Larios seems to be one of the only Cuban restaurants on Ocean, which is a welcome surprise since every other restaurant on the strip seems to serve the same thing (salad, pasta, sandwich, etc.) It's a bit overpriced, but has a lively ambiance and Latin music, nice outdoor seating for fun people watching on Ocean, and some tasty Cuban fare. For starters, I had some little plantain chip cups that were filled with shrimp, ground meat, and a tomato sauce that was pretty flavorful. The ropa vieja (shredded beef) was tasty, and the mango shrimp original, if a bit buttery. I love some meat with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, so most of the meals here were pretty satisfying. The only disappointing thing we ordered here was a pork chop with some onions and lime, which was surprisingly bland for all the supposed ingredients. Entrees run roughly $20, which is a bit expensive since you can find authentic Cuban cuisine for much cheaper off Ocean. The drinks were very good - pina coladas are made here with spiced rum and have a nice kick that I haven't had elsewhere. The mojitos are also yummy, with real sugar cane sticks to chew on. Overall a fun, tasty, experience, if a bit pricey for what you get !
(4)
Wendy T.
My girlfriends and I had dinner here while we were staying in Miami. I thought the food was OK. I order the dish with all the seafood in it. I forget what the name was, but the waiter said it was a popular dish. The food took extremely long to come out! When it finally did it wasn't that satisfying, I mean it wasn't bad it was just ok. The bread they gave was pretty good but it looked like garlic bread that I could have made at home. The service was slow. It took us awhile to get any attention from the servers and they hardly came by to check up on us, We were a party of 10 girls too. The only good thing I can say is the restaurant was really beautiful inside. Service and food need a little bit of improvement.
(2)
alibee i.
I should have known that this was not the place for me when I read on the menu about their other location in Disney World. Short version of this review: If you want Disney World Cuban Food then this is the place for you. If you want authentic Cuban food then go elsewhere. First it took the waiter forever to come and take my order but hey I wasn't in a rush so not a big deal. When he did finally make it over I wanted to start off by ordering a drink but he wanted to get my whole order (so he wouldn't have to come back again in a few minutes?). Ok fine I knew what I wanted - mojito, fish enchilado, rice, plantains, black beans. Mojito came out literally 1 min later. Before I could even say "Jiminy Cricket!" (cause really I was thinking that :) out came all my food! Wow! I guess when it's all pre-made and ready to be poured and scooped, food just pops right out of the kitchen. The ($11!) mojito was watery and I couldn't taste any mint. (Kinda makes me wonder what the green stuff at the bottom of the glass was now that I think about it.) The enchilado sauce was also watery and bland. The fish "cubes" in the sauce were completely unidentifiable. The beans were equally bland and very thick as in they'd been sitting on a stove all day. The rice and plantains were ok as in not screwed up but nothing special. Overall a completely flavorless meal. And of course being in South Beach, make that an expensive flavorless meal!
(2)
Jane D.
After eating at Cha Cha Chas in SF or Versailles in LA, this Cuban restaurant wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Maybe I don't know Cuban. Anyways, I felt like the portions weren't that large and I left hungry. I like the venue. There is seating out doors and its a great place to have dinner and people watch. The service is okay, nothing to write a postcard home to mom about. The girl who waited on us looked and acted as if we were waisting her time. Sorry I just wanted a bottle of Tabasco sauce. No tip for you! Although I wasn't to impressed with the food, I thought the atmosphere was super fun. I'd go back and try something else. Maybe it'll be different.
(3)
Miriam W.
Ok, so when I made up my mind to buy a place in Miami FL, having never lived there and only visited once in my life, I came out with a friend and we whiled away 10 days. They included wandering with my real estate agent, picking my condo, and 3 meals, particularly desserts, at Lario's. This place is forever a sweet memory. It's not awesome but it's evocative. It's the essence that gives it the 4th star. And the fact Gloria owns it and sometimes shows up to sing/eat in it. The food is not amazing. Sometimes the meat is dry or not as flavorful as it can be. Our first night was loud (in a good way) with a singer up not with a band but with a pre-recorded CD. She was good. However, in the 7 songs I think we heard, 3 were repeats. Honestly, I can sing better. So alas, no sign of Gloria singing. But, the food is ok. The service isn't amazing. But the desserts, my god, the desserts. And the plantanos ... and the mood ... and the location ... and the mood ... Something about it is sexy. I don't know why, it just is. Dark wood, terra cotta colors, loud music, hard drinks, a band, the palm trees outside and the great wide ocean and beach and breeze. You come with a big group and laugh and chat. We did that when I threw a big dinner to have friends come out and party with me. You come with a lover and you seduce each other over the desserts and walk the beach and get it on ... Whatever. Just get your sexyback. I HIGHLY reccommend getting some key items: - plantanos - flan con queso (it's richer than traditional flan) - shredded coconut. i don't know what it's called, can't remember, but you put that with the flan and you are frickin having orgasms right there with your mojito or whatever else it is you're trying to drink and sit up straight with. stay away from the guava unless you're cuban or you know what you're doing. that mess will give you a diabetic attack.
(4)
Sharie B.
Stopped in for dinner with some friends last night. Nice Ocean Drive spot complete with Ocean Drive prices. The food was good, I had the liver and a mojito. My friend had the potato ball, minced meat appetizer which was really good. Finished dinner with a Bongos cortadito (Cuban coffee shot, steamed milk and abit of condensed milk suprise at the bottom - very nice. For all the Cuban food in Miami you are paying for the location more than the quality of the food.
(3)
Lakeya C.
Yum, yum, yum....my mouth waters just thinking of my delicious food.. I had ropa vieja (shredded beef), black beans and rice, and sweet plaintains....delicious! I've had cuban food in NYC before, but this beat everything else CUBAN I've tasted hands down...this was the best restaurant my friends and I ate at while in MIami and we ate at quite a few...I can't wait to come back and try something new.
(5)
Amy Jo A.
ate outside during spring break..a bit chilly in march..ocean drive was busy as usual..got lechon asado..and arroz con pollo..both were great...a bit pricey for cuban food...wait staff were nice...mojitos looked good didnt have one...food got cold because of weather..good place for locals and tourists.
(4)
giovanni g.
I had dinner at Larios a couple weeks ago and yes its the SOBE experience...nice setting along Ocean Dr on a warm night...cant beat that! But when it came to the food I was a little dissapointed. I knew the place was owned by Gloria Estefan who also owns Bongos. When we were seated the waiter brought us Bongos menus with the exact same items. I was looking forward to a new twist at Larios but had to settle for the same Bongos dining experience. The food is not bad here...its actually pretty tasty but it doesnt blow anyone away. The prices are typical for SOBE and the portions are a good size. If you are looking for more of an authentic cuban food experience I would not go here if I were you. The staff was very helpful and knew the menu very well. Overall I had a good time here and recommend it specially if you are looking for a night out on Ocean Drive.
(3)
Tiffany D.
This place was amazing. Their menu is HUGE and their mojitos and sangria is really good. You MUST order the fried plaintain cups filled with shrimp AND beef (order it half and half!!!)... my Shrimp in mango sauce was AMAZING it was this velvety yogurty mango sauce and my dinner date ordered the cuban steak - you should get it down medium rare because it's a very thin flank/skirt steak. The service was great and they have so many different kinds of flan to choose from. I got the tres leches cake (they also have a quatro leches haha) and it was really good..
(5)
June L.
food was great, service sucks, great location, great atmosphere.....fun place...would give it a 4 start if service was better.
(3)
Jason U.
Owned by Gloria Estefan! Authentic Cuban food overlooking the ocean..Cant go wrong here!!
(3)
Irene W.
A decent enough place, but nothing overly spectacular in the grand scheme of things. I can't speak to how authentic it is, but I've had better Cuban food at places like Versailles in LA. They have a huge menu so I was a bit overwhelmed with choice. I settled for fried shredded chicken on a sizzling plate, and though the chicken was a bit on the dry side I enjoyed the hint of tanginess in the flavoring. It's actually quite a lot of chicken with onions, and a little dry/boring to eat with white rice. I would recomend ordering a few different dishes and sharing with friends to get different tastes of everything. My friends ordered their famous seafood combo stew, and that was very tasty - it had lobster, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari in a slightly spicy tangy creole sauce. Some other friends ordered a fried rice kind of dish and that was ok. All in all not a bad place for a decent, moderately priced meal on Ocean Drive in South Beach.
(3)
Ali D.
We had a great dinner here on our trip to Miami. Everyone told us we should go there for cuban food, but we were a little confused when we got to the restaurant and were seated and then saw that the menu said Bongos and not Larios... we thought we had accidentally walked into the wrong restaurant! The live music was nice, but definitely a little loud. The surrounding crowd was also loud though, it seemed like a popular place for groups to go. Of course, a mojito is required, and I ordered the pulled chicken which I thought was very tasty (as opposed to a recent reviewer). It was one of my favorite meals on our trip to Miami. I can't remember what my fiance had, but he enjoyed his meal as well, something chicken. I am sure there are some more authentic restaurants in Miami, we were told in Little Cuba, but the cab ride out there would have cost a small fortune! And we were told it wasn't that safe - by Cubans - and they recommended Larios. We were thankful for the recommendations and the nice dinner we had. We must have missed where they noted how much tip they automatically charged on the menu though, but they do include it when you are billed, so make sure you don't double tip like we almost did!
(4)
Rob C.
I think it gets extra stars because of its location. Loud live music, upstairs and downstairs areas. Food is fine for a touristy destination. Use the street garage parking lots for this area--i.e. 7th and Collins, 13 and Collins, 12th and Drexel.
(3)
Maureen H.
This place was pretty good. It has a great south beach feel to it. I'd definitely take newcomers there. Live music and a cute little bar/lounge area make it inviting and very not San jose-ish. :)
(3)
Viann B.
Food was not as good this year. Steak was not as tender, black beans were too soupy. Maybe it was because we did not get to dine outside near the sidewalk. Maybe the ambiance had something to do with the taste? The mojitos are still very good.
(3)
shelly p.
Larios on the Beach is a Cuban experience. This restaurant features live music, Island ambiance and some of the best Cuban food in Miami. The plantains, and rice and black beans are amazing meats and fish off the grill are mouth watering and inspired with flavorful unique spices that have not yet crept into the mainstream American dining palate. The coconut flan is out of this world and a great way to finish an amazing dinner. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is polished yet festive.
(4)
Ame L.
I was expecting so much more from Laurio's. The waiter hovered over our table the entire night, which was awkward and he wasn't any help on food selections. The timing on the food was bad and our glasses were empty most of the time. Felt really rushed and dinner from appetizers to dessert was just over an hour. Food was moderate. Guess I was hoping for more with the hype.
(3)
Donna J.
pretty much a tourist trap like all the other restaurants with their umbrellas and patio tables out front. service was ok. food was overpriced. drinks were ok. all i'm gonna say is you better be able to get a decent cuban sandwich if gloria is backing you, can't give you bonus points for doing that right. maristas de puerco were dry. enchilaso de pescado were delicious actually! you earn some stars for that dish. overall, i guess i can say i wasn't that impressed and regret not going to a hole in the wall for the same quality (if not better) authentic cuban grub. my bad. wouldn't recommend to others for the price that was paid.
(3)
Danielle M.
MMM MMM Good! I love cuban food and not only was the food incredible but the ambiance, the beach, palm trees, live band just made it all the better. Sangra is delicious!
(4)
choad x.
Overpriced. You pay to see and be seen by the other tourists. Versailes is a better deal.
(2)
Janice S.
Ambiance and music is very miami. Sat very close to the band which is pleasure and a what?!? i can't hear my thoughts i forgot what else i had cuban but had an enjoyable meal and it wasn't too pricey for Miami Beach. In my eyes, i judge cuban food by the taste of the plantains and these were pretty damn good. Had the steak and liked the flavors. Service was fast. Pretty authentic and worth a visit if it's your first time to South Beach.
(4)
Tiffany B.
I think that people just like to dislike things that others love just to be different. First off, I'm not going to say that I know or understand Cuban food. I can only go off my taste buds. After being disappointed with several mediocre and over priced restaurants w/ TERRIBLE service, Larios was by far the best in Miami Beach. My girlfriend and I shared a pitcher of Sangria for $20 and the food was delicious! With disappointment surrounding us, we were starting to lose faith in Miami Beach. All we were looking for was a nice restaurant w/ good food and Larios def hit the spot! We were in heaven! It was a great end to our trip with a belly full of yummy food!
(5)
Lynnette P.
The food was alright....nothing to oogle over. I ordered the fish...i believe it was pescado plancha. Kinda dry, but good. Rice was ok...I was really bummed that I didn't get any beans with it. What kind of latin place serves rice with no beans??? and it's Cuban too!!! well, the big question is will i have come here? The answer.....NO!! I just have to say...NEXT!!!
(2)
Dawnn M.
I ate at Lario's during a vacation and really enjoyed the food. The portions are huge. The sweet plantains are a must! It was a bit congested during the evening hours. Also, I would not recommend eating on the sidewalk anytime after 7:00 pm...the people walking by are virtually a part of your party! Overall good food, but average service.
(3)
Sarah B.
My husband and I came to Miami with one goal in mind when it came to food - Cuban, Cuban and more Cuban. This place was good, but I like my local Cuban restaurant at home better - thus the 3 stars. How can a Cuban place in Portland be better than one in Miami? I ordered the Vaca Frita which was great, but was pretty dry and so I had to borrow mojo sauce from my husbands meal. The plantains are good and we finished with a rum flan which was also good. I had the red sangria, which I didn't think was anything to write home about. My husband had a grilled steak which he absolutely loved. It wasn't a bad place, but we'll try some different options next time before returning.
(3)
Bill F.
From our initial seating to the service and the food, we were very disappointed. We ordered skirt steak and Roast Pork. Two of our favorite Cuban dishes. Very dissapointed with both. The pork was full of huge chunks of fat. The portions were small and even the rice was lousy. The skirt steak was not tasty and poor cut of meat. Very thinand tough too. The service was also very weak, and although we arrived early for dinner on a Sunday, they were not busy but the staff seemed like they didnt care. Maybe because we didn't speak the local language, Spanish, but you would think that any rest on South Beach would go above and beyond to impress. I can understand if the food is not always the best, but when the service too is poor, it really ruins any chance of a good meal. It not the waiters fault if the food is bad, but if you wait tables and expect to make money, then they should do the best they can. Even when food is not good, if the service is, we always tip extremely well. Not so here. Poor food and poor service.
(2)
Moiraes Y.
Not too good...we had the cuban sandwiches and it was mediocre. The place smelled like toilet cleaning solution and the prices were a bit too much for the quality. Honestly, the cuban hole in the wall in my local neighborhood has sandwiches for $4.25 that are 10x better.
(1)
Andrea G.
Super yummy with great service! It was a great place to sit outside, have a drink and a good meal. The inside is really cute and loungey, and they had space set up for a live band (though no one was playing when I was there). I would love to come here again when I return to South Beach.
(5)
Kylee C.
I don't want to waste anyones time.... I just want to say DON'T GO. We found a plastic tube (like you would find in a microwavable meal), when we complained, the inept manager offered us free dessert, obviously we are not interested in dessert after the bad meal. We planned to have a nice upscale meal from here and we were sorely disappointed
(1)
Cindy C.
Situated right along Ocean drive, overlooking beautiful South Beach, this restaurant (one of the several owned by Gloria Estefan) serves authentic Cuban cuisine for affordable prices (considering its prime location). I ordered the Churrasco - a skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce over a bed of white rice and fried plantains. I usually like my steak medium-well (a little bit of red), but my 'medium-well' skirt steak came back to me well done, much to my disappointment. However the chimi-churri sauce was very unique and an agreeable combination to the steak. I also ordered the South Beach Mojito (containing a hint of SoBe and limon). Not too impressed, but I had a couple sips of their Watermelon Mojito and it deserves a thumbs up. I recommend their plantain chips, which are long, thin and crispy strips of fried plantain drizzled with minced garlic with a spicy cuban twist. The strange thing about this place is that you have to order your beans on the side, separate from your entree. Surprising for a Cuban restaurant, but a small price to pay for an overall satisfying meal. The only gripe worth mentioning about this restaurant is that they seated our party of 5 right on the edge of the curb - gorgeous view, but far from comfy. We had to scrape food off several of our plates and consolidate upon serving, in order to fit all of our food and drinks on the table. I would definitely go back to this restaurant and try some of the other items on their extensive menu... but next time- I'm sitting inside.
(3)
Daniela A.
This place is a MUST if you are visiting Miami. It's the ultimate Cuban South Beach experience. The food is pretty good, but not amazing (well, with the exception of the mojitos, platanos, black beans and rice. The pork dishes looked pretty good, but I didn't try them. I ordered the lobster, which was a big mistake. It was incredibly expensive but it was only mediocre. The star foods of my dinner were definitely the simpler things I tried (the things I already mentioned, such as plantains, etc). You are probably asking yourself, by this point, why I am rating this place five stars if the food wasn't THAT great. Well, because the food was definitely good, but more importantly, the ambiance was UNBEATABLE. Simply eating at this place and breathing in the festive atmosphere while listening to an amazing salsa band (and I'm dead serious when I say that these musicians were amazing) and watching people dance salsa like they've been dancing it since the womb was enough to make me just want to come back to the Bay Area, pack up my bags and move to Miami. It was THAT great.
(5)
Ratul N.
So the place is owned by Gloria Estefan. I wouldn't really recommend going there if there is no band playing, because it was empty. But if there is a band, its definitely worth it and fun. Their ceviche was good!
(3)
Adam M.
I just don't understand the hype on this place. The location is great but the service was horrible and the prices were way to high for the quality and the amount. I ordered a soda as well as a beer. My soda came in a rocks glass with ice. Guess what, no free refills! $10 for soda later, as well as $12 for coffee for my companion! You have to be kidding. The food was completely uninspiring. One dinner was cold, the other, hot but undercooked. The service left a LOT to be desired. Our waitress would disappear for long lenghts of time and then would flirt with the table of model wannabe's instead of waiting on her other tables. Go somewhere, anywhere, else.
(1)
Jerrilyn P.
I thought this restaurant would be better than this. I've been here in the past but years ago and I thought I would have the same experience but boy was I wrong (I think they changed management or something). We went there on Saturday evening around 6, and we were seated right away, but as soon as the waiter came over, he was not as friendly as I thought he would be. I am not a tourist and I know Miami customer service (not always the best) but I expect more from a tourist area. I ordered ceviche as an appetizer and churrasco for my main dish. The ceviche came out with fried plantains; one, the ceviche tasted very fishy and usually their ceviche is GREAT, and second, there was a hair in my plantains. When I told my waiter about the hair, instead of immediately taking my plate and apologizing, he asked me "where is the hair" as if to question me. Then my churrasco came out. Mind you, I ordered this medium. It came out DARK and not juicy at all. When I asked the waiter if this was their version of medium, he grabbed my plate took it to another waiter a few feet away, came back and said "this is well done, there is a little pink right there." I decided to just settle for what I got as I knew my waiter was not going to do anything for me. I ate a few bites of the steak, but it was tough to finish. I will NOT be going back to this place and will now have to find another cuban restaurant to enjoy a great churrasco. VERY disappointed.
(1)
Gala C.
overpriced and tasteless. not bad for tourist that have never had actual cuban food.
(2)
Gourmet G.
Salsa diva Gloria Estefan is one of the owners of this place-to-be-seen, and her success on the music charts has crossed over to the restaurant business as well. The decor in the spacious dining room is vibrantly alive with color - day-glow orange on the walls - and kitschy details - starburst chandeliers are suspended from the 'sky' above - and a couple of walls are papered with Latino news clippings. A mountain of outstanding Cuban food, some with Creole touches, overflows on the plates here. Lomo de puerco, roast pork loin with rice and beans, is spectacular. Add a side of tostones con mojo, fried plantains with a garlic-infused dipping sauce. Portions are huge; clearly the petite owner never cleans her plate when she eats here. Live music Thursday through Sunday nights and, while it didn't happen when I was there, Gloria is known occasionally to drop in and put on an impromptu show.
(5)
Gabriela P.
The food was amazing! We had a very large party and I had to keep reminding the servers about things I ordered that they forgot about (like my drinks). I ordered the care asada and the meat was tender and very flavorful. I had a few bites of boyfriend's Tour of Cuba which had a little bit of everything and everything I tried on that plate was amazing (ropa vieja was to die for). I will be returning to this place next time I am in Miami.
(4)
Michael B.
Great lunch menu here, with a flare for the Cuban taste. Check out my photos of the lunch course.
(4)
Tony R.
Like almost everything on the Miami strip this restaurant was expensive. We waited a long time and the place wasn't even packed. Just as we were getting ready to leave, a server came over. I'm glad we waited because the food was delicious and we really wanted Cuban. I ordered the pork. It was tender and flavorful. The rice was a nice side as well as the plantains. All of our drinks had bamboo which we wondered if they reused the bamboo. We asked multiple employees, and to our surprise they said yes, not sure if they really understood what we were asking.
(3)
Taleen B.
WOW is all I have to say!!!! I have never been to a Cuban restaurant before so everything on the menu was new to me. We kept ordering and ordering food literally by the time we were finished we were in food coma. We even got lucky to have some left overs which still tasted so delicious the next day. We sat outside enjoyed our first night out in Miami for dinner went inside enjoyed the live band which so many people were dancing inside. It was really a different experience that I loved. I would literally fly from LA to Miami just to have dinner here again!!!!
(5)
Nick B.
The food was amazing! Get the empanadas as an appetizer, try all three options, you must try the pulled pork and bean and rice blend. The sweet plantains kicked butt and every mixed drink in our party was on point. Server was great and accommodating with pics and my request for coasters to take home. A+ on decor and music too. Highlight of my trip so far from this California boy
(5)
Alexis W.
My fiance and I were visiting Miami for Labor Day weekend and I was excited to check this place out! The interior is beautiful..whimsical, elegant, and beachy. For such an upscale vibe I was surprised that there was no dress code what so ever. You could wear flip flops and a tank! But I think that's the norm in South Beach. In Hollywood there is no way in hell they'd let you in. We ordered from the "fancy" side of the menu. Which was a 3 course dinner with a very small, yet satisfying, selection. Appetizer- My fiance had the fried pork. I had the ahi tuna. Both were very delicious! Main Course- He had the pork dish and I had the shredded chicken which came with black beans and rice. Really tasty! Dessert- He had the rice pudding and I had the vanilla pudding. This course was just okay. I would've preferred a heartier dessert like cake, pie, or brownies. To drink I had a sparkling lychee/peach 'tini. Really good and packed with a punch. If this restaurant were in LA we'd be there all of the time. The best part is that it was A LOT less expensive than I thought it would be. Very happy with my experience here :) Whoops forgot something!..I'm not a bitchy yelper.. but ok the host was rude. That's the only negative. I asked him how long the wait was for a table inside and he said he didn't know. C'mon dude! I was a host years ago and there's a a system to it. A screen that says what courses each table is on etc. So for example if table 10 is on dessert.. well then u can imagine that it'd probably be available in 15 minutes or so. If every table has just been seated well then it will be quite some time. Don't just say you don't know. Ok I'm done :)
(5)
Tae G.
Usually when I travel, I want ethnic food or something I can't get at home. My cousins and I stopped at this place because we heard it was good. Asuper friendly waiter also enticed us to have a seat and indulge. The waiter was a fast talker with limited English. But, he did a great job with suggesting multiple food items and drinks. First off, the drinks were very good. I had a coconut mojito. It was one of the best I've had! Two cousins had mango mojitos and the other had a recommended mixed drink that looked like a Long Island iced tea. We all tasted each other's and found they were strong and good. I ordered a steamed veggie platter with black beans and plantain. The plantain...just right.mveggies were a bit greasy, but had really good flavors. All of us shared an appetizer platter which included cheeseballs, fried fish, hummus with crispy plantain chips, and bacon wrapped plantain. The hummus was bomb.com !! I couldn't get enough. Aside from the food, drinks, and excellent waiter, the inside had a nice, elegant decor. It was a pretty cream color and felt refreshing to be in after walking in the hot sun. The bathrooms were down this long marble and stair-filled hallway. Just gorgeous! Food and drinks were costly, but hey...it was Miami Beach in the summer and I won't complain.
(4)
Jenn H.
The indoor seating was very nice. Pretty decor & there was a live cuban band playing. Great selection of appetizers, entrees & sandwiches. There was only 1 waiter who could understand English it seems & he was very helpful in making the recommendation - The empanadas were delicious. I asked for a virgin pina calada & it was super yummy.
(4)
Eric O.
This is some of the best Cuban food I've ever had (and I'm Cuban). Larios has the best of everything...awesome location in the middle of South Beach, amazing authentic Cuban food, and great music and atmosphere. It's one of several restaurants owned by Gloria Estefan around Miami. We started the night out with some mojitos, which are amazing here. They come with a stick of pure sugar cane and everything. I ordered the vaca frita, and it was hands down the best I've ever had...they serve it here to you on a skillet. All of our sides, like maduros, rice, etc. where all flawless. We capped the meal with some Tres Leches for dessert, also the best Tres Leches I've ever had - you have to try it. Our server, Pablo, was a machine and was reading our mind throughout the whole meal. Wish I could eat here every night. Don't miss out on Larios if you're near South Beach!
(5)
Yarimar C.
The best cuban food I have had!! everytime I go I try something different and each plate is amazing- My personal favorite is la Ropa Vieja which is delicious!!!!.
(5)
Never M.
I was really hoping to see Gloria here! :-( But the food made up for that. The service was bad. Our waiter hovered ALOT and was also very rude, short and abrupt. But then again so was the rest of the staff. My boyfriend had a steak cuban which was outstanding, yours truly had a garlic shrimp dish with the best jasmine rice ever. We went for lunch and had 2 drinks each no dessert. This "lunch" cost my boyfriend $115.
(3)
Esmeralda P.
I was pleasantly surprised!!! If you love cuban food this is the place in Miami Beach. Great food, Servers are awesome and the mojitos the best!!! The prices are good too. Being in a huge group of people we had bad luck at another place. But here they were on the ball!!! We tried their lunch to see and came back with reservations for dinner. I go back to Miami I will go there again and again. I have tried Cuban food before and at several places back at home but in Miami Beach I felt it was close to it all and you couldnt go wrong here. Service is great. She was patient with us and got the order right every single time. Cheers!
(5)
Kaustav M.
Awesome location, atmosphere, sweet plantains, shrimp criolla, sangria and service. We wanted to try Cuban food and certainly this was a good start! I didn't know it was owned by Gloria Estefan but what the heck, it was awesome!
(4)
Ian P.
Went to larios on a Saturday night with 6 people. I had the roast pork which was delicious. There were several fatty pieces that I didn't like but I know some people love that. Several friends had the Cuban steak and loved it. The moro rice was decent but kind of plain, and the sweet plantains are definitely yummy. The fried plantains are fairly dry and bland so the sweet ones are a no brainer. I had the guava martini which was yummy but very sweet. Fair prices, and the ambience is very loud as they have a dance floor in the front but the music is great. Would definitely go again.
(3)
David F.
Wow everything we got at this place was awesome! Ropa Vieja, plantains, tamales, fried pork and the mojitos! So good! I want to go back!
(4)
Rob E.
My wife and I wanted some authentic Cuban food while on a weekend trip to Miami. It was either Larios or Puerto Sagua and we choose Larios because of its proximity to our hotel and atmosphere (Puerto Sagua looks like a diner). We originally were going to sit outside but we could immediately tell that the service was going to be very slow and we would probably be forgotten about. So, we decided to switch to a table indoors. We ordered the Ceviche to begin with. It was a nice and refreshing beginning to our meal and we both enjoyed it. For the entree, we both had the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, rice and black beans on the side along with plantains. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and we both enjoyed it. We washed everything down with a carafe of red sangria, which was ok (bit on the sweet side). Only negative thing about this restaurant is the pace of the service. We felt like they were rushing us out, probably so they could turn through as many tables as possible on a Friday night. There's a 50/50 chance we would go back again. I think next time we would opt for the more casual Puerto Sagua and give it a try for something more authentic.
(3)
Brian F.
I recommend this restaurant, but if you're looking to ave your socks knocked off, go elsewhere. Perhaps the people I was with simply raised my expecations to a lace where they could not be met but either way I walked away feeling a little, well, underwhelmed. I was there two nights this week. The first night I had the seafood combo that was highly recommended and the second night I had the marsitas de puerco. The former was good with a reasonable amount of shellfish and a broth that was decently seasoned. I like big flavors and I was told by the server to expect big flavors, but it simply didn't deliver. Again, it was good, just not great. The latter, a pork dish, was very flavorful, but the pieces were so dry for the most part except two or three of the last pieces that were perfect. The unevenness was disappointing. The menu for the most part is reasonable and affordable. The ambiance is fun and lively and you feel like you're in a really nice restaurant, but the prices are reasonable.
(3)
Aboud Y.
I love Larios and the food and atmosphere never disappoint. Its one of my favorite places in Miami for lunch/dinner and people watching.
(4)
Eric L.
Good food, prices reasonable for Ocean Ave. Sit outside to people watch. Best Mojito I had in S. Beach.
(4)
James M.
Our fav Cuban in South Beach for 3 years. The "Luxury", rum mojito is the best in my life- had on several occasions. Roast pork, fatty as expected,but the best in my life. People watching great. Side mixed vegetables excellent. They include asparagus!
(5)
Jennifer M.
We decided to eat here based on reviews. I'm so glad we did! It's so tasty. The decor is fun with lit up chairs in the waiting area. We wanted to eat outside but they couldn't accommodate a party of six so we sat inside. The have live entertainment that plays outside and inside. We had the potato balls (can't remember the name) and the pork tamale. The tamale was so moist but lacked pork. The potatoes balls were delicious. I ordered the Cuban style skirt steak with chimichurri. That steak was a-MAZING! And the chimichurri was just as good I ordered extra and poured it on my rice and beans. Their mojitos are stiff. Service was great. We really enjoyed this place and will visit again when in Miami.
(5)
Anabelle B.
I had a great experience at Larios On The Beach. Food was great, service was good and prices are expected for a place in South Beach owned by a celebrity. I would definitely go back. Unfortunately the crowd is very predictable, hot dudes with flashy/tacky clothes and hot chicks with fake boobs and Versace bags, very South Beach.
(4)
Shannon M.
I figured that being in SoBe I had to have Cuban food and what better place to eat than with a view of the ocean across the street. Now I knew this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant (or at least it used to be since the menus now say 'Bongos'?) but I expected much more from the decor and the food. I felt like I was in a slightly upscale Chilis. It seemed very touristy and I knew that couldn't be a good sign. I think the best food here are the mojitos, which were really good, otherwise I was pretty disappointed. The ceviche was practically inedible - the fish was chewy and tasted like it had been soaked in lime juice for days. I actually wasn't even sure the fish was good, so saving myself a night of praying to the porcelain g-d I only ate a small amount. I had the fried pulled chicken with grilled onions - it was ok, but didn't have a lot of flavor. The mixed rice with beans was better and so were the sweet plantains, but those are kind of hard to screw up. We passed on dessert since we had a huge lunch and assumed their flan was probably nothing to write home about. The live music was a nice touch, but also annoying when you're trying to have a conversation. Also holiday songs sung in Spanish doesn't really say latin/cuban to me. I'm sure there are so many better cuban restaurants in Miami - probably most not on Ocean Dr. - that are probably better worth the money spent.
(2)
Henry R.
Bloody Mary drinks are weak. Your better off getting a V8. Sandwiches are not bad just nothing to brag about. This place has a sign saying they have the best Cuban food. If your going to make that claim you better bring it !!! Larios you may be good but no the best.
(2)
J. K.
Too many mojitos to choose from, mango mojito was great! We had pork based appetizers, shrimp cariolla, skirt steak, chimchiri pork, etc. Dim lighting inside made it impossible to figure out what on earth we were eating, but tasted great nonetheless. It seemed to be at the end of the Ocean Drive's many restaurants that try to lure you in. Great find. Great way to end a night. I wish I had a mojito.
(4)
Zeela D.
Otherwise known as Gloria Estefan's "Bongos" restaurant, this place is a great way to experience Cuban Food and enjoy the view of Ocean Drive in Miami. My sister and I shared the combo appetizer which included fried pork chunks, shrimp on a fried plantain, tamale with sweet corn and pork, and a fried pork ball similar to an empanada. I ordered the minced beef with fried plantains and rice mixed with red beans. For dessert I had a Cuban coffee with condensed milk and the cinnamon rice pudding. I have tried the Bongos restaurant in Orlando, but this one has more of an authentic atmosphere and ambiance. So if you are in the Miami Beach area, then you need to do as Gloria Estefan says and "Get on your feet!" and go to Bongos!
(4)
Lia K.
Awesome Palm tree views, strong mojitos, delicious, huge portions of cuban style skirt steak, maduros, fried yucca, and shrimp crilloa. We left stuffed but wanting to stick around to dance.
(4)
Cindy F.
The food was decent, however I became violently ill after eating here. 48 hours of N/V/D and an ER visit. No Yumma
(1)
John C.
This place rocks! I took my wife here for our first date when we moved to Miami. We're not normally the South Beach types, but dinner here kicked off a night that we'll remember for a long time! The interior was incredible, the wait staff was friendly, the atmosphere was fancy and fun all at the same time - and then our food!!.... Wow. Fantastic eats with very reasonable prices for South Beach! I've eaten at probably a dozen cuban joints since eating here and none have been better than Larios on the Beach.
(5)
Kevin A.
LIFE LESSON #34783: AVOID RESTAURANTS OWNED BY CELEBRITIES Oh Gloria...oye MI canto... I had high expectations of Larios, but they sadly were not met. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the live Cuban music is a nice touch. But the food and service sadly fell short. The pork chunks were plentiful, but lacked the flavor of Puerto Sagua's version. The mojitos are a ridiculous $11 and are made too sweet for American-ized tastes. Not at all like the ones I had in Havana. And finally, the paella Valencia. Lots of seafood including a small lobster tail, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams, but a little too soupy and lacking the intoxicating saffron flavor I was craving. Also, I felt totally ripped off when ordering this dish. The menu says that the dish is for two people, but DOES NOT state that the $38 price is PER PERSON. $76 for a plate of paella? Yes there was a small lobster tail in there, but that's a little ridiculous. Our waiter was unapologetic and we left feeling like we got screwed. Service was also lacking as they staff seemed to be too busy joking around and talking to each other to refill water glasses and check on their customers. I won't be back and suggest you steer clear as well.
(2)
Eric C.
Great people watching spot in Miami. I'm not a specialist in Cuban food, but I would come back again if I'm in Miami.
(4)
David R.
The mojitos were excellent. The food was average for Cuban food. This is a trendy SoBe spot but you can get better and cheaper food in Miami.
(3)
Rachel T.
Larios is what initially sparked my deep burning love for Cuban food. Don't do yourself an injustice by letting its primo touristy locay deter you . .. or the fact that its celebrity owned . . . as I have seen many a SoBe local convert to a Larios regular upon experiencing its amazing, authentic goodness that you just don't find at all that many places within Sobe lines. (This is typically after dragging them reluctantly to Ocean Dr.) This is not the area's typical tourist trap using 2-for-1 drinks to lure in unsuspecting, wide-eyed victims in. It's not even on the same planet.
(5)
Mariel G.
Skirt Steak! Try it! with the Chim churri sauce and sweet fried plantains! It's tender, it's well seasoned, it's the perfect size! when you cut the steak, cut a medium-size to large size portion, then scoop up some rice, and plantains and your mouth and taste buds will tingle and make your tummy soooo happy, it'll be proud that it's owned by you. (then afterwards, you may not be proud to own that tummy, but IT'S WORTH IT)
I went to Larios on the recommendation of the concierge at the hotel I was staying at in North Beach. Having become a convert to Cuban food the day before there was no hesitation in indulging again. Upon arrival, the sidewalk seating was packed. My party opted to sit inside where it was hectically busy but not unpleasant. Being a fiend for mojitos, I started off with the "Spicy Mojito" made with Sailor Jerry's spiced rum and was blown away with the intensity of flavor. For an app I gave the tamale a shot and was quite satisfied with the richness of flavor. For my entree I ordered the roast pork which was unbelievably flavorful, as were the rice and beans. The service was a bit pokey, but the place was packed, the food amazing and it was Saturday night in South Beach so all's forgiven.
(4)
TL C.
We ate outside so service was decent, but not extraordinary. However, they get a pass on this, I couldn't imagine trying to wait tables while hordes of people pass through the "restaurant". I enjoyed the seafood combo platter (I think that is what it was called). It was phenomenal. My friend enjoyed the steak. The ceviche is served with plantain chips. It's good, not incredible, but good. The mojitos were also very good, but pricey.
(4)
Erica C.
Last night my husband and I took a drive down to South Beach. We decided to hit up Larios, thinking that this popular hot spot would live up to the flavor and spice of its owner. The mixed greens salad was anything but, seemed to be full of just romaine, if that. The fried pork was good, but tasted a bit reheated. I am not a big fan of waiting for food, but ordering dinner plates and receiving the...m 5 minutes later worries me about how freshly prepared the food is. Needless to say, the rice was undercooked, the sweet plantains tough, and the shrimp was overcooked. His vaca frita was only half fried. I've had fresher, properly cooked, bigger portions at local Cuban places for half the price. Overall, very disappointed and won't be returning.
(1)
Alex F.
Service is great, food is delicious, atmosphere is just right, music is South Beach...wonderful dinner spot. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Cezaro L.
I had my reservations about coming here with a group of 10 after reading these reviews... but bit the bullet and made some reservations anyways. Glad we did. Our waiter was charming and attentive (maybe because we were all about the Calle Ocho (aged rum mojito)), the food wait wasn't too long, and we loved the salsa music, pleasantly crowded feel and plush decor. There is dancing on Friday nights and some people were getting really into it. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable given the quality of food, service, and the unbeatable location. My chicken dish (can't go wrong with pollo asado and arroz moro--it's a Cuban restaurant, come on!) was awesome, filled me up completely and cost $13.95. The same dish at Puerto Sagua (a block away) is also pretty good, but not all that much cheaper and comes with a much dinkier atmosphere. I got the impression that most of the restaurants in SoBe are pretty touristy and not very authentic, so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria Estefan's place. Lario's was a pleasant surprise: a great place to get dressed up and eat some good food before a night on the town over Spring Break--without breaking the bank.
(4)
SteFUNe e.
Beautiful Gloria Estefan owned restaurant. Food was good, being on a budget I looked for the most modestly priced item on the menu and chose the chicken. 2 girls got the lobster and 1 got the shrimp. I believe between the 4 of us we polished off 8-10 large souvenir size glasses of mojitos. We had a really good time here and they even had a live salsa band playing which made me start crying because my dad loved salsa music and he had been gone at this time 1 1/2 years, while the music played I felt his presence and I started crying uncontrollably. IT was that beautiful. I excused myself and went to the restroom, fixed my face, took a deep breath and went back to our table. Mind you up to this point we had been paying the food bills by what you ordered NOT split 4 ways..ok, so the bill came......my friend saw it first and started to LAUGH OUT LOUD. For 4 girls the bills was $279!!! Holy Sh*#! They were all like...well "Let's just split the bill 4 ways so that we don't have to worry about who owes what"....eeeerrrrr record scratches, hold up chica, uhm I don't think so! I got chicken you ballers got lobster tail and shrimp. they were not so happy! hahahahahah, that was a riot. but seriously be prepared to have a great time, with good food, and spend a bunch of ferria there. I would def go there again.
(4)
empress W.
This place really bombed! 6 ladies and a birthday girl. It was 9pm and the place is packed. Thank G we made a reservation! Hostess looked busy, our waiter stressed. We could barely hear each other because the music was turned up so high. The crab fritters were doughy and mushy. The fish ceviche, delicious! That's one star. The seafood plate both grilled and with some red sauce were ok. Everyone who ordered steak was disappointed. Overcooked and bland and tough. We mentioned this but nothing was done. Cafe cubano was the best! That's the 2nd star. I will go back for coffee only but this place is a tourist trap for real.
(2)
Sara N.
A friend that lives in Miami brought me here and said this was a great place to eat. The place was busy for a Monday night. I had the shrimp creole which came with white rice and plantains. We also shared an appetizer. Everything was great, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was good. No complaints here. I asked if they could substitute the white rice for brown. They said they didn't have any but then again, it was hard finding healthy options in South Beach.
(4)
Tina P.
I had high hopes for this place. We saw it during the day time, and decided that we had to have it for dinner. I was saving my stomach for some authentic Cuban food. I ordered a beef dish like a skirt steak which comes with a side of white rice and plantains. the steak was juicy, but unfortunately lack any taste. My friend ordered the fried rice with fried chicken that tasted better than my dish, but not by much. too bad i left Miami's cuban food on a bleh note.
(3)
Andre L.
Food was good and vibe was great. Service needs improvement. It missed the two star cause of it.
(3)
Michelle S.
Maybe it's what I ordered but I had the absolute WORST club sandwich ever here. It was bland and the bacon was soggy and greasy. The fries were cold and the service slow. My friend had the pan con busted and wasn't impressed either. I won't be coming back to this lario's.
(2)
Anthony A.
South Beach views and good food. What can be wrong with such a combination. The steak was made perfectly tender, seasoned and warm. I will recommend this place to everyone that visting the area.
(4)
Cristina L.
Loved it! Was there yesterday ordered sangrias and grilled fish with rice and beans and sweet plantains and I loved every bit of it!!!!! If your in Miami you must eat here!
(5)
Madhu S.
Yuck! Am sitting here after my completely untasty meal thinking I need to tell my fellow Yelpers to stay away!!!! Bland bland bland! I had to add salt to everything just to get it down. And whats with the mandatory tip? My waiter was so disinterested and he gets my 18% tip no matter what, so why should he care? Goya makes better arroz con pollo. And all the vegetables were frozen veggies that they just defrosted and put on out plates. They actually decorated my fish with chopped peas and carrots that you would find at costco. Did I mention there was no seasoning. Anyway, very disappointing. Not coming back anytime soon.
(1)
Teresa G.
The first thing I wanted when I got go Miami was yummy Cuban food. I had been to Lario's last time I was in Miami so I decided to go there again...it's conveniently located near my hotel. Anyhow, my server was an older gentleman named Antonio. He was attentive and pleasant and made sure they got my order correct. I had the arroz con pollo...it was decent, the chicken breast was a little dry, but the rice was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the fried plantains...weird taste and texture. I would give the service a 5 stars and the food 3 stars.
(4)
robert s.
This has great vibe and price for food right on Ocean Dr on South Beach. We had the black bean and chicken noodle soup for appetizer. It was delicious but could be warmer, very hearty. Then had the roasted garlic chicken. The chicken was a little dry for me but tasted good. Overall a great value and taste compared to all the other tourist traps. This restaurant was recommended to me a short skirted hottie Latina, you knew it had to be a legitimate deal.
(4)
E. L.
We had a great time and a fantastic meal at Larios, but when you're eating fried pork you can't really go wrong. ;) We drank mojitos (spiced Sailor Jerry's) and margaritas (guava, sweet but yum!) and Sangria (simple, but not watered down by ice. Thanks, Gloria Estefan!). We ordered the combo of small plates (see the bottom of the appetizer menu) and shared it among 4 people. It was perfectly salty, fried, plantain-ey, and fun, though I would have liked some salsa or chimichurri sauce for dipping. (included stuffed, fried potatoes, plaintain cups filled with shrimp creole and cuban beef, amazing ham croquettes, and a pork tamale) We also ordered the malanga bisque...ORDER IT! Malangal is similar to a potato, but more airy. The soup was like foamy, starchy, seasoned milk and it was heavenly. Finally, skip the paella if you're not a true lover of paella and order the seafood combo on the top of the entrees list. It's practically the same thing, ingredient-wise, without the hefty price tag or the hour-long prep time. Though beware, the creole sauce is Salty. If you're sensitive, ask them to cut it with some wine or add less salt. Myra was our waitress, and she was Fantastic! We ordered 3 entrees for 4 people (see above re: the huge appetizer we ate) and she gave us an assortment of the side dishes that come with entrees so we could try everything (two kinds of rice, two kinds of plaintains, and buttery garlicy yucca. Amazing!). All in all, we had a boozy early dinner for 4 for less than $200, including tip. Well worth it, especially compared to the other options on South Beach!
(4)
Kris B.
Excellent Cuban food! I had the chicken & onions with red beans & rice and sweet plantains. It was DELICIOUS! My friend had the Mango shrimp and it was also really good. The one hold up . . . when we sat down, our server came over and offered us sparkling water or bottled water. He stated it like those were our only options for water. We quickly said we'd just have tap water and he seemed taken aback. This bothers me b/c I know it's just a way to trick customers into paying for a beverage and I think I should have the choice rather than being tricked into thinking it's my only option. Other than this, the food was good. I had the same meal later in the week at a different Cuban restaurant and the meal at Larios was definitely better.
(4)
Lauri H.
Great service. Flavorful food, but nothing spectacular. Good mojitos...but there are a lot of good mojitos in SoBe. My husband had the pork and loved the flavor and moistness. I had the flank steak (or was it skirt steak). It seemed a little oily, but perfectly cooked. Plantains were delish and white rice and black beans had good flavor. Not disappointing, but not great. Hoping for better. Good thing I'm in Miami for a few more days and can try someplace else in the hopes of finding something great.
(3)
Amauri V.
I've been going to Lario's for years and the food was as good this last time (9/12) as it's ever been. The portions are awesome although it's a bit pricey. Definitely a good place to come with a crowd, just make sure you call ahead. The waiter forgot about our mariquitas but made it up with complimentary dessert. Too bad the band is not there anymore - replaced by a dj a while back - but overall it's still recommended.
(3)
Soco R.
One of the most beautifully decorated restaurants I've ever encountered. The dark wood contrasted with bright colored artwork was breathtaking. Made me feel like I was home. And the platanos were on point! A must when in South Beach.
(5)
Smiling I.
Had dinner here in 2007, and memories were good. Had lunch here last Wednesday and likely never again. Service awful and food was so-so. The waitress didn't care and never refilled the water. She had a good time talking with her friends, versus checking on the clients. I would have had a glass of wine had she come back. The nail in the coffin was the assumed 18% gratuity that was added on which I paid to the penny instead of rounding up. Would not recommend for lunch, but will still remember the dinner I had fondly.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
Im sure tourists on the beach go crazy for this cuban restaurant. But AGAIN just another commerical based cuban food.
(2)
Julie R.
This place is nice, they offer great food, and live bands on the weekends, i enjoyed my time there, the only thing i can complain about was the service, it could have been just one of those days, but the service was just too slow. Food and Entertainment 5 stars
(4)
Wendy B.
This place used to be so great. Sadly, it's gone a bit down-hill in the recent year or so. i tried to attached photos i took in 2004 when it was out of sight. They still know how to do Ceviche and boiled yucca. The Mojito glasses bug me now. You can still buy a cigar on the sidewalk which is nice for my boyfriend who loves a good cigar. I believe there is a chance one could still have a good experience here- sort of hit or miss place. Eat outside for sure.
(3)
Allison A.
After a series of horrible food and service in SOBE, I must say the food was impressive. Everything was superb. I went on a Saturday night and the place was crowded along with great music and dancing. Service there.. eh, what do you expect in SoBe?! Not to mention, Whoopi Goldberg was there!
(4)
Sandra A.
Not that impressed. Overpriced and service was so-so. Our appetizers came out in 2 minutes and was lukewarm. I know it must have sat out and was not fresh. My rice was cold and crunchy, maybe it sat in their rice cooker too long. Main dishes were not impressive by any means. Very disappointed, other than its great location there was nothing else to brag about.
(2)
Jim M.
Air conditioning is not very good, prepare to sweat when you eat. Food was just ok and so was the service. Gretai location,
(3)
avalon e.
Cuban??? Or just a tacky touristy all american eatery? Me thinks its the latter. There is nothing Cuban about the stuff they offer. The huge fried red snapper was a good deal but I've had better fried fish before.
(3)
Thi T.
When in Rome...I guess when in South Beach! Cubans galore and when we visited South Beach we just lived the live. Gloria Estefan's Lario's is a terrific place for a great meal. The service is OK, but the food was great. Of course, I had the ropa vieja. It was so great. The rice was tasty, as were the plaintains. No complaints here! Food serving sizes were generous. Too bad my margie wasn't so big. My frozen strawberry marg was the best drink I've had in a while. I guess down in South Beach they know how to do frozen alcohol. Darn it, should have had a Miami Beach while I was there! What was I thinking!?
(3)
Idolka S.
Like another person wrote, this place is truly a tourist trap. In fact, I hope tourists who visit Miami don't eat here because they're definitely not going to have an accurate experience of what GOOD Cuban food is really like. The service is okay (very slow but okay considering the atmosphere), but the food is, for starters, expensive, and 2nd, not very good. I had steak, which I ordered Medium, and it came Medium Well, almost Well Done. Normally, this would be okay but when you're paying about $16 for a piece of sirloin, I'd expect them to get it right. Also, some of the other people's food that was in my group arrived cold. The sides were not good at all. The fried plantains and boiled yucca were not good WHATSOEVER... and neither were the fries. Really, anyone who thinks this is a great place for Cuban food clearly knows nothing about Cuban food and is clearly not from Miami because anyone who lives in Miami can probably name 20 places with better food. I'm not even sure why Gloria Estefan associates herself with this place. If you want better Cuban food, try Mojitos at the Dolphin Mall... parking is not scarce (like in South Beach) and it's free. Their food is actually good, by the way. There's also a place called La Esquina del Lechon that's also in Doral and their food is EXCELLENT (don't let the fact that it's next to a gas station fool you- the inside is super nice and the quality of the food is GREAT). You can also try Calle Ocho. They have good restaurants, as well. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine is also a great choice for Cuban food and they have several locations around Miami. If you're a tourist, I suggest you venture out of South Beach for a day or two... you'd be surprised what you find.
(2)
Marty W.
Wasn't bad but I also expected a lot more! I heard this place was one of the famous hot spots in south beach but the hubby & I were not fans. The food tasted good but was small in portion and the prices were definitely much higher than expected. Not the best mojotos, they seem more on the sweet side- I had a mango and the hubby had papaya & a little lite on the alcohol. We didn't hate this place, I think we were just expecting much more.
(3)
Christina A.
For south beach food (which tends to suck), this place is pretty good. The food is decent Cuban food, and Cuban food at ridiculous beach prices = normal priced food. I had the Bistec Empanizado when I went (which is what I ALWAYS order). It was good, nothing stood out over any of the other Cuban restaurants in Miami. BUT, if you want reasonably priced food at the beach and you're in the mood for Cuban, I'd point you here.
(4)
Jessica L.
Super cute atmosphere. Live band inside. Very good funky flan!
(4)
J. N.
We had a really good experience at Larios. We walked up and down Ocean Blvd for a good half hour before settling in to a spot for lunch. I was amazed at the shiesty tactics some restaurants used to try to reel you in.... half price meals, but the meals cost $30? It was overwhelming. Lario's didn't have any specials but their menu was priced really well for the area and the atmosphere seemed a little bit more appropriate for our group. The Mojitos (as per every other review on here!) really were amazing. The tostones with beef and shrimp were really good - I preferred the beef. I had the Cuban sandwich which was HUGE. Ham, pork, swiss, pickles, mustard.... really, really good. The french fries were good but I wish I asked to substitute something else. My friends had the Black Bean Wrap and the Steak Sandwich, both of which were also really good. I'm sure this place is mad touristy, but I was a tourist... a tourist with no laptop for yelp, no knowledge of the area, and I was not disappointed in the least.
(4)
Remy M.
One of my favorite dishes is bistec empenizado steak (kinda like a pounded, breaded, fried thin steak), and Larios' empenizado is among the best I've had. The rice and fried plantains are also great. However, they lose a star on service. Sometimes the service is decent, other times it's terrible, but rarely, if ever, is it great. But, wow, great food and great location!
(4)
Teresa M.
The food was delicious and the service was great! I would go again! It has a great Cuban feel! And I loved the music!
(4)
Jul B.
undeniably the best restaurant I've been to on the Ocean Dr strip. I was extremely impressed with the food. Yes, the service sucks. Yes, our food took forever to come - but it tasted amazing. If you want great food, I highly recommend Larios. I ordered a garlic shirmp dish with rice and plantain. - A+ status.
(4)
Jamie A.
We went to Larios for lunch. Great location and nice decor. We both got cuban sandwiches which seemed to be overpriced and nothing special. Get the plantain chips! They were the best part of our dining experience.
(2)
Heather S.
The service was terrible. Food was just OK. Def. not impressed. Waitress barely came around to see if anyone needed drinks or how we were doing.
(2)
Mitch K.
I took my wife on her first trip to South Beach and we hit a home run with Larios on a Saturday night. We loved the food and service and sitting outside on along the street made for great entertainment. The mojitos were very good as well as the food. Even with the other restaurants begging us to eat at their establishments, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Patrick P.
Food was ok but found out that the 15 dollar steak was actually a 55 dollar steak when the waiter mistook my order. They did try to compensate me with 20% off but not happy our bill was over $150 when all was said and done.
(2)
DQ M.
Have the whole Red Snapper but remember: 18% gratuity is already added. It was my first meal/first dinner on South Beach - and it was one of Ocean Drive's tourist traps, but it was decent and filling.
(4)
Leslie C.
I dined at the beautiful restaurant on Friday August 29, 2014. The ambiance and the staff are wonderful and inviting. You feel like you're in a different place eating the food and enjoying the live music. We didn't want to leave. The mango mojito makes me want to recreate them (hopefully in my own kitchen) and I'm happy to say that I tasted ceviche for the first time here and it was delicious!!!! As well as the paella. I'm in love with this place. And hopefully I will return soon. Keep up the great work!!!
(4)
Andres D.
This place will always be a favorite for anyone coming to South Beach and looking for Cuban food! The chicken vaca frita (a twist on traditional beef) is amazing along with some moro rice and tostones! The service is great and ambiance is FUN! keep an eye on for a great waiter in the making, Bryan who has all the qualities of an outstanding employee!
(5)
Jeff P.
Disappointing. The ambiance, service, food and drinks were simply disappointing. UGH, a poor choice of mine--I regret that I broke my golden rule by not leaving once I realized it was a total mistake. Lot's of choices, make a better one. Overcooked food. Under-presented. Unbalanced Mohito. Misguided service. Good music choice - but way too loud. Leftover decorations. Gloria, are you thinking?
(1)
Josselyn W.
Went here for a late dinner twice while I was staying on South Beach. This place is definitely a step up from the rest of the Ocean Ave tourist traps - food is reasonably priced, and everything we had was delicious! Service was ok - both times the waiters weren't the most attentive. Had a roasted chicken dish with a yummy sauce one night, and then had the beef in a skillet sauteed with spices and onions (one of their specials) the other night. Both items were very tender and flavorful! Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a Cuban place with a large selection of dishes, and also the $15-25 per entree range.
(4)
Tom M.
Had the Cuban and it was dry - needed more mustard and more pickles - but the meat was pretty good. The say they have world famous mojito, but I thought it just average.
(2)
Leslie J.
Decor: I think the Estefans did a beautiful job decorating this restaurant. There is vibrant paint and colorful paintings of Gloria adorned on the walls. Ambiance: Located right off 8th & Ocean right next to News Cafe, Larios is sure to lure in many hungry customers. Service: Friendly and fast. Food: Larios will offer huge family-sized portions so sharing with a big group is highly emphasized. Even two dishes seemed overly plentiful for two people. We ordered papas rellenas and fried yucca as appetizers to munch on. For entrees, we ordered the Lechon Asado and the Fried Pork Bites. I really enjoyed the outside crust of the papas rellenas. It was rolled in some type of spice (possibly paprika). Whatever it was, it was delicious. The fried yucca was cooked to perfection - crispy on the outside, moist on the inside (one of my faves). The fresh garlic sauce that accompanies the yucca will give you massive garlic breath afterwards so I would ease off of it unless you want to protect yourself from vampires. The lechon asado was slow cooked in this ridiculously flavorful sauce (it was likely all the pork juices that oozed out from cooking it). The lechon was so soft and moist that I could easily shred each piece with my fork. The fried pork bites was a nice alternative to fried chicken chunks because unlike white meat chicken, the pork meat wasn't dry. Each of our entrees came with a mound of white rice and maduros (sweet fried plantains). I found the maduros here to be sweeter and softer than other Cuban spots I've tried in Miami which I appreciated. Overall, I thought Larios was a pretty decent dining experience. Even by the beach, I have yet to experience bad food or service. Only thing I hoped for was that they played Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, ha!
(4)
Michael B.
Ordered the Rad Snapper and was not disappointed.
(4)
Holly R.
Meh is the best way to describe the food. We went to Larios for Valentine's Day and the atmosphere is very quaint in the side courtyard of the Ocean Drive Cordoza hotel. But the food was so very uninspired. Especially the stale, fried apps that tasted like they had been sitting around. Flank steak was disappointing. The flan was probably the highlight of the meal. So many good restaurants in Miami that it stinks to waste a meal.
(2)
Orlando B.
Went to their temporary pop-up place in the Cardozo Hotel. Maybe just the day we went, but it really wasn't that crowded. Not sure if this place just has hype or what. Food was fine. Nothing that was so noteworthy, I remember, but still better than the 100% tourist traps right on the road. You are looking at $70-75 for 2 people drinks/appetizers/meal etc., which is about average for Miami Beach. Would I go back? Probably.
(3)
Don T.
I would have given this place 3-4 stars if it were not for the waiter or management. We had 12 people there Friday night for dinner and to celebrate a birthday party for our friend who turned 40 something. The waiter spent the first 15-20 minitues questioning whether we could pay the bill before the food ot drinks came. Outragous. What he did know was 12 of the 12 people at the table were company owners, professionals and executives at large companies. We asked the waiter would you have asked this question if we were not different or people of color? and he said course no. He explained that the new owners or management changed its policy about large groups eating and how they should pay. OK. I accept that.. To management there are many places to eat around your place so make sure you spend more time pleasing your customers than investigating them..
(2)
LC B.
So on a trip to South Beach, my bestie recommended eating here since it is owned by Gloria Estefan and that Rachael Ray had mentioned it years ago. So we decided to try their Cuban menu.. We sipped on mojitos while we sat outside..I got mine in a souvenir glass that I got to keep--yay! We both had their roasted pork, rice, and plaintains. I thought the roasted pork was meh..it was dry and disappointing. I did like the plaintains and could care less about the rice. My friend agreed and said she had better Cuban roasted pork. Although, the pork didn't tickle our pickle, I loved it's location across the beach in SoBe where you can sit , sip on mojitos, and people watch.
(3)
Emma V.
Excellant Cuban food.
(4)
Kim M.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars... Thought this place was pretty good! We had a group of 10, and we were suprisingly sat very quickly for a Saturday night! I had 2 cocktails from their bar menu, and they were a bit sweet but decent enough. My friends who had the mojitos said something similar, that they were good but a bit sweet. Three of us split the big combo appetizer and yucca. The yucca was FANTASTIC! Best I have ever had. I've never had yucca that creamy before, and it was so good. I devoured it before anyone else could really get to it (and no regrets!). We then split the grilled seafood platter, which was ok. It was COVERED in butter though, which is not my thing. I ate a few of the calamaris and a scallop, but kind of left it at that. I wasn't super into the crab and lobster, and I was told that they were ok. The fish that came on the platter was also WAY over salted and I literally couldn't eat it. What I ended up eating, and that was really good, was the moro rice. It's a combo of black beans and rice and I thought it was great! It was simple and tasty at the same itme, without being oversalted. In total, I wish that I had just gotten an order of yucca and an order of moro rice. Not the most balanced meal, but has to be healthier than my bowl of butter with seafood.
(3)
Samantha G.
I never had Cuban food, other than Cuban sandwiches, in my life so I was looking forward to checking out Lario's. I split the shredded beef with onions with one of my friends, which also came with a side of moro rice and fried plantains. I enjoyed the crispiness of the meat but it also was juicy as well. The plantains and rice complimented the dish very well. For drinks, our table ordered 3 sangrias to start off night. Although the sangrias were delicious, I felt that they were somewhat weak. The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the service here. It felt like the waiters were rushing us during our entire experience. That was frustrating since the majority of us never had Cuban food. They also forgot our bread too, which turned out to be nothing special anyways.
(4)
Lester M.
As a local, I really could care less about this place. It is what it is. A tourist place that serves over hyped, over priced cuban food. But I had friends from England, we were at the beach and they wanted cuban food. So here we are. The service was terrible. Our server took our order by memory and realized his memory was not very good. To the point that he had to run to the kitchen to intersect the order to correct it. I asked for a sampler to find that, since the last time I was here, years ago, they have considerable reduce the size of it. They say it serves two. I say it serves me and that's it. I was baffled by the new drink menu. The $50 glass bowl full of ice and some mojito is just ridiculous. But hey, people buy it. Unless requested by some friend or family from out of town. I'm not coming here anymore.
(1)
Heather K.
For her birthday dinner, one of my friends was adamant that she wanted Cuban food....so we came here. I went with my trusty Latin "safe" food and got the ceviche. It was pretty good but not incredible. I also had the tomato salad which was literally just half a tomato cut into slices with a plastic cup of Italian-tasting dressing on the side. Uhmm for like $8 or something. Eek. It was good though, and the tomato was fresh. Our service was prompt and courteous. They have a wide variety of mojitos on the bar menu and they're all really good (and probably the most authentic ones we had during our whole vacation). A couple negatives though: the prices are rather high, even considering its tourist-trappy location. And the bathroom is kind of gross.
(3)
Sylvia K.
Beautiful restaurant... Known for their mojitos... We had the BEST Yummy Cuban food here while visiting South Beach... lots of seating inside and outside... we opted to be inside with the A/C since the humidity was a killer this August. We had a party of 7 and everyone at the table loved their meal. I had the Skirt steak with chimchiri sauce, mojo rice and fried sweet plantains.. That right there hit the spot!! Satisfying my cuban craving!! Woulda have given it a 5 star rating but one negative was the service...ther server was not attentive and did not check on us as often as he should have. Wasn't the friendliest either, maybe he was having a bad day... regardless, food was BOMB.com !
(4)
Tatiana B.
Six of us were walking in South Beach on a Sunday evening, nobody was starving but we decided to go in here and have a few appetizers as I've been wanting to try the place for a while. We sat outside although it was not a great table as it was in the far corner with tree branches right on our heads. We ordered some mojitos and they were awful. No soda, almost no sugar, just plain bland. This would have been a 4-star review but I'm taking off 1 star because of the mojitos, especially when they are 12 dollar mojitos. Since we were "not hungry", we ordered some appetizers to share. We decided on the stuffed potatoes, stuffed plantain with ropa vieja, ham croquettes, cod fritters, mojo marinated pork bites and fried yucca. OMG. Everything was SO delicious!! I was very surprised to say the least as I kind of expected it to be "tourist trap food". The cod fritters were amazing; very different, there was some sweetness to them and they came with this amazing passion fruit dipping sauce that I could eat a bucket by itself. The stuffed plantains and stuffed potatoes were good as well. The mojo pork bites and yucca fries were our favorites! The pork had soooo much flavor. Seasoned very well, garlicky with a hint of lime. They went perfectly with the yucca fries and garlic dipping sauce. Since we were "not that hungry", we decided to go with a second round of appetizers but only the favorites from the first round. So, round 2 of cod fritters, pork bites and yucca fries. Ding, ding, ding! Win again. We ordered one flan to share for dessert. Very creamy and light just as it should be. Delicious! Food prices are very, very fair. I thought this was going to be outrageously expensive but it wasn't at all.
(3)
LuLu M.
I know Ocean Drive restaurants are not not known for the quality of their food (just that they have primo locations across from the beach) but I LOVE Larios! I come here every time I come to Miami. Everything is right about this place: - Hip and beautiful decor (the bar area is amazing!) - The menu is a mile long with delicious seafood choices, cuban cuisine and delicious drinks - The waitstaff is friendly and helpful! We ordered the Grilled Seafood Plate, Fried Stuffed Potatoes and Ceviche, ALL TO DIE FOR!!! In fact, we came back again the next day for lunch to have it all again. Thanks Gloria Estefan for having such a great establishment!
(4)
Darrell K.
I was visiting Miami and was looking for some good Cuban food and this place was recommended. The food and drinks were excellent. The Owner even came out to check on us. Great place and Ambiance!
(5)
matt h.
The ceviche was tremendous and had a very generous portion of fish. The Cuban sandwich was tasty and filling. We got a great table outside without a reservation at around 10pm on a Wednesday and the service was great. Our server, an older man with a ponytail, was kind enough to let us try both kinds of rice, and put up with our drunken antics. The plantains were really good, and the price of dinner, which did not involve any more drinking, was a very reasonable $50.
(4)
K. D.
In September a group of girl friends and I went to Miami for a bachelorette party. I being the planner, looked into many restaurants to find a fun and tasty place to take the group. I found a ton of positive reviews for this place and decided to make a reservation. I could not be more pleased with our experience. Never have we felt so taken care of. At first we were a little disappointed to be sat in a private room with another large group, but the restaurant was very apologetic . We started our meal out with sangria and a couple appetizers. The chef took the time to come by our table and ask how everything was- which we loved. Afterwards he sent over some special appetizers for us- what a treat! Following our delicious meal he sent over dessert for us and congratulated the bride to be. The small gestures sure went a long way. We felt very special and the time the chef took to ensure our meal with exceptional was great. The service was fantastic and overall we had a wonderful meal. We are still, months later, talking about what a great experience we had at Larios on The Beach!
(5)
Karen r.
Pretty good, a nice option if you want to sit in the middle of the action. I have a feeling that all of the places along Ocean Drive have decent food. You're really paying for the view. The seafood is great; I think Miami generally has fresh, wonderful seafood. I had the roasted chicken, which was nice. Skirt steak was good. Fried plaintains were OK. I would say the prices are about right for the food and location. Service is better than I would have expected (just a little slow) given how crowded this place gets on the weekend. If you want to sit on Ocean Drive and people-watch, grab a meal, this is a good place to do it.
(3)
Victoria A.
LOve love love. My mom and I had the sampler platter and everything on there was delicious, except for the tamale. It was weird and all mixed. However the ambiance was nice, the service was friendly attentive and water was always filled. Our server had wonderful recommendations and made us feel very welcome. WE had fried plantain for dessert and loved it. Definitely plan on going back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Rose N.
Great first meal for our 1st night in Miami. The guava mojitos are a must! Listen to your server and their recommendations, they know best. Our group of 12 listened intently on our server's choices for what she thought was Lario's best and we stuck with it. Many ppl in my group ordered the skirt steak and since we are egg-obsessed, we asked for a fried egg on top. The medium-rare steak, running yolk and the chimichurri were magic together. The roasted chicken was also a good choice and their ceviche served with plantain chips, delish!
(4)
Sam R.
Went here for dinner with a Cubana and lucky I did because no habla espanol! Our waiter hardly spoke english and they had a good conversation while I enjoyed my drink and the atmosphere. Ordered the roasted pork which was just alright and almost dry so I didn't care for it too much. I must say, they had the best black beans and rice I ever had in my life! That is why they are getting 4 stars instead of 3. Overall, nice place, decent food, it gets crowded, prices aren't bad (except for the drinks, but that's expected.) I don't think I would go back, unless to get the beans and rice to go..
(4)
Janessa A.
First off i suggest you valet for 20.00 or youll have to walk a good mile if you are lucky enough to find parking to park in a garage. Nice atmosphere and decor inside, except they seated me and my honey in a little hole in the wall I guess since it was the two of us, but it was still nice and intimate . They serve a variety of drinks my b.f ordered Dos EQUIS beer but I happened to order a frozen straberry daiquiri.($11). which has been by far the best one I've had in a really long time! Appetizers we got the papa rellenos which brought 3 of them kinda weird usually appetizers bring an even number, I recommend that or fried pork chunks. Dinner I decided to get pollo asado($13)- grilled chicken breast with onions, morros and maduros, that with some lime it was really good. My boyfriend ordered vaca frita($15) which is one of their famous dishes although your jaw will get tired from chewing so much. Our waitress and assistant waiter were on top of their game and very helpful, just make sure to check your bill as they add a 17% gratuity already included. Our bill included with tip was about $70 something Overall very nice dinner on the beach.
(4)
Pete R.
Cuban Food Heaven! What else would expect in Miami? As we walked down Ocean Drive pushing past every restaurant with a cute girl in front shoving a menu in our hands and offering us one free drink and $9.99 lunch specials, we were not swayed. I was going to Larios, the night before I had arrived and the kitchen was closed. This was the day. Larios was not in your face with people begging you to come in. In fact it was operating knowing people were just going to go there. We sat outside and were able to watch South Beach go by as we ate, which is always a treat. I wanted Cuban pork and I got it. It was good, not the best I have ever had but a true stand up Cuban Fried Pork Cubes. The Yuca Frittes were the best I have ever had. My Girls shredded chicken was incredible I have never had shredded chicken like that before. Next time I am in MIA I will return, most likely for the shredded pork!
(4)
Christina C.
Went here on Friday night with some friends that were staying on the beach. The place is a typical Cuban restaurant in Miami with the exception that it's right on Ocean Drive. Typically, this is an inconvenience to me given that I have to look for parking (which is a hassle) and given the extensive number of people in the area (it's hard to even walk around). However, it wasn't that bad on Friday night... my friends and I were seated within about 10 to 20 minutes and the service was pretty good. I at the vaca frita (my favorite shredded beef) with white rice and tostones (plantains of some sort or other). We drank wine with our meal and another friend tried some of the martinis. The food was pretty good, but not great. I liked the meal, but in terms of where I would go for Cuban food, this is just not on the top of my list.
(3)
judy n.
It's only taken me 4 years to find a good cuban place down here... My roommate took us here for a yummy late lunch. She highly recommended the Churrascos a lo cubano, (and nothing else) so away we ordered... 3 orders of the Cuban skirt steak, medium rare... and it was OH-So-Tender! Who knew that a skirt steak could be so moist and tasty? The chimichurri sauce was great too! A great match! The Rice and beans it came with were great too, tasty and with just the right amount of spice. and we split a 1/2 carafe of red wine sangria for 10.50. it was a nice match to the meal. (too bad there are no drink specials on mondays, you can walk up the street to the next restaurant and easily get 2 for 1 drinks).
(4)
John W.
The plantain cups. Bueno. The shredded chicken is amazing. Make sure to ask for some Cuban bread. Went with some friends who are local and they eat there all the time. I thought the food was fantastic. The service was pretty good. Our server was very informative. It was a Wed night so the dance floor was pretty mellow. I could see how this place would be good people watching. Great Atmosphere. Only looses one star for the drink prices... but other than that...We'l be back for sure....
(4)
Dannielle C.
Come to miami and indulge in Cuban food! I've honestly never had a bad meal here. Atmosphere is a bit cluttered, a bit touristy for a local, and it's usually busy, but the food is still great!!!
(4)
Zeki G.
Great Cuban food. I recommend it. The pork and the Cuban Style Skirt Steak were great.
(4)
Rick B.
Really good authentic Cuban food. The fried red snapper was superb. The mojito is a must have.
(4)
LESLIE C.
I really had high hopes for this place. It was our last day in Miami and my boyfriend and I wanted some really good cuban food. I have been to Gloria Estefan's other restaurant, Bongo's. And I loved it. This one...not so much. We went at exactly 12...a normal lunch time. Well, the one thing on the menu I really, really wanted was the cuban chicken with yellow rice and sweet plantains. The waiter tells me the chicken isnt ready yet and wont be for over an hour! And the rice isnt ready either! Then he just walks off....doesnt give any other options or offer an apology...nothing. I manage to have someone go track our waiter down and ask him to come back so I could ask him what WAS available. He tells me that is the only thing on the whole menu not ready... Blahh.. So I get the roasted chicken, and asked for yellow rice...but oh, wait, i forgot...its not ready and apparently it takes an hour to make rice. So, I had to settle for white rice. The food was ok...the chicken was kind of greasy but tasted good...and the sweet plantains were awesome. Service not so great- 3 out of 5 Food ok- 3 out of 5 Music/Location/Atmosphere- 5 out of 5 My boyfriend got the cuban sandwich and said it was the worst he had ever had...
(2)
Pamela M.
Stopped in for a drink and light lunch while walking around South Beach. Seated on the patio which made it ideal for the typical SoBe people watching experience. Atmosphere was ok, servers were nice if a little slow. Mojito's are very good but the ones at Tap Tap are much better. Had the fried plantains to start, nice, a little bland and the dipping sauce had a lot of garlic in it. Shared the ropa vieja (shredded beef) with moro rice and sweet plantains....all of it very good but the plantains would have me coming back for more! Overall, food was a decent price for the serving size. To be frank, there are better places to go for Cuban food, especially in Little Havana, but if you're looking for something around SoBe, this is an ok alternative.
(3)
Blak B.
I love the ropa vieja. I hope I spelled that right! Also munch on anything in the creole sauce. They have a Dj that spins Latin music after 8
(4)
Nalini T.
Nice spot for a casual dinner . Food us good, service was good. Ceviche was really delicious and the sangria was very refreshing. We sat outside, enjoyed the view and the people watching. Overall a nice lively spot on the beach.
(4)
Jonathan T.
Larios never disappoints!!!! Food is GREAT!!!! If your a steak lover get the CHURASCO!!!! It is a MUST.
(5)
Emily T.
Peculiarly, this is one of the places on Ocean that didn't have a hustling hostess. We came to this place based on the recommendation of a stranger on the street when we asked her for directions. I ordered the Pollo Asado (famous roasted chicken) and it was delicious! It was a simple dish, like the way it is. A half chicken on one plate and rice /beans/plantains on another. I was impressed. The roast pork was just OK. Famous fried rice: pretty damn good except it was on the salty side. And last but not least, their drinks.... We've got a generous, no-nonsense bartender here. Our Mai Tais, Mojitos and Pina Coladas were strong but yummy. At 11 dollars a piece, i feel like I got my money's worth :) When I go back to Miami next year, I will be stopping by Larios for sure.
(4)
Kimberly S.
I was actually impressed when I came to the beach to eat at this restaurant. I was expecting mediocre food, as most places on the beach are so-so. The food was delicious (I recommend the ropa vieja) and the service was very attentive.
If I could give this terrible restaurant half a star, I would. I've been meaning to give this restaurant a proper review since returning from Miami a few weeks ago. Today, I finally have enough down time to get to it. Let me preface this review by saying that this restaurant was not my choice. We went there because my work colleague had fine memories of eating there on a spring break trip with her boyfriend. And Larios might be good for just that - spring break tourists. Located right off Ocean Drive, Lario's is partially owned by Gloria Estefan which makes this particular restaurant (that doubles as a Salsa club after hours) a very popular destination for tourists and wanderers. Supposedly known best for its Cuban food, Lario's offers typical fare, from skirt steaks to fried plantains and various seafood dishes. Grace and I decided to take a streetside table to people watch and enjoy the evening air. Since we arrived in Miami that day, we ate a reasonably late lunch and thus a very late dinner, but the restaurant was still bustling. I was completely underwhelmed with the wine list, which curiously offered many selections that didn't pair well with Cuban food at all. I finally settled on a glass of Bogle's Sauvignon Blanc (2006), because I was planning on having seafood, and love drinking the varietal in particularly warm climates because it's served chilled and the light flavors are actually quite refreshing. Our waitress brought our drinks right away, and I was immediately a bit put off that my wine wasn't particularly chilled. Nearly 20 minutes later, she finally made it back around to take our order. I opted for the Lobster Creole, fried plantains and black beans and rice. Another 30 minutes went by and we finally got our food. My lobster came in a small casserole-type dish, swimming in a VERY salty creole base. It was a bit tough in spots. Overall, I was very disappointed with the Lobster considering what I paid for the dish (about $35 I think?). Presentation was largely uninspired. Rice and plantains came on a separate plate and there was no attention to color in the presentation. Everything had a brown tinge. It gave me the impression that the chef simply didn't care about making the side plate look appetizing. The plantains were pretty greasy, but the black beans and rice were fabulous, hands down the best part of the meal. I've read elsewhere that Lario's supposedly has very authentic Cuban cuisine, but this was far from my experience. Save your money for a restaurant in a Cuban neighborhood. You'll pay half what you pay at Lario's and it will taste authentic. EVERYTHING I ate, from the plantains to the lobster to the beans, had too much salt - and I'm a salt guy. The only saving grace for Lario's is location. It was fun to people watch with Grace despite the uninspired meal. Stick to singing Gloria, but only perform Miami Sound Machine stuff. You're a terrible restaurateur and I don't like anything other than your Miami Sound Machine songs. So, all in all, I guess you're almost an EPIC FAIL, save "Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya," that's gold baby, gold.
(1)
Serene F.
Great location, crappy dishes. Every item down to basic side dishes were lackluster -- Cuban sandwiches were dry with way too much bread and raw onion overpowered the yuca. Plus, menu was overwhelming with way too many options. Quality over quantity please!
(2)
Max G.
This is a great place to come to people watch. The food is really good but leaves a guilt feeling as it is somewhat too expensive. You are really paying for location. But overall, it is a cool place to come and have some delicious and simple cuban food. Order the ceviche and the ropa vieja.....yummmm!
(3)
Aretha W.
Decided to go here because we saw it had great reviews (and it was close to our hotel)....and we were not disappointed. We ordered the ceviche, cod fritters and and fried rice dish that had shrimp, chicken and beef w/sweet plantains....everything was excellent. And they had the best Miami Vice I've ever had. Service was good and the place was beautiful. Will definitely visit again on my next trip to Miami.
(4)
Courtney C.
I have no complaints about this spot... except that their idea of "incense" is like piss in smoke form. I dunno... I have a dog that I leave at home while at work, and I leave out pee mats, so I'm VERY experienced with certain smelly aromas. Choose another scent pls, Ms. Estefan. I had the $14 pollo asado which was SUPER tasty. It wasn't dry at all.. the sauce was killer. Not to mention I couldn't get my mind of my girl's skirt steak. I had a strawberry mojito which folks at my table were complaining was too sweet, but it didn't really bother me. The location is great, but either walk or take a cab cuz I bet parking is a B. All the meals are hella decently priced for lunch. I've spent more dough on breakfast at Starbucks. Watch yourself when you come to Larios, though... the rhythm just MIGHT get you. (Bad joke, Richard...)
(4)
Sandy C.
I was a little confused when we got the menu and it said "Bongo's" cuz the name on the outside of the restaurant said "Lario's on the Beach" We'd made reservations and got seated promptly but away from the crowd and live band, on the 2nd Fl. We felt secluded and ignored. Our waitress was slow and made few appearances. We were missing a set of utensils and plates and had to help ourselves. I think they use the 2nd fl for larger private parties and they have a tv that shows the live band downstairs, but I just didn't feel the same vibe. The food was good, Latin Cuban food with a large portions and lots of carbs. Do not get the sangria though, a few of us ordered by the glass and got cocktail fruit instead of fresh fruit. It was overly sweetened and tasted like a fruit cocktail out of the can. When we asked the waitress if they had fresh fruit she said that is how they make it and everyone seems to love it. We were turned off and didn't want to pay for it since we couldn't even drink it. The prices were decent but I don't know if I'd come here again.
(3)
Jordan P.
Awesome sidewalk seating in South Beach. Mojitos were all they were cracked up to be. Food was pretty good too, I'm still tasting that Ceviche!!!
(4)
Yvonne D.
I've eaten here before and loved it, but this time we were very disappointed. We sat outside between the sidewalk and the street and the throngs of people coming by was nearly overwhelming. The cars and mopeds that kept pulling over in front of us filled the area with exhaust. The energy was interesting though, so we eagerly waited for our food. That was also disappointing. The boliche (Cuban pot roast) was dry, dry, dry and not tender as were all of the other meats we ordered. When we mentioned it to the hostess (requesting to speak to a manager) he never came by. We were celebrating my father-in-law's 70th birthday and they brought a dessert with a large sparkler - but we weren't even given a discount on that dessert. We won't return. There are too many great places to eat in this area.
(2)
Pinky And The B.
We went before Yelp existed. As far as the food goes pretty average nothing that I had not had before. The fun part of the meal was getting our picture taken by one of those guys walking around taking pictures. We have the faded picture on our refrigerator. But in general we both HATED South Beach. I think South Beach is for hillbilly tourists in general. Further down North Miami Beach and Key Biscayne are nicer. Love the Florida Keys but to enjoy South Beach you have to kind of be really bored with your life. Just sayin... But as far as the restaurant goes pretty standard Cuban food.
(3)
S K.
I'm mediocre on the place. Mojito was indeed good, as they claim. Food was so-so. Drinks are typical. Service was great, until our waiter disappeared. Friendly staff, but not sure I would come back here. Disclaimer: I did not even walk inside. Ate on the patio.
(3)
Lisa C.
Stopped in at Larios for some lunch. I had the arroz con pollo, a corona and flan. I wasn't blown away. I mean it was eh. The rice was amazing. YES. The chicken was a bit bland. I also was at a street fair and with my dog so I was limited. For the prices I expected way way wayyyy more. I ended up paying $30+ for just me and left feeling Meh. I've experienced better. The flan was good but this is Miami. Good flan is everywhere. I had a better meal at Puerto Sagua on 7th and Collins and on Calle Ocho for half what I paid here. If I didn't have my dog with me I totally would have gone there instead. This place is Ocean Drive tourist trap Cuban. Overpriced and overhyped for what it is. I am thankful they accommodated both me and my dog too bad my doggie liked the pollo more than I did.
(2)
Teresa S.
My friend and I visited this restaurant after being indecisive about where to eat. However, when that rain started pouring we looked for the first restaurant with available in door seating. The food was okay not ravingly delicous. I ordeded the Cuban Style Milanese Chicken Breast which was delicious. I also had a side of plantains that were good. I remember it being cold in the restaurant. I had a fruity drink that was also good. What stands out the most for me was the dance floor in the front of the restaurant that was packed with people shaking a leg and having a grand old time. That was cool to see and be a part of such a happening spot. I didnt realize this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant until a few days later. When Im back in South Beach I would hesitate to return but there are sooo many other spots I would check out first.
(3)
J M.
This place is in the tourist dictionary as a trap!. Nothing Cuban about this place. Food is bland and the service is slow. Any latin bodega has better food.
(1)
Alex B.
Excellent and authentic Cuban food. It was a local recommendation and it did not disappoint! Amazing mojitos too :)
(5)
Irene R.
Ugh food dry and not tasty. Worst Cuban food for price
(1)
Brendan P.
Came hear and got down on a 'authentic' cuban sandwich. Pretty tasty but nothing crazy. My main gripe: I asked them to throw tomatoes on it and they not only denied me but were almost offended that I asked to 'tarnish their sandwich' with a tomato. Even worse- they charged me $3-4 for 2 slices of tomato on the side. What?! Anyway, nice location, and honestly, aside from the tomato incident the service was pretty good. But seriously, I'm a tomato fiend and if you make me dismantle my sandwich I'm not a happy camper. And no- I don't care about some Cuban heritage that includes denying alterations to their sandwich- I'll put a tomato on my damn cereal if I please. I still left overall pleased- because as I said, aside from the Tomato- the service was legit.
(3)
Jelena Z.
Great spot for Cuban food right on Ocean Drive! My girlfriends and I stopped here for some drinks and dinner before heading out last night. On the must-try drink list: their mojitos and sangria. Both are very well done and relatively inexpensive for South Beach ($12 and $7 respectively, I believe). Food: we tried the French Onion soup (very rich with its thick layer of cheese), ceviche (very fresh), grilled chicken breast (with lemon and garlic) and the sweet plantains. The chicken was prepared simply but the flavors were a knockout. And who doesn't love sweet, grilled plantains? I practically licked my plate. The entrees are all moderately priced and the service is there when you need it, not when you don't. I'd recommend this resto to anyone looking for some good Cuban food in a pinch (no reservations were needed and there wasn't a wait for a table).
(4)
Celine R.
Great food, great service, great location, great music, great drinks! The morro, lechon, and yuca are to die for.
(5)
Rich B.
Que rico! Great service with, location, location, location. Mix those two with great food and you have a great meal. Add a dash of great company and you will have a blast. Try the flavored drinks I like the guava mojito.
(4)
Briceyda L.
I made a reservation, but no one told me that the restaurant was under construction. I found out about this while walking around the area. I guess I'll have to wait to try it next time I'm in town.
(1)
Amy M.
I've been to Larios On The Beach so many times every time I go to Miami! I'm surprised I haven't written a review on it yet. It is a very loud place because of the music and all the people. But the food is really good and so are the drinks. For the drinks, you can't go wrong with their mojitos and you get to keep the fancy large glass too if you opt for that one. I have a few in my collection over the years that I've been there. Usually, I order the ropa vieja there. It's pretty good and it comes with rice and beans! :)
(4)
Robert W.
Fantastic churrasco and rice and beans, awesome pitcher of mojitos with a fantastic vibe and good service. Perfect location.
(5)
Megan G.
Stop here for lunch after you've walked Ocean Drive and checked out the Art Deco. Order a cocktail, some fish and some plantain chips. Enjoy. Great people watching if you dare site at a table on the sidewalk.
(4)
Nicole S.
3.5 stars Good food, nice ambiance, good service, strong drinks.
(3)
Cat J.
If I wanted to get street cred for authentic Cuban cuisine in Miami or elsewhere, I should have gone to Little Havana. However, I was in South Beach, starving, and was just looking for the closest one to my hotel. Larios fit the bill, and I was not disappointed. Any Cuban cuisine in Miami overall in my opinion is more legit then those in New York anyway, so it didn't make a difference to me. My family and I stumbled upon this place not knowing it's (co?)owned by Gloria Estefan, so we arrived without any expectations-- just a hankering for something Cuban. I got to try the Big Apple and Mint Mojitos, which were excellent. Despite them being sweeter than most mojitos, they still had a clean taste that I loved. Their batido de guanabana was good, but not as good as the mojitos. A bit overpriced, but we were celebrating my sister's birthday, so all concept of frugality went out the window. We ordered a fish fry, churrasco a lo cubano, and a pollo reinoso. All were decent, but the joint really shines in their churrascos-- juicy, well-cooked, and not skimpy in their portions! Couple their entrees with your choice of two types of platanos and white or rice with beans, and we had a great dinner that gave us some serious food coma. Our dinner culminated to dessert as the waiters (and all the customers) graciously sang Happy Birthday to my sister with a Tres Leches cake. The cake wasn't mind-blowing, but it was decent, and was a sweet way to end the night (pun intended). Another point I would like to mention: the waitress standing outside was not aggressive in getting customers to sit like some other nearby places. This is a more personal preference, but it certainly raised my respect for the place with their great service. Thanks for a great night, Larios!
(4)
Elda L.
Pretty good. Get the ropa vieja. Not too expensive, either.
(3)
David O.
Had the grilled fish special that knocked my socks off. Location is great and the restaurant is beautiful. Wifey had the ropa vieja and that was delicious. Mojitos are no joke and they make them with a heavy poor (big thumbs up!).
(5)
M. M.
Larios was the perfect way to end an awesome trip to Miami. The ambiance is beautiful, the food is great, and it's right on Ocean Drive, so it's the perfect way to start a night on the town. Our server was very informative, and even though our reservation was just before the kitchen closed, we didn't feel rushed at all. I will definitely come visit again, the next time I'm in Miami.
(4)
Maria C.
Although I've dined here in the past, I was very let down on this visit. We started off with the Masitas, they were ok. My mojito was so sweet, it was hard to detect any liquor. My pernil, which I was hoping would save the meal was not only dry and bland it was also swinging in oil, apparently to mask the dryness! The only dish that was edible was the chicharones de pescado, amazingly well seasoned and fried to perfection... No oily mess!
(2)
Lauren B.
Best ceviche on Ocean Drive! My boyfriend and I had an enjoyable dinner at Larios. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive and the atmosphere was romantic. Even though outside seating is preferred I thought the inside was equally as nice. I ordered the Camarones Enchilados (Shrimp Cuban Creole) which had a generous portion of shrimp and my boyfriend the Vaca Frita (Fried Shredded Flank Steak) which he loved. Personally I do not prefer meat but I thought his entree was quite tasty, particularly the marinade. We've been on a ceviche kick lately and Larios has the best we've tried so far.
(4)
Julie B.
A bartender at our hotel told us to check this place out for good cuban food.... I did appreciate that it was the only place who didn't try to lure us in with fluorescent drink specials, but I wasn't that impressed. Good food, descent prices, but i would rather try another place than come here again. The decor was nice though.
(3)
Laura K.
The food was very good, but expensive for a college student lol. I ordered the kids cheeseburger, and it was about the size of a Whopper! The customer service, which I'm sure was a one time instance, was terrible! The waitress took forever to put in our order and didn't apologize for taking forever to drop the check. And the food runners kept bringing food that wasn't for us. The good was very Carribean though, I love some sweet plantains.
(3)
kelley s.
YAY! So much fun here! We were a party of 10 for a bachelorette party. We had reservations which is key cause this place gets packed! Our waitress was AMAZING! She didn't get a drink order or a food order wrong and was on top of anything and everything we needed. The manager came over and delivered the bachelorette some tasty and naughty shots and just made the whole experience great! FOOD-AMAZING! SERVICE-SUPER! ATOMOSPHER-FUN!!!
(4)
Omar Z.
Came here after leaving a police precinct to report a missing wallet. Wasn't really in the best mood walking in here but after a few minutes, the music and vibe quickly reminded me I was on vacation. Larios is one of the nicer places to dine at on Ocean Drive. Its Gloria Estefan's restaurant so expect over the top, Cuban flair. Food, service and ambiance was all good and the prices were moderate. The place looks pretty classy but b/c its right on the beach, it feels very laid back and casual too. Bikinis and board shorts are very much so acceptable.
(3)
Mandy A.
After wandering through a dozen restaurants on Ocean, we happened upon Larios and since they didn't hound us into sitting down, we sat down. We were just there for lunch so we split the Cuban and Media Noche sandwiches, basically the same sandwich on different breads. Both were good but I liked the Media Noche better. Nothing mind blowing, just a solid sandwich. We split the plantains filled with shrimp to start and they were really good too. I have no idea what was in it but it was a good starter. We both had mojitos which were pretty pricey for the size, seemed like you could get a larger one for a couple bucks more but didn't see that until it was too late.
(4)
Maile N.
From the other reviews, I see that this is one of Gloria Estefan's (rhythm is going to get you) restaurants - cool! Since we're from San Francisco, and I am all too familiar with the sub-par restaurants in high touristy spots, I was a little leery about having dinner here right in the middle of South Beach. But we were hungry and wanted Cuban food while in South Beach, so Larios/Bongo's it was! First of all, what great people watching if you get a table out on the sidewalk! - the only thing I didn't like was that several homeless people came up to us during our meal asking for money. We ordered sangria by the pitcher (2x!) and it was yummy and refreshing on this Wednesday Miami evening on our last night in town. The yucca fries were yummy, couldn't stop eating those. And I enjoyed my chicken (very moist and tasty) over yellow rice - loved the plantains!! Yummy yummy!! The ambiance inside looked really cool and classy, the bar was very cool-looking, and lights and strobes started around 9PM inside for a cool dancing/club scene. Very Miami cool! Out of all the restaurants on Ocean Beach Drive, this was one restaurant that didn't aggressively try to pull us in (a tactic other restaurants should stop because it does not appeal), so that was another factor that drew us in. Gracias for a great meal!
(4)
Betsy R.
My daughter and I ate at Larios on Wed 6/22. The service was horrible and the food was mediocre. I had to ask to get my water refilled as our server and others were inattentive. 17% gratuity is automatically added, like it or not. The ambience of the setting is great for people watching.
(2)
Andrew H.
walking down ocean dr, you get bombarded by eager hostesses throwing themselves at you in hopes that the louder they are, the more likely are you to enter their restaurant for some food. and larios definitely has that too, but my friends and i had a reservation anyways. with an earlier spot reserved for us, we grabbed a seat outside and people watched, ate a few appetizers, and enjoyed more than a few mojitos before dinner. the fried cassava bites to start were actually pretty good...coming with a VERY garlic-y dipping sauce. (maybe that's why i didn't attract any women that night :P) i can't remember exactly what i ordered, but i know it had something to do with pork (clearly). nothing to rave home about, but the beans and rice...always a pleaser. overall though, i think it's just the gimmick of larios being gloria estefan's place that really has the draw. the food itself was just so-so...probably comparable to the hundreds of other restaurants that line ocean dr.
(3)
Corinne M.
Recently was my 2nd experience at Larios and I have no complaints. Both times were with a larger group of girls, the 1st was at their normal location and we had seating upstairs in a semi-private area, the 2nd was in the temporary location and we had a huge table in the center of the room. Our service was great and if you are looking for Cuban food this is a really good choice. My friend and I split the Cuban style skirt steak with Chimi-Churri sauce and we could not get enough of it. For 2 ladies looking to not get stuffed it was perfect, served with french fries and plantains. There were a variety of entrees on the table and not many complaints. Everyone ended up trying the Chimi-Churri sauce and using it on their own food, it was that good.. The prices were right and the service/atmosphere made it a great meal.
(5)
MeChan W.
ok so im not a huge cuban food eater but this place was good not overly priced and the ambiance was great. The food was really good especially the fried bananas and beef balls.
(3)
Fredrik W.
We were recommended the restaurant by Cuban friends. The restaurant is in temporary quarters while the original location is undergoing renovation. We had great Mojitos and we ordered a sample platter to have my friends get a broader taste of Cuban food. I had the ropa vieja with black beans and rice with fried yuca. It was as good as I have had it. My friends were very pleased with their selections as well. The Maitre D came by several times to check in on us and made us feel very welcome. This is on the major drag, Ocean Drive, where all the tourist traps are. This felt different and quite genuine.
(4)
John F.
Great food and service!! Right on the ocean side street. Sit and people watch :)
(4)
Joe H.
It was good and great atmosphere. Service was a little slow and food was a little pricey for the quality. I went just to watch the people so I didn't mind.
(3)
John M.
This place is pretty good. Great location on the main drag of Miami Beach. I believe its owned by Gloria Estefan and I'm typically turned off by star-owned restaurants. While the food is not pure authentic Cuban, its gets close enough and is quite good. They advertise the "best mojito's in South Beach." I had the one with the 8-year old Bacardi rum in it and I was certainly not disappointed. Definitely recommended when looking for a place to eat in South Beach! P.S. The plantain cups are fantastic!
(3)
Krystal S.
Lario's on the beach! This place was recommended by locales...I'm dining here as I type, and i feel completely immersed in the Cuban culture. My waiter is very nice and also patient which is a huge plus since I know nothing about Cuban food. The mango margarita (brimmed with sugar) tastes perfect and I'm dancing in my chair to the music. Two thumbs up!
(4)
B C.
Great place for Cuban food on Ocean Drive. Almost all the restaurants on Ocean Drive are tourist traps and serve the same things: pasta, sandwiches, margaritas. If you want Latin food, this is the place to go. Perfect tostones (plaintain chips), fresh fish, rice. Service is good, not pushy like all the other touristy restaurants. Overall a pleasant place to eat. One star off because sparse veggies with the meal.
(4)
Pooja J.
Was there last night with my husband..and this place was a complete disappointment..we had never tried Cuban cuisine and thought to give it a try here, but the food was not all that good and the service was really bad..the bus boy had mistakenly spilled one of my sides on his tray, and instead of changing the dish, he just picked it up and put it back on the plate and served it to me...all in all - ok ambiance, highly priced and bad service..
(1)
Nerissa C.
Disappointing... Does Gloria Estefan still own this establishment? She should sample the food every now and then. The place was hyped up by a local and the sentiment echoed by the Loews concierge, but my husband and I were not impressed. The ambience was lacking... we were seated upstairs (which was dead) with the volume on the music turned all the way down when we first arrived. The booth we were in had a musty, moldy smell, but perhaps that's the humidity in the air?? The food: The fish in the ceviche starter tasted old... not at all fresh. After a few bites i started to get queasy. The $39 Cuban Seafood combo just looked and tasted like shellfish and fish boiled in a chili powder soup. The Cuban skirt steak could have used some seasoning.. salt for starters. The only thing I really liked were the plantain chips and the sweet fried plantains (..which I can make at home..). I heard there are other good Cuban places in South Beach. Don't waste your money on this one! ** 2 stars because they didn't screw up the plantains, the mojitos were good, and the waiter was a sassy diva **
(2)
MJ L.
I thought this restaurant was only ok but probably because I ordered the vegetarian platter which was not very good. I sampled a few of my friends dishes and those were definitely better. I like the layout of the restaurant. It is open, lively and festive. There was a live band playing. The waiters were friendly and attentive. They initially forgot my dish which was weird because usually the waiter would double check if they received only 5 entrees for 6 guests... but in any case they made up for it by having my dish out within 10 minutes. Last thing is that their drinks are super strong. Im sure some people love this but bc of this none of my friends ended up even making a dent in their drinks.
(2)
Michael G.
Meh, you can find cheaper and more authentic Cuban food in Miami... However, the few times I have been to South Beach we always stumble here. Maybe because they aren't as obnoxious as the other places looking for you your business?? Not sure..... Regardless, it's not terrible.
(3)
L V.
TOURIST TRAP. On Ocean Dr. All the hotels along this strip recommend this place, they probably recommend any place along the Ocean Dr.... they are all the same, all tourist traps!! Paella in Miami is RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. I know it's the "seafood" aspect that makes it pricey, but c'mon I expect king crab legs, jumbo prawns, mixed seafood, calamari, salmon, catfish, etc etc, and some rice, if it's gonna be like $30 a person!!! I mean c'mon, I make a pretty good paella so I guess I expect a lot? Nice venue though, but then again, like I said- almost all the restaurants along Ocean have a beautiful set up.
(2)
John E.
Why doesn't Michelle Bernstein just make a Cuban restaurant and call it a day. No one has got it right yet in Miami. And if someone can or does, please let me know. I heard this was the best Cuban restaurant in Miami. Im disappointed to say the least
(2)
Sahar R.
I was dragged here by my over zealous mom. You know how most middle age women go ga ga over Oprah? Like they buy the stuff Oprah likes, every other sentence is "Oprah said this and that", and look to Oprah as some kind of life coach? Well, Gloria Estefan is my mom's Oprah, the minute she heard this is one of her restaurants, she shrieked "OH MY GOODNESS", and we walked through maze of aggressive hostesses at Ocean Drive restaurants trying to seduce that end of season patronage and made a beeline for here. The hostess looked like we interrupted her really busy day of hair twirling and sat us outside. Now the way my mom acted was like Gloria and Emilio were in the kitchen making dinner especially for her. Little does she know that the Estefan dynasty owns about seven restaurants, a couple of hotels, part of the Miami dolphins, and it is highly doubtful Gloria stepped foot in this restaurant. Speaking of which, why is the dude from 2 Live Crew running for mayor and not the Estafans, since they own half the town anyway? While I listened to the E True Hollywood story of Gloria Estefan as retold by my mom, I ordered a mojito, which was awesome. Then the night decidedly made a turn for the worse. Let's say the highlight of the meal was the fried plantains that came on the side of our dishes. The ropas viejas (just not the best tasting shredded beef) was pretty average, the tostones were served cold, and the bussers were too eager to take your plates away even if you were still working on the food. Being that most of the Yelp reviews are from out of towners (like myself), you can be absolutely correct in assuming this is a tourist trap. If you have a table outside prepare to have random tourists who walk by to stop and ask painfully obvious and stupid questions like, "is the food good?" , or "Why did they fry those bananas?". Luckily, the place is so loud, you can pretend that you can't hear them or that you can't speak English. The Verdict: So, I can't say the service was bad other than the hostess who hates everyone. The food however is average at best, and by far there are so many other authentic Cuban restaurants in SoBe (hint: Puerto Sagua). Luckily the average food did not deter my mom's lady crush on Gloria, however the added 17% gratuity on the bill nearly encouraged my mom to write a strongly worded letter to the Estefan Corporation. OH MY GOODNESS, does Gloria know about this? (her exact words). So watch out, if the rhythm doesn't get you, the check certainly will..
(2)
Dana S.
If I hadn't ordered the mojito, I'd probably like this place less. The crab fritters were great, the ceviche and fried green plantains were pretty good, and the main courses were tasty, from the roasted pork shoulder to the shrimp. I must admit my favorite was the fried sweet plantains. Totally decent, if not entirely authentic, option on the strip. Try to sit outside. Definitely order a mojito and the sweet plantains!
(3)
Corey N.
Ordered 3 sandwiches, 1 salad and 3 drinks bill came to 200.00. They charge $8 just in tap water. Not worth it. The bill should have been at best $60.00
(1)
Micaela I.
The food was all very dry and bland. Way over priced too. The temporary location is ok, not stellar. No outside seating. We definitely won't be back.
(1)
Jared G.
You know how you see those guys on the Vegas strip sidewalk shoving cards for strippers in your face? Walking down the sidewalk on a Saturday morning in South Beach is pretty much the same with hosts and hostesses trying to get you to come sit down for brunch. Lario's was pretty much the only place in South Beach where the host just smiled and said "Good Morning." That was enough for us to pick this spot. The Cuban sandwich and lobster croquettes were awesome, and so were their mojitos! A little spendy, then again South Beach is not a great place to "save" money.
(4)
Jhon C.
I love Larios On The Beach! The "best" Cuban place on SOBE. The food is amazing, and the service is so professional and friendly. The view of the beach and people watching is superb!
(5)
Sophie C.
Cruising along Ocean Ave. by foot I started to worry that my destination (Lario's) may be a techno-sonic, cringe-worthy, over-crowded, & trendy restaurant, like it's neighbors. Not relaxing at all. But. I was relieved it was not indeed. The music was barely audible, maybe I heard whispers of Billie Holiday. Nice. The ambiance was also really elegant casual, kinda colonial chic. Plus it was not too busy with customers. We ate mid day (2pm). Now the food... I'm obsessed with Yelp so I took fellow yelper advice and had the Roasted Chicken. Which was pretty good. Tender and juicy. And that garlic dip. OMG. Ps: the service we received was great.
(4)
Jackie R.
one word delicious!! my first time trying cuban food and omg let me tell you I was not expecting for my taste buds to pop out of my tongue! Their mango shrimp blew me out of the water mmm soo yummy and if you go late at night it seriously is a party! they play all your familiar luis yandel and pitbul songs This place was a great way to taste cuban food for the first time!
(5)
Michael B.
Nice place.., Inside decor was simple & pleasant (we left the hot, outdoor eating for the tourists!!). The Bongo combo was delicious. Just the right mixture of foods, tastes & textures...and the right amounts. It was filing and a great appetizer .... Which made us, for lunch anyway, split the ropa vieja for the two of us. The meat was prepared just right, and the taste was good while not overwhelming. You can te the meat had been marinated for some time... And the service was very attentive. Our waiter (damn! Wish I had gotten his name...kudos to him anyway!) never let us wait for anything. All in all, a good experience...and one we will go back to!
(4)
VJ k.
I was looking to experience a true Miami / Cuban cuisine dinner in Miami during a recent trip for myself and a few friends. We walked by a few Yelp "4 stars" rated places in south beach but while the food might have been great the atmosphere was really lacking (i.e: florescent lighting). This place is simply perfect. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and great food. I read the 3.5 star yelp rating and was hesitant to go here (especially after stopping at three 4 stars prior) but the group heard from a friend that it was good. Just go, soak in the Cuban flavor and enjoy your time in south beach! I'm writing this as i enjoy their amazing Mojhito! You should try one too!
(5)
Christina M.
