Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse

Shame its closed!
One of the cheap Cuban Steak House (even for Cuban Restaurant standard).
Although I loved the food here, I can see why the business is closed.

Delicious food, fabulous cocktails, elegant décor. Definitely my new favorite restaurant!

My husband and I visited Gregoria’s on a busy Saturday night because had been craving Cuban food. We looked at their online menu beforehand, made a reservation, and were very much looking forward to the meal. We were kindly greeted and seated immediately, but when our server arrived we received a completely different menu than what we had seen online. When we questioned the menu, we were told that they are in the process of changing from strictly Cuban to an overall Latin theme. We were so disappointed!
So in lieu of a full meal, we decided to just have some appetizers and a glass of wine. We ordered the Cuban sandwich on a stick and the fried plantains, and both were very good. Our server was extremely nice and helpful as well. It’s such a shame that they aren’t a Cuban restaurant anymore. After hearing about this place and their excellent Cuban food for so long, and after tasting a couple of their remaining Cuban dishes, I can’t understand why they would change their concept. Sadly, we most likely won’t return.

To all of my Cubans (and non-​Cubans) out there who used to go to Gregoria’s for a mix of authentic Cuban and Cuban fusion: alas, they have taken the better paved road of catering to something other than what you’ve come to expect.
I have grown accustomed to going to Gregoria’s for great food… Cuban food… and so when our waiter (who was very good, btw) informed me that some of my favorite dishes were no longer on the menu (apparently changed just 6 weeks ago), my enthusiasm left the building. It’s like the small child in me was thrown into a dark room and mocked repeatedly for my naïve beliefs, hopes, and dreams. I know this sounds dramatic, but they admit (at the restaurant) that they are «expanding» their options to include other Latin American countries.
The food was fine. Decent meal, moderate prices, nice ambiance (although a bit dead for a Sunday night, which I used to recall being busier). But it was not inherently Cuban any longer. They might as well rename the place «Gregoria’s Latin Steakhouse».
On a brighter note, the sangria was good. Or at least it helped me suppress the tears…

Came for bunch and enjoyed it. Mimosas were only $ 2.50 which is a steal that I did not take advantage of because of a rough Saturday night. The mimosas were made properly too, not watered down by any means to account for the price.
I personally ordered the Cuban Eggs Benedict which consisted of pulled pork, eggs and their cuban biscuit with a side salad (pic included). My dish was good and a nice twist on eggs benedict but the pulled pork didn’t have the punch that ham/​bacon/​crab cake give to other variations of eggs benedict that I’ve had previously so it wasn’t quite a winner.
I tried a few of the other dishes off of my friend’s plates to mixed results. The Green Eggs & Lamb, and the Tortilla Española were both very good. On the other hand, the
Steak & Eggs were underseasoned, in particular the steak needed more salt as it tasted bland.
All in all, it was a good meal and a killer deal on drinks. I would definitely return, but I would just order something else.

Pros: Good service, clean, spacious, delicious food. Cons: Not authentic Cuban, pricey for what you’re getting. We went during Sunday brunch and the owner (manager?) was kind enough to have the kitchen make my fiancé a Churrasco steak that wasn’t on the brunch menu. What he was served was a small portion of a bistec asado, which is a different steak from a churrasco. Although it was delicious, it was not the steak he wanted, and he was disappointed. I had a Cuban sandwich which was delicious, but again not an authentic Cuban sandwich. We also had tostones and plantain chips, both of which we loved. Total bill came out to $ 35. Good food, but not exactly what we had hoped for in coming to a Cuban restaurant and quite pricey.

Have only come from brunch and really liked it!
I got the eggs benedict and they were kind enough to switch out the pork for beef which was great! Also got a side of the plantains which were pretty good. ALSO FYI– bottomless mimosas !
Great service as well… The place was kinda empty though for a Sunday

Food was great. Drinks were awesome. Staff was fantastic. We had a lovely date night out but the restaurant is certainly large enough for big parties.
Seems like a family — run business. It shows in the attention they pay to guests. I would totally recommend the place, for Cuban food and for the experience.

