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This is some of the best Cuban food around in my opinion. My go to spot! Service is great, and food always comes out fast! It's never loud and chaotic inside and you can typically always walk in and sit right down. I've never had anything here that I didn't like. They bring out complimentary hot garlic bread when you are seated. And the Mariquitas are my go to appetizer with extra garlic!
During a rare visit to Fort Lauderdale, I wanted to find a good Cuban sandwich near Sawgrass Mills. 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 ropa 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.
Tried a new Cuban cafe for my morning coffee in the center of the Windward Isle Plaza. Nothing fancy inside or unique except for a super modern dual coffee machine. The counter girl was very friendly and brewed me a fresh San Martin espresso which I sipped at the counter and tasted great. They open for lunch at 11am and stay open late until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The daily special was listed as Oxtail and boiled Snapper. They offer Don Carlin Cocktails including homemade lemonade, mojitos, pina colada, margaritas and house sangria. Noticed the manager organizing the restaurant and greeting customers as they entered the restaurant. The main portion of the bathroom did not have a lock although did include a secondary room with a locking mechanism. Both rooms were clean and basic.
Don Carlin reminds me of eating at my grandma's house. When you walk inside, it's not much, but you don't need a vibey look to serve authentic food. The employees all greet you with a smile and offer bread on the house. I love it when restaurants do this, remember grandma's house? Right when you walk inside, they immediately want to feed you. Because this is Cuban food, I definitely had to try the ropa vieja with black beans. Honestly, three letters... one word... WOW. It's such a great blend of flavors; one does not overpower the other. Also, pairing it with a natural pineapple juice definitely hits the spot. Again, this place may not look flashy. I always say, you come to a restaurant to eat, how it looks is secondary. This is my official Cuban spot forever!!!
Amazing Cuban food !!! My go to while back in Broward County, Florida. Beef Empanadas & a Coffee
I was over the chain Cuban food, and wanted some authentic food that felt like grandma was cooking in the back. I was shocked that in Sunrise this hidden gem was here! It is definitely a hole in the wall , don't let the location deter you from the savory food. It a very casual spot, they have been around for 20 years. I was on the hunt for Ox Tail, Don Carlin delivered ! They have Ox tail specials from Tuesday-Sunday. Everything was so savory, and the service was great food came out in a timely manner! Everyone was very attentive and accommodating to my bf dietary restrictions . The Mamey milkshake was delicious ! I can't wait to try more food from the menu. Overall, please do yourself a favor and check this place out !
Home cooked by GRANDMA! I was pretty amazed stopping by this little hole in the wall. I didn't expect much of it because I don't typically go out for Cuban food being Cuban myself. I made an exception for this little hole in the wall. We were instantly greeted and felt comfortable. It got full VERY quickly. As we browsed the menu, we noticed regulars stopping by and being greeted by their first name by the staff. That's when you know, they're regulars and the food is bomb. The Cuban food was as close to Cuban as it can get, in the streets cooking for people. It had a very home cooked taste that you don't typically find in the "Cuban" chain restaurants many know of in South Florida ie La Caretta, Latin America etc. What surprised me the most was, I saw the cook coming out when the restaurant was packed and everyone was eating. Of course, you cannot guess who it was? IT WAS THE GRANDMA. Yup! No lies. A , what appeared to be a 60+ year old grandma COOKING the Cuban food by the book. She puts Nitza Villapol to shame. Jk Cubans know who that is. A part of me was grateful a grandma was the head chef because only a grandma would still cook with that much care for masses in a restaurant. The other part of me, the granddaughter side, wishes she would rest. Either way, I'm grateful she was cooking the food in this restaurant. For that alone, I would come back to that restaurant and recommend it to others. If you are looking for authentic Cuban food, Don Carlin is the place to go. Service was fantastic , food was great, restaurant was cozy but not fancy and the prices were still reasonable for this day and age.
