Best( real)cuban restaurant in Miami! Believe it or not, most restaurants in Miami claiming to be cuban are owned by a mixture of other south americans whose cuisine is similar and due to the popularity of cuban food in South Florida, its all lumped together. This is small place, very nice, with table cloths and still inexpensive. The food is delicious and the staff very helpful.
(4)
J R.
It's cheap, authentic cuban food. Fun in groups, business meeting or family.
(3)
Ricardo B.
LOVE this place for cuban food. It has all the options just as in Versailles but in a much better ambiance. This place is always consistently good and the waiters are friendly. Decor may be dated and the parking is very small but who cares, it is clean, cool air conditioning. Favorite dish? ALL OF THEM!!! LOL
(4)
Arleen C.
We went out to dinner last night with the "kids"....of course, hubby and son LOOOOOOVE cuban cuisine so they planned on going to La Casita since the night before and they had just been dreaming with their Vaca Frita plate. I'm not a huge fan of cuban restaurants but, I gotta give it to this place, the food was excellent. All five of us were very pleased with our choices and we all left extremely full. Service, well, I would probably give it 2 1/2 stars since we had to be chasing after our waiter for water and, when taking our order, it was kinda slow but no big deal. Over all, our outing was great and very tasteful. I wouldn't mind at all another visit to this place.
(4)
Jordan N.
This place reminds me of a Cuban Luby's sans the cafeteria line and items. This place seems to bring in all those "viejitos" (elderly). It looks nicer in an old fashioned way than La Carreta not too far away. The prices are a bit higher. Service... well it's Miami, what can I say? Food? It wasn't as impressive as it could have been. The food definitely pales in comparison with Havana Harry's, Versailles, and La Carreta even. I ordered the lamb and it was alright - it just tasted like a pot roast, nothing more spectacular than that. A friend of mine told me that his pan con bistec sandwich was tough. We still ate all of our food, since they weren't bad. The drinks were nicely decorated (slice of orange on the rim of a nice looking cup for your orange juice made me think it was a mimosa) but I'm not sure if it is worth the price. Overall, I probably won't come back here unless if I hear of something that's worth trying.
(3)
Joseluis A.
la casita is convenient for those who work on ponce and 8h street. service is fast and the lunch specials are inexpensive. the food is nothing out of the ordinary, then again, its cuban food so theres a million other cuban restaurants in miami. one thing ive noticed about this place is ... the characters i see here, and believe me, coming from me ... it means a lot.
(3)
Danna A.
food quality is average not the best, service is fast though.
(4)
William B.
La Casita, is another of my favorite Cuban Restaurant when, I was in Miami on a vacation. Unlike the Versailles Restaurant. La Casita also gives you a very big plate on what you order. The item that, I orderd on the menu was The Breaded Chicken Steak and when the waiter came to our table with my order, I was shocked to see how big the Breaded Chicken Steak was.
(5)
François P.
Went there a few days ago and had creat experience! Great service and food! Second time in cuban cuisine and so far the best, i would recomend this place to everybody!
(5)
Lizandra J.
My to go place for Cuban food in Coral Gables and possibly all Miami. Unpretentious, flavorful and decent prices. This is a place we could call off the beaten path yet a great opportunity for non-locals to appreciate both the Cuban cuisine and culture, because mostly Cubans come here to eat, which is a good sign too. Service is great, really courteous team and always suggesting what's best for you, no nickel and dime here. Tamales con Lechon, maybe one of the best I have had outside Cuba...this place is a gem.
(4)
Jen F.
YUMMMMMY! This was my first Cuban dining experience. The place is fancy inside but the prices are reasonable. Great ambiance. Try not to fill up on warm, delicious Cuban bread! The menu is large- lots of options to choose from! I ordered the pot roast. While this was not the way to go (I'd give it a solid 3 though), I tried my coworker's meals and those were spectacular! The strip steak was good and so was the lamb dish. The plantains (dessert style ones) were also delicious. Oh, and as an appetizer we ordered fried yuka which was awesome and plantains. I give this place 3.5 stars. I rounded up to four because of the great service and dining experience.
(4)
Meghan L.
We visited La Casita because the reviews suggested this is "where the locals go" and not to believe the hype about Versailles. I really wanted to like and support this "family-owned" restaurant, but unfortunately we left fairly disappointed. Our Brazilian friend was excited to order the Frituras De Bacalao (codfish fritters) and try the Limonata drink. Unfortunately our waiter returned to inform us they were out of both the appetizer and desired drink. We ordered a carafe of the red sangria to share and I was disappointed with not only how sweet the wine was but the fact that the pieces of fruit were not fresh! At the bottom of the glass the pieces of fruit looked like the canned fruit from a fruit cocktail cup - gross! The Yuca Frita arrived with six large pieces of yuca which was plenty for the 5 of us to share, but the pieces were lacking flavor and not very crispy. The Yuca Frita was pipping hot so I know it was fresh, but I prefer when this dish is made with smaller pieces of yuca so they're crispier and more delicious. The "cilantro de crema" (creamy cilantro sauce) was quite bland since it was made just made by mixing mayonnaise with cilantro sauce. I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp, $13.95) which was a pretty mediocre and disappointing dish. The menu describes the dish as "shrimp seasoned and pan sauteed in extra virgin olive oil, garlic and spanish white wine." I could not taste the white wine at all! The shrimp arrived in a thick sauce of garlic olive oil gravy that was really not appetizing. The maduros (sweet plantains) on the side were unevenly cooked, with one fairly burnt. The desserts (except for the Tres Leches Cake) are "hecho en casa" (made in the restaurant), which is a plus and the coconut flan was actually pretty good. The service at the restaurant was okay but I expected the staff to be friendlier and more attentive given this is supposed to be a family restaurant. The "live music" was one guy with a DJ set-up in the restaurant which started around 9:30p and was unreasonably loud. Sorry, La Casita, I just wasn't impressed and this kinda left a bad taste in my mouth so to speak.
(2)
Saily L.
The food here is actually very good! The only problem I have with them is that they CHARGE a fee for the containers they use when you order for delivery and take out! Can anyone believe that? Who does that?! They charge a $2 fee for delivery and 0.25 cents for each container they use (depending on the size, if it's bigger its more) to put the food. I am like in total shock.. Anyway, I love their chicharritas de malanga. One of the best I've ever had! I usually get El pollo empanizado with moro and platanitos maduros. Very good stuff. But yeah, that container fee is a disappointment.
(3)
Bob F.
Rode in on my motorcycle and was way under dressed. They welcomed me in anyway. Nice people, excellent service and they make a nice Cuban sandwich. I'll be back.
(4)
Melissa H.
