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Excellent Cuban restaurant in the Ballantyne area. They have specials every day. On the day I went, the mixed drinks were half price. I ordered a couple variations of Mojitos and they were outstanding! The waitress also told me that they have a sangria special and a wine special day. I have spent quite a bit of time in the Tampa area, which has a very large Cuban population so I am very familiar with Cuban food and the way it's supposed to be. Well, let me tell you, this place doesn't disappoint! I haven't had Picadio in years so I ordered that and it was delicious! Their Ropa Vieja is very authentic as well. What's really amazing is that they have a lunch menu that they serve until 3 PM. The prices are great especially for lunch! The atmosphere feels authentic with giant murals, old photos and a huge Cuban Flag painted on looks to be driftwood. The place also has an authentic Cabana feel to it. Overall, I consider this the best Cuban restaurant in the entire Charlotte Metro Area! Cheers!
Nice little Miami Cuban vibe! Food was on point. Tastes like real Cuban food The service was great as well. Probably the best spot in this shopping plaza.
Azucar is a gem! I came here with 8 other ladies on a Saturday in August. I made a reservation given our group size, and even added another seat the day of and they could accommodate. The outside looks unassuming but the first thing you'll notice upon entrance is the incredible smell. It smelled absolutely delicious! We were immediately sat. While we waited for the entire group to arrive, our server made contact and we ordered drinks. I had two cocktails in mind to try- Cienfuegos and Pina Con Fuego. I asked our server which between the two should I try and on beat said the latter. It was delicious! Not too spicy. A little on the sweet side but not too over powering, and the presentation was lovely. Naturally, I wanted to try the other and it was good too! But I preferred the Pina Con Fuego. One of the ladies from the group suggested the yuka as an appi and it was insanely good. Made from the a root of either cassava or manioc, it's a starchy, tuber that when fried has a potato-y type texture. It comes with a fantastic aioli and is set off my the Chimichurri and the slivers of pickled red onion. Drool worthy! For my main I had trouble picking because I was starving but also, everything sounded good. Sidebar: I had never been to a cuban restaurant before. I needed to look up certain ingredients and dishes because of that fact, but I was not intimidated by the unfamiliarity. I went with the Paella. It was ridiculous--so flavorful. It was peas, carrots, chorizo and shrimp, muscles and clams over an outrageously good saffron rice. Overall, the experience was a great one. Savory food, nice atmosphere and good wait staff. I will say this though. The seafood in my paella was over cooked and a little chewy. However, I will take over cooked before under cooked any day. Also, they don't allow substitutions. But I liked that. I assume it's because things like rice etc. are made in batches so they would have to literally pick out items you don't want. It forces you to taste the dishes as they are intended to be eaten in Cuban style. And if you remove certain ingredients you miss out on the fullness off the flavors. I can't wait to take my hubby here for our next date night.
As you know, this location creates an authentic Cuban ambiance. The staff is incredibly attentive and the service is great. I've been here several times and they don't disappoint. There is now a lunch special for $10 which I just can't believe. There is also an option to add an appetizer making lunch a $17 meal. See for yourself why people are dining at Azucar for lunch Monday through Friday. Special thanks to Caroline for providing top tier service. Pro Tip: the parking can be crowded during rush-hour, but be patient because there's always someone leaving.
Azucar was such a fun experience. I had the Cuban, plantains, and a mojito, everything was delicious and full of flavor. The Cuban was very authentic and the plantains were so good. They also had a live jazz player, which made the whole vibe feel really special. Definitely a great spot for food and atmosphere.
I only came here for their delicious lunch with reasonable price. The ambiance and service are great as well. I surely recommend this place for yummy Cuban dishes
Came by to dine and have a drink while I was in the area for the weekend for a work-related event. Went with a mojito, yuca fries and the palomilla. Lucky me, I came during live music and open mic night as well. Loved the food, drinks, ambiance, music and service. Will def come back here the next time I'm in the area.
Very stylish restaurant looks like stepping into a black and white movie which is set in Havana. Definitely seems a great place to take a date. The waitstaff are all very friendly. The front of house, who I assume is also the manager, checked on us regularly and was quick to provide accurate descriptions of the dishes on the menu. She even advised us that we could add an appetizer to our lunch special for a small charge. Also she shared that on Mondays Azucar offers discount mojitos. Can't go wrong with that! Ice cold water is provided in a carafe which is attentively refilled as needed. I ordered the Camaron Enchilados lunch special with Yucas on the side. Everything was well-plated and delicious to match. You can bet I will come back again and did I mention discount mojitos on Monday? Loved it!
