Doug G.
Yelp
La Casita, a family owned Cuban gem in Coral Gables that we were beyond excited to have found!
A group of us were in town for work and I was tasked with finding a good Cuban spot for the group. Well, it did not take long once I hit Yelp to find La Casita...and we were off!
When you arrive to La Casita, it is an unassuming diner on the corner that is attached to a small shopping plaza. Due to the plaza, parking is available and no issue. There are two entrances in, but the locals know the right one which brings you in by the host stand...all of us out of towners walked in the other which puts you right in the middle of the dining room, smh. Now we know though! The interior of the place is just as simple and basic as the outside. No frills here....tables, chairs, booths and minimal artwork combined with a tiled ceiling and basic worn carpet. It feels like you have been transported back to the 90's, but it really does feel like one of those local, family owned diners. It's a vibe. lol
Alright, now you get the feel for the place, let's talk food! There were 10 of us, so we started with appetizers, 7 of them including...Croquetas, Tamal con Lechon, Cuban sandwich, Media Noche sandwich, Ground Beef Tostones, and Empanadas. All were absolutely delicious however the Tamal con Lechon and Empanadas were the table favorites! I definitely voted for the Tamal, and loved it so much that I ended up getting it as my entrée sided with an order of tostones. Perfect match! A few other dishes that received rave reviews were the Media Noche and Bistec Empanizado.
Service was decent, no major issues and he did well considering we were a table of 10.
Overall, really great spot that clearly has history in Coral Gables. From the atmosphere to the décor to the food...they have something that isn't broken, so why fix it!? Is it the best Cuban food I have ever had? No, but when you put it all together, it is the most authentic and it was pretty dang delicious!