So good. Super cheap! Don't be fooled when you walk up; looks like it's super expensive because it has white table clothes and the servers are dressed nice. But the food is spectacular and like I said super cheap. Had the Bistec de Pollo, $10 and DELICIOUS! Had the Cubano sandwich, $7 and also delicious!!! It's the same owners as Las Vegas Cuban Cusines.
(5)
Jason H.
So was far outside my neck of the woods since my girlfriend needed an MRI. Being in Miami, we thought we'd dig around yelp and found this gem just 1 mile away from the MRI center. First you are served with bread with light butter. Crisp and light, the bread is good. But I don't like filling up on bread. They just opened so we're not busy. We ordered the beef empanadas as an appetizer which was out of this world good. Burnt my tongue good. Definitely give them a try. They had some extreme food on the menu so played it safe with the Cuban. The ham on the Cuban was delicious. He pork was a thick slice of real pork. Pretty lean with some minimal fat. I thought Cuban sandwiches came with pickles but there was none. No big deal, it was still the best Cuban I've had. Ordered a chocolate milkshake to endulge and it was very unique. As if they use real cocoa. If you enjoy milkshakes but want to try one with a different twist, I'd highly recommend it. All in all, if your looking for the opposite of a commercial restaurant experience with great tasting authentic food, give these guys a try. If you don't speak Spanish you may have a hard time here. But I'll save you the trouble. Use Google translate if your not bilingual and you'll be good to go. Authentic Cuban restaurant. Requested mustard and it wasn't understood.
(4)
Sunem N.
This is our Cuban food go to place. We've dined in a few times but typically call in our order and get take out. It's convenient and close to home. You won't find many tourist here, mostly your coral gables Cuban viejitos and large family gatherings. They have live violinist on weeknight which adds a nice touch. They recently remodeled this local, it got a nice facelift. As for the food whenever we're sick and in need of chicken soup this is where we get it, as close to homemade as it gets. Some of out fave starters are the tostones relleno de picadillo, and the tamal. For Entree I like the Boliche mechado (pot roast like) it's very tender and the sauce is very savory perfect with some white rice and Maduros. If you order take out specify you want Cuban bread, they normally bring you a free basket when you dine in but seems like a burden when you take out.
(4)
Briana C.
I thought the food was ok. We came here after going to an appointment nearby and expected to get real authentic Cuban sandwiches. I was not impressed with the food. The only thing we got that was decent was the empanadas and the French fries.
(3)
Greg B.
I eat at la Casita at least twice s week as it is near my office. It is an excellence Cuban food. The special every day are delicious and very inexpensive. I recommend it to anyone. Great Cuban food
(4)
Jessica C.
Yuca Frita! Thick, soft with perfect cilantro dipping sauce. I enjoyed a refreshing dinner at La Casita! Food came out fast Service was excellent. Everything was pleasant from the taste of the food to the white tablecloths. This is a little bit more upscale than your average Cuban joint and that's exactly why it scores a little higher in my book.
(4)
Carlos R.
The best Cuban restaurant ever, I recommend the Cordero a su vino o el pargo Frito is just delicious
(5)
Cassie G.
I enjoy ropa vieja, rice, beans and, of course, plantains, but don't go out of my way to sit down at a white tablecloth Cuban restaurant very often. I'll order a medianoche at Palacio de los Jugos or pick up a cortadito at ventanitas all around Little Havana but if I am going out for a meal, Cuban food is only reserved for when I have visitors in town. Thankfully, I recently had an influx of them and instead of taking them to Versailles for the umpteenth time, opted for La Casita, a neighborhood Cuban spot just a couple blocks down. I heard about this place from friends. A popular spot for locals to head for lunch during the workday with cheap specials and large portions. After dining there a couple times, it's hard for me to ever go back to Versailles. My favorite dishes include the tostones with overflowing picadillo, beef empanadas, maduros, rice and beans. All the meats I've tried have been pretty good but the soggy salad left a little to be desired (not sure why there are dill pickles on the side). As I mentioned, they really do have especially large portions so we always have leftovers. The sangria with fruit cocktail is sweet but refreshing. One of my visitors especially loved the tres leches cake and demanded to go back two days in a row just to have it. It's a popular spot for families to go and sometimes in the evenings they'll have live Spanish music. It gets loud but has a nice ambiance. I'm glad I live so close and no longer have to endure the life threatening parking lot, crowded ventanita or crazy ambiance of Versailles. I appreciate it's significance and reputation but, for now, you'll find me at La Casita.
(4)
Alfonso R.
One of the less crowded places on 8th street. Amazing food that always taste fresh and the best flan I've had in Miami.
(4)
Sinem S.
The fried pork chunks are the best!!!
(5)
Blanca G.
Love this place. Great palomilla. Lately, however, during lunch time they have a "tuna", bunch of Spanish guys singing loudly while you are trying to have a conversation. Today I left without ordering desert and leaving half of my cortadito. What an annoying way to disturb lunch.
(4)
Melissa L.
Excellent abuelita-style cooking! A friendly, clean ambience. We ordered the croquetas and yuca frita as appetizers which were one of the best I've had. The ropa vieja was a must-have. Vaca frita was delicious. Their desserts are homemade. We went with flan de coco and tres Leches. Would definitely return!
(5)
Nicole P.
Best Cuban food in our area! Versailles is always on a wait and there are too many tourists, La Caretta has blah service. We LOVE this place!!!!
(5)
Lisa G.
The food here was excellent...and for the price, even better! Authentic Cuban cuisine, excellent service, clean.....I will be back again before I leave Miami.
(5)
Robert V.
The skirt steak or Churassco has to be Miami's best hands down!!!! Great service and properly priced.
(5)
Margo B.
My favorite meal hands down is the pollo empanizada with moros and platanos maduros. Theyre open for breakfast and you can buy empanadas, pastelitos, fresh swueezed orange juice, cafe con leche, etc. I havent found a cafe con leche that is better.
(5)
Fernando T.
Went here on a Friday night to celebrate a graduation dinner party. It definitely is a mom & pop restaurant but has a nice cozy feel to it. They had a live violinist playing which was nice. He even played songs from Adele. We ordered the palomilla and the masa de puerco. The food was pretty good (good seasoning) and the portions are a good size. Prices were at par with every other place.
(4)
Gabriel G.
Great solid Cuban food, it's not going to blow your lid off but it's solid. It's our go-to lunch spot for a great $8-10 lunch. Nothing fancy, fairly attentive service. They get you in an out fairly quickly for lunch. The Palomilla is good.
(3)
Richard W.