Hello Friends, The sweltering humidity of Miami did not deter my jaunt down to Miami Beach on Friday afternoon. Shortly after I picked up my rental car, I immediately followed the interstate signs to Miami Beach (quite easy to get there). A beautiful Friday afternoon with the sun shining and temperatures in the high 80's with higher than what I am used to, humidity. As I drove down into the South Beach area, I came upon a place I could not pass up - Larios on the Beach. Larios on the Beach is part of the family of restaurants under the umbrella of Bongos Cuban Cafe. For those of you who were not aware, these restaurants are owned by the seven time Grammy Award winning singer, Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. A: To step into Larios, is to step into Old Cuba, complete with outdoor dining on their porch area or sidewalk area (great for people watching and view of the beach area). Or if you prefer to escape the humidity, Larios offers an indoor dining area. On this particular day, I wanted to soak up every bit of Miami I could and this included sitting outside in the humidity with all of South Beach surrounding me. T: Larios' menu boasts traditional Cuban dishes, as well as an ample drink menu with must try mojito drinks. I dug right into the main entree, ordering their Arroz con Pollo. This generous portion of a dish included a quarter chicken served over a bed of yellow rice and sweet plantains. Simply delicious and hit the spot after a long morning of flying. The chicken meat falls right off the quarter chicken and the more than ample serving of yellow rice was hard to keep all on the plate (in a good way). Their sweet plantains were just enough sweet, dark in color and soft inside. The plantains were a great compliment to the chicken and yellow rice. For drink I ordered their main house mojito, a strong tasting mojito drink complete with a slim sugar cane stick. That was an extra special treat, as most mojitos I come across do not come complete with the sugar stick to chew on for sugar along with your mint drink. Tasty! E: My meal for both my dish and mojito came up to about $36.00. A good deal for the amount of food you receive and their drinks are certainly made with a generous amount of liquor. In addition, your surroundings make up the other half of your experience. Experiencing South Beach, while dining on lunch on a sidewalk cafe, is to truly envelope yourself into the surroundings. Everyone from the valet (which is 20.00 to valet your car, parking can be a challenge, so valet comes in handy, but on the higher side for pricing) to the hostess and then finally the waitress are extremely friendly. Service from your waiter or waitress can be on the slower side, but really think given the atmosphere and location of this restaurant - who really wants to hurry? *smile* Be sure to make Larios part of your dining experience while next time in South Beach.
(4)
Bret H.
I couldn't really figure this out. I'm not an expert on Cuban food, but I do feel like if you're going to charge $10 for a sandwich, the ham better not look like it came out of an Oscar Meyer lunchpak. Smashed plantain was pretty good, but I only found that out from trying my companion's food; they assumed without asking that what I wanted with my sandwich was a bunch of pre-frozen french fries. This just isn't worth it. I can only assume they're charging for the decor, which is very stylish.
(2)
Mocha P.
I am fan just because of the food. I had the stuffed shrimp chicken with some tomato base sauce which was really good. But i thought it was pricey and the service was horrible. It has a great location, right on ocean drive.
(4)
Brian H.
Good location. Excellent mojitos. Good Yuca, ropa vieja, maduros, flan. Good service. Enjoyable evening. Favorite restaurant in South Beach.
(4)
J B.
Tourist trap.... seriously. I don't care if Gloria Estefan owns this place... she'd have to appear there for me to give five stars. The service was average, the food was mediocre, although it was Cuban. The redeeming value? MOJITOS! We had Mojitos with no added sugar and they were absolutely perfect, bold, flavorful, refreshing, probably the best mojito I've ever had in my life. My advice... if you must go here, get some mojitos and share an appetizer or entree... enjoy the view... and spend your money elsewhere on a legit Cuban meal.
(3)
Gladys D.
My dish here was absolutely to die for! Churrasco skirt steak "churrasco"grilled to perfection based with "chimi-churri" sauce it was absolutely cooked to perfection (medium rare, very tender) and the sauce was so damn good! My friends all ordered the chicken but kept raving about my steak (They did say their chicken was good though)! Everything tasted so delicious (rice, bananas, everything!). The ambiance is terrific with the Cuban band playing while you enjoy your meal. Its a really fun must go to place on ocean dr. We sat inside because there was no wait. The wait for outside seating was 20 to 30 min on a Sat. night. Service was excellent. Mojitos were VERY STRONG...if you like that sort of thing. I prefer not to yack on my first drink of the night =) This is a must go place for anyone visiting miami
(4)
Emily N.
Worst food and dining experience we had in Miami, hands down. My friend and I arrived on a Friday around 12:15 pm, fresh off our flights and very hungry. We ordered a cuban sandwich and chicken sandwich,and waited....and waited...and waited. The outdoor area was maybe a quarter full, yet it took well over an hour to get our food. When we politely inquired about timing, the rarely seen waitress said they had only one small grill (no apologies). Worst of all, it wasn't even worth the wait! There's a stellar gas station (!) in my home city that makes far better cuban sandwiches. Fortunately, La Sandwicherie and other gems greatly improved our Miami food experience afterwards, so I'd steer you there instead.
(1)
Deborah H.
Lario's has an interesting mix of Latin and Chinese-influenced dishes. We tried the paella (which was fantastic, but rather expensive at 35$/person with a minimum of two people ordering), one of the fried rice dishes, and the steak. The paella was overwhelming... Admittedly very good, but we should have ordered two portions for three or four people. The steak was so-so. The ceviche appetizer we ordered was close to disgusting. Decor and service were good, but overall, the dining experience was very average.
(3)
Vanessa F.
This place was sooo sooo good. I went for a nice dinner for my bachelorette party. Only minus one star because we called ahead with a reservation and they lost it but were quickly accommodating. Sat down and ordered some mojitos which were delicious and proceeded to order off the menu. It took a while for us to get our food because there were 7 of us. But when we all started eating it was HEAVEN. The roasted chicken, roasted pork, and cuban steak were all so tender and delicious. The sides of plaintains and rice were also delicious. It's a pretty lively atmosphere with the music of the Carribean playing in the background. The staff was really friends. Perfect location because the beach is in front of you and if you go for dinner the clubs are a block or two down on Washington Ave.
(4)
Sam B.
Gloria...please open one of your restaurants here in San Francisco!! The Ropa Vieja is so delicious! Everytime I come to South Beach, I have to visit this place twice. I don't know if you know the Sunday Special...it's NOT the on the Menu, you have to ask for it! If you LOVE OXTAIL STEW, Larios on the Beach has it only on Sundays!! The drinks are good and the restaurant is vibrant and clean!!! If you are into Cuban food, this is the place to go!! You won't be disapponted!!
(5)
Rhondalei G.
2 words - Pork Asado. Excellent food and service right on the beach. My friend and I opted to sit inside because we couldn't stand to eat outside in the heat. I can't wait to eat here again!
(4)
Scott C.
This was my first experience eating Cuban food... And it was amazing. If you are in SoBe it's a must!
(5)
Karen K.
We went to Miami & we knew that we had to have some Cuban food. Where to go? We ended up at Larios & to my dismay it was mas o menos (ok). The food we ordered was nothing to brag about. This Cuban restaurant was missing the authentic cuban flavor we were craving. The service & the ambiance here was great... it is too bad the food didnt match.
(2)
Gianna A.
Great Cuban music, ambiance, crowded, great mojito. Not particularly THAT memorable, except for the fact that it's in front of the beach in South Beach. After a while the places are pretty interchangeable, but the food makes this worth waiting for. Like eating from abuela's (grandma') kitchen.
(3)
Jorge Q.
After coming back from a Carnival Cruise, we visited family in Miami and they took us out to lunch at Larios. The restaurant is situated in a touristic street but the restaurant stands out among it's competition because of it's amazing traditional Cuban food. The location is among the chain of restaurants owned by Gloria & Emilio Stefan. They offer great service and they also distinguish themselves for their signature Mojitos drinks. Only complain is that the tables inside are too close together, which makes it difficult to move around when crowded.
(4)
Heather S.
Yummmmm!!!! I never knew how much I liked Cuban food until I went to this place! I felt like I should be in Scarface, the ambiance is so classic. GREAT mojitos, there is nothing like it! The portions are great and filling. I love the plantains and cuban black beans. The shredded lime chicken is great too (sad that I went here more then 8 months ago and still remember what I ate!) Defo hit it up if you're lucky enough to be in Miami!! I think I had some potato thing too that was really good.... Just make sure you dont plan on having a huge drinking night after (which is hard to do) because you will be way full when you leave!!
(4)
Greis L.
the food was awful. after the dinner my boyfriend and i felt extremly bad and we finally throw up all the night, stay away from this fake cuban restaurant
(1)
adrian s.
had a great time here. food was very good, like home cookin'. Atmosphere is fun and festive. Great to take a client or someone coming to visit Miami looking for the Cuban/SOBE combo. Cool place.
(4)
Shiven B.
Came here for lunch one day...I heard Gloria Estefan owned this place. Food was ok, but view was nice. Right on ocean drive, always a crowd of people, and the beach and ocean is right across the Street. Had the Half chicken, which is almost impossible to finish but the fried plantains are amazing. Others had Steak who I was with. Thinly sliced brazillian steak and fajita style steak with onions was the items chosen, they looked satisfied but didn't completely love their meals. Decently Priced though.
(3)
Beatrice C.
Just came back from dinner at Larios. Came here in search of good Cuban food n I was pleased although we had a couple of minor issues that got resolved. Issue #1 - as soon as we sat down I took a look at my water glass n there's was water stains all over it then I looked at my plate n there was a dried food crumb stuck on my plate. I returned all silverware to the waitress and she apologize although the bust boy questioned where it was dirty n when he saw the dried food he cringed. I was given new clean silverware quickly. Issue #2 - My friend ordered a margarita n when you tasted it the sour mix was watered down. We explained it to the waitress and sure enough the bartender confirmed that the sour mix went bad n they were changing it. My friend was given a new drink which was much better but in her words she's had better. Issue #3 - ordered the flan de leche for dessert, the custard was very good although the caramel was burnt. I had to work around the burnt caramel. Those were the main issues, a couple other set backs was no pre app munchies no bread/chips. I figured since we were in a Cuban restaurant we'd get plantain chips but nope. Second let down was the size of our drinks. I ordered the Maimi Vice n my friend got the Pina Colada n for $11 I expected a bigger glass. We got a small champagne glass, which was done before our entree was served. On a positive not I ordered the shrimp enchilados which was yummy. I was very pleased. My friend ordered the skirt steak with chimmi churri sauce which was good too. The sauce had a heavy garlic taste which was yummy. Regardless of the set backs the place is a ok spot.
(3)
anita c.
Larios, oh larios, I dream of their churrasco dish while I am in SF. Went there 2 days in a row when I visited Miami since I couldn't get enough of the churrasco dish. For those of you who don't know, churrasco is a skirt steak medium rare (my pref), with a chimmichurri sauce (garlic vinegar sauce) on the side, then with a side of flavored rice, and fried crispy plaintains. Tried recreating this dish at home since I can't find a restaurant who does it well. SF needs a good cuban restaurant. Would love it if we could have a Versailles or Larios here.
(5)
Chad S.
Not very impressed. Came to the restaurant in high hopes of good Cuban food. The food was so so, the service was terrible and I am a thirty year old man, and forgot my id, and couldn't even have a glass of wine with my meal. I understand the laws, but come on. It's not like I'm a nineteen year old kid trying to score a beer. I'm thirty and wanted a damn glass of wine with my dinner. Oh well, probably will not return. Sorry, Gloria.
(2)
Ernie P.
This is definitely one of my favorite cuban restaurant. Every time i go to the beach with a friend or a date, I always have lunch there. Their churasco or palomilla is absolutely my favorite. Oh, and with yellow rice!! Yummy. Their prices are really good too and if it's not too busy then eating outside is a pleasure. Enjoy the great weather and the great looking people of south florida. How can one refute that?? I know I cant and neither should you :) Cheers!
(5)
Kevin C.
Nice looking decor, very average food, barely adequate service. My wife and i ate at Larios On the Beach on a Sunday evening. We're both fans of Cuban cuisine, and we wanted to try this restaurant. The restaurant is in a nice location in South Beach & is quite nice inside. The music gets more quiet as you walk towards the back of the restaurant. My wife ordered Picadillo and I ordered "Bongo's Famous Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks" (Masitas Puerco). The food came to our table quickly. The Picadillo was reasonable, though a bit salty. The pork chunks were served with stir-fried onions. The onions were just lukewarm, and the pork was both lukewarm and dry / tough. I suspect this dish had been prepared well before we ordered it and left under an underpowered heating lamp. I could barely taste the Mojo Marinade -- the dish was simply tough lumps of fried pork. Both dishes came with rice and plantains which had decent flavor, but were not steaming hot. At the end of the meal I had to walk to the front of the restaurant to ask for the check since our waiter was too distracted / overworked to come to our table for a span of ~20 minutes. This restaurant is very mediocre and I will not return next time I visit Miami / South Beach. After trying Larios, I'm very wary of trying Bongos.
(2)
Ramsey A.
The service was horrible, good thing they include 17% gratuity. I would have for the first time in my life them with nothing.
(1)
Monica B.
The food at all the Larios locations is excellent, treading the fine line between down-home-goodness and gourmet, but the atmosphere at the others is more family and this (obviously) is more Beach-nightlife-ish. It's crowded, loud, and the service is harried and impersonal at best - but I like it that way! It's energetic and crazy, and it works with the food, the clientele, the sponteneity, all of it.
(4)
Mil S.
We had pretty good food, chicken a la plancha(big chicken steak) w/rice, creamy blk beans, camarones enchilados (shrimp in a red sauce w/onions, peas, carrots) & sweet plantains (platanitos), and to my amazement, a great big fresh salad! Flan for dessert & of course the must have "Cortadito" which tasted delicious. The waiters were courteous, funny & nice. A great & beautiful day in a relaxing atmosphere with Mom who just kept smiling. We sat inside the Portal, great comfortable weather. After being opened for many years, Lario's has become a place we trust to spend money on a meal will be worth it.
(5)
Erika B.
I was in South Beach for spring break and found Larios online in a hunt for Creole food. I ordered a delicious margarita to go with my chicken and rice dish (with amazing plantains on the side)- both were absolutely excellent! I was worried that this would be a really touristy spot with just-okay food, since that is the MO of most restaurants along the beach. However, my boyfriend and I both had some of the most delicious food we've ever eaten at this restaurant. We still reminisce about it! I'll definitely be returning upon my next visit to Miami.
(5)
Ned K.
Stale bread. Bad salad terrible blood mary. Stay away.
(1)
Justine N.
Checked out Larios on the Beach for dinner with a group of 17 girls in town for a bachelorette party. The food was solid (had the roasted pork) and their drinks were strong and gi-normous, which was perfect for us. The place has a great atmosphere and the staff was accommodating and patient when dealing with our loud group of tipsy girls. If you're planning a dinner, they have a private room off to the side of the main dining room that's great for large groups.
(4)
Zinat M.
It's the South Beach experience. Sitting outdoors, sipping on wine, eating Cuban cuisine, listening to live cuban music, staff dressed in white, watching beautiful people all night long. All courses were delicious, good portion sizes, a bit pricey, and the seafood was fresh. It was a hopping place, see and be seen.
(4)
Colin P.
Great atmosphere. Great music. Friendly staff. Great Cuban sandwich. Fries a little overdone. And there are no refills on the sodas.
(4)
Jason J.
was recommended to come here by a friend who's been to southbeach a few times. great atmosphere, the food was very flavorful and very reasonably priced, the drinks tasted good, and were strong enough, overall a very good time. the roasted pork, fried beef, fried whole red snapper, and frankly everything else our party of 5 ordered was very good, and worth getting again. a great experience, i would certainly come back.
(4)
Yana C.
My boyfriend and I went to Larios on the Beach our first night in South Beach based on the recommendation of a Cuban friend who I trust with something like that and who gave it rave reviews. Had read good reviews, and as you can see from my own rating, my opinion is a bit mixed about it. The location is great - right on South Beach amid all the other restaurants nearby. Of course, if you're sitting right on the sidewalk you might be bothered by all the street traffic, though we were fine with it. Food and drink prices were good, especially compared to other South Beach stuff and considering our cheap vacation budgets. And the food was definitely good - we shared a fried pork bites appetizer, the "Bongo's Famous Roast Chicken" with moro rice and fried plantains, and I had a flavored mojito and my boyfriend had a cuban beer. The food was all pretty delicious, especially the chicken, though the rice was a bit mediocre. Now here is what takes away 2 stars away from me - the service, which was HORRIBLE. We had a horrible waitress that ignored us most of the evening and was downright rude when she did give attention. It seemed she assumed that since we were sharing that we were the cheap young couple who would not tip well - note to all servers out there, you're guaranteed a self-fulfilling prophecy if you work under that assumption, because we young folks can tip pretty well too! After finishing our drinks we had to wait a long time to get second ones, at one point even putting our empty glasses on the table and trying to get her attention. She never came to ask how everything was, instead coming over when we were almost finished to ask , "are you still working on it?" in a very rude manner. And then of course the check had an included/suggested tip on it, which was 17% and we would have normally added to that, instead had to reduce it because we were so unhappy with her service. We did give the busboy a tip though, because he actually gave us more attention than the waitress! So basically, even though the food was good, the service really ruined it for us. In terms of South Beach Cuban food, we had a MUCH better experience at Puerto Sagua, which I gave a very good 5 star review for and which is much cheaper and still right in the central South Beach area.
(3)
Pg P.
Food was awful. Had no aroma, like it was prepared the day before and reheated. Very dry and had no flavor. Ordered roast pork and half of it was fatty gristle that was not edible.
(1)
Smarty Pants P.
My boyfriend and I had lunch at Larios last weekend... Location is great.. then again any places on Ocean Drive are good location... I ordered the Cuban roasted pork per our waiter's recommendation... My boyfriend got the Shrimp Creole... Moro rice and fried plantains. Their portions are big... Personally, the pork was very greasy... Our waiter was nice, but the overall service is mediocre. The hostess (?) girl was very unfriendly.. We asked for something and she gave us a look like we were bothering her... She acted like she was all that and believe me, she wasn't... Too bad, I had such high hopes... Larios will not be a place where I would recommend to my friends.
(2)
Crystal T.
"Disappointment", that's the most I can say about the place. Last week we were in Miami, and we were recommended this place by a local for good Cuban food. We went there with high hopes but it just turned out to be a big disappointment. The food, service, and atmosphere everything was bad, and very expensive for the kind of food and service we got. We paid $70 for 2 entrees and drinks...and where on earth do you have to pay 16% gratuity for a party of 2 people? I ordered Shrimp curry and my husband ordered shredded chicken, and every entree comes with a choice of rice and Plantains. My husband's chicken was dry, tasteless and without any gravy... I don't know how you can expect someone to eat rice with dry chicken and fried plantains; we shared the sauce from my shrimp curry. My Shrimp curry wasn't great either, the shrimps were dry and the sauce did not mix properly with the shrimps. and our waiter was just not concerned with our experience, he was too busy in entertaining a big party of people. I think that explains why the gratuity is 16%, they know their food is not good and service is horrible and I am sure they also know customers would never like to tip them if given a choice so they are better off by including the high gratuity in the bill.
(1)
Derek F.
3rd stop in the tour really good ropa vieja!!!
(4)
Eric L.
Someone told me this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant, not sure if that is true. I went here for dinner with some Co-workers on my last night in Miami Beach. The sign outside said Larios, the menus said "Bongos", very confusing. I did get the sense that this was the equivalent to a "Cuban" Chevy's terms of the service and decor. Our waiter that was hard selling mojitos, appetizers, and "add ons", not impressed. I ordered the grilled pork loin, which in retrospect was a terrible call. The Pork was super lean and therefore dry as hell. Think consistency of dry white chicken meat, and you'll be close. Every bite I took completely sucked my mouth dry of any moisture, I resorted to pre-shredding the meat and dousing it with black beans to get some moisture in it. That strategy worked until I ran out of beans, now that I think about it, maybe I should have asked for a bowl of salsa. I can report that the pressed garlic bread things they give out for free are phenomenal. Some of the best things I've ever tasted. I probably could have gorged myself on 5 baskets and had a 5 star experience.
(3)
T. B.
The service was just awful...it was obvious that the waiter knew he was getting an automatic gratuity- he never introduced himself and was more like a robot just taking orders. And unfortunately the food was under seasoned and just so-so. It's too bad because we expected so much more.
(2)
Gen B.
Delicious! I try to hit up Larios everytime I am in Miami, which is about every 6 weeks for work. Coco Mojito is delicious. Pair it with ceviche, croquettas and garlic shrimp and you are set! Plus it is owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan so a nice little Bonus minus the sound machine. It is South Beach so there is always the bit of the tourist vibe, but just go with it. It's South Beach!
(5)
Yellie A.
Fun dancing, great music, lovely waiters! But the food was...ok. Could have been better.
(3)
Kelli P.
Being a first generation Cuban American, I have very high expectations for Cuban restaurants. If it doesn't compare to my grandmas cooking, I don't go back! Lario's met the mark! Very authentic, excellent food! Bistec a la palomilla, pechuga de pollo, arroz con pollo, mariquitas, and yuca con mojo were all just as my grandma used to make. Plus I enjoyed their mojito - the little stick of sugar cane was a nice, fresh touch. If the servers were a bit more attentive and charming I would have given Larios more stars! The atmosphere is a bit loud, but it is upbeat, energizing and has good music! Next time you are on South Beach and want good Cuban food, hit up Larios! Buen Provecho!
We went to Larios for a Cuban birthday dinner! Normally we goto Puerto Sagua but we wanted to sit outside and have a drink. The service was so so. The drinks were good and actually strong which was surprising! The food was ok--We had a few appetizers-The stuffed potatoes and Cuban Ham Croquettes were really good. I got the Shrimp Cuban Criolla as my entree--It was ok. Not much flavor but decent amount of shrimp. The rice and beans probably would have been good but the rice was either not cooked all the way or over cooked stuck to the bottom of the pot...Not good at all. Honestly would not return to Larios--If your looking for AMAZING cuban food, goto PUERTO SAGUA.
(2)
Monica L.
I've been here twice only because I've been in the mood to have both cuban food and wanting to sit somewhere on Ocean Drive at the same time! We went late on a Friday night, 30 minutes before closing, and they were still busy! First time we went there we ordered mojitos which were great. Ordered the red sangria this time and it was ok. The only problem I have with this place is the price. Six bucks for three croquettes? A little ridiculous, especially when you give me only one squeeze of lime that is dried to hell. Oh well, I love cuban food. As far as service, I bet it's not the type of service that Gloria would deem acceptable. It's just not really on point. I won't say more.
(3)
Martin S.
I was fortunate enough to be taken to this place when I was recently down in Miami Beach for vacation. As a general rule, tourists should try and avoid Ocean Drive restaurants, as they inflate prices and lure you in with their "happy hour" specials, although has an unbeatable atmosphere. This place is an exception though....great food and value. I was not very familiar with Cuban food before I ate here, but ended up loving it. We started with Tostones and Maduros, which are very tasty. I had the cuban roasted pork, which was really good. My friends ordered another type of fried pork dish and the other a steamed lobster. These were both excellent as well.
(4)
J Seth A.
Eating here was one of the highlights of my trip to South Beach. The food was delicious (best plantains I had in Florida) and the portion sizes were generous considering the price. The atmosphere was bustling and exciting, the sounds, the smells, the views I'll remember fondly. I ordered pork loin and it came with rice and plantains. Considering how busy the restaurant was we expected to wait longer for our food, but it came out in record time. I snarfed it down, threw my head back with a moan and felt like I needed a cigarette. It was that good. The only thing holding this back from a 5 star review was the wait staff seemed a little distant, almost a little annoyed that they had to answer the questions of yet more tourists. But whatever. I liked everything else.
(4)
Angela G.
Certainly not the best Cuban to be had in SoBe, but between the ambiance, the view, the bustling waitstaff and the quality of the food and drinks, you could do a lot worse. Had a fine meal here with family and friends, replete with papparazzi taking pics of J-Wow and Snooki eating at the News Cafe next door. And even they didn't manage to ruin my appetite. Sangria (rojo) is a lovely start to the meal, but their full bar makes excellent mojitos as well that pack a punch. Churrasco is tender and flavorful, ropa vieja is perfectly shredded in a zippy sauce, and the paella is well-cooked and full of fresh seafood. It's a really solid meal all around, only losing a star for the sole fact that this is the exact same food that you can get in Orlando at Bongo's in Disneyworld or at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, only with a higher price tag because it's Miami. Still, you're going to get a much better meal than some of the other locations on the strip that charge just to charge with no taste to back it up. Hell, if you chalk up the inflated price for the view, you aren't doing too bad at all. Certainly a good time.
Lario's is just one of those restaurants in miami that you walk by and you can sit down on the strip and eat however inside is so beautiful! They also served about 12 of us and although service was just a bit slow, it was great! The portions are big after you've had a coctail and the food is pretty good. I had the pork with moro and tostones. We also got some stuffed tostones for an appetizer which was really good. My mojito was strong and minty! Great place to come
(4)
Larry S.
Didn't eat there, only had Mojitos. Expensive but incredible. Sat outside but on the upper mezzanine level for incredible people watching but not having them right in your face. Terrific drink.
(5)
A C.
Very good food and very reasonably priced. My girlfriend & I had dinner here and loved that they have the same menu items as Bongo's. We love Bongo's in Orlando and this place has the same menu with a more intimate feel. Arroz Con Pollo is excelent and so is the Shredded Chicken.... Mmmmmm
(5)
Tiffany R.
yummy food and excellent service!
(5)
Toni G.
the place is closed!!!
(1)
Jessica G.
So my significant other who I ate here with really enjoyed his meal that is why I am giving the 3 stars. All I remember on his plate was a ton of fried meat- which did not look good- but seemingly was very tasty to a meat-atarian. My meal was not good at all- I ordered the mango shrimp and it was not at all what I expected....swimming in this thick buttery sauce with out even the slightest hint of mango. I would like to try a different entree next time. Our server was fantastic and attentive (I wish I could remember his name- he was an older gentleman very lovely)! The flan was great (although not the best I have had- Soul de Cuba in New Haven CT has my favorite!) and the Cuban specialty coffee selection was definitely 2 thumbs up.
(3)
Ronni A.
Love this place. Usually visit once a year, from West Coast. This time tried the pollo frita. It was so good. It is easy to fall into a pattern of eating your favorite Cuban meal but, please, try something new here. Great cocktails too.
(4)
Jeff D.
Excellent Cuban food & mojitos can be had here. Service was attentive and informative. Dined for lunch w/ my wife on a Friday afternoon. Had the Cuban slow-roasted pork, which is cooked all day to perfection- super tender, lean and juicy! Not easy to pull off! Wife had a churrasco steak salad; steak was very tender and flavorful, salad was decent. Mojitos- wow! They were perfectly concocted. Maynor, our waiter, was excellent. They are a little tricky to find, as they are temporarily situated in the Cardozo Hotel, sharing space with the Cardozo restaurant, which is an open air restaurant on Ocean. Turn up 13th St. to get to their interior entrance. Much better experience than all the touristy, mediocre places along Ocean in S. Beach that try to pull you in like used car salesmen.
(5)
Maria A.
First we'll get the things we expect out of the way. It's overpriced, it's a tourist trap, and it's not the best Cuban in town. Ok, now that that's out of the way. It's not bad. The service however, leaves a lot to desire. We started with platano cups filled with ropa vieja or green plantains filled with shredded beef. Next I had choripan and for dessert it was tres leches. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't suggest it to friends. However, I could see why out of towners might enjoy it.
(3)
Jenn B.
Yumm best food on Ocean Drive by far. Staff was very friendly and the service was quick. Presentation is definitely not their forte but the food is unbelievable and the portions are generous. I ordered the perfectly cooked and flavorful skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce which came with a side of moro rice and tostones. The only con was the sangria. We had the white and red, neither were great. Oh and just a note, bring lots of gum to chew on afterwards.
(4)
Linda R.
Lets compare Larios to Pollo Tropical. Larios is the SOBE Cuban Restaurant and Pollo Tropical is the fast food joint found anywhere is South Florida. Atmosphere: Point to Larios. Chic classic old Havana with a South Beach Twist. Music: This is a hard one but I have to give it to Larios because they have a better sound system. A disappointment because I thought the music would be live. Service: Points to PT. Friendly informative counter service vs stuck up gay guy who just went ahead and put an order in for our side dishes without asking what we wanted! Price: No contest...point goes to Pollo Tropical. Just shy of $15 for a quarter of a chicken, churrascos, tomato balsamic salad, 2 orders of beans and rice, rolls and some great condiments and soft drinks. Larios, after taking out the alcoholic beverages was $50 and the food...well more on that later. Taste: PT by a land slide! The baked chicken was moist and well cooked, no puddles of grease to be found. The beans and rice were tasty and the tomato balsamic salad delish. The steak was only warm and should have been served at a warmer temperature. The rolls were typical fast food and could have been left off the plate. Larios Pork appetizer was overcooked and had no flavor. The Ropa Viega was a pile of grease disguised as meat. The shrimp creole was quite good but we expected a Caribbean flair that was not there. The sweet plantains were good but I wish I had been given the option of ordering the sides because my husband and I would have liked to try different things to share. South Beach is a wild and crazy place. Great food is hard to come by and costs a lot of money but I think you can do much better than Larios. Don't believe me? Go to Pollo Tropical and follow it up with a visit to Larios and prove it to yourself!
(2)
Rob W.
Great Mojito's, large portions, cool interior, but if your a people watcher you want to sit outside. I am not sure why everyone is ripping on this place. They have an extensive menu of solid traditional Cuban dishes. Love the mariquitias and vaca frita. I always order the rice and beans seperate and sweet plantains (madura). The food was very good, the scenery is always a freak show on ocean drive but entertaining.
(4)
Randy B.
Mojitos were the best I ever had.
(5)
Andrey E.
Very nice place! They serve three-entry dinner with drink just for $33! All very good, very polite staff. Delicious food!
(5)
Nucky T.
If I can help others avoid this restaurant, I certainly will. I agree with some of the reviewers ..... overall, and overrated Miami experience. I was very disappointed with ocean drive. It's changed a lot since I was last in Miami in 2003. Most if not all of the restaurants have the same exact menu. Why? It was never like this before. I never got hustled or herded walking by these restaurants like I did last week. Anyways, onto Larios! I had wanted to try some Cuban because I was in the mood for it ... [ after all every other restaurant is Italian, or with the same menu ] I was greeted and told there were no seats to sit down in [ outside or in ] ok .. so I will wait. It's really all who you know at Larios, as I saw other couples drive in from the street or walk in and were immediately seated, couple after couple ... I am only 1 person, I didn't have a group of 6 or 7, or 2. The hostess who acted and felt like she was Mariah Carey, kept twittling and piddling her hair, knew she was guilty because she wouldn't look me in the eye as I was pretty fucking pissed standing there. After waiting for more than an hour, I bounced .. and by then all the other good restaurants off the herded path of Ocean drive were closed! Good timing! Miami was a tremendously disappointing experience, along with this restaurant. It is deafly loud in this place.
(1)
Scott T.
This will be one of the stand out memories of Miami Beach. I liked the atmosphere of the place, the food was incredible, and it really hit the spot for a quintessential Miami Beach Ocean Drive restaurant. I guess you can expect that from the Queen of Miami herself. The pork was awesome, Mojitos were very sweet but I liked them. The salsa music was a tad too loud where I was but did not take away from the great experience.
(4)
Jim A.
I've eaten here twice in the past year. The first visit was good enough that I brought a group of co-workers here on Halloween. The ceviche was very good; the other dishes not so much: the shrimp criollo, Cuban pork, steak, and fried rice were all over-cooked - I guess they are best at not cooking food. The mojitos are tasty and made-to-order, but pricey - I still recommend having at least one. There aren't great deals anywhere on Ocean (regardless of what the hostesses offering 2-for-1 Happy Hour say), but Larios offers a decent meal at a fair for the market price.
(3)
Dennis M.
If there is one thing that Miami has no shortage of is its Cuban Restaurants. Sadly, many of our tourists and visitors only experience Lario's on the beach to make their assessment of what Cuban food is. This restaurant, inspired by the original ( best ) Lario's in West Dade tries to mix fine homey cuban food with a snazzy, pretencious South Beach scene. It doesn't work. Dishes seem rushed. Lacking are the subtle flavors of Cuban food, replaced here by an overindulgence of garlic. Dishes were mediocre at best. It seems that more attention is placed on location and hip factor than on food. Service is hit or miss. Ive been treated well there, but have also experienced serious attitude from the "too good for you" wannabe staff. Can do A LOT better if good Cuban food is what you want.
(3)
Stephanie V.
During my first trip to Miami 2 years ago I was searching for a good Cuban restaurant and came across Larios through Yelp. I had never tried Cuban before and the instant I tried it, I was hooked! I returned to Miami twice this year and the quality of the food never changed throughout the years. I don't remember all the dishes that we tried during my 3 visits to Larios, but definitely we ordered papas rellenas, ceviche, vaca frita de pollo, pollo a la plancha, pollo asado, churraso a lo cubano, boliche, and some kind of dessert with guava shells and cream cheese. I don't like seafood and didn't try the ceviche, but my husband loves ceviche and found Larios' ceviche too tart and acidic. The papas rellenas were fried perfectly and the potato inside was light and fluffy instead of feeling starchy and heavy. The minced meat was seasoned nicely. The vaca frita de pollo was tender and crispy. I loved how the meat was flavored with lime/lemon and topped with crispy onions. The pollo a la plancha was marinated the same way as the vaca frita de pollo, but I think the vaca frita de pollo brought out more of the flavors. The pollo asado was good, but nothing too memorable. The churrasco featured tender grilled steak with a very flavorful chimichurri sauce. The bolice was very tender and the meat almost fell apart once you put your fork through it. I really loved the chorizo they used which was loaded with flavor. The dessert with guava and cream cheese was too sweet and we were unable to finish it. The syrup was very thick and gooey. Service was pretty efficient, especially compared to other locations in SoBe. One night we were here there was a dj playing inside and though the music was great, I think it was too loud for a restaurant. My husband and I had to nearly shout to one another just to be heard. Then again, we're not Miami locals, so maybe the volume that they played was typical of Miami restaurants. Overall great food (not so great dessert, but I've only tried 1), relaxing atmosphere, and pretty decent service. I've tried 4 Cuban restaurants and so far this remains my favorite one.
(4)
Liyah B.
Larios is a must. Delicious food and great service. Also, beautiful decor. If you don't go to any other restaurant in SoBe, make sure you hit up Larios.
(5)
Berenice D.
Highly recommend this place. The food is so amazing. I had the first item on the menu under the meat. The meat was so tender and full of flavor. The rice I ordered the brownish rice and it was delicious along with the platanos machos. Please eat here it is to great!
(5)
sunny t.
Great food @ pretty good prices. Much better than other restaurants on ocean drive which tends to be rip offs. Look for the long lines.
(4)
Sunny M.
Yum, Yum, YUM!!!! I dream about the food from this every day!! Every time I go to Miami I have to eat here!! The food is amazing- ANYTHING u get. I love the shredded beef with the black beans and rice. The mojitos are the best, not to sweet or sour just right. The sugar cane makes the experience de-lish. Sit outside enjoy the crowd running by or sit inside and enjoy the fun dance music that they play. Remember it's Miami so service is not number 1 at all and don't get mad when u see the 17% tip added to your bill, again it's Miami. So the rating on the 5 is the food, drinks and did I mention the food!!! YUM, can't wait to go back!
(5)
Dennis M.
Good food, but you come for the atmosphere and that's why you pay a premium. A good choice if Ocean Drive dining is what you're looking for.
(4)
kim c.
OMG..... The Food was sooooo Good. the Ambiance was off the chain Very Trendy Miami. I will Be back there for the food and the Dancing next time and i will try the drinks next time. i was the Driver so i could not have cocktails but next time when i am in the area its on like Donkey kong
(5)
El S.
One of the best mojitos I've ever had. Got the rice and beans mixed together and some kind of chicken dish. Really good for Cuban food....then again I'm not Cuban so I really don't know much about it. I'm just a big, fat, dbag from the east coast with an overeating problem. Anyway, I really liked it regardless of my own personal faults. I'd like to make a Cuban friend. I don't have any. If any Cuban people out there want to hang out with a compulsive overeater with man juggies hit me up!
(4)
Jennifer C.
Loved loved the food. My boyfriend and I were at Miami Beach for a few days and decided to walk along Ocean Drive to look for a place to eat. There were plenty but we picked Larios because it was the cheapest one out of all the Cuban restaurants we passed by...don't get me wrong though, this place isn't hella cheap but it was the cheapest one! If you want somewhere really cheap and budget friendly....this isn't the place for you! We ordered their Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks for appetizer. This was delicious! The pork was moist and seasoned well! My boyfriend ordered Bongos Famous Fried Rice which was absolutely delicious ( I honestly thought it would taste just like any other fried rice but this tasted different....whatever they put in their fried rice, they did a great job)! I ordered the Bongos Famous Roasted Chicken and I absolutely loved this dish...Seasoned and marinated very well...Definitely should eat this with rice and the plantains that came with it (all work well together). Another plus was that we were able to eat outside to enjoy the fantastic weather! While you're eating, you'll find a woman taking pictures. She'll come back with a key chain and a frame with your picture....you decide whether you want to buy. We actually bought 2 key chains! What can I say...I got suckered into the buy 2 picture key chains and get a 4x6" picture for $12. lol
(5)
S D.
The fish and plantains were very good. Reasonably prices for South Beach.
Another staff dinner and my food was ordered for me by the time I got there. I should've had Cuban food, but I think my order was leaning more towards an Italian, chicken parmigiana type thing, because it was lightly breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and wonderfully melted mozzarella (see pictures). Fried plaintains and beans & rice were also served with every dish and were equally as yummy - and I don't even like plaintains! The atmosphere here is really good for groups. Having walked in right from Ocean Drive I didn't expect it to be spacious, but it was.
(4)
Eve J.
I am not one for giving 5 stars because to get 5 stars I have to be really impressed. My friend ordered and shared fried yucca, it was so delicious. I ordered the arroz con pollo. The portions were large enough for me to take 1/2 for a full meal later. We shared guayava and cheese for dessert. Delish! I would definitely return when I am in Miami.
(5)
Jessica C.
Not a fan of dining on Ocean Drive but Larios is a must stop for me whenever in Miami. Been coming here for years and always get the same dish Vaca Frita. It's so delicious! I've also started to get the Vaca Frita De Pollo, a healthier choice if on a diet! :)
(3)
Aletha C.
In Ocean Drive area and in the mood for Cuban food with my date. Heard Larios is owned by Gloria Estafan so thought we would check it out late on a weekday afternoon. Was impressed with the hip and classy decor and really liked the atmosphere. The Cuban music in the background, while a little loud for comfort did create a nice ambience. Started of with mojitos which were strong and minty and went down smoothly. I had the Cuban skirt steak with rice and fried plantains which was cooked right and came in good sized portions. My companion had the roasted pork which he found tender and full of flavor and he enjoyed the accompanying black beans, rice and tostones. The service was more than adequate and we felt well attended. Overall, we had a pleasant, enjoyable experience and really got into the mood of the place and would definitely return again
(4)
K C.
Good food. Decent priced for ocean dr.
(4)
Danielle R.
I knew this place would be designed for tourists, but I wanted to check out one of Gloria's restaurants. Sadly, the rhythm did not get me. The disco vibe you walk into really cheapens the whole place. I imagine it provides for a fantastic people watching experience and a place for the tourists to try and salsa, but it didn't do anything to create a good dining experience. The presentation of the food was a step above cafeteria style. I expected bold, yummy, heat based flavor. You know, Cuban food. Meh. Not so much. Service. Meh. A bit scattered and, um, quirky. Not attentive.
(2)
Tom G.
I would love to give this beach place 5 stars. I've been in and out of here for many many times over the years. Service is great, food is wonderful, but tonight the bartender screwed us over. We asked how much are the mojitos and he replied $8. I repeated it back to him, and he agreed that it was a great price. In fact he said it was the same price as the cheap red wine. So, need I say more? We opted for mojitos over red wine... Everyone having a good time, drinking mojitos like it's lemonade... Then the bill comes, but the mojitos are now $11 each. Bartender wouldn't budge. Said that's what the price was, pay up! I'm sorry, but we passed up many other tourist rip-off restaurants on Ocean Drive looking for one that had been around for a while, one that we knew, one that was very unlikely to try cheating. Very, very disappointing that this classy place jumped onto the rip-off bandwagon... Needless to say, our plans to bring a party there next week has been changed. Shameful... Update: They inflated the charge on the credit card!
(1)
Shortcake S.
The Coco Mojitos are outstanding and I'd give the tostones rellenos 3.5 stars, but I ordered the Moros and I'm fairly certain that the rice is Uncle Ben's brand. There are lots of other places in this area for outstanding (and cheaper) Cuban food. Not to mention the hostess wasn't that friendly... but I still highly recommend the Coco Mojitos ;)
(3)
Annie T.
Gloria Estefan took my virginity. My Cuban food virginity. It was like a scene out of "When Harry Met Sally". I was making the Meg Ryan sounds, but I wasn't faking it. I ordered the ropa viega (shredded beef) and it was incredibly flavorful... just SOAKING in the good stuff (cuban sauce/peppers/onions). It came with a plate of sweet plantain (good god, those alone could bring me to a euphoric state) and mora rice with black beans mixed in. My friend also got the media noche sandwich and I snuck a bite. It was so GD delicious that I had to hunt down a media noche sammy place within a few blocks from our hotel the next day (and the day after that)... We were seated quickly, our server was great, food and drinks came out fast, and lastly, the atmosphere was so fun. We made the mistake of sitting outside (it was winddyyyy night in SoBe) because it was more fun inside... and warmer. That's my only regret. Thanks, Gloria, it was my first but certainly not my last.
(4)
J T.
Not bad, just not great. There are several other Cuban restaurants on Miami beach, but this was our first to try. We love Cuban food. We're hoping the others live up to their stellar reviews.
(3)
Jason K.
This Cuban tourist trap, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, has been around for years and remains a great place to people watch. The night I visited a few years ago, Lario's was filled with "beautiful people"...it was a little intimidating. Nevertheless, any apprehension was relieved by a couple of drinks. The food was surprisingly good...the skirt steak served with Chimichurri sauce was particularly tasty. The fried plantains were delicious but the black beans were pretty average. If you are a tourist visiting South Beach, this is a pretty good place to go for decent, unintimidating Cuban food.
(4)
Ashley S.
We ordered Ropa Vieja. Taste was great. The waitress left us after she brought us the food (literally, 7 mins after we ordered it) and didn't come back for about 30 min. We called someone else over to get us more to drink. They didn't tell us that they don't give refills. They asked us if we wanted more soda though, we said yes then they charged us 2.50 for it. So, NO REFILLS : ) Will I go back? Probably not. btw, If you choose to sit outside, be prepared to be harassed no matter what you wear.
(3)
Yirima V.
Good vaca frita!...only wish they had an avocado salad on the menu.
(4)
Christina S.
Headed to Little Havana originally we were told by our connoisseur at our hotel that we were "over dressed and being only ladies we should not go" We weren't wearing ball gowns but obviously our dresses and shorts were too much for a night out to Little Havana and we were redirected to go to Larios On The Beach. A little taxi ride from the Eden Roc we arrived to what was a busy night. Luckily we were able to grab a table out on the sidewalk perfect for interesting people watching and as the bottles of wine came the more interesting things would become. First off this place is theresturant of Gloria Estefan which brings in more fans and people wanting to dine at her place so it does get busy... It's a beautiful spot rich on the beach and winter in Miami is more like a cooler summer so outdoor dinning is better. We asked the waiter to suggest authentic Cuban food. I had the shredded chicken with the Moros y Cristianos (black rice) .. My friends had pork and other dishes. Everything was amazing however the only thing that annoyed us was when we ordered a bottle of Malbec the waiter brought out a different bottle. He didn't mention to us that they were out of the wine or that they could offer something similar. He brought out the bottle already opened. A bottle that was of a $10 difference. Poor service on his part. He obviously has no experience. So when we ordered our second bottle we had to make sure it was in fact the one we wanted before he brought out another $10 higher bottle of wine. We were not being cheap but come on??? Cheap move on his part.. So, note of caution make sure that they don't try to give you something other than your order and check the receipt. He didn't offer to adjust the price, no in fact because it was our friends birthday he said he brought out the tres leeches cake and took that off in place of the wine. Can you say LAME?? Oh, the Mojitos.. We all tried one.. I couldn't finish mine because it was too sweet even after I had asked for a pinch of sugar it still came out tasting like a cup of sugar. Apparently they ar known for the Mojitos and apparently every spot that I had one at makes them very sweet even after asking to go light on the sugar.. Apparently I am no fan of the Mojito.. But the sugar cane stick in there was cute. Food 5 stars the sheisty waiter 2 stars.. He did have good recommendations on the authentic food!
(3)
C B.
Lario's was great. I had a mango mojito which was excellent. The food was delicious as well. The staff was very friendly. It's a little more pricey but It's right on Ocean drive with a great view of the beach and excellent people watching opportunities.
(4)
Wendy O.
We visited Larios on vacation, great Cuban food, fun location in South Beach. I had pork...very tasty. Plantains good. Not crazy about the rice. Would recommend!
(4)
Aurelius M.
Ay Dios Mio! The best cuban food I've ever had. I went here for dinner and the food was amazing. We started with the Estefan Cuban combo and my first drink was the Havana iced tea. My entree was the Lechon Asado. Then we got a pitcher of Mojito. We were on the company dime so we let the dice roll that night! Again, the food was incredible. Everything had lots of flavor and I felt like I was in Cuba while the spanish tunes played in the background. The staff was ok. We were seated outside and waiter was swamped which took a bit of time to order our food. We didn't mind at the time because it's a great spot to people watch. I wish their valet service had square or some way to pay with credit card. I had to walk a block for an ATM, pay the ATM fee, then walk a block back. So if you plan to valet here make sure you take cash because they cannot cash you out at the bar, you can't pay at your table or front desk , and the valet doesn't have any credit card machine. A bit outdated if you ask me. It's 2014 and who uses cash anymore? The little things I guess.
(4)
Lauren B.
Even though Lario's is in a very touristy area of SoBe, the cuisine and experience is very authentic! Best mojitos ever and the Mojo Marinated Chicken is soooo very flavorful. Loved the the bacon wrapped maduros also. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this! The music and energy is lively and everyone there is ready to have a good time - an awesome dining experience!
(5)
Mark O.
This place is awesome. Took visitors to eat authentic Cuban food and Emilio Estefan comes to say hi. He is one of our customers at HD!
(5)
Gayland L.
Food is great. Great place to have drinks and a wonderful dinner. People watching is great from the patio. Skirt steak is the way to go. Empanadas are great.
(5)
Zrinko V.
Great food, we wanted Cuban and found this wonderfully decorated quiet place (don't understand why it's so quiet, but OK with it). Great food, totally worth it, very good restaurant.
(5)
andrea a.
Came back a year later and it's still just as amazing. Complete redesign. Food is amazing and be sure to try the mojitos! We had the pineapple mojito and coconut mojito and they were so good! Food: we had the steak with Moro and tostones. MORO IS AMAZING! My girlfriend had the steak salad and it was good too. A must try when in Miami!
(5)
Steven H.
My wife and I had ropa vieja with moro rice and sweet plantains and ceviche appetizer. Our daughter had sweet plantains wrapped in bacon. All was excellent.
(5)
Raychel L.
My friend and I were only in town 1 night and our hotel had a Miami book of local things. We perused the dining pages and voted we must do Cuban cuisine while in South Beach. We shared the ceviche (grouper fish) came w/plantain chips, um AMAZING! So full of flavor I could have had 7 of those by myself, regardless of how full I would have been. We also shared the Famous Seared shredded beef with Moros rice, grilled veggies and sweet plantains. Also Amazing!! Everything was so delish. We quenched our thirst w/a carafe of Mango Passion fruit spritzer which was tasty but not much alcohol. Finishing it off with Cuban coffee (espresso) bill came to $73 for both. Not bad $$ for South Beach, we were stuffed, even with sharing! Will visit again!
(4)
Kyle H.
Was taken to Larios by a local for Cuban Food and was very happy with it. Seating aplenty outside with great people watching, and the inside is very nice too. Feeling like just having a drink? They have a nice bar right inside! Appetizer- Ceviche- generous portion of whitefish served in a broth of citrus with red onion and jalapeno. Slightly spicy, but could have used maybe something else. Was served with crispy plantain- a nice touch! Entree- Shredded Beef- I forget the Cuban name, but it's basically Ropa Viejo minus tomato sauce. A HOT plate of sizzling meat with onions, with a side of rice and beans and choice of plantains (sweet). Loved my dish. Service was great- and saw plenty else on the menu that would keep me coming back to Larios!
(4)
Bunny W.
Most restaurants on ocean drive are tourist trap with boring menu. This place doesn't try to oversell themselves, which is kinda nice. The menu is more original and interesting than their neighbors but not the best cuban in south beach. The tres leches was a huge disappointment, cake was rough not moist though it's wet. The pork cubes appetizer is our favorite. We also had skirt steak salad. Portion are generous, service are good, mojito is great.
(3)
Tiffany P.
We went there recently to check out the new renovations and new menu, the food is amazing have the bacon wrapped maduros!
(5)
Andrea J.
Food was very good, the avocado salad is delicious but on the small side, the rose wine was rather like a red wine but good, but the waiter was kind of weird, not really friendly, do not expect chatting about the food with this guy
(4)
Steven P.
the food was good, not great, especially considering the prices. the location is excellent, right across from the beach. Here is the problem: while trying to enjoy my expensive lunch with friends, i was bothered 7 times by panhandlers and people interrupting us to sell us junk. From reggae cds, cigars,roses, boat tours, culinary tours and just plain street urchins asking for money. When i got upset and told the managers, their answer to the issue was for me to move to another table???? My lunch bill with tip was 140.00 for 3 people. I will never go back to this place,since they condone this
(2)
Melissa M.
We made our dinner reservations in advance on opentable.com . We checked in and barely had to wait to be seated. The waiting area is rather large so I could only imagine how packed this place gets during busier times of the year. There's "glowing" chairs in this area was pretty cool.The place seemed very busy and had a very energetic atmosphere. Lots of waiters and staff running around also. We were seated in one of the rooms which was already packed with other diners. Our waitress had a very rushed mood throughout our whole service. She barely came up to refill our waters and never came back to check up on us. Seeing how she tended to all the tables within this room, we all got the same service. They offer everything you'd expect on a menu for a Spanish restaurant in Miami/South Beach. Prices are definitely more here. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo and my bf had the Lechon Asado. The food was just average, nothing special. In addition, I felt that the flavors were a little bland, making it more "americanized" for those who were just being introduced to Spanish food. The lack of service, higher prices, and average food left much to be desired. Nice restaurant but if you're not able to try this tourist trap, you're not missing anything. I still love you Gloria Estefan!
(2)
Tegan C.
YES! A gem hidden amongst all the terribly overpriced tourist restaurant/bars on ocean drive. Wonderful Cuban cuisine for reasonable pricing. I highly recommend it and guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy the food, music, ambience, and service.
(4)
Katie F.
Finally I got to try cuban coffee! IT WAS AMAZING. It changed everything. You have to go here. Sit inside, there's an incredible band that plays inside. Makes it hard to sit and eat because you want to get up and dance. We had the paella, it was really nice. Appetizers were the empanadas and the beef potatoes, both I would order again in a heart beat. We rode bikes afterwards, there's a citi bike rack across the street, so go ride off all that amazing food! Loved it here.
(5)
Emilia L.
We arrived in Miami totally starved and had no idea where to eat. We were dressed to the nines, but didn't want to eat at an overpriced place, yet didn't want some hole in the wall, either. We parked and headed towards Ocean Drive in search of a place to eat, and found Lario's (the second place we passed!) What a godsend, because we had originally wanted Cuban food but had a hard time finding a suitable place. We got some ceviche to start, which was served with thinly cut plaintain chips. Very refreshing and delicious. For my entree, I got a Cuban classic, the ropa vieja. The meat was tender and flavorful, the plaintains had nice crisp edges and were sweet and pillowy soft and the white rice had a hint of flavor to it that I could not place. I only wish I had gotten moro rice instead (mixed black beans and rice). I also sampled some of the roasted pork. Delicious. It was one of the best meals of the trip. They had some live salsa music going on, so it was a bit hard to hear each other over the din, but it was a great meal. Awesome find!
(4)
Terry B.
This was absolutely one of the best meals I've ever eaten! We went at lunch during the week and chose to sit outside. I ordered the ceviche for an appetizer, which was delicious. We ordered the El "Tour" De Cuba, Lechon Asado, Ropa Vieja Y Vaca Frita De Pollo tour of Cuba, which is a sampling of Cuban food which has samples of seared shredded chicken, roasted pork, slow cooked shredded beef served with Cuban mojo & chimichurri sauce, and plantains. We both had lemonades and I finished the meal off with a Cuban coffee. Man, was the meal ever remarkable! The entire meal ran us just under $100 with tip, but was it EVER worth it! The staff was very friendly and professional. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
David F.
horrible! The menu is very misleading and the waitress agreed with our party!Overall the staff was very rude and a big disappointment.
(1)
Christopher S.
Just know there are two restaurants here. I have only eaten at Larios and it's excellent. Love me some Chicken VacaFrita it's so good. :) Yucca fries yummmm. The wait staff is fantastic well done. Great dining experience. Great value. While here I stepped out of the bathroom an patron passed out basically in my hands her family was right there, she wasn't drunk ....I felt it was diabetic related coupled with heat exhaustion. I was impressed at how the wait staffed helped they brought over a chair , some water and called 911 They were genuinely concerned, amazing , the hostess was right there with me... She stopped and said wait the back room is full of Doctors that are here dining she ran to that room for help, she came back and said they don't want to get involved. WOW shame on those Doctors disgusting. The Medics arrived fast and took over , that's what true professionals do. But the wait staff made me proud. (Vacationing Police Officer :)).
(5)
Lorna W.
I have eaten at Larios EVERY YEAR for the past 5 years. My daughter and I do an annual trip. Sadly....tonight is my last time. We arrived in SB and were seated within 1.5 hours after landing in Miami. A complete disappointment. Our app of chicken and shrimp skewers were mediocre at best. I had hoped it was a fluke. It wasn't. So excited to wrap my lips around their fabulous skirt steak. NOT!!! It was horrible. Tough. Tasteless. The server said that the chef has changed. So said....the food used to be fabUlous. I won't EVER return.
(1)
Yvonne M.
First dinner in SOBE, this place is owned by Gloria Estefan, the food was authentic and delicious... And the service was perfect as well. I ordered ropa viiejo aka shredded beef w/onions & peppers, side of rice and plantains..it was cooked to perfection! I ordered a mojito, and it came tasting like perfection...it reminded me of those commercials for peppermint patties, hi it takes you to a cool place... This drink was so refreshing and good I loved it... And the sugar cane stick in it was a nice addition! I will no doubt be back next time, only thing missing was live music.. i would love to have heard live music playing.
(5)
Nathaly L.
This restaurant temporarily moved to 13th and ocean inside a hotel(i think cardozo) There is a different restaurant outside the hotel, so heads up. I feel that cuban cuisine and almost every latin american cuisine is almost impossible to eat vegetarian. I came here with my party at the request of a 10 year old, who mentions Larios every time he is visiting miami. My party ordered the shrimp in a red sauce (maybe it was curry), the grilled mahi mahi , the fish bites and the 10 year old ordered his usual the chicken bites on the kids menu. All entrees include 2 side dishes some of them are white rice, fries, yuca, sweet plantains (maduros) or tostones (crunchy and salty plantains), moro (rice and beans already mixed and cooked together) and i think black beans. Maria ordered the grilled Mahi Mahi with white rice and not only did it look great she said it was delicious, i think she had the best dish in our group. Shrimp curry with white rice and black beans he said it was good (but hes not one to complain so i will never know) he did mistake the black beans for some sort of soup which i think many non-hispanic ppl tend to make and he thought they were yummy. i think cubans tend to season their beans very well. The fish bites were a miss- which i was surprised because i didnt think you could mess that up..but they looked like they could have been fried and cooked a bot longer, partner in crime said they weren't crispy and they just didn't taste right were his words. He had that with white rice and fries which were both good. im half cuban, so i told the waiter i wasn't eating meat, and if he could fry me two eggs on a bed of white rice, he smiled and said yes. I ate this as a child all the time, so although not on the menu, i think you can ask any cuban restaurant if they can make it for you and they almost always will. They always fry eggs to put on top of poor mans steak and white rice is a staple so they can. Any who---- thats all!!
(3)
Lauren N.
This place is right off the beaten path. I almost mistook it for the place in front called Cardozo something but no. ASK where Larios is AND ask to sit outside. It's beautiful. Their mojitos are wonderful. The luxury one is verry strong. Cevice and maduros and food is amazing. ALSO ask for a side of (mojo sauce i.e, garlic sauce) on side for dipping appetizer sampler or dipping anything. Enjoy -*** I just spoke to waiter and he said they are in a new location from last year (last year they were located right on the strip of ocean drive). This location is temporary so make sure ur at the right place (it is off a side street {13th street and ocean drive}). If ur not sure then ask where Larios is because I can't imagine this place getting less than 4 stars. It is GOOD FOOD.
(5)
Chelsea G.
Our second time here and the food and service were great. Although very busy our waiter did his very best to accommodate. Many options here and they will make any alterations to suit your needs. Terrific live music and a festive atmosphere but not a party one. Good mojitos, too!
(4)
Lien D.
Everything we ordered was very moist and flavorful! Portions are pretty big and shareable. We had the empanadas, chicken and rice, and slow roasted pork. First time having Cuban food and it was delish. A little pricey, but give you big portions to make up for it.
(4)
Bahar S.
If there was a way for me to add stars I would. My husband and I are visiting from LA and my only request was to have good quality Cuban OX tail. Most places we went to only served it on special days. Having found no restaurant that served what we wanted on our last day I called Lario's and asked for the OX tail and was told they only serve it as a special on the weekend. Hearing the devastated disappointment in my voice the hostess, Elvia, told me to hold on. Then she came back and said she spoke to the chef and he has agreed to make it for us anyway even though it was Friday. The OX tail was the best I've ever had. Not greasy at all and prepared just perfectly. It's so comforting to go some place and have complete satisfaction at having gotten exactly what we wanted and such caring service. I wish we were here longer so we could explore the menu and try some of our other favorite Cuban dishes. Thanks so much!
(5)
Laura G.
I'm always fearful to order Ceiveche, afraid I'll get flavorless fish with lemon juice. This was one of the best Ceiveche's I've had - up there with Border Grill in Santa Monica. What stood out was the FLAVOR of Jalapenos, not super HOT but flavorful. I still wonder how they got the FLAVOR so strong but not all the heat. I think I'd have a hard time ordering anything else here. It was that good.
(4)
Marlene R.
The BEST tostones rellenos (stuffed plantains)!!! They've remodeled the restaurant and it's absolutely beautiful! The live band is amazing. Our waiter, Efrain, was outstanding! We were sent here after first visiting Bongos (also owned by the Estefans) at the American Airlines Arena only to find out they're closing!! Lario's is a must go-to place on the beach!
(5)
Kevin D.
Got a late night dinner here. Portions are generous! I ordered the milanesa and my girlfriend got the arroz con pollo. Both were amazing! Drinks were good, service was good. Nice spot for people watching. Would recommend.
(5)
Sally B.
Best steak salad I have ever had...outstanding food and service. Just visiting South Beach for a convention and so glad I chose this place for dinner with my friends and colleagues. To top off the evening, Emilio Estefan stopped by our table for a photo op with us. What a gentleman. Highly recommend you stop by if you are in the area. #rewardsofrisk #somuchfun
(5)
Farrah R.
I always CE to south beach and this vacation around u was really disappointed with the food.
(3)
Kara D.
Authentic and delicious food. Beautiful and sophisticated ambiance in an area that can be overrun with tacky. Our service was excellent and attentive. Marinated pork was the best dish I've had.
(5)
Maria E.
My husband, a friend and I ate at Larios last night. After walking down the strip the beauty and ambiance of this place called us over. Also the smell of the black beans. I could hear the live band playing inside. I felt like i was in Havana. We asked for sidewalk seating because it was a beautiful warm evening. I informed our waiter that I would be needing a rum drink immediately. He informed me they make the best Mojitos. I had the Grande Mojito which had a bunch of fresh mint in it. He didn't lie, it was delicious. We ordered the Tostones Rellenos which were stuffed with shrimp, ground beef and ropa vieja. Our friend ordered the Chicken Empanadas which were flaky and delicious. I had the Churrasco steak which was perfectly seasoned and cooked with a side of chimichurri sauce. It came with white rice and black beans. We also ordered a dose of the sweet plantains which were tender and caramelized and just scrumptious. I had no room for dessert. I was completely impressed by this restaurant. From the ambiance, the amazing food and the impeccable service.
(5)
Lauren C.
For dinner on Ocean Drive, you sort of know what you're in for upon arriving... mediocre overpriced food, and ok service. Larios was considerably better than the average in South Beach. We had called for a reservation, but were told that they wouldn't be able to take us until 9:30p. It was 6p, and we had been drinking, so we figured we'd head over there for a drink around 7:30p and see what happened from there. We rolled up and the place looked better than I had hoped. They asked if we wanted to be inside or outside. We answered first available, and they sat us down instantly. I ordered a mojito which was perfect and delicious. My friend was drinking marghartia's and seemed equally as pleased. We are both vegetarians so the menu wasn't quite meant for us, but we got the vegetarian plate and it got the job done. The ambiance is really what you pay for at this place. We saw some crazy people walking by- pythons, people wearing python, girls in underwear, men in underwear, The service was solid too. They left us alone enough to enjoy the meal, but were attentive with drinks which always scores extra points by me. I'm not sure I'd go back here as they didn't have a ton of food for me, but I'd go back here for some drinks and to hang out. If I ate more meat, I'd definitly put this on the list. Gloria knows how things should be done!
(3)
Laura V.
Had one of the best meals ever and the service was amazing. Our favorite place in South Beach!
(5)
Jenn N.
Delicious! We had a great time at Lario's. The food was awesome, way better Cuban dishes than another place we had tried in the area, and good atmosphere. The pulled chicken with rice and beans plus sweet plantains were my favorite, but even the bread was great. Will definitely be back next time we're in town!
(5)
Suzanne S.
Thank you, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, for the care and attention you gave to re-imagine Lario's. Excellent service (all too rare on the Beach) , excellent decor--dazzling but also elegant--and excellent food. The lechon, maduros, tostones, moro, and seafood were all prepared with care and served handsomely. We loved the music, which drew us inside for dinner rather than on the terrace. It was the perfect place to celebrate our son's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We will take other out-of-town visitors there.
(4)
Ralph T.
First, I need to say that I should be rating Larios on the Beach a 4 based on the location and lack being on the beach. But as I understand it, this is only temporary as they're remodeling it's permanent location, so let's give Larios the benefit of a doubt that they're trying to make this restaurant an even nicer place to dine. And it was nice. As it was a rainy day on South Beach, a lot of people probably stayed away. Good for us as we had first class service. I felt that we had two servers; our waitress and a host who was very involved with helping customers make choices as well as helping serve the food. I liked that. He was always close enough to make sure our water glasses and coffee were full but never hovering over our table. The menu...ahhhh.. the menu. We wanted Cuban food. Very slim picken's here in the SF bay area. Hey..Miami! Cuban food should be easy to find, right? Not on South Beach. And when asked, the other restaurants were only interested in getting us to sit down for Italian, Mexican or Burgers. I easily found what I was looking for, something that tasted as good as it looked. I had the Cuban Roasted Pork, my wife had a Grilled Chicken plate. I had beautiful plantains, not slices but large chunks cooked to a desert quality. Everything on our plates was delicious. The meat, rice, vegies, all of it. I don't think there's anything on the Larios menu I wouldn't eat. I would love to go back to Miami someday. And when I do I hope this restaurant is still in business. Based on the overall quality of our meal, If they do for their remodeling job what they did for our visit, I'm sure all 5 stars will be still in place.
(5)
Frank E.
What Happened? In October 2013, we brought our friends visiting from France. Great service, decent food, good ambiance. Last Sunday, (again with friends from France) night and day. One waiter serving the entire floor and outside (the same great waiter we had in October), managers not paying attention thothe floor and mediocre Cuban sandwiches. We know it's South Beach but the owner should be watching her empire. We will not go back again.
(2)
Joannitte R.
I feel badly giving them three stars as I have gone to Lario's for manyyyy years however the last few times I have gone the service has been lacking. The food is still good yet the service is off. I visited lario's this past week because I was in Miami for the week and I loved how beautiful the place was renovated yet when I went to the bathroom there are only two stalls in the women's bathroom! They spent millions on the renovation yet they couldn't add more bathrooms and for the love of God why aren't there hooks in the stalls!!!???? Ugh.
(3)
Sandra G.
Absolutely beautiful venue. The rice and beans were delicious and one of the most raved about choice in our group. The staff was attentive and helpful making us feel comfortable and catered to. It doesn't offer much privacy for diners but since we were seated by an entertaining group it just added to the fun we had. If you want a quiet, secluded dining experience this might not be the place for you, but a great place to get the night started with a group of friends.
(4)
Patty T.
Stars are for the live music and the very attentive waitstaff. The bar and the hostess stand are a hot mess and by that I mean I think they were hired for looks but were a mess in every other way. Bar staff was inattentive and clueless as was the hostess. Food -- stuffed green plantains with shrimp criollo -- was less quality than our very cheap dinner at Versailles -- except for the ceviche which was much more sophisticated but still not as good as Cafe Nuvo on Via Espana. Did I mention that the music is great?
(4)
Nada A.
If there are a (0) star here i would chose it for this restaurant. the food taste disgusting, the soft drinks taste weird. and the menu is over priced. we had 4 entrees and 5 soft drinks and we end up paying 183.55$ which is insane, i would never step a foot there... NOT RECOMMENDED
(1)
Keith S.
I think this is the best choice for South Beach. On the way here, we were offered 20% coupons and free shots. But most places up and down the strip here were 2s or worse. The four star place was $40 for almost any entree. And it's CUBAN !! Had the Masitas Puerco (pork chunks) for an appetizer. They were hot and not very large, which made them easy to cut and enjoy. To balance that, had the Pollo Asado (baked chicken) which was baked in a nice sauce, with rice and plantains. Excellent, plenty of food, and very very nice scenery. Prices very reasonable. If you sit outside you might not get a chance to see the beautiful interior of this building; it is dark walnut throughout and very well maintained. The tile work is excellent and the building design is wonderful. I don't know much about the area but this is a classic building.
(5)
Nicole K.
Yum. Try the sampler, it was very good and very filling. Prices are a bit higher, but food is of good quality. Way better than Versailles, sorry we wasted our time and money there. Ordered other entrees but sampler really stood out. Service was pretty decent too. Automatic 18% tip.
(4)
Sergio F.
I ate here twelve years ago! When I happened to be in the area near Lario's and hungry for Cuban food after spread of more exotic cuisines, I decided to stop by again. However, based on the most recent service and food, I think it'll be another while before I go to this Lario's again. I am rating them three stars because the Moros and Sweet Plantains were tasty. However, it's still a lower rating than what I would have expected. One minus is that our service was slow from when seated until the food actually arrived. While it was a relatively full house even for a weekday, no wait staff even stopped by to offer bread. That's never happened at their Sunset Place / South Miami location. I also had to remind them a couple of times about my drinks. The Pollo Milanesa (Cuban style chicken pawn) could have had a little more marinara sauce and lighter on the cheese. The cover band playing reggaeton and salsa was good if a little loud (yes, even for someone of Cuban descent it was loud) but that may just be my couple of gray hairs talking.
(3)
Lisette V.
This was my first visit to Larios. One of my besties was in town on her first visit to Miami. I had seen a review on Deco Drive of Larios renovation & new menu with heathier options. We sat outside to people watch. I ordered the Cuban Sandwich. Yum! Absolutely authentic. My friend ordered the grill chicken sandwich. She said it was delicious. I will definitely be returning to Larios. Excellent service & great food.
(5)
Nijole T.
Gloria Estefans famed restaurant on Ocean Dr at the beach. Would one not know it is nested between an endless row of restaurants across the beach, I could have never told any of them apart. Glad I did and heard how fabulous it was. The decor inside is beautiful, the bar was packed, the music loud and people dancing everywhere. It was hard to get through to the bathroom and the rest of the restaurant, but it was such a relaxed vibe and so many beautiful people having a wonderful evening one could not be mad at them. We sat outside to enjoy the gorgeous Miami evening and got exceptional service. The food was fantastic and fairly priced at just under $20 each for generous portions. My husband had the Bistec A La Milanesa, cuban style milanese steak breaded and topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella cheese with a side of fried plantains and rice which he enjoyed tremendously. I had the Pollo A La Milanese, same as him just with chicken, also amazing. Perfect for a date night or a fun night out with the girls.
(4)
Jade N.
If you ever find yourself walking along the Ocean Drive Strip in South Beach you will notice there are a ton of restaurants to choose from. All of these restaurants offer a wide variety of food choices and tastes! Larios is by far my favorite. Not just because its owned by the Queen of Latina Music, Ms. Gloria Estefan herself, the Cuban food is excellent for being in such a touristy spot! I always order my "go to" dish which is the Ropa Vieja. Which is a fantastic mixture of flank steak beef , peppers, onions served in a saucy sweet red sauce with white rice, black beans and plantains! I highly recommend it, The pitcher of mohitos is also a great value if more than one of you is drinking. If staying in the super touristy area on South Beach, I highly reccomend this place. Authentic Cuban food, not too pricey and definitly the best Cuban place within walking distance!
(4)
Chanda W.
Very disappointed. I had the grouper, rice, and black beans. Nothing had any flavor, the fish had no seasoning on it at all. I think this is very touristy and over-rated.
(3)
Bom T.
Mojitos are good price vs it's strength. Fried sweet platains in the entree is awesome. I had the pork chop with grilled onion which was good, but little greasy. I like grease.
(4)
Isaiah V.
Came here last night around 10:15 pm. No wait, got in right away. Service was good and food was just ok. Moro rice and plantains got cold right away. Food was served quickly so not sure it this was the reason
(3)
Adolfo C.
I had the Cuban sandwhich here. It is the 1st time I have ever had a Cuban sandwhich and I must say this thing was GOOD! My gf had the red snapper and she and I both say it's to die for! 5 stars for this location owned by Gloria Estafan! I am only going this the place a 4.5 because we were never asked if we were doing ok by by out waiter.
(4)
Lillian Z.
The food was pretty tasty. Portions were a bit small. Dinner for 2 with drinks and dessert was over $80 and not really worth it. I would not return. Also, I was expecting a dance floor but there was not one. There was live music but no room to dance.
(2)
Star R.
Love, love the personal attention, if you've read any of my reviews SERVICE is key! My glass was always full and our waiter made sure we were all smiles! Ok, now the food! Salads were great, Moro rice and sweet plantains delish...grouper filet ok, and fish bites were awesome! Great service, great drinks, ok food....need to try more menu items!
(5)
Virdina M.
I think this place might be expensive for its location. Their Cuban food is good but honestly, I have had better Cuban. That doesn't mean it's bad but I've had better. Our plantains came out with a hair on them; they quickly replaced them and everything that was on the plate with them. Their drinks are great! Had a mango drink and my husband something else that he really enjoyed. The decor is great. Facilities are well maintained. I don't know how their staff wears full suits in Miami....
(3)
Judy L.
Missed their 5 stars due to 2 reasons: 1. We had reservations and still had to wait 50 mins. 2. The service is OK, slow and refills were hard to come by. Lots of pros: excellent location for people watching, turns into a night club by the beach, on Ocean Dr., and the food was excellent. Ordered: Bongos Combo (Fried Stuffed Potatoes- Papas Rellenas; Pork Tamale - Tamal de Carne de Cerdo; Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Bites - Masitas de Puerco; Traditional Cuban Ham Croquettes - Croquetas de Jamón; Stuffed Plantain Cups - Tostones Rellenos de Picadillo o Camarones; Green Plantains Cups stuffed with Shrimp Cuban Criolla): Everything on this combo was excellent, the pork tamale was the only thing that was below par. Cuban Roasted Pork - Lechon Asado (Traditional Cuban Style Roasted Pork) - The pork was so so so so GOOD, tender and flavorful with the black beans & rice and tostones, Cuban Style Pot Roast - Boliche (Tender Cuban Pot Roast slowly cooked in a Red Wine Sauce stuffed with Spanish Sausage) - This dish was off the chains too. Bongos Famous Fried Shredded Beef - Vaca Frita (Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Shredded Flank Steak topped with Grilled Onions) - Had a bite of this and it was so good too.
(4)
Azin D.
I have had a lot of Cuban food before and consider myself a good judge of Caribbean and Cuban food. My girlfriend and I ordered the fried stuffed potatoes for appetizer. The spices were very good, but the beef stuffing was cold- weird. We both ordered the Cuban skirt steak and it was very good. She got her's medium and mine was medium-rare, and they actually came out as we had ordered... shocking! Potions were large and the plates came with rice and fried plantains. All done well. Minus one star for the crowd. There was a table of about 10 guys dining next to us and they were adamant to holler at every big booty walking by. Entertaining for the first 10 minutes and annoying for the last 20.
(4)
Oliver B.
Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. My first visit since the restaurant reopened. Well worth the wait. Took the restaurant, and the service to a whole new level. . . . raising the bar of standard for all the restuarants on Ocean Drive--- they should take a cue! Service was great. very attentive and well versed on telling us what to order. Some of my friends were having a first time cuban dinner . . and LOVED it. The vaca frita was the best I ever had. And I've had many!!!!! Love the band too. Great time Keep up the good work. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Aldo V.
OMG - so so so so so good - Right on the beach - romantic and scenic I had the Picadillo and he had the Ropa Vija... mouthwatering!!!!! Thank you Gloria! the Rhythm got me, and reeled me in, and ordered me 3 more Mojitos - (which were divine as well)
(5)
Hilda H.
Larios always has good food, I would say traditional Cuban food with the fancy of south beach. Their Roquelaure preparada is awesome, I live the thingy cut French fries. Latinos always has great music , so you can shave down calories from their widely known and delicious flan. They definitely give a lot of food and for a reasonable price.
(4)
Jonathan G.
As of May 12, they are in a temporary location at the Cardozo Hotel on the corner of 13th and Ocean. The temporary location is nice but there were no signs for the restaurant outside the hotel. The hotel has its own restaurant outside with its own sign, menu, and hostess standing outside, which makes it confusing. This made finding the place a little frustrating. Service was friendly but we were the only other party in the restaurant. They were having a little trouble with there computers but said they were getting accustomed to a new system. As for the food, my wife and I were underwhelmed. We tried the chicken soup, chicken bites, yuca frita, and moros. The soup was okay but the rest of the stuff was a little dry and/or bland for my taste. I asked for some extra mojo sauce and that made everything taste better. I have enjoyed their food during previous visits and was a little disappointed this time.
(3)
Cindy W.
We had reservations for May 4, 2013 for 11 people. We called May 2nd to add 2 more. We were told they are closed and under construction! We received no call or email notification. What a disaster if we had shown up.
(1)
Greg N.
Being from an area myself where there are plenty of Cuban restaurants I've had my share and I must say that Larios is really an excellent place. Especially when compared with all the other restaurants in the area; those really are tourist traps whereas Larios on its own would be a great restaurant regardless of its location. A little pricy but again think ambiance and quality of food, it really is a great value. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Celeste B.
Chose this restaurant while making a mad dash out of the rain! There was no line and seats were available. LOL. Overall I was not impressed with this restaurant which I later heard is supposed to be a big deal in Miami Beach! Visited this restaurant in March 2012 and must say the mojitos are top notch. For my meal I had a seafood combination (the exact name I cant recall) which was OK. My side of plaintains was actually the best part of the meal unfortunately. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the dance floor seemed to be the most active part of the restaurant although i thought it was out of place. A better location might have been in the back of the restaurant as we had to dodge the people on the floor when we exited!
(3)
Ali G.
Delicious cuban food! Their mojitos are scrumptious and their staff is very friendly.
(4)
Clem R.
I ate there twice and this is a decent place. I had Cuban pork and Cuban shrimps. I like their mojo rice. Service ok and atmosphere pretty cool. Quite touristy.
(4)
Anthony M.
South Beach on the Ocean seems like a bad place to eat. It's crowded and every restaurant is bugging you to come and eat dinner with them. It can get very annoying. I had a client who took me to Larios and it was love at first bite. And I mean that literally...I ordered the ropa vieja and it was amazing. It was one of the best I have ever had in my life. In fact, I have been back here several times. This is my go to restaurant on South Beach now. The mojitos are also really good too and I'm not a big mojito fan. I highly recommend you make your way here for some amazing food and drink. You will tempted to stop at other places but keep walking until you get here.
(4)
Paul K.
Decent athmosphere and food- due to the location, it is a little pricier and more crowded than what you might get inland, but of course, you pay for the South beach ambiance.....Had the appetizer sampler before dinner, which had a good variety, and then the Cuban style pork with rice and beans, which was tasty. Service was good.
(4)
Gina F.
Oh so disappointing. The place was fairly busy for such a late time, our reservation was for 10pm. Even for Miami, the service was painfully slow, but friendly. My friend ordered the pork entree, which was tasty, but frankly, I have had way way better in NY. I ordered the Picadillo, which was bland and the rice and beans that came with both dishes were incredibly bland. The dessert was yummy, but really, how can you screw up dessert? I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Zaina O.
very disappointing experience. on vacation from NY and was hoping to have a fantastic Cuban meal while in Miami. the food tasted reheated and not fresh. we started with empanadas which were semi warm. for entrees we ordered the Cuban sandwich which wasn't pressed long enough and half cold. barely any meat on the sandwich with one thin slice of ham and pork- total embarrassment to a Cuban sandwich. also had the vaca frita de pollo which was dry on the skillet. considering Gloria Estefan is a famously Cuban musician, we all expected a lot more from her restaurant.
(1)
Laura D.
Larios was good, but it didn't really live up to the hype. I ordered the Pollo A La Milanesa. It was good and I absolutely love cheese, but I would almost say they completely overwhelmed the chicken with the mozzarella. Granted, i've never had the dish elsewhere so I don't really have anything to compare it to. The sangria was excellent and the outdoor seating was also excellent, but no different than anywhere else along Ocean Drive.
(3)
Music M.
Great for people watching and the live music but the food was not great.
(2)
Marc A.
The day before we boarded the plane to Havana I was having a craving for Cuban food. Sure, we would be eating lots of it all week but what the heck... If you can grab a table outside, go for it but don't sit at the ones along the sidewalk unless you like getting bumped by people when you eat. Get the bread and a mojito to start with. Order the Cuban style steak and another mojito. See what deserts look good to you and enjoy! Adios.
(5)
Connie A.
Yum! The strawberry mojito was so goooooood. The live music was a plus as well. The band gave the maracas to our bride-to-be in our bachelorette party and she had an awesome time. While all this seemed to be going well, my friend and I got sick from the Cuban roasted pork. To describe it, it was tender, juicy and definitely been roasting for a while. It was delicious at the moment, the aftermath was not. Sigh.
(3)
Jeannie N.
Excellent food and ambiance. Emilio Estefan personally greeted us which made for quite the memorable evening. Highly recommend!
(5)
Monica S.
It's probably true that a local might skip the trip to this Ocean Drive tourist destination. Their South Miami location, okay, but this one, not so much. Alas, I had a friend in town who wanted to enjoy some Cuban action while sitting close enough to catch an ocean breeze and capitalize on the prime people watching. So on a Saturday, past midnight, I took him to Larios. My pan con bistec was surprisingly good. The plantains came out lukewarm however and the yuca undercooked. Indoors, a nightclub seemed to be going on in full force while ladies with their cha chas and moneymakers shook it for the entertained outdoor diners. Service was speedy and friendly, but at this time of night with their bumping party going on inside, I felt like I was crashing someones quinceañera.
(3)
Carolyn I.
Great restaurant! I went here for dinner with a group on my last night in South Beach. Stuffed Green Plantain Cups Tostones rellenos - three crispy plantain cups filled with shrimp criollo, shredded beef and Cuban criollo minced beef. All three were delicious. I especially liked the minced beef. Cuban Style Steak Bistec de palomilla - thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic and mojo topped with onions and parsley. The meat had great flavor. It was a huge portion! I ordered two sides - moro rice and fried sweet plantains which paired well with the steak. I also ordered a daiquiri which was very refreshing. I tried the skirt steak and it was delicious. The chimichurri sauce that came with it was amazing. I also tried my friend's Cuban coffee and it was good and strong. I liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Larios is a great place to go to for a special occasion. Two big groups seated next to us were celebrating a birthday and graduation. I definitely recommend this restaurant for great Cuban food in South Beach.
(4)
Jenny C.
I don't normally like tourist areas, but when in Miami, you have to experience South Beach. We were recommended to go to Mango's Tropical, but we decided we wanted to eat some authentic Cuban food, so we decided to walk around. At one point, we asked a hostess from some random restaurant where to get some good cuban food. She was looking around for her boss and whispered for us to go to Larios On the Beach. That was a huge turning point that night! The food was amazing! We tried another cuban restaurant the next day, and strongly prefered Larios on the Beach. Perhaps Larios is more catered towards Americans and the other restaurant was more authentic, but regardless this was the best Cuban food we had in Miami. I got the ropa vieja, which was slow cooked pulled pork. It was delicious!!! Loved the moro rice. Most delicious moro rice I've had. The plantains were not as sweet and carmelized as I would like, but everything was sooo good. We got a pitcher of Mojitos. Never seen so many flavors in my entire life. When the pitcher first came, it was filled with ice. But between the two of us, we had 3-4 glasses each for a total or 6-8 glasses. Can't really remember the exact number of glasses. We got a decent buzz going.
(5)
Carolina B.
Excellent Cuban food had a tour of Cuba, traditional mojitos if you think you will be having more than one mojito you're better off getting the pitcher. The ceviche is excellent. Great appetizer! Definitely going back.
(4)
Holli H.
I am honestly so happy we stumbled onto this place. We literally found it on a food show map (it was on drinking made easy) and I gps'd each step until we got there. KING OF MOJITOS. Hands down. Best mojito I have ever had. The only improvement they can make it a more stylish straw with it. Sounds so petty, but the straw they paired with it took away from the class of it. We ordered some appetizers to pass around while enjoying our drinks and everything was delicious. Not one item was subpar. Ambiance was beautiful. Bathrooms were spotless. I would go back in a second. And fun fact - it's owned by Gloria Estefan. Didn't put that one together until I was 2 mojitos deep.
(5)
Cindy V.
This restaurant has Some of the Best Cuban food in Miami, owned by Gloria Estefan, but even though its owned by a Singer/ Celebrity it's pretty Authentic. Let's not even mention their Mojitos, the Best...
(4)
Tavi J.
This was my favorite place I ate at during my stay here. I was craving some Cuban food and we decided to give this place a shot. Not only is it cute at night, but the food was pretty yummy. I had the Cuban skirt steak with Moro rice and Plantains. The Chimmichuri (sp) sauce really made the steak taste good and the Plantains were sweet and cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed my friends meals. One of them got the seafood rice plate and it contained lots of seafood and not just a bunch of rice. My other friend had the lemon chicken and really enjoyed it. We all shared a pitcher of delicious Sangria. Finally we got to eat at a place that had good food, nice setting, and pretty reasonable prices for the quality of the food.
(4)
Vishwa N.
Pretty awesome food and drink menu selection. Loved the ambiance and service overall. Definitely recommend and would go back again.
(4)
Agnes N.
This was my first cuban meal, so I don't have any other experience to compare with, but it was a great meal! We both had the slow roasted pork with sweet plantains and brown rice. The pork were divine and the onions on top were the best thing with the whole dish! The food were not fancy but it tasted good and felt well prepared. A big portion as well. The service were great, very attentive and quick.
(4)
Brian R.
Yes, this place is a bit of a tourist trap, but compared to the other offerings on Ocean Drive, it seemed like an oasis. It was about a block or two down from all the craziness of Ocean Drive, and they had plenty of seating outside on a Friday night (with about a 20 minute wait for 2 people). We opted to sit inside given the warmer temps. We were sat at a nice table towards the back, with a few larger groups near us (separate bachelorette and bachelor parties). Menus came quickly, and we ordered a simple rum and diet and a mojito, both of which were strong and tasty. A shrimp skewer app came out pretty quickly, with a decent amount of shrimp and a delicious dipping sauce. As for entrees, the ropa vieja was decent, and the sides (brown rice and beans for me) were just okay. Nothing over the top, but good, decent Cuban food. We also ordered the Tour of Cuba, which was good, but very simple (and the chicken, which had a great spice, was a bit on the dry side). The live music was a nice touch, and it wasn't too loud or out of control. It took a while to get the check, but we were in and out in about an hour. Overall, if you're looking to eat on Ocean Drive, I would suggest this place. It's less hectic that the other restaurants you'll find, the prices are comparable, and if you opt to eat outside, you'll have good views/people watching.
(3)
Carlos D.
The best place in town!!!!
(5)
Tenisha S.
Pros: The coconut mojito was the best I ever had. The mango mojito was great also, but no comparison to the coconut. cons: The seafood rice took over thirty minutes to come to the table. It looked amazing and we were ready to dig in after watching so many people order it. However, it was so salty the rice was inedible. We both picked out the shrimp, calamari, scallops and plantain. All the rice was left in the plate and unfortunately my bf was still hungry. He ended up buying a quesadilla from a small Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Norma C.
When i walked inside of the restaurant i was a little confused, knowing this was a Cuban restaurant but it felt as if i was walking into an upscale Greek restaurant due to the decor, don't get me wrong though, it was very nice inside. The location is ideal because it's on Ocean Ave. and it's pretty much right next to the famous Boulevard Hotel. Outdoor seating is available too but inside is so much better because of the decor and air conditioning. I had heard this place had the best mojitos, and they were right! I tried a few different mojitos in other places and they just don't compare to Larios. And they were strong too! One mojito felt like two drinks. We then had the appetizer sampler, which included plantain chips, crab cakes(i think), black bean hummus, one tamale, and bacon wrapped bananas. I also ordered the Ropa Vieja which is shredded meat in a sauce. Everything was amazing.
(4)
Cecilè C.
I had an amazing lunch in south beach @ this fine restaurant -- owned by the Estefan's, I learned certain items on the menu were created based upon their long time cook Maria... Of which she still cooks every Sunday for the family... I'm a fan of Cuban food, but more importantly the favors within the dishes. Now, the roasted chicken I had was slowly cooked of course but the sauce it was topped with was second to none. For starters I enjoyed the fresh Ceviche, and an empanada again chicken topped with a guava barbecue sauce that had me wanting to ship a bucket home.. Lol... Don Juan Carlos, you are a really nice person aside from the hospitality you showed me, I see why you've worked for them for so long... Gent... With regards to the drink, I enjoyed the passion fruit mojito and it too was very good. I can definitely say going to shop and dine here today was very pleasant and I think I found a fav here in south beach.. :-)
(4)
Charis S.
This was definitely one of the restaurants on my "Birthday Trip" list...the ambience was great, loved the touches of white everywhere, the blue lighting was so pretty and of course being on the South Beach strip helped A LOT! Our waiter was great, she was a sweetie. She explained everything to us, answered all questions, made suggestions. Very attentive and calm with all of the girls. The live music, the guitarist, set the mood, very soothing. Let me say, the Plantain Cups really set the mood for my dinner that night. They were really good, probably the best part of my meal. Green Plantain cups filled with shrimp, shredded beef and my FAVORITE one, the Picadillo beef. DELICIOUS! Of course the beans and rice were good, no surprise and the Chocolate Tres Leches Cake I shared with everyone. It was really good, not too soggy and soaked perfectly in the tres leeches. Overally, I loved the ambience, BUT I expected a little bit more from Gloria Estefan's restaurant. Just being honest. It was....Good.
(4)
Marlo V.
My family of 7 which includes 4 kids were graciously greeted!! Sat down we had the nicest waitress , we had the trio of empanadas,seafood empanadas,chicken croquettes , my kids had the kids cheeseburgers which were huge, I had the special fried rice,my mom had the whole snapper my husband had the tour of Cuba = all of theses dishes we're delicious and plentiful!!we then had desert tres leches,ice cream,cafe con leche all were amazing !!!
(5)
Viv O.
This review started at a 3.5... Appetizers: calamari and bacon wrapped maduros . Service is efficient.. Very attentive and friendly! Our meals were so delicious. I had the Red Snapper and it was so amazing!!!!!!! 5 stars across the board, superb service!
(5)
Ya Ya G.
Outstanding service from start to finish. ...the food and drinks to die for can't wait to come back again.
(5)
Gabrielle D.
AMAZING! Was taken here on the South Beach Culinary Food Tour. We were served ropa vieja with plantain chips and mojo. It was so yummy and I wish I had the recipe! If you're on Ocean Drive and don't know which restaurant to pick, choose Lario's!
(5)
Ektaa B.
A better South Beach dining option than the other places on Ocean Drive. Plenty of outdoor seating, good for people-watching and the inside was really nice too. I asked for the steak salad, vegetarian-ized with grilled vegetables instead of the steak. The chimichurri dressing was delicious. We got a pitcher of the house mojitos = awesome.
(3)
Stacey L.
Love love love the food here. The skirt steak is so good. Everything is so fresh and full of flavor. Only downside was last nights snippy host. He needs an attitude adjustment. Waiters are all great though.
(5)
Sean M.
This place needs to tighten up it's act. We wanted to go to dinner here our first night in Miami so I made the call to the restaurant to try and book a table. I simply asked the host where the best seats in the house were, as I was not sure if they had beachside seating or whatever. It was our first time in Miami, let alone at Larios. You would think I asked the guy to solve a quantum physics problem, it simply seemed liked too much of a question so he simply replied we don't have a best seat in the house, they are all the same. I tried to follow up question, but it was going nowhere fast. So I proceed to try and give this guy my last name and get a table booked cause I'm getting flustered and frustrated at this point and the guys attitude had me starting to boil. It just seemed like his guy was in his own world, he would not listen to me try and spell my difficult last name for him, he proceeded to read the name on the caller ID and ask if that was me, I mean it could not have gotten any worse. I asked for a manager and was told he was busy and wasn't available to talk. Long story short, ended up being hung up on and not getting a table. Made my reservation through Open Table and Yelp! Called back a couple of times and finally got the manager on the line who started to apologize profusely for his hosts actions and attitude and promised us a great time and a round of Mojitos. The manager definitely had his act together, which makes you wonder how the host was so off. Chalk it up to a bad night, I dunno. In any case, we got there for dinner and placed orders for some appetizers and entrees. We tried the grilled skewers as our appetizer, which were ok. Entrees were the shrimp criollo and a fish plate with the Moro rice. Both were ehh, honestly wasn't what we were expecting. Overall, given how we were treated by the host, the effort on the part of the manager and the quality of food, I think a two star rating is just about right for Larios. Oh and the Mojitos weren't too bad :)
(2)
Jenn M.
The ambiance alone was beautiful when we walked in! Our last night in Miami for a bachelorette weekend was to have dinner here. We were taken upstairs to another seating area which was more quiet and a bit secluded but it's nice to be able to hear the person next to you instead of having to yell while talking. Downstairs seemed a bit more fun since they played live music but we all still had a great time. I got to try the ceviche my friend order as appetizers and it was really delicious! So fresh and flavorful. As for entree, I ordered the crispy pork bites because the description on the menu sounded delicious. When I got my meal though, the pork looked overcooked and a bit hard to chew into. It was still good though. You get a choice of two sides, I got it with rice and fried plantains which were pretty good. Overall, we liked the food here. Service was good and the ambiance was a definite plus!
(4)
Mauricio C.
It's unfortunate I have to write a 1-star review for a restaurant - however, it's well warranted for this establishment. The service is quite possibly the worst on the entire South Beach strip. I'll provide specific details so it is clear that this isn't just a unwarranted rant. Our group of friends were interested in finding a spot with great empanadas and a fun, lively atmosphere. Our Yelp search led us to Lario's. Upon arrival, we were met with a cold, stale, atmosphere where the waiters immediately judged us our appearance. We all waited at the bar, perusing the menu to see which (incredibly overpriced) drinks we would buy. My girlfriend, after having walked for an hour on South Beach, understandably needed to use the bathroom. One of the waiters (or maybe the manager) stopped here and demanded that we pay before she could use the bathroom. I have never encountered an establishment outside of the sketchiest McDonald's in NYC where a customer who has already been seated to order is denied service to use the bathroom - let alone a woman. Additionally, this place was by far the worst atmosphere on the entire South Beach strip. I am writing this review minutes after walking away from this establishment to confirm that we are all completely cogent and sober in our review of this terrible restaurant. Lario's was terrible specifically because: (1) it was devoid of any lively atmosphere when every other place was on the strip was bustling with customers, (2) the staff was rude & unwelcoming (particularly to the women in our group), and (3) the menu was very underwhelming & incredibily overpriced. I implore anyone visiting South Beach to instead visit any of the fantastic restaurants or bars on the strip instead of Lario's. As a last remark, another patron confirmed the food was unimpressive and the empanadas (only one kind, not at all authentic Cuban) were terrible. The only thing I ask from the management of this establishment is an apology for the treatment of my girlfriend and my friends.
(1)
Courtney D.
First place i went to for dinner in south beach. This place looks very nice but food is just mediocre. The appetizers we ordered were the short ribs and grilled shrimp. The ribs were good but the shrimp could have been cooked longer. Also ordered the chicken bites as an entree which was appetizing but not outstanding. The service wasn't that great either. If you sit outside for dinner it's a nice view 3/5
(3)
Mark D.
We went here while on South Beach to take advantage of the Miami Spice promotion, a prie-fixe lunch menu for $23/ person. The tuna tartar appetizer was good with a nice mix of avocado and mango. A sample platter of croquettes and papa rellena was standard fare, nothing special. My Cuban wife thought the vaca frita entree was tasty and authentic. My grilled prawns were over grilled to the point of grittiness. The chocolate tres leches was very good. Because of the promotion the bill wasn't bad but they still charge $6 for a glass of lemonade and $4 for cafe cubano! The waiters were very attentive and the atmosphere/decor was nice. I liked the coral walls with the shells inlaid and the tile mosaic of the Cuban patron saint La Caridad del Cobre with inset votive candles. However, for a more authentic Cuban culinary experience at a more economical price, I would go to Puerto Sagua just down the street.
(3)
Kristina R.
We found Larios via Yelp actually and glad we had a chance to check it out when in Miami this past weekend. This place has great atmosphere, great good, and good service. We sat at a table outside on the sidewalk and it was perfect for people watching! If people watching is not your thing or if you want to enjoy a peaceful quiet meal, you might want to ask to be seated inside. The food was really good. We had a few appetizers and our entrees (skirt steak, shredded beef, and pork) were all AMAZING! Our server was good, although could have used a a few add'l water refills. We opted for some bread pudding to share for dessert. And although it looked NOTHING like bread pudding, it was stilll very good.
(4)
Heather G.
The location is perfect, right on ocean dr.! Well That was the best part the location the atmosphere is amazing! But the food and service was just okay.... Nothing special at all.
(3)
Shareen M.
I haven't been here in 2 years since they were closed during my last trip. The menu looks updated and I love the design & decor change to the actual inside. I started with the Mango Mojito - good, not the best I've had but good. We then got the maduros wrapped in bacon (MUST try. its a unique dish and a perfect blend of sweet and salty), the plantain cups with shrimp criollo (flavorful & very enjoyable) & shrimp cocktail (big juicy shrimp) For our entree we shared the "Chino Cuban" fried rice with chicken, shrimp & steak. Be warned.... when you read it contains vegetables - they aren't joking lol I hate onions & bean sprouts so it was hard to enjoy the rice but it was soooooo delicious!!!! Just ask without. If not - it is impossible to take a bite without getting the veggies.
(4)
Dianna A.
My friends and I had an amazing and unforgetabble dinner at Lario's. Everything from the tasty appetizers, the well prepared meal, and Sangria was delicious. The service we received from the front door upon entering , during our meal, and upon departure was very much appreciated. The service by Felix Sanchez was exceptional. Hope to return soon.
(5)
Helen B.
Classic Cuban on the beach. Food is more varied and most creatively presented than other similar beachfront locations. My companion loved the pork - it reminder her of her mother's best dinners. My swordfish was cooked to perfection and the plantain and rice side were simple yet mouthwatering. The menu's comprehensive and will keep you coming back. Don't be afraid to try something new or unknown. In addition to the sidewalk tables or short patio, there's a beautiful lounge and dining space inside. Magnificently decorated and elegantly laid out this is a great space for 2 to 22. Yes you give up the people watching but it's exquisite.
(4)
Simmy S.
Plantains were amazing. I ordered the BBQ Guava pork ribs and I only had two ribs. There was so much food with the rice and beans. The rotisserie chicken was good too. It feel right off the bones. AMAZING. Nice view, great people, amazing food. You just can't go wrong.
(5)
Mark M.
I've eaten here a few times and have always been happy. The Cuban style steak is my favorite and goes well with rice, black beans and plantains. Staff are great too.
(4)
Edwina M.
Fabulous Ocean Dr. location, great ambiance and beautiful decor, but the music on the patio was a bit loud. Some of the food items we ordered were great, others, not so much. The "award winning" pork was surprisingly just average, and frankly too salty for my taste.
(3)
Barbara Z.
We were looking for ethnic food in Miami Beach tonight. Based on the stars we chose to eat there. The food is salty, there's nothing special. Service is just okay! Price won't worth what you get for. It's very expensive.
(1)
Jannese C.
Awesome Cuban food. Everything tastes homemade and the service was spectacular. Our server was Daniel and he couldn't have offered better service!
(5)
Christina R.
By far best restaurant on Ocean Drive! We visit Larios every year we go to south beach. Their sweet plantains and ceviche keep me coming back for more each time. The newly renovated atmosphere feels like you're underwater and surrounded by sand and sparkling shells. It's very beautifully decorated, feels intimate and perfect for large groups also. Live bands add that extra touch to a lovely dinner! Highly recommend the seafood rice, ceviche, roasted chicken dish, and the Milanesa steak! A must see when in South Beach!
(5)
Jessica G.
Nice place on South Beach. Good drinks and food.
(5)
Lola L.
I hate this place so much. Not only did I have a terrible experience while I was there, but they CANCELLED my reservation after we paid and left! I'm only assuming because we complained and said they were getting a bad review! Incredibly dishonest. Instead of solving the problem, they cancelled my reservation so I wouldn't get my points and could not write a review. Luckily OpenTable fixed the cancellation so I can write about it. I was really hoping to have some decent Latin American food while in Miami so Iooked this place up and booked a reservation. First, the atmsphere is beyond obnoxious. It looks like an overdone tropical hotel in Cancun. It was an embarrassment. The food was extremely sub-par. I have way better, far more authentic Cuban food at home in Chicago a few blocks away from my house. Many Cuban foods that I enjoy are fried, and always served wit sauces because of this. Not one thing was served with a sauce. Anyway, our server was also terrible. The drinks were sweetened to such an extreme level, I couldn't drink mine. The drink description claimed it was fresh ingredients but this was clearly some premixed crap. Once our food and drinks were served we could not get the attention of the server for anything. He was busy standing at the bar with 4 other servers, talking. Not looking up once. I just wanted some mayo for my croquettas or SOMETHING, and got sick of waiting. SO we asked a different server for our check. Once we got the check we saw an added 18% gratuity. THERE WERE TWO OF US. I have worked in the restaurant industry myself, and I love when a good business takes care of its staff. But here, they clearly just took advantage of their guaranteed tip. We complained about it all, and about 30 minutes after we paid our bill IN FULL and left, I got an email saying that Larios cancelled my reservation. I was so furious. I couldn't believe it. I will NOT recommend this place. In fact, I will tell anyone i know visiting Miami to avoid at all costs. Anyone who has given this place 5 stars should be fired from Yelp. And from life. And from ever eating ACTUAL Cuban food again.
(1)
Rosa G.
Excellent service, good food, perfect place! My friend and I were at the popular Restaurant of Emilio &Gloria Estefan, we reserved a table for 4 people, we arrived a little later 10:00 pm but the manager called Alexander reserved us a great table and received us . The server called Felix excellent, he took care of all our needs, we ate a delicious lightly fish with a delicious salad, my friends ate churrasco salad and paella, all were delicious and on time. Finally we dance with the dj charlie with amazing music. Very nice place to eat, drink and dance. If you want to eat a gourmet cuban food... Try Larios on the beach... A perfect place
(5)
Michelle R.
I love this place and have only been here twice. There service is good, friendly waiters and the music that plays is a little loud but it's great. Always make reservations because it is usually pretty packed. You can sit outside or inside. They make great mojitos and there mango passion fruit Sangria is a must try. The food is good, great portions. The mixed empanadas are great with a guave sauce on the side. I live ropa veija so I ordered that and it was great! My husband has the skirt steak with beans and rice. The skirt steak is a small portion but it was delicious none the less. The tip is included on the bill even for 2 people.
(5)
Brianna D.
Indoor atmosphere was nice, but I remembering it smelling kind of weird. We asked to sit outside on the street - great people watching! The food was good, not great. Location is excellent!
(3)
Sara H.
This restaurant deserves more than 3 1/2 stars on Yelp! Our meal was fabulous, as was the service from Giovanni! The people watching is fun and you are right in the middle of South Beach action. Highly Recommended!
(5)
Ray M.
The best Latin food I've ever tasted and I'm from NY. The salads, pork, chicken, platanos, everything was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Will come back every time. You can sit outside or upstairs and upstairs is more elegant to say the least.
(5)
Michelle A.
We just stopped in for a quick bite since we were meeting some people in a few hours for dinner. Luckily, as we walked past a number of uninteresting touristy SOBE restaurants, I remembered that this was the Estafan's restaurant that I had heard about so we grabbed a table on the front veranda. Great for people watching and the beach across the road. Unfortunately, I had to drive or we would have ordered a pitcher of mojitos...they looked delicious! I ordered the vegetable platter with perfect portions of black beans, brown rice, plaintains (DO NOT MISS THESE) and crisp sauteed vegetables with an asian chile fusion sauce. My friend ordered the pork tamale and the cod fish croquettes, which she loved! The service was very attentive, even though we were embarrassingly indecisive about our orders and asked a zillion questions. Also, I have to say that the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous, like a shimmery pearl jewel box. I can't wait to go back for dinner!
(4)
Peggy M.
There is no place on earth makes a great mojito like this place. I am a bartender I made so many mojitos but mojito in here is so great. Strong. And delicious. I love Vaca Frita de Pollo. Always have this on my trip to Miami beach. Bacon wrapped Maduros is great too. Coconut mojito, Luxury mojito, and watermelon. Mojito is my all time favorite. Highly recommended. Great food and great service.
(5)
Reid N.
Had the Cuban Fried Rice, full of shrimp, beef, chicken, pork and plantains. It was delicious.
(4)
Mark F.
Woah! Paella. That is all. Seriously. Nothing else. Just have it now. Now. Now.
(5)
Nathalie B.
Larios on the beach is an amazing place to goo!! Really good environment, people are super nicee and the food is amazing !! Highly recommend this place !
(5)
Maria L.
You head down the strip and it's mostly large margarita 2 for 1 deals, but this place is far classier. Come here if you're ready for a more sophisticated afternoon/evening because their appetizers (we tried the avocado salad and the plantains with chips) are perfect complements to their fancy concoctions.
(4)
Jake B.
