We came with a party of four, although I arrived early with one of my friends. Another friend was coming from Leeds and meeting the fourth member of our party to join us for a 7.30pm.
The friend from Leeds was running late and we compelled to contact her by the Duty Manager several times, as 8pm approached. We told there were two other "large parties" (a five and a six) due in at 8pm so we needed to get our order in at the kitchen first.
When our friends arrived the manager promptly complained to them about being late. They were really shocked because from our calls they'd assumed the restaurant would be super busy. The whole time we were seated in restaurant section on the mezzanine, we were the only people there. My friend had told me that while I was in the toilet, he'd turned away a table of four because they didn't have reservations. Rather than be shown to our seats, we were directed up the stairs and then followed to make sure we didn't sit in the wrong place.
The manager continued to be argumentative with our friend, contracting himself in an effort to just his position:
"you should have been on time because the chef has prepared food for you" and "everything is made fresh so we need to put your order in asap". When my friend said, a lot of restaurants won't expect you to eat immediately, they'll offer you drinks first, which prompted him to ask her where she was from and sneer at her response.
They do a nice jug of sangria and cocktails but the food is dire Don't believe the section on the menu that states "ALL MAINS SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS OR SPICED WEDGES". I specifically ordered wedges because a lot of the main courses came with wheat-based accompaniments. I don't know how they managed to get them so burnt but yet so soggy at the same time. My friends, having eyed up their mains thought they needed something else but soon realised they weren't going to be brought any rice, beans or wedges some. They asked the waitress if they could order some extra, specifically some that weren't as black as mine. At that point, my wedges were taken away and the party waited for first one portion of blackened wedges and then another to be brought up.
My main meal was supposed to be Glazed Stuffed Aubergines but what it actually was chopped aubergines and tomatoes fried in garlic. The cous cous came as an after thought, I'd forgotten all about it. Nobody was served anything all night that wasn't deep fried or swimming grease.
My highlight was the salad garnish and the fact that the manager clearly tired of us at some point and sent a lovely waitress to deal with us instead.
Alan
We were both overall disappointed with the experience and will not be returning nor recommending La Cubinita to our friends and family. The reasons for this are detailed below.
We went to this establishment after receiving an e-mail. Upon arrival the e-mail promised Mojitos and Canapes neither of these materialised and we thought that this was a shame. I asked if there was a wine list and the response was "No we have Red, White and Pink" The waitress was friendly and accommodating and tried where ever possible to please.
We were also disappointed with the style of the menu. There was no vegetarian option for the tapas other than bread which was shame when compared to Tapas Tapas or La Tasca. The menu was also different from the one advertised on the website.
We ordered and the starters arrived I asked for extra chilli with the prawns and they were very nice, there was a depth of taste and it was well presented. However the plate was chipped in not one, but two places and was clearly visible. My Fiancee had the mushrooms and enjoyed them a lot.
I requested that the steak was rare and was very impressed with the sirloin (It was not stated as sirloin on the menu) the Stuffed peppers were large, but lacking in flavour. Also the peppers were stuffed with rice and then served with rice as well. This in our opinion was not needed.
Unfortunately there was no salt or pepper on the table and the table was also sticky due to a reaction with the cleaning agent and the varnish. We moved from one table because of the same issue. Also the candles remained unlit throughout the evening.
Further to this the man near our table waited 45 minutes for his food to arrive a simply unacceptable wait when you are dining on your own. He attempted to leave and complained and eventually received his meal. A complimentary beverage would have been a means of acknowledging the unacceptable length of time, but was not forthcoming.
Finally after paying for the bill we wanted to leave a tip. I spoke to the barman and asked for two five pound notes. I was told that "we do not give change" I explained that it was for a tip and again the barman said "I don't have any fivers" I therefore had no choice but to walk away.
Overall as I have previously stated the evening was a big disappointment and one that we do not wish to repeat.
Eagle
Music good upon arrival get the night going to a good start.
good choice of drinks/cocktails.
We then got handed photo copy of the menu as they were still waiting for the menus, how long has this place been open and still waiting for the menus?
Not all the dishes where available.
The starters where good, getting are taste buds excited for the main course, But we should have stopped there and not had the main course as it all went downhill from there.
There was no taste to the dishes, not what I expected after reading the menu, the food was very bland, although we did complain and where given a jug of chilli sauce that we requested and a round of drinks.
Live Music was good but too loud in the restaurant area but OK in the bar area.
If I went back, I would just have the tapas which were really good.