The food here was excellent and service was great. Took my family for dinner and there was no long wait which usually happens during weekend dinner rush. The restaurant is nice too and on the weekend there is live music. This place is where locals take their families for dinner. The assorted appetizer platter was awesome. My wife and I had the arroz con pollo. It took about 45 minutes to cook. The dish taste good but the rice was a bit wet. I usually like it a little drier. Still like the dish. My brother had the skirt steak and it was tender and delicious. His wife has the roasted pork. She loved and would order again. This little place took me by surprise how great their food was. It is located in the shopping center but can be easily drive right by it. I would recommend it to others. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Leslie B.
The food was surprisingly delicious. I've never knew that this restaurant was there. I always pass that way to go to Versailles. The waiter was super nice and helpful.
(5)
Raquel G.
The food is good - not great, but consistently good. For that they get 3 solid stars. The service on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired. As I write this, I am sitting at a booth with no silverware, no appetizer plates and none of the condiments I asked for when our appetizers were served and dry water glasses (after asking that they be filled). Apparently the girl is too busy with the other full tables in the restaurant ... All 4 of them.
(3)
Renee A.
Delicious restaurant! Rolando recommended the Lechon Arada (pork dish) and it was scrumptious!! Rolando was a great server!! Would definitely go back!!
(4)
Natalie G.
Get your Cuban food fix at La Casita! Its a low key restaurant with good service and good food to match. When you want to avoid the crowds and noise at Versailles this is a great place to go. I love their chicken soup, chicken chunks with marinated onions, rice & black beans, yuca with cilantro sauce and fried plantains. Leave some room for flan, but share it if you want to avoid your cholesterol and sugar going through the roof!
(4)
Nicole V.
The food here is great, especially the flan. I went on a Friday night and there was a guy playing the violin beautifully. I'll be eating here again for sure.
(4)
Cory P.
Yum. We just decided what the hell, lets try this place. I don't think a person walks away saying holy poo that was awesome but will walk away saying ...yum and We will bookmark for when we are next in this area.
(4)
David A.
Good food, slow service - asked waiter 3 times for water.
(3)
Sand R.
We drove by and I was very hungry so just decided to eat there. My friend ordered beef liver and I had baby steak. His beef liver was very tough and my steak was not tender, either. In addition, there was a BUG in my water. I did not see it until I had drank the water. We told the waiter when the waiter came to take the bill, and he offered to give me another cup of water. I would expect more than offering another cup of water. My friend felt stomach burned after the meal. There are so many good Cuban restaurant in Miami. I certainly will not go back there.
(1)
Michael M.
So when your cuban in-laws take you OUT for good cuban food you know you are in for a treat! Tucked away in a motel like setting, this family owned business is small, but well maintained. The staff is very pleasant and their english was as good as my spanish, so I may have been in trouble if there alone. Ham croquettes were out of this world, and probably the best I've ever had. Sangria was also excellent, not too strong, not too sweet. I had the skirt steak, which was tender and flavorful, and quite a nice cut. Sides of green plaintains, rice, and black beans were delicious and huge. I skipped dessert but the rice pudding evoked eye rolls and lots of lip smacking from theose that indulged. Service was pleasant and attentive, restrooms were clean and well maintained. So no excuses! Get in there and try it out!
(5)
Laron S.
the half chicken was awesome seasoned to perfection house salad was alittle plain but food is a must have will b returning for sure !!!!! On $9.95 salad $4.95
(5)
Dione M.
Excellent little Cuban restaurant! Try the yuca!
(5)
Guillermo R.
The best cuban cuisine in Miami. (IMHO)
(5)
Tony B.
My last experience here was not what it used to be. The place is now part of the Las Vegas chain. I've been at the Las Vegas at Miramar before and the food was descent. Unfortunately that was not my experience this time. I ordered the Churrasco "Skirt Steak" special and I can honestly say that It has set a new bar as the worst Churrasco steak I've had in my life. I don't normally leave food behind, but this time I left a good 80% of the steak on the plate. I'm not one to complain during the dinner and I still regret I didn't. At the end of the meal the waiter asked if I wanted to pack it up to go. To Go? You kidding? I told him it was not good at all. He did say he would have changed it had I complained before. He made no effort to offer neither a coffe nor dessert after the fact though. Call me old school but I think if you complain during the meal you'll get a little extra on the "Corrected" dish. My wife enjoyed the Palomilla Steak that she shared with my daughter. I tasted it and it was ok. Nothing to rave about but definitely not the crappy churrasco. I should have kept driving down the street to Versailles which was my original choice till I remembered of this place.
(1)
Robert G.
For years it was my go to restaurant for authentic Cuban food. In the last years the quality of the taste has diminished. Tonight, I experienced one of the worst attitudes from a server in my life. Perhaps having a bad day? It was10:00PM on a Tuesday evening. There were about 20 customers at 5 tables. One server with two busers. The Food took long to come out of the kitchen. One dish had both sides incorrect (which were the ones the server suggested, strange). One dish had the wrong salad (server stated he "Oscar" had explained it to me when I ordered. I am fluent in Spanish and English and it was not clear to me that the salad I ordered was not available and he was ordering another salad. It's side of mash potatoes was cold. Once it came back out, it literally tasted (tasteless) like nothing more than a mashed potato. I had to add salt, pepper, olive oil to try and bring it alive. Never did the server stop by to ask if the food was OK or we needed anything. Once all the other patrons were gone, all the employees disappeared. The only thing that was extremely fast was the check when I asked for it. I gave a 15% tip out of pity, but there was truly no tip earned. My date was coughing loudly, I had to go track down the server to ask for water. By the time he showed up we were already walking out the door. Truly a poor performance on a store that has seen better days and has fallen in quality. Did I mention the very poor/argumentative attitude by the server in every interaction?
(1)
Placido V.
Very good food and prices. Been in business for a long time
(4)
Eric T.
My favorite place to sit down and have great Cuban food in the City of Miami. It has all the of the options you would expect, nice size portions, fairly cheap price and a romantic enviroment. The flavors are also unparalleled. There are many options for Cuban food in Miami, but as a previous Yelper noted, "La Casita never fails me." I always order the same few things when I'm here. Yuca Frita to start, which comes with this buttery garlic/cilantro dipping sauce. Depending on how many people I am with, the entrees are as follows: bistec de pollo (pounded out chicken breast marinated in garlic and lime, covered in sauteed onions), churrasco (skirt steak with Chimichurri sauce), and Masa de puerco (fried pork chunks). All amazingly flavors and served with white rice, black beans, and platanos maduros. I always order an extra side of plantains too. Here they have my favorite in the country. Another favorite of mine is the Flan de Coco, which I always get because again I have yet to find a place in the country the serves better coconut flan. A sweet and tiny cuban coffee to finish things off and it's the perfect meal. The staff is always very nice and on Friday and Saturday nights you can enjoy the Cuban crooner who usually has his mic turned up a little too loud.