Way overpriced and the "famous cuban's" stop being served at 4PM Severely disappointed in food quantity and quality.
(1)
Me'Kayla W.
Food excellent I had the shrimp and garlic, black beans, and plantains. Service was less than pleasurable. There was no smile no enthusiasm, for us to be on the strip I would expect a little more love from my server. I mean 10 shrimp 2 sides and a sangria was 50 bucks no problem but I would like some superior service... our server said that he could not spit our check. Oh but he did tho stop the madness!
(4)
Hena A.
Went here for dinner and can highly recommend the churassco with black beans and rice or Moros and tostones! Yummy! As for appetizer, we ordered the papa rellena and tamales which both were very good. They have a live band and a fun ambience. This is a busy location in Sobe.
(4)
Anthony L.
Phenomenal food. Super fresh, flavorful and authentic. Go for one of the flavored mojito pitchers. Great flavor and worth the price. Totally recommend for a nice dinner out with friends or family.
(5)
John H.
Poor service. Waited 45 minutes for our food. Avacado salad was great. Cuban sandwich was made with nearly undectable amounts of roast pork. After watching others seated after us be served, our food arrived. With the wrong order! Strangely reconciled in two minutes, making me wonder why we had to wait 45 minutes for our food. On top of that, they added an 18% gratuity which I gleefully deleted. Avoid this place.
(1)
Stephen F.
My boyfriend and I purchased a Gilt City deal of $82 dinner for two to include two drinks a piece, one Estefan Cuban appetizer combo, an entree each, and desert each. Wow! What a great deal. We made reservations early in the evening and were seated upstairs near the front. Service was prompt and professional. The newly renovated building and interior is just beautiful, very beachy with class, which usually is hard to pull off. The walls are adorned with several glass in laid murals. The food was just delicious. The Estefan Cuban combo came with stuffed potatoes, pork tamale, bacon wrapped maduros, ham, chicken & fish croquettes & black bean hummus with plantain chips - totally worth it to sample a little bit of everything. I ordered the steak with chimmichuri, it was moist and perfectly cooked. For desert I had the tres leche chocolate, it was to die for. The mojitos were had were perfect and had us feeling right after two! I can't wait to go back. Definitely one of the best places, if not the best, on Ocean drive to get a feel of Miami's Cuban influence in a nice upscale environment.
(5)
Michael A.
My family and I were invited to enjoy a dinner at Larios on the Beach. From the moment you walk in the renovations are very noticeable. It looks very sophisticated but still Miami Beach style. The service was amazing, but then again we were there as guests so I wouldn't expect any less. The food was delicious. I had a plate called the "Tour of Cuba" it was amazing. my parents shared the "Paella for 2" which was more for like 4. It was huge. Their luxury Mojito is addicting. I recommend this restaurant for date night or family meals. There is valet parking in front of the restaurant for $25.
(5)
Michael M.
Great place to enjoy good food! Started with tasty margaritas, also had delicious Sangrias, & the night included live music inside a beautifully bright interior. You could sit outside, but the inside is the place to go eat; as the night progressed it filled up with a lively crowd. We started with cod croquettes and the pork tamale, both were just right. We wanted authentic Cuban food so chose the Tour of Cuba and the grilled shredded steak. Wow! The meats were moist, with tangy flavored spices and really just too delicious to describe. We also were served sides of rice & beans and sweet plantains, and they added great flavor to the meals. We ended with the tres leches (excellent), and Cuban coffee (strong & sweet). The meal and experience was really good, except the service slowed as the night progressed. We loved it, and would recommend to all to try it.
(4)
Bennet M.
My husband and I ate here a while ago and haven't been back since. First off, you can def get better Cuban food somewhere else. There are so many Cuban Restaurants other than Larios. I mean I know it's Gloria Estefan's place but that didn't make a difference to me. Oh and everything in SOBE is going to be pricey but seriously Larios? I mean I can get a chicken vaca frita anywhere. But paying for the environment and the scence is what really came out of our pockets. I don't mind paying for food when it is great. Larios, meh just another Cuban Restaurant. I can go Versailles where Cuban food is mmmm mmmm bueno!! Thanks but no thanks Larios.
Place is a hidden gem! Very nice decor, live band was playing near the entrance on a Saturday night. Very upscale and exclusive, people were being turned away at the door for not having proper attire. The restaurant was very accommodating and took reservations for a party of 8 a few hours before dinner. I hosted a surprise birthday dinner for my bestfriend and the band played live birthday music for her entrance upon request. The pineapple mango or something like that sangria was super delicious . My first time trying Cuban food and it was a very well experience. I'm vegetarian which also limited me from most of the menu but I recommend the hummus chips appetizers which everyone enjoyed and my main entree was spicy rice noodles! Definitely request for bread, server had not brought it out but after requesting so he did and we're glad he did ! It is located right on south beach next to wet willies a very popular area on ocean ave!
(4)
Sydney M.
Most of our food was really delicious: the urban slow-roasted pork was truly award-winning at our table, and we gave the garlic shrimp equally high marks. However, we didn't have the pleasure of enjoying our entrees for MORE THAN 2hours after we ordered. =o/ Management has been accommodating, but diners shouldn't have to hunt the staff down to get orders to their tables. Lario's has potential and beautiful decor. Maybe try it in 6months when they've found their groove.
(3)
Mel L.
Service was a bit slow but I'll excuse it simply because my meal was just THAT good. I've been going to their sister restaurant Bongos since I was 14 and always order the same thing- Churrasco, maduros, moros, and a side of the arroz blanco. It's always amazing. What I got here was actually BETTER than what I'm used to and when I talked to the manager, he said it's the quality of meat. He wasn't kidding. Got a guava daiquiri that was delicious. Great ambiance. Even though service was slow, it was packed and the staff was still really helpful and friendly. Will DEFINITELY be back next time I'm in Miami.
Our friends recommended we go there while passing through Miami on our way to Key West. So glad we did. Our server was extremely nice and the food was delicious. My husband who is hard to get to try something new, really like their Special Cuban Rice, we also had the Cuban sandwiches as we there for lunch. We ate outside and the atmosphere was nice and clean. We enjoyed our dining experience at Larios on the beach
(4)
Tisha C.
My friends and I were in SoBe for the weekend and we were looking for really good mojitos and found them here.. First we started off with just glasses and then ended up getting a pitcher. We also sat outside... Hey being from NY we did anything to be outside in that warm florida weather as much as possible.. Plus we were there for a good two hours and the staff wasn't quick to kick us out or anything, they were very friendly. The food was good as well...We only ordered appetizers since we were leaving that night.. It was all good.. Bacon wrapped maduros empanadas ceviche and calamari. We did try a tres leche cake since its my favorite, i wasnt a big fan of it here though unfortunately. One star off because it's only in Miami.. I wish they would open one up in NYC
(4)
Erica S.
We enjoyed our dinner here. We are new to this type of food, and we especially liked the plantains and black bean hummus. Great location!l too! Very fun.
(4)
Kelly L.
I'm torn on this one. The food was delicious! The drinks were great! And the service was attentive. My only issue and the reason for the lower rating is that this is no way a $$. Maybe it's viewed as relative, but still no way. I trust yelp across the board, relative to the city I am in, and this is just a bit underestimated.
(3)
Mayur P.
Eh!!! Gloria has resorted to serving overpriced Bland food. The Fritas yuca and avacado salad was good. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Wanted to Go to puerto sagua around the corner but darn place was booked for private party.
(3)
Gabriela A.
I visited Larios on a Thursday night. I made reservations, quick and easy online. I had to push my reservation for 15 minutes and when I called the gentlemen who answered was so kind and fixed my reservation right away. Upon arrival it was a warm welcoming. Although I thought the place would be full, itt was a late night. However the service was exceptional from drinks, appetizers and main course. Our waiter ( I wish I could remember his name) was so nice and attentive. I would definitely go back to this restaurant when I visit miami again. Thanks for the great service and food! Highly recommend!
(5)
Mia M.
I absolutely love Larios on the Beach! One of my favorites in South Beach (and for Cuban food) with a great location that can satisfy those who enjoy dining and watching the always entertaining SoBe foot traffic pass by or to sit inside in the beautifully decorated dining and bar areas. There are many delicious spots on Ocean Drive, but this one is top notch! Every time I come here I get the avocado salad, the bacon wrapped maduros, and the bbq guava ribs (don't kid yourself about getting the appetizer, you will definitely want the entree), but to be honest I enjoy nearly everything on Larios' menu. I also recommend the vaca frita (with a side of limes), which is the best that I have had. The drinks are also very good. I have tried the cocktails, but the red sangria pitcher goes so well with the food whether is be for lunch or dinner. Also the service is attentive and very friendly. Outside of Prime 112 (which is never not a scene), this is the first restaurant I recommend to anyone coming to South Beach. Great atmosphere and delicious food!
(5)
D P.
Every second of this eating experience was fabulous! From the greeting when you walked to the hostess, to the service, drinks (monitor and Margarita), and food was beyond expectation. We had plantain chips, calamari, skirt steak, shrimp colchicine (sp?), famous Cuban fried rice, and tres leche (vanilla and chocolate), all were outstanding! I truly can't say enough that if you go to South Beach and don't eat here, you are missing out. Oh...almost forgot to mention the band and music. ..outstanding!
(5)
P M.
The Paella, definitely worth the wait and $. Left feeling full and satisfied. Would definitely revisit again.
(5)
Eliezer S.
So far it's been five minutes of being seated and the attention has been spectacular. The food was ridiculously good and the service is great! Great place to eat some good gourmet Cuban food
(5)
Amanda K.
I like this place a lot! Great classic mojitos and a good variety on the menu. The churrasco was delicious, mainly because of the AMAZING chimichurri sauce. The steak itself was tastey and HUGE... Very large portion. Not the best quality meat but I really loved it. The tostones (fried plantains) were good and the moro (mixed rice and beans) were delicious. Everyone seemed to love their food plus the service was good. I love the location right in the middle of the action on Ocean Drive. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Dinasia W.
Lovedd this place ! If you're in SOBE looking for dinner this is the place. All the restaurants are priced in the same range. If you're gonna pay the least it could be is worth the money. Larios definitely was. We got a couple starters. Two orders of the codfish croquettes ($10) which were amazing, as well as plantain chips& a garlic dip($7). I got the seafood fried rice($23) filled w. Well seasoned goodness. The bill came to 124.73 for the 3 of us. The service was great. We had an older man who was so adorable, attentive & accommodating. The gratuity ($17) was added into the check which was just fine because they make you aware of that ahead of time. It was an overall wonderful experience and I'll come back every time I'm in SOBE.
(5)
Alex P.
Beaurifully renovated and the kitchen is competent but the service for non white cubans is awful. Seems like they are trying to recreate pre castro cuba... Watched 2 waiters fight over who would have to serve us...pathetic.
(1)
Fred K.
Bland and tasteless Cuban food. We ordered the pork sliders and a Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was so blah, I've had better Cuban sandwiches at Marlin's Stadium! The pork sliders were dry and lacked flavor. The French fries were limp! The service was indifferent, no one asked why we didn't eat much of our food, guess it must happen all the time. They add 18% to the bill for the below average service. We will never come back and we can't recommend it to anyone. There are so many other places with better Cuban food. Was highly disappointed after reading positive reviews we expected better.
(1)
Stefanie C.
We came here to try out the Miami spice menu on a Sunday night. 3 course meal with a drink included for $33. Such a great deal. My friend ordered the flank steak and I ordered the Cuban trio platter. Both were amazing! We actually swapped plates halfway through because both were so good. We each ordered a mojito which as well was wonderful! My only complaint is the service. Our waiter was nice but disappeared after our main course. We never saw him again. I actually had to get up to find someone who could refill our water. We had to flag down another waiter in order to get our last course and finally the check. After we were given our last course the waiter said to us "are you going to order anything else?" Considering that was the last course, no probably not. His response was "we're closing in a bit so you'll have to leave." Ok thanks for the notification but all you had to say was that the restaurant closes at whatever time and we'll make our way out as we see fit. It was unnecessary to make us feel unwelcome and as if we were going to be tossed out if we sat too long. Overall Id give the food a 5 and the service a 2. So together its about a 3.5 but there isn't a 3.5 option so we'll say 4. Come here for great food but don't expect good service!
(4)
Veronica G.
Came here with my husband for our honeymoon. This place is in the heart of south beach great location. Very romantic great service! I had the papas Rellanas and vaca fritta it was def the best thing I eat durning my stay in Miami! loved it. Wish they had a location in LA.. P.S Outdoor seating right on Ocean Drive
(5)
Daniel V.
Amazing 5 star service. Amazing food and service start to finish!!
(5)
Cecilia P.
We looooved larios on the beach! I had the chicken parmesan. It was huge! My husband had totones rellenos and an avocad salad. The ambiance was great, as well as the music and the food was amazing. When we come back to Miami we'll come back to larios.
(5)
Joseph V.
What can I say about this place that most of the reviews haven't said already. If you're in south beach, do yourself favor and stop by. If you enjoy traditional cuban cuisine or never had it before, this is your go to spot for all things cuban. Perfect for you romeo and juliets looking for that romantic evening. You'll also be surrounded by beautiful people, so they'll be plenty of eye candy for us single folk. They even have a band to help you get in the mood for some dancing afterwards (go to mangos). Make it a point to go there you wont regret it! Order the traditional cuban steak and go hard by adding shrimp. Hope you enjoy!
(4)
Valya V.
This restaurant is a must! Every time I am on a South Beach I go here. Pulled pork, enchiladas and mohito are usual suspects. Ismael was our server. Excellent service!!
(5)
T U.
Had a reservation at 6:45. Sat down, ordered my first Mojito, and apps. Apps came out at 6:50. Entrees came out at 6:55. Second drink at 7:05. Finished eating, bill paid and out on the street at 7:15. relaxing? rushed? ya think? Maybe we didn't order well... I felt like I have at other popular eating meccas, Little Italy, Gene and Georgetti in Chicago, Taydish Grill in San Francisco, Ebbetts Grill in DC, Antoines in New orleans...what a waste of time. There is little to no culinary expertise evident....food was old and touristy. Nice enough atrmosphere, band was too loud but they were good, waiter was great but subject to the cooks pushing he food out. If this is the best food they can produce and if this is the acme of Cuban cuisine...the French and italians have nothing to worry about. Skewers...three tiny chunks of chicken, beef and six tiny pieces of vegetable with a vinegary sugar sauce. Give me some ketchup.Skimpy and boring. Dry Plaintain cups with shrimp, pulled pork and beef...fresh is word used an hour ago...all three tasted the same. Shrimp are those little tiny ones, sat in sauce for hours, dry. Pork and beef were just dried out...looked old. Main dish...Slow Cooked pork...$23..waiter recommended....cheapest thing on the menu. tender hunks of pork with some white sliced onions on top, in a vinegary braising liquid. Seriously guys...do something with this...do anything not to make me think you are just pulling this off a hunk of cooked pork butt. I enjoyed it again later that night about 3am. Indegestion...nothing more...to be fair. My daughter...some fried chicken dish...it was chicken fingers without the ranch dressing. Plantains and rice as a side were Ok but to have the rice dropped with an ice cream scoop was like...grade school cafeteria? Except for the drinks not a fresh herb or creative presentation to be seen. 2 Mojitos...$30 ...not one ounce of what you buy a drink for. I had better drinks at the bars near the beach. really? $15 bucks each? No buzz at all. Last...for a party of two...they add the tip themselves...really really classy place... I left another ten spot cause we liked the waiter. I am glad so many people enjoy this place...my recommendation to the Estphan famly...if you will stick to music...I will not buy your food.
(1)
Roxana B.
This place is a little more expensive than most on the strip, but totally worth it! Food is authentic Cuban and delicious . I especially love the picture by the bathroom of Gloria Stefan and Celia Cruz with drinks in their hands looking like they were having the time of their lives! Would def go back
(5)
George S.
Great food good portions. The options are great. There was music and dancing. It's a fun place with lots of action.
(5)
MiMi C.
Rating it a 5 star for location, ambiance, service and food! Our large group was accommodated on the second floor which would be perfect for a small private event. Ordered the bistec de palomilla with arroz Moro and maduros....absolutely delicious! The mojito was excellently prepared. 'Til next time South Beach!
(5)
Zoey T.
Best cuban food I have ever had. Beautiful upscale restaurant without the upscale price. I had the empanadas, pan seared grouper, and tour de Cuba and every bite was delicious. Add a pitcher of sangria and it was perfect.
(5)
Liam D.
I've heard that the Cuban people are laid back and relaxed, which I'm cool with except when me and 10 of my famished family members roll up to a place looking to satisfy our hunger pangs. As per usual, I turned to Yelp to figure out what was good in nearby South Beach and Larios looked cool, so we went. Not often one can eat at Gloria Estefan's restaurants up north... We were seated at an enormous family-style table that looked like it was straight out of a hacienda. There was an enormous mirror behind it so we could all see everyone at the table easily. This was cool. We waited about 15 minutes for a waiter to speak to us. Yeah. 10 minutes just for "would you like to start with something to drink?" Speaking of, they have a really tempting looking beverage menu that includes delicious Mojitos and other rum-infused sweet beverages. We ordered food at the same time as drinks and then we waited. Some more. And then some more. And then some more. Our waiter kept coming back to clarify our order and state that they were "out of this" or "out of that," which made us all question whether he'd even input or order yet. Food came by way of a brash manager who acted like he was delivering the best damn food in Miami. How did he do so? By auctioning it off: "who had the...." "who had the..." "and who had the..." I'm cool with this at a table of 2 or 4, but when you're doing it at a table of 10, it not only gets annoying but it's pretty unprofessional. We had non-English speakers at the table, which made things tougher and caused me to snap at Benny Blanco from Da Bronx and say "Our waiter should know what we ordered... where is he?" The ass had the audacity to say, "well you should also know what you ordered, no?" If I wasn't surrounded by family, my response would not have been a good one. I had the Vaca Frita, which is fried beef. It's a lot like barbacoa from Chipotle, but has a bit of crispiness to it because it's pan fried - sort of like a "beef hash" minus the potatoes. It was definitely tasty. Others had seafood, skirt steak, cuban sandwiches, and salads. I was pretty impressed with the food, just not how long it took to order it, get it, or the way it was delivered. 1 star for good food. 2nd for a nice ambiance. Everything else about this place sucks. Stick to singing Gloria...
(2)
Joel J.
cuban! meat! their menu is really extensive. make sure to order one of the entres marked with the icon noting, "lario's favorites." all entrees come with a choice of regular rice or rice w/bean (get this one). you also get fried plantains .... fried or sweet. get the sweet ones. the patio was really busy at 7:00pm when we went. fortunately, we took the last table outside in the corner of the patio. try to come early if you want a prime seat outside. this is a GREAT place to get dinner before heading to the bar/clubs on ocean drive.
(3)
Julia A.
This place will always be a favorite of mine no matter what, because it is here that I was first introduced to the toasty, porky, melty-cheesy deliciousness that is a Cuban sandwich. After tromping around in the South Beach humidity and then spending a couple hours sprawled on the beach, we decided to come here as there were those of us not acquainted with Cuban food and wanting to give it a try, and we were all so very glad we did. Plantains, black beans, and rice were delish, but the sandwich really did it for me: ham, pork, Swiss cheese, a touch of mustard, on Cuban bread, toasted in a sandwich press until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted...so yummy! Dunno if I was just damned hungry that day or what, but I do believe that was the best sandwich I've ever eaten! Hubby says the mojitos are good too (I don't like mojitos, though, so you'll have to take his word for it). Sometimes there's a band and the place is packed to the rafters, sometimes it's nearly empty, but either way, try the food, it's great!
(5)
Cher E.
Besides the beach, the only other thing that mattered to me on this trip to Miami was awesome Cuban food. We stumbled upon Lario's and it was pretty good. Our server wasn't particularly bright or responsive and when we asked him questions about the menu, he had a hard time coming up with answers. Picadillo is always my fave Cuban dish and it was pretty tasty, although a little simple compared to others I've tried. We also ordered the steak with chimichuri sauce which was a very small portion. The sangria was definitely sub-par and I think this may be the first time ever that I didn't finish the carafe. Prices were fair, especially compared to many of the other restaurants along Ocean Dr. There was great live music and a very sexy couple dancing salsa which provided some great eye candy as we completed our meal.
(3)
Stefanie R.
The mojitos here are the BEST!!!. Just the right amount of everything in those things. The watermelon and razz mojitos are the drinks to have at this place. I can usually drink about 2 because they don't water down the drinks!!! I'm convinced the owners of this place want you to get super buzzed so you have a good time. I just moved from Miami and I'm really gonna miss this place. When you're able to catch the band it'll be a really fun night. They say that Gloria Estefan makes a visit every once in a while to sing with the band but unfortunatley I was never able to catch her when we had dinner there. This place is one of the most mellowest spots on South Beach. We're always able to get a table right away, this place has great service and the waiters and waitresses are friendly. The food is good, not mind blowing good - but good. They make a good cubano (cuban sandwhich) and they have excellent plantanos, beans and rice. Try the cod fritters and the cuban spring rolls as appetizers. For dinner have a steak or the roasted chicken - or any other dish that you wanna try. But don't go to South Beach without stopping at Larios.
(4)
Kane K.
For years, Larios was a Miami institution. Kind of touristy, yes but it was the place to go for people who never visited Miami before and get a hint of Cuban food. Well, not anymore. And I'm certain if Gloria ate what I ate, she would be appalled. I ordered everything that was a Larios favorite. I had the cod fritters and the roast chicken. Cod fritters.....where to begin....it had the consistency of a dishwashing sponge. I'd like to say it tasted like one too. I have a feeling that they just reheated it in the microwave because it had absolutely no crunch as if it just came out of hot oil. It was horrible. Service? I think our waitress was about to fall asleep on us. My roast chicken? It was around for so long and then put under a broilder that there was chicken "jerky" at the top of the dish. Im sorry to say but I will never visit Larios again. I will save the embarassment of bringing my friends there.
(1)
Victoria H.
were all these people eating at the same place i ate! this place was horrible... the service was the worst i ever had probly cause they already added there tip and didnt care how they treated there people...our food took forever we got no bread not even water. i would never recommend this place to anyone
(1)
Yvonne D.
I've eaten here before and loved it, but this time we were very disappointed. We sat outside between the sidewalk and the street and the throngs of people coming by was nearly overwhelming. The cars and mopeds that kept pulling over in front of us filled the area with exhaust. The energy was interesting though, so we eagerly waited for our food. That was also disappointing. The boliche (Cuban pot roast) was dry, dry, dry and not tender as were all of the other meats we ordered. When we mentioned it to the hostess (requesting to speak to a manager) he never came by. We were celebrating my father-in-law's 70th birthday and they brought a dessert with a large sparkler - but we weren't even given a discount on that dessert. We won't return. There are too many great places to eat in this area.
(2)
Pinky And The B.
We went before Yelp existed. As far as the food goes pretty average nothing that I had not had before. The fun part of the meal was getting our picture taken by one of those guys walking around taking pictures. We have the faded picture on our refrigerator. But in general we both HATED South Beach. I think South Beach is for hillbilly tourists in general. Further down North Miami Beach and Key Biscayne are nicer. Love the Florida Keys but to enjoy South Beach you have to kind of be really bored with your life. Just sayin... But as far as the restaurant goes pretty standard Cuban food.
(3)
S K.
I'm mediocre on the place. Mojito was indeed good, as they claim. Food was so-so. Drinks are typical. Service was great, until our waiter disappeared. Friendly staff, but not sure I would come back here. Disclaimer: I did not even walk inside. Ate on the patio.
(3)
Lisa C.
Stopped in at Larios for some lunch. I had the arroz con pollo, a corona and flan. I wasn't blown away. I mean it was eh. The rice was amazing. YES. The chicken was a bit bland. I also was at a street fair and with my dog so I was limited. For the prices I expected way way wayyyy more. I ended up paying $30+ for just me and left feeling Meh. I've experienced better. The flan was good but this is Miami. Good flan is everywhere. I had a better meal at Puerto Sagua on 7th and Collins and on Calle Ocho for half what I paid here. If I didn't have my dog with me I totally would have gone there instead. This place is Ocean Drive tourist trap Cuban. Overpriced and overhyped for what it is. I am thankful they accommodated both me and my dog too bad my doggie liked the pollo more than I did.
(2)
Teresa S.
My friend and I visited this restaurant after being indecisive about where to eat. However, when that rain started pouring we looked for the first restaurant with available in door seating. The food was okay not ravingly delicous. I ordeded the Cuban Style Milanese Chicken Breast which was delicious. I also had a side of plantains that were good. I remember it being cold in the restaurant. I had a fruity drink that was also good. What stands out the most for me was the dance floor in the front of the restaurant that was packed with people shaking a leg and having a grand old time. That was cool to see and be a part of such a happening spot. I didnt realize this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant until a few days later. When Im back in South Beach I would hesitate to return but there are sooo many other spots I would check out first.
(3)
J M.
This place is in the tourist dictionary as a trap!. Nothing Cuban about this place. Food is bland and the service is slow. Any latin bodega has better food.
(1)
Alex B.
Excellent and authentic Cuban food. It was a local recommendation and it did not disappoint! Amazing mojitos too :)
(5)
Irene R.
Ugh food dry and not tasty. Worst Cuban food for price
(1)
Brendan P.
Came hear and got down on a 'authentic' cuban sandwich. Pretty tasty but nothing crazy. My main gripe: I asked them to throw tomatoes on it and they not only denied me but were almost offended that I asked to 'tarnish their sandwich' with a tomato. Even worse- they charged me $3-4 for 2 slices of tomato on the side. What?! Anyway, nice location, and honestly, aside from the tomato incident the service was pretty good. But seriously, I'm a tomato fiend and if you make me dismantle my sandwich I'm not a happy camper. And no- I don't care about some Cuban heritage that includes denying alterations to their sandwich- I'll put a tomato on my damn cereal if I please. I still left overall pleased- because as I said, aside from the Tomato- the service was legit.
(3)
Jelena Z.
Great spot for Cuban food right on Ocean Drive! My girlfriends and I stopped here for some drinks and dinner before heading out last night. On the must-try drink list: their mojitos and sangria. Both are very well done and relatively inexpensive for South Beach ($12 and $7 respectively, I believe). Food: we tried the French Onion soup (very rich with its thick layer of cheese), ceviche (very fresh), grilled chicken breast (with lemon and garlic) and the sweet plantains. The chicken was prepared simply but the flavors were a knockout. And who doesn't love sweet, grilled plantains? I practically licked my plate. The entrees are all moderately priced and the service is there when you need it, not when you don't. I'd recommend this resto to anyone looking for some good Cuban food in a pinch (no reservations were needed and there wasn't a wait for a table).
(4)
Celine R.
Great food, great service, great location, great music, great drinks! The morro, lechon, and yuca are to die for.
(5)
Rich B.
Que rico! Great service with, location, location, location. Mix those two with great food and you have a great meal. Add a dash of great company and you will have a blast. Try the flavored drinks I like the guava mojito.
(4)
Briceyda L.
I made a reservation, but no one told me that the restaurant was under construction. I found out about this while walking around the area. I guess I'll have to wait to try it next time I'm in town.
(1)
Amy M.
I've been to Larios On The Beach so many times every time I go to Miami! I'm surprised I haven't written a review on it yet. It is a very loud place because of the music and all the people. But the food is really good and so are the drinks. For the drinks, you can't go wrong with their mojitos and you get to keep the fancy large glass too if you opt for that one. I have a few in my collection over the years that I've been there. Usually, I order the ropa vieja there. It's pretty good and it comes with rice and beans! :)
(4)
Robert W.
Fantastic churrasco and rice and beans, awesome pitcher of mojitos with a fantastic vibe and good service. Perfect location.
(5)
Megan G.
Stop here for lunch after you've walked Ocean Drive and checked out the Art Deco. Order a cocktail, some fish and some plantain chips. Enjoy. Great people watching if you dare site at a table on the sidewalk.
(4)
Nicole S.
3.5 stars Good food, nice ambiance, good service, strong drinks.
(3)
Cat J.
If I wanted to get street cred for authentic Cuban cuisine in Miami or elsewhere, I should have gone to Little Havana. However, I was in South Beach, starving, and was just looking for the closest one to my hotel. Larios fit the bill, and I was not disappointed. Any Cuban cuisine in Miami overall in my opinion is more legit then those in New York anyway, so it didn't make a difference to me. My family and I stumbled upon this place not knowing it's (co?)owned by Gloria Estefan, so we arrived without any expectations-- just a hankering for something Cuban. I got to try the Big Apple and Mint Mojitos, which were excellent. Despite them being sweeter than most mojitos, they still had a clean taste that I loved. Their batido de guanabana was good, but not as good as the mojitos. A bit overpriced, but we were celebrating my sister's birthday, so all concept of frugality went out the window. We ordered a fish fry, churrasco a lo cubano, and a pollo reinoso. All were decent, but the joint really shines in their churrascos-- juicy, well-cooked, and not skimpy in their portions! Couple their entrees with your choice of two types of platanos and white or rice with beans, and we had a great dinner that gave us some serious food coma. Our dinner culminated to dessert as the waiters (and all the customers) graciously sang Happy Birthday to my sister with a Tres Leches cake. The cake wasn't mind-blowing, but it was decent, and was a sweet way to end the night (pun intended). Another point I would like to mention: the waitress standing outside was not aggressive in getting customers to sit like some other nearby places. This is a more personal preference, but it certainly raised my respect for the place with their great service. Thanks for a great night, Larios!
(4)
Elda L.
Pretty good. Get the ropa vieja. Not too expensive, either.
(3)
David O.
Had the grilled fish special that knocked my socks off. Location is great and the restaurant is beautiful. Wifey had the ropa vieja and that was delicious. Mojitos are no joke and they make them with a heavy poor (big thumbs up!).
(5)
M. M.
Larios was the perfect way to end an awesome trip to Miami. The ambiance is beautiful, the food is great, and it's right on Ocean Drive, so it's the perfect way to start a night on the town. Our server was very informative, and even though our reservation was just before the kitchen closed, we didn't feel rushed at all. I will definitely come visit again, the next time I'm in Miami.
(4)
Maria C.
Although I've dined here in the past, I was very let down on this visit. We started off with the Masitas, they were ok. My mojito was so sweet, it was hard to detect any liquor. My pernil, which I was hoping would save the meal was not only dry and bland it was also swinging in oil, apparently to mask the dryness! The only dish that was edible was the chicharones de pescado, amazingly well seasoned and fried to perfection... No oily mess!
(2)
Lauren B.
Best ceviche on Ocean Drive! My boyfriend and I had an enjoyable dinner at Larios. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive and the atmosphere was romantic. Even though outside seating is preferred I thought the inside was equally as nice. I ordered the Camarones Enchilados (Shrimp Cuban Creole) which had a generous portion of shrimp and my boyfriend the Vaca Frita (Fried Shredded Flank Steak) which he loved. Personally I do not prefer meat but I thought his entree was quite tasty, particularly the marinade. We've been on a ceviche kick lately and Larios has the best we've tried so far.
(4)
Julie B.
A bartender at our hotel told us to check this place out for good cuban food.... I did appreciate that it was the only place who didn't try to lure us in with fluorescent drink specials, but I wasn't that impressed. Good food, descent prices, but i would rather try another place than come here again. The decor was nice though.
(3)
Laura K.
The food was very good, but expensive for a college student lol. I ordered the kids cheeseburger, and it was about the size of a Whopper! The customer service, which I'm sure was a one time instance, was terrible! The waitress took forever to put in our order and didn't apologize for taking forever to drop the check. And the food runners kept bringing food that wasn't for us. The good was very Carribean though, I love some sweet plantains.
(3)
kelley s.
YAY! So much fun here! We were a party of 10 for a bachelorette party. We had reservations which is key cause this place gets packed! Our waitress was AMAZING! She didn't get a drink order or a food order wrong and was on top of anything and everything we needed. The manager came over and delivered the bachelorette some tasty and naughty shots and just made the whole experience great! FOOD-AMAZING! SERVICE-SUPER! ATOMOSPHER-FUN!!!
(4)
Omar Z.
Came here after leaving a police precinct to report a missing wallet. Wasn't really in the best mood walking in here but after a few minutes, the music and vibe quickly reminded me I was on vacation. Larios is one of the nicer places to dine at on Ocean Drive. Its Gloria Estefan's restaurant so expect over the top, Cuban flair. Food, service and ambiance was all good and the prices were moderate. The place looks pretty classy but b/c its right on the beach, it feels very laid back and casual too. Bikinis and board shorts are very much so acceptable.
(3)
Mandy A.
After wandering through a dozen restaurants on Ocean, we happened upon Larios and since they didn't hound us into sitting down, we sat down. We were just there for lunch so we split the Cuban and Media Noche sandwiches, basically the same sandwich on different breads. Both were good but I liked the Media Noche better. Nothing mind blowing, just a solid sandwich. We split the plantains filled with shrimp to start and they were really good too. I have no idea what was in it but it was a good starter. We both had mojitos which were pretty pricey for the size, seemed like you could get a larger one for a couple bucks more but didn't see that until it was too late.
(4)
Maile N.
From the other reviews, I see that this is one of Gloria Estefan's (rhythm is going to get you) restaurants - cool! Since we're from San Francisco, and I am all too familiar with the sub-par restaurants in high touristy spots, I was a little leery about having dinner here right in the middle of South Beach. But we were hungry and wanted Cuban food while in South Beach, so Larios/Bongo's it was! First of all, what great people watching if you get a table out on the sidewalk! - the only thing I didn't like was that several homeless people came up to us during our meal asking for money. We ordered sangria by the pitcher (2x!) and it was yummy and refreshing on this Wednesday Miami evening on our last night in town. The yucca fries were yummy, couldn't stop eating those. And I enjoyed my chicken (very moist and tasty) over yellow rice - loved the plantains!! Yummy yummy!! The ambiance inside looked really cool and classy, the bar was very cool-looking, and lights and strobes started around 9PM inside for a cool dancing/club scene. Very Miami cool! Out of all the restaurants on Ocean Beach Drive, this was one restaurant that didn't aggressively try to pull us in (a tactic other restaurants should stop because it does not appeal), so that was another factor that drew us in. Gracias for a great meal!
(4)
Betsy R.
My daughter and I ate at Larios on Wed 6/22. The service was horrible and the food was mediocre. I had to ask to get my water refilled as our server and others were inattentive. 17% gratuity is automatically added, like it or not. The ambience of the setting is great for people watching.
(2)
Andrew H.
walking down ocean dr, you get bombarded by eager hostesses throwing themselves at you in hopes that the louder they are, the more likely are you to enter their restaurant for some food. and larios definitely has that too, but my friends and i had a reservation anyways. with an earlier spot reserved for us, we grabbed a seat outside and people watched, ate a few appetizers, and enjoyed more than a few mojitos before dinner. the fried cassava bites to start were actually pretty good...coming with a VERY garlic-y dipping sauce. (maybe that's why i didn't attract any women that night :P) i can't remember exactly what i ordered, but i know it had something to do with pork (clearly). nothing to rave home about, but the beans and rice...always a pleaser. overall though, i think it's just the gimmick of larios being gloria estefan's place that really has the draw. the food itself was just so-so...probably comparable to the hundreds of other restaurants that line ocean dr.
(3)
Corinne M.
Recently was my 2nd experience at Larios and I have no complaints. Both times were with a larger group of girls, the 1st was at their normal location and we had seating upstairs in a semi-private area, the 2nd was in the temporary location and we had a huge table in the center of the room. Our service was great and if you are looking for Cuban food this is a really good choice. My friend and I split the Cuban style skirt steak with Chimi-Churri sauce and we could not get enough of it. For 2 ladies looking to not get stuffed it was perfect, served with french fries and plantains. There were a variety of entrees on the table and not many complaints. Everyone ended up trying the Chimi-Churri sauce and using it on their own food, it was that good.. The prices were right and the service/atmosphere made it a great meal.
(5)
MeChan W.
ok so im not a huge cuban food eater but this place was good not overly priced and the ambiance was great. The food was really good especially the fried bananas and beef balls.
(3)
Fredrik W.
We were recommended the restaurant by Cuban friends. The restaurant is in temporary quarters while the original location is undergoing renovation. We had great Mojitos and we ordered a sample platter to have my friends get a broader taste of Cuban food. I had the ropa vieja with black beans and rice with fried yuca. It was as good as I have had it. My friends were very pleased with their selections as well. The Maitre D came by several times to check in on us and made us feel very welcome. This is on the major drag, Ocean Drive, where all the tourist traps are. This felt different and quite genuine.
(4)
John F.
Great food and service!! Right on the ocean side street. Sit and people watch :)
(4)
Joe H.
It was good and great atmosphere. Service was a little slow and food was a little pricey for the quality. I went just to watch the people so I didn't mind.
(3)
John M.
This place is pretty good. Great location on the main drag of Miami Beach. I believe its owned by Gloria Estefan and I'm typically turned off by star-owned restaurants. While the food is not pure authentic Cuban, its gets close enough and is quite good. They advertise the "best mojito's in South Beach." I had the one with the 8-year old Bacardi rum in it and I was certainly not disappointed. Definitely recommended when looking for a place to eat in South Beach! P.S. The plantain cups are fantastic!
(3)
Krystal S.
Lario's on the beach! This place was recommended by locales...I'm dining here as I type, and i feel completely immersed in the Cuban culture. My waiter is very nice and also patient which is a huge plus since I know nothing about Cuban food. The mango margarita (brimmed with sugar) tastes perfect and I'm dancing in my chair to the music. Two thumbs up!
(4)
B C.
Great place for Cuban food on Ocean Drive. Almost all the restaurants on Ocean Drive are tourist traps and serve the same things: pasta, sandwiches, margaritas. If you want Latin food, this is the place to go. Perfect tostones (plaintain chips), fresh fish, rice. Service is good, not pushy like all the other touristy restaurants. Overall a pleasant place to eat. One star off because sparse veggies with the meal.
(4)
Pooja J.
Was there last night with my husband..and this place was a complete disappointment..we had never tried Cuban cuisine and thought to give it a try here, but the food was not all that good and the service was really bad..the bus boy had mistakenly spilled one of my sides on his tray, and instead of changing the dish, he just picked it up and put it back on the plate and served it to me...all in all - ok ambiance, highly priced and bad service..
(1)
Sahar R.
I was dragged here by my over zealous mom. You know how most middle age women go ga ga over Oprah? Like they buy the stuff Oprah likes, every other sentence is "Oprah said this and that", and look to Oprah as some kind of life coach? Well, Gloria Estefan is my mom's Oprah, the minute she heard this is one of her restaurants, she shrieked "OH MY GOODNESS", and we walked through maze of aggressive hostesses at Ocean Drive restaurants trying to seduce that end of season patronage and made a beeline for here. The hostess looked like we interrupted her really busy day of hair twirling and sat us outside. Now the way my mom acted was like Gloria and Emilio were in the kitchen making dinner especially for her. Little does she know that the Estefan dynasty owns about seven restaurants, a couple of hotels, part of the Miami dolphins, and it is highly doubtful Gloria stepped foot in this restaurant. Speaking of which, why is the dude from 2 Live Crew running for mayor and not the Estafans, since they own half the town anyway? While I listened to the E True Hollywood story of Gloria Estefan as retold by my mom, I ordered a mojito, which was awesome. Then the night decidedly made a turn for the worse. Let's say the highlight of the meal was the fried plantains that came on the side of our dishes. The ropas viejas (just not the best tasting shredded beef) was pretty average, the tostones were served cold, and the bussers were too eager to take your plates away even if you were still working on the food. Being that most of the Yelp reviews are from out of towners (like myself), you can be absolutely correct in assuming this is a tourist trap. If you have a table outside prepare to have random tourists who walk by to stop and ask painfully obvious and stupid questions like, "is the food good?" , or "Why did they fry those bananas?". Luckily, the place is so loud, you can pretend that you can't hear them or that you can't speak English. The Verdict: So, I can't say the service was bad other than the hostess who hates everyone. The food however is average at best, and by far there are so many other authentic Cuban restaurants in SoBe (hint: Puerto Sagua). Luckily the average food did not deter my mom's lady crush on Gloria, however the added 17% gratuity on the bill nearly encouraged my mom to write a strongly worded letter to the Estefan Corporation. OH MY GOODNESS, does Gloria know about this? (her exact words). So watch out, if the rhythm doesn't get you, the check certainly will..
(2)
Dana S.
If I hadn't ordered the mojito, I'd probably like this place less. The crab fritters were great, the ceviche and fried green plantains were pretty good, and the main courses were tasty, from the roasted pork shoulder to the shrimp. I must admit my favorite was the fried sweet plantains. Totally decent, if not entirely authentic, option on the strip. Try to sit outside. Definitely order a mojito and the sweet plantains!
(3)
Corey N.
Ordered 3 sandwiches, 1 salad and 3 drinks bill came to 200.00. They charge $8 just in tap water. Not worth it. The bill should have been at best $60.00
(1)
Micaela I.
The food was all very dry and bland. Way over priced too. The temporary location is ok, not stellar. No outside seating. We definitely won't be back.
(1)
John E.
Why doesn't Michelle Bernstein just make a Cuban restaurant and call it a day. No one has got it right yet in Miami. And if someone can or does, please let me know. I heard this was the best Cuban restaurant in Miami. Im disappointed to say the least
(2)
Jared G.
You know how you see those guys on the Vegas strip sidewalk shoving cards for strippers in your face? Walking down the sidewalk on a Saturday morning in South Beach is pretty much the same with hosts and hostesses trying to get you to come sit down for brunch. Lario's was pretty much the only place in South Beach where the host just smiled and said "Good Morning." That was enough for us to pick this spot. The Cuban sandwich and lobster croquettes were awesome, and so were their mojitos! A little spendy, then again South Beach is not a great place to "save" money.
(4)
Jhon C.
I love Larios On The Beach! The "best" Cuban place on SOBE. The food is amazing, and the service is so professional and friendly. The view of the beach and people watching is superb!
(5)
Sophie C.
Cruising along Ocean Ave. by foot I started to worry that my destination (Lario's) may be a techno-sonic, cringe-worthy, over-crowded, & trendy restaurant, like it's neighbors. Not relaxing at all. But. I was relieved it was not indeed. The music was barely audible, maybe I heard whispers of Billie Holiday. Nice. The ambiance was also really elegant casual, kinda colonial chic. Plus it was not too busy with customers. We ate mid day (2pm). Now the food... I'm obsessed with Yelp so I took fellow yelper advice and had the Roasted Chicken. Which was pretty good. Tender and juicy. And that garlic dip. OMG. Ps: the service we received was great.
(4)
Christina M.
Hello Friends, The sweltering humidity of Miami did not deter my jaunt down to Miami Beach on Friday afternoon. Shortly after I picked up my rental car, I immediately followed the interstate signs to Miami Beach (quite easy to get there). A beautiful Friday afternoon with the sun shining and temperatures in the high 80's with higher than what I am used to, humidity. As I drove down into the South Beach area, I came upon a place I could not pass up - Larios on the Beach. Larios on the Beach is part of the family of restaurants under the umbrella of Bongos Cuban Cafe. For those of you who were not aware, these restaurants are owned by the seven time Grammy Award winning singer, Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. A: To step into Larios, is to step into Old Cuba, complete with outdoor dining on their porch area or sidewalk area (great for people watching and view of the beach area). Or if you prefer to escape the humidity, Larios offers an indoor dining area. On this particular day, I wanted to soak up every bit of Miami I could and this included sitting outside in the humidity with all of South Beach surrounding me. T: Larios' menu boasts traditional Cuban dishes, as well as an ample drink menu with must try mojito drinks. I dug right into the main entree, ordering their Arroz con Pollo. This generous portion of a dish included a quarter chicken served over a bed of yellow rice and sweet plantains. Simply delicious and hit the spot after a long morning of flying. The chicken meat falls right off the quarter chicken and the more than ample serving of yellow rice was hard to keep all on the plate (in a good way). Their sweet plantains were just enough sweet, dark in color and soft inside. The plantains were a great compliment to the chicken and yellow rice. For drink I ordered their main house mojito, a strong tasting mojito drink complete with a slim sugar cane stick. That was an extra special treat, as most mojitos I come across do not come complete with the sugar stick to chew on for sugar along with your mint drink. Tasty! E: My meal for both my dish and mojito came up to about $36.00. A good deal for the amount of food you receive and their drinks are certainly made with a generous amount of liquor. In addition, your surroundings make up the other half of your experience. Experiencing South Beach, while dining on lunch on a sidewalk cafe, is to truly envelope yourself into the surroundings. Everyone from the valet (which is 20.00 to valet your car, parking can be a challenge, so valet comes in handy, but on the higher side for pricing) to the hostess and then finally the waitress are extremely friendly. Service from your waiter or waitress can be on the slower side, but really think given the atmosphere and location of this restaurant - who really wants to hurry? *smile* Be sure to make Larios part of your dining experience while next time in South Beach.
(4)
Yana C.
My boyfriend and I went to Larios on the Beach our first night in South Beach based on the recommendation of a Cuban friend who I trust with something like that and who gave it rave reviews. Had read good reviews, and as you can see from my own rating, my opinion is a bit mixed about it. The location is great - right on South Beach amid all the other restaurants nearby. Of course, if you're sitting right on the sidewalk you might be bothered by all the street traffic, though we were fine with it. Food and drink prices were good, especially compared to other South Beach stuff and considering our cheap vacation budgets. And the food was definitely good - we shared a fried pork bites appetizer, the "Bongo's Famous Roast Chicken" with moro rice and fried plantains, and I had a flavored mojito and my boyfriend had a cuban beer. The food was all pretty delicious, especially the chicken, though the rice was a bit mediocre. Now here is what takes away 2 stars away from me - the service, which was HORRIBLE. We had a horrible waitress that ignored us most of the evening and was downright rude when she did give attention. It seemed she assumed that since we were sharing that we were the cheap young couple who would not tip well - note to all servers out there, you're guaranteed a self-fulfilling prophecy if you work under that assumption, because we young folks can tip pretty well too! After finishing our drinks we had to wait a long time to get second ones, at one point even putting our empty glasses on the table and trying to get her attention. She never came to ask how everything was, instead coming over when we were almost finished to ask , "are you still working on it?" in a very rude manner. And then of course the check had an included/suggested tip on it, which was 17% and we would have normally added to that, instead had to reduce it because we were so unhappy with her service. We did give the busboy a tip though, because he actually gave us more attention than the waitress! So basically, even though the food was good, the service really ruined it for us. In terms of South Beach Cuban food, we had a MUCH better experience at Puerto Sagua, which I gave a very good 5 star review for and which is much cheaper and still right in the central South Beach area.
(3)
Pg P.
Food was awful. Had no aroma, like it was prepared the day before and reheated. Very dry and had no flavor. Ordered roast pork and half of it was fatty gristle that was not edible.
(1)
Smarty Pants P.
My boyfriend and I had lunch at Larios last weekend... Location is great.. then again any places on Ocean Drive are good location... I ordered the Cuban roasted pork per our waiter's recommendation... My boyfriend got the Shrimp Creole... Moro rice and fried plantains. Their portions are big... Personally, the pork was very greasy... Our waiter was nice, but the overall service is mediocre. The hostess (?) girl was very unfriendly.. We asked for something and she gave us a look like we were bothering her... She acted like she was all that and believe me, she wasn't... Too bad, I had such high hopes... Larios will not be a place where I would recommend to my friends.
(2)
Jackie R.
one word delicious!! my first time trying cuban food and omg let me tell you I was not expecting for my taste buds to pop out of my tongue! Their mango shrimp blew me out of the water mmm soo yummy and if you go late at night it seriously is a party! they play all your familiar luis yandel and pitbul songs This place was a great way to taste cuban food for the first time!
(5)
Michael B.
Nice place.., Inside decor was simple & pleasant (we left the hot, outdoor eating for the tourists!!). The Bongo combo was delicious. Just the right mixture of foods, tastes & textures...and the right amounts. It was filing and a great appetizer .... Which made us, for lunch anyway, split the ropa vieja for the two of us. The meat was prepared just right, and the taste was good while not overwhelming. You can te the meat had been marinated for some time... And the service was very attentive. Our waiter (damn! Wish I had gotten his name...kudos to him anyway!) never let us wait for anything. All in all, a good experience...and one we will go back to!
(4)
Crystal T.
"Disappointment", that's the most I can say about the place. Last week we were in Miami, and we were recommended this place by a local for good Cuban food. We went there with high hopes but it just turned out to be a big disappointment. The food, service, and atmosphere everything was bad, and very expensive for the kind of food and service we got. We paid $70 for 2 entrees and drinks...and where on earth do you have to pay 16% gratuity for a party of 2 people? I ordered Shrimp curry and my husband ordered shredded chicken, and every entree comes with a choice of rice and Plantains. My husband's chicken was dry, tasteless and without any gravy... I don't know how you can expect someone to eat rice with dry chicken and fried plantains; we shared the sauce from my shrimp curry. My Shrimp curry wasn't great either, the shrimps were dry and the sauce did not mix properly with the shrimps. and our waiter was just not concerned with our experience, he was too busy in entertaining a big party of people. I think that explains why the gratuity is 16%, they know their food is not good and service is horrible and I am sure they also know customers would never like to tip them if given a choice so they are better off by including the high gratuity in the bill.
(1)
Derek F.
3rd stop in the tour really good ropa vieja!!!
(4)
Eric L.
Someone told me this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant, not sure if that is true. I went here for dinner with some Co-workers on my last night in Miami Beach. The sign outside said Larios, the menus said "Bongos", very confusing. I did get the sense that this was the equivalent to a "Cuban" Chevy's terms of the service and decor. Our waiter that was hard selling mojitos, appetizers, and "add ons", not impressed. I ordered the grilled pork loin, which in retrospect was a terrible call. The Pork was super lean and therefore dry as hell. Think consistency of dry white chicken meat, and you'll be close. Every bite I took completely sucked my mouth dry of any moisture, I resorted to pre-shredding the meat and dousing it with black beans to get some moisture in it. That strategy worked until I ran out of beans, now that I think about it, maybe I should have asked for a bowl of salsa. I can report that the pressed garlic bread things they give out for free are phenomenal. Some of the best things I've ever tasted. I probably could have gorged myself on 5 baskets and had a 5 star experience.
(3)
T. B.
The service was just awful...it was obvious that the waiter knew he was getting an automatic gratuity- he never introduced himself and was more like a robot just taking orders. And unfortunately the food was under seasoned and just so-so. It's too bad because we expected so much more.
(2)
Gen B.
Delicious! I try to hit up Larios everytime I am in Miami, which is about every 6 weeks for work. Coco Mojito is delicious. Pair it with ceviche, croquettas and garlic shrimp and you are set! Plus it is owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan so a nice little Bonus minus the sound machine. It is South Beach so there is always the bit of the tourist vibe, but just go with it. It's South Beach!
(5)
Yellie A.
Fun dancing, great music, lovely waiters! But the food was...ok. Could have been better.
(3)
VJ k.
I was looking to experience a true Miami / Cuban cuisine dinner in Miami during a recent trip for myself and a few friends. We walked by a few Yelp "4 stars" rated places in south beach but while the food might have been great the atmosphere was really lacking (i.e: florescent lighting). This place is simply perfect. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and great food. I read the 3.5 star yelp rating and was hesitant to go here (especially after stopping at three 4 stars prior) but the group heard from a friend that it was good. Just go, soak in the Cuban flavor and enjoy your time in south beach! I'm writing this as i enjoy their amazing Mojhito! You should try one too!
(5)
Kelli P.
Being a first generation Cuban American, I have very high expectations for Cuban restaurants. If it doesn't compare to my grandmas cooking, I don't go back! Lario's met the mark! Very authentic, excellent food! Bistec a la palomilla, pechuga de pollo, arroz con pollo, mariquitas, and yuca con mojo were all just as my grandma used to make. Plus I enjoyed their mojito - the little stick of sugar cane was a nice, fresh touch. If the servers were a bit more attentive and charming I would have given Larios more stars! The atmosphere is a bit loud, but it is upbeat, energizing and has good music! Next time you are on South Beach and want good Cuban food, hit up Larios! Buen Provecho!
We went to Larios for a Cuban birthday dinner! Normally we goto Puerto Sagua but we wanted to sit outside and have a drink. The service was so so. The drinks were good and actually strong which was surprising! The food was ok--We had a few appetizers-The stuffed potatoes and Cuban Ham Croquettes were really good. I got the Shrimp Cuban Criolla as my entree--It was ok. Not much flavor but decent amount of shrimp. The rice and beans probably would have been good but the rice was either not cooked all the way or over cooked stuck to the bottom of the pot...Not good at all. Honestly would not return to Larios--If your looking for AMAZING cuban food, goto PUERTO SAGUA.
(2)
Monica L.
I've been here twice only because I've been in the mood to have both cuban food and wanting to sit somewhere on Ocean Drive at the same time! We went late on a Friday night, 30 minutes before closing, and they were still busy! First time we went there we ordered mojitos which were great. Ordered the red sangria this time and it was ok. The only problem I have with this place is the price. Six bucks for three croquettes? A little ridiculous, especially when you give me only one squeeze of lime that is dried to hell. Oh well, I love cuban food. As far as service, I bet it's not the type of service that Gloria would deem acceptable. It's just not really on point. I won't say more.
(3)
Martin S.
I was fortunate enough to be taken to this place when I was recently down in Miami Beach for vacation. As a general rule, tourists should try and avoid Ocean Drive restaurants, as they inflate prices and lure you in with their "happy hour" specials, although has an unbeatable atmosphere. This place is an exception though....great food and value. I was not very familiar with Cuban food before I ate here, but ended up loving it. We started with Tostones and Maduros, which are very tasty. I had the cuban roasted pork, which was really good. My friends ordered another type of fried pork dish and the other a steamed lobster. These were both excellent as well.
Eating here was one of the highlights of my trip to South Beach. The food was delicious (best plantains I had in Florida) and the portion sizes were generous considering the price. The atmosphere was bustling and exciting, the sounds, the smells, the views I'll remember fondly. I ordered pork loin and it came with rice and plantains. Considering how busy the restaurant was we expected to wait longer for our food, but it came out in record time. I snarfed it down, threw my head back with a moan and felt like I needed a cigarette. It was that good. The only thing holding this back from a 5 star review was the wait staff seemed a little distant, almost a little annoyed that they had to answer the questions of yet more tourists. But whatever. I liked everything else.
(4)
Angela G.
Certainly not the best Cuban to be had in SoBe, but between the ambiance, the view, the bustling waitstaff and the quality of the food and drinks, you could do a lot worse. Had a fine meal here with family and friends, replete with papparazzi taking pics of J-Wow and Snooki eating at the News Cafe next door. And even they didn't manage to ruin my appetite. Sangria (rojo) is a lovely start to the meal, but their full bar makes excellent mojitos as well that pack a punch. Churrasco is tender and flavorful, ropa vieja is perfectly shredded in a zippy sauce, and the paella is well-cooked and full of fresh seafood. It's a really solid meal all around, only losing a star for the sole fact that this is the exact same food that you can get in Orlando at Bongo's in Disneyworld or at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, only with a higher price tag because it's Miami. Still, you're going to get a much better meal than some of the other locations on the strip that charge just to charge with no taste to back it up. Hell, if you chalk up the inflated price for the view, you aren't doing too bad at all. Certainly a good time.
(4)
Bret H.
I couldn't really figure this out. I'm not an expert on Cuban food, but I do feel like if you're going to charge $10 for a sandwich, the ham better not look like it came out of an Oscar Meyer lunchpak. Smashed plantain was pretty good, but I only found that out from trying my companion's food; they assumed without asking that what I wanted with my sandwich was a bunch of pre-frozen french fries. This just isn't worth it. I can only assume they're charging for the decor, which is very stylish.
(2)
A. M.
Lario's is just one of those restaurants in miami that you walk by and you can sit down on the strip and eat however inside is so beautiful! They also served about 12 of us and although service was just a bit slow, it was great! The portions are big after you've had a coctail and the food is pretty good. I had the pork with moro and tostones. We also got some stuffed tostones for an appetizer which was really good. My mojito was strong and minty! Great place to come
(4)
Larry S.
Didn't eat there, only had Mojitos. Expensive but incredible. Sat outside but on the upper mezzanine level for incredible people watching but not having them right in your face. Terrific drink.
(5)
A C.
Very good food and very reasonably priced. My girlfriend & I had dinner here and loved that they have the same menu items as Bongo's. We love Bongo's in Orlando and this place has the same menu with a more intimate feel. Arroz Con Pollo is excelent and so is the Shredded Chicken.... Mmmmmm
(5)
Tiffany R.
yummy food and excellent service!
(5)
Toni G.
the place is closed!!!
(1)
Jessica G.
So my significant other who I ate here with really enjoyed his meal that is why I am giving the 3 stars. All I remember on his plate was a ton of fried meat- which did not look good- but seemingly was very tasty to a meat-atarian. My meal was not good at all- I ordered the mango shrimp and it was not at all what I expected....swimming in this thick buttery sauce with out even the slightest hint of mango. I would like to try a different entree next time. Our server was fantastic and attentive (I wish I could remember his name- he was an older gentleman very lovely)! The flan was great (although not the best I have had- Soul de Cuba in New Haven CT has my favorite!) and the Cuban specialty coffee selection was definitely 2 thumbs up.
(3)
Ronni A.
Love this place. Usually visit once a year, from West Coast. This time tried the pollo frita. It was so good. It is easy to fall into a pattern of eating your favorite Cuban meal but, please, try something new here. Great cocktails too.
(4)
Jeff D.
Excellent Cuban food & mojitos can be had here. Service was attentive and informative. Dined for lunch w/ my wife on a Friday afternoon. Had the Cuban slow-roasted pork, which is cooked all day to perfection- super tender, lean and juicy! Not easy to pull off! Wife had a churrasco steak salad; steak was very tender and flavorful, salad was decent. Mojitos- wow! They were perfectly concocted. Maynor, our waiter, was excellent. They are a little tricky to find, as they are temporarily situated in the Cardozo Hotel, sharing space with the Cardozo restaurant, which is an open air restaurant on Ocean. Turn up 13th St. to get to their interior entrance. Much better experience than all the touristy, mediocre places along Ocean in S. Beach that try to pull you in like used car salesmen.
(5)
Maria A.
First we'll get the things we expect out of the way. It's overpriced, it's a tourist trap, and it's not the best Cuban in town. Ok, now that that's out of the way. It's not bad. The service however, leaves a lot to desire. We started with platano cups filled with ropa vieja or green plantains filled with shredded beef. Next I had choripan and for dessert it was tres leches. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't suggest it to friends. However, I could see why out of towners might enjoy it.
(3)
Jenn B.
Yumm best food on Ocean Drive by far. Staff was very friendly and the service was quick. Presentation is definitely not their forte but the food is unbelievable and the portions are generous. I ordered the perfectly cooked and flavorful skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce which came with a side of moro rice and tostones. The only con was the sangria. We had the white and red, neither were great. Oh and just a note, bring lots of gum to chew on afterwards.
(4)
Linda R.
Lets compare Larios to Pollo Tropical. Larios is the SOBE Cuban Restaurant and Pollo Tropical is the fast food joint found anywhere is South Florida. Atmosphere: Point to Larios. Chic classic old Havana with a South Beach Twist. Music: This is a hard one but I have to give it to Larios because they have a better sound system. A disappointment because I thought the music would be live. Service: Points to PT. Friendly informative counter service vs stuck up gay guy who just went ahead and put an order in for our side dishes without asking what we wanted! Price: No contest...point goes to Pollo Tropical. Just shy of $15 for a quarter of a chicken, churrascos, tomato balsamic salad, 2 orders of beans and rice, rolls and some great condiments and soft drinks. Larios, after taking out the alcoholic beverages was $50 and the food...well more on that later. Taste: PT by a land slide! The baked chicken was moist and well cooked, no puddles of grease to be found. The beans and rice were tasty and the tomato balsamic salad delish. The steak was only warm and should have been served at a warmer temperature. The rolls were typical fast food and could have been left off the plate. Larios Pork appetizer was overcooked and had no flavor. The Ropa Viega was a pile of grease disguised as meat. The shrimp creole was quite good but we expected a Caribbean flair that was not there. The sweet plantains were good but I wish I had been given the option of ordering the sides because my husband and I would have liked to try different things to share. South Beach is a wild and crazy place. Great food is hard to come by and costs a lot of money but I think you can do much better than Larios. Don't believe me? Go to Pollo Tropical and follow it up with a visit to Larios and prove it to yourself!
(2)
Rob W.
Great Mojito's, large portions, cool interior, but if your a people watcher you want to sit outside. I am not sure why everyone is ripping on this place. They have an extensive menu of solid traditional Cuban dishes. Love the mariquitias and vaca frita. I always order the rice and beans seperate and sweet plantains (madura). The food was very good, the scenery is always a freak show on ocean drive but entertaining.
(4)
Randy B.
Mojitos were the best I ever had.
(5)
Andrey E.
Very nice place! They serve three-entry dinner with drink just for $33! All very good, very polite staff. Delicious food!
(5)
Nucky T.
If I can help others avoid this restaurant, I certainly will. I agree with some of the reviewers ..... overall, and overrated Miami experience. I was very disappointed with ocean drive. It's changed a lot since I was last in Miami in 2003. Most if not all of the restaurants have the same exact menu. Why? It was never like this before. I never got hustled or herded walking by these restaurants like I did last week. Anyways, onto Larios! I had wanted to try some Cuban because I was in the mood for it ... [ after all every other restaurant is Italian, or with the same menu ] I was greeted and told there were no seats to sit down in [ outside or in ] ok .. so I will wait. It's really all who you know at Larios, as I saw other couples drive in from the street or walk in and were immediately seated, couple after couple ... I am only 1 person, I didn't have a group of 6 or 7, or 2. The hostess who acted and felt like she was Mariah Carey, kept twittling and piddling her hair, knew she was guilty because she wouldn't look me in the eye as I was pretty fucking pissed standing there. After waiting for more than an hour, I bounced .. and by then all the other good restaurants off the herded path of Ocean drive were closed! Good timing! Miami was a tremendously disappointing experience, along with this restaurant. It is deafly loud in this place.
(1)
Scott T.
This will be one of the stand out memories of Miami Beach. I liked the atmosphere of the place, the food was incredible, and it really hit the spot for a quintessential Miami Beach Ocean Drive restaurant. I guess you can expect that from the Queen of Miami herself. The pork was awesome, Mojitos were very sweet but I liked them. The salsa music was a tad too loud where I was but did not take away from the great experience.
(4)
Stephanie V.
During my first trip to Miami 2 years ago I was searching for a good Cuban restaurant and came across Larios through Yelp. I had never tried Cuban before and the instant I tried it, I was hooked! I returned to Miami twice this year and the quality of the food never changed throughout the years. I don't remember all the dishes that we tried during my 3 visits to Larios, but definitely we ordered papas rellenas, ceviche, vaca frita de pollo, pollo a la plancha, pollo asado, churraso a lo cubano, boliche, and some kind of dessert with guava shells and cream cheese. I don't like seafood and didn't try the ceviche, but my husband loves ceviche and found Larios' ceviche too tart and acidic. The papas rellenas were fried perfectly and the potato inside was light and fluffy instead of feeling starchy and heavy. The minced meat was seasoned nicely. The vaca frita de pollo was tender and crispy. I loved how the meat was flavored with lime/lemon and topped with crispy onions. The pollo a la plancha was marinated the same way as the vaca frita de pollo, but I think the vaca frita de pollo brought out more of the flavors. The pollo asado was good, but nothing too memorable. The churrasco featured tender grilled steak with a very flavorful chimichurri sauce. The bolice was very tender and the meat almost fell apart once you put your fork through it. I really loved the chorizo they used which was loaded with flavor. The dessert with guava and cream cheese was too sweet and we were unable to finish it. The syrup was very thick and gooey. Service was pretty efficient, especially compared to other locations in SoBe. One night we were here there was a dj playing inside and though the music was great, I think it was too loud for a restaurant. My husband and I had to nearly shout to one another just to be heard. Then again, we're not Miami locals, so maybe the volume that they played was typical of Miami restaurants. Overall great food (not so great dessert, but I've only tried 1), relaxing atmosphere, and pretty decent service. I've tried 4 Cuban restaurants and so far this remains my favorite one.
(4)
Liyah B.
Larios is a must. Delicious food and great service. Also, beautiful decor. If you don't go to any other restaurant in SoBe, make sure you hit up Larios.
(5)
Berenice D.
Highly recommend this place. The food is so amazing. I had the first item on the menu under the meat. The meat was so tender and full of flavor. The rice I ordered the brownish rice and it was delicious along with the platanos machos. Please eat here it is to great!
(5)
sunny t.
Great food @ pretty good prices. Much better than other restaurants on ocean drive which tends to be rip offs. Look for the long lines.
(4)
Sunny M.
Yum, Yum, YUM!!!! I dream about the food from this every day!! Every time I go to Miami I have to eat here!! The food is amazing- ANYTHING u get. I love the shredded beef with the black beans and rice. The mojitos are the best, not to sweet or sour just right. The sugar cane makes the experience de-lish. Sit outside enjoy the crowd running by or sit inside and enjoy the fun dance music that they play. Remember it's Miami so service is not number 1 at all and don't get mad when u see the 17% tip added to your bill, again it's Miami. So the rating on the 5 is the food, drinks and did I mention the food!!! YUM, can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jim A.
I've eaten here twice in the past year. The first visit was good enough that I brought a group of co-workers here on Halloween. The ceviche was very good; the other dishes not so much: the shrimp criollo, Cuban pork, steak, and fried rice were all over-cooked - I guess they are best at not cooking food. The mojitos are tasty and made-to-order, but pricey - I still recommend having at least one. There aren't great deals anywhere on Ocean (regardless of what the hostesses offering 2-for-1 Happy Hour say), but Larios offers a decent meal at a fair for the market price.
(3)
Dennis M.
If there is one thing that Miami has no shortage of is its Cuban Restaurants. Sadly, many of our tourists and visitors only experience Lario's on the beach to make their assessment of what Cuban food is. This restaurant, inspired by the original ( best ) Lario's in West Dade tries to mix fine homey cuban food with a snazzy, pretencious South Beach scene. It doesn't work. Dishes seem rushed. Lacking are the subtle flavors of Cuban food, replaced here by an overindulgence of garlic. Dishes were mediocre at best. It seems that more attention is placed on location and hip factor than on food. Service is hit or miss. Ive been treated well there, but have also experienced serious attitude from the "too good for you" wannabe staff. Can do A LOT better if good Cuban food is what you want.
(3)
Dennis M.
Good food, but you come for the atmosphere and that's why you pay a premium. A good choice if Ocean Drive dining is what you're looking for.
(4)
kim c.
OMG..... The Food was sooooo Good. the Ambiance was off the chain Very Trendy Miami. I will Be back there for the food and the Dancing next time and i will try the drinks next time. i was the Driver so i could not have cocktails but next time when i am in the area its on like Donkey kong
(5)
El S.
One of the best mojitos I've ever had. Got the rice and beans mixed together and some kind of chicken dish. Really good for Cuban food....then again I'm not Cuban so I really don't know much about it. I'm just a big, fat, dbag from the east coast with an overeating problem. Anyway, I really liked it regardless of my own personal faults. I'd like to make a Cuban friend. I don't have any. If any Cuban people out there want to hang out with a compulsive overeater with man juggies hit me up!
(4)
Jennifer C.
Loved loved the food. My boyfriend and I were at Miami Beach for a few days and decided to walk along Ocean Drive to look for a place to eat. There were plenty but we picked Larios because it was the cheapest one out of all the Cuban restaurants we passed by...don't get me wrong though, this place isn't hella cheap but it was the cheapest one! If you want somewhere really cheap and budget friendly....this isn't the place for you! We ordered their Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks for appetizer. This was delicious! The pork was moist and seasoned well! My boyfriend ordered Bongos Famous Fried Rice which was absolutely delicious ( I honestly thought it would taste just like any other fried rice but this tasted different....whatever they put in their fried rice, they did a great job)! I ordered the Bongos Famous Roasted Chicken and I absolutely loved this dish...Seasoned and marinated very well...Definitely should eat this with rice and the plantains that came with it (all work well together). Another plus was that we were able to eat outside to enjoy the fantastic weather! While you're eating, you'll find a woman taking pictures. She'll come back with a key chain and a frame with your picture....you decide whether you want to buy. We actually bought 2 key chains! What can I say...I got suckered into the buy 2 picture key chains and get a 4x6" picture for $12. lol
(5)
S D.
The fish and plantains were very good. Reasonably prices for South Beach.
Another staff dinner and my food was ordered for me by the time I got there. I should've had Cuban food, but I think my order was leaning more towards an Italian, chicken parmigiana type thing, because it was lightly breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and wonderfully melted mozzarella (see pictures). Fried plaintains and beans & rice were also served with every dish and were equally as yummy - and I don't even like plaintains! The atmosphere here is really good for groups. Having walked in right from Ocean Drive I didn't expect it to be spacious, but it was.
(4)
Eve J.
I am not one for giving 5 stars because to get 5 stars I have to be really impressed. My friend ordered and shared fried yucca, it was so delicious. I ordered the arroz con pollo. The portions were large enough for me to take 1/2 for a full meal later. We shared guayava and cheese for dessert. Delish! I would definitely return when I am in Miami.
(5)
Jessica C.
Not a fan of dining on Ocean Drive but Larios is a must stop for me whenever in Miami. Been coming here for years and always get the same dish Vaca Frita. It's so delicious! I've also started to get the Vaca Frita De Pollo, a healthier choice if on a diet! :)
(3)
Aletha C.
In Ocean Drive area and in the mood for Cuban food with my date. Heard Larios is owned by Gloria Estafan so thought we would check it out late on a weekday afternoon. Was impressed with the hip and classy decor and really liked the atmosphere. The Cuban music in the background, while a little loud for comfort did create a nice ambience. Started of with mojitos which were strong and minty and went down smoothly. I had the Cuban skirt steak with rice and fried plantains which was cooked right and came in good sized portions. My companion had the roasted pork which he found tender and full of flavor and he enjoyed the accompanying black beans, rice and tostones. The service was more than adequate and we felt well attended. Overall, we had a pleasant, enjoyable experience and really got into the mood of the place and would definitely return again
(4)
K C.
Good food. Decent priced for ocean dr.
(4)
Danielle R.
I knew this place would be designed for tourists, but I wanted to check out one of Gloria's restaurants. Sadly, the rhythm did not get me. The disco vibe you walk into really cheapens the whole place. I imagine it provides for a fantastic people watching experience and a place for the tourists to try and salsa, but it didn't do anything to create a good dining experience. The presentation of the food was a step above cafeteria style. I expected bold, yummy, heat based flavor. You know, Cuban food. Meh. Not so much. Service. Meh. A bit scattered and, um, quirky. Not attentive.
(2)
Tom G.
I would love to give this beach place 5 stars. I've been in and out of here for many many times over the years. Service is great, food is wonderful, but tonight the bartender screwed us over. We asked how much are the mojitos and he replied $8. I repeated it back to him, and he agreed that it was a great price. In fact he said it was the same price as the cheap red wine. So, need I say more? We opted for mojitos over red wine... Everyone having a good time, drinking mojitos like it's lemonade... Then the bill comes, but the mojitos are now $11 each. Bartender wouldn't budge. Said that's what the price was, pay up! I'm sorry, but we passed up many other tourist rip-off restaurants on Ocean Drive looking for one that had been around for a while, one that we knew, one that was very unlikely to try cheating. Very, very disappointing that this classy place jumped onto the rip-off bandwagon... Needless to say, our plans to bring a party there next week has been changed. Shameful... Update: They inflated the charge on the credit card!
(1)
Shortcake S.
The Coco Mojitos are outstanding and I'd give the tostones rellenos 3.5 stars, but I ordered the Moros and I'm fairly certain that the rice is Uncle Ben's brand. There are lots of other places in this area for outstanding (and cheaper) Cuban food. Not to mention the hostess wasn't that friendly... but I still highly recommend the Coco Mojitos ;)
(3)
Alexis W.
My fiance and I were visiting Miami for Labor Day weekend and I was excited to check this place out! The interior is beautiful..whimsical, elegant, and beachy. For such an upscale vibe I was surprised that there was no dress code what so ever. You could wear flip flops and a tank! But I think that's the norm in South Beach. In Hollywood there is no way in hell they'd let you in. We ordered from the "fancy" side of the menu. Which was a 3 course dinner with a very small, yet satisfying, selection. Appetizer- My fiance had the fried pork. I had the ahi tuna. Both were very delicious! Main Course- He had the pork dish and I had the shredded chicken which came with black beans and rice. Really tasty! Dessert- He had the rice pudding and I had the vanilla pudding. This course was just okay. I would've preferred a heartier dessert like cake, pie, or brownies. To drink I had a sparkling lychee/peach 'tini. Really good and packed with a punch. If this restaurant were in LA we'd be there all of the time. The best part is that it was A LOT less expensive than I thought it would be. Very happy with my experience here :) Whoops forgot something!..I'm not a bitchy yelper.. but ok the host was rude. That's the only negative. I asked him how long the wait was for a table inside and he said he didn't know. C'mon dude! I was a host years ago and there's a a system to it. A screen that says what courses each table is on etc. So for example if table 10 is on dessert.. well then u can imagine that it'd probably be available in 15 minutes or so. If every table has just been seated well then it will be quite some time. Don't just say you don't know. Ok I'm done :)
(5)
Tae G.
Usually when I travel, I want ethnic food or something I can't get at home. My cousins and I stopped at this place because we heard it was good. Asuper friendly waiter also enticed us to have a seat and indulge. The waiter was a fast talker with limited English. But, he did a great job with suggesting multiple food items and drinks. First off, the drinks were very good. I had a coconut mojito. It was one of the best I've had! Two cousins had mango mojitos and the other had a recommended mixed drink that looked like a Long Island iced tea. We all tasted each other's and found they were strong and good. I ordered a steamed veggie platter with black beans and plantain. The plantain...just right.mveggies were a bit greasy, but had really good flavors. All of us shared an appetizer platter which included cheeseballs, fried fish, hummus with crispy plantain chips, and bacon wrapped plantain. The hummus was bomb.com !! I couldn't get enough. Aside from the food, drinks, and excellent waiter, the inside had a nice, elegant decor. It was a pretty cream color and felt refreshing to be in after walking in the hot sun. The bathrooms were down this long marble and stair-filled hallway. Just gorgeous! Food and drinks were costly, but hey...it was Miami Beach in the summer and I won't complain.
(4)
Jenn H.
The indoor seating was very nice. Pretty decor & there was a live cuban band playing. Great selection of appetizers, entrees & sandwiches. There was only 1 waiter who could understand English it seems & he was very helpful in making the recommendation - The empanadas were delicious. I asked for a virgin pina calada & it was super yummy.
(4)
Carolyn I.
Great restaurant! I went here for dinner with a group on my last night in South Beach. Stuffed Green Plantain Cups Tostones rellenos - three crispy plantain cups filled with shrimp criollo, shredded beef and Cuban criollo minced beef. All three were delicious. I especially liked the minced beef. Cuban Style Steak Bistec de palomilla - thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic and mojo topped with onions and parsley. The meat had great flavor. It was a huge portion! I ordered two sides - moro rice and fried sweet plantains which paired well with the steak. I also ordered a daiquiri which was very refreshing. I tried the skirt steak and it was delicious. The chimichurri sauce that came with it was amazing. I also tried my friend's Cuban coffee and it was good and strong. I liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Larios is a great place to go to for a special occasion. Two big groups seated next to us were celebrating a birthday and graduation. I definitely recommend this restaurant for great Cuban food in South Beach.
(4)
Jenny C.
I don't normally like tourist areas, but when in Miami, you have to experience South Beach. We were recommended to go to Mango's Tropical, but we decided we wanted to eat some authentic Cuban food, so we decided to walk around. At one point, we asked a hostess from some random restaurant where to get some good cuban food. She was looking around for her boss and whispered for us to go to Larios On the Beach. That was a huge turning point that night! The food was amazing! We tried another cuban restaurant the next day, and strongly prefered Larios on the Beach. Perhaps Larios is more catered towards Americans and the other restaurant was more authentic, but regardless this was the best Cuban food we had in Miami. I got the ropa vieja, which was slow cooked pulled pork. It was delicious!!! Loved the moro rice. Most delicious moro rice I've had. The plantains were not as sweet and carmelized as I would like, but everything was sooo good. We got a pitcher of Mojitos. Never seen so many flavors in my entire life. When the pitcher first came, it was filled with ice. But between the two of us, we had 3-4 glasses each for a total or 6-8 glasses. Can't really remember the exact number of glasses. We got a decent buzz going.
(5)
Carolina B.
Excellent Cuban food had a tour of Cuba, traditional mojitos if you think you will be having more than one mojito you're better off getting the pitcher. The ceviche is excellent. Great appetizer! Definitely going back.
(4)
Holli H.
I am honestly so happy we stumbled onto this place. We literally found it on a food show map (it was on drinking made easy) and I gps'd each step until we got there. KING OF MOJITOS. Hands down. Best mojito I have ever had. The only improvement they can make it a more stylish straw with it. Sounds so petty, but the straw they paired with it took away from the class of it. We ordered some appetizers to pass around while enjoying our drinks and everything was delicious. Not one item was subpar. Ambiance was beautiful. Bathrooms were spotless. I would go back in a second. And fun fact - it's owned by Gloria Estefan. Didn't put that one together until I was 2 mojitos deep.
(5)
Cindy V.
This restaurant has Some of the Best Cuban food in Miami, owned by Gloria Estefan, but even though its owned by a Singer/ Celebrity it's pretty Authentic. Let's not even mention their Mojitos, the Best...
(4)
Taleen B.
WOW is all I have to say!!!! I have never been to a Cuban restaurant before so everything on the menu was new to me. We kept ordering and ordering food literally by the time we were finished we were in food coma. We even got lucky to have some left overs which still tasted so delicious the next day. We sat outside enjoyed our first night out in Miami for dinner went inside enjoyed the live band which so many people were dancing inside. It was really a different experience that I loved. I would literally fly from LA to Miami just to have dinner here again!!!!
(5)
Nick B.
The food was amazing! Get the empanadas as an appetizer, try all three options, you must try the pulled pork and bean and rice blend. The sweet plantains kicked butt and every mixed drink in our party was on point. Server was great and accommodating with pics and my request for coasters to take home. A+ on decor and music too. Highlight of my trip so far from this California boy
(5)
Tony R.
Like almost everything on the Miami strip this restaurant was expensive. We waited a long time and the place wasn't even packed. Just as we were getting ready to leave, a server came over. I'm glad we waited because the food was delicious and we really wanted Cuban. I ordered the pork. It was tender and flavorful. The rice was a nice side as well as the plantains. All of our drinks had bamboo which we wondered if they reused the bamboo. We asked multiple employees, and to our surprise they said yes, not sure if they really understood what we were asking.
(3)
Tavi J.
This was my favorite place I ate at during my stay here. I was craving some Cuban food and we decided to give this place a shot. Not only is it cute at night, but the food was pretty yummy. I had the Cuban skirt steak with Moro rice and Plantains. The Chimmichuri (sp) sauce really made the steak taste good and the Plantains were sweet and cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed my friends meals. One of them got the seafood rice plate and it contained lots of seafood and not just a bunch of rice. My other friend had the lemon chicken and really enjoyed it. We all shared a pitcher of delicious Sangria. Finally we got to eat at a place that had good food, nice setting, and pretty reasonable prices for the quality of the food.
(4)
Vishwa N.
Pretty awesome food and drink menu selection. Loved the ambiance and service overall. Definitely recommend and would go back again.
(4)
Agnes N.
This was my first cuban meal, so I don't have any other experience to compare with, but it was a great meal! We both had the slow roasted pork with sweet plantains and brown rice. The pork were divine and the onions on top were the best thing with the whole dish! The food were not fancy but it tasted good and felt well prepared. A big portion as well. The service were great, very attentive and quick.
(4)
Brian R.
Yes, this place is a bit of a tourist trap, but compared to the other offerings on Ocean Drive, it seemed like an oasis. It was about a block or two down from all the craziness of Ocean Drive, and they had plenty of seating outside on a Friday night (with about a 20 minute wait for 2 people). We opted to sit inside given the warmer temps. We were sat at a nice table towards the back, with a few larger groups near us (separate bachelorette and bachelor parties). Menus came quickly, and we ordered a simple rum and diet and a mojito, both of which were strong and tasty. A shrimp skewer app came out pretty quickly, with a decent amount of shrimp and a delicious dipping sauce. As for entrees, the ropa vieja was decent, and the sides (brown rice and beans for me) were just okay. Nothing over the top, but good, decent Cuban food. We also ordered the Tour of Cuba, which was good, but very simple (and the chicken, which had a great spice, was a bit on the dry side). The live music was a nice touch, and it wasn't too loud or out of control. It took a while to get the check, but we were in and out in about an hour. Overall, if you're looking to eat on Ocean Drive, I would suggest this place. It's less hectic that the other restaurants you'll find, the prices are comparable, and if you opt to eat outside, you'll have good views/people watching.
(3)
Carlos D.
The best place in town!!!!
(5)
Tenisha S.
Pros: The coconut mojito was the best I ever had. The mango mojito was great also, but no comparison to the coconut. cons: The seafood rice took over thirty minutes to come to the table. It looked amazing and we were ready to dig in after watching so many people order it. However, it was so salty the rice was inedible. We both picked out the shrimp, calamari, scallops and plantain. All the rice was left in the plate and unfortunately my bf was still hungry. He ended up buying a quesadilla from a small Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Michael B.
Great lunch menu here, with a flare for the Cuban taste. Check out my photos of the lunch course.
(4)
Norma C.
When i walked inside of the restaurant i was a little confused, knowing this was a Cuban restaurant but it felt as if i was walking into an upscale Greek restaurant due to the decor, don't get me wrong though, it was very nice inside. The location is ideal because it's on Ocean Ave. and it's pretty much right next to the famous Boulevard Hotel. Outdoor seating is available too but inside is so much better because of the decor and air conditioning. I had heard this place had the best mojitos, and they were right! I tried a few different mojitos in other places and they just don't compare to Larios. And they were strong too! One mojito felt like two drinks. We then had the appetizer sampler, which included plantain chips, crab cakes(i think), black bean hummus, one tamale, and bacon wrapped bananas. I also ordered the Ropa Vieja which is shredded meat in a sauce. Everything was amazing.
(4)
Cecilè C.
I had an amazing lunch in south beach @ this fine restaurant -- owned by the Estefan's, I learned certain items on the menu were created based upon their long time cook Maria... Of which she still cooks every Sunday for the family... I'm a fan of Cuban food, but more importantly the favors within the dishes. Now, the roasted chicken I had was slowly cooked of course but the sauce it was topped with was second to none. For starters I enjoyed the fresh Ceviche, and an empanada again chicken topped with a guava barbecue sauce that had me wanting to ship a bucket home.. Lol... Don Juan Carlos, you are a really nice person aside from the hospitality you showed me, I see why you've worked for them for so long... Gent... With regards to the drink, I enjoyed the passion fruit mojito and it too was very good. I can definitely say going to shop and dine here today was very pleasant and I think I found a fav here in south beach.. :-)
(4)
Charis S.
This was definitely one of the restaurants on my "Birthday Trip" list...the ambience was great, loved the touches of white everywhere, the blue lighting was so pretty and of course being on the South Beach strip helped A LOT! Our waiter was great, she was a sweetie. She explained everything to us, answered all questions, made suggestions. Very attentive and calm with all of the girls. The live music, the guitarist, set the mood, very soothing. Let me say, the Plantain Cups really set the mood for my dinner that night. They were really good, probably the best part of my meal. Green Plantain cups filled with shrimp, shredded beef and my FAVORITE one, the Picadillo beef. DELICIOUS! Of course the beans and rice were good, no surprise and the Chocolate Tres Leches Cake I shared with everyone. It was really good, not too soggy and soaked perfectly in the tres leeches. Overally, I loved the ambience, BUT I expected a little bit more from Gloria Estefan's restaurant. Just being honest. It was....Good.
(4)
Marlo V.
My family of 7 which includes 4 kids were graciously greeted!! Sat down we had the nicest waitress , we had the trio of empanadas,seafood empanadas,chicken croquettes , my kids had the kids cheeseburgers which were huge, I had the special fried rice,my mom had the whole snapper my husband had the tour of Cuba = all of theses dishes we're delicious and plentiful!!we then had desert tres leches,ice cream,cafe con leche all were amazing !!!
(5)
Gabriela P.
The food was amazing! We had a very large party and I had to keep reminding the servers about things I ordered that they forgot about (like my drinks). I ordered the care asada and the meat was tender and very flavorful. I had a few bites of boyfriend's Tour of Cuba which had a little bit of everything and everything I tried on that plate was amazing (ropa vieja was to die for). I will be returning to this place next time I am in Miami.
(4)
Viv O.
This review started at a 3.5... Appetizers: calamari and bacon wrapped maduros . Service is efficient.. Very attentive and friendly! Our meals were so delicious. I had the Red Snapper and it was so amazing!!!!!!! 5 stars across the board, superb service!
(5)
Ya Ya G.
Outstanding service from start to finish. ...the food and drinks to die for can't wait to come back again.
(5)
Gabrielle D.
AMAZING! Was taken here on the South Beach Culinary Food Tour. We were served ropa vieja with plantain chips and mojo. It was so yummy and I wish I had the recipe! If you're on Ocean Drive and don't know which restaurant to pick, choose Lario's!
(5)
Ektaa B.
A better South Beach dining option than the other places on Ocean Drive. Plenty of outdoor seating, good for people-watching and the inside was really nice too. I asked for the steak salad, vegetarian-ized with grilled vegetables instead of the steak. The chimichurri dressing was delicious. We got a pitcher of the house mojitos = awesome.
(3)
Stacey L.
Love love love the food here. The skirt steak is so good. Everything is so fresh and full of flavor. Only downside was last nights snippy host. He needs an attitude adjustment. Waiters are all great though.
(5)
Sean M.
This place needs to tighten up it's act. We wanted to go to dinner here our first night in Miami so I made the call to the restaurant to try and book a table. I simply asked the host where the best seats in the house were, as I was not sure if they had beachside seating or whatever. It was our first time in Miami, let alone at Larios. You would think I asked the guy to solve a quantum physics problem, it simply seemed liked too much of a question so he simply replied we don't have a best seat in the house, they are all the same. I tried to follow up question, but it was going nowhere fast. So I proceed to try and give this guy my last name and get a table booked cause I'm getting flustered and frustrated at this point and the guys attitude had me starting to boil. It just seemed like his guy was in his own world, he would not listen to me try and spell my difficult last name for him, he proceeded to read the name on the caller ID and ask if that was me, I mean it could not have gotten any worse. I asked for a manager and was told he was busy and wasn't available to talk. Long story short, ended up being hung up on and not getting a table. Made my reservation through Open Table and Yelp! Called back a couple of times and finally got the manager on the line who started to apologize profusely for his hosts actions and attitude and promised us a great time and a round of Mojitos. The manager definitely had his act together, which makes you wonder how the host was so off. Chalk it up to a bad night, I dunno. In any case, we got there for dinner and placed orders for some appetizers and entrees. We tried the grilled skewers as our appetizer, which were ok. Entrees were the shrimp criollo and a fish plate with the Moro rice. Both were ehh, honestly wasn't what we were expecting. Overall, given how we were treated by the host, the effort on the part of the manager and the quality of food, I think a two star rating is just about right for Larios. Oh and the Mojitos weren't too bad :)
(2)
Jenn M.
The ambiance alone was beautiful when we walked in! Our last night in Miami for a bachelorette weekend was to have dinner here. We were taken upstairs to another seating area which was more quiet and a bit secluded but it's nice to be able to hear the person next to you instead of having to yell while talking. Downstairs seemed a bit more fun since they played live music but we all still had a great time. I got to try the ceviche my friend order as appetizers and it was really delicious! So fresh and flavorful. As for entree, I ordered the crispy pork bites because the description on the menu sounded delicious. When I got my meal though, the pork looked overcooked and a bit hard to chew into. It was still good though. You get a choice of two sides, I got it with rice and fried plantains which were pretty good. Overall, we liked the food here. Service was good and the ambiance was a definite plus!
(4)
Mauricio C.
It's unfortunate I have to write a 1-star review for a restaurant - however, it's well warranted for this establishment. The service is quite possibly the worst on the entire South Beach strip. I'll provide specific details so it is clear that this isn't just a unwarranted rant. Our group of friends were interested in finding a spot with great empanadas and a fun, lively atmosphere. Our Yelp search led us to Lario's. Upon arrival, we were met with a cold, stale, atmosphere where the waiters immediately judged us our appearance. We all waited at the bar, perusing the menu to see which (incredibly overpriced) drinks we would buy. My girlfriend, after having walked for an hour on South Beach, understandably needed to use the bathroom. One of the waiters (or maybe the manager) stopped here and demanded that we pay before she could use the bathroom. I have never encountered an establishment outside of the sketchiest McDonald's in NYC where a customer who has already been seated to order is denied service to use the bathroom - let alone a woman. Additionally, this place was by far the worst atmosphere on the entire South Beach strip. I am writing this review minutes after walking away from this establishment to confirm that we are all completely cogent and sober in our review of this terrible restaurant. Lario's was terrible specifically because: (1) it was devoid of any lively atmosphere when every other place was on the strip was bustling with customers, (2) the staff was rude & unwelcoming (particularly to the women in our group), and (3) the menu was very underwhelming & incredibily overpriced. I implore anyone visiting South Beach to instead visit any of the fantastic restaurants or bars on the strip instead of Lario's. As a last remark, another patron confirmed the food was unimpressive and the empanadas (only one kind, not at all authentic Cuban) were terrible. The only thing I ask from the management of this establishment is an apology for the treatment of my girlfriend and my friends.
(1)
Courtney D.
First place i went to for dinner in south beach. This place looks very nice but food is just mediocre. The appetizers we ordered were the short ribs and grilled shrimp. The ribs were good but the shrimp could have been cooked longer. Also ordered the chicken bites as an entree which was appetizing but not outstanding. The service wasn't that great either. If you sit outside for dinner it's a nice view 3/5
(3)
Mark D.
We went here while on South Beach to take advantage of the Miami Spice promotion, a prie-fixe lunch menu for $23/ person. The tuna tartar appetizer was good with a nice mix of avocado and mango. A sample platter of croquettes and papa rellena was standard fare, nothing special. My Cuban wife thought the vaca frita entree was tasty and authentic. My grilled prawns were over grilled to the point of grittiness. The chocolate tres leches was very good. Because of the promotion the bill wasn't bad but they still charge $6 for a glass of lemonade and $4 for cafe cubano! The waiters were very attentive and the atmosphere/decor was nice. I liked the coral walls with the shells inlaid and the tile mosaic of the Cuban patron saint La Caridad del Cobre with inset votive candles. However, for a more authentic Cuban culinary experience at a more economical price, I would go to Puerto Sagua just down the street.
(3)
Kristina R.
We found Larios via Yelp actually and glad we had a chance to check it out when in Miami this past weekend. This place has great atmosphere, great good, and good service. We sat at a table outside on the sidewalk and it was perfect for people watching! If people watching is not your thing or if you want to enjoy a peaceful quiet meal, you might want to ask to be seated inside. The food was really good. We had a few appetizers and our entrees (skirt steak, shredded beef, and pork) were all AMAZING! Our server was good, although could have used a a few add'l water refills. We opted for some bread pudding to share for dessert. And although it looked NOTHING like bread pudding, it was stilll very good.
(4)
Heather G.
The location is perfect, right on ocean dr.! Well That was the best part the location the atmosphere is amazing! But the food and service was just okay.... Nothing special at all.
(3)
Shareen M.
I haven't been here in 2 years since they were closed during my last trip. The menu looks updated and I love the design & decor change to the actual inside. I started with the Mango Mojito - good, not the best I've had but good. We then got the maduros wrapped in bacon (MUST try. its a unique dish and a perfect blend of sweet and salty), the plantain cups with shrimp criollo (flavorful & very enjoyable) & shrimp cocktail (big juicy shrimp) For our entree we shared the "Chino Cuban" fried rice with chicken, shrimp & steak. Be warned.... when you read it contains vegetables - they aren't joking lol I hate onions & bean sprouts so it was hard to enjoy the rice but it was soooooo delicious!!!! Just ask without. If not - it is impossible to take a bite without getting the veggies.
(4)
Dianna A.
My friends and I had an amazing and unforgetabble dinner at Lario's. Everything from the tasty appetizers, the well prepared meal, and Sangria was delicious. The service we received from the front door upon entering , during our meal, and upon departure was very much appreciated. The service by Felix Sanchez was exceptional. Hope to return soon.
(5)
Helen B.
Classic Cuban on the beach. Food is more varied and most creatively presented than other similar beachfront locations. My companion loved the pork - it reminder her of her mother's best dinners. My swordfish was cooked to perfection and the plantain and rice side were simple yet mouthwatering. The menu's comprehensive and will keep you coming back. Don't be afraid to try something new or unknown. In addition to the sidewalk tables or short patio, there's a beautiful lounge and dining space inside. Magnificently decorated and elegantly laid out this is a great space for 2 to 22. Yes you give up the people watching but it's exquisite.
(4)
Simmy S.
Plantains were amazing. I ordered the BBQ Guava pork ribs and I only had two ribs. There was so much food with the rice and beans. The rotisserie chicken was good too. It feel right off the bones. AMAZING. Nice view, great people, amazing food. You just can't go wrong.
(5)
Mark M.
I've eaten here a few times and have always been happy. The Cuban style steak is my favorite and goes well with rice, black beans and plantains. Staff are great too.
(4)
Edwina M.
Fabulous Ocean Dr. location, great ambiance and beautiful decor, but the music on the patio was a bit loud. Some of the food items we ordered were great, others, not so much. The "award winning" pork was surprisingly just average, and frankly too salty for my taste.
(3)
Barbara Z.
We were looking for ethnic food in Miami Beach tonight. Based on the stars we chose to eat there. The food is salty, there's nothing special. Service is just okay! Price won't worth what you get for. It's very expensive.
(1)
Jannese C.
Awesome Cuban food. Everything tastes homemade and the service was spectacular. Our server was Daniel and he couldn't have offered better service!
(5)
Christina R.
By far best restaurant on Ocean Drive! We visit Larios every year we go to south beach. Their sweet plantains and ceviche keep me coming back for more each time. The newly renovated atmosphere feels like you're underwater and surrounded by sand and sparkling shells. It's very beautifully decorated, feels intimate and perfect for large groups also. Live bands add that extra touch to a lovely dinner! Highly recommend the seafood rice, ceviche, roasted chicken dish, and the Milanesa steak! A must see when in South Beach!
(5)
Jessica G.
Nice place on South Beach. Good drinks and food.
(5)
Lola L.
I hate this place so much. Not only did I have a terrible experience while I was there, but they CANCELLED my reservation after we paid and left! I'm only assuming because we complained and said they were getting a bad review! Incredibly dishonest. Instead of solving the problem, they cancelled my reservation so I wouldn't get my points and could not write a review. Luckily OpenTable fixed the cancellation so I can write about it. I was really hoping to have some decent Latin American food while in Miami so Iooked this place up and booked a reservation. First, the atmsphere is beyond obnoxious. It looks like an overdone tropical hotel in Cancun. It was an embarrassment. The food was extremely sub-par. I have way better, far more authentic Cuban food at home in Chicago a few blocks away from my house. Many Cuban foods that I enjoy are fried, and always served wit sauces because of this. Not one thing was served with a sauce. Anyway, our server was also terrible. The drinks were sweetened to such an extreme level, I couldn't drink mine. The drink description claimed it was fresh ingredients but this was clearly some premixed crap. Once our food and drinks were served we could not get the attention of the server for anything. He was busy standing at the bar with 4 other servers, talking. Not looking up once. I just wanted some mayo for my croquettas or SOMETHING, and got sick of waiting. SO we asked a different server for our check. Once we got the check we saw an added 18% gratuity. THERE WERE TWO OF US. I have worked in the restaurant industry myself, and I love when a good business takes care of its staff. But here, they clearly just took advantage of their guaranteed tip. We complained about it all, and about 30 minutes after we paid our bill IN FULL and left, I got an email saying that Larios cancelled my reservation. I was so furious. I couldn't believe it. I will NOT recommend this place. In fact, I will tell anyone i know visiting Miami to avoid at all costs. Anyone who has given this place 5 stars should be fired from Yelp. And from life. And from ever eating ACTUAL Cuban food again.
(1)
Rosa G.
Excellent service, good food, perfect place! My friend and I were at the popular Restaurant of Emilio &Gloria Estefan, we reserved a table for 4 people, we arrived a little later 10:00 pm but the manager called Alexander reserved us a great table and received us . The server called Felix excellent, he took care of all our needs, we ate a delicious lightly fish with a delicious salad, my friends ate churrasco salad and paella, all were delicious and on time. Finally we dance with the dj charlie with amazing music. Very nice place to eat, drink and dance. If you want to eat a gourmet cuban food... Try Larios on the beach... A perfect place
(5)
Michelle R.
I love this place and have only been here twice. There service is good, friendly waiters and the music that plays is a little loud but it's great. Always make reservations because it is usually pretty packed. You can sit outside or inside. They make great mojitos and there mango passion fruit Sangria is a must try. The food is good, great portions. The mixed empanadas are great with a guave sauce on the side. I live ropa veija so I ordered that and it was great! My husband has the skirt steak with beans and rice. The skirt steak is a small portion but it was delicious none the less. The tip is included on the bill even for 2 people.
(5)
Brianna D.
Indoor atmosphere was nice, but I remembering it smelling kind of weird. We asked to sit outside on the street - great people watching! The food was good, not great. Location is excellent!
(3)
Sara H.
This restaurant deserves more than 3 1/2 stars on Yelp! Our meal was fabulous, as was the service from Giovanni! The people watching is fun and you are right in the middle of South Beach action. Highly Recommended!
(5)
Ray M.
The best Latin food I've ever tasted and I'm from NY. The salads, pork, chicken, platanos, everything was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Will come back every time. You can sit outside or upstairs and upstairs is more elegant to say the least.
(5)
Michelle A.
We just stopped in for a quick bite since we were meeting some people in a few hours for dinner. Luckily, as we walked past a number of uninteresting touristy SOBE restaurants, I remembered that this was the Estafan's restaurant that I had heard about so we grabbed a table on the front veranda. Great for people watching and the beach across the road. Unfortunately, I had to drive or we would have ordered a pitcher of mojitos...they looked delicious! I ordered the vegetable platter with perfect portions of black beans, brown rice, plaintains (DO NOT MISS THESE) and crisp sauteed vegetables with an asian chile fusion sauce. My friend ordered the pork tamale and the cod fish croquettes, which she loved! The service was very attentive, even though we were embarrassingly indecisive about our orders and asked a zillion questions. Also, I have to say that the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous, like a shimmery pearl jewel box. I can't wait to go back for dinner!
(4)
Peggy M.
There is no place on earth makes a great mojito like this place. I am a bartender I made so many mojitos but mojito in here is so great. Strong. And delicious. I love Vaca Frita de Pollo. Always have this on my trip to Miami beach. Bacon wrapped Maduros is great too. Coconut mojito, Luxury mojito, and watermelon. Mojito is my all time favorite. Highly recommended. Great food and great service.
(5)
Reid N.
Had the Cuban Fried Rice, full of shrimp, beef, chicken, pork and plantains. It was delicious.
(4)
Mark F.
Woah! Paella. That is all. Seriously. Nothing else. Just have it now. Now. Now.
(5)
Nathalie B.
Larios on the beach is an amazing place to goo!! Really good environment, people are super nicee and the food is amazing !! Highly recommend this place !
(5)
Maria L.
You head down the strip and it's mostly large margarita 2 for 1 deals, but this place is far classier. Come here if you're ready for a more sophisticated afternoon/evening because their appetizers (we tried the avocado salad and the plantains with chips) are perfect complements to their fancy concoctions.
(4)
Jake B.
Way overpriced and the "famous cuban's" stop being served at 4PM Severely disappointed in food quantity and quality.
(1)
Me'Kayla W.
Food excellent I had the shrimp and garlic, black beans, and plantains. Service was less than pleasurable. There was no smile no enthusiasm, for us to be on the strip I would expect a little more love from my server. I mean 10 shrimp 2 sides and a sangria was 50 bucks no problem but I would like some superior service... our server said that he could not spit our check. Oh but he did tho stop the madness!
(4)
Hena A.
Went here for dinner and can highly recommend the churassco with black beans and rice or Moros and tostones! Yummy! As for appetizer, we ordered the papa rellena and tamales which both were very good. They have a live band and a fun ambience. This is a busy location in Sobe.
(4)
Anthony L.
Phenomenal food. Super fresh, flavorful and authentic. Go for one of the flavored mojito pitchers. Great flavor and worth the price. Totally recommend for a nice dinner out with friends or family.
(5)
John H.
Poor service. Waited 45 minutes for our food. Avacado salad was great. Cuban sandwich was made with nearly undectable amounts of roast pork. After watching others seated after us be served, our food arrived. With the wrong order! Strangely reconciled in two minutes, making me wonder why we had to wait 45 minutes for our food. On top of that, they added an 18% gratuity which I gleefully deleted. Avoid this place.
(1)
Stephen F.
My boyfriend and I purchased a Gilt City deal of $82 dinner for two to include two drinks a piece, one Estefan Cuban appetizer combo, an entree each, and desert each. Wow! What a great deal. We made reservations early in the evening and were seated upstairs near the front. Service was prompt and professional. The newly renovated building and interior is just beautiful, very beachy with class, which usually is hard to pull off. The walls are adorned with several glass in laid murals. The food was just delicious. The Estefan Cuban combo came with stuffed potatoes, pork tamale, bacon wrapped maduros, ham, chicken & fish croquettes & black bean hummus with plantain chips - totally worth it to sample a little bit of everything. I ordered the steak with chimmichuri, it was moist and perfectly cooked. For desert I had the tres leche chocolate, it was to die for. The mojitos were had were perfect and had us feeling right after two! I can't wait to go back. Definitely one of the best places, if not the best, on Ocean drive to get a feel of Miami's Cuban influence in a nice upscale environment.
(5)
Michael A.
My family and I were invited to enjoy a dinner at Larios on the Beach. From the moment you walk in the renovations are very noticeable. It looks very sophisticated but still Miami Beach style. The service was amazing, but then again we were there as guests so I wouldn't expect any less. The food was delicious. I had a plate called the "Tour of Cuba" it was amazing. my parents shared the "Paella for 2" which was more for like 4. It was huge. Their luxury Mojito is addicting. I recommend this restaurant for date night or family meals. There is valet parking in front of the restaurant for $25.
(5)
Michael M.
Great place to enjoy good food! Started with tasty margaritas, also had delicious Sangrias, & the night included live music inside a beautifully bright interior. You could sit outside, but the inside is the place to go eat; as the night progressed it filled up with a lively crowd. We started with cod croquettes and the pork tamale, both were just right. We wanted authentic Cuban food so chose the Tour of Cuba and the grilled shredded steak. Wow! The meats were moist, with tangy flavored spices and really just too delicious to describe. We also were served sides of rice & beans and sweet plantains, and they added great flavor to the meals. We ended with the tres leches (excellent), and Cuban coffee (strong & sweet). The meal and experience was really good, except the service slowed as the night progressed. We loved it, and would recommend to all to try it.
(4)
Bennet M.