I went to this restaurant against others recommendarions. Sadly I wish I had listened. The staff was super nice and the reviews were very good. Unfortunately the restaurant was underwhelming. I ordered Ropa Vieja a short rib dinner plate. The waiter said "this meal will take 20-25 minutes" and I said no worries I am in no rush. Well food showed up not even 7 minutes late, I should have gone with my instincts cause it did not sit well with me. I was sick from the meal before I even left the restaurant. The meal arrived and it look more like carnitas than short rib. The black beans were over salted and the rice was overcooked. The best part of the dish was the plantains. They offered live music which I would have loved to stay for. As well as they have all gender bathrooms. The restaurant offers a quick checkout through the toast app; you can close your bill either on your phone or by tapping.
Azucar is one of the most unique places I've visited in Charlotte. The Cuban food is authentic, and the bottomless sangrias during brunch are unreal. There are 6 types of sangria to choose from -or- regular mimosas. Sometimes, they even have live music! The atmosphere is also laid back and casual, and they don't try to rush you through the meal or push you out. I live in Texas, but the past 2 NC trips to see my family have included a visit to Azucar. Overall, we enjoyed our savory dishes the most. The sweet dishes are tasty, like the Guava French Toast, but it's can be a lot of sweetness when paired with the sangria. The Cuban Sandwich Egg Rolls are delicious! We've also been pleased with all our entrees, so you can't really go wrong. I haven't tried any of the lunch/dinner entrees, but I definitely plan to when I visit next.
The best place to be on a Saturday morning/early afternoon! The food is so amazing. The executive chef is friendly and you can tell he loves food. The staff is happy to be at work, and happy to take care of you. The ambiance is incredible. Latin music, mojitos, good food, and great staff ..... seriously, what more do you need. Go early, grab a coffee and a pastry, stay and eat lunch. You will have no regrets .... I promise.
A couple of weeks ago, I took my mom to Azucar after church. We always enjoy a Cuban breakfast, and this place is a winner every time. Excellent food and service. Great specials. Relaxed atmosphere. I'll be back!
We went here for a special date night dinner. Attentive service, nice menu, noisy but nice atmosphere. Food plated nicely, reasonable portions. I ordered the chicken thighs, my dining mate ordered the chicken stew. The stew really wasn't stew like but tasty. Both came with white rice, black beans and plantains. Everything very good.. Dessert was flan and tre leches cake. Also good. I would certainly come back and order from the regular menu.
1 day ago
The vibe at Azucar was on tip. I loved the bright walls, iconic paintings, chandeliers, and Cuban vibes. The service was fair and the food was served fresh and steaming. I could have used some extra salt and spice, but it was still good. I would not be at all ashamed to bring my kids' Cuban Nana here for lunch! The prices were also reasonable. They have an M-F 11 am-3 pm lunch special, as well as an appetizer and lunch entree combo. I noticed that their menu also features a weekend brunch. If you're yearning for a homestyle meal in a restaurant atmosphere, stop by and give Azucar a try. read more
Sometimes you walk into a Cuban spot and you're just hoping it feels like abuela's kitchen... and Azucar Cuban Restaurant gets pretty close. Started off with the sopa de pollo, and yeah... that's the kind of soup that doesn't just warm you up--it resets your whole mood. Rich, comforting, and tasted like it's been simmering with purpose all day. Then came the masa de puerco... crispy, juicy, and seasoned the way it should be. No shortcuts, no playing around--just straight-up authentic flavor. You can tell they respect the roots here. The vibe? Clean, welcoming, no frills--just letting the food do the talking. Now... full transparency--I'm very picky with Cuban food. When you grow up on homemade, you carry that standard forever. And let's be real... nothing--and I mean nothing--touches my mom's cooking. But Azucar? They earned their respect. Solid spot when you need that Cuban fix in this area. read more
Excellent Cuban restaurant in the Ballantyne area. They have specials every day. On the day I went, the mixed drinks were half price. I ordered a couple variations of Mojitos and they were outstanding! The waitress also told me that they have a sangria special and a wine special day. I have spent quite a bit of time in the Tampa area, which has a very large Cuban population so I am very familiar with Cuban food and the way it's supposed to be. Well, let me tell you, this place doesn't disappoint! I haven't had Picadio in years so I ordered that and it was delicious! Their Ropa Vieja is very authentic as well. What's really amazing is that they have a lunch menu that they serve until 3 PM. The prices are great especially for lunch! The atmosphere feels authentic with giant murals, old photos and a huge Cuban Flag painted on looks to be driftwood. The place also has an authentic Cabana feel to it. Overall, I consider this the best Cuban restaurant in the entire Charlotte Metro Area! Cheers! read more
17 days ago
6 months ago
