Tucked away in a unassuming little building lies a restaurant that serves up delicious Cuban cuisine all while blasting your eye sockets with Cuban-American patriotism. The Cuban Corner is a charming restaurant that packs a tasty punch with its menu.
When you walk in your eyes immediately get ADD and you can’t help but look at all of the name plates and pictures that they have on their walls. Cubans are a very proud people and it shows at the Cuban Corner, every single famous Cuban you could ever think of (other than the communist Cubans) are featured on the walls of the restaurant. From “future president” (their words not mine) Marco Rubio to various inventors and musicians, the Cuban Corner has you covered when it comes to claiming famous Cubans. This plastering of famous Cubans is actually a fun treat to the non-Cuban diner, because you inevitably have the conversation with your fellow diners of, “Oh I didn’t know so and so was Cuban.”
Once you get passed the decor and tight seating confines, it’s time to order. The menu isn’t expansive, but that’s probably a good thing they do certain things very well and I would recommend you stay within those confines of ordering. We started with the tostones and empanadas. Tostones are made from unripened plantains which are incredibly starchy and similar to potatoes in composition, they are then fried into a little shells and stuffed with braised meat and veggies. The end result is a rich, flavorful and satisfying appetizer that could easily be your meal if you’re in the mood for it. The empanadas were solid if not unspectacular, they were your standard empanadas that you would find at many other restaurants.
The true treat of the evening came with the Ropa Vieja which is braised flank steak with bell peppers served alongside maduros (fried ripened plantains) and rice. The entire entree is huge and is easily enough for two people, especially if you have had appetizers as well. The flank steak is my favorite portion of this meal as the stringy nature of the flank steak really lends itself perfectly to the dish. Moreover, the lean composition of the steak allows for care free chewing, without any gristle to get in the way.
We ended the evening by sharing a traditional Cuban coffee and a Tres Leches cake, the coffee is excellent but powerful so be careful, especially if you’re not a big time caffeine drinker (i.e. you will be wired). The Tres Leches cake was alright, not spectacular but not awful by any means, the mushy consistency and relatively bland flavoring didn’t do anything for me.
Overall, the Cuban Corner is a great restaurant that has friendly service and affordable pricing. They offer carry-out as well if you’re not able to dine in. If you’re in the mood for Cuban food or if you’re just a beginner like me, I would say the Cuban Corner is a great first step into the wide and expansive world of Cuban cuisine.
