What a great restaurant! The atmosphere was open and bright. The patio was under a covered roof on…read morethe outside side of the restaurant with lighting on the tables. The front outside of the restaurant had very welcoming rattan couch and was playing great calming Cuban music. The staff were efficient and sweet and once our meal choice was taken we were left alone to talk. Once or meals came we were not approached u til our meals were completed. We finished all of our meals- the food was exceptional! The sauce on my shrimp was exceptional and I wanted to put all my rice in the sauce! The shrimp were cooked to perfection! The plantains were so good I could have eaten so many more! We will definitely return!! The prices were reasonable !

I ordered catering from Padrino's in Plantation for my mother's 80th birthday, and I have to be…read morehonest -- it was a bit disappointing. We ordered a large arroz con pollo platter and the yuca with moro platter. The arroz con pollo unfortunately was very hard and clumped together. The flavor itself was okay, but the texture really took away from the dish. It felt dry and overcooked, and for a special milestone celebration, that was disappointing. I honestly wouldn't order the arroz con pollo from here again. The yuca was also inconsistent -- some pieces were soft and tender, while others were hard. When you're catering for an important event, consistency matters, and this just didn't hit the mark. I've had better experiences dining in, so I expected the same quality for catering. Sadly, this time it didn't reflect the level I was hoping for -- especially for something as meaningful as my mom's 80th birthday. I hope they tighten up their catering quality control because the potential is there -- but this order just wasn't it for $155 i expected better.

During a rare visit to Fort Lauderdale, I wanted to find a good Cuban sandwich near Sawgrass Mills…read more Don Carlin certainly filled the bill. It's a nice family-owned restaurant with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu looked exhaustive, but I was only interested in the Cubano. The sandwich was great, no doubt about it. My wife had the Fish Sandwich and she said it was also good. For sides we ordered Sweet Fried Plantains and Fried Yuca with Mojo, both recommended by our waitress. They were delicious and I am stuffed! Based on my afternoon, I'd say skip Sawgrass and spend more time at Don Carlin.

Don't be swayed by stip mall shopping center location, the restaurant is cute inside! I ordered…read moreropa vieja (shredded beef in tomatoe sauce) with arroz (rice), fréjoles negros (black beans), and plátanos maduros (fried ripe plantains). My lunch companion had masas de puerco (fried pork chunks), arroz (rice), fréjoles negros (black beans, and plátanos maduros (fried ripe plantains). Both dishes were great! The service was excellent as well. The food was served a few minutes after ordering. The staff checked in on us a few times. I recommend you try this restaurant if in the area.

It was so nice we went twice! This place is a staple of Cuban cuisine. They may not have music on…read moreSaturday like Padrinos but they sure do deliver on the food! We ordered for a family of five two nights in a row and the service was great and so was the food! The first night the kitchen ran slow but the second the food came out quick.

Classic Cuban find off of Broward Blvd, perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a hearty croqueta…read morebite. They do not offer lunch specials any more, but one entree will feed you twice, or can be shared. All plates are served with white rice, black beans and fried plantains. Food is always fresh and piping hot. The service is just as warm and quick, anytime of day. You can dine in or order take-out, the wait is never long. Stop by to satisfy your craving for home-made style Cuban food and buttery warm Cuban bread. Plantain chips with garlic are a nice appetizer to share. Large spacious location, they always have music playing, but you can have a conversation through it, not a problem.

This is one of the best Cuban food we ever had coming from New York and California. The food was…read morevery authentic very delicious and made with love from the cooking staff. We came here back-to-back nights, and we really enjoyed their food and just authentic top to bottom. The price was very good, portion was filling and the waitress was friendly and nice to us. Will come back again and must try anyone looking for a true cuban food experience!

While visiting from Pittsburgh, we needed to have some Cuban food. Little Cuban Cafe was amazing…read moreand had great service. Everyone was very attentive. It's also a nice place with lots of tables. We started out with empanadas. I loved my beef which was super packed and flavorful. My husband enjoyed his chicken empanada. I thought about trying something different but ultimately I had to have the ropa vieja which didn't disappoint. It was so juicy and flavorful. I also loved the congris rice (rice and beans like dirty rice) and sweet plantains that came with it. My husband really enjoyed his beef and potato stew. It came with giant, tender and flavorful pieces of beef and giant chunks of potato. He also liked his white rice. We will definitely be back next time we visit. I need to try the picadillo which also looked delicious.

