Santiago's Cuban Cuisine — Restaurant in Burlington

We have been looking forward to the opening of Santiago’s after their Green plantain, Boniato and Malanga chips brief residency in the New North End a couple years ago. We got a reservation for 5pm on Saturday and appreciated having a leisurely 3-course meal as the restaurant steadily filled indoors and other diners sat in their patio area outside. It is not advisable to walk-in and reserving this experience feels like a vacation to a warm, friendly and tropical destination. Set the intention to eat and enjoy the company of friends and family. Co-owners Oscar Arencibia and Luis Calderin will make friendly rounds with patrons to see how they are enjoying their experience for the evening.

We started with the Tres chicharitas (three chips) which included green plantain, Boniato and Malanga chips with black bean and a Caribbean salsa. Perfectly crispy and not greasy which went well with both dip and salsa as a sharable starter. Our daughter enjoyed the piña con nada (non-alcoholic) and I had the piña colada while my husband got the Iron Beer, a tropical root beer. The pina colada was like no other, served in a pineapple glass with a pineapple wedge and a flower for garnish. The Bacardi dark rum sits on top of cocktail, mix and enjoy a smooth beverage with notes of caramel and vanilla from the rum.

We got two mains and French fries with pink sauce to share with our daughter. I had the bistec de palomilla (grilled sirloin steak butterflied) with tostones and black beans on the side, heavily spiced and balanced with the starches from the white rice and tostone. My husband loved the ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce with the yuca con mojo and maduros. He needed a scoop of my rice to eat up the rest of the flavorful beef and sauce.

We left room for dessert and to balance the effects of the cocktail, I got a café con leche. Perfect for the cooling evening and for our shared desserts: Nancy’s flan and the rum mango and apple crumble. The flan was a classic dish with right portions of custard to caramel sauce, smooth and each bite a delight. The crumble was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and best to remember to put your spoon in to get a bite of ice cream, crumble and the warm spiced mango and apple. Perfect fall flavor and comforting dessert.

We can’t wait to return and already booked our next dining experience...

Our first time dining at Santiago's Cuban Cuisine was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we walked in, the warm ambiance, inviting décor, and subtle Cuban music in the background set the tone for a cozy, flavorful evening.

Appetizers: We started with the Empanadas (VG) – a generous serving of three golden, hand-crimped turnovers. We chose two filled with spinach and queso blanco, and one with picadillo (beef). The spinach and cheese were creamy with a mild, savory flavor, while the beef empanada had a satisfying, seasoned richness. The flaky pastry on each was perfectly crisp and fresh – clearly made with care.

Entrées & Drinks: My wife ordered the Ropa Vieja – Cuba’s national dish – and it was outstanding. The shredded stewed beef was tender and deeply flavorful, simmered with onions, peppers, garlic, and olives in a savory tomato base. Her sides – Yuca con Mojo, Arroz Amarillo, and Black Beans – rounded out the dish beautifully. The yuca was especially well-prepared with a zesty citrus-garlic mojo that elevated the entire plate. She paired her meal with a Classic Mojito that was refreshingly balanced, not overly sweet, with a generous muddling of mint.

I opted for the Pollo a La Plancha, a grilled mojo-marinated chicken breast served thin and topped with sautéed onions. The chicken was juicy, full of citrus-garlic flavor, and seared just right. I chose Tostones, Arroz Amarillo, and Black Beans as my sides, and they did not disappoint. The tostones were thick-cut, crisp on the outside, and just soft enough on the inside – ideal for dipping in the beans. My drink, the Piña Con Nada, was a creamy, tropical delight that felt like dessert in a glass.

Service & Experience: Our server, MJ L., was truly phenomenal. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, MJ made excellent recommendations and ensured we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Their thoughtful service elevated our entire dining experience.

Overall, Santiago's Cuban Cuisine gave us a memorable introduction to authentic Cuban flavors with attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere. This was our first visit – but certainly not our last....

So happy we went to take advantage of their patio before it closed for the fall. This restaurant is right next to Union Station, so you still get a beautiful view of the lake sitting outside. The inside is GORGEOUS, with amazing decor and ambiance. All the way down to the music! We didn’t know that Santiago’s was RESERVATION ONLY(!), but we were still able to be seated. The host and all of the waitstaff we interacted with were so lovely and kind. Especially our waitress; I forgot the name of the woman who waited on us outside yesterday evening, but she was so lovely and sweet! Never forgot about us and was super patient with our parents, who hardly spoke English and was speaking to her in Spanglish. She even knew a little Spanish. :) Amazing! I went with my boyfriend and his family. This is a pretty important detail, as we’re all Cuban Americans from Miami. The parents are first gen. So, with that being said, we know our way around Cuban Food. Coming from a predominantly hispanic city, we had pretty low expectations for the food. It’s hard to get Cuban food on the nose, and most places do not do it justice at all. THIS PLACE DID!! So authentic, so amazing. I do feel like I have to say that this place was a little expensive. $26 for Bistec De Palomilla is kind of insane just about anywhere else. I would’ve had a stroke if I saw that kind of price in Miami. I have to assume it’s because they just opened up and there are no other spots around! I don’t mind paying a bit more to push a new business, but I thought I’d put it out there. It wasn’t enough of a bother to take away a star though. Whenever I get homesick in Burly, I’m gonna make the walk down to get some maduros & ropa vieja. :) Thank you for bringing some authentic Cuban cuisine to...