back to try other items on their menu. The prices were pretty reasonable. For 2 people it came out to about $23.00 not too bad at all. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!!
(4)
Paco L.
Service was decent. They forgot my sides until after I finished the meal and I reminded them. Sides were over cooked and cold. Served my steak in a pool of blood. Must be an off day. Food tasted good.
(3)
Laura P.
My family and I had dinner here. The service was super slow and there were only 2 other tables occupied. After 20 minutes the waitress came with our drinks only to forget the straws which took another 5 minutes for her to get. We ordered dinner and that was another 30 minutes at least before it got to us. I ordered the chicken with the ham and cheese, the palomino steak and another chicken dinner. All of which were tasteless. Then we ordered the flan, key lime pie and flan cheesecake for dessert. All of which were delicious. We waited another long time to have our waitress take our payment for the meal. All in all, too much waiting and lackluster food. We most likely won't be back.
(2)
Ray G.
Best cuban in town. Always good and fresh. Nice staff and quick.never been disappointed.
(4)
Rob M.
I'm Cuban and this place is a disgrace! Too all the old white people in Boca this might seem good but seriously go to Calle Ochoa little Havana or Hialeah for some authentic Cuban food and you'll realize this place is way below sub par... It just doesn't compare
(1)
Kevin O.
The first couple of times we ate here the food was very good (Carry out) The third time we ate in the restaurant and the food was EXCELLENT!! The last couple of times it was good but not great??? One of the things I look for in a restaurant is consistency. Would have been 4 stars but the last 2 visits make me go with 3 stars. Definitely worth eating there!
(3)
Jason G.
3.5 Something has changed recently at Padrinos and it's not for the better. If you read my previous review you'll know I'm one of their biggest champions. I hold the place near and dear to my heart because I've spent the better part of two decades going here. Something ain't right though. Apparently there is new management. I haven't seen the portly Cuban Pete Rose looking manager with the buzz cut in awhile. I do see many new younger faces and that's fine--as long as the food and service is the same. It isn't. I've turned a blind eye for a few months now in hopes things will revert back, it hasn't. There was a time where I'd be at Padrinos a handful of times within a few week span. I'd order take-out all the time. I'm on a first name basis with many of their waiters, who I'm slowly realizing no longer work there. I'm the Duke of the place for crying out loud. If there is one person who is an authority on all things Padrinos--it's me. What happened to my beloved restaurant? Let's start with the service. Too many new faces, too many untrained and overwhelmed waiters maybe. It's lack of experience or care, one of the two. The past three take-out orders have been wrong. Not terribly wrong, but wrong nonetheless. There is nothing like ordering, confirming and then double-checking with the cashier once you pick up the food, to only find out the side of yucca is missing. Mistakes happen everywhere, but when they repeat it becomes a concern. The service inside is not the same. Fewer familiar faces. Few friendly smiles. Slower and less frequent follow-ups. It's night and day to what it once was. Let's talk food. The reason I've been going to Padrinos for years is because I love their food. They have dishes not many Cuban places have. They do some things really well. The Arroz Relleno is fantastic here. Their Chimichurri steak or Bistec Palomilla are both great. Their house salad and vinaigrette is easily one of the greatest dressings I've had at any restaurant. They offer a lot of great dishes. But some of those great dishes are now becoming just good dishes. Preparation is different. Portions a little different. Flavor slightly different. It's noticeable for a person who frequents the place a lot. Now on to the biggest hang-up I have--their infamous Tres Leches. I've proudly stated, Padrinos hands down has the best ever. There is something that separates their cake from the rest. What I found out was the elder woman who used to make it, no longer does. She had it down to an exact science. The right amount of milk, cream and cake. It was a beautiful thing. While the Tres there is still the best, it changed. For one, it's about 1/3 smaller than it used to be. Nothing like paying more for less. On most nights, it can be rather dryer than in years past. It sometimes lacks milk and if you ever get an "end" piece realize you just got the short end of the stick. I still have faith and I hope they're tech savvy enough to know there are reviews of their restaurants made available for them to read and hopefully consider. I won't give up, but they need to give regulars a reason to believe again.
(3)
Elle A.
We've been coming to Padrino's for well over a decade and I'm giving it 3.5 stars because as of late things have been a bit off. It's still solid Cuban cuisine, just not quite as good as it used to be. One thing's for sure though - many of their dishes are a real bargain. You won't leave hungry. The last two times we went we had the same waiter. The first time he was pretty friendly and the food was served quickly. I love the yellow rice that comes with the arroz con pollo a la jardinera. It's extremely tasty. Hubby's lechon asado is always moist, flavorful and plentiful as well. I also adore the way the yucca side is always cooked - starchy, almost creamy, with just a touch of salt - I really prefer it over an ordinary potato texture-wise. The last time we came to Padrino's the same waiter was curt and we had to ask him for lemon slices for our water more than once. He also got my side orders wrong. Maybe not a big deal, but a grumpy waiter can make a meal somewhat uncomfortable. My pollo a la jardinera was also bland and oily, unfortunately. Perhaps it was an off night. I'm still willing to come back, although maybe I'll ask for a different waiter and order something I haven't tried before.
(3)
Mark H.
My two favorite cuisines are Cuban and Italian, neither of which are represented well in Iowa, so when traveling I try to eat in these kinds of restaurants. And of course Cuban food is very well done in Florida, so when I visit my mother here I always head for Padrino's, where the food is excellent and nonexistent in Iowa. I could easily eat here four times a week; in fact, on my recent four-day visit, I ate lunch here twice, and had a great meal both times. The first time was on a weekday, so I had the lunch buffet ($9.99). The entrees were mostly beef and chicken, though one tray contained some kind of fish. Unfortunately my favorite meal (lechon asado) was not on the buffet, but the waiter told me it had been there earlier in the day and had been rotated out in favor of some other chicken dish. Notwithstanding this, I had no trouble finding other things to sample; I particularly liked the vaca frita, a kind of fried beef, and the pollo asado, roast chicken with sauteed onions and seasoned with garlic. And of course there were plantains (I lost count of how many of them I had) and several kinds of rice, along with fruit and salad. The next time we came was on a Sunday at noon, the day before I was to fly home. The buffet only runs on weekdays so this time I had the lechon asado sandwich ($7.99), which was simply fabulous: shredded garlic-seasoned pork (there may have been lime in there too) with sauteed onions on wonderful Cuban bread. The sandwich, which came with a side of plaintains, was so huge that I brought half home to have as my breakfast the next morning before I departed for the airport. (My mother thought it insane that I would have a pork sandwich for breakfast, but as I told her, people eat bacon and ham for breakfast all the time and, in any event, I was not going to let convention deprive me of one last shot at great Cuban food). There is also a lechon asado meal for $11.99, but as far as I could tell the only difference is that the meal comes with three side dishes. The amount of pork in both the sandwich and the meal seems roughly comparable. So, unless you're especially fond of side dishes (and keep in mind that you already get plantains with the sandwich) it would appear that the meal is probably not worth the extra four dollars. So, in conclusion: two visits, two great meals. I will come to Padrino's whenever I am in the vicinity of Boca Raton. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jonathan B.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Cuban-food connoisseurs rejoice! Zero disappointments after tonight's dinner. We all cleaned our plates, and left feeling very satisfied (perhaps overly so). The homemade lemonade is incredible -- no free refills though. I doubted my brother's recommendation, but never again. Wow!
