NYC Near NYU | Cuban Food Gem đ Carnivores, Rejoice!
A hidden Cuban spot near NYU has me obsessedâCuba, tucked at 222 Thompson St, isnât swarmed by influencers, but its hearty portions and bold flavors make it a carnivoreâs secret haven. The best part? Brunch lets you order from the dinner menuâribs, oxtail, paella⌠who says breakfast canât be a meat feast? âď¸ đ Location: NYUâs "Meat Fuel Station" A 10-minute walk from NYU, it blends into Manhattanâs streetscape with a low-key facade. But step inside, and the aroma of roasted ribs and tomato-braised meat hits youâsuddenly, youâre starving. Warm lighting and wooden tables give it a cozy vibe, packed with students and locals on weekendsâlively enough to feel welcoming, quiet enough to chat. đ´ Must-Order List (Carnivores, Take Notes! ) Ranked by love, each deserves a 10/10 đŻ: VALENCIANA PAELLA $30 Shocked by the portion when it arrived! Three pieces of skin-on chicken top the orange paellaâskin crispy, meat tender enough to fall off the bone; 3-4 ribs, fatty and charred, so tender the bones practically melt. The paella steals the show: rice soaks up meaty broth, oily and slightly chewy, with plump mussels (sweet, briny), and onions, red peppers, green peppers, lima beansâsoft with a crunch. Artichokes add a hint of tang, making every spoonful a new delight. So good, youâll scrape the plate đ! RABO ENCENDIDO $28 Five oxtail chunks, each with tendon and bone, slow-braised in tomato-red wine sauce until âfork-tenderâ: meat shreds easily, tendon is melt-in-your-mouth, soaking up the tangy broth (with red peppers, onions, cilantro). Served with black bean riceâmix the sauce in, and carb + meat joy hits peak. Even the broth begs to be sopped up with bread đĽ. CAZUELA MARINERA $30 Seafood lovers, this is for you! Sweet, plump shrimp, tender squid rings, flaky monkfish, clams⌠all swimming in creamy lobster sauce. Pair with peas, sweet plantainsâeach bite is a burst of briny goodness. So fresh, itâs like eating the ocean đŚ. BACALAO GRATINADO $27 Cheesy sauce gets a caramelized crustâdig in, and salty-savory cheese mingles with cured cod (tender, not fishy). Crispy bacon and garlic aioli add depth, with soft tomatoes, onions, peppers below. Layered flavorsâcheese fans, donât skip đ§! â¤ď¸ Next Time, Iâm Ordering These (Already Salivating) LECHON ASADO $25 (Roast porkâheard the skinâs crispy, meat juicy) TRES LECHES DE MANGO $10 (Mango three-milk cakeâsounds sweetly divine) ROPA VIEJA $25 (Cuban âold clothesâ braised beefâshredded, flavorful, perfect with rice) CAMARONES ENCHILADOS $26 (Spicy shrimpâcraving that tangy heat) Near NYU and craving something âsubstantialâ? This Cuban spot satisfies carnivoresâ cravingsâfrom paella to oxtail, every dish screams âgenerous portions.â Brunch with dinner menu? A brunch loverâs dream. Go now! #NewYork #NYCRestaurants #NYCFood #NYCEats #Manhattan #NYUFood #CubanFoodNYC #NYBrunch