Cubanos Restaurant Fort Lauderdale

The owner of the restaurant is very nice. He and the waiters, waitresses are attentive and caring. However, the food is not that great, that’s why I gave them a 4 stars. I think the dish is nothing exceptional, in fact, I think some of the dish is pretty salty to me, and the flan is a big off. You can see the flan in my picture. I can make better looking and better tasting flan. This flan has all the bubbles and not being smooth. If you're a pro, you know what I'm talking about. But anyway, I believe the restaurant tried their best. People are friendly.

I must apologize. The food was so good, I had to go to the truck to get my phone in a rain storm. I had already eaten the empanadas and octopus. The other food had a good presentation, but I dug in too quickly. The service people worked as a team, and they all made you feel welcomed and like an old friend. The owner is very involved and generous. We enjoyed our meal, and I plan to return. I highly recommend you coming here.

Second visit to this place and this visit was definitely better. The last time here hubby went for the paella. He felt that the it lacked a crisp he expected. Service is superb. Had the mussels, grouper and smothered shrimp with mashed potatoes , salmon with rice and veggies. Everything was wonderful, very flavor able and great texture. The sauces hold together wet well I’m the mussels, great for dipping. The mojitos was perfectly made and my husband enjoyed his wine. I recommend 100%. We’ll be back! @baldbikingbeauty

Amazing atmosphere and food! The food was great, we got one of their pork dishes and it was amazing, definitely something to eat again and again. Their rice and beans was full of flavour and it complemented the pork just right. Desserts looked also delicious, what I looked the most about is that is was not so sweet as they are in other places.😋 The atmosphere is great, very romantic and with a very cool classic touch. The owner can be a bit intense, he came in an remove or plate without asking us first if he could remove, didn't apologize I hard to pretty much stop him from taking mine though he took my wife's, staff apologized many times for what has occurred (not idk downs behalf though). 😑 Parking can be difficult when the restaurant is busy. Maybe I'll go back just because the staff is very polite and nice, not because of the owner for sure.

We came here for a lunch. We had great service. Our servers name was Daniella. She is amazing. She went above and beyond super nice. Explain their menu. I would highly recommend the skirt steak and if you do have a birthday birthday dishes, I highly recommend the flan and caramel ice cream. My husband had the palomilla Steak he enjoyed it. Our meals came with rice beans and sweet plantains. The atmosphere is relaxed. The restaurant is nice and clean. I love the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and all The comforting decor and knickknacks. I highly recommend this place and Danielle was an amazing waitress this afternoon, I wish I took pictures of the food, but it was so good. We dug in right away.

I have to say, this is the best most consistent Cuban food I've had in South Florida, period. I'm super critical when I go out to eat and time after time I can't find a single thing to complain about. The portions are perfect. The prices are reasonable. The flavors are rich and complex. And the service is just unbelievable. I've never seen a restaurant owner so involved in the customer experience in all my years of eating out. Mario and his staff make you feel like a VIP no matter what. If you're in the area, give it a try and I promise you will love it. 10/10

Food is delicious. Service is amazing! They’re super attentive, both the server and the owner came several times to check if we were doing fine. We were offered extra rice with our food and even got free desert on the house! Generous portions. We are picky when it comes to food, yet we were very pleased with our experience! The bathrooms don’t use disposable paper towels but fabric napkins, which helps the environment with less waste. 100% recommend. Don’t hesitate!

We had our monthly concierge meeting 📅 this evening. Staff and food was terrific. I am the concierge at a luxury Marriott hotel on the beach and send a lot of my guests here. Best Cuban cuisine in South Florida.

The best Cuban sandwich I've ever had!! the best mojito too!! the pollo Cubano was excellent too!! The waiter had the best attitude and was working by himself too. will definitely come back to this place. I love the ambiance, they had good music playing and the Cuban theme pictures and lighting makes it romantic!!

Impressed with food and service!! My husband & I had a beautiful experience, Argentina, steak was delicious. Everything was super clean and service was amazing. We enjoyed the music as well.