My husband and I ate here a while ago and haven't been back since. First off, you can def get better Cuban food somewhere else. There are so many Cuban Restaurants other than Larios. I mean I know it's Gloria Estefan's place but that didn't make a difference to me. Oh and everything in SOBE is going to be pricey but seriously Larios? I mean I can get a chicken vaca frita anywhere. But paying for the environment and the scence is what really came out of our pockets. I don't mind paying for food when it is great. Larios, meh just another Cuban Restaurant. I can go Versailles where Cuban food is mmmm mmmm bueno!! Thanks but no thanks Larios.
Place is a hidden gem! Very nice decor, live band was playing near the entrance on a Saturday night. Very upscale and exclusive, people were being turned away at the door for not having proper attire. The restaurant was very accommodating and took reservations for a party of 8 a few hours before dinner. I hosted a surprise birthday dinner for my bestfriend and the band played live birthday music for her entrance upon request. The pineapple mango or something like that sangria was super delicious . My first time trying Cuban food and it was a very well experience. I'm vegetarian which also limited me from most of the menu but I recommend the hummus chips appetizers which everyone enjoyed and my main entree was spicy rice noodles! Definitely request for bread, server had not brought it out but after requesting so he did and we're glad he did ! It is located right on south beach next to wet willies a very popular area on ocean ave!
(4)
Sydney M.
Most of our food was really delicious: the urban slow-roasted pork was truly award-winning at our table, and we gave the garlic shrimp equally high marks. However, we didn't have the pleasure of enjoying our entrees for MORE THAN 2hours after we ordered. =o/ Management has been accommodating, but diners shouldn't have to hunt the staff down to get orders to their tables. Lario's has potential and beautiful decor. Maybe try it in 6months when they've found their groove.
(3)
Mel L.
Service was a bit slow but I'll excuse it simply because my meal was just THAT good. I've been going to their sister restaurant Bongos since I was 14 and always order the same thing- Churrasco, maduros, moros, and a side of the arroz blanco. It's always amazing. What I got here was actually BETTER than what I'm used to and when I talked to the manager, he said it's the quality of meat. He wasn't kidding. Got a guava daiquiri that was delicious. Great ambiance. Even though service was slow, it was packed and the staff was still really helpful and friendly. Will DEFINITELY be back next time I'm in Miami.
Our friends recommended we go there while passing through Miami on our way to Key West. So glad we did. Our server was extremely nice and the food was delicious. My husband who is hard to get to try something new, really like their Special Cuban Rice, we also had the Cuban sandwiches as we there for lunch. We ate outside and the atmosphere was nice and clean. We enjoyed our dining experience at Larios on the beach
(4)
Tisha C.
My friends and I were in SoBe for the weekend and we were looking for really good mojitos and found them here.. First we started off with just glasses and then ended up getting a pitcher. We also sat outside... Hey being from NY we did anything to be outside in that warm florida weather as much as possible.. Plus we were there for a good two hours and the staff wasn't quick to kick us out or anything, they were very friendly. The food was good as well...We only ordered appetizers since we were leaving that night.. It was all good.. Bacon wrapped maduros empanadas ceviche and calamari. We did try a tres leche cake since its my favorite, i wasnt a big fan of it here though unfortunately. One star off because it's only in Miami.. I wish they would open one up in NYC
(4)
Erica S.
We enjoyed our dinner here. We are new to this type of food, and we especially liked the plantains and black bean hummus. Great location!l too! Very fun.
(4)
Kelly L.
I'm torn on this one. The food was delicious! The drinks were great! And the service was attentive. My only issue and the reason for the lower rating is that this is no way a $$. Maybe it's viewed as relative, but still no way. I trust yelp across the board, relative to the city I am in, and this is just a bit underestimated.
(3)
Mayur P.
Eh!!! Gloria has resorted to serving overpriced Bland food. The Fritas yuca and avacado salad was good. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Wanted to Go to puerto sagua around the corner but darn place was booked for private party.
(3)
Gabriela A.
I visited Larios on a Thursday night. I made reservations, quick and easy online. I had to push my reservation for 15 minutes and when I called the gentlemen who answered was so kind and fixed my reservation right away. Upon arrival it was a warm welcoming. Although I thought the place would be full, itt was a late night. However the service was exceptional from drinks, appetizers and main course. Our waiter ( I wish I could remember his name) was so nice and attentive. I would definitely go back to this restaurant when I visit miami again. Thanks for the great service and food! Highly recommend!
(5)
Mia M.
I absolutely love Larios on the Beach! One of my favorites in South Beach (and for Cuban food) with a great location that can satisfy those who enjoy dining and watching the always entertaining SoBe foot traffic pass by or to sit inside in the beautifully decorated dining and bar areas. There are many delicious spots on Ocean Drive, but this one is top notch! Every time I come here I get the avocado salad, the bacon wrapped maduros, and the bbq guava ribs (don't kid yourself about getting the appetizer, you will definitely want the entree), but to be honest I enjoy nearly everything on Larios' menu. I also recommend the vaca frita (with a side of limes), which is the best that I have had. The drinks are also very good. I have tried the cocktails, but the red sangria pitcher goes so well with the food whether is be for lunch or dinner. Also the service is attentive and very friendly. Outside of Prime 112 (which is never not a scene), this is the first restaurant I recommend to anyone coming to South Beach. Great atmosphere and delicious food!
(5)
D P.
Every second of this eating experience was fabulous! From the greeting when you walked to the hostess, to the service, drinks (monitor and Margarita), and food was beyond expectation. We had plantain chips, calamari, skirt steak, shrimp colchicine (sp?), famous Cuban fried rice, and tres leche (vanilla and chocolate), all were outstanding! I truly can't say enough that if you go to South Beach and don't eat here, you are missing out. Oh...almost forgot to mention the band and music. ..outstanding!
(5)
P M.
The Paella, definitely worth the wait and $. Left feeling full and satisfied. Would definitely revisit again.
(5)
Eliezer S.
So far it's been five minutes of being seated and the attention has been spectacular. The food was ridiculously good and the service is great! Great place to eat some good gourmet Cuban food
(5)
Amanda K.
I like this place a lot! Great classic mojitos and a good variety on the menu. The churrasco was delicious, mainly because of the AMAZING chimichurri sauce. The steak itself was tastey and HUGE... Very large portion. Not the best quality meat but I really loved it. The tostones (fried plantains) were good and the moro (mixed rice and beans) were delicious. Everyone seemed to love their food plus the service was good. I love the location right in the middle of the action on Ocean Drive. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Dinasia W.
Lovedd this place ! If you're in SOBE looking for dinner this is the place. All the restaurants are priced in the same range. If you're gonna pay the least it could be is worth the money. Larios definitely was. We got a couple starters. Two orders of the codfish croquettes ($10) which were amazing, as well as plantain chips& a garlic dip($7). I got the seafood fried rice($23) filled w. Well seasoned goodness. The bill came to 124.73 for the 3 of us. The service was great. We had an older man who was so adorable, attentive & accommodating. The gratuity ($17) was added into the check which was just fine because they make you aware of that ahead of time. It was an overall wonderful experience and I'll come back every time I'm in SOBE.
(5)
Alex P.
Beaurifully renovated and the kitchen is competent but the service for non white cubans is awful. Seems like they are trying to recreate pre castro cuba... Watched 2 waiters fight over who would have to serve us...pathetic.
(1)
Stefanie C.
We came here to try out the Miami spice menu on a Sunday night. 3 course meal with a drink included for $33. Such a great deal. My friend ordered the flank steak and I ordered the Cuban trio platter. Both were amazing! We actually swapped plates halfway through because both were so good. We each ordered a mojito which as well was wonderful! My only complaint is the service. Our waiter was nice but disappeared after our main course. We never saw him again. I actually had to get up to find someone who could refill our water. We had to flag down another waiter in order to get our last course and finally the check. After we were given our last course the waiter said to us "are you going to order anything else?" Considering that was the last course, no probably not. His response was "we're closing in a bit so you'll have to leave." Ok thanks for the notification but all you had to say was that the restaurant closes at whatever time and we'll make our way out as we see fit. It was unnecessary to make us feel unwelcome and as if we were going to be tossed out if we sat too long. Overall Id give the food a 5 and the service a 2. So together its about a 3.5 but there isn't a 3.5 option so we'll say 4. Come here for great food but don't expect good service!
(4)
Veronica G.
Came here with my husband for our honeymoon. This place is in the heart of south beach great location. Very romantic great service! I had the papas Rellanas and vaca fritta it was def the best thing I eat durning my stay in Miami! loved it. Wish they had a location in LA.. P.S Outdoor seating right on Ocean Drive
(5)
Daniel V.
Amazing 5 star service. Amazing food and service start to finish!!
(5)
Cecilia P.
We looooved larios on the beach! I had the chicken parmesan. It was huge! My husband had totones rellenos and an avocad salad. The ambiance was great, as well as the music and the food was amazing. When we come back to Miami we'll come back to larios.
(5)
Joseph V.
What can I say about this place that most of the reviews haven't said already. If you're in south beach, do yourself favor and stop by. If you enjoy traditional cuban cuisine or never had it before, this is your go to spot for all things cuban. Perfect for you romeo and juliets looking for that romantic evening. You'll also be surrounded by beautiful people, so they'll be plenty of eye candy for us single folk. They even have a band to help you get in the mood for some dancing afterwards (go to mangos). Make it a point to go there you wont regret it! Order the traditional cuban steak and go hard by adding shrimp. Hope you enjoy!
(4)
Valya V.
This restaurant is a must! Every time I am on a South Beach I go here. Pulled pork, enchiladas and mohito are usual suspects. Ismael was our server. Excellent service!!
(5)
T U.
Had a reservation at 6:45. Sat down, ordered my first Mojito, and apps. Apps came out at 6:50. Entrees came out at 6:55. Second drink at 7:05. Finished eating, bill paid and out on the street at 7:15. relaxing? rushed? ya think? Maybe we didn't order well... I felt like I have at other popular eating meccas, Little Italy, Gene and Georgetti in Chicago, Taydish Grill in San Francisco, Ebbetts Grill in DC, Antoines in New orleans...what a waste of time. There is little to no culinary expertise evident....food was old and touristy. Nice enough atrmosphere, band was too loud but they were good, waiter was great but subject to the cooks pushing he food out. If this is the best food they can produce and if this is the acme of Cuban cuisine...the French and italians have nothing to worry about. Skewers...three tiny chunks of chicken, beef and six tiny pieces of vegetable with a vinegary sugar sauce. Give me some ketchup.Skimpy and boring. Dry Plaintain cups with shrimp, pulled pork and beef...fresh is word used an hour ago...all three tasted the same. Shrimp are those little tiny ones, sat in sauce for hours, dry. Pork and beef were just dried out...looked old. Main dish...Slow Cooked pork...$23..waiter recommended....cheapest thing on the menu. tender hunks of pork with some white sliced onions on top, in a vinegary braising liquid. Seriously guys...do something with this...do anything not to make me think you are just pulling this off a hunk of cooked pork butt. I enjoyed it again later that night about 3am. Indegestion...nothing more...to be fair. My daughter...some fried chicken dish...it was chicken fingers without the ranch dressing. Plantains and rice as a side were Ok but to have the rice dropped with an ice cream scoop was like...grade school cafeteria? Except for the drinks not a fresh herb or creative presentation to be seen. 2 Mojitos...$30 ...not one ounce of what you buy a drink for. I had better drinks at the bars near the beach. really? $15 bucks each? No buzz at all. Last...for a party of two...they add the tip themselves...really really classy place... I left another ten spot cause we liked the waiter. I am glad so many people enjoy this place...my recommendation to the Estphan famly...if you will stick to music...I will not buy your food.
(1)
Roxana B.
This place is a little more expensive than most on the strip, but totally worth it! Food is authentic Cuban and delicious . I especially love the picture by the bathroom of Gloria Stefan and Celia Cruz with drinks in their hands looking like they were having the time of their lives! Would def go back
(5)
George S.
Great food good portions. The options are great. There was music and dancing. It's a fun place with lots of action.
(5)
MiMi C.
Rating it a 5 star for location, ambiance, service and food! Our large group was accommodated on the second floor which would be perfect for a small private event. Ordered the bistec de palomilla with arroz Moro and maduros....absolutely delicious! The mojito was excellently prepared. 'Til next time South Beach!
(5)
Zoey T.
Best cuban food I have ever had. Beautiful upscale restaurant without the upscale price. I had the empanadas, pan seared grouper, and tour de Cuba and every bite was delicious. Add a pitcher of sangria and it was perfect.
(5)
Aurelius M.
Ay Dios Mio! The best cuban food I've ever had. I went here for dinner and the food was amazing. We started with the Estefan Cuban combo and my first drink was the Havana iced tea. My entree was the Lechon Asado. Then we got a pitcher of Mojito. We were on the company dime so we let the dice roll that night! Again, the food was incredible. Everything had lots of flavor and I felt like I was in Cuba while the spanish tunes played in the background. The staff was ok. We were seated outside and waiter was swamped which took a bit of time to order our food. We didn't mind at the time because it's a great spot to people watch. I wish their valet service had square or some way to pay with credit card. I had to walk a block for an ATM, pay the ATM fee, then walk a block back. So if you plan to valet here make sure you take cash because they cannot cash you out at the bar, you can't pay at your table or front desk , and the valet doesn't have any credit card machine. A bit outdated if you ask me. It's 2014 and who uses cash anymore? The little things I guess.
(4)
Lauren B.
Even though Lario's is in a very touristy area of SoBe, the cuisine and experience is very authentic! Best mojitos ever and the Mojo Marinated Chicken is soooo very flavorful. Loved the the bacon wrapped maduros also. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this! The music and energy is lively and everyone there is ready to have a good time - an awesome dining experience!
(5)
Mark O.
This place is awesome. Took visitors to eat authentic Cuban food and Emilio Estefan comes to say hi. He is one of our customers at HD!
(5)
Gayland L.
Food is great. Great place to have drinks and a wonderful dinner. People watching is great from the patio. Skirt steak is the way to go. Empanadas are great.
(5)
Zrinko V.
Great food, we wanted Cuban and found this wonderfully decorated quiet place (don't understand why it's so quiet, but OK with it). Great food, totally worth it, very good restaurant.
(5)
andrea a.
Came back a year later and it's still just as amazing. Complete redesign. Food is amazing and be sure to try the mojitos! We had the pineapple mojito and coconut mojito and they were so good! Food: we had the steak with Moro and tostones. MORO IS AMAZING! My girlfriend had the steak salad and it was good too. A must try when in Miami!
(5)
Steven H.
My wife and I had ropa vieja with moro rice and sweet plantains and ceviche appetizer. Our daughter had sweet plantains wrapped in bacon. All was excellent.
(5)
Raychel L.
My friend and I were only in town 1 night and our hotel had a Miami book of local things. We perused the dining pages and voted we must do Cuban cuisine while in South Beach. We shared the ceviche (grouper fish) came w/plantain chips, um AMAZING! So full of flavor I could have had 7 of those by myself, regardless of how full I would have been. We also shared the Famous Seared shredded beef with Moros rice, grilled veggies and sweet plantains. Also Amazing!! Everything was so delish. We quenched our thirst w/a carafe of Mango Passion fruit spritzer which was tasty but not much alcohol. Finishing it off with Cuban coffee (espresso) bill came to $73 for both. Not bad $$ for South Beach, we were stuffed, even with sharing! Will visit again!
(4)
Kyle H.
Was taken to Larios by a local for Cuban Food and was very happy with it. Seating aplenty outside with great people watching, and the inside is very nice too. Feeling like just having a drink? They have a nice bar right inside! Appetizer- Ceviche- generous portion of whitefish served in a broth of citrus with red onion and jalapeno. Slightly spicy, but could have used maybe something else. Was served with crispy plantain- a nice touch! Entree- Shredded Beef- I forget the Cuban name, but it's basically Ropa Viejo minus tomato sauce. A HOT plate of sizzling meat with onions, with a side of rice and beans and choice of plantains (sweet). Loved my dish. Service was great- and saw plenty else on the menu that would keep me coming back to Larios!
(4)
Bunny W.
Most restaurants on ocean drive are tourist trap with boring menu. This place doesn't try to oversell themselves, which is kinda nice. The menu is more original and interesting than their neighbors but not the best cuban in south beach. The tres leches was a huge disappointment, cake was rough not moist though it's wet. The pork cubes appetizer is our favorite. We also had skirt steak salad. Portion are generous, service are good, mojito is great.
(3)
Tiffany P.
We went there recently to check out the new renovations and new menu, the food is amazing have the bacon wrapped maduros!
(5)
Andrea J.
Food was very good, the avocado salad is delicious but on the small side, the rose wine was rather like a red wine but good, but the waiter was kind of weird, not really friendly, do not expect chatting about the food with this guy
(4)
Melissa M.
We made our dinner reservations in advance on opentable.com . We checked in and barely had to wait to be seated. The waiting area is rather large so I could only imagine how packed this place gets during busier times of the year. There's "glowing" chairs in this area was pretty cool.The place seemed very busy and had a very energetic atmosphere. Lots of waiters and staff running around also. We were seated in one of the rooms which was already packed with other diners. Our waitress had a very rushed mood throughout our whole service. She barely came up to refill our waters and never came back to check up on us. Seeing how she tended to all the tables within this room, we all got the same service. They offer everything you'd expect on a menu for a Spanish restaurant in Miami/South Beach. Prices are definitely more here. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo and my bf had the Lechon Asado. The food was just average, nothing special. In addition, I felt that the flavors were a little bland, making it more "americanized" for those who were just being introduced to Spanish food. The lack of service, higher prices, and average food left much to be desired. Nice restaurant but if you're not able to try this tourist trap, you're not missing anything. I still love you Gloria Estefan!
(2)
Tegan C.
YES! A gem hidden amongst all the terribly overpriced tourist restaurant/bars on ocean drive. Wonderful Cuban cuisine for reasonable pricing. I highly recommend it and guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy the food, music, ambience, and service.
(4)
Katie F.
Finally I got to try cuban coffee! IT WAS AMAZING. It changed everything. You have to go here. Sit inside, there's an incredible band that plays inside. Makes it hard to sit and eat because you want to get up and dance. We had the paella, it was really nice. Appetizers were the empanadas and the beef potatoes, both I would order again in a heart beat. We rode bikes afterwards, there's a citi bike rack across the street, so go ride off all that amazing food! Loved it here.
(5)
Emilia L.
We arrived in Miami totally starved and had no idea where to eat. We were dressed to the nines, but didn't want to eat at an overpriced place, yet didn't want some hole in the wall, either. We parked and headed towards Ocean Drive in search of a place to eat, and found Lario's (the second place we passed!) What a godsend, because we had originally wanted Cuban food but had a hard time finding a suitable place. We got some ceviche to start, which was served with thinly cut plaintain chips. Very refreshing and delicious. For my entree, I got a Cuban classic, the ropa vieja. The meat was tender and flavorful, the plaintains had nice crisp edges and were sweet and pillowy soft and the white rice had a hint of flavor to it that I could not place. I only wish I had gotten moro rice instead (mixed black beans and rice). I also sampled some of the roasted pork. Delicious. It was one of the best meals of the trip. They had some live salsa music going on, so it was a bit hard to hear each other over the din, but it was a great meal. Awesome find!
(4)
Terry B.
This was absolutely one of the best meals I've ever eaten! We went at lunch during the week and chose to sit outside. I ordered the ceviche for an appetizer, which was delicious. We ordered the El "Tour" De Cuba, Lechon Asado, Ropa Vieja Y Vaca Frita De Pollo tour of Cuba, which is a sampling of Cuban food which has samples of seared shredded chicken, roasted pork, slow cooked shredded beef served with Cuban mojo & chimichurri sauce, and plantains. We both had lemonades and I finished the meal off with a Cuban coffee. Man, was the meal ever remarkable! The entire meal ran us just under $100 with tip, but was it EVER worth it! The staff was very friendly and professional. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
David F.
horrible! The menu is very misleading and the waitress agreed with our party!Overall the staff was very rude and a big disappointment.
(1)
Christopher S.
Just know there are two restaurants here. I have only eaten at Larios and it's excellent. Love me some Chicken VacaFrita it's so good. :) Yucca fries yummmm. The wait staff is fantastic well done. Great dining experience. Great value. While here I stepped out of the bathroom an patron passed out basically in my hands her family was right there, she wasn't drunk ....I felt it was diabetic related coupled with heat exhaustion. I was impressed at how the wait staffed helped they brought over a chair , some water and called 911 They were genuinely concerned, amazing , the hostess was right there with me... She stopped and said wait the back room is full of Doctors that are here dining she ran to that room for help, she came back and said they don't want to get involved. WOW shame on those Doctors disgusting. The Medics arrived fast and took over , that's what true professionals do. But the wait staff made me proud. (Vacationing Police Officer :)).
(5)
Lorna W.
I have eaten at Larios EVERY YEAR for the past 5 years. My daughter and I do an annual trip. Sadly....tonight is my last time. We arrived in SB and were seated within 1.5 hours after landing in Miami. A complete disappointment. Our app of chicken and shrimp skewers were mediocre at best. I had hoped it was a fluke. It wasn't. So excited to wrap my lips around their fabulous skirt steak. NOT!!! It was horrible. Tough. Tasteless. The server said that the chef has changed. So said....the food used to be fabUlous. I won't EVER return.
(1)
Yvonne M.
First dinner in SOBE, this place is owned by Gloria Estefan, the food was authentic and delicious... And the service was perfect as well. I ordered ropa viiejo aka shredded beef w/onions & peppers, side of rice and plantains..it was cooked to perfection! I ordered a mojito, and it came tasting like perfection...it reminded me of those commercials for peppermint patties, hi it takes you to a cool place... This drink was so refreshing and good I loved it... And the sugar cane stick in it was a nice addition! I will no doubt be back next time, only thing missing was live music.. i would love to have heard live music playing.
(5)
Nathaly L.
This restaurant temporarily moved to 13th and ocean inside a hotel(i think cardozo) There is a different restaurant outside the hotel, so heads up. I feel that cuban cuisine and almost every latin american cuisine is almost impossible to eat vegetarian. I came here with my party at the request of a 10 year old, who mentions Larios every time he is visiting miami. My party ordered the shrimp in a red sauce (maybe it was curry), the grilled mahi mahi , the fish bites and the 10 year old ordered his usual the chicken bites on the kids menu. All entrees include 2 side dishes some of them are white rice, fries, yuca, sweet plantains (maduros) or tostones (crunchy and salty plantains), moro (rice and beans already mixed and cooked together) and i think black beans. Maria ordered the grilled Mahi Mahi with white rice and not only did it look great she said it was delicious, i think she had the best dish in our group. Shrimp curry with white rice and black beans he said it was good (but hes not one to complain so i will never know) he did mistake the black beans for some sort of soup which i think many non-hispanic ppl tend to make and he thought they were yummy. i think cubans tend to season their beans very well. The fish bites were a miss- which i was surprised because i didnt think you could mess that up..but they looked like they could have been fried and cooked a bot longer, partner in crime said they weren't crispy and they just didn't taste right were his words. He had that with white rice and fries which were both good. im half cuban, so i told the waiter i wasn't eating meat, and if he could fry me two eggs on a bed of white rice, he smiled and said yes. I ate this as a child all the time, so although not on the menu, i think you can ask any cuban restaurant if they can make it for you and they almost always will. They always fry eggs to put on top of poor mans steak and white rice is a staple so they can. Any who---- thats all!!
(3)
Lauren N.
This place is right off the beaten path. I almost mistook it for the place in front called Cardozo something but no. ASK where Larios is AND ask to sit outside. It's beautiful. Their mojitos are wonderful. The luxury one is verry strong. Cevice and maduros and food is amazing. ALSO ask for a side of (mojo sauce i.e, garlic sauce) on side for dipping appetizer sampler or dipping anything. Enjoy -*** I just spoke to waiter and he said they are in a new location from last year (last year they were located right on the strip of ocean drive). This location is temporary so make sure ur at the right place (it is off a side street {13th street and ocean drive}). If ur not sure then ask where Larios is because I can't imagine this place getting less than 4 stars. It is GOOD FOOD.
(5)
Chelsea G.
Our second time here and the food and service were great. Although very busy our waiter did his very best to accommodate. Many options here and they will make any alterations to suit your needs. Terrific live music and a festive atmosphere but not a party one. Good mojitos, too!
(4)
Lien D.
Everything we ordered was very moist and flavorful! Portions are pretty big and shareable. We had the empanadas, chicken and rice, and slow roasted pork. First time having Cuban food and it was delish. A little pricey, but give you big portions to make up for it.
(4)
Steven P.
the food was good, not great, especially considering the prices. the location is excellent, right across from the beach. Here is the problem: while trying to enjoy my expensive lunch with friends, i was bothered 7 times by panhandlers and people interrupting us to sell us junk. From reggae cds, cigars,roses, boat tours, culinary tours and just plain street urchins asking for money. When i got upset and told the managers, their answer to the issue was for me to move to another table???? My lunch bill with tip was 140.00 for 3 people. I will never go back to this place,since they condone this
(2)
Fred K.
Bland and tasteless Cuban food. We ordered the pork sliders and a Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was so blah, I've had better Cuban sandwiches at Marlin's Stadium! The pork sliders were dry and lacked flavor. The French fries were limp! The service was indifferent, no one asked why we didn't eat much of our food, guess it must happen all the time. They add 18% to the bill for the below average service. We will never come back and we can't recommend it to anyone. There are so many other places with better Cuban food. Was highly disappointed after reading positive reviews we expected better.
(1)
Bahar S.
If there was a way for me to add stars I would. My husband and I are visiting from LA and my only request was to have good quality Cuban OX tail. Most places we went to only served it on special days. Having found no restaurant that served what we wanted on our last day I called Lario's and asked for the OX tail and was told they only serve it as a special on the weekend. Hearing the devastated disappointment in my voice the hostess, Elvia, told me to hold on. Then she came back and said she spoke to the chef and he has agreed to make it for us anyway even though it was Friday. The OX tail was the best I've ever had. Not greasy at all and prepared just perfectly. It's so comforting to go some place and have complete satisfaction at having gotten exactly what we wanted and such caring service. I wish we were here longer so we could explore the menu and try some of our other favorite Cuban dishes. Thanks so much!
(5)
Laura G.
I'm always fearful to order Ceiveche, afraid I'll get flavorless fish with lemon juice. This was one of the best Ceiveche's I've had - up there with Border Grill in Santa Monica. What stood out was the FLAVOR of Jalapenos, not super HOT but flavorful. I still wonder how they got the FLAVOR so strong but not all the heat. I think I'd have a hard time ordering anything else here. It was that good.
(4)
Marlene R.
The BEST tostones rellenos (stuffed plantains)!!! They've remodeled the restaurant and it's absolutely beautiful! The live band is amazing. Our waiter, Efrain, was outstanding! We were sent here after first visiting Bongos (also owned by the Estefans) at the American Airlines Arena only to find out they're closing!! Lario's is a must go-to place on the beach!
(5)
Kevin D.
Got a late night dinner here. Portions are generous! I ordered the milanesa and my girlfriend got the arroz con pollo. Both were amazing! Drinks were good, service was good. Nice spot for people watching. Would recommend.
(5)
Sally B.
Best steak salad I have ever had...outstanding food and service. Just visiting South Beach for a convention and so glad I chose this place for dinner with my friends and colleagues. To top off the evening, Emilio Estefan stopped by our table for a photo op with us. What a gentleman. Highly recommend you stop by if you are in the area. #rewardsofrisk #somuchfun
(5)
Farrah R.
I always CE to south beach and this vacation around u was really disappointed with the food.
(3)
Kara D.
Authentic and delicious food. Beautiful and sophisticated ambiance in an area that can be overrun with tacky. Our service was excellent and attentive. Marinated pork was the best dish I've had.
(5)
Maria E.
My husband, a friend and I ate at Larios last night. After walking down the strip the beauty and ambiance of this place called us over. Also the smell of the black beans. I could hear the live band playing inside. I felt like i was in Havana. We asked for sidewalk seating because it was a beautiful warm evening. I informed our waiter that I would be needing a rum drink immediately. He informed me they make the best Mojitos. I had the Grande Mojito which had a bunch of fresh mint in it. He didn't lie, it was delicious. We ordered the Tostones Rellenos which were stuffed with shrimp, ground beef and ropa vieja. Our friend ordered the Chicken Empanadas which were flaky and delicious. I had the Churrasco steak which was perfectly seasoned and cooked with a side of chimichurri sauce. It came with white rice and black beans. We also ordered a dose of the sweet plantains which were tender and caramelized and just scrumptious. I had no room for dessert. I was completely impressed by this restaurant. From the ambiance, the amazing food and the impeccable service.
(5)
Lauren C.
For dinner on Ocean Drive, you sort of know what you're in for upon arriving... mediocre overpriced food, and ok service. Larios was considerably better than the average in South Beach. We had called for a reservation, but were told that they wouldn't be able to take us until 9:30p. It was 6p, and we had been drinking, so we figured we'd head over there for a drink around 7:30p and see what happened from there. We rolled up and the place looked better than I had hoped. They asked if we wanted to be inside or outside. We answered first available, and they sat us down instantly. I ordered a mojito which was perfect and delicious. My friend was drinking marghartia's and seemed equally as pleased. We are both vegetarians so the menu wasn't quite meant for us, but we got the vegetarian plate and it got the job done. The ambiance is really what you pay for at this place. We saw some crazy people walking by- pythons, people wearing python, girls in underwear, men in underwear, The service was solid too. They left us alone enough to enjoy the meal, but were attentive with drinks which always scores extra points by me. I'm not sure I'd go back here as they didn't have a ton of food for me, but I'd go back here for some drinks and to hang out. If I ate more meat, I'd definitly put this on the list. Gloria knows how things should be done!
(3)
Laura V.
Had one of the best meals ever and the service was amazing. Our favorite place in South Beach!
(5)
Nerissa C.
Disappointing... Does Gloria Estefan still own this establishment? She should sample the food every now and then. The place was hyped up by a local and the sentiment echoed by the Loews concierge, but my husband and I were not impressed. The ambience was lacking... we were seated upstairs (which was dead) with the volume on the music turned all the way down when we first arrived. The booth we were in had a musty, moldy smell, but perhaps that's the humidity in the air?? The food: The fish in the ceviche starter tasted old... not at all fresh. After a few bites i started to get queasy. The $39 Cuban Seafood combo just looked and tasted like shellfish and fish boiled in a chili powder soup. The Cuban skirt steak could have used some seasoning.. salt for starters. The only thing I really liked were the plantain chips and the sweet fried plantains (..which I can make at home..). I heard there are other good Cuban places in South Beach. Don't waste your money on this one! ** 2 stars because they didn't screw up the plantains, the mojitos were good, and the waiter was a sassy diva **
(2)
MJ L.
I thought this restaurant was only ok but probably because I ordered the vegetarian platter which was not very good. I sampled a few of my friends dishes and those were definitely better. I like the layout of the restaurant. It is open, lively and festive. There was a live band playing. The waiters were friendly and attentive. They initially forgot my dish which was weird because usually the waiter would double check if they received only 5 entrees for 6 guests... but in any case they made up for it by having my dish out within 10 minutes. Last thing is that their drinks are super strong. Im sure some people love this but bc of this none of my friends ended up even making a dent in their drinks.
(2)
Michael G.
Meh, you can find cheaper and more authentic Cuban food in Miami... However, the few times I have been to South Beach we always stumble here. Maybe because they aren't as obnoxious as the other places looking for you your business?? Not sure..... Regardless, it's not terrible.
(3)
L V.
TOURIST TRAP. On Ocean Dr. All the hotels along this strip recommend this place, they probably recommend any place along the Ocean Dr.... they are all the same, all tourist traps!! Paella in Miami is RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. I know it's the "seafood" aspect that makes it pricey, but c'mon I expect king crab legs, jumbo prawns, mixed seafood, calamari, salmon, catfish, etc etc, and some rice, if it's gonna be like $30 a person!!! I mean c'mon, I make a pretty good paella so I guess I expect a lot? Nice venue though, but then again, like I said- almost all the restaurants along Ocean have a beautiful set up.
(2)
Jenn N.
Delicious! We had a great time at Lario's. The food was awesome, way better Cuban dishes than another place we had tried in the area, and good atmosphere. The pulled chicken with rice and beans plus sweet plantains were my favorite, but even the bread was great. Will definitely be back next time we're in town!
(5)
Suzanne S.
Thank you, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, for the care and attention you gave to re-imagine Lario's. Excellent service (all too rare on the Beach) , excellent decor--dazzling but also elegant--and excellent food. The lechon, maduros, tostones, moro, and seafood were all prepared with care and served handsomely. We loved the music, which drew us inside for dinner rather than on the terrace. It was the perfect place to celebrate our son's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We will take other out-of-town visitors there.
(4)
Ralph T.
First, I need to say that I should be rating Larios on the Beach a 4 based on the location and lack being on the beach. But as I understand it, this is only temporary as they're remodeling it's permanent location, so let's give Larios the benefit of a doubt that they're trying to make this restaurant an even nicer place to dine. And it was nice. As it was a rainy day on South Beach, a lot of people probably stayed away. Good for us as we had first class service. I felt that we had two servers; our waitress and a host who was very involved with helping customers make choices as well as helping serve the food. I liked that. He was always close enough to make sure our water glasses and coffee were full but never hovering over our table. The menu...ahhhh.. the menu. We wanted Cuban food. Very slim picken's here in the SF bay area. Hey..Miami! Cuban food should be easy to find, right? Not on South Beach. And when asked, the other restaurants were only interested in getting us to sit down for Italian, Mexican or Burgers. I easily found what I was looking for, something that tasted as good as it looked. I had the Cuban Roasted Pork, my wife had a Grilled Chicken plate. I had beautiful plantains, not slices but large chunks cooked to a desert quality. Everything on our plates was delicious. The meat, rice, vegies, all of it. I don't think there's anything on the Larios menu I wouldn't eat. I would love to go back to Miami someday. And when I do I hope this restaurant is still in business. Based on the overall quality of our meal, If they do for their remodeling job what they did for our visit, I'm sure all 5 stars will be still in place.
(5)
Frank E.
What Happened? In October 2013, we brought our friends visiting from France. Great service, decent food, good ambiance. Last Sunday, (again with friends from France) night and day. One waiter serving the entire floor and outside (the same great waiter we had in October), managers not paying attention thothe floor and mediocre Cuban sandwiches. We know it's South Beach but the owner should be watching her empire. We will not go back again.
(2)
Joannitte R.
I feel badly giving them three stars as I have gone to Lario's for manyyyy years however the last few times I have gone the service has been lacking. The food is still good yet the service is off. I visited lario's this past week because I was in Miami for the week and I loved how beautiful the place was renovated yet when I went to the bathroom there are only two stalls in the women's bathroom! They spent millions on the renovation yet they couldn't add more bathrooms and for the love of God why aren't there hooks in the stalls!!!???? Ugh.
(3)
Sandra G.
Absolutely beautiful venue. The rice and beans were delicious and one of the most raved about choice in our group. The staff was attentive and helpful making us feel comfortable and catered to. It doesn't offer much privacy for diners but since we were seated by an entertaining group it just added to the fun we had. If you want a quiet, secluded dining experience this might not be the place for you, but a great place to get the night started with a group of friends.
(4)
Patty T.
Stars are for the live music and the very attentive waitstaff. The bar and the hostess stand are a hot mess and by that I mean I think they were hired for looks but were a mess in every other way. Bar staff was inattentive and clueless as was the hostess. Food -- stuffed green plantains with shrimp criollo -- was less quality than our very cheap dinner at Versailles -- except for the ceviche which was much more sophisticated but still not as good as Cafe Nuvo on Via Espana. Did I mention that the music is great?
(4)
Nada A.
If there are a (0) star here i would chose it for this restaurant. the food taste disgusting, the soft drinks taste weird. and the menu is over priced. we had 4 entrees and 5 soft drinks and we end up paying 183.55$ which is insane, i would never step a foot there... NOT RECOMMENDED
(1)
Keith S.
I think this is the best choice for South Beach. On the way here, we were offered 20% coupons and free shots. But most places up and down the strip here were 2s or worse. The four star place was $40 for almost any entree. And it's CUBAN !! Had the Masitas Puerco (pork chunks) for an appetizer. They were hot and not very large, which made them easy to cut and enjoy. To balance that, had the Pollo Asado (baked chicken) which was baked in a nice sauce, with rice and plantains. Excellent, plenty of food, and very very nice scenery. Prices very reasonable. If you sit outside you might not get a chance to see the beautiful interior of this building; it is dark walnut throughout and very well maintained. The tile work is excellent and the building design is wonderful. I don't know much about the area but this is a classic building.
(5)
Nicole K.
Yum. Try the sampler, it was very good and very filling. Prices are a bit higher, but food is of good quality. Way better than Versailles, sorry we wasted our time and money there. Ordered other entrees but sampler really stood out. Service was pretty decent too. Automatic 18% tip.
(4)
Sergio F.
I ate here twelve years ago! When I happened to be in the area near Lario's and hungry for Cuban food after spread of more exotic cuisines, I decided to stop by again. However, based on the most recent service and food, I think it'll be another while before I go to this Lario's again. I am rating them three stars because the Moros and Sweet Plantains were tasty. However, it's still a lower rating than what I would have expected. One minus is that our service was slow from when seated until the food actually arrived. While it was a relatively full house even for a weekday, no wait staff even stopped by to offer bread. That's never happened at their Sunset Place / South Miami location. I also had to remind them a couple of times about my drinks. The Pollo Milanesa (Cuban style chicken pawn) could have had a little more marinara sauce and lighter on the cheese. The cover band playing reggaeton and salsa was good if a little loud (yes, even for someone of Cuban descent it was loud) but that may just be my couple of gray hairs talking.
(3)
Lisette V.
This was my first visit to Larios. One of my besties was in town on her first visit to Miami. I had seen a review on Deco Drive of Larios renovation & new menu with heathier options. We sat outside to people watch. I ordered the Cuban Sandwich. Yum! Absolutely authentic. My friend ordered the grill chicken sandwich. She said it was delicious. I will definitely be returning to Larios. Excellent service & great food.
(5)
Nijole T.
Gloria Estefans famed restaurant on Ocean Dr at the beach. Would one not know it is nested between an endless row of restaurants across the beach, I could have never told any of them apart. Glad I did and heard how fabulous it was. The decor inside is beautiful, the bar was packed, the music loud and people dancing everywhere. It was hard to get through to the bathroom and the rest of the restaurant, but it was such a relaxed vibe and so many beautiful people having a wonderful evening one could not be mad at them. We sat outside to enjoy the gorgeous Miami evening and got exceptional service. The food was fantastic and fairly priced at just under $20 each for generous portions. My husband had the Bistec A La Milanesa, cuban style milanese steak breaded and topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella cheese with a side of fried plantains and rice which he enjoyed tremendously. I had the Pollo A La Milanese, same as him just with chicken, also amazing. Perfect for a date night or a fun night out with the girls.
(4)
Jade N.
If you ever find yourself walking along the Ocean Drive Strip in South Beach you will notice there are a ton of restaurants to choose from. All of these restaurants offer a wide variety of food choices and tastes! Larios is by far my favorite. Not just because its owned by the Queen of Latina Music, Ms. Gloria Estefan herself, the Cuban food is excellent for being in such a touristy spot! I always order my "go to" dish which is the Ropa Vieja. Which is a fantastic mixture of flank steak beef , peppers, onions served in a saucy sweet red sauce with white rice, black beans and plantains! I highly recommend it, The pitcher of mohitos is also a great value if more than one of you is drinking. If staying in the super touristy area on South Beach, I highly reccomend this place. Authentic Cuban food, not too pricey and definitly the best Cuban place within walking distance!
(4)
Chanda W.
Very disappointed. I had the grouper, rice, and black beans. Nothing had any flavor, the fish had no seasoning on it at all. I think this is very touristy and over-rated.
(3)
Bom T.
Mojitos are good price vs it's strength. Fried sweet platains in the entree is awesome. I had the pork chop with grilled onion which was good, but little greasy. I like grease.
(4)
Isaiah V.
Came here last night around 10:15 pm. No wait, got in right away. Service was good and food was just ok. Moro rice and plantains got cold right away. Food was served quickly so not sure it this was the reason
(3)
Adolfo C.
I had the Cuban sandwhich here. It is the 1st time I have ever had a Cuban sandwhich and I must say this thing was GOOD! My gf had the red snapper and she and I both say it's to die for! 5 stars for this location owned by Gloria Estafan! I am only going this the place a 4.5 because we were never asked if we were doing ok by by out waiter.
(4)
Lillian Z.
The food was pretty tasty. Portions were a bit small. Dinner for 2 with drinks and dessert was over $80 and not really worth it. I would not return. Also, I was expecting a dance floor but there was not one. There was live music but no room to dance.
(2)
Star R.
Love, love the personal attention, if you've read any of my reviews SERVICE is key! My glass was always full and our waiter made sure we were all smiles! Ok, now the food! Salads were great, Moro rice and sweet plantains delish...grouper filet ok, and fish bites were awesome! Great service, great drinks, ok food....need to try more menu items!
(5)
Virdina M.
I think this place might be expensive for its location. Their Cuban food is good but honestly, I have had better Cuban. That doesn't mean it's bad but I've had better. Our plantains came out with a hair on them; they quickly replaced them and everything that was on the plate with them. Their drinks are great! Had a mango drink and my husband something else that he really enjoyed. The decor is great. Facilities are well maintained. I don't know how their staff wears full suits in Miami....
(3)
Judy L.
Missed their 5 stars due to 2 reasons: 1. We had reservations and still had to wait 50 mins. 2. The service is OK, slow and refills were hard to come by. Lots of pros: excellent location for people watching, turns into a night club by the beach, on Ocean Dr., and the food was excellent. Ordered: Bongos Combo (Fried Stuffed Potatoes- Papas Rellenas; Pork Tamale - Tamal de Carne de Cerdo; Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Bites - Masitas de Puerco; Traditional Cuban Ham Croquettes - Croquetas de Jamón; Stuffed Plantain Cups - Tostones Rellenos de Picadillo o Camarones; Green Plantains Cups stuffed with Shrimp Cuban Criolla): Everything on this combo was excellent, the pork tamale was the only thing that was below par. Cuban Roasted Pork - Lechon Asado (Traditional Cuban Style Roasted Pork) - The pork was so so so so GOOD, tender and flavorful with the black beans & rice and tostones, Cuban Style Pot Roast - Boliche (Tender Cuban Pot Roast slowly cooked in a Red Wine Sauce stuffed with Spanish Sausage) - This dish was off the chains too. Bongos Famous Fried Shredded Beef - Vaca Frita (Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Shredded Flank Steak topped with Grilled Onions) - Had a bite of this and it was so good too.
(4)
Azin D.
I have had a lot of Cuban food before and consider myself a good judge of Caribbean and Cuban food. My girlfriend and I ordered the fried stuffed potatoes for appetizer. The spices were very good, but the beef stuffing was cold- weird. We both ordered the Cuban skirt steak and it was very good. She got her's medium and mine was medium-rare, and they actually came out as we had ordered... shocking! Potions were large and the plates came with rice and fried plantains. All done well. Minus one star for the crowd. There was a table of about 10 guys dining next to us and they were adamant to holler at every big booty walking by. Entertaining for the first 10 minutes and annoying for the last 20.
(4)
Oliver B.
Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. My first visit since the restaurant reopened. Well worth the wait. Took the restaurant, and the service to a whole new level. . . . raising the bar of standard for all the restuarants on Ocean Drive--- they should take a cue! Service was great. very attentive and well versed on telling us what to order. Some of my friends were having a first time cuban dinner . . and LOVED it. The vaca frita was the best I ever had. And I've had many!!!!! Love the band too. Great time Keep up the good work. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Aldo V.
OMG - so so so so so good - Right on the beach - romantic and scenic I had the Picadillo and he had the Ropa Vija... mouthwatering!!!!! Thank you Gloria! the Rhythm got me, and reeled me in, and ordered me 3 more Mojitos - (which were divine as well)
(5)
Hilda H.
Larios always has good food, I would say traditional Cuban food with the fancy of south beach. Their Roquelaure preparada is awesome, I live the thingy cut French fries. Latinos always has great music , so you can shave down calories from their widely known and delicious flan. They definitely give a lot of food and for a reasonable price.
(4)
Jonathan G.
As of May 12, they are in a temporary location at the Cardozo Hotel on the corner of 13th and Ocean. The temporary location is nice but there were no signs for the restaurant outside the hotel. The hotel has its own restaurant outside with its own sign, menu, and hostess standing outside, which makes it confusing. This made finding the place a little frustrating. Service was friendly but we were the only other party in the restaurant. They were having a little trouble with there computers but said they were getting accustomed to a new system. As for the food, my wife and I were underwhelmed. We tried the chicken soup, chicken bites, yuca frita, and moros. The soup was okay but the rest of the stuff was a little dry and/or bland for my taste. I asked for some extra mojo sauce and that made everything taste better. I have enjoyed their food during previous visits and was a little disappointed this time.
(3)
Cindy W.
We had reservations for May 4, 2013 for 11 people. We called May 2nd to add 2 more. We were told they are closed and under construction! We received no call or email notification. What a disaster if we had shown up.
(1)
Greg N.
Being from an area myself where there are plenty of Cuban restaurants I've had my share and I must say that Larios is really an excellent place. Especially when compared with all the other restaurants in the area; those really are tourist traps whereas Larios on its own would be a great restaurant regardless of its location. A little pricy but again think ambiance and quality of food, it really is a great value. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Celeste B.
Chose this restaurant while making a mad dash out of the rain! There was no line and seats were available. LOL. Overall I was not impressed with this restaurant which I later heard is supposed to be a big deal in Miami Beach! Visited this restaurant in March 2012 and must say the mojitos are top notch. For my meal I had a seafood combination (the exact name I cant recall) which was OK. My side of plaintains was actually the best part of the meal unfortunately. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the dance floor seemed to be the most active part of the restaurant although i thought it was out of place. A better location might have been in the back of the restaurant as we had to dodge the people on the floor when we exited!
(3)
Ali G.
Delicious cuban food! Their mojitos are scrumptious and their staff is very friendly.
(4)
Clem R.
I ate there twice and this is a decent place. I had Cuban pork and Cuban shrimps. I like their mojo rice. Service ok and atmosphere pretty cool. Quite touristy.
(4)
Anthony M.
South Beach on the Ocean seems like a bad place to eat. It's crowded and every restaurant is bugging you to come and eat dinner with them. It can get very annoying. I had a client who took me to Larios and it was love at first bite. And I mean that literally...I ordered the ropa vieja and it was amazing. It was one of the best I have ever had in my life. In fact, I have been back here several times. This is my go to restaurant on South Beach now. The mojitos are also really good too and I'm not a big mojito fan. I highly recommend you make your way here for some amazing food and drink. You will tempted to stop at other places but keep walking until you get here.
(4)
Paul K.
Decent athmosphere and food- due to the location, it is a little pricier and more crowded than what you might get inland, but of course, you pay for the South beach ambiance.....Had the appetizer sampler before dinner, which had a good variety, and then the Cuban style pork with rice and beans, which was tasty. Service was good.
(4)
Gina F.
Oh so disappointing. The place was fairly busy for such a late time, our reservation was for 10pm. Even for Miami, the service was painfully slow, but friendly. My friend ordered the pork entree, which was tasty, but frankly, I have had way way better in NY. I ordered the Picadillo, which was bland and the rice and beans that came with both dishes were incredibly bland. The dessert was yummy, but really, how can you screw up dessert? I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Zaina O.
very disappointing experience. on vacation from NY and was hoping to have a fantastic Cuban meal while in Miami. the food tasted reheated and not fresh. we started with empanadas which were semi warm. for entrees we ordered the Cuban sandwich which wasn't pressed long enough and half cold. barely any meat on the sandwich with one thin slice of ham and pork- total embarrassment to a Cuban sandwich. also had the vaca frita de pollo which was dry on the skillet. considering Gloria Estefan is a famously Cuban musician, we all expected a lot more from her restaurant.
(1)
Laura D.
Larios was good, but it didn't really live up to the hype. I ordered the Pollo A La Milanesa. It was good and I absolutely love cheese, but I would almost say they completely overwhelmed the chicken with the mozzarella. Granted, i've never had the dish elsewhere so I don't really have anything to compare it to. The sangria was excellent and the outdoor seating was also excellent, but no different than anywhere else along Ocean Drive.
(3)
Music M.
Great for people watching and the live music but the food was not great.
(2)
Marc A.
The day before we boarded the plane to Havana I was having a craving for Cuban food. Sure, we would be eating lots of it all week but what the heck... If you can grab a table outside, go for it but don't sit at the ones along the sidewalk unless you like getting bumped by people when you eat. Get the bread and a mojito to start with. Order the Cuban style steak and another mojito. See what deserts look good to you and enjoy! Adios.
(5)
Connie A.
Yum! The strawberry mojito was so goooooood. The live music was a plus as well. The band gave the maracas to our bride-to-be in our bachelorette party and she had an awesome time. While all this seemed to be going well, my friend and I got sick from the Cuban roasted pork. To describe it, it was tender, juicy and definitely been roasting for a while. It was delicious at the moment, the aftermath was not. Sigh.
(3)
Jeannie N.
Excellent food and ambiance. Emilio Estefan personally greeted us which made for quite the memorable evening. Highly recommend!
(5)
Monica S.
It's probably true that a local might skip the trip to this Ocean Drive tourist destination. Their South Miami location, okay, but this one, not so much. Alas, I had a friend in town who wanted to enjoy some Cuban action while sitting close enough to catch an ocean breeze and capitalize on the prime people watching. So on a Saturday, past midnight, I took him to Larios. My pan con bistec was surprisingly good. The plantains came out lukewarm however and the yuca undercooked. Indoors, a nightclub seemed to be going on in full force while ladies with their cha chas and moneymakers shook it for the entertained outdoor diners. Service was speedy and friendly, but at this time of night with their bumping party going on inside, I felt like I was crashing someones quinceañera.
(3)
Mitch K.
I took my wife on her first trip to South Beach and we hit a home run with Larios on a Saturday night. We loved the food and service and sitting outside on along the street made for great entertainment. The mojitos were very good as well as the food. Even with the other restaurants begging us to eat at their establishments, you can't go wrong here.
(4)
Patrick P.
Food was ok but found out that the 15 dollar steak was actually a 55 dollar steak when the waiter mistook my order. They did try to compensate me with 20% off but not happy our bill was over $150 when all was said and done.
(2)
DQ M.
Have the whole Red Snapper but remember: 18% gratuity is already added. It was my first meal/first dinner on South Beach - and it was one of Ocean Drive's tourist traps, but it was decent and filling.
(4)
Leslie C.
I dined at the beautiful restaurant on Friday August 29, 2014. The ambiance and the staff are wonderful and inviting. You feel like you're in a different place eating the food and enjoying the live music. We didn't want to leave. The mango mojito makes me want to recreate them (hopefully in my own kitchen) and I'm happy to say that I tasted ceviche for the first time here and it was delicious!!!! As well as the paella. I'm in love with this place. And hopefully I will return soon. Keep up the great work!!!
(4)
Andres D.
This place will always be a favorite for anyone coming to South Beach and looking for Cuban food! The chicken vaca frita (a twist on traditional beef) is amazing along with some moro rice and tostones! The service is great and ambiance is FUN! keep an eye on for a great waiter in the making, Bryan who has all the qualities of an outstanding employee!
(5)
Leslie J.
Decor: I think the Estefans did a beautiful job decorating this restaurant. There is vibrant paint and colorful paintings of Gloria adorned on the walls. Ambiance: Located right off 8th & Ocean right next to News Cafe, Larios is sure to lure in many hungry customers. Service: Friendly and fast. Food: Larios will offer huge family-sized portions so sharing with a big group is highly emphasized. Even two dishes seemed overly plentiful for two people. We ordered papas rellenas and fried yucca as appetizers to munch on. For entrees, we ordered the Lechon Asado and the Fried Pork Bites. I really enjoyed the outside crust of the papas rellenas. It was rolled in some type of spice (possibly paprika). Whatever it was, it was delicious. The fried yucca was cooked to perfection - crispy on the outside, moist on the inside (one of my faves). The fresh garlic sauce that accompanies the yucca will give you massive garlic breath afterwards so I would ease off of it unless you want to protect yourself from vampires. The lechon asado was slow cooked in this ridiculously flavorful sauce (it was likely all the pork juices that oozed out from cooking it). The lechon was so soft and moist that I could easily shred each piece with my fork. The fried pork bites was a nice alternative to fried chicken chunks because unlike white meat chicken, the pork meat wasn't dry. Each of our entrees came with a mound of white rice and maduros (sweet fried plantains). I found the maduros here to be sweeter and softer than other Cuban spots I've tried in Miami which I appreciated. Overall, I thought Larios was a pretty decent dining experience. Even by the beach, I have yet to experience bad food or service. Only thing I hoped for was that they played Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, ha!
(4)
Michael B.
Ordered the Rad Snapper and was not disappointed.
(4)
Holly R.
Meh is the best way to describe the food. We went to Larios for Valentine's Day and the atmosphere is very quaint in the side courtyard of the Ocean Drive Cordoza hotel. But the food was so very uninspired. Especially the stale, fried apps that tasted like they had been sitting around. Flank steak was disappointing. The flan was probably the highlight of the meal. So many good restaurants in Miami that it stinks to waste a meal.
(2)
Orlando B.
Went to their temporary pop-up place in the Cardozo Hotel. Maybe just the day we went, but it really wasn't that crowded. Not sure if this place just has hype or what. Food was fine. Nothing that was so noteworthy, I remember, but still better than the 100% tourist traps right on the road. You are looking at $70-75 for 2 people drinks/appetizers/meal etc., which is about average for Miami Beach. Would I go back? Probably.
(3)
Don T.
I would have given this place 3-4 stars if it were not for the waiter or management. We had 12 people there Friday night for dinner and to celebrate a birthday party for our friend who turned 40 something. The waiter spent the first 15-20 minitues questioning whether we could pay the bill before the food ot drinks came. Outragous. What he did know was 12 of the 12 people at the table were company owners, professionals and executives at large companies. We asked the waiter would you have asked this question if we were not different or people of color? and he said course no. He explained that the new owners or management changed its policy about large groups eating and how they should pay. OK. I accept that.. To management there are many places to eat around your place so make sure you spend more time pleasing your customers than investigating them..
(2)
LC B.
So on a trip to South Beach, my bestie recommended eating here since it is owned by Gloria Estefan and that Rachael Ray had mentioned it years ago. So we decided to try their Cuban menu.. We sipped on mojitos while we sat outside..I got mine in a souvenir glass that I got to keep--yay! We both had their roasted pork, rice, and plaintains. I thought the roasted pork was meh..it was dry and disappointing. I did like the plaintains and could care less about the rice. My friend agreed and said she had better Cuban roasted pork. Although, the pork didn't tickle our pickle, I loved it's location across the beach in SoBe where you can sit , sip on mojitos, and people watch.
(3)
Emma V.
Excellant Cuban food.
(4)
Kim M.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars... Thought this place was pretty good! We had a group of 10, and we were suprisingly sat very quickly for a Saturday night! I had 2 cocktails from their bar menu, and they were a bit sweet but decent enough. My friends who had the mojitos said something similar, that they were good but a bit sweet. Three of us split the big combo appetizer and yucca. The yucca was FANTASTIC! Best I have ever had. I've never had yucca that creamy before, and it was so good. I devoured it before anyone else could really get to it (and no regrets!). We then split the grilled seafood platter, which was ok. It was COVERED in butter though, which is not my thing. I ate a few of the calamaris and a scallop, but kind of left it at that. I wasn't super into the crab and lobster, and I was told that they were ok. The fish that came on the platter was also WAY over salted and I literally couldn't eat it. What I ended up eating, and that was really good, was the moro rice. It's a combo of black beans and rice and I thought it was great! It was simple and tasty at the same itme, without being oversalted. In total, I wish that I had just gotten an order of yucca and an order of moro rice. Not the most balanced meal, but has to be healthier than my bowl of butter with seafood.
(3)
Samantha G.
I never had Cuban food, other than Cuban sandwiches, in my life so I was looking forward to checking out Lario's. I split the shredded beef with onions with one of my friends, which also came with a side of moro rice and fried plantains. I enjoyed the crispiness of the meat but it also was juicy as well. The plantains and rice complimented the dish very well. For drinks, our table ordered 3 sangrias to start off night. Although the sangrias were delicious, I felt that they were somewhat weak. The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the service here. It felt like the waiters were rushing us during our entire experience. That was frustrating since the majority of us never had Cuban food. They also forgot our bread too, which turned out to be nothing special anyways.
(4)
Lester M.
As a local, I really could care less about this place. It is what it is. A tourist place that serves over hyped, over priced cuban food. But I had friends from England, we were at the beach and they wanted cuban food. So here we are. The service was terrible. Our server took our order by memory and realized his memory was not very good. To the point that he had to run to the kitchen to intersect the order to correct it. I asked for a sampler to find that, since the last time I was here, years ago, they have considerable reduce the size of it. They say it serves two. I say it serves me and that's it. I was baffled by the new drink menu. The $50 glass bowl full of ice and some mojito is just ridiculous. But hey, people buy it. Unless requested by some friend or family from out of town. I'm not coming here anymore.
(1)
Heather K.
For her birthday dinner, one of my friends was adamant that she wanted Cuban food....so we came here. I went with my trusty Latin "safe" food and got the ceviche. It was pretty good but not incredible. I also had the tomato salad which was literally just half a tomato cut into slices with a plastic cup of Italian-tasting dressing on the side. Uhmm for like $8 or something. Eek. It was good though, and the tomato was fresh. Our service was prompt and courteous. They have a wide variety of mojitos on the bar menu and they're all really good (and probably the most authentic ones we had during our whole vacation). A couple negatives though: the prices are rather high, even considering its tourist-trappy location. And the bathroom is kind of gross.
(3)
Sylvia K.
Beautiful restaurant... Known for their mojitos... We had the BEST Yummy Cuban food here while visiting South Beach... lots of seating inside and outside... we opted to be inside with the A/C since the humidity was a killer this August. We had a party of 7 and everyone at the table loved their meal. I had the Skirt steak with chimchiri sauce, mojo rice and fried sweet plantains.. That right there hit the spot!! Satisfying my cuban craving!! Woulda have given it a 5 star rating but one negative was the service...ther server was not attentive and did not check on us as often as he should have. Wasn't the friendliest either, maybe he was having a bad day... regardless, food was BOMB.com !
(4)
Jeff P.
Disappointing. The ambiance, service, food and drinks were simply disappointing. UGH, a poor choice of mine--I regret that I broke my golden rule by not leaving once I realized it was a total mistake. Lot's of choices, make a better one. Overcooked food. Under-presented. Unbalanced Mohito. Misguided service. Good music choice - but way too loud. Leftover decorations. Gloria, are you thinking?
(1)
Tatiana B.
Six of us were walking in South Beach on a Sunday evening, nobody was starving but we decided to go in here and have a few appetizers as I've been wanting to try the place for a while. We sat outside although it was not a great table as it was in the far corner with tree branches right on our heads. We ordered some mojitos and they were awful. No soda, almost no sugar, just plain bland. This would have been a 4-star review but I'm taking off 1 star because of the mojitos, especially when they are 12 dollar mojitos. Since we were "not hungry", we ordered some appetizers to share. We decided on the stuffed potatoes, stuffed plantain with ropa vieja, ham croquettes, cod fritters, mojo marinated pork bites and fried yucca. OMG. Everything was SO delicious!! I was very surprised to say the least as I kind of expected it to be "tourist trap food". The cod fritters were amazing; very different, there was some sweetness to them and they came with this amazing passion fruit dipping sauce that I could eat a bucket by itself. The stuffed plantains and stuffed potatoes were good as well. The mojo pork bites and yucca fries were our favorites! The pork had soooo much flavor. Seasoned very well, garlicky with a hint of lime. They went perfectly with the yucca fries and garlic dipping sauce. Since we were "not that hungry", we decided to go with a second round of appetizers but only the favorites from the first round. So, round 2 of cod fritters, pork bites and yucca fries. Ding, ding, ding! Win again. We ordered one flan to share for dessert. Very creamy and light just as it should be. Delicious! Food prices are very, very fair. I thought this was going to be outrageously expensive but it wasn't at all.
(3)
LuLu M.
I know Ocean Drive restaurants are not not known for the quality of their food (just that they have primo locations across from the beach) but I LOVE Larios! I come here every time I come to Miami. Everything is right about this place: - Hip and beautiful decor (the bar area is amazing!) - The menu is a mile long with delicious seafood choices, cuban cuisine and delicious drinks - The waitstaff is friendly and helpful! We ordered the Grilled Seafood Plate, Fried Stuffed Potatoes and Ceviche, ALL TO DIE FOR!!! In fact, we came back again the next day for lunch to have it all again. Thanks Gloria Estefan for having such a great establishment!
(4)
Darrell K.
I was visiting Miami and was looking for some good Cuban food and this place was recommended. The food and drinks were excellent. The Owner even came out to check on us. Great place and Ambiance!
(5)
K. D.
In September a group of girl friends and I went to Miami for a bachelorette party. I being the planner, looked into many restaurants to find a fun and tasty place to take the group. I found a ton of positive reviews for this place and decided to make a reservation. I could not be more pleased with our experience. Never have we felt so taken care of. At first we were a little disappointed to be sat in a private room with another large group, but the restaurant was very apologetic . We started our meal out with sangria and a couple appetizers. The chef took the time to come by our table and ask how everything was- which we loved. Afterwards he sent over some special appetizers for us- what a treat! Following our delicious meal he sent over dessert for us and congratulated the bride to be. The small gestures sure went a long way. We felt very special and the time the chef took to ensure our meal with exceptional was great. The service was fantastic and overall we had a wonderful meal. We are still, months later, talking about what a great experience we had at Larios on The Beach!
(5)
Karen r.
Pretty good, a nice option if you want to sit in the middle of the action. I have a feeling that all of the places along Ocean Drive have decent food. You're really paying for the view. The seafood is great; I think Miami generally has fresh, wonderful seafood. I had the roasted chicken, which was nice. Skirt steak was good. Fried plaintains were OK. I would say the prices are about right for the food and location. Service is better than I would have expected (just a little slow) given how crowded this place gets on the weekend. If you want to sit on Ocean Drive and people-watch, grab a meal, this is a good place to do it.
(3)
Victoria A.
LOve love love. My mom and I had the sampler platter and everything on there was delicious, except for the tamale. It was weird and all mixed. However the ambiance was nice, the service was friendly attentive and water was always filled. Our server had wonderful recommendations and made us feel very welcome. WE had fried plantain for dessert and loved it. Definitely plan on going back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Rose N.
Great first meal for our 1st night in Miami. The guava mojitos are a must! Listen to your server and their recommendations, they know best. Our group of 12 listened intently on our server's choices for what she thought was Lario's best and we stuck with it. Many ppl in my group ordered the skirt steak and since we are egg-obsessed, we asked for a fried egg on top. The medium-rare steak, running yolk and the chimichurri were magic together. The roasted chicken was also a good choice and their ceviche served with plantain chips, delish!
(4)
Sam R.
Went here for dinner with a Cubana and lucky I did because no habla espanol! Our waiter hardly spoke english and they had a good conversation while I enjoyed my drink and the atmosphere. Ordered the roasted pork which was just alright and almost dry so I didn't care for it too much. I must say, they had the best black beans and rice I ever had in my life! That is why they are getting 4 stars instead of 3. Overall, nice place, decent food, it gets crowded, prices aren't bad (except for the drinks, but that's expected.) I don't think I would go back, unless to get the beans and rice to go..
(4)
Janessa A.
First off i suggest you valet for 20.00 or youll have to walk a good mile if you are lucky enough to find parking to park in a garage. Nice atmosphere and decor inside, except they seated me and my honey in a little hole in the wall I guess since it was the two of us, but it was still nice and intimate . They serve a variety of drinks my b.f ordered Dos EQUIS beer but I happened to order a frozen straberry daiquiri.($11). which has been by far the best one I've had in a really long time! Appetizers we got the papa rellenos which brought 3 of them kinda weird usually appetizers bring an even number, I recommend that or fried pork chunks. Dinner I decided to get pollo asado($13)- grilled chicken breast with onions, morros and maduros, that with some lime it was really good. My boyfriend ordered vaca frita($15) which is one of their famous dishes although your jaw will get tired from chewing so much. Our waitress and assistant waiter were on top of their game and very helpful, just make sure to check your bill as they add a 17% gratuity already included. Our bill included with tip was about $70 something Overall very nice dinner on the beach.
(4)
Pete R.
Cuban Food Heaven! What else would expect in Miami? As we walked down Ocean Drive pushing past every restaurant with a cute girl in front shoving a menu in our hands and offering us one free drink and $9.99 lunch specials, we were not swayed. I was going to Larios, the night before I had arrived and the kitchen was closed. This was the day. Larios was not in your face with people begging you to come in. In fact it was operating knowing people were just going to go there. We sat outside and were able to watch South Beach go by as we ate, which is always a treat. I wanted Cuban pork and I got it. It was good, not the best I have ever had but a true stand up Cuban Fried Pork Cubes. The Yuca Frittes were the best I have ever had. My Girls shredded chicken was incredible I have never had shredded chicken like that before. Next time I am in MIA I will return, most likely for the shredded pork!
(4)
Christina C.
Went here on Friday night with some friends that were staying on the beach. The place is a typical Cuban restaurant in Miami with the exception that it's right on Ocean Drive. Typically, this is an inconvenience to me given that I have to look for parking (which is a hassle) and given the extensive number of people in the area (it's hard to even walk around). However, it wasn't that bad on Friday night... my friends and I were seated within about 10 to 20 minutes and the service was pretty good. I at the vaca frita (my favorite shredded beef) with white rice and tostones (plantains of some sort or other). We drank wine with our meal and another friend tried some of the martinis. The food was pretty good, but not great. I liked the meal, but in terms of where I would go for Cuban food, this is just not on the top of my list.
(3)
judy n.
It's only taken me 4 years to find a good cuban place down here... My roommate took us here for a yummy late lunch. She highly recommended the Churrascos a lo cubano, (and nothing else) so away we ordered... 3 orders of the Cuban skirt steak, medium rare... and it was OH-So-Tender! Who knew that a skirt steak could be so moist and tasty? The chimichurri sauce was great too! A great match! The Rice and beans it came with were great too, tasty and with just the right amount of spice. and we split a 1/2 carafe of red wine sangria for 10.50. it was a nice match to the meal. (too bad there are no drink specials on mondays, you can walk up the street to the next restaurant and easily get 2 for 1 drinks).
(4)
John W.
The plantain cups. Bueno. The shredded chicken is amazing. Make sure to ask for some Cuban bread. Went with some friends who are local and they eat there all the time. I thought the food was fantastic. The service was pretty good. Our server was very informative. It was a Wed night so the dance floor was pretty mellow. I could see how this place would be good people watching. Great Atmosphere. Only looses one star for the drink prices... but other than that...We'l be back for sure....
(4)
Dannielle C.
Come to miami and indulge in Cuban food! I've honestly never had a bad meal here. Atmosphere is a bit cluttered, a bit touristy for a local, and it's usually busy, but the food is still great!!!
(4)
Zeki G.
Great Cuban food. I recommend it. The pork and the Cuban Style Skirt Steak were great.
(4)
Rick B.
Really good authentic Cuban food. The fried red snapper was superb. The mojito is a must have.
(4)
LESLIE C.
I really had high hopes for this place. It was our last day in Miami and my boyfriend and I wanted some really good cuban food. I have been to Gloria Estefan's other restaurant, Bongo's. And I loved it. This one...not so much. We went at exactly 12...a normal lunch time. Well, the one thing on the menu I really, really wanted was the cuban chicken with yellow rice and sweet plantains. The waiter tells me the chicken isnt ready yet and wont be for over an hour! And the rice isnt ready either! Then he just walks off....doesnt give any other options or offer an apology...nothing. I manage to have someone go track our waiter down and ask him to come back so I could ask him what WAS available. He tells me that is the only thing on the whole menu not ready... Blahh.. So I get the roasted chicken, and asked for yellow rice...but oh, wait, i forgot...its not ready and apparently it takes an hour to make rice. So, I had to settle for white rice. The food was ok...the chicken was kind of greasy but tasted good...and the sweet plantains were awesome. Service not so great- 3 out of 5 Food ok- 3 out of 5 Music/Location/Atmosphere- 5 out of 5 My boyfriend got the cuban sandwich and said it was the worst he had ever had...
(2)
Pamela M.
Stopped in for a drink and light lunch while walking around South Beach. Seated on the patio which made it ideal for the typical SoBe people watching experience. Atmosphere was ok, servers were nice if a little slow. Mojito's are very good but the ones at Tap Tap are much better. Had the fried plantains to start, nice, a little bland and the dipping sauce had a lot of garlic in it. Shared the ropa vieja (shredded beef) with moro rice and sweet plantains....all of it very good but the plantains would have me coming back for more! Overall, food was a decent price for the serving size. To be frank, there are better places to go for Cuban food, especially in Little Havana, but if you're looking for something around SoBe, this is an ok alternative.
(3)
Blak B.
I love the ropa vieja. I hope I spelled that right! Also munch on anything in the creole sauce. They have a Dj that spins Latin music after 8
(4)
Nalini T.
Nice spot for a casual dinner . Food us good, service was good. Ceviche was really delicious and the sangria was very refreshing. We sat outside, enjoyed the view and the people watching. Overall a nice lively spot on the beach.
(4)
Jonathan T.
Larios never disappoints!!!! Food is GREAT!!!! If your a steak lover get the CHURASCO!!!! It is a MUST.
(5)
Emily T.
Peculiarly, this is one of the places on Ocean that didn't have a hustling hostess. We came to this place based on the recommendation of a stranger on the street when we asked her for directions. I ordered the Pollo Asado (famous roasted chicken) and it was delicious! It was a simple dish, like the way it is. A half chicken on one plate and rice /beans/plantains on another. I was impressed. The roast pork was just OK. Famous fried rice: pretty damn good except it was on the salty side. And last but not least, their drinks.... We've got a generous, no-nonsense bartender here. Our Mai Tais, Mojitos and Pina Coladas were strong but yummy. At 11 dollars a piece, i feel like I got my money's worth :) When I go back to Miami next year, I will be stopping by Larios for sure.
(4)
Kimberly S.
I was actually impressed when I came to the beach to eat at this restaurant. I was expecting mediocre food, as most places on the beach are so-so. The food was delicious (I recommend the ropa vieja) and the service was very attentive.
The ceviche was tremendous and had a very generous portion of fish. The Cuban sandwich was tasty and filling. We got a great table outside without a reservation at around 10pm on a Wednesday and the service was great. Our server, an older man with a ponytail, was kind enough to let us try both kinds of rice, and put up with our drunken antics. The plantains were really good, and the price of dinner, which did not involve any more drinking, was a very reasonable $50.
(4)
Daniel E.
If I could give this terrible restaurant half a star, I would. I've been meaning to give this restaurant a proper review since returning from Miami a few weeks ago. Today, I finally have enough down time to get to it. Let me preface this review by saying that this restaurant was not my choice. We went there because my work colleague had fine memories of eating there on a spring break trip with her boyfriend. And Larios might be good for just that - spring break tourists. Located right off Ocean Drive, Lario's is partially owned by Gloria Estefan which makes this particular restaurant (that doubles as a Salsa club after hours) a very popular destination for tourists and wanderers. Supposedly known best for its Cuban food, Lario's offers typical fare, from skirt steaks to fried plantains and various seafood dishes. Grace and I decided to take a streetside table to people watch and enjoy the evening air. Since we arrived in Miami that day, we ate a reasonably late lunch and thus a very late dinner, but the restaurant was still bustling. I was completely underwhelmed with the wine list, which curiously offered many selections that didn't pair well with Cuban food at all. I finally settled on a glass of Bogle's Sauvignon Blanc (2006), because I was planning on having seafood, and love drinking the varietal in particularly warm climates because it's served chilled and the light flavors are actually quite refreshing. Our waitress brought our drinks right away, and I was immediately a bit put off that my wine wasn't particularly chilled. Nearly 20 minutes later, she finally made it back around to take our order. I opted for the Lobster Creole, fried plantains and black beans and rice. Another 30 minutes went by and we finally got our food. My lobster came in a small casserole-type dish, swimming in a VERY salty creole base. It was a bit tough in spots. Overall, I was very disappointed with the Lobster considering what I paid for the dish (about $35 I think?). Presentation was largely uninspired. Rice and plantains came on a separate plate and there was no attention to color in the presentation. Everything had a brown tinge. It gave me the impression that the chef simply didn't care about making the side plate look appetizing. The plantains were pretty greasy, but the black beans and rice were fabulous, hands down the best part of the meal. I've read elsewhere that Lario's supposedly has very authentic Cuban cuisine, but this was far from my experience. Save your money for a restaurant in a Cuban neighborhood. You'll pay half what you pay at Lario's and it will taste authentic. EVERYTHING I ate, from the plantains to the lobster to the beans, had too much salt - and I'm a salt guy. The only saving grace for Lario's is location. It was fun to people watch with Grace despite the uninspired meal. Stick to singing Gloria, but only perform Miami Sound Machine stuff. You're a terrible restaurateur and I don't like anything other than your Miami Sound Machine songs. So, all in all, I guess you're almost an EPIC FAIL, save "Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya," that's gold baby, gold.
(1)
Serene F.
Great location, crappy dishes. Every item down to basic side dishes were lackluster -- Cuban sandwiches were dry with way too much bread and raw onion overpowered the yuca. Plus, menu was overwhelming with way too many options. Quality over quantity please!
(2)
Josselyn W.
Went here for a late dinner twice while I was staying on South Beach. This place is definitely a step up from the rest of the Ocean Ave tourist traps - food is reasonably priced, and everything we had was delicious! Service was ok - both times the waiters weren't the most attentive. Had a roasted chicken dish with a yummy sauce one night, and then had the beef in a skillet sauteed with spices and onions (one of their specials) the other night. Both items were very tender and flavorful! Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a Cuban place with a large selection of dishes, and also the $15-25 per entree range.
(4)
Tom M.
Had the Cuban and it was dry - needed more mustard and more pickles - but the meat was pretty good. The say they have world famous mojito, but I thought it just average.
(2)
Max G.
This is a great place to come to people watch. The food is really good but leaves a guilt feeling as it is somewhat too expensive. You are really paying for location. But overall, it is a cool place to come and have some delicious and simple cuban food. Order the ceviche and the ropa vieja.....yummmm!
(3)
Aretha W.
Decided to go here because we saw it had great reviews (and it was close to our hotel)....and we were not disappointed. We ordered the ceviche, cod fritters and and fried rice dish that had shrimp, chicken and beef w/sweet plantains....everything was excellent. And they had the best Miami Vice I've ever had. Service was good and the place was beautiful. Will definitely visit again on my next trip to Miami.
(4)
Courtney C.
I have no complaints about this spot... except that their idea of "incense" is like piss in smoke form. I dunno... I have a dog that I leave at home while at work, and I leave out pee mats, so I'm VERY experienced with certain smelly aromas. Choose another scent pls, Ms. Estefan. I had the $14 pollo asado which was SUPER tasty. It wasn't dry at all.. the sauce was killer. Not to mention I couldn't get my mind of my girl's skirt steak. I had a strawberry mojito which folks at my table were complaining was too sweet, but it didn't really bother me. The location is great, but either walk or take a cab cuz I bet parking is a B. All the meals are hella decently priced for lunch. I've spent more dough on breakfast at Starbucks. Watch yourself when you come to Larios, though... the rhythm just MIGHT get you. (Bad joke, Richard...)
(4)
Sandy C.
I was a little confused when we got the menu and it said "Bongo's" cuz the name on the outside of the restaurant said "Lario's on the Beach" We'd made reservations and got seated promptly but away from the crowd and live band, on the 2nd Fl. We felt secluded and ignored. Our waitress was slow and made few appearances. We were missing a set of utensils and plates and had to help ourselves. I think they use the 2nd fl for larger private parties and they have a tv that shows the live band downstairs, but I just didn't feel the same vibe. The food was good, Latin Cuban food with a large portions and lots of carbs. Do not get the sangria though, a few of us ordered by the glass and got cocktail fruit instead of fresh fruit. It was overly sweetened and tasted like a fruit cocktail out of the can. When we asked the waitress if they had fresh fruit she said that is how they make it and everyone seems to love it. We were turned off and didn't want to pay for it since we couldn't even drink it. The prices were decent but I don't know if I'd come here again.
(3)
Jordan P.
Awesome sidewalk seating in South Beach. Mojitos were all they were cracked up to be. Food was pretty good too, I'm still tasting that Ceviche!!!
(4)
Eric O.
This is some of the best Cuban food I've ever had (and I'm Cuban). Larios has the best of everything...awesome location in the middle of South Beach, amazing authentic Cuban food, and great music and atmosphere. It's one of several restaurants owned by Gloria Estefan around Miami. We started the night out with some mojitos, which are amazing here. They come with a stick of pure sugar cane and everything. I ordered the vaca frita, and it was hands down the best I've ever had...they serve it here to you on a skillet. All of our sides, like maduros, rice, etc. where all flawless. We capped the meal with some Tres Leches for dessert, also the best Tres Leches I've ever had - you have to try it. Our server, Pablo, was a machine and was reading our mind throughout the whole meal. Wish I could eat here every night. Don't miss out on Larios if you're near South Beach!
(5)
Yarimar C.
The best cuban food I have had!! everytime I go I try something different and each plate is amazing- My personal favorite is la Ropa Vieja which is delicious!!!!.
(5)
Never M.
I was really hoping to see Gloria here! :-( But the food made up for that. The service was bad. Our waiter hovered ALOT and was also very rude, short and abrupt. But then again so was the rest of the staff. My boyfriend had a steak cuban which was outstanding, yours truly had a garlic shrimp dish with the best jasmine rice ever. We went for lunch and had 2 drinks each no dessert. This "lunch" cost my boyfriend $115.
(3)
Esmeralda P.
I was pleasantly surprised!!! If you love cuban food this is the place in Miami Beach. Great food, Servers are awesome and the mojitos the best!!! The prices are good too. Being in a huge group of people we had bad luck at another place. But here they were on the ball!!! We tried their lunch to see and came back with reservations for dinner. I go back to Miami I will go there again and again. I have tried Cuban food before and at several places back at home but in Miami Beach I felt it was close to it all and you couldnt go wrong here. Service is great. She was patient with us and got the order right every single time. Cheers!
(5)
Kaustav M.
Awesome location, atmosphere, sweet plantains, shrimp criolla, sangria and service. We wanted to try Cuban food and certainly this was a good start! I didn't know it was owned by Gloria Estefan but what the heck, it was awesome!
(4)
Rob E.
My wife and I wanted some authentic Cuban food while on a weekend trip to Miami. It was either Larios or Puerto Sagua and we choose Larios because of its proximity to our hotel and atmosphere (Puerto Sagua looks like a diner). We originally were going to sit outside but we could immediately tell that the service was going to be very slow and we would probably be forgotten about. So, we decided to switch to a table indoors. We ordered the Ceviche to begin with. It was a nice and refreshing beginning to our meal and we both enjoyed it. For the entree, we both had the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, rice and black beans on the side along with plantains. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and we both enjoyed it. We washed everything down with a carafe of red sangria, which was ok (bit on the sweet side). Only negative thing about this restaurant is the pace of the service. We felt like they were rushing us out, probably so they could turn through as many tables as possible on a Friday night. There's a 50/50 chance we would go back again. I think next time we would opt for the more casual Puerto Sagua and give it a try for something more authentic.
(3)
Brian F.
I recommend this restaurant, but if you're looking to ave your socks knocked off, go elsewhere. Perhaps the people I was with simply raised my expecations to a lace where they could not be met but either way I walked away feeling a little, well, underwhelmed. I was there two nights this week. The first night I had the seafood combo that was highly recommended and the second night I had the marsitas de puerco. The former was good with a reasonable amount of shellfish and a broth that was decently seasoned. I like big flavors and I was told by the server to expect big flavors, but it simply didn't deliver. Again, it was good, just not great. The latter, a pork dish, was very flavorful, but the pieces were so dry for the most part except two or three of the last pieces that were perfect. The unevenness was disappointing. The menu for the most part is reasonable and affordable. The ambiance is fun and lively and you feel like you're in a really nice restaurant, but the prices are reasonable.
(3)
Aboud Y.
I love Larios and the food and atmosphere never disappoint. Its one of my favorite places in Miami for lunch/dinner and people watching.
(4)
Eric L.
Good food, prices reasonable for Ocean Ave. Sit outside to people watch. Best Mojito I had in S. Beach.
(4)
James M.
Our fav Cuban in South Beach for 3 years. The "Luxury", rum mojito is the best in my life- had on several occasions. Roast pork, fatty as expected,but the best in my life. People watching great. Side mixed vegetables excellent. They include asparagus!
(5)
Jennifer M.
We decided to eat here based on reviews. I'm so glad we did! It's so tasty. The decor is fun with lit up chairs in the waiting area. We wanted to eat outside but they couldn't accommodate a party of six so we sat inside. The have live entertainment that plays outside and inside. We had the potato balls (can't remember the name) and the pork tamale. The tamale was so moist but lacked pork. The potatoes balls were delicious. I ordered the Cuban style skirt steak with chimichurri. That steak was a-MAZING! And the chimichurri was just as good I ordered extra and poured it on my rice and beans. Their mojitos are stiff. Service was great. We really enjoyed this place and will visit again when in Miami.
(5)
Anabelle B.
I had a great experience at Larios On The Beach. Food was great, service was good and prices are expected for a place in South Beach owned by a celebrity. I would definitely go back. Unfortunately the crowd is very predictable, hot dudes with flashy/tacky clothes and hot chicks with fake boobs and Versace bags, very South Beach.
(4)
Shannon M.
I figured that being in SoBe I had to have Cuban food and what better place to eat than with a view of the ocean across the street. Now I knew this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant (or at least it used to be since the menus now say 'Bongos'?) but I expected much more from the decor and the food. I felt like I was in a slightly upscale Chilis. It seemed very touristy and I knew that couldn't be a good sign. I think the best food here are the mojitos, which were really good, otherwise I was pretty disappointed. The ceviche was practically inedible - the fish was chewy and tasted like it had been soaked in lime juice for days. I actually wasn't even sure the fish was good, so saving myself a night of praying to the porcelain g-d I only ate a small amount. I had the fried pulled chicken with grilled onions - it was ok, but didn't have a lot of flavor. The mixed rice with beans was better and so were the sweet plantains, but those are kind of hard to screw up. We passed on dessert since we had a huge lunch and assumed their flan was probably nothing to write home about. The live music was a nice touch, but also annoying when you're trying to have a conversation. Also holiday songs sung in Spanish doesn't really say latin/cuban to me. I'm sure there are so many better cuban restaurants in Miami - probably most not on Ocean Dr. - that are probably better worth the money spent.
(2)
Henry R.
Bloody Mary drinks are weak. Your better off getting a V8. Sandwiches are not bad just nothing to brag about. This place has a sign saying they have the best Cuban food. If your going to make that claim you better bring it !!! Larios you may be good but no the best.
(2)
J. K.
Too many mojitos to choose from, mango mojito was great! We had pork based appetizers, shrimp cariolla, skirt steak, chimchiri pork, etc. Dim lighting inside made it impossible to figure out what on earth we were eating, but tasted great nonetheless. It seemed to be at the end of the Ocean Drive's many restaurants that try to lure you in. Great find. Great way to end a night. I wish I had a mojito.
(4)
Zeela D.
Otherwise known as Gloria Estefan's "Bongos" restaurant, this place is a great way to experience Cuban Food and enjoy the view of Ocean Drive in Miami. My sister and I shared the combo appetizer which included fried pork chunks, shrimp on a fried plantain, tamale with sweet corn and pork, and a fried pork ball similar to an empanada. I ordered the minced beef with fried plantains and rice mixed with red beans. For dessert I had a Cuban coffee with condensed milk and the cinnamon rice pudding. I have tried the Bongos restaurant in Orlando, but this one has more of an authentic atmosphere and ambiance. So if you are in the Miami Beach area, then you need to do as Gloria Estefan says and "Get on your feet!" and go to Bongos!
(4)
Lia K.
Awesome Palm tree views, strong mojitos, delicious, huge portions of cuban style skirt steak, maduros, fried yucca, and shrimp crilloa. We left stuffed but wanting to stick around to dance.
(4)
Cindy F.
The food was decent, however I became violently ill after eating here. 48 hours of N/V/D and an ER visit. No Yumma
(1)
John C.
This place rocks! I took my wife here for our first date when we moved to Miami. We're not normally the South Beach types, but dinner here kicked off a night that we'll remember for a long time! The interior was incredible, the wait staff was friendly, the atmosphere was fancy and fun all at the same time - and then our food!!.... Wow. Fantastic eats with very reasonable prices for South Beach! I've eaten at probably a dozen cuban joints since eating here and none have been better than Larios on the Beach.
(5)
Kevin A.
LIFE LESSON #34783: AVOID RESTAURANTS OWNED BY CELEBRITIES Oh Gloria...oye MI canto... I had high expectations of Larios, but they sadly were not met. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the live Cuban music is a nice touch. But the food and service sadly fell short. The pork chunks were plentiful, but lacked the flavor of Puerto Sagua's version. The mojitos are a ridiculous $11 and are made too sweet for American-ized tastes. Not at all like the ones I had in Havana. And finally, the paella Valencia. Lots of seafood including a small lobster tail, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams, but a little too soupy and lacking the intoxicating saffron flavor I was craving. Also, I felt totally ripped off when ordering this dish. The menu says that the dish is for two people, but DOES NOT state that the $38 price is PER PERSON. $76 for a plate of paella? Yes there was a small lobster tail in there, but that's a little ridiculous. Our waiter was unapologetic and we left feeling like we got screwed. Service was also lacking as they staff seemed to be too busy joking around and talking to each other to refill water glasses and check on their customers. I won't be back and suggest you steer clear as well.
(2)
Eric C.
Great people watching spot in Miami. I'm not a specialist in Cuban food, but I would come back again if I'm in Miami.
(4)
David R.
The mojitos were excellent. The food was average for Cuban food. This is a trendy SoBe spot but you can get better and cheaper food in Miami.
(3)
Ian P.
Went to larios on a Saturday night with 6 people. I had the roast pork which was delicious. There were several fatty pieces that I didn't like but I know some people love that. Several friends had the Cuban steak and loved it. The moro rice was decent but kind of plain, and the sweet plantains are definitely yummy. The fried plantains are fairly dry and bland so the sweet ones are a no brainer. I had the guava martini which was yummy but very sweet. Fair prices, and the ambience is very loud as they have a dance floor in the front but the music is great. Would definitely go again.
(3)
David F.
Wow everything we got at this place was awesome! Ropa Vieja, plantains, tamales, fried pork and the mojitos! So good! I want to go back!
(4)
Rachel T.
Larios is what initially sparked my deep burning love for Cuban food. Don't do yourself an injustice by letting its primo touristy locay deter you . .. or the fact that its celebrity owned . . . as I have seen many a SoBe local convert to a Larios regular upon experiencing its amazing, authentic goodness that you just don't find at all that many places within Sobe lines. (This is typically after dragging them reluctantly to Ocean Dr.) This is not the area's typical tourist trap using 2-for-1 drinks to lure in unsuspecting, wide-eyed victims in. It's not even on the same planet.
(5)
Mariel G.
Skirt Steak! Try it! with the Chim churri sauce and sweet fried plantains! It's tender, it's well seasoned, it's the perfect size! when you cut the steak, cut a medium-size to large size portion, then scoop up some rice, and plantains and your mouth and taste buds will tingle and make your tummy soooo happy, it'll be proud that it's owned by you. (then afterwards, you may not be proud to own that tummy, but IT'S WORTH IT)
I went to Larios on the recommendation of the concierge at the hotel I was staying at in North Beach. Having become a convert to Cuban food the day before there was no hesitation in indulging again. Upon arrival, the sidewalk seating was packed. My party opted to sit inside where it was hectically busy but not unpleasant. Being a fiend for mojitos, I started off with the "Spicy Mojito" made with Sailor Jerry's spiced rum and was blown away with the intensity of flavor. For an app I gave the tamale a shot and was quite satisfied with the richness of flavor. For my entree I ordered the roast pork which was unbelievably flavorful, as were the rice and beans. The service was a bit pokey, but the place was packed, the food amazing and it was Saturday night in South Beach so all's forgiven.
(4)
TL C.
We ate outside so service was decent, but not extraordinary. However, they get a pass on this, I couldn't imagine trying to wait tables while hordes of people pass through the "restaurant". I enjoyed the seafood combo platter (I think that is what it was called). It was phenomenal. My friend enjoyed the steak. The ceviche is served with plantain chips. It's good, not incredible, but good. The mojitos were also very good, but pricey.
(4)
Erica C.
Last night my husband and I took a drive down to South Beach. We decided to hit up Larios, thinking that this popular hot spot would live up to the flavor and spice of its owner. The mixed greens salad was anything but, seemed to be full of just romaine, if that. The fried pork was good, but tasted a bit reheated. I am not a big fan of waiting for food, but ordering dinner plates and receiving the...m 5 minutes later worries me about how freshly prepared the food is. Needless to say, the rice was undercooked, the sweet plantains tough, and the shrimp was overcooked. His vaca frita was only half fried. I've had fresher, properly cooked, bigger portions at local Cuban places for half the price. Overall, very disappointed and won't be returning.
(1)
Alex F.
Service is great, food is delicious, atmosphere is just right, music is South Beach...wonderful dinner spot. Definitely recommended.
(5)
Cezaro L.
I had my reservations about coming here with a group of 10 after reading these reviews... but bit the bullet and made some reservations anyways. Glad we did. Our waiter was charming and attentive (maybe because we were all about the Calle Ocho (aged rum mojito)), the food wait wasn't too long, and we loved the salsa music, pleasantly crowded feel and plush decor. There is dancing on Friday nights and some people were getting really into it. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable given the quality of food, service, and the unbeatable location. My chicken dish (can't go wrong with pollo asado and arroz moro--it's a Cuban restaurant, come on!) was awesome, filled me up completely and cost $13.95. The same dish at Puerto Sagua (a block away) is also pretty good, but not all that much cheaper and comes with a much dinkier atmosphere. I got the impression that most of the restaurants in SoBe are pretty touristy and not very authentic, so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria Estefan's place. Lario's was a pleasant surprise: a great place to get dressed up and eat some good food before a night on the town over Spring Break--without breaking the bank.
(4)
SteFUNe e.
Beautiful Gloria Estefan owned restaurant. Food was good, being on a budget I looked for the most modestly priced item on the menu and chose the chicken. 2 girls got the lobster and 1 got the shrimp. I believe between the 4 of us we polished off 8-10 large souvenir size glasses of mojitos. We had a really good time here and they even had a live salsa band playing which made me start crying because my dad loved salsa music and he had been gone at this time 1 1/2 years, while the music played I felt his presence and I started crying uncontrollably. IT was that beautiful. I excused myself and went to the restroom, fixed my face, took a deep breath and went back to our table. Mind you up to this point we had been paying the food bills by what you ordered NOT split 4 ways..ok, so the bill came......my friend saw it first and started to LAUGH OUT LOUD. For 4 girls the bills was $279!!! Holy Sh*#! They were all like...well "Let's just split the bill 4 ways so that we don't have to worry about who owes what"....eeeerrrrr record scratches, hold up chica, uhm I don't think so! I got chicken you ballers got lobster tail and shrimp. they were not so happy! hahahahahah, that was a riot. but seriously be prepared to have a great time, with good food, and spend a bunch of ferria there. I would def go there again.
(4)
empress W.
This place really bombed! 6 ladies and a birthday girl. It was 9pm and the place is packed. Thank G we made a reservation! Hostess looked busy, our waiter stressed. We could barely hear each other because the music was turned up so high. The crab fritters were doughy and mushy. The fish ceviche, delicious! That's one star. The seafood plate both grilled and with some red sauce were ok. Everyone who ordered steak was disappointed. Overcooked and bland and tough. We mentioned this but nothing was done. Cafe cubano was the best! That's the 2nd star. I will go back for coffee only but this place is a tourist trap for real.
(2)
Sara N.
A friend that lives in Miami brought me here and said this was a great place to eat. The place was busy for a Monday night. I had the shrimp creole which came with white rice and plantains. We also shared an appetizer. Everything was great, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was good. No complaints here. I asked if they could substitute the white rice for brown. They said they didn't have any but then again, it was hard finding healthy options in South Beach.
(4)
Tina P.
I had high hopes for this place. We saw it during the day time, and decided that we had to have it for dinner. I was saving my stomach for some authentic Cuban food. I ordered a beef dish like a skirt steak which comes with a side of white rice and plantains. the steak was juicy, but unfortunately lack any taste. My friend ordered the fried rice with fried chicken that tasted better than my dish, but not by much. too bad i left Miami's cuban food on a bleh note.
(3)
Andre L.
Food was good and vibe was great. Service needs improvement. It missed the two star cause of it.
(3)
Michelle S.
Maybe it's what I ordered but I had the absolute WORST club sandwich ever here. It was bland and the bacon was soggy and greasy. The fries were cold and the service slow. My friend had the pan con busted and wasn't impressed either. I won't be coming back to this lario's.
(2)
Anthony A.
South Beach views and good food. What can be wrong with such a combination. The steak was made perfectly tender, seasoned and warm. I will recommend this place to everyone that visting the area.
(4)
Cristina L.
Loved it! Was there yesterday ordered sangrias and grilled fish with rice and beans and sweet plantains and I loved every bit of it!!!!! If your in Miami you must eat here!
(5)
Madhu S.
Yuck! Am sitting here after my completely untasty meal thinking I need to tell my fellow Yelpers to stay away!!!! Bland bland bland! I had to add salt to everything just to get it down. And whats with the mandatory tip? My waiter was so disinterested and he gets my 18% tip no matter what, so why should he care? Goya makes better arroz con pollo. And all the vegetables were frozen veggies that they just defrosted and put on out plates. They actually decorated my fish with chopped peas and carrots that you would find at costco. Did I mention there was no seasoning. Anyway, very disappointing. Not coming back anytime soon.
(1)
Teresa G.
The first thing I wanted when I got go Miami was yummy Cuban food. I had been to Lario's last time I was in Miami so I decided to go there again...it's conveniently located near my hotel. Anyhow, my server was an older gentleman named Antonio. He was attentive and pleasant and made sure they got my order correct. I had the arroz con pollo...it was decent, the chicken breast was a little dry, but the rice was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the fried plantains...weird taste and texture. I would give the service a 5 stars and the food 3 stars.
(4)
robert s.
This has great vibe and price for food right on Ocean Dr on South Beach. We had the black bean and chicken noodle soup for appetizer. It was delicious but could be warmer, very hearty. Then had the roasted garlic chicken. The chicken was a little dry for me but tasted good. Overall a great value and taste compared to all the other tourist traps. This restaurant was recommended to me a short skirted hottie Latina, you knew it had to be a legitimate deal.
(4)
E. L.
We had a great time and a fantastic meal at Larios, but when you're eating fried pork you can't really go wrong. ;) We drank mojitos (spiced Sailor Jerry's) and margaritas (guava, sweet but yum!) and Sangria (simple, but not watered down by ice. Thanks, Gloria Estefan!). We ordered the combo of small plates (see the bottom of the appetizer menu) and shared it among 4 people. It was perfectly salty, fried, plantain-ey, and fun, though I would have liked some salsa or chimichurri sauce for dipping. (included stuffed, fried potatoes, plaintain cups filled with shrimp creole and cuban beef, amazing ham croquettes, and a pork tamale) We also ordered the malanga bisque...ORDER IT! Malangal is similar to a potato, but more airy. The soup was like foamy, starchy, seasoned milk and it was heavenly. Finally, skip the paella if you're not a true lover of paella and order the seafood combo on the top of the entrees list. It's practically the same thing, ingredient-wise, without the hefty price tag or the hour-long prep time. Though beware, the creole sauce is Salty. If you're sensitive, ask them to cut it with some wine or add less salt. Myra was our waitress, and she was Fantastic! We ordered 3 entrees for 4 people (see above re: the huge appetizer we ate) and she gave us an assortment of the side dishes that come with entrees so we could try everything (two kinds of rice, two kinds of plaintains, and buttery garlicy yucca. Amazing!). All in all, we had a boozy early dinner for 4 for less than $200, including tip. Well worth it, especially compared to the other options on South Beach!
(4)
Kris B.
Excellent Cuban food! I had the chicken & onions with red beans & rice and sweet plantains. It was DELICIOUS! My friend had the Mango shrimp and it was also really good. The one hold up . . . when we sat down, our server came over and offered us sparkling water or bottled water. He stated it like those were our only options for water. We quickly said we'd just have tap water and he seemed taken aback. This bothers me b/c I know it's just a way to trick customers into paying for a beverage and I think I should have the choice rather than being tricked into thinking it's my only option. Other than this, the food was good. I had the same meal later in the week at a different Cuban restaurant and the meal at Larios was definitely better.
(4)
Lauri H.
Great service. Flavorful food, but nothing spectacular. Good mojitos...but there are a lot of good mojitos in SoBe. My husband had the pork and loved the flavor and moistness. I had the flank steak (or was it skirt steak). It seemed a little oily, but perfectly cooked. Plantains were delish and white rice and black beans had good flavor. Not disappointing, but not great. Hoping for better. Good thing I'm in Miami for a few more days and can try someplace else in the hopes of finding something great.
(3)
Amauri V.
I've been going to Lario's for years and the food was as good this last time (9/12) as it's ever been. The portions are awesome although it's a bit pricey. Definitely a good place to come with a crowd, just make sure you call ahead. The waiter forgot about our mariquitas but made it up with complimentary dessert. Too bad the band is not there anymore - replaced by a dj a while back - but overall it's still recommended.
(3)
Soco R.
One of the most beautifully decorated restaurants I've ever encountered. The dark wood contrasted with bright colored artwork was breathtaking. Made me feel like I was home. And the platanos were on point! A must when in South Beach.
(5)
Smiling I.
Had dinner here in 2007, and memories were good. Had lunch here last Wednesday and likely never again. Service awful and food was so-so. The waitress didn't care and never refilled the water. She had a good time talking with her friends, versus checking on the clients. I would have had a glass of wine had she come back. The nail in the coffin was the assumed 18% gratuity that was added on which I paid to the penny instead of rounding up. Would not recommend for lunch, but will still remember the dinner I had fondly.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
Im sure tourists on the beach go crazy for this cuban restaurant. But AGAIN just another commerical based cuban food.
(2)
Julie R.
This place is nice, they offer great food, and live bands on the weekends, i enjoyed my time there, the only thing i can complain about was the service, it could have been just one of those days, but the service was just too slow. Food and Entertainment 5 stars
(4)
Wendy B.
This place used to be so great. Sadly, it's gone a bit down-hill in the recent year or so. i tried to attached photos i took in 2004 when it was out of sight. They still know how to do Ceviche and boiled yucca. The Mojito glasses bug me now. You can still buy a cigar on the sidewalk which is nice for my boyfriend who loves a good cigar. I believe there is a chance one could still have a good experience here- sort of hit or miss place. Eat outside for sure.
(3)
Allison A.
After a series of horrible food and service in SOBE, I must say the food was impressive. Everything was superb. I went on a Saturday night and the place was crowded along with great music and dancing. Service there.. eh, what do you expect in SoBe?! Not to mention, Whoopi Goldberg was there!
(4)
Sandra A.
Not that impressed. Overpriced and service was so-so. Our appetizers came out in 2 minutes and was lukewarm. I know it must have sat out and was not fresh. My rice was cold and crunchy, maybe it sat in their rice cooker too long. Main dishes were not impressive by any means. Very disappointed, other than its great location there was nothing else to brag about.
(2)
Jim M.
Air conditioning is not very good, prepare to sweat when you eat. Food was just ok and so was the service. Gretai location,
(3)
avalon e.
Cuban??? Or just a tacky touristy all american eatery? Me thinks its the latter. There is nothing Cuban about the stuff they offer. The huge fried red snapper was a good deal but I've had better fried fish before.
(3)
Thi T.
When in Rome...I guess when in South Beach! Cubans galore and when we visited South Beach we just lived the live. Gloria Estefan's Lario's is a terrific place for a great meal. The service is OK, but the food was great. Of course, I had the ropa vieja. It was so great. The rice was tasty, as were the plaintains. No complaints here! Food serving sizes were generous. Too bad my margie wasn't so big. My frozen strawberry marg was the best drink I've had in a while. I guess down in South Beach they know how to do frozen alcohol. Darn it, should have had a Miami Beach while I was there! What was I thinking!?
(3)
Idolka S.
Like another person wrote, this place is truly a tourist trap. In fact, I hope tourists who visit Miami don't eat here because they're definitely not going to have an accurate experience of what GOOD Cuban food is really like. The service is okay (very slow but okay considering the atmosphere), but the food is, for starters, expensive, and 2nd, not very good. I had steak, which I ordered Medium, and it came Medium Well, almost Well Done. Normally, this would be okay but when you're paying about $16 for a piece of sirloin, I'd expect them to get it right. Also, some of the other people's food that was in my group arrived cold. The sides were not good at all. The fried plantains and boiled yucca were not good WHATSOEVER... and neither were the fries. Really, anyone who thinks this is a great place for Cuban food clearly knows nothing about Cuban food and is clearly not from Miami because anyone who lives in Miami can probably name 20 places with better food. I'm not even sure why Gloria Estefan associates herself with this place. If you want better Cuban food, try Mojitos at the Dolphin Mall... parking is not scarce (like in South Beach) and it's free. Their food is actually good, by the way. There's also a place called La Esquina del Lechon that's also in Doral and their food is EXCELLENT (don't let the fact that it's next to a gas station fool you- the inside is super nice and the quality of the food is GREAT). You can also try Calle Ocho. They have good restaurants, as well. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine is also a great choice for Cuban food and they have several locations around Miami. If you're a tourist, I suggest you venture out of South Beach for a day or two... you'd be surprised what you find.
(2)
Marty W.
Wasn't bad but I also expected a lot more! I heard this place was one of the famous hot spots in south beach but the hubby & I were not fans. The food tasted good but was small in portion and the prices were definitely much higher than expected. Not the best mojotos, they seem more on the sweet side- I had a mango and the hubby had papaya & a little lite on the alcohol. We didn't hate this place, I think we were just expecting much more.
(3)
Christina A.
For south beach food (which tends to suck), this place is pretty good. The food is decent Cuban food, and Cuban food at ridiculous beach prices = normal priced food. I had the Bistec Empanizado when I went (which is what I ALWAYS order). It was good, nothing stood out over any of the other Cuban restaurants in Miami. BUT, if you want reasonably priced food at the beach and you're in the mood for Cuban, I'd point you here.
(4)
Jessica L.
Super cute atmosphere. Live band inside. Very good funky flan!
(4)
J. N.
We had a really good experience at Larios. We walked up and down Ocean Blvd for a good half hour before settling in to a spot for lunch. I was amazed at the shiesty tactics some restaurants used to try to reel you in.... half price meals, but the meals cost $30? It was overwhelming. Lario's didn't have any specials but their menu was priced really well for the area and the atmosphere seemed a little bit more appropriate for our group. The Mojitos (as per every other review on here!) really were amazing. The tostones with beef and shrimp were really good - I preferred the beef. I had the Cuban sandwich which was HUGE. Ham, pork, swiss, pickles, mustard.... really, really good. The french fries were good but I wish I asked to substitute something else. My friends had the Black Bean Wrap and the Steak Sandwich, both of which were also really good. I'm sure this place is mad touristy, but I was a tourist... a tourist with no laptop for yelp, no knowledge of the area, and I was not disappointed in the least.
