By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor
With the highest Cuban population in the United States, it’s no wonder that Miami has some of the best and most authentic Cuban restaurants in the world. Here, we’ve put together a list of our top 10 picks, in no particular order.
1. Versailles {3555 Southwest 8th Street, Miami; 305.444.0240}
The “World’s Most Famous Cuban Restaurant,” has been serving up authentic Cuban cuisine for over 40 years. Since it opened on Calle Ocho back in 1971, Versailles has been the unofficial town square for Miami’s Cuban immigrants. The expansive menu overflows with tasty Cuban classics for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night bites, as the restaurant is open until at least 1am daily.
2. Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop {186 Northeast 29th Street, Wynwood; 305.573.4681}
If you ask any Cuban where to find the most authentic food from their native land, hands down the majority will tell you Enriqueta’s. Since 1965, this bustling Wynwood eatery has been a local favorite, serving up breakfast and lunch from its simple dining room and L-shaped coffee window. Affordable, fresh, and delicious, this is Cuban cuisine and its best.
3. Bread + Butter {2330 Salzedo Street, Coral Gables; 305.442.9622}
This Coral Gables eatery is the brainchild of Cuban-American Chef Alberto Cabrera, whose childhood nickname was Pan con Mantequilla (translation: Bread and Butter). Rustic-chic décor with exposed ceilings and chalkboard walls sets the tone for this casual spot, which offers a unique menu that marries traditional Cuban fare with the flavors of a modern American gastropub.
Bread + Butter’s Pan Con Tomate
4. Little Bread {541 Southwest 12th Avenue, Little Havana; 786.420.2672}
On the heels of the success of Bread + Butter, Chef Alberto Cabrera introduces Little Bread, a unique eatery whose focus is solely on Cuban sandwich culture. The Little Havana spot, which just opened this past December, offers some 15 scrumptiously innovative sandwiches. A must-try: the Media Noche Club, a combination of porchetta, ham, Emmenthal cheese, mustard caviar, and pickles.
5. La Carreta {multiple locations}
From the same people behind Versailles, La Carreta has become a casual go-to spot for Cubans throughout South Florida who are looking for authentic Cuban cuisine. The first La Carreta was founded on Calle Ocho back in 1976; today, the chain has nine locations throughout Miami, including Hialeah, Kendall, and Bird Road in addition to a very popular outpost at the Miami Airport.
6. Larios on the Beach {820 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.532.9577}
Since the early ’90s, Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s internationally acclaimed restaurant has been one of South Beach’s top destinations for Cuban cuisine. The happening spot on Ocean Drive features a newly redesigned dining room, lively Cuban music, and world-famous mojitos, not to mention the “Calorie Conscious Cuban” menu (created by Gloria herself), which offers healthy spins on classic Cuban dishes.
Larios on the Beach
7. Puerto Sagua {700 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.1115}
Cool, casual, and cozy. Sometimes a “no-frills” lunch is exactly what a day at the beach calls for. This bustling South Beach eatery on Collins Avenue has been serving up tasty Cuban sandwiches, real Cuban coffee, ropa vieja, and other traditional dishes since the early 1960s.
8. Havana 1957 {multiple locations}
Classic Cuban cuisine meets the chic ambience and sophistication of 1950s Havana for a truly remarkable experience. Now with four locations, (Española Way, Lincoln Road, Brickell, and Pembroke Pines), Havana 1957 has become a must-visit for visitors and locals alike, providing a fun, family-friendly atmosphere that combines Cuban flavors, music, and vintage memorabilia.
9. Sergio’s {multiple locations}
“Simple, fresh, and homemade” is the motto of the family-run chain, which was established back in 1970 by a Cuban immigrant family. Today, the family’s dedication to using only best and freshest products has made Sergio’s one of the top destinations for Cuban comfort food in South Florida. Added bonus: easy online ordering and fast delivery.
Tapas from the new bar Sergio’s Kendall location
10. El Exquisito {1510 Southwest Eighth Street, Little Havana; 305.643.0227}
In 1974, the Coro family began their American dream by opening a small family-style restaurant in what is now the heart of Little Havana on Calle Ocho. The family operated the 20-seat restaurant for almost four decades, until they sold it to local entrepreneurs. They revitalized the space, which now seats about 100, but maintained its authentic feel, as El Exquisito serves the same homestyle dishes as it did when it first opened.
Whether channeling your inner Henry Chinaski, feeling a kinship with Robert Lowell’s “The Drunken Fisherman,” or simply searching for a taste of that “liquor never brewed,” there’s plenty of reasons to try the Poetry Palliative cocktail at BLT Steak at The Betsy Hotel {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.531.6100}. It’s available throughout April in honor of National Poetry Month, but you can make it at home year-round using the following recipe, courtesy of BLT Steak’s General Manager David Weiss.
BleauLive Presents Heart at Fontainebleau
A premium selection of wines from around the world will be tasted, many tasted blind to make learning both interactive and fun. Upon completion of the course and passing both a written multiple choice test and tasting exam, students will receive their USSA Intermediate Sommelier Certificate.