Man oh man , what a day. We went to celebrate Mother's Day here. It wasn't packed. There was one family of like 8-9 people. We ordered two Paellas, some chicken, churrasco etc. Basic stuff minus the paella. But , Never were we told it would take 45 mins plus for paellas. It took an hour and 15 mins to get the adults food. Grateful the kids ate before us. As a Cuban, I'd never come back here again due to the wait and the soso taste of the food. The food was okay and the prices were outrageous for the portion sizes. The atmosphere was cool and servers very nice. I was grateful at the end of the day, the servers gave all of the moms a rose. Super sweet touch and very grateful. I'd never recommend this place to others for a special occasion. For a normal outing or lunch, yea. It's not bad but it's not great. There are better Cuban places around but this was picked by family. I'm not sure where the five star reviews have come from from others but that's mighty generous. Perhaps their paladar ie palate may not have tried true Cuban food because this was not it. At the end of it all, I'm Grateful for the experience and the niceness of the servers. Again, all personal opinion as a Cuban but hey, perhaps your experience might be different.

Came here for Lunch and ordered the chicken with peppers and onions. The chicken was good but very oily. The meal was a very big portion. It came with salad and plantations which was also good but a drenched with oil. The server was nice and attentive. The place does resemble a true Cuban experience with the decor inside the restaurant. I had an issue where I was overcharged for my bill. The owner reached out to me and was very apologetic about the situation. He confirmed the overcharge stating it was a mistake on their end and quickly resolved the issue by crediting card back. I will try to give this place another shot next time I'm in the area.

Fernando was amazing love his service ! He was amazing and such a heartwarming and kind waiter and gave us more than what we expected for free as well too!

Quaint, Quailiy, Quantity Our concierge at the Ft Lauderdale Beach Resort recommended the restaurant as a unique experience. We ordered the yucca crisps, red snapper & jumbo shrimp w lobster sauce, red sangria & flan. So delicious! The staff was friendly & just made you feel at home. The weather was perfect for an outside table under the soft lighting while listening to Cuban music in the background. The serving size was very generous.

As a foodie who loves trying to find new places that offer authentic and flavorful foods with a great atmosphere, I searched Yelp for a local place and found Cubano's. I was at first hesitant per some previous reviews. But not knowing the reviewers it was worth giving Cubano's a chance. And I'm glad I did. The atmosphere with white table clothes, candles and latin color schemes, made me feel like I entered a genuine latin restaurant. It was romantic and casual at the same time. The food raised our experience to the next level. We started with the house plaintains and an order of beef empanadas. (Amazing) For the main course we ordered a Paella for 1, Argentinian Steak and Shrimp and Garlic Chicken Chunks. The Paella was one of the best we've had. Enough to take home for a second meal. The Argentinian Steak was done to perfection, exactly how it should be. And the Garlic Chunks was a little greasy but the flavor was unbelievable! We topped the night off with the White Rum cake, the icing was something else. They gave us complimentary Sangria. The biggest surprise was when we asked the waiter a question he didn't know, he turned to the next table and asked the occupants. It was the owner of the restaurant. The waiter then brought a special drink, made of a strawberry rum. It was delicious. She informed us she made this earlier and often shares with a few of her guests! We talked for a little while and found out she and her staff were all close. (Family and friends) This is truly a mom and pop restaurant that doesn't disappoint on delivering ambiance, quality and comfort. I truly believe they enjoy welcoming you into their kitchen! If you have time and are in the neighborhood, give Cubano's a try.

The food was amazing! The meat pes were absolutely delicious! We had great service by Daniella, Adolfo and Dunia. They were all amazing and treated us like we were VIP. We will definitely recommend to others and come back again the next time we visit Fort Lauderdale.

This place was great. Some of the best authentic Cuban food I've ever had. I recommend the grouper and shrimp as well the empanadas! Really enjoyed this place with the family. Will most certainly go again, maybe tonight... thank you to the owner and staff. Keep making awesome experiences!

Very impressed with the food here! We had a large group on a Friday evening for a bachelor party and Mario definitely showed off! Pork, Steak, and a seafood Paella had our entire group ranting and raving about the flavors. I wish I would have taken more photos!

The was empty, just ordered a yuca fries and thats when I decided to leave . Not so good yuca fries