Anytime I want to have a a delicious, hearty meal in a classy environment with First class service: La Casita on 8th Street is where you will find me. It looks upscale and expensive when you walk in, but the prices are far from that. :) Every dish I have ever ordered has been delicious. The Appetizers I usually order are the stuffed tostones with shrimp or picadillo and both are really good. As for desert I usually get the Flan which is my favorite. There is usually enough food to take home for the next day. You can have an appetizer, two main dishes, a pitcher of Sangria and a desert for less than $50 with tip. You cant go wrong here.
(5)
Rafael S.
Great as always, great food, great atmosphere , clean , good prices. Is place you want to bring your parents to or friends for great Cuban food. And you will not go home smelling like you where in a kitchen.
(5)
Miguel N.
You really have no idea where to start looking for good food and exceptional service, my garmen has failed me horribly. Luckily I have YELP!! Thanks, I now found the best Cuban restaurant in Miami... by far.
(5)
Yari B.
Good Cuban food.
(4)
cecilia t.
Every time we eat there everything is cooked to perfection. Food is fresh and the place is clean! My husband is very picky and this is his favorite Cuban restaurant.
(5)
Dahyana C.
I go to La Casita for Lunch at least 3 times a week since it is at a walking distance from my office. Staff is the best, (Oscar is the greatest waiter ever!!), the food is consistently good, place is always clean, Elaisy makes the best Coffee after lunch! Lunch specials variety is very fresh every day and prices are unbeatable! What can I say??!! They treat regular customers as family, but if you are new, don't worry, you will become a regular and be part of the pack pretty soon.
(4)
Wilfredo L.
I had dinner here recently and the food and service were excellent. Servers were very attentive and on top of things. I went with my sister and brother-in-law. We had chicken soup, tostones rellenos de picadillo and 3 different entrees: grilled chicken, rice and black beans and maduros; bistec empanizado, rice and black beans and maduros; chicharrones de pollo, salad. We finished with cafe con leche (good). I would recommend this restaurant, delish!
I am rating this place on the Miami curve. I only wish I could find Cuban food this good in Manhattan. With that said ... We went here with my mom, a "viejita" not unlike the ones mentioned in one of the previous reviews. She loves this place. We went on a Friday night. The place was understated. The parking was easy. The crowd was relatively sparse and predominantly older with a scattering of younger people. If you do not speak Spanish, I'm sure they will work with you, but be forewarned that your waiter or waitress may not speak English. The menu has English translations of the dishes listed right below the Spansh ones. The food was really good. I had a churrasco, not really a traditional Cuban dish, but one of my favorites. It was cooked well and the quality of the meat was okay. The chimichurri was also good. My fiancee had my other favorite dish, Vaca Frita (Cuban Shredded Beef). This was really good; I sampled it myself just to make sure, or so goes my story. My mom loves the Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks). The side dishes ... black beans, rice, congri, and maduros (fried plantains) ... were all amazing. The fiancee loves her sangria. She said the one here was really good. It was sweet and light with a little kick. Overall, I would highly recommend this place. Why the 4 stars? Because this is Miami ... I told you there was a curve. However, you will not be disappointed in any way if you eat here. You will be enjoy a quality, authentic Cuban meal. Like I said, I can only wish to find a Cuban restaurant in Manhattan that provides a fraction of the quality of food found here. If you know of one, please share. Please. I'm serious ... please.
(4)
Manuel G.
Great location, good typical Cuban menu, friendly service,& reasonable prices it's a winner. Parking sometimes is difficult but plenty of meters around it's street. The ambiance is nice ,classy& laid back ,which I like, not tacky & loud like Versailles a couple of blocks away.
(4)
Ivonne Marie C.
La Casita never fails me. I just went for lunch today w/a girlfriend whose visiting from Chicago. I'm not a big fan of Cuban food, but I've tried several places and none really do it for me. Yet I know that when I go to La Casita there are a number of dishes that I can order that will not only satisfy me, but also stuff me!!! OMG am I stuffed! But only because it was so good. Again, it's not like I'll want to go to this place every day, every week, much less once a month. But it has nothing to do with the place. I'm just not a Cuban-food eater. Today I ordered the Vaca Frita. I hadn't been to this place since before Aug. 2006, and I think their serving size has gotten smaller - which is great - for me! I don't really like that they bring you the rice and plantains in one plate, the meat in another, and the bowl of beans separate. I'm the kind of person that likes to have everything in one plate, and I don't like to see food being pushed from one plate to another. So eating here is a little uncomfortable for me in that aspect. In all however, the meat was very good. I always add salt, but that's me. The onions were cooked enough - I don't like them raw - but they weren't' burnt ~ good! My girlfriend tried the Palomilla Bistec - she loved it. Of course - Cuban restaurants in Chicago can't compare to the ones here, but in all she has a good appetite and a very particular taste in food - so if she said it was good, I'd put my money on it. The place was pretty packed - you couldn't tell there's people without jobs out there by looking inside this restaurant during lunch time. Still the wait was not much, a couple of minutes if at that. The service was prompt and good - plus we got two servings of bread - love!!! I recommend this place to anyone. La Carreta & Versailles are just down the street, but I think I still opt for La Casita b/c the service is nicer and in all I think the food is better too.
(4)
Javier M.
*bias switch on* Came here on Sunday with my family and some friends (including the parrish priest) some of which were bona fide Cubans, first mig-generation (came circa 1961) and had a fantastic time and excellent cuban food. Located in one of the many generic c-shaped commercial structures around miami, this place is anything but a rustic restaurant; quite elegant yet simple, excellent service, cozy and they even had a live performer singing old suave ballads. I ordered a Palomilla (tender steak richly seasoned and very tasty) which was juicy and came with a selection of three sides (rice/salad/sweet plantains or black beans) and I have to say that I was fully satisfied with everything, including my delicious cortadito coffee at the end of the meal, which was powerful, tasty and kept me wide awake for the next 5 hours. The menu had an amazing array of cuban dishes that I wish I could experiment further, so I definitely recommend any Miamians or visitors to go and try it out (the Tasajo and Ropa Vieja were highly recommended) And yes, I turned the bias switch on since it was only a first try, and I was swooned by the spectacular time, conversation and food. Fin. *bias switch off*
(4)
Adrian W.
Good. love this place! Very good food.. and as usual with Cuban Restaurants.... A LOT OF FOOD for the money.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Felicia S.
Best( real)cuban restaurant in Miami! Believe it or not, most restaurants in Miami claiming to be cuban are owned by a mixture of other south americans whose cuisine is similar and due to the popularity of cuban food in South Florida, its all lumped together. This is small place, very nice, with table cloths and still inexpensive. The food is delicious and the staff very helpful.
(4)J R.