(5)
Nayla B.
My family has been coming here for a LONG time (I think more than 10 years) and the food has always been consistently good. They make really authentic Cuban food and the prices are super cheap for the huge portions. The garlic bread is delicious, and the plantain chips with the onion sauce is soo good. We always order the bistec de pollo with either beef or chicken...they consist of huge portions and come with rice, plantains, and/or french fries! We also get the delicious tres leches for dessert, which is so yummy!!!
(5)
Kevin P.
Padrino's has a friendly waitstaff, great food, and huge portions, what else could you ask for? To start, the bread you get before your meal is delicious. I got the paella (mix of seafood and chicken) and a side of black beans and vegetables. I made the mistake of getting vegetables instead of plantains and I recommend you do not do the same. I had my dad's plantains and they were very good. As for the meal, I couldn't stop eating, the rice and bean combo worked perfectly and I ended up finishing my whole pile of food. The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars is that its the only Cuban food I've ever had and i don't have anything to base it off of.
(4)
Sarah S.
I have a recurring fantasy in which Padrino's opens a restaurant in my hometown of San Francisco. I don't have much of a point of comparison, but I suspect that this is Cuban food at its finest. The portions are tremendous--most entrees come with three heaping sides: yucca (my favorite!), plantains, veggies, fries, or black beans. The Arroz Rellano is worth the inevitable heart attack--yellow rice layered with shredded chicken and smothered with melted mozzarella. The mojito knocked my Bubby flat!
(5)
David C.
It's not too bad. Some meals are good and some aren't. The Pan con Bistec is good; the Picadillo is okay tho there are some strange looking items in the beef/sauce mixture that I've never seen before... Plus the place is quite pricey...
(3)
Jen G.
I've been going here for years and they're pretty much always on point as far as food & service goes. Usually start with a side salad with their house vinaigrette dressing. Ingredients are always fresh and their dressing is so good I use their bread to mop up every last drop. Cuban bread is served with the meal- but it's not always hot and crispy. Can't go wrong with their bistec de pollo, rice, beans and tostones (though there are times those aren't the freshest). Tres Leches and Sangria are the best around town. Their Flan is great, too. Wouldn't recommend take-out, though. Food quality seems higher when you dine-in.
(4)
David M.
Great Cuban sandwich! Will be back!
(4)
Nick A.
Really good food..makes you very thirsty..the boneless chx breast and arroz relleno are very good..pretty good portions..been here many times..salads are good too..the side salad is fresh and real good and the balsamic viniagrette is one of the best I've had..bread they give is good..lunch buffet Is good and fresh..the tres leches is very very inconsistent..sometimes it tastes like the best I've ever had by far and other times it's meh..If u order the tray of it for a party it's always great though..probly my favorite cake..service is pretty weak..I love the food here solid 4 stars
(4)
Jan T.
Having never been to Cuba or having any close Cuban friends I cant judge this place based on authentic Cuban food so this is based on flavor. I went during lunch which they had a buffet for around $9. From what I can remember they had black beans, chicken soup, yellow rice, some other rice with lots of meat in it, ropa veja, fricase (sp) chicken, chicken wings, salad, pork, plantains and ground beef. The ground beef stuff was yummy. I might have missed 1 or 2 dishes but you get the idea. Service was just ok. Nothing to write home about. The fricase(sp) chicken drumstick was so undercooked. Undercooked to the point I could smell that raw smell from my plate. Eww. But other than that I somewhat enjoyed my meal. Worth a try anyway I think if you're in the area for lunch.
(2)
Amanda B.
3.5 stars I've been here about 3-4 times and had different experiences each time. The first time.."best Cuban restaurant around!" This last visit... I won't be going out of my way for Padrino anymore. It was an obvious night and day difference; everything from the free bread to the service. Free bread when hot, pressed and buttery is a delicious start to any meal, anywhere! I always order chimichurri steak and I can say its been better. The steak was not overcooked, it just seemed like a cheaper cut of meat then what i was given on my first visit here; rice, beans, plantains were all on par. Tres leches for desert was a small, dried out end piece but we ate it anyway. We then ordered a second piece this time asking for a "larger, moist, middle cut piece of tres because that's not what we were used to at Padrinos" the waiter delivered just that the second time around. (Maybe I should have ordered my steak like that as well.) Finally, bring your own bottle of water or ask for the pitcher to be placed on the table because refills were sometimes no where in sight. If you want a decent Cuban meal I recommend Padrino's. If you want a stellar Cuban meal, drive 45 mins south to Havana's in Sunrise.
(3)
Jesse W.
Great food always has been!!!
(5)
Stan T.
Great place if you want to dine in or takeout. Food is usually always on point. Bistec el pollo & chimichurra steak are delicious. A must have is the sangria as well. Price is very friendly considering the amount of food you get per dish. Most of meals have 3 sides to pick from. Desserts are very good, especially the tres leches.
(4)
Lisa M.
I love the food here. It is one of the best cuban restaurants in South Florida except maybe for the Miami area. I love the rice and chicken dishes. Get the plantains cooked extra well. Yummy!
(4)
Dustyn S.
Been coming to Padrino's for as long as I can remember. The food has always been consistently good. Bistec de pollo has been my favorite forever! The bread is also amazing. Check out their lunch buffet also, cant go wrong! We bring all of our out of town friends to this place to try some real Cuban food! Great staff, great food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Samer A.
While I can't comment on the immediate area I can definitely say there is better Cuban not too far away. The soup was too salty, beans under salted. The lechon asado was boring and the churasco was greasier than a well cooked skirt steak should be. Service was very good though.
(3)Kevin W.
Great Cuban food for a nice price! Every time we go to Florida we make sure to go here for either lunch or dinner.
(4)Gary L.
Tasty, home style food. The interior was surprisingly more upscale than you would expect from it's location in a strip mall. Very attentive service with a large selection of items to select from. I started with the Sopa de Pollo, a cup of home made chicken broth that paired nicely with the toasted bread and butter brought by the server. I was hungry and ordered the Chilindron de Carnero, two huge whole lamb shanks that were fall-off-the-bone tender served with three sides. The waiter recommended the white rice, beans, and plantains and these were perfect with the creole sauce that braised the lamb shanks ("tasty but not spicy hot".) Other sides you could order with the dinner include: Yucca, French Fries or Steamed Vegetables. Plenty of food for $14.99, but I had over-ordered and would have been sated with just one piece of the lamb for $11.99. Topped off the tank with the rich, sweet flan. Yowsa! Thick with cream, eggs and caramel topped with a cherry. Nice finish to a great meal. Not exactly cheap eats, but great quality and care put into the food and a nice treat for date night or family night out.
