Tumbao — Restaurant in Miami

We stopped here for a nice luncheon with a Cuban South American flair. We were seated right away and had a nice view of calle ocho from our table. The staff was friendly and kind. Our waitress was very attentive and came to check on us and ask if we were good. She also answered questions about the menu.

The pumpkin bisque, oxtail plantain cups and Mojito were great starters. The mojito was a nice mix of alcohol and mint. Not too heavy either way. We chose the seafood platter, fresh bread and the roast pork with yuka as our main dishes. These were wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented. The seafood was cooked perfectly. Not over or under cooked. Very much enjoyed this.

The bathroom in back was moderately clean. There was soap and water but no paper towel or air dryer. It was a bit of a dark creepy bathroom down a dark hall also.

An important note: As far as check goes, the gratuity was 18% automatically and then on check by signature line there was an additional line for tip. We absolutely tip and she was great; but we thought it was a bit deceitful that this was done in this fashion without any sign or spoken notice of this. Everyone has an outlook on tip. I just wanted to make sure and note.

The card to pay was not taken by waitress either. After our check was brought, we were expected to use QR code on table to pay. Some folks may not have a smart phone with this capability.

Overall a great experience and delicious...

My wife and I were in Florida for a wedding and we decided to take a day trip to Miami. Whenever we visit a tourist area, we try to find places to eat that are a little bit further away from the main section of the tourist area. We have found the food is usually better. La Taverna Calle 8 in Little Havana is one of those places. The wait staff was excellent. My wife ordered a margarita and I ordered a fresh squeezed pineapple juice. The bartender stopped by our table to check on our drinks and my wife said it was the best margarita she had ever had. My pineapple juice was delicious. The server was very helpful in explaining the various items on the menu. We both decided on Cubano sandwiches. They were delivered with a condiment tray on the side which we thought was a nice touch, it allowed us to experiment a bit. We were warned the hot sauce was hot and it was, but we still enjoyed trying a taste. The sandwiches were well prepared. The Cuban bread was toasted just right and was either baked on premises or sourced from a local bakery. The pork was succulent and the ham and cheese were tasty. I would recommend visiting La Taverna Calle 8. The place was clean, has a pleasant staff, and good food. It was worth...

I had the most enjoyable visit to Tumbao Restaurant! The first thing that caught our attention was the superb service given to us so that we felt comfortable since we stepped in the place. The place is lively and very bright and the addition of live music only improves the chances of enjoying the food.

And now let’s get to the food—it is traditional Cuban cuisine with a few contemporary trend infusions. The dishes are all prepared from scratch and use fresh ingredients that have bold and wonderful flavors. Do try the Ropa Vieja; it' s the most tender dish I ate on this trip, plus it has plenty of flavors.

What makes Tumbao exceptional is that everybody belongs; after all, it is a family business where everyone feels like one. It is the place to be when you want good food while making great memories. I look forward...