West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant

We had a great experience at West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant in Lakeland! The food was absolutely delicious. Full of authentic flavors and fresh ingredients. They even had a great kids’ menu, which made it easy for the whole family to enjoy. The portions were generous, the staff was welcoming, and the atmosphere was cozy and family-friendly. We’ll definitely be coming back!

Food was good- glad we got to experience Cuban food! Fruit shakes were incredible! Well priced, Erik was a great server! We’ll be back.

Delicious Cuban food and genuinely friendly & attentive service. Picadillo, lechon asado, media noche and cafe bomnon were excellent. Nice spot to meet up outside Orlando. Will definitely return.

Attended a birthday celebration. The servers were very attentive. The food was tasty and very good portions. The appetizers were even delicious. I had some great drinks from the bar. Very satisfied and will be back again.

I’ve honestly had better Cuban food. Their presentation is good, but the food is ok. I could see how the food is good for someone that isn’t exposed to the culture. But for someone who is, it’s very mediocre. The croquetas were too fried and breaded, the tostones were too thick, the beans weren’t as flavorful, the plantains tasted frozen inside, the rope vieja had good flavor but the meat wasn’t fresh, and the flan was ok.

Dine-in was great! Love the vibes. The dishes reminded me of my abuelas food. My husband also said it was nice. We will visit again soon. We enjoyed: Cuban bread, Arroz con pollo, Ropa Veja, Croquetta, Flan & Beer.

For Christmas eve we decided to make things easier and cater our dinner. We wanted to try a new restaurant and we're so glad we did because we wouldn't have found West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant. The catering process was easy and the pickup was fast. The food was amazing and really flavourful We ordered - Pork Shoulder (Pernil) - Congri Rice (black beans and rice) Now we want to try their menu items because everything looks so good!!

If you're looking for authentic, mouth-watering Cuban food in Lakeland, West Caribbean Restaurant is the place to go! From the moment you walk in, the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff make you feel right at home. The food is absolutely phenomenal – each dish is packed with flavor and made with the freshest ingredients. The ropa vieja is tender and perfectly seasoned, and the lechón is some of the best I’ve ever had! The maduros are sweet and crispy, and the Cuban sandwich is perfection. You can tell they truly care about providing a fantastic dining experience. Whether you’re a Cuban food connoisseur or trying it for the first time, West Caribbean will not disappoint. Definitely a 5-star experience! Highly recommend!

Yes, I recommend this business! The food was absolutely delicious -- everything was full of authentic Cuban flavor and cooked perfectly. The service was warm, friendly, and fast, which made the whole experience even better. The restaurant has a relaxed, welcoming vibe that makes you feel right at home. If you're craving good Cuban food, this spot is definitely worth it!

This is a clean, calming and inviting little restaurant. My server was on the spot, polite and helpful. The croquettes were perfectly crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. The "hot sauce" that they brought with them was just the right mix of flavor and heat. My Masas de Cerdo Fritas, with white rice and black beans, although a little on the dry side was tender and flavorful and beautifully presented. The sides were expertly prepared and the black beans were extremely flavorful. If it weren't for the pork being on the dry side, this would have been a 5 star review from me, which I rarely give. I am looking forward to returning to see if I can revisit my review and add that star.

Arrived at 430pm on a Sunday as it's listed that it closes at 5pm, even says so on their door. Well this is a lie

Service was 10/10! Our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable and very attentive! Food was great! Loved the bread and sauce from the squirt bottle! Only downside was we got a togo order and they charged us but forgot to give it to us so we waited FOREVERRRRRRRRRRR at the end to get it. They tried to say we got it already when clearly we hadn't. No worries thought as we ended up getting it in the end and my uncle loved it!

I had this delicious food Uber to me and it was still hot and Uber Eats driver made another stop before me and went to the wrong house(which usually happens). So I didn't get to go inside and check it out because of that reason but I was referred to this restaurant by my sister who said that they the BEST Cubans and I haven't had a this good since I was in Tampa, and the yuca fries w/ the garlic oil, omg to die for now for the sweet stuff, the plantenos, the flan and Cuban Coffee!!! Everything about this place is just to die for and so freaking delicious!!! My sister and I will most DEFINITELY be back to try everything else!!!

