Baracoa Cuban Cafe

The worst service in my 45 years of being in I the restaurants business. Couldn’t believe the attitude being given after trying to support of local business n our community. Shame on you to the owners with a smug attitude of thinking that there business is above and beyond being what the norm. I’m embarrassed for them, restaurants In general and all the Latino community.

This is for customer service only. Sometimes I like to walk around and just step into a new place check out the menu and hope for the best. We walked in and saw the server taking orders/​speaking with customers. Since we were not greeted in a very small café (which is uninviting) we helped ourselves to check out the menu. As we were looking I turned around and the server was still dealing with customers. I expected a «Be with you in a moment» or something, but no acknowledgement whatsoever. Then a couple walked into the door, and the server turned around, greeted them, and then directed them to sit down in a booth. I looked at my friend who did not see this and said Nah I’d rather not here, lets go he just sat some couple down and still hasn’t said anything to us. So we left. I love Cuban food. Too bad their service looks hit and miss. Based on the photos and other reviews I might just stick to Versailles.

I live in the silver lake neighborhood and always pass this restaurant and I made a date to come with the hubby. To starts off this place is so nice and the ambiance is dim and romantic. The salsa music playing in the background makes you feel like you are somewhere In Cuba. Food was excellent! Will be coming back! Highly recommended.

We ordered togo and it was super quick! Staff was friendly!
Pan con bistec was great!
Not a fan of the empanadas (too expensive and not good)
Jerk chicken was basically a chicken breast drenched in spicy sauce (not sweet at all, actually super spicy.) I didn’t like it and was definitely not worth 15 dollars.

This place is super spensive they serve very little the sangria is good but to much ice the place is dark needs e remodel I never coming back

The place is pretty small on the inside, but it’s dark and it has a romantic feel. So I’ll look past the small interior. I did notice a couple of small tables outside, but I prefer to be inside.
The food is okay, I do enjoy the ropa vieja and the empanadas a lot.
The service was pretty slow, considering that on the day I went, business was slow as well.

Pretty solid arroz con pollo. Quaint resto in the hipster Atwater village neighborhood. Would recommend if you’re in the area waiting for your tennis racket to be strung across the street.

Had the Cuban and the pan con bistec sandwiches with a salad. The salad was very basic greens and lots of onions for $ 6. Both sandwiches came out without any sides, the Cuban was not very good, pan bistec was so so. They ran out red hot sauce and only had the green available. Very over priced for what you get and just not that good of sandwiches.

Worst restaurant ever. Never ever order from this place. Rudest customer service. I literally was yelled at on the phone by one of their associates. My food was late. It was missing dishes and incomplete. I have never been so disrespected in that manner. It’s atrocious and completely irresponsible. I am a business owner as well and know the value of my clients and their choice in investing their time to do business with me. I don’t care how busy a restaurant may be. You treat all your customers with respect and honor their orders as placed. Not reticule them and demonstrate such negativity. I am appalled.

Came in for a bite in a quiet Sunday afternoon. For some reason, the north side of the street is quieter than the south side, which allows for a more intimate meal.
Was quickly seated, and the two of us ordered sandwiches. Unfortunately the sandwiches were very unimpressive. They were a buttery version of what you would expect from a supermarket deli. The food here is not bad, but it certainly does not command the $ 10-​$ 13 price range. It felt like it should be a nice place– the food here is unfortunately in need of improvement.

I work down the street from Baracoa and it is always my go to recommendation for people visiting the area. Delicious food. Decent service. Parking isn’t always best, but it’s fine during «off» hours. The fried plantains are incredible!

Ambient: cozy and good decoration. It was empty but we can imagine that when it gets crowded it might get noisy since it’s a really small place.
Food: Flavor is good but it food it’s greasy and small portions. They mess up with tostones but sweet plantains were good.
Service: the server was good and nice. He shared some of his favorite plates.

Attention Baracoa: PLEASE read the negative reviews on Unilocal and do something to fix the problems. I’m being generous with the stars because you’re a small family-​run operation and I don’t want to screw up your livelihood.
First, it’s way too dark, guys. Our server had a party seated outside, and whenever the door opened it was so pleasant to have the sunlight streaming in. Then she would come back in and close the door behind her and it was so sad. I think you need to open both doors, and keep em open! Not only is it strange to come in for lunch while it’s so dark inside, it also looks from the outside like you’re closed. The tinted windows gotta go.
Second, the food is sooooooooo mediocre. Where is the flavor? The ropa vieja was meat flavored meat. No spice at all, nary a sprinkling of salt. Had a bite of the arroz con pollo and it was also bland as F! It feels like whoever is in the kitchen is depressed, really stuck in their ways, and won’t budge from their comfort zone. Also, the plexiglass table toppers are gross, jettison those. And the scalloped edge placemats. They’re insulting.
Service is pretty good, albeit slow at times. I think there is usually one person serving, and if it gets «busy» (more than 3 tables) it takes a while to get the food.
The one thing that’s fantastic is the sweet fried plantains. You guys nail it on the head.

Came in the other day with my parents. Mom got Ropa Vieja w/​congri instead of white rice. Dad got a Cuban sandwich. I wanted to order the Carne Empanizado but they didn’t have it (why put on the menu if you don’t have it?) so I ended up ordering the Arroz Con Pollo which came with a side salad. We also ordered Cuban Bread and I got a Materva (Cuban Soda). I would not recommend because my plate was so plain, no flavor at all and the rice was really mushy. Mom’s plate tasted like it was thawed out meat and rice was hard. Dad’s sandwich wasn’t anything spectacular to bring us back. We ordered the «Mojo Sauce» but that’s like pure EVOO with chopped up garlic (yuck!) DONT BOTHER COMING TO WASTE $ 35 on this meal. The restaurant was empty anyways.