(4)Jane P.
Padrino's was great - was in Boca visiting family for a few days and was looking for a good, reasonably priced lunch spot... and of course, found it on Yelp! The plaintains were done perfectly, the black beans were more flavorful than they had to be, the tilapia was fresh and clean, and the pork was awesome. Cafe con leche was sweet and a good end to the meal. In the strip mall hell that is Boca Raton, it was a pleasant surprise and service was prompt and friendly. Good deal too, around $10 for a lunch entree with coffee.
(4)Bryan B.
The food was pretty good. Everyone at my table had the Paella and enjoyed it. I had the Vaca Frita which was surprisingly not dripping with grease. The service was a bit poor but then again there were only two people serving one side of the restaurant during a heavy time. With that said I did enjoy my experience and if you are looking for a bit of Cuba in the Palm Beaches then this is a good place to eat. Enjoy!
(3)Maria C.
Great place for a quick lunch. Delicious Cuban food that feels like it's being prepared in a little kitchen, with a lot of dedication. My husband had the ropa vieja and I had a steak with rice, beans and fries. It was great and we were in and out in less than 1 hours, so it's convenient if you don't have a whole lot of time. But it is a nice experience and the service is great.
(4)David D.
My girlfriend and I go here pretty often. Other than 1 or 2 dishes that we have ordered, the food here has been excellent. Our favorite dish is the churrasco skirt steak. However, I do not like their other steaks like the fried beef steak. Their bistec de pollo (chicken steak) is good if you like onions, which I do. The chilindron de carnero (lamb in a red/brown) sauce is awesome. Sometimes I get their arroz relleno which is like chicken with yellow rice and mozerella baked on top. As far as sides go, their beans and rice is good. Their black bean soup is the same as a portion of beans--as far as I can tell. I really recommend their plantains, both the fried plantains and the tostones. My tip if you go here is not to fill up on the bread. It's very tempting.
(4)K S.
Both my husband and I were once married to Cubans, so we both had lots of chances to enjoy homemade Cuban food prepared by a woman right from Cuba. :-) We LOVE Padrinos. All the food we've tried is absolutely authentic. congri was not on the menu the first time we went, so I asked if they had that available, and they do! I've found no other Cuban place that has congri available. That said, the service isn't wonderful here. It's okay. Some times it's better and some times it's worse. To us, to be able to give our mouths that experience we love, makes it worth it. We don't tip well, there, usually, and we're 20%-25% types for great service.
(4)Steve S.
this is my choice for best cuban food outside of miami. i have been coming here for years, and everything is always excellent. the palomilla steak and lechon asado are my favorite. if you have a craving for good cuban and can't make it all the way down to miami, do yourself a favor and stop in here. you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ann D.
This is one of our favorite Cuban restaurants. We try and go there about every 10 days for the lunch buffet. Wide variety of meat dishes and a lettuce salad for $8.99. No vaca frita on the buffet, but good nonetheless. Mojitos are good too.
(4)Lele W.
My husband and I stop at the Padrino's on Hallandale Blvd. every time we're in FL. I almost always get the chilindron de carnero because it's *so* good - & as noted below, the one-shank portion is more than enough when you take the three fantastic side dishes into account. They often have a fish or shrimp special of some type and those have never disappointed. Even with a bottle of wine (slim pickings, but a perfectly serviceable Santa Ema merlot), it's a struggle to spend $50. I only wish they would open a branch in Chicago.
(5)Kevin N.
Pretty decent place to get medium-priced Cuban food in the Mission Bay Plaza. Parts of the food were really good, and other items were just so-so. Had an appetizer which was amazing, but I cannot remember what it was. The problem with Padrino's, really, is its price-point. There are so many places to get good Cuban food around here, that when I want to spend $10-$14 on an entree, I'll go somewhere that is really good. What I really want in a place this close to home is somewhere I can just head to and get a good sandwich or grilled meat w/ beans and rice. They may have this, and I am definitely going back to check on it.
(3)Daniel S.
This is excellent Cuban food and everything we had was delicious. We had avocado salad, grilled steak salad, lechon asado, vaca frita, sangria and a few other items. Everything was well executed and delicious. The service was very good and the prices were very much in line with expectations, averaging $5-$15.
(5)Angie B.
This was my first time eating Cuban food, so I have no other places to compare Padrino's to, but I would say that it was pretty tasty overall. Vegetarians, stay away... there was a sad looking salad and steamed vegetable option that I saw but did not eat... this place is carnivore city. The menu seemed pretty expansive; my husband and I decided to share a $15 plate of baby back ribs with guava bbq sauce, and there was plenty of food. We had the beans (which were EXCELLENT), rice (I thought yellow rice would be standard but no, it is white rice so if you want the yellow ask for it), plantains (decent but nothing to write home about), and yucca (kind of strange texture, interesting onion/oil dipping sauce, sort of tasty but definitely different). We also split a dessert, the tres leches cake. I thought it was too sweet but my husband loved it. We are just visiting so I doubt we'll come back to Padrino's, but if we lived here I would definitely come back for the beans. Delish.
(3)Elizabeth H.
We found this place online while in town on a business trip, trying to find good Cuban food. We were disappointed. Maybe we just don't like Cuban food... we'd never had it before. Lets say this: if you like food that is fried fried fried you will love it. Maybe it is what we ordered. Maybe it was the waiter. I told the waiter I didn't eat much meat - what did he recommend? ...and he recommended the steak. My husband asked him what is popular and he got a dish that was basically deep fried chicken cordon bleu - chicken breast stuffed with overly salty ham and cheap mozerella. After a few bites, his comment was "fresh from the freezer into the fryer." His sides were rice, beans and plantains. Plantains were definitely the highlight of the meal. My bowl of "Bean Soup" was the same as his beans. Just a BIG bowl of beans. Just beans. Yep. Not sure if this is traditional or what, but it was boring boring after 3 bites. I squeezed in lime from my water and threw in a ball of mozerella from Hubby's chicken into it to make it more interesting. We tried the sangria, which was good/standard. We tried the Cuban appetizer assortment which we soon realized was all deep fried. Had a salad, which was almost exactly was what it said on the menu, iceburg lettuce, tomato slices (w/ a side of vinegrette), but was missing the onions. Everything was ok, nothing really jumped out. Lots of kids there - probably like the fried stuff. Service alright, checked in regularly but as noted above, gave beyond lousy recommendations. Not a good intro to Cuban food. Will try again somewhere else.
(2)Jen G.
