Flaco’s Cuban Bakery
University Ave at NW 2nd St, Gainesville, FL, 32601
Flaco’s Cuban Bakery Menu
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Address :
University Ave at NW 2nd St
Gainesville, FL, 32601 - Phone (352) 371-2000
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
Good for Working : No
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Mike W.
Given that I last reviewed Flaco's in 2009 despite the fact I come here pretty frequently, I think it's high time for an update. Yes, Flaco's is best late at night, but if there's a secret to having your best Flaco's experience it would be to come around midnight--not after the clubs let out. They now have tacos on weekend nights in the back part of the restaurant and the whole atmosphere is festive and fun. It's no secret they do the lion's share of their business when most of their customers are drunk, but who cares? If anything, honestly, their food has vastly improved in quality over the past few years. Like, seriously so. Their empanadas and pastries are on point now and their Cuban sandwiches are good, if not great. Again, it's a matter of showing up earlier in the evening. If you get there at 2:00am and the line is out the door, don't expect the best in quality or service. Flaco's is one of those places where they can do fine if not hurried but have a loud, drunk, and hungry crowd of kids and they seem to stress out. If you've ordered a sandwich at 11:00pm vs 2:00am, you know the difference at once. So if you come late, expect it to be bedlam. By the way, know where the word "bedlam" comes from? The Bethlehem Hospital in London in like the 19th century. It was a mental hospital and poorly-run. The inmates, as they say, were running the asylum. And that's about what Flaco's is like at 2:00am. Crazy people and a lot of 'em. The pastries (especially guava!), the iced coffee, the café con leche are always winners. And the staff, despite all they must endure, are overall swell people.
(4)Claudia Z.
the lentils and white rice, ropa vieja, arepas and cortadito and café con leche are real good . (and pretty much everything I've tried) I don't know where Mi Apa gets awarded the "best Cuban place in Gainesville", but Flaco's is clearly the better option.
(4)Kasey G.
Apparently they've been in Gainesville for 9 years... I think I found a gem here. I have yet to try any food from here, but the Cafe Con Leche that I had was amazing. I still want to come back and try the food, it looked pretty good too.
(4)Rod K.
One of my favorites. Would rate 4.5 if that was an option. Ropa rice bowel with lentils is the way to go. They make a very good Cuban Sandwich as well. Service is great and always with a smile. Can get a little busy from time to time, but well worth any wait.
(4)Rajeev K.
Disappointed with the chicken and beans, the bowl was very dry and rice completely dried which i had to get replaced. The chicken was not juicy to balance the rice. I was hoping a 4.5 stars taste but was not able to swallow the food and was constantly reminded of Chipotle as a better alternate. Maybe it was bad day for my order.
(1)Jonathan C.
Gainesville is a Taco and Burrito town. With Flacos, El Indio, Burrito Brothers, La Tienda, Boca Fiesta, and even Chipotle being among your only choices, Flacos sits in my top 3 taco joint favorites. Yes its a "cuban bakery", yes it has strange hours for their back taco counter, and no it's not revolutionary stuff. That considered, it's a staple of downtown life, affordable, tasty, open late, and hella convenient. I go to Flacos for the $2 soft shell tempeh tacos, vegan, with avocado garlic sauce (when they have it!). I go there mainly for a quick dinner, or as a late night stop. Ill get the $6 tempeh burrito if Im feeling extra hungry (its medium sized, as far as burritos go these days). Now keep in mind this review is solely pointed at their Taco and Burrito menu. That being the case, I feel Flacos is successful in being in the right location, charging a fair price, providing decent service, and selling a tasty product. The staff is chill, and if you live downtown, you probably know half of them by sight already. Its hard to find a better experience getting food downtown in Gainesville, even if youre favorite tacos are sold elsewhere =] An expansion of the taco menu (gimme plantains in the back!! and more vegan options!) would make this a 5 star review.
(4)Jason G.
Awesome downtown spot anytime. Ask for Juancho. Best Cuban sandwich in Gainesville. I love the chicken bowl with lentils and mojo.
(5)Alison L.
Flaco's reminds me of the Halal cart in New York's midtown--its busiest hours are lunch, dinner, and then sometime between 1:30 and 2 am when people line up for their drunk food fix. I had the pork taco ($2) from the part in the back, and it was amazing. Very flavorful and juicy. I was still thinking about it the next day! They do stop serving beer in the am, however, so it's definitely a place to wind down the night.
(5)Shauna N.
So good! Live in DC now but used to live in Florida and had some of the best Cuban food. Arepas are thick and sweet, with multiple different types of meaty delicious fillings. Cuban was pretty authentic, quesito was amazing-crispy with sugar and just enough pastry to cheese ratio. If we lived here this would definitely be a staple!
(5)KelseyRain R.
Not real Cuban (at all lol) but the food is really good, the cafe con leche is on point, and the guava/cheese pastelitos are gooooood. But, kind of a bummer when it takes so long to get your food, you paid extra for avocado and then they don't include the avocado....or your sauces. Employees need to be a bit more attentive.
(4)Vincent V.
Came here at 1am and was pretty happy with my Cuban coffee and Cuban sandwich. The coffee was pretty standard and the sandwich was good quality bread and toppings, but was a little heavy on the mayo. Overall I would repeat again, but suggest you ask them to go lite on the mayo and that you upgrade the chips to another side.
(4)Andrew P.
It's not going to be the best and most perfect Cuban food you'll eat, but my wife and I had an amazing media noche sandwich, huevos arepas and guava and cheese pastry. The sandwich was freshly toasted with the perfect amount of meat and mayo and fillings. The arepas were sweet and addictive, but perhaps too dry. The guava and cheese pastry was perfect. The Cuban coffee was subpar, but at least it's only $1. For the price, it's a 5-star late night option. Compared to all restaurants at all times of day, it's a 4-star place.
(4)Felipe S.
