Cubata — Restaurant in Miami

A great, vibrant setting in the heart of Little Havana. It is by no means a really big place but it is accomodating. Our party of 4 went Friday evening, February 21, 2025. As we arrived we were immediately told when we entered that the inside area was reserved and, quite non-chalantly, suggested to 'maybe' try outside dining. We were pointed to an empty table on the sidewalk and we sat. Our waiter, whose name we didn't get, wasn't too accomodating with the menu. Instead of being suggestive to our expectations, we were simply told in Spanish that " this or that dish doesn't come with this or that, even if we paid for it. I couldn't get cheese added to the Vegan sandwich, as an example, and I was instead told to try another sandwich that DID have cheese. He was not in the least helpful with removing or adding items to any of the dishes I hate to say. He may be making the chef's and the owners' happy but on the customer side, this simply doesn't work. The food itself was good, not very big portions but tasty. When we ordered some coffee to the suggestion of dessert, we were also told the coffee machine was down, not working, etc. that there is no coffee. The waiter still insisted on the dessert but we said no thank you. We enjoy coffee with dessert after dinner and it was not going to be an option here now so we just closed the bill, paid and left. We are not as enthusiastic to return here after our first and quite possibly...

My bf and I came here on Friday, Jan 31. The manager, Guillermo, was literally the rudest human being I’ve ever met. We let him know we would like to order a drink at the bar while we wait for a table. Several times he tried to tell us we weren’t welcome for a variety of reasons. Oh there’s no tables, oh there’s a private party (only 1 table), etc. We told him we were happy to wait patiently for a table.

When we were served a drink from the bar, the server tried to trick us into paying a tip on top of the 20% service fee. We are locals so we saw through that immediately. When we were sat, Guillermo rolled his eyes and sighed heavily at us. We ordered the beef tenderloin medium rare, which showed up very raw. When we asked if he could put it back on the grill he said “Well you ASKED for it medium rare, did you not?!” It didn’t come back for another 20 minutes, at which point I was finished with my meal. I had ordered a second red wine to go with the steak, which never came.

On the plus side, the quality of the food might be the best you can get on Calle Ocho if you want something other than greasy sandwiches and diner food. You can still get that there if you wish. The tuna tartar was excellent. Overall, when we come back, we will be having a word...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cubata on SW 8th Street in Miami, FL, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish. Nestled in the heart of Little Havana, this Spanish-Cuban tapas gem offers an experience that’s as vibrant as the neighborhood itself. The environment is a perfect blend of cozy and lively; It’s the kind of place where you feel instantly transported, surrounded by rhythm and warmth.

The food? Was amazing. Every bite of their tapas menu was a flavor explosion. The drinks were amazing and the wine was good quality too. Their happy hour specials are unreal—50% off all alcoholic beverages from 4 to 8 p.m. daily, extending to 2 a.m. on Thursdays, and an all-day fiesta on Saturdays. It’s a deal that’s almost too good to be true, but trust me, it’s real and worth every sip.

What truly elevated the experience, though, was the exceptional service. A special shout-out to Elbys, who made us feel like family from the moment we walked in. His attentiveness, passion, and genuine warmth turned a great meal into an unforgettable night. The entire staff followed suit, ensuring every need was met with a smile. Cubata isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of food, drinks, and culture, all wrapped in stellar service. I can’t...