We dropped by the friends and family opening of Cubana Cafe & Social Club Friday night to check out the new digs, sample some food, and chat with the owners. The dishes are simple and well executed staples like Ropa Vieja, Cubano sandwiches and Empanadas with most bites falling into the $3-$10 range.
The cocktail menu features a Cuba Libre (dark rum, gin, bitters, Mexican Coca-Cola), Beny More (rye, applejack, aperol, lemon juice), and the Celia Cruz (gin, coconut water, grapefruit juice, Cointreau, simple syrup) all for right around $10. There are four beers on draft (XX, Brooklyn Pumpkin, Modelo, Ithica), six by the bottle, and a small selection of red/white wines by the glass.
The environment is a dimly lit, airy space with a sixteen-or-so tables for two with a small stage which will accommodate live jazz and salsa ensembles. The bar is opposite of the raised stage and serves as a perfect perch to view the acts. They’re also hustling Intelligentsia coffee from the front bar with street service via a pass-through window.
But let’s talk about a simple sandwich that a lot of places manage to fail. The Cuban. One of the most important things when talking about a Cuban sandwich is the bread. It must be crisp on the outside and give way to a soft texture on the inside. The second most important thing being the MEAT. The roast pork practically fell apart and was fork tender. After that you have to properly balance it with mayo and pickle. Cubano Cafe won on all three accounts, so far delivering one of the best takes on this sandwich I’ve experienced in my near-decade in this city. [Full menu here]
Without going into intense detail on each dish that we sampled (over 12) we’ll leave it that they executed everything on the menu with the same result as the above. This will be a welcome addition to the late night dining options on the strip of North 6th that neighbors the Music Hall of Williamsburg and Public Assembly.
Open now from 6pm-1am (til 2am on the weekend) with brunch service coming soon.
Cubana Cafe & Social Club (718-782-3334)
70 N. 6th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
