La Teresita Restaurant

Stopped by La Teresita, a well-known Tampa staple I hadn’t visited in over 20 years. It was once the go-to spot for hearty, family-style, home-cooked meals — and while the style and welcoming vibe haven’t changed, I felt the quality of some dishes has slipped a bit. I ordered the fish filet and fried shrimp, both of which tasted a little processed, like something straight from the freezer. That said, considering the generous portions and very reasonable prices, it’s hard to be too disappointed. The real highlight of my visit was the mango and guava fruit drinks — absolutely amazing! So refreshing and full of flavor, they alone are worth a quick stop when you’re in the area. I still appreciate La Teresita for providing affordable, filling meals in a casual, homey setting where families can gather and enjoy a taste of classic flavors.

The food was exquisite. I ordered a bistec de palomilla (grilled palomilla steak), a red wine and a couple of sides. The best Cuban cuisine I have tried. The ambience was cool and the place was cozy. The customer service was very kind and on point. This is a returning spot for future dining.

The food was delicious! Tasted like my grand mother's home cooked Cuban food. RoIando, our waiter, was excellent and so welcoming. We will definitely be back soon.

La Teresita, with over 11,000 reviews was one I needed to check out. The Cuban food was good but not the best I’ve had. The sangria was tasty and the pricing was pretty decent but with so many reviews, I was expecting to be wowed. I got a Cuban sandwich which really can’t be screwed up. Good bread. Overall, it was a good meal. There was live music and he was talented.

After a long photo shoot with my coworker, we stopped at La Teresita for lunch—and it hit the spot. I had the bistec palomilla with white rice and black beans, and everything was delicious and full of flavor. The steak was tender, the rice was fluffy, and the beans were perfectly seasoned. Great Cuban comfort food and friendly service. Definitely coming back!

I always bring visitors from out of town here. CLARITA and MARILYS offered impeccable service today with my out of town friend treating us like locals. We enjoyed cooked yuca and black beans that are extremely delicious. Our grilled chicken was a bit dry compared to previous experiences Great local flavor here with the counters. Accessible entry and restroom. Counter seat are bar height. Accessible tables indoors. Accessible parking in free lot for 3 venues.

I hate to say this, but the best thing about my whole experience here was the bread basket at the beginning. The meal I ordered was a chicken milanese cutlet which tasted okay but the plate it was served on was way too small. The chicken was hanging off half the plate, making it difficult to cut. I found my server, Miguel, to be very rude. When I was finished eating, he was having a long conversation with the table right next to me for about 10 minutes as I was waiting for him to come by, making eye contact with him several times as he continued to speak with the other table. He clearly saw me waiting. His demeanor was all around rude. I did not feel like I was a welcome customer here. Even when I left and walked right past him as he continued to speak with that other table, he did not even look at me and wish me a nice night or thank me as I would expect from a waiter providing good customer service. I would not return here, based on my experience with this server.

This restaurant seems fairly iconic and well established in Tampa so I was excited to try. The bread given is to die for, very very good. The appetizer sampler was also very delicious. That being said, the Cuban sandwich I had was not very good. They use like cold cuts for ham and it just wasn’t the best. Service was okay but definitely slower than usual and not very easy to get our order in. I would recommend trying this place out but something other than the Cuban sandwich.