Nice little Miami Cuban vibe! Food was on point. Tastes like real Cuban food The service was great as well. Probably the best spot in this shopping plaza. read more
Azucar is a gem! I came here with 8 other ladies on a Saturday in August. I made a reservation given our group size, and even added another seat the day of and they could accommodate. The outside looks unassuming but the first thing you'll notice upon entrance is the incredible smell. It smelled absolutely delicious! We were immediately sat. While we waited for the entire group to arrive, our server made contact and we ordered drinks. I had two cocktails in mind to try- Cienfuegos and Pina Con Fuego. I asked our server which between the two should I try and on beat said the latter. It was delicious! Not too spicy. A little on the sweet side but not too over powering, and the presentation was lovely. Naturally, I wanted to try the other and it was good too! But I preferred the Pina Con Fuego. One of the ladies from the group suggested the yuka as an appi and it was insanely good. Made from the a root of either cassava or manioc, it's a starchy, tuber that when fried has a potato-y type texture. It comes with a fantastic aioli and is set off my the Chimichurri and the slivers of pickled red onion. Drool worthy! For my main I had trouble picking because I was starving but also, everything sounded good. Sidebar: I had never been to a cuban restaurant before. I needed to look up certain ingredients and dishes because of that fact, but I was not intimidated by the unfamiliarity. I went with the Paella. It was ridiculous--so flavorful. It was peas, carrots, chorizo and shrimp, muscles and clams over an outrageously good saffron rice. Overall, the experience was a great one. Savory food, nice atmosphere and good wait staff. I will say this though. The seafood in my paella was over cooked and a little chewy. However, I will take over cooked before under cooked any day. Also, they don't allow substitutions. But I liked that. I assume it's because things like rice etc. are made in batches so they would have to literally pick out items you don't want. It forces you to taste the dishes as they are intended to be eaten in Cuban style. And if you remove certain ingredients you miss out on the fullness off the flavors. I can't wait to take my hubby here for our next date night. read more
1 year ago
As you know, this location creates an authentic Cuban ambiance. The staff is incredibly attentive and the service is great. I've been here several times and they don't disappoint. There is now a lunch special for $10 which I just can't believe. There is also an option to add an appetizer making lunch a $17 meal. See for yourself why people are dining at Azucar for lunch Monday through Friday. Special thanks to Caroline for providing top tier service. Pro Tip: the parking can be crowded during rush-hour, but be patient because there's always someone leaving. read more
Azucar was such a fun experience. I had the Cuban, plantains, and a mojito, everything was delicious and full of flavor. The Cuban was very authentic and the plantains were so good. They also had a live jazz player, which made the whole vibe feel really special. Definitely a great spot for food and atmosphere. read more
Came by to dine and have a drink while I was in the area for the weekend for a work-related event. Went with a mojito, yuca fries and the palomilla. Lucky me, I came during live music and open mic night as well. Loved the food, drinks, ambiance, music and service. Will def come back here the next time I'm in the area. read more
2 months ago
Very stylish restaurant looks like stepping into a black and white movie which is set in Havana. Definitely seems a great place to take a date. The waitstaff are all very friendly. The front of house, who I assume is also the manager, checked on us regularly and was quick to provide accurate descriptions of the dishes on the menu. She even advised us that we could add an appetizer to our lunch special for a small charge. Also she shared that on Mondays Azucar offers discount mojitos. Can't go wrong with that! Ice cold water is provided in a carafe which is attentively refilled as needed. I ordered the Camaron Enchilados lunch special with Yucas on the side. Everything was well-plated and delicious to match. You can bet I will come back again and did I mention discount mojitos on Monday? Loved it! read more
I went to this restaurant against others recommendarions. Sadly I wish I had listened. The staff was super nice and the reviews were very good. Unfortunately the restaurant was underwhelming. I ordered Ropa Vieja a short rib dinner plate. The waiter said "this meal will take 20-25 minutes" and I said no worries I am in no rush. Well food showed up not even 7 minutes late, I should have gone with my instincts cause it did not sit well with me. I was sick from the meal before I even left the restaurant. The meal arrived and it look more like carnitas than short rib. The black beans were over salted and the rice was overcooked. The best part of the dish was the plantains. They offered live music which I would have loved to stay for. As well as they have all gender bathrooms. The restaurant offers a quick checkout through the toast app; you can close your bill either on your phone or by tapping. read more
