Casa Cubana

loved the Cuban Sandwich! Although, I could’ve done with more of a crunch on the bread and maybe a little butter, but delicious nonetheless. Also, the sandwich could’ve been pressed a bit more on the plancha to reach the desired crunchiness. The roast lechon in the sandwich was divine and all the other ingredients were on point.
The last «Cuban» I had was in Alameda at Havanas. They added no mustard nor Swiss, and did add friggin arugula! WTF?!
Anyways, this is the only thing I’ve eaten here, so up to now Casa Cubana had a perfect rating from me. Like Trump would say, this is food from «other types of Mexicans.»
Stay thirsty my friends

We went to try the new Cuban restaurant in Oakland — Casa Cubana — and had an awesome time. The food was very good, the flavors robust, the service impeccable. They had the usual Cuban dishes and then some. I wanted to try something different besides the usual lechon asado and pollo frito.
We had two appetizers: ceviche vegetal and tierra frita, both vegetarian dishes. Then we had the salmon al mango y mostaza and costillas de guayaba. For dessert, we had the coconut flan and banana bread pudding. Everything was so good, we left nothing on the plate.
So glad that this new restaurant is meeting expectations.

Excellent food, excellent customer service, excellent environment all around great Cuban food. We came at 130 because we wanted lunch, come to find out that the restaurant had new hours. So just FYI they are not open on Sundays and they only have lunch Monday thru Friday. Saturday they don’t open until 5pm. So as we were looking at this new sign the manager was walking up. His name is Jeff and he will take care of you. He was very friendly and told him we would be back at 5pm. Sure enough we came back and the service and experience was fantastic, the banana daiquiri was awesome and the piña colada was awesome, all together you want some Cuban food come check this spot out.

Great service and decent Cuban food, constructive feedback; the «Cubano» sandwich wasn’t pressed and cheese wan’t melted so that was a minus… also, no spicy green sauce?

My friend and I had lunch here today for the first time and I loved everything about it. The host was extremely pleasant and helped us right away. Our waitress was very attentive and our food came out really fast considering how busy it was. A very nice gentleman came over to our table and welcomed us to the restaurant. Later, he sent over a free appetizer! I am in love with place! I can’t wait to go there again really soon!

Bummed that I am not able to rate this higher today. This is more like a 2.5 stars.
Pros: Great location, ambiance and friendly staff. Lots of hustle and bustle inside and cool art on the walls.
Cons: I ordered the fried chicken sandwich for lunch, it was not crispy and dry (due to lack of sauce). Didn’t taste like there was sauce on the sandwich at all. Needs way more moisture. I asked for a side of sauce which I got which made it better. It was very spicy which I liked but it was too spicy for my friend.
The sandwich comes with sweet potato fries. They can use some improvement. (Maybe seasoning or a different cut). They were not juicy as sweet potato fries typically are.
The location is convenient, I will come back and update my review in hopes a different entrée is better. My friend got the pollo plate with rice and beans and raved about it.

this place has only been open a month so I’ll give it 3 stars but it was really about 2.5. The hostess was very friendly as were the bartenders. We went in before a show at the Parmount on a Thursday evening. We had a couple drinks in the bar area first it was lively, open and airy. The bartender was engaging and friendly. But when we were seated in the dinning room it was like going into a different restaurant. Florecent lights, low ceilings, and icky carpet on the floor.
The food… Kind of a spin on Tradditional Cuban. Not authentic and that would be ok if the food is amazing. It was ok not great. The pork we ordered had a good flavor but to pair it with black rice? Where are the black beans… The Creaser was dry and the mayonnaise like dressing was flavorless. The tostones were rock hard almost like they had been fried like French fries and the coconut flan has a sweet mango sauce not a caramel not described on the menus. The service in the restaurant was hurried and impersonal. I think our server had very little experience, dismissive, and was void of any personality. She did not come back and ask if everything was ok.
Lots of competition in this area they will have to step it up. We will try again in about 6 months to see if they improve and hopefully get a Cuban chef in the kitchen.

