Cuba de Ayer

Cuba de Ayer offers authentic home style Cuban cuisine in Burtonsville, MD. Keith and I stopped here for dinner on our way home from watching a baseball game in Baltimore, and it was a worthwhile detour.

Brugal Rum Dinner @ Cuba Libre

*Sponsored Post
Did you know August is Rum Month?  We recently attended a rum dinner featuring Brugal Rum, which is produced by Brugal & Co., C. por A in the Dominican Republic at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar. The evening began with cocktail hour featuring light bites and a Brugal Mule with Brugal Añejo, ginger beer and fresh lime juice, followed by a seated dinner in a private room with food, more rum cocktails, and rum tasting.

Cuba Libre Celebration with Papa's Pilar

***Special Guest Post***

By the end of his life, beloved and widely mythologized American author, Ernest Hemingway, spent about 30 years in Cuba. For what would be his 114th birthday, Cuba Libre DC hosted a special celebration with Papa's Pilar on July 21.

Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is "dedicated to a continued exploration of Cuban heritage, art, music, flavors and traditions. The open-air setting, tropical ambiance, vintage décor, upbeat Latin music and Concept Chef/Partner, Guillermo Pernot's delectable menu of 'Nuevo Cubano' dishes and traditional favorites, make all of our restaurants a must-see, must-experience dining destination." Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Mi Vecindad

Last date I was here: 12/3/2010

Restaurant: Mi Vecindad

Location: Capitol Hill

Total Rating: 3.5Food: 3, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This local neighborhood restaurant serves Cuban and Salvadorian cuisine with a familiar Mexican twist. Taking over the space of the former Vietnamese restaurant, Pacific Cafe, Mi Vecindad has its own charm and friendly atmosphere. Closest Metro is Eastern Market or Potomac Avenue.

It was a cold night, so the close location was the main reason we decided to try Mi Vecindad. From the same owners of La Lomita, Mi Vecindad has a great selection on their menu ranging from familiar fresh ceviches, tostones (fried plaintains), fajitas, and tacos, to traditional Cuban dishes featuring roasted pork, or marinated steak. The salsa and chips is not as good as Banana Cafe, but was fresh and loaded with green onions. I was pleased to see the various vegetarian options and would love to try them all. Seemed to be popular for families as about 90% of the other tables seated included young families. There were a few happy hour folks gathered around the bar as well. All in all, Mi Vecindad was decent and had fulfilling food, but would not be a place we would crave over.

What I ate:

Tostones con Mojo

fried green plaintains served with a spicy green chile sauce

Quesadilla de Espinaca

spinach and cheese quesadilla served with sour cream,

guacamole, pico de gallo, yellow rice and refried beans

Plus Keith ate:

Parrillada Salvadorena

grilled steak, shrimp, chorizo served with yellow rice and black beans

Banana Café

Last date I was here: 03/12/2010

Restaurant: Banana Café (http://www.bananacafedc.com/home.htm)

Location: Barracks Row

Total Rating: 4.6
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This Cuban, Puerto Rican, Tex-Mex restaurant and piano bar is a favorite of mine for dinner. Happy hour at the Piano Bar upstairs is popular, they also have Karaoke some nights. The restaurant has a fun, colorful atmosphere displaying great art pieces by the restaurant owner himself. Fresh chips and salsa (delicious!) are served gratis as you peruse the menu. The frozen house margaritas go down smooth and refreshing – a pitcher is a great deal for the table. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.

I have also been here for breakfast/brunch where they have a buffet. I prefer the lunch/dinner menu. I love to sit outside on the patio as you have the prime view of happenings along Barracks Row. Although this place gets crowded, service is always accommodating.

What I ate:

Fried Calamari
Served with mango sauce

Sea Scallops a la Veracruzana
Seared sea scallops with a tomato pico de gallo cream sauce

Carribean Vegetarian Combo
Includes rtamal de elote, grilled vegetables, plantains, fried yuca, guacamole, white rice and black beans.

♥Plaintain Quesadillas♥
Pan-toasted flour tortillas with melted cheese, an fired green plaintains
served with pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream

Cuban Sandwich

sub-style sliced roast pork loin, honey baked ham and swiss cheese

topped with mustard, mayonnaise, and sliced dill pickles

Served pressed grilled “a la plancha” and with fries

Plus Keith ate:

Cozumel Fajitas

Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with Beef and served with guacamole, pico de gallo,

red beans, yellow rice and flour tortillas

Stuffed Plantains
green plaintains, marinated, deep fried, and stuffed,
one with beef, one with chicken, and one with seafood.
Served with white rice and black beans

Shrimp Fajitas
Grilled to perfection with genuine Mexican mesquite wood and
served with guacamole, pico de gallo, red beans, yellow rice and flour tortillas.

Beef Burrito
Large flour tortilla, stuffed, baked, topped with ranchera sauce and melted cheese,
served with sour cream, pico de gallo, rice and refried beans

Ropa Vieja

shredded flank steak cooked with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices

served with plantains, yellow rice and black beans

Columbia Restaurant

Last date I was here: 08/09/2009

Restaurant: Columbia Restaurant (http://columbiarestaurant.com/)

Location: St. Armand’s Circle, Sarasota, FL

Total Rating: 4.55
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 4


Summary: The Columbia Restaurant Sarasota is located on St. Armand’s Circle in Lido Key. The Mediterranean style dining rooms and outdoor patio area are both relaxing and elegant. Serving Spanish/Cuban cuisine, Columbia Restaurant serves lunch or dinner while surrounded by the circle's paradise of lush tropical landscaping that create an international atmosphere of friendly warmth, enduring elegance, and timeless style. Columbia Sarasota opened in 1959 on St. Armand’s Circle, and is now the oldest restaurant in Sarasota.

We stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner on our drive back from Anna Maria Island. Sitting inside was a great relief from the hot summer sun and the simple ice water was so refreshing! Our server was very friendly and if we did not have such a long drive back, I would have liked to have tried the sangria that they made fresh table side and also the lovely traditional dish of paella. Since I was not in really a Spanish cuisine mood, I was relieved see a pasta entrée on the menu and it was delicious! Keith really enjoyed his meal as well. I would definitely recommend this classic place to others.

What I ate:

Pasta con Trufas “Cristalino”

Fresh pasta pockets stuffed with truffles and cheese simmered in a rich creamy sauce made with Spain’s premium Cava sparkling wine, Cristalino.

Plus Keith ate:

Filet Steak Salteado

Choice tenderloin tips are placed in a very hot sauté pan, then we combine Spanish extra virgin olive oil with a touch of fresh garlic then add sliced sweet Spanish onion, green bell pepper, fresh mushrooms, diced potatoes, Spanish sausage (chorizo) and a splash of red wine. Served with yellow rice.