It's cheap, authentic cuban food. Fun in groups, business meeting or family.
(3)Ricardo B.
LOVE this place for cuban food. It has all the options just as in Versailles but in a much better ambiance. This place is always consistently good and the waiters are friendly. Decor may be dated and the parking is very small but who cares, it is clean, cool air conditioning. Favorite dish? ALL OF THEM!!! LOL
(4)Arleen C.
We went out to dinner last night with the "kids"....of course, hubby and son LOOOOOOVE cuban cuisine so they planned on going to La Casita since the night before and they had just been dreaming with their Vaca Frita plate. I'm not a huge fan of cuban restaurants but, I gotta give it to this place, the food was excellent. All five of us were very pleased with our choices and we all left extremely full. Service, well, I would probably give it 2 1/2 stars since we had to be chasing after our waiter for water and, when taking our order, it was kinda slow but no big deal. Over all, our outing was great and very tasteful. I wouldn't mind at all another visit to this place.
(4)Jordan N.
This place reminds me of a Cuban Luby's sans the cafeteria line and items. This place seems to bring in all those "viejitos" (elderly). It looks nicer in an old fashioned way than La Carreta not too far away. The prices are a bit higher. Service... well it's Miami, what can I say? Food? It wasn't as impressive as it could have been. The food definitely pales in comparison with Havana Harry's, Versailles, and La Carreta even. I ordered the lamb and it was alright - it just tasted like a pot roast, nothing more spectacular than that. A friend of mine told me that his pan con bistec sandwich was tough. We still ate all of our food, since they weren't bad. The drinks were nicely decorated (slice of orange on the rim of a nice looking cup for your orange juice made me think it was a mimosa) but I'm not sure if it is worth the price. Overall, I probably won't come back here unless if I hear of something that's worth trying.
(3)Joseluis A.
la casita is convenient for those who work on ponce and 8h street. service is fast and the lunch specials are inexpensive. the food is nothing out of the ordinary, then again, its cuban food so theres a million other cuban restaurants in miami. one thing ive noticed about this place is ... the characters i see here, and believe me, coming from me ... it means a lot.
(3)Danna A.
food quality is average not the best, service is fast though.
(4)William B.
La Casita, is another of my favorite Cuban Restaurant when, I was in Miami on a vacation. Unlike the Versailles Restaurant. La Casita also gives you a very big plate on what you order. The item that, I orderd on the menu was The Breaded Chicken Steak and when the waiter came to our table with my order, I was shocked to see how big the Breaded Chicken Steak was.
(5)François P.
Went there a few days ago and had creat experience! Great service and food! Second time in cuban cuisine and so far the best, i would recomend this place to everybody!
(5)Lizandra J.
My to go place for Cuban food in Coral Gables and possibly all Miami. Unpretentious, flavorful and decent prices. This is a place we could call off the beaten path yet a great opportunity for non-locals to appreciate both the Cuban cuisine and culture, because mostly Cubans come here to eat, which is a good sign too. Service is great, really courteous team and always suggesting what's best for you, no nickel and dime here. Tamales con Lechon, maybe one of the best I have had outside Cuba...this place is a gem.
(4)Jen F.
YUMMMMMY! This was my first Cuban dining experience. The place is fancy inside but the prices are reasonable. Great ambiance. Try not to fill up on warm, delicious Cuban bread! The menu is large- lots of options to choose from! I ordered the pot roast. While this was not the way to go (I'd give it a solid 3 though), I tried my coworker's meals and those were spectacular! The strip steak was good and so was the lamb dish. The plantains (dessert style ones) were also delicious. Oh, and as an appetizer we ordered fried yuka which was awesome and plantains. I give this place 3.5 stars. I rounded up to four because of the great service and dining experience.
(4)Meghan L.
We visited La Casita because the reviews suggested this is "where the locals go" and not to believe the hype about Versailles. I really wanted to like and support this "family-owned" restaurant, but unfortunately we left fairly disappointed. Our Brazilian friend was excited to order the Frituras De Bacalao (codfish fritters) and try the Limonata drink. Unfortunately our waiter returned to inform us they were out of both the appetizer and desired drink. We ordered a carafe of the red sangria to share and I was disappointed with not only how sweet the wine was but the fact that the pieces of fruit were not fresh! At the bottom of the glass the pieces of fruit looked like the canned fruit from a fruit cocktail cup - gross! The Yuca Frita arrived with six large pieces of yuca which was plenty for the 5 of us to share, but the pieces were lacking flavor and not very crispy. The Yuca Frita was pipping hot so I know it was fresh, but I prefer when this dish is made with smaller pieces of yuca so they're crispier and more delicious. The "cilantro de crema" (creamy cilantro sauce) was quite bland since it was made just made by mixing mayonnaise with cilantro sauce. I ordered the Camarones al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp, $13.95) which was a pretty mediocre and disappointing dish. The menu describes the dish as "shrimp seasoned and pan sauteed in extra virgin olive oil, garlic and spanish white wine." I could not taste the white wine at all! The shrimp arrived in a thick sauce of garlic olive oil gravy that was really not appetizing. The maduros (sweet plantains) on the side were unevenly cooked, with one fairly burnt. The desserts (except for the Tres Leches Cake) are "hecho en casa" (made in the restaurant), which is a plus and the coconut flan was actually pretty good. The service at the restaurant was okay but I expected the staff to be friendlier and more attentive given this is supposed to be a family restaurant. The "live music" was one guy with a DJ set-up in the restaurant which started around 9:30p and was unreasonably loud. Sorry, La Casita, I just wasn't impressed and this kinda left a bad taste in my mouth so to speak.
(2)Saily L.
The food here is actually very good! The only problem I have with them is that they CHARGE a fee for the containers they use when you order for delivery and take out! Can anyone believe that? Who does that?! They charge a $2 fee for delivery and 0.25 cents for each container they use (depending on the size, if it's bigger its more) to put the food. I am like in total shock.. Anyway, I love their chicharritas de malanga. One of the best I've ever had! I usually get El pollo empanizado with moro and platanitos maduros. Very good stuff. But yeah, that container fee is a disappointment.
(3)Bob F.
Rode in on my motorcycle and was way under dressed. They welcomed me in anyway. Nice people, excellent service and they make a nice Cuban sandwich. I'll be back.
(4)Melissa H.
So good. Super cheap! Don't be fooled when you walk up; looks like it's super expensive because it has white table clothes and the servers are dressed nice. But the food is spectacular and like I said super cheap. Had the Bistec de Pollo, $10 and DELICIOUS! Had the Cubano sandwich, $7 and also delicious!!! It's the same owners as Las Vegas Cuban Cusines.
(5)Jason H.