(4)
Remy M.
One of my favorite dishes is bistec empenizado steak (kinda like a pounded, breaded, fried thin steak), and Larios' empenizado is among the best I've had. The rice and fried plantains are also great. However, they lose a star on service. Sometimes the service is decent, other times it's terrible, but rarely, if ever, is it great. But, wow, great food and great location!
(4)
Teresa M.
The food was delicious and the service was great! I would go again! It has a great Cuban feel! And I loved the music!
(4)
Jul B.
undeniably the best restaurant I've been to on the Ocean Dr strip. I was extremely impressed with the food. Yes, the service sucks. Yes, our food took forever to come - but it tasted amazing. If you want great food, I highly recommend Larios. I ordered a garlic shirmp dish with rice and plantain. - A+ status.
(4)
Jamie A.
We went to Larios for lunch. Great location and nice decor. We both got cuban sandwiches which seemed to be overpriced and nothing special. Get the plantain chips! They were the best part of our dining experience.
(2)
Heather S.
The service was terrible. Food was just OK. Def. not impressed. Waitress barely came around to see if anyone needed drinks or how we were doing.
(2)
Mocha P.
I am fan just because of the food. I had the stuffed shrimp chicken with some tomato base sauce which was really good. But i thought it was pricey and the service was horrible. It has a great location, right on ocean drive.
(4)
Brian H.
Good location. Excellent mojitos. Good Yuca, ropa vieja, maduros, flan. Good service. Enjoyable evening. Favorite restaurant in South Beach.
(4)
J B.
Tourist trap.... seriously. I don't care if Gloria Estefan owns this place... she'd have to appear there for me to give five stars. The service was average, the food was mediocre, although it was Cuban. The redeeming value? MOJITOS! We had Mojitos with no added sugar and they were absolutely perfect, bold, flavorful, refreshing, probably the best mojito I've ever had in my life. My advice... if you must go here, get some mojitos and share an appetizer or entree... enjoy the view... and spend your money elsewhere on a legit Cuban meal.
(3)
Gladys D.
My dish here was absolutely to die for! Churrasco skirt steak "churrasco"grilled to perfection based with "chimi-churri" sauce it was absolutely cooked to perfection (medium rare, very tender) and the sauce was so damn good! My friends all ordered the chicken but kept raving about my steak (They did say their chicken was good though)! Everything tasted so delicious (rice, bananas, everything!). The ambiance is terrific with the Cuban band playing while you enjoy your meal. Its a really fun must go to place on ocean dr. We sat inside because there was no wait. The wait for outside seating was 20 to 30 min on a Sat. night. Service was excellent. Mojitos were VERY STRONG...if you like that sort of thing. I prefer not to yack on my first drink of the night =) This is a must go place for anyone visiting miami
(4)
Emily N.
Worst food and dining experience we had in Miami, hands down. My friend and I arrived on a Friday around 12:15 pm, fresh off our flights and very hungry. We ordered a cuban sandwich and chicken sandwich,and waited....and waited...and waited. The outdoor area was maybe a quarter full, yet it took well over an hour to get our food. When we politely inquired about timing, the rarely seen waitress said they had only one small grill (no apologies). Worst of all, it wasn't even worth the wait! There's a stellar gas station (!) in my home city that makes far better cuban sandwiches. Fortunately, La Sandwicherie and other gems greatly improved our Miami food experience afterwards, so I'd steer you there instead.
(1)
Deborah H.
Lario's has an interesting mix of Latin and Chinese-influenced dishes. We tried the paella (which was fantastic, but rather expensive at 35$/person with a minimum of two people ordering), one of the fried rice dishes, and the steak. The paella was overwhelming... Admittedly very good, but we should have ordered two portions for three or four people. The steak was so-so. The ceviche appetizer we ordered was close to disgusting. Decor and service were good, but overall, the dining experience was very average.
(3)
Vanessa F.
This place was sooo sooo good. I went for a nice dinner for my bachelorette party. Only minus one star because we called ahead with a reservation and they lost it but were quickly accommodating. Sat down and ordered some mojitos which were delicious and proceeded to order off the menu. It took a while for us to get our food because there were 7 of us. But when we all started eating it was HEAVEN. The roasted chicken, roasted pork, and cuban steak were all so tender and delicious. The sides of plaintains and rice were also delicious. It's a pretty lively atmosphere with the music of the Carribean playing in the background. The staff was really friends. Perfect location because the beach is in front of you and if you go for dinner the clubs are a block or two down on Washington Ave.
(4)
Sam B.
Gloria...please open one of your restaurants here in San Francisco!! The Ropa Vieja is so delicious! Everytime I come to South Beach, I have to visit this place twice. I don't know if you know the Sunday Special...it's NOT the on the Menu, you have to ask for it! If you LOVE OXTAIL STEW, Larios on the Beach has it only on Sundays!! The drinks are good and the restaurant is vibrant and clean!!! If you are into Cuban food, this is the place to go!! You won't be disapponted!!
(5)
Rhondalei G.
2 words - Pork Asado. Excellent food and service right on the beach. My friend and I opted to sit inside because we couldn't stand to eat outside in the heat. I can't wait to eat here again!
(4)
Scott C.
This was my first experience eating Cuban food... And it was amazing. If you are in SoBe it's a must!
(5)
Karen K.
We went to Miami & we knew that we had to have some Cuban food. Where to go? We ended up at Larios & to my dismay it was mas o menos (ok). The food we ordered was nothing to brag about. This Cuban restaurant was missing the authentic cuban flavor we were craving. The service & the ambiance here was great... it is too bad the food didnt match.
(2)
Gianna A.
Great Cuban music, ambiance, crowded, great mojito. Not particularly THAT memorable, except for the fact that it's in front of the beach in South Beach. After a while the places are pretty interchangeable, but the food makes this worth waiting for. Like eating from abuela's (grandma') kitchen.
(3)
Jorge Q.
After coming back from a Carnival Cruise, we visited family in Miami and they took us out to lunch at Larios. The restaurant is situated in a touristic street but the restaurant stands out among it's competition because of it's amazing traditional Cuban food. The location is among the chain of restaurants owned by Gloria & Emilio Stefan. They offer great service and they also distinguish themselves for their signature Mojitos drinks. Only complain is that the tables inside are too close together, which makes it difficult to move around when crowded.
(4)
Heather S.
Yummmmm!!!! I never knew how much I liked Cuban food until I went to this place! I felt like I should be in Scarface, the ambiance is so classic. GREAT mojitos, there is nothing like it! The portions are great and filling. I love the plantains and cuban black beans. The shredded lime chicken is great too (sad that I went here more then 8 months ago and still remember what I ate!) Defo hit it up if you're lucky enough to be in Miami!! I think I had some potato thing too that was really good.... Just make sure you dont plan on having a huge drinking night after (which is hard to do) because you will be way full when you leave!!
(4)
Greis L.
the food was awful. after the dinner my boyfriend and i felt extremly bad and we finally throw up all the night, stay away from this fake cuban restaurant
(1)
adrian s.
had a great time here. food was very good, like home cookin'. Atmosphere is fun and festive. Great to take a client or someone coming to visit Miami looking for the Cuban/SOBE combo. Cool place.
(4)
Shiven B.
Came here for lunch one day...I heard Gloria Estefan owned this place. Food was ok, but view was nice. Right on ocean drive, always a crowd of people, and the beach and ocean is right across the Street. Had the Half chicken, which is almost impossible to finish but the fried plantains are amazing. Others had Steak who I was with. Thinly sliced brazillian steak and fajita style steak with onions was the items chosen, they looked satisfied but didn't completely love their meals. Decently Priced though.
(3)
Beatrice C.
Just came back from dinner at Larios. Came here in search of good Cuban food n I was pleased although we had a couple of minor issues that got resolved. Issue #1 - as soon as we sat down I took a look at my water glass n there's was water stains all over it then I looked at my plate n there was a dried food crumb stuck on my plate. I returned all silverware to the waitress and she apologize although the bust boy questioned where it was dirty n when he saw the dried food he cringed. I was given new clean silverware quickly. Issue #2 - My friend ordered a margarita n when you tasted it the sour mix was watered down. We explained it to the waitress and sure enough the bartender confirmed that the sour mix went bad n they were changing it. My friend was given a new drink which was much better but in her words she's had better. Issue #3 - ordered the flan de leche for dessert, the custard was very good although the caramel was burnt. I had to work around the burnt caramel. Those were the main issues, a couple other set backs was no pre app munchies no bread/chips. I figured since we were in a Cuban restaurant we'd get plantain chips but nope. Second let down was the size of our drinks. I ordered the Maimi Vice n my friend got the Pina Colada n for $11 I expected a bigger glass. We got a small champagne glass, which was done before our entree was served. On a positive not I ordered the shrimp enchilados which was yummy. I was very pleased. My friend ordered the skirt steak with chimmi churri sauce which was good too. The sauce had a heavy garlic taste which was yummy. Regardless of the set backs the place is a ok spot.
(3)
anita c.
Larios, oh larios, I dream of their churrasco dish while I am in SF. Went there 2 days in a row when I visited Miami since I couldn't get enough of the churrasco dish. For those of you who don't know, churrasco is a skirt steak medium rare (my pref), with a chimmichurri sauce (garlic vinegar sauce) on the side, then with a side of flavored rice, and fried crispy plaintains. Tried recreating this dish at home since I can't find a restaurant who does it well. SF needs a good cuban restaurant. Would love it if we could have a Versailles or Larios here.
(5)
Chad S.
Not very impressed. Came to the restaurant in high hopes of good Cuban food. The food was so so, the service was terrible and I am a thirty year old man, and forgot my id, and couldn't even have a glass of wine with my meal. I understand the laws, but come on. It's not like I'm a nineteen year old kid trying to score a beer. I'm thirty and wanted a damn glass of wine with my dinner. Oh well, probably will not return. Sorry, Gloria.
(2)
Ernie P.
This is definitely one of my favorite cuban restaurant. Every time i go to the beach with a friend or a date, I always have lunch there. Their churasco or palomilla is absolutely my favorite. Oh, and with yellow rice!! Yummy. Their prices are really good too and if it's not too busy then eating outside is a pleasure. Enjoy the great weather and the great looking people of south florida. How can one refute that?? I know I cant and neither should you :) Cheers!
(5)
Kevin C.
Nice looking decor, very average food, barely adequate service. My wife and i ate at Larios On the Beach on a Sunday evening. We're both fans of Cuban cuisine, and we wanted to try this restaurant. The restaurant is in a nice location in South Beach & is quite nice inside. The music gets more quiet as you walk towards the back of the restaurant. My wife ordered Picadillo and I ordered "Bongo's Famous Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks" (Masitas Puerco). The food came to our table quickly. The Picadillo was reasonable, though a bit salty. The pork chunks were served with stir-fried onions. The onions were just lukewarm, and the pork was both lukewarm and dry / tough. I suspect this dish had been prepared well before we ordered it and left under an underpowered heating lamp. I could barely taste the Mojo Marinade -- the dish was simply tough lumps of fried pork. Both dishes came with rice and plantains which had decent flavor, but were not steaming hot. At the end of the meal I had to walk to the front of the restaurant to ask for the check since our waiter was too distracted / overworked to come to our table for a span of ~20 minutes. This restaurant is very mediocre and I will not return next time I visit Miami / South Beach. After trying Larios, I'm very wary of trying Bongos.
(2)
Ramsey A.
The service was horrible, good thing they include 17% gratuity. I would have for the first time in my life them with nothing.
(1)
Monica B.
The food at all the Larios locations is excellent, treading the fine line between down-home-goodness and gourmet, but the atmosphere at the others is more family and this (obviously) is more Beach-nightlife-ish. It's crowded, loud, and the service is harried and impersonal at best - but I like it that way! It's energetic and crazy, and it works with the food, the clientele, the sponteneity, all of it.
(4)
Mil S.
We had pretty good food, chicken a la plancha(big chicken steak) w/rice, creamy blk beans, camarones enchilados (shrimp in a red sauce w/onions, peas, carrots) & sweet plantains (platanitos), and to my amazement, a great big fresh salad! Flan for dessert & of course the must have "Cortadito" which tasted delicious. The waiters were courteous, funny & nice. A great & beautiful day in a relaxing atmosphere with Mom who just kept smiling. We sat inside the Portal, great comfortable weather. After being opened for many years, Lario's has become a place we trust to spend money on a meal will be worth it.
(5)
Erika B.
I was in South Beach for spring break and found Larios online in a hunt for Creole food. I ordered a delicious margarita to go with my chicken and rice dish (with amazing plantains on the side)- both were absolutely excellent! I was worried that this would be a really touristy spot with just-okay food, since that is the MO of most restaurants along the beach. However, my boyfriend and I both had some of the most delicious food we've ever eaten at this restaurant. We still reminisce about it! I'll definitely be returning upon my next visit to Miami.
(5)
Ned K.
Stale bread. Bad salad terrible blood mary. Stay away.
(1)
Justine N.
Checked out Larios on the Beach for dinner with a group of 17 girls in town for a bachelorette party. The food was solid (had the roasted pork) and their drinks were strong and gi-normous, which was perfect for us. The place has a great atmosphere and the staff was accommodating and patient when dealing with our loud group of tipsy girls. If you're planning a dinner, they have a private room off to the side of the main dining room that's great for large groups.
(4)
Britt M.
Larios seems to be one of the only Cuban restaurants on Ocean, which is a welcome surprise since every other restaurant on the strip seems to serve the same thing (salad, pasta, sandwich, etc.) It's a bit overpriced, but has a lively ambiance and Latin music, nice outdoor seating for fun people watching on Ocean, and some tasty Cuban fare. For starters, I had some little plantain chip cups that were filled with shrimp, ground meat, and a tomato sauce that was pretty flavorful. The ropa vieja (shredded beef) was tasty, and the mango shrimp original, if a bit buttery. I love some meat with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, so most of the meals here were pretty satisfying. The only disappointing thing we ordered here was a pork chop with some onions and lime, which was surprisingly bland for all the supposed ingredients. Entrees run roughly $20, which is a bit expensive since you can find authentic Cuban cuisine for much cheaper off Ocean. The drinks were very good - pina coladas are made here with spiced rum and have a nice kick that I haven't had elsewhere. The mojitos are also yummy, with real sugar cane sticks to chew on. Overall a fun, tasty, experience, if a bit pricey for what you get !
(4)
Wendy T.
My girlfriends and I had dinner here while we were staying in Miami. I thought the food was OK. I order the dish with all the seafood in it. I forget what the name was, but the waiter said it was a popular dish. The food took extremely long to come out! When it finally did it wasn't that satisfying, I mean it wasn't bad it was just ok. The bread they gave was pretty good but it looked like garlic bread that I could have made at home. The service was slow. It took us awhile to get any attention from the servers and they hardly came by to check up on us, We were a party of 10 girls too. The only good thing I can say is the restaurant was really beautiful inside. Service and food need a little bit of improvement.
(2)
alibee i.
I should have known that this was not the place for me when I read on the menu about their other location in Disney World. Short version of this review: If you want Disney World Cuban Food then this is the place for you. If you want authentic Cuban food then go elsewhere. First it took the waiter forever to come and take my order but hey I wasn't in a rush so not a big deal. When he did finally make it over I wanted to start off by ordering a drink but he wanted to get my whole order (so he wouldn't have to come back again in a few minutes?). Ok fine I knew what I wanted - mojito, fish enchilado, rice, plantains, black beans. Mojito came out literally 1 min later. Before I could even say "Jiminy Cricket!" (cause really I was thinking that :) out came all my food! Wow! I guess when it's all pre-made and ready to be poured and scooped, food just pops right out of the kitchen. The ($11!) mojito was watery and I couldn't taste any mint. (Kinda makes me wonder what the green stuff at the bottom of the glass was now that I think about it.) The enchilado sauce was also watery and bland. The fish "cubes" in the sauce were completely unidentifiable. The beans were equally bland and very thick as in they'd been sitting on a stove all day. The rice and plantains were ok as in not screwed up but nothing special. Overall a completely flavorless meal. And of course being in South Beach, make that an expensive flavorless meal!
(2)
Zinat M.
It's the South Beach experience. Sitting outdoors, sipping on wine, eating Cuban cuisine, listening to live cuban music, staff dressed in white, watching beautiful people all night long. All courses were delicious, good portion sizes, a bit pricey, and the seafood was fresh. It was a hopping place, see and be seen.
(4)
Colin P.
Great atmosphere. Great music. Friendly staff. Great Cuban sandwich. Fries a little overdone. And there are no refills on the sodas.
(4)
Jason J.
was recommended to come here by a friend who's been to southbeach a few times. great atmosphere, the food was very flavorful and very reasonably priced, the drinks tasted good, and were strong enough, overall a very good time. the roasted pork, fried beef, fried whole red snapper, and frankly everything else our party of 5 ordered was very good, and worth getting again. a great experience, i would certainly come back.
(4)
Jane D.
After eating at Cha Cha Chas in SF or Versailles in LA, this Cuban restaurant wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Maybe I don't know Cuban. Anyways, I felt like the portions weren't that large and I left hungry. I like the venue. There is seating out doors and its a great place to have dinner and people watch. The service is okay, nothing to write a postcard home to mom about. The girl who waited on us looked and acted as if we were waisting her time. Sorry I just wanted a bottle of Tabasco sauce. No tip for you! Although I wasn't to impressed with the food, I thought the atmosphere was super fun. I'd go back and try something else. Maybe it'll be different.
(3)
Miriam W.
Ok, so when I made up my mind to buy a place in Miami FL, having never lived there and only visited once in my life, I came out with a friend and we whiled away 10 days. They included wandering with my real estate agent, picking my condo, and 3 meals, particularly desserts, at Lario's. This place is forever a sweet memory. It's not awesome but it's evocative. It's the essence that gives it the 4th star. And the fact Gloria owns it and sometimes shows up to sing/eat in it. The food is not amazing. Sometimes the meat is dry or not as flavorful as it can be. Our first night was loud (in a good way) with a singer up not with a band but with a pre-recorded CD. She was good. However, in the 7 songs I think we heard, 3 were repeats. Honestly, I can sing better. So alas, no sign of Gloria singing. But, the food is ok. The service isn't amazing. But the desserts, my god, the desserts. And the plantanos ... and the mood ... and the location ... and the mood ... Something about it is sexy. I don't know why, it just is. Dark wood, terra cotta colors, loud music, hard drinks, a band, the palm trees outside and the great wide ocean and beach and breeze. You come with a big group and laugh and chat. We did that when I threw a big dinner to have friends come out and party with me. You come with a lover and you seduce each other over the desserts and walk the beach and get it on ... Whatever. Just get your sexyback. I HIGHLY reccommend getting some key items: - plantanos - flan con queso (it's richer than traditional flan) - shredded coconut. i don't know what it's called, can't remember, but you put that with the flan and you are frickin having orgasms right there with your mojito or whatever else it is you're trying to drink and sit up straight with. stay away from the guava unless you're cuban or you know what you're doing. that mess will give you a diabetic attack.
(4)
Sharie B.
Stopped in for dinner with some friends last night. Nice Ocean Drive spot complete with Ocean Drive prices. The food was good, I had the liver and a mojito. My friend had the potato ball, minced meat appetizer which was really good. Finished dinner with a Bongos cortadito (Cuban coffee shot, steamed milk and abit of condensed milk suprise at the bottom - very nice. For all the Cuban food in Miami you are paying for the location more than the quality of the food.
(3)
Lakeya C.
Yum, yum, yum....my mouth waters just thinking of my delicious food.. I had ropa vieja (shredded beef), black beans and rice, and sweet plaintains....delicious! I've had cuban food in NYC before, but this beat everything else CUBAN I've tasted hands down...this was the best restaurant my friends and I ate at while in MIami and we ate at quite a few...I can't wait to come back and try something new.
(5)
Amy Jo A.
ate outside during spring break..a bit chilly in march..ocean drive was busy as usual..got lechon asado..and arroz con pollo..both were great...a bit pricey for cuban food...wait staff were nice...mojitos looked good didnt have one...food got cold because of weather..good place for locals and tourists.
(4)
giovanni g.
I had dinner at Larios a couple weeks ago and yes its the SOBE experience...nice setting along Ocean Dr on a warm night...cant beat that! But when it came to the food I was a little dissapointed. I knew the place was owned by Gloria Estefan who also owns Bongos. When we were seated the waiter brought us Bongos menus with the exact same items. I was looking forward to a new twist at Larios but had to settle for the same Bongos dining experience. The food is not bad here...its actually pretty tasty but it doesnt blow anyone away. The prices are typical for SOBE and the portions are a good size. If you are looking for more of an authentic cuban food experience I would not go here if I were you. The staff was very helpful and knew the menu very well. Overall I had a good time here and recommend it specially if you are looking for a night out on Ocean Drive.
(3)
Tiffany D.
This place was amazing. Their menu is HUGE and their mojitos and sangria is really good. You MUST order the fried plaintain cups filled with shrimp AND beef (order it half and half!!!)... my Shrimp in mango sauce was AMAZING it was this velvety yogurty mango sauce and my dinner date ordered the cuban steak - you should get it down medium rare because it's a very thin flank/skirt steak. The service was great and they have so many different kinds of flan to choose from. I got the tres leches cake (they also have a quatro leches haha) and it was really good..
(5)
June L.
food was great, service sucks, great location, great atmosphere.....fun place...would give it a 4 start if service was better.
(3)
Jason U.
Owned by Gloria Estefan! Authentic Cuban food overlooking the ocean..Cant go wrong here!!
(3)
Irene W.
A decent enough place, but nothing overly spectacular in the grand scheme of things. I can't speak to how authentic it is, but I've had better Cuban food at places like Versailles in LA. They have a huge menu so I was a bit overwhelmed with choice. I settled for fried shredded chicken on a sizzling plate, and though the chicken was a bit on the dry side I enjoyed the hint of tanginess in the flavoring. It's actually quite a lot of chicken with onions, and a little dry/boring to eat with white rice. I would recomend ordering a few different dishes and sharing with friends to get different tastes of everything. My friends ordered their famous seafood combo stew, and that was very tasty - it had lobster, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari in a slightly spicy tangy creole sauce. Some other friends ordered a fried rice kind of dish and that was ok. All in all not a bad place for a decent, moderately priced meal on Ocean Drive in South Beach.
(3)
Ali D.
We had a great dinner here on our trip to Miami. Everyone told us we should go there for cuban food, but we were a little confused when we got to the restaurant and were seated and then saw that the menu said Bongos and not Larios... we thought we had accidentally walked into the wrong restaurant! The live music was nice, but definitely a little loud. The surrounding crowd was also loud though, it seemed like a popular place for groups to go. Of course, a mojito is required, and I ordered the pulled chicken which I thought was very tasty (as opposed to a recent reviewer). It was one of my favorite meals on our trip to Miami. I can't remember what my fiance had, but he enjoyed his meal as well, something chicken. I am sure there are some more authentic restaurants in Miami, we were told in Little Cuba, but the cab ride out there would have cost a small fortune! And we were told it wasn't that safe - by Cubans - and they recommended Larios. We were thankful for the recommendations and the nice dinner we had. We must have missed where they noted how much tip they automatically charged on the menu though, but they do include it when you are billed, so make sure you don't double tip like we almost did!
(4)
Rob C.
I think it gets extra stars because of its location. Loud live music, upstairs and downstairs areas. Food is fine for a touristy destination. Use the street garage parking lots for this area--i.e. 7th and Collins, 13 and Collins, 12th and Drexel.
(3)
Maureen H.
This place was pretty good. It has a great south beach feel to it. I'd definitely take newcomers there. Live music and a cute little bar/lounge area make it inviting and very not San jose-ish. :)
(3)
Viann B.
Food was not as good this year. Steak was not as tender, black beans were too soupy. Maybe it was because we did not get to dine outside near the sidewalk. Maybe the ambiance had something to do with the taste? The mojitos are still very good.
(3)
shelly p.
Larios on the Beach is a Cuban experience. This restaurant features live music, Island ambiance and some of the best Cuban food in Miami. The plantains, and rice and black beans are amazing meats and fish off the grill are mouth watering and inspired with flavorful unique spices that have not yet crept into the mainstream American dining palate. The coconut flan is out of this world and a great way to finish an amazing dinner. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is polished yet festive.
(4)
Ame L.
I was expecting so much more from Laurio's. The waiter hovered over our table the entire night, which was awkward and he wasn't any help on food selections. The timing on the food was bad and our glasses were empty most of the time. Felt really rushed and dinner from appetizers to dessert was just over an hour. Food was moderate. Guess I was hoping for more with the hype.
(3)
Donna J.
pretty much a tourist trap like all the other restaurants with their umbrellas and patio tables out front. service was ok. food was overpriced. drinks were ok. all i'm gonna say is you better be able to get a decent cuban sandwich if gloria is backing you, can't give you bonus points for doing that right. maristas de puerco were dry. enchilaso de pescado were delicious actually! you earn some stars for that dish. overall, i guess i can say i wasn't that impressed and regret not going to a hole in the wall for the same quality (if not better) authentic cuban grub. my bad. wouldn't recommend to others for the price that was paid.
(3)
Danielle M.
MMM MMM Good! I love cuban food and not only was the food incredible but the ambiance, the beach, palm trees, live band just made it all the better. Sangra is delicious!
(4)
choad x.
Overpriced. You pay to see and be seen by the other tourists. Versailes is a better deal.
(2)
Janice S.
Ambiance and music is very miami. Sat very close to the band which is pleasure and a what?!? i can't hear my thoughts i forgot what else i had cuban but had an enjoyable meal and it wasn't too pricey for Miami Beach. In my eyes, i judge cuban food by the taste of the plantains and these were pretty damn good. Had the steak and liked the flavors. Service was fast. Pretty authentic and worth a visit if it's your first time to South Beach.
(4)
Tiffany B.
I think that people just like to dislike things that others love just to be different. First off, I'm not going to say that I know or understand Cuban food. I can only go off my taste buds. After being disappointed with several mediocre and over priced restaurants w/ TERRIBLE service, Larios was by far the best in Miami Beach. My girlfriend and I shared a pitcher of Sangria for $20 and the food was delicious! With disappointment surrounding us, we were starting to lose faith in Miami Beach. All we were looking for was a nice restaurant w/ good food and Larios def hit the spot! We were in heaven! It was a great end to our trip with a belly full of yummy food!
(5)
Lynnette P.
The food was alright....nothing to oogle over. I ordered the fish...i believe it was pescado plancha. Kinda dry, but good. Rice was ok...I was really bummed that I didn't get any beans with it. What kind of latin place serves rice with no beans??? and it's Cuban too!!! well, the big question is will i have come here? The answer.....NO!! I just have to say...NEXT!!!
(2)
Dawnn M.
I ate at Lario's during a vacation and really enjoyed the food. The portions are huge. The sweet plantains are a must! It was a bit congested during the evening hours. Also, I would not recommend eating on the sidewalk anytime after 7:00 pm...the people walking by are virtually a part of your party! Overall good food, but average service.
(3)
Sarah B.
My husband and I came to Miami with one goal in mind when it came to food - Cuban, Cuban and more Cuban. This place was good, but I like my local Cuban restaurant at home better - thus the 3 stars. How can a Cuban place in Portland be better than one in Miami? I ordered the Vaca Frita which was great, but was pretty dry and so I had to borrow mojo sauce from my husbands meal. The plantains are good and we finished with a rum flan which was also good. I had the red sangria, which I didn't think was anything to write home about. My husband had a grilled steak which he absolutely loved. It wasn't a bad place, but we'll try some different options next time before returning.
(3)
Bill F.
From our initial seating to the service and the food, we were very disappointed. We ordered skirt steak and Roast Pork. Two of our favorite Cuban dishes. Very dissapointed with both. The pork was full of huge chunks of fat. The portions were small and even the rice was lousy. The skirt steak was not tasty and poor cut of meat. Very thinand tough too. The service was also very weak, and although we arrived early for dinner on a Sunday, they were not busy but the staff seemed like they didnt care. Maybe because we didn't speak the local language, Spanish, but you would think that any rest on South Beach would go above and beyond to impress. I can understand if the food is not always the best, but when the service too is poor, it really ruins any chance of a good meal. It not the waiters fault if the food is bad, but if you wait tables and expect to make money, then they should do the best they can. Even when food is not good, if the service is, we always tip extremely well. Not so here. Poor food and poor service.
(2)
Moiraes Y.
Not too good...we had the cuban sandwiches and it was mediocre. The place smelled like toilet cleaning solution and the prices were a bit too much for the quality. Honestly, the cuban hole in the wall in my local neighborhood has sandwiches for $4.25 that are 10x better.
(1)
Andrea G.
Super yummy with great service! It was a great place to sit outside, have a drink and a good meal. The inside is really cute and loungey, and they had space set up for a live band (though no one was playing when I was there). I would love to come here again when I return to South Beach.
(5)
Cindy C.
Situated right along Ocean drive, overlooking beautiful South Beach, this restaurant (one of the several owned by Gloria Estefan) serves authentic Cuban cuisine for affordable prices (considering its prime location). I ordered the Churrasco - a skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce over a bed of white rice and fried plantains. I usually like my steak medium-well (a little bit of red), but my 'medium-well' skirt steak came back to me well done, much to my disappointment. However the chimi-churri sauce was very unique and an agreeable combination to the steak. I also ordered the South Beach Mojito (containing a hint of SoBe and limon). Not too impressed, but I had a couple sips of their Watermelon Mojito and it deserves a thumbs up. I recommend their plantain chips, which are long, thin and crispy strips of fried plantain drizzled with minced garlic with a spicy cuban twist. The strange thing about this place is that you have to order your beans on the side, separate from your entree. Surprising for a Cuban restaurant, but a small price to pay for an overall satisfying meal. The only gripe worth mentioning about this restaurant is that they seated our party of 5 right on the edge of the curb - gorgeous view, but far from comfy. We had to scrape food off several of our plates and consolidate upon serving, in order to fit all of our food and drinks on the table. I would definitely go back to this restaurant and try some of the other items on their extensive menu... but next time- I'm sitting inside.
(3)
Daniela A.
This place is a MUST if you are visiting Miami. It's the ultimate Cuban South Beach experience. The food is pretty good, but not amazing (well, with the exception of the mojitos, platanos, black beans and rice. The pork dishes looked pretty good, but I didn't try them. I ordered the lobster, which was a big mistake. It was incredibly expensive but it was only mediocre. The star foods of my dinner were definitely the simpler things I tried (the things I already mentioned, such as plantains, etc). You are probably asking yourself, by this point, why I am rating this place five stars if the food wasn't THAT great. Well, because the food was definitely good, but more importantly, the ambiance was UNBEATABLE. Simply eating at this place and breathing in the festive atmosphere while listening to an amazing salsa band (and I'm dead serious when I say that these musicians were amazing) and watching people dance salsa like they've been dancing it since the womb was enough to make me just want to come back to the Bay Area, pack up my bags and move to Miami. It was THAT great.
(5)
Ratul N.
So the place is owned by Gloria Estefan. I wouldn't really recommend going there if there is no band playing, because it was empty. But if there is a band, its definitely worth it and fun. Their ceviche was good!
(3)
Adam M.
I just don't understand the hype on this place. The location is great but the service was horrible and the prices were way to high for the quality and the amount. I ordered a soda as well as a beer. My soda came in a rocks glass with ice. Guess what, no free refills! $10 for soda later, as well as $12 for coffee for my companion! You have to be kidding. The food was completely uninspiring. One dinner was cold, the other, hot but undercooked. The service left a LOT to be desired. Our waitress would disappear for long lenghts of time and then would flirt with the table of model wannabe's instead of waiting on her other tables. Go somewhere, anywhere, else.
(1)
Kylee C.
I don't want to waste anyones time.... I just want to say DON'T GO. We found a plastic tube (like you would find in a microwavable meal), when we complained, the inept manager offered us free dessert, obviously we are not interested in dessert after the bad meal. We planned to have a nice upscale meal from here and we were sorely disappointed
(1)
Jerrilyn P.
I thought this restaurant would be better than this. I've been here in the past but years ago and I thought I would have the same experience but boy was I wrong (I think they changed management or something). We went there on Saturday evening around 6, and we were seated right away, but as soon as the waiter came over, he was not as friendly as I thought he would be. I am not a tourist and I know Miami customer service (not always the best) but I expect more from a tourist area. I ordered ceviche as an appetizer and churrasco for my main dish. The ceviche came out with fried plantains; one, the ceviche tasted very fishy and usually their ceviche is GREAT, and second, there was a hair in my plantains. When I told my waiter about the hair, instead of immediately taking my plate and apologizing, he asked me "where is the hair" as if to question me. Then my churrasco came out. Mind you, I ordered this medium. It came out DARK and not juicy at all. When I asked the waiter if this was their version of medium, he grabbed my plate took it to another waiter a few feet away, came back and said "this is well done, there is a little pink right there." I decided to just settle for what I got as I knew my waiter was not going to do anything for me. I ate a few bites of the steak, but it was tough to finish. I will NOT be going back to this place and will now have to find another cuban restaurant to enjoy a great churrasco. VERY disappointed.
(1)
Gala C.
overpriced and tasteless. not bad for tourist that have never had actual cuban food.
(2)
Gourmet G.
Salsa diva Gloria Estefan is one of the owners of this place-to-be-seen, and her success on the music charts has crossed over to the restaurant business as well. The decor in the spacious dining room is vibrantly alive with color - day-glow orange on the walls - and kitschy details - starburst chandeliers are suspended from the 'sky' above - and a couple of walls are papered with Latino news clippings. A mountain of outstanding Cuban food, some with Creole touches, overflows on the plates here. Lomo de puerco, roast pork loin with rice and beans, is spectacular. Add a side of tostones con mojo, fried plantains with a garlic-infused dipping sauce. Portions are huge; clearly the petite owner never cleans her plate when she eats here. Live music Thursday through Sunday nights and, while it didn't happen when I was there, Gloria is known occasionally to drop in and put on an impromptu show.
(5)
Annie T.
Gloria Estefan took my virginity. My Cuban food virginity. It was like a scene out of "When Harry Met Sally". I was making the Meg Ryan sounds, but I wasn't faking it. I ordered the ropa viega (shredded beef) and it was incredibly flavorful... just SOAKING in the good stuff (cuban sauce/peppers/onions). It came with a plate of sweet plantain (good god, those alone could bring me to a euphoric state) and mora rice with black beans mixed in. My friend also got the media noche sandwich and I snuck a bite. It was so GD delicious that I had to hunt down a media noche sammy place within a few blocks from our hotel the next day (and the day after that)... We were seated quickly, our server was great, food and drinks came out fast, and lastly, the atmosphere was so fun. We made the mistake of sitting outside (it was winddyyyy night in SoBe) because it was more fun inside... and warmer. That's my only regret. Thanks, Gloria, it was my first but certainly not my last.
(4)
J T.
Not bad, just not great. There are several other Cuban restaurants on Miami beach, but this was our first to try. We love Cuban food. We're hoping the others live up to their stellar reviews.
(3)
Jason K.
This Cuban tourist trap, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, has been around for years and remains a great place to people watch. The night I visited a few years ago, Lario's was filled with "beautiful people"...it was a little intimidating. Nevertheless, any apprehension was relieved by a couple of drinks. The food was surprisingly good...the skirt steak served with Chimichurri sauce was particularly tasty. The fried plantains were delicious but the black beans were pretty average. If you are a tourist visiting South Beach, this is a pretty good place to go for decent, unintimidating Cuban food.
(4)
Ashley S.
We ordered Ropa Vieja. Taste was great. The waitress left us after she brought us the food (literally, 7 mins after we ordered it) and didn't come back for about 30 min. We called someone else over to get us more to drink. They didn't tell us that they don't give refills. They asked us if we wanted more soda though, we said yes then they charged us 2.50 for it. So, NO REFILLS : ) Will I go back? Probably not. btw, If you choose to sit outside, be prepared to be harassed no matter what you wear.
(3)
Yirima V.
Good vaca frita!...only wish they had an avocado salad on the menu.
(4)
Christina S.
Headed to Little Havana originally we were told by our connoisseur at our hotel that we were "over dressed and being only ladies we should not go" We weren't wearing ball gowns but obviously our dresses and shorts were too much for a night out to Little Havana and we were redirected to go to Larios On The Beach. A little taxi ride from the Eden Roc we arrived to what was a busy night. Luckily we were able to grab a table out on the sidewalk perfect for interesting people watching and as the bottles of wine came the more interesting things would become. First off this place is theresturant of Gloria Estefan which brings in more fans and people wanting to dine at her place so it does get busy... It's a beautiful spot rich on the beach and winter in Miami is more like a cooler summer so outdoor dinning is better. We asked the waiter to suggest authentic Cuban food. I had the shredded chicken with the Moros y Cristianos (black rice) .. My friends had pork and other dishes. Everything was amazing however the only thing that annoyed us was when we ordered a bottle of Malbec the waiter brought out a different bottle. He didn't mention to us that they were out of the wine or that they could offer something similar. He brought out the bottle already opened. A bottle that was of a $10 difference. Poor service on his part. He obviously has no experience. So when we ordered our second bottle we had to make sure it was in fact the one we wanted before he brought out another $10 higher bottle of wine. We were not being cheap but come on??? Cheap move on his part.. So, note of caution make sure that they don't try to give you something other than your order and check the receipt. He didn't offer to adjust the price, no in fact because it was our friends birthday he said he brought out the tres leeches cake and took that off in place of the wine. Can you say LAME?? Oh, the Mojitos.. We all tried one.. I couldn't finish mine because it was too sweet even after I had asked for a pinch of sugar it still came out tasting like a cup of sugar. Apparently they ar known for the Mojitos and apparently every spot that I had one at makes them very sweet even after asking to go light on the sugar.. Apparently I am no fan of the Mojito.. But the sugar cane stick in there was cute. Food 5 stars the sheisty waiter 2 stars.. He did have good recommendations on the authentic food!
(3)
C B.
Lario's was great. I had a mango mojito which was excellent. The food was delicious as well. The staff was very friendly. It's a little more pricey but It's right on Ocean drive with a great view of the beach and excellent people watching opportunities.
(4)
Wendy O.
We visited Larios on vacation, great Cuban food, fun location in South Beach. I had pork...very tasty. Plantains good. Not crazy about the rice. Would recommend!
(4)
Liam D.
I've heard that the Cuban people are laid back and relaxed, which I'm cool with except when me and 10 of my famished family members roll up to a place looking to satisfy our hunger pangs. As per usual, I turned to Yelp to figure out what was good in nearby South Beach and Larios looked cool, so we went. Not often one can eat at Gloria Estefan's restaurants up north... We were seated at an enormous family-style table that looked like it was straight out of a hacienda. There was an enormous mirror behind it so we could all see everyone at the table easily. This was cool. We waited about 15 minutes for a waiter to speak to us. Yeah. 10 minutes just for "would you like to start with something to drink?" Speaking of, they have a really tempting looking beverage menu that includes delicious Mojitos and other rum-infused sweet beverages. We ordered food at the same time as drinks and then we waited. Some more. And then some more. And then some more. Our waiter kept coming back to clarify our order and state that they were "out of this" or "out of that," which made us all question whether he'd even input or order yet. Food came by way of a brash manager who acted like he was delivering the best damn food in Miami. How did he do so? By auctioning it off: "who had the...." "who had the..." "and who had the..." I'm cool with this at a table of 2 or 4, but when you're doing it at a table of 10, it not only gets annoying but it's pretty unprofessional. We had non-English speakers at the table, which made things tougher and caused me to snap at Benny Blanco from Da Bronx and say "Our waiter should know what we ordered... where is he?" The ass had the audacity to say, "well you should also know what you ordered, no?" If I wasn't surrounded by family, my response would not have been a good one. I had the Vaca Frita, which is fried beef. It's a lot like barbacoa from Chipotle, but has a bit of crispiness to it because it's pan fried - sort of like a "beef hash" minus the potatoes. It was definitely tasty. Others had seafood, skirt steak, cuban sandwiches, and salads. I was pretty impressed with the food, just not how long it took to order it, get it, or the way it was delivered. 1 star for good food. 2nd for a nice ambiance. Everything else about this place sucks. Stick to singing Gloria...
(2)
Joel J.
cuban! meat! their menu is really extensive. make sure to order one of the entres marked with the icon noting, "lario's favorites." all entrees come with a choice of regular rice or rice w/bean (get this one). you also get fried plantains .... fried or sweet. get the sweet ones. the patio was really busy at 7:00pm when we went. fortunately, we took the last table outside in the corner of the patio. try to come early if you want a prime seat outside. this is a GREAT place to get dinner before heading to the bar/clubs on ocean drive.
(3)
Julia A.
This place will always be a favorite of mine no matter what, because it is here that I was first introduced to the toasty, porky, melty-cheesy deliciousness that is a Cuban sandwich. After tromping around in the South Beach humidity and then spending a couple hours sprawled on the beach, we decided to come here as there were those of us not acquainted with Cuban food and wanting to give it a try, and we were all so very glad we did. Plantains, black beans, and rice were delish, but the sandwich really did it for me: ham, pork, Swiss cheese, a touch of mustard, on Cuban bread, toasted in a sandwich press until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted...so yummy! Dunno if I was just damned hungry that day or what, but I do believe that was the best sandwich I've ever eaten! Hubby says the mojitos are good too (I don't like mojitos, though, so you'll have to take his word for it). Sometimes there's a band and the place is packed to the rafters, sometimes it's nearly empty, but either way, try the food, it's great!
(5)
Cher E.
Besides the beach, the only other thing that mattered to me on this trip to Miami was awesome Cuban food. We stumbled upon Lario's and it was pretty good. Our server wasn't particularly bright or responsive and when we asked him questions about the menu, he had a hard time coming up with answers. Picadillo is always my fave Cuban dish and it was pretty tasty, although a little simple compared to others I've tried. We also ordered the steak with chimichuri sauce which was a very small portion. The sangria was definitely sub-par and I think this may be the first time ever that I didn't finish the carafe. Prices were fair, especially compared to many of the other restaurants along Ocean Dr. There was great live music and a very sexy couple dancing salsa which provided some great eye candy as we completed our meal.
(3)
Stefanie R.
The mojitos here are the BEST!!!. Just the right amount of everything in those things. The watermelon and razz mojitos are the drinks to have at this place. I can usually drink about 2 because they don't water down the drinks!!! I'm convinced the owners of this place want you to get super buzzed so you have a good time. I just moved from Miami and I'm really gonna miss this place. When you're able to catch the band it'll be a really fun night. They say that Gloria Estefan makes a visit every once in a while to sing with the band but unfortunatley I was never able to catch her when we had dinner there. This place is one of the most mellowest spots on South Beach. We're always able to get a table right away, this place has great service and the waiters and waitresses are friendly. The food is good, not mind blowing good - but good. They make a good cubano (cuban sandwhich) and they have excellent plantanos, beans and rice. Try the cod fritters and the cuban spring rolls as appetizers. For dinner have a steak or the roasted chicken - or any other dish that you wanna try. But don't go to South Beach without stopping at Larios.
(4)
Kane K.
For years, Larios was a Miami institution. Kind of touristy, yes but it was the place to go for people who never visited Miami before and get a hint of Cuban food. Well, not anymore. And I'm certain if Gloria ate what I ate, she would be appalled. I ordered everything that was a Larios favorite. I had the cod fritters and the roast chicken. Cod fritters.....where to begin....it had the consistency of a dishwashing sponge. I'd like to say it tasted like one too. I have a feeling that they just reheated it in the microwave because it had absolutely no crunch as if it just came out of hot oil. It was horrible. Service? I think our waitress was about to fall asleep on us. My roast chicken? It was around for so long and then put under a broilder that there was chicken "jerky" at the top of the dish. Im sorry to say but I will never visit Larios again. I will save the embarassment of bringing my friends there.
(1)
Victoria H.
were all these people eating at the same place i ate! this place was horrible... the service was the worst i ever had probly cause they already added there tip and didnt care how they treated there people...our food took forever we got no bread not even water. i would never recommend this place to anyone
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Britt M.
Larios seems to be one of the only Cuban restaurants on Ocean, which is a welcome surprise since every other restaurant on the strip seems to serve the same thing (salad, pasta, sandwich, etc.) It's a bit overpriced, but has a lively ambiance and Latin music, nice outdoor seating for fun people watching on Ocean, and some tasty Cuban fare. For starters, I had some little plantain chip cups that were filled with shrimp, ground meat, and a tomato sauce that was pretty flavorful. The ropa vieja (shredded beef) was tasty, and the mango shrimp original, if a bit buttery. I love some meat with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, so most of the meals here were pretty satisfying. The only disappointing thing we ordered here was a pork chop with some onions and lime, which was surprisingly bland for all the supposed ingredients. Entrees run roughly $20, which is a bit expensive since you can find authentic Cuban cuisine for much cheaper off Ocean. The drinks were very good - pina coladas are made here with spiced rum and have a nice kick that I haven't had elsewhere. The mojitos are also yummy, with real sugar cane sticks to chew on. Overall a fun, tasty, experience, if a bit pricey for what you get !
(4)Wendy T.
My girlfriends and I had dinner here while we were staying in Miami. I thought the food was OK. I order the dish with all the seafood in it. I forget what the name was, but the waiter said it was a popular dish. The food took extremely long to come out! When it finally did it wasn't that satisfying, I mean it wasn't bad it was just ok. The bread they gave was pretty good but it looked like garlic bread that I could have made at home. The service was slow. It took us awhile to get any attention from the servers and they hardly came by to check up on us, We were a party of 10 girls too. The only good thing I can say is the restaurant was really beautiful inside. Service and food need a little bit of improvement.
(2)alibee i.
I should have known that this was not the place for me when I read on the menu about their other location in Disney World. Short version of this review: If you want Disney World Cuban Food then this is the place for you. If you want authentic Cuban food then go elsewhere. First it took the waiter forever to come and take my order but hey I wasn't in a rush so not a big deal. When he did finally make it over I wanted to start off by ordering a drink but he wanted to get my whole order (so he wouldn't have to come back again in a few minutes?). Ok fine I knew what I wanted - mojito, fish enchilado, rice, plantains, black beans. Mojito came out literally 1 min later. Before I could even say "Jiminy Cricket!" (cause really I was thinking that :) out came all my food! Wow! I guess when it's all pre-made and ready to be poured and scooped, food just pops right out of the kitchen. The ($11!) mojito was watery and I couldn't taste any mint. (Kinda makes me wonder what the green stuff at the bottom of the glass was now that I think about it.) The enchilado sauce was also watery and bland. The fish "cubes" in the sauce were completely unidentifiable. The beans were equally bland and very thick as in they'd been sitting on a stove all day. The rice and plantains were ok as in not screwed up but nothing special. Overall a completely flavorless meal. And of course being in South Beach, make that an expensive flavorless meal!
(2)Jane D.
After eating at Cha Cha Chas in SF or Versailles in LA, this Cuban restaurant wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Maybe I don't know Cuban. Anyways, I felt like the portions weren't that large and I left hungry. I like the venue. There is seating out doors and its a great place to have dinner and people watch. The service is okay, nothing to write a postcard home to mom about. The girl who waited on us looked and acted as if we were waisting her time. Sorry I just wanted a bottle of Tabasco sauce. No tip for you! Although I wasn't to impressed with the food, I thought the atmosphere was super fun. I'd go back and try something else. Maybe it'll be different.
(3)Miriam W.
Ok, so when I made up my mind to buy a place in Miami FL, having never lived there and only visited once in my life, I came out with a friend and we whiled away 10 days. They included wandering with my real estate agent, picking my condo, and 3 meals, particularly desserts, at Lario's. This place is forever a sweet memory. It's not awesome but it's evocative. It's the essence that gives it the 4th star. And the fact Gloria owns it and sometimes shows up to sing/eat in it. The food is not amazing. Sometimes the meat is dry or not as flavorful as it can be. Our first night was loud (in a good way) with a singer up not with a band but with a pre-recorded CD. She was good. However, in the 7 songs I think we heard, 3 were repeats. Honestly, I can sing better. So alas, no sign of Gloria singing. But, the food is ok. The service isn't amazing. But the desserts, my god, the desserts. And the plantanos ... and the mood ... and the location ... and the mood ... Something about it is sexy. I don't know why, it just is. Dark wood, terra cotta colors, loud music, hard drinks, a band, the palm trees outside and the great wide ocean and beach and breeze. You come with a big group and laugh and chat. We did that when I threw a big dinner to have friends come out and party with me. You come with a lover and you seduce each other over the desserts and walk the beach and get it on ... Whatever. Just get your sexyback. I HIGHLY reccommend getting some key items: - plantanos - flan con queso (it's richer than traditional flan) - shredded coconut. i don't know what it's called, can't remember, but you put that with the flan and you are frickin having orgasms right there with your mojito or whatever else it is you're trying to drink and sit up straight with. stay away from the guava unless you're cuban or you know what you're doing. that mess will give you a diabetic attack.
(4)Sharie B.
Stopped in for dinner with some friends last night. Nice Ocean Drive spot complete with Ocean Drive prices. The food was good, I had the liver and a mojito. My friend had the potato ball, minced meat appetizer which was really good. Finished dinner with a Bongos cortadito (Cuban coffee shot, steamed milk and abit of condensed milk suprise at the bottom - very nice. For all the Cuban food in Miami you are paying for the location more than the quality of the food.
(3)Lakeya C.
Yum, yum, yum....my mouth waters just thinking of my delicious food.. I had ropa vieja (shredded beef), black beans and rice, and sweet plaintains....delicious! I've had cuban food in NYC before, but this beat everything else CUBAN I've tasted hands down...this was the best restaurant my friends and I ate at while in MIami and we ate at quite a few...I can't wait to come back and try something new.
(5)Amy Jo A.
ate outside during spring break..a bit chilly in march..ocean drive was busy as usual..got lechon asado..and arroz con pollo..both were great...a bit pricey for cuban food...wait staff were nice...mojitos looked good didnt have one...food got cold because of weather..good place for locals and tourists.
(4)giovanni g.
I had dinner at Larios a couple weeks ago and yes its the SOBE experience...nice setting along Ocean Dr on a warm night...cant beat that! But when it came to the food I was a little dissapointed. I knew the place was owned by Gloria Estefan who also owns Bongos. When we were seated the waiter brought us Bongos menus with the exact same items. I was looking forward to a new twist at Larios but had to settle for the same Bongos dining experience. The food is not bad here...its actually pretty tasty but it doesnt blow anyone away. The prices are typical for SOBE and the portions are a good size. If you are looking for more of an authentic cuban food experience I would not go here if I were you. The staff was very helpful and knew the menu very well. Overall I had a good time here and recommend it specially if you are looking for a night out on Ocean Drive.
(3)Tiffany D.
This place was amazing. Their menu is HUGE and their mojitos and sangria is really good. You MUST order the fried plaintain cups filled with shrimp AND beef (order it half and half!!!)... my Shrimp in mango sauce was AMAZING it was this velvety yogurty mango sauce and my dinner date ordered the cuban steak - you should get it down medium rare because it's a very thin flank/skirt steak. The service was great and they have so many different kinds of flan to choose from. I got the tres leches cake (they also have a quatro leches haha) and it was really good..
(5)June L.
food was great, service sucks, great location, great atmosphere.....fun place...would give it a 4 start if service was better.
(3)Jason U.
Owned by Gloria Estefan! Authentic Cuban food overlooking the ocean..Cant go wrong here!!
(3)Irene W.
A decent enough place, but nothing overly spectacular in the grand scheme of things. I can't speak to how authentic it is, but I've had better Cuban food at places like Versailles in LA. They have a huge menu so I was a bit overwhelmed with choice. I settled for fried shredded chicken on a sizzling plate, and though the chicken was a bit on the dry side I enjoyed the hint of tanginess in the flavoring. It's actually quite a lot of chicken with onions, and a little dry/boring to eat with white rice. I would recomend ordering a few different dishes and sharing with friends to get different tastes of everything. My friends ordered their famous seafood combo stew, and that was very tasty - it had lobster, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari in a slightly spicy tangy creole sauce. Some other friends ordered a fried rice kind of dish and that was ok. All in all not a bad place for a decent, moderately priced meal on Ocean Drive in South Beach.
(3)Ali D.
We had a great dinner here on our trip to Miami. Everyone told us we should go there for cuban food, but we were a little confused when we got to the restaurant and were seated and then saw that the menu said Bongos and not Larios... we thought we had accidentally walked into the wrong restaurant! The live music was nice, but definitely a little loud. The surrounding crowd was also loud though, it seemed like a popular place for groups to go. Of course, a mojito is required, and I ordered the pulled chicken which I thought was very tasty (as opposed to a recent reviewer). It was one of my favorite meals on our trip to Miami. I can't remember what my fiance had, but he enjoyed his meal as well, something chicken. I am sure there are some more authentic restaurants in Miami, we were told in Little Cuba, but the cab ride out there would have cost a small fortune! And we were told it wasn't that safe - by Cubans - and they recommended Larios. We were thankful for the recommendations and the nice dinner we had. We must have missed where they noted how much tip they automatically charged on the menu though, but they do include it when you are billed, so make sure you don't double tip like we almost did!
(4)Rob C.
I think it gets extra stars because of its location. Loud live music, upstairs and downstairs areas. Food is fine for a touristy destination. Use the street garage parking lots for this area--i.e. 7th and Collins, 13 and Collins, 12th and Drexel.
(3)Maureen H.
This place was pretty good. It has a great south beach feel to it. I'd definitely take newcomers there. Live music and a cute little bar/lounge area make it inviting and very not San jose-ish. :)
(3)Viann B.
Food was not as good this year. Steak was not as tender, black beans were too soupy. Maybe it was because we did not get to dine outside near the sidewalk. Maybe the ambiance had something to do with the taste? The mojitos are still very good.
(3)shelly p.
Larios on the Beach is a Cuban experience. This restaurant features live music, Island ambiance and some of the best Cuban food in Miami. The plantains, and rice and black beans are amazing meats and fish off the grill are mouth watering and inspired with flavorful unique spices that have not yet crept into the mainstream American dining palate. The coconut flan is out of this world and a great way to finish an amazing dinner. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is polished yet festive.
(4)Ame L.
I was expecting so much more from Laurio's. The waiter hovered over our table the entire night, which was awkward and he wasn't any help on food selections. The timing on the food was bad and our glasses were empty most of the time. Felt really rushed and dinner from appetizers to dessert was just over an hour. Food was moderate. Guess I was hoping for more with the hype.
(3)Donna J.
pretty much a tourist trap like all the other restaurants with their umbrellas and patio tables out front. service was ok. food was overpriced. drinks were ok. all i'm gonna say is you better be able to get a decent cuban sandwich if gloria is backing you, can't give you bonus points for doing that right. maristas de puerco were dry. enchilaso de pescado were delicious actually! you earn some stars for that dish. overall, i guess i can say i wasn't that impressed and regret not going to a hole in the wall for the same quality (if not better) authentic cuban grub. my bad. wouldn't recommend to others for the price that was paid.
(3)Danielle M.
MMM MMM Good! I love cuban food and not only was the food incredible but the ambiance, the beach, palm trees, live band just made it all the better. Sangra is delicious!
(4)choad x.
Overpriced. You pay to see and be seen by the other tourists. Versailes is a better deal.
(2)Janice S.
Ambiance and music is very miami. Sat very close to the band which is pleasure and a what?!? i can't hear my thoughts i forgot what else i had cuban but had an enjoyable meal and it wasn't too pricey for Miami Beach. In my eyes, i judge cuban food by the taste of the plantains and these were pretty damn good. Had the steak and liked the flavors. Service was fast. Pretty authentic and worth a visit if it's your first time to South Beach.
(4)Tiffany B.
I think that people just like to dislike things that others love just to be different. First off, I'm not going to say that I know or understand Cuban food. I can only go off my taste buds. After being disappointed with several mediocre and over priced restaurants w/ TERRIBLE service, Larios was by far the best in Miami Beach. My girlfriend and I shared a pitcher of Sangria for $20 and the food was delicious! With disappointment surrounding us, we were starting to lose faith in Miami Beach. All we were looking for was a nice restaurant w/ good food and Larios def hit the spot! We were in heaven! It was a great end to our trip with a belly full of yummy food!
(5)Lynnette P.
The food was alright....nothing to oogle over. I ordered the fish...i believe it was pescado plancha. Kinda dry, but good. Rice was ok...I was really bummed that I didn't get any beans with it. What kind of latin place serves rice with no beans??? and it's Cuban too!!! well, the big question is will i have come here? The answer.....NO!! I just have to say...NEXT!!!
(2)Dawnn M.
I ate at Lario's during a vacation and really enjoyed the food. The portions are huge. The sweet plantains are a must! It was a bit congested during the evening hours. Also, I would not recommend eating on the sidewalk anytime after 7:00 pm...the people walking by are virtually a part of your party! Overall good food, but average service.
(3)Sarah B.
My husband and I came to Miami with one goal in mind when it came to food - Cuban, Cuban and more Cuban. This place was good, but I like my local Cuban restaurant at home better - thus the 3 stars. How can a Cuban place in Portland be better than one in Miami? I ordered the Vaca Frita which was great, but was pretty dry and so I had to borrow mojo sauce from my husbands meal. The plantains are good and we finished with a rum flan which was also good. I had the red sangria, which I didn't think was anything to write home about. My husband had a grilled steak which he absolutely loved. It wasn't a bad place, but we'll try some different options next time before returning.
(3)Bill F.
From our initial seating to the service and the food, we were very disappointed. We ordered skirt steak and Roast Pork. Two of our favorite Cuban dishes. Very dissapointed with both. The pork was full of huge chunks of fat. The portions were small and even the rice was lousy. The skirt steak was not tasty and poor cut of meat. Very thinand tough too. The service was also very weak, and although we arrived early for dinner on a Sunday, they were not busy but the staff seemed like they didnt care. Maybe because we didn't speak the local language, Spanish, but you would think that any rest on South Beach would go above and beyond to impress. I can understand if the food is not always the best, but when the service too is poor, it really ruins any chance of a good meal. It not the waiters fault if the food is bad, but if you wait tables and expect to make money, then they should do the best they can. Even when food is not good, if the service is, we always tip extremely well. Not so here. Poor food and poor service.
(2)Moiraes Y.
Not too good...we had the cuban sandwiches and it was mediocre. The place smelled like toilet cleaning solution and the prices were a bit too much for the quality. Honestly, the cuban hole in the wall in my local neighborhood has sandwiches for $4.25 that are 10x better.
(1)Andrea G.
Super yummy with great service! It was a great place to sit outside, have a drink and a good meal. The inside is really cute and loungey, and they had space set up for a live band (though no one was playing when I was there). I would love to come here again when I return to South Beach.
(5)Kylee C.
I don't want to waste anyones time.... I just want to say DON'T GO. We found a plastic tube (like you would find in a microwavable meal), when we complained, the inept manager offered us free dessert, obviously we are not interested in dessert after the bad meal. We planned to have a nice upscale meal from here and we were sorely disappointed
(1)Cindy C.
Situated right along Ocean drive, overlooking beautiful South Beach, this restaurant (one of the several owned by Gloria Estefan) serves authentic Cuban cuisine for affordable prices (considering its prime location). I ordered the Churrasco - a skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce over a bed of white rice and fried plantains. I usually like my steak medium-well (a little bit of red), but my 'medium-well' skirt steak came back to me well done, much to my disappointment. However the chimi-churri sauce was very unique and an agreeable combination to the steak. I also ordered the South Beach Mojito (containing a hint of SoBe and limon). Not too impressed, but I had a couple sips of their Watermelon Mojito and it deserves a thumbs up. I recommend their plantain chips, which are long, thin and crispy strips of fried plantain drizzled with minced garlic with a spicy cuban twist. The strange thing about this place is that you have to order your beans on the side, separate from your entree. Surprising for a Cuban restaurant, but a small price to pay for an overall satisfying meal. The only gripe worth mentioning about this restaurant is that they seated our party of 5 right on the edge of the curb - gorgeous view, but far from comfy. We had to scrape food off several of our plates and consolidate upon serving, in order to fit all of our food and drinks on the table. I would definitely go back to this restaurant and try some of the other items on their extensive menu... but next time- I'm sitting inside.
(3)Daniela A.
This place is a MUST if you are visiting Miami. It's the ultimate Cuban South Beach experience. The food is pretty good, but not amazing (well, with the exception of the mojitos, platanos, black beans and rice. The pork dishes looked pretty good, but I didn't try them. I ordered the lobster, which was a big mistake. It was incredibly expensive but it was only mediocre. The star foods of my dinner were definitely the simpler things I tried (the things I already mentioned, such as plantains, etc). You are probably asking yourself, by this point, why I am rating this place five stars if the food wasn't THAT great. Well, because the food was definitely good, but more importantly, the ambiance was UNBEATABLE. Simply eating at this place and breathing in the festive atmosphere while listening to an amazing salsa band (and I'm dead serious when I say that these musicians were amazing) and watching people dance salsa like they've been dancing it since the womb was enough to make me just want to come back to the Bay Area, pack up my bags and move to Miami. It was THAT great.
(5)Ratul N.
So the place is owned by Gloria Estefan. I wouldn't really recommend going there if there is no band playing, because it was empty. But if there is a band, its definitely worth it and fun. Their ceviche was good!
(3)Adam M.
I just don't understand the hype on this place. The location is great but the service was horrible and the prices were way to high for the quality and the amount. I ordered a soda as well as a beer. My soda came in a rocks glass with ice. Guess what, no free refills! $10 for soda later, as well as $12 for coffee for my companion! You have to be kidding. The food was completely uninspiring. One dinner was cold, the other, hot but undercooked. The service left a LOT to be desired. Our waitress would disappear for long lenghts of time and then would flirt with the table of model wannabe's instead of waiting on her other tables. Go somewhere, anywhere, else.
(1)Jerrilyn P.
I thought this restaurant would be better than this. I've been here in the past but years ago and I thought I would have the same experience but boy was I wrong (I think they changed management or something). We went there on Saturday evening around 6, and we were seated right away, but as soon as the waiter came over, he was not as friendly as I thought he would be. I am not a tourist and I know Miami customer service (not always the best) but I expect more from a tourist area. I ordered ceviche as an appetizer and churrasco for my main dish. The ceviche came out with fried plantains; one, the ceviche tasted very fishy and usually their ceviche is GREAT, and second, there was a hair in my plantains. When I told my waiter about the hair, instead of immediately taking my plate and apologizing, he asked me "where is the hair" as if to question me. Then my churrasco came out. Mind you, I ordered this medium. It came out DARK and not juicy at all. When I asked the waiter if this was their version of medium, he grabbed my plate took it to another waiter a few feet away, came back and said "this is well done, there is a little pink right there." I decided to just settle for what I got as I knew my waiter was not going to do anything for me. I ate a few bites of the steak, but it was tough to finish. I will NOT be going back to this place and will now have to find another cuban restaurant to enjoy a great churrasco. VERY disappointed.
(1)Gala C.
overpriced and tasteless. not bad for tourist that have never had actual cuban food.
(2)Gourmet G.
Salsa diva Gloria Estefan is one of the owners of this place-to-be-seen, and her success on the music charts has crossed over to the restaurant business as well. The decor in the spacious dining room is vibrantly alive with color - day-glow orange on the walls - and kitschy details - starburst chandeliers are suspended from the 'sky' above - and a couple of walls are papered with Latino news clippings. A mountain of outstanding Cuban food, some with Creole touches, overflows on the plates here. Lomo de puerco, roast pork loin with rice and beans, is spectacular. Add a side of tostones con mojo, fried plantains with a garlic-infused dipping sauce. Portions are huge; clearly the petite owner never cleans her plate when she eats here. Live music Thursday through Sunday nights and, while it didn't happen when I was there, Gloria is known occasionally to drop in and put on an impromptu show.
(5)Gabriela P.
The food was amazing! We had a very large party and I had to keep reminding the servers about things I ordered that they forgot about (like my drinks). I ordered the care asada and the meat was tender and very flavorful. I had a few bites of boyfriend's Tour of Cuba which had a little bit of everything and everything I tried on that plate was amazing (ropa vieja was to die for). I will be returning to this place next time I am in Miami.
(4)Michael B.
Great lunch menu here, with a flare for the Cuban taste. Check out my photos of the lunch course.
(4)Tony R.
Like almost everything on the Miami strip this restaurant was expensive. We waited a long time and the place wasn't even packed. Just as we were getting ready to leave, a server came over. I'm glad we waited because the food was delicious and we really wanted Cuban. I ordered the pork. It was tender and flavorful. The rice was a nice side as well as the plantains. All of our drinks had bamboo which we wondered if they reused the bamboo. We asked multiple employees, and to our surprise they said yes, not sure if they really understood what we were asking.
(3)Taleen B.
WOW is all I have to say!!!! I have never been to a Cuban restaurant before so everything on the menu was new to me. We kept ordering and ordering food literally by the time we were finished we were in food coma. We even got lucky to have some left overs which still tasted so delicious the next day. We sat outside enjoyed our first night out in Miami for dinner went inside enjoyed the live band which so many people were dancing inside. It was really a different experience that I loved. I would literally fly from LA to Miami just to have dinner here again!!!!
(5)Nick B.
The food was amazing! Get the empanadas as an appetizer, try all three options, you must try the pulled pork and bean and rice blend. The sweet plantains kicked butt and every mixed drink in our party was on point. Server was great and accommodating with pics and my request for coasters to take home. A+ on decor and music too. Highlight of my trip so far from this California boy
(5)Alexis W.
My fiance and I were visiting Miami for Labor Day weekend and I was excited to check this place out! The interior is beautiful..whimsical, elegant, and beachy. For such an upscale vibe I was surprised that there was no dress code what so ever. You could wear flip flops and a tank! But I think that's the norm in South Beach. In Hollywood there is no way in hell they'd let you in. We ordered from the "fancy" side of the menu. Which was a 3 course dinner with a very small, yet satisfying, selection. Appetizer- My fiance had the fried pork. I had the ahi tuna. Both were very delicious! Main Course- He had the pork dish and I had the shredded chicken which came with black beans and rice. Really tasty! Dessert- He had the rice pudding and I had the vanilla pudding. This course was just okay. I would've preferred a heartier dessert like cake, pie, or brownies. To drink I had a sparkling lychee/peach 'tini. Really good and packed with a punch. If this restaurant were in LA we'd be there all of the time. The best part is that it was A LOT less expensive than I thought it would be. Very happy with my experience here :) Whoops forgot something!..I'm not a bitchy yelper.. but ok the host was rude. That's the only negative. I asked him how long the wait was for a table inside and he said he didn't know. C'mon dude! I was a host years ago and there's a a system to it. A screen that says what courses each table is on etc. So for example if table 10 is on dessert.. well then u can imagine that it'd probably be available in 15 minutes or so. If every table has just been seated well then it will be quite some time. Don't just say you don't know. Ok I'm done :)
(5)Tae G.
Usually when I travel, I want ethnic food or something I can't get at home. My cousins and I stopped at this place because we heard it was good. Asuper friendly waiter also enticed us to have a seat and indulge. The waiter was a fast talker with limited English. But, he did a great job with suggesting multiple food items and drinks. First off, the drinks were very good. I had a coconut mojito. It was one of the best I've had! Two cousins had mango mojitos and the other had a recommended mixed drink that looked like a Long Island iced tea. We all tasted each other's and found they were strong and good. I ordered a steamed veggie platter with black beans and plantain. The plantain...just right.mveggies were a bit greasy, but had really good flavors. All of us shared an appetizer platter which included cheeseballs, fried fish, hummus with crispy plantain chips, and bacon wrapped plantain. The hummus was bomb.com !! I couldn't get enough. Aside from the food, drinks, and excellent waiter, the inside had a nice, elegant decor. It was a pretty cream color and felt refreshing to be in after walking in the hot sun. The bathrooms were down this long marble and stair-filled hallway. Just gorgeous! Food and drinks were costly, but hey...it was Miami Beach in the summer and I won't complain.
(4)Jenn H.
The indoor seating was very nice. Pretty decor & there was a live cuban band playing. Great selection of appetizers, entrees & sandwiches. There was only 1 waiter who could understand English it seems & he was very helpful in making the recommendation - The empanadas were delicious. I asked for a virgin pina calada & it was super yummy.
(4)Eric O.
This is some of the best Cuban food I've ever had (and I'm Cuban). Larios has the best of everything...awesome location in the middle of South Beach, amazing authentic Cuban food, and great music and atmosphere. It's one of several restaurants owned by Gloria Estefan around Miami. We started the night out with some mojitos, which are amazing here. They come with a stick of pure sugar cane and everything. I ordered the vaca frita, and it was hands down the best I've ever had...they serve it here to you on a skillet. All of our sides, like maduros, rice, etc. where all flawless. We capped the meal with some Tres Leches for dessert, also the best Tres Leches I've ever had - you have to try it. Our server, Pablo, was a machine and was reading our mind throughout the whole meal. Wish I could eat here every night. Don't miss out on Larios if you're near South Beach!
(5)Yarimar C.
The best cuban food I have had!! everytime I go I try something different and each plate is amazing- My personal favorite is la Ropa Vieja which is delicious!!!!.
(5)Never M.
I was really hoping to see Gloria here! :-( But the food made up for that. The service was bad. Our waiter hovered ALOT and was also very rude, short and abrupt. But then again so was the rest of the staff. My boyfriend had a steak cuban which was outstanding, yours truly had a garlic shrimp dish with the best jasmine rice ever. We went for lunch and had 2 drinks each no dessert. This "lunch" cost my boyfriend $115.
(3)Esmeralda P.
I was pleasantly surprised!!! If you love cuban food this is the place in Miami Beach. Great food, Servers are awesome and the mojitos the best!!! The prices are good too. Being in a huge group of people we had bad luck at another place. But here they were on the ball!!! We tried their lunch to see and came back with reservations for dinner. I go back to Miami I will go there again and again. I have tried Cuban food before and at several places back at home but in Miami Beach I felt it was close to it all and you couldnt go wrong here. Service is great. She was patient with us and got the order right every single time. Cheers!
(5)Kaustav M.
Awesome location, atmosphere, sweet plantains, shrimp criolla, sangria and service. We wanted to try Cuban food and certainly this was a good start! I didn't know it was owned by Gloria Estefan but what the heck, it was awesome!
(4)Ian P.
Went to larios on a Saturday night with 6 people. I had the roast pork which was delicious. There were several fatty pieces that I didn't like but I know some people love that. Several friends had the Cuban steak and loved it. The moro rice was decent but kind of plain, and the sweet plantains are definitely yummy. The fried plantains are fairly dry and bland so the sweet ones are a no brainer. I had the guava martini which was yummy but very sweet. Fair prices, and the ambience is very loud as they have a dance floor in the front but the music is great. Would definitely go again.
(3)David F.
Wow everything we got at this place was awesome! Ropa Vieja, plantains, tamales, fried pork and the mojitos! So good! I want to go back!
(4)Rob E.
My wife and I wanted some authentic Cuban food while on a weekend trip to Miami. It was either Larios or Puerto Sagua and we choose Larios because of its proximity to our hotel and atmosphere (Puerto Sagua looks like a diner). We originally were going to sit outside but we could immediately tell that the service was going to be very slow and we would probably be forgotten about. So, we decided to switch to a table indoors. We ordered the Ceviche to begin with. It was a nice and refreshing beginning to our meal and we both enjoyed it. For the entree, we both had the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, rice and black beans on the side along with plantains. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and we both enjoyed it. We washed everything down with a carafe of red sangria, which was ok (bit on the sweet side). Only negative thing about this restaurant is the pace of the service. We felt like they were rushing us out, probably so they could turn through as many tables as possible on a Friday night. There's a 50/50 chance we would go back again. I think next time we would opt for the more casual Puerto Sagua and give it a try for something more authentic.
(3)Brian F.
I recommend this restaurant, but if you're looking to ave your socks knocked off, go elsewhere. Perhaps the people I was with simply raised my expecations to a lace where they could not be met but either way I walked away feeling a little, well, underwhelmed. I was there two nights this week. The first night I had the seafood combo that was highly recommended and the second night I had the marsitas de puerco. The former was good with a reasonable amount of shellfish and a broth that was decently seasoned. I like big flavors and I was told by the server to expect big flavors, but it simply didn't deliver. Again, it was good, just not great. The latter, a pork dish, was very flavorful, but the pieces were so dry for the most part except two or three of the last pieces that were perfect. The unevenness was disappointing. The menu for the most part is reasonable and affordable. The ambiance is fun and lively and you feel like you're in a really nice restaurant, but the prices are reasonable.
(3)Aboud Y.
I love Larios and the food and atmosphere never disappoint. Its one of my favorite places in Miami for lunch/dinner and people watching.
(4)Eric L.
Good food, prices reasonable for Ocean Ave. Sit outside to people watch. Best Mojito I had in S. Beach.
(4)James M.
Our fav Cuban in South Beach for 3 years. The "Luxury", rum mojito is the best in my life- had on several occasions. Roast pork, fatty as expected,but the best in my life. People watching great. Side mixed vegetables excellent. They include asparagus!
(5)Jennifer M.
We decided to eat here based on reviews. I'm so glad we did! It's so tasty. The decor is fun with lit up chairs in the waiting area. We wanted to eat outside but they couldn't accommodate a party of six so we sat inside. The have live entertainment that plays outside and inside. We had the potato balls (can't remember the name) and the pork tamale. The tamale was so moist but lacked pork. The potatoes balls were delicious. I ordered the Cuban style skirt steak with chimichurri. That steak was a-MAZING! And the chimichurri was just as good I ordered extra and poured it on my rice and beans. Their mojitos are stiff. Service was great. We really enjoyed this place and will visit again when in Miami.
(5)Anabelle B.
I had a great experience at Larios On The Beach. Food was great, service was good and prices are expected for a place in South Beach owned by a celebrity. I would definitely go back. Unfortunately the crowd is very predictable, hot dudes with flashy/tacky clothes and hot chicks with fake boobs and Versace bags, very South Beach.
(4)Shannon M.
I figured that being in SoBe I had to have Cuban food and what better place to eat than with a view of the ocean across the street. Now I knew this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant (or at least it used to be since the menus now say 'Bongos'?) but I expected much more from the decor and the food. I felt like I was in a slightly upscale Chilis. It seemed very touristy and I knew that couldn't be a good sign. I think the best food here are the mojitos, which were really good, otherwise I was pretty disappointed. The ceviche was practically inedible - the fish was chewy and tasted like it had been soaked in lime juice for days. I actually wasn't even sure the fish was good, so saving myself a night of praying to the porcelain g-d I only ate a small amount. I had the fried pulled chicken with grilled onions - it was ok, but didn't have a lot of flavor. The mixed rice with beans was better and so were the sweet plantains, but those are kind of hard to screw up. We passed on dessert since we had a huge lunch and assumed their flan was probably nothing to write home about. The live music was a nice touch, but also annoying when you're trying to have a conversation. Also holiday songs sung in Spanish doesn't really say latin/cuban to me. I'm sure there are so many better cuban restaurants in Miami - probably most not on Ocean Dr. - that are probably better worth the money spent.
(2)Henry R.
Bloody Mary drinks are weak. Your better off getting a V8. Sandwiches are not bad just nothing to brag about. This place has a sign saying they have the best Cuban food. If your going to make that claim you better bring it !!! Larios you may be good but no the best.
(2)J. K.
Too many mojitos to choose from, mango mojito was great! We had pork based appetizers, shrimp cariolla, skirt steak, chimchiri pork, etc. Dim lighting inside made it impossible to figure out what on earth we were eating, but tasted great nonetheless. It seemed to be at the end of the Ocean Drive's many restaurants that try to lure you in. Great find. Great way to end a night. I wish I had a mojito.
(4)Zeela D.
Otherwise known as Gloria Estefan's "Bongos" restaurant, this place is a great way to experience Cuban Food and enjoy the view of Ocean Drive in Miami. My sister and I shared the combo appetizer which included fried pork chunks, shrimp on a fried plantain, tamale with sweet corn and pork, and a fried pork ball similar to an empanada. I ordered the minced beef with fried plantains and rice mixed with red beans. For dessert I had a Cuban coffee with condensed milk and the cinnamon rice pudding. I have tried the Bongos restaurant in Orlando, but this one has more of an authentic atmosphere and ambiance. So if you are in the Miami Beach area, then you need to do as Gloria Estefan says and "Get on your feet!" and go to Bongos!
(4)Lia K.
Awesome Palm tree views, strong mojitos, delicious, huge portions of cuban style skirt steak, maduros, fried yucca, and shrimp crilloa. We left stuffed but wanting to stick around to dance.
(4)Cindy F.
The food was decent, however I became violently ill after eating here. 48 hours of N/V/D and an ER visit. No Yumma
(1)John C.
This place rocks! I took my wife here for our first date when we moved to Miami. We're not normally the South Beach types, but dinner here kicked off a night that we'll remember for a long time! The interior was incredible, the wait staff was friendly, the atmosphere was fancy and fun all at the same time - and then our food!!.... Wow. Fantastic eats with very reasonable prices for South Beach! I've eaten at probably a dozen cuban joints since eating here and none have been better than Larios on the Beach.
(5)Kevin A.
LIFE LESSON #34783: AVOID RESTAURANTS OWNED BY CELEBRITIES Oh Gloria...oye MI canto... I had high expectations of Larios, but they sadly were not met. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the live Cuban music is a nice touch. But the food and service sadly fell short. The pork chunks were plentiful, but lacked the flavor of Puerto Sagua's version. The mojitos are a ridiculous $11 and are made too sweet for American-ized tastes. Not at all like the ones I had in Havana. And finally, the paella Valencia. Lots of seafood including a small lobster tail, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams, but a little too soupy and lacking the intoxicating saffron flavor I was craving. Also, I felt totally ripped off when ordering this dish. The menu says that the dish is for two people, but DOES NOT state that the $38 price is PER PERSON. $76 for a plate of paella? Yes there was a small lobster tail in there, but that's a little ridiculous. Our waiter was unapologetic and we left feeling like we got screwed. Service was also lacking as they staff seemed to be too busy joking around and talking to each other to refill water glasses and check on their customers. I won't be back and suggest you steer clear as well.
(2)Eric C.
Great people watching spot in Miami. I'm not a specialist in Cuban food, but I would come back again if I'm in Miami.
(4)David R.
The mojitos were excellent. The food was average for Cuban food. This is a trendy SoBe spot but you can get better and cheaper food in Miami.
(3)Rachel T.
Larios is what initially sparked my deep burning love for Cuban food. Don't do yourself an injustice by letting its primo touristy locay deter you . .. or the fact that its celebrity owned . . . as I have seen many a SoBe local convert to a Larios regular upon experiencing its amazing, authentic goodness that you just don't find at all that many places within Sobe lines. (This is typically after dragging them reluctantly to Ocean Dr.) This is not the area's typical tourist trap using 2-for-1 drinks to lure in unsuspecting, wide-eyed victims in. It's not even on the same planet.
(5)Mariel G.
Skirt Steak! Try it! with the Chim churri sauce and sweet fried plantains! It's tender, it's well seasoned, it's the perfect size! when you cut the steak, cut a medium-size to large size portion, then scoop up some rice, and plantains and your mouth and taste buds will tingle and make your tummy soooo happy, it'll be proud that it's owned by you. (then afterwards, you may not be proud to own that tummy, but IT'S WORTH IT)
(4)Terry G.
In Miami for a conference and went with a rather large group to Lario's. Most of the people in the group had never been to Miami, let alone South Beach and since had been to Lario's I knew what to expect. We arrived 30 minutes earlier for our reservation, but they were able to seat us anyway, that was a great start. The service was 90% superior and 10% non-existent. When our server was with us she gave us great attention, but then she would disappear - after we were seated it got very busy in there, so with that in consideration it was great service. Great cocktails for everyone to start and then we asked our server to make appetizer choices for us and every one was very pleased with her selections. The entrée choices by the group were varied and no one expressed displeasure with anything. I had a creole shrimp that was very nice. For the entire group Lario's was a hit!
(4)Mike S.
I went to Larios on the recommendation of the concierge at the hotel I was staying at in North Beach. Having become a convert to Cuban food the day before there was no hesitation in indulging again. Upon arrival, the sidewalk seating was packed. My party opted to sit inside where it was hectically busy but not unpleasant. Being a fiend for mojitos, I started off with the "Spicy Mojito" made with Sailor Jerry's spiced rum and was blown away with the intensity of flavor. For an app I gave the tamale a shot and was quite satisfied with the richness of flavor. For my entree I ordered the roast pork which was unbelievably flavorful, as were the rice and beans. The service was a bit pokey, but the place was packed, the food amazing and it was Saturday night in South Beach so all's forgiven.
(4)TL C.
We ate outside so service was decent, but not extraordinary. However, they get a pass on this, I couldn't imagine trying to wait tables while hordes of people pass through the "restaurant". I enjoyed the seafood combo platter (I think that is what it was called). It was phenomenal. My friend enjoyed the steak. The ceviche is served with plantain chips. It's good, not incredible, but good. The mojitos were also very good, but pricey.
(4)Erica C.
Last night my husband and I took a drive down to South Beach. We decided to hit up Larios, thinking that this popular hot spot would live up to the flavor and spice of its owner. The mixed greens salad was anything but, seemed to be full of just romaine, if that. The fried pork was good, but tasted a bit reheated. I am not a big fan of waiting for food, but ordering dinner plates and receiving the...m 5 minutes later worries me about how freshly prepared the food is. Needless to say, the rice was undercooked, the sweet plantains tough, and the shrimp was overcooked. His vaca frita was only half fried. I've had fresher, properly cooked, bigger portions at local Cuban places for half the price. Overall, very disappointed and won't be returning.
(1)Alex F.
Service is great, food is delicious, atmosphere is just right, music is South Beach...wonderful dinner spot. Definitely recommended.
(5)Cezaro L.
I had my reservations about coming here with a group of 10 after reading these reviews... but bit the bullet and made some reservations anyways. Glad we did. Our waiter was charming and attentive (maybe because we were all about the Calle Ocho (aged rum mojito)), the food wait wasn't too long, and we loved the salsa music, pleasantly crowded feel and plush decor. There is dancing on Friday nights and some people were getting really into it. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable given the quality of food, service, and the unbeatable location. My chicken dish (can't go wrong with pollo asado and arroz moro--it's a Cuban restaurant, come on!) was awesome, filled me up completely and cost $13.95. The same dish at Puerto Sagua (a block away) is also pretty good, but not all that much cheaper and comes with a much dinkier atmosphere. I got the impression that most of the restaurants in SoBe are pretty touristy and not very authentic, so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria Estefan's place. Lario's was a pleasant surprise: a great place to get dressed up and eat some good food before a night on the town over Spring Break--without breaking the bank.
(4)SteFUNe e.
Beautiful Gloria Estefan owned restaurant. Food was good, being on a budget I looked for the most modestly priced item on the menu and chose the chicken. 2 girls got the lobster and 1 got the shrimp. I believe between the 4 of us we polished off 8-10 large souvenir size glasses of mojitos. We had a really good time here and they even had a live salsa band playing which made me start crying because my dad loved salsa music and he had been gone at this time 1 1/2 years, while the music played I felt his presence and I started crying uncontrollably. IT was that beautiful. I excused myself and went to the restroom, fixed my face, took a deep breath and went back to our table. Mind you up to this point we had been paying the food bills by what you ordered NOT split 4 ways..ok, so the bill came......my friend saw it first and started to LAUGH OUT LOUD. For 4 girls the bills was $279!!! Holy Sh*#! They were all like...well "Let's just split the bill 4 ways so that we don't have to worry about who owes what"....eeeerrrrr record scratches, hold up chica, uhm I don't think so! I got chicken you ballers got lobster tail and shrimp. they were not so happy! hahahahahah, that was a riot. but seriously be prepared to have a great time, with good food, and spend a bunch of ferria there. I would def go there again.
(4)empress W.
This place really bombed! 6 ladies and a birthday girl. It was 9pm and the place is packed. Thank G we made a reservation! Hostess looked busy, our waiter stressed. We could barely hear each other because the music was turned up so high. The crab fritters were doughy and mushy. The fish ceviche, delicious! That's one star. The seafood plate both grilled and with some red sauce were ok. Everyone who ordered steak was disappointed. Overcooked and bland and tough. We mentioned this but nothing was done. Cafe cubano was the best! That's the 2nd star. I will go back for coffee only but this place is a tourist trap for real.
(2)Sara N.
A friend that lives in Miami brought me here and said this was a great place to eat. The place was busy for a Monday night. I had the shrimp creole which came with white rice and plantains. We also shared an appetizer. Everything was great, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was good. No complaints here. I asked if they could substitute the white rice for brown. They said they didn't have any but then again, it was hard finding healthy options in South Beach.
(4)Tina P.
I had high hopes for this place. We saw it during the day time, and decided that we had to have it for dinner. I was saving my stomach for some authentic Cuban food. I ordered a beef dish like a skirt steak which comes with a side of white rice and plantains. the steak was juicy, but unfortunately lack any taste. My friend ordered the fried rice with fried chicken that tasted better than my dish, but not by much. too bad i left Miami's cuban food on a bleh note.
(3)Andre L.
Food was good and vibe was great. Service needs improvement. It missed the two star cause of it.
(3)Michelle S.
Maybe it's what I ordered but I had the absolute WORST club sandwich ever here. It was bland and the bacon was soggy and greasy. The fries were cold and the service slow. My friend had the pan con busted and wasn't impressed either. I won't be coming back to this lario's.
(2)Anthony A.
South Beach views and good food. What can be wrong with such a combination. The steak was made perfectly tender, seasoned and warm. I will recommend this place to everyone that visting the area.
(4)Cristina L.
Loved it! Was there yesterday ordered sangrias and grilled fish with rice and beans and sweet plantains and I loved every bit of it!!!!! If your in Miami you must eat here!
(5)Madhu S.
Yuck! Am sitting here after my completely untasty meal thinking I need to tell my fellow Yelpers to stay away!!!! Bland bland bland! I had to add salt to everything just to get it down. And whats with the mandatory tip? My waiter was so disinterested and he gets my 18% tip no matter what, so why should he care? Goya makes better arroz con pollo. And all the vegetables were frozen veggies that they just defrosted and put on out plates. They actually decorated my fish with chopped peas and carrots that you would find at costco. Did I mention there was no seasoning. Anyway, very disappointing. Not coming back anytime soon.
(1)Teresa G.
The first thing I wanted when I got go Miami was yummy Cuban food. I had been to Lario's last time I was in Miami so I decided to go there again...it's conveniently located near my hotel. Anyhow, my server was an older gentleman named Antonio. He was attentive and pleasant and made sure they got my order correct. I had the arroz con pollo...it was decent, the chicken breast was a little dry, but the rice was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the fried plantains...weird taste and texture. I would give the service a 5 stars and the food 3 stars.
(4)robert s.
This has great vibe and price for food right on Ocean Dr on South Beach. We had the black bean and chicken noodle soup for appetizer. It was delicious but could be warmer, very hearty. Then had the roasted garlic chicken. The chicken was a little dry for me but tasted good. Overall a great value and taste compared to all the other tourist traps. This restaurant was recommended to me a short skirted hottie Latina, you knew it had to be a legitimate deal.
(4)E. L.
We had a great time and a fantastic meal at Larios, but when you're eating fried pork you can't really go wrong. ;) We drank mojitos (spiced Sailor Jerry's) and margaritas (guava, sweet but yum!) and Sangria (simple, but not watered down by ice. Thanks, Gloria Estefan!). We ordered the combo of small plates (see the bottom of the appetizer menu) and shared it among 4 people. It was perfectly salty, fried, plantain-ey, and fun, though I would have liked some salsa or chimichurri sauce for dipping. (included stuffed, fried potatoes, plaintain cups filled with shrimp creole and cuban beef, amazing ham croquettes, and a pork tamale) We also ordered the malanga bisque...ORDER IT! Malangal is similar to a potato, but more airy. The soup was like foamy, starchy, seasoned milk and it was heavenly. Finally, skip the paella if you're not a true lover of paella and order the seafood combo on the top of the entrees list. It's practically the same thing, ingredient-wise, without the hefty price tag or the hour-long prep time. Though beware, the creole sauce is Salty. If you're sensitive, ask them to cut it with some wine or add less salt. Myra was our waitress, and she was Fantastic! We ordered 3 entrees for 4 people (see above re: the huge appetizer we ate) and she gave us an assortment of the side dishes that come with entrees so we could try everything (two kinds of rice, two kinds of plaintains, and buttery garlicy yucca. Amazing!). All in all, we had a boozy early dinner for 4 for less than $200, including tip. Well worth it, especially compared to the other options on South Beach!
(4)Kris B.
Excellent Cuban food! I had the chicken & onions with red beans & rice and sweet plantains. It was DELICIOUS! My friend had the Mango shrimp and it was also really good. The one hold up . . . when we sat down, our server came over and offered us sparkling water or bottled water. He stated it like those were our only options for water. We quickly said we'd just have tap water and he seemed taken aback. This bothers me b/c I know it's just a way to trick customers into paying for a beverage and I think I should have the choice rather than being tricked into thinking it's my only option. Other than this, the food was good. I had the same meal later in the week at a different Cuban restaurant and the meal at Larios was definitely better.
(4)Lauri H.
Great service. Flavorful food, but nothing spectacular. Good mojitos...but there are a lot of good mojitos in SoBe. My husband had the pork and loved the flavor and moistness. I had the flank steak (or was it skirt steak). It seemed a little oily, but perfectly cooked. Plantains were delish and white rice and black beans had good flavor. Not disappointing, but not great. Hoping for better. Good thing I'm in Miami for a few more days and can try someplace else in the hopes of finding something great.
(3)Amauri V.
I've been going to Lario's for years and the food was as good this last time (9/12) as it's ever been. The portions are awesome although it's a bit pricey. Definitely a good place to come with a crowd, just make sure you call ahead. The waiter forgot about our mariquitas but made it up with complimentary dessert. Too bad the band is not there anymore - replaced by a dj a while back - but overall it's still recommended.
(3)Soco R.
One of the most beautifully decorated restaurants I've ever encountered. The dark wood contrasted with bright colored artwork was breathtaking. Made me feel like I was home. And the platanos were on point! A must when in South Beach.
(5)Smiling I.
Had dinner here in 2007, and memories were good. Had lunch here last Wednesday and likely never again. Service awful and food was so-so. The waitress didn't care and never refilled the water. She had a good time talking with her friends, versus checking on the clients. I would have had a glass of wine had she come back. The nail in the coffin was the assumed 18% gratuity that was added on which I paid to the penny instead of rounding up. Would not recommend for lunch, but will still remember the dinner I had fondly.
(2)Elizabeth M.
Im sure tourists on the beach go crazy for this cuban restaurant. But AGAIN just another commerical based cuban food.
(2)Julie R.
This place is nice, they offer great food, and live bands on the weekends, i enjoyed my time there, the only thing i can complain about was the service, it could have been just one of those days, but the service was just too slow. Food and Entertainment 5 stars
(4)Wendy B.
This place used to be so great. Sadly, it's gone a bit down-hill in the recent year or so. i tried to attached photos i took in 2004 when it was out of sight. They still know how to do Ceviche and boiled yucca. The Mojito glasses bug me now. You can still buy a cigar on the sidewalk which is nice for my boyfriend who loves a good cigar. I believe there is a chance one could still have a good experience here- sort of hit or miss place. Eat outside for sure.
(3)Allison A.
After a series of horrible food and service in SOBE, I must say the food was impressive. Everything was superb. I went on a Saturday night and the place was crowded along with great music and dancing. Service there.. eh, what do you expect in SoBe?! Not to mention, Whoopi Goldberg was there!
(4)Sandra A.
Not that impressed. Overpriced and service was so-so. Our appetizers came out in 2 minutes and was lukewarm. I know it must have sat out and was not fresh. My rice was cold and crunchy, maybe it sat in their rice cooker too long. Main dishes were not impressive by any means. Very disappointed, other than its great location there was nothing else to brag about.
(2)Jim M.
Air conditioning is not very good, prepare to sweat when you eat. Food was just ok and so was the service. Gretai location,
(3)avalon e.
Cuban??? Or just a tacky touristy all american eatery? Me thinks its the latter. There is nothing Cuban about the stuff they offer. The huge fried red snapper was a good deal but I've had better fried fish before.
(3)Thi T.
When in Rome...I guess when in South Beach! Cubans galore and when we visited South Beach we just lived the live. Gloria Estefan's Lario's is a terrific place for a great meal. The service is OK, but the food was great. Of course, I had the ropa vieja. It was so great. The rice was tasty, as were the plaintains. No complaints here! Food serving sizes were generous. Too bad my margie wasn't so big. My frozen strawberry marg was the best drink I've had in a while. I guess down in South Beach they know how to do frozen alcohol. Darn it, should have had a Miami Beach while I was there! What was I thinking!?
(3)Idolka S.
Like another person wrote, this place is truly a tourist trap. In fact, I hope tourists who visit Miami don't eat here because they're definitely not going to have an accurate experience of what GOOD Cuban food is really like. The service is okay (very slow but okay considering the atmosphere), but the food is, for starters, expensive, and 2nd, not very good. I had steak, which I ordered Medium, and it came Medium Well, almost Well Done. Normally, this would be okay but when you're paying about $16 for a piece of sirloin, I'd expect them to get it right. Also, some of the other people's food that was in my group arrived cold. The sides were not good at all. The fried plantains and boiled yucca were not good WHATSOEVER... and neither were the fries. Really, anyone who thinks this is a great place for Cuban food clearly knows nothing about Cuban food and is clearly not from Miami because anyone who lives in Miami can probably name 20 places with better food. I'm not even sure why Gloria Estefan associates herself with this place. If you want better Cuban food, try Mojitos at the Dolphin Mall... parking is not scarce (like in South Beach) and it's free. Their food is actually good, by the way. There's also a place called La Esquina del Lechon that's also in Doral and their food is EXCELLENT (don't let the fact that it's next to a gas station fool you- the inside is super nice and the quality of the food is GREAT). You can also try Calle Ocho. They have good restaurants, as well. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine is also a great choice for Cuban food and they have several locations around Miami. If you're a tourist, I suggest you venture out of South Beach for a day or two... you'd be surprised what you find.
(2)Marty W.
Wasn't bad but I also expected a lot more! I heard this place was one of the famous hot spots in south beach but the hubby & I were not fans. The food tasted good but was small in portion and the prices were definitely much higher than expected. Not the best mojotos, they seem more on the sweet side- I had a mango and the hubby had papaya & a little lite on the alcohol. We didn't hate this place, I think we were just expecting much more.
(3)Christina A.
For south beach food (which tends to suck), this place is pretty good. The food is decent Cuban food, and Cuban food at ridiculous beach prices = normal priced food. I had the Bistec Empanizado when I went (which is what I ALWAYS order). It was good, nothing stood out over any of the other Cuban restaurants in Miami. BUT, if you want reasonably priced food at the beach and you're in the mood for Cuban, I'd point you here.
(4)Jessica L.
Super cute atmosphere. Live band inside. Very good funky flan!
(4)J. N.
We had a really good experience at Larios. We walked up and down Ocean Blvd for a good half hour before settling in to a spot for lunch. I was amazed at the shiesty tactics some restaurants used to try to reel you in.... half price meals, but the meals cost $30? It was overwhelming. Lario's didn't have any specials but their menu was priced really well for the area and the atmosphere seemed a little bit more appropriate for our group. The Mojitos (as per every other review on here!) really were amazing. The tostones with beef and shrimp were really good - I preferred the beef. I had the Cuban sandwich which was HUGE. Ham, pork, swiss, pickles, mustard.... really, really good. The french fries were good but I wish I asked to substitute something else. My friends had the Black Bean Wrap and the Steak Sandwich, both of which were also really good. I'm sure this place is mad touristy, but I was a tourist... a tourist with no laptop for yelp, no knowledge of the area, and I was not disappointed in the least.
(4)Remy M.
One of my favorite dishes is bistec empenizado steak (kinda like a pounded, breaded, fried thin steak), and Larios' empenizado is among the best I've had. The rice and fried plantains are also great. However, they lose a star on service. Sometimes the service is decent, other times it's terrible, but rarely, if ever, is it great. But, wow, great food and great location!
(4)Teresa M.
The food was delicious and the service was great! I would go again! It has a great Cuban feel! And I loved the music!
(4)Jul B.
undeniably the best restaurant I've been to on the Ocean Dr strip. I was extremely impressed with the food. Yes, the service sucks. Yes, our food took forever to come - but it tasted amazing. If you want great food, I highly recommend Larios. I ordered a garlic shirmp dish with rice and plantain. - A+ status.
(4)Jamie A.
We went to Larios for lunch. Great location and nice decor. We both got cuban sandwiches which seemed to be overpriced and nothing special. Get the plantain chips! They were the best part of our dining experience.
(2)Heather S.
The service was terrible. Food was just OK. Def. not impressed. Waitress barely came around to see if anyone needed drinks or how we were doing.
(2)Mitch K.
I took my wife on her first trip to South Beach and we hit a home run with Larios on a Saturday night. We loved the food and service and sitting outside on along the street made for great entertainment. The mojitos were very good as well as the food. Even with the other restaurants begging us to eat at their establishments, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Patrick P.
Food was ok but found out that the 15 dollar steak was actually a 55 dollar steak when the waiter mistook my order. They did try to compensate me with 20% off but not happy our bill was over $150 when all was said and done.
(2)DQ M.
Have the whole Red Snapper but remember: 18% gratuity is already added. It was my first meal/first dinner on South Beach - and it was one of Ocean Drive's tourist traps, but it was decent and filling.
(4)Leslie C.
I dined at the beautiful restaurant on Friday August 29, 2014. The ambiance and the staff are wonderful and inviting. You feel like you're in a different place eating the food and enjoying the live music. We didn't want to leave. The mango mojito makes me want to recreate them (hopefully in my own kitchen) and I'm happy to say that I tasted ceviche for the first time here and it was delicious!!!! As well as the paella. I'm in love with this place. And hopefully I will return soon. Keep up the great work!!!
(4)Andres D.
This place will always be a favorite for anyone coming to South Beach and looking for Cuban food! The chicken vaca frita (a twist on traditional beef) is amazing along with some moro rice and tostones! The service is great and ambiance is FUN! keep an eye on for a great waiter in the making, Bryan who has all the qualities of an outstanding employee!
(5)Jeff P.
Disappointing. The ambiance, service, food and drinks were simply disappointing. UGH, a poor choice of mine--I regret that I broke my golden rule by not leaving once I realized it was a total mistake. Lot's of choices, make a better one. Overcooked food. Under-presented. Unbalanced Mohito. Misguided service. Good music choice - but way too loud. Leftover decorations. Gloria, are you thinking?
(1)Josselyn W.
Went here for a late dinner twice while I was staying on South Beach. This place is definitely a step up from the rest of the Ocean Ave tourist traps - food is reasonably priced, and everything we had was delicious! Service was ok - both times the waiters weren't the most attentive. Had a roasted chicken dish with a yummy sauce one night, and then had the beef in a skillet sauteed with spices and onions (one of their specials) the other night. Both items were very tender and flavorful! Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a Cuban place with a large selection of dishes, and also the $15-25 per entree range.
(4)Tom M.
Had the Cuban and it was dry - needed more mustard and more pickles - but the meat was pretty good. The say they have world famous mojito, but I thought it just average.
(2)Leslie J.
Decor: I think the Estefans did a beautiful job decorating this restaurant. There is vibrant paint and colorful paintings of Gloria adorned on the walls. Ambiance: Located right off 8th & Ocean right next to News Cafe, Larios is sure to lure in many hungry customers. Service: Friendly and fast. Food: Larios will offer huge family-sized portions so sharing with a big group is highly emphasized. Even two dishes seemed overly plentiful for two people. We ordered papas rellenas and fried yucca as appetizers to munch on. For entrees, we ordered the Lechon Asado and the Fried Pork Bites. I really enjoyed the outside crust of the papas rellenas. It was rolled in some type of spice (possibly paprika). Whatever it was, it was delicious. The fried yucca was cooked to perfection - crispy on the outside, moist on the inside (one of my faves). The fresh garlic sauce that accompanies the yucca will give you massive garlic breath afterwards so I would ease off of it unless you want to protect yourself from vampires. The lechon asado was slow cooked in this ridiculously flavorful sauce (it was likely all the pork juices that oozed out from cooking it). The lechon was so soft and moist that I could easily shred each piece with my fork. The fried pork bites was a nice alternative to fried chicken chunks because unlike white meat chicken, the pork meat wasn't dry. Each of our entrees came with a mound of white rice and maduros (sweet fried plantains). I found the maduros here to be sweeter and softer than other Cuban spots I've tried in Miami which I appreciated. Overall, I thought Larios was a pretty decent dining experience. Even by the beach, I have yet to experience bad food or service. Only thing I hoped for was that they played Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, ha!
(4)Michael B.
Ordered the Rad Snapper and was not disappointed.
(4)Holly R.
Meh is the best way to describe the food. We went to Larios for Valentine's Day and the atmosphere is very quaint in the side courtyard of the Ocean Drive Cordoza hotel. But the food was so very uninspired. Especially the stale, fried apps that tasted like they had been sitting around. Flank steak was disappointing. The flan was probably the highlight of the meal. So many good restaurants in Miami that it stinks to waste a meal.
(2)Orlando B.
Went to their temporary pop-up place in the Cardozo Hotel. Maybe just the day we went, but it really wasn't that crowded. Not sure if this place just has hype or what. Food was fine. Nothing that was so noteworthy, I remember, but still better than the 100% tourist traps right on the road. You are looking at $70-75 for 2 people drinks/appetizers/meal etc., which is about average for Miami Beach. Would I go back? Probably.
(3)Don T.
I would have given this place 3-4 stars if it were not for the waiter or management. We had 12 people there Friday night for dinner and to celebrate a birthday party for our friend who turned 40 something. The waiter spent the first 15-20 minitues questioning whether we could pay the bill before the food ot drinks came. Outragous. What he did know was 12 of the 12 people at the table were company owners, professionals and executives at large companies. We asked the waiter would you have asked this question if we were not different or people of color? and he said course no. He explained that the new owners or management changed its policy about large groups eating and how they should pay. OK. I accept that.. To management there are many places to eat around your place so make sure you spend more time pleasing your customers than investigating them..
(2)LC B.
So on a trip to South Beach, my bestie recommended eating here since it is owned by Gloria Estefan and that Rachael Ray had mentioned it years ago. So we decided to try their Cuban menu.. We sipped on mojitos while we sat outside..I got mine in a souvenir glass that I got to keep--yay! We both had their roasted pork, rice, and plaintains. I thought the roasted pork was meh..it was dry and disappointing. I did like the plaintains and could care less about the rice. My friend agreed and said she had better Cuban roasted pork. Although, the pork didn't tickle our pickle, I loved it's location across the beach in SoBe where you can sit , sip on mojitos, and people watch.
(3)Emma V.
Excellant Cuban food.