This was a different experience. A little uncomfortable to say the least. I'll explain this part at the end....... The servers and service was good. However, our server was rushing us a little. He came and took our drink order, he when put the order in and came right back and ask if we want and appetizer and what we wanted to have for dinner. This literally happened within the first 3-5 minutes of sitting. I had to tell him (nicely) we still need to look at the menu we are not in a rush. He walked away and then returned a few minutes later and we ordered the empanadas to start. When the sangria came, I will say everyone is correct. The best sangria my wife and I have had. Outside of that the food was just ok. The empanadas were good. Very full of a meat mixture with a tasty sauce which was a mixture of onions, peppers and spices mixed with oil. For dinner my wife ordered the palomino steak and I had the Argentinian Churrasco with shrimp. My wife asked that her onion for the steak please be cooked well done as she does not like raw onion. The dishes came out and were presented nicely. This is also where dinner got a little awkward. Before I go further on awkward, I'll say this about the food first. Just ok..... My wife's steak was a pounded piece of meet with very little flavor and her onion were just warm and barely cooked. My steak was tender but very heavily salted. Not to the point where I couldn't eat it, but definitely salt was the predominant flavor. The other issue were the shrimp. They were covered in a garlic sauce like the menu said. Unfortunately they also still had the shells on them. I tried to use my fork and knife to get the shells off, but had to use my hands because the shells were stuck to the shrimp meat. Shrimp should have been peeled especially covered in garlic and onions. So now for the start of uncomfortable and awkward. Im guessing it was the owner who walked over and asked how everything was. We replied ok and said the sangria is delicious. He then smiled and used his finger tips to scratch the top of my head. I just look up at him with the don't touch me look and we walked away. But wait, there's more...... He then returned and started to ask my wife her nationality. My wife speaks Spanish she said Puerto Rican and they conversed a little in Spanish. Literally 3 or 4 words. Suddenly he leaned in and kissed the top of my wife's head and as head turned to walk off he kissed the top of my head. This time I turned and gave the what the F@@K look. We finished our meal and ordered a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. Suddenly the owner put a full pitcher of sangria on our table and fill our glasses. I said we didn't order this and he said it was on him. We said ok and he walked away. Thank god no head scratching or head kissing this time. He then came back and said I have a deal for you. He pulled out a stack of $100 gift cards. He put down 3 of them and then put down 4 more. He proceeded to tell me if I buy 3 $100 gift cards he would give me 4 $100 gift cards for free. I just looked at him for a second or two and said thank you, but we are not interested in the gift cards. He said are you sure. I said yes very sure. He took back the gift cards and then left a $100 gift card as a gift. I nicely said it's ok we don't need it. He said no take it and walked off. Then as we were paying, he came back again with a Togo container full of empanadas. He said on him enjoy. Sorry to say this. I got the creeper vibe. Perhaps he was being nice, but the head scratch, to the totally unwanted kiss on the top of our heads, to the let's make a deal gift cards and a pitch of sangria and box of empanadas I was happy we were leaving. The check was another issue. I'm not sure what we paid for. Was not cheap. Everything was hand written and scribbled on a check. I just paid and we left. All and all, not going back. I'm not saying don't go. Everyone has a different opinion of food. With that said the owner made us very uncomfortable and definitely should know better then to touch people. Also for the owner if someone wants gift cards they will ask. You can them play let's make a deal to see how many you can sell.

Food was good, delicious and ample. Mojito and empanadas outstanding. We came here for lunch , we were not informed they have lunch special or we were overcharged for a meal that was served for lunch that should be priced for lunch . Decor is old world and classic. Service is great .

Fernando was the best server!! we came in on a Thursday evening and had the whole restaurant to ourselves. Empanadas are amazing cannot complain at ALL!!! Will be back next time I'm in Fort Lauderdale!! HUGE THX !!

My family and I went to this restaurant during our vacation and wow, they are amazing. Between the food, music, service I would 100% recommend this restaurant. The food was wow. Everything was super clean and they are the nicest people . 10/10 would recommend. Tell a friend to tell a friend that this is the place to be.

BE AWARE...This place is TERRIBLE! I do not understand how they are allowed to change names every two years and continue scaming people with the "Gift Cards" that they do not allow customers to redeem. I guess that is the reason to change names. Really disgusting people. A tourist trap!

My wife and I came here two years ago for our anniversary and had an amazing experience! We returned in 2024, hoping to repeat our first experience, now with our family, and the experience was next level superb. The new owner, Adolfo, and his staff were amazing! They treated our kids like royalty and like family and we couldn't have been more pleased. Food is still amazingly fantastic! Best authentic cuban cuisine in south Florida hands down. Great for couples and great for family! Highly recommend!

Mario's Catalina also known as Cubano by Mario is a must visit in Fort Lauderdale. I have been there twice and both times was greeted by Mario. Mario and his staff make it a point to cater to your needs and are very attentive. Mario runs his restaurant the same way Michelin restaurants are where the staff all work to make it a pleasant dinning experience. Atmosphere: While they serve Cuban and Spanish food, the atmosphere is reminiscent of a fancy old school Italian restaurant making it great for family dinner and date night. Food: The food was great. I got there special last time I was there which was rope veja stuffed in plantains which was 5/5. I've gotten there grilled chicken and churasco which was also perfectly cooked. The dinner comes with black beans and rice but when I asked about red beans, they said they didn't have it but ended up whipping up a side order 5 min later. Mojitos are must!