So was far outside my neck of the woods since my girlfriend needed an MRI. Being in Miami, we thought we'd dig around yelp and found this gem just 1 mile away from the MRI center. First you are served with bread with light butter. Crisp and light, the bread is good. But I don't like filling up on bread. They just opened so we're not busy. We ordered the beef empanadas as an appetizer which was out of this world good. Burnt my tongue good. Definitely give them a try. They had some extreme food on the menu so played it safe with the Cuban. The ham on the Cuban was delicious. He pork was a thick slice of real pork. Pretty lean with some minimal fat. I thought Cuban sandwiches came with pickles but there was none. No big deal, it was still the best Cuban I've had. Ordered a chocolate milkshake to endulge and it was very unique. As if they use real cocoa. If you enjoy milkshakes but want to try one with a different twist, I'd highly recommend it. All in all, if your looking for the opposite of a commercial restaurant experience with great tasting authentic food, give these guys a try. If you don't speak Spanish you may have a hard time here. But I'll save you the trouble. Use Google translate if your not bilingual and you'll be good to go. Authentic Cuban restaurant. Requested mustard and it wasn't understood.
(4)Sunem N.
This is our Cuban food go to place. We've dined in a few times but typically call in our order and get take out. It's convenient and close to home. You won't find many tourist here, mostly your coral gables Cuban viejitos and large family gatherings. They have live violinist on weeknight which adds a nice touch. They recently remodeled this local, it got a nice facelift. As for the food whenever we're sick and in need of chicken soup this is where we get it, as close to homemade as it gets. Some of out fave starters are the tostones relleno de picadillo, and the tamal. For Entree I like the Boliche mechado (pot roast like) it's very tender and the sauce is very savory perfect with some white rice and Maduros. If you order take out specify you want Cuban bread, they normally bring you a free basket when you dine in but seems like a burden when you take out.
(4)Briana C.
I thought the food was ok. We came here after going to an appointment nearby and expected to get real authentic Cuban sandwiches. I was not impressed with the food. The only thing we got that was decent was the empanadas and the French fries.
(3)Greg B.
I eat at la Casita at least twice s week as it is near my office. It is an excellence Cuban food. The special every day are delicious and very inexpensive. I recommend it to anyone. Great Cuban food
(4)Jessica C.
Yuca Frita! Thick, soft with perfect cilantro dipping sauce. I enjoyed a refreshing dinner at La Casita! Food came out fast Service was excellent. Everything was pleasant from the taste of the food to the white tablecloths. This is a little bit more upscale than your average Cuban joint and that's exactly why it scores a little higher in my book.
(4)Carlos R.
The best Cuban restaurant ever, I recommend the Cordero a su vino o el pargo Frito is just delicious
(5)Cassie G.
I enjoy ropa vieja, rice, beans and, of course, plantains, but don't go out of my way to sit down at a white tablecloth Cuban restaurant very often. I'll order a medianoche at Palacio de los Jugos or pick up a cortadito at ventanitas all around Little Havana but if I am going out for a meal, Cuban food is only reserved for when I have visitors in town. Thankfully, I recently had an influx of them and instead of taking them to Versailles for the umpteenth time, opted for La Casita, a neighborhood Cuban spot just a couple blocks down. I heard about this place from friends. A popular spot for locals to head for lunch during the workday with cheap specials and large portions. After dining there a couple times, it's hard for me to ever go back to Versailles. My favorite dishes include the tostones with overflowing picadillo, beef empanadas, maduros, rice and beans. All the meats I've tried have been pretty good but the soggy salad left a little to be desired (not sure why there are dill pickles on the side). As I mentioned, they really do have especially large portions so we always have leftovers. The sangria with fruit cocktail is sweet but refreshing. One of my visitors especially loved the tres leches cake and demanded to go back two days in a row just to have it. It's a popular spot for families to go and sometimes in the evenings they'll have live Spanish music. It gets loud but has a nice ambiance. I'm glad I live so close and no longer have to endure the life threatening parking lot, crowded ventanita or crazy ambiance of Versailles. I appreciate it's significance and reputation but, for now, you'll find me at La Casita.
(4)Alfonso R.
One of the less crowded places on 8th street. Amazing food that always taste fresh and the best flan I've had in Miami.
(4)Sinem S.
The fried pork chunks are the best!!!
(5)Blanca G.
Love this place. Great palomilla. Lately, however, during lunch time they have a "tuna", bunch of Spanish guys singing loudly while you are trying to have a conversation. Today I left without ordering desert and leaving half of my cortadito. What an annoying way to disturb lunch.
(4)Melissa L.
Excellent abuelita-style cooking! A friendly, clean ambience. We ordered the croquetas and yuca frita as appetizers which were one of the best I've had. The ropa vieja was a must-have. Vaca frita was delicious. Their desserts are homemade. We went with flan de coco and tres Leches. Would definitely return!
(5)Nicole P.
Best Cuban food in our area! Versailles is always on a wait and there are too many tourists, La Caretta has blah service. We LOVE this place!!!!
(5)Lisa G.
The food here was excellent...and for the price, even better! Authentic Cuban cuisine, excellent service, clean.....I will be back again before I leave Miami.
(5)Robert V.
The skirt steak or Churassco has to be Miami's best hands down!!!! Great service and properly priced.
(5)Margo B.
My favorite meal hands down is the pollo empanizada with moros and platanos maduros. Theyre open for breakfast and you can buy empanadas, pastelitos, fresh swueezed orange juice, cafe con leche, etc. I havent found a cafe con leche that is better.
(5)Fernando T.
Went here on a Friday night to celebrate a graduation dinner party. It definitely is a mom & pop restaurant but has a nice cozy feel to it. They had a live violinist playing which was nice. He even played songs from Adele. We ordered the palomilla and the masa de puerco. The food was pretty good (good seasoning) and the portions are a good size. Prices were at par with every other place.
(4)Gabriel G.
Great solid Cuban food, it's not going to blow your lid off but it's solid. It's our go-to lunch spot for a great $8-10 lunch. Nothing fancy, fairly attentive service. They get you in an out fairly quickly for lunch. The Palomilla is good.
(3)Richard W.
The food here was excellent and service was great. Took my family for dinner and there was no long wait which usually happens during weekend dinner rush. The restaurant is nice too and on the weekend there is live music. This place is where locals take their families for dinner. The assorted appetizer platter was awesome. My wife and I had the arroz con pollo. It took about 45 minutes to cook. The dish taste good but the rice was a bit wet. I usually like it a little drier. Still like the dish. My brother had the skirt steak and it was tender and delicious. His wife has the roasted pork. She loved and would order again. This little place took me by surprise how great their food was. It is located in the shopping center but can be easily drive right by it. I would recommend it to others. I would definitely go back.
(4)Leslie B.