(4)Kim M.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars... Thought this place was pretty good! We had a group of 10, and we were suprisingly sat very quickly for a Saturday night! I had 2 cocktails from their bar menu, and they were a bit sweet but decent enough. My friends who had the mojitos said something similar, that they were good but a bit sweet. Three of us split the big combo appetizer and yucca. The yucca was FANTASTIC! Best I have ever had. I've never had yucca that creamy before, and it was so good. I devoured it before anyone else could really get to it (and no regrets!). We then split the grilled seafood platter, which was ok. It was COVERED in butter though, which is not my thing. I ate a few of the calamaris and a scallop, but kind of left it at that. I wasn't super into the crab and lobster, and I was told that they were ok. The fish that came on the platter was also WAY over salted and I literally couldn't eat it. What I ended up eating, and that was really good, was the moro rice. It's a combo of black beans and rice and I thought it was great! It was simple and tasty at the same itme, without being oversalted. In total, I wish that I had just gotten an order of yucca and an order of moro rice. Not the most balanced meal, but has to be healthier than my bowl of butter with seafood.
(3)Samantha G.
I never had Cuban food, other than Cuban sandwiches, in my life so I was looking forward to checking out Lario's. I split the shredded beef with onions with one of my friends, which also came with a side of moro rice and fried plantains. I enjoyed the crispiness of the meat but it also was juicy as well. The plantains and rice complimented the dish very well. For drinks, our table ordered 3 sangrias to start off night. Although the sangrias were delicious, I felt that they were somewhat weak. The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the service here. It felt like the waiters were rushing us during our entire experience. That was frustrating since the majority of us never had Cuban food. They also forgot our bread too, which turned out to be nothing special anyways.
(4)Lester M.
As a local, I really could care less about this place. It is what it is. A tourist place that serves over hyped, over priced cuban food. But I had friends from England, we were at the beach and they wanted cuban food. So here we are. The service was terrible. Our server took our order by memory and realized his memory was not very good. To the point that he had to run to the kitchen to intersect the order to correct it. I asked for a sampler to find that, since the last time I was here, years ago, they have considerable reduce the size of it. They say it serves two. I say it serves me and that's it. I was baffled by the new drink menu. The $50 glass bowl full of ice and some mojito is just ridiculous. But hey, people buy it. Unless requested by some friend or family from out of town. I'm not coming here anymore.
(1)Heather K.
For her birthday dinner, one of my friends was adamant that she wanted Cuban food....so we came here. I went with my trusty Latin "safe" food and got the ceviche. It was pretty good but not incredible. I also had the tomato salad which was literally just half a tomato cut into slices with a plastic cup of Italian-tasting dressing on the side. Uhmm for like $8 or something. Eek. It was good though, and the tomato was fresh. Our service was prompt and courteous. They have a wide variety of mojitos on the bar menu and they're all really good (and probably the most authentic ones we had during our whole vacation). A couple negatives though: the prices are rather high, even considering its tourist-trappy location. And the bathroom is kind of gross.
(3)Sylvia K.
Beautiful restaurant... Known for their mojitos... We had the BEST Yummy Cuban food here while visiting South Beach... lots of seating inside and outside... we opted to be inside with the A/C since the humidity was a killer this August. We had a party of 7 and everyone at the table loved their meal. I had the Skirt steak with chimchiri sauce, mojo rice and fried sweet plantains.. That right there hit the spot!! Satisfying my cuban craving!! Woulda have given it a 5 star rating but one negative was the service...ther server was not attentive and did not check on us as often as he should have. Wasn't the friendliest either, maybe he was having a bad day... regardless, food was BOMB.com !
(4)Tatiana B.
Six of us were walking in South Beach on a Sunday evening, nobody was starving but we decided to go in here and have a few appetizers as I've been wanting to try the place for a while. We sat outside although it was not a great table as it was in the far corner with tree branches right on our heads. We ordered some mojitos and they were awful. No soda, almost no sugar, just plain bland. This would have been a 4-star review but I'm taking off 1 star because of the mojitos, especially when they are 12 dollar mojitos. Since we were "not hungry", we ordered some appetizers to share. We decided on the stuffed potatoes, stuffed plantain with ropa vieja, ham croquettes, cod fritters, mojo marinated pork bites and fried yucca. OMG. Everything was SO delicious!! I was very surprised to say the least as I kind of expected it to be "tourist trap food". The cod fritters were amazing; very different, there was some sweetness to them and they came with this amazing passion fruit dipping sauce that I could eat a bucket by itself. The stuffed plantains and stuffed potatoes were good as well. The mojo pork bites and yucca fries were our favorites! The pork had soooo much flavor. Seasoned very well, garlicky with a hint of lime. They went perfectly with the yucca fries and garlic dipping sauce. Since we were "not that hungry", we decided to go with a second round of appetizers but only the favorites from the first round. So, round 2 of cod fritters, pork bites and yucca fries. Ding, ding, ding! Win again. We ordered one flan to share for dessert. Very creamy and light just as it should be. Delicious! Food prices are very, very fair. I thought this was going to be outrageously expensive but it wasn't at all.
(3)LuLu M.
I know Ocean Drive restaurants are not not known for the quality of their food (just that they have primo locations across from the beach) but I LOVE Larios! I come here every time I come to Miami. Everything is right about this place: - Hip and beautiful decor (the bar area is amazing!) - The menu is a mile long with delicious seafood choices, cuban cuisine and delicious drinks - The waitstaff is friendly and helpful! We ordered the Grilled Seafood Plate, Fried Stuffed Potatoes and Ceviche, ALL TO DIE FOR!!! In fact, we came back again the next day for lunch to have it all again. Thanks Gloria Estefan for having such a great establishment!
(4)Darrell K.
I was visiting Miami and was looking for some good Cuban food and this place was recommended. The food and drinks were excellent. The Owner even came out to check on us. Great place and Ambiance!
(5)matt h.
The ceviche was tremendous and had a very generous portion of fish. The Cuban sandwich was tasty and filling. We got a great table outside without a reservation at around 10pm on a Wednesday and the service was great. Our server, an older man with a ponytail, was kind enough to let us try both kinds of rice, and put up with our drunken antics. The plantains were really good, and the price of dinner, which did not involve any more drinking, was a very reasonable $50.
(4)K. D.
In September a group of girl friends and I went to Miami for a bachelorette party. I being the planner, looked into many restaurants to find a fun and tasty place to take the group. I found a ton of positive reviews for this place and decided to make a reservation. I could not be more pleased with our experience. Never have we felt so taken care of. At first we were a little disappointed to be sat in a private room with another large group, but the restaurant was very apologetic . We started our meal out with sangria and a couple appetizers. The chef took the time to come by our table and ask how everything was- which we loved. Afterwards he sent over some special appetizers for us- what a treat! Following our delicious meal he sent over dessert for us and congratulated the bride to be. The small gestures sure went a long way. We felt very special and the time the chef took to ensure our meal with exceptional was great. The service was fantastic and overall we had a wonderful meal. We are still, months later, talking about what a great experience we had at Larios on The Beach!
(5)Karen r.
Pretty good, a nice option if you want to sit in the middle of the action. I have a feeling that all of the places along Ocean Drive have decent food. You're really paying for the view. The seafood is great; I think Miami generally has fresh, wonderful seafood. I had the roasted chicken, which was nice. Skirt steak was good. Fried plaintains were OK. I would say the prices are about right for the food and location. Service is better than I would have expected (just a little slow) given how crowded this place gets on the weekend. If you want to sit on Ocean Drive and people-watch, grab a meal, this is a good place to do it.
(3)Victoria A.
LOve love love. My mom and I had the sampler platter and everything on there was delicious, except for the tamale. It was weird and all mixed. However the ambiance was nice, the service was friendly attentive and water was always filled. Our server had wonderful recommendations and made us feel very welcome. WE had fried plantain for dessert and loved it. Definitely plan on going back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Rose N.
Great first meal for our 1st night in Miami. The guava mojitos are a must! Listen to your server and their recommendations, they know best. Our group of 12 listened intently on our server's choices for what she thought was Lario's best and we stuck with it. Many ppl in my group ordered the skirt steak and since we are egg-obsessed, we asked for a fried egg on top. The medium-rare steak, running yolk and the chimichurri were magic together. The roasted chicken was also a good choice and their ceviche served with plantain chips, delish!
(4)Sam R.
Went here for dinner with a Cubana and lucky I did because no habla espanol! Our waiter hardly spoke english and they had a good conversation while I enjoyed my drink and the atmosphere. Ordered the roasted pork which was just alright and almost dry so I didn't care for it too much. I must say, they had the best black beans and rice I ever had in my life! That is why they are getting 4 stars instead of 3. Overall, nice place, decent food, it gets crowded, prices aren't bad (except for the drinks, but that's expected.) I don't think I would go back, unless to get the beans and rice to go..
(4)Janessa A.
First off i suggest you valet for 20.00 or youll have to walk a good mile if you are lucky enough to find parking to park in a garage. Nice atmosphere and decor inside, except they seated me and my honey in a little hole in the wall I guess since it was the two of us, but it was still nice and intimate . They serve a variety of drinks my b.f ordered Dos EQUIS beer but I happened to order a frozen straberry daiquiri.($11). which has been by far the best one I've had in a really long time! Appetizers we got the papa rellenos which brought 3 of them kinda weird usually appetizers bring an even number, I recommend that or fried pork chunks. Dinner I decided to get pollo asado($13)- grilled chicken breast with onions, morros and maduros, that with some lime it was really good. My boyfriend ordered vaca frita($15) which is one of their famous dishes although your jaw will get tired from chewing so much. Our waitress and assistant waiter were on top of their game and very helpful, just make sure to check your bill as they add a 17% gratuity already included. Our bill included with tip was about $70 something Overall very nice dinner on the beach.
(4)Pete R.
Cuban Food Heaven! What else would expect in Miami? As we walked down Ocean Drive pushing past every restaurant with a cute girl in front shoving a menu in our hands and offering us one free drink and $9.99 lunch specials, we were not swayed. I was going to Larios, the night before I had arrived and the kitchen was closed. This was the day. Larios was not in your face with people begging you to come in. In fact it was operating knowing people were just going to go there. We sat outside and were able to watch South Beach go by as we ate, which is always a treat. I wanted Cuban pork and I got it. It was good, not the best I have ever had but a true stand up Cuban Fried Pork Cubes. The Yuca Frittes were the best I have ever had. My Girls shredded chicken was incredible I have never had shredded chicken like that before. Next time I am in MIA I will return, most likely for the shredded pork!
(4)Christina C.
Went here on Friday night with some friends that were staying on the beach. The place is a typical Cuban restaurant in Miami with the exception that it's right on Ocean Drive. Typically, this is an inconvenience to me given that I have to look for parking (which is a hassle) and given the extensive number of people in the area (it's hard to even walk around). However, it wasn't that bad on Friday night... my friends and I were seated within about 10 to 20 minutes and the service was pretty good. I at the vaca frita (my favorite shredded beef) with white rice and tostones (plantains of some sort or other). We drank wine with our meal and another friend tried some of the martinis. The food was pretty good, but not great. I liked the meal, but in terms of where I would go for Cuban food, this is just not on the top of my list.
(3)judy n.
It's only taken me 4 years to find a good cuban place down here... My roommate took us here for a yummy late lunch. She highly recommended the Churrascos a lo cubano, (and nothing else) so away we ordered... 3 orders of the Cuban skirt steak, medium rare... and it was OH-So-Tender! Who knew that a skirt steak could be so moist and tasty? The chimichurri sauce was great too! A great match! The Rice and beans it came with were great too, tasty and with just the right amount of spice. and we split a 1/2 carafe of red wine sangria for 10.50. it was a nice match to the meal. (too bad there are no drink specials on mondays, you can walk up the street to the next restaurant and easily get 2 for 1 drinks).
(4)John W.
The plantain cups. Bueno. The shredded chicken is amazing. Make sure to ask for some Cuban bread. Went with some friends who are local and they eat there all the time. I thought the food was fantastic. The service was pretty good. Our server was very informative. It was a Wed night so the dance floor was pretty mellow. I could see how this place would be good people watching. Great Atmosphere. Only looses one star for the drink prices... but other than that...We'l be back for sure....
(4)Dannielle C.
Come to miami and indulge in Cuban food! I've honestly never had a bad meal here. Atmosphere is a bit cluttered, a bit touristy for a local, and it's usually busy, but the food is still great!!!
(4)Zeki G.
Great Cuban food. I recommend it. The pork and the Cuban Style Skirt Steak were great.
(4)Rick B.
Really good authentic Cuban food. The fried red snapper was superb. The mojito is a must have.
(4)LESLIE C.
I really had high hopes for this place. It was our last day in Miami and my boyfriend and I wanted some really good cuban food. I have been to Gloria Estefan's other restaurant, Bongo's. And I loved it. This one...not so much. We went at exactly 12...a normal lunch time. Well, the one thing on the menu I really, really wanted was the cuban chicken with yellow rice and sweet plantains. The waiter tells me the chicken isnt ready yet and wont be for over an hour! And the rice isnt ready either! Then he just walks off....doesnt give any other options or offer an apology...nothing. I manage to have someone go track our waiter down and ask him to come back so I could ask him what WAS available. He tells me that is the only thing on the whole menu not ready... Blahh.. So I get the roasted chicken, and asked for yellow rice...but oh, wait, i forgot...its not ready and apparently it takes an hour to make rice. So, I had to settle for white rice. The food was ok...the chicken was kind of greasy but tasted good...and the sweet plantains were awesome. Service not so great- 3 out of 5 Food ok- 3 out of 5 Music/Location/Atmosphere- 5 out of 5 My boyfriend got the cuban sandwich and said it was the worst he had ever had...
(2)Pamela M.
Stopped in for a drink and light lunch while walking around South Beach. Seated on the patio which made it ideal for the typical SoBe people watching experience. Atmosphere was ok, servers were nice if a little slow. Mojito's are very good but the ones at Tap Tap are much better. Had the fried plantains to start, nice, a little bland and the dipping sauce had a lot of garlic in it. Shared the ropa vieja (shredded beef) with moro rice and sweet plantains....all of it very good but the plantains would have me coming back for more! Overall, food was a decent price for the serving size. To be frank, there are better places to go for Cuban food, especially in Little Havana, but if you're looking for something around SoBe, this is an ok alternative.
(3)Blak B.
I love the ropa vieja. I hope I spelled that right! Also munch on anything in the creole sauce. They have a Dj that spins Latin music after 8
(4)Nalini T.
Nice spot for a casual dinner . Food us good, service was good. Ceviche was really delicious and the sangria was very refreshing. We sat outside, enjoyed the view and the people watching. Overall a nice lively spot on the beach.
(4)Jonathan T.
Larios never disappoints!!!! Food is GREAT!!!! If your a steak lover get the CHURASCO!!!! It is a MUST.
(5)Emily T.
Peculiarly, this is one of the places on Ocean that didn't have a hustling hostess. We came to this place based on the recommendation of a stranger on the street when we asked her for directions. I ordered the Pollo Asado (famous roasted chicken) and it was delicious! It was a simple dish, like the way it is. A half chicken on one plate and rice /beans/plantains on another. I was impressed. The roast pork was just OK. Famous fried rice: pretty damn good except it was on the salty side. And last but not least, their drinks.... We've got a generous, no-nonsense bartender here. Our Mai Tais, Mojitos and Pina Coladas were strong but yummy. At 11 dollars a piece, i feel like I got my money's worth :) When I go back to Miami next year, I will be stopping by Larios for sure.
(4)Kimberly S.
I was actually impressed when I came to the beach to eat at this restaurant. I was expecting mediocre food, as most places on the beach are so-so. The food was delicious (I recommend the ropa vieja) and the service was very attentive.
(4)T S.
Came to this restaurant on recommendation for good Cuban food and I also know Gloria Estefan "Bongos" in Orlando is amazing. The menu has signature dishes from Bongos which I liked. I loved the décor, location and environment. Did not really care for the pineapple mojito (tasted like cough syrup) but the fruit punch was great and so was the food and the service. We also had a celebrity sighting.
(4)Daniel E.
If I could give this terrible restaurant half a star, I would. I've been meaning to give this restaurant a proper review since returning from Miami a few weeks ago. Today, I finally have enough down time to get to it. Let me preface this review by saying that this restaurant was not my choice. We went there because my work colleague had fine memories of eating there on a spring break trip with her boyfriend. And Larios might be good for just that - spring break tourists. Located right off Ocean Drive, Lario's is partially owned by Gloria Estefan which makes this particular restaurant (that doubles as a Salsa club after hours) a very popular destination for tourists and wanderers. Supposedly known best for its Cuban food, Lario's offers typical fare, from skirt steaks to fried plantains and various seafood dishes. Grace and I decided to take a streetside table to people watch and enjoy the evening air. Since we arrived in Miami that day, we ate a reasonably late lunch and thus a very late dinner, but the restaurant was still bustling. I was completely underwhelmed with the wine list, which curiously offered many selections that didn't pair well with Cuban food at all. I finally settled on a glass of Bogle's Sauvignon Blanc (2006), because I was planning on having seafood, and love drinking the varietal in particularly warm climates because it's served chilled and the light flavors are actually quite refreshing. Our waitress brought our drinks right away, and I was immediately a bit put off that my wine wasn't particularly chilled. Nearly 20 minutes later, she finally made it back around to take our order. I opted for the Lobster Creole, fried plantains and black beans and rice. Another 30 minutes went by and we finally got our food. My lobster came in a small casserole-type dish, swimming in a VERY salty creole base. It was a bit tough in spots. Overall, I was very disappointed with the Lobster considering what I paid for the dish (about $35 I think?). Presentation was largely uninspired. Rice and plantains came on a separate plate and there was no attention to color in the presentation. Everything had a brown tinge. It gave me the impression that the chef simply didn't care about making the side plate look appetizing. The plantains were pretty greasy, but the black beans and rice were fabulous, hands down the best part of the meal. I've read elsewhere that Lario's supposedly has very authentic Cuban cuisine, but this was far from my experience. Save your money for a restaurant in a Cuban neighborhood. You'll pay half what you pay at Lario's and it will taste authentic. EVERYTHING I ate, from the plantains to the lobster to the beans, had too much salt - and I'm a salt guy. The only saving grace for Lario's is location. It was fun to people watch with Grace despite the uninspired meal. Stick to singing Gloria, but only perform Miami Sound Machine stuff. You're a terrible restaurateur and I don't like anything other than your Miami Sound Machine songs. So, all in all, I guess you're almost an EPIC FAIL, save "Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya," that's gold baby, gold.
(1)Serene F.
Great location, crappy dishes. Every item down to basic side dishes were lackluster -- Cuban sandwiches were dry with way too much bread and raw onion overpowered the yuca. Plus, menu was overwhelming with way too many options. Quality over quantity please!
(2)Max G.
This is a great place to come to people watch. The food is really good but leaves a guilt feeling as it is somewhat too expensive. You are really paying for location. But overall, it is a cool place to come and have some delicious and simple cuban food. Order the ceviche and the ropa vieja.....yummmm!
(3)Aretha W.
Decided to go here because we saw it had great reviews (and it was close to our hotel)....and we were not disappointed. We ordered the ceviche, cod fritters and and fried rice dish that had shrimp, chicken and beef w/sweet plantains....everything was excellent. And they had the best Miami Vice I've ever had. Service was good and the place was beautiful. Will definitely visit again on my next trip to Miami.
(4)Courtney C.
I have no complaints about this spot... except that their idea of "incense" is like piss in smoke form. I dunno... I have a dog that I leave at home while at work, and I leave out pee mats, so I'm VERY experienced with certain smelly aromas. Choose another scent pls, Ms. Estefan. I had the $14 pollo asado which was SUPER tasty. It wasn't dry at all.. the sauce was killer. Not to mention I couldn't get my mind of my girl's skirt steak. I had a strawberry mojito which folks at my table were complaining was too sweet, but it didn't really bother me. The location is great, but either walk or take a cab cuz I bet parking is a B. All the meals are hella decently priced for lunch. I've spent more dough on breakfast at Starbucks. Watch yourself when you come to Larios, though... the rhythm just MIGHT get you. (Bad joke, Richard...)
(4)Sandy C.
I was a little confused when we got the menu and it said "Bongo's" cuz the name on the outside of the restaurant said "Lario's on the Beach" We'd made reservations and got seated promptly but away from the crowd and live band, on the 2nd Fl. We felt secluded and ignored. Our waitress was slow and made few appearances. We were missing a set of utensils and plates and had to help ourselves. I think they use the 2nd fl for larger private parties and they have a tv that shows the live band downstairs, but I just didn't feel the same vibe. The food was good, Latin Cuban food with a large portions and lots of carbs. Do not get the sangria though, a few of us ordered by the glass and got cocktail fruit instead of fresh fruit. It was overly sweetened and tasted like a fruit cocktail out of the can. When we asked the waitress if they had fresh fruit she said that is how they make it and everyone seems to love it. We were turned off and didn't want to pay for it since we couldn't even drink it. The prices were decent but I don't know if I'd come here again.
(3)Jordan P.
Awesome sidewalk seating in South Beach. Mojitos were all they were cracked up to be. Food was pretty good too, I'm still tasting that Ceviche!!!
(4)Yvonne D.
I've eaten here before and loved it, but this time we were very disappointed. We sat outside between the sidewalk and the street and the throngs of people coming by was nearly overwhelming. The cars and mopeds that kept pulling over in front of us filled the area with exhaust. The energy was interesting though, so we eagerly waited for our food. That was also disappointing. The boliche (Cuban pot roast) was dry, dry, dry and not tender as were all of the other meats we ordered. When we mentioned it to the hostess (requesting to speak to a manager) he never came by. We were celebrating my father-in-law's 70th birthday and they brought a dessert with a large sparkler - but we weren't even given a discount on that dessert. We won't return. There are too many great places to eat in this area.
(2)Pinky And The B.
We went before Yelp existed. As far as the food goes pretty average nothing that I had not had before. The fun part of the meal was getting our picture taken by one of those guys walking around taking pictures. We have the faded picture on our refrigerator. But in general we both HATED South Beach. I think South Beach is for hillbilly tourists in general. Further down North Miami Beach and Key Biscayne are nicer. Love the Florida Keys but to enjoy South Beach you have to kind of be really bored with your life. Just sayin... But as far as the restaurant goes pretty standard Cuban food.
(3)S K.
I'm mediocre on the place. Mojito was indeed good, as they claim. Food was so-so. Drinks are typical. Service was great, until our waiter disappeared. Friendly staff, but not sure I would come back here. Disclaimer: I did not even walk inside. Ate on the patio.
(3)Lisa C.
Stopped in at Larios for some lunch. I had the arroz con pollo, a corona and flan. I wasn't blown away. I mean it was eh. The rice was amazing. YES. The chicken was a bit bland. I also was at a street fair and with my dog so I was limited. For the prices I expected way way wayyyy more. I ended up paying $30+ for just me and left feeling Meh. I've experienced better. The flan was good but this is Miami. Good flan is everywhere. I had a better meal at Puerto Sagua on 7th and Collins and on Calle Ocho for half what I paid here. If I didn't have my dog with me I totally would have gone there instead. This place is Ocean Drive tourist trap Cuban. Overpriced and overhyped for what it is. I am thankful they accommodated both me and my dog too bad my doggie liked the pollo more than I did.
(2)Teresa S.
My friend and I visited this restaurant after being indecisive about where to eat. However, when that rain started pouring we looked for the first restaurant with available in door seating. The food was okay not ravingly delicous. I ordeded the Cuban Style Milanese Chicken Breast which was delicious. I also had a side of plantains that were good. I remember it being cold in the restaurant. I had a fruity drink that was also good. What stands out the most for me was the dance floor in the front of the restaurant that was packed with people shaking a leg and having a grand old time. That was cool to see and be a part of such a happening spot. I didnt realize this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant until a few days later. When Im back in South Beach I would hesitate to return but there are sooo many other spots I would check out first.
(3)J M.
This place is in the tourist dictionary as a trap!. Nothing Cuban about this place. Food is bland and the service is slow. Any latin bodega has better food.
(1)Alex B.
Excellent and authentic Cuban food. It was a local recommendation and it did not disappoint! Amazing mojitos too :)
(5)Irene R.
Ugh food dry and not tasty. Worst Cuban food for price
(1)Brendan P.
Came hear and got down on a 'authentic' cuban sandwich. Pretty tasty but nothing crazy. My main gripe: I asked them to throw tomatoes on it and they not only denied me but were almost offended that I asked to 'tarnish their sandwich' with a tomato. Even worse- they charged me $3-4 for 2 slices of tomato on the side. What?! Anyway, nice location, and honestly, aside from the tomato incident the service was pretty good. But seriously, I'm a tomato fiend and if you make me dismantle my sandwich I'm not a happy camper. And no- I don't care about some Cuban heritage that includes denying alterations to their sandwich- I'll put a tomato on my damn cereal if I please. I still left overall pleased- because as I said, aside from the Tomato- the service was legit.
(3)Jelena Z.
Great spot for Cuban food right on Ocean Drive! My girlfriends and I stopped here for some drinks and dinner before heading out last night. On the must-try drink list: their mojitos and sangria. Both are very well done and relatively inexpensive for South Beach ($12 and $7 respectively, I believe). Food: we tried the French Onion soup (very rich with its thick layer of cheese), ceviche (very fresh), grilled chicken breast (with lemon and garlic) and the sweet plantains. The chicken was prepared simply but the flavors were a knockout. And who doesn't love sweet, grilled plantains? I practically licked my plate. The entrees are all moderately priced and the service is there when you need it, not when you don't. I'd recommend this resto to anyone looking for some good Cuban food in a pinch (no reservations were needed and there wasn't a wait for a table).
(4)Celine R.
Great food, great service, great location, great music, great drinks! The morro, lechon, and yuca are to die for.
(5)Rich B.
Que rico! Great service with, location, location, location. Mix those two with great food and you have a great meal. Add a dash of great company and you will have a blast. Try the flavored drinks I like the guava mojito.
(4)Briceyda L.
I made a reservation, but no one told me that the restaurant was under construction. I found out about this while walking around the area. I guess I'll have to wait to try it next time I'm in town.
(1)Amy M.
I've been to Larios On The Beach so many times every time I go to Miami! I'm surprised I haven't written a review on it yet. It is a very loud place because of the music and all the people. But the food is really good and so are the drinks. For the drinks, you can't go wrong with their mojitos and you get to keep the fancy large glass too if you opt for that one. I have a few in my collection over the years that I've been there. Usually, I order the ropa vieja there. It's pretty good and it comes with rice and beans! :)
(4)Robert W.
Fantastic churrasco and rice and beans, awesome pitcher of mojitos with a fantastic vibe and good service. Perfect location.
(5)Megan G.
Stop here for lunch after you've walked Ocean Drive and checked out the Art Deco. Order a cocktail, some fish and some plantain chips. Enjoy. Great people watching if you dare site at a table on the sidewalk.
(4)Nicole S.
3.5 stars Good food, nice ambiance, good service, strong drinks.
(3)Cat J.
If I wanted to get street cred for authentic Cuban cuisine in Miami or elsewhere, I should have gone to Little Havana. However, I was in South Beach, starving, and was just looking for the closest one to my hotel. Larios fit the bill, and I was not disappointed. Any Cuban cuisine in Miami overall in my opinion is more legit then those in New York anyway, so it didn't make a difference to me. My family and I stumbled upon this place not knowing it's (co?)owned by Gloria Estefan, so we arrived without any expectations-- just a hankering for something Cuban. I got to try the Big Apple and Mint Mojitos, which were excellent. Despite them being sweeter than most mojitos, they still had a clean taste that I loved. Their batido de guanabana was good, but not as good as the mojitos. A bit overpriced, but we were celebrating my sister's birthday, so all concept of frugality went out the window. We ordered a fish fry, churrasco a lo cubano, and a pollo reinoso. All were decent, but the joint really shines in their churrascos-- juicy, well-cooked, and not skimpy in their portions! Couple their entrees with your choice of two types of platanos and white or rice with beans, and we had a great dinner that gave us some serious food coma. Our dinner culminated to dessert as the waiters (and all the customers) graciously sang Happy Birthday to my sister with a Tres Leches cake. The cake wasn't mind-blowing, but it was decent, and was a sweet way to end the night (pun intended). Another point I would like to mention: the waitress standing outside was not aggressive in getting customers to sit like some other nearby places. This is a more personal preference, but it certainly raised my respect for the place with their great service. Thanks for a great night, Larios!
(4)Elda L.
Pretty good. Get the ropa vieja. Not too expensive, either.
(3)David O.
Had the grilled fish special that knocked my socks off. Location is great and the restaurant is beautiful. Wifey had the ropa vieja and that was delicious. Mojitos are no joke and they make them with a heavy poor (big thumbs up!).
(5)M. M.
Larios was the perfect way to end an awesome trip to Miami. The ambiance is beautiful, the food is great, and it's right on Ocean Drive, so it's the perfect way to start a night on the town. Our server was very informative, and even though our reservation was just before the kitchen closed, we didn't feel rushed at all. I will definitely come visit again, the next time I'm in Miami.
(4)Maria C.
Although I've dined here in the past, I was very let down on this visit. We started off with the Masitas, they were ok. My mojito was so sweet, it was hard to detect any liquor. My pernil, which I was hoping would save the meal was not only dry and bland it was also swinging in oil, apparently to mask the dryness! The only dish that was edible was the chicharones de pescado, amazingly well seasoned and fried to perfection... No oily mess!
(2)Lauren B.
Best ceviche on Ocean Drive! My boyfriend and I had an enjoyable dinner at Larios. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive and the atmosphere was romantic. Even though outside seating is preferred I thought the inside was equally as nice. I ordered the Camarones Enchilados (Shrimp Cuban Creole) which had a generous portion of shrimp and my boyfriend the Vaca Frita (Fried Shredded Flank Steak) which he loved. Personally I do not prefer meat but I thought his entree was quite tasty, particularly the marinade. We've been on a ceviche kick lately and Larios has the best we've tried so far.
(4)Julie B.
A bartender at our hotel told us to check this place out for good cuban food.... I did appreciate that it was the only place who didn't try to lure us in with fluorescent drink specials, but I wasn't that impressed. Good food, descent prices, but i would rather try another place than come here again. The decor was nice though.
(3)Laura K.
The food was very good, but expensive for a college student lol. I ordered the kids cheeseburger, and it was about the size of a Whopper! The customer service, which I'm sure was a one time instance, was terrible! The waitress took forever to put in our order and didn't apologize for taking forever to drop the check. And the food runners kept bringing food that wasn't for us. The good was very Carribean though, I love some sweet plantains.
(3)kelley s.
YAY! So much fun here! We were a party of 10 for a bachelorette party. We had reservations which is key cause this place gets packed! Our waitress was AMAZING! She didn't get a drink order or a food order wrong and was on top of anything and everything we needed. The manager came over and delivered the bachelorette some tasty and naughty shots and just made the whole experience great! FOOD-AMAZING! SERVICE-SUPER! ATOMOSPHER-FUN!!!
(4)Omar Z.
Came here after leaving a police precinct to report a missing wallet. Wasn't really in the best mood walking in here but after a few minutes, the music and vibe quickly reminded me I was on vacation. Larios is one of the nicer places to dine at on Ocean Drive. Its Gloria Estefan's restaurant so expect over the top, Cuban flair. Food, service and ambiance was all good and the prices were moderate. The place looks pretty classy but b/c its right on the beach, it feels very laid back and casual too. Bikinis and board shorts are very much so acceptable.
(3)Mandy A.
After wandering through a dozen restaurants on Ocean, we happened upon Larios and since they didn't hound us into sitting down, we sat down. We were just there for lunch so we split the Cuban and Media Noche sandwiches, basically the same sandwich on different breads. Both were good but I liked the Media Noche better. Nothing mind blowing, just a solid sandwich. We split the plantains filled with shrimp to start and they were really good too. I have no idea what was in it but it was a good starter. We both had mojitos which were pretty pricey for the size, seemed like you could get a larger one for a couple bucks more but didn't see that until it was too late.
(4)Maile N.
From the other reviews, I see that this is one of Gloria Estefan's (rhythm is going to get you) restaurants - cool! Since we're from San Francisco, and I am all too familiar with the sub-par restaurants in high touristy spots, I was a little leery about having dinner here right in the middle of South Beach. But we were hungry and wanted Cuban food while in South Beach, so Larios/Bongo's it was! First of all, what great people watching if you get a table out on the sidewalk! - the only thing I didn't like was that several homeless people came up to us during our meal asking for money. We ordered sangria by the pitcher (2x!) and it was yummy and refreshing on this Wednesday Miami evening on our last night in town. The yucca fries were yummy, couldn't stop eating those. And I enjoyed my chicken (very moist and tasty) over yellow rice - loved the plantains!! Yummy yummy!! The ambiance inside looked really cool and classy, the bar was very cool-looking, and lights and strobes started around 9PM inside for a cool dancing/club scene. Very Miami cool! Out of all the restaurants on Ocean Beach Drive, this was one restaurant that didn't aggressively try to pull us in (a tactic other restaurants should stop because it does not appeal), so that was another factor that drew us in. Gracias for a great meal!
(4)Betsy R.
My daughter and I ate at Larios on Wed 6/22. The service was horrible and the food was mediocre. I had to ask to get my water refilled as our server and others were inattentive. 17% gratuity is automatically added, like it or not. The ambience of the setting is great for people watching.
(2)Andrew H.
walking down ocean dr, you get bombarded by eager hostesses throwing themselves at you in hopes that the louder they are, the more likely are you to enter their restaurant for some food. and larios definitely has that too, but my friends and i had a reservation anyways. with an earlier spot reserved for us, we grabbed a seat outside and people watched, ate a few appetizers, and enjoyed more than a few mojitos before dinner. the fried cassava bites to start were actually pretty good...coming with a VERY garlic-y dipping sauce. (maybe that's why i didn't attract any women that night :P) i can't remember exactly what i ordered, but i know it had something to do with pork (clearly). nothing to rave home about, but the beans and rice...always a pleaser. overall though, i think it's just the gimmick of larios being gloria estefan's place that really has the draw. the food itself was just so-so...probably comparable to the hundreds of other restaurants that line ocean dr.
(3)Corinne M.
Recently was my 2nd experience at Larios and I have no complaints. Both times were with a larger group of girls, the 1st was at their normal location and we had seating upstairs in a semi-private area, the 2nd was in the temporary location and we had a huge table in the center of the room. Our service was great and if you are looking for Cuban food this is a really good choice. My friend and I split the Cuban style skirt steak with Chimi-Churri sauce and we could not get enough of it. For 2 ladies looking to not get stuffed it was perfect, served with french fries and plantains. There were a variety of entrees on the table and not many complaints. Everyone ended up trying the Chimi-Churri sauce and using it on their own food, it was that good.. The prices were right and the service/atmosphere made it a great meal.
(5)MeChan W.
ok so im not a huge cuban food eater but this place was good not overly priced and the ambiance was great. The food was really good especially the fried bananas and beef balls.
(3)Fredrik W.
We were recommended the restaurant by Cuban friends. The restaurant is in temporary quarters while the original location is undergoing renovation. We had great Mojitos and we ordered a sample platter to have my friends get a broader taste of Cuban food. I had the ropa vieja with black beans and rice with fried yuca. It was as good as I have had it. My friends were very pleased with their selections as well. The Maitre D came by several times to check in on us and made us feel very welcome. This is on the major drag, Ocean Drive, where all the tourist traps are. This felt different and quite genuine.
(4)John F.
Great food and service!! Right on the ocean side street. Sit and people watch :)
(4)Joe H.
It was good and great atmosphere. Service was a little slow and food was a little pricey for the quality. I went just to watch the people so I didn't mind.
(3)John M.
This place is pretty good. Great location on the main drag of Miami Beach. I believe its owned by Gloria Estefan and I'm typically turned off by star-owned restaurants. While the food is not pure authentic Cuban, its gets close enough and is quite good. They advertise the "best mojito's in South Beach." I had the one with the 8-year old Bacardi rum in it and I was certainly not disappointed. Definitely recommended when looking for a place to eat in South Beach! P.S. The plantain cups are fantastic!
(3)Krystal S.
Lario's on the beach! This place was recommended by locales...I'm dining here as I type, and i feel completely immersed in the Cuban culture. My waiter is very nice and also patient which is a huge plus since I know nothing about Cuban food. The mango margarita (brimmed with sugar) tastes perfect and I'm dancing in my chair to the music. Two thumbs up!
(4)B C.
Great place for Cuban food on Ocean Drive. Almost all the restaurants on Ocean Drive are tourist traps and serve the same things: pasta, sandwiches, margaritas. If you want Latin food, this is the place to go. Perfect tostones (plaintain chips), fresh fish, rice. Service is good, not pushy like all the other touristy restaurants. Overall a pleasant place to eat. One star off because sparse veggies with the meal.
(4)Pooja J.
Was there last night with my husband..and this place was a complete disappointment..we had never tried Cuban cuisine and thought to give it a try here, but the food was not all that good and the service was really bad..the bus boy had mistakenly spilled one of my sides on his tray, and instead of changing the dish, he just picked it up and put it back on the plate and served it to me...all in all - ok ambiance, highly priced and bad service..
(1)Nerissa C.
Disappointing... Does Gloria Estefan still own this establishment? She should sample the food every now and then. The place was hyped up by a local and the sentiment echoed by the Loews concierge, but my husband and I were not impressed. The ambience was lacking... we were seated upstairs (which was dead) with the volume on the music turned all the way down when we first arrived. The booth we were in had a musty, moldy smell, but perhaps that's the humidity in the air?? The food: The fish in the ceviche starter tasted old... not at all fresh. After a few bites i started to get queasy. The $39 Cuban Seafood combo just looked and tasted like shellfish and fish boiled in a chili powder soup. The Cuban skirt steak could have used some seasoning.. salt for starters. The only thing I really liked were the plantain chips and the sweet fried plantains (..which I can make at home..). I heard there are other good Cuban places in South Beach. Don't waste your money on this one! ** 2 stars because they didn't screw up the plantains, the mojitos were good, and the waiter was a sassy diva **
(2)MJ L.
I thought this restaurant was only ok but probably because I ordered the vegetarian platter which was not very good. I sampled a few of my friends dishes and those were definitely better. I like the layout of the restaurant. It is open, lively and festive. There was a live band playing. The waiters were friendly and attentive. They initially forgot my dish which was weird because usually the waiter would double check if they received only 5 entrees for 6 guests... but in any case they made up for it by having my dish out within 10 minutes. Last thing is that their drinks are super strong. Im sure some people love this but bc of this none of my friends ended up even making a dent in their drinks.
(2)Michael G.
Meh, you can find cheaper and more authentic Cuban food in Miami... However, the few times I have been to South Beach we always stumble here. Maybe because they aren't as obnoxious as the other places looking for you your business?? Not sure..... Regardless, it's not terrible.
(3)L V.
TOURIST TRAP. On Ocean Dr. All the hotels along this strip recommend this place, they probably recommend any place along the Ocean Dr.... they are all the same, all tourist traps!! Paella in Miami is RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. I know it's the "seafood" aspect that makes it pricey, but c'mon I expect king crab legs, jumbo prawns, mixed seafood, calamari, salmon, catfish, etc etc, and some rice, if it's gonna be like $30 a person!!! I mean c'mon, I make a pretty good paella so I guess I expect a lot? Nice venue though, but then again, like I said- almost all the restaurants along Ocean have a beautiful set up.
(2)John E.
Why doesn't Michelle Bernstein just make a Cuban restaurant and call it a day. No one has got it right yet in Miami. And if someone can or does, please let me know. I heard this was the best Cuban restaurant in Miami. Im disappointed to say the least
(2)Sahar R.
I was dragged here by my over zealous mom. You know how most middle age women go ga ga over Oprah? Like they buy the stuff Oprah likes, every other sentence is "Oprah said this and that", and look to Oprah as some kind of life coach? Well, Gloria Estefan is my mom's Oprah, the minute she heard this is one of her restaurants, she shrieked "OH MY GOODNESS", and we walked through maze of aggressive hostesses at Ocean Drive restaurants trying to seduce that end of season patronage and made a beeline for here. The hostess looked like we interrupted her really busy day of hair twirling and sat us outside. Now the way my mom acted was like Gloria and Emilio were in the kitchen making dinner especially for her. Little does she know that the Estefan dynasty owns about seven restaurants, a couple of hotels, part of the Miami dolphins, and it is highly doubtful Gloria stepped foot in this restaurant. Speaking of which, why is the dude from 2 Live Crew running for mayor and not the Estafans, since they own half the town anyway? While I listened to the E True Hollywood story of Gloria Estefan as retold by my mom, I ordered a mojito, which was awesome. Then the night decidedly made a turn for the worse. Let's say the highlight of the meal was the fried plantains that came on the side of our dishes. The ropas viejas (just not the best tasting shredded beef) was pretty average, the tostones were served cold, and the bussers were too eager to take your plates away even if you were still working on the food. Being that most of the Yelp reviews are from out of towners (like myself), you can be absolutely correct in assuming this is a tourist trap. If you have a table outside prepare to have random tourists who walk by to stop and ask painfully obvious and stupid questions like, "is the food good?" , or "Why did they fry those bananas?". Luckily, the place is so loud, you can pretend that you can't hear them or that you can't speak English. The Verdict: So, I can't say the service was bad other than the hostess who hates everyone. The food however is average at best, and by far there are so many other authentic Cuban restaurants in SoBe (hint: Puerto Sagua). Luckily the average food did not deter my mom's lady crush on Gloria, however the added 17% gratuity on the bill nearly encouraged my mom to write a strongly worded letter to the Estefan Corporation. OH MY GOODNESS, does Gloria know about this? (her exact words). So watch out, if the rhythm doesn't get you, the check certainly will..
(2)Dana S.
If I hadn't ordered the mojito, I'd probably like this place less. The crab fritters were great, the ceviche and fried green plantains were pretty good, and the main courses were tasty, from the roasted pork shoulder to the shrimp. I must admit my favorite was the fried sweet plantains. Totally decent, if not entirely authentic, option on the strip. Try to sit outside. Definitely order a mojito and the sweet plantains!
(3)Corey N.
Ordered 3 sandwiches, 1 salad and 3 drinks bill came to 200.00. They charge $8 just in tap water. Not worth it. The bill should have been at best $60.00
(1)Micaela I.
The food was all very dry and bland. Way over priced too. The temporary location is ok, not stellar. No outside seating. We definitely won't be back.
(1)Jared G.
You know how you see those guys on the Vegas strip sidewalk shoving cards for strippers in your face? Walking down the sidewalk on a Saturday morning in South Beach is pretty much the same with hosts and hostesses trying to get you to come sit down for brunch. Lario's was pretty much the only place in South Beach where the host just smiled and said "Good Morning." That was enough for us to pick this spot. The Cuban sandwich and lobster croquettes were awesome, and so were their mojitos! A little spendy, then again South Beach is not a great place to "save" money.
(4)Jhon C.
I love Larios On The Beach! The "best" Cuban place on SOBE. The food is amazing, and the service is so professional and friendly. The view of the beach and people watching is superb!
(5)Sophie C.
Cruising along Ocean Ave. by foot I started to worry that my destination (Lario's) may be a techno-sonic, cringe-worthy, over-crowded, & trendy restaurant, like it's neighbors. Not relaxing at all. But. I was relieved it was not indeed. The music was barely audible, maybe I heard whispers of Billie Holiday. Nice. The ambiance was also really elegant casual, kinda colonial chic. Plus it was not too busy with customers. We ate mid day (2pm). Now the food... I'm obsessed with Yelp so I took fellow yelper advice and had the Roasted Chicken. Which was pretty good. Tender and juicy. And that garlic dip. OMG. Ps: the service we received was great.
(4)Jackie R.
one word delicious!! my first time trying cuban food and omg let me tell you I was not expecting for my taste buds to pop out of my tongue! Their mango shrimp blew me out of the water mmm soo yummy and if you go late at night it seriously is a party! they play all your familiar luis yandel and pitbul songs This place was a great way to taste cuban food for the first time!
(5)Michael B.
Nice place.., Inside decor was simple & pleasant (we left the hot, outdoor eating for the tourists!!). The Bongo combo was delicious. Just the right mixture of foods, tastes & textures...and the right amounts. It was filing and a great appetizer .... Which made us, for lunch anyway, split the ropa vieja for the two of us. The meat was prepared just right, and the taste was good while not overwhelming. You can te the meat had been marinated for some time... And the service was very attentive. Our waiter (damn! Wish I had gotten his name...kudos to him anyway!) never let us wait for anything. All in all, a good experience...and one we will go back to!
(4)VJ k.
I was looking to experience a true Miami / Cuban cuisine dinner in Miami during a recent trip for myself and a few friends. We walked by a few Yelp "4 stars" rated places in south beach but while the food might have been great the atmosphere was really lacking (i.e: florescent lighting). This place is simply perfect. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and great food. I read the 3.5 star yelp rating and was hesitant to go here (especially after stopping at three 4 stars prior) but the group heard from a friend that it was good. Just go, soak in the Cuban flavor and enjoy your time in south beach! I'm writing this as i enjoy their amazing Mojhito! You should try one too!
(5)Christina M.
Hello Friends, The sweltering humidity of Miami did not deter my jaunt down to Miami Beach on Friday afternoon. Shortly after I picked up my rental car, I immediately followed the interstate signs to Miami Beach (quite easy to get there). A beautiful Friday afternoon with the sun shining and temperatures in the high 80's with higher than what I am used to, humidity. As I drove down into the South Beach area, I came upon a place I could not pass up - Larios on the Beach. Larios on the Beach is part of the family of restaurants under the umbrella of Bongos Cuban Cafe. For those of you who were not aware, these restaurants are owned by the seven time Grammy Award winning singer, Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. A: To step into Larios, is to step into Old Cuba, complete with outdoor dining on their porch area or sidewalk area (great for people watching and view of the beach area). Or if you prefer to escape the humidity, Larios offers an indoor dining area. On this particular day, I wanted to soak up every bit of Miami I could and this included sitting outside in the humidity with all of South Beach surrounding me. T: Larios' menu boasts traditional Cuban dishes, as well as an ample drink menu with must try mojito drinks. I dug right into the main entree, ordering their Arroz con Pollo. This generous portion of a dish included a quarter chicken served over a bed of yellow rice and sweet plantains. Simply delicious and hit the spot after a long morning of flying. The chicken meat falls right off the quarter chicken and the more than ample serving of yellow rice was hard to keep all on the plate (in a good way). Their sweet plantains were just enough sweet, dark in color and soft inside. The plantains were a great compliment to the chicken and yellow rice. For drink I ordered their main house mojito, a strong tasting mojito drink complete with a slim sugar cane stick. That was an extra special treat, as most mojitos I come across do not come complete with the sugar stick to chew on for sugar along with your mint drink. Tasty! E: My meal for both my dish and mojito came up to about $36.00. A good deal for the amount of food you receive and their drinks are certainly made with a generous amount of liquor. In addition, your surroundings make up the other half of your experience. Experiencing South Beach, while dining on lunch on a sidewalk cafe, is to truly envelope yourself into the surroundings. Everyone from the valet (which is 20.00 to valet your car, parking can be a challenge, so valet comes in handy, but on the higher side for pricing) to the hostess and then finally the waitress are extremely friendly. Service from your waiter or waitress can be on the slower side, but really think given the atmosphere and location of this restaurant - who really wants to hurry? *smile* Be sure to make Larios part of your dining experience while next time in South Beach.
(4)Bret H.
I couldn't really figure this out. I'm not an expert on Cuban food, but I do feel like if you're going to charge $10 for a sandwich, the ham better not look like it came out of an Oscar Meyer lunchpak. Smashed plantain was pretty good, but I only found that out from trying my companion's food; they assumed without asking that what I wanted with my sandwich was a bunch of pre-frozen french fries. This just isn't worth it. I can only assume they're charging for the decor, which is very stylish.
(2)Mocha P.
I am fan just because of the food. I had the stuffed shrimp chicken with some tomato base sauce which was really good. But i thought it was pricey and the service was horrible. It has a great location, right on ocean drive.
(4)Brian H.
Good location. Excellent mojitos. Good Yuca, ropa vieja, maduros, flan. Good service. Enjoyable evening. Favorite restaurant in South Beach.
(4)J B.
Tourist trap.... seriously. I don't care if Gloria Estefan owns this place... she'd have to appear there for me to give five stars. The service was average, the food was mediocre, although it was Cuban. The redeeming value? MOJITOS! We had Mojitos with no added sugar and they were absolutely perfect, bold, flavorful, refreshing, probably the best mojito I've ever had in my life. My advice... if you must go here, get some mojitos and share an appetizer or entree... enjoy the view... and spend your money elsewhere on a legit Cuban meal.
(3)Gladys D.
My dish here was absolutely to die for! Churrasco skirt steak "churrasco"grilled to perfection based with "chimi-churri" sauce it was absolutely cooked to perfection (medium rare, very tender) and the sauce was so damn good! My friends all ordered the chicken but kept raving about my steak (They did say their chicken was good though)! Everything tasted so delicious (rice, bananas, everything!). The ambiance is terrific with the Cuban band playing while you enjoy your meal. Its a really fun must go to place on ocean dr. We sat inside because there was no wait. The wait for outside seating was 20 to 30 min on a Sat. night. Service was excellent. Mojitos were VERY STRONG...if you like that sort of thing. I prefer not to yack on my first drink of the night =) This is a must go place for anyone visiting miami
(4)Emily N.
Worst food and dining experience we had in Miami, hands down. My friend and I arrived on a Friday around 12:15 pm, fresh off our flights and very hungry. We ordered a cuban sandwich and chicken sandwich,and waited....and waited...and waited. The outdoor area was maybe a quarter full, yet it took well over an hour to get our food. When we politely inquired about timing, the rarely seen waitress said they had only one small grill (no apologies). Worst of all, it wasn't even worth the wait! There's a stellar gas station (!) in my home city that makes far better cuban sandwiches. Fortunately, La Sandwicherie and other gems greatly improved our Miami food experience afterwards, so I'd steer you there instead.
(1)Deborah H.
Lario's has an interesting mix of Latin and Chinese-influenced dishes. We tried the paella (which was fantastic, but rather expensive at 35$/person with a minimum of two people ordering), one of the fried rice dishes, and the steak. The paella was overwhelming... Admittedly very good, but we should have ordered two portions for three or four people. The steak was so-so. The ceviche appetizer we ordered was close to disgusting. Decor and service were good, but overall, the dining experience was very average.
(3)Vanessa F.
This place was sooo sooo good. I went for a nice dinner for my bachelorette party. Only minus one star because we called ahead with a reservation and they lost it but were quickly accommodating. Sat down and ordered some mojitos which were delicious and proceeded to order off the menu. It took a while for us to get our food because there were 7 of us. But when we all started eating it was HEAVEN. The roasted chicken, roasted pork, and cuban steak were all so tender and delicious. The sides of plaintains and rice were also delicious. It's a pretty lively atmosphere with the music of the Carribean playing in the background. The staff was really friends. Perfect location because the beach is in front of you and if you go for dinner the clubs are a block or two down on Washington Ave.
(4)Sam B.
Gloria...please open one of your restaurants here in San Francisco!! The Ropa Vieja is so delicious! Everytime I come to South Beach, I have to visit this place twice. I don't know if you know the Sunday Special...it's NOT the on the Menu, you have to ask for it! If you LOVE OXTAIL STEW, Larios on the Beach has it only on Sundays!! The drinks are good and the restaurant is vibrant and clean!!! If you are into Cuban food, this is the place to go!! You won't be disapponted!!
(5)Rhondalei G.
2 words - Pork Asado. Excellent food and service right on the beach. My friend and I opted to sit inside because we couldn't stand to eat outside in the heat. I can't wait to eat here again!
(4)Scott C.
This was my first experience eating Cuban food... And it was amazing. If you are in SoBe it's a must!
(5)Karen K.
We went to Miami & we knew that we had to have some Cuban food. Where to go? We ended up at Larios & to my dismay it was mas o menos (ok). The food we ordered was nothing to brag about. This Cuban restaurant was missing the authentic cuban flavor we were craving. The service & the ambiance here was great... it is too bad the food didnt match.
(2)Gianna A.
Great Cuban music, ambiance, crowded, great mojito. Not particularly THAT memorable, except for the fact that it's in front of the beach in South Beach. After a while the places are pretty interchangeable, but the food makes this worth waiting for. Like eating from abuela's (grandma') kitchen.
(3)Jorge Q.
After coming back from a Carnival Cruise, we visited family in Miami and they took us out to lunch at Larios. The restaurant is situated in a touristic street but the restaurant stands out among it's competition because of it's amazing traditional Cuban food. The location is among the chain of restaurants owned by Gloria & Emilio Stefan. They offer great service and they also distinguish themselves for their signature Mojitos drinks. Only complain is that the tables inside are too close together, which makes it difficult to move around when crowded.
(4)Heather S.
Yummmmm!!!! I never knew how much I liked Cuban food until I went to this place! I felt like I should be in Scarface, the ambiance is so classic. GREAT mojitos, there is nothing like it! The portions are great and filling. I love the plantains and cuban black beans. The shredded lime chicken is great too (sad that I went here more then 8 months ago and still remember what I ate!) Defo hit it up if you're lucky enough to be in Miami!! I think I had some potato thing too that was really good.... Just make sure you dont plan on having a huge drinking night after (which is hard to do) because you will be way full when you leave!!
(4)Greis L.
the food was awful. after the dinner my boyfriend and i felt extremly bad and we finally throw up all the night, stay away from this fake cuban restaurant
(1)adrian s.
had a great time here. food was very good, like home cookin'. Atmosphere is fun and festive. Great to take a client or someone coming to visit Miami looking for the Cuban/SOBE combo. Cool place.
(4)Shiven B.
Came here for lunch one day...I heard Gloria Estefan owned this place. Food was ok, but view was nice. Right on ocean drive, always a crowd of people, and the beach and ocean is right across the Street. Had the Half chicken, which is almost impossible to finish but the fried plantains are amazing. Others had Steak who I was with. Thinly sliced brazillian steak and fajita style steak with onions was the items chosen, they looked satisfied but didn't completely love their meals. Decently Priced though.
(3)Beatrice C.
Just came back from dinner at Larios. Came here in search of good Cuban food n I was pleased although we had a couple of minor issues that got resolved. Issue #1 - as soon as we sat down I took a look at my water glass n there's was water stains all over it then I looked at my plate n there was a dried food crumb stuck on my plate. I returned all silverware to the waitress and she apologize although the bust boy questioned where it was dirty n when he saw the dried food he cringed. I was given new clean silverware quickly. Issue #2 - My friend ordered a margarita n when you tasted it the sour mix was watered down. We explained it to the waitress and sure enough the bartender confirmed that the sour mix went bad n they were changing it. My friend was given a new drink which was much better but in her words she's had better. Issue #3 - ordered the flan de leche for dessert, the custard was very good although the caramel was burnt. I had to work around the burnt caramel. Those were the main issues, a couple other set backs was no pre app munchies no bread/chips. I figured since we were in a Cuban restaurant we'd get plantain chips but nope. Second let down was the size of our drinks. I ordered the Maimi Vice n my friend got the Pina Colada n for $11 I expected a bigger glass. We got a small champagne glass, which was done before our entree was served. On a positive not I ordered the shrimp enchilados which was yummy. I was very pleased. My friend ordered the skirt steak with chimmi churri sauce which was good too. The sauce had a heavy garlic taste which was yummy. Regardless of the set backs the place is a ok spot.
(3)anita c.
Larios, oh larios, I dream of their churrasco dish while I am in SF. Went there 2 days in a row when I visited Miami since I couldn't get enough of the churrasco dish. For those of you who don't know, churrasco is a skirt steak medium rare (my pref), with a chimmichurri sauce (garlic vinegar sauce) on the side, then with a side of flavored rice, and fried crispy plaintains. Tried recreating this dish at home since I can't find a restaurant who does it well. SF needs a good cuban restaurant. Would love it if we could have a Versailles or Larios here.
(5)Chad S.
Not very impressed. Came to the restaurant in high hopes of good Cuban food. The food was so so, the service was terrible and I am a thirty year old man, and forgot my id, and couldn't even have a glass of wine with my meal. I understand the laws, but come on. It's not like I'm a nineteen year old kid trying to score a beer. I'm thirty and wanted a damn glass of wine with my dinner. Oh well, probably will not return. Sorry, Gloria.
(2)Ernie P.
This is definitely one of my favorite cuban restaurant. Every time i go to the beach with a friend or a date, I always have lunch there. Their churasco or palomilla is absolutely my favorite. Oh, and with yellow rice!! Yummy. Their prices are really good too and if it's not too busy then eating outside is a pleasure. Enjoy the great weather and the great looking people of south florida. How can one refute that?? I know I cant and neither should you :) Cheers!
(5)Kevin C.
Nice looking decor, very average food, barely adequate service. My wife and i ate at Larios On the Beach on a Sunday evening. We're both fans of Cuban cuisine, and we wanted to try this restaurant. The restaurant is in a nice location in South Beach & is quite nice inside. The music gets more quiet as you walk towards the back of the restaurant. My wife ordered Picadillo and I ordered "Bongo's Famous Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks" (Masitas Puerco). The food came to our table quickly. The Picadillo was reasonable, though a bit salty. The pork chunks were served with stir-fried onions. The onions were just lukewarm, and the pork was both lukewarm and dry / tough. I suspect this dish had been prepared well before we ordered it and left under an underpowered heating lamp. I could barely taste the Mojo Marinade -- the dish was simply tough lumps of fried pork. Both dishes came with rice and plantains which had decent flavor, but were not steaming hot. At the end of the meal I had to walk to the front of the restaurant to ask for the check since our waiter was too distracted / overworked to come to our table for a span of ~20 minutes. This restaurant is very mediocre and I will not return next time I visit Miami / South Beach. After trying Larios, I'm very wary of trying Bongos.
(2)Ramsey A.
The service was horrible, good thing they include 17% gratuity. I would have for the first time in my life them with nothing.
(1)Monica B.
The food at all the Larios locations is excellent, treading the fine line between down-home-goodness and gourmet, but the atmosphere at the others is more family and this (obviously) is more Beach-nightlife-ish. It's crowded, loud, and the service is harried and impersonal at best - but I like it that way! It's energetic and crazy, and it works with the food, the clientele, the sponteneity, all of it.
(4)Mil S.
We had pretty good food, chicken a la plancha(big chicken steak) w/rice, creamy blk beans, camarones enchilados (shrimp in a red sauce w/onions, peas, carrots) & sweet plantains (platanitos), and to my amazement, a great big fresh salad! Flan for dessert & of course the must have "Cortadito" which tasted delicious. The waiters were courteous, funny & nice. A great & beautiful day in a relaxing atmosphere with Mom who just kept smiling. We sat inside the Portal, great comfortable weather. After being opened for many years, Lario's has become a place we trust to spend money on a meal will be worth it.
(5)Erika B.
I was in South Beach for spring break and found Larios online in a hunt for Creole food. I ordered a delicious margarita to go with my chicken and rice dish (with amazing plantains on the side)- both were absolutely excellent! I was worried that this would be a really touristy spot with just-okay food, since that is the MO of most restaurants along the beach. However, my boyfriend and I both had some of the most delicious food we've ever eaten at this restaurant. We still reminisce about it! I'll definitely be returning upon my next visit to Miami.
(5)Ned K.
Stale bread. Bad salad terrible blood mary. Stay away.
(1)Justine N.
Checked out Larios on the Beach for dinner with a group of 17 girls in town for a bachelorette party. The food was solid (had the roasted pork) and their drinks were strong and gi-normous, which was perfect for us. The place has a great atmosphere and the staff was accommodating and patient when dealing with our loud group of tipsy girls. If you're planning a dinner, they have a private room off to the side of the main dining room that's great for large groups.
(4)Zinat M.
It's the South Beach experience. Sitting outdoors, sipping on wine, eating Cuban cuisine, listening to live cuban music, staff dressed in white, watching beautiful people all night long. All courses were delicious, good portion sizes, a bit pricey, and the seafood was fresh. It was a hopping place, see and be seen.
(4)Colin P.
Great atmosphere. Great music. Friendly staff. Great Cuban sandwich. Fries a little overdone. And there are no refills on the sodas.
(4)Jason J.
was recommended to come here by a friend who's been to southbeach a few times. great atmosphere, the food was very flavorful and very reasonably priced, the drinks tasted good, and were strong enough, overall a very good time. the roasted pork, fried beef, fried whole red snapper, and frankly everything else our party of 5 ordered was very good, and worth getting again. a great experience, i would certainly come back.
(4)Yana C.
My boyfriend and I went to Larios on the Beach our first night in South Beach based on the recommendation of a Cuban friend who I trust with something like that and who gave it rave reviews. Had read good reviews, and as you can see from my own rating, my opinion is a bit mixed about it. The location is great - right on South Beach amid all the other restaurants nearby. Of course, if you're sitting right on the sidewalk you might be bothered by all the street traffic, though we were fine with it. Food and drink prices were good, especially compared to other South Beach stuff and considering our cheap vacation budgets. And the food was definitely good - we shared a fried pork bites appetizer, the "Bongo's Famous Roast Chicken" with moro rice and fried plantains, and I had a flavored mojito and my boyfriend had a cuban beer. The food was all pretty delicious, especially the chicken, though the rice was a bit mediocre. Now here is what takes away 2 stars away from me - the service, which was HORRIBLE. We had a horrible waitress that ignored us most of the evening and was downright rude when she did give attention. It seemed she assumed that since we were sharing that we were the cheap young couple who would not tip well - note to all servers out there, you're guaranteed a self-fulfilling prophecy if you work under that assumption, because we young folks can tip pretty well too! After finishing our drinks we had to wait a long time to get second ones, at one point even putting our empty glasses on the table and trying to get her attention. She never came to ask how everything was, instead coming over when we were almost finished to ask , "are you still working on it?" in a very rude manner. And then of course the check had an included/suggested tip on it, which was 17% and we would have normally added to that, instead had to reduce it because we were so unhappy with her service. We did give the busboy a tip though, because he actually gave us more attention than the waitress! So basically, even though the food was good, the service really ruined it for us. In terms of South Beach Cuban food, we had a MUCH better experience at Puerto Sagua, which I gave a very good 5 star review for and which is much cheaper and still right in the central South Beach area.
(3)Pg P.
Food was awful. Had no aroma, like it was prepared the day before and reheated. Very dry and had no flavor. Ordered roast pork and half of it was fatty gristle that was not edible.
(1)Smarty Pants P.
My boyfriend and I had lunch at Larios last weekend... Location is great.. then again any places on Ocean Drive are good location... I ordered the Cuban roasted pork per our waiter's recommendation... My boyfriend got the Shrimp Creole... Moro rice and fried plantains. Their portions are big... Personally, the pork was very greasy... Our waiter was nice, but the overall service is mediocre. The hostess (?) girl was very unfriendly.. We asked for something and she gave us a look like we were bothering her... She acted like she was all that and believe me, she wasn't... Too bad, I had such high hopes... Larios will not be a place where I would recommend to my friends.
(2)Crystal T.
"Disappointment", that's the most I can say about the place. Last week we were in Miami, and we were recommended this place by a local for good Cuban food. We went there with high hopes but it just turned out to be a big disappointment. The food, service, and atmosphere everything was bad, and very expensive for the kind of food and service we got. We paid $70 for 2 entrees and drinks...and where on earth do you have to pay 16% gratuity for a party of 2 people? I ordered Shrimp curry and my husband ordered shredded chicken, and every entree comes with a choice of rice and Plantains. My husband's chicken was dry, tasteless and without any gravy... I don't know how you can expect someone to eat rice with dry chicken and fried plantains; we shared the sauce from my shrimp curry. My Shrimp curry wasn't great either, the shrimps were dry and the sauce did not mix properly with the shrimps. and our waiter was just not concerned with our experience, he was too busy in entertaining a big party of people. I think that explains why the gratuity is 16%, they know their food is not good and service is horrible and I am sure they also know customers would never like to tip them if given a choice so they are better off by including the high gratuity in the bill.
(1)Derek F.
3rd stop in the tour really good ropa vieja!!!
(4)Eric L.
Someone told me this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant, not sure if that is true. I went here for dinner with some Co-workers on my last night in Miami Beach. The sign outside said Larios, the menus said "Bongos", very confusing. I did get the sense that this was the equivalent to a "Cuban" Chevy's terms of the service and decor. Our waiter that was hard selling mojitos, appetizers, and "add ons", not impressed. I ordered the grilled pork loin, which in retrospect was a terrible call. The Pork was super lean and therefore dry as hell. Think consistency of dry white chicken meat, and you'll be close. Every bite I took completely sucked my mouth dry of any moisture, I resorted to pre-shredding the meat and dousing it with black beans to get some moisture in it. That strategy worked until I ran out of beans, now that I think about it, maybe I should have asked for a bowl of salsa. I can report that the pressed garlic bread things they give out for free are phenomenal. Some of the best things I've ever tasted. I probably could have gorged myself on 5 baskets and had a 5 star experience.
(3)T. B.
The service was just awful...it was obvious that the waiter knew he was getting an automatic gratuity- he never introduced himself and was more like a robot just taking orders. And unfortunately the food was under seasoned and just so-so. It's too bad because we expected so much more.
(2)Gen B.
Delicious! I try to hit up Larios everytime I am in Miami, which is about every 6 weeks for work. Coco Mojito is delicious. Pair it with ceviche, croquettas and garlic shrimp and you are set! Plus it is owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan so a nice little Bonus minus the sound machine. It is South Beach so there is always the bit of the tourist vibe, but just go with it. It's South Beach!
(5)Yellie A.
Fun dancing, great music, lovely waiters! But the food was...ok. Could have been better.
(3)Kelli P.
Being a first generation Cuban American, I have very high expectations for Cuban restaurants. If it doesn't compare to my grandmas cooking, I don't go back! Lario's met the mark! Very authentic, excellent food! Bistec a la palomilla, pechuga de pollo, arroz con pollo, mariquitas, and yuca con mojo were all just as my grandma used to make. Plus I enjoyed their mojito - the little stick of sugar cane was a nice, fresh touch. If the servers were a bit more attentive and charming I would have given Larios more stars! The atmosphere is a bit loud, but it is upbeat, energizing and has good music! Next time you are on South Beach and want good Cuban food, hit up Larios! Buen Provecho!
(4)Lalaine C.
Both Julius and I don't care for Gloria Estefan's music. At all. So when we found out she owned Lario's with her husband, we hoped that the food would be so much better than her "come on shake your body baby do that conga" song! I can tell you one thing, the ambience at Lario's is fun and so South Beach. It was our first dinner in Miami, and the vibe just put us in a partying mood (maybe it helped that we were barhopping up & down Ocean Drive prior to our reservations ha.) I guess if anyone would know how to make people want to fiesta, it would be the Estefan's! The Cuban tropical décor was really beautiful as well. After touring the elegant inside of the restaurant, we decided on dining on the sidewalk to be a part of all the energy outside. We ordered drinks and the fried cassava bites to start. Thickly sliced and lightly battered, they were so good but HEAVY. I think I could've eaten just this and called it a night! Julius on my recommendation ordered the media noche (Cuba's answer to America's hamburger) and I ordered some mixed seafood stew, which according to our server, was the very best thing on the menu (I tried looking online to get the official name of the dish, but it must be a new offering - I couldn't find it.) My seafood dish did turn out to be very tasty, with good portions of shrimp, clams, langostinos, and crab in a spicy tomato-y broth. I felt bad that Julius wasn't digging his sandwich, which seemed like nothing but ham cold cuts in a white bread bun (beware of the strong, tart pickle!) - I was envisioning something exotic looking. Wrong! He only ate half of it, and packed the other half to go (he still didn't eat it the next day.) What a shame, Julius was so wanting to trying out real Cuban food! We still had dessert to look forward to, and our server recommended the flan. It was standard fare, tasted like every other flan we ordered. I thought there might be some special Cuban twist to it. Wrong again! So what do you give a place with great atmosphere, but mediocre food? A solid three stars. PS Now after writing this review, I have that "the rhythm is going to get you, the rhythm is going to get you...tonight!!" song stuck in my damn head. FML.
(3)Shelly C.
We went to Larios for a Cuban birthday dinner! Normally we goto Puerto Sagua but we wanted to sit outside and have a drink. The service was so so. The drinks were good and actually strong which was surprising! The food was ok--We had a few appetizers-The stuffed potatoes and Cuban Ham Croquettes were really good. I got the Shrimp Cuban Criolla as my entree--It was ok. Not much flavor but decent amount of shrimp. The rice and beans probably would have been good but the rice was either not cooked all the way or over cooked stuck to the bottom of the pot...Not good at all. Honestly would not return to Larios--If your looking for AMAZING cuban food, goto PUERTO SAGUA.
(2)Monica L.
I've been here twice only because I've been in the mood to have both cuban food and wanting to sit somewhere on Ocean Drive at the same time! We went late on a Friday night, 30 minutes before closing, and they were still busy! First time we went there we ordered mojitos which were great. Ordered the red sangria this time and it was ok. The only problem I have with this place is the price. Six bucks for three croquettes? A little ridiculous, especially when you give me only one squeeze of lime that is dried to hell. Oh well, I love cuban food. As far as service, I bet it's not the type of service that Gloria would deem acceptable. It's just not really on point. I won't say more.
(3)Martin S.
I was fortunate enough to be taken to this place when I was recently down in Miami Beach for vacation. As a general rule, tourists should try and avoid Ocean Drive restaurants, as they inflate prices and lure you in with their "happy hour" specials, although has an unbeatable atmosphere. This place is an exception though....great food and value. I was not very familiar with Cuban food before I ate here, but ended up loving it. We started with Tostones and Maduros, which are very tasty. I had the cuban roasted pork, which was really good. My friends ordered another type of fried pork dish and the other a steamed lobster. These were both excellent as well.
(4)J Seth A.
Eating here was one of the highlights of my trip to South Beach. The food was delicious (best plantains I had in Florida) and the portion sizes were generous considering the price. The atmosphere was bustling and exciting, the sounds, the smells, the views I'll remember fondly. I ordered pork loin and it came with rice and plantains. Considering how busy the restaurant was we expected to wait longer for our food, but it came out in record time. I snarfed it down, threw my head back with a moan and felt like I needed a cigarette. It was that good. The only thing holding this back from a 5 star review was the wait staff seemed a little distant, almost a little annoyed that they had to answer the questions of yet more tourists. But whatever. I liked everything else.
(4)Angela G.
Certainly not the best Cuban to be had in SoBe, but between the ambiance, the view, the bustling waitstaff and the quality of the food and drinks, you could do a lot worse. Had a fine meal here with family and friends, replete with papparazzi taking pics of J-Wow and Snooki eating at the News Cafe next door. And even they didn't manage to ruin my appetite. Sangria (rojo) is a lovely start to the meal, but their full bar makes excellent mojitos as well that pack a punch. Churrasco is tender and flavorful, ropa vieja is perfectly shredded in a zippy sauce, and the paella is well-cooked and full of fresh seafood. It's a really solid meal all around, only losing a star for the sole fact that this is the exact same food that you can get in Orlando at Bongo's in Disneyworld or at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, only with a higher price tag because it's Miami. Still, you're going to get a much better meal than some of the other locations on the strip that charge just to charge with no taste to back it up. Hell, if you chalk up the inflated price for the view, you aren't doing too bad at all. Certainly a good time.
(4)Jeffrey S.
If people watching were a sport, I'd be the freaking undisputed Tiger Woods of people watching. And as the real estate expression goes, "Location, location, location", Lario's on the Beach is an absolute mob-scene eight days a week. I could spend an entire day just people watching from the patio. Outdoor seating is a must as a steady stream of beautiful people and interesting characters can be seen both at the restaurant and walking up and down the catwalk known as Ocean Drive. I've been to South Beach four times over the last several years and have always managed to stop by this Cuban Café owned by singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. Most recently, I was in SoBe for a wedding and took my mother and my girlfriend out on a Friday night to have a little taste of the Cuban culture and its cuisine. Upon walking into the restaurant, there is a small bar to the right and an area to the left with a space for a dj/band and dance floor. The inside dining area toward the back boasts a sexy lounge-type atmosphere with dark stained wood, intricate and exotic décor, dimly lit tables and private dining areas. A strange but interesting thing to note is that the men's urinals were filled with ice. It was odd the first time I saw it and thought that the wait staff might have simply dumped ice into all the urinals to discard it. However in frequenting Lario's over the years, the urinals were always filled with ice. For what purpose, I'm not exactly sure. But it is certainly a strange and interesting touch. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we sat outside to enjoy the view and the weather. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and prompt with a kick-ass Cuban accent. We immediately ordered a classic Cuban Mojito, which is arguably the best in Miami. The drink was made to order and was served complete with a fresh stalk of sugar cane. It was a refreshing as the ocean breeze. Even my Mom ordered a mojito... and I've honestly only seen her drink an alcoholic beverage a handful of times in my life. She took a couple of sips, said it was good but very strong and then gave her drink to me to finish. The menu offers authentic Cuban cuisine, which is basically a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. The portions here are larger than life. For this visit, I decided on the Bistec de Palomilla, a thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic salt & mojo topped with onions & parsley. It did not disappoint. The steak was a juicy, tender, salty, flavorful goodness and that was almost as good as a Filipino version coincidently named "bistek" that my mother makes. All entrees were served with white rice, moro rice, fried plantains or sweet plantains and our server was able to recommend which of the sides would pair best with our entrees. After dinner, order a cup of the Café Cubano. It's a strong and sweet Cuban style espresso coffee. Also try the Tres Leches, a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk & heavy cream poured over white cake until soaked. You may find yourself swooning with delight at each delicious bite. You may also find yourself swooning over the final bill as all of this goodness certainly adds up but is completely worth the price. Inside and during the later hours of the night, the restaurant turns into a makeshift salsa club, with live music and rhythmic bodies. Muy caliente!
(4)A. M.
Lario's is just one of those restaurants in miami that you walk by and you can sit down on the strip and eat however inside is so beautiful! They also served about 12 of us and although service was just a bit slow, it was great! The portions are big after you've had a coctail and the food is pretty good. I had the pork with moro and tostones. We also got some stuffed tostones for an appetizer which was really good. My mojito was strong and minty! Great place to come
(4)Larry S.
Didn't eat there, only had Mojitos. Expensive but incredible. Sat outside but on the upper mezzanine level for incredible people watching but not having them right in your face. Terrific drink.
(5)A C.
Very good food and very reasonably priced. My girlfriend & I had dinner here and loved that they have the same menu items as Bongo's. We love Bongo's in Orlando and this place has the same menu with a more intimate feel. Arroz Con Pollo is excelent and so is the Shredded Chicken.... Mmmmmm
(5)Tiffany R.
yummy food and excellent service!
(5)Toni G.
the place is closed!!!
(1)Jessica G.
So my significant other who I ate here with really enjoyed his meal that is why I am giving the 3 stars. All I remember on his plate was a ton of fried meat- which did not look good- but seemingly was very tasty to a meat-atarian. My meal was not good at all- I ordered the mango shrimp and it was not at all what I expected....swimming in this thick buttery sauce with out even the slightest hint of mango. I would like to try a different entree next time. Our server was fantastic and attentive (I wish I could remember his name- he was an older gentleman very lovely)! The flan was great (although not the best I have had- Soul de Cuba in New Haven CT has my favorite!) and the Cuban specialty coffee selection was definitely 2 thumbs up.
(3)Ronni A.
Love this place. Usually visit once a year, from West Coast. This time tried the pollo frita. It was so good. It is easy to fall into a pattern of eating your favorite Cuban meal but, please, try something new here. Great cocktails too.
(4)Jeff D.
Excellent Cuban food & mojitos can be had here. Service was attentive and informative. Dined for lunch w/ my wife on a Friday afternoon. Had the Cuban slow-roasted pork, which is cooked all day to perfection- super tender, lean and juicy! Not easy to pull off! Wife had a churrasco steak salad; steak was very tender and flavorful, salad was decent. Mojitos- wow! They were perfectly concocted. Maynor, our waiter, was excellent. They are a little tricky to find, as they are temporarily situated in the Cardozo Hotel, sharing space with the Cardozo restaurant, which is an open air restaurant on Ocean. Turn up 13th St. to get to their interior entrance. Much better experience than all the touristy, mediocre places along Ocean in S. Beach that try to pull you in like used car salesmen.
(5)Maria A.
First we'll get the things we expect out of the way. It's overpriced, it's a tourist trap, and it's not the best Cuban in town. Ok, now that that's out of the way. It's not bad. The service however, leaves a lot to desire. We started with platano cups filled with ropa vieja or green plantains filled with shredded beef. Next I had choripan and for dessert it was tres leches. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't suggest it to friends. However, I could see why out of towners might enjoy it.
(3)Jenn B.
Yumm best food on Ocean Drive by far. Staff was very friendly and the service was quick. Presentation is definitely not their forte but the food is unbelievable and the portions are generous. I ordered the perfectly cooked and flavorful skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce which came with a side of moro rice and tostones. The only con was the sangria. We had the white and red, neither were great. Oh and just a note, bring lots of gum to chew on afterwards.
(4)Linda R.
Lets compare Larios to Pollo Tropical. Larios is the SOBE Cuban Restaurant and Pollo Tropical is the fast food joint found anywhere is South Florida. Atmosphere: Point to Larios. Chic classic old Havana with a South Beach Twist. Music: This is a hard one but I have to give it to Larios because they have a better sound system. A disappointment because I thought the music would be live. Service: Points to PT. Friendly informative counter service vs stuck up gay guy who just went ahead and put an order in for our side dishes without asking what we wanted! Price: No contest...point goes to Pollo Tropical. Just shy of $15 for a quarter of a chicken, churrascos, tomato balsamic salad, 2 orders of beans and rice, rolls and some great condiments and soft drinks. Larios, after taking out the alcoholic beverages was $50 and the food...well more on that later. Taste: PT by a land slide! The baked chicken was moist and well cooked, no puddles of grease to be found. The beans and rice were tasty and the tomato balsamic salad delish. The steak was only warm and should have been served at a warmer temperature. The rolls were typical fast food and could have been left off the plate. Larios Pork appetizer was overcooked and had no flavor. The Ropa Viega was a pile of grease disguised as meat. The shrimp creole was quite good but we expected a Caribbean flair that was not there. The sweet plantains were good but I wish I had been given the option of ordering the sides because my husband and I would have liked to try different things to share. South Beach is a wild and crazy place. Great food is hard to come by and costs a lot of money but I think you can do much better than Larios. Don't believe me? Go to Pollo Tropical and follow it up with a visit to Larios and prove it to yourself!
(2)Rob W.
Great Mojito's, large portions, cool interior, but if your a people watcher you want to sit outside. I am not sure why everyone is ripping on this place. They have an extensive menu of solid traditional Cuban dishes. Love the mariquitias and vaca frita. I always order the rice and beans seperate and sweet plantains (madura). The food was very good, the scenery is always a freak show on ocean drive but entertaining.
(4)Randy B.
Mojitos were the best I ever had.
(5)Andrey E.
Very nice place! They serve three-entry dinner with drink just for $33! All very good, very polite staff. Delicious food!
(5)Nucky T.
If I can help others avoid this restaurant, I certainly will. I agree with some of the reviewers ..... overall, and overrated Miami experience. I was very disappointed with ocean drive. It's changed a lot since I was last in Miami in 2003. Most if not all of the restaurants have the same exact menu. Why? It was never like this before. I never got hustled or herded walking by these restaurants like I did last week. Anyways, onto Larios! I had wanted to try some Cuban because I was in the mood for it ... [ after all every other restaurant is Italian, or with the same menu ] I was greeted and told there were no seats to sit down in [ outside or in ] ok .. so I will wait. It's really all who you know at Larios, as I saw other couples drive in from the street or walk in and were immediately seated, couple after couple ... I am only 1 person, I didn't have a group of 6 or 7, or 2. The hostess who acted and felt like she was Mariah Carey, kept twittling and piddling her hair, knew she was guilty because she wouldn't look me in the eye as I was pretty fucking pissed standing there. After waiting for more than an hour, I bounced .. and by then all the other good restaurants off the herded path of Ocean drive were closed! Good timing! Miami was a tremendously disappointing experience, along with this restaurant. It is deafly loud in this place.
(1)Scott T.
This will be one of the stand out memories of Miami Beach. I liked the atmosphere of the place, the food was incredible, and it really hit the spot for a quintessential Miami Beach Ocean Drive restaurant. I guess you can expect that from the Queen of Miami herself. The pork was awesome, Mojitos were very sweet but I liked them. The salsa music was a tad too loud where I was but did not take away from the great experience.
(4)Jim A.
I've eaten here twice in the past year. The first visit was good enough that I brought a group of co-workers here on Halloween. The ceviche was very good; the other dishes not so much: the shrimp criollo, Cuban pork, steak, and fried rice were all over-cooked - I guess they are best at not cooking food. The mojitos are tasty and made-to-order, but pricey - I still recommend having at least one. There aren't great deals anywhere on Ocean (regardless of what the hostesses offering 2-for-1 Happy Hour say), but Larios offers a decent meal at a fair for the market price.
(3)Dennis M.
If there is one thing that Miami has no shortage of is its Cuban Restaurants. Sadly, many of our tourists and visitors only experience Lario's on the beach to make their assessment of what Cuban food is. This restaurant, inspired by the original ( best ) Lario's in West Dade tries to mix fine homey cuban food with a snazzy, pretencious South Beach scene. It doesn't work. Dishes seem rushed. Lacking are the subtle flavors of Cuban food, replaced here by an overindulgence of garlic. Dishes were mediocre at best. It seems that more attention is placed on location and hip factor than on food. Service is hit or miss. Ive been treated well there, but have also experienced serious attitude from the "too good for you" wannabe staff. Can do A LOT better if good Cuban food is what you want.
(3)Stephanie V.
During my first trip to Miami 2 years ago I was searching for a good Cuban restaurant and came across Larios through Yelp. I had never tried Cuban before and the instant I tried it, I was hooked! I returned to Miami twice this year and the quality of the food never changed throughout the years. I don't remember all the dishes that we tried during my 3 visits to Larios, but definitely we ordered papas rellenas, ceviche, vaca frita de pollo, pollo a la plancha, pollo asado, churraso a lo cubano, boliche, and some kind of dessert with guava shells and cream cheese. I don't like seafood and didn't try the ceviche, but my husband loves ceviche and found Larios' ceviche too tart and acidic. The papas rellenas were fried perfectly and the potato inside was light and fluffy instead of feeling starchy and heavy. The minced meat was seasoned nicely. The vaca frita de pollo was tender and crispy. I loved how the meat was flavored with lime/lemon and topped with crispy onions. The pollo a la plancha was marinated the same way as the vaca frita de pollo, but I think the vaca frita de pollo brought out more of the flavors. The pollo asado was good, but nothing too memorable. The churrasco featured tender grilled steak with a very flavorful chimichurri sauce. The bolice was very tender and the meat almost fell apart once you put your fork through it. I really loved the chorizo they used which was loaded with flavor. The dessert with guava and cream cheese was too sweet and we were unable to finish it. The syrup was very thick and gooey. Service was pretty efficient, especially compared to other locations in SoBe. One night we were here there was a dj playing inside and though the music was great, I think it was too loud for a restaurant. My husband and I had to nearly shout to one another just to be heard. Then again, we're not Miami locals, so maybe the volume that they played was typical of Miami restaurants. Overall great food (not so great dessert, but I've only tried 1), relaxing atmosphere, and pretty decent service. I've tried 4 Cuban restaurants and so far this remains my favorite one.
(4)Liyah B.
Larios is a must. Delicious food and great service. Also, beautiful decor. If you don't go to any other restaurant in SoBe, make sure you hit up Larios.
(5)Berenice D.
Highly recommend this place. The food is so amazing. I had the first item on the menu under the meat. The meat was so tender and full of flavor. The rice I ordered the brownish rice and it was delicious along with the platanos machos. Please eat here it is to great!
(5)sunny t.
Great food @ pretty good prices. Much better than other restaurants on ocean drive which tends to be rip offs. Look for the long lines.
(4)Sunny M.
Yum, Yum, YUM!!!! I dream about the food from this every day!! Every time I go to Miami I have to eat here!! The food is amazing- ANYTHING u get. I love the shredded beef with the black beans and rice. The mojitos are the best, not to sweet or sour just right. The sugar cane makes the experience de-lish. Sit outside enjoy the crowd running by or sit inside and enjoy the fun dance music that they play. Remember it's Miami so service is not number 1 at all and don't get mad when u see the 17% tip added to your bill, again it's Miami. So the rating on the 5 is the food, drinks and did I mention the food!!! YUM, can't wait to go back!
(5)Dennis M.
Good food, but you come for the atmosphere and that's why you pay a premium. A good choice if Ocean Drive dining is what you're looking for.
(4)kim c.
OMG..... The Food was sooooo Good. the Ambiance was off the chain Very Trendy Miami. I will Be back there for the food and the Dancing next time and i will try the drinks next time. i was the Driver so i could not have cocktails but next time when i am in the area its on like Donkey kong
(5)El S.
One of the best mojitos I've ever had. Got the rice and beans mixed together and some kind of chicken dish. Really good for Cuban food....then again I'm not Cuban so I really don't know much about it. I'm just a big, fat, dbag from the east coast with an overeating problem. Anyway, I really liked it regardless of my own personal faults. I'd like to make a Cuban friend. I don't have any. If any Cuban people out there want to hang out with a compulsive overeater with man juggies hit me up!
(4)Jennifer C.
Loved loved the food. My boyfriend and I were at Miami Beach for a few days and decided to walk along Ocean Drive to look for a place to eat. There were plenty but we picked Larios because it was the cheapest one out of all the Cuban restaurants we passed by...don't get me wrong though, this place isn't hella cheap but it was the cheapest one! If you want somewhere really cheap and budget friendly....this isn't the place for you! We ordered their Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks for appetizer. This was delicious! The pork was moist and seasoned well! My boyfriend ordered Bongos Famous Fried Rice which was absolutely delicious ( I honestly thought it would taste just like any other fried rice but this tasted different....whatever they put in their fried rice, they did a great job)! I ordered the Bongos Famous Roasted Chicken and I absolutely loved this dish...Seasoned and marinated very well...Definitely should eat this with rice and the plantains that came with it (all work well together). Another plus was that we were able to eat outside to enjoy the fantastic weather! While you're eating, you'll find a woman taking pictures. She'll come back with a key chain and a frame with your picture....you decide whether you want to buy. We actually bought 2 key chains! What can I say...I got suckered into the buy 2 picture key chains and get a 4x6" picture for $12. lol
(5)S D.
The fish and plantains were very good. Reasonably prices for South Beach.
(4)Seth D.
Miami may be the closest I'll ever get to Cuba, and I figured what better place to try my first Cuban Sandwich. Las Olas Café was closed; so we stopped by Larios on the way back to the beach. The food was uninspiring, and the waiter seemed indifferent to our presence at his table. Only worthwhile part of the meal was watching the steady stream of beautiful people and freaks walk by along the boardwalk. And we had plenty of time to people watch, because the service was slow as Cuban molasses. Did I mention the service sucked? I've never enjoyed Gloria Estefan's music, but she seems like someone who would or should care that her restaurant is beat.
(1)Connie M.
Another staff dinner and my food was ordered for me by the time I got there. I should've had Cuban food, but I think my order was leaning more towards an Italian, chicken parmigiana type thing, because it was lightly breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and wonderfully melted mozzarella (see pictures). Fried plaintains and beans & rice were also served with every dish and were equally as yummy - and I don't even like plaintains! The atmosphere here is really good for groups. Having walked in right from Ocean Drive I didn't expect it to be spacious, but it was.
(4)Eve J.
I am not one for giving 5 stars because to get 5 stars I have to be really impressed. My friend ordered and shared fried yucca, it was so delicious. I ordered the arroz con pollo. The portions were large enough for me to take 1/2 for a full meal later. We shared guayava and cheese for dessert. Delish! I would definitely return when I am in Miami.
(5)Jessica C.
Not a fan of dining on Ocean Drive but Larios is a must stop for me whenever in Miami. Been coming here for years and always get the same dish Vaca Frita. It's so delicious! I've also started to get the Vaca Frita De Pollo, a healthier choice if on a diet! :)
(3)Aletha C.
In Ocean Drive area and in the mood for Cuban food with my date. Heard Larios is owned by Gloria Estafan so thought we would check it out late on a weekday afternoon. Was impressed with the hip and classy decor and really liked the atmosphere. The Cuban music in the background, while a little loud for comfort did create a nice ambience. Started of with mojitos which were strong and minty and went down smoothly. I had the Cuban skirt steak with rice and fried plantains which was cooked right and came in good sized portions. My companion had the roasted pork which he found tender and full of flavor and he enjoyed the accompanying black beans, rice and tostones. The service was more than adequate and we felt well attended. Overall, we had a pleasant, enjoyable experience and really got into the mood of the place and would definitely return again
(4)K C.
Good food. Decent priced for ocean dr.
(4)Danielle R.
I knew this place would be designed for tourists, but I wanted to check out one of Gloria's restaurants. Sadly, the rhythm did not get me. The disco vibe you walk into really cheapens the whole place. I imagine it provides for a fantastic people watching experience and a place for the tourists to try and salsa, but it didn't do anything to create a good dining experience. The presentation of the food was a step above cafeteria style. I expected bold, yummy, heat based flavor. You know, Cuban food. Meh. Not so much. Service. Meh. A bit scattered and, um, quirky. Not attentive.
(2)Tom G.
I would love to give this beach place 5 stars. I've been in and out of here for many many times over the years. Service is great, food is wonderful, but tonight the bartender screwed us over. We asked how much are the mojitos and he replied $8. I repeated it back to him, and he agreed that it was a great price. In fact he said it was the same price as the cheap red wine. So, need I say more? We opted for mojitos over red wine... Everyone having a good time, drinking mojitos like it's lemonade... Then the bill comes, but the mojitos are now $11 each. Bartender wouldn't budge. Said that's what the price was, pay up! I'm sorry, but we passed up many other tourist rip-off restaurants on Ocean Drive looking for one that had been around for a while, one that we knew, one that was very unlikely to try cheating. Very, very disappointing that this classy place jumped onto the rip-off bandwagon... Needless to say, our plans to bring a party there next week has been changed. Shameful... Update: They inflated the charge on the credit card!
(1)Shortcake S.
The Coco Mojitos are outstanding and I'd give the tostones rellenos 3.5 stars, but I ordered the Moros and I'm fairly certain that the rice is Uncle Ben's brand. There are lots of other places in this area for outstanding (and cheaper) Cuban food. Not to mention the hostess wasn't that friendly... but I still highly recommend the Coco Mojitos ;)
(3)Annie T.
Gloria Estefan took my virginity. My Cuban food virginity. It was like a scene out of "When Harry Met Sally". I was making the Meg Ryan sounds, but I wasn't faking it. I ordered the ropa viega (shredded beef) and it was incredibly flavorful... just SOAKING in the good stuff (cuban sauce/peppers/onions). It came with a plate of sweet plantain (good god, those alone could bring me to a euphoric state) and mora rice with black beans mixed in. My friend also got the media noche sandwich and I snuck a bite. It was so GD delicious that I had to hunt down a media noche sammy place within a few blocks from our hotel the next day (and the day after that)... We were seated quickly, our server was great, food and drinks came out fast, and lastly, the atmosphere was so fun. We made the mistake of sitting outside (it was winddyyyy night in SoBe) because it was more fun inside... and warmer. That's my only regret. Thanks, Gloria, it was my first but certainly not my last.
(4)J T.
Not bad, just not great. There are several other Cuban restaurants on Miami beach, but this was our first to try. We love Cuban food. We're hoping the others live up to their stellar reviews.
(3)Jason K.
This Cuban tourist trap, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, has been around for years and remains a great place to people watch. The night I visited a few years ago, Lario's was filled with "beautiful people"...it was a little intimidating. Nevertheless, any apprehension was relieved by a couple of drinks. The food was surprisingly good...the skirt steak served with Chimichurri sauce was particularly tasty. The fried plantains were delicious but the black beans were pretty average. If you are a tourist visiting South Beach, this is a pretty good place to go for decent, unintimidating Cuban food.
(4)Ashley S.
We ordered Ropa Vieja. Taste was great. The waitress left us after she brought us the food (literally, 7 mins after we ordered it) and didn't come back for about 30 min. We called someone else over to get us more to drink. They didn't tell us that they don't give refills. They asked us if we wanted more soda though, we said yes then they charged us 2.50 for it. So, NO REFILLS : ) Will I go back? Probably not. btw, If you choose to sit outside, be prepared to be harassed no matter what you wear.
(3)Yirima V.
Good vaca frita!...only wish they had an avocado salad on the menu.
(4)Christina S.
Headed to Little Havana originally we were told by our connoisseur at our hotel that we were "over dressed and being only ladies we should not go" We weren't wearing ball gowns but obviously our dresses and shorts were too much for a night out to Little Havana and we were redirected to go to Larios On The Beach. A little taxi ride from the Eden Roc we arrived to what was a busy night. Luckily we were able to grab a table out on the sidewalk perfect for interesting people watching and as the bottles of wine came the more interesting things would become. First off this place is theresturant of Gloria Estefan which brings in more fans and people wanting to dine at her place so it does get busy... It's a beautiful spot rich on the beach and winter in Miami is more like a cooler summer so outdoor dinning is better. We asked the waiter to suggest authentic Cuban food. I had the shredded chicken with the Moros y Cristianos (black rice) .. My friends had pork and other dishes. Everything was amazing however the only thing that annoyed us was when we ordered a bottle of Malbec the waiter brought out a different bottle. He didn't mention to us that they were out of the wine or that they could offer something similar. He brought out the bottle already opened. A bottle that was of a $10 difference. Poor service on his part. He obviously has no experience. So when we ordered our second bottle we had to make sure it was in fact the one we wanted before he brought out another $10 higher bottle of wine. We were not being cheap but come on??? Cheap move on his part.. So, note of caution make sure that they don't try to give you something other than your order and check the receipt. He didn't offer to adjust the price, no in fact because it was our friends birthday he said he brought out the tres leeches cake and took that off in place of the wine. Can you say LAME?? Oh, the Mojitos.. We all tried one.. I couldn't finish mine because it was too sweet even after I had asked for a pinch of sugar it still came out tasting like a cup of sugar. Apparently they ar known for the Mojitos and apparently every spot that I had one at makes them very sweet even after asking to go light on the sugar.. Apparently I am no fan of the Mojito.. But the sugar cane stick in there was cute. Food 5 stars the sheisty waiter 2 stars.. He did have good recommendations on the authentic food!
(3)C B.
Lario's was great. I had a mango mojito which was excellent. The food was delicious as well. The staff was very friendly. It's a little more pricey but It's right on Ocean drive with a great view of the beach and excellent people watching opportunities.
(4)Wendy O.
We visited Larios on vacation, great Cuban food, fun location in South Beach. I had pork...very tasty. Plantains good. Not crazy about the rice. Would recommend!
(4)Aurelius M.
Ay Dios Mio! The best cuban food I've ever had. I went here for dinner and the food was amazing. We started with the Estefan Cuban combo and my first drink was the Havana iced tea. My entree was the Lechon Asado. Then we got a pitcher of Mojito. We were on the company dime so we let the dice roll that night! Again, the food was incredible. Everything had lots of flavor and I felt like I was in Cuba while the spanish tunes played in the background. The staff was ok. We were seated outside and waiter was swamped which took a bit of time to order our food. We didn't mind at the time because it's a great spot to people watch. I wish their valet service had square or some way to pay with credit card. I had to walk a block for an ATM, pay the ATM fee, then walk a block back. So if you plan to valet here make sure you take cash because they cannot cash you out at the bar, you can't pay at your table or front desk , and the valet doesn't have any credit card machine. A bit outdated if you ask me. It's 2014 and who uses cash anymore? The little things I guess.
(4)Lauren B.
Even though Lario's is in a very touristy area of SoBe, the cuisine and experience is very authentic! Best mojitos ever and the Mojo Marinated Chicken is soooo very flavorful. Loved the the bacon wrapped maduros also. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this! The music and energy is lively and everyone there is ready to have a good time - an awesome dining experience!
(5)Mark O.
This place is awesome. Took visitors to eat authentic Cuban food and Emilio Estefan comes to say hi. He is one of our customers at HD!
(5)Gayland L.
Food is great. Great place to have drinks and a wonderful dinner. People watching is great from the patio. Skirt steak is the way to go. Empanadas are great.
(5)Zrinko V.
Great food, we wanted Cuban and found this wonderfully decorated quiet place (don't understand why it's so quiet, but OK with it). Great food, totally worth it, very good restaurant.
(5)andrea a.
Came back a year later and it's still just as amazing. Complete redesign. Food is amazing and be sure to try the mojitos! We had the pineapple mojito and coconut mojito and they were so good! Food: we had the steak with Moro and tostones. MORO IS AMAZING! My girlfriend had the steak salad and it was good too. A must try when in Miami!
(5)Steven H.
My wife and I had ropa vieja with moro rice and sweet plantains and ceviche appetizer. Our daughter had sweet plantains wrapped in bacon. All was excellent.
(5)Raychel L.
My friend and I were only in town 1 night and our hotel had a Miami book of local things. We perused the dining pages and voted we must do Cuban cuisine while in South Beach. We shared the ceviche (grouper fish) came w/plantain chips, um AMAZING! So full of flavor I could have had 7 of those by myself, regardless of how full I would have been. We also shared the Famous Seared shredded beef with Moros rice, grilled veggies and sweet plantains. Also Amazing!! Everything was so delish. We quenched our thirst w/a carafe of Mango Passion fruit spritzer which was tasty but not much alcohol. Finishing it off with Cuban coffee (espresso) bill came to $73 for both. Not bad $$ for South Beach, we were stuffed, even with sharing! Will visit again!
(4)Kyle H.
Was taken to Larios by a local for Cuban Food and was very happy with it. Seating aplenty outside with great people watching, and the inside is very nice too. Feeling like just having a drink? They have a nice bar right inside! Appetizer- Ceviche- generous portion of whitefish served in a broth of citrus with red onion and jalapeno. Slightly spicy, but could have used maybe something else. Was served with crispy plantain- a nice touch! Entree- Shredded Beef- I forget the Cuban name, but it's basically Ropa Viejo minus tomato sauce. A HOT plate of sizzling meat with onions, with a side of rice and beans and choice of plantains (sweet). Loved my dish. Service was great- and saw plenty else on the menu that would keep me coming back to Larios!
(4)Bunny W.
Most restaurants on ocean drive are tourist trap with boring menu. This place doesn't try to oversell themselves, which is kinda nice. The menu is more original and interesting than their neighbors but not the best cuban in south beach. The tres leches was a huge disappointment, cake was rough not moist though it's wet. The pork cubes appetizer is our favorite. We also had skirt steak salad. Portion are generous, service are good, mojito is great.
(3)Tiffany P.
We went there recently to check out the new renovations and new menu, the food is amazing have the bacon wrapped maduros!
(5)Andrea J.
Food was very good, the avocado salad is delicious but on the small side, the rose wine was rather like a red wine but good, but the waiter was kind of weird, not really friendly, do not expect chatting about the food with this guy
(4)Steven P.
the food was good, not great, especially considering the prices. the location is excellent, right across from the beach. Here is the problem: while trying to enjoy my expensive lunch with friends, i was bothered 7 times by panhandlers and people interrupting us to sell us junk. From reggae cds, cigars,roses, boat tours, culinary tours and just plain street urchins asking for money. When i got upset and told the managers, their answer to the issue was for me to move to another table???? My lunch bill with tip was 140.00 for 3 people. I will never go back to this place,since they condone this
(2)Melissa M.
We made our dinner reservations in advance on opentable.com . We checked in and barely had to wait to be seated. The waiting area is rather large so I could only imagine how packed this place gets during busier times of the year. There's "glowing" chairs in this area was pretty cool.The place seemed very busy and had a very energetic atmosphere. Lots of waiters and staff running around also. We were seated in one of the rooms which was already packed with other diners. Our waitress had a very rushed mood throughout our whole service. She barely came up to refill our waters and never came back to check up on us. Seeing how she tended to all the tables within this room, we all got the same service. They offer everything you'd expect on a menu for a Spanish restaurant in Miami/South Beach. Prices are definitely more here. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo and my bf had the Lechon Asado. The food was just average, nothing special. In addition, I felt that the flavors were a little bland, making it more "americanized" for those who were just being introduced to Spanish food. The lack of service, higher prices, and average food left much to be desired. Nice restaurant but if you're not able to try this tourist trap, you're not missing anything. I still love you Gloria Estefan!
(2)Tegan C.
YES! A gem hidden amongst all the terribly overpriced tourist restaurant/bars on ocean drive. Wonderful Cuban cuisine for reasonable pricing. I highly recommend it and guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy the food, music, ambience, and service.
(4)Katie F.
Finally I got to try cuban coffee! IT WAS AMAZING. It changed everything. You have to go here. Sit inside, there's an incredible band that plays inside. Makes it hard to sit and eat because you want to get up and dance. We had the paella, it was really nice. Appetizers were the empanadas and the beef potatoes, both I would order again in a heart beat. We rode bikes afterwards, there's a citi bike rack across the street, so go ride off all that amazing food! Loved it here.
(5)Emilia L.
We arrived in Miami totally starved and had no idea where to eat. We were dressed to the nines, but didn't want to eat at an overpriced place, yet didn't want some hole in the wall, either. We parked and headed towards Ocean Drive in search of a place to eat, and found Lario's (the second place we passed!) What a godsend, because we had originally wanted Cuban food but had a hard time finding a suitable place. We got some ceviche to start, which was served with thinly cut plaintain chips. Very refreshing and delicious. For my entree, I got a Cuban classic, the ropa vieja. The meat was tender and flavorful, the plaintains had nice crisp edges and were sweet and pillowy soft and the white rice had a hint of flavor to it that I could not place. I only wish I had gotten moro rice instead (mixed black beans and rice). I also sampled some of the roasted pork. Delicious. It was one of the best meals of the trip. They had some live salsa music going on, so it was a bit hard to hear each other over the din, but it was a great meal. Awesome find!
(4)Terry B.
This was absolutely one of the best meals I've ever eaten! We went at lunch during the week and chose to sit outside. I ordered the ceviche for an appetizer, which was delicious. We ordered the El "Tour" De Cuba, Lechon Asado, Ropa Vieja Y Vaca Frita De Pollo tour of Cuba, which is a sampling of Cuban food which has samples of seared shredded chicken, roasted pork, slow cooked shredded beef served with Cuban mojo & chimichurri sauce, and plantains. We both had lemonades and I finished the meal off with a Cuban coffee. Man, was the meal ever remarkable! The entire meal ran us just under $100 with tip, but was it EVER worth it! The staff was very friendly and professional. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)David F.
horrible! The menu is very misleading and the waitress agreed with our party!Overall the staff was very rude and a big disappointment.
(1)Christopher S.
Just know there are two restaurants here. I have only eaten at Larios and it's excellent. Love me some Chicken VacaFrita it's so good. :) Yucca fries yummmm. The wait staff is fantastic well done. Great dining experience. Great value. While here I stepped out of the bathroom an patron passed out basically in my hands her family was right there, she wasn't drunk ....I felt it was diabetic related coupled with heat exhaustion. I was impressed at how the wait staffed helped they brought over a chair , some water and called 911 They were genuinely concerned, amazing , the hostess was right there with me... She stopped and said wait the back room is full of Doctors that are here dining she ran to that room for help, she came back and said they don't want to get involved. WOW shame on those Doctors disgusting. The Medics arrived fast and took over , that's what true professionals do. But the wait staff made me proud. (Vacationing Police Officer :)).
(5)Lorna W.
I have eaten at Larios EVERY YEAR for the past 5 years. My daughter and I do an annual trip. Sadly....tonight is my last time. We arrived in SB and were seated within 1.5 hours after landing in Miami. A complete disappointment. Our app of chicken and shrimp skewers were mediocre at best. I had hoped it was a fluke. It wasn't. So excited to wrap my lips around their fabulous skirt steak. NOT!!! It was horrible. Tough. Tasteless. The server said that the chef has changed. So said....the food used to be fabUlous. I won't EVER return.
