Cuba de Ayer Restaurant

This place checks all the boxes you could want for an authentic Cuban food experience. My fiancé introduced me to this place last night as it is highly regarded among the family and actually one of her mom's favorite restaurants. This being my first time I went in with an empty stomach and open mind. I will try to recall the experience from the moment I entered to the moment we left.Atmosphere: the atmosphere is very inviting and you can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into the renovations of this place. It has been updated completely and you can tell by the little touches. You will be greeted with an enclosure that has a flame in a tube that allows you to see and feel the heat right before you enter. Then you will see a couch section with a lighted neon sign.Once you fully into the restaurant you will be greeted by the hostess that will seat you promptly. Reservations are recommended as this place can get busy. I noticed they decorated for Christmas and we actually ran into one of the staff that did the beautiful Christmas tree. They had decorations all around even down to the tiny details like a reef around the candle at the tables and little Christmas trees. The seating looks comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to match the black and white decor with cool chandeliers and ceiling fans. They also have really nice wallpaper that embodies the spirit of the restaurant. They even have a really cool hat wall with different types of hats that are commonly worn in the culture.Food: The food and drink here is without a doubt excellent! I loved how much flavor was in the different types of dishes we got. We got empanadas, shredded beef with rice and sweet plantains, steak with smashed savory plantains and everything was bursting with flavor. I got a classic mojito for my drink and it featured a piece of sugarcane and it was deliciously done. We ended the night with tres leches and even that was stellar. It was not soaking wet but still moist and flavorful.Service: Our server Karen was awesome! She was extremely knowledgeable about all of the offerings and even went above and beyond when she found out it was my first time to offer her feedback/recommendations for first-timers like myself. This did not go unnoticed and was greatly appreciated. She even went the extra step to get us a picture menu that shows the pictures for each of the dishes that are available. This was a valuable resource that helped me to be even more secure in my decision making when choosing a dish, this can be a pain point at times, especially when trying a new restaurant. She also checked on us throughout the night to ensure that our food was to our liking and followed up once we were done with to-go boxes. She helped to elevate this experience from just another visit to a restaurant to a true dining experience, she even told us some of her personal recommendations/ favorites. I definitely cannot wait to return as this earned a five out of five from me!Overall, this place is truly a hidden gem that I hope only gets better with age like a fine wine. 5/5 - SupaFlyITGuy approved!

Great Cuban spot. Food is always good and portions are usually pretty filling. Even the ceviche, which looked small, was decent. That said, it could have had more fish. Fried yuca is always incredible. Service was fine this time, but nothing special.

This is my favorite Cuban restaurant in the entire DMV! Everything I've had here across multiple visits has been delicious, though my standouts have been the ropa vieja, the white rice with black beans, their guava/cheese empanada, their yuca with garlic sauce, and their pernil (I told y'all I like practically their whole menu!) service has been excellent, whether it's just my wife and I, or if we're here with a larger group. Highly recommend!

This was my first time having Cuban food! It was a delight to try the beef empanadas reminded me of Jamaican meet pies...they were delicious!!!! Next up was the bistec salteado (Cuban sliced steak), which was very tasty with the sautéed veggies and that Cuban brown rice! Let's move to the ropa vieja (shredded pork in sauce), it was tasty with the rice but the plantains was the ultimate compliment with sweetness to the rice and pork.....Our servers were very helpful because we never had Cuban before and she took her time and explained the menu and helped us decide!!! The rest of the staff was super friendly too!!! I will be going back for seconds to see if it was as good as the first time...that's just me!If you want Cuban food this is the spot...give it a try!

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Cuba de Ayer. I have been here many times and I have always had a great experience. I always order the Cuban classics like Ropa vieja, Vaca frita, and Cuban sandwich. Friday night and Saturday night are always packed of people having a good time. If you come on these days, you will have to wait to be seated.

First time here and at the suggestion of my good friend Lynne S. several of us gathered for a lunch outing. The restaurant is what one would describe as "in the cut", but clearly lots of people know about Cuba de Ayer. That was a good sign. The food is really delicious. I think we all enjoyed our choices with the exception of the crispy plantains I chose for one of my sides. Not much flavor in those at all so I will be sure to always stick to the regular plantains.Checking in on Yelp gets you a free empanada BUT there were two yelpers at the the table and only one of us could redeem. We found that a little off-putting. Other than that I would definitely return!

I decided to get takeout for dinner. I usually get the ropa vieja but I wanted to try the oxtails. This is the best oxtails I've had in a long time. They were so tender, flavorful and juicy. I was extremely impressed. All of the meals come with white and beans and plantains. I got the rice and beans separate so they're not pictured here. And I got the crispy plantains (tostones). This will most likely be my new go yo order now. The food didn't take long at all to make after I placed my order.

Ya'll know what this is! 4.5 stars Sooooo this was our second choice for today. Our fist one failed us miserably. So thankful because bay-bee! The food was awesome and so was our server. Shout out to Astrid! I'm not gonna say I was transported to Cuba because I've not been. Maybe one day. However, the restaurant is a total vibe from the music to the decor. We ordered yuca fries as the appetizer. Okay, so I now know that like yuca. As for the garlic dipping oil, it doesn't cling to the yuca as an emulsified dipping sauce such as a mayo or aioli would. You run the risk of oil dripping from the yuca on to your clothes. Fair warning, this food isn't cheap. You do get plenty. If you are looking for a quick $15 meal after taxes this ain't it. Well maybe if you just get a sandwich or a kid's meal. Maybe. Expect to spend a little and sit a while to enjoy every single bite. Yo ordered the Caribbean Salmon. Like me she opted for the fried plantains Her beans and rice are separate. I didn't taste her dish. I mean I don't eat salmon. Hush! It just isn't my thing. She had zero complaints about her meal. I ordered the pollo salteado with my rice and beans mixed. This emails looks simple as in can "I can make this at home". Be ye not fooled. This dish has a lot of flavor and well seasoned. The only teeny tiny thing I wanted was something to dip the fried plantain in. Now it is crispy, crispy ie dry but tasty. I'm truly showing my American south roots by wanting to dip everything served to me. Take some time to check out the photos. Gorgeous plating. You eat with your eyes first. I forgot what martini I ordered. Mango? I don't know but it too was beautiful. Not strong enough for me though. Perfectly chilled and balanced.

It is a family restaurant and we have celebrated many events there, good food, times !

I joined a friend for Happy Hour. The drink specials were good. I wish they had more options for apps during the period. We ended up getting entrees as opposed to a few apps.