Azucar is one of the most unique places I've visited in Charlotte. The Cuban food is authentic, and the bottomless sangrias during brunch are unreal. There are 6 types of sangria to choose from -or- regular mimosas. Sometimes, they even have live music! The atmosphere is also laid back and casual, and they don't try to rush you through the meal or push you out. I live in Texas, but the past 2 NC trips to see my family have included a visit to Azucar. Overall, we enjoyed our savory dishes the most. The sweet dishes are tasty, like the Guava French Toast, but it's can be a lot of sweetness when paired with the sangria. The Cuban Sandwich Egg Rolls are delicious! We've also been pleased with all our entrees, so you can't really go wrong. I haven't tried any of the lunch/dinner entrees, but I definitely plan to when I visit next. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
The best place to be on a Saturday morning/early afternoon! The food is so amazing. The executive chef is friendly and you can tell he loves food. The staff is happy to be at work, and happy to take care of you. The ambiance is incredible. Latin music, mojitos, good food, and great staff ..... seriously, what more do you need. Go early, grab a coffee and a pastry, stay and eat lunch. You will have no regrets .... I promise. read more
1 month ago
We went here for a special date night dinner. Attentive service, nice menu, noisy but nice atmosphere. Food plated nicely, reasonable portions. I ordered the chicken thighs, my dining mate ordered the chicken stew. The stew really wasn't stew like but tasty. Both came with white rice, black beans and plantains. Everything very good.. Dessert was flan and tre leches cake. Also good. I would certainly come back and order from the regular menu. read more
I have been to brunch at this location twice in the past 2 weeks. It's a great spot for food, drinks and a good time! I ordered the Palomilla, which is angus thin cut steak, mojo, campesino rice, toston, madurro, shisito peppers and grilled onions and it was DELICIOUS!!!!! And so much food! We also tried the empanadas and I loved those!!! The real kicker for us was the $4 bottomless sangria special. For $4 you can drink as many sangrias as you like and we did! It was such a great meal and drinks that we came back a week later. The second trip I had the brioche french toast and the loaded potatoes, which is basically a breakfast bowl with eggs, Cuban picadillo, potatoes, onions, peppers, pico de gallo, salsa verde and blue cheese sauce. AMAZING!!! Everything was so so so delicious. We realized that maybe the sangrias aren't as strong as you'd hope. Which I get for only $4, but give us a little bit of wine with it too lol. The sangrias are absolutely delicious as well so no real complaints. All in all, I highly recommend this Ballantyne location. There's parking, the food is affordable and incredible and the menu has a good amount of options for any palate. Highly recommend!! Great service too! read more
2 years ago
Such a lovely restaurant! The decor was fun, the staff was sooo kind and attentive and the food was delicious. I didn't get a picture of the full appetizer sampler, but it was delicious! The tres leche was outstanding and my husband enjoyed the Cuban espresso. We can't wait to go back! read more
The Cuban sandwich was excellent! Large portion with a generous serving of meat and delicious bread from the oldest Cuban bakery in the US. The shrimp empanadas were tasty too but we were disappointed in the size. At two for $14, I was expecting regular sized ones but they were mini. read more
I hate to be a buzz-kill, but our first experience at this new and popular Cuban joint was a real disappointment. The fact that I had issues may or may not matter, but my Miami-born, Cuban wife's opinion should command your attention. Let me emphasize up front that, considering the lack of authentic Cuban options in Charlotte, we really wanted to like this place but based on our experience, sadly, that is not the case. After a Yelp review alerted us to the fact that dinner prices were rather steep ($23-$35), we dined at 2:30 on a Saturday for a late lunch, not realizing that they don't serve their $10 lunch specials on the weekends. That was our bad so just be aware. We were seated immediately, and our friendly waiter took our drink orders. Two of our party of three ordered the $4 "bottomless" sangria. I ordered a $3 tea. Unfortunately, everything went south from this point. We had to request sangria and tea refills twice before finally receiving them after 20 minutes. So in two hours, the "bottomless" sangria amounted to about 5 to 6 ounces. As might be expected by the price, it they were also too sweet and weak. We started our meal with appetizers: Chicken Croquettas (3 for $12) and Empanadas. Both arrived quickly, were piping hot and tasty. The fact, though, that the empanadas were 2 for $14 makes them the most expensive around. Our poor waiter was frantically trying to work to cover all the 30 or so diners. We ordered the Arroz con Pollo ($21) and the Angus Pallimilla ($23), which arrived 30 minutes later and were both merely lukewarm. The Angus was also tough. The Arroz con Pollo was loaded with cheese, which made it taste more Mexican/Italian than Cuban, according to my wife. The chicken was also dry when you could find a piece. Overall, the place was clean and had a 97 sanitation score; however, the atmosphere was somewhat sterile. Although I probably will not return, I recommend that, based on others' better experiences, that you at least give it a shot. read more