TLDR: Go to Elena's Cuban Cafe up the road for more authentic dishes. Sat down and was brought bread which was ok. The issue began at the fact that there is one woman running around taking food and drink orders, bringing food out, and essentially doing everything in the front end. Maybe I caught them at a bad time as I came at 3pm on a Thursday. Food wise, everything was bland and dry, lacking basic seasoning like salt. The interior is nicely decorated, but the lack of service and seasoning is what makes it hard to come back. The only thing i'd recommend here are the croquetas.

Have been eating here for years and love pretty much everything I've ever eaten here. We will certainly come back.

Gotta get that authentic Cuban food when I'm in Florida. Got me some fried green plantains, goat, beans and rice, and fried ripe plantains. I could seriously see ripe fried plantains everyday, they're so freakin good. My friend took me to get Cuban food while I visit. I don't think he's tried much Cuban food before. It was very authentic, at least as authentic as my-lack-of-perspective-self can understand. I want more already.

Vengo aquí por la cerveza. La cerveza Presidente es una de mis favoritas. ¡Este lugar tiene la cerveza tan fría que tiene el vestido de novia y sirven una taza helada! Los lugareños vienen aquí para disfrutar de comidas de inspiración cubana que puedes degustar y están elaboradas con cuidado. ¡Ideal para grupos, citas nocturnas y niños también!

I enjoyed the food, the varied choices, and the staff Overall, very pleasurable experience

Love the food and the staff is very friendly. Their Medio Pollo is incredible. I Love that meal. Their chicken croquettes reminds me of my aunt that made them from scratch and they are pretty good as well. The flavors are really popping. I just placed an order and I can't wait to pick it up. Every time I am in the Lakeland area for work from the West Coast I have to eat there at least once in the 3 days I am there. I've taken coworkers from different parts of the US and they all loved the food.

Went there for the 1st time with the wife the service was very good the drinks were good noe the food. We been looking for good Spanish food and this the place had steak with onions everything was wonderful the wife was happy and has a place we plan on returning to from now on. The place has a full bar outdoor area and the music is playing but you are able to have a conversation.

The Food was Awesome! Service was prompt and friendly. The ambiance was perfect for a Cuban restaurant. I will be back!

Always super good authentic Cuban food. Staff is super friendly and establishment is really clean. Highly recommended giving them a try. They do get pretty busy so plan your trip.

Su comida es deliciosa además del buen servicio. El cumpleaños se celebro, todos quedaron complacidos y se disfrutó del buen ambiente que allí siempre hay. Lo recomiendo y cada vez que viajamos lo visitamos, restaurantes como ese con comida nativa de Cuba, bien vale la pena. Gracias por el servicio prestado.

We have been hearing about this restaurant for years and finally ate there this past week. Being from Miami, we appreciate good Cuban food. We should have guessed what was to come when they brought out buttered stale Cuban bread/toast. We are use to it be toasted on the outside and soft inside. I ordered the fried pork chunks with black beans and white rice. My husband ordered the steak with yuca and cassava. We also ordered a side of sweet plantains. The service was great! The steak was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. His side dishes were nothing special. My pork was so overcooked it was almost inedible. I should have sent it back but that is not my style. The white rice was bland, dry and tasted like cardboard. The black beans were not even as good as el Ebro canned Cuban style black beans and the side of plantains were stiff/dry and needed a knife to cut them. When I told the waitress about the pork and plantains, she brought us a side of plantains to go. They looked much better. This was very disappointing.

We decided to venture out and try someplace totally new. And we definitely found a gem. Clean, nice decor, great ambiance, authentic Cuban feel, and delicious food with care taken in the presentation. Our server was Erika, and she was awesome. We will DEFINITELY be back!!!

I was surprised to find this little gem in Lakeland. Food was amazing and authentic Cuban plates. Great service too. Great sangria! Won't disappoint.