I’m not so hot on American steakhouses… but this is Cuban! Totally different story. Chimichurri steak? Plantains? House sangria? Keep it coming. My boyfriend and I were a bit skeptical from the restaurant’s outside appearance (really, not a single window? Isn’t that breaking some sort of fire code?), but the food and live music inside more than made up for it. We’ll be back!

They’ve lost the cool ambience of the little house they used to be in and now the location looks like something that used to be a Western Sizzlin’ or the like (I have no idea what business the building used to house). But they have gained some bar space and apparently some kitchen space because the menu is larger than before. The food is still well-​prepared and the menu offers a great variety of proteins. They now have a proper long bar as well as tables in the bar area and a patio.
I’ve had good luck with the scallop dishes here, particularly the one with pineapple-​almond salsa. Also tried the Cuban sliders, which were delicious patties of mixed beef and chorizo. Wonderfully salty with a bit of heat. Their drink list is pretty nice as well and reasonably priced. Service is certainly attentive if not exactly polished. I have overheard them at the bar before discussing orders that were taking a long time to come out of the kitchen. I’ve never personally had a delayed dish, but it seems like they’re talking about it every time I’m there.
If you’re a fan of Cuban food or would like to try it, this is definitely the Durham spot to hit. It’s much better and feels more authentic than Cuban Revolution. And the menu is far more extensive than Old Havana Sandwich downtown – though that one is definitely worth a trip for lunch.

I would give this business no stars if I could. A good friend of mine ordered a seafood appetizer and he and his lady ate it happily when moments later, the woman began to feel ill. As my friend was trying to help her to the bathroom she got sick as she stood up in the restaurant.
After helping her to the car and going back inside to settle the tab, he was asked by a manager if he was going to «clean up his mess» and was handed a mop and bucket. Since he is a peaceful man who avoids confrontation, he DID clean up the mess that was caused by THEIR food. Then smartly asked if they wanted him to clear off the table too, to which they responded «no».
1) Why was the kitchen not apologetic that something THEY undercooked made a paying customer sick.
2) What does it say about the culture within that restaurant that NO ONE apologized or was sympathetic and NO ONE or another manager stepped in when he was cleaning up a mess caused by their restaurant to say THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
3) What so-​called professional restaurant establishment makes PAYING customers clean up when their guest is sick after eating food provided by them!
Bottom Line: If you eat at Gregario’s and get sick, expect to be made to clean up your sickness before heading home for the evening. Despicable!

So my wife & I met two other couples tonight for dinner. We started off with the chicarrones for an appetizer. MAN who ever thought small squares of pork belly could taste SO GOOD?!? You’re thinking to yourself, I’m not eating that hunk of fat, but then you cut it (or pop the whole square in your mouth) and realize how tender & succulent it is. I could eat those all night! But there’s more… The main entrée… We had the paella for 2. Let’s just say this was SEAFOOD paella with a little bit of rice, not a whole lot of rice with a little seafood. Well worth the endeavor. There was a freshness to the seafood and a hint of lime. Very well done. There was a size of plantains aka platanos, which were nice and sweet. I didn’t think I could eat any more until our waiter told me there was house made flan! Hello, I can’t find flan in NC, sign me up! It wasn’t the flan I’m used to with the warm caramel or brown sugar topping but, it hit the spot with the candied pineapples on top. I would do it again.
As for the décor, it was nicely appointed, had a 3 part jazz band in the far corner. For a Saturday night, it was pretty crowded but the service was good. It wasn’t hard to get our waiter (Austin’s) attention of we needed something. He also kept his space letting us talk and be merry. Great place for groups. Pictures follow

