We stayed here for a wedding weekend, and the first and best thing I have to say about this hotel is that the location is AWESOME, especially for a wedding weekend. There's tons of shopping, restaurants, etc. It's a pretty good trek from the airport though, so you'll want to take that into account.
That being said, let's talk about the hotel. The pros:
-Staff is incredible and very friendly. We had a really late arrival, and they let us take beverages from the mini-mart downstairs at no charge. (It's the little things.)
-Housekeeping was incredibly understanding and helpful when we needed our room cleaned later due to the wedding festivities. They were kind, patient, and friendly whenever we ran into them.
-The rooms are large, comfortable, and the beds were soft. It was like sinking into a cloud.
-The pool/workout area offers water.
-Free parking at a full-service property!!
-We rarely heard our neighbors, if at all.
The "eh":
-The rooms are dated and even though the rooms have been renovated, they still seem dated, and I could see a lot of water damage on our room.
-Our toilet didn't seem to have enough water pressure to flush correctly, and we had to hold it down multiple times. The shower water pressure wasn't that great either, and we were on a lower floor.
-Our door didn't shut completely. Several times we thought we had pulled it closed, and we would come back to find it ajar. Not sure if it was our error, housekeeping, or a combination, but it was a little alarming, to say the least.
-CNN didn't seem to work or be included with the cable package - it was a constant car commercial.
The rooms overlooking the lake were really peaceful, and we would have liked to have one. :) Overall, at a lower rate, I think this hotel is a great value. It's not as nice as some full-service properties, but it is a lot nicer than older Courtyards or Fairfield Inns, and the rate was pretty comparable. I'd go back based on the location and the lake if I had business in the area.
07 November 2011
17 January 2011
I'm OK with OKC!
This past weekend, Boyfriend and I headed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to see the George Strait, Reba McEntire, and LeeAnn Womack concert! Since the concert wasn’t until Saturday night, I proposed we drive down on Friday and make a weekend of it, and Boyfriend obliged.
I was able to get us reservations at the Hilton Skirvin Hotel, and boy, I’m glad I did! The hotel is just as luxurious as the pictures on the Hilton website. The service was absolutely impeccable. Even though our requested room type wasn’t available, the staff was extremely friendly and very apologetic. (They had a large wedding booked on Saturday night.) We had a large room on the 11th floor that was beautifully and comfortably appointed. The beds were new Hilton beds and extremely comfortable – it was like sleeping on a cloud! The bathroom was especially large and there was plenty of room to get ready. The ONE drawback about the hotel was the weak water pressure, but I understand this is an older hotel, and it’s just one of those things. Every time we retrieved the car from valet, they made sure to give us directions AROUND the construction going on downtown and tried to help us find our destination. They would always have the car pulled around by the time we got downstairs. I have zero complaints about this hotel, and it was only three blocks away from the concert hall, so we were able to walk and avoid the traffic! It’s also very convenient to Bricktown and the attractions in that area. Although we didn’t order room service or dine in the restaurant, the piano music coming from the bar was inspiring – it was almost as if we took a trip back in time. I would definitely stay here again, simply basis on the quality of the service received.
Anyway, we arrived a little before 6:00 on Friday, and I wanted to shower before we tried to go out to dinner. Tom tried to call Cattlemen’s to see if we could get a reservation for dinner, but they don’t take them, so we decided to try our luck. It was about 7:45 when we got down to the Stockyards, and we were told the wait was an hour. The restaurant wasn’t that nice and the service we received was quite brusque, so after taking one look at the waiting room upstairs with ONE bartender and a line across the room to get drinks, we decided to try our luck elsewhere. We ended up at Carino’s, which was ok. I had to send my food back because it was stone cold, but the service was friendly and we only had to wait 20 minutes. We had talked about going to a movie, but we were both so tired, we decided to go back to the room and relax.
Saturday morning, we woke up and Tom was ready to hit up the Oklahoma City Science Musuem, as they had an imax, and they were showing two films – Extreme and Everest. We bought tickets to both. ;) Everest was GREAT – go see it if you have the opportunity!! Extreme made me a little motion sick. The imax was really nice though – comfortable seats, clean, and not too loud. It’s definitely on our radar now. We decided to try Cattlemen’s again for lunch, but again, there was a crazy wait and people were lined up outside, so we decided to skip it again. We found a Chinese restaurant and had a late lunch there. By the time we finished, we decided to head back to the hotel to rest a little while before the concert. I fell into a deep sleep for a little over an hour and Tom watched TV.