The food was surprisingly delicious. I've never knew that this restaurant was there. I always pass that way to go to Versailles. The waiter was super nice and helpful.
(5)Raquel G.
The food is good - not great, but consistently good. For that they get 3 solid stars. The service on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired. As I write this, I am sitting at a booth with no silverware, no appetizer plates and none of the condiments I asked for when our appetizers were served and dry water glasses (after asking that they be filled). Apparently the girl is too busy with the other full tables in the restaurant ... All 4 of them.
(3)Renee A.
Delicious restaurant! Rolando recommended the Lechon Arada (pork dish) and it was scrumptious!! Rolando was a great server!! Would definitely go back!!
(4)Natalie G.
Get your Cuban food fix at La Casita! Its a low key restaurant with good service and good food to match. When you want to avoid the crowds and noise at Versailles this is a great place to go. I love their chicken soup, chicken chunks with marinated onions, rice & black beans, yuca with cilantro sauce and fried plantains. Leave some room for flan, but share it if you want to avoid your cholesterol and sugar going through the roof!
(4)Nicole V.
The food here is great, especially the flan. I went on a Friday night and there was a guy playing the violin beautifully. I'll be eating here again for sure.
(4)Cory P.
Yum. We just decided what the hell, lets try this place. I don't think a person walks away saying holy poo that was awesome but will walk away saying ...yum and We will bookmark for when we are next in this area.
(4)David A.
Good food, slow service - asked waiter 3 times for water.
(3)Sand R.
We drove by and I was very hungry so just decided to eat there. My friend ordered beef liver and I had baby steak. His beef liver was very tough and my steak was not tender, either. In addition, there was a BUG in my water. I did not see it until I had drank the water. We told the waiter when the waiter came to take the bill, and he offered to give me another cup of water. I would expect more than offering another cup of water. My friend felt stomach burned after the meal. There are so many good Cuban restaurant in Miami. I certainly will not go back there.
(1)Michael M.
So when your cuban in-laws take you OUT for good cuban food you know you are in for a treat! Tucked away in a motel like setting, this family owned business is small, but well maintained. The staff is very pleasant and their english was as good as my spanish, so I may have been in trouble if there alone. Ham croquettes were out of this world, and probably the best I've ever had. Sangria was also excellent, not too strong, not too sweet. I had the skirt steak, which was tender and flavorful, and quite a nice cut. Sides of green plaintains, rice, and black beans were delicious and huge. I skipped dessert but the rice pudding evoked eye rolls and lots of lip smacking from theose that indulged. Service was pleasant and attentive, restrooms were clean and well maintained. So no excuses! Get in there and try it out!
(5)Laron S.
the half chicken was awesome seasoned to perfection house salad was alittle plain but food is a must have will b returning for sure !!!!! On $9.95 salad $4.95
(5)Dione M.
Excellent little Cuban restaurant! Try the yuca!
(5)Guillermo R.
The best cuban cuisine in Miami. (IMHO)
(5)Tony B.
My last experience here was not what it used to be. The place is now part of the Las Vegas chain. I've been at the Las Vegas at Miramar before and the food was descent. Unfortunately that was not my experience this time. I ordered the Churrasco "Skirt Steak" special and I can honestly say that It has set a new bar as the worst Churrasco steak I've had in my life. I don't normally leave food behind, but this time I left a good 80% of the steak on the plate. I'm not one to complain during the dinner and I still regret I didn't. At the end of the meal the waiter asked if I wanted to pack it up to go. To Go? You kidding? I told him it was not good at all. He did say he would have changed it had I complained before. He made no effort to offer neither a coffe nor dessert after the fact though. Call me old school but I think if you complain during the meal you'll get a little extra on the "Corrected" dish. My wife enjoyed the Palomilla Steak that she shared with my daughter. I tasted it and it was ok. Nothing to rave about but definitely not the crappy churrasco. I should have kept driving down the street to Versailles which was my original choice till I remembered of this place.
(1)Robert G.
For years it was my go to restaurant for authentic Cuban food. In the last years the quality of the taste has diminished. Tonight, I experienced one of the worst attitudes from a server in my life. Perhaps having a bad day? It was10:00PM on a Tuesday evening. There were about 20 customers at 5 tables. One server with two busers. The Food took long to come out of the kitchen. One dish had both sides incorrect (which were the ones the server suggested, strange). One dish had the wrong salad (server stated he "Oscar" had explained it to me when I ordered. I am fluent in Spanish and English and it was not clear to me that the salad I ordered was not available and he was ordering another salad. It's side of mash potatoes was cold. Once it came back out, it literally tasted (tasteless) like nothing more than a mashed potato. I had to add salt, pepper, olive oil to try and bring it alive. Never did the server stop by to ask if the food was OK or we needed anything. Once all the other patrons were gone, all the employees disappeared. The only thing that was extremely fast was the check when I asked for it. I gave a 15% tip out of pity, but there was truly no tip earned. My date was coughing loudly, I had to go track down the server to ask for water. By the time he showed up we were already walking out the door. Truly a poor performance on a store that has seen better days and has fallen in quality. Did I mention the very poor/argumentative attitude by the server in every interaction?
(1)Placido V.
Very good food and prices. Been in business for a long time
(4)Eric T.
My favorite place to sit down and have great Cuban food in the City of Miami. It has all the of the options you would expect, nice size portions, fairly cheap price and a romantic enviroment. The flavors are also unparalleled. There are many options for Cuban food in Miami, but as a previous Yelper noted, "La Casita never fails me." I always order the same few things when I'm here. Yuca Frita to start, which comes with this buttery garlic/cilantro dipping sauce. Depending on how many people I am with, the entrees are as follows: bistec de pollo (pounded out chicken breast marinated in garlic and lime, covered in sauteed onions), churrasco (skirt steak with Chimichurri sauce), and Masa de puerco (fried pork chunks). All amazingly flavors and served with white rice, black beans, and platanos maduros. I always order an extra side of plantains too. Here they have my favorite in the country. Another favorite of mine is the Flan de Coco, which I always get because again I have yet to find a place in the country the serves better coconut flan. A sweet and tiny cuban coffee to finish things off and it's the perfect meal. The staff is always very nice and on Friday and Saturday nights you can enjoy the Cuban crooner who usually has his mic turned up a little too loud.
(5)Tracy P.
Doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't let the drab strip center location dissuade you from an outstanding Cuban dining experience. Simple and elegant inside, six diners enjoyed six different entrées without a single disappointment. Forks and plates were moving around the table as everyone wanted to sample all that was available. For me, the vaca frita was best. Do save room for the desserts. Tres leches is highly recommended. Again, six dessert options were sampled, everyone was pleased with their selection and forks were moving rapidly from dish to dish.