The food is still decent. But I came here Tuesday night 4/29/15 and it has gone to shit since I used to live here. A guy in short denim shorts let his friend behind the counter, basically ignored us and they didn't have any pastries on a Tuesday night. I used to get quesitos on a Friday night when I went to school here. If I was the owner I would definitely take note. This place used to be so much better. Where's Juancho?
(3)Astrid B.
I like any place where i can find arepas and quesitos along with chicken empanadas and tacos :)
(4)Patrick T.
After a night out drinking, this is a great place for a late night food craving. Media noche? Yes please! The Malta is a pretty nice non-alcoholic drink that tastes like sugar cane. You can get this if you got in too late and they stopped serving beer. Oh, and do yourself a favor and grab a guava and cheese pastry!
(4)Siobhán H.
Six dollar vegan burrito that was AWESOME- Totally sober I should add. The avocado garlic salsa was really good but for being top tier spicy the pink sriracha was weak for my taste. Extra points for vegan options, extra-extra points for hella late night hours. After reading other reviews I'm wishing I grabbed some of the Cuban fare, too. Hilarious 'Tips For Ass'/'Tips For Titties' jars by the Mexican counter in the back. Great spot to grab something quick, cheap and good in town.
(5)Stephanie D.
I am CUBAN. This place is NOT! No taco has ever been made in Cuba, no arepas either. If you claim to be Cuban, get your cuisine straight. This place is a disgrace to the culture. The food is nothing even close to authentic. If you think it's good then you need to actually eat real Cuban food and you'll realize it tastes way better.
(1)Maya M.
Cuban gator is the best sandwich ever! Can't wait to get back to Gainesville and eat one!
(5)Hurnan V.
This is a great late-night place, highly frequented by UF students and young people in the town. This was my first time here, and I ordered an aprepa with pork. The service was very quick. The arepa is surprisingly very filling, albeit very greasy, and for great price! The establishment itself was a bit dim for my liking, but other than that, for the good food and great price, I will definitely be back if in this part of town again.
(4)Joe S.
This is my favorite place to eat in Gainesville! The food is amazing, I always get a sunshine on the sweet bread. The staff deserves a ton of credit for dealing with all the drunk people. delicious!
(5)Julie S.
This quirky place lacks any quality or substance because it doesn't need it. It makes the majority of its money from kids when the bars are closing. I don't think its seedy insides hold the same appealing charm in the harsh light of day. And I don't think the food holds the same gooey fried allure come the morning after.
(2)Carly R.
I love Flaco's. You cannot find a better deal in town, plus the food is filling and delicious, and it's fun to sit near the windows and people-watch. My favorite dish is the plantains and cheese sandwich, but I have also had the ropa vieja bowl, which is also very, very good. Tacos also cannot be beat. There is parking in the rear of the building (rare for downtown!), and there is plenty of seating.
(5)David C.
Costs more than it should and service is usually slow, but Flaco's is delicious after a night out.
(4)Chip R.
OK, you're out for a few drinks with your friends that live in Gainesville (Melissa O. and Robert O.), then all of a sudden it hits...need FOOD...now. But late night, where to go and get relief? Flaco's Cuban Bakery, that's what I was told. It was right on the money, I had a great experience (and no...I was not hammered or even that buzzed yet, thank you very much). It's a simple modest bakery/cafe type of setup. Lots of goodies visible in the case and a great, diverse menu to choose from even later at night. I guess I opted for something basic, but it was great. I got the ham and swiss pressed sandwich on Cuban bread. It was AMAZING. The bread made it. If the bread is a prime example of what Flaco's does daily, they hit it out of the park. How many times to you get to say the bread MADE the sammich?!? True, the combo of all the great components made the sammich but the bread was the standout. Fresh, tasty, and just perfect for sandwiches in thickness and texture. Definitely color me amazed, the word to go here for a good bite late night was the good word, and I have to recommend it as well. Bottom line: Great bakery/sammich experience, even late night, or should I say especially late night. The Cuban bread made the experience, and that can speak volumes for a bakery. I highly recommend a trip here to try them out.
(5)Brittany Rose T.
Although its right down the street from mi casa, its easily my favorite Cuban spot in Gainesville!
(5)Charles D.
I've been a dozen times or so and never could really get into Flaco's. It's really a shame because I've always wanted to like the place, and perhaps am just not ordering the right thing, but "meh" is really what I always leave thinking. Granted, I've only gone during the day and it seems to be a hit with folks who've been out downtown until the wee hours, but the food really should be better--often the meat is dry and just not on par with the other options downtown.
(3)Martha K.
Cuban Gator was a treat, as well guava cheese puff pastry. Fresh lettuce. Pork a little bland. Nice college town dive!
(4)Julia H.
I was in Cuban cuisine withdrawal, and Flaco's saved me! The highest point was the coffee, which I very much needed at the time, and which was as thick and aromatic and syrupy as the ones I get in Miami, and every drop as potent. We got our sandwiches to go, so I can't really comment on the full experience of the atmosphere but I enjoyed what I experienced from the great view of University Ave to the oh-so-Gainesville band leaflets on the wall. While the uberhipster prep gal seemed like she'd rather be anywhere other than there at the moment (but she looked like I felt, so free pass on that) overall service was great, with the counter guy going to far as making a call to confirm whether or not certain items were made with lard (answer: no; vegetarians, gorge on those pastries). And the food? Oh, yes, the food. The. Food. As good as my favourites down South, with the added bonus of PLENTY of meatless eats! You can even get tempeh on a sandwich -- what is it with Gville and that soybean treat? It's everywhere -- but I personally opted for the glory that is plantain and cheese. Ooh baby. Add mustard. Now we have heaven. The spouse went for the Turnstyle, which he pronounced delicious; I got a bite, and it was good but no match for my mustard-accented plantainalicious glory. A spinach & cheese empanada rounded out the carbfest, and was also quite tasty. Would we go again? Let's just say that Flaco's is on our List of Reasons to Visit Gainesville Beyond Seeing My Mom (see also: Ward's, Reggae Shack, Chopstix).
(4)Michael M.