I got up at 5:30 to start getting ready. I looked SO cute, and I’m so bummed I forgot my camera. (HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!) I wore the DVF skirt I bought for the Britney Spears concert in 2009, a yellow Kate Spade top I bought this past summer, and Camille’s ADORABLE boots. Tom LOVED my outfit, and I did, too. I looked ridiculously cute. Country chic? Maybe? Anyway, we walked over to the arena and were surprised to see how GREAT our seats were. Hello front row!! The security lady in front of us was super friendly, too. She asked if we were on our honeymoon; I guess we had stars in our eyes, lol.
The concert was incredible! Lee Ann Womack sang my favourite songs – I Hope You Dance and Think of a Reason Later… turns out, Boyfriend loves Think of a Reason Later, too. Lol… Reba sang an eclectic mix of old and new songs, and I belted them right along with her. I swear to God my boyfriend thought it was cute. ;) Then it was time for George… oh George, you haven’t aged a bit. He played for awhile, and Boyfriend would take my hands and sing to me. It was seriously cute. (Don’t be jealous.) There was an especially sweet moment during I Cross My Heart.
The thing that impressed me most about this concert was the lack of special effects – none of these artists needed the special effects to be good – you could tell they were ACTUALLY singing, and boy they were good at it! They sound exactly like the CDs. They are really that talented. We absolutely loved it! (So, thanks Mom!!!!)
After the concert, we headed back to the hotel to figure out what our late night dining options were. We barely missed Cattlemen’s (again)… so we ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings and had a smorgasbord of appetizers before heading back to the hotel and staying up way too late talking and telling stories. We slept extremely late on Sunday, checking out of the hotel at exactly noon, and getting back to Dallas at 3:20… which was followed by naps instead of grocery shopping… and scrounging around for dinner, but hey, it worked! ;)
And now it’s back to reality… but weekends like that, they’re pretty amazing, too. ;) I just wish I had pictures to share!
I was able to get us reservations at the Hilton Skirvin Hotel, and boy, I’m glad I did! The hotel is just as luxurious as the pictures on the Hilton website. The service was absolutely impeccable. Even though our requested room type wasn’t available, the staff was extremely friendly and very apologetic. (They had a large wedding booked on Saturday night.) We had a large room on the 11th floor that was beautifully and comfortably appointed. The beds were new Hilton beds and extremely comfortable – it was like sleeping on a cloud! The bathroom was especially large and there was plenty of room to get ready. The ONE drawback about the hotel was the weak water pressure, but I understand this is an older hotel, and it’s just one of those things. Every time we retrieved the car from valet, they made sure to give us directions AROUND the construction going on downtown and tried to help us find our destination. They would always have the car pulled around by the time we got downstairs. I have zero complaints about this hotel, and it was only three blocks away from the concert hall, so we were able to walk and avoid the traffic! It’s also very convenient to Bricktown and the attractions in that area. Although we didn’t order room service or dine in the restaurant, the piano music coming from the bar was inspiring – it was almost as if we took a trip back in time. I would definitely stay here again, simply basis on the quality of the service received.
Anyway, we arrived a little before 6:00 on Friday, and I wanted to shower before we tried to go out to dinner. Tom tried to call Cattlemen’s to see if we could get a reservation for dinner, but they don’t take them, so we decided to try our luck. It was about 7:45 when we got down to the Stockyards, and we were told the wait was an hour. The restaurant wasn’t that nice and the service we received was quite brusque, so after taking one look at the waiting room upstairs with ONE bartender and a line across the room to get drinks, we decided to try our luck elsewhere. We ended up at Carino’s, which was ok. I had to send my food back because it was stone cold, but the service was friendly and we only had to wait 20 minutes. We had talked about going to a movie, but we were both so tired, we decided to go back to the room and relax.
Saturday morning, we woke up and Tom was ready to hit up the Oklahoma City Science Musuem, as they had an imax, and they were showing two films – Extreme and Everest. We bought tickets to both. ;) Everest was GREAT – go see it if you have the opportunity!! Extreme made me a little motion sick. The imax was really nice though – comfortable seats, clean, and not too loud. It’s definitely on our radar now. We decided to try Cattlemen’s again for lunch, but again, there was a crazy wait and people were lined up outside, so we decided to skip it again. We found a Chinese restaurant and had a late lunch there. By the time we finished, we decided to head back to the hotel to rest a little while before the concert. I fell into a deep sleep for a little over an hour and Tom watched TV.