This is one of my favorite go to spots. The staff is so incredibly nice and attentive every time. My husband and I are here pretty often either for lunch or dinner. The food is always good. If you want a great Cuban restaurant look no further. I usually get the Bistec Palomilla which is always perfectly cooked and I ask them for 1/2 the onions and they happily oblige. I also have had the Arroz Relleno which is an amazing chicken dish I call it my Cuban Lasagna, the chicken is layered with mozzarella and yellow rice ... Delish!!! My hubby had the Bistec de Pollo Relleno it was moist and very tasty. I'm so happy I live so close to Padrinos I always leave happy and very satisfied! Dependable, very reasonable and generous portions can't go wrong here :) oh and don't forget to have a Mojito the Mango Mojito is so good.
(4)Rosalind R.
The food is excellent. Great flavored and nice generous portions. Very nice presentation. I highly recommend this restaurant. It has remained,in the same family for decades. The service is,very genuine and warm. Simply Excellent!
(5)Mary C.
Last Thursday I was treated to dinner and the food was excellent ! I had picadillo, lechon asado, arroz blanco & frijoles negros, maduros and salad OMG! DELICIOUS!
(5)Derek K.
Being one of the most authentic and friendliest incarnations of classic home-cooked Cuban food, my family, ever since leaving the communist-conquered country in 1960, has been eating at Padrino's for decades. For the majority of that time, we have been making the trek to Hallandale or Plantation for one of their other two locations. Finally, in 1996, this Boca Raton location opened up. For more of my thoughts on the food itself, check out my review of the original (Hallandale) Padrino's. As for this location, I've eaten here enough times to be able to say that both food quality and service completely live up to the high standards set by the other locations, to the point where I have not a single complaint. It so happens that I usually come to this location for lunch, and while the dinner great, the lunch buffet is also an incredible deal that is not to be missed. Served on weekdays from 11:30am - 2:30pm, you get an all you can eat buffet for $9.99, which features virtually every crucial item from the dinner menu. In spite of it being buffet style--which I tend to avoid--amazingly, the food manages to stay fresh. While good Cuban food may be a given in the Miami area, it should not be taken for granted here in Boca. I guarantee you will not find any other Cuban restaurants that come close to the quality and value you get here. Order some Tostones, Iron Beer, and Vaca Frita, and finish with a Flan and a cortado, all the while imagining yourself 60 years back in time in a small restaurant in Havana. After all, it's cheaper than the current price of going to Cuba, and the food here is probably better anyway.
(5)Jessica B.
Probably the best meal I had on my vacation to south Florida. My party went late on a Sunday night but the staff was friendly despite the fact we came in half an hour before close. Juan was our server and was very polite and accomodating the entire visit. I've not tried much Cuban cuisine so I got the Lechon Asado that was recommended to me by my fellow patrons. The food was very good, in my opinion. The pork was perfectly cooked and tender. The plantains were okay, not as sweet as I've had elsewhere. My only complaint that the mojo was a little strong but I was told that is usually how most people prefer it served, I'm just not a fan of pungent garlic taste/smell. I would gladly return next time I'm in the area.
(4)Andrea V.
Ahhhh!!! This place was terrible! I was pretty bummed about it. I saw all the reviews and wanted to try it. Most reviews I read said that it was a hit or miss and I missed the good stuff. That's for sure. I ordered the Arroz Relleno. It was so bland. It came with mozzarella on top that was flavorless. The chicken was so dry. For the sides I ordered the black beans and the steamed veggies. The vegetables were far from steamed - they were also dried out like the chicken. The only good thing I had was the yucca appetizer with bacon. It says they serve it with a garlic sauce but they served it with ranch dressing instead. The service was bad too. Our waitress never checked up on us and they never brought us silverware (not even when they brought the food out). The food was so bad that I had my bf take me to another restaurant for dessert! So he took me to a Colombian restaurant that his step mom recommended and we had their alfajores which were amazing! I will be reviewing the columbian place as soon as I find the name! :p P.S. Don't go to this restaurant.
(2)Bill B.
A below average Cuban restaurant. Their paella was nothing more than a bowl of yellow rice, schimp and chicken-hardly a paella. No pan-no crust. Have to admit though, their grilled chicken livers were fabulous and while I would not go back for their Cuban I would take out the livers. You can do much better at other Cubano restaurants.
(2)Camila O.
My family's go to place for Cuban food in Boca Raton.We have celebrated many family birthday parties here. They are very accommodating for large groups, especially if you call ahead. As for the food, our favorites are ropa veija, chilindron dos piezas, Cuban sandwhich and the Cuban coffee!! Yum and the bread here is toasted and seasoned as an appetizer for the table while the food is coming. I've only gone to dinner here, but I did see that they offer a Buffett style option during lunch in an ad.
(5)Andres C.
Undoubtedly, the best chicken quesadillas I have ever had! Plus... with a Groupon, dinner for my family was only $3.62
(5)Ted S.
Padrino's is authentic Cuban! I love coming here! The fried plantain appetizer with the garlic onion topping is sooo good. We also get the calamari app and I don't know what the red sauce is that comes with it (maybe their own style of Cuban marinara), but it's absolutely delicious. Sweet and flavorful. I'm a fan of the Cubano sandwich. the meats, cheese and pickles meld perfectly with the fried bread! Not to mention the friend bread they bring before the meal is some of the best at any restaurant. I'll come back many times.
(4)Night Ryder I.
Good food, good times. Enjoyed the Pig Roast (2nd Saturday of each month) with the fork tender meat and crispy skin. $15 Buffet includes garden salad, white rice & black beans (my favorite), boiled yuca & plantains and beverage. Tres leche wasn't as sweet as I've tasted at other places but it wasn't bad and a hefty portion, enough for two. Plan to return soon!
(5)John M.
I love the food here. Service is always 100%. They have the best " tres leches" dessert in town.
(5)Nan D.
Having lunch with my mom and baby. I have been here before, as they have good food, but I was disappointed with my visit here today. I had to put the baby on the booth, because they didn't accommodate the infant seat. Then I was told that there was 15 minutes left for the buffet. We rushed to eat and then I asked for a box. I had only served myself once but had weight loss surgery so I barely eat. I explained that to the server and then to the manager and finally got a discount for the meal but no box allowed. The server, however, was pleasant and the food is always good.
(3)Chris P.
My wife and I got take out and we were very pleased. I had the Palomilla and my wife had Pollo. Both entrees met and exceeded our expectations. Rice and plantains were cooked perfectly. Even though we got take out, the place looked very nice for dining in, great ambience. The women at the hostess station were very nice and pleasant. We'd go back again!
(5)Monica M.
Order the yuca the garlic sauce is fabulous! Also the empanadas were great! I ordered the lechon and it seemed dry and old like it was cooked three days ago and reheated. The rice and beans mixed was very dry and had stale rice.
(3)Hillary V.
Padrino's is my favorite restaurant to visit when I'm in south Florida. This one is located in a pretty busy strip mall, so there's certainly not a lack of things to do before and after the meal. The staff at this location is nice, and it is exceptionally clean. But aside from all this what makes Padrino's the best is its food. I have never had a dish I hated here. My favorite is the bistec de pollo. I always get these scrumptious chicken steaks with a side of yummy black beans and rice as well as tender sweet plantains. Added to all this is a loaf of tasty and crunchy Cuban bread. This place should be your new favorite visit too!