One of my favorite quick and easy downtown food venues has to be Flaco's Cuban Bakery. Flaco's serves up a number of delicious pressed sandwiches on Cuban bread. Usually staffed with only one or two employees, this place is not ideal for large, group orders, but it can be a quick and easy place to stop in for a bite. They also have a tendency to get a bit loud and rowdy later in the night, particularly after bar closing. Flaco's has many traditional Cuban dishes like ropa vieja. Although the name literally translates to old clothes, ropa vieja is a shredded beef dish served over rice. Personally, I enjoy their empanadas. They offer a variety of empanadas, but some kinds are known to sell out over the course of the day. I recommend the chicken or the spinach empanadas, but they also offer beef and tempeh varieties. These empanadas are a little small, so go ahead and order two. For dessert, I recommend the guava pastry. The light, flaky crust is a delight, and the sweet filling really puts a finish touch on any meal. My absolute favorite is the simple egg and cheese sandwich. I always add ham and tomato and it's always perfect.
(5)Jeanne T.
Good late night drunk food. It's ok sober food, but nothing will compare to Portos ( yelp.com/biz/portos-bake… ). Bring cash. If you go after all the downtown bars and clubs are emptying out, you're going to wait. Deal with it.
(3)Kaitlin H.
Good food, not to bad price. Try the cuban!
(3)Coty S.
If I were to sum up Flaco's in one short sentence, that sentence would be, "Flaco's tastes bad." Simply put, they take absolutely no pride in their food, or providing quality food for that matter. You can get better ingredients from the Five Star Pizza around the corner, getting it take-out and eating it on a dirty park bench. However, since Flaco's is one of the only places open in the area for the late night crowd, they really own the late night food scene. Since the city of Gainesville in now allowing food trucks past 10:00pm and everyone is too lazy to walk or too drunk to drive down to Taco Bell, this is it. I give them props for putting up with drunks, but damn. Their pastries are bone dry, and the sandwiches are completely flavorless. Even the pork. I am so confused.
(2)Jenna N.
I can't tell you how many drunken nights have ended (and been redeemed) here. One bite of a pork burrito and I've forgotten all about the horrors of wading through the midtown or downtown crowds. Call me dramatic, but the burritos here are just...orgasmic. There, I said it. I highly recommend the "pork burrito with everything, and pink Sriracha sauce." I'm a little salty they raised their price to $6, but hey it's a small price to pay for a a little piece of heaven.
(5)Analia C.
The gator cuban was fantastic. I noticed there was no chips with my sandwich, the guy behind the counter gave us a lame excuse. Good food but craptastic service. For the $8 price tag I want my whole meal.
(4)Evin E.
Good place to go after a night of drinking
(4)Nancy L.
Ah! Love Flacos!! Best Cuban sandwich north of Miami. Their pastries are also REALLY good. I'm not a huge fan of lentils but my husband orders their lentil soup almost every visit. Pretty quaint seating arrangement but they seen to always have a table available. Overall, great food, quick service, and fun venue.
(5)Amy S.
There isn't a sandwich on their menu that I would turn my nose up at. I love the Jill's special which is very Thanksgiving Dinnerish complete with turkey, cranberries, and other deliciousness. The Cuban is delicious as well as others that were passed around the table in our group. There is plenty of food and the sandwiches will keep you full! The food comes up fast as well and they have ample seating. I wish I could have packed the entire Flaco's restaurant into my luggage and brought it back to San Diego with me!
(5)Selmy B.
Food was amazingly delicious and perfectly seasoned. Small menu but what's there is good. 5 picnic tables for seating in downtown. Very casual and informal. Local college hangout and prices. Far from fancy but tasty food.
(4)Sara L.
The sandwiches here are very good but their cuban coffee leaves something to be desired. There are also issues with the staff, most, but not all, have a holier than thou attitude that has seemed to rub a lot of people the wrong way.
(4)Kelsey S.
I do not understand why people are giving Flaco's such a hard time. This place is awesome! I personally like their sandwiches. They have good flavor, not overpowering. There is a good variety too considering that this bakery is small. My favorite of their sandwiches is the Media Noche, I could eat it seven days a week literally. The pastries are really good too. Sometimes I stop in there and this is all that I get. They have just enough sweet but not too much. There are not many choices here either, but what they do have is absolutely AMAZING! If you do decide that you are going to get a soda with your sandwich my recommendation is that you also get chips or one of their pastries. A soda is $1.40 and to add a soda and chips it is $1.85 (this is close, not sure of the exact number I just know that it is a 40 cent difference) even if you just take the chips home and pack them in a lunch another day or eat them as a snack it is a better way to spend your money. The crowd here is a wide assortment. I have been in here for lunch and it was filled with people in business attire but when I went for dinner it had more of a wide range, there were college students and some families. Overall, I will be a continuing customer for as long as possible. I will be bring new people too so that they can understand why I love Flaco's so much!
(5)Marcelo D.
Food is good. Great late night place.
(4)Jim B.
First off, I'm a Tampa native. I've had some of the best Cuban food that has ever been prepared - in private homes and in restaurants. I'm also aware of, and need to state, that Tampa Cuban and Miami Cuban are two different animals. Flaco's is more Miami Cuban, with a bit of a local Gainesville flair. That said: Their pressed cubans are superb. The meats are right, the bread is good and the guava/cheese turnovers (LOVE) are perfect. I see some others here with issues over the empanadas - I have no opinion since I have never ventured past the pressed sandwiches. Media Noche? Yes, please. Lechon? Oh yesssss. Cuban with extra pickle? Gawds yes. Drunk or sober (they are open late) a properly pressed Cuban, dressed with swiss, mayo, mustard and pickle, is one of the greatest pleasures in life. My only complaint is their incomprehensible hours. Thats the only thing that keeps me from eating there more often. Well, and the A/C is really lame in the summertime. Not that its costing them any business, but still...
(3)Brittney S.
