🍴 Overhyped: Philly's "Top" Cuban Spot Cuba Libre – A Meal Carried by

Switching from Chicago to Philly for a conference, after days of Chinese food, we wanted to treat our friends from China to something different. A quick search led us to Cuba Libre, which had decent buzz on Xiaohongshu and Google Reviews. Plus, our good experience at Boston’s Gustazo made us hopeful—we figured Cuban food would be easy on Chinese palates. it fell flat. 📍 First, the service: Not matching the hype Surprisingly, there were plenty of reservation slots on a Friday night, and the restaurant still wasn’t full when we left—hardly what you’d expect from a "top spot." The servers weren’t rude, but they were impossible to flag down: we waved multiple times for refills, and they forgot requests the second we mentioned them. The whole interaction felt like a "cross-server communication failure," dampening the mood from the start. 🍞 The only highlight: Complimentary bread + mango butter The free bread lived up to Xiaohongshu’s raves—easily the best part of the meal. Soft toast, crispy and golden from butter frying, with a pillowy interior. Slathered with the house mango butter, it balanced ，creaminess, and just the right sweetness. We paid to refill immediately—no other dish came close. 🍲 Dish reviews: Letdowns in both taste and value Seafood Paella: Just "passable"—it had the expected seafood flavor, and the rice texture was fine. But the $41 price tag? Purely propped up by a random lobster tail that had zero connection to the paella itself. It felt like a forced add-on to jack up the cost—terrible value. Crab Guacamole with Fried Plantains: The first bite tasted fishy, but it grew on me. However, the fried plantains were salty, clashing with the avocado’s creaminess and crab’s freshness. No idea what this side was trying to achieve. Braised Pork Shoulder with Fried Pork Belly: A forgettable, generic braised meat. The pork shoulder was stringy and slightly tough, with bland seasoning. The fried pork belly added nothing special—eating it felt like chewing "lukewarm dried meat," not even worth a photo. 💡 Verdict: Not worth the hype I still don’t get why this place is popular—only the bread stands out. If you’re new to Cuban food, it’s harmless for a try, but don’t bother reserving, waiting in line, or splurging. Philly’s Cuban food scene must have better options. #PhillyFoodFails #CubanFoodExperience #OverhypedRestaurants #PhillyEats