(5)Neil Z.
I have been going to this place for years. It never fails me. Food comes out quickly. If you go during the week it usually isnt too busy. Its pretty authentic. None of their seasonings are overpowering. Never had a dry chicken. I mention that because if you think about it, most cuban dishes are pounded thin so it can dry out real fast. Rice is great, not too buttery but still moist. No hard chunks.
(4)AL P.
This place is definitely the best Cuban food in Boca Raton. Its a good thing they went to buffet lunch cause their service was lacking when it comes to serving. Have been coming here since it opened and it has kept up its quality although its had a few ups and downs since 1996. But then what hasn't in the past 20 years. So if your in the area you can come in for your Cuban food fix its definitely worth it for lunch...
(4)Steven A.
I've eaten here several times for lunch. Very tasty buffet. Nice selections. Enjoyable and reasonably priced.
(4)Janine S.
This is one of our local favorite go to places for take out . Best Cuban food in Boca . My only complaint is the restaurant is small so if yr planning on going at the prime times , expect a wait . That's why we usually just order for pick up . Very fresh food quality food . As "Latin " as it gets for Boca . Great margaritas if your dining in !
(4)Chad H.
My wife and I stopped in for a nice lunch. I was craving a cubano sandwich after watching Chef the movie on our flight to Fort Lauderdale. So - this was my first one. I loved it and want to find a place near me that has just as good a quality sandwich when we get home. Bred was perfectly crispy, meat was tender and succulent, the flavors of the meats, mustard and pickles was outstanding. we each had one of their special cocktails as well - I had the pomegranate mojito and my wife had the coconut mojito. Both were tasty and had muddles fresh limes and mint that floated in the drink. A perfect drink! Loved it. This is probably a one-time visit as we are from California, but we hope to return someday if we come back to this part of Florida.
(5)Alex F.
Worst Cuban food I have ever eaten. Arroz co pollo with broccoli need I say more. Never again
(1)Alex W.
Although all the food was seasoned well and delicious, the service was terrible. We sat around for 12 minutes waiting for someone to take our order and then waited 45 min for the food. I left with a bad taste in mouth.
(2)Scott G.
If you've never had Cuban good before and have no other option, I guess this will give you an idea - but if you've ever lived in Miami and eaten real Cuban food, you're not gonna be happy here. Save the calories and drive down to Calle Ocho once or twice a year to get your fill - it's worth it.
(2)Margaret K.
I took my advice and avoided this place for about 3 years... However, I'm not one to hold grudges and I also read some favorable reviews so I decided to give it another chance. Wow! I'm glad I did! The staff changed and they have super great service now and the inside was spruced up complete with large pictures of 1950s Cuba- super interesting. The food has always been amazing and that was never a complaint. It is back on my favorites list.
(5)Karen F.
The last meal we had here (last weeK) was the stuff of legend. Every bite, every sip from the Cafe con leche to the grilled tilapia to the sweet maduros, fluffy white rice and rich savory black beans is what I dream of when visiting my snow bird parents in boca. Sure we have Alma de Cuba and a few other overpriced Nuevo-Cubano joints in Philly - but Padrino's makes me swoon. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Better than Versaille in Miami (calle Ocho)!
(5)K V.
The food was pretty good...a bit of a strange taste though... I think it's the oil they use or some seasoning...the rice and veggies had a weird after-taste...my bistec de pollo was good though!
(3)Evan R.
When you think Boca Raton, you don't equate that with Cuban food. However, Padrinos is a good option if you live nearby. Having lived in Miami for a number of years, I know what good Cuban food is. Padrinos is the closest thing to authentic Cuban food you will find in Boca Raton without driving over an hour to Miami. Padrino is is a chain restaurant, however,it still maintains a level of authenticity. I had the Cuban Sandwich the last time I was there. It tasted great! The Cuban bread that they serve before your meal is the same type of bread that they use for the Cuban sandwiches. It is delicious! I compared that with a house lemonade and it was amazing. Their house lemonade is not like any other lemonade. It's almost like limeade . A couple of times a month they will hold a pig roast. I have not had the opportunity to try it however I have heard good things. It's worth a shot. The staff was courteous and friendly. The prices are reasonable.
(4)Shannon P.
I enjoyed a great meal here and a delicious Guava Mojito. Ate the braised Lamb with yellow rice and yucca croquette. Nice place
(5)Peter V.
Very authentic tasting Cuban food. Just like my aunt used to make when I was a kid. I had the Paella and tasted the Vaca Frita. Both were superb. The yuka was the best compared to any other Cuban restaurant I have ever been to. Very clean and super friendly wait staff. A++++
(5)D. L.
Fabulous! I would have posted a picture but I ate everything too fast :) To start, I've never eaten Cuban food before so this was a great introduction for me. I walked in, was greeted eagerly and the place is very clean and up kept. Even the servers looked super sharp. I got a togo order, I couldn't tell you what I ordered, (my spanish sucks) but it had yellow rice, peppers and chicken and it was very flavorful. Came with 2 side choices, I got the steamed veggies (zucchini/squash/broccoli/cauliflower) very simple, could have used some seasoning, and I got the sweet plantains. Those were perfect. Took about 10-15 min for my order - exactly what she quoted me. Portion size was huge, I have enough for 2 people, and the price was spot on. I will be back to try more!
(5)Jerry S.
This is our current favorite little Cuban restaurant. We get the c Cuban sandwiches and ropa veija. It never let's us down. Plenty of seating inside and out.
(5)Christian M.
After ordering repulsive takeout from Padrino's about 6 months ago, I finally decided to give them another chance thinking I may have better luck with dine-in. While the food was good (for the area), the service was slow and not friendly. The young host was friendly --though unseasoned. The waitress was anything but friendly. She was not rude but it was painfully obvious that she was not happy to be there. Service was extremely slow for there being so few patrons in the restaurant. For example, our two cups of soup took 20 minutes after ordering. I may try again, but not anytime soon.
(3)Lourdes A.
I have only been to Padrino's three times for their lunch buffet. I love their food! Everything is so tasty and flavorful! Since this is my food of choice, I could come here everyday if I could! The staff is very friendly and quick on the service. Will be returning.
(5)Davis N.
So bueno! Few months ago I got sick ( Just cold ) and because I'm latino I was loking for a real spanish restaurant to get a soup. I went to google and I found out about this restaurant, so I went and I gave it a try. I love it. Really really good food, the people are nice and everything was fast. I noticed that they also have a buffer available, I haven't being able to try it, but it should be good! The only reason why I'm giving it 4 starts its because I had to order a lemonade 2 times and I didn't like them. The way they make it its different, my friend said that it was good, but not for my tastes. Other than that, 10/10.
(4)Stephanie S.