Read the one-star reviews and consider yourself warned. If you are greeted by an old thin man when you arrive, walk out immediately. But if you like to take risks and form your own opinions, I respect that and will offer my last experience at Cubano's by Mario. The lunch menu is not easy to understand because it is a mix of Spanish/Cuban and English words. For example, I saw "Cubano Chicken" and the lunch price of $8. Not knowing what it was, I asked the waiter, and he replied that it was white meat chicken breast with onions. Upon hearing this, three members of our party ordered it. Well, one of us received a grilled chicken cutlet with rice and black beans. Great, this is what we were expecting. However, the two other orders were chicken sandwiches which we did not want. We told the server immediately that we did not order sandwiches, but he kept buzzing around us to reach and refill our waters. He was not keen on trying to make it right. Pressed for time, we ended up eating the sandwiches. If you like playing roulette with your dining options, this may be your place. But if you're particular for a specific Cuban dish, good luck.

So I used to live in Jacksonville, and I am visiting from DC. The only thing I had on my mind the entire flight was a Cuban sandwich. So I made my friend stop at this restaurant in the pouring rain, might I add, for a Cuban sandwich. The restaurant had great reviews and the pics looks amazing, but the sandwich was... how can I put it... meh. The first thing I noticed at first bite was there were NO PICKLES or MUSTARD! Where is that tangy infusion of pork, vinegar, salt, and pickles!?! It had Mayo... yes, Mayo. I was like, "WTH is this?!" I was so disappointed, but at least the fries were hot. Smh. No condiments or take home flatware was provided.

Called on a very bad weather evening at 9 pm when advertised as open until midnight and at the time thankfully he remained open. That's where the thankfulness ends. We arrive to a table with food already on it, a partial salad and some fried plantains and onions. He acts like this is the TajMahal and we are being served by royalty, note not served AS royalty. He then brings us a plate of previously cooked flank steak and fried shredded pork. Listen, it was an extremely rainy night and we were thankful for any food at almost 10 pm but this was bordering ridiculous considering how he pretentious he was acting. The food was mediocre at best, bordering McDonalds level. He served us whatever he had leftover and scurried us out, he did tell us to pay whatever we felt it was worth. The issue? I gave him $450 and he scoffed at it like it was $5 and ran off. What a joke. Never return, never recommend. Thanks anyways.

They cook amazing here. The food is great and the ambiance is also super nice. The music is always appropriately leveled. I love coming here with family, friends and for a date night. The black beans are great here. The empanadas and the paella are to die for. Highly recommended. Oh the sangria is always a sure bet here.

Excellent place to eat. The food is espectacular and the service is above and beyond, totally serving you, to make sure you are enjoying this dinner to the max. The ambience is perfect ...romantic and elegant. A must place to visit The new name is Cubano'4s by Mario This place also has outdoor seating

Hmmm, where do I begin since this was a unique dining experience which was unexpected and undesirable. We walked in and were immediately greeted by Mario with a handshake, seated and gently pushed into a mojito or sangria (his standard move from what we observed). I ordered a Prosecco- my husband ordered the tasty but Almost non-alcoholic mojito. This explains the other Yelpers also receiving the so called "free, on the house" flow of mojitos. Next thing we know, 2 mojitos at our table courtesy of Mario. Normally this is considered a nice jester-more to follow. The interior is an eclectic mix of pictures & decorations picked up from all over with no flow or real Cuban vibe whatsoever. Even the music is more Frank Sinatra/Tony Bennet which I love but obviously not Cuban. The service is good to the point of a bit too much at times. Appetizers Tamal- the pork was served on the side (unusual) Ham croquettes-good Entrees Grilled grouper- plain and not cooked enough, rice and black beans were excellent Mario's Favorite -roast pork, red snapper w/ jumbo shrimp- pork was good but fish not cooked enough Dessert A tray displaying dessert brought from an outside source was offered. Non of the selections were a traditional Cuban dessert. We settled on a lackluster key lime pie. We were handed our bill by Mario without having requested it- restaurant still had seating available. The bill had a strange hand written sum for the drinks and it didn't quite add up. Same experience as other Yelpers. Mario then handed me one of those " gift certificate cards". To sum up: He does have a few hits on the menu. Unfortunately, they don't make up for the prices charged for the food served. His clientele deserves to be offered a true authentic Cuban experience without the maneuvers orquestrated on the bills.