Loved the burritos in the back but HATED the food in the front. If you're going to tout your food as CUBAN, it better be Cuban. For example, taking something normally in Cuban culture called an "Elena Ruz" and name it "Jill's" and be rude enough to just blankly and silently stare when politely asked "Why did you name it Jill's?" (i was pretty curious). I was also pretty annoyed when I asked for the "tostada" and they looked at each other and back at me and said "Uhhh, we don't have that..." when I clearly saw a server making it in the back for another customer. I asked if I could have what he was making, and they with sudden clarity responded "Oh!! Bread! Ok!"..... If you're going to have toasted bread and butter labelled as a tostada on your menu, you might as well learn what it means.. I don't recommend ordering it either, what I was presented with was soggy warm not even pressed Cuban bread with half-melted butter. What a sore disappointment... Basically don't masquerade as a Cuban place when your servers act too elitist to learn what menu says....
(1)Honest R.
This is a perfect example where the food is 5 stars and the environment (no A/C, dirty bathrooms, broken fountain drink machine, etc.) is 0 stars. I will round up the 2.5 average rating to 3 since any place that offers sriracha sauce to its customers deserves a bump.
(3)Scott R.
Decent food if you are in the area. Had a sandwich that was good. Prices were good too. Certainly don't avoid it based on other reviews if you are in the mood for Cuban food.
(4)Michelle H.
You always wonder just how good a place really is when you see a line out the door during the late-night hours. Sometimes your perception of good food with a belly full of booze gets a little out of sync with the sober version of yourself. I've been there. Done that. Flaco's doesn't disappoint, even while sober. It happened not once, but twice. There was definitely talks of Cuban sandwiches on the way to the airport. The shop is olfactory overload. The sweet and savory smells of Cuban food when you walk in mixed with the savory smells of Mexican food as you make your way towards the cash register. STOP PLAYING WITH MY EMOTIONS. The media noche is ridiculously good. That sweet bread makes me weak in the knees. The spicy chicken sandwich was also good, but those Cubans know what's good with their pork products. Stick to that. The Cuban coffee is literally crack in a cup. The jolt of energy was almost immediate after drinking it. It didn't help that I drank it on an empty stomach. I miss Flaco's on the regular--both the food and the cool staff.
(5)Johnny L.
Flaco's apparently houses the best Cuban Sandwich in Gainesville. Flaco's is one of those late night downtown hot spots for drunken students coming from the clubs. I like the food, but I hate the hours. I can't tell when it is or isn't open. When I was finally able to get in, I thought the food was good. The place is located on the corner of 2nd and University. Parking is pretty bad, but I found a street slot next to the place. The menus is bigger than I expected. They had a good amount of selections to choose from including medianoches, pressed sandwiches, platters, arepas, pastries, and even vegetarian sandwiches (Not a surprise...it is Gainesville). I stuck with the Cuban. ($6.50) It was prepared pressed with ham, pork, mayo, mustard, and pickles. Classic Miami Cuban food. The sandwich had a nice crunchy bread while remaining soft on the inside. The meat tasted good and blended nicely with the swiss cheese. However, I thought it was a little too buttery and made it taste heavy. Overall, this might be one of the better (albeit buttery) Cuban sandwiches in Miami, but this would only pass as sub-par in Miami. For those of you from down South (I know there are a lot of you), this may hold you over til you get back home. But for those who have never been to Miami or had a Cuban, this would be a great place to get a start.
(3)George W.
The food is good at the place across from UF, but the service is a joke - a bad joke. The store is manned by unsupervised part-timers whose job there seems to be a low priority. We had not just a single problem with a simple order, but a series of problems including inability to process a credit card, failure to make the proper change, but that's not all. We called in an order, showed up 30 minutes later to a store empty of customers and he had not even started on the order.
(3)Mia C.
I miss this place, so much. Fav place in Gainesville. I'm from Miami and I live in NYC, but the food at Flaco's beats most of the Cuban places in either place. Maybe it's because they have vegetarian alternatives. The hours are . . . strange. I always ended up wanting to go on days when it was closed. Gainesville is pretty dull in a lot of ways (especially when it comes to dining) but this place is among the few gems in this town.
(5)Chelsea B.
I've never been to Flaco's before midnight. Yeah, it's one of those kind of places. Great location if you're downtown. You know when the bars are about to close when a line starts to form outside. I suspect if I visited during the day I'd be a little disappointed, but if you want a quick late night snack that doesn't come from McDonalds or Taco Bell, I definitely recommend Flaco's. I've always been meaning to try the guava and cheese empanada, but one of the issues I have with Flaco's is that they rarely have their full menu available. The arepas are a little on the greasy side, but the spinach and cheese empanada is decent, and the sandwiches aren't too bad either. I'm from Kansas, so I can't comment on the authenticity, but for the price and the convenience I'd say Flaco's is worth the money.
(3)Gramley A.
Ain't nothing like late night @ Flaco's two words: THE GATOR That's all you need to get there....
(4)Darren F.
So yummy! Pretty cheap and amazing food! I'd recommend the 'sunshine' sandwich or the 'sunshine' arepa!!
(5)Gigi A.
This review is based solely on the cafe con leche. Is that unfair? Yes, absolutely. But its my review & I LOVE my cuban coffee. ^_^
(5)Anita L.
Always been a fan. I would go there for lunch when I worked downtown but alas, our office moved away and away from delicious cuban sandwiches and good cordiditos. My favs include the cuban sandwich and the combo bowl (ropa vieja and pork with mojo served on top of lentils and rice !!!). Definitely enough for two. I haven't been in a while but I was mostly served by the usual guys there, who are always nice to me. Only qualms I have are odd hours -- sometimes I'd make the trip downtown to get me some Flacos to find out they are closed :( Also their sweet pastries are good. Ordered the empanadas once and never did again.. save your money and get something better like a cheese pastry!
(4)Matt H.
Cuban sandwich is the bomb. Do people still say that??? Probably not but I just did!!! The juice running down my hand as I bit into the crunchy bread was amazing. Service is ehhhh otherwise I would give it 4 stars.
(3)Sasha P.