I was very excited to see the Casa Cubana was finally open, so I went there this past weekend with a friend while I was visiting the Bay Area. I remember that location when it was occupied by a Vietnamese restaurant (I used to work a block away).
We were greeted promptly as we entered and lead to a table but it was well over 20 minutes before I got up to ask the man at the front about our waiter. No one offered water, or a menu. We just sat there unacknowledged even though the restaurant was maybe a third full.
Eventually a very nice young man came over apologizing all over the place and took our order.
Another 20 minutes later our lukewarm appetizers arrived but no hint of our drink order and no water.
The main course arrived also nearly cold, another 20 minutes later brought to us by another man (not our waiter) who brought us steak knives but did not take a drink order.
The service was sub-​par: the food arrived almost cold and the drinks and water took ages to arrive. The food was watered down cuban and disappointing for the price.
If this place intends to make it management needs to step it up on the service department.
I was very disappointed and would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who has had Cuban food before.

Great food and very friendly staff– I’ve been here twice and have had a great time both times. Their drinks are great and made to order– I recommend the Havana Sidecar and the Mojito.
This corner of the block has been historically difficult for restaurants (see Loring Café a few doors down) so I hope that they do well. I think they could make a killing with the local lunch crowd if there was a way to do a limited menu of take out style items for people who want something quick, too– something to hope for in the future!

A gluten friendly restaurant! I came here for dinner on a Saturday night. They’re located right on the corner of Grand & Webster with street parking. After 6 PM street parking is free and it was actually easy to find a spot.
When you walk in there is a nice bar to the left, very modern and inviting. In the background you can hear music and see walls decorated with art. The restaurant itself is very spacious; we were seated immediately.
For dinner we ordered the Costilla de guayaba, yucca frita, & Camarones y Ajillo. The costillas, or ribs, were glazed perfectly. The meat fell right off the bone. There was a slight spice to it, which was a nice touch. The yucca fritas came out crispy and hot. The camarones y ajillo was also delicious. It was served with a coconut chili sauce, again with the perfect amount of spice. My only gripe is that the tostones are super thin; I prefer mine thicker. Next time I’ll come back to try one of their cocktails, especially since the juice used with them are made fresh.

Not the worst, but they try to fancy-​up Cuban food rather than doing anything authentic. Kinda typical California small plate trendy kale blah but Cuban themed. Basic basic and surprisingly bland. Outrageously expensive — over $ 40 for 3 drinks, over $ 90 for dinner. Some better stuff around for the price.
It would’ve been amazing if a Cuban family restaurant would’ve opened instead of this place. So sad.

My husband and I came across this by chance and we are thrilled.
The atmosphere if friendly and relaxing. The light sounds of salsa surround the bar and restaurant but not too loud where you can’t here yourself talk — although it wasn’t packed either so not sure if that changes.
The food is seasoned in a way that you can taste the natural flavors of the food itself.
I had the Lechon and my husband the Pato Capri — both excellent — although my husband claims his was better.
We had the Habana Cocktail and Ensalada Mixto (loved this salad). Both appetizing and refreshing.
Drinks — the Mojito was ehhh. Maybe some sugar cane would have made it better. It was kind of sour. However, the Banana Daiquiri was on point.
We will definitely be going again.
PS– servers were friendly and attentive.

First thing I would like to address was the staff was phenomenal! Went above and beyond providing us with suggestions on food, clearing our table, checking on us, etc. Our waiter was Juan and he was welcoming and great!
The food is obviously not your authentic Cuban cuisine, BUT it’s delicious! Ordered the Celia Cruz as a drink and was good. Habana Cocktail has a tart taste to it (not so much fishy as a ceviche I was hoping for) but was still enjoyable and tasty. I also got the tostones, which came with a dipping sauce which was also pretty good! Finally, we ordered the costillas de guayaba and the pato Capri… The meat was so tender and juicy I couldn’t get enough of it. A must try.
At last, I ordered the coconut flan for dessert… Just get it is all I have to say.
Really want to try their lunch and get a Cuban sandwich to see how it is. Great place as there’s not many choices for Cuban food in the area.