Seems like the family was looking for a change of scenery and taste tonight. Brainstorming where we should go; we unamiosly decided on Don Carlin! Going inside, there was a good amount of people seated, but we were seated rather quickly. Tonight we had 1x cuban pot roast and 1x churassco steak cooked medium rare. Going into my review, the food and service was excellent. The pot roast came in a savory cuban inspired red sauce; the beef was flaking off the fork, and came with creamy black beans, fluffy white rice, and nicely charred plantains. The churassaco was well seasoned, very tender, and came with fluffy moroz rice and nicely charred plantains. Moreover, the servers were very friendly and offered free wifi! Overall, we always enjoy the quality of both the food and service at Don Carlin and happy to give our experience tonight another 5/5!
OMGOSH!!!! This place is absolutely AMAZING!!!! We were close by visiting family and saw the great reviews and why not enjoy some good food. Needless to say we we quickly found out why people love this place. It's a small restaurant but it's both intimate and large enough to host many parties. We ordered our food and our server (Mario) was absolutely amazing. We scouted the menu and made our choices. The biste empalizado was a great portion as well as delicious. The chicharrones de pollo were excellent. All of our food tasted fresh, delicious and the portions were an excellent size. The maduros were also delicious and the rice and black beans were awesome. Tuesday & Friday special is oxtail and it's great. Funny story my wife loves oxtail but she didn't see the special and ordered something different. When we finished our meal and she saw what the special was was bummed she didn't try it out. Our server was so kind. He brought us a small sample for us so she can try it. Needless to say this is the reason why this place does as amazing as it does. What a kind gesture. We'll definable be back.
We started off with fried plantains and garlic sauce, so delish. I had the lechon asado which comes with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains The pork was good, however I would have liked more of a sauce, garlic or otherwise. My friends all enjoyed their meals. There is plenty of parking.
We were looking for some good local Cuban food near a relatives house and we found this at Don Carlin. We arrived a little early for lunch and so glad that we did. Were seated right away and for us the food choice was obvious. Lechon Asado. We also saw that there were empanadas on the menu also, yes please. The empanadas were ok. However the Lechon Asado was really good. The meat was tender and had great flavor. It was accompanied by plantains and Moro rice. Both were as good as the pork. I chose wisely. The service was really good. Our waiter was attentive but not overbearing which is always a good thing. I would definitely return when I am in the area. Please support this business.
2 months ago
so delicious i have never got so nice beef 11111111111111111111 i will be back the taste is very similar to my grandma's read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
This honestly would've been a 5/5 experience if my server had been more attentive. I came in around 8:40 PM, was seated right away, and there were plenty of open tables. The food also came out really quickly, so I truly don't think the issue was the kitchen or how busy the restaurant was. The food was incredible -- truly the highlight of the entire experience. Everything I ordered was packed with flavor, and the margarita was incredible as well. The ambiance was also great and made for a really enjoyable atmosphere. I would've loved to finish with some flan, but my server never came back. I ended up having to ask another server for extra onions and even had to ask them for my check. It was disappointing because the food was so amazing and the experience had the potential to be perfect. I also can't really speak on whether it's "authentic" Cuban food or not, and I'm not sure why that's the main thing people focus on -- what I can say is that the food was absolutely delicious. The flavors were on point, and I'd definitely come back hoping for a more attentive service experience next time. read more
4 months ago
This is some of the best Cuban food around in my opinion. My go to spot! Service is great, and food always comes out fast! It's never loud and chaotic inside and you can typically always walk in and sit right down. I've never had anything here that I didn't like. They bring out complimentary hot garlic bread when you are seated. And the Mariquitas are my go to appetizer with extra garlic! read more
9 months ago
During a rare visit to Fort Lauderdale, I wanted to find a good Cuban sandwich near Sawgrass Mills. 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. read more
2 months ago
Don't be swayed by stip mall shopping center location, the restaurant is cute inside! I ordered ropa 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. read more