The first thing I experienced when walking into Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse aside from the warmth and absence of the freezing rain outside was the soundscape. Having returned recently from a prolonged stay in several Latin American countries, I did not realize how much I had missed Spanish music.
Friday at 6:30 was a bit of a slow time for the restaurant, with business picking up later in the evening. Our server, Mark, was full of energy, charming, and in general on top of his game. As opposed to the tables that extended towards the back of the restaurant, we sat in one of the booths facing the bar and the live musicians who came to play later on in the course of the night. Had some warm bread, which is delicious with the garlic butter.
Now, the food. Heads up: even though this is a steakhouse I only tried their seafood dishes this time; sorry not sorry. Maybe I’ll save that for a future visit.
Ensalada de Aguacate: avocados, tomatoes, and lots of romaine and other greens. While decently tasty, I felt the dish was too heavy on the dressing. The lettuce in particular tasted quite salty, though the avocado and tomato helped to balance that out somewhat.
Placido’s Camarones al Ajillo: shrimp, cooked spinach and onions over rice. Interesting vinegary flavor balanced out by the sweetness of the shrimp, though less of a sour taste would be appreciated. As far as sizes go, this is a smaller entrée, but it was still satisfying and suitable for those with not so large appetites.
Seafood Paella: variety of seafood from mussels to fish to octopus mixed with tomatoes, rice, and a variety of spices. Big fan of this dish. Upon reflection, I imagine this would be what non-​spicy jambalaya would taste like. Detected a similar sour note as in the camarones, bit too much vinegar/​lemon perhaps. Large portion, extremely filling, and very yummy.
Tres Leches: soaked sponge cake with whipped cream and a strawberry on top, a classic Latin American dessert. When I first took a bite of the top of the cake I was a bit disappointed because it was not very moist. However, towards the bottom of the cup the flavor and texture resembled more the tres leches I have had in Costa Rica; major improvement.
I loved the service, and the live music, and though the food has some room for improvement, it was delicious and filling. Solid 4 stars.

A hidden restaurant with its own huge parking lot. Came here Saturday evening and there were a lot of patrons here, especially in the late 30s to early 40s demographic. Ambiance and décor is very attractive to take a date here. Their menu is big, not enough big enough to be complex. Prices are pretty reasonable. The wait staff is extremely accommodating and very attentive. Into the night, the place turns into a dance venue (mostly salsa, cuban dancing etc.).
Their bread is good especially if you top it off with their flavored butter (or whatever it was that made it super tasty). Ordered the empanadas and one of their flavored steaks. Everything cooked well and seasoned well.

I came here in September and November of 2014, both on a Wednesday and I got the same thing. I will be back in December and will do the same– will order what I got the last time and also on Wednesday. Why?
Wednesday is $ 5 martini night which they also honor in the restaurant (not just the bar). These are some killer martinis for $ 5 (we pay $ 2 more to get Tito’s vodka). Where I’m run, most people would be very happy to pay under $ 10 for even a shitty martini.
Bistec Asado (Grilled skirt steak, yuca frita, grilled vegetables, chimichurri). This is juicy and cooked to perfection. I melt when I eat this at Gregoria’s. It’s amazing; I know, who knew skirt steak can be so good. Well, if cooked right, then yes! It is so juicy that I use my yuca frita to absorb the precious liquid. I get this cooked medium (don’t go below this for a skirt steak or it may be too tough).
The calamari is good too; we got a side of this both times.
Service is spot on; I went on both occasions around 7:30pm and it was practically empty.
Can’t wait to go back on ¹²⁄₁₀; already made a reservation =)

Brunch was soooooo bomb today!
Started with blueberry muffin basket– warm and carb deliciousness:)
Got the steak and eggs. Chimichurri was so good and not super salty like last time. The steak was good and the yuca was crispy and delicious.
Shared the plantain pancakes too and they were good. Didn’t really taste any distinct plantain taste but moist light and delicious regardless.
Service was great and everything was just so delicious. Definitely a great brunch spot that’s different from your typical boring brunch (omelettes french toast bacon etc).
I don’t know why this place isn’t busier for brunch because the menu and prices are awesome!
I’m still very very full and content and can’t wait to go back!