Authentic Cuban food with the best Mojito ever! Run don't walk to Cubano's and see for yourself.

SCAM!!! SCAM!! SCAM!! DO NOT COME HERE, AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. This place is just awful. As we walked in the owner (Mario), greeted us all and shook our hands, which i feel was weird and unusual, but i didn't think much of it at the time. We sat down and the server immediately brought over an expensive ass bottle of water without asking and filled up all of our cups. We had a few of these and they were all charged later in the bill. And to add on, for drinks he offered mojitos to my parents and insisted on bringing me and my sister virgin mojitos, we declined but they excitedly accepted. Throughout the dinner Mario was on top of their drinks always making sure they were being refilled and kept saying, "on the house" or "on mario" but in reality they were all sneakily added to the bill. And not to mention but their drinks were made VERY heavy and obviously his intentions were to get them tipsy and i can tell you it definitely worked. Also we were never provided with no form of menu, no physical paper menu, no QR menu code, nothing. When we asked Mario to provide us with menus he said "i'll take care of you guys" and then began to bring us a bunch of food we never ordered. Yes the food was decently good but it doesn't make up for the horrendous bill that came at the end. Our meal was 580 dollars!!! we were a party of four!! I was absolutely flabbergasted when i saw that because first of all, we didn't order anything..it was all forcefully brought to us. And second of all, it was an appetizer plate of ONE tamale, Some random mid ass beef, squishy air fried chicken nuggets, 3 empanadas, bland rubbery octopus and bread. And for the main corse it was some sort of fried fish, a small scoop of bland white rice 2 plantains pieces and the waitress served one scoop of black beans on each of our plates AND LEFT WITH THE REST OF THE BOWL...LIKE WHAT?? Then Mario brought out two small cake slices that tasted like they were straight out of a box from Costco or something. Overall it really shouldn't have been almost 600 dollars (not including tip) to dine in some musty empty restaurant with mediocre food. And the fact that after all that when we were ready to head out he approached us saying "it's my birthday for me buy this coupon card" it was a fricken gift card to his restaurant...200 dollars!! are you joking me, AS IF WE'RE RETURNING EVER AGAIN...ABSOLUTELY NOT. When we were exiting HE WAS WAITING AT THE EXIT as if he was guarding the door making sure no one would leave with out paying... it was so uncomfortable... The second me and my sister got i the car we searched up the restaurant to not only find many other reviews who went through the SAME EXACT REPULSIVE EXPERIENCE but we also came across the ACTUAL menu and felt so deceived as we looked at the traditional prices of the meals...they were almost all priced at 15-20 dollars. Considering we didn't eat much and were a party of 4, it's impossible that the check should've been 600 dollars. Tbh he probably scams people to pay for his ugly ass chandeliers he has at every square foot of the restaurant. I feel horrified for all of the people who have fallen for this scam and i hope this man gets the karma he deserves. I truly wouldn't even recommend this place to my worst enemy.

I got some gift cards for Mario's and decided to have lunch with family and friends. I made a reservation via Open Table for Lunch at 12:30pm, party of six. When we arrived, Mario immediately asked if we were using gift cards. I said yes. So he brought us the dinner menu. I asked if he had the lunch menu and he said...if you have a Gift Card, you can not order from the lunch menu. It has to be the dinner menu (which on average is about double the price than the lunch menu). Oh Well...I said...that's fine. When I checked in on Yelp, I got a free Mojito and when I showed it to Mario, he said, usually we don't allow the free mojito with gift cards, but I will make an exception and give you the free drink. So it's like, if you have a gift card, you are penalized on all fronts....that was a bit of a let down..... Overall the food choices we got were all well prepared. The food itself was good, but the overall vibe and approach regarding the gift card was not the greatest experience... He sent a few complementary things to the table, and I always asked, to be on the safe side, if they were indeed free..and he said yes....so he sent some extra empanadas on top of our order, some salad...and at the end when we did not order any desserts, he sent a plate with 3 desserts to share. Again, the food itself was tasty...but the overall experience was a bit uncomfortable for me. When the bill came, I read every line of the handwritten bill to make sure everything that was on the bill, was what we in fact ordered....and it was.....overpriced, but right. The items he sent to the table for free .........were in fact complementary. At the end of the meal, he came with a few gift card and said, if you buy $200 worth of gift cards today, I will give you 2 free ones...so basically $400 worth of gift cards for $200. I declined. Oddly around 6pm, he called my cell phone asking if I was coming...I said, we already went and ate at 12:30. I said, it was an Open Table reservation (which as of now, I have not gotten my points)...and we had lunch already. He asked me twice if all was OK...if all was good. I said yes. He then said, next time you come, I will give you a bottle of wine. End of story.