I’m so happy a Cuban restaurant has opened in the area! I got a Cubano sandwich for lunch takeout– it’s very large and delicious! Bonus, it came with a healthy sized portion of sweet potato fries– score!
I didn’t sit down to eat here, but it’s a good vibe just walking in with the festive music playing.
I will definitely be coming back.

I passed by this restaurant several times while it was being remodeled. So I thought I would bring my two nieces, who are home from college here to try the food. Everything was very good. Our server Emmanuella was very nice and also attentive. The manager and owner came by our table to welcome us and check to see if we had additional questions regarding the menu. That was a nice touch. The food was excellent, we were all very pleased with what we ordered. We tasted each other’s food and agreed everything was tasty. I highly recommend this restaurant, and I can’t wait to go back for my next visit!

I’m so excited that the restaurant is finally open. Near the office and I really like Cuban food.
Lunch with my team today and there was something for everyone.
Several salads and vegetarian options.
I had the Lechon Asado and it was so moist and tasty. Really enjoyed the black rice and red beans.
The nice server also brought me the habanero hot sauce and it was delicious.
Nice big portions. Colorful décor. Delicious food.
Will be returning.

One visit and I can’t wait to return for more.
Dinning at Casa Cubana was a fluke as the hubs was in the mood for «steak» and I negotiated with him that ropa vieja would hit the spot.
He ordered a piña colada (enticed by the homemade marshmallow garnish) and I sipped the Celia Cruz, with it’s fancy mango foam. We enjoyed meeting the owners who walked around greeting guests while waiting for our food.
I ordered the Lechon because this girl had to taste the holy trinity that is pork, rice and plantains. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his ropa «nueva». I was greedy and stole several bites (lawd, that cow was perfectly seasoned) and the accompanying sweet potato purée we both agreed was missing from our lives, we now need to eat it on a monthly basis. Seriously good.
After all that meat, we figured go in all the way and after adjusting our waistbands… ordered dessert. Banana bread pudding with vanilla ice cream was diiiiivine. Next time, cheese cake!
I feel the need to return not only to stuff my face… but to provide photo evidence of the items mentioned above ((grin)).

