I was staying in the neighborhood and had a craving for a cubano sandwich. It was a quiet Tuesday…read morenight. I popped in, sat at the counter, and was greeted immediately by a pleasant woman who took my "to go" order and told me the sandwich would be ready in just a few. While I was waiting, she kindly asked if I needed anything to drink. I declined. Shortly after I took home perhaps the best cubano sandwich I ever had. The warm sandwich had a perfect balance of ingredients. The Cuban bread with a thin crispy crust and soft inside made for a perfect mouth-feel. Absent was globs of mayo and mustard, flavors that often override the real stars of the show, the roast pork and ham. In it's place was a light dressing that complemented the meats perfectly. I've had Cubano sandwichs in Miami and NYC. The Cubano served up at LaCubana is as good, if not better. The only shortcoming: malta (a non- alcoholic malt beverage, popular in Puerto Rico and Cuba) wasn't available.

What we ordered: * Ham and cheese croquetas…read more* Coconut shrimp (special) * Guava bbq short rib (very good!) Service * Server was super nice and even took a picture of us * Very attentive and polite Ambience * Super old school diner vibes with cool Cuban gear and decor * Only downside is the bathroom is down some steep stairs with not a lot of air flow.

Good, actually great vibes. Food was tasty and if I went with some friends or a partner, it would…read morehave been even better. I went by myself and had the "we'll make you a cocktail." It was a tasty and easy to drink mezcal drink with a bit of chocolate and topped with a lime leaf. I had the steak tartare with mushrooms. It was fun and slightly vinegar-ed. I had pan con tomate and unfortunately, it was a bit bland. I don't think the tomatoes were sweet nor flavorful enough so I ended up putting the steak tartare on top. I also had their smoked sardine and egg and surprisingly, it was my favorite. The sardines were quite good! The waitstaff is nice and always ready with a smile. There's limited space and even more limited seating.. as in half the people were just standing because there weren't any chairs. Seems like a great (first) date spot and pre bar hopping restaurant.

We made a reservation on a weekday and when we arrived, our table was ready. The bar has both…read morecounter tables inside and heated patio. We were seated inside and enjoying the beautiful wood carved decorations. The drinks menu offers great variety of cocktails, wine, beer and liquor. The food menu includes great tapas options for sharing. The staff are friendly and the service is fast.

Cute speakeasy on ossington strip! Located in the back of La Cubana -- look out for the neon sign…read moreinside ;) not as busy and lively as I expected on a Saturday night but when it's a speakeasy at the back of a staple Cuban restaurant in the city you know the food is a smash. Drinks were unique -- would go back! Because it wasn't busy the service felt on the slower end but all in all a great spot to hit

Cute little speakeasy tucked away behind La Cubana on Ossington. They are still doing a promotional…read morehappy hour from 6-8 pm until March 10th, so go while you still can. All cocktails are half priced and we had 5 different cocktails and loved them all. Here's the cocktails I had, in order of most favorite to still favorite: 1) Mango habanero margarita: it's described as being sweet and tangy but definitely has a bit of a kick to it and varies drink to drink depending on how much of their homemade mango habanero hot sauce they add to it. But it's always delicious! 2) Pandaiquiri: it's a clarified cocktail with hints of coconut and pandan. They also have quite a generous pour for this one. I'm not complaining! 3) Carajillo affogato: I would save this one till the end. It's the perfect dessert cocktail to end your night at Bar Habana. It's served with a scoop of boozy ice cream and a spiced rum-espresso combo to pour over. I could drink the drink without the ice cream too, but mix the ice cream into the drink and it's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. 4) Piña colada: pretty solid piña colada and only at #4 cause it wasn't unique to this bar. 5) Reverse mojito: described as light and refreshing but we found this to be a little sweeter than we'd have liked. I would prefer a regular mojito to this, but glad we tried it For food we got the conch fritters, grilled shrimp, honey glazed pork belly, and guava bbq short ribs. The short ribs were amazing and so tender. The portions are pretty good for the price and quite filling. Those 4 dishes were like a meal. The pork belly was good too but I would've liked a bit more pineapple salsa with it. The conch fritters are good for the price but you don't really get much conch in it. If you do get it though, ask for the mango habanero hot sauce to dip instead of the chipotle mayo. And lastly, the grilled shrimp was cooked well and a decent portion. I would definitely go back again, happy hour or not.