Tried a new Cuban cafe for my morning coffee in the center of the Windward Isle Plaza. Nothing fancy inside or unique except for a super modern dual coffee machine. The counter girl was very friendly and brewed me a fresh San Martin espresso which I sipped at the counter and tasted great. They open for lunch at 11am and stay open late until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The daily special was listed as Oxtail and boiled Snapper. They offer Don Carlin Cocktails including homemade lemonade, mojitos, pina colada, margaritas and house sangria. Noticed the manager organizing the restaurant and greeting customers as they entered the restaurant. The main portion of the bathroom did not have a lock although did include a secondary room with a locking mechanism. Both rooms were clean and basic. read more
1 year ago
Don Carlin reminds me of eating at my grandma's house. When you walk inside, it's not much, but you don't need a vibey look to serve authentic food. The employees all greet you with a smile and offer bread on the house. I love it when restaurants do this, remember grandma's house? Right when you walk inside, they immediately want to feed you. Because this is Cuban food, I definitely had to try the ropa vieja with black beans. Honestly, three letters... one word... WOW. It's such a great blend of flavors; one does not overpower the other. Also, pairing it with a natural pineapple juice definitely hits the spot. Again, this place may not look flashy. I always say, you come to a restaurant to eat, how it looks is secondary. This is my official Cuban spot forever!!! read more
I was over the chain Cuban food, and wanted some authentic food that felt like grandma was cooking in the back. I was shocked that in Sunrise this hidden gem was here! It is definitely a hole in the wall , don't let the location deter you from the savory food. It a very casual spot, they have been around for 20 years. I was on the hunt for Ox Tail, Don Carlin delivered ! They have Ox tail specials from Tuesday-Sunday. Everything was so savory, and the service was great food came out in a timely manner! Everyone was very attentive and accommodating to my bf dietary restrictions . The Mamey milkshake was delicious ! I can't wait to try more food from the menu. Overall, please do yourself a favor and check this place out ! read more
2 months ago
Home cooked by GRANDMA! I was pretty amazed stopping by this little hole in the wall. I didn't expect much of it because I don't typically go out for Cuban food being Cuban myself. I made an exception for this little hole in the wall. We were instantly greeted and felt comfortable. It got full VERY quickly. As we browsed the menu, we noticed regulars stopping by and being greeted by their first name by the staff. That's when you know, they're regulars and the food is bomb. The Cuban food was as close to Cuban as it can get, in the streets cooking for people. It had a very home cooked taste that you don't typically find in the "Cuban" chain restaurants many know of in South Florida ie La Caretta, Latin America etc. What surprised me the most was, I saw the cook coming out when the restaurant was packed and everyone was eating. Of course, you cannot guess who it was? IT WAS THE GRANDMA. Yup! No lies. A , what appeared to be a 60+ year old grandma COOKING the Cuban food by the book. She puts Nitza Villapol to shame. Jk Cubans know who that is. A part of me was grateful a grandma was the head chef because only a grandma would still cook with that much care for masses in a restaurant. The other part of me, the granddaughter side, wishes she would rest. Either way, I'm grateful she was cooking the food in this restaurant. For that alone, I would come back to that restaurant and recommend it to others. If you are looking for authentic Cuban food, Don Carlin is the place to go. Service was fantastic , food was great, restaurant was cozy but not fancy and the prices were still reasonable for this day and age. read more
7 months ago
Seems like the family was looking for a change of scenery and taste tonight. Brainstorming where we should go; we unamiosly decided on Don Carlin! Going inside, there was a good amount of people seated, but we were seated rather quickly. Tonight we had 1x cuban pot roast and 1x churassco steak cooked medium rare. Going into my review, the food and service was excellent. The pot roast came in a savory cuban inspired red sauce; the beef was flaking off the fork, and came with creamy black beans, fluffy white rice, and nicely charred plantains. The churassaco was well seasoned, very tender, and came with fluffy moroz rice and nicely charred plantains. Moreover, the servers were very friendly and offered free wifi! Overall, we always enjoy the quality of both the food and service at Don Carlin and happy to give our experience tonight another 5/5! read more