Time: 5:32pm/56°F cloudy
Purpose: First message came through to start work week was about CC opening soon. Make note and waited till eastbay work day.
Ambiance: Transformation from Vo’s to Casa Cubana is months and months of painstaking work. As far as structure goes, it remains the same just a coat of paint. Bar area left unchanged with couple of high table. Gone are the days of bamboo pottery, southeast asia décor and piano. Complete change over. Other section all dining area. Tables for two, four, six, or larger can be seen throughout the place. Inner back area has extra seating definitely spacious with lots of frame art. A mezzanine level rope off not in use. For a Cuban place, it lack things like old trick-​out American car, Caribbean scenery, cuban baseball league, all pictures no 3D objects seen. I felt like I was walking through hallway to a art exhibit. Yes, its fun to look at, but suitable in other venues. No matter where you’re seated, you’ll hear Afro-​Cuban music like Arsenio Rodríguez etc. Bar front is the loudest area of the place. If you’re seeking lower volume, you’re better off in last section or inner back. It’s not that loud for sure.
Staff: Full staff on this night. Must be anticipating on hordes of people in evening. Every single one of them greeted me after seated. At one point, I wasn’t sure who was my server. The section were I sat was use for short cuts to kitchen and utensil replenishing, but has assigned area to each server. Didn’t catch what my server name was, but she was nice and engaging. Did things beyond her call of duty to make me feel welcome. Not going in details, but it was about 5:41pm back room. We probably went through the whole entrée section. Explain each dish thoroughly to me of what my options are. Check up with me making sure I was alright. She was definitely into her job.
Cleanliness: Grade A, both section of dining immaculate. Bar counter a few drips, but nserby bar towel did the trick. Anything glass or metal like were free of fingerprints and smudges.
Eats/​Drinks: Ceviche vegetal $ 7 made with five assorted veggies was refreshing and light tasting. Best part was using taro chip spooning ceviche eating it same time. Lechon asado $ 19 was the star of the night. I was hoping for crackling crispy skin on top of actual meat, but find out none was available. However, I still order it. Where did all the skin go? That’s the best part of lechon lol… Anyways, fabulous dish with presentation and execution as well as flavor. Each slice had the right cut of thickness. Every bite was tender and moist with minimal to no fat tissue attached. Not chewy and easy on the jaw. Kicker here? Garlic gastrique really made it better. Black rice perfectly cook with natural asado juices seeping on top was quite a treat. Maduro coins to end meal was superb and delightful. Natural sweetness with extra butter sauce. Yukon chips made low-​heat method was a hit itself. Taste like its cousin, but not as greasy. Havana Sidecar cocktail $ 10 was really strong. Havana Club aged rum was definitely hinted. More than enough and strong. I question curacao citrus use though. Probably triple-​sec by any means.
Main Features: Plantain/​yukon chips, ceviches, lechon asado, salmon al mango y mostaza, costilla de guyaba, havana sidecar/​zanahoria, guava cheesecake.
Products/​Services: Wine by glass/​bottle, draft/​bottle beer, sides, desserts, ceviche, salad, soup of day, apps, specialty cocktails. Full menu description on picture posted. Takes plastic, lunch (late January 2016).
Punch Lines: Hip and happening, better than your average, pleasing flavors, modest cost, drool-​worthy, plenty of seating options, harried staff, fun servers, easy night out, hip bar, always buzzing, well-​prepared, lively atmosphere, loud and busy, can’t go wrong, casual and delicious, after work drinks and appetizers, more than adequate, satisfaction, worth every coin.
Tradeoffs: One page menu with more drink options than dishes/​apps/​desserts combine. A good indication place is center around drinks being the money maker and easy sell.
Final Thoughts: From the moment I walk in, it feels splendid. Although, another side of me felt something was missing. I dig the effort and all that went in to the place. However, place doesn’t have basic common Cuban dishes that draws in curiosity just yet. Nothing with «congri» or «moros» listed. Needs a broader range of favorites to choose from and more popular dishes like pulpeta, rabo, etc. Don’t get me wrong now. Place is good for after work drinks and apps no doubt. Going with 4/​stars although, its really 3.5/stars luckily the season of giving got the best of me. Will return and give it another shot.

These guys just opened. Cool space with good music and a nice bar if you just want a few drinks after work. I’m a little embarrassed to write down the number of things we ate, but true to my reputation, I’m a good eater.
Liquids: We had the beet and carrot juice cocktails which were curious and delicious and only slightly sweet, and the Celia Cruz which is like a grey/​violet chemistry lesson in a very cute glass (only $ 9 – 10 each!). The beet drink comes with a mini goat cheese ball on the side, now that is not your average drink.
Food: Croquettas and a shrimp, mango, avocado cocktail. Ribs, duck, and the Ropa Vieja, which if I could cook this at home I’d never leave the house again.
The prices are so much more affordable than in SF (my normal stomping ground). Awesome! I’ll be back…

Delicious!!!
Drinks are awesome! Ordered mojito and a Remolacha (beet juice cocktail) everything amazingly balanced.
Appetizers ordered were cocktail de Cameron and the veggie cocktail, Yucca Frita, and croquetas, everything was cooked delicious.
I had Ropa Nueva (not vieja) which is Ropa Vieja combined with skirt steak which was cooked perfectly. The meat was juicy and smooth.
Dessert was the BEST!!!
I had the Vegan neapolitan mousse, coconut flan mango syrup, banana bread pudding, and guava cheesecake, guava and dragonfruit glazed. I LOVED every single one.