(1)Yvonne M.
First dinner in SOBE, this place is owned by Gloria Estefan, the food was authentic and delicious... And the service was perfect as well. I ordered ropa viiejo aka shredded beef w/onions & peppers, side of rice and plantains..it was cooked to perfection! I ordered a mojito, and it came tasting like perfection...it reminded me of those commercials for peppermint patties, hi it takes you to a cool place... This drink was so refreshing and good I loved it... And the sugar cane stick in it was a nice addition! I will no doubt be back next time, only thing missing was live music.. i would love to have heard live music playing.
(5)Nathaly L.
This restaurant temporarily moved to 13th and ocean inside a hotel(i think cardozo) There is a different restaurant outside the hotel, so heads up. I feel that cuban cuisine and almost every latin american cuisine is almost impossible to eat vegetarian. I came here with my party at the request of a 10 year old, who mentions Larios every time he is visiting miami. My party ordered the shrimp in a red sauce (maybe it was curry), the grilled mahi mahi , the fish bites and the 10 year old ordered his usual the chicken bites on the kids menu. All entrees include 2 side dishes some of them are white rice, fries, yuca, sweet plantains (maduros) or tostones (crunchy and salty plantains), moro (rice and beans already mixed and cooked together) and i think black beans. Maria ordered the grilled Mahi Mahi with white rice and not only did it look great she said it was delicious, i think she had the best dish in our group. Shrimp curry with white rice and black beans he said it was good (but hes not one to complain so i will never know) he did mistake the black beans for some sort of soup which i think many non-hispanic ppl tend to make and he thought they were yummy. i think cubans tend to season their beans very well. The fish bites were a miss- which i was surprised because i didnt think you could mess that up..but they looked like they could have been fried and cooked a bot longer, partner in crime said they weren't crispy and they just didn't taste right were his words. He had that with white rice and fries which were both good. im half cuban, so i told the waiter i wasn't eating meat, and if he could fry me two eggs on a bed of white rice, he smiled and said yes. I ate this as a child all the time, so although not on the menu, i think you can ask any cuban restaurant if they can make it for you and they almost always will. They always fry eggs to put on top of poor mans steak and white rice is a staple so they can. Any who---- thats all!!
(3)Lauren N.
This place is right off the beaten path. I almost mistook it for the place in front called Cardozo something but no. ASK where Larios is AND ask to sit outside. It's beautiful. Their mojitos are wonderful. The luxury one is verry strong. Cevice and maduros and food is amazing. ALSO ask for a side of (mojo sauce i.e, garlic sauce) on side for dipping appetizer sampler or dipping anything. Enjoy -*** I just spoke to waiter and he said they are in a new location from last year (last year they were located right on the strip of ocean drive). This location is temporary so make sure ur at the right place (it is off a side street {13th street and ocean drive}). If ur not sure then ask where Larios is because I can't imagine this place getting less than 4 stars. It is GOOD FOOD.
(5)Chelsea G.
Our second time here and the food and service were great. Although very busy our waiter did his very best to accommodate. Many options here and they will make any alterations to suit your needs. Terrific live music and a festive atmosphere but not a party one. Good mojitos, too!
(4)Lien D.
Everything we ordered was very moist and flavorful! Portions are pretty big and shareable. We had the empanadas, chicken and rice, and slow roasted pork. First time having Cuban food and it was delish. A little pricey, but give you big portions to make up for it.
(4)Bahar S.
If there was a way for me to add stars I would. My husband and I are visiting from LA and my only request was to have good quality Cuban OX tail. Most places we went to only served it on special days. Having found no restaurant that served what we wanted on our last day I called Lario's and asked for the OX tail and was told they only serve it as a special on the weekend. Hearing the devastated disappointment in my voice the hostess, Elvia, told me to hold on. Then she came back and said she spoke to the chef and he has agreed to make it for us anyway even though it was Friday. The OX tail was the best I've ever had. Not greasy at all and prepared just perfectly. It's so comforting to go some place and have complete satisfaction at having gotten exactly what we wanted and such caring service. I wish we were here longer so we could explore the menu and try some of our other favorite Cuban dishes. Thanks so much!
(5)Laura G.
I'm always fearful to order Ceiveche, afraid I'll get flavorless fish with lemon juice. This was one of the best Ceiveche's I've had - up there with Border Grill in Santa Monica. What stood out was the FLAVOR of Jalapenos, not super HOT but flavorful. I still wonder how they got the FLAVOR so strong but not all the heat. I think I'd have a hard time ordering anything else here. It was that good.
(4)Marlene R.
The BEST tostones rellenos (stuffed plantains)!!! They've remodeled the restaurant and it's absolutely beautiful! The live band is amazing. Our waiter, Efrain, was outstanding! We were sent here after first visiting Bongos (also owned by the Estefans) at the American Airlines Arena only to find out they're closing!! Lario's is a must go-to place on the beach!
(5)Kevin D.
Got a late night dinner here. Portions are generous! I ordered the milanesa and my girlfriend got the arroz con pollo. Both were amazing! Drinks were good, service was good. Nice spot for people watching. Would recommend.
(5)Sally B.
Best steak salad I have ever had...outstanding food and service. Just visiting South Beach for a convention and so glad I chose this place for dinner with my friends and colleagues. To top off the evening, Emilio Estefan stopped by our table for a photo op with us. What a gentleman. Highly recommend you stop by if you are in the area. #rewardsofrisk #somuchfun
(5)Farrah R.
I always CE to south beach and this vacation around u was really disappointed with the food.
(3)Kara D.
Authentic and delicious food. Beautiful and sophisticated ambiance in an area that can be overrun with tacky. Our service was excellent and attentive. Marinated pork was the best dish I've had.
(5)Maria E.
My husband, a friend and I ate at Larios last night. After walking down the strip the beauty and ambiance of this place called us over. Also the smell of the black beans. I could hear the live band playing inside. I felt like i was in Havana. We asked for sidewalk seating because it was a beautiful warm evening. I informed our waiter that I would be needing a rum drink immediately. He informed me they make the best Mojitos. I had the Grande Mojito which had a bunch of fresh mint in it. He didn't lie, it was delicious. We ordered the Tostones Rellenos which were stuffed with shrimp, ground beef and ropa vieja. Our friend ordered the Chicken Empanadas which were flaky and delicious. I had the Churrasco steak which was perfectly seasoned and cooked with a side of chimichurri sauce. It came with white rice and black beans. We also ordered a dose of the sweet plantains which were tender and caramelized and just scrumptious. I had no room for dessert. I was completely impressed by this restaurant. From the ambiance, the amazing food and the impeccable service.
(5)Lauren C.
For dinner on Ocean Drive, you sort of know what you're in for upon arriving... mediocre overpriced food, and ok service. Larios was considerably better than the average in South Beach. We had called for a reservation, but were told that they wouldn't be able to take us until 9:30p. It was 6p, and we had been drinking, so we figured we'd head over there for a drink around 7:30p and see what happened from there. We rolled up and the place looked better than I had hoped. They asked if we wanted to be inside or outside. We answered first available, and they sat us down instantly. I ordered a mojito which was perfect and delicious. My friend was drinking marghartia's and seemed equally as pleased. We are both vegetarians so the menu wasn't quite meant for us, but we got the vegetarian plate and it got the job done. The ambiance is really what you pay for at this place. We saw some crazy people walking by- pythons, people wearing python, girls in underwear, men in underwear, The service was solid too. They left us alone enough to enjoy the meal, but were attentive with drinks which always scores extra points by me. I'm not sure I'd go back here as they didn't have a ton of food for me, but I'd go back here for some drinks and to hang out. If I ate more meat, I'd definitly put this on the list. Gloria knows how things should be done!
(3)Laura V.
Had one of the best meals ever and the service was amazing. Our favorite place in South Beach!
(5)Jenn N.
Delicious! We had a great time at Lario's. The food was awesome, way better Cuban dishes than another place we had tried in the area, and good atmosphere. The pulled chicken with rice and beans plus sweet plantains were my favorite, but even the bread was great. Will definitely be back next time we're in town!
(5)Suzanne S.
Thank you, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, for the care and attention you gave to re-imagine Lario's. Excellent service (all too rare on the Beach) , excellent decor--dazzling but also elegant--and excellent food. The lechon, maduros, tostones, moro, and seafood were all prepared with care and served handsomely. We loved the music, which drew us inside for dinner rather than on the terrace. It was the perfect place to celebrate our son's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We will take other out-of-town visitors there.
(4)Ralph T.
First, I need to say that I should be rating Larios on the Beach a 4 based on the location and lack being on the beach. But as I understand it, this is only temporary as they're remodeling it's permanent location, so let's give Larios the benefit of a doubt that they're trying to make this restaurant an even nicer place to dine. And it was nice. As it was a rainy day on South Beach, a lot of people probably stayed away. Good for us as we had first class service. I felt that we had two servers; our waitress and a host who was very involved with helping customers make choices as well as helping serve the food. I liked that. He was always close enough to make sure our water glasses and coffee were full but never hovering over our table. The menu...ahhhh.. the menu. We wanted Cuban food. Very slim picken's here in the SF bay area. Hey..Miami! Cuban food should be easy to find, right? Not on South Beach. And when asked, the other restaurants were only interested in getting us to sit down for Italian, Mexican or Burgers. I easily found what I was looking for, something that tasted as good as it looked. I had the Cuban Roasted Pork, my wife had a Grilled Chicken plate. I had beautiful plantains, not slices but large chunks cooked to a desert quality. Everything on our plates was delicious. The meat, rice, vegies, all of it. I don't think there's anything on the Larios menu I wouldn't eat. I would love to go back to Miami someday. And when I do I hope this restaurant is still in business. Based on the overall quality of our meal, If they do for their remodeling job what they did for our visit, I'm sure all 5 stars will be still in place.
(5)Frank E.
What Happened? In October 2013, we brought our friends visiting from France. Great service, decent food, good ambiance. Last Sunday, (again with friends from France) night and day. One waiter serving the entire floor and outside (the same great waiter we had in October), managers not paying attention thothe floor and mediocre Cuban sandwiches. We know it's South Beach but the owner should be watching her empire. We will not go back again.
(2)Joannitte R.
I feel badly giving them three stars as I have gone to Lario's for manyyyy years however the last few times I have gone the service has been lacking. The food is still good yet the service is off. I visited lario's this past week because I was in Miami for the week and I loved how beautiful the place was renovated yet when I went to the bathroom there are only two stalls in the women's bathroom! They spent millions on the renovation yet they couldn't add more bathrooms and for the love of God why aren't there hooks in the stalls!!!???? Ugh.
(3)Sandra G.
Absolutely beautiful venue. The rice and beans were delicious and one of the most raved about choice in our group. The staff was attentive and helpful making us feel comfortable and catered to. It doesn't offer much privacy for diners but since we were seated by an entertaining group it just added to the fun we had. If you want a quiet, secluded dining experience this might not be the place for you, but a great place to get the night started with a group of friends.
(4)Patty T.
Stars are for the live music and the very attentive waitstaff. The bar and the hostess stand are a hot mess and by that I mean I think they were hired for looks but were a mess in every other way. Bar staff was inattentive and clueless as was the hostess. Food -- stuffed green plantains with shrimp criollo -- was less quality than our very cheap dinner at Versailles -- except for the ceviche which was much more sophisticated but still not as good as Cafe Nuvo on Via Espana. Did I mention that the music is great?
(4)Nada A.
If there are a (0) star here i would chose it for this restaurant. the food taste disgusting, the soft drinks taste weird. and the menu is over priced. we had 4 entrees and 5 soft drinks and we end up paying 183.55$ which is insane, i would never step a foot there... NOT RECOMMENDED
(1)Keith S.
I think this is the best choice for South Beach. On the way here, we were offered 20% coupons and free shots. But most places up and down the strip here were 2s or worse. The four star place was $40 for almost any entree. And it's CUBAN !! Had the Masitas Puerco (pork chunks) for an appetizer. They were hot and not very large, which made them easy to cut and enjoy. To balance that, had the Pollo Asado (baked chicken) which was baked in a nice sauce, with rice and plantains. Excellent, plenty of food, and very very nice scenery. Prices very reasonable. If you sit outside you might not get a chance to see the beautiful interior of this building; it is dark walnut throughout and very well maintained. The tile work is excellent and the building design is wonderful. I don't know much about the area but this is a classic building.
(5)Nicole K.
Yum. Try the sampler, it was very good and very filling. Prices are a bit higher, but food is of good quality. Way better than Versailles, sorry we wasted our time and money there. Ordered other entrees but sampler really stood out. Service was pretty decent too. Automatic 18% tip.
(4)Sergio F.
I ate here twelve years ago! When I happened to be in the area near Lario's and hungry for Cuban food after spread of more exotic cuisines, I decided to stop by again. However, based on the most recent service and food, I think it'll be another while before I go to this Lario's again. I am rating them three stars because the Moros and Sweet Plantains were tasty. However, it's still a lower rating than what I would have expected. One minus is that our service was slow from when seated until the food actually arrived. While it was a relatively full house even for a weekday, no wait staff even stopped by to offer bread. That's never happened at their Sunset Place / South Miami location. I also had to remind them a couple of times about my drinks. The Pollo Milanesa (Cuban style chicken pawn) could have had a little more marinara sauce and lighter on the cheese. The cover band playing reggaeton and salsa was good if a little loud (yes, even for someone of Cuban descent it was loud) but that may just be my couple of gray hairs talking.
(3)Lisette V.
This was my first visit to Larios. One of my besties was in town on her first visit to Miami. I had seen a review on Deco Drive of Larios renovation & new menu with heathier options. We sat outside to people watch. I ordered the Cuban Sandwich. Yum! Absolutely authentic. My friend ordered the grill chicken sandwich. She said it was delicious. I will definitely be returning to Larios. Excellent service & great food.
(5)Nijole T.
Gloria Estefans famed restaurant on Ocean Dr at the beach. Would one not know it is nested between an endless row of restaurants across the beach, I could have never told any of them apart. Glad I did and heard how fabulous it was. The decor inside is beautiful, the bar was packed, the music loud and people dancing everywhere. It was hard to get through to the bathroom and the rest of the restaurant, but it was such a relaxed vibe and so many beautiful people having a wonderful evening one could not be mad at them. We sat outside to enjoy the gorgeous Miami evening and got exceptional service. The food was fantastic and fairly priced at just under $20 each for generous portions. My husband had the Bistec A La Milanesa, cuban style milanese steak breaded and topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella cheese with a side of fried plantains and rice which he enjoyed tremendously. I had the Pollo A La Milanese, same as him just with chicken, also amazing. Perfect for a date night or a fun night out with the girls.
(4)Jade N.
If you ever find yourself walking along the Ocean Drive Strip in South Beach you will notice there are a ton of restaurants to choose from. All of these restaurants offer a wide variety of food choices and tastes! Larios is by far my favorite. Not just because its owned by the Queen of Latina Music, Ms. Gloria Estefan herself, the Cuban food is excellent for being in such a touristy spot! I always order my "go to" dish which is the Ropa Vieja. Which is a fantastic mixture of flank steak beef , peppers, onions served in a saucy sweet red sauce with white rice, black beans and plantains! I highly recommend it, The pitcher of mohitos is also a great value if more than one of you is drinking. If staying in the super touristy area on South Beach, I highly reccomend this place. Authentic Cuban food, not too pricey and definitly the best Cuban place within walking distance!
(4)Chanda W.
Very disappointed. I had the grouper, rice, and black beans. Nothing had any flavor, the fish had no seasoning on it at all. I think this is very touristy and over-rated.
(3)Bom T.
Mojitos are good price vs it's strength. Fried sweet platains in the entree is awesome. I had the pork chop with grilled onion which was good, but little greasy. I like grease.
(4)Isaiah V.
Came here last night around 10:15 pm. No wait, got in right away. Service was good and food was just ok. Moro rice and plantains got cold right away. Food was served quickly so not sure it this was the reason
(3)Adolfo C.
I had the Cuban sandwhich here. It is the 1st time I have ever had a Cuban sandwhich and I must say this thing was GOOD! My gf had the red snapper and she and I both say it's to die for! 5 stars for this location owned by Gloria Estafan! I am only going this the place a 4.5 because we were never asked if we were doing ok by by out waiter.
(4)Lillian Z.
The food was pretty tasty. Portions were a bit small. Dinner for 2 with drinks and dessert was over $80 and not really worth it. I would not return. Also, I was expecting a dance floor but there was not one. There was live music but no room to dance.
(2)Star R.
Love, love the personal attention, if you've read any of my reviews SERVICE is key! My glass was always full and our waiter made sure we were all smiles! Ok, now the food! Salads were great, Moro rice and sweet plantains delish...grouper filet ok, and fish bites were awesome! Great service, great drinks, ok food....need to try more menu items!
(5)Virdina M.
I think this place might be expensive for its location. Their Cuban food is good but honestly, I have had better Cuban. That doesn't mean it's bad but I've had better. Our plantains came out with a hair on them; they quickly replaced them and everything that was on the plate with them. Their drinks are great! Had a mango drink and my husband something else that he really enjoyed. The decor is great. Facilities are well maintained. I don't know how their staff wears full suits in Miami....
(3)Judy L.
Missed their 5 stars due to 2 reasons: 1. We had reservations and still had to wait 50 mins. 2. The service is OK, slow and refills were hard to come by. Lots of pros: excellent location for people watching, turns into a night club by the beach, on Ocean Dr., and the food was excellent. Ordered: Bongos Combo (Fried Stuffed Potatoes- Papas Rellenas; Pork Tamale - Tamal de Carne de Cerdo; Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Bites - Masitas de Puerco; Traditional Cuban Ham Croquettes - Croquetas de Jamón; Stuffed Plantain Cups - Tostones Rellenos de Picadillo o Camarones; Green Plantains Cups stuffed with Shrimp Cuban Criolla): Everything on this combo was excellent, the pork tamale was the only thing that was below par. Cuban Roasted Pork - Lechon Asado (Traditional Cuban Style Roasted Pork) - The pork was so so so so GOOD, tender and flavorful with the black beans & rice and tostones, Cuban Style Pot Roast - Boliche (Tender Cuban Pot Roast slowly cooked in a Red Wine Sauce stuffed with Spanish Sausage) - This dish was off the chains too. Bongos Famous Fried Shredded Beef - Vaca Frita (Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Shredded Flank Steak topped with Grilled Onions) - Had a bite of this and it was so good too.
(4)Azin D.
I have had a lot of Cuban food before and consider myself a good judge of Caribbean and Cuban food. My girlfriend and I ordered the fried stuffed potatoes for appetizer. The spices were very good, but the beef stuffing was cold- weird. We both ordered the Cuban skirt steak and it was very good. She got her's medium and mine was medium-rare, and they actually came out as we had ordered... shocking! Potions were large and the plates came with rice and fried plantains. All done well. Minus one star for the crowd. There was a table of about 10 guys dining next to us and they were adamant to holler at every big booty walking by. Entertaining for the first 10 minutes and annoying for the last 20.
(4)Oliver B.
Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. My first visit since the restaurant reopened. Well worth the wait. Took the restaurant, and the service to a whole new level. . . . raising the bar of standard for all the restuarants on Ocean Drive--- they should take a cue! Service was great. very attentive and well versed on telling us what to order. Some of my friends were having a first time cuban dinner . . and LOVED it. The vaca frita was the best I ever had. And I've had many!!!!! Love the band too. Great time Keep up the good work. Will definitely be back.
(5)Aldo V.
OMG - so so so so so good - Right on the beach - romantic and scenic I had the Picadillo and he had the Ropa Vija... mouthwatering!!!!! Thank you Gloria! the Rhythm got me, and reeled me in, and ordered me 3 more Mojitos - (which were divine as well)
(5)Hilda H.
Larios always has good food, I would say traditional Cuban food with the fancy of south beach. Their Roquelaure preparada is awesome, I live the thingy cut French fries. Latinos always has great music , so you can shave down calories from their widely known and delicious flan. They definitely give a lot of food and for a reasonable price.
(4)Jonathan G.
As of May 12, they are in a temporary location at the Cardozo Hotel on the corner of 13th and Ocean. The temporary location is nice but there were no signs for the restaurant outside the hotel. The hotel has its own restaurant outside with its own sign, menu, and hostess standing outside, which makes it confusing. This made finding the place a little frustrating. Service was friendly but we were the only other party in the restaurant. They were having a little trouble with there computers but said they were getting accustomed to a new system. As for the food, my wife and I were underwhelmed. We tried the chicken soup, chicken bites, yuca frita, and moros. The soup was okay but the rest of the stuff was a little dry and/or bland for my taste. I asked for some extra mojo sauce and that made everything taste better. I have enjoyed their food during previous visits and was a little disappointed this time.
(3)Cindy W.
We had reservations for May 4, 2013 for 11 people. We called May 2nd to add 2 more. We were told they are closed and under construction! We received no call or email notification. What a disaster if we had shown up.
(1)Greg N.
Being from an area myself where there are plenty of Cuban restaurants I've had my share and I must say that Larios is really an excellent place. Especially when compared with all the other restaurants in the area; those really are tourist traps whereas Larios on its own would be a great restaurant regardless of its location. A little pricy but again think ambiance and quality of food, it really is a great value. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Celeste B.
Chose this restaurant while making a mad dash out of the rain! There was no line and seats were available. LOL. Overall I was not impressed with this restaurant which I later heard is supposed to be a big deal in Miami Beach! Visited this restaurant in March 2012 and must say the mojitos are top notch. For my meal I had a seafood combination (the exact name I cant recall) which was OK. My side of plaintains was actually the best part of the meal unfortunately. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the dance floor seemed to be the most active part of the restaurant although i thought it was out of place. A better location might have been in the back of the restaurant as we had to dodge the people on the floor when we exited!
(3)Ali G.
Delicious cuban food! Their mojitos are scrumptious and their staff is very friendly.
(4)Clem R.
I ate there twice and this is a decent place. I had Cuban pork and Cuban shrimps. I like their mojo rice. Service ok and atmosphere pretty cool. Quite touristy.
(4)Anthony M.
South Beach on the Ocean seems like a bad place to eat. It's crowded and every restaurant is bugging you to come and eat dinner with them. It can get very annoying. I had a client who took me to Larios and it was love at first bite. And I mean that literally...I ordered the ropa vieja and it was amazing. It was one of the best I have ever had in my life. In fact, I have been back here several times. This is my go to restaurant on South Beach now. The mojitos are also really good too and I'm not a big mojito fan. I highly recommend you make your way here for some amazing food and drink. You will tempted to stop at other places but keep walking until you get here.
(4)Paul K.
Decent athmosphere and food- due to the location, it is a little pricier and more crowded than what you might get inland, but of course, you pay for the South beach ambiance.....Had the appetizer sampler before dinner, which had a good variety, and then the Cuban style pork with rice and beans, which was tasty. Service was good.
(4)Gina F.
Oh so disappointing. The place was fairly busy for such a late time, our reservation was for 10pm. Even for Miami, the service was painfully slow, but friendly. My friend ordered the pork entree, which was tasty, but frankly, I have had way way better in NY. I ordered the Picadillo, which was bland and the rice and beans that came with both dishes were incredibly bland. The dessert was yummy, but really, how can you screw up dessert? I wouldn't go back.
(2)Zaina O.
very disappointing experience. on vacation from NY and was hoping to have a fantastic Cuban meal while in Miami. the food tasted reheated and not fresh. we started with empanadas which were semi warm. for entrees we ordered the Cuban sandwich which wasn't pressed long enough and half cold. barely any meat on the sandwich with one thin slice of ham and pork- total embarrassment to a Cuban sandwich. also had the vaca frita de pollo which was dry on the skillet. considering Gloria Estefan is a famously Cuban musician, we all expected a lot more from her restaurant.
(1)Laura D.
Larios was good, but it didn't really live up to the hype. I ordered the Pollo A La Milanesa. It was good and I absolutely love cheese, but I would almost say they completely overwhelmed the chicken with the mozzarella. Granted, i've never had the dish elsewhere so I don't really have anything to compare it to. The sangria was excellent and the outdoor seating was also excellent, but no different than anywhere else along Ocean Drive.
(3)Music M.
Great for people watching and the live music but the food was not great.
(2)Marc A.
The day before we boarded the plane to Havana I was having a craving for Cuban food. Sure, we would be eating lots of it all week but what the heck... If you can grab a table outside, go for it but don't sit at the ones along the sidewalk unless you like getting bumped by people when you eat. Get the bread and a mojito to start with. Order the Cuban style steak and another mojito. See what deserts look good to you and enjoy! Adios.
(5)Connie A.
Yum! The strawberry mojito was so goooooood. The live music was a plus as well. The band gave the maracas to our bride-to-be in our bachelorette party and she had an awesome time. While all this seemed to be going well, my friend and I got sick from the Cuban roasted pork. To describe it, it was tender, juicy and definitely been roasting for a while. It was delicious at the moment, the aftermath was not. Sigh.
(3)Jeannie N.
Excellent food and ambiance. Emilio Estefan personally greeted us which made for quite the memorable evening. Highly recommend!
(5)Monica S.
It's probably true that a local might skip the trip to this Ocean Drive tourist destination. Their South Miami location, okay, but this one, not so much. Alas, I had a friend in town who wanted to enjoy some Cuban action while sitting close enough to catch an ocean breeze and capitalize on the prime people watching. So on a Saturday, past midnight, I took him to Larios. My pan con bistec was surprisingly good. The plantains came out lukewarm however and the yuca undercooked. Indoors, a nightclub seemed to be going on in full force while ladies with their cha chas and moneymakers shook it for the entertained outdoor diners. Service was speedy and friendly, but at this time of night with their bumping party going on inside, I felt like I was crashing someones quinceañera.
(3)Carolyn I.
Great restaurant! I went here for dinner with a group on my last night in South Beach. Stuffed Green Plantain Cups Tostones rellenos - three crispy plantain cups filled with shrimp criollo, shredded beef and Cuban criollo minced beef. All three were delicious. I especially liked the minced beef. Cuban Style Steak Bistec de palomilla - thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic and mojo topped with onions and parsley. The meat had great flavor. It was a huge portion! I ordered two sides - moro rice and fried sweet plantains which paired well with the steak. I also ordered a daiquiri which was very refreshing. I tried the skirt steak and it was delicious. The chimichurri sauce that came with it was amazing. I also tried my friend's Cuban coffee and it was good and strong. I liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Larios is a great place to go to for a special occasion. Two big groups seated next to us were celebrating a birthday and graduation. I definitely recommend this restaurant for great Cuban food in South Beach.
(4)Jenny C.
I don't normally like tourist areas, but when in Miami, you have to experience South Beach. We were recommended to go to Mango's Tropical, but we decided we wanted to eat some authentic Cuban food, so we decided to walk around. At one point, we asked a hostess from some random restaurant where to get some good cuban food. She was looking around for her boss and whispered for us to go to Larios On the Beach. That was a huge turning point that night! The food was amazing! We tried another cuban restaurant the next day, and strongly prefered Larios on the Beach. Perhaps Larios is more catered towards Americans and the other restaurant was more authentic, but regardless this was the best Cuban food we had in Miami. I got the ropa vieja, which was slow cooked pulled pork. It was delicious!!! Loved the moro rice. Most delicious moro rice I've had. The plantains were not as sweet and carmelized as I would like, but everything was sooo good. We got a pitcher of Mojitos. Never seen so many flavors in my entire life. When the pitcher first came, it was filled with ice. But between the two of us, we had 3-4 glasses each for a total or 6-8 glasses. Can't really remember the exact number of glasses. We got a decent buzz going.
(5)Carolina B.
Excellent Cuban food had a tour of Cuba, traditional mojitos if you think you will be having more than one mojito you're better off getting the pitcher. The ceviche is excellent. Great appetizer! Definitely going back.
(4)Holli H.
I am honestly so happy we stumbled onto this place. We literally found it on a food show map (it was on drinking made easy) and I gps'd each step until we got there. KING OF MOJITOS. Hands down. Best mojito I have ever had. The only improvement they can make it a more stylish straw with it. Sounds so petty, but the straw they paired with it took away from the class of it. We ordered some appetizers to pass around while enjoying our drinks and everything was delicious. Not one item was subpar. Ambiance was beautiful. Bathrooms were spotless. I would go back in a second. And fun fact - it's owned by Gloria Estefan. Didn't put that one together until I was 2 mojitos deep.
(5)Cindy V.
This restaurant has Some of the Best Cuban food in Miami, owned by Gloria Estefan, but even though its owned by a Singer/ Celebrity it's pretty Authentic. Let's not even mention their Mojitos, the Best...
(4)Tavi J.
This was my favorite place I ate at during my stay here. I was craving some Cuban food and we decided to give this place a shot. Not only is it cute at night, but the food was pretty yummy. I had the Cuban skirt steak with Moro rice and Plantains. The Chimmichuri (sp) sauce really made the steak taste good and the Plantains were sweet and cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed my friends meals. One of them got the seafood rice plate and it contained lots of seafood and not just a bunch of rice. My other friend had the lemon chicken and really enjoyed it. We all shared a pitcher of delicious Sangria. Finally we got to eat at a place that had good food, nice setting, and pretty reasonable prices for the quality of the food.
(4)Vishwa N.
Pretty awesome food and drink menu selection. Loved the ambiance and service overall. Definitely recommend and would go back again.
(4)Agnes N.
This was my first cuban meal, so I don't have any other experience to compare with, but it was a great meal! We both had the slow roasted pork with sweet plantains and brown rice. The pork were divine and the onions on top were the best thing with the whole dish! The food were not fancy but it tasted good and felt well prepared. A big portion as well. The service were great, very attentive and quick.
(4)Brian R.
Yes, this place is a bit of a tourist trap, but compared to the other offerings on Ocean Drive, it seemed like an oasis. It was about a block or two down from all the craziness of Ocean Drive, and they had plenty of seating outside on a Friday night (with about a 20 minute wait for 2 people). We opted to sit inside given the warmer temps. We were sat at a nice table towards the back, with a few larger groups near us (separate bachelorette and bachelor parties). Menus came quickly, and we ordered a simple rum and diet and a mojito, both of which were strong and tasty. A shrimp skewer app came out pretty quickly, with a decent amount of shrimp and a delicious dipping sauce. As for entrees, the ropa vieja was decent, and the sides (brown rice and beans for me) were just okay. Nothing over the top, but good, decent Cuban food. We also ordered the Tour of Cuba, which was good, but very simple (and the chicken, which had a great spice, was a bit on the dry side). The live music was a nice touch, and it wasn't too loud or out of control. It took a while to get the check, but we were in and out in about an hour. Overall, if you're looking to eat on Ocean Drive, I would suggest this place. It's less hectic that the other restaurants you'll find, the prices are comparable, and if you opt to eat outside, you'll have good views/people watching.
(3)Carlos D.
The best place in town!!!!
(5)Tenisha S.
Pros: The coconut mojito was the best I ever had. The mango mojito was great also, but no comparison to the coconut. cons: The seafood rice took over thirty minutes to come to the table. It looked amazing and we were ready to dig in after watching so many people order it. However, it was so salty the rice was inedible. We both picked out the shrimp, calamari, scallops and plantain. All the rice was left in the plate and unfortunately my bf was still hungry. He ended up buying a quesadilla from a small Mexican restaurant.
(2)Norma C.
When i walked inside of the restaurant i was a little confused, knowing this was a Cuban restaurant but it felt as if i was walking into an upscale Greek restaurant due to the decor, don't get me wrong though, it was very nice inside. The location is ideal because it's on Ocean Ave. and it's pretty much right next to the famous Boulevard Hotel. Outdoor seating is available too but inside is so much better because of the decor and air conditioning. I had heard this place had the best mojitos, and they were right! I tried a few different mojitos in other places and they just don't compare to Larios. And they were strong too! One mojito felt like two drinks. We then had the appetizer sampler, which included plantain chips, crab cakes(i think), black bean hummus, one tamale, and bacon wrapped bananas. I also ordered the Ropa Vieja which is shredded meat in a sauce. Everything was amazing.
(4)Cecilè C.
I had an amazing lunch in south beach @ this fine restaurant -- owned by the Estefan's, I learned certain items on the menu were created based upon their long time cook Maria... Of which she still cooks every Sunday for the family... I'm a fan of Cuban food, but more importantly the favors within the dishes. Now, the roasted chicken I had was slowly cooked of course but the sauce it was topped with was second to none. For starters I enjoyed the fresh Ceviche, and an empanada again chicken topped with a guava barbecue sauce that had me wanting to ship a bucket home.. Lol... Don Juan Carlos, you are a really nice person aside from the hospitality you showed me, I see why you've worked for them for so long... Gent... With regards to the drink, I enjoyed the passion fruit mojito and it too was very good. I can definitely say going to shop and dine here today was very pleasant and I think I found a fav here in south beach.. :-)
(4)Charis S.
This was definitely one of the restaurants on my "Birthday Trip" list...the ambience was great, loved the touches of white everywhere, the blue lighting was so pretty and of course being on the South Beach strip helped A LOT! Our waiter was great, she was a sweetie. She explained everything to us, answered all questions, made suggestions. Very attentive and calm with all of the girls. The live music, the guitarist, set the mood, very soothing. Let me say, the Plantain Cups really set the mood for my dinner that night. They were really good, probably the best part of my meal. Green Plantain cups filled with shrimp, shredded beef and my FAVORITE one, the Picadillo beef. DELICIOUS! Of course the beans and rice were good, no surprise and the Chocolate Tres Leches Cake I shared with everyone. It was really good, not too soggy and soaked perfectly in the tres leeches. Overally, I loved the ambience, BUT I expected a little bit more from Gloria Estefan's restaurant. Just being honest. It was....Good.
(4)Marlo V.
My family of 7 which includes 4 kids were graciously greeted!! Sat down we had the nicest waitress , we had the trio of empanadas,seafood empanadas,chicken croquettes , my kids had the kids cheeseburgers which were huge, I had the special fried rice,my mom had the whole snapper my husband had the tour of Cuba = all of theses dishes we're delicious and plentiful!!we then had desert tres leches,ice cream,cafe con leche all were amazing !!!
(5)Viv O.
This review started at a 3.5... Appetizers: calamari and bacon wrapped maduros . Service is efficient.. Very attentive and friendly! Our meals were so delicious. I had the Red Snapper and it was so amazing!!!!!!! 5 stars across the board, superb service!
(5)Ya Ya G.
Outstanding service from start to finish. ...the food and drinks to die for can't wait to come back again.
(5)Gabrielle D.
AMAZING! Was taken here on the South Beach Culinary Food Tour. We were served ropa vieja with plantain chips and mojo. It was so yummy and I wish I had the recipe! If you're on Ocean Drive and don't know which restaurant to pick, choose Lario's!
(5)Ektaa B.
A better South Beach dining option than the other places on Ocean Drive. Plenty of outdoor seating, good for people-watching and the inside was really nice too. I asked for the steak salad, vegetarian-ized with grilled vegetables instead of the steak. The chimichurri dressing was delicious. We got a pitcher of the house mojitos = awesome.
(3)Stacey L.
Love love love the food here. The skirt steak is so good. Everything is so fresh and full of flavor. Only downside was last nights snippy host. He needs an attitude adjustment. Waiters are all great though.
(5)Sean M.
This place needs to tighten up it's act. We wanted to go to dinner here our first night in Miami so I made the call to the restaurant to try and book a table. I simply asked the host where the best seats in the house were, as I was not sure if they had beachside seating or whatever. It was our first time in Miami, let alone at Larios. You would think I asked the guy to solve a quantum physics problem, it simply seemed liked too much of a question so he simply replied we don't have a best seat in the house, they are all the same. I tried to follow up question, but it was going nowhere fast. So I proceed to try and give this guy my last name and get a table booked cause I'm getting flustered and frustrated at this point and the guys attitude had me starting to boil. It just seemed like his guy was in his own world, he would not listen to me try and spell my difficult last name for him, he proceeded to read the name on the caller ID and ask if that was me, I mean it could not have gotten any worse. I asked for a manager and was told he was busy and wasn't available to talk. Long story short, ended up being hung up on and not getting a table. Made my reservation through Open Table and Yelp! Called back a couple of times and finally got the manager on the line who started to apologize profusely for his hosts actions and attitude and promised us a great time and a round of Mojitos. The manager definitely had his act together, which makes you wonder how the host was so off. Chalk it up to a bad night, I dunno. In any case, we got there for dinner and placed orders for some appetizers and entrees. We tried the grilled skewers as our appetizer, which were ok. Entrees were the shrimp criollo and a fish plate with the Moro rice. Both were ehh, honestly wasn't what we were expecting. Overall, given how we were treated by the host, the effort on the part of the manager and the quality of food, I think a two star rating is just about right for Larios. Oh and the Mojitos weren't too bad :)
(2)Jenn M.
The ambiance alone was beautiful when we walked in! Our last night in Miami for a bachelorette weekend was to have dinner here. We were taken upstairs to another seating area which was more quiet and a bit secluded but it's nice to be able to hear the person next to you instead of having to yell while talking. Downstairs seemed a bit more fun since they played live music but we all still had a great time. I got to try the ceviche my friend order as appetizers and it was really delicious! So fresh and flavorful. As for entree, I ordered the crispy pork bites because the description on the menu sounded delicious. When I got my meal though, the pork looked overcooked and a bit hard to chew into. It was still good though. You get a choice of two sides, I got it with rice and fried plantains which were pretty good. Overall, we liked the food here. Service was good and the ambiance was a definite plus!
(4)Mauricio C.
It's unfortunate I have to write a 1-star review for a restaurant - however, it's well warranted for this establishment. The service is quite possibly the worst on the entire South Beach strip. I'll provide specific details so it is clear that this isn't just a unwarranted rant. Our group of friends were interested in finding a spot with great empanadas and a fun, lively atmosphere. Our Yelp search led us to Lario's. Upon arrival, we were met with a cold, stale, atmosphere where the waiters immediately judged us our appearance. We all waited at the bar, perusing the menu to see which (incredibly overpriced) drinks we would buy. My girlfriend, after having walked for an hour on South Beach, understandably needed to use the bathroom. One of the waiters (or maybe the manager) stopped here and demanded that we pay before she could use the bathroom. I have never encountered an establishment outside of the sketchiest McDonald's in NYC where a customer who has already been seated to order is denied service to use the bathroom - let alone a woman. Additionally, this place was by far the worst atmosphere on the entire South Beach strip. I am writing this review minutes after walking away from this establishment to confirm that we are all completely cogent and sober in our review of this terrible restaurant. Lario's was terrible specifically because: (1) it was devoid of any lively atmosphere when every other place was on the strip was bustling with customers, (2) the staff was rude & unwelcoming (particularly to the women in our group), and (3) the menu was very underwhelming & incredibily overpriced. I implore anyone visiting South Beach to instead visit any of the fantastic restaurants or bars on the strip instead of Lario's. As a last remark, another patron confirmed the food was unimpressive and the empanadas (only one kind, not at all authentic Cuban) were terrible. The only thing I ask from the management of this establishment is an apology for the treatment of my girlfriend and my friends.
(1)Courtney D.
First place i went to for dinner in south beach. This place looks very nice but food is just mediocre. The appetizers we ordered were the short ribs and grilled shrimp. The ribs were good but the shrimp could have been cooked longer. Also ordered the chicken bites as an entree which was appetizing but not outstanding. The service wasn't that great either. If you sit outside for dinner it's a nice view 3/5
(3)Mark D.
We went here while on South Beach to take advantage of the Miami Spice promotion, a prie-fixe lunch menu for $23/ person. The tuna tartar appetizer was good with a nice mix of avocado and mango. A sample platter of croquettes and papa rellena was standard fare, nothing special. My Cuban wife thought the vaca frita entree was tasty and authentic. My grilled prawns were over grilled to the point of grittiness. The chocolate tres leches was very good. Because of the promotion the bill wasn't bad but they still charge $6 for a glass of lemonade and $4 for cafe cubano! The waiters were very attentive and the atmosphere/decor was nice. I liked the coral walls with the shells inlaid and the tile mosaic of the Cuban patron saint La Caridad del Cobre with inset votive candles. However, for a more authentic Cuban culinary experience at a more economical price, I would go to Puerto Sagua just down the street.
(3)Kristina R.
We found Larios via Yelp actually and glad we had a chance to check it out when in Miami this past weekend. This place has great atmosphere, great good, and good service. We sat at a table outside on the sidewalk and it was perfect for people watching! If people watching is not your thing or if you want to enjoy a peaceful quiet meal, you might want to ask to be seated inside. The food was really good. We had a few appetizers and our entrees (skirt steak, shredded beef, and pork) were all AMAZING! Our server was good, although could have used a a few add'l water refills. We opted for some bread pudding to share for dessert. And although it looked NOTHING like bread pudding, it was stilll very good.
(4)Heather G.
The location is perfect, right on ocean dr.! Well That was the best part the location the atmosphere is amazing! But the food and service was just okay.... Nothing special at all.
(3)Shareen M.
I haven't been here in 2 years since they were closed during my last trip. The menu looks updated and I love the design & decor change to the actual inside. I started with the Mango Mojito - good, not the best I've had but good. We then got the maduros wrapped in bacon (MUST try. its a unique dish and a perfect blend of sweet and salty), the plantain cups with shrimp criollo (flavorful & very enjoyable) & shrimp cocktail (big juicy shrimp) For our entree we shared the "Chino Cuban" fried rice with chicken, shrimp & steak. Be warned.... when you read it contains vegetables - they aren't joking lol I hate onions & bean sprouts so it was hard to enjoy the rice but it was soooooo delicious!!!! Just ask without. If not - it is impossible to take a bite without getting the veggies.
(4)Dianna A.
My friends and I had an amazing and unforgetabble dinner at Lario's. Everything from the tasty appetizers, the well prepared meal, and Sangria was delicious. The service we received from the front door upon entering , during our meal, and upon departure was very much appreciated. The service by Felix Sanchez was exceptional. Hope to return soon.
(5)Helen B.
Classic Cuban on the beach. Food is more varied and most creatively presented than other similar beachfront locations. My companion loved the pork - it reminder her of her mother's best dinners. My swordfish was cooked to perfection and the plantain and rice side were simple yet mouthwatering. The menu's comprehensive and will keep you coming back. Don't be afraid to try something new or unknown. In addition to the sidewalk tables or short patio, there's a beautiful lounge and dining space inside. Magnificently decorated and elegantly laid out this is a great space for 2 to 22. Yes you give up the people watching but it's exquisite.
(4)Simmy S.
Plantains were amazing. I ordered the BBQ Guava pork ribs and I only had two ribs. There was so much food with the rice and beans. The rotisserie chicken was good too. It feel right off the bones. AMAZING. Nice view, great people, amazing food. You just can't go wrong.
(5)Mark M.
I've eaten here a few times and have always been happy. The Cuban style steak is my favorite and goes well with rice, black beans and plantains. Staff are great too.
(4)Edwina M.
Fabulous Ocean Dr. location, great ambiance and beautiful decor, but the music on the patio was a bit loud. Some of the food items we ordered were great, others, not so much. The "award winning" pork was surprisingly just average, and frankly too salty for my taste.
(3)Barbara Z.
We were looking for ethnic food in Miami Beach tonight. Based on the stars we chose to eat there. The food is salty, there's nothing special. Service is just okay! Price won't worth what you get for. It's very expensive.
(1)Jannese C.
Awesome Cuban food. Everything tastes homemade and the service was spectacular. Our server was Daniel and he couldn't have offered better service!
(5)Christina R.
By far best restaurant on Ocean Drive! We visit Larios every year we go to south beach. Their sweet plantains and ceviche keep me coming back for more each time. The newly renovated atmosphere feels like you're underwater and surrounded by sand and sparkling shells. It's very beautifully decorated, feels intimate and perfect for large groups also. Live bands add that extra touch to a lovely dinner! Highly recommend the seafood rice, ceviche, roasted chicken dish, and the Milanesa steak! A must see when in South Beach!
(5)Jessica G.
Nice place on South Beach. Good drinks and food.
(5)Lola L.
I hate this place so much. Not only did I have a terrible experience while I was there, but they CANCELLED my reservation after we paid and left! I'm only assuming because we complained and said they were getting a bad review! Incredibly dishonest. Instead of solving the problem, they cancelled my reservation so I wouldn't get my points and could not write a review. Luckily OpenTable fixed the cancellation so I can write about it. I was really hoping to have some decent Latin American food while in Miami so Iooked this place up and booked a reservation. First, the atmsphere is beyond obnoxious. It looks like an overdone tropical hotel in Cancun. It was an embarrassment. The food was extremely sub-par. I have way better, far more authentic Cuban food at home in Chicago a few blocks away from my house. Many Cuban foods that I enjoy are fried, and always served wit sauces because of this. Not one thing was served with a sauce. Anyway, our server was also terrible. The drinks were sweetened to such an extreme level, I couldn't drink mine. The drink description claimed it was fresh ingredients but this was clearly some premixed crap. Once our food and drinks were served we could not get the attention of the server for anything. He was busy standing at the bar with 4 other servers, talking. Not looking up once. I just wanted some mayo for my croquettas or SOMETHING, and got sick of waiting. SO we asked a different server for our check. Once we got the check we saw an added 18% gratuity. THERE WERE TWO OF US. I have worked in the restaurant industry myself, and I love when a good business takes care of its staff. But here, they clearly just took advantage of their guaranteed tip. We complained about it all, and about 30 minutes after we paid our bill IN FULL and left, I got an email saying that Larios cancelled my reservation. I was so furious. I couldn't believe it. I will NOT recommend this place. In fact, I will tell anyone i know visiting Miami to avoid at all costs. Anyone who has given this place 5 stars should be fired from Yelp. And from life. And from ever eating ACTUAL Cuban food again.
(1)Rosa G.
Excellent service, good food, perfect place! My friend and I were at the popular Restaurant of Emilio &Gloria Estefan, we reserved a table for 4 people, we arrived a little later 10:00 pm but the manager called Alexander reserved us a great table and received us . The server called Felix excellent, he took care of all our needs, we ate a delicious lightly fish with a delicious salad, my friends ate churrasco salad and paella, all were delicious and on time. Finally we dance with the dj charlie with amazing music. Very nice place to eat, drink and dance. If you want to eat a gourmet cuban food... Try Larios on the beach... A perfect place
(5)Michelle R.
I love this place and have only been here twice. There service is good, friendly waiters and the music that plays is a little loud but it's great. Always make reservations because it is usually pretty packed. You can sit outside or inside. They make great mojitos and there mango passion fruit Sangria is a must try. The food is good, great portions. The mixed empanadas are great with a guave sauce on the side. I live ropa veija so I ordered that and it was great! My husband has the skirt steak with beans and rice. The skirt steak is a small portion but it was delicious none the less. The tip is included on the bill even for 2 people.
(5)Brianna D.
Indoor atmosphere was nice, but I remembering it smelling kind of weird. We asked to sit outside on the street - great people watching! The food was good, not great. Location is excellent!
(3)Sara H.
This restaurant deserves more than 3 1/2 stars on Yelp! Our meal was fabulous, as was the service from Giovanni! The people watching is fun and you are right in the middle of South Beach action. Highly Recommended!
(5)Ray M.
The best Latin food I've ever tasted and I'm from NY. The salads, pork, chicken, platanos, everything was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Will come back every time. You can sit outside or upstairs and upstairs is more elegant to say the least.
(5)Michelle A.
We just stopped in for a quick bite since we were meeting some people in a few hours for dinner. Luckily, as we walked past a number of uninteresting touristy SOBE restaurants, I remembered that this was the Estafan's restaurant that I had heard about so we grabbed a table on the front veranda. Great for people watching and the beach across the road. Unfortunately, I had to drive or we would have ordered a pitcher of mojitos...they looked delicious! I ordered the vegetable platter with perfect portions of black beans, brown rice, plaintains (DO NOT MISS THESE) and crisp sauteed vegetables with an asian chile fusion sauce. My friend ordered the pork tamale and the cod fish croquettes, which she loved! The service was very attentive, even though we were embarrassingly indecisive about our orders and asked a zillion questions. Also, I have to say that the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous, like a shimmery pearl jewel box. I can't wait to go back for dinner!
(4)Peggy M.
There is no place on earth makes a great mojito like this place. I am a bartender I made so many mojitos but mojito in here is so great. Strong. And delicious. I love Vaca Frita de Pollo. Always have this on my trip to Miami beach. Bacon wrapped Maduros is great too. Coconut mojito, Luxury mojito, and watermelon. Mojito is my all time favorite. Highly recommended. Great food and great service.
(5)Reid N.
Had the Cuban Fried Rice, full of shrimp, beef, chicken, pork and plantains. It was delicious.
(4)Mark F.
Woah! Paella. That is all. Seriously. Nothing else. Just have it now. Now. Now.
(5)Nathalie B.
Larios on the beach is an amazing place to goo!! Really good environment, people are super nicee and the food is amazing !! Highly recommend this place !
(5)Maria L.
You head down the strip and it's mostly large margarita 2 for 1 deals, but this place is far classier. Come here if you're ready for a more sophisticated afternoon/evening because their appetizers (we tried the avocado salad and the plantains with chips) are perfect complements to their fancy concoctions.
(4)Jake B.
Way overpriced and the "famous cuban's" stop being served at 4PM Severely disappointed in food quantity and quality.
(1)Me'Kayla W.
Food excellent I had the shrimp and garlic, black beans, and plantains. Service was less than pleasurable. There was no smile no enthusiasm, for us to be on the strip I would expect a little more love from my server. I mean 10 shrimp 2 sides and a sangria was 50 bucks no problem but I would like some superior service... our server said that he could not spit our check. Oh but he did tho stop the madness!
(4)Hena A.
Went here for dinner and can highly recommend the churassco with black beans and rice or Moros and tostones! Yummy! As for appetizer, we ordered the papa rellena and tamales which both were very good. They have a live band and a fun ambience. This is a busy location in Sobe.
(4)Anthony L.
Phenomenal food. Super fresh, flavorful and authentic. Go for one of the flavored mojito pitchers. Great flavor and worth the price. Totally recommend for a nice dinner out with friends or family.
(5)John H.
Poor service. Waited 45 minutes for our food. Avacado salad was great. Cuban sandwich was made with nearly undectable amounts of roast pork. After watching others seated after us be served, our food arrived. With the wrong order! Strangely reconciled in two minutes, making me wonder why we had to wait 45 minutes for our food. On top of that, they added an 18% gratuity which I gleefully deleted. Avoid this place.
(1)Stephen F.
My boyfriend and I purchased a Gilt City deal of $82 dinner for two to include two drinks a piece, one Estefan Cuban appetizer combo, an entree each, and desert each. Wow! What a great deal. We made reservations early in the evening and were seated upstairs near the front. Service was prompt and professional. The newly renovated building and interior is just beautiful, very beachy with class, which usually is hard to pull off. The walls are adorned with several glass in laid murals. The food was just delicious. The Estefan Cuban combo came with stuffed potatoes, pork tamale, bacon wrapped maduros, ham, chicken & fish croquettes & black bean hummus with plantain chips - totally worth it to sample a little bit of everything. I ordered the steak with chimmichuri, it was moist and perfectly cooked. For desert I had the tres leche chocolate, it was to die for. The mojitos were had were perfect and had us feeling right after two! I can't wait to go back. Definitely one of the best places, if not the best, on Ocean drive to get a feel of Miami's Cuban influence in a nice upscale environment.
(5)Michael A.
My family and I were invited to enjoy a dinner at Larios on the Beach. From the moment you walk in the renovations are very noticeable. It looks very sophisticated but still Miami Beach style. The service was amazing, but then again we were there as guests so I wouldn't expect any less. The food was delicious. I had a plate called the "Tour of Cuba" it was amazing. my parents shared the "Paella for 2" which was more for like 4. It was huge. Their luxury Mojito is addicting. I recommend this restaurant for date night or family meals. There is valet parking in front of the restaurant for $25.
(5)Michael M.
Great place to enjoy good food! Started with tasty margaritas, also had delicious Sangrias, & the night included live music inside a beautifully bright interior. You could sit outside, but the inside is the place to go eat; as the night progressed it filled up with a lively crowd. We started with cod croquettes and the pork tamale, both were just right. We wanted authentic Cuban food so chose the Tour of Cuba and the grilled shredded steak. Wow! The meats were moist, with tangy flavored spices and really just too delicious to describe. We also were served sides of rice & beans and sweet plantains, and they added great flavor to the meals. We ended with the tres leches (excellent), and Cuban coffee (strong & sweet). The meal and experience was really good, except the service slowed as the night progressed. We loved it, and would recommend to all to try it.
(4)Bennet M.
My husband and I ate here a while ago and haven't been back since. First off, you can def get better Cuban food somewhere else. There are so many Cuban Restaurants other than Larios. I mean I know it's Gloria Estefan's place but that didn't make a difference to me. Oh and everything in SOBE is going to be pricey but seriously Larios? I mean I can get a chicken vaca frita anywhere. But paying for the environment and the scence is what really came out of our pockets. I don't mind paying for food when it is great. Larios, meh just another Cuban Restaurant. I can go Versailles where Cuban food is mmmm mmmm bueno!! Thanks but no thanks Larios.
(3)Don B.
This place is unbelievable. The service, atmosphere and especially the food - all 5 star experiences. I had plantain chips as an app. My main course were the shrimp in garlic sauce. Both were delicious as well as the rice and black bean purée side items. Great Caesar salad as well. My tea was kept full, the server was attentive to every detail. Just do yourself a favor and eat here.
(5)Sukhmani K.
Place is a hidden gem! Very nice decor, live band was playing near the entrance on a Saturday night. Very upscale and exclusive, people were being turned away at the door for not having proper attire. The restaurant was very accommodating and took reservations for a party of 8 a few hours before dinner. I hosted a surprise birthday dinner for my bestfriend and the band played live birthday music for her entrance upon request. The pineapple mango or something like that sangria was super delicious . My first time trying Cuban food and it was a very well experience. I'm vegetarian which also limited me from most of the menu but I recommend the hummus chips appetizers which everyone enjoyed and my main entree was spicy rice noodles! Definitely request for bread, server had not brought it out but after requesting so he did and we're glad he did ! It is located right on south beach next to wet willies a very popular area on ocean ave!
(4)Sydney M.
Most of our food was really delicious: the urban slow-roasted pork was truly award-winning at our table, and we gave the garlic shrimp equally high marks. However, we didn't have the pleasure of enjoying our entrees for MORE THAN 2hours after we ordered. =o/ Management has been accommodating, but diners shouldn't have to hunt the staff down to get orders to their tables. Lario's has potential and beautiful decor. Maybe try it in 6months when they've found their groove.
(3)Mel L.
Service was a bit slow but I'll excuse it simply because my meal was just THAT good. I've been going to their sister restaurant Bongos since I was 14 and always order the same thing- Churrasco, maduros, moros, and a side of the arroz blanco. It's always amazing. What I got here was actually BETTER than what I'm used to and when I talked to the manager, he said it's the quality of meat. He wasn't kidding. Got a guava daiquiri that was delicious. Great ambiance. Even though service was slow, it was packed and the staff was still really helpful and friendly. Will DEFINITELY be back next time I'm in Miami.
(5)Kathleen W.
It was our first night in south beach and we were walking down ocean dr and spotted this place. It was definitely different than the stretch of places offering seafood/pasta/steak. A quick look at yelp and I was convinced! The menu looked promising. But the service ended up being extremely slow and in the end, ruined our time here. The drinks were fine, but it took a few reminders and well over 30 min before we got water (and I understand that places like this can get busy, but it was past 10pm and not very crowded). The food was decent and was worthy of a few stars. I had the slow roasted pork which was tender and the onions over top with vinaigrette sauce was pretty good. My fiancé had the shrimp criollo which was fine. The shrimp was cooked well but just tasted like it was dunked in tomato sauce. The black beans were excellent! We also had the fried plantains as a side which was good. Once we requested the check, our server disappeared, only to be seen a few times in the next half hour or so. Had we been forgotten? In the end, we had to ask someone else to get us the check. A word on service. I used to work in the restaurant/service industry and I understand how busy it can get and realize we are not the only customers. I believe servers can make or break your experience and thus I am always appreciative of attentative servers. I also believe in tipping well and can count on one hand (and maybe only two fingers) the number of times I felt like leaving a poor tip. This was one of them: where was our waiter? Where did our water go? He never asked us if we wanted another drink. Why did we have to wait an hour after asking for the check to finally pay and go? Here's the real kicker: a 18% gratuity was automatically included in the bill. Did I think that was fair? No. And did the fact that it was guaranteed account for the poor service? Maybe. But fine, we put our card down and waited...and waited...and waited... And finally another server saw that we had been waiting and took our check and handed it to our server. The receipt came back with a line for additional gratuity. Are you kidding me? Two hours spent at this place, with an hour entirely waiting to close out on the check. We won't be back.
(2)Angie B.
Our friends recommended we go there while passing through Miami on our way to Key West. So glad we did. Our server was extremely nice and the food was delicious. My husband who is hard to get to try something new, really like their Special Cuban Rice, we also had the Cuban sandwiches as we there for lunch. We ate outside and the atmosphere was nice and clean. We enjoyed our dining experience at Larios on the beach
(4)Tisha C.
My friends and I were in SoBe for the weekend and we were looking for really good mojitos and found them here.. First we started off with just glasses and then ended up getting a pitcher. We also sat outside... Hey being from NY we did anything to be outside in that warm florida weather as much as possible.. Plus we were there for a good two hours and the staff wasn't quick to kick us out or anything, they were very friendly. The food was good as well...We only ordered appetizers since we were leaving that night.. It was all good.. Bacon wrapped maduros empanadas ceviche and calamari. We did try a tres leche cake since its my favorite, i wasnt a big fan of it here though unfortunately. One star off because it's only in Miami.. I wish they would open one up in NYC
(4)Erica S.
We enjoyed our dinner here. We are new to this type of food, and we especially liked the plantains and black bean hummus. Great location!l too! Very fun.
(4)Kelly L.
I'm torn on this one. The food was delicious! The drinks were great! And the service was attentive. My only issue and the reason for the lower rating is that this is no way a $$. Maybe it's viewed as relative, but still no way. I trust yelp across the board, relative to the city I am in, and this is just a bit underestimated.
(3)Mayur P.
Eh!!! Gloria has resorted to serving overpriced Bland food. The Fritas yuca and avacado salad was good. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Wanted to Go to puerto sagua around the corner but darn place was booked for private party.
(3)Gabriela A.
I visited Larios on a Thursday night. I made reservations, quick and easy online. I had to push my reservation for 15 minutes and when I called the gentlemen who answered was so kind and fixed my reservation right away. Upon arrival it was a warm welcoming. Although I thought the place would be full, itt was a late night. However the service was exceptional from drinks, appetizers and main course. Our waiter ( I wish I could remember his name) was so nice and attentive. I would definitely go back to this restaurant when I visit miami again. Thanks for the great service and food! Highly recommend!
(5)Mia M.
I absolutely love Larios on the Beach! One of my favorites in South Beach (and for Cuban food) with a great location that can satisfy those who enjoy dining and watching the always entertaining SoBe foot traffic pass by or to sit inside in the beautifully decorated dining and bar areas. There are many delicious spots on Ocean Drive, but this one is top notch! Every time I come here I get the avocado salad, the bacon wrapped maduros, and the bbq guava ribs (don't kid yourself about getting the appetizer, you will definitely want the entree), but to be honest I enjoy nearly everything on Larios' menu. I also recommend the vaca frita (with a side of limes), which is the best that I have had. The drinks are also very good. I have tried the cocktails, but the red sangria pitcher goes so well with the food whether is be for lunch or dinner. Also the service is attentive and very friendly. Outside of Prime 112 (which is never not a scene), this is the first restaurant I recommend to anyone coming to South Beach. Great atmosphere and delicious food!
(5)D P.
Every second of this eating experience was fabulous! From the greeting when you walked to the hostess, to the service, drinks (monitor and Margarita), and food was beyond expectation. We had plantain chips, calamari, skirt steak, shrimp colchicine (sp?), famous Cuban fried rice, and tres leche (vanilla and chocolate), all were outstanding! I truly can't say enough that if you go to South Beach and don't eat here, you are missing out. Oh...almost forgot to mention the band and music. ..outstanding!
(5)P M.
The Paella, definitely worth the wait and $. Left feeling full and satisfied. Would definitely revisit again.
(5)Eliezer S.
So far it's been five minutes of being seated and the attention has been spectacular. The food was ridiculously good and the service is great! Great place to eat some good gourmet Cuban food
(5)Amanda K.
I like this place a lot! Great classic mojitos and a good variety on the menu. The churrasco was delicious, mainly because of the AMAZING chimichurri sauce. The steak itself was tastey and HUGE... Very large portion. Not the best quality meat but I really loved it. The tostones (fried plantains) were good and the moro (mixed rice and beans) were delicious. Everyone seemed to love their food plus the service was good. I love the location right in the middle of the action on Ocean Drive. I will definitely be back!
(4)Dinasia W.
Lovedd this place ! If you're in SOBE looking for dinner this is the place. All the restaurants are priced in the same range. If you're gonna pay the least it could be is worth the money. Larios definitely was. We got a couple starters. Two orders of the codfish croquettes ($10) which were amazing, as well as plantain chips& a garlic dip($7). I got the seafood fried rice($23) filled w. Well seasoned goodness. The bill came to 124.73 for the 3 of us. The service was great. We had an older man who was so adorable, attentive & accommodating. The gratuity ($17) was added into the check which was just fine because they make you aware of that ahead of time. It was an overall wonderful experience and I'll come back every time I'm in SOBE.
(5)Alex P.
Beaurifully renovated and the kitchen is competent but the service for non white cubans is awful. Seems like they are trying to recreate pre castro cuba... Watched 2 waiters fight over who would have to serve us...pathetic.
(1)Fred K.
Bland and tasteless Cuban food. We ordered the pork sliders and a Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was so blah, I've had better Cuban sandwiches at Marlin's Stadium! The pork sliders were dry and lacked flavor. The French fries were limp! The service was indifferent, no one asked why we didn't eat much of our food, guess it must happen all the time. They add 18% to the bill for the below average service. We will never come back and we can't recommend it to anyone. There are so many other places with better Cuban food. Was highly disappointed after reading positive reviews we expected better.
(1)Stefanie C.
We came here to try out the Miami spice menu on a Sunday night. 3 course meal with a drink included for $33. Such a great deal. My friend ordered the flank steak and I ordered the Cuban trio platter. Both were amazing! We actually swapped plates halfway through because both were so good. We each ordered a mojito which as well was wonderful! My only complaint is the service. Our waiter was nice but disappeared after our main course. We never saw him again. I actually had to get up to find someone who could refill our water. We had to flag down another waiter in order to get our last course and finally the check. After we were given our last course the waiter said to us "are you going to order anything else?" Considering that was the last course, no probably not. His response was "we're closing in a bit so you'll have to leave." Ok thanks for the notification but all you had to say was that the restaurant closes at whatever time and we'll make our way out as we see fit. It was unnecessary to make us feel unwelcome and as if we were going to be tossed out if we sat too long. Overall Id give the food a 5 and the service a 2. So together its about a 3.5 but there isn't a 3.5 option so we'll say 4. Come here for great food but don't expect good service!
(4)Veronica G.
Came here with my husband for our honeymoon. This place is in the heart of south beach great location. Very romantic great service! I had the papas Rellanas and vaca fritta it was def the best thing I eat durning my stay in Miami! loved it. Wish they had a location in LA.. P.S Outdoor seating right on Ocean Drive
(5)Daniel V.
Amazing 5 star service. Amazing food and service start to finish!!
(5)Cecilia P.
We looooved larios on the beach! I had the chicken parmesan. It was huge! My husband had totones rellenos and an avocad salad. The ambiance was great, as well as the music and the food was amazing. When we come back to Miami we'll come back to larios.
(5)Joseph V.
What can I say about this place that most of the reviews haven't said already. If you're in south beach, do yourself favor and stop by. If you enjoy traditional cuban cuisine or never had it before, this is your go to spot for all things cuban. Perfect for you romeo and juliets looking for that romantic evening. You'll also be surrounded by beautiful people, so they'll be plenty of eye candy for us single folk. They even have a band to help you get in the mood for some dancing afterwards (go to mangos). Make it a point to go there you wont regret it! Order the traditional cuban steak and go hard by adding shrimp. Hope you enjoy!
(4)Valya V.
This restaurant is a must! Every time I am on a South Beach I go here. Pulled pork, enchiladas and mohito are usual suspects. Ismael was our server. Excellent service!!
(5)T U.
Had a reservation at 6:45. Sat down, ordered my first Mojito, and apps. Apps came out at 6:50. Entrees came out at 6:55. Second drink at 7:05. Finished eating, bill paid and out on the street at 7:15. relaxing? rushed? ya think? Maybe we didn't order well... I felt like I have at other popular eating meccas, Little Italy, Gene and Georgetti in Chicago, Taydish Grill in San Francisco, Ebbetts Grill in DC, Antoines in New orleans...what a waste of time. There is little to no culinary expertise evident....food was old and touristy. Nice enough atrmosphere, band was too loud but they were good, waiter was great but subject to the cooks pushing he food out. If this is the best food they can produce and if this is the acme of Cuban cuisine...the French and italians have nothing to worry about. Skewers...three tiny chunks of chicken, beef and six tiny pieces of vegetable with a vinegary sugar sauce. Give me some ketchup.Skimpy and boring. Dry Plaintain cups with shrimp, pulled pork and beef...fresh is word used an hour ago...all three tasted the same. Shrimp are those little tiny ones, sat in sauce for hours, dry. Pork and beef were just dried out...looked old. Main dish...Slow Cooked pork...$23..waiter recommended....cheapest thing on the menu. tender hunks of pork with some white sliced onions on top, in a vinegary braising liquid. Seriously guys...do something with this...do anything not to make me think you are just pulling this off a hunk of cooked pork butt. I enjoyed it again later that night about 3am. Indegestion...nothing more...to be fair. My daughter...some fried chicken dish...it was chicken fingers without the ranch dressing. Plantains and rice as a side were Ok but to have the rice dropped with an ice cream scoop was like...grade school cafeteria? Except for the drinks not a fresh herb or creative presentation to be seen. 2 Mojitos...$30 ...not one ounce of what you buy a drink for. I had better drinks at the bars near the beach. really? $15 bucks each? No buzz at all. Last...for a party of two...they add the tip themselves...really really classy place... I left another ten spot cause we liked the waiter. I am glad so many people enjoy this place...my recommendation to the Estphan famly...if you will stick to music...I will not buy your food.
(1)Roxana B.
This place is a little more expensive than most on the strip, but totally worth it! Food is authentic Cuban and delicious . I especially love the picture by the bathroom of Gloria Stefan and Celia Cruz with drinks in their hands looking like they were having the time of their lives! Would def go back
(5)George S.
Great food good portions. The options are great. There was music and dancing. It's a fun place with lots of action.
(5)MiMi C.
Rating it a 5 star for location, ambiance, service and food! Our large group was accommodated on the second floor which would be perfect for a small private event. Ordered the bistec de palomilla with arroz Moro and maduros....absolutely delicious! The mojito was excellently prepared. 'Til next time South Beach!
(5)Zoey T.
Best cuban food I have ever had. Beautiful upscale restaurant without the upscale price. I had the empanadas, pan seared grouper, and tour de Cuba and every bite was delicious. Add a pitcher of sangria and it was perfect.
(5)Liam D.
I've heard that the Cuban people are laid back and relaxed, which I'm cool with except when me and 10 of my famished family members roll up to a place looking to satisfy our hunger pangs. As per usual, I turned to Yelp to figure out what was good in nearby South Beach and Larios looked cool, so we went. Not often one can eat at Gloria Estefan's restaurants up north... We were seated at an enormous family-style table that looked like it was straight out of a hacienda. There was an enormous mirror behind it so we could all see everyone at the table easily. This was cool. We waited about 15 minutes for a waiter to speak to us. Yeah. 10 minutes just for "would you like to start with something to drink?" Speaking of, they have a really tempting looking beverage menu that includes delicious Mojitos and other rum-infused sweet beverages. We ordered food at the same time as drinks and then we waited. Some more. And then some more. And then some more. Our waiter kept coming back to clarify our order and state that they were "out of this" or "out of that," which made us all question whether he'd even input or order yet. Food came by way of a brash manager who acted like he was delivering the best damn food in Miami. How did he do so? By auctioning it off: "who had the...." "who had the..." "and who had the..." I'm cool with this at a table of 2 or 4, but when you're doing it at a table of 10, it not only gets annoying but it's pretty unprofessional. We had non-English speakers at the table, which made things tougher and caused me to snap at Benny Blanco from Da Bronx and say "Our waiter should know what we ordered... where is he?" The ass had the audacity to say, "well you should also know what you ordered, no?" If I wasn't surrounded by family, my response would not have been a good one. I had the Vaca Frita, which is fried beef. It's a lot like barbacoa from Chipotle, but has a bit of crispiness to it because it's pan fried - sort of like a "beef hash" minus the potatoes. It was definitely tasty. Others had seafood, skirt steak, cuban sandwiches, and salads. I was pretty impressed with the food, just not how long it took to order it, get it, or the way it was delivered. 1 star for good food. 2nd for a nice ambiance. Everything else about this place sucks. Stick to singing Gloria...
(2)Joel J.
cuban! meat! their menu is really extensive. make sure to order one of the entres marked with the icon noting, "lario's favorites." all entrees come with a choice of regular rice or rice w/bean (get this one). you also get fried plantains .... fried or sweet. get the sweet ones. the patio was really busy at 7:00pm when we went. fortunately, we took the last table outside in the corner of the patio. try to come early if you want a prime seat outside. this is a GREAT place to get dinner before heading to the bar/clubs on ocean drive.
(3)Julia A.
This place will always be a favorite of mine no matter what, because it is here that I was first introduced to the toasty, porky, melty-cheesy deliciousness that is a Cuban sandwich. After tromping around in the South Beach humidity and then spending a couple hours sprawled on the beach, we decided to come here as there were those of us not acquainted with Cuban food and wanting to give it a try, and we were all so very glad we did. Plantains, black beans, and rice were delish, but the sandwich really did it for me: ham, pork, Swiss cheese, a touch of mustard, on Cuban bread, toasted in a sandwich press until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted...so yummy! Dunno if I was just damned hungry that day or what, but I do believe that was the best sandwich I've ever eaten! Hubby says the mojitos are good too (I don't like mojitos, though, so you'll have to take his word for it). Sometimes there's a band and the place is packed to the rafters, sometimes it's nearly empty, but either way, try the food, it's great!
(5)Cher E.
Besides the beach, the only other thing that mattered to me on this trip to Miami was awesome Cuban food. We stumbled upon Lario's and it was pretty good. Our server wasn't particularly bright or responsive and when we asked him questions about the menu, he had a hard time coming up with answers. Picadillo is always my fave Cuban dish and it was pretty tasty, although a little simple compared to others I've tried. We also ordered the steak with chimichuri sauce which was a very small portion. The sangria was definitely sub-par and I think this may be the first time ever that I didn't finish the carafe. Prices were fair, especially compared to many of the other restaurants along Ocean Dr. There was great live music and a very sexy couple dancing salsa which provided some great eye candy as we completed our meal.
(3)Stefanie R.
The mojitos here are the BEST!!!. Just the right amount of everything in those things. The watermelon and razz mojitos are the drinks to have at this place. I can usually drink about 2 because they don't water down the drinks!!! I'm convinced the owners of this place want you to get super buzzed so you have a good time. I just moved from Miami and I'm really gonna miss this place. When you're able to catch the band it'll be a really fun night. They say that Gloria Estefan makes a visit every once in a while to sing with the band but unfortunatley I was never able to catch her when we had dinner there. This place is one of the most mellowest spots on South Beach. We're always able to get a table right away, this place has great service and the waiters and waitresses are friendly. The food is good, not mind blowing good - but good. They make a good cubano (cuban sandwhich) and they have excellent plantanos, beans and rice. Try the cod fritters and the cuban spring rolls as appetizers. For dinner have a steak or the roasted chicken - or any other dish that you wanna try. But don't go to South Beach without stopping at Larios.
(4)Kane K.
For years, Larios was a Miami institution. Kind of touristy, yes but it was the place to go for people who never visited Miami before and get a hint of Cuban food. Well, not anymore. And I'm certain if Gloria ate what I ate, she would be appalled. I ordered everything that was a Larios favorite. I had the cod fritters and the roast chicken. Cod fritters.....where to begin....it had the consistency of a dishwashing sponge. I'd like to say it tasted like one too. I have a feeling that they just reheated it in the microwave because it had absolutely no crunch as if it just came out of hot oil. It was horrible. Service? I think our waitress was about to fall asleep on us. My roast chicken? It was around for so long and then put under a broilder that there was chicken "jerky" at the top of the dish. Im sorry to say but I will never visit Larios again. I will save the embarassment of bringing my friends there.
(1)Victoria H.
were all these people eating at the same place i ate! this place was horrible... the service was the worst i ever had probly cause they already added there tip and didnt care how they treated there people...our food took forever we got no bread not even water. i would never recommend this place to anyone
(1)Yvonne D.
I've eaten here before and loved it, but this time we were very disappointed. We sat outside between the sidewalk and the street and the throngs of people coming by was nearly overwhelming. The cars and mopeds that kept pulling over in front of us filled the area with exhaust. The energy was interesting though, so we eagerly waited for our food. That was also disappointing. The boliche (Cuban pot roast) was dry, dry, dry and not tender as were all of the other meats we ordered. When we mentioned it to the hostess (requesting to speak to a manager) he never came by. We were celebrating my father-in-law's 70th birthday and they brought a dessert with a large sparkler - but we weren't even given a discount on that dessert. We won't return. There are too many great places to eat in this area.
(2)Pinky And The B.
We went before Yelp existed. As far as the food goes pretty average nothing that I had not had before. The fun part of the meal was getting our picture taken by one of those guys walking around taking pictures. We have the faded picture on our refrigerator. But in general we both HATED South Beach. I think South Beach is for hillbilly tourists in general. Further down North Miami Beach and Key Biscayne are nicer. Love the Florida Keys but to enjoy South Beach you have to kind of be really bored with your life. Just sayin... But as far as the restaurant goes pretty standard Cuban food.
(3)S K.
I'm mediocre on the place. Mojito was indeed good, as they claim. Food was so-so. Drinks are typical. Service was great, until our waiter disappeared. Friendly staff, but not sure I would come back here. Disclaimer: I did not even walk inside. Ate on the patio.
(3)Lisa C.
Stopped in at Larios for some lunch. I had the arroz con pollo, a corona and flan. I wasn't blown away. I mean it was eh. The rice was amazing. YES. The chicken was a bit bland. I also was at a street fair and with my dog so I was limited. For the prices I expected way way wayyyy more. I ended up paying $30+ for just me and left feeling Meh. I've experienced better. The flan was good but this is Miami. Good flan is everywhere. I had a better meal at Puerto Sagua on 7th and Collins and on Calle Ocho for half what I paid here. If I didn't have my dog with me I totally would have gone there instead. This place is Ocean Drive tourist trap Cuban. Overpriced and overhyped for what it is. I am thankful they accommodated both me and my dog too bad my doggie liked the pollo more than I did.
(2)Teresa S.
My friend and I visited this restaurant after being indecisive about where to eat. However, when that rain started pouring we looked for the first restaurant with available in door seating. The food was okay not ravingly delicous. I ordeded the Cuban Style Milanese Chicken Breast which was delicious. I also had a side of plantains that were good. I remember it being cold in the restaurant. I had a fruity drink that was also good. What stands out the most for me was the dance floor in the front of the restaurant that was packed with people shaking a leg and having a grand old time. That was cool to see and be a part of such a happening spot. I didnt realize this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant until a few days later. When Im back in South Beach I would hesitate to return but there are sooo many other spots I would check out first.
(3)J M.
This place is in the tourist dictionary as a trap!. Nothing Cuban about this place. Food is bland and the service is slow. Any latin bodega has better food.
(1)Alex B.
Excellent and authentic Cuban food. It was a local recommendation and it did not disappoint! Amazing mojitos too :)
(5)Irene R.
Ugh food dry and not tasty. Worst Cuban food for price
(1)Brendan P.
Came hear and got down on a 'authentic' cuban sandwich. Pretty tasty but nothing crazy. My main gripe: I asked them to throw tomatoes on it and they not only denied me but were almost offended that I asked to 'tarnish their sandwich' with a tomato. Even worse- they charged me $3-4 for 2 slices of tomato on the side. What?! Anyway, nice location, and honestly, aside from the tomato incident the service was pretty good. But seriously, I'm a tomato fiend and if you make me dismantle my sandwich I'm not a happy camper. And no- I don't care about some Cuban heritage that includes denying alterations to their sandwich- I'll put a tomato on my damn cereal if I please. I still left overall pleased- because as I said, aside from the Tomato- the service was legit.
(3)Jelena Z.
Great spot for Cuban food right on Ocean Drive! My girlfriends and I stopped here for some drinks and dinner before heading out last night. On the must-try drink list: their mojitos and sangria. Both are very well done and relatively inexpensive for South Beach ($12 and $7 respectively, I believe). Food: we tried the French Onion soup (very rich with its thick layer of cheese), ceviche (very fresh), grilled chicken breast (with lemon and garlic) and the sweet plantains. The chicken was prepared simply but the flavors were a knockout. And who doesn't love sweet, grilled plantains? I practically licked my plate. The entrees are all moderately priced and the service is there when you need it, not when you don't. I'd recommend this resto to anyone looking for some good Cuban food in a pinch (no reservations were needed and there wasn't a wait for a table).
(4)Celine R.
Great food, great service, great location, great music, great drinks! The morro, lechon, and yuca are to die for.
(5)Rich B.
Que rico! Great service with, location, location, location. Mix those two with great food and you have a great meal. Add a dash of great company and you will have a blast. Try the flavored drinks I like the guava mojito.
(4)Briceyda L.
I made a reservation, but no one told me that the restaurant was under construction. I found out about this while walking around the area. I guess I'll have to wait to try it next time I'm in town.
(1)Amy M.
I've been to Larios On The Beach so many times every time I go to Miami! I'm surprised I haven't written a review on it yet. It is a very loud place because of the music and all the people. But the food is really good and so are the drinks. For the drinks, you can't go wrong with their mojitos and you get to keep the fancy large glass too if you opt for that one. I have a few in my collection over the years that I've been there. Usually, I order the ropa vieja there. It's pretty good and it comes with rice and beans! :)
(4)Robert W.
Fantastic churrasco and rice and beans, awesome pitcher of mojitos with a fantastic vibe and good service. Perfect location.
(5)Megan G.
Stop here for lunch after you've walked Ocean Drive and checked out the Art Deco. Order a cocktail, some fish and some plantain chips. Enjoy. Great people watching if you dare site at a table on the sidewalk.
(4)Nicole S.
3.5 stars Good food, nice ambiance, good service, strong drinks.
(3)Cat J.
If I wanted to get street cred for authentic Cuban cuisine in Miami or elsewhere, I should have gone to Little Havana. However, I was in South Beach, starving, and was just looking for the closest one to my hotel. Larios fit the bill, and I was not disappointed. Any Cuban cuisine in Miami overall in my opinion is more legit then those in New York anyway, so it didn't make a difference to me. My family and I stumbled upon this place not knowing it's (co?)owned by Gloria Estefan, so we arrived without any expectations-- just a hankering for something Cuban. I got to try the Big Apple and Mint Mojitos, which were excellent. Despite them being sweeter than most mojitos, they still had a clean taste that I loved. Their batido de guanabana was good, but not as good as the mojitos. A bit overpriced, but we were celebrating my sister's birthday, so all concept of frugality went out the window. We ordered a fish fry, churrasco a lo cubano, and a pollo reinoso. All were decent, but the joint really shines in their churrascos-- juicy, well-cooked, and not skimpy in their portions! Couple their entrees with your choice of two types of platanos and white or rice with beans, and we had a great dinner that gave us some serious food coma. Our dinner culminated to dessert as the waiters (and all the customers) graciously sang Happy Birthday to my sister with a Tres Leches cake. The cake wasn't mind-blowing, but it was decent, and was a sweet way to end the night (pun intended). Another point I would like to mention: the waitress standing outside was not aggressive in getting customers to sit like some other nearby places. This is a more personal preference, but it certainly raised my respect for the place with their great service. Thanks for a great night, Larios!
(4)Elda L.
Pretty good. Get the ropa vieja. Not too expensive, either.
(3)David O.
Had the grilled fish special that knocked my socks off. Location is great and the restaurant is beautiful. Wifey had the ropa vieja and that was delicious. Mojitos are no joke and they make them with a heavy poor (big thumbs up!).
(5)M. M.
Larios was the perfect way to end an awesome trip to Miami. The ambiance is beautiful, the food is great, and it's right on Ocean Drive, so it's the perfect way to start a night on the town. Our server was very informative, and even though our reservation was just before the kitchen closed, we didn't feel rushed at all. I will definitely come visit again, the next time I'm in Miami.
(4)Maria C.
Although I've dined here in the past, I was very let down on this visit. We started off with the Masitas, they were ok. My mojito was so sweet, it was hard to detect any liquor. My pernil, which I was hoping would save the meal was not only dry and bland it was also swinging in oil, apparently to mask the dryness! The only dish that was edible was the chicharones de pescado, amazingly well seasoned and fried to perfection... No oily mess!
(2)Lauren B.
Best ceviche on Ocean Drive! My boyfriend and I had an enjoyable dinner at Larios. Our waiter was pleasant and attentive and the atmosphere was romantic. Even though outside seating is preferred I thought the inside was equally as nice. I ordered the Camarones Enchilados (Shrimp Cuban Creole) which had a generous portion of shrimp and my boyfriend the Vaca Frita (Fried Shredded Flank Steak) which he loved. Personally I do not prefer meat but I thought his entree was quite tasty, particularly the marinade. We've been on a ceviche kick lately and Larios has the best we've tried so far.
(4)Julie B.
A bartender at our hotel told us to check this place out for good cuban food.... I did appreciate that it was the only place who didn't try to lure us in with fluorescent drink specials, but I wasn't that impressed. Good food, descent prices, but i would rather try another place than come here again. The decor was nice though.
(3)Laura K.
The food was very good, but expensive for a college student lol. I ordered the kids cheeseburger, and it was about the size of a Whopper! The customer service, which I'm sure was a one time instance, was terrible! The waitress took forever to put in our order and didn't apologize for taking forever to drop the check. And the food runners kept bringing food that wasn't for us. The good was very Carribean though, I love some sweet plantains.
(3)kelley s.
YAY! So much fun here! We were a party of 10 for a bachelorette party. We had reservations which is key cause this place gets packed! Our waitress was AMAZING! She didn't get a drink order or a food order wrong and was on top of anything and everything we needed. The manager came over and delivered the bachelorette some tasty and naughty shots and just made the whole experience great! FOOD-AMAZING! SERVICE-SUPER! ATOMOSPHER-FUN!!!
(4)Omar Z.
Came here after leaving a police precinct to report a missing wallet. Wasn't really in the best mood walking in here but after a few minutes, the music and vibe quickly reminded me I was on vacation. Larios is one of the nicer places to dine at on Ocean Drive. Its Gloria Estefan's restaurant so expect over the top, Cuban flair. Food, service and ambiance was all good and the prices were moderate. The place looks pretty classy but b/c its right on the beach, it feels very laid back and casual too. Bikinis and board shorts are very much so acceptable.
(3)Mandy A.
After wandering through a dozen restaurants on Ocean, we happened upon Larios and since they didn't hound us into sitting down, we sat down. We were just there for lunch so we split the Cuban and Media Noche sandwiches, basically the same sandwich on different breads. Both were good but I liked the Media Noche better. Nothing mind blowing, just a solid sandwich. We split the plantains filled with shrimp to start and they were really good too. I have no idea what was in it but it was a good starter. We both had mojitos which were pretty pricey for the size, seemed like you could get a larger one for a couple bucks more but didn't see that until it was too late.
(4)Maile N.
From the other reviews, I see that this is one of Gloria Estefan's (rhythm is going to get you) restaurants - cool! Since we're from San Francisco, and I am all too familiar with the sub-par restaurants in high touristy spots, I was a little leery about having dinner here right in the middle of South Beach. But we were hungry and wanted Cuban food while in South Beach, so Larios/Bongo's it was! First of all, what great people watching if you get a table out on the sidewalk! - the only thing I didn't like was that several homeless people came up to us during our meal asking for money. We ordered sangria by the pitcher (2x!) and it was yummy and refreshing on this Wednesday Miami evening on our last night in town. The yucca fries were yummy, couldn't stop eating those. And I enjoyed my chicken (very moist and tasty) over yellow rice - loved the plantains!! Yummy yummy!! The ambiance inside looked really cool and classy, the bar was very cool-looking, and lights and strobes started around 9PM inside for a cool dancing/club scene. Very Miami cool! Out of all the restaurants on Ocean Beach Drive, this was one restaurant that didn't aggressively try to pull us in (a tactic other restaurants should stop because it does not appeal), so that was another factor that drew us in. Gracias for a great meal!
(4)Betsy R.
My daughter and I ate at Larios on Wed 6/22. The service was horrible and the food was mediocre. I had to ask to get my water refilled as our server and others were inattentive. 17% gratuity is automatically added, like it or not. The ambience of the setting is great for people watching.
(2)Andrew H.
walking down ocean dr, you get bombarded by eager hostesses throwing themselves at you in hopes that the louder they are, the more likely are you to enter their restaurant for some food. and larios definitely has that too, but my friends and i had a reservation anyways. with an earlier spot reserved for us, we grabbed a seat outside and people watched, ate a few appetizers, and enjoyed more than a few mojitos before dinner. the fried cassava bites to start were actually pretty good...coming with a VERY garlic-y dipping sauce. (maybe that's why i didn't attract any women that night :P) i can't remember exactly what i ordered, but i know it had something to do with pork (clearly). nothing to rave home about, but the beans and rice...always a pleaser. overall though, i think it's just the gimmick of larios being gloria estefan's place that really has the draw. the food itself was just so-so...probably comparable to the hundreds of other restaurants that line ocean dr.
(3)Corinne M.
Recently was my 2nd experience at Larios and I have no complaints. Both times were with a larger group of girls, the 1st was at their normal location and we had seating upstairs in a semi-private area, the 2nd was in the temporary location and we had a huge table in the center of the room. Our service was great and if you are looking for Cuban food this is a really good choice. My friend and I split the Cuban style skirt steak with Chimi-Churri sauce and we could not get enough of it. For 2 ladies looking to not get stuffed it was perfect, served with french fries and plantains. There were a variety of entrees on the table and not many complaints. Everyone ended up trying the Chimi-Churri sauce and using it on their own food, it was that good.. The prices were right and the service/atmosphere made it a great meal.
(5)MeChan W.
ok so im not a huge cuban food eater but this place was good not overly priced and the ambiance was great. The food was really good especially the fried bananas and beef balls.
(3)Fredrik W.
We were recommended the restaurant by Cuban friends. The restaurant is in temporary quarters while the original location is undergoing renovation. We had great Mojitos and we ordered a sample platter to have my friends get a broader taste of Cuban food. I had the ropa vieja with black beans and rice with fried yuca. It was as good as I have had it. My friends were very pleased with their selections as well. The Maitre D came by several times to check in on us and made us feel very welcome. This is on the major drag, Ocean Drive, where all the tourist traps are. This felt different and quite genuine.
(4)John F.
Great food and service!! Right on the ocean side street. Sit and people watch :)
(4)Joe H.
It was good and great atmosphere. Service was a little slow and food was a little pricey for the quality. I went just to watch the people so I didn't mind.
(3)John M.
This place is pretty good. Great location on the main drag of Miami Beach. I believe its owned by Gloria Estefan and I'm typically turned off by star-owned restaurants. While the food is not pure authentic Cuban, its gets close enough and is quite good. They advertise the "best mojito's in South Beach." I had the one with the 8-year old Bacardi rum in it and I was certainly not disappointed. Definitely recommended when looking for a place to eat in South Beach! P.S. The plantain cups are fantastic!
(3)Krystal S.
Lario's on the beach! This place was recommended by locales...I'm dining here as I type, and i feel completely immersed in the Cuban culture. My waiter is very nice and also patient which is a huge plus since I know nothing about Cuban food. The mango margarita (brimmed with sugar) tastes perfect and I'm dancing in my chair to the music. Two thumbs up!
(4)B C.
Great place for Cuban food on Ocean Drive. Almost all the restaurants on Ocean Drive are tourist traps and serve the same things: pasta, sandwiches, margaritas. If you want Latin food, this is the place to go. Perfect tostones (plaintain chips), fresh fish, rice. Service is good, not pushy like all the other touristy restaurants. Overall a pleasant place to eat. One star off because sparse veggies with the meal.
(4)Pooja J.
Was there last night with my husband..and this place was a complete disappointment..we had never tried Cuban cuisine and thought to give it a try here, but the food was not all that good and the service was really bad..the bus boy had mistakenly spilled one of my sides on his tray, and instead of changing the dish, he just picked it up and put it back on the plate and served it to me...all in all - ok ambiance, highly priced and bad service..
(1)Sahar R.
I was dragged here by my over zealous mom. You know how most middle age women go ga ga over Oprah? Like they buy the stuff Oprah likes, every other sentence is "Oprah said this and that", and look to Oprah as some kind of life coach? Well, Gloria Estefan is my mom's Oprah, the minute she heard this is one of her restaurants, she shrieked "OH MY GOODNESS", and we walked through maze of aggressive hostesses at Ocean Drive restaurants trying to seduce that end of season patronage and made a beeline for here. The hostess looked like we interrupted her really busy day of hair twirling and sat us outside. Now the way my mom acted was like Gloria and Emilio were in the kitchen making dinner especially for her. Little does she know that the Estefan dynasty owns about seven restaurants, a couple of hotels, part of the Miami dolphins, and it is highly doubtful Gloria stepped foot in this restaurant. Speaking of which, why is the dude from 2 Live Crew running for mayor and not the Estafans, since they own half the town anyway? While I listened to the E True Hollywood story of Gloria Estefan as retold by my mom, I ordered a mojito, which was awesome. Then the night decidedly made a turn for the worse. Let's say the highlight of the meal was the fried plantains that came on the side of our dishes. The ropas viejas (just not the best tasting shredded beef) was pretty average, the tostones were served cold, and the bussers were too eager to take your plates away even if you were still working on the food. Being that most of the Yelp reviews are from out of towners (like myself), you can be absolutely correct in assuming this is a tourist trap. If you have a table outside prepare to have random tourists who walk by to stop and ask painfully obvious and stupid questions like, "is the food good?" , or "Why did they fry those bananas?". Luckily, the place is so loud, you can pretend that you can't hear them or that you can't speak English. The Verdict: So, I can't say the service was bad other than the hostess who hates everyone. The food however is average at best, and by far there are so many other authentic Cuban restaurants in SoBe (hint: Puerto Sagua). Luckily the average food did not deter my mom's lady crush on Gloria, however the added 17% gratuity on the bill nearly encouraged my mom to write a strongly worded letter to the Estefan Corporation. OH MY GOODNESS, does Gloria know about this? (her exact words). So watch out, if the rhythm doesn't get you, the check certainly will..
(2)Dana S.
If I hadn't ordered the mojito, I'd probably like this place less. The crab fritters were great, the ceviche and fried green plantains were pretty good, and the main courses were tasty, from the roasted pork shoulder to the shrimp. I must admit my favorite was the fried sweet plantains. Totally decent, if not entirely authentic, option on the strip. Try to sit outside. Definitely order a mojito and the sweet plantains!
(3)Corey N.
Ordered 3 sandwiches, 1 salad and 3 drinks bill came to 200.00. They charge $8 just in tap water. Not worth it. The bill should have been at best $60.00
(1)Micaela I.
The food was all very dry and bland. Way over priced too. The temporary location is ok, not stellar. No outside seating. We definitely won't be back.
(1)John E.
Why doesn't Michelle Bernstein just make a Cuban restaurant and call it a day. No one has got it right yet in Miami. And if someone can or does, please let me know. I heard this was the best Cuban restaurant in Miami. Im disappointed to say the least
(2)Jared G.
You know how you see those guys on the Vegas strip sidewalk shoving cards for strippers in your face? Walking down the sidewalk on a Saturday morning in South Beach is pretty much the same with hosts and hostesses trying to get you to come sit down for brunch. Lario's was pretty much the only place in South Beach where the host just smiled and said "Good Morning." That was enough for us to pick this spot. The Cuban sandwich and lobster croquettes were awesome, and so were their mojitos! A little spendy, then again South Beach is not a great place to "save" money.
(4)Jhon C.
I love Larios On The Beach! The "best" Cuban place on SOBE. The food is amazing, and the service is so professional and friendly. The view of the beach and people watching is superb!
(5)Sophie C.
Cruising along Ocean Ave. by foot I started to worry that my destination (Lario's) may be a techno-sonic, cringe-worthy, over-crowded, & trendy restaurant, like it's neighbors. Not relaxing at all. But. I was relieved it was not indeed. The music was barely audible, maybe I heard whispers of Billie Holiday. Nice. The ambiance was also really elegant casual, kinda colonial chic. Plus it was not too busy with customers. We ate mid day (2pm). Now the food... I'm obsessed with Yelp so I took fellow yelper advice and had the Roasted Chicken. Which was pretty good. Tender and juicy. And that garlic dip. OMG. Ps: the service we received was great.
(4)Christina M.
Hello Friends, The sweltering humidity of Miami did not deter my jaunt down to Miami Beach on Friday afternoon. Shortly after I picked up my rental car, I immediately followed the interstate signs to Miami Beach (quite easy to get there). A beautiful Friday afternoon with the sun shining and temperatures in the high 80's with higher than what I am used to, humidity. As I drove down into the South Beach area, I came upon a place I could not pass up - Larios on the Beach. Larios on the Beach is part of the family of restaurants under the umbrella of Bongos Cuban Cafe. For those of you who were not aware, these restaurants are owned by the seven time Grammy Award winning singer, Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. A: To step into Larios, is to step into Old Cuba, complete with outdoor dining on their porch area or sidewalk area (great for people watching and view of the beach area). Or if you prefer to escape the humidity, Larios offers an indoor dining area. On this particular day, I wanted to soak up every bit of Miami I could and this included sitting outside in the humidity with all of South Beach surrounding me. T: Larios' menu boasts traditional Cuban dishes, as well as an ample drink menu with must try mojito drinks. I dug right into the main entree, ordering their Arroz con Pollo. This generous portion of a dish included a quarter chicken served over a bed of yellow rice and sweet plantains. Simply delicious and hit the spot after a long morning of flying. The chicken meat falls right off the quarter chicken and the more than ample serving of yellow rice was hard to keep all on the plate (in a good way). Their sweet plantains were just enough sweet, dark in color and soft inside. The plantains were a great compliment to the chicken and yellow rice. For drink I ordered their main house mojito, a strong tasting mojito drink complete with a slim sugar cane stick. That was an extra special treat, as most mojitos I come across do not come complete with the sugar stick to chew on for sugar along with your mint drink. Tasty! E: My meal for both my dish and mojito came up to about $36.00. A good deal for the amount of food you receive and their drinks are certainly made with a generous amount of liquor. In addition, your surroundings make up the other half of your experience. Experiencing South Beach, while dining on lunch on a sidewalk cafe, is to truly envelope yourself into the surroundings. Everyone from the valet (which is 20.00 to valet your car, parking can be a challenge, so valet comes in handy, but on the higher side for pricing) to the hostess and then finally the waitress are extremely friendly. Service from your waiter or waitress can be on the slower side, but really think given the atmosphere and location of this restaurant - who really wants to hurry? *smile* Be sure to make Larios part of your dining experience while next time in South Beach.
(4)Yana C.
My boyfriend and I went to Larios on the Beach our first night in South Beach based on the recommendation of a Cuban friend who I trust with something like that and who gave it rave reviews. Had read good reviews, and as you can see from my own rating, my opinion is a bit mixed about it. The location is great - right on South Beach amid all the other restaurants nearby. Of course, if you're sitting right on the sidewalk you might be bothered by all the street traffic, though we were fine with it. Food and drink prices were good, especially compared to other South Beach stuff and considering our cheap vacation budgets. And the food was definitely good - we shared a fried pork bites appetizer, the "Bongo's Famous Roast Chicken" with moro rice and fried plantains, and I had a flavored mojito and my boyfriend had a cuban beer. The food was all pretty delicious, especially the chicken, though the rice was a bit mediocre. Now here is what takes away 2 stars away from me - the service, which was HORRIBLE. We had a horrible waitress that ignored us most of the evening and was downright rude when she did give attention. It seemed she assumed that since we were sharing that we were the cheap young couple who would not tip well - note to all servers out there, you're guaranteed a self-fulfilling prophecy if you work under that assumption, because we young folks can tip pretty well too! After finishing our drinks we had to wait a long time to get second ones, at one point even putting our empty glasses on the table and trying to get her attention. She never came to ask how everything was, instead coming over when we were almost finished to ask , "are you still working on it?" in a very rude manner. And then of course the check had an included/suggested tip on it, which was 17% and we would have normally added to that, instead had to reduce it because we were so unhappy with her service. We did give the busboy a tip though, because he actually gave us more attention than the waitress! So basically, even though the food was good, the service really ruined it for us. In terms of South Beach Cuban food, we had a MUCH better experience at Puerto Sagua, which I gave a very good 5 star review for and which is much cheaper and still right in the central South Beach area.
(3)Pg P.
Food was awful. Had no aroma, like it was prepared the day before and reheated. Very dry and had no flavor. Ordered roast pork and half of it was fatty gristle that was not edible.
(1)Smarty Pants P.
My boyfriend and I had lunch at Larios last weekend... Location is great.. then again any places on Ocean Drive are good location... I ordered the Cuban roasted pork per our waiter's recommendation... My boyfriend got the Shrimp Creole... Moro rice and fried plantains. Their portions are big... Personally, the pork was very greasy... Our waiter was nice, but the overall service is mediocre. The hostess (?) girl was very unfriendly.. We asked for something and she gave us a look like we were bothering her... She acted like she was all that and believe me, she wasn't... Too bad, I had such high hopes... Larios will not be a place where I would recommend to my friends.
(2)Jackie R.
one word delicious!! my first time trying cuban food and omg let me tell you I was not expecting for my taste buds to pop out of my tongue! Their mango shrimp blew me out of the water mmm soo yummy and if you go late at night it seriously is a party! they play all your familiar luis yandel and pitbul songs This place was a great way to taste cuban food for the first time!
(5)Michael B.
Nice place.., Inside decor was simple & pleasant (we left the hot, outdoor eating for the tourists!!). The Bongo combo was delicious. Just the right mixture of foods, tastes & textures...and the right amounts. It was filing and a great appetizer .... Which made us, for lunch anyway, split the ropa vieja for the two of us. The meat was prepared just right, and the taste was good while not overwhelming. You can te the meat had been marinated for some time... And the service was very attentive. Our waiter (damn! Wish I had gotten his name...kudos to him anyway!) never let us wait for anything. All in all, a good experience...and one we will go back to!
(4)Crystal T.
"Disappointment", that's the most I can say about the place. Last week we were in Miami, and we were recommended this place by a local for good Cuban food. We went there with high hopes but it just turned out to be a big disappointment. The food, service, and atmosphere everything was bad, and very expensive for the kind of food and service we got. We paid $70 for 2 entrees and drinks...and where on earth do you have to pay 16% gratuity for a party of 2 people? I ordered Shrimp curry and my husband ordered shredded chicken, and every entree comes with a choice of rice and Plantains. My husband's chicken was dry, tasteless and without any gravy... I don't know how you can expect someone to eat rice with dry chicken and fried plantains; we shared the sauce from my shrimp curry. My Shrimp curry wasn't great either, the shrimps were dry and the sauce did not mix properly with the shrimps. and our waiter was just not concerned with our experience, he was too busy in entertaining a big party of people. I think that explains why the gratuity is 16%, they know their food is not good and service is horrible and I am sure they also know customers would never like to tip them if given a choice so they are better off by including the high gratuity in the bill.
(1)Derek F.
3rd stop in the tour really good ropa vieja!!!
(4)Eric L.
Someone told me this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant, not sure if that is true. I went here for dinner with some Co-workers on my last night in Miami Beach. The sign outside said Larios, the menus said "Bongos", very confusing. I did get the sense that this was the equivalent to a "Cuban" Chevy's terms of the service and decor. Our waiter that was hard selling mojitos, appetizers, and "add ons", not impressed. I ordered the grilled pork loin, which in retrospect was a terrible call. The Pork was super lean and therefore dry as hell. Think consistency of dry white chicken meat, and you'll be close. Every bite I took completely sucked my mouth dry of any moisture, I resorted to pre-shredding the meat and dousing it with black beans to get some moisture in it. That strategy worked until I ran out of beans, now that I think about it, maybe I should have asked for a bowl of salsa. I can report that the pressed garlic bread things they give out for free are phenomenal. Some of the best things I've ever tasted. I probably could have gorged myself on 5 baskets and had a 5 star experience.
(3)T. B.
The service was just awful...it was obvious that the waiter knew he was getting an automatic gratuity- he never introduced himself and was more like a robot just taking orders. And unfortunately the food was under seasoned and just so-so. It's too bad because we expected so much more.
(2)Gen B.
Delicious! I try to hit up Larios everytime I am in Miami, which is about every 6 weeks for work. Coco Mojito is delicious. Pair it with ceviche, croquettas and garlic shrimp and you are set! Plus it is owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan so a nice little Bonus minus the sound machine. It is South Beach so there is always the bit of the tourist vibe, but just go with it. It's South Beach!
(5)Yellie A.
Fun dancing, great music, lovely waiters! But the food was...ok. Could have been better.
(3)VJ k.
I was looking to experience a true Miami / Cuban cuisine dinner in Miami during a recent trip for myself and a few friends. We walked by a few Yelp "4 stars" rated places in south beach but while the food might have been great the atmosphere was really lacking (i.e: florescent lighting). This place is simply perfect. Great atmosphere, amazing food, and great food. I read the 3.5 star yelp rating and was hesitant to go here (especially after stopping at three 4 stars prior) but the group heard from a friend that it was good. Just go, soak in the Cuban flavor and enjoy your time in south beach! I'm writing this as i enjoy their amazing Mojhito! You should try one too!
(5)Kelli P.
Being a first generation Cuban American, I have very high expectations for Cuban restaurants. If it doesn't compare to my grandmas cooking, I don't go back! Lario's met the mark! Very authentic, excellent food! Bistec a la palomilla, pechuga de pollo, arroz con pollo, mariquitas, and yuca con mojo were all just as my grandma used to make. Plus I enjoyed their mojito - the little stick of sugar cane was a nice, fresh touch. If the servers were a bit more attentive and charming I would have given Larios more stars! The atmosphere is a bit loud, but it is upbeat, energizing and has good music! Next time you are on South Beach and want good Cuban food, hit up Larios! Buen Provecho!
(4)Lalaine C.