Amazing food and service have not try anything unsatisfactory I can honestly say my wife and I love it

Our favorite Cuban restaurant! The Cuban sandwich was perfection, bread with a crispy outside and fluffy soft inside filled with amazing pork, ham, cheese, pickles and just the right amount of mustard. Another amazing churrasco chimichurri in Polk county! The lechón asado took me back to my grandmother's backyard , where we would watch it roast for hours, juicy tasty marinade dripping off the lechón on a hot day with sangria in hand! Will definitely keep ordering, Ubereats delivered by Shayla

I have wanted to try this place forever!! The chicken rice was more rice than anything but it was good. The black beans were dee list and the Cuban sandwich was authentic tically very good. For such a small place it took a bit to get the food would be my only not so positive thi g to say...but then again good food takes time. They serve liquor now and have live music. The place is small but it'd be a nice time for lunch or dinner....Check it out!

Hometown Cuban joint located in an industrial area. I had the Bistec de Palomilla. It was fresh & authentic tasting and the available spicy sauce added great flavor to the steak without overpowering it. I chose traditional sides of yellow rice and black beans, which rounded out this tasty, local lunch.

The food is amazing and the people at the restaurant are some of the nicest people in the world. The only complaint that I could find with this restaurant is they need to update their yelp page, the prices shown are different from the prices at the restaurant,they're slightly higher, but the quality of food is worth the increase... that being said, I hope they don't increase anymore

Solo Cojimos El Sandwich Cubano Por Takeout. Esta Bien Rico. Mi Abuela También Le Gusta. Muy Buen Servicio. Me Gusto El Diseño Como La Bodegiuta Del Medio Y La Pared De Patria Y Vida. Tiene Un Ambiente Con Calma Y Muy Emocionante. Esta Bien Chulo. Yo Lo Recomiendo!

Well what can I say about this place. Friendly service. Relaxing atmosphere, delicious food, really delicious food. Everything was great. We share a flan for dessert. Forget to get a picture the food is really authentic and super delicious. I have been here many times in the past and never been disappointed except one thing, that is I wish the restaurant was closer to the house.

Great place to dine. The servers are on point. The food is made for more than one person and the Cuban vibe is strong. I'll look into it to see if I come back.

I know it's cuban food but try the mashed potatoes lol they were incredible. And I love the marinated chicken breast. Their side salads are awesome too.

I was so happy to find a restaurant open at lunch on a Sunday with a great cubano sandwich!!! And a fabulous cafe con leche and guava shake as well. I ordered it to go and it was ready exactly when they said it would be. Very friendly people working and they were hustling too! They had a good amount of people eating in as well as take-outs like me. The Cuban sandwiches are a very good deal too! ($6.99 each and 2 of them fed 3 of us with a quarter leftover!). We also split the medium shake between two people and added vodka to it at home (recommend!) We also had an order of tostones and for $3.75, you get two very large ones, again, enough for three people. I'm glad the closer places were closed on Sunday because we will be returning ing here to try all the other dishes!

Excellent food, excellent service, nice ambiance... I would def come here again If I'm ever in this area again & craving Cuban.

Worst Cuban sandwich I have ever eaten, tiny portion of meat on the sandwich and they don't use roasted pork like any real Cuban I've had and I've had TONS....they use a nasty tasting sliced pork. The bread taste like regular white bread and nothing like true Cuban bread, asked for my sandwich pressed and it was not pressed at all. Beef empanada was dry and tasteless. Breakfast menu was tiny and service was slow and horrible. I was embarrassed that I brought a group of 7 from my job there that's for sure. Also k ow their FB is fake as they deleted my negative comment on their fake sandwich picture post and never even reached out to me about the issues.

Amazingly yummy' I ordered marinated pork steak black beans and salad Portion was large for the $ I would highly recommend this restaurant!