I found myself at Flaco's one night when a friend and I were hungry and thought it would be a good time to check out the new corner food joint. I had a few things here and there, some of which were okay and others that were great. I ordered the Empanadas... beef, chicken and I believe a spinach one. These were all mediocre. I've had the best of the best at the MiraCali Bakery (check my review) in NY so it's hard for any other empanada to compete. Of course, these empanadas were different on the grounds that Flaco's is a Cuban Bakery but all in all, the empanadas made the hunger go away, nothing more. A few things to note, Cuban empanadas are flakier than Colombian empanadas. I also have noticed that Cuban empanadas are not stuffed with as much meat and are not as flavorful. I would probably get one again if I went to Flaco's but I'm still stuck on the Colombian empanadas in NY. One thing that Flaco's has down along with any other Cuban Bakery are the Guava and Cheese turnovers. I have been a fan of guava since I was in a cradle and to combine this delicious fruit or fruit spread with cheese is truly a gift from the heavens. For this, I do appreciate the flakier outside because that's the way a pastry should be made... flaky, sweet, and delicious. About Flaco's and its' set-up, it's literally on the corner of University Ave and 2nd. A good thing is that Flaco's is open late so it caters to the night owl students of Gainesville. However, this being the case, beware of going when the clubs get out because you will find yourself waiting in a line for days. There isn't much space on the inside and by way of that, the seating options are limited. Nevertheless, it's cozy to say the least. They have some arcade games in the back which I think is kind of cool yet random at the same time. Flaco's is a cool place to go with some friends after the club or even just to get some snacks. Definitely a cheaper and faster alternative than having to sit-in and order at a diner.
(3)patrick p.
I came Flaco's for the empanadas, after a wedding weekend, thinking this was a great Cuban bakery, in Florida, so close to Cuba, it should have good empanadas, but i was sorely mistaken!! this had the WORSE empanada's i've ever had. My wife and brother-in-law were so disappointed that we didn't finish our BLAHpanadas. I'm from San Francisco, 3338 miles away from Cuba (google maps- SF to Miami-Cuba), and they have 100X better empanada's than Gainesville. I'm an empanada fanatic. Luckily I ordered one of their pulled pork pressed sandwiches, I must say, this was the BEST PULLED PORK PRESSED CUBAN SANDWICH I'VE ever ever ever had. the pulled pork was so juciy, it melted in your mouth. i miss that sandwich sooo freaking much. I give the sandwich 5 stars, but the empanadas (-1) star. DO NOT GET THE EMPANADAS! but get the sandwiches.. Flaco's out does any sandwich made in California.
(4)Mark R.
Flaco's is an amazing place to eat in Gainesville. The food here is really good. I usually get one of the sandwiches (the cuban and gator cuban are delicious), but the pastries are amazing too. The food is good late at night, but its still really good when you're sober and just want some lunch. The way that Flaco's really stands out is how well they treat their customers. They're always really good about making your order right. When something isn't right, they'll fix it. One of the guys behind the counter has almost all of the customers' names memorized, even if they've only come in once or twice.
(5)Yeni S.
I was born in Cuba, moved to Miami when I was seven, and then continued to dine mostly on authentic home-cooked Cuban meals until I turned 13 (which is when I rebelled and independently began feeding myself crap). And although Flaco's food can't hold a candle to my abuela's cooking, it does taste pretty good, especially the media noche.
(4)Crystal M.
I have wanted to eat at Flacos since I first saw it many moons ago when driving to Downtown. However, idk why, maybe because I can't see the parking lot, I never got around to it. Something about nonvisible parking lots makes a place not look customer friendly to me. Then, after having my first cuban sandwich in Micanopy and realizing what I had been stubbornly missing for my whole life, I knew I REALLY needed to try Flacos because Micanopy is WAY too far to drive. As much as I love food, there is a driving distance limit for a sandwich. Flacos is located on a corner of a road on University Ave. If you're driving east, it's on the left. Their logo is this lean looking pig that looks artistic albiet underfed. Let this not reflect the quality of their food. The interior was empty but gets kudos for having a good feel about it. Doesn't take itself too seriously and seems like a good place to just hang with friends. I went there yesterday and my boyfriend graciously treated me to a sandwich of choice. We both wanted a cuban so I also chose the ropa vieja so we could try a little of everything. Yes, we chose the white people staples of cuban food. Don't judge... We got it to go. I also ordered a drink and a guava cheese pastry to "authenticize" it. Each sandwich was ~$6.50 and the drink + pastry was an extra $1.75. (BTW, the place also gets some points for having an old-school arcade game in the place which has about 20+ games on it, including galaga, pac men, mario bros, etc...) After about 15 minutes, we got the food and headed home. To my surprise, the sandwiches were decent size and cut in half already. Made splitting the meal that much easier. The bread they use is amazing, especially after being pressed. It tastes fresh and is perfectly doughy on the inside, crisp on the outside. I think you could stick a piece of tofu in this thing and it would turn out delicious. And who knows, since its Gville, that may actually be a menu item! The cuban was amazing. It tasted like cuban perfection and was the best of the 2 ordered. However, the sides of my sandwich were a tad soggy from either the pickle juice or mustard or something and was just plain nasty. had to throw out those parts. Mushy wet, hot bread is not appetizing to me. (idk, is that a cuban sandwich usual?) The ropa vieja sandwich was tasty but skimpy on the volume of meat. Not that it wasn't filling though. It was just enough for one person. In fact, I could barely finish my part of it after stuffing down the cuban. VALUABLE TIP: If you order the ropa vieja sandwich, I highly suggest paying the extra 50 cents and getting cheese on it. I didn't, and regretted it. The pastry was outstanding! The pastry dough was PERFECT. And i'm not a big guava fan but I'd have a dozen of these... Value wise, it's not a bargain, but it's worth the money. Taste was excellent. Decor and feel was perfect for downtown Gville. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and trying the whole menu.
(4)Adam N.
Back in 2010 this used to be a great place to eat. The ropa vieja was served in a large bowl overflowing with rice, lentils and good food. Today, in 2012 I saunter in sometimes to order that meal and it looks and feels like I just got served a side dish. The portions keep shrinking! What gives Flaco's?
