Looking for a place to enjoy amazingly delicious food, a beautiful site, maybe a dance or two, or food that will take you back to one of your favorite trips or into your mom’s or grandma’s kitchen? I got you covered, Cuba Libre Restaurant in Orlando, FL is the place. I’m so looking forward to going with my husband, he hasn’t been there and I’m sure he’ll love the food and vibe. This restaurant is beautiful.
I was there a couple of weeks back with an amazing group of food bloggers. Sampling the menu, enjoying the atmosphere, laughing, chatting and drinking mojitos. The Classic Mojito is pressed sugar cane (called guarapo), fresh lime juice, mint, Cuba Libre White Rum, and a splash of soda. They have a great variety of specialty mojitos and they all spring from this classic recipe. You’ll have to pace yourself, they are super good!
Let’s get into the menu I sampled, but warning, you’ll want to visit Cuba Libre the next time you are in Orlando. If you do, let me know. Let’s meet up!
Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls, made with sour orange marinated pork loin, Genoa salami, ham, provolone and Swiss cheese, Chinese mustard and sweet chilli dipping sauce. You can’t have just one. They are insanely good!
Chicken Croquetas where also a favorite. They refer to them as the Abuela’s creamy roasted chicken croquettes and they aren’t kidding. I haven’t had creamier and more delicious croquettes than this one. The side is a delicious roasted cachucha pepper alliolli.
The Malanga Fritters was an unexpected appetizer. A traditional Cuban street food of crispy taro, garlic and West Indies culantro with a tamarindo ketchup made in house.
I can’t wait to go on a date with my husband. He will love the Albondigas Cubanas. They are beef, pork, pine nut and raisin meatballs with a creole tomato sauce and grilled Cuban bread.
I’m a seafood lover and this Shrimp con Mojo was amazing. I love mojo with just about anything. Now, this pan-seared citrus marinated jumbo shrimp, onions, peppers, sliced garlic and crisped yuca with a cilantro-lime mojo sauce is a winner in my heart.
As a Latina having Arroz con Pollo is an almost daily thing. Not something I normally order out, but I have to say this arroz con pollo was pretty good. Made with saffron long grain rice, boneless chicken, green peas, Manzanilla olives, hard boiled egg, asparagus, Palacios chorizo and roasted piquillo pepper salad. Mouth watery by now, right? I agree!
The next two entree dishes where by far my favorite. First, Ropa Vieja, shredded beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, red wine and a side of maduros and steamed white rice. Second, Vaca Frita, tender brisket and crisped-shredded flank steak, roasted onions and citrus-garlic sauce with an out of this world boniato mash.
No one can end the night without some dessert. I couldn’t stop eating. Caramel Flan and a Tres Leche Cake mini desserts. Just the perfect size to enjoy after such a delectable menu. Which brings me to this conclusion, we should always start with dessert. I rather take food home for left over than dessert. Anyone with me?
Now, tell me, which dish are you dying to taste? Have you been to Cuba Libre? If you haven’t add it to your travel list, it’s a must visit. You will thank me later.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is dedicated to celebrating this great Cuban heritage. They strive for continuing exploration of Cuban flavors, music, art and traditions. The restaurant’s name, which translates to “a free Cuba,” signifies a hope for the future of the treasured island nation. Read more information about their beginnings here. As a Latina I am drawn to my Hispanic roots, food and music. That’s why it’s no surprise I am in love with Cuba Libre.
Travel around the world, eat with one another and feel the culture – the love of the people around you. It’s all worth it! ~ Wanda Lopez
Hi there! I’m Wanda – the creator and author at My Sweet Zepol a healthy food, travel, and lifestyle blog. Passionate about food photography, food styling, entertaining and advocate about creating memories around the kitchen table. With a mission to create easy-to-make meals for the busy family.
The food looks delicious! When I was in Cuba I did taste the Ropa Vieja and it was so good! It would be interesting to try a gourmet version of it, at this restaurant.
Oh my yum. This looks fantastic! I love Cuban food, but I don’t get to eat it very often. By the way, you could totally be a photographer for a gourmet food magazine! Those photos belong in a spread!
We are usually in Orlando once a year, and I’ve never tried this place. That is gonna change! The next time we are there, I’m totally eating there.
My mouth is just watering from just looking at the photos. So many dishes to choose from. I have family in Orlando and I will definitely tell them about Cuba Libre. I know it will be an experience that they’ll rave about.
I’m pretty sure I’d love this restaurant. We’ll be in Orlando in October so I’ll keep this place in mind.
What an lovely sounding restaurant it seems like they have some really good dishes on offer I have to admit I would love to make it back to Orlando one day.
Not only does your food look amazing but this place looks like so much fun! If I ever make it down to Orlando this summer – this place is hopping to the top of my list.
Cuba Libre Restaurant looks like a charming place to dine. I would love to try the Tres Leche mini dessert. Yum!
I don’t live far from Orlando, and we like to go that way often. We have never been here though but now I really want to try it out on our next trip!
OMG these foods looks delectable! Few days ago there is an opening of Cuba Libre few blocks away from my building. I must check this!
These all look delicious and yummy! I love Cuban foods. Thanks for sharing
You took amazing photos! My favorites are Spring rolls, Chicken Croquetas, and Caramel Flan. They are all mouth-watering dishes though. If I ever happen to be in Orlando, this is the place to be.
The food looks delicious! I would love to try the Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls.
I really love Cuban food. Looks good would love to try this when I visit Orlando.
I have never tasted cuban food but would love to try it sometime.
My son has just started dating a wonderful girl who is Puerto Rican-Cuban. She has made my kitchen smell wonderful on so many occasions. I love the different spices and flavors the islands uses in their food. I’ll be back in Orlando first of the year and Cuba Libre is definitely on my list!!
I’m drooling over the chicken croquetas! I haven’t been to Florida yet but if I ever go that way, I’ll surely visit this place!
These dishes look very interesting. I have never tried Cuban food before, but I am intrigued to give it a try now! The caramel flan looked delicious!
Cuba is definitely on my travel bucket list. But since I’m not going to be there soon enough, I think Cuba Libre will be a great place to capture the flavor of the country. Everything looks delicious!
The food looked so delicious! One of our usual getaway is to haunt for good resto like this and discover good tastes of food. This sure is a must try.
Wow, you displayed some amazingly delicious looking food, and the building architecture is so befitting for the cuisine. I will have to visit Cuba Libre, when I visit Orlando this spring.
Oh my gosh your photos made me hungry. This looks like the perfect restaurant to try out if we are ever near it in Orlando. The food looks delicious.
This restaurant looks so nice. The food, Wow, the food looks scrumptious
The food looks delicious. I really like that plate of Ropa Vieja, it ‘s making me hungry. Those mini desserts is calling my name. Yum!
I love the authenticity of this food. Cuban cuisine is so underrated!
I actually have never tried Cuban food before but it looks very tasty.
The food looks delicious especially the Albondigas Cubanas. I’ve never had Cuban food before so I’d love to dine here and give it a try.
XOXO
Elizabeth
http://www.akeenesenseofstyle.com
Wow this sounds amazing! The photos of the food looks delicious!
Since it’s all the way across the country I may have to try and make those cuban spring rolls at home cuz they look amazing!!!
I live in Miami so we get to experience a lot of Cuban restaurants