The absolute worst meal I ever had. I'm not sure what the other clients ate that gave them a 4-star Yelp rating. The pork & onion sandwich was without seasoning, I paid for extra onion, there were 2 rings of red onion and it was super dry. The tamale was even worse, tamales are supposed to be pork-filled corn meal. This had no corn meal and I have no idea what it was filled with but it was horrible. The shake and flan were bland, with hardly any sugar. I took one bite of the tamale & sandwich, and it immediately ended up in the trash can. Same for the shake & flan. Do not go there for any type of Spanish food. I wish these stars begin with a negative (-).

Unfortunately, the quality of their food has diminished. If you notice, the 2nd photo has over cooked plantains with what appears to taste like days old chicken and rice. The atmosphere, however, is comfortable.. But, they don't really accommodate customers' requests and substitute menu items.

Apart from the very outdated tables and fixtures the place was pretty empty! I tried to phone in my order but no response phone just kept ringing and ringing I figured they were busy. To my surprise completley empty when I walked in waiters were talking to eachother in the corner and cashier lady was oN her cell phone with the buuisness phone right next to her . I Asked them if there phone was working And some gentleman said yes when I explained I tried to call they got argumentative that the phone never rang ‍ok I guess left it at that. On to the FOOD I ordered a Cuban sandwich and being a self proclaimed expert on them was expecting much more !! I COULD NOT EVEN FINISH IT .. the one tiny slice of pork (LOOK AT PICTURE)provided tasted just OLD and dry just NASTY I COULD NOT FINISH IT !!! I will never order eat or recommend any one to this place again !!! Stay away

The food was delicious, but the customer service was awful! They pick and choose what tables deserve their attention, the waiter did not check on our table not once and the food took over 40 minutes to come out! Even after saying something, not even an apology was received.

Very authentic Cuban food. Huge portions and great service. Yellow rice was excellent as was the breaded steak n onions. The stuffed potatoes were pretty good but the empanadas lacked flavor. Great service and I'll certainly be making a return trip

I have worked in Lakeland quite a bit this year but didn't know this gym was right in front of my face. Parking is limited in the front of the establishment, but there's parking to the side (where other businesses are located). I came here for a late lunch. There were only a few people in the restaurant. I wasn't sure what to order because everything sounded amazing. I finally opted to have the chicken thighs with onions and their MOJO sauce. You get two sides so I chose yellow rice and fried sweet plantains! And might I add, I got my food very fast! Best lunch ever! I needed a nap once I was done. The chicken thighs were falling off the bone. They were so flavorful and tender. I am not a huge onion person but I even at those because they were cooked to perfection. The yellow rice and the sweet plantains were the perfect combination. The portion was very generous and it was only $11.99 before tax! I came back the next day and got the same dish. THAT'S how good it was! Really enjoyed the customer service also. This place deserves 5 stars!

I had a Cuban sandwich for $6.99. It was a large sandwich and delicious. The service was incredible. I can't wait to go back and try more.

I have gone several times now and love it. I go for breakfast and enjoy their especial/special with steak and eggs. Delicious! The café con leche is perfect. The quality, taste, and price is unbeatable. I had Ropa Vieja which was excellent! And my FAVORITE is their Rabo/Ox tail which is DELICIOUS!

The atmosphere was nice. I went in and placed a to go order. Was told t would take 20 minutes for the food. It took 45 minutes... I was expecting a bit more with the food as far as flavor and taste. The rice and black beans was a bit too salty for my taste. The fried plantain chips were yummy... the chicken cordon blue was ok. The pork sandwich was good also. Maybe next time I will dine in, I'll update my review then.

What you said....or perhaps you should try harder. I give good reviews when they're warranted. Rather than pretending everything is fine and I just need to try something different perhaps you need to do something different. I know if I was in your shoes I would see my review as very harsh and sarcastic. But I was really being kind of kind, seriously dude you need to get some help with your menu and techniques.

Food is horrible. I order a pork sandwich and the pork was so dry and it seemed old and it was tasteless. It was just dry pork between bread. They did not even bother to but any vinegars or mayo,tomato or lettuce, I mean, ask your clients what they would like. I'm Spanish so I know how Spanish roasted pork should be. Definitely pork should never be dry as hey. The thing is I told them and they didn't care. Also I had a 50 dollar gift card and they couldn't accepted it because their computer had a cliche. Them I had to pay and was told to come another day to use the card. I payed but I will never set foot in this place again. Publix sandwich are 100 times better then these at a better price. Worst place ever!!!!