(2)Joe C.
I crave this place. Gainesville is full of awful restaurants, and this place is a gem. The ham and cheese (or jamon y queso for the aristocrats) is the best late night meal the city of Gainesville has to offer.
(5)Coleen T.
Ok so this is probably biased since I got take out from here on a tuesday afternoon. Got empanadas which were soggy and greasy and immediately gave me an upset stomach! I was excited about eating some cuban food, but I should try it some other time when they are cooking the food fresh!
(1)Bryne Y.
One of my must-eats whenever I'm in GNV. Flaco's specializes in Cuban food, but given that it's in Gainesville, they offer plenty of vegetarian options along with the standard far like arepas, empanadas and pressed sandwiches. The Sunshine sandwich on sweet bread is a must-try, as is the guava and cheese pastry. They also have delicious (and underrated, I think) coffee.
(5)Amy G.
I have no clue how a place with meat this amazing thrives in animal-loving, PETA-membership-toting Gainesville. It's gotta be the drunk college students because Flaco's, specializing in Latin American street food, makes the most perfect grub to follow up a night of cheap beer and and a questionable number of shots. And it's awesome while sober too. Try the outstanding Cuban sandwich. As reviewers before me have said, the amazing bread crisps up perfectly on the outside and remains soft on the inside. Bangin' arepas with the tastiest roasted pork sandwiched between griddled corn cakes. Delicious puff pastry filled with guava jam and cream cheese. And the plates... oh, the plates. Deliciously tender ropa vieja or roasted pork piled high atop rice and served with perfectly spiced lentils. I was dreaming about the ropa vieja for months after my first visit to this Central Florida college town. To note, Flaco's has great, smart 'n sassy staff and also hosts some great musicians occasionally in their back room. I could only wish for a place this wonderful near where I went to college. Then again, I might've put on a lot more than the Freshman 15.
(5)Howard L.
Cheap Cuban style sandwiches here. Really liked the Gator Cuban. Bread gets nice and crunchy in the panini press which makes the sandwich. Wait can be a little long since I think they only have 1 panini press that can press 5-6 sandwiches at a time. Line can get long late night on a Friday/Saturday night.
(3)Andres V.
The cuban sandwich is good and their arepas are as good as the ones you get in Miami. Their service was atrocious. Would never go their again.
(1)Carly J.
Cheap and tasty sums it up. For late night munchies I stuff my face with the empenadas. You can buy three or four for the price of a sandwich at other places. I've had them all and (for the price) they're good. Yes the chicken ones are a bit dry usually, but tasty nonetheless. I'd recommend the Cuban sandwich for lunch.
(3)Lauren J.
This place is so awesome! I have eaten here 3 times in the 3 weeks I have lived here, is that bad? Flaco's specializes in cuban and latin street food. It is perfectly located downtown and is equally delicious when sober, as it is after a late night at the bar. They are open until 2:30 am-ish and serve as a much better late night eatery than taco bell or steak and shake. Don't leave this restaurant without trying the cuban. It is the best cuban sandwich I have had in my entire life, the bread is crisp on the outside, and chewy inside. The star of this sandwich, however, is the roasted pork. It is so perfectly flavored, I could eat it all day everyday. The empanadas are fair, I have sampled every flavor, and they tend to be under-seasoned. If you are craving an empanada, go for the beef filling, its the best. Again, don't miss out on this great place, you will be converted.
(5)Il P.
I had a cuban sandwich. The ham and pulled pork tasted good, albeit salty. The bread could be better. I'm willing to try other menus some other time. They have a arcade game machine where you can play the super old super pacman, galaga, and stuff. I like their interior.
(3)M W.
Best Cuban food I've ever had. Delicious sandwiches, delicious desserts, great atmosphere (keep in mind it's a college/after-bars/late-night kinda place), great service, friendly staff.
(5)Treeert G.
Went into the store, read the menu and wandered for ten minutes while asking if I can make a order, no one gave me a shit. Then I left. That's is my beautiful story with Flaco.
(1)Tony H.
I ate here during my first Fest and it really hit the spot during a lull in my band-viewing schedule. I got The Gator, which was simply fantastic and one of the best Cuban sandwiches I've ever had (probably the most authentic, too). I'll definitely go out of my way to eat here again at my next Fest!
(5)Luke H.
Drunken Five Stars. (And I don't even care about the Siracha which can be found at Walmart) The medianoche is amazing. So is the powder sugar one...I forget the name. This place is packed for a reason (as I always say). To all of those smart Gators below, that means the Demand exceeds the Supply, so the price must be too low. It is a great deal, just ask your economics professor.
(4)Paul D.
Pretty good Cuban sandwiches. Open late, quick service, and perfect location to get something to eat before driving home after a productive evening of drinking.
(4)Lisa V.
So Flaco's may not be gourmet, but it's perfect for college students who are wandering the bars at night with change in their pockets looking for grub. I put my hands on an arepa for the first time here a few years back and have been addicted since. YUM! My favorite is the arepa with ropa vieja and a guava and cheese pastry. I still wish it were just around the corner...
(5)N M.
For me and my wife, for what we like, this is really as good as it gets - better than authentic we say! I'm talking Juancho's turkey sandwich, maduros & cheese sandwich, and the rice and black beans and/or lentils. Those are some amazing dishes. We go for dinner regularly, and it has become a real favorite for us. The pastries and Cortadito's are wonderful as well. We say "better than authentic" because we like it way better the cuban revolution down on South 13th. For what we order and like, Flaco's takes the cake. We like Mi Apa as well, and eat different things there. For cuban sandwiches, Flaco's is king. Flaco's is a real family place - I believe Mom cooks, and the kids work the counter at least some of the time. It is a warm atmosphere. There are different groups of people there at different times, so don't be fooled by the late-night reviewers on yelp - this place is HOPPING lunch time with the suit-and tie crowd from downtown, and is full of grad-student aged folks from 5-9 pm.
(5)Chad D.
