Copacabana Cuban Café
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We went back to one of our favorites Cuban restaurants. Is being over six years since last visited because we were disappointed. Today we ordered the paella since it takes around 40" we ordered by phone to eat at the restaurant. When we got there we let our server know that we ordered already to eat there but for some reason they were confused, finally we got our paella. Presentation was great, taste very good but preparation it was a little dry for a paella since we had it before in many restaurants including this and have family that know how to cook this culinary dish, we know. The reason that I only gave four stars it doesn't has to do with the food but with the service. The server was new with we understood but went she told my wife that she had an attitude, (that is rude ) she never came back to offer me a refill for my drink and took any empty dishes of our table until we finished all of that with an empty restaurant, there isn't an excuse for a new employee. This is the first time that we had this kind of service here. We probably return but we will try the other Cuban restaurant in Mount Dora before coming back here. For us is a 40" drive to be mistreated by a new employee I an afraid that went she be there longer than six months she might be more aggressive so we probably order to eat in the car.
Sal CardonaSal Cardona
00
When in a mood for authentic Cuban cuisine we drive to Copa Cabana in Mt.Dora or Altamonte Springs. Guests are all greeted with open arms just as the atmosphere promotes a friendly warm gathering of friends and family. My husband loves the Masitas - Deep fried pork chunks marinated in Cuban mojo w/ seasoned grilled onions. The dish revealed tender, moist pork morsels that literally melt in your mouth. He chose yellow rice with black beans to complement his selection. I chose the Salmon en Salsa dish - Sautéed salmon in delicious Creole sauce, on a bed of seasoned vegetables. I chose yellow rice with black beans as well but substitute extra vegetables for a side, as the Creole sauce is truly addicting! I have also sampled Pernil - Cuban style roast pork seasoned w/especial mojo & yuca con mojo” It offers a very unique taste and combination of flavors/ingredients sure to satisfy any pork lover. Its gravy or sauce is also very versatile and could enhance any thing you add to it. Delic!!! I also recommend the Stuffed Red Peppers and Cheese - White rice or yellow with ground beef w/ cheese. Great for Vegans or for additional cost one can add Shrimp and Vegetables, Ropa Vieja , Shredded Chicken In Tomato Sauce. All meals are served with Cuban bread and fantastic service.
femailcreationfemailcreation
00
The food was meh, the service was atrocious. Waitress was extremely rude & inattentive. The restaurant was not busy at all, there was no reason to leave our table a mess the whole time. We had to ask for empty dishes cluttering up the table to be removed twice. When she asked our opinion on the food, she became defensive & combative. Saying that we were wrong & began insulting us. Then proceeded to double charge the credit cards of two people in my party. She clearly did it on purpose considering the events that took place leading up to it, hoping we wouldn't notice I guess. Zero apologies from her for anything. My party was quite pleasant & reasonable & this entire display could have been avoided with just a modicum of professional behavior. Now for the food; My 12 year old son liked the novelty of the red snapper. The paella was overcooked & very mushy, unseasoned, not at all flavorfull. The lobster tail I had was so overcooked & rubbery & curled up it could have been mistaken for a jumbo shrimp. The "house sauce" that my seafood was drown in was a tomato based sauce with no flavor. Chef Boyardee has more flavor than that red sauce & it would have been less gritty. Everything just fell very flat. Several mussels in both the paella & my seafood plate were unopened. Which was the singular criticism we shared with the waitress that sent her over the deep end into a full blown hissy fit. The food was "meh", but the service was nasty. ....................................................... In regards to the response the restaurant "manager" gave... Hilariously inaccurate at this point. There was no one around, so this talk of witnesses is laughable, the restaurant was dead. Whoever thinks they were a witness to anything, only received a one sided account as I'm sure Karen continued running her mouth behind our backs acting like a victim. The facts are, our table & Karen were the only ones that know what happened. When the credit card ordeal was getting sorted her dad swooped in to mediate. We were not rude or disrespectful to anyone, even as Karen was insulting us & lying about us throwing a mussel. We maintained our composure as she was flailing about like a child whining to her daddy that we were being mean. We won't be going back to this restaurant as not even the supposed manager can give a professional response to a review. We have always been respectful to waitstaff & will continue to be. This was a case of a bad waitress asking a table what we thought of the food, we gave our respectful honest thoughts that were supposed to be taken with grace back to chef to improve upon in the future. Instead she took personal offense & began spewing venom to us & lies about us to whoever would listen to her.
Christina RisingerChristina Risinger
00
For many years, Copacabana has been our go-to when we're in Mount Dora. I lived in Mount Dora for a short time and loved walking down to Copacabana for a quick dinner. It is not exactly Miami style Cuban food since the owner has always put a little spin on the dishes, but it is very close. We had not been there in a while and, with the exception of the food, our latest visit on March 23rd was disappointing. They have put large freezers in the dining room and an employee started packing and arranging the frozen seafood into the freezers while we had lunch. While unpacking whole frozen snapper with his bare hands, he asked if the smell bothered us. There was a little sign above the freezers that said something about renovations but our waitress said that it was an old sign and that there are no renovations underway. When we got our bill, we realized we were overcharged for the croquetas and coffee. Croquetas are $8.95 on the menu but we got charged $9.95. Also, I got charged for a colada ($5.95 four shots) but only had a Cafecito ($3.95 for 2oz). At this point, I wasn't wanting to argue with the waitress, who had no personality, over $3 so I just paid and left. Verdict is out on whether I'll return since there are so many good choices all over Central Florida. The purpose for this review is so that others will be careful when reviewing their check and also realize that you might feel like you're eating in the storage area.
Ralph de LeonRalph de Leon
00
I liked the music. I loved the atmosphere. The outside seating was relaxing. We went in the evening with some friends just to chill and chat. I had a house mojito, which I enjoyed. I'm not much of a drinker, so it was perfect, it wasn't too strong for me and it tasted great. When it came to my main course, I sadly have to give a thumbs down. The little snapper on the skewer looked cool, but I should've left it on the display and just had the beans and rice and sweet plantains (them sweet plantains -- oh so good!). The snapper was fried very hard. The fish had a very hard outer shell, which left little meat to enjoy. When you finally did peel away an edible piece of meat, it was a bit chewy. It was not my style at all. My friend had ordered the same thing and she felt the same way. So there I was, wishing I had ordered the picadillo like I did the first time I visited many years ago. Or even that glorious looking skirt steak, that my husbands friend had ordered, simmering in the pan (I had a taste of it and it melted in my mouth!). *Sigh* that's what happens when you get adventurous! I will totally visit again, I just won't order the fish on the skewer, unless of course, I need an interesting center piece for the table.
JanJan
00
Came all the way out to Mount Dora on a whim and it just so happened to be the ends of an art festival earlier that day. We were craving some good Cuban food and the reviews led me here. Me and my friend both got the slow cooked pork pernil, which came with rice and beans and yuca. The pernil was very flavorful, but I think the pork to onion ratio was off. A bit too many onions..but if you love onions it's perfect for you. The yuca was very good as well I could have wanted a little more flavor to the Mojo sauce but I will take it. It sounds so silly but the star of the show for me was their white rice. Now you will think I'm nuts and that's totally fine. But something about their white rice was divine. I don't know what they cooked it in. Lard? Who knows. But the rice itself was just cooked to perfection and I loved it. The same goes for the yellow rice. It was very simple but the simplicity is what made it perfect. For what we got I definitely think it was EXPENSIVE for just some pork and rice. 20 bucks for the pernil Drinks and tip it was more than I wanted on just 1 item off the menu. All in all, a solid cuban spot.
Brandi M.Brandi M.
00
Nearby Attractions Of Copacabana Cuban Café
Donnelly Park
Gilbert Park
Rusty Anchor Mount Dora
Village Antique Mall
ADORA INN
Grantham Pointe (Light House)
Gold In Art Jewelers
Mount Dora Olive Oil Company
Mount Dora Village Market
Modernism Museum