I got up at 5:30 to start getting ready. I looked SO cute, and I’m so bummed I forgot my camera. (HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!) I wore the DVF skirt I bought for the Britney Spears concert in 2009, a yellow Kate Spade top I bought this past summer, and Camille’s ADORABLE boots. Tom LOVED my outfit, and I did, too. I looked ridiculously cute. Country chic? Maybe? Anyway, we walked over to the arena and were surprised to see how GREAT our seats were. Hello front row!! The security lady in front of us was super friendly, too. She asked if we were on our honeymoon; I guess we had stars in our eyes, lol.
The concert was incredible! Lee Ann Womack sang my favourite songs – I Hope You Dance and Think of a Reason Later… turns out, Boyfriend loves Think of a Reason Later, too. Lol… Reba sang an eclectic mix of old and new songs, and I belted them right along with her. I swear to God my boyfriend thought it was cute. ;) Then it was time for George… oh George, you haven’t aged a bit. He played for awhile, and Boyfriend would take my hands and sing to me. It was seriously cute. (Don’t be jealous.) There was an especially sweet moment during I Cross My Heart.
The thing that impressed me most about this concert was the lack of special effects – none of these artists needed the special effects to be good – you could tell they were ACTUALLY singing, and boy they were good at it! They sound exactly like the CDs. They are really that talented. We absolutely loved it! (So, thanks Mom!!!!)
After the concert, we headed back to the hotel to figure out what our late night dining options were. We barely missed Cattlemen’s (again)… so we ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings and had a smorgasbord of appetizers before heading back to the hotel and staying up way too late talking and telling stories. We slept extremely late on Sunday, checking out of the hotel at exactly noon, and getting back to Dallas at 3:20… which was followed by naps instead of grocery shopping… and scrounging around for dinner, but hey, it worked! ;)
And now it’s back to reality… but weekends like that, they’re pretty amazing, too. ;) I just wish I had pictures to share!
26 September 2010
Hilton Molino Stucky -- Venice 2010
Owing to the fact that I have literally spent the last 3 days at work with nothing to do, I decided it’s time to get cracking on my trip reports from my Italy trip.
The second part of our Italian adventure was spent in Venice, and after spending a lot of time online trying to find the right hotel, I decided to book via Hotwire because I knew we would end up with the Hilton Molino Stucky based on my research. We ended up paying about $150/night for it by using Hotwire.
The first thing about the hotel is that it’s on a separate island from Venice proper in the Guidecca. We read Elton John actually has an estate in the island. We took a vaperetto from St. Lucia to Zattere and picked up the complimentary hotel shuttle from there. It was like clockwork, seriously. The hardest part was simply navigating a crowded vaperetto with our luggage. The hotel shuttle drops you off right in front of the hotel, and we were able to check in immediately. We were given a room in one of the back towers (this hotel is a maze – it was a former mill) overlooking a small courtyard. The room was quite large by Venetian standards and beautifully appointed. After Florence, we relished the luxury of the bathtub, the large marble bathroom, and comfortable bed. The staff was friendly, although not entirely efficient – they run on Italian time.
One thing that concerned me when I read the reviews was the hassle of the hotel shuttle, but truthfully, it was very easy. We could go to Zattere or directly to San Marco on a set schedule. There was also a vaperetto stop within minutes of the hotel when the hotel shuttle wasn’t running. We spent many nights roaming around Venice, and we were still able to get back via hotel shuttle. Additionally, I got up before the hotel shuttle was running one morning to photograph the city, and I was able to catch a vaperetto to San Marco without a problem. There is a period of time during the evening when they take a break, but you can schedule around that. You can get a full schedule from the front desk.
The location of the hotel is fantastic. Venice is very crowded during the day, so it’s nice to have reprieve from the crowds when you return to your room. The hotel was very peaceful and we never heard our neighbors, even though the hotel was sold out while we were there. Breakfast is pricy, so I suggest visiting the market and bringing things back to your room. There is a Billa market within a 5 minute walk of the Zattere stop with reasonably priced groceries. There’s also a wonderful rooftop bar with beautiful views of the city. We never tried the restaurants, but Gianni’s at the Zattere stop was pretty tasty with a varied menu. We had more than a few meals there after a long day of sight-seeing.
Overall, I would recommend this hotel over anything near San Marco, the Rialto or on the Grand Canal. The traffic is just too frantic, and I would tire of fighting the crowds. Plus, you have to contend with the aqua alta throughout the day. The Molino Stucky is a calm oasis and a beautiful place to rest after experiencing the beauty of Venice. The beds are comfortable, the air conditioner works well, the windows open, and the service is very friendly. What more do you want?