I’ve been three times now and haven’t been let down once. I love that not many people know about this place because it means that the outdoor patio is usually nice and chill (perfect time to go – summertime around 6/​7pm when the sun is close to coming down), something that I can’t say about most places in Durham. I’ve never eaten inside because the outdoor patio just begs to be used but there’s some booths inside that seem a little on the romantic side if that’s your thing. The wait staff is also always really nice and attentive, which I’ve appreciated greatly and the manager has always been there too and come to check in etc.
The food is great: I’ve had the calamari (which I’ve loved), maduros (ripe plantains) (which I’ve loved), relleno (which I’ve loved), chicharrones (which I’ve loved) and something else which I didn’t like so much but can’t find on the menu anymore so probably means they removed it. Yes, I’ve never had any entrees — the appetizers are that good and filling. I think next time we will try and actually eat a real meal there and hopefully it’s as good as we’ve experienced so far.
How about the drinks? I’d say great but it’s hard to mess up my drink unless you just don’t have Hendricks (a lot of places in Durham unfortunately). I like that they serve it and use cucumber as a garnish. I’ve never had the Cucumber Martini on their menu because my fear is that they’d somehow make it too sweet and I’d leave with a worse impression of the place so instead I go for a dry martini. Maybe one day I’ll work up the courage to try something new.
So there you have it, great atmosphere, great service, great food, great drinks, what more can one ask for?

I’ve been wanting to come here for dinner ever since the Unilocaler event at Gregoria’s a couple of months ago and finally got the opportunity last night. I could not have asked for a more perfect dining experience. As a native Miamian, let me tell you that the Cuban food here is absolutely phenomenal and the décor and service are amazing to boot.
I came here last night on a triple date — I had a reservation for 8 and we were seated immediately. Me and my bf started off with Plátano Maduro Relleno which are plantains stuffed with ground beef. Each order comes with two sizable «rellenos» and are perfect for sharing. This is literally one of the best plantain dishes I’ve ever eaten in my life and I would gladly come back here and order two of these and call it a meal. The two of us got the 2 person Paella for our entrée and it was just as fantastic. It comes with chicken, shrimp, mussels, salmon, and grilled veggies (including a fantastic grilled til crispy asparagus on top). The rice was perfectly cooked and everything was perfectly seasoned as well. For desert, I had the Tres Leches and god it was so good! It’s always 50 – 50 when it comes to Cuban desserts whether they’re really good or just really bad at restaurants. The Tres Leches at Gregoria’s just knocks it out of the park! It’s wonderfully authentic — not too sweet and light and milky without being soggy. In fact, I’m pretty sure the Tres Leches here is better than half of the stuff I’ve gotten back home.
Service was great as well — our server was friendly and popped around just enough to check on us without being intrusive. And since our table had already ordered several rounds of mojito’s — he even brought us 3 extra ones the bar had made for free!
All 5 of these stars here were handily earned by Gregoria’s — I highly recommend you check this place out, especially if you are a fan of Cuban food. I can’t wait to come back!
EDIT: Came back here with some friends for a birthday dinner and I have to ding them a star on their Cuban food of all things. Their palomilla steak came out with no starch the plate (a big no-​no) — only a small side of spinach, no rice or beans even (what?). I ordered a Vaca Frita, which is my usual at Cuban restaurants, and it didn’t taste anything like a Vaca Frita. The pork was soggy as well. The dish tasted alright overall, but don’t call it something that’s not. Stick to the paella here.

For appetizers,
We had the stuffed plantains (platanos maduro rellenos). Perfect combination of sweet and serious. Seemed to complement my Malbec pretty well.
Skirt steak for the entrée was superb, followed by a dessert order of flan.
The atmosphere was just what we were looking for: ambient and energetic.

Gregoria’s left me very emotionally confused. Did I just fall in love with Cuban food or did I fall in love with Gregoria’s? I’m not sure, but I know at the very least Gregoria’s is amazingly delicious!
This will be one of my shorter reviews because as long as you follow my instructions, you will be happy. Buy the following: platano maduro relleno (plantains stuffed with ground beef), Calamares Fritos, Empanadas, Chicharrones, Ensalada de Aguacate, and Pollo a la Parilla.
Don’t question it. Just do it. I solemnly vow you will not regret it– trust me.