OMGOSH!!!! This place is absolutely AMAZING!!!! We were close by visiting family and saw the great reviews and why not enjoy some good food. Needless to say we we quickly found out why people love this place. It's a small restaurant but it's both intimate and large enough to host many parties. We ordered our food and our server (Mario) was absolutely amazing. We scouted the menu and made our choices. The biste empalizado was a great portion as well as delicious. The chicharrones de pollo were excellent. All of our food tasted fresh, delicious and the portions were an excellent size. The maduros were also delicious and the rice and black beans were awesome. Tuesday & Friday special is oxtail and it's great. Funny story my wife loves oxtail but she didn't see the special and ordered something different. When we finished our meal and she saw what the special was was bummed she didn't try it out. Our server was so kind. He brought us a small sample for us so she can try it. Needless to say this is the reason why this place does as amazing as it does. What a kind gesture. We'll definable be back. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
We started off with fried plantains and garlic sauce, so delish. I had the lechon asado which comes with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains The pork was good, however I would have liked more of a sauce, garlic or otherwise. My friends all enjoyed their meals. There is plenty of parking. read more
We were looking for some good local Cuban food near a relatives house and we found this at Don Carlin. We arrived a little early for lunch and so glad that we did. Were seated right away and for us the food choice was obvious. Lechon Asado. We also saw that there were empanadas on the menu also, yes please. The empanadas were ok. However the Lechon Asado was really good. The meat was tender and had great flavor. It was accompanied by plantains and Moro rice. Both were as good as the pork. I chose wisely. The service was really good. Our waiter was attentive but not overbearing which is always a good thing. I would definitely return when I am in the area. Please support this business. read more
I came with a friend, and we ordered the palomilla steak, the yellow chicken rice with cheese, and a side of boiled yuca with mojo. The service was good, and the food was satisfying. I liked that the yellow chicken rice was not too dry, and I especially liked the plantains. They were caramelized very well. I recommend you try the plantains. However, the mojo sauce on the yuca was not what I expected. It tasted too sour. I have had yuca with mojo at other places, and I prefer a deeper garlic taste than a tangy one. Next time, I'd like to try the fried yuca instead. Overall, I have not tried many other Cuban restaurants, but I enjoyed this one. The environment was welcoming, and it felt like I was enjoying a meal at home. I would recommend it. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
We're visiting from California and Yelped cuban food near us.. we came here and very glad we did. Very good, clean food.. Mario was excellent in hospitality and service!!! Thank you to the staff for being so helpful! read more
7 months ago
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Yesterday a group of 18 had lunch here. Our server Mario was excellent. Personable, efficient, attentive, all the above! Each entree came out at the same time and the food is delicious. You can tell the management is excellent and the employees work together as a team. Prices and portion size perfect. A wonderful experience! Thank you Don Carlin! read more
This is an easy review. Definitely one of the best Cuban restaurant I have ever eaten at. We started out with a couple of appetizers, a chicken empanada that was stuffed so full it was like eating a meal in it self, not mention how good it tasted. We also had fried sliced plantain with a garlic & lime sauce on, fantastic!! For lunch my wife had a salad, super fresh, French fries and black beans & rice. She said it was one of the best beans and rice she has had. Her cafe con lettche was really good too. As for me I had a Cuban sandwich and a side yucca con mojo. The sandwich was out of this world good, but the yucca stole the show! It was that good! I've had this place on my radar for quite some time. I just don't know what took me so long. I have no doubt we will be eating here again. read more
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More info about Don Carlin
11447 W Oakland Park Blvd
Sunrise, FL 33323
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(954) 578-1464
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Does this place take reservations?
When we went we were 3 and as James said it's super casual. I would definitely call them depending on the amount of people in your party. Place can get crowded and quick. But to answer your question we didn't make a reservation and we were seated…
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