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Going to "the Big Game" this weekend and staying in South Beach. Anyone got a recommendation for a good Cuban restaurant for Sat night in South Beach area?

the obvious is Lario's, but I prefer to go to Versailles on Calle Ocho.
http://3guysfrommiami.com/versailles.html

Can't help you with food in south beach, but I like El Rey de Las Fritas, also on Calle Ocho. Imagine a Cuban Camellia Grill....counters, booths, fruit milkshakes, and the frita, a spiced burger topped with fried onions and matchstick fried potatoes. http://reydelasfritas.com/ El Rey has cuban sandwiches and media noche sandwiches as well.

Also, I like the south FLA quick-service chicken chain "Pollo Tropical"--locals love it the way we dig Popeyes. Grilled chicken, marinated in a secret citrus blend, with sides like black beans, plantains, etc. http://www.pollotropical.com/home/home.aspx

hungryone wrote:Can't help you with food in south beach, but I like El Rey de Las Fritas, also on Calle Ocho. Imagine a Cuban Camellia Grill....counters, booths, fruit milkshakes, and the frita, a spiced burger topped with fried onions and matchstick fried potatoes. http://reydelasfritas.com/ El Rey has cuban sandwiches and media noche sandwiches as well.

Also, I like the south FLA quick-service chicken chain "Pollo Tropical"--locals love it the way we dig Popeyes. Grilled chicken, marinated in a secret citrus blend, with sides like black beans, plantains, etc. http://www.pollotropical.com/home/home.aspx

When I lived in SF, I loved me some Tropichops with a side of plantains from Pollo Tropical.

Also, the Cuban Sandwich is like boudin. You can only get the good ones at a shaky gas station who utilizes a flat grill and a brick wrapped in foil.

Douglas Rodrigues' Ola Cuba in the Astor Hotel. For well written Miami rest. reviews: http://www.foodforthoughtmiami.com/

Great ideas, everyone. Thanks! I am really looking forward to trying some real Cuban food.

just found my notes from MIA when I went in Oct.; here are the websites so you can look at reviews and menus before you go.

http://www.cubanfoodmiami.com/2009/08/e ... i-florida/

http://www.sabordeespanarestaurant.com/tapas.htm

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/locations/ ... jugos-4831

http://www.miami.com/enriquetas

http://www.burgerbeast.com/2009/06/luis ... rican.html

http://www.ceviche105.com/

http://www.pelicanhotel.com/pelican_hotel_restcafe.html

http://michysmiami.com/

http://www.sramartinez.com/

if you come across Las Vegas Cuban restaurants in MIA, GO! I eat at the one in FLL, but they are all good. here's one, but there are others:
6970 Collins Avenue, Miami - (305) 864-1509 (their website is down right now)

Puerto Sagua on Collins and 8th is probably your best bet in South Beach.
Good, cheap respite from all the high end places around there. Very casual, walk in and grab a Presidente and an order of fried yucca.
All the cuban classics are well done there.

Watch local news tonight they have been showing lots of local places