If I could I'd give this place one star. To begin with, I was there with my family of 5 for 30 minutes and no one had even stopped by to offer us beverages! Oh, and then the wrong drinks were brought! It was 45 minutes before we got any bread, and not even with butter! The food naturally took forever, and my ropa vieja was lukewarm. The waitress in the beginning of our meal said "I'm sorry but we got confused and didn't notice your table because we are in the middle of shift change". How do you not notice 5 people?? Talk about not knowing how to multitask! Even for Florida, this is bad service. While I know Cuban restaurants are notorious for being laid-back and slow, this is ridiculous! I hope the owners read this, because a manager with half of a brain would have at least offered complimentary dessert. We will never be back again!
(1)Sandy M.
This is by FAR the BEST Cuban/Latin food restaurant I have ever been to. Whatever seasoning they use in their food makes this place exceptional. I had the buffet for lunch and OMG, it was to die for. I don't think I will be cooking at home anymore. And that's not all, their passion fruit mojitos was also very good.
(5)Roberto B.
The $12 buffet lunch was adequate ,with the usual mix of Cuban dishes. Chicken was tasty, but fish was bland and mushy. Surprisingly, the black beans lacked flavor. Fried plantains were the highlight. Maybe we will give this one another shot.
(3)Rodger L.
The best Cuban food in Boca, which ain't saying much, not many that compete. Would get lost in the shuffle in Miami, but good spot none the less. Come here quite often when looking for a Cuban fix. Try the Palomilla Steak, it is delish. Have that with a side of tostones. Black beans and rice are well above average. The service is very good. Also make a solid Cuban Sandwich, but avoid the Ropa Vieja. No me gusta
(3)Peter C.
We had dinner at pardon's yesterday. As usual, it was very full and we had about a ten minute wait. The dinner was a mixed bag. One of us had roast chicken, which was excellent, but my wife and I had lechon asado (roast pork), which was not very good; in fact, it was dried up and even hard to swallow. There really don't seem to be any good cuban restaurants around any more. Where, oh where, has las Palmas of Margate gone (closed many years ago), with its delicious fricase de pollo (and many other dishes). Perhaps the time for Cuban restaurants in Florida is over. All the Cubans are now doctors and lawyers. Anyway, while this place is not a disaster, it has seen better days. I would give it a miss.
(2)Liz N.
I enjoy Cuban food, so I was looking forward to agoood meal. I wasn't disappointed.. My friends and I were there for dinner. We had the sangria, which was refreshing; we even got exrtra fruit. The lechon asado was very tender, and the tostones were crisp but not greasy. The tilapia was also good, and everyone enjoyed the black beans and fluffy rice. No room for dessert - the portions are big.
(4)Jamie L.
Reviewing the Service and the Cafe Con Leche, because that's all we had! In this area of Boca (when you're used to Miami-Dade) the Cafecito, Cafe Cubano, Colada, Cafe Con Leche pickings are SLIM. (Nonexistent.) Thank you, Yelp, for finding Padrino's for us. We were in a serious Jonse, and needed our Cuban Coffee Fix. Padrino's did it for us. The girl at the hostess stand was politely amused when I told her that I was used to Miami-Dade and NEEDED CAFE CON LECHE NOW COULD SHE MAKE IT TO GO FOR US PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE??? The price was fine... Less than Starbucks, more than I'd pay on Calle Ocho, but it's not fair to compare since this is the ONLY game in town. She made them fresh and they truly hit the spot. Gracias, Padrinos.
(4)Katelyn T.
First time I came here, everything seemed great. Food had wonderful taste, mojitos made right (not like miami but good for Boca) and service, well she was nice it just took the food forever. Second time I was craving some good cuban and mojitos. We walked in and the host wouldn't even look at us and someone came in behind us and I guess they knew each other and they started talking which kinda got me a little pissed. Once we sat down my boyfirend and I ordered mojitos and came out horrible! It tasted like 99% simple sugar 1% mint. My boyfriend and I couldnt take the sweetness and asked for something else (which we never do) and the server was like "Oh there isn't even sugar in that." After that we got our food but took pretty long like the time before but the food was tasty. After all this I'm not impressed, maybe because it's in boca or maybe they need to retrain the staff.
(3)Rick S.
We ordered takeout yucca , vaca fritas. Plaintains tostones, pollo . I am not keen on chains for Cuban food, but I have 2 say, it is pretty great food. I have had a lot if Cuban food and this ranks up there. Prices are very reasonable. I recommend this place highly
(4)Gerry S.
This was a lucky find in boca raton. Traditional Cuban food. Padri is has been around for over thirty years. I've only ever had the lunch buffet, but everything I tried was solid. Very few Cuban restaurants make platanos as good. (If you get to Manhattan beach in California, you should go to Versailles and try their garlic chicken and plantanos. It's amazing!) Padrinos is not Versailles, but if you're looking for Cuban food in Boca Raton, there's really no place better. It's really three and a half stars but I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
(4)Harry S.
New to Cuban food but if it's like this, I will definitely plan on putting Cuban food on my short list and this restaurant in my address book. Great, friendly service. Fresh, hot and delicious food. I had a fried pork dish with Yucca that I've never had before. Wonderful potato substitute. Desert was equally delicious. They had a nice spin on flan using cream cheese that was wonderful.
(4)Colette S.
While it's not the best Cuban food I've ever had, it is pretty good. I've have only had their lunch buffet and I like most of it. I love love love their platanos (almost as good as the ones at Versailles in California). I would have given it three stars if it weren't for their flan. It is absolutely amazing! By far the best flan I have ever had.
(4)raymond c.
not bad food if you like Havana then you will like this place food is good and people were nice price is ok for boca
(4)Marietta R.
Food was great and staff friendly. Place was clean and good music playing. I will go again.
(4)Jennifer S.
Food was really good, so was this service.
(3)Sheila F.
Had lunch there today. We usually make it a rule to avoid buffet food. Even though they had a fine menu, the buffet looked so good we broke our rule. It had a large variety of meat an fish dishes along with the usual rice and bean dishes. There was also salad, fried platinos and fresh fruit.The only drawback was that it was all-you can-eat, and since it was all so good we ate a little too much. We finished with excellent Cuban coffee. The atmosphere was inviting, the staff was helpful and the price is right. We'll go back.
(4)Dan C.
I have been to Padrino's a few times and I must put on my 1st string rotation. OMG I had the Chicken Asada. It was incredibly well seasoned. The portions are big but it was so good I finished it. The service was great. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a great casual dinner.
(5)Shannon P.
Yum! Great Cuban food and the staff is super attentive. I Always get the skirt steak. My husband varies. Great every time. Def recommend it. Try to get there early as they get pretty busy!
(5)Mike M.
What can I say, excellent food excellent and friendly service. I dined with some family and friends a few weeks ago and we wer accommodated wonderfully. Our party included 3 kids and they couldn't have been happier. If you reside in south Florida and haven't been to padrinos you are missing out. Churrasco is definitely the best I've had in a while, the black bean soup will knock your socks off ! Not being from the area I wasn't aware that it was a chain and now I realize why they have been so successful over the years.