Last night was my LIL Sis from high school's birthday and she chose to celebrate it at Marios! I had never been here so it was a first for me. Located on US1 just south of oakland park sits Mario's an unassuming restaurant front but a luxurious interior awaits you! Not to mention the tremendous service (Mario makes you feel like you are a guest in his home) and DELICIOUS cuban cuisine! We were in Marios hands as he made an appetizer platter that was to die for (especially the pork chunks that melted in my mouth, the empanadas, the yuka fried slices, the pulled pork and onions, the grilled octopus ...there was everything on that appetizer platter! We couldnt even order our main dishes because Mario created meals that fed all 7 of us. Even though I had my heart set on the currasco I ended eating a bit of everything. There were shrimps in a white sauce and a huge platter of pallela! All simply delicious! It was time for dessert and we got an array of cake slices! All a little too sweet for me (im combating borderline diabetes so I took it easy on the sweets!) but all delicious none the less! I forgot to mention the unlimited MOJITOS! I think i had 2 or three followed by snifters of amaretto!!! I had a few sips of that ..at that point I had a good buzz going from the mojitos! The interior of the restaurant is elegantly decorated with crystal chandeliers and linen table cloths and painting on the walls. A beautiful ambiance! You can dress casual or dressy because to Mario, we are all family. His hospitality and personable demeanor made you feel like you were really his family. Thats a great feeling. IF you enjoy real cuban food and want to experience what I did werll then go to Mario's and let him take care of you the way he did for our party! He left nothing to the imagination and the food was simple out of this world especially the pork chunks! Those were my favorites last night (besides the excellent company of my friends)! Thank you Mario for the wonderful food and even better time celebrating my lil sis's birthday! A memorable night and some of the best cuban cuisine i have ever had!

Great service. Best mojitos ever , new owner it's amazing , food was just fantastic .. thank you definitely coming back!!!

Did not accept my husband's gift card bad service talk very bad to there customers felt very uncomfortable being here .

Mario works hard to create an welcoming and friendly environment for his dinners. After reading other reviews it is clear that Mario's style is not for everyone but I surely appreciated it. We felt like family and his team also allowed space for us to continue our conversation without interruption. I am hugger and appreciated the kiss on the check and hug when Mario greeted us and sat us out our table. We had the empanadas for an appetizer and they are full of flavor. I selected the salmon and shrimp which was also flavorful and cooked to perfection. The mojito were fabulous and a great value for the money. Our server was Johnny, who provide excellent service and recommendations on what we should order. I will surely go back next time I'm in the area.

This place is AWESOME!! First the food is spectacular! The enpenadas are super delicious and flavorful. The fried plantains are are crispy and perfect and the drinks are generous and wonderful. Try the roasted pork . Oh by the way the staff are so attentive and friendly. Prices are incredibly reasonable. Go. They are exceptional and deserve your business.

Went for a quick drink and a snack and spend over one hour. The service by Daniela was really friendly, the croquettes are super good, as is the salads, the white sangria is a bit soft but the red version is excellent. We got an order of Mario's Combinations with white rose, black beans and tostones. Everything tasted fantastic! We'll be back soon with friends to order the famous paella...

I loved this place. It's a little dark and intimate, but everyone who works here is so kind and inviting. We loved our server, and will be dreaming about the empanadas and mussels in garlic sauce! They make a really delicious white sangria, and the Skirt Steak is so buttery! The red snapper was not our favorite. Lunch for 2 was $155 before tip: 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, 1 sangria. Not sure if that is considered pricey or not but I enjoyed my experience thoroughly and will be back my next visit.

Food is good. However this place is sooooo expensive for Cuban food- Padrinos is half the price and just as good. We were bamboozled our first time here, the manager at the time sold us gift cards for $100 for $200. We actually forgot we bought the gift cards and tried to use them last month and were told they would not honor them because the previous manager was embezzling money- ok, sorry to hear that but we should get what we paid for and you shouldn't make your customers pay for something that happened within your business- that's the cost of doing business and you should have insurance to protect you against things like that? (if you read the reviews others have had the same experience). We will not be back due to the experience and the inflated prices. Btw, I'm not afraid to spend the $$ at an Eddie V's but that's fine dining with caviar- this place is not.

Wonderful warm service with a smile. The food was delicious and our flan with cafe con leche was a perfect ending! The ambiance is cozy for a nice date.