Well they clearly say on their sign they serve breakfast. But once you look for parking for almost 30 min you come down and guess what they actually don’t serve breakfast.
Who likes a place where they say they have everything but they really dont. Don’t even bother going in there everything is out dated and dirty.

I just had a Cuban sandwich & a cheese empanada delivered.
The empanada was great however the Cuban sandwich was not legit. The cheese they is is not real Swiss cheese, which makes a big difference.
My sandwich came with what tasted like white velvetta slices.
I do give them three stars because my instructions were followed to a T, no mustard, no pickles! And they absolutely did that.
Maybe next time I come back they will have read this review by then and Cuban sandwiches will be made with the cheese it’s supposed to be made with.

We came to an empty restaurant 3pm Sunday and were greeted with arrogant and inflexible service from Jocelyn. It riled us so much that we had to leave with empty bellies. The manager, Alejandro, was not on site so sadly i had to speak to the server, Jocelyn, who had caused the problem in the first place. I tried to explain why we were unhappy, but it fell on Jocelyn’s deaf ears. Advice: For Cuban try La Cubana or El Cochinito Restaurant instead, or like us go to El Buen Gusto.
Here’s what happened. We arrived FIRST before a table of 6 and a solo diner sat down, but we were served LAST. That meant the last plate of the arroz con pollo was sold to customers behind us in line. Major bummer.
Jocelyn pointed to a sign on the wall saying that they don’t serve the table till the whole party is seated. I was outside parking the car right outside Baracoa as the lady and baby went into the empty Baraoca. But if we’re talking about signs how about reading sign by the cash register. It’s a twist on Theodore Roosevelt: «The customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.» Obviously Jocelyn’s training skipped the explanation of this sign as there was no care for our custom. No flexibility to listen to a customer and win their business. That sticks in your throat. My suggestion for another sign: «While the manager is away, the staff will ruin your business!»
So no arroz con pollo, so we we ordered oxtail and another beef dish. Then we wanted to swap out the oxtail for fricasse pollo. Jocelyn said it was already in the grill. Ok, but you know we were already inconvenienced by losing out on our first choice. When we insisted on switching the dish Jocelyn said she it was too late and the dish would go to waste.
The result of that attitude we decided to leave the restaurant. Jocelyn didn’t feel in any way responsible for this outcome. She didn’t care that our first time experience made us NEVER want to dine here again. That’s a major statement — I’ve review 990+ places as a nine-​year Unilocal Elite and have never said that before.
So what just happened here? Let’s tally the score:
1) Jocelyn said she couldn’t waste the beef dish that we wanted to switch for chicken. Result: when we left two dishes were wasted.
2) Jocelyn said Baracoa is a small business and couldn’t waste food. Result: we took our business to restaurants that care about their customers. (Was our repeat custom worth more than one dish? Was a positive Unilocal review worth something?)
3) Jocelyn commented that this was our first time visiting. Result: It’ll be the only time. In fact this visit was so bad we left without even eating!
4) Jocelyn quickly gave me Baracoa’s manager’s business card for me to complain and boldy volunteered to spell her name for me. Result: I’m writing her name in this review so anyone who wants an arrogant server knows to find one. Or possibly for Jocelyn to read this and realize the service industry is not for her.
Is there a happy ending to this review? We walked past Bön Vivant which was busy. We crossed over to El Buen Gusto and it was so busy we had to wait for a table. The kitchen was really slow too, but the staff really value their customers. That cannot be underestimated. As the saying goes: «The customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.» LOL.

So we were doing a little food tour of Atwater Village and read some good reviews of Baracoa so decided to try it. I have to say the cubano was AMAZING… one of the best I’ve ever tried. Everyone in my group of 6 agreed, and I have to say I’d make a special trip here just for the cubano.
We also tried the yucca and the empanadas. The yucca was sliced thick and fried just right. The empanadas were also very tasty.
Service very friendly and helpful. Just be warned that it’s not a very big place and our group of 6 had to sit at an outside table so maybe not best place for big groups. Very casual ambiance but comfy. Prices very reasonable too.
There is some metered parking right out front but this is Atwater Village so it’s kinda hit or miss if you’ll be able to get one of the meters. :)

Was in the mood for some delicious Cuban food and saw the reviews on here. It’s a small yet cute restaurant. I loved the décor and paintings on the wall. I ordered ropa Vieja. which was okay for me .but I also ordered the beef empanada which had the picadillo beef… and I loved the fried plantains. There is metered parking right in front of the restaurant and along the street but they fill up quickly due to the other businesses. Luckily we found a spot to park right away. I’d like to come back again for a second time and try their oxtail dish. Looks delish!

I was looking for a place to have lunch after my songwriting class and found this place in Atwater Village. Not very big inside with booths and tables but comfortable and air conditioned which is very important in these parts.
I usually order the Ropa Vieja when I dine Cuban but I decided to try the Arroz con Pollo plate which is the Cuban version of the Spanish paella. The Lunch plate will set you back about $ 8.95. It comes with a chicken breast, rice and plantains.
It turns out the rice was closer to a risotto being more on the mushy side and I thought it could have been a tad bit more flavorful overall. (3.5÷5)
The server was pleasant enough although i could tell by her agent that she wasn’t Cuban, but was actually Mexican so I’m wondering whether this place is authentic Cuban or not. Perhaps I’ll try the Ropa Vieja if I go back which I probably will sometime.

La comida Cubana es una de mis comidas Favoritas Riiiiquisima