The Spirit of Cuba

The Spirit of Cuba closed on April 2007 more

The WORST! restaurant in the Las Vegas Valley. Lets start with the horrible smell, it smelled like sewer pipe. they did not have alot of things that were on the menu. The waitress kept laughing saying ""ha ha ha we dont have that sorry"" I think thats enough said. If you want cuban food go to Florida Cafe on Las Vegas Blvd. just north of stratosphere. STAY CLEAR OF THE SPIRIT OF CUBA! Pros: None! Cons: Expensive for cuban food. more

We were greeted at the door by the owner/hostess who told us her mother was the chef. We were hesitant to order fish because the restaurant was virtually empty at 7:15PM so I opted for the masitas de Puerco that she recommended. The only problem was the kitchen was pork free this evening. My next order was pollo asada al ajillo ? chicken seasoned and marinated in garlic. It turned out to be a grilled leg quarter and I could not discern any garlic or other seasonings. Ms. Westie?s pechuga de pollo a la plancha ? grilled chicken breast topped with grilled onions was another yawner. Our entrees included rice and fried plantains. We concluded the meal with a very dense flan that was more than decent. more

My husband and I relocated here from D.C. and we were finding Vegas to be almost devoid of restaurants with atmosphere and authentic ethnic food...that is, until we stumbled upon The Spirit of Cuba! This restaurant is a diamond in the rough...we were able to make reservations at the last minute and it was practically empty on a Saturday night. So, of course, I was expecting terrible food, terrible service, or both. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The service was excellent - everyone was very friendly and attentive. And the food...the food was unbelievable! So delicious! I ordered the Bistec Empinazado, a breaded, fried Palomilla steak (thin sirloin sauteed in oliive oil, lime and spices), a good choice for the slightly less adventurous eater. It came with a hefty portion of rice, black beans and plantains (try the sweet plantains)! The food was authentic and delicious. One caveat to my review - timing is everything: in order to enjoy the terrific, live music on the weekend, you have to come after 8 p.m. If you come before that, your experience will lack the Cuban flavor that comes with live Salsa music. And for those who fear that the music will be annoying - no fear! It is just loud enough to provide an enjoyable background to your conversation...unless you are in the mood to dance in the lounge area. This restaurant is sure to catch on...be one of the first to discover it! Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Live Music... more

The restaurant looks nice enough, being a former Tony Roma's. The potential is there. The menu is nice, with a variety of good choices. However, the food was a disappointment, as for fairly high prices, the place didn't deliver. Whatever was ordered (ropas viejas, pollo ajieo, etc) the plate had lots of rice and beans and very little meat. You are charged $15.00 for one plate, and management has decided to save 50 cents on food cost, which will drive people away. The service wasn't too good either, nor was the personality of the manager. Overall, we've written it off our list! more

Fabolous food, terrific live, authentic Cuban music and great ambiance!! Best Mojitos ever!!!! Family owned and operated! Pros: Authentic food, authentic music, family owned more