Shelly
Just one word "fantastic"
Number 23
28 of us had a fabulous night at La Cubanita last week for our Christmas party, the staff were really friendly, great service, really great food, the cocktails went down a treat and the band (brill) ,had everyone up dancing. A few of the party have already mentioned they want next years party at the bar. Thanks for a great night.
Ally Durnad
Went to the La cubanita last Saturday, We have been there many times for a drink and to watch the live band. However we dined there with few friends who were up for the weekend. We opted for the fishcakes, mushrooms, chili prawns and chicken croquette. The fishcake and chicken croquette very very greasy and lacking any real flavour. The chili prawns were very small over cooked and it seemed just dosed in shop bought sweet chili, not really cuban.The presentation for these dishes was also poor the salad was limp and looked like it had been a day over. We then had salmon, chicken steak and pork. The salmon again was over cooked and had no real flavour no lemon juice was added to the dish its wasn't really authentic cuban dish. The chicken again was not spicy and had no seasoning. The pork however was nice and the sauce complemented the dish well. Why its served with salad though is abit strange as its swamped in sauce. The steak was topped with disgusting cheap cheese and the steak wasn't of top restaurant quality. The rice was over cooked and sticky not very fresh at all. The restaurant is lively and a nice atmosphere the bar and service is top quality such a shame the food wasn't at the same standard. Having been to Cuba many of times it seems the concept is correct but the cooking is not cuban no real spices or seasoning. I will come back as its a lively and fun place but I will not be dining upstairs.
Salsera
We went to La Cubanita this weekend too and it was fantastic. The food was great, the staff were spot on and the cocktail list was excellent. More to the point, we couldn't believe our luck! The famous Buena Vista Social Club were there following a performance at the Philharmonic Hall and a sell out tour including the Royal Albert Hall. How good was that! They were up dancing and joined La Cubanita's band for a performance that we will never forget and we didn't even need to pay an entrance fee. So we would highly recommend a visit to La Cubanita. Even if you are not joined by Buena Vista Social Club, you will have a great night out with great food, great music and a special place to party.
Davy_acko44
Great food,great service....and the live latin music created a great atmosphere too.The staff were really friendly and helpful. Definitely gets the thumbs up from us.Read some negative reviews,but I say take a trip to La Cubanita and make up your own mind.That's what we did and we weren't disappointed.
Huggybear
Picked off the Internet at the last minute, got there to be told the kitchen was closed.... but they opened it up for us, and were very welcoming. I love the friendliness of all Liverpudlians, and these guys were right up there with the best. Excellent calamares starter, and the chicken/chorizo and lamb skewers were great. There was a salsa class going on downstairs, and the whole place was sizzling with a sassy Cuban vibe. Well worth a visit, probably even more so on a night with live music, and if I was not driving the cocktails would have been flowing. Will have to come back again.
Dave
I was reading reviews for this place on here and from other sites after my partner said he wanted to go here for our anniversary, there were mixed reviews so I wasn't expecting much, and what a good job I wasn't.
We got there and I was impressed, such a lovely place nice decor, sadly that's where the positives end, (maybe I should have done it last). We got a drink from the bar, eventually after watching the bar man make them for 5 minutes from "fresh" ingredients, we got 2 mojito's(£12), in 1/2 pint glasses with mint leaves that were brown around the edges, this didn't inspire me with confidence but this is where my partner wanted to take me for our anniversary.
I put this behind us as we sat down for our meal, the menu sounded great and we ordered, our starters arrived and I had ordered the costillas asada and my partner the croquetas de pollo, (ribs and chicken croquettes) we were not impressed, the ribs were tough well very tough and the chicken croquettes didn't taste or look very homemade but our mains sounded great and still hoping for some of that Mexican magic we received our mains, the skewered drunken prawns and the salmon del atlantico. Both our mains were cold, we couldn't find our waiter to let him know so we tucked in, the salmon was overcooked and both our mains were tasteless and the rice that accompanied them was as tasteless as plain rice. Eventually our waiter returned as we had eaten as much as we dared too and we let him know about the problems, he smiled and cleared our plates, we got the bill and wow how expensive was that, 2 people 2 courses a bottle of wine, 2 coffee's and 2 baileys and well it was way overpriced. I asked the waiter if I could speak to the manager, again he smiled and walked away, after finishing our drinks and chatting 10 minutes must have passed and the manager had not come to see us so we left.
I am sorry to say my partner really wanted to come here and now neither of us would recommend the place, if my partner had brought me here on our first date we would not have been celebrating our anniversary! Very disappointing. I hope the management read this review and can actually do something about it because, to be honest I really wanted it to be good, the idea and the concept is there but the execution is terrible. The decor is nice, did i mention that?