This was our second time visiting the restaurant. The first time we were pleased with the food and service. Unfortunately, I can't say the same after this last visit. It all started going down hill when our server gave one of our batidos to another table and claimed the kitchen never made it. Next the food was nowhere near the quality of last time. Among the several dishes we ordered, 2 were cuban sandwiches, one was adequately proportioned with meat but the other one was nearly bare. Almost every bite was nothing but bread and when you did get a bite of meat it was scarce. One of the plates we had to send back because it came with the wrong side and another plate we ordered that came with 2 sides was supposed to have a double order of the same side but you could easily see compared to the other plates the proportion was exactly the same as a single order. We also ordered a pan con lechon, the waiter asked if we would like lettuce and tomato and e said yes, however, I guess we should have asked it there was a charge for the ONE tomato and couple shreds of lettuce because when we got the check we were charged $1.50 extra. I know its just $1.50 but its more the principle. With that being said though, the $1.50 was just the beginning, they also charge a credit card fee on every check regardless if you are paying with a credit card. Our check was $85 and there was a "credit card fee" of $3.30, when I asked the waiter what the fee was for he said for using a credit card. I said but what if I want to pay cash, his response was the computer automatically charges the fee and he can't remove it. There were 8 of us all together with 2 seperate checks and their bill had the same fee included. All in all, the food was not nearly as good as the previous time we went, the server/service was poor and the additional charges added are more than enough reason to never visit this restaurant a 3rd time. I guess there was a reason that on a Saturday night at 8:00 the place was nearly empty!

First cuban restaurant that charges for lettuce and tomato for a pan con bistec, foos is not bad

Wow this place might as well be in Havana.This place is great from start to finish. I got the Ox tail and you could taste the love in every bite. Finally a ace that makes real Cuban chicken soup. The spoon was not big enough to get it in any faster. Overall don't overlook this place It's the BOMB Just come here and bring your hunger

FANTASTIC!! My wife and I had a fabulous meal here Saturday night and then went back for lunch today. Really found it exceptional! They started us off with fresh baked Cuban bread. Good vinegar-based dipping sauce. I had the Vaca Frita - marinated shredded beef that was then fried on the grill - AMAZING. My sides were yuca and black beans and rice. Came with a good sized piece of fried plantain. My wife got the marinated half chicken. SUPERB. She got black beans and rice and a full side of plantains. For dessert - tres leches - "3 milks" cake. Oh. My. Word. Really loved that. Got a beautiful Cuban coffee to go with it. Loved the meal. Quite possibly the best we have had in Lakeland. Ever. And I'm fairly picky... Our server was an experienced Cuban gentleman. Really enjoyed him. He really knew the menu and was proud of the menu and the establishment. ** Went back with friends 2 days later for lunch and had a great experience again.

Hidden Gem in Lakeland. Best Cuban food in town . Love the Ropa vieja. Customer service is on point

My husband and I had been looking for a Cuban restaurant in the area since we moved here and today we came across this restaurant. All I have to say is that this is the best restaurant in the area! Great service and great food! Will definitely be coming back here!!

I married into a Cuban family and living near Miami all my life I don't know if I'm spoiled or this restaurant was just not that great. I ordered the palomilla steak, it had a smoked flavor and red sweet onion instead of white onions with chopped parsley with a wedge of lime. In fact not one of our plates had a wedge of lime. Black beans were fresh...out of the can and very bland. I personally think our bill was a bit on the expensive side with an extra charge of $3.50 if you use a credit instead of cash (server didn't ask how we were paying and went ahead & adding that charge) to pay the bill. I'm okay with paying credit card charge, just would like a heads up. Was hoping to find a good Cuban restaurant in Lakeland but this was mediocre at best. The restaurant itself was clean and the staff was friendly. The Cuban coffee was good. Still on the hunt for good Cuban food in Lakeland.