Casavana Cuban Cuisine — Restaurant in Homestead

Came down to Homestead to set up base camp while I explored the local National Parks. My first full day there, I was like, I need to get some Cuban food. So I did some research, and the best bang for my buck seemed to be Casavana. I came in, got a seat, and looked at their delicious menu.

We ordered a bunch of different things and just went to town.

Started off with an Empanada (Cuban turnover filled with ham & Swiss cheese, beef, chicken or spinach). We chose beef, and this was A+. Crispy, flakey crust. Flavorful beef within. So good. Love a larger empanada that has a lot of filling to it.

Then I got the Combo Criollo (4 ham croquettes, one cuban tamal and mariquitas). These croquettes were oh so ooey gooey and very crispy on the outside, not too oily. The tamal was very soft and not dry at all, a subtle flavor throughout paired with the bite of that onion, very good. And then the mariquitas were fun, always fun. Crispy. Save them to eat with every other aspect of your meal.

Then a couple of main entrees. The Vaca Frita (A flavorful shredded flank steak grilled to perfection, topped with sauteed onions). Sides of Sweet plaintains, "maduros," and black beans and rice, "moros."

Flavorful is right. Shredding is the best way to prepare flank steak. All the flavor, none of the toughness. And then sauteed onions make everything better. The moros were moist and flavorful. Was a nice dip for my mariquitas to scoop up. And then of course, gotta love the maduros. Like a nice dessert already on your plate.

Then of course I had to have the classic Cubano Regular (Ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and a touch of mustard on cuban bread, served with mariquitas). Side of French fries.

I mean, this was great. This is a pretty standard sandwich, so it's hard to differentiate one from other, but one day to do it is to Stuff your sandwich with so much meat that it's actually impressive. Lots of stuff in this sandwich, and I really appreciate it. Thank you, Casavana.

I finished off the meal with a nice Tres-Leches (Sweetened condensed, cream and whole milk poured over rich sponge cake). My favorite cake! Both criteria for a good tres leches were met here, the sponge was saturated thoroughly, and the sponge did not deteriorate before I ate...

Let me start saying that I am a Director for F & B and I understand a lot of challenges that may arise in the industry. This place has horrible service the servers don’t care for the guest. I went there on Sunday at 7:40pm. 1 hour 20 minutes before they close when I enter I had to seat myself because nobody came to the front like saying we don’t want any body we are closing. Then i place my appetizer tostones rellenos with shrimp and my food order because i knew they were in patient. It took them 1 hour to bring my food after I gave them complaint that they serve 1 party of 8 people that got there 25 minutes after me and they were serve way before me so I knew something was going on. The server didn’t even apologize she just said that the ticket got stock in the printer. I told her how it’s possible that the restaurant is empty they are just 2 tables and you don’t realized they are not preparing my food.well the appetizer never came because they never brought to the table and I told them specifically please don’t burn my son pollo a. La milanesa.Guest what? The food for my son was dry and burn.

Believe me I don’t leave a lot of comments but this one definitely I had to take action. No manager present neither.

Do not go to this place believe me you are going to have a bad experience. Horrible service , bad food, it feels like they don’t want you to be there . I don’t give zero starts because their is no option

And just for your information if you want to order to go 1 hour before the app doesn’t let you and when you call they don’t take phone orders they said you have to go in person and wait for the order ridiculous. Who is management this place ? How they haven’t...

If I could give no stars I would. I picked up my $87.00 order at 8:40 pm through the pick up window drove home 10 minutes away only to find that I was missing the side dishes from two out of my three meals! I went back to pick up my 4 missing items and to speak to the manager on duty. I asked the girls in the front to allow me to speak to the manager. When the waitress came back she had my missing food! I still wanted to speak to the manager about the issue. The manager Indira came out to the front, and asked me how could she help me in Spanish. I am bi-lingual but I prefer to speak English. I responded in English that I would like a partial refund for the trouble. She agreed and walked to the back. I waited. The waitress at the front came back to tell me the “manager” says we can only give you a partial refund and I said yes that is fair. The waitress walked to the back and then to the front again to speak to me just to tell me that the “manager” will not give a refund since they gave me my food. I paid $87.00 for 2 incomplete meals!!! I had to leave my meal at my house to go pick up my two kids missing food! How is it my fault that you all did not have my meal prepared correctly?

How is it that you have a so called “manager” that doesn’t even have the courage to come speak to customers herself? But have a young teenage girl come speak for her?

Do your self a favor don’t order take out from Casavana in Homestead. They are not what they used to be. This is not the first time they have messed up my orders. I’ve been a long time customer but never again.

Mario’s on Us1 in homestead can have my money...