Gustazo is a vibrant Cuban eatery in Cambridge, dishing out creative small plates and rum-based cocktails in a lively setting that's always buzzing.
"First impressions are important—just ask Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice—and Gustazo Cuban in Porter Square knows this. You’ll immediately notice the art-house film posters and salsa-heavy playlist coming out of the speakers, which makes it a place for a fun dinner, with dishes highlighting the Spanish, Caribbean, and African influences on Cuban cooking. Get the crispy fried yuca, mussels with a chorizo sauce, and savory-sweet guava-glazed ribs, and pair it all with one of the cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks that feature ingredients like tobacco spray and lapsang souchong tea. And while you can make a reservation, you don't really need one—the seats at the mosaic tile-lined back bar are usually open and are our favorite place to be." - tanya edwards, megan zhang, dan secatore
"With multiple levels, Gustazo has the space for a group night out with a menu to match. The small plates selection is flavor-packed, with plenty of easy to share options for a group — try the yuca frita and the croquetas. The bartenders shake up some incredible cocktails, and wine, beer, and mocktails as well." - Celina Colby, Erika Adams, Karen Wilber
"Of course the cinnamon-sugar coated churros at Gustazo are a perennial favorite. But the new key lime pie — at both its Waltham and Cambridge locations — is giving that dessert a run for its money. Served up in a glass goblet, each mini pie is topped with lime curd (bringing that perfect citrus zing), lime zest, and mini merengues that see a slight kiss from a blowtorch. It’s a bite that tempts to skip dinner and head right on over to dessert." - Nathan Tavares, Erika Adams
"Open since early 2019 (but with an older sibling in Waltham), Cuban restaurant Gustazo quickly made a splash in the neighborhood thanks to its bustling ambiance, flavorful small plates, and a cocktail list splashed with rum-based hits." - Julian Cohen, Eater Staff
"Gustazo always seems to be filled with a nearly complete cross-section of Cambridge, from families and professors, to people who look like they have an entire kitchen drawer filled with NPR tote bags. They’re all here because there’s a lot to love. Start with one of the outstanding cocktails made with things like cigar-infused rum. Have some small plates that either make something familiar feel new (the garbanzo beans with brown butter and smoked almond sofrito) or are truly hard to find (the jibarito sandwich that swaps out bread for flattened fried plantains and is almost unheard of outside of Chicago). And finish by splitting a large plate of perfectly roasted pork." - dan secatore
