This week, my family and I visited Cafe Mi Vitrola, a Cuban restaurant located in Miami Lakes. The ambiance of the place is undeniably beautiful, capturing the vibrant and welcoming essence of Cuban culture. Our waitress mirrored this charm with her friendly and welcoming demeanor, which initially set high expectations for our dining experience.
Unfortunately, the food did not live up to these expectations. As a Cuban, I can attest that the dishes we tried were far from the 10/10 experience one would hope for at an authentic Cuban restaurant.
We started with chicharron and guacamole with pico de gallo and tostones. The guacamole was overwhelmingly acidic, and instead of the expected pico de gallo, we were served yuca mojito. The chicharron, which should be crispy, was disappointingly elastic. These starters were not off to a great start.
The main courses continued this trend of disappointment. They were bland and lacked any distinctive Cuban flavors. The dishes were under-seasoned, including the grilled vegetables, which were not seasoned at all. This lack of flavor extended to every aspect of our meal, making it a rather uninspiring culinary experience.
To finish off, we ordered a natural lemonade. Unfortunately, it was so acidic that we couldn’t finish it. Even the regular water had a hint of lemon, which might not be to everyone's taste. If you prefer plain water, make sure to inform the waitress in advance.
In conclusion, while Cafe Mi Vitrola has a beautiful setting and excellent service, the food quality leaves much to be desired. For a restaurant aiming to be an authentic Cuban establishment, significant improvements in their food preparation and seasoning are necessary. Until then, it falls short of providing a true Cuban dining experience.