Donnelly Park
4.7
(949)Click for details

Gilbert Park
4.7
(958)Click for details

Rusty Anchor Mount Dora
4.8
(490)Click for details

Village Antique Mall
4.5
(307)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Copacabana Cuban Café
Pisces Rising
WAVE - Asian Bistro & Sushi
Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill
Las Palmas Cuban Restaurant
Jeremiah's
The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge
PizzAmoré
Magical Meat Boutique British Pub
Highland Street Cafe
1921 Mount Dora

Pisces Rising
4.4
(1.3K)Click for details

WAVE - Asian Bistro & Sushi
4.6
(1.2K)Click for details

Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill
4.5
(1.2K)Click for details

Las Palmas Cuban Restaurant
4.2
(1.1K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
320 Dora Drawdy Way, Mt Dora, FL 32757
Map
Phone
(352) 385-9000
Call
Website
copacabanamountdora.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.2
(1.1K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Homestyle Cuban cuisine & drinks served in simple digs with an island-themed patio.
attractions: Donnelly Park, Gilbert Park, Rusty Anchor Mount Dora, Village Antique Mall, ADORA INN, Grantham Pointe (Light House), Gold In Art Jewelers, Mount Dora Olive Oil Company, Mount Dora Village Market, Modernism Museum, restaurants: Pisces Rising, WAVE - Asian Bistro & Sushi, Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill, Las Palmas Cuban Restaurant, Jeremiah's, The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge, PizzAmoré, Magical Meat Boutique British Pub, Highland Street Cafe, 1921 Mount Dora
