Palaus Restaurant

A nice mom and pop place where all the locals sit and chat w each other with ease and fun. we enjoyed this aspect the most. The food was good, staff nice...free parking lot. The maduros were ripe and good!

Grits are so good today!!! Thanks for always being the best, everyday!!!!!!Yum yum yum

This place was an absolutely hidden gem. Don't be discouraged by the surrounding neighborhood. This makes it all the better to try. The amazing flavors of all the food were far superior than any local Hispanic, or Mexican place we have ever tried. The staff was exceptional and explained everything. The ambience was a local hole in the wall but something you do not want to miss out on.

This review is for catering. My family ordered arroz imperial and salad from Palaus for a gettogether. Palaus is closed on Sundays, but they do catering for all 7 days (you just need to pick up the food by 3pm on Sundays). I showed up at 2:30PM, pulled up into the empty parking lot, and there were a couple of men in the back of the restaurant. One said "You have the arroz?", I said yes, and within 2 minutes, all the food was loaded into my trunk. So easy!The food was good. I admit, I don't love arroz imperial (I don't like mayonnaise), but I found the Palaus version to be good. The chorizo on top added a nice smokiness to the dish. My Cuban family members who do like arroz imperial thought this dish was great. The Cuban salad was excellent with plenty of fresh veggies, some umami from the Feta cheese (I think it was feta?), and not too much acidity from the dressing, which I find distracting from the Columbia's 1905 Salad. My kids and husband all ate an extra serving of salad, so yay!I look forward to returning to try their other dishes.

I have a thing for Cuban food. And my morning rocks after dining on Cuban toast dunked in Cafe Con Leche. Finding the perfect combo is always a challenge. Cafe Con Leche without enough cafe or with lukewarm Leche or with imperfectly added sugar is so disappointing. Cuban bread that is barely pressed or stale enough to use a a door stop or not buttered on the outside causes sadness. Not here. Not at this tiny little cafe with its kind owners who ask all the right questions. Yes I want my toast crispy (double pressed for those places using timers). No barely warm and barely squished bread for me! And yes I must have sugar because like those who consumed Cafe Con Leche long before me, I need to get through a long day!!I loved my combo ($4.55) and know I will be back for the boliche or snapper or chicken or whatever is on the daily specials board.This is an unpretentious little place with basic tables, a tile floor, a hot food cafeteria style counter and the kind of exterior you might drive by. If you like Spanish food, don't.

Great, authentic food. My previous favorite Cuban place recently closed and I think I've found it's replacement. Large portions, great quality at a great price!

I've eaten here for breakfast and lunch and both meals were amazing. Very authentic, fresh food with flavor to die for.

Incredible!! I added a photo but I didn't take the photo until AFTER I was done eating. This is what was left of my meal thats how wonderful the portion sizes are! I'm saving the rest for lunch. Haha. But I ordered the 'Palomilla with 2 eggs a Cabello' and a 'Carne Empanada' Omg best empanada I've had in years!I have a list I've curated over the years of my favorite restaurants for breakfast, and this has beat out all of them! The food is delicious, and so full of flavor, and large portion size. No wonder people recommend this place! The staff is so warm and kind and the food is so good that I'll probably get it multiple times a month and I don't even eat out like that. Lol. I just know I will crave it it's so good.

The Ropa Vieja is outstanding! Love the big slices of cooked onion and peppers!!!! So tasty and delicious!

Where do I start. I typed in Cuban food and stumbled across this gem. Food was absolutely excellent. There is nothing I love more than home cooked style food. You can tell they take a lot of love and pride in their food they cook. Excellent food all around, excellent espresso!!Next time I am in Tampa I will be back.