And, they have a spa on site so you can pamper your feet after a long day of exploring!
09 September 2010
Florence, Italy -- planning!
Okay, I know. It's been awhile since I checked in. The truth is, the furthest I've been these days in Lubbock. Well, okay, there was a Southern California stint. With no remarkable restaurants. So there.
But next Friday, my mom and I are off to Italy. Florence and Venice. I'm still working on everything, but we do have reservations at one restaurant. And a cooking class.
We'll be dining at the Golden View on Sunday. This is an especially exciting experience, as it's where the girls took me to celebrate my 22nd birthday. I hope it's just as tasty as I remember. They have live music and amazing views of the Ponte Vecchio, so I'm ecstatic to be going back.
Also, we'll be taking a cooking class at In Tavola one evening.
But next Friday, my mom and I are off to Italy. Florence and Venice. I'm still working on everything, but we do have reservations at one restaurant. And a cooking class.
We'll be dining at the Golden View on Sunday. This is an especially exciting experience, as it's where the girls took me to celebrate my 22nd birthday. I hope it's just as tasty as I remember. They have live music and amazing views of the Ponte Vecchio, so I'm ecstatic to be going back.
Also, we'll be taking a cooking class at In Tavola one evening.
02 March 2010
Almyra Hotel -- Paphos, Cyprus
I stayed at the Almyra while attending a wedding of a friend that took place on the property in late November. As tourist season had recently ended, we often felt as if we had the resort to ourselves. Be sure and try the Cypriot walnut specialty offered during check-in – it’s unusual, but very tasty. We had booked a terrace sea view room, and I’m glad we did. We were on the third floor, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. Large picture windows looked out on the sea, and we could open the sliding doors and let the sea breeze in. Rooms were nicely appointed, though I truthfully didn’t notice the TV. We were so busy, it didn’t seem necessary. The bathroom had WONDERFUL products that smelled heavenly. Be sure and take them home with you! Our rate included breakfast, and the options were endless. Everything was fresh and tasty – I couldn’t believe the assortment. Eggs, sausages, fresh yogurts, fruits, nuts – absolutely anything you could desire. I’ve never seen a ‘free’ breakfast like that anywhere in the States. We often didn’t need lunch, because breakfast was so filling. The hotel also handled the catering for the wedding dinner, and everything was WONDERFUL. There was a chocolate torte that was out of this world! We also had a rooftop wine reception, and the appetizers served were very tasty. Everything Alymra does, they do well.
The pool area was so relaxing and peaceful. There are semi-private cabanas and plenty of comfortable areas to lounge in. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t anywhere to sit down by the sea, but the pool overlooks the sea, and the setting is just beautiful.
There were two computers in the lobby available for internet use at no charge. A very nice amenity.
The girls who work in the Toni and Guy salon were so bubbly, friendly, and helpful. They did a great job styling the wedding party.
Everyone we encountered at the hotel was friendly, eager to please, and proud of their country. They were always helpful to provide recommendations, information on the area, and assist with any requests. The service was truly unparalleled, and the wedding weekend went so smoothly, and everything was absolutely lovely.
The hotel is well-located – a short walk from the Paphos Harbor and within walking distance of several restaurants and shops. We liked Café Vienna and the sushi restaurant across from Alymra. For coffee addicted Americans, there is a Starbucks nearby. The old city center is a short bus ride away, and the hotel staff is happy to assist with those directions. We enjoyed the market, but it packs up early Saturday afternoons.
Overall, we had a wonderful stay, made even better by the welcoming staff and their attention to detail. No complaints here.
The pool area was so relaxing and peaceful. There are semi-private cabanas and plenty of comfortable areas to lounge in. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t anywhere to sit down by the sea, but the pool overlooks the sea, and the setting is just beautiful.
There were two computers in the lobby available for internet use at no charge. A very nice amenity.
The girls who work in the Toni and Guy salon were so bubbly, friendly, and helpful. They did a great job styling the wedding party.
Everyone we encountered at the hotel was friendly, eager to please, and proud of their country. They were always helpful to provide recommendations, information on the area, and assist with any requests. The service was truly unparalleled, and the wedding weekend went so smoothly, and everything was absolutely lovely.
