07/11/09

fast&tasty when you know what to order and sit where ordered

by 0lenka

We always order and share #20. I don't remember the name but it is somewhat resembling beef stew meaty dish with red bell peppers and tomatoes - with rice, black beans, and plantains. Consistent good quality. Not too spicy, not fried, very soft, easy on my stomach. They bring it almost immediately. Good espresso.

Although, we noticed if we choose other seats than suggested, it takes much much longer to get your order.

THis all takes place during the day time, morning, lunch hours, so I don't know, maybe it is different at nights.

• Pros: consistent quality of a certain item
• Cons: if you change your sit you will wait longer

01/03/09

Mediocre Cuban

by alantgray

Been to both the Venice Blvd and La Cienaga locations to try the "Famous Chicken" dish. My GF got a small steak. We were both un-impressed. My chicken was dry. Her steak was below average. The high scores from other reviewers make me wonder what they ate that I didn't.

• Pros: Cheap
• Cons: Specialty was not very good

Cuban-style food is a hit with the masses, thanks to an almost-legendary garlic chicken dish.

by Contributor

In Short
The happy-go-lucky atmosphere in this non-descript dining room is fueled by low prices and the thick garlic aroma. Waiters in guayaberas serve groups of college students, families and pre-bar hoppers. The house favorite garlic chicken in citrus marinade anchors the Cuban menu. Roast pork and salted, bay leaf-infused black beans run a close second to the famous fowl. Order everything with a side of sweet fried plantains.

07/03/08

horrible manager

by lindsey21188

this used to be one of my favorite places. i went at least twice a month. i went last night and instead of chicken i got bones fat and skin as if the chicken was torn off. i told my waiter and he was very nice but when he brought the manager, the MANAGER ACCUSED ME of eating it all and trying to get a free meal! after yelling at me for 5 minutes he finally gave me the meal for free. we gave the waiter a 20 percent tip because it wasn't hiw fault but needless to say i'm not going back.

• Cons: the manager

06/25/08

NOT real Cuban food

by Tinarocks

I was raised on Cuban food and have heard everyone in LA swear by it. I finally got to try it out myself and the food was just horrific. I got a Cuban sandwich, which must be the easiest thing on the menu to cook, and it came out so cold that the meat was cold and the cheese wasn't even melted. Normally, the sandwich is grilled. It seemed like it was nuked in a microwave. I'm never going back again.

• Cons: Horrible food, not authentic Cuban in any way

06/15/08

Disappointed!

by lucas80

I went there for the first time yesterday. I was very excited, the line was long, the smell was wonderful.

I had a very good sized menu.

Then my food came. Pork chops with grilled onions, fried bananas and black beans and white rice.

I ate the bananas first....which were on the plate therefore sitting in the juice from the pork. The bananas tasting like pure garlic.

The pork chops tasted like pure garlic. I couldn't taste any of the natural flavoring of the pork shops. No seasonings...just garlic.

The onions were undercooked.

The beans were bland.

The rice was great!

I love garlic, but this was just too much. All I could smell and taste was garlic.

I was very disappointed.

• Pros: Great atmosphere, fun and noisy (in a good way)
• Cons: Parking was awful! I have a Honda Civic andparked inbetween a Nissan Sentra and a BMW 325 and could barely fit. 40 min wait. way too much garlic. I had a hard time understanding my waiter.

05/24/08

Best restaurant near UCLA

by Erly

If you go to UCLA and want to get out of Westwood, Versailles on Venice is the place to go. Get the #6! The chicken is delicious and savory. You pay only $9.99 but you'll have dinner for the next few days! Its a great place to take a friend, or for group events, and its even a great place to take a date! You won't be disappointed!

• Pros: Absolutely delicious food, dim lighting makes for a great date place!
• Cons: Parking can be difficult sometimes, but its LA!

03/31/08

Great food, service, atmosphere

by evywang

I almost missed out on this restaurant because I was discouraged by the full parking lot and long line along the outside of the building. Luckily my friend convinced me it was worth the extra effort (and we managed to find a relatively close parking spot on the street) - and he was right. Once we got in the door, the waiter was friendly and efficient, the atmosphere was comfortable, and the Cuban food definitely lived up to the hype. The famous garlic chicken (I had to order it) was moist and flavorful, and I also really liked the black beans they give you on the side. For drinks, the mango milkshake was great though the glass was on the smallish side, and my friend's Materva (a Cuban soft drink) was so good I'm going to order it the next time I go. And I'm definitely going again.

• Pros: Excellent food for reasonable prices
• Cons: Difficult to find parking, long-ish wait

11/30/07

Delicious cuban food

by manuella

i love this place. it has the best roasted pork. it is cooked a long time and the meat literally falls apart. they put this amazing garlic lemon sauce on top of it. yum!!! The only problem is that you have garlic breath afterward. They also have great fried yucca!!!

10/10/07

Best Cuban food in the state.

by troyact

I have been eating here for 15 years. I'm sure everthing on the menu is great, but the only thing I eat is the garlic chicken dinner. It is legendary. When I have out of town guest this one of the stops we have to make.