Both Julius and I don't care for Gloria Estefan's music. At all. So when we found out she owned Lario's with her husband, we hoped that the food would be so much better than her "come on shake your body baby do that conga" song! I can tell you one thing, the ambience at Lario's is fun and so South Beach. It was our first dinner in Miami, and the vibe just put us in a partying mood (maybe it helped that we were barhopping up & down Ocean Drive prior to our reservations ha.) I guess if anyone would know how to make people want to fiesta, it would be the Estefan's! The Cuban tropical décor was really beautiful as well. After touring the elegant inside of the restaurant, we decided on dining on the sidewalk to be a part of all the energy outside. We ordered drinks and the fried cassava bites to start. Thickly sliced and lightly battered, they were so good but HEAVY. I think I could've eaten just this and called it a night! Julius on my recommendation ordered the media noche (Cuba's answer to America's hamburger) and I ordered some mixed seafood stew, which according to our server, was the very best thing on the menu (I tried looking online to get the official name of the dish, but it must be a new offering - I couldn't find it.) My seafood dish did turn out to be very tasty, with good portions of shrimp, clams, langostinos, and crab in a spicy tomato-y broth. I felt bad that Julius wasn't digging his sandwich, which seemed like nothing but ham cold cuts in a white bread bun (beware of the strong, tart pickle!) - I was envisioning something exotic looking. Wrong! He only ate half of it, and packed the other half to go (he still didn't eat it the next day.) What a shame, Julius was so wanting to trying out real Cuban food! We still had dessert to look forward to, and our server recommended the flan. It was standard fare, tasted like every other flan we ordered. I thought there might be some special Cuban twist to it. Wrong again! So what do you give a place with great atmosphere, but mediocre food? A solid three stars. PS Now after writing this review, I have that "the rhythm is going to get you, the rhythm is going to get you...tonight!!" song stuck in my damn head. FML.
(3)Shelly C.
We went to Larios for a Cuban birthday dinner! Normally we goto Puerto Sagua but we wanted to sit outside and have a drink. The service was so so. The drinks were good and actually strong which was surprising! The food was ok--We had a few appetizers-The stuffed potatoes and Cuban Ham Croquettes were really good. I got the Shrimp Cuban Criolla as my entree--It was ok. Not much flavor but decent amount of shrimp. The rice and beans probably would have been good but the rice was either not cooked all the way or over cooked stuck to the bottom of the pot...Not good at all. Honestly would not return to Larios--If your looking for AMAZING cuban food, goto PUERTO SAGUA.
(2)Monica L.
I've been here twice only because I've been in the mood to have both cuban food and wanting to sit somewhere on Ocean Drive at the same time! We went late on a Friday night, 30 minutes before closing, and they were still busy! First time we went there we ordered mojitos which were great. Ordered the red sangria this time and it was ok. The only problem I have with this place is the price. Six bucks for three croquettes? A little ridiculous, especially when you give me only one squeeze of lime that is dried to hell. Oh well, I love cuban food. As far as service, I bet it's not the type of service that Gloria would deem acceptable. It's just not really on point. I won't say more.
(3)Martin S.
I was fortunate enough to be taken to this place when I was recently down in Miami Beach for vacation. As a general rule, tourists should try and avoid Ocean Drive restaurants, as they inflate prices and lure you in with their "happy hour" specials, although has an unbeatable atmosphere. This place is an exception though....great food and value. I was not very familiar with Cuban food before I ate here, but ended up loving it. We started with Tostones and Maduros, which are very tasty. I had the cuban roasted pork, which was really good. My friends ordered another type of fried pork dish and the other a steamed lobster. These were both excellent as well.
(4)Jeffrey S.
If people watching were a sport, I'd be the freaking undisputed Tiger Woods of people watching. And as the real estate expression goes, "Location, location, location", Lario's on the Beach is an absolute mob-scene eight days a week. I could spend an entire day just people watching from the patio. Outdoor seating is a must as a steady stream of beautiful people and interesting characters can be seen both at the restaurant and walking up and down the catwalk known as Ocean Drive. I've been to South Beach four times over the last several years and have always managed to stop by this Cuban Café owned by singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. Most recently, I was in SoBe for a wedding and took my mother and my girlfriend out on a Friday night to have a little taste of the Cuban culture and its cuisine. Upon walking into the restaurant, there is a small bar to the right and an area to the left with a space for a dj/band and dance floor. The inside dining area toward the back boasts a sexy lounge-type atmosphere with dark stained wood, intricate and exotic décor, dimly lit tables and private dining areas. A strange but interesting thing to note is that the men's urinals were filled with ice. It was odd the first time I saw it and thought that the wait staff might have simply dumped ice into all the urinals to discard it. However in frequenting Lario's over the years, the urinals were always filled with ice. For what purpose, I'm not exactly sure. But it is certainly a strange and interesting touch. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we sat outside to enjoy the view and the weather. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and prompt with a kick-ass Cuban accent. We immediately ordered a classic Cuban Mojito, which is arguably the best in Miami. The drink was made to order and was served complete with a fresh stalk of sugar cane. It was a refreshing as the ocean breeze. Even my Mom ordered a mojito... and I've honestly only seen her drink an alcoholic beverage a handful of times in my life. She took a couple of sips, said it was good but very strong and then gave her drink to me to finish. The menu offers authentic Cuban cuisine, which is basically a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. The portions here are larger than life. For this visit, I decided on the Bistec de Palomilla, a thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic salt & mojo topped with onions & parsley. It did not disappoint. The steak was a juicy, tender, salty, flavorful goodness and that was almost as good as a Filipino version coincidently named "bistek" that my mother makes. All entrees were served with white rice, moro rice, fried plantains or sweet plantains and our server was able to recommend which of the sides would pair best with our entrees. After dinner, order a cup of the Café Cubano. It's a strong and sweet Cuban style espresso coffee. Also try the Tres Leches, a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk & heavy cream poured over white cake until soaked. You may find yourself swooning with delight at each delicious bite. You may also find yourself swooning over the final bill as all of this goodness certainly adds up but is completely worth the price. Inside and during the later hours of the night, the restaurant turns into a makeshift salsa club, with live music and rhythmic bodies. Muy caliente!
(4)J Seth A.
Eating here was one of the highlights of my trip to South Beach. The food was delicious (best plantains I had in Florida) and the portion sizes were generous considering the price. The atmosphere was bustling and exciting, the sounds, the smells, the views I'll remember fondly. I ordered pork loin and it came with rice and plantains. Considering how busy the restaurant was we expected to wait longer for our food, but it came out in record time. I snarfed it down, threw my head back with a moan and felt like I needed a cigarette. It was that good. The only thing holding this back from a 5 star review was the wait staff seemed a little distant, almost a little annoyed that they had to answer the questions of yet more tourists. But whatever. I liked everything else.
(4)Angela G.
Certainly not the best Cuban to be had in SoBe, but between the ambiance, the view, the bustling waitstaff and the quality of the food and drinks, you could do a lot worse. Had a fine meal here with family and friends, replete with papparazzi taking pics of J-Wow and Snooki eating at the News Cafe next door. And even they didn't manage to ruin my appetite. Sangria (rojo) is a lovely start to the meal, but their full bar makes excellent mojitos as well that pack a punch. Churrasco is tender and flavorful, ropa vieja is perfectly shredded in a zippy sauce, and the paella is well-cooked and full of fresh seafood. It's a really solid meal all around, only losing a star for the sole fact that this is the exact same food that you can get in Orlando at Bongo's in Disneyworld or at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, only with a higher price tag because it's Miami. Still, you're going to get a much better meal than some of the other locations on the strip that charge just to charge with no taste to back it up. Hell, if you chalk up the inflated price for the view, you aren't doing too bad at all. Certainly a good time.
(4)Bret H.
I couldn't really figure this out. I'm not an expert on Cuban food, but I do feel like if you're going to charge $10 for a sandwich, the ham better not look like it came out of an Oscar Meyer lunchpak. Smashed plantain was pretty good, but I only found that out from trying my companion's food; they assumed without asking that what I wanted with my sandwich was a bunch of pre-frozen french fries. This just isn't worth it. I can only assume they're charging for the decor, which is very stylish.
(2)A. M.
Lario's is just one of those restaurants in miami that you walk by and you can sit down on the strip and eat however inside is so beautiful! They also served about 12 of us and although service was just a bit slow, it was great! The portions are big after you've had a coctail and the food is pretty good. I had the pork with moro and tostones. We also got some stuffed tostones for an appetizer which was really good. My mojito was strong and minty! Great place to come
(4)Larry S.
Didn't eat there, only had Mojitos. Expensive but incredible. Sat outside but on the upper mezzanine level for incredible people watching but not having them right in your face. Terrific drink.
(5)A C.
Very good food and very reasonably priced. My girlfriend & I had dinner here and loved that they have the same menu items as Bongo's. We love Bongo's in Orlando and this place has the same menu with a more intimate feel. Arroz Con Pollo is excelent and so is the Shredded Chicken.... Mmmmmm
(5)Tiffany R.
yummy food and excellent service!
(5)Toni G.
the place is closed!!!
(1)Jessica G.
So my significant other who I ate here with really enjoyed his meal that is why I am giving the 3 stars. All I remember on his plate was a ton of fried meat- which did not look good- but seemingly was very tasty to a meat-atarian. My meal was not good at all- I ordered the mango shrimp and it was not at all what I expected....swimming in this thick buttery sauce with out even the slightest hint of mango. I would like to try a different entree next time. Our server was fantastic and attentive (I wish I could remember his name- he was an older gentleman very lovely)! The flan was great (although not the best I have had- Soul de Cuba in New Haven CT has my favorite!) and the Cuban specialty coffee selection was definitely 2 thumbs up.
(3)Ronni A.
Love this place. Usually visit once a year, from West Coast. This time tried the pollo frita. It was so good. It is easy to fall into a pattern of eating your favorite Cuban meal but, please, try something new here. Great cocktails too.
(4)Jeff D.
Excellent Cuban food & mojitos can be had here. Service was attentive and informative. Dined for lunch w/ my wife on a Friday afternoon. Had the Cuban slow-roasted pork, which is cooked all day to perfection- super tender, lean and juicy! Not easy to pull off! Wife had a churrasco steak salad; steak was very tender and flavorful, salad was decent. Mojitos- wow! They were perfectly concocted. Maynor, our waiter, was excellent. They are a little tricky to find, as they are temporarily situated in the Cardozo Hotel, sharing space with the Cardozo restaurant, which is an open air restaurant on Ocean. Turn up 13th St. to get to their interior entrance. Much better experience than all the touristy, mediocre places along Ocean in S. Beach that try to pull you in like used car salesmen.
(5)Maria A.
First we'll get the things we expect out of the way. It's overpriced, it's a tourist trap, and it's not the best Cuban in town. Ok, now that that's out of the way. It's not bad. The service however, leaves a lot to desire. We started with platano cups filled with ropa vieja or green plantains filled with shredded beef. Next I had choripan and for dessert it was tres leches. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't suggest it to friends. However, I could see why out of towners might enjoy it.
(3)Jenn B.
Yumm best food on Ocean Drive by far. Staff was very friendly and the service was quick. Presentation is definitely not their forte but the food is unbelievable and the portions are generous. I ordered the perfectly cooked and flavorful skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce which came with a side of moro rice and tostones. The only con was the sangria. We had the white and red, neither were great. Oh and just a note, bring lots of gum to chew on afterwards.
(4)Linda R.
Lets compare Larios to Pollo Tropical. Larios is the SOBE Cuban Restaurant and Pollo Tropical is the fast food joint found anywhere is South Florida. Atmosphere: Point to Larios. Chic classic old Havana with a South Beach Twist. Music: This is a hard one but I have to give it to Larios because they have a better sound system. A disappointment because I thought the music would be live. Service: Points to PT. Friendly informative counter service vs stuck up gay guy who just went ahead and put an order in for our side dishes without asking what we wanted! Price: No contest...point goes to Pollo Tropical. Just shy of $15 for a quarter of a chicken, churrascos, tomato balsamic salad, 2 orders of beans and rice, rolls and some great condiments and soft drinks. Larios, after taking out the alcoholic beverages was $50 and the food...well more on that later. Taste: PT by a land slide! The baked chicken was moist and well cooked, no puddles of grease to be found. The beans and rice were tasty and the tomato balsamic salad delish. The steak was only warm and should have been served at a warmer temperature. The rolls were typical fast food and could have been left off the plate. Larios Pork appetizer was overcooked and had no flavor. The Ropa Viega was a pile of grease disguised as meat. The shrimp creole was quite good but we expected a Caribbean flair that was not there. The sweet plantains were good but I wish I had been given the option of ordering the sides because my husband and I would have liked to try different things to share. South Beach is a wild and crazy place. Great food is hard to come by and costs a lot of money but I think you can do much better than Larios. Don't believe me? Go to Pollo Tropical and follow it up with a visit to Larios and prove it to yourself!
(2)Rob W.
Great Mojito's, large portions, cool interior, but if your a people watcher you want to sit outside. I am not sure why everyone is ripping on this place. They have an extensive menu of solid traditional Cuban dishes. Love the mariquitias and vaca frita. I always order the rice and beans seperate and sweet plantains (madura). The food was very good, the scenery is always a freak show on ocean drive but entertaining.
(4)Randy B.
Mojitos were the best I ever had.
(5)Andrey E.
Very nice place! They serve three-entry dinner with drink just for $33! All very good, very polite staff. Delicious food!
(5)Nucky T.
If I can help others avoid this restaurant, I certainly will. I agree with some of the reviewers ..... overall, and overrated Miami experience. I was very disappointed with ocean drive. It's changed a lot since I was last in Miami in 2003. Most if not all of the restaurants have the same exact menu. Why? It was never like this before. I never got hustled or herded walking by these restaurants like I did last week. Anyways, onto Larios! I had wanted to try some Cuban because I was in the mood for it ... [ after all every other restaurant is Italian, or with the same menu ] I was greeted and told there were no seats to sit down in [ outside or in ] ok .. so I will wait. It's really all who you know at Larios, as I saw other couples drive in from the street or walk in and were immediately seated, couple after couple ... I am only 1 person, I didn't have a group of 6 or 7, or 2. The hostess who acted and felt like she was Mariah Carey, kept twittling and piddling her hair, knew she was guilty because she wouldn't look me in the eye as I was pretty fucking pissed standing there. After waiting for more than an hour, I bounced .. and by then all the other good restaurants off the herded path of Ocean drive were closed! Good timing! Miami was a tremendously disappointing experience, along with this restaurant. It is deafly loud in this place.
(1)Scott T.
This will be one of the stand out memories of Miami Beach. I liked the atmosphere of the place, the food was incredible, and it really hit the spot for a quintessential Miami Beach Ocean Drive restaurant. I guess you can expect that from the Queen of Miami herself. The pork was awesome, Mojitos were very sweet but I liked them. The salsa music was a tad too loud where I was but did not take away from the great experience.
(4)Stephanie V.
During my first trip to Miami 2 years ago I was searching for a good Cuban restaurant and came across Larios through Yelp. I had never tried Cuban before and the instant I tried it, I was hooked! I returned to Miami twice this year and the quality of the food never changed throughout the years. I don't remember all the dishes that we tried during my 3 visits to Larios, but definitely we ordered papas rellenas, ceviche, vaca frita de pollo, pollo a la plancha, pollo asado, churraso a lo cubano, boliche, and some kind of dessert with guava shells and cream cheese. I don't like seafood and didn't try the ceviche, but my husband loves ceviche and found Larios' ceviche too tart and acidic. The papas rellenas were fried perfectly and the potato inside was light and fluffy instead of feeling starchy and heavy. The minced meat was seasoned nicely. The vaca frita de pollo was tender and crispy. I loved how the meat was flavored with lime/lemon and topped with crispy onions. The pollo a la plancha was marinated the same way as the vaca frita de pollo, but I think the vaca frita de pollo brought out more of the flavors. The pollo asado was good, but nothing too memorable. The churrasco featured tender grilled steak with a very flavorful chimichurri sauce. The bolice was very tender and the meat almost fell apart once you put your fork through it. I really loved the chorizo they used which was loaded with flavor. The dessert with guava and cream cheese was too sweet and we were unable to finish it. The syrup was very thick and gooey. Service was pretty efficient, especially compared to other locations in SoBe. One night we were here there was a dj playing inside and though the music was great, I think it was too loud for a restaurant. My husband and I had to nearly shout to one another just to be heard. Then again, we're not Miami locals, so maybe the volume that they played was typical of Miami restaurants. Overall great food (not so great dessert, but I've only tried 1), relaxing atmosphere, and pretty decent service. I've tried 4 Cuban restaurants and so far this remains my favorite one.
(4)Liyah B.
Larios is a must. Delicious food and great service. Also, beautiful decor. If you don't go to any other restaurant in SoBe, make sure you hit up Larios.
(5)Berenice D.
Highly recommend this place. The food is so amazing. I had the first item on the menu under the meat. The meat was so tender and full of flavor. The rice I ordered the brownish rice and it was delicious along with the platanos machos. Please eat here it is to great!
(5)sunny t.
Great food @ pretty good prices. Much better than other restaurants on ocean drive which tends to be rip offs. Look for the long lines.
(4)Sunny M.
Yum, Yum, YUM!!!! I dream about the food from this every day!! Every time I go to Miami I have to eat here!! The food is amazing- ANYTHING u get. I love the shredded beef with the black beans and rice. The mojitos are the best, not to sweet or sour just right. The sugar cane makes the experience de-lish. Sit outside enjoy the crowd running by or sit inside and enjoy the fun dance music that they play. Remember it's Miami so service is not number 1 at all and don't get mad when u see the 17% tip added to your bill, again it's Miami. So the rating on the 5 is the food, drinks and did I mention the food!!! YUM, can't wait to go back!
(5)Jim A.
I've eaten here twice in the past year. The first visit was good enough that I brought a group of co-workers here on Halloween. The ceviche was very good; the other dishes not so much: the shrimp criollo, Cuban pork, steak, and fried rice were all over-cooked - I guess they are best at not cooking food. The mojitos are tasty and made-to-order, but pricey - I still recommend having at least one. There aren't great deals anywhere on Ocean (regardless of what the hostesses offering 2-for-1 Happy Hour say), but Larios offers a decent meal at a fair for the market price.
(3)Dennis M.
If there is one thing that Miami has no shortage of is its Cuban Restaurants. Sadly, many of our tourists and visitors only experience Lario's on the beach to make their assessment of what Cuban food is. This restaurant, inspired by the original ( best ) Lario's in West Dade tries to mix fine homey cuban food with a snazzy, pretencious South Beach scene. It doesn't work. Dishes seem rushed. Lacking are the subtle flavors of Cuban food, replaced here by an overindulgence of garlic. Dishes were mediocre at best. It seems that more attention is placed on location and hip factor than on food. Service is hit or miss. Ive been treated well there, but have also experienced serious attitude from the "too good for you" wannabe staff. Can do A LOT better if good Cuban food is what you want.
(3)Dennis M.
Good food, but you come for the atmosphere and that's why you pay a premium. A good choice if Ocean Drive dining is what you're looking for.
(4)kim c.
OMG..... The Food was sooooo Good. the Ambiance was off the chain Very Trendy Miami. I will Be back there for the food and the Dancing next time and i will try the drinks next time. i was the Driver so i could not have cocktails but next time when i am in the area its on like Donkey kong
(5)El S.
One of the best mojitos I've ever had. Got the rice and beans mixed together and some kind of chicken dish. Really good for Cuban food....then again I'm not Cuban so I really don't know much about it. I'm just a big, fat, dbag from the east coast with an overeating problem. Anyway, I really liked it regardless of my own personal faults. I'd like to make a Cuban friend. I don't have any. If any Cuban people out there want to hang out with a compulsive overeater with man juggies hit me up!
(4)Jennifer C.
Loved loved the food. My boyfriend and I were at Miami Beach for a few days and decided to walk along Ocean Drive to look for a place to eat. There were plenty but we picked Larios because it was the cheapest one out of all the Cuban restaurants we passed by...don't get me wrong though, this place isn't hella cheap but it was the cheapest one! If you want somewhere really cheap and budget friendly....this isn't the place for you! We ordered their Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks for appetizer. This was delicious! The pork was moist and seasoned well! My boyfriend ordered Bongos Famous Fried Rice which was absolutely delicious ( I honestly thought it would taste just like any other fried rice but this tasted different....whatever they put in their fried rice, they did a great job)! I ordered the Bongos Famous Roasted Chicken and I absolutely loved this dish...Seasoned and marinated very well...Definitely should eat this with rice and the plantains that came with it (all work well together). Another plus was that we were able to eat outside to enjoy the fantastic weather! While you're eating, you'll find a woman taking pictures. She'll come back with a key chain and a frame with your picture....you decide whether you want to buy. We actually bought 2 key chains! What can I say...I got suckered into the buy 2 picture key chains and get a 4x6" picture for $12. lol
(5)S D.
The fish and plantains were very good. Reasonably prices for South Beach.
(4)Seth D.
Miami may be the closest I'll ever get to Cuba, and I figured what better place to try my first Cuban Sandwich. Las Olas Café was closed; so we stopped by Larios on the way back to the beach. The food was uninspiring, and the waiter seemed indifferent to our presence at his table. Only worthwhile part of the meal was watching the steady stream of beautiful people and freaks walk by along the boardwalk. And we had plenty of time to people watch, because the service was slow as Cuban molasses. Did I mention the service sucked? I've never enjoyed Gloria Estefan's music, but she seems like someone who would or should care that her restaurant is beat.
(1)Connie M.
Another staff dinner and my food was ordered for me by the time I got there. I should've had Cuban food, but I think my order was leaning more towards an Italian, chicken parmigiana type thing, because it was lightly breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and wonderfully melted mozzarella (see pictures). Fried plaintains and beans & rice were also served with every dish and were equally as yummy - and I don't even like plaintains! The atmosphere here is really good for groups. Having walked in right from Ocean Drive I didn't expect it to be spacious, but it was.
(4)Eve J.
I am not one for giving 5 stars because to get 5 stars I have to be really impressed. My friend ordered and shared fried yucca, it was so delicious. I ordered the arroz con pollo. The portions were large enough for me to take 1/2 for a full meal later. We shared guayava and cheese for dessert. Delish! I would definitely return when I am in Miami.
(5)Jessica C.
Not a fan of dining on Ocean Drive but Larios is a must stop for me whenever in Miami. Been coming here for years and always get the same dish Vaca Frita. It's so delicious! I've also started to get the Vaca Frita De Pollo, a healthier choice if on a diet! :)
(3)Aletha C.
In Ocean Drive area and in the mood for Cuban food with my date. Heard Larios is owned by Gloria Estafan so thought we would check it out late on a weekday afternoon. Was impressed with the hip and classy decor and really liked the atmosphere. The Cuban music in the background, while a little loud for comfort did create a nice ambience. Started of with mojitos which were strong and minty and went down smoothly. I had the Cuban skirt steak with rice and fried plantains which was cooked right and came in good sized portions. My companion had the roasted pork which he found tender and full of flavor and he enjoyed the accompanying black beans, rice and tostones. The service was more than adequate and we felt well attended. Overall, we had a pleasant, enjoyable experience and really got into the mood of the place and would definitely return again
(4)K C.
Good food. Decent priced for ocean dr.
(4)Danielle R.
I knew this place would be designed for tourists, but I wanted to check out one of Gloria's restaurants. Sadly, the rhythm did not get me. The disco vibe you walk into really cheapens the whole place. I imagine it provides for a fantastic people watching experience and a place for the tourists to try and salsa, but it didn't do anything to create a good dining experience. The presentation of the food was a step above cafeteria style. I expected bold, yummy, heat based flavor. You know, Cuban food. Meh. Not so much. Service. Meh. A bit scattered and, um, quirky. Not attentive.
(2)Tom G.
I would love to give this beach place 5 stars. I've been in and out of here for many many times over the years. Service is great, food is wonderful, but tonight the bartender screwed us over. We asked how much are the mojitos and he replied $8. I repeated it back to him, and he agreed that it was a great price. In fact he said it was the same price as the cheap red wine. So, need I say more? We opted for mojitos over red wine... Everyone having a good time, drinking mojitos like it's lemonade... Then the bill comes, but the mojitos are now $11 each. Bartender wouldn't budge. Said that's what the price was, pay up! I'm sorry, but we passed up many other tourist rip-off restaurants on Ocean Drive looking for one that had been around for a while, one that we knew, one that was very unlikely to try cheating. Very, very disappointing that this classy place jumped onto the rip-off bandwagon... Needless to say, our plans to bring a party there next week has been changed. Shameful... Update: They inflated the charge on the credit card!
(1)Shortcake S.
The Coco Mojitos are outstanding and I'd give the tostones rellenos 3.5 stars, but I ordered the Moros and I'm fairly certain that the rice is Uncle Ben's brand. There are lots of other places in this area for outstanding (and cheaper) Cuban food. Not to mention the hostess wasn't that friendly... but I still highly recommend the Coco Mojitos ;)
(3)Alexis W.
My fiance and I were visiting Miami for Labor Day weekend and I was excited to check this place out! The interior is beautiful..whimsical, elegant, and beachy. For such an upscale vibe I was surprised that there was no dress code what so ever. You could wear flip flops and a tank! But I think that's the norm in South Beach. In Hollywood there is no way in hell they'd let you in. We ordered from the "fancy" side of the menu. Which was a 3 course dinner with a very small, yet satisfying, selection. Appetizer- My fiance had the fried pork. I had the ahi tuna. Both were very delicious! Main Course- He had the pork dish and I had the shredded chicken which came with black beans and rice. Really tasty! Dessert- He had the rice pudding and I had the vanilla pudding. This course was just okay. I would've preferred a heartier dessert like cake, pie, or brownies. To drink I had a sparkling lychee/peach 'tini. Really good and packed with a punch. If this restaurant were in LA we'd be there all of the time. The best part is that it was A LOT less expensive than I thought it would be. Very happy with my experience here :) Whoops forgot something!..I'm not a bitchy yelper.. but ok the host was rude. That's the only negative. I asked him how long the wait was for a table inside and he said he didn't know. C'mon dude! I was a host years ago and there's a a system to it. A screen that says what courses each table is on etc. So for example if table 10 is on dessert.. well then u can imagine that it'd probably be available in 15 minutes or so. If every table has just been seated well then it will be quite some time. Don't just say you don't know. Ok I'm done :)
(5)Tae G.
Usually when I travel, I want ethnic food or something I can't get at home. My cousins and I stopped at this place because we heard it was good. Asuper friendly waiter also enticed us to have a seat and indulge. The waiter was a fast talker with limited English. But, he did a great job with suggesting multiple food items and drinks. First off, the drinks were very good. I had a coconut mojito. It was one of the best I've had! Two cousins had mango mojitos and the other had a recommended mixed drink that looked like a Long Island iced tea. We all tasted each other's and found they were strong and good. I ordered a steamed veggie platter with black beans and plantain. The plantain...just right.mveggies were a bit greasy, but had really good flavors. All of us shared an appetizer platter which included cheeseballs, fried fish, hummus with crispy plantain chips, and bacon wrapped plantain. The hummus was bomb.com !! I couldn't get enough. Aside from the food, drinks, and excellent waiter, the inside had a nice, elegant decor. It was a pretty cream color and felt refreshing to be in after walking in the hot sun. The bathrooms were down this long marble and stair-filled hallway. Just gorgeous! Food and drinks were costly, but hey...it was Miami Beach in the summer and I won't complain.
(4)Jenn H.
The indoor seating was very nice. Pretty decor & there was a live cuban band playing. Great selection of appetizers, entrees & sandwiches. There was only 1 waiter who could understand English it seems & he was very helpful in making the recommendation - The empanadas were delicious. I asked for a virgin pina calada & it was super yummy.
(4)Carolyn I.
Great restaurant! I went here for dinner with a group on my last night in South Beach. Stuffed Green Plantain Cups Tostones rellenos - three crispy plantain cups filled with shrimp criollo, shredded beef and Cuban criollo minced beef. All three were delicious. I especially liked the minced beef. Cuban Style Steak Bistec de palomilla - thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic and mojo topped with onions and parsley. The meat had great flavor. It was a huge portion! I ordered two sides - moro rice and fried sweet plantains which paired well with the steak. I also ordered a daiquiri which was very refreshing. I tried the skirt steak and it was delicious. The chimichurri sauce that came with it was amazing. I also tried my friend's Cuban coffee and it was good and strong. I liked the modern decor of the restaurant. Larios is a great place to go to for a special occasion. Two big groups seated next to us were celebrating a birthday and graduation. I definitely recommend this restaurant for great Cuban food in South Beach.
(4)Jenny C.
I don't normally like tourist areas, but when in Miami, you have to experience South Beach. We were recommended to go to Mango's Tropical, but we decided we wanted to eat some authentic Cuban food, so we decided to walk around. At one point, we asked a hostess from some random restaurant where to get some good cuban food. She was looking around for her boss and whispered for us to go to Larios On the Beach. That was a huge turning point that night! The food was amazing! We tried another cuban restaurant the next day, and strongly prefered Larios on the Beach. Perhaps Larios is more catered towards Americans and the other restaurant was more authentic, but regardless this was the best Cuban food we had in Miami. I got the ropa vieja, which was slow cooked pulled pork. It was delicious!!! Loved the moro rice. Most delicious moro rice I've had. The plantains were not as sweet and carmelized as I would like, but everything was sooo good. We got a pitcher of Mojitos. Never seen so many flavors in my entire life. When the pitcher first came, it was filled with ice. But between the two of us, we had 3-4 glasses each for a total or 6-8 glasses. Can't really remember the exact number of glasses. We got a decent buzz going.
(5)Carolina B.
Excellent Cuban food had a tour of Cuba, traditional mojitos if you think you will be having more than one mojito you're better off getting the pitcher. The ceviche is excellent. Great appetizer! Definitely going back.
(4)Holli H.
I am honestly so happy we stumbled onto this place. We literally found it on a food show map (it was on drinking made easy) and I gps'd each step until we got there. KING OF MOJITOS. Hands down. Best mojito I have ever had. The only improvement they can make it a more stylish straw with it. Sounds so petty, but the straw they paired with it took away from the class of it. We ordered some appetizers to pass around while enjoying our drinks and everything was delicious. Not one item was subpar. Ambiance was beautiful. Bathrooms were spotless. I would go back in a second. And fun fact - it's owned by Gloria Estefan. Didn't put that one together until I was 2 mojitos deep.
(5)Cindy V.
This restaurant has Some of the Best Cuban food in Miami, owned by Gloria Estefan, but even though its owned by a Singer/ Celebrity it's pretty Authentic. Let's not even mention their Mojitos, the Best...
(4)Taleen B.
WOW is all I have to say!!!! I have never been to a Cuban restaurant before so everything on the menu was new to me. We kept ordering and ordering food literally by the time we were finished we were in food coma. We even got lucky to have some left overs which still tasted so delicious the next day. We sat outside enjoyed our first night out in Miami for dinner went inside enjoyed the live band which so many people were dancing inside. It was really a different experience that I loved. I would literally fly from LA to Miami just to have dinner here again!!!!
(5)Nick B.
The food was amazing! Get the empanadas as an appetizer, try all three options, you must try the pulled pork and bean and rice blend. The sweet plantains kicked butt and every mixed drink in our party was on point. Server was great and accommodating with pics and my request for coasters to take home. A+ on decor and music too. Highlight of my trip so far from this California boy
(5)Tony R.
Like almost everything on the Miami strip this restaurant was expensive. We waited a long time and the place wasn't even packed. Just as we were getting ready to leave, a server came over. I'm glad we waited because the food was delicious and we really wanted Cuban. I ordered the pork. It was tender and flavorful. The rice was a nice side as well as the plantains. All of our drinks had bamboo which we wondered if they reused the bamboo. We asked multiple employees, and to our surprise they said yes, not sure if they really understood what we were asking.
(3)Tavi J.
This was my favorite place I ate at during my stay here. I was craving some Cuban food and we decided to give this place a shot. Not only is it cute at night, but the food was pretty yummy. I had the Cuban skirt steak with Moro rice and Plantains. The Chimmichuri (sp) sauce really made the steak taste good and the Plantains were sweet and cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed my friends meals. One of them got the seafood rice plate and it contained lots of seafood and not just a bunch of rice. My other friend had the lemon chicken and really enjoyed it. We all shared a pitcher of delicious Sangria. Finally we got to eat at a place that had good food, nice setting, and pretty reasonable prices for the quality of the food.
(4)Vishwa N.
Pretty awesome food and drink menu selection. Loved the ambiance and service overall. Definitely recommend and would go back again.
(4)Agnes N.
This was my first cuban meal, so I don't have any other experience to compare with, but it was a great meal! We both had the slow roasted pork with sweet plantains and brown rice. The pork were divine and the onions on top were the best thing with the whole dish! The food were not fancy but it tasted good and felt well prepared. A big portion as well. The service were great, very attentive and quick.
(4)Brian R.
Yes, this place is a bit of a tourist trap, but compared to the other offerings on Ocean Drive, it seemed like an oasis. It was about a block or two down from all the craziness of Ocean Drive, and they had plenty of seating outside on a Friday night (with about a 20 minute wait for 2 people). We opted to sit inside given the warmer temps. We were sat at a nice table towards the back, with a few larger groups near us (separate bachelorette and bachelor parties). Menus came quickly, and we ordered a simple rum and diet and a mojito, both of which were strong and tasty. A shrimp skewer app came out pretty quickly, with a decent amount of shrimp and a delicious dipping sauce. As for entrees, the ropa vieja was decent, and the sides (brown rice and beans for me) were just okay. Nothing over the top, but good, decent Cuban food. We also ordered the Tour of Cuba, which was good, but very simple (and the chicken, which had a great spice, was a bit on the dry side). The live music was a nice touch, and it wasn't too loud or out of control. It took a while to get the check, but we were in and out in about an hour. Overall, if you're looking to eat on Ocean Drive, I would suggest this place. It's less hectic that the other restaurants you'll find, the prices are comparable, and if you opt to eat outside, you'll have good views/people watching.
(3)Carlos D.
The best place in town!!!!
(5)Tenisha S.
Pros: The coconut mojito was the best I ever had. The mango mojito was great also, but no comparison to the coconut. cons: The seafood rice took over thirty minutes to come to the table. It looked amazing and we were ready to dig in after watching so many people order it. However, it was so salty the rice was inedible. We both picked out the shrimp, calamari, scallops and plantain. All the rice was left in the plate and unfortunately my bf was still hungry. He ended up buying a quesadilla from a small Mexican restaurant.
(2)Michael B.
Great lunch menu here, with a flare for the Cuban taste. Check out my photos of the lunch course.
(4)Norma C.
When i walked inside of the restaurant i was a little confused, knowing this was a Cuban restaurant but it felt as if i was walking into an upscale Greek restaurant due to the decor, don't get me wrong though, it was very nice inside. The location is ideal because it's on Ocean Ave. and it's pretty much right next to the famous Boulevard Hotel. Outdoor seating is available too but inside is so much better because of the decor and air conditioning. I had heard this place had the best mojitos, and they were right! I tried a few different mojitos in other places and they just don't compare to Larios. And they were strong too! One mojito felt like two drinks. We then had the appetizer sampler, which included plantain chips, crab cakes(i think), black bean hummus, one tamale, and bacon wrapped bananas. I also ordered the Ropa Vieja which is shredded meat in a sauce. Everything was amazing.
(4)Cecilè C.
I had an amazing lunch in south beach @ this fine restaurant -- owned by the Estefan's, I learned certain items on the menu were created based upon their long time cook Maria... Of which she still cooks every Sunday for the family... I'm a fan of Cuban food, but more importantly the favors within the dishes. Now, the roasted chicken I had was slowly cooked of course but the sauce it was topped with was second to none. For starters I enjoyed the fresh Ceviche, and an empanada again chicken topped with a guava barbecue sauce that had me wanting to ship a bucket home.. Lol... Don Juan Carlos, you are a really nice person aside from the hospitality you showed me, I see why you've worked for them for so long... Gent... With regards to the drink, I enjoyed the passion fruit mojito and it too was very good. I can definitely say going to shop and dine here today was very pleasant and I think I found a fav here in south beach.. :-)
(4)Charis S.
This was definitely one of the restaurants on my "Birthday Trip" list...the ambience was great, loved the touches of white everywhere, the blue lighting was so pretty and of course being on the South Beach strip helped A LOT! Our waiter was great, she was a sweetie. She explained everything to us, answered all questions, made suggestions. Very attentive and calm with all of the girls. The live music, the guitarist, set the mood, very soothing. Let me say, the Plantain Cups really set the mood for my dinner that night. They were really good, probably the best part of my meal. Green Plantain cups filled with shrimp, shredded beef and my FAVORITE one, the Picadillo beef. DELICIOUS! Of course the beans and rice were good, no surprise and the Chocolate Tres Leches Cake I shared with everyone. It was really good, not too soggy and soaked perfectly in the tres leeches. Overally, I loved the ambience, BUT I expected a little bit more from Gloria Estefan's restaurant. Just being honest. It was....Good.
(4)Marlo V.
My family of 7 which includes 4 kids were graciously greeted!! Sat down we had the nicest waitress , we had the trio of empanadas,seafood empanadas,chicken croquettes , my kids had the kids cheeseburgers which were huge, I had the special fried rice,my mom had the whole snapper my husband had the tour of Cuba = all of theses dishes we're delicious and plentiful!!we then had desert tres leches,ice cream,cafe con leche all were amazing !!!
(5)Gabriela P.
The food was amazing! We had a very large party and I had to keep reminding the servers about things I ordered that they forgot about (like my drinks). I ordered the care asada and the meat was tender and very flavorful. I had a few bites of boyfriend's Tour of Cuba which had a little bit of everything and everything I tried on that plate was amazing (ropa vieja was to die for). I will be returning to this place next time I am in Miami.
(4)Viv O.
This review started at a 3.5... Appetizers: calamari and bacon wrapped maduros . Service is efficient.. Very attentive and friendly! Our meals were so delicious. I had the Red Snapper and it was so amazing!!!!!!! 5 stars across the board, superb service!
(5)Ya Ya G.
Outstanding service from start to finish. ...the food and drinks to die for can't wait to come back again.
(5)Gabrielle D.
AMAZING! Was taken here on the South Beach Culinary Food Tour. We were served ropa vieja with plantain chips and mojo. It was so yummy and I wish I had the recipe! If you're on Ocean Drive and don't know which restaurant to pick, choose Lario's!
(5)Ektaa B.
A better South Beach dining option than the other places on Ocean Drive. Plenty of outdoor seating, good for people-watching and the inside was really nice too. I asked for the steak salad, vegetarian-ized with grilled vegetables instead of the steak. The chimichurri dressing was delicious. We got a pitcher of the house mojitos = awesome.
(3)Stacey L.
Love love love the food here. The skirt steak is so good. Everything is so fresh and full of flavor. Only downside was last nights snippy host. He needs an attitude adjustment. Waiters are all great though.
(5)Sean M.
This place needs to tighten up it's act. We wanted to go to dinner here our first night in Miami so I made the call to the restaurant to try and book a table. I simply asked the host where the best seats in the house were, as I was not sure if they had beachside seating or whatever. It was our first time in Miami, let alone at Larios. You would think I asked the guy to solve a quantum physics problem, it simply seemed liked too much of a question so he simply replied we don't have a best seat in the house, they are all the same. I tried to follow up question, but it was going nowhere fast. So I proceed to try and give this guy my last name and get a table booked cause I'm getting flustered and frustrated at this point and the guys attitude had me starting to boil. It just seemed like his guy was in his own world, he would not listen to me try and spell my difficult last name for him, he proceeded to read the name on the caller ID and ask if that was me, I mean it could not have gotten any worse. I asked for a manager and was told he was busy and wasn't available to talk. Long story short, ended up being hung up on and not getting a table. Made my reservation through Open Table and Yelp! Called back a couple of times and finally got the manager on the line who started to apologize profusely for his hosts actions and attitude and promised us a great time and a round of Mojitos. The manager definitely had his act together, which makes you wonder how the host was so off. Chalk it up to a bad night, I dunno. In any case, we got there for dinner and placed orders for some appetizers and entrees. We tried the grilled skewers as our appetizer, which were ok. Entrees were the shrimp criollo and a fish plate with the Moro rice. Both were ehh, honestly wasn't what we were expecting. Overall, given how we were treated by the host, the effort on the part of the manager and the quality of food, I think a two star rating is just about right for Larios. Oh and the Mojitos weren't too bad :)
(2)Jenn M.
The ambiance alone was beautiful when we walked in! Our last night in Miami for a bachelorette weekend was to have dinner here. We were taken upstairs to another seating area which was more quiet and a bit secluded but it's nice to be able to hear the person next to you instead of having to yell while talking. Downstairs seemed a bit more fun since they played live music but we all still had a great time. I got to try the ceviche my friend order as appetizers and it was really delicious! So fresh and flavorful. As for entree, I ordered the crispy pork bites because the description on the menu sounded delicious. When I got my meal though, the pork looked overcooked and a bit hard to chew into. It was still good though. You get a choice of two sides, I got it with rice and fried plantains which were pretty good. Overall, we liked the food here. Service was good and the ambiance was a definite plus!
(4)Mauricio C.
It's unfortunate I have to write a 1-star review for a restaurant - however, it's well warranted for this establishment. The service is quite possibly the worst on the entire South Beach strip. I'll provide specific details so it is clear that this isn't just a unwarranted rant. Our group of friends were interested in finding a spot with great empanadas and a fun, lively atmosphere. Our Yelp search led us to Lario's. Upon arrival, we were met with a cold, stale, atmosphere where the waiters immediately judged us our appearance. We all waited at the bar, perusing the menu to see which (incredibly overpriced) drinks we would buy. My girlfriend, after having walked for an hour on South Beach, understandably needed to use the bathroom. One of the waiters (or maybe the manager) stopped here and demanded that we pay before she could use the bathroom. I have never encountered an establishment outside of the sketchiest McDonald's in NYC where a customer who has already been seated to order is denied service to use the bathroom - let alone a woman. Additionally, this place was by far the worst atmosphere on the entire South Beach strip. I am writing this review minutes after walking away from this establishment to confirm that we are all completely cogent and sober in our review of this terrible restaurant. Lario's was terrible specifically because: (1) it was devoid of any lively atmosphere when every other place was on the strip was bustling with customers, (2) the staff was rude & unwelcoming (particularly to the women in our group), and (3) the menu was very underwhelming & incredibily overpriced. I implore anyone visiting South Beach to instead visit any of the fantastic restaurants or bars on the strip instead of Lario's. As a last remark, another patron confirmed the food was unimpressive and the empanadas (only one kind, not at all authentic Cuban) were terrible. The only thing I ask from the management of this establishment is an apology for the treatment of my girlfriend and my friends.
(1)Courtney D.
First place i went to for dinner in south beach. This place looks very nice but food is just mediocre. The appetizers we ordered were the short ribs and grilled shrimp. The ribs were good but the shrimp could have been cooked longer. Also ordered the chicken bites as an entree which was appetizing but not outstanding. The service wasn't that great either. If you sit outside for dinner it's a nice view 3/5
(3)Mark D.
We went here while on South Beach to take advantage of the Miami Spice promotion, a prie-fixe lunch menu for $23/ person. The tuna tartar appetizer was good with a nice mix of avocado and mango. A sample platter of croquettes and papa rellena was standard fare, nothing special. My Cuban wife thought the vaca frita entree was tasty and authentic. My grilled prawns were over grilled to the point of grittiness. The chocolate tres leches was very good. Because of the promotion the bill wasn't bad but they still charge $6 for a glass of lemonade and $4 for cafe cubano! The waiters were very attentive and the atmosphere/decor was nice. I liked the coral walls with the shells inlaid and the tile mosaic of the Cuban patron saint La Caridad del Cobre with inset votive candles. However, for a more authentic Cuban culinary experience at a more economical price, I would go to Puerto Sagua just down the street.
(3)Kristina R.
We found Larios via Yelp actually and glad we had a chance to check it out when in Miami this past weekend. This place has great atmosphere, great good, and good service. We sat at a table outside on the sidewalk and it was perfect for people watching! If people watching is not your thing or if you want to enjoy a peaceful quiet meal, you might want to ask to be seated inside. The food was really good. We had a few appetizers and our entrees (skirt steak, shredded beef, and pork) were all AMAZING! Our server was good, although could have used a a few add'l water refills. We opted for some bread pudding to share for dessert. And although it looked NOTHING like bread pudding, it was stilll very good.
(4)Heather G.
The location is perfect, right on ocean dr.! Well That was the best part the location the atmosphere is amazing! But the food and service was just okay.... Nothing special at all.
(3)Shareen M.
I haven't been here in 2 years since they were closed during my last trip. The menu looks updated and I love the design & decor change to the actual inside. I started with the Mango Mojito - good, not the best I've had but good. We then got the maduros wrapped in bacon (MUST try. its a unique dish and a perfect blend of sweet and salty), the plantain cups with shrimp criollo (flavorful & very enjoyable) & shrimp cocktail (big juicy shrimp) For our entree we shared the "Chino Cuban" fried rice with chicken, shrimp & steak. Be warned.... when you read it contains vegetables - they aren't joking lol I hate onions & bean sprouts so it was hard to enjoy the rice but it was soooooo delicious!!!! Just ask without. If not - it is impossible to take a bite without getting the veggies.
(4)Dianna A.
My friends and I had an amazing and unforgetabble dinner at Lario's. Everything from the tasty appetizers, the well prepared meal, and Sangria was delicious. The service we received from the front door upon entering , during our meal, and upon departure was very much appreciated. The service by Felix Sanchez was exceptional. Hope to return soon.
(5)Helen B.
Classic Cuban on the beach. Food is more varied and most creatively presented than other similar beachfront locations. My companion loved the pork - it reminder her of her mother's best dinners. My swordfish was cooked to perfection and the plantain and rice side were simple yet mouthwatering. The menu's comprehensive and will keep you coming back. Don't be afraid to try something new or unknown. In addition to the sidewalk tables or short patio, there's a beautiful lounge and dining space inside. Magnificently decorated and elegantly laid out this is a great space for 2 to 22. Yes you give up the people watching but it's exquisite.
(4)Simmy S.
Plantains were amazing. I ordered the BBQ Guava pork ribs and I only had two ribs. There was so much food with the rice and beans. The rotisserie chicken was good too. It feel right off the bones. AMAZING. Nice view, great people, amazing food. You just can't go wrong.
(5)Mark M.
I've eaten here a few times and have always been happy. The Cuban style steak is my favorite and goes well with rice, black beans and plantains. Staff are great too.
(4)Edwina M.
Fabulous Ocean Dr. location, great ambiance and beautiful decor, but the music on the patio was a bit loud. Some of the food items we ordered were great, others, not so much. The "award winning" pork was surprisingly just average, and frankly too salty for my taste.
(3)Barbara Z.
We were looking for ethnic food in Miami Beach tonight. Based on the stars we chose to eat there. The food is salty, there's nothing special. Service is just okay! Price won't worth what you get for. It's very expensive.
(1)Jannese C.
Awesome Cuban food. Everything tastes homemade and the service was spectacular. Our server was Daniel and he couldn't have offered better service!
(5)Christina R.
By far best restaurant on Ocean Drive! We visit Larios every year we go to south beach. Their sweet plantains and ceviche keep me coming back for more each time. The newly renovated atmosphere feels like you're underwater and surrounded by sand and sparkling shells. It's very beautifully decorated, feels intimate and perfect for large groups also. Live bands add that extra touch to a lovely dinner! Highly recommend the seafood rice, ceviche, roasted chicken dish, and the Milanesa steak! A must see when in South Beach!
(5)Jessica G.
Nice place on South Beach. Good drinks and food.
(5)Lola L.
I hate this place so much. Not only did I have a terrible experience while I was there, but they CANCELLED my reservation after we paid and left! I'm only assuming because we complained and said they were getting a bad review! Incredibly dishonest. Instead of solving the problem, they cancelled my reservation so I wouldn't get my points and could not write a review. Luckily OpenTable fixed the cancellation so I can write about it. I was really hoping to have some decent Latin American food while in Miami so Iooked this place up and booked a reservation. First, the atmsphere is beyond obnoxious. It looks like an overdone tropical hotel in Cancun. It was an embarrassment. The food was extremely sub-par. I have way better, far more authentic Cuban food at home in Chicago a few blocks away from my house. Many Cuban foods that I enjoy are fried, and always served wit sauces because of this. Not one thing was served with a sauce. Anyway, our server was also terrible. The drinks were sweetened to such an extreme level, I couldn't drink mine. The drink description claimed it was fresh ingredients but this was clearly some premixed crap. Once our food and drinks were served we could not get the attention of the server for anything. He was busy standing at the bar with 4 other servers, talking. Not looking up once. I just wanted some mayo for my croquettas or SOMETHING, and got sick of waiting. SO we asked a different server for our check. Once we got the check we saw an added 18% gratuity. THERE WERE TWO OF US. I have worked in the restaurant industry myself, and I love when a good business takes care of its staff. But here, they clearly just took advantage of their guaranteed tip. We complained about it all, and about 30 minutes after we paid our bill IN FULL and left, I got an email saying that Larios cancelled my reservation. I was so furious. I couldn't believe it. I will NOT recommend this place. In fact, I will tell anyone i know visiting Miami to avoid at all costs. Anyone who has given this place 5 stars should be fired from Yelp. And from life. And from ever eating ACTUAL Cuban food again.
(1)Rosa G.
Excellent service, good food, perfect place! My friend and I were at the popular Restaurant of Emilio &Gloria Estefan, we reserved a table for 4 people, we arrived a little later 10:00 pm but the manager called Alexander reserved us a great table and received us . The server called Felix excellent, he took care of all our needs, we ate a delicious lightly fish with a delicious salad, my friends ate churrasco salad and paella, all were delicious and on time. Finally we dance with the dj charlie with amazing music. Very nice place to eat, drink and dance. If you want to eat a gourmet cuban food... Try Larios on the beach... A perfect place
(5)Michelle R.
I love this place and have only been here twice. There service is good, friendly waiters and the music that plays is a little loud but it's great. Always make reservations because it is usually pretty packed. You can sit outside or inside. They make great mojitos and there mango passion fruit Sangria is a must try. The food is good, great portions. The mixed empanadas are great with a guave sauce on the side. I live ropa veija so I ordered that and it was great! My husband has the skirt steak with beans and rice. The skirt steak is a small portion but it was delicious none the less. The tip is included on the bill even for 2 people.
(5)Brianna D.
Indoor atmosphere was nice, but I remembering it smelling kind of weird. We asked to sit outside on the street - great people watching! The food was good, not great. Location is excellent!
(3)Sara H.
This restaurant deserves more than 3 1/2 stars on Yelp! Our meal was fabulous, as was the service from Giovanni! The people watching is fun and you are right in the middle of South Beach action. Highly Recommended!
(5)Ray M.
The best Latin food I've ever tasted and I'm from NY. The salads, pork, chicken, platanos, everything was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Will come back every time. You can sit outside or upstairs and upstairs is more elegant to say the least.
(5)Michelle A.
We just stopped in for a quick bite since we were meeting some people in a few hours for dinner. Luckily, as we walked past a number of uninteresting touristy SOBE restaurants, I remembered that this was the Estafan's restaurant that I had heard about so we grabbed a table on the front veranda. Great for people watching and the beach across the road. Unfortunately, I had to drive or we would have ordered a pitcher of mojitos...they looked delicious! I ordered the vegetable platter with perfect portions of black beans, brown rice, plaintains (DO NOT MISS THESE) and crisp sauteed vegetables with an asian chile fusion sauce. My friend ordered the pork tamale and the cod fish croquettes, which she loved! The service was very attentive, even though we were embarrassingly indecisive about our orders and asked a zillion questions. Also, I have to say that the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous, like a shimmery pearl jewel box. I can't wait to go back for dinner!
(4)Peggy M.
There is no place on earth makes a great mojito like this place. I am a bartender I made so many mojitos but mojito in here is so great. Strong. And delicious. I love Vaca Frita de Pollo. Always have this on my trip to Miami beach. Bacon wrapped Maduros is great too. Coconut mojito, Luxury mojito, and watermelon. Mojito is my all time favorite. Highly recommended. Great food and great service.
(5)Reid N.
Had the Cuban Fried Rice, full of shrimp, beef, chicken, pork and plantains. It was delicious.
(4)Mark F.
Woah! Paella. That is all. Seriously. Nothing else. Just have it now. Now. Now.
(5)Nathalie B.
Larios on the beach is an amazing place to goo!! Really good environment, people are super nicee and the food is amazing !! Highly recommend this place !
(5)Maria L.
You head down the strip and it's mostly large margarita 2 for 1 deals, but this place is far classier. Come here if you're ready for a more sophisticated afternoon/evening because their appetizers (we tried the avocado salad and the plantains with chips) are perfect complements to their fancy concoctions.
(4)Jake B.
Way overpriced and the "famous cuban's" stop being served at 4PM Severely disappointed in food quantity and quality.
(1)Me'Kayla W.
Food excellent I had the shrimp and garlic, black beans, and plantains. Service was less than pleasurable. There was no smile no enthusiasm, for us to be on the strip I would expect a little more love from my server. I mean 10 shrimp 2 sides and a sangria was 50 bucks no problem but I would like some superior service... our server said that he could not spit our check. Oh but he did tho stop the madness!
(4)Hena A.
Went here for dinner and can highly recommend the churassco with black beans and rice or Moros and tostones! Yummy! As for appetizer, we ordered the papa rellena and tamales which both were very good. They have a live band and a fun ambience. This is a busy location in Sobe.
(4)Anthony L.
Phenomenal food. Super fresh, flavorful and authentic. Go for one of the flavored mojito pitchers. Great flavor and worth the price. Totally recommend for a nice dinner out with friends or family.
(5)John H.
Poor service. Waited 45 minutes for our food. Avacado salad was great. Cuban sandwich was made with nearly undectable amounts of roast pork. After watching others seated after us be served, our food arrived. With the wrong order! Strangely reconciled in two minutes, making me wonder why we had to wait 45 minutes for our food. On top of that, they added an 18% gratuity which I gleefully deleted. Avoid this place.
(1)Stephen F.
My boyfriend and I purchased a Gilt City deal of $82 dinner for two to include two drinks a piece, one Estefan Cuban appetizer combo, an entree each, and desert each. Wow! What a great deal. We made reservations early in the evening and were seated upstairs near the front. Service was prompt and professional. The newly renovated building and interior is just beautiful, very beachy with class, which usually is hard to pull off. The walls are adorned with several glass in laid murals. The food was just delicious. The Estefan Cuban combo came with stuffed potatoes, pork tamale, bacon wrapped maduros, ham, chicken & fish croquettes & black bean hummus with plantain chips - totally worth it to sample a little bit of everything. I ordered the steak with chimmichuri, it was moist and perfectly cooked. For desert I had the tres leche chocolate, it was to die for. The mojitos were had were perfect and had us feeling right after two! I can't wait to go back. Definitely one of the best places, if not the best, on Ocean drive to get a feel of Miami's Cuban influence in a nice upscale environment.
(5)Michael A.
My family and I were invited to enjoy a dinner at Larios on the Beach. From the moment you walk in the renovations are very noticeable. It looks very sophisticated but still Miami Beach style. The service was amazing, but then again we were there as guests so I wouldn't expect any less. The food was delicious. I had a plate called the "Tour of Cuba" it was amazing. my parents shared the "Paella for 2" which was more for like 4. It was huge. Their luxury Mojito is addicting. I recommend this restaurant for date night or family meals. There is valet parking in front of the restaurant for $25.
(5)Michael M.
Great place to enjoy good food! Started with tasty margaritas, also had delicious Sangrias, & the night included live music inside a beautifully bright interior. You could sit outside, but the inside is the place to go eat; as the night progressed it filled up with a lively crowd. We started with cod croquettes and the pork tamale, both were just right. We wanted authentic Cuban food so chose the Tour of Cuba and the grilled shredded steak. Wow! The meats were moist, with tangy flavored spices and really just too delicious to describe. We also were served sides of rice & beans and sweet plantains, and they added great flavor to the meals. We ended with the tres leches (excellent), and Cuban coffee (strong & sweet). The meal and experience was really good, except the service slowed as the night progressed. We loved it, and would recommend to all to try it.
(4)Bennet M.
My husband and I ate here a while ago and haven't been back since. First off, you can def get better Cuban food somewhere else. There are so many Cuban Restaurants other than Larios. I mean I know it's Gloria Estefan's place but that didn't make a difference to me. Oh and everything in SOBE is going to be pricey but seriously Larios? I mean I can get a chicken vaca frita anywhere. But paying for the environment and the scence is what really came out of our pockets. I don't mind paying for food when it is great. Larios, meh just another Cuban Restaurant. I can go Versailles where Cuban food is mmmm mmmm bueno!! Thanks but no thanks Larios.
(3)Don B.
This place is unbelievable. The service, atmosphere and especially the food - all 5 star experiences. I had plantain chips as an app. My main course were the shrimp in garlic sauce. Both were delicious as well as the rice and black bean purée side items. Great Caesar salad as well. My tea was kept full, the server was attentive to every detail. Just do yourself a favor and eat here.
(5)Sukhmani K.
Place is a hidden gem! Very nice decor, live band was playing near the entrance on a Saturday night. Very upscale and exclusive, people were being turned away at the door for not having proper attire. The restaurant was very accommodating and took reservations for a party of 8 a few hours before dinner. I hosted a surprise birthday dinner for my bestfriend and the band played live birthday music for her entrance upon request. The pineapple mango or something like that sangria was super delicious . My first time trying Cuban food and it was a very well experience. I'm vegetarian which also limited me from most of the menu but I recommend the hummus chips appetizers which everyone enjoyed and my main entree was spicy rice noodles! Definitely request for bread, server had not brought it out but after requesting so he did and we're glad he did ! It is located right on south beach next to wet willies a very popular area on ocean ave!
(4)Sydney M.
Most of our food was really delicious: the urban slow-roasted pork was truly award-winning at our table, and we gave the garlic shrimp equally high marks. However, we didn't have the pleasure of enjoying our entrees for MORE THAN 2hours after we ordered. =o/ Management has been accommodating, but diners shouldn't have to hunt the staff down to get orders to their tables. Lario's has potential and beautiful decor. Maybe try it in 6months when they've found their groove.
(3)Mel L.
Service was a bit slow but I'll excuse it simply because my meal was just THAT good. I've been going to their sister restaurant Bongos since I was 14 and always order the same thing- Churrasco, maduros, moros, and a side of the arroz blanco. It's always amazing. What I got here was actually BETTER than what I'm used to and when I talked to the manager, he said it's the quality of meat. He wasn't kidding. Got a guava daiquiri that was delicious. Great ambiance. Even though service was slow, it was packed and the staff was still really helpful and friendly. Will DEFINITELY be back next time I'm in Miami.
(5)Kathleen W.
It was our first night in south beach and we were walking down ocean dr and spotted this place. It was definitely different than the stretch of places offering seafood/pasta/steak. A quick look at yelp and I was convinced! The menu looked promising. But the service ended up being extremely slow and in the end, ruined our time here. The drinks were fine, but it took a few reminders and well over 30 min before we got water (and I understand that places like this can get busy, but it was past 10pm and not very crowded). The food was decent and was worthy of a few stars. I had the slow roasted pork which was tender and the onions over top with vinaigrette sauce was pretty good. My fiancé had the shrimp criollo which was fine. The shrimp was cooked well but just tasted like it was dunked in tomato sauce. The black beans were excellent! We also had the fried plantains as a side which was good. Once we requested the check, our server disappeared, only to be seen a few times in the next half hour or so. Had we been forgotten? In the end, we had to ask someone else to get us the check. A word on service. I used to work in the restaurant/service industry and I understand how busy it can get and realize we are not the only customers. I believe servers can make or break your experience and thus I am always appreciative of attentative servers. I also believe in tipping well and can count on one hand (and maybe only two fingers) the number of times I felt like leaving a poor tip. This was one of them: where was our waiter? Where did our water go? He never asked us if we wanted another drink. Why did we have to wait an hour after asking for the check to finally pay and go? Here's the real kicker: a 18% gratuity was automatically included in the bill. Did I think that was fair? No. And did the fact that it was guaranteed account for the poor service? Maybe. But fine, we put our card down and waited...and waited...and waited... And finally another server saw that we had been waiting and took our check and handed it to our server. The receipt came back with a line for additional gratuity. Are you kidding me? Two hours spent at this place, with an hour entirely waiting to close out on the check. We won't be back.
(2)Angie B.
Our friends recommended we go there while passing through Miami on our way to Key West. So glad we did. Our server was extremely nice and the food was delicious. My husband who is hard to get to try something new, really like their Special Cuban Rice, we also had the Cuban sandwiches as we there for lunch. We ate outside and the atmosphere was nice and clean. We enjoyed our dining experience at Larios on the beach
(4)Tisha C.
My friends and I were in SoBe for the weekend and we were looking for really good mojitos and found them here.. First we started off with just glasses and then ended up getting a pitcher. We also sat outside... Hey being from NY we did anything to be outside in that warm florida weather as much as possible.. Plus we were there for a good two hours and the staff wasn't quick to kick us out or anything, they were very friendly. The food was good as well...We only ordered appetizers since we were leaving that night.. It was all good.. Bacon wrapped maduros empanadas ceviche and calamari. We did try a tres leche cake since its my favorite, i wasnt a big fan of it here though unfortunately. One star off because it's only in Miami.. I wish they would open one up in NYC
(4)Erica S.
We enjoyed our dinner here. We are new to this type of food, and we especially liked the plantains and black bean hummus. Great location!l too! Very fun.
(4)Kelly L.
I'm torn on this one. The food was delicious! The drinks were great! And the service was attentive. My only issue and the reason for the lower rating is that this is no way a $$. Maybe it's viewed as relative, but still no way. I trust yelp across the board, relative to the city I am in, and this is just a bit underestimated.
(3)Mayur P.
Eh!!! Gloria has resorted to serving overpriced Bland food. The Fritas yuca and avacado salad was good. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Wanted to Go to puerto sagua around the corner but darn place was booked for private party.
(3)Gabriela A.
I visited Larios on a Thursday night. I made reservations, quick and easy online. I had to push my reservation for 15 minutes and when I called the gentlemen who answered was so kind and fixed my reservation right away. Upon arrival it was a warm welcoming. Although I thought the place would be full, itt was a late night. However the service was exceptional from drinks, appetizers and main course. Our waiter ( I wish I could remember his name) was so nice and attentive. I would definitely go back to this restaurant when I visit miami again. Thanks for the great service and food! Highly recommend!
(5)Mia M.
I absolutely love Larios on the Beach! One of my favorites in South Beach (and for Cuban food) with a great location that can satisfy those who enjoy dining and watching the always entertaining SoBe foot traffic pass by or to sit inside in the beautifully decorated dining and bar areas. There are many delicious spots on Ocean Drive, but this one is top notch! Every time I come here I get the avocado salad, the bacon wrapped maduros, and the bbq guava ribs (don't kid yourself about getting the appetizer, you will definitely want the entree), but to be honest I enjoy nearly everything on Larios' menu. I also recommend the vaca frita (with a side of limes), which is the best that I have had. The drinks are also very good. I have tried the cocktails, but the red sangria pitcher goes so well with the food whether is be for lunch or dinner. Also the service is attentive and very friendly. Outside of Prime 112 (which is never not a scene), this is the first restaurant I recommend to anyone coming to South Beach. Great atmosphere and delicious food!
(5)D P.
Every second of this eating experience was fabulous! From the greeting when you walked to the hostess, to the service, drinks (monitor and Margarita), and food was beyond expectation. We had plantain chips, calamari, skirt steak, shrimp colchicine (sp?), famous Cuban fried rice, and tres leche (vanilla and chocolate), all were outstanding! I truly can't say enough that if you go to South Beach and don't eat here, you are missing out. Oh...almost forgot to mention the band and music. ..outstanding!
(5)P M.
The Paella, definitely worth the wait and $. Left feeling full and satisfied. Would definitely revisit again.
(5)Eliezer S.
So far it's been five minutes of being seated and the attention has been spectacular. The food was ridiculously good and the service is great! Great place to eat some good gourmet Cuban food
(5)Amanda K.
I like this place a lot! Great classic mojitos and a good variety on the menu. The churrasco was delicious, mainly because of the AMAZING chimichurri sauce. The steak itself was tastey and HUGE... Very large portion. Not the best quality meat but I really loved it. The tostones (fried plantains) were good and the moro (mixed rice and beans) were delicious. Everyone seemed to love their food plus the service was good. I love the location right in the middle of the action on Ocean Drive. I will definitely be back!
(4)Dinasia W.
Lovedd this place ! If you're in SOBE looking for dinner this is the place. All the restaurants are priced in the same range. If you're gonna pay the least it could be is worth the money. Larios definitely was. We got a couple starters. Two orders of the codfish croquettes ($10) which were amazing, as well as plantain chips& a garlic dip($7). I got the seafood fried rice($23) filled w. Well seasoned goodness. The bill came to 124.73 for the 3 of us. The service was great. We had an older man who was so adorable, attentive & accommodating. The gratuity ($17) was added into the check which was just fine because they make you aware of that ahead of time. It was an overall wonderful experience and I'll come back every time I'm in SOBE.
(5)Alex P.
Beaurifully renovated and the kitchen is competent but the service for non white cubans is awful. Seems like they are trying to recreate pre castro cuba... Watched 2 waiters fight over who would have to serve us...pathetic.
(1)Stefanie C.
We came here to try out the Miami spice menu on a Sunday night. 3 course meal with a drink included for $33. Such a great deal. My friend ordered the flank steak and I ordered the Cuban trio platter. Both were amazing! We actually swapped plates halfway through because both were so good. We each ordered a mojito which as well was wonderful! My only complaint is the service. Our waiter was nice but disappeared after our main course. We never saw him again. I actually had to get up to find someone who could refill our water. We had to flag down another waiter in order to get our last course and finally the check. After we were given our last course the waiter said to us "are you going to order anything else?" Considering that was the last course, no probably not. His response was "we're closing in a bit so you'll have to leave." Ok thanks for the notification but all you had to say was that the restaurant closes at whatever time and we'll make our way out as we see fit. It was unnecessary to make us feel unwelcome and as if we were going to be tossed out if we sat too long. Overall Id give the food a 5 and the service a 2. So together its about a 3.5 but there isn't a 3.5 option so we'll say 4. Come here for great food but don't expect good service!
(4)Veronica G.
Came here with my husband for our honeymoon. This place is in the heart of south beach great location. Very romantic great service! I had the papas Rellanas and vaca fritta it was def the best thing I eat durning my stay in Miami! loved it. Wish they had a location in LA.. P.S Outdoor seating right on Ocean Drive
(5)Daniel V.
Amazing 5 star service. Amazing food and service start to finish!!
(5)Cecilia P.
We looooved larios on the beach! I had the chicken parmesan. It was huge! My husband had totones rellenos and an avocad salad. The ambiance was great, as well as the music and the food was amazing. When we come back to Miami we'll come back to larios.
(5)Joseph V.
What can I say about this place that most of the reviews haven't said already. If you're in south beach, do yourself favor and stop by. If you enjoy traditional cuban cuisine or never had it before, this is your go to spot for all things cuban. Perfect for you romeo and juliets looking for that romantic evening. You'll also be surrounded by beautiful people, so they'll be plenty of eye candy for us single folk. They even have a band to help you get in the mood for some dancing afterwards (go to mangos). Make it a point to go there you wont regret it! Order the traditional cuban steak and go hard by adding shrimp. Hope you enjoy!
(4)Valya V.
This restaurant is a must! Every time I am on a South Beach I go here. Pulled pork, enchiladas and mohito are usual suspects. Ismael was our server. Excellent service!!
(5)T U.
Had a reservation at 6:45. Sat down, ordered my first Mojito, and apps. Apps came out at 6:50. Entrees came out at 6:55. Second drink at 7:05. Finished eating, bill paid and out on the street at 7:15. relaxing? rushed? ya think? Maybe we didn't order well... I felt like I have at other popular eating meccas, Little Italy, Gene and Georgetti in Chicago, Taydish Grill in San Francisco, Ebbetts Grill in DC, Antoines in New orleans...what a waste of time. There is little to no culinary expertise evident....food was old and touristy. Nice enough atrmosphere, band was too loud but they were good, waiter was great but subject to the cooks pushing he food out. If this is the best food they can produce and if this is the acme of Cuban cuisine...the French and italians have nothing to worry about. Skewers...three tiny chunks of chicken, beef and six tiny pieces of vegetable with a vinegary sugar sauce. Give me some ketchup.Skimpy and boring. Dry Plaintain cups with shrimp, pulled pork and beef...fresh is word used an hour ago...all three tasted the same. Shrimp are those little tiny ones, sat in sauce for hours, dry. Pork and beef were just dried out...looked old. Main dish...Slow Cooked pork...$23..waiter recommended....cheapest thing on the menu. tender hunks of pork with some white sliced onions on top, in a vinegary braising liquid. Seriously guys...do something with this...do anything not to make me think you are just pulling this off a hunk of cooked pork butt. I enjoyed it again later that night about 3am. Indegestion...nothing more...to be fair. My daughter...some fried chicken dish...it was chicken fingers without the ranch dressing. Plantains and rice as a side were Ok but to have the rice dropped with an ice cream scoop was like...grade school cafeteria? Except for the drinks not a fresh herb or creative presentation to be seen. 2 Mojitos...$30 ...not one ounce of what you buy a drink for. I had better drinks at the bars near the beach. really? $15 bucks each? No buzz at all. Last...for a party of two...they add the tip themselves...really really classy place... I left another ten spot cause we liked the waiter. I am glad so many people enjoy this place...my recommendation to the Estphan famly...if you will stick to music...I will not buy your food.
(1)Roxana B.
This place is a little more expensive than most on the strip, but totally worth it! Food is authentic Cuban and delicious . I especially love the picture by the bathroom of Gloria Stefan and Celia Cruz with drinks in their hands looking like they were having the time of their lives! Would def go back
(5)George S.
Great food good portions. The options are great. There was music and dancing. It's a fun place with lots of action.
(5)MiMi C.
Rating it a 5 star for location, ambiance, service and food! Our large group was accommodated on the second floor which would be perfect for a small private event. Ordered the bistec de palomilla with arroz Moro and maduros....absolutely delicious! The mojito was excellently prepared. 'Til next time South Beach!
(5)Zoey T.
Best cuban food I have ever had. Beautiful upscale restaurant without the upscale price. I had the empanadas, pan seared grouper, and tour de Cuba and every bite was delicious. Add a pitcher of sangria and it was perfect.
(5)Aurelius M.
Ay Dios Mio! The best cuban food I've ever had. I went here for dinner and the food was amazing. We started with the Estefan Cuban combo and my first drink was the Havana iced tea. My entree was the Lechon Asado. Then we got a pitcher of Mojito. We were on the company dime so we let the dice roll that night! Again, the food was incredible. Everything had lots of flavor and I felt like I was in Cuba while the spanish tunes played in the background. The staff was ok. We were seated outside and waiter was swamped which took a bit of time to order our food. We didn't mind at the time because it's a great spot to people watch. I wish their valet service had square or some way to pay with credit card. I had to walk a block for an ATM, pay the ATM fee, then walk a block back. So if you plan to valet here make sure you take cash because they cannot cash you out at the bar, you can't pay at your table or front desk , and the valet doesn't have any credit card machine. A bit outdated if you ask me. It's 2014 and who uses cash anymore? The little things I guess.
(4)Lauren B.
Even though Lario's is in a very touristy area of SoBe, the cuisine and experience is very authentic! Best mojitos ever and the Mojo Marinated Chicken is soooo very flavorful. Loved the the bacon wrapped maduros also. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this! The music and energy is lively and everyone there is ready to have a good time - an awesome dining experience!
(5)Mark O.
This place is awesome. Took visitors to eat authentic Cuban food and Emilio Estefan comes to say hi. He is one of our customers at HD!
(5)Gayland L.
Food is great. Great place to have drinks and a wonderful dinner. People watching is great from the patio. Skirt steak is the way to go. Empanadas are great.
(5)Zrinko V.
Great food, we wanted Cuban and found this wonderfully decorated quiet place (don't understand why it's so quiet, but OK with it). Great food, totally worth it, very good restaurant.
(5)andrea a.
Came back a year later and it's still just as amazing. Complete redesign. Food is amazing and be sure to try the mojitos! We had the pineapple mojito and coconut mojito and they were so good! Food: we had the steak with Moro and tostones. MORO IS AMAZING! My girlfriend had the steak salad and it was good too. A must try when in Miami!
(5)Steven H.
My wife and I had ropa vieja with moro rice and sweet plantains and ceviche appetizer. Our daughter had sweet plantains wrapped in bacon. All was excellent.
(5)Raychel L.
My friend and I were only in town 1 night and our hotel had a Miami book of local things. We perused the dining pages and voted we must do Cuban cuisine while in South Beach. We shared the ceviche (grouper fish) came w/plantain chips, um AMAZING! So full of flavor I could have had 7 of those by myself, regardless of how full I would have been. We also shared the Famous Seared shredded beef with Moros rice, grilled veggies and sweet plantains. Also Amazing!! Everything was so delish. We quenched our thirst w/a carafe of Mango Passion fruit spritzer which was tasty but not much alcohol. Finishing it off with Cuban coffee (espresso) bill came to $73 for both. Not bad $$ for South Beach, we were stuffed, even with sharing! Will visit again!
(4)Kyle H.
Was taken to Larios by a local for Cuban Food and was very happy with it. Seating aplenty outside with great people watching, and the inside is very nice too. Feeling like just having a drink? They have a nice bar right inside! Appetizer- Ceviche- generous portion of whitefish served in a broth of citrus with red onion and jalapeno. Slightly spicy, but could have used maybe something else. Was served with crispy plantain- a nice touch! Entree- Shredded Beef- I forget the Cuban name, but it's basically Ropa Viejo minus tomato sauce. A HOT plate of sizzling meat with onions, with a side of rice and beans and choice of plantains (sweet). Loved my dish. Service was great- and saw plenty else on the menu that would keep me coming back to Larios!
(4)Bunny W.
Most restaurants on ocean drive are tourist trap with boring menu. This place doesn't try to oversell themselves, which is kinda nice. The menu is more original and interesting than their neighbors but not the best cuban in south beach. The tres leches was a huge disappointment, cake was rough not moist though it's wet. The pork cubes appetizer is our favorite. We also had skirt steak salad. Portion are generous, service are good, mojito is great.
(3)Tiffany P.
We went there recently to check out the new renovations and new menu, the food is amazing have the bacon wrapped maduros!
(5)Andrea J.
Food was very good, the avocado salad is delicious but on the small side, the rose wine was rather like a red wine but good, but the waiter was kind of weird, not really friendly, do not expect chatting about the food with this guy
(4)Melissa M.
We made our dinner reservations in advance on opentable.com . We checked in and barely had to wait to be seated. The waiting area is rather large so I could only imagine how packed this place gets during busier times of the year. There's "glowing" chairs in this area was pretty cool.The place seemed very busy and had a very energetic atmosphere. Lots of waiters and staff running around also. We were seated in one of the rooms which was already packed with other diners. Our waitress had a very rushed mood throughout our whole service. She barely came up to refill our waters and never came back to check up on us. Seeing how she tended to all the tables within this room, we all got the same service. They offer everything you'd expect on a menu for a Spanish restaurant in Miami/South Beach. Prices are definitely more here. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo and my bf had the Lechon Asado. The food was just average, nothing special. In addition, I felt that the flavors were a little bland, making it more "americanized" for those who were just being introduced to Spanish food. The lack of service, higher prices, and average food left much to be desired. Nice restaurant but if you're not able to try this tourist trap, you're not missing anything. I still love you Gloria Estefan!
(2)Tegan C.
YES! A gem hidden amongst all the terribly overpriced tourist restaurant/bars on ocean drive. Wonderful Cuban cuisine for reasonable pricing. I highly recommend it and guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy the food, music, ambience, and service.
(4)Katie F.
Finally I got to try cuban coffee! IT WAS AMAZING. It changed everything. You have to go here. Sit inside, there's an incredible band that plays inside. Makes it hard to sit and eat because you want to get up and dance. We had the paella, it was really nice. Appetizers were the empanadas and the beef potatoes, both I would order again in a heart beat. We rode bikes afterwards, there's a citi bike rack across the street, so go ride off all that amazing food! Loved it here.
(5)Emilia L.
We arrived in Miami totally starved and had no idea where to eat. We were dressed to the nines, but didn't want to eat at an overpriced place, yet didn't want some hole in the wall, either. We parked and headed towards Ocean Drive in search of a place to eat, and found Lario's (the second place we passed!) What a godsend, because we had originally wanted Cuban food but had a hard time finding a suitable place. We got some ceviche to start, which was served with thinly cut plaintain chips. Very refreshing and delicious. For my entree, I got a Cuban classic, the ropa vieja. The meat was tender and flavorful, the plaintains had nice crisp edges and were sweet and pillowy soft and the white rice had a hint of flavor to it that I could not place. I only wish I had gotten moro rice instead (mixed black beans and rice). I also sampled some of the roasted pork. Delicious. It was one of the best meals of the trip. They had some live salsa music going on, so it was a bit hard to hear each other over the din, but it was a great meal. Awesome find!
(4)Terry B.
This was absolutely one of the best meals I've ever eaten! We went at lunch during the week and chose to sit outside. I ordered the ceviche for an appetizer, which was delicious. We ordered the El "Tour" De Cuba, Lechon Asado, Ropa Vieja Y Vaca Frita De Pollo tour of Cuba, which is a sampling of Cuban food which has samples of seared shredded chicken, roasted pork, slow cooked shredded beef served with Cuban mojo & chimichurri sauce, and plantains. We both had lemonades and I finished the meal off with a Cuban coffee. Man, was the meal ever remarkable! The entire meal ran us just under $100 with tip, but was it EVER worth it! The staff was very friendly and professional. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)David F.
horrible! The menu is very misleading and the waitress agreed with our party!Overall the staff was very rude and a big disappointment.
(1)Christopher S.
Just know there are two restaurants here. I have only eaten at Larios and it's excellent. Love me some Chicken VacaFrita it's so good. :) Yucca fries yummmm. The wait staff is fantastic well done. Great dining experience. Great value. While here I stepped out of the bathroom an patron passed out basically in my hands her family was right there, she wasn't drunk ....I felt it was diabetic related coupled with heat exhaustion. I was impressed at how the wait staffed helped they brought over a chair , some water and called 911 They were genuinely concerned, amazing , the hostess was right there with me... She stopped and said wait the back room is full of Doctors that are here dining she ran to that room for help, she came back and said they don't want to get involved. WOW shame on those Doctors disgusting. The Medics arrived fast and took over , that's what true professionals do. But the wait staff made me proud. (Vacationing Police Officer :)).
(5)Lorna W.
I have eaten at Larios EVERY YEAR for the past 5 years. My daughter and I do an annual trip. Sadly....tonight is my last time. We arrived in SB and were seated within 1.5 hours after landing in Miami. A complete disappointment. Our app of chicken and shrimp skewers were mediocre at best. I had hoped it was a fluke. It wasn't. So excited to wrap my lips around their fabulous skirt steak. NOT!!! It was horrible. Tough. Tasteless. The server said that the chef has changed. So said....the food used to be fabUlous. I won't EVER return.
(1)Yvonne M.
First dinner in SOBE, this place is owned by Gloria Estefan, the food was authentic and delicious... And the service was perfect as well. I ordered ropa viiejo aka shredded beef w/onions & peppers, side of rice and plantains..it was cooked to perfection! I ordered a mojito, and it came tasting like perfection...it reminded me of those commercials for peppermint patties, hi it takes you to a cool place... This drink was so refreshing and good I loved it... And the sugar cane stick in it was a nice addition! I will no doubt be back next time, only thing missing was live music.. i would love to have heard live music playing.
(5)Nathaly L.
This restaurant temporarily moved to 13th and ocean inside a hotel(i think cardozo) There is a different restaurant outside the hotel, so heads up. I feel that cuban cuisine and almost every latin american cuisine is almost impossible to eat vegetarian. I came here with my party at the request of a 10 year old, who mentions Larios every time he is visiting miami. My party ordered the shrimp in a red sauce (maybe it was curry), the grilled mahi mahi , the fish bites and the 10 year old ordered his usual the chicken bites on the kids menu. All entrees include 2 side dishes some of them are white rice, fries, yuca, sweet plantains (maduros) or tostones (crunchy and salty plantains), moro (rice and beans already mixed and cooked together) and i think black beans. Maria ordered the grilled Mahi Mahi with white rice and not only did it look great she said it was delicious, i think she had the best dish in our group. Shrimp curry with white rice and black beans he said it was good (but hes not one to complain so i will never know) he did mistake the black beans for some sort of soup which i think many non-hispanic ppl tend to make and he thought they were yummy. i think cubans tend to season their beans very well. The fish bites were a miss- which i was surprised because i didnt think you could mess that up..but they looked like they could have been fried and cooked a bot longer, partner in crime said they weren't crispy and they just didn't taste right were his words. He had that with white rice and fries which were both good. im half cuban, so i told the waiter i wasn't eating meat, and if he could fry me two eggs on a bed of white rice, he smiled and said yes. I ate this as a child all the time, so although not on the menu, i think you can ask any cuban restaurant if they can make it for you and they almost always will. They always fry eggs to put on top of poor mans steak and white rice is a staple so they can. Any who---- thats all!!
(3)Lauren N.
This place is right off the beaten path. I almost mistook it for the place in front called Cardozo something but no. ASK where Larios is AND ask to sit outside. It's beautiful. Their mojitos are wonderful. The luxury one is verry strong. Cevice and maduros and food is amazing. ALSO ask for a side of (mojo sauce i.e, garlic sauce) on side for dipping appetizer sampler or dipping anything. Enjoy -*** I just spoke to waiter and he said they are in a new location from last year (last year they were located right on the strip of ocean drive). This location is temporary so make sure ur at the right place (it is off a side street {13th street and ocean drive}). If ur not sure then ask where Larios is because I can't imagine this place getting less than 4 stars. It is GOOD FOOD.
(5)Chelsea G.
Our second time here and the food and service were great. Although very busy our waiter did his very best to accommodate. Many options here and they will make any alterations to suit your needs. Terrific live music and a festive atmosphere but not a party one. Good mojitos, too!
(4)Lien D.
Everything we ordered was very moist and flavorful! Portions are pretty big and shareable. We had the empanadas, chicken and rice, and slow roasted pork. First time having Cuban food and it was delish. A little pricey, but give you big portions to make up for it.
(4)Steven P.
the food was good, not great, especially considering the prices. the location is excellent, right across from the beach. Here is the problem: while trying to enjoy my expensive lunch with friends, i was bothered 7 times by panhandlers and people interrupting us to sell us junk. From reggae cds, cigars,roses, boat tours, culinary tours and just plain street urchins asking for money. When i got upset and told the managers, their answer to the issue was for me to move to another table???? My lunch bill with tip was 140.00 for 3 people. I will never go back to this place,since they condone this
(2)Fred K.
Bland and tasteless Cuban food. We ordered the pork sliders and a Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was so blah, I've had better Cuban sandwiches at Marlin's Stadium! The pork sliders were dry and lacked flavor. The French fries were limp! The service was indifferent, no one asked why we didn't eat much of our food, guess it must happen all the time. They add 18% to the bill for the below average service. We will never come back and we can't recommend it to anyone. There are so many other places with better Cuban food. Was highly disappointed after reading positive reviews we expected better.
(1)Bahar S.
If there was a way for me to add stars I would. My husband and I are visiting from LA and my only request was to have good quality Cuban OX tail. Most places we went to only served it on special days. Having found no restaurant that served what we wanted on our last day I called Lario's and asked for the OX tail and was told they only serve it as a special on the weekend. Hearing the devastated disappointment in my voice the hostess, Elvia, told me to hold on. Then she came back and said she spoke to the chef and he has agreed to make it for us anyway even though it was Friday. The OX tail was the best I've ever had. Not greasy at all and prepared just perfectly. It's so comforting to go some place and have complete satisfaction at having gotten exactly what we wanted and such caring service. I wish we were here longer so we could explore the menu and try some of our other favorite Cuban dishes. Thanks so much!
(5)Laura G.
I'm always fearful to order Ceiveche, afraid I'll get flavorless fish with lemon juice. This was one of the best Ceiveche's I've had - up there with Border Grill in Santa Monica. What stood out was the FLAVOR of Jalapenos, not super HOT but flavorful. I still wonder how they got the FLAVOR so strong but not all the heat. I think I'd have a hard time ordering anything else here. It was that good.
(4)Marlene R.
The BEST tostones rellenos (stuffed plantains)!!! They've remodeled the restaurant and it's absolutely beautiful! The live band is amazing. Our waiter, Efrain, was outstanding! We were sent here after first visiting Bongos (also owned by the Estefans) at the American Airlines Arena only to find out they're closing!! Lario's is a must go-to place on the beach!
(5)Kevin D.
Got a late night dinner here. Portions are generous! I ordered the milanesa and my girlfriend got the arroz con pollo. Both were amazing! Drinks were good, service was good. Nice spot for people watching. Would recommend.
(5)Sally B.
Best steak salad I have ever had...outstanding food and service. Just visiting South Beach for a convention and so glad I chose this place for dinner with my friends and colleagues. To top off the evening, Emilio Estefan stopped by our table for a photo op with us. What a gentleman. Highly recommend you stop by if you are in the area. #rewardsofrisk #somuchfun
(5)Farrah R.
I always CE to south beach and this vacation around u was really disappointed with the food.
(3)Kara D.
Authentic and delicious food. Beautiful and sophisticated ambiance in an area that can be overrun with tacky. Our service was excellent and attentive. Marinated pork was the best dish I've had.
(5)Maria E.
My husband, a friend and I ate at Larios last night. After walking down the strip the beauty and ambiance of this place called us over. Also the smell of the black beans. I could hear the live band playing inside. I felt like i was in Havana. We asked for sidewalk seating because it was a beautiful warm evening. I informed our waiter that I would be needing a rum drink immediately. He informed me they make the best Mojitos. I had the Grande Mojito which had a bunch of fresh mint in it. He didn't lie, it was delicious. We ordered the Tostones Rellenos which were stuffed with shrimp, ground beef and ropa vieja. Our friend ordered the Chicken Empanadas which were flaky and delicious. I had the Churrasco steak which was perfectly seasoned and cooked with a side of chimichurri sauce. It came with white rice and black beans. We also ordered a dose of the sweet plantains which were tender and caramelized and just scrumptious. I had no room for dessert. I was completely impressed by this restaurant. From the ambiance, the amazing food and the impeccable service.
(5)Lauren C.
For dinner on Ocean Drive, you sort of know what you're in for upon arriving... mediocre overpriced food, and ok service. Larios was considerably better than the average in South Beach. We had called for a reservation, but were told that they wouldn't be able to take us until 9:30p. It was 6p, and we had been drinking, so we figured we'd head over there for a drink around 7:30p and see what happened from there. We rolled up and the place looked better than I had hoped. They asked if we wanted to be inside or outside. We answered first available, and they sat us down instantly. I ordered a mojito which was perfect and delicious. My friend was drinking marghartia's and seemed equally as pleased. We are both vegetarians so the menu wasn't quite meant for us, but we got the vegetarian plate and it got the job done. The ambiance is really what you pay for at this place. We saw some crazy people walking by- pythons, people wearing python, girls in underwear, men in underwear, The service was solid too. They left us alone enough to enjoy the meal, but were attentive with drinks which always scores extra points by me. I'm not sure I'd go back here as they didn't have a ton of food for me, but I'd go back here for some drinks and to hang out. If I ate more meat, I'd definitly put this on the list. Gloria knows how things should be done!
(3)Laura V.
Had one of the best meals ever and the service was amazing. Our favorite place in South Beach!
(5)Nerissa C.
Disappointing... Does Gloria Estefan still own this establishment? She should sample the food every now and then. The place was hyped up by a local and the sentiment echoed by the Loews concierge, but my husband and I were not impressed. The ambience was lacking... we were seated upstairs (which was dead) with the volume on the music turned all the way down when we first arrived. The booth we were in had a musty, moldy smell, but perhaps that's the humidity in the air?? The food: The fish in the ceviche starter tasted old... not at all fresh. After a few bites i started to get queasy. The $39 Cuban Seafood combo just looked and tasted like shellfish and fish boiled in a chili powder soup. The Cuban skirt steak could have used some seasoning.. salt for starters. The only thing I really liked were the plantain chips and the sweet fried plantains (..which I can make at home..). I heard there are other good Cuban places in South Beach. Don't waste your money on this one! ** 2 stars because they didn't screw up the plantains, the mojitos were good, and the waiter was a sassy diva **
(2)MJ L.
I thought this restaurant was only ok but probably because I ordered the vegetarian platter which was not very good. I sampled a few of my friends dishes and those were definitely better. I like the layout of the restaurant. It is open, lively and festive. There was a live band playing. The waiters were friendly and attentive. They initially forgot my dish which was weird because usually the waiter would double check if they received only 5 entrees for 6 guests... but in any case they made up for it by having my dish out within 10 minutes. Last thing is that their drinks are super strong. Im sure some people love this but bc of this none of my friends ended up even making a dent in their drinks.
(2)Michael G.
Meh, you can find cheaper and more authentic Cuban food in Miami... However, the few times I have been to South Beach we always stumble here. Maybe because they aren't as obnoxious as the other places looking for you your business?? Not sure..... Regardless, it's not terrible.
(3)L V.
TOURIST TRAP. On Ocean Dr. All the hotels along this strip recommend this place, they probably recommend any place along the Ocean Dr.... they are all the same, all tourist traps!! Paella in Miami is RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. I know it's the "seafood" aspect that makes it pricey, but c'mon I expect king crab legs, jumbo prawns, mixed seafood, calamari, salmon, catfish, etc etc, and some rice, if it's gonna be like $30 a person!!! I mean c'mon, I make a pretty good paella so I guess I expect a lot? Nice venue though, but then again, like I said- almost all the restaurants along Ocean have a beautiful set up.
(2)Jenn N.
Delicious! We had a great time at Lario's. The food was awesome, way better Cuban dishes than another place we had tried in the area, and good atmosphere. The pulled chicken with rice and beans plus sweet plantains were my favorite, but even the bread was great. Will definitely be back next time we're in town!
(5)Suzanne S.
Thank you, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, for the care and attention you gave to re-imagine Lario's. Excellent service (all too rare on the Beach) , excellent decor--dazzling but also elegant--and excellent food. The lechon, maduros, tostones, moro, and seafood were all prepared with care and served handsomely. We loved the music, which drew us inside for dinner rather than on the terrace. It was the perfect place to celebrate our son's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We will take other out-of-town visitors there.
(4)Ralph T.
First, I need to say that I should be rating Larios on the Beach a 4 based on the location and lack being on the beach. But as I understand it, this is only temporary as they're remodeling it's permanent location, so let's give Larios the benefit of a doubt that they're trying to make this restaurant an even nicer place to dine. And it was nice. As it was a rainy day on South Beach, a lot of people probably stayed away. Good for us as we had first class service. I felt that we had two servers; our waitress and a host who was very involved with helping customers make choices as well as helping serve the food. I liked that. He was always close enough to make sure our water glasses and coffee were full but never hovering over our table. The menu...ahhhh.. the menu. We wanted Cuban food. Very slim picken's here in the SF bay area. Hey..Miami! Cuban food should be easy to find, right? Not on South Beach. And when asked, the other restaurants were only interested in getting us to sit down for Italian, Mexican or Burgers. I easily found what I was looking for, something that tasted as good as it looked. I had the Cuban Roasted Pork, my wife had a Grilled Chicken plate. I had beautiful plantains, not slices but large chunks cooked to a desert quality. Everything on our plates was delicious. The meat, rice, vegies, all of it. I don't think there's anything on the Larios menu I wouldn't eat. I would love to go back to Miami someday. And when I do I hope this restaurant is still in business. Based on the overall quality of our meal, If they do for their remodeling job what they did for our visit, I'm sure all 5 stars will be still in place.
(5)Frank E.
What Happened? In October 2013, we brought our friends visiting from France. Great service, decent food, good ambiance. Last Sunday, (again with friends from France) night and day. One waiter serving the entire floor and outside (the same great waiter we had in October), managers not paying attention thothe floor and mediocre Cuban sandwiches. We know it's South Beach but the owner should be watching her empire. We will not go back again.
(2)Joannitte R.
I feel badly giving them three stars as I have gone to Lario's for manyyyy years however the last few times I have gone the service has been lacking. The food is still good yet the service is off. I visited lario's this past week because I was in Miami for the week and I loved how beautiful the place was renovated yet when I went to the bathroom there are only two stalls in the women's bathroom! They spent millions on the renovation yet they couldn't add more bathrooms and for the love of God why aren't there hooks in the stalls!!!???? Ugh.
(3)Sandra G.
Absolutely beautiful venue. The rice and beans were delicious and one of the most raved about choice in our group. The staff was attentive and helpful making us feel comfortable and catered to. It doesn't offer much privacy for diners but since we were seated by an entertaining group it just added to the fun we had. If you want a quiet, secluded dining experience this might not be the place for you, but a great place to get the night started with a group of friends.
(4)Patty T.
Stars are for the live music and the very attentive waitstaff. The bar and the hostess stand are a hot mess and by that I mean I think they were hired for looks but were a mess in every other way. Bar staff was inattentive and clueless as was the hostess. Food -- stuffed green plantains with shrimp criollo -- was less quality than our very cheap dinner at Versailles -- except for the ceviche which was much more sophisticated but still not as good as Cafe Nuvo on Via Espana. Did I mention that the music is great?
(4)Nada A.
If there are a (0) star here i would chose it for this restaurant. the food taste disgusting, the soft drinks taste weird. and the menu is over priced. we had 4 entrees and 5 soft drinks and we end up paying 183.55$ which is insane, i would never step a foot there... NOT RECOMMENDED
(1)Keith S.
I think this is the best choice for South Beach. On the way here, we were offered 20% coupons and free shots. But most places up and down the strip here were 2s or worse. The four star place was $40 for almost any entree. And it's CUBAN !! Had the Masitas Puerco (pork chunks) for an appetizer. They were hot and not very large, which made them easy to cut and enjoy. To balance that, had the Pollo Asado (baked chicken) which was baked in a nice sauce, with rice and plantains. Excellent, plenty of food, and very very nice scenery. Prices very reasonable. If you sit outside you might not get a chance to see the beautiful interior of this building; it is dark walnut throughout and very well maintained. The tile work is excellent and the building design is wonderful. I don't know much about the area but this is a classic building.
(5)Nicole K.
Yum. Try the sampler, it was very good and very filling. Prices are a bit higher, but food is of good quality. Way better than Versailles, sorry we wasted our time and money there. Ordered other entrees but sampler really stood out. Service was pretty decent too. Automatic 18% tip.
(4)Sergio F.
I ate here twelve years ago! When I happened to be in the area near Lario's and hungry for Cuban food after spread of more exotic cuisines, I decided to stop by again. However, based on the most recent service and food, I think it'll be another while before I go to this Lario's again. I am rating them three stars because the Moros and Sweet Plantains were tasty. However, it's still a lower rating than what I would have expected. One minus is that our service was slow from when seated until the food actually arrived. While it was a relatively full house even for a weekday, no wait staff even stopped by to offer bread. That's never happened at their Sunset Place / South Miami location. I also had to remind them a couple of times about my drinks. The Pollo Milanesa (Cuban style chicken pawn) could have had a little more marinara sauce and lighter on the cheese. The cover band playing reggaeton and salsa was good if a little loud (yes, even for someone of Cuban descent it was loud) but that may just be my couple of gray hairs talking.
(3)Lisette V.
This was my first visit to Larios. One of my besties was in town on her first visit to Miami. I had seen a review on Deco Drive of Larios renovation & new menu with heathier options. We sat outside to people watch. I ordered the Cuban Sandwich. Yum! Absolutely authentic. My friend ordered the grill chicken sandwich. She said it was delicious. I will definitely be returning to Larios. Excellent service & great food.
(5)Nijole T.
Gloria Estefans famed restaurant on Ocean Dr at the beach. Would one not know it is nested between an endless row of restaurants across the beach, I could have never told any of them apart. Glad I did and heard how fabulous it was. The decor inside is beautiful, the bar was packed, the music loud and people dancing everywhere. It was hard to get through to the bathroom and the rest of the restaurant, but it was such a relaxed vibe and so many beautiful people having a wonderful evening one could not be mad at them. We sat outside to enjoy the gorgeous Miami evening and got exceptional service. The food was fantastic and fairly priced at just under $20 each for generous portions. My husband had the Bistec A La Milanesa, cuban style milanese steak breaded and topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella cheese with a side of fried plantains and rice which he enjoyed tremendously. I had the Pollo A La Milanese, same as him just with chicken, also amazing. Perfect for a date night or a fun night out with the girls.
(4)Jade N.
If you ever find yourself walking along the Ocean Drive Strip in South Beach you will notice there are a ton of restaurants to choose from. All of these restaurants offer a wide variety of food choices and tastes! Larios is by far my favorite. Not just because its owned by the Queen of Latina Music, Ms. Gloria Estefan herself, the Cuban food is excellent for being in such a touristy spot! I always order my "go to" dish which is the Ropa Vieja. Which is a fantastic mixture of flank steak beef , peppers, onions served in a saucy sweet red sauce with white rice, black beans and plantains! I highly recommend it, The pitcher of mohitos is also a great value if more than one of you is drinking. If staying in the super touristy area on South Beach, I highly reccomend this place. Authentic Cuban food, not too pricey and definitly the best Cuban place within walking distance!
(4)Chanda W.
Very disappointed. I had the grouper, rice, and black beans. Nothing had any flavor, the fish had no seasoning on it at all. I think this is very touristy and over-rated.
(3)Bom T.
Mojitos are good price vs it's strength. Fried sweet platains in the entree is awesome. I had the pork chop with grilled onion which was good, but little greasy. I like grease.
(4)Isaiah V.
Came here last night around 10:15 pm. No wait, got in right away. Service was good and food was just ok. Moro rice and plantains got cold right away. Food was served quickly so not sure it this was the reason
(3)Adolfo C.
I had the Cuban sandwhich here. It is the 1st time I have ever had a Cuban sandwhich and I must say this thing was GOOD! My gf had the red snapper and she and I both say it's to die for! 5 stars for this location owned by Gloria Estafan! I am only going this the place a 4.5 because we were never asked if we were doing ok by by out waiter.
(4)Lillian Z.
The food was pretty tasty. Portions were a bit small. Dinner for 2 with drinks and dessert was over $80 and not really worth it. I would not return. Also, I was expecting a dance floor but there was not one. There was live music but no room to dance.
(2)Star R.
Love, love the personal attention, if you've read any of my reviews SERVICE is key! My glass was always full and our waiter made sure we were all smiles! Ok, now the food! Salads were great, Moro rice and sweet plantains delish...grouper filet ok, and fish bites were awesome! Great service, great drinks, ok food....need to try more menu items!
(5)Virdina M.
I think this place might be expensive for its location. Their Cuban food is good but honestly, I have had better Cuban. That doesn't mean it's bad but I've had better. Our plantains came out with a hair on them; they quickly replaced them and everything that was on the plate with them. Their drinks are great! Had a mango drink and my husband something else that he really enjoyed. The decor is great. Facilities are well maintained. I don't know how their staff wears full suits in Miami....
(3)Judy L.
Missed their 5 stars due to 2 reasons: 1. We had reservations and still had to wait 50 mins. 2. The service is OK, slow and refills were hard to come by. Lots of pros: excellent location for people watching, turns into a night club by the beach, on Ocean Dr., and the food was excellent. Ordered: Bongos Combo (Fried Stuffed Potatoes- Papas Rellenas; Pork Tamale - Tamal de Carne de Cerdo; Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Bites - Masitas de Puerco; Traditional Cuban Ham Croquettes - Croquetas de Jamón; Stuffed Plantain Cups - Tostones Rellenos de Picadillo o Camarones; Green Plantains Cups stuffed with Shrimp Cuban Criolla): Everything on this combo was excellent, the pork tamale was the only thing that was below par. Cuban Roasted Pork - Lechon Asado (Traditional Cuban Style Roasted Pork) - The pork was so so so so GOOD, tender and flavorful with the black beans & rice and tostones, Cuban Style Pot Roast - Boliche (Tender Cuban Pot Roast slowly cooked in a Red Wine Sauce stuffed with Spanish Sausage) - This dish was off the chains too. Bongos Famous Fried Shredded Beef - Vaca Frita (Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Shredded Flank Steak topped with Grilled Onions) - Had a bite of this and it was so good too.
(4)Azin D.
I have had a lot of Cuban food before and consider myself a good judge of Caribbean and Cuban food. My girlfriend and I ordered the fried stuffed potatoes for appetizer. The spices were very good, but the beef stuffing was cold- weird. We both ordered the Cuban skirt steak and it was very good. She got her's medium and mine was medium-rare, and they actually came out as we had ordered... shocking! Potions were large and the plates came with rice and fried plantains. All done well. Minus one star for the crowd. There was a table of about 10 guys dining next to us and they were adamant to holler at every big booty walking by. Entertaining for the first 10 minutes and annoying for the last 20.
(4)Oliver B.
Amazing food, amazing atmosphere. My first visit since the restaurant reopened. Well worth the wait. Took the restaurant, and the service to a whole new level. . . . raising the bar of standard for all the restuarants on Ocean Drive--- they should take a cue! Service was great. very attentive and well versed on telling us what to order. Some of my friends were having a first time cuban dinner . . and LOVED it. The vaca frita was the best I ever had. And I've had many!!!!! Love the band too. Great time Keep up the good work. Will definitely be back.
(5)Aldo V.
OMG - so so so so so good - Right on the beach - romantic and scenic I had the Picadillo and he had the Ropa Vija... mouthwatering!!!!! Thank you Gloria! the Rhythm got me, and reeled me in, and ordered me 3 more Mojitos - (which were divine as well)
(5)Hilda H.
Larios always has good food, I would say traditional Cuban food with the fancy of south beach. Their Roquelaure preparada is awesome, I live the thingy cut French fries. Latinos always has great music , so you can shave down calories from their widely known and delicious flan. They definitely give a lot of food and for a reasonable price.
(4)Jonathan G.
As of May 12, they are in a temporary location at the Cardozo Hotel on the corner of 13th and Ocean. The temporary location is nice but there were no signs for the restaurant outside the hotel. The hotel has its own restaurant outside with its own sign, menu, and hostess standing outside, which makes it confusing. This made finding the place a little frustrating. Service was friendly but we were the only other party in the restaurant. They were having a little trouble with there computers but said they were getting accustomed to a new system. As for the food, my wife and I were underwhelmed. We tried the chicken soup, chicken bites, yuca frita, and moros. The soup was okay but the rest of the stuff was a little dry and/or bland for my taste. I asked for some extra mojo sauce and that made everything taste better. I have enjoyed their food during previous visits and was a little disappointed this time.
(3)Cindy W.
We had reservations for May 4, 2013 for 11 people. We called May 2nd to add 2 more. We were told they are closed and under construction! We received no call or email notification. What a disaster if we had shown up.
(1)Greg N.
Being from an area myself where there are plenty of Cuban restaurants I've had my share and I must say that Larios is really an excellent place. Especially when compared with all the other restaurants in the area; those really are tourist traps whereas Larios on its own would be a great restaurant regardless of its location. A little pricy but again think ambiance and quality of food, it really is a great value. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Celeste B.
Chose this restaurant while making a mad dash out of the rain! There was no line and seats were available. LOL. Overall I was not impressed with this restaurant which I later heard is supposed to be a big deal in Miami Beach! Visited this restaurant in March 2012 and must say the mojitos are top notch. For my meal I had a seafood combination (the exact name I cant recall) which was OK. My side of plaintains was actually the best part of the meal unfortunately. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the dance floor seemed to be the most active part of the restaurant although