I hate to give anyone a bad review. Most of the time I'd rather not even give it a review if the place is not good. But after reading all the good reviews for Flaco's in Yelp*, I think people deserve a warning. I give it one star because the kids working there are all very nice and cool. And I give it another star because the bread is good. But other than that, naah! In the first place it's not anywhere near real Cuban. The Ropa Vieja (shredded beef) was dry and overloaded with cumin (real Cuban food uses very lttle cumin, that's more of a Dominican or Mexican thing, even a Mojo adobo has a balanced amount of cumin.) It had very little of the green pepper and tomato flavor that is the soul of the Ropa Vieja. The spinach empanada had potatoes (!?) in it. Where the heck did that recipe come from? And the Pork sandwich my wife ordered was flavorless and bland. Even with the Mojo (not real either, Publix Mojo is closer to the real thing) on it, it just was not authentic Pan con Lechón. She couldn't finish it. I'm getting to think that most of those 4 and 5 star reviews were from people who've never had real Cuban food. (And, no, "Mi Apá" is NOT authentic either, though their Ropa Vieja is much better than Flaco's, and they do have Cuban steak sandwich on their menu.) And finally, the prices at Flaco's were just too high. If you want to try some real Cuban food, take a ride 350 miles down to Miami and get yourself to La Carreta or even any of the little cafeterÃas in Calle 8 or Hialeah. I was VERY disappointed.
(2)R L.
As far as late night food its 4 stars. Empadas are above average any time of day.
(4)Syama K.
OMG!! my favorite place to go after the clubs!!! LOVE the sunshine! I don't know about authentic cuban food as the user below mentioned but it is authentically delicious!!!
(5)Danny D.
I was there late one night after a show and heard some strange warbling in the back. After ten minutes I realized they were playing Radiohead covers back there. I dunno how you do an acoustic version of Idioteque, but it happened. They have Sriracha sauce on the tables. God help me if I ever find it at the store, because I'm going to inject that shit.
(4)David C.
It's 3 a.m. and you're piss drunk and hungry. This is not a good combination. You have two options. For one, you can go wait in the drive through line at McDonalds or Checkers. This is just not cool. Or you can walk on over to University and 2nd, and if your senses are not shot by the copious amounts of Miller Lite or your nostrels aren't suffocating with cigarette smoke from the bar, you can probably detect the divine scent of sweet cuban bread being pressed over at Flaco's. Yes, Flaco's: the best Cuban (possibly only) sandwich food place in G-ville. The great thing about this place is that the service is relatively quick and they know that everyone walking in the door is a drunk monkey. I mean, these guys must bank. But anyway, there's room to sit inside and meet some interesting night owls. Thursday nights are open mic nights where you can hear some of Gainesville's best local folk and eclectic bands. My favorites: Media Noche, Cuban and the empanadas .
(5)Alison S.
Me and my husband stopped by Flaco's for lunch and to meet friends we hadn't seen in yrs. We had 3 cuban sandwichs (the Cuban, spicy chicken (forgot the name), and the pull pork one (again, forgot the name)) PLUS an Arepa with their vegetarian concoction (I'm having amnesia cos I can't remember the name of this one either). I don't know why I can't remember the names of the sandwich but I'm almost certain it's because I was in such food Nirvana my memory of it is overpowered by it's flavors. The best Cuban Sandwiches we had EVER. Even when we lived in South Florida, we didn't have awesome sandwiches like these. But don't expect the sandwiches and other menu items to be oozing with grease here. The owners are super health conscious. Their bread doesn't use lard, they trim off all the fat and don't deep fry anything! I guess b/c they don't deep fry, that makes some people dislike their Empanadas... But Oh well. The result is clean tasting food that is bursting with flavors of actual ingredients rather than overpowered by fat & grease. Mmmmmm. I'd be here all the time if I lived in Gainesville... but sadly, we live in CA now...
(5)Robert S.
Flaco's does not have much to offer me. I am basically limited to lentils and rice or the sunshine sandwich, which I ate while drunk, but I'm fairly sure was just olives and mustard. The patronage in here when bars let out is like a screening of Meet the Spartans on a Saturday night - expect a lot of yelling, throwing shit, and vomiting. However, I am really hungry right now, and this was the first place I thought of. I don't know why this happened, but it must mean something, so I'll tack on a couple of bonus stars.
(3)Dharbigt M.
I don't know what a Cuban is supposed to taste like, but from now on, this is what I want it to taste like. Delicious. The lentils were pretty good, but needed some doctoring, as did the plantains. Carry-out, so I can't speak for the atmosphere.
(4)Dan S.
We've been eyeing this place for months, as they've had papered-over windows for about 4 months or so. Finally they opened up and we got a chance to hit it for lunch today. I got the Cuban sandwich - tasty, but some minor criticisms are that it was a bit pricey, could have been grilled a bit longer, and could have had more substance to it. My wife had a special, which I'm sure she'll write all about in a few minutes. We shared a side of plantains which were quite delicious - fresh, soft, and sweet. Main complaint: the price. We spent $14 for lunch for two - a sandwich with no chips or sides, and one empanada with small sides of beans and rice. And no drinks (we had water). Drinks are also pricey -well over a buck just for a can of soda. I sound like I'm getting old, don't I? However, the bakery prices are not bad - we splurged an extra $1.25 for a guava-and-cheese turnover that's pretty dang rockin'. More kudos for the actual drink selection - I popped in here a few weeks back and grabbed an "Ironbeer" - a cuban soft drink that is really different than anything else. They also have something called Malta, I think, in a bottle. So you have more option than just standard Coke and Pepsi. One last comment: World Cup Fever took the place over when we ate there - not a seat to be had. Germany scored a goal as we were headed for th door and the place erupted. Word.
(3)Francesco L.
Beware, this is not a bakery, its a diner. That being said ... I went there once. Good food. Great motivated service. Decent prices. I went there again and they were out of meat. Pork, Beef, Chicken, every type of meat. The person (know-it -all undergrad type) behind the counter was unapologetic and tried to push some vegetarian dishes on me. She could have said sorry come back in 20 minutes, 2 hours, tomorrow, Monday, ... would have been the right thing to do. I have nothing against vegetarian dishes, I just don't goto cuban joints for them.