(4)Tim F.
Padrino's has returned back to fighting form, with improvement in service and food. Also very third Saturday is a pig roast. For $15 you can have all the pork you can eat, plus sides. The roasted pig is delicious and worth experiencing if you have never had it before.
(4)Michael V.
Everyone was very nice and the restaurant was clean However i did not care for buffet and felt the food was a bit greasy. I should have ordered off the menu. I have had better.
(2)Rita B.
**LECHON ASADO, YUM***I really wanted to try Cuban Food! We had to stop by LA Fitness, and lo and behold, "Padrinos Cuban Cuisine" was there! We came in around lunch time, we were the only customers! It was nice to be the only customers sometimes. A nice gentleman welcomed, sat us and took our orders. I had the Lechon Asado, (and he said that was great choice for first time!) The garlic butter complimentary bread was delicious. The Lechon Asado was GRRRRREEEAAAT! The Carmalized Onions, Roasted Pork, with the traditional plantains were great, and not to mention the rice had a flavor to it, either salt was added or butter, either way, it was great!!! I have to come back to try other items on their menu. The prices were pretty reasonable. For 2 people it came out to about $23.00 not too bad at all. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!!
(4)Paco L.
Service was decent. They forgot my sides until after I finished the meal and I reminded them. Sides were over cooked and cold. Served my steak in a pool of blood. Must be an off day. Food tasted good.
(3)Laura P.
My family and I had dinner here. The service was super slow and there were only 2 other tables occupied. After 20 minutes the waitress came with our drinks only to forget the straws which took another 5 minutes for her to get. We ordered dinner and that was another 30 minutes at least before it got to us. I ordered the chicken with the ham and cheese, the palomino steak and another chicken dinner. All of which were tasteless. Then we ordered the flan, key lime pie and flan cheesecake for dessert. All of which were delicious. We waited another long time to have our waitress take our payment for the meal. All in all, too much waiting and lackluster food. We most likely won't be back.
(2)Ray G.
Best cuban in town. Always good and fresh. Nice staff and quick.never been disappointed.
(4)Rob M.
I'm Cuban and this place is a disgrace! Too all the old white people in Boca this might seem good but seriously go to Calle Ochoa little Havana or Hialeah for some authentic Cuban food and you'll realize this place is way below sub par... It just doesn't compare
(1)Kevin O.
The first couple of times we ate here the food was very good (Carry out) The third time we ate in the restaurant and the food was EXCELLENT!! The last couple of times it was good but not great??? One of the things I look for in a restaurant is consistency. Would have been 4 stars but the last 2 visits make me go with 3 stars. Definitely worth eating there!
(3)Jason G.
3.5 Something has changed recently at Padrinos and it's not for the better. If you read my previous review you'll know I'm one of their biggest champions. I hold the place near and dear to my heart because I've spent the better part of two decades going here. Something ain't right though. Apparently there is new management. I haven't seen the portly Cuban Pete Rose looking manager with the buzz cut in awhile. I do see many new younger faces and that's fine--as long as the food and service is the same. It isn't. I've turned a blind eye for a few months now in hopes things will revert back, it hasn't. There was a time where I'd be at Padrinos a handful of times within a few week span. I'd order take-out all the time. I'm on a first name basis with many of their waiters, who I'm slowly realizing no longer work there. I'm the Duke of the place for crying out loud. If there is one person who is an authority on all things Padrinos--it's me. What happened to my beloved restaurant? Let's start with the service. Too many new faces, too many untrained and overwhelmed waiters maybe. It's lack of experience or care, one of the two. The past three take-out orders have been wrong. Not terribly wrong, but wrong nonetheless. There is nothing like ordering, confirming and then double-checking with the cashier once you pick up the food, to only find out the side of yucca is missing. Mistakes happen everywhere, but when they repeat it becomes a concern. The service inside is not the same. Fewer familiar faces. Few friendly smiles. Slower and less frequent follow-ups. It's night and day to what it once was. Let's talk food. The reason I've been going to Padrinos for years is because I love their food. They have dishes not many Cuban places have. They do some things really well. The Arroz Relleno is fantastic here. Their Chimichurri steak or Bistec Palomilla are both great. Their house salad and vinaigrette is easily one of the greatest dressings I've had at any restaurant. They offer a lot of great dishes. But some of those great dishes are now becoming just good dishes. Preparation is different. Portions a little different. Flavor slightly different. It's noticeable for a person who frequents the place a lot. Now on to the biggest hang-up I have--their infamous Tres Leches. I've proudly stated, Padrinos hands down has the best ever. There is something that separates their cake from the rest. What I found out was the elder woman who used to make it, no longer does. She had it down to an exact science. The right amount of milk, cream and cake. It was a beautiful thing. While the Tres there is still the best, it changed. For one, it's about 1/3 smaller than it used to be. Nothing like paying more for less. On most nights, it can be rather dryer than in years past. It sometimes lacks milk and if you ever get an "end" piece realize you just got the short end of the stick. I still have faith and I hope they're tech savvy enough to know there are reviews of their restaurants made available for them to read and hopefully consider. I won't give up, but they need to give regulars a reason to believe again.
(3)Elle A.
We've been coming to Padrino's for well over a decade and I'm giving it 3.5 stars because as of late things have been a bit off. It's still solid Cuban cuisine, just not quite as good as it used to be. One thing's for sure though - many of their dishes are a real bargain. You won't leave hungry. The last two times we went we had the same waiter. The first time he was pretty friendly and the food was served quickly. I love the yellow rice that comes with the arroz con pollo a la jardinera. It's extremely tasty. Hubby's lechon asado is always moist, flavorful and plentiful as well. I also adore the way the yucca side is always cooked - starchy, almost creamy, with just a touch of salt - I really prefer it over an ordinary potato texture-wise. The last time we came to Padrino's the same waiter was curt and we had to ask him for lemon slices for our water more than once. He also got my side orders wrong. Maybe not a big deal, but a grumpy waiter can make a meal somewhat uncomfortable. My pollo a la jardinera was also bland and oily, unfortunately. Perhaps it was an off night. I'm still willing to come back, although maybe I'll ask for a different waiter and order something I haven't tried before.
(3)Mark H.
