Lil Cuban Cafe

Oh my heavens, this was awful. I eat out on a regular basis and this was the worst meal in years. Several folk had told us that the food was pretty good, so we tried it tonight. To begin with there was a haze of grease smoke in the dining room. While we waited and waited for our food, another couple who’d arrived at the same time as we did got up and left. I asked a waitress what was going on and she said «We’re running behind». The place wasn’t crowded, so that wasn’t a reason for them to be so late, I then asked our waiter and he said our food was late because we’d moved from a table to a booth. We did ask first, but that’s not a reason, since those folk who’d arrived at the same time we did hadn’t moved their seating. Finally, 45 minutes after ordering, our food arrived. My partner’s sandwich was good. My picadillo platter, not so much. The meat was a barely lukewarm, grease covered purée, the yuca fries and sweet plantains stone cold. The smashed plantains were hot but swimming in grease. When I picked the top one up it dripped grease. I nibbled a bit on the meal since I was so hungry, but that was a major mistake as I’ve spent the evening with terrible indigestion, gas, and near vomiting. Seriously, I am NOT exaggerating! When I mentioned it to a waitress she said «Oh», and the waiter said it made him sad to hear that. My partner’s and my clothes and hair reek of grease smoke. I’m still hungry even though I feel so sick. Odd, no? Yes, they comped my meal, but still, we won’t be back.

Pictures are out dated, they moved down the road. We had a Cuban sandwich and pan con croqueta sandwich, plantain sides, and the fried bread dessert, all were good. The pulled pork in the Cuban sandwich is made in house and extra good. We will be back next time we are in TN.

Before our trip to the Smoky Mountains I researched restaurant reviews in Townsend and this place caught my eye. We love Cuban food and have some pretty good choices around Atlanta. But I must say this place is just as good, if not better than any of them. The owners were wonderful people and obviously take great care & pride in their food. They were so attentive and kept checking back with us. We both got the Cuban sandwiches and they were heavenly! So full of flavor! And they are huge! Sadly they did not have fried pickles that day but their sweet potato fries were a delicious substitute. They came with a very sweet but addicting dipping sauce. The coffee and tea were awesome too! Best coffee I’ve had in a long time. We finished everything and came away totally stuffed but very happy. If they were closer to home I would definitely come back more often!

My wife, her sister and her husband went with me to this little piece of paradise. We had four different meals and loved them all. I have never had cheese fries like I had there with the picadillo. Their cuban sodas were also awesome. I strongly recommend strongbeer cola it was great. I would recommend this to anyone. By far the best resturant out here.
Thank you Eddie for a great time.
We had the Cuban, Picadillo platter, cheese fries, sweet potato fries, the Cujo, and the picadillo de lechon. We all tried eachother’s and they were all amazing!!!

Friendly service & good food with generous portions! You must finish off your meal with the Dulcecito Cubanito! And as of 4÷2÷13, they’re alive and well!

This charming little restaurant cooks the best Cuban food in the area. It is worth the drive from Knoxville. The potato ball filled with picadillo is wonderful and the fried bananas are perfectly cooked. Also the roast pork with mojo is great. The portions are large so you will have another meal at home unless you were really famished. Next time I will try the Cuban sandwich. The very friendly Cuban owners are the cooks and have a full time presence in the restaurant.
Be aware, they are closed on Sunday and Monday.

No longer in business. Visited location on 10÷13÷12.

This definitely a local place with great food. Their picadillo was amazing, saffron rice cooked correctly. Too bad we couldn’t try their yucca fries, we were a bit late… we sure going to try few more dishes soon… you should try this place…

I’m a devotee of the Cuban sandwich so during a recent trip to the Smokies we stopped in to this place. Considering the location I was hopeful of a decent facsimile of Cuban food. Good night, was I blown away. The Cuban sandwich is better than any I have had elsewhere. The other dishes we tried — a ground sausage and olives dish, rice, black beans, and a round of plantains — were shockingly good. We’ll be back, even if it means a special trip to Townsend just to eat. If you go be sure and have an Ironbeer as well (Cola, not alcoholic).