It really all started eight years ago when my nephew married a woman born and raised in Cuba. One…read moreof the benefits is knowing the hidden gems in South Florida. I can assume this is one. The service here was wonderful. The meals came out quickly, our new friend, Raphael, was so polite and friendly. He actually made plenty of table checks and answered all of our stupid questions. He kept pushing the Flan Casero and was right to do so. Melt in your mouth!!! Every dish that landed was gobbled up. It was so good that if you hesitated, you missed out. Three things I insist you order are the Calamari Frito, the Ropa Vieja and the sangria. If I had more space I'd give the details. The four of us thoroughly enjoyed all of them. 12/25

We have eaten lunch at Havana's once before in Cooper City. The food and service was good. And…read morethey accommodated for the one year old granddaughter. We decided to give it a try for take out dinner. We ordered the Pork family meal, which included, black beans, rice and plantains. It serves 4-5 people. A good deal. The food was plentiful, hot and very good. The beans were delicious perfectly cooked Cuban style. We also ordered plantain chips, accompanied by a delicious garlic mojo sauce. And a salad. Salad was OK, but for the price it was not large enough to feed 4-5 people. I do recommend take out as well as eating at the restaurant. I think the food is fresh and good.

Amazing food and friendly staff. The interior is decorated nicely but the location is kind of…read morerandom but it didn't matter. The food here is incredible!! Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating and the Cachapa was 10/10 (I ordered the carne asada) I'll be back when I'm in town again!

This is a really cozy and homey type of restaurant. I feel like the staff truly cares. I sat at the…read morebar while waiting for my friend who had to deal with difficult traffic. The staff was r we ally welcoming. We sat down and our server was happy to explain details of a couple dishes to my friend. I already knew what I wanted before walking in the door. We ordered Venezuelan empanadas on our server's recommendation. We had one cheese, one chicken, and two beef. I had one beef and it was real good My friend really enjoyed her beef and risotto. I also enjoyed my ceviche although I would have liked it to be colder. Anyway, the fish was fresh and I scooped up all the lime juice with a spoon. This is a nice place to eat. I saw they have some good Tuesday specials, such as $3 beers with $4 tacos and $6 margaritas. They have live music on Fridays. I would be happy to come back here.

Located in a strip mall but the main dining area has an upscale ambiance…read more Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Ceviche is fresh served with long plantain chips. The appetizer platter also comes with the same kind of plantain chips. Highly recommended if you want to try a bit of everything. Empanada has fresh homemade crust Lechon asado: tender and juicy roasted pork. I substitute the moros with fried plantains. I really enjoy it. Plantains are ripe and sweet but not mushy. Tostones are the biggest I've ever had. Well fried and not greasy. Plenty of drink options. Sangria is ok, not very fruity. Only has two slices of oranges . Mojito: strong rum from my favorite rum brand Don Q. My friend ordered paella. The portion is huge. You can share it with more than one person. It takes three containers to take home the leftover. Very tasty with fresh seafood.

Last time we were at Padrino's was over a year ago. I can honestly say I don't remember being quite…read morethis good. The service was excellent, and the restaurant is beautiful with a very relaxed atmosphere. The food was delicious. We started with the empanadas which had an excellent flavor and the mango salsa that it came with was really really good. For dinner, my wife had the Lachona Asada and I had the churrasco steak. Both our dishes were excellent amazing flavors. The meat was super tender, and the portions were a really nice size. I can definitely say that we're going to return more often, especially if the food continues at this level.

The food here is heavenly! I stopped by with some friends while on vacation and this was our…read morefavorite restaurant. They offer a variety of food and the staff was very kind. Do not miss your opportunity to try some awesome Columbian cuisine!

As expected the food was delicious, served correctly and hot. Service was great as always, staff…read morewas friendly & polite. Both our meals served at the same time which l love & appreciate it. Atmosphere was nice lots of people waiting for a table, came just in time. Highly recommend if looking for authentic Columbia cuisine.

Great food and great service. Belice was a very good waitress and very attentive. Would come here…read moreagain

Great service , our server Rosa was amazing ! Food was great ! Will definitely be backread more

Mario is AMAZING! He welcomed me as if I was a family…read moremember and not as out of town customer in need of authentic Cuban food made with love . His restaurant is a must try due to the fried snapper, shrimp, black beans, white rice, and plantains were delicious!! You can taste the love in every bite. The tres leche!!!!! Wonder!!

Walking to Mario's it's like entering a different world. It's an oasis in a crowded busy plaza with…read morewhite tablecloths, beautiful artwork, and lovely music.. We were greeted by the gracious Owner made sure we were seated in a table that we liked, and then immediately we were brought freshwater and a complementary alcohol free Mojito, which was absolutely wonderful. When our dinner was delivered at first glance, it seemed as if the servings were small. And they are too small to share, but as a single meal, it was completely satisfying. It came out warm, fresh and plated beautifully. My sweetheart and I were in the mood for dessert so we ordered the bread pudding and we were going to share it, but when the waiter brought back a dessert, it was two servants courtesy again of this gracious Owner. Define a spot like this a true oasis in a busy, noisy Jody Plaza with white tablecloths and a gracious Owner and beautiful artwork I know for sure that we will be back to enjoy more of their delicious food!