Step into a world of exquisite flavors and elegant surroundings at Mario's Spanish Cuban Cuisine in Fort Lauderdale. From the moment you set foot in this charming restaurant, you'll be captivated by its beautiful décor adorned with sparkling chandeliers and luxurious white napkins that set the stage for a truly delightful dining experience. The warmth and hospitality exhibited by the friendly staff and owner, Mario, will make you feel like a valued VIP, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to your lunch escapade. To start your culinary journey, you treated yourself to the tantalizing Yuca Sticks Salad, perfectly complemented by a side of delectable chimichurri. The combination of textures and flavors in this appetizer was a wonderful prelude to the feast that awaited you. With Mario's expert recommendation, you embarked on a voyage of flavors with the Grouper Fillet and Shrimp, accompanied by a side of aromatic rice, savory black beans, and sweet plantains. The dish was nothing short of phenomenal, each bite bursting with the essence of Spanish and Cuban cuisine flawlessly fused together. The grouper fillet was cooked to perfection, flaky and tender, while the succulent shrimp added a delightful seafood twist. The sides of rice, black beans, and plantains provided a comforting touch, harmonizing with the main course to create an unforgettable ensemble. Your goal of discovering an authentic Spanish Cuban restaurant in Fort Lauderdale was met beyond expectations at Mario's. The seamless blend of Spanish and Cuban flavors in each dish showcased the chef's mastery in delivering an experience that celebrates the best of both cultures. It was a lunch that left you feeling fully satisfied and content, making it one of the most pleasant dining experiences you've had in a long time. Whether you're a connoisseur of Spanish and Cuban cuisine or simply seeking an exceptional dining experience, Mario's Spanish Cuban Cuisine is a must-visit destination. With its charming ambiance, gracious service, and a menu that bursts with flavors, this restaurant is sure to leave a lasting impression and a desire to return for more culinary delights.

In town for work and the team asked for good Cuban food. I took a local's recommendation and got them to Mario. Let me just say that last night's dinner was one of the top dining experiences in my entire life. Yes, the food was great, but it was the service that made it special. Mario, the owner, made sure that all of our needs were attended to. We just let him control the meal and put the whole evening into his hands. He killed it. The food was amazing. The pork just melted in my mouth. Each bite was yummy yummy yummy. I would recommend this place for a fun night out. Great food, great service, amazing and memorable time. We will be back!!

This was by far the best experience that I have ever had. The service was beyond phenomenal, and the food was even better than that. Thank you Mario for a great experience. Love The Okane's

The most bizarre dinner I've ever had. We were asked what we wanted to order without receiving a menu (which they never brought, even after we asked for it) and then said "you will want this" (scam alert #1). They brought appetizers we didn't order (and charged us for! Scam alert #2). Food was severely overcooked (don't have the fish!) service was sooooo bizarre (for example, pushing me out of the way to wipe the table). And the entire restaurant was decorated for Christmas... in October. Luckily the mojito was strong so we were in quite a lively mood, and saw everything through rose-tinted glasses. But overall: wouldn't come back. If you enjoy strange eccentric service, and a bill of $370 for two main courses and some appetizers you didn't order, then definitely come here.

Road trip through town and got the one of best empanadas. The lady at the front so nice, sorry didn't get your name, gave us a plate of fried plantain with chimichurri. Food so good, we ate out of the van in the back parking lot. Thanks for the generosity.

We recently tried Marios for the first time at the urge of my sister who loves it. Her words were "this is the best Cuban food in Florida". We walked into the back of the restaurant and Mario (the owner) walked us to our table outside. We walked through the restaurant which was surprisingly swanky for how it appears on the outside. The patio, despite being right on US1, offers a more casual low key environment to eat. We started with the mariquitas which were delicious and covered in fresh veggies and mojo. We ordered drinks. 2 mojitos and 2 sangrias (white and red). The mojitos were AWESOME! Great flavor, muddled well and poured strong. The sangria was also delicious. Large glasses and they were basically sangria slushes. Those came out with a complimentary salad from Mario. Followed by complimentary empanadas. Salad was good but those empanadas were amazing! Packed with ingredients and flavor all in a flaky crust. I ordered the churrasco and shrimp combo which came with rice/beans/plantains. The churrasco was perfectly cooked, shrimp was tender, they bring a small bowl of beans and ladle it over your rice at your discretion. The whole plate was amazing! My wife got the Vaca Fritta (fried beef) and she loved it. Others at the table got the lechon (pork) swearing it's the best ever. Everybody was very happy. After dinner Mario sent out even more drinks on the house. The feeling i get at Marios is that there is no rush to leave. He makes you feel like you are free to just hang out and enjoy the atmosphere. He wants you to feel like family while your there and he loves to feed his family! I would recommend Marios to anybody who is looking for a good time, good food and great drinks!