(1)Heather S.
I wanted to like this place more than I did. The ambiance is totally lacking, and I have to agree with Dan below in that you don't quite get that bang for your buck. I had the tofu empanada lunch plate special with black beans and rice. The empanada was pretty tiny and a little bland, but the beans were really well-seasoned. I ended up still being hungry, though and eagerly ate up the guava and cheese turnover I got for dessert. So tasty! The folks behind the counter are super nice, sincerely interested in feedback, and seem willing to try new things - I think this place can only improve.
(3)Vishal A.
Great Cuban food at an affordable price. My favorite item on the menu is the Media Noche. They also keep sriracha hot sauce on hand which goes great with everything.
(4)Ryan F.
best cuban sandwich in town in my opinion. decent prices and good portions, and the pastries are tasty as well. my only complaint would be the wacky hours that i can never remember. they're actually not too bad, but ive had a craving on more than a couple occasions that went unmet because they were closed. understandable from a family run business though.
(4)Steve C.
I just had a simple media noche sandwich..ham and cheese on the most amazing sweet bread ever. Awesome and I think under $5. Maybe it was more satisfying because it was an excuse to take abreak from helping a friend move.
(4)Jason S.
The pros: spinach empanadas, the rarely served TVP, the workers, the spot sausage sandwich, the Quick Fix #2 and cafe con leches. The cons: the rarely served aspect of the TVP, they're missing some truly Cuban items like rice and black beans, and the chicken empanadas tend to be a little dry.
(4)B W.
I wasn't always sure about Flaco's. I went when they first opened and had a dryish, not so temperature hot beef sandwich. I was hesitant to return, but an Arepa loving friend convinced me to. I tried the Ropa Vieja Arepa (2 piping hot cornmeal pancakes with shredded beef and queso blanco between them) and loved it. Since then I have revisited the sandwiches as well and have enjoyed the Cuban Gator (traditional Cuban but with shredded beef and pork ) most. Another plus about Flaco's is that they are one of the few places to dine after 2am, it's a good place to eat and sober up if you have indulged a little too much, or if you just want to keep hanging with friends after the bars close. It does get busy at that time so there may be a wait if you go then.They do seem to have some entertainment at times and do serve beer. Sandwiches run in the $5-7 range and they are large. Though they do not come with a side, they will fill you up! Much, Much better than Checkers at 2am!
(4)Mrs. H.
I give Flaco's four stars simply because I am glad Gainesville now has a Cuban Bakery. However, Flaco's is more of a sandwich shop. The sandwich selection is great and authentic. The bread is baked on the premises and they sell Jupina and Malta (though I wish it were Malta India.) The atmosphere and the decor is perfect. It definitely looks like a bakery in Puerto Rico (yes, I know it's Cuban.) Just one little hiccup: I think the empanadas are too small. They're more like pastelillos and they're a bit pricey for the portion. Maybe it's the twisted edge that makes them empanadillas? Not quite like my mom's, but they're still pretty tasty, especially the chicken. And they have hot sauce on the table, so thank you. Still, this place is in the developing stage and I'd like to give it a chance. Maybe they'll do a little tweaking and add more baked goods. Tres leches, por favor...
(4)Heather S.
The comments so far are fair but one can't help but cheer Flaco's on for trying. They are new and have room to improve. I think we need to support them because this town needs a place for good cafe con leche downtown.
(3)Gareth M.
Funky little cuban cafe, open late. Good cheap food, local vibe. My favorite dish is the cuban gator (cuban sandwich with ropa vieja), with a side of lentils and rice (add siracha hot sauce). The guava and cheese pastries are good too.
(4)Logan f.
Horrible food. Some of the worst empanadas I ever had. It taste like they came from Sam's club and was microwaved for that unique consistancy.
(2)K C.
Quesito was so good, we ordered another. SO MUCH BETTER THAN MI APA. Collada was strong, but good. All pastries were tasty. We also took home a couple of sandwiches that were good, although a little soggy. Service could be faster, but employees were pleasant and helpful.
(4)Damien S.
Ate at Flaco's, went to a hardware store, bought a power drill and a jigsaw, went back to Flaco's, cut a basketball-shaped hole in the wall, and signed a lease for the space next door. "Eight dollar Cubano!" *sandwich appears through hole* And so plays out my ideal afterlife. Alas, I'm alive and living in Boston and locked in to a mortgage, so I'll just have my late night trysts with Flaco's, if Flaco's will have me. The pork, ham, pickles and Swiss magic marry beautifully on real (if a tad dry) Cuban bread. The guava and cheese pastry, also a shade dry, is at least understandably so, what with my flyby being 'round midnight on a Tuesday. And at a buck and change, easy to forgive a lil' staleness. Righteous black beans for a 50¢ premium. The maduros ($2) are straight-up sweet goo... and I like it. Echo the heads up offered by Mike W: Flaco's hits the pre-closing spot, but if you come with the last call masses, you'll likely see a downturn in quality. The press takes time, yo.
(4)Tiffany H.
What happens when you're hungry and it's a late night in Gainesville? You end up at Flaco's, because that's one of the few things open. A small group of us stopped in on a Saturday night, around 10 or 11 for a bite to eat. I ended up ordering a chicken bowl and I sort of regret it. The service is nonexistent here, which isn't a huge issue. Make order, sit, wait for your name, pick it up at the counter, return to seating. This place was packed with drunk college kids. This isn't such a huge deal but it gives you an idea of what they cater to and the standards deemed acceptable. My order is called and I collect the aluminum foil container and I'm underwhelmed just looking at it. Pile of rice, add some beans, a small pile of all but pureed chicken, and two plantains. There was pretty much no seasoning. The boything looked at his bowl and said "this isn't a meal." There was much disappointment. I've had better late-night meals courtesy of Wawa. I guess on the plus side, at least I didn't en up sick?
(2)