1 year ago
The interior has a great vibe. Our waiter was very nice. White sangrias were good. Excellent cauliflower appetizer. Ropa vieja was very good. The Spanish music was great. I wish I knew more Spanish since everyone else in the restaurant was talking and singing along in Spanish. The reason I had to give it 3 stars is my husbands entrée. It was awful. He wanted to order the ARROZ CON POLLO IMPERIAL, but the waiter steered him away from it, saying it would take too long to prepare - it was pretty late - and wasn't as good as the POLLO AHOGADO. The POLLO AHOGADO was bad. The chicken was tender, but it tasted so VERY strange and very bad. It tasted like cleaning products were mixed into everything. I love cilantro, so it wasn't that. Maybe we will give it another try and not order that dish so we can upgrade this review. read more
2 years ago
I enjoyed this spot with my daughter. We ate brunch here. Our waitress took great care of us! The decor has simplicity with Cuban flair. The food and drink were tasty. I would visit this spot again. Parking may be limited depending on the day and time. read more
2 years ago
Located in Ballantyne Village in Charlotte this Cuban restaurant is exactly what Ballantyne Village needs. We attended during the Queen Feasts restaurant week where it was 3 course for $40 per person. It is a busy area but parking is available. The drinks here are amazing and the menu is very creative. There is live music during dinner hours. It is a dark moody restaurant but still family friendly. The service is great and attentive as well. The food did take a while to come out but it was delicious. I really enjoyed the crema de Yuca soup and the stuffed bell peppers. Out of the drinks my favorite had to be their red sangria and the mojitos. Overall great experience. read more
1 year ago
What a great lunch experience! Had the Papas Bravas, Vaca Frita and a Tampa Cubano. All was on par with what I've enjoyed throughout Florida and the best I've had I. The Charlotte area. read more
Me and my family went here kind of on a whim. We wanted to go somewhere new and were in the area. I'm glad we went it was really good! I split the palella and the branzino with my brother so we could try a couple things. I also don't love clams so he got those. Everything was tasty and fresh. Our server was nice and kept our drinks full. It was a nice place overall. I would absolutely recommend. read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
We always enjoy coming here. This time we tried the appetizer sampler and the ACP. Both were delicious and more than enough food for the two of us to share. There is also usually music and all the servers are very friendly. read more
1 year ago
The food was top tier. I got the $10 lunch special arroz con pollo. It was fresh, made to order in ten minutes, and delicious. I only wish more plantains came with it or you can sub for tostones. But well worth the price. The staff was friendly and the ambiance inside was beautiful. Can't wait to go back and try other things. read more
2 years ago
This is a clean restaurant small located in the Valentine area. There's plenty of shared parking. The menu is limited, and there are no substitutions. The service needs some help came when it was mainly empty yet we were looking for our waitress most of the time.. it was OK. We have a black bean dip as an appetizer. It was served cold and the bread was super salty. The chicken that I ordered was a little salty so I don't recommend most of the items in the menu you come with pork are made with pork. Hope you enjoy. read more
2 years ago
Went for dinner with a group of friends. Ambiance was great. The staff was very friendly. I got the ropa vieja. The portion was small and I was given probably 1/3 less than my 2 friends that also ordered it. I didn't say anything because I figured it didn't really matter. But then the beans were so salty I couldn't eat them. So I walked away hungry. I will say that was the best white rice I've ever had. I didn't say anything to the waiter because I didn't my friends to feel bummed out for me. They had a $2 sangria special but I wasn't drinking that night. I think they have a drink special every night. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Each bite just kept getting better and better! We started with the Azucar sampler for an appetizer and I'm so glad we did! One thing about me, I love variety and variety is exactly what you get with the sampler. From croquettes to empanadas everything was so delicious! For entrees, we ordered Seafood Paella and Masa to share. I don't have a lot of experience with paella but this dish was really delicious! Masas or "fried pork chunks" was absolutely incredible! The mojo sauce packed a punch with honestly so much flavor. The pork was crispy on the outside but somehow still tender and juicy on the inside. We really enjoyed our meal here but it is a little pricey. For $100 including tip we got an appetizer sampler and 2 entrees, water and no alcohol. Just beware. Overall this was a really tasty experience! read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
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