Went last week and surprised Mario is no longer there...somehow it wasn't the same. Coupons could not be used.

Best Mojitos that I have had! Empanadas and the sauce they came with were sublime. The other food was good, too. The owner Mario was very attentive.

This was our first time to Cubano's by Mario. I love Mario's amazing hospitality. He greeted us at the front door and checked on us so many times throughout the night. He's really involved and passionate about his restaurant and it shows. Our food was delicious and the service was great. Someone was checking on us constantly. I ordered the bread ham croquettes to start and the skirt steak minus the onions for dinner and for dessert I had the tres leches. Everything was great.. We can't wait to stop in again....

So this restaurant on the outside reads "Cubano's by Mario". However we went here for lunch today and it was fabulous . We were the only ones there before noon and Mario greeted us and said he was going to cook for us !! What a total treat ! It was delicious and amazing cuban food . We started off with a delicious garlic relish/sauce and empanadas . Wow - delicious , crispy and light . Mario needs to sell that garlic stuff . We then had mussels in red sauce and a special meal of plantain crusted grouper or snapper with shrimp and garlic sauce and a melt in your mouth delicious Cuban pork . He then brought Tres leches cake as a surprise . Can't say enough about the service and the food ! I especially love the Valentines Day Christmas tree . For a special treat , JUST GO . It won't be one the less expensive meals you'll have . But it's oh so worth it - mojitos and all (mojitos had lemon instead of line but this made them super delish ). Thank you Mario for such an amazing final lunch in Florida !!!! We will so be back next we're in Fort Lauderdale .

Food was excellent and Excellence service, very attentive with every request. Hospitally all around was great

Service was pleasant, however prices were too high. A dinner for 3 and 1 beer and sangria was over $240. Don't fall for the gift scam as they will sell you many but only allow you to use one during the visit. Check prices before ordering. The food was alright.

This was the best food we had while in Florida. I had the opportunity to taste everything we ordered- they were simply great tasting. The server was very friendly, helpful, and he was just good at his job. The atmosphere made me feel like I was in 50's Cuba. I highly recommend this establishment.

We were heavily recommended to eat here by our hotel (we were in town for 3 nights). Our hotel gave us a $25 off coupon as well but im pretty sure these "coupons" are all bull$hit based on reading other reviews Food was A+, super super super good, empanadas, octopus, rice and beans, the shredded beef, the breaded grouper, just amazing, I could barely walk out of the place. Now for the interesting part.... and its funny to read all of the other "interesting reviews" We didn't even get to see a menu, or order one single thing.... Mario simply asked if we liked "pork, beef, etc" and when we said yes he responds "I cook for you" And here come 2 mojitos.. which were pretty awesome but neither my wife or I really wanted them, i assumed these were on the house since we were referred here. And.... out come 2 more mojitos, once again that we didnt want (we really wanted sangria). And.... out come empanadas and a huge octopus appetizer that we never ordered, yet they were both really really good. As we sat there, we were wondering what the hell was going on... and then boom.... two huge plates of "Mario's Favorite", rice and beans, 2 shrimps, breaded fish, shredded beef, plantains.... once again we never ordered this nor asked for this, nor could even eat half of it On for the next surprise... they bring us two portions of dessert.... which we also didnt order or want... maybe one but definitely not two... On for the next surprise..... out comes a friggin bottle of champagne ???? We hate champagne but they pushed and insisted and filled our glasses... On for the next surpise... the $200+ bill he slapped on us. We were on vacation, I certainly didnt want to make a scene, but what just happened ??? We didnt even see a menu or get to choose anything and this guy just runs up a huge tab on us. Upon review of the receipt, nothing made sense, the numbers were nothing but scribbles, we couldnt tell what anything said or how much anything was, and apparently nothing was truly "on the house or mario" including the bottle of champagne that sat on our table. As others mentioned Mario is super "handsy" and kissed my wife like 3 times, he shook my hand 3-4 times and touched my stomach once haha, he also very awkwardly touched my face once which was super weird. He twinkles around the restaurant like he's in some fashion show too which is funny to watch Then to make it all better, he randomly hands me some $100 gift card since he knew he just ran up a huge bill on us, such as weird experience, Marios food is amazing, but you cant do that to people...