The space isn't fancy, more diner-like, but the aromas coming from the kitchen are incredible…read more Watching generous plates pass by only made ordering harder. By the time we decided, I was fully hungry and ready to dig in. Luckily, both the drinks and food arrived quickly. The mixed ceviche ($18.95) combines shrimp and fish tossed with peppers, onion, and cilantro, served alongside avocado and plantain chips. The acidity is well balanced, so it's not overly citrusy. That said, I would've liked more fish, as the shrimp dominates the dish. If you're dining with a group, the yucca mixta ($21.50), typically a main, works perfectly as a shared starter. The fried cheese is reminiscent of mozzarella sticks, but better, with a higher cheese-to-batter ratio. The crispy yucca is addictive, especially dipped into the onion sauce, which adds a refreshing tang. Even the avocado salad was a hit and was as a great way to finish off the plantain chips from the ceviche. Ordering a Cajun shrimp stir fry ($25.95) at a Nicaraguan restaurant felt strange, but it worked. The dish blends a lightly spiced teriyaki sauce with creamy avocado, giving it a unique, almost Nikkei-style twist. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked, and the rice soaked up the sauce without becoming too salty. There's even a surprising hint of wok hay that could rival some Cantonese spots. The churrasco ($32.95) is ideal for a solo diner. The beef tenderloin tips were grilled to a perfect medium rare. While the meat itself is fairly mild, the thick chimichurri adds plenty of flavour. Paired with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a generous serving of vegetables, it's a well-balanced plate. Whatever you do, don't skip dessert. La Bella's flan Napolitano ($7.95) is fantastic, with a custard that's firm enough to hold its shape yet still smooth and creamy. The caramel is light and fluid, adding sweetness without becoming sticky. Flan fans you better fly over to try this. The three milk cake ($8.50) is equally impressive. It's fully soaked, rich, and indulgent without crossing into overly sweet territory. I genuinely couldn't decide which dessert I preferred. Both are worth ordering. As mentioned, reservations are highly recommended. Despite how busy it gets, the small team runs the dining room with impressive efficiency, making sure guests are well taken care of.

Have you ever found a restaurant that was so good that you were afraid to tell people about it in…read morecase it got so popular you'd never find a table next time you went? This is such a restaurant. But for the greater good, and because it totally deserves to be hyped up, I'm gonna share this gem with you! Granted, I have only been here once and I had never had Nicaraguan food before but everything this restaurant served up from drinks to appetizers to mains to dessert was unbelievable. It may look like nothing special on paper and even look understated on the plate but once it's in your mouth your tastebuds are in for a ride! Let me explain a bit more...the "tacos" look like a sundae collided with a salad on the plate but when you break it up and try it the crunch and the sweet and the sour just works like magic! I ordered the Churrasco but swapped out the mashed potato with rice and beans - how the Nicaraguans eat it I was told - and boy was I glad I listened! I have never downed so much rice and beans so quickly in my life; normally I avoid them so that's testament to how tasty it was. 3 out of all 3 of the desserts were delicious but the standout favourite among my party was surprisingly the cheesecake, so don't knock it till you try it. The atmosphere is lively and colourful, and the service was great too! That's it; I think I've shared enough - you're welcome

The Noms: Colombian Special Salchipapa $25.50…read more Cubano Smoked Brisket Sanguich $20.50 It's a tiny shop but just know they aren't serving tiny portions! The food we got was enough to feed us both - twice! And we're talking full to the brim. It is on the pricier side, but they are far from stingy with their portions. It was our first time so we asked the staff what he recommended and homie came through! The Colombian Salchipapa is basically a fully loaded Cuban fries supreme on steroids. There was plantain, pulled pork, cilantro lime chicken, chorizo, cheese, and corn, all topped with hickory sticks. All of that paired with their house-made tartar sauce was heavenly with the best flavors and textures. The Cubano Smoked Brisket Sanguich was also incredible. There's smoked brisket, roasted mojo pork, swiss cheese, pickles, and fried onions, all stuffed in Cuban bread. The brisket and pork were super tender and juicy too. It was such a satisfying chew that we literally ate in silence while nodding in approval the whole time, lol. Hot tip: we had leftover tartar sauce from the salchipapa, so we poured it on our sanguich and it made it even better! Definitely worth getting it on the side if you're getting the sanguich alone.

The best Cuban sandwiches in the city!! You get your moneys worth here! The sandwiches are huge and…read morethey're full of flavour. I've been here twice now and will be continue to come back!

We went there for Brunch. The food tasted good but the portions could be bigger. The pancake was…read morebomb and more importantly, it wasn't too sweet Most of the staff are nice and attentive. We got seated in their rooftop balcony area and it was such a vibe especially since we visited on a rainy day. They had enclosed the space so well that you still feel you're outside and yet you won't get wet. Will definitely go back for dinner to try their streaks

The place was very aesthetic and had great vibes and great service from staff. However the food is…read moremediocre and requires distinct taste preferences. The drinks were great, no issues with the margarita towers. Same with the sweet corn, they have a little of spice however that were cooked to perfection. The octopus main dish was also very aesthetic. (Gave us clamps to use instead of fork lol) In the end, everything was great. However the main dish which is the burger was not that great. Would not recommend. Everything else was good. 4 people ordered the burger the one with the least food experience liked it the most Ok, aside from food. The elevator going up stunk and during the duration of our stay. Plates were broken numerous times resulting in shards hitting our group.

