Pipo’s Cafe

Stopped in for the first time today and am very glad I did. They had a great selection of options from pork o chicken, potatoes to rice and of course, plantains.
I had the pulled chicken in a light red sauce with sliced green peppers and onions, green beans and plantains. Everything was very good and reasonably priced.
With their ‘cafeteria’ style setup I actually liked that I could see the food and choose what I wanted instead of guessing what it would be when it was served. I think they change their items up since they wrote on the glass partitioning what was of the choices were.
The staff was very helpful and patient with questions.
I will definitely go back again.

Finally found a good Cuban restaurant in the Carrollwood area. I know it has been here a while I am not sure how I missed it. Had chicken and yellow rice it was delicious the price is right and I would definitely come back.

Pipo’s has generations of experience in creating traditional Cuban cuisine here in the Tampa Bay area. The recipes have been passed down through the family, and the result is authentic favorites including roast pork, masas de puerco, roast chicken, picadillo, boliche, palomilla steak, and ropa vieja among others.
You’ll find this Pipo’s Café in a strip mall located along N. Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood. It’s in the same shopping center as Carrabba’s and Pet Supermarket. There’s a second location down in south Tampa.
The food at Pipo’s is served cafeteria style. You grab a tray and your silverware, and then walk along the line as you make your selections. They have six or seven main entrees sitting on the steam tables, or you can order a Cuban sandwich, or something else that appeals to you.
I had roast chicken with yellow rice & black beans, but you’ll also see a number of House Specials, signature sandwiches and salads, and daily Chef’s Specials such as their very delicious Pollo Tropical.
After paying for your meal, you pick a table in the dining area and then your server will bring you an order of warm, pressed La Segunda Cuban bread to go with your meal.
Consistently good and fast service, oh and the prices are very budget friendly!

I’m by and large a big fan of Pipos and their roast pork. However this location pales in comparison to the others I’ve visited. The pork is not as tender, a little dryer, and the portion notably smaller, only filling up the side dish compartment of the container with it. There is little care to the details as well as anybody who has had their pork knows the sauce should be spooned over the rice as well; they fail to do this consistetly.
As I work nearby, I’ve given this location several tries only to be dissapointed every occasion. Today was the last time I’ll visit this one.

I went in yesterday and got the chicken and yellow rice and plantains on the side. It is cafeteria style with respect to ordering. When the food is ready, it’s brought out to your table.
I thought my chicken was very tasty. It came with 2 chicken breasts, smothered in sauteed vegetables and swimming in a tasty garlic juice.
The rice was fine, nothing to get excited about. The plantains were very good. I like the food here just fine and the helpings are generous.
I’ll be back again.

The place is set up in cafeteria style, all the food are there and you tell them what you want and they scoop it into the container for you. The place looks nice and seems like a place you can sit down and talk after eating, but I took my order to go.
I ordered the roast pork with yellow rice and some mix vegetables and the devil crab. The roast pork does have lot of juices and mix with the rice it’s tasty, not the best I’ve had but pretty good. The mix vegetables was little sweet from the carrots but other than that it’s a little bland for me. This combo comes with a small ice tea for $ 7. The devil crab could be lot better. It wasn’t even warm and the taste wasn’t really there. Chances are I won’t be getting their devil crab again.
Overall, it’s ok. If you want a quick fix of roast pork it’s not a bad place, I haven’t try anything else so I’m not sure how their chicken etc taste like.