(5)Albert M.
Anytime I want to have a a delicious, hearty meal in a classy environment with First class service: La Casita on 8th Street is where you will find me. It looks upscale and expensive when you walk in, but the prices are far from that. :) Every dish I have ever ordered has been delicious. The Appetizers I usually order are the stuffed tostones with shrimp or picadillo and both are really good. As for desert I usually get the Flan which is my favorite. There is usually enough food to take home for the next day. You can have an appetizer, two main dishes, a pitcher of Sangria and a desert for less than $50 with tip. You cant go wrong here.
(5)Rafael S.
Great as always, great food, great atmosphere , clean , good prices. Is place you want to bring your parents to or friends for great Cuban food. And you will not go home smelling like you where in a kitchen.
(5)Miguel N.
You really have no idea where to start looking for good food and exceptional service, my garmen has failed me horribly. Luckily I have YELP!! Thanks, I now found the best Cuban restaurant in Miami... by far.
(5)Yari B.
Good Cuban food.
(4)cecilia t.
Every time we eat there everything is cooked to perfection. Food is fresh and the place is clean! My husband is very picky and this is his favorite Cuban restaurant.
(5)Dahyana C.
I go to La Casita for Lunch at least 3 times a week since it is at a walking distance from my office. Staff is the best, (Oscar is the greatest waiter ever!!), the food is consistently good, place is always clean, Elaisy makes the best Coffee after lunch! Lunch specials variety is very fresh every day and prices are unbeatable! What can I say??!! They treat regular customers as family, but if you are new, don't worry, you will become a regular and be part of the pack pretty soon.
(4)Wilfredo L.
I had dinner here recently and the food and service were excellent. Servers were very attentive and on top of things. I went with my sister and brother-in-law. We had chicken soup, tostones rellenos de picadillo and 3 different entrees: grilled chicken, rice and black beans and maduros; bistec empanizado, rice and black beans and maduros; chicharrones de pollo, salad. We finished with cafe con leche (good). I would recommend this restaurant, delish!
(5)Mitchell R.
Good service. Very clean restaurant and restroom. Delicious roast pork, sautéed onions, yuca, rice and beans for reasonable price on Wednesday lunch specials. Parking a little tight. Better than Versailles for food, service and cleanliness. Versailles only better for seeing and being seen.
(5)Ariel J.
I am rating this place on the Miami curve. I only wish I could find Cuban food this good in Manhattan. With that said ... We went here with my mom, a "viejita" not unlike the ones mentioned in one of the previous reviews. She loves this place. We went on a Friday night. The place was understated. The parking was easy. The crowd was relatively sparse and predominantly older with a scattering of younger people. If you do not speak Spanish, I'm sure they will work with you, but be forewarned that your waiter or waitress may not speak English. The menu has English translations of the dishes listed right below the Spansh ones. The food was really good. I had a churrasco, not really a traditional Cuban dish, but one of my favorites. It was cooked well and the quality of the meat was okay. The chimichurri was also good. My fiancee had my other favorite dish, Vaca Frita (Cuban Shredded Beef). This was really good; I sampled it myself just to make sure, or so goes my story. My mom loves the Masitas de Puerco (Fried Pork Chunks). The side dishes ... black beans, rice, congri, and maduros (fried plantains) ... were all amazing. The fiancee loves her sangria. She said the one here was really good. It was sweet and light with a little kick. Overall, I would highly recommend this place. Why the 4 stars? Because this is Miami ... I told you there was a curve. However, you will not be disappointed in any way if you eat here. You will be enjoy a quality, authentic Cuban meal. Like I said, I can only wish to find a Cuban restaurant in Manhattan that provides a fraction of the quality of food found here. If you know of one, please share. Please. I'm serious ... please.
(4)Manuel G.
Great location, good typical Cuban menu, friendly service,& reasonable prices it's a winner. Parking sometimes is difficult but plenty of meters around it's street. The ambiance is nice ,classy& laid back ,which I like, not tacky & loud like Versailles a couple of blocks away.
(4)Ivonne Marie C.
La Casita never fails me. I just went for lunch today w/a girlfriend whose visiting from Chicago. I'm not a big fan of Cuban food, but I've tried several places and none really do it for me. Yet I know that when I go to La Casita there are a number of dishes that I can order that will not only satisfy me, but also stuff me!!! OMG am I stuffed! But only because it was so good. Again, it's not like I'll want to go to this place every day, every week, much less once a month. But it has nothing to do with the place. I'm just not a Cuban-food eater. Today I ordered the Vaca Frita. I hadn't been to this place since before Aug. 2006, and I think their serving size has gotten smaller - which is great - for me! I don't really like that they bring you the rice and plantains in one plate, the meat in another, and the bowl of beans separate. I'm the kind of person that likes to have everything in one plate, and I don't like to see food being pushed from one plate to another. So eating here is a little uncomfortable for me in that aspect. In all however, the meat was very good. I always add salt, but that's me. The onions were cooked enough - I don't like them raw - but they weren't' burnt ~ good! My girlfriend tried the Palomilla Bistec - she loved it. Of course - Cuban restaurants in Chicago can't compare to the ones here, but in all she has a good appetite and a very particular taste in food - so if she said it was good, I'd put my money on it. The place was pretty packed - you couldn't tell there's people without jobs out there by looking inside this restaurant during lunch time. Still the wait was not much, a couple of minutes if at that. The service was prompt and good - plus we got two servings of bread - love!!! I recommend this place to anyone. La Carreta & Versailles are just down the street, but I think I still opt for La Casita b/c the service is nicer and in all I think the food is better too.
(4)Javier M.
*bias switch on* Came here on Sunday with my family and some friends (including the parrish priest) some of which were bona fide Cubans, first mig-generation (came circa 1961) and had a fantastic time and excellent cuban food. Located in one of the many generic c-shaped commercial structures around miami, this place is anything but a rustic restaurant; quite elegant yet simple, excellent service, cozy and they even had a live performer singing old suave ballads. I ordered a Palomilla (tender steak richly seasoned and very tasty) which was juicy and came with a selection of three sides (rice/salad/sweet plantains or black beans) and I have to say that I was fully satisfied with everything, including my delicious cortadito coffee at the end of the meal, which was powerful, tasty and kept me wide awake for the next 5 hours. The menu had an amazing array of cuban dishes that I wish I could experiment further, so I definitely recommend any Miamians or visitors to go and try it out (the Tasajo and Ropa Vieja were highly recommended) And yes, I turned the bias switch on since it was only a first try, and I was swooned by the spectacular time, conversation and food. Fin. *bias switch off*
(4)Adrian W.
Good. love this place! Very good food.. and as usual with Cuban Restaurants.... A LOT OF FOOD for the money.
(4)