The hotel is well-located – a short walk from the Paphos Harbor and within walking distance of several restaurants and shops. We liked Café Vienna and the sushi restaurant across from Alymra. For coffee addicted Americans, there is a Starbucks nearby. The old city center is a short bus ride away, and the hotel staff is happy to assist with those directions. We enjoyed the market, but it packs up early Saturday afternoons.
Overall, we had a wonderful stay, made even better by the welcoming staff and their attention to detail. No complaints here.
17 August 2009
Berryhill Baja Grill -- Dallas, Texas
Stumbled in here on a Saturday evening for a quick bite, expecting it to be along the lines of Baja Fresh or something similar. We were pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t. We really didn’t know what to expect though, and we were concerned because the restaurant was empty.
They brought out chips and salsa immediately, and I thought the salsa had a good flavor. It had a good kick, but definitely no bite. Also ordered the mint lemonade, which was surprisingly tasty. I’ve ordered this at Gloria’s a couple times, and the flavors never seemed to blend as well as they did at Berryhill. Very refreshing and cool.
I ordered a variety of their tamales, and my dining companion ordered the corn enchilada, a beef tamale, and the fish taco. He’s from San Diego, so he has high expectations on fish tacos – and he thought they were pretty good. He did comment that it was quite a bit larger than the street tacos that he is used to, but it had a good flavor. He chose to get the fish grilled instead of fried, and is wanting to try it fried next time. He also said the corn enchilada was very good.
As for the tamales – know that they are HUGE. I’ve never seen tamales this big in a restaurant. My only complaint is that the masa was a bit thicker than I like to make them, but the meat seasoning was VERY good. I recommend the pork or chicken tamales, as the bean and beef were a bit bland. The pork was by far the best – very tender, flavorful, and filling. I don’t like to order tamales in restaurants, having been spoiled by homemade ones, but these were very good, all things considered. They are huge though – be warned.
The service isn’t anything to write home about, which is too bad. Our waitress was attentive enough, but she seemed incredibly distracted, and ended up sending someone else over to finish us up when a large party was seated in her section.
As a whole, we were sufficiently satisfied with this experience. It’s in a non-descript strip mall, but they have tried very hard to get away from that image by creating a restaurant with character and a memorable menu. Get the tamales and try the lemonade.
They brought out chips and salsa immediately, and I thought the salsa had a good flavor. It had a good kick, but definitely no bite. Also ordered the mint lemonade, which was surprisingly tasty. I’ve ordered this at Gloria’s a couple times, and the flavors never seemed to blend as well as they did at Berryhill. Very refreshing and cool.
I ordered a variety of their tamales, and my dining companion ordered the corn enchilada, a beef tamale, and the fish taco. He’s from San Diego, so he has high expectations on fish tacos – and he thought they were pretty good. He did comment that it was quite a bit larger than the street tacos that he is used to, but it had a good flavor. He chose to get the fish grilled instead of fried, and is wanting to try it fried next time. He also said the corn enchilada was very good.
As for the tamales – know that they are HUGE. I’ve never seen tamales this big in a restaurant. My only complaint is that the masa was a bit thicker than I like to make them, but the meat seasoning was VERY good. I recommend the pork or chicken tamales, as the bean and beef were a bit bland. The pork was by far the best – very tender, flavorful, and filling. I don’t like to order tamales in restaurants, having been spoiled by homemade ones, but these were very good, all things considered. They are huge though – be warned.
The service isn’t anything to write home about, which is too bad. Our waitress was attentive enough, but she seemed incredibly distracted, and ended up sending someone else over to finish us up when a large party was seated in her section.
As a whole, we were sufficiently satisfied with this experience. It’s in a non-descript strip mall, but they have tried very hard to get away from that image by creating a restaurant with character and a memorable menu. Get the tamales and try the lemonade.
La Cubanita -- Dallas, Texas
After our original plans fell through on a Friday night, we were able to haphazardly get everyone together for dinner around 8:00 at La Cubanita. I was dubious at first, thinking it would be a more pricey version of Cuba Libre, but I was pleasantly surprised.
First off, this is McKinney Avenue, and during peak times, you’re going to have to valet. It’s frustrating, yes, but it’s just part of coming down here. Some areas have more parking than others, but I find it to be less of a hassle, if you just go ahead and valet. I think it is unfortunate that they don’t validate valet, but it’s just part of it.
While we waited for everyone to arrive, the waiter recommended we start off with the mariquitas con Guacamole and a pitcher of Mango Sangria. The black bean dip that was served with the appetizer was extremely tasty. The Cuban salsa was so-so, but it did have a good flavor. Everything was fresh. The Mango Sangria was out of this world. I thought the flavors meshed well together, and it was very smooth. Absolutely incredible. We finished off three of these throughout the meal.
