Jay Charvat
Google
My Rating: 3/5
Class: Cuban Abuela Style dining
Restaurant Review: La Carreta at Miami International Airport (not their other locations)
La Carreta, at Miami airport, boasts nine locations including the one near gate D37 at Miami International Airport, initially seemed like the ideal spot for a quick Cuban breakfast during my layover. While I can’t speak for the other locations outside the airport, I was eager to experience what this iconic Miami eatery had to offer, especially in such a fitting location.
The airport venue, with a maximum occupancy of 197 people, was already bustling with activity at 7 a.m., contributing to a lively atmosphere. Upon entering, you’re directed into a line where you first grab a tray and cutlery. Interestingly, the line begins with a dessert selection, offering items like strawberry cheesecake, German chocolate cake, guava cheesecake, rice pudding, bread pudding, flan, and tres leches. While these choices are tempting, starting the line with desserts felt a bit out of place for a breakfast setting.
After the dessert station, you move on to the salads and then to the hot food options. The breakfast menu featured scrambled eggs, sausages, links, and Cuban ham croquettes. Although the food quality was decent, many of the items didn’t feel authentically Cuban. Instead, the menu leaned more toward a typical American breakfast with only a few Cuban elements sprinkled in. This was somewhat disappointing for someone hoping to indulge in a true Cuban culinary experience.
A significant issue I encountered was with the coffee service. Although La Carreta does offer coffee, on this day the main restaurant espresso machine was broken, (Cõno!) and I regrettably had to skip the Cortadito!! Little did I know that across the same restaurant floor, which is also part of La Carreta. I could have gotten my Cortadito there. No one was able to guide me on that option. My readers know I love coffee and especially Cuban cortadito. So that was a huge miss for me.
Unfortunately,I was not directed to the adjacent café where coffee was available. The issue is my food was now already plated, paid for, and I wasn’t willing to let it sit in a table, getting cold, while I waited in another line to order coffee in the cafe. Please tell me you see my point? This setup can be confusing and inconvenient, particularly for travelers in a hurry.
Interestingly, in my review, it is the adjacent Cuban café component that ironically turned out to be far more authentically Cuban than the main restaurant. This café offered a variety of Cuban pastries such as guava cheese, cheese and guava combinations, ham croquettes, and empanadas. These items seemed to be incredibly popular with customers, as the line for the café was consistently busy. In my opinion, the café’s offerings were much more in line with the authentic Cuban experience I was hoping for, with better drinks and a more traditional selection of pastries.
The main restaurant and the adjacent coffee snack bar feel like two different entities competing under the Cuban name. While the restaurant serves a cafeteria-style breakfast with a mix of American and Cuban elements, the café excels with its genuine Cuban pastries and drinks. This division highlights a contrast in quality and authenticity that might leave customers confused about the true essence of Cuban cuisine offered at La Carreta.
In terms of ratings, my breakfast experience at the main restaurant would rate a 1 out of 5. The food, while of decent quality, didn’t deliver the authentic Cuban experience I was expecting. Conversely, the coffee I enjoyed at the adjacent café was a standout, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 for its quality and authenticity.
Overall, while the main restaurant fell short of expectations, the adjacent café provided a much more satisfying Cuban experience. I look forward to returning to one of their authentic locations in the future to truly savor the Cuban cuisine I was hoping for. If you’re in the airport and craving genuine Cuban pastries and coffee, the café is the place to go.