My two favorite cuisines are Cuban and Italian, neither of which are represented well in Iowa, so when traveling I try to eat in these kinds of restaurants. And of course Cuban food is very well done in Florida, so when I visit my mother here I always head for Padrino's, where the food is excellent and nonexistent in Iowa. I could easily eat here four times a week; in fact, on my recent four-day visit, I ate lunch here twice, and had a great meal both times. The first time was on a weekday, so I had the lunch buffet ($9.99). The entrees were mostly beef and chicken, though one tray contained some kind of fish. Unfortunately my favorite meal (lechon asado) was not on the buffet, but the waiter told me it had been there earlier in the day and had been rotated out in favor of some other chicken dish. Notwithstanding this, I had no trouble finding other things to sample; I particularly liked the vaca frita, a kind of fried beef, and the pollo asado, roast chicken with sauteed onions and seasoned with garlic. And of course there were plantains (I lost count of how many of them I had) and several kinds of rice, along with fruit and salad. The next time we came was on a Sunday at noon, the day before I was to fly home. The buffet only runs on weekdays so this time I had the lechon asado sandwich ($7.99), which was simply fabulous: shredded garlic-seasoned pork (there may have been lime in there too) with sauteed onions on wonderful Cuban bread. The sandwich, which came with a side of plaintains, was so huge that I brought half home to have as my breakfast the next morning before I departed for the airport. (My mother thought it insane that I would have a pork sandwich for breakfast, but as I told her, people eat bacon and ham for breakfast all the time and, in any event, I was not going to let convention deprive me of one last shot at great Cuban food). There is also a lechon asado meal for $11.99, but as far as I could tell the only difference is that the meal comes with three side dishes. The amount of pork in both the sandwich and the meal seems roughly comparable. So, unless you're especially fond of side dishes (and keep in mind that you already get plantains with the sandwich) it would appear that the meal is probably not worth the extra four dollars. So, in conclusion: two visits, two great meals. I will come to Padrino's whenever I am in the vicinity of Boca Raton. Highly recommended.
(5)Jonathan B.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Cuban-food connoisseurs rejoice! Zero disappointments after tonight's dinner. We all cleaned our plates, and left feeling very satisfied (perhaps overly so). The homemade lemonade is incredible -- no free refills though. I doubted my brother's recommendation, but never again. Wow!
(5)Nayla B.
My family has been coming here for a LONG time (I think more than 10 years) and the food has always been consistently good. They make really authentic Cuban food and the prices are super cheap for the huge portions. The garlic bread is delicious, and the plantain chips with the onion sauce is soo good. We always order the bistec de pollo with either beef or chicken...they consist of huge portions and come with rice, plantains, and/or french fries! We also get the delicious tres leches for dessert, which is so yummy!!!
(5)Kevin P.
Padrino's has a friendly waitstaff, great food, and huge portions, what else could you ask for? To start, the bread you get before your meal is delicious. I got the paella (mix of seafood and chicken) and a side of black beans and vegetables. I made the mistake of getting vegetables instead of plantains and I recommend you do not do the same. I had my dad's plantains and they were very good. As for the meal, I couldn't stop eating, the rice and bean combo worked perfectly and I ended up finishing my whole pile of food. The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars is that its the only Cuban food I've ever had and i don't have anything to base it off of.
(4)Sarah S.
I have a recurring fantasy in which Padrino's opens a restaurant in my hometown of San Francisco. I don't have much of a point of comparison, but I suspect that this is Cuban food at its finest. The portions are tremendous--most entrees come with three heaping sides: yucca (my favorite!), plantains, veggies, fries, or black beans. The Arroz Rellano is worth the inevitable heart attack--yellow rice layered with shredded chicken and smothered with melted mozzarella. The mojito knocked my Bubby flat!
(5)David C.
It's not too bad. Some meals are good and some aren't. The Pan con Bistec is good; the Picadillo is okay tho there are some strange looking items in the beef/sauce mixture that I've never seen before... Plus the place is quite pricey...
(3)Jen G.
I've been going here for years and they're pretty much always on point as far as food & service goes. Usually start with a side salad with their house vinaigrette dressing. Ingredients are always fresh and their dressing is so good I use their bread to mop up every last drop. Cuban bread is served with the meal- but it's not always hot and crispy. Can't go wrong with their bistec de pollo, rice, beans and tostones (though there are times those aren't the freshest). Tres Leches and Sangria are the best around town. Their Flan is great, too. Wouldn't recommend take-out, though. Food quality seems higher when you dine-in.
(4)David M.
Great Cuban sandwich! Will be back!
(4)Nick A.
Really good food..makes you very thirsty..the boneless chx breast and arroz relleno are very good..pretty good portions..been here many times..salads are good too..the side salad is fresh and real good and the balsamic viniagrette is one of the best I've had..bread they give is good..lunch buffet Is good and fresh..the tres leches is very very inconsistent..sometimes it tastes like the best I've ever had by far and other times it's meh..If u order the tray of it for a party it's always great though..probly my favorite cake..service is pretty weak..I love the food here solid 4 stars
(4)Jan T.
Having never been to Cuba or having any close Cuban friends I cant judge this place based on authentic Cuban food so this is based on flavor. I went during lunch which they had a buffet for around $9. From what I can remember they had black beans, chicken soup, yellow rice, some other rice with lots of meat in it, ropa veja, fricase (sp) chicken, chicken wings, salad, pork, plantains and ground beef. The ground beef stuff was yummy. I might have missed 1 or 2 dishes but you get the idea. Service was just ok. Nothing to write home about. The fricase(sp) chicken drumstick was so undercooked. Undercooked to the point I could smell that raw smell from my plate. Eww. But other than that I somewhat enjoyed my meal. Worth a try anyway I think if you're in the area for lunch.
(2)Amanda B.
3.5 stars I've been here about 3-4 times and had different experiences each time. The first time.."best Cuban restaurant around!" This last visit... I won't be going out of my way for Padrino anymore. It was an obvious night and day difference; everything from the free bread to the service. Free bread when hot, pressed and buttery is a delicious start to any meal, anywhere! I always order chimichurri steak and I can say its been better. The steak was not overcooked, it just seemed like a cheaper cut of meat then what i was given on my first visit here; rice, beans, plantains were all on par. Tres leches for desert was a small, dried out end piece but we ate it anyway. We then ordered a second piece this time asking for a "larger, moist, middle cut piece of tres because that's not what we were used to at Padrinos" the waiter delivered just that the second time around. (Maybe I should have ordered my steak like that as well.) Finally, bring your own bottle of water or ask for the pitcher to be placed on the table because refills were sometimes no where in sight. If you want a decent Cuban meal I recommend Padrino's. If you want a stellar Cuban meal, drive 45 mins south to Havana's in Sunrise.
(3)Jesse W.
Great food always has been!!!
(5)Stan T.
Great place if you want to dine in or takeout. Food is usually always on point. Bistec el pollo & chimichurra steak are delicious. A must have is the sangria as well. Price is very friendly considering the amount of food you get per dish. Most of meals have 3 sides to pick from. Desserts are very good, especially the tres leches.
(4)Lisa M.
I love the food here. It is one of the best cuban restaurants in South Florida except maybe for the Miami area. I love the rice and chicken dishes. Get the plantains cooked extra well. Yummy!
(4)Dustyn S.
Been coming to Padrino's for as long as I can remember. The food has always been consistently good. Bistec de pollo has been my favorite forever! The bread is also amazing. Check out their lunch buffet also, cant go wrong! We bring all of our out of town friends to this place to try some real Cuban food! Great staff, great food.
(5)Ali S.
Love this place!! Delicious mojitos!
(5)