Entrees around the table included the churrasco, the churrasco de pollo, Cuban Lechon Asado, the garlic shrimp, and a side of sweet potato fries. Our waiter recommended the churrasco and the Cuban Lechon Asado as being the best things on the menu. He wasn’t kidding. The churrasco had a great flavor; it was extremely tender, and cooked to perfection. My mouth still waters thinking about it. The Chimmichuri sauce had an excellent flavor, and it wasn’t overpowering. The Cuban Lechon Asado was so tender; it literally would fall apart with a fork. They served it with a garlic sauce on the side that really added another dimension to it. Very tasty. The chicken was slightly overcooked and dry, but the seasoning was tasty, though admittedly, the steak received more rave reviews at our table. All the sides had good flavor, though it can be a LOT of food. Finally, the garlic shrimp was good – served in a sauce, not unlike the Chimmichuri sauce with an addition of cilantro. The shrimp were tiny, but everything was flavored well. The Cuban flatbread was fresh, too. The sweet potato fries weren’t greasy at all.
La Cubanita has a lot of character, with doors that open onto the patio throughout the restaurant and beautiful lighting during the evening. It has old world charm, reminding me of many restaurants I visited in small towns in Italy. The slight breeze that comes in through the open doors can be refreshing. The dining room is very small, but it’s cozy in a good way. The service was unassuming and prompt. Our waiter was always there when we needed him, but not intrusive throughout the meal. My only complaint is the large television that can be distracting, but it’s not a deal breaker.
As a whole, we felt it was a great experience, though it can be on the pricey side. The food was quality and tasty. If you go, be sure and try the mango sangria. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot summer night. I haven’t been to Cuban, so I can’t comment on the authenticity, but this is definitely one of the better restaurants I’ve been to in Dallas. Everyone in our party of 6 thoroughly enjoyed it.
First off, this is McKinney Avenue, and during peak times, you’re going to have to valet. It’s frustrating, yes, but it’s just part of coming down here. Some areas have more parking than others, but I find it to be less of a hassle, if you just go ahead and valet. I think it is unfortunate that they don’t validate valet, but it’s just part of it.
While we waited for everyone to arrive, the waiter recommended we start off with the mariquitas con Guacamole and a pitcher of Mango Sangria. The black bean dip that was served with the appetizer was extremely tasty. The Cuban salsa was so-so, but it did have a good flavor. Everything was fresh. The Mango Sangria was out of this world. I thought the flavors meshed well together, and it was very smooth. Absolutely incredible. We finished off three of these throughout the meal.
Entrees around the table included the churrasco, the churrasco de pollo, Cuban Lechon Asado, the garlic shrimp, and a side of sweet potato fries. Our waiter recommended the churrasco and the Cuban Lechon Asado as being the best things on the menu. He wasn’t kidding. The churrasco had a great flavor; it was extremely tender, and cooked to perfection. My mouth still waters thinking about it. The Chimmichuri sauce had an excellent flavor, and it wasn’t overpowering. The Cuban Lechon Asado was so tender; it literally would fall apart with a fork. They served it with a garlic sauce on the side that really added another dimension to it. Very tasty. The chicken was slightly overcooked and dry, but the seasoning was tasty, though admittedly, the steak received more rave reviews at our table. All the sides had good flavor, though it can be a LOT of food. Finally, the garlic shrimp was good – served in a sauce, not unlike the Chimmichuri sauce with an addition of cilantro. The shrimp were tiny, but everything was flavored well. The Cuban flatbread was fresh, too. The sweet potato fries weren’t greasy at all.
La Cubanita has a lot of character, with doors that open onto the patio throughout the restaurant and beautiful lighting during the evening. It has old world charm, reminding me of many restaurants I visited in small towns in Italy. The slight breeze that comes in through the open doors can be refreshing. The dining room is very small, but it’s cozy in a good way. The service was unassuming and prompt. Our waiter was always there when we needed him, but not intrusive throughout the meal. My only complaint is the large television that can be distracting, but it’s not a deal breaker.
As a whole, we felt it was a great experience, though it can be on the pricey side. The food was quality and tasty. If you go, be sure and try the mango sangria. It’s a great way to cool off on a hot summer night. I haven’t been to Cuban, so I can’t comment on the authenticity, but this is definitely one of the better restaurants I’ve been to in Dallas. Everyone in our party of 6 thoroughly enjoyed it.
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