I got to try Haitian cuisine in Montreal and was curious how it would taste in Toronto…read more Food: Got to share the oxtail with rice and peas, the meat was fall off the bone and tendon was soft. The griot was well seasoned and tasted great with the fried plantains (bannan peze) and pikliz! I love how you get a jar of pikliz and can take as much as you desire. Service/atmosphere: The wait staff was attentive, friendly and gave great customer service!

The yummiest food and vibey restaurant located on Dundas st west, close to trinity bellwoods. We…read moreordered the accra, Mac and cheese, Haitian spaghetti, fried fish plate, ginger beer and a piña colada. The food was fresh, flavourful and the quality did not miss. The accra was a standout!! The service was great and our server made sure to provide thoughtful information as we were ordering. Overall, the food, service and ambiance of rhum corner was nothing short but amazing and I will be back again.

So fun! A colleague recommended this place and I walked by yesterday night (a Friday) and it was…read morepacked! Fun vibes leaking out onto the streets and lots of chatter and conversation. I was able to score a table for 4 today (Saturday) for lunch and had a great vermut with some fizz. We had three adults and a little baby. We got the prix fixe meant for 2 people and added a few other dishes to supplement. The prix fixe included: Shishito peppers, simply roasted and topped with flakey salt Pan con tomate, better than the ones I had yesterday... the sourdough bread they make themselves in house. Think, crusty, topped with great olive oil. We ended up ordering a side of just bread and olive oil because we loved it so much. Papas bravas, a touch spicy. Lots of scallions. I thought they were just alright, but my friend devoured them. We chose the manchego over the chorizo (one of my friends is a pescatarian) and we enjoyed that. The star was the octopus and our additional order of the mushrooms with cured egg yolks. The octopus was so tender and yet crispy at the tentacles. The mushrooms were just scrumptious!! My absolute favorite. Crispy, meaty, topped with some greens that went nicely with the oyster mushrooms. To finish, we had basque for dessert. Umm can't believe it's the first time I had this! Wow, so delicious.

Came here for a date night and I really wanted to love Bar Isabel, but was a little disappointed…read more There was a lot of hype around the restaurant, but the food was just average. We ordered the Sea Bream Ceviche and chips, quarter Octopus and Patatas Bravas. The highlight was the ceviche. The octopus was unfortunately a little overdone, which made it tough. I would absolutely not order the patatas bravas again. The potatoes were very dry and tasted as if they had been sitting out for some time. We also sat at the bar and had a few ordered of cocktails with the food. Be aware that the bar itself slopes down towards you. With that being said, my partner put her drink down on the sloped part and it fell all over both of us, with the bartender seeing it all unfold. He was nice in providing some extra napkins to dry ourselves off, but all he had to offer was "Yup that happens a lot" as opposed to maybe offering to remake the drink which was now 2/3 empty as a result. Was a little disappointed at that service in particular, especially when you're paying upwards of $18 for a small cocktail. The atmosphere was good, however. IF I were to give it another try, I'd probably just opt for drinks and skip the food, which was a little pricier for what you're getting portion-wise and quality.

Came here today and got a cubano. Tasted pretty good. It came with a pickle and delicious house…read moresalsa. It was a bit pricey at $10 but i didnt mind the price since I enjoy supporting family run businesses. The cafe was small but had a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with kind staff. Not relevant but they had a world map where customers could pin their place of birth which I found very charming. Only nitpick is that I wish I got a real plate instead of a paper one since I was dining in, but it's not a dealbreaker. Will be coming back to try the Colombian iced coffee cuz that looked heavenly.

This is the cutest Colombian cafe. My Colombian friend was thoroughly surprised at how good this…read moreplace was and gave his approval. I got 2 dishes that I enjoyed in store. The tamale was probably the best I've ever had because of the size and the masa was cooked well in a sauce which ensured it was tasty and not dry like so many I've had before. I also had a vegetarian arepa topped with arugula, fresh slices of tomato, sauteed onions and queso fresco. A blackberry jugo finished off my meal perfectly. Since my friend had a couple empanadas and they looked great, I bought a few to take home for lunch the next day. At $3 a piece, they are worth it based on the texture of the pastry and the ratio of filling to shell. This is a great little shop with a great selection of snacks owned by a boss lady. I will be back on my next visit to Koreatown.

Not sure why the reviews are low here! My friends and I stumbled upon this place after finding out…read morethat the restaurant we were trying to go to was full. Overall, we all really enjoyed the sandwiches. Food - 4/5 - I got the seasonal special, a fish Cuban sandwich, and it was really tasty! My friends got different sandwiches and also really enjoyed it. Service - 4.5/5 - really nice folks. They tried to keep it friendly and fast, even though it was super busy! Ambiance - 4/5 - Felt like a diner with some Cuban character to it! Overall, would comeback again and have another sandwich!!

Been hearing lots of good things about La Cubana from friends. Went to their foodcourt location at…read moreThe Well and got the shortrib medianoche sandwich and yuka fries. The sandwich was good - generous heaping of tender shortrib meat and tasty marinade sauce. The fries were a bit too greasy for me, though were pretty good size. Overall, can see why this place has many fans.