Sunday, June 17, 2007

Cafe Cuba

We couldn't decide on dinner last night - I was hungry, mostly, for food - you know, the edible stuff that you eat when you sit down to a meal. That was about as specific as I could get. We drove down by the Art of Pizza in the Crossroads and it still wasn't open, so we kept going until we got to Westport. I said "Hey - there's that Cuban place," and as the words escaped my lips my husband pulled the car into the parking space right in front. Easy parking spaces can be a hell of a decision maker.
Fortunately, welcoming people who are eager to have you sample their foods also make decisions easy. The lovely young lady behind the counter, in between chatting in Spanish with the rest of the restaurant's patrons, scooped us up little cups of the homestyle Cuban dishes behind the counter to taste. It was all good. We ordered a Cubano Especial sandwich (ham, pork, pickles, cheese and mustard pressed between thick french loaf-style bread until it was super thin and crisp) and a dinner plate with a tender shredded beef, a spoonful of yucca, a huge helping of a delicious bean and rice dish called arroz congris, and a side of tostones (fried plantains). They have fresh fruit smoothies (just fruit and ice) with mango, guava and other fruits, and delicious Cuban pastries. It's really tasty food served by smiling faces - and it's way easier to get parking in Westport than to travel to Cuba anyway.

Cafe Cuba
4116 Broadway
816*531*6060

8 comments:

Sara said...

My usual answer when Ron asks me what I want for dinner is, "I don't know...food?"

Your meal looks delicious.

Waldo Oiseau said...

I'm so glad I read your blog today! The only time I've had Cuban was in Key West, and I loved it. Good to know there's a cuban restaurant to visit here in KC. Can't wait to go!

Dan said...

Went there for lunch this week, and I wish you had warned me that the Cuban Especial sandwich is a bountiful meal with a generous order of fries, too. If I had known, I wouldn't have ordered the cup of black bean soup, redolent with sweet onion, or the strawberry/mango smoothie. I stuffed myself, but loved every minute of it.

Sara said...

i take full responsibility for your gluttony, dan. full responsibility.

Anonymous said...

next time try the flan, which is ridiculous, better than cafe versialles in miami, although the food certainly wasnt.

kcmeesha said...

Went and tried "Cubano Regular", wasn't impressed (too much mustard/pickles for my taste and it tasted salty).Mango smoothie was great.Little on the pricey side-$12 for sandwich/chips/smoothie,but I always wanted to try Cuban sandwich. For the cheapest meal ever yesterday I had "French" sandwich from Pho KC 315 S.Cherry-$2 and it was great.

CJ said...

Glad you're giving props to Cafe Cuba...I lived in Miami for 4 years before moving to KC and I love this place and so want it to stay in business!

Just a tip... but get the white rice with the black bean soup on top instead of the congri.... much more moist and oh so yummy!

Anonymous said...

Did Cafe Cuba close already? It was barely open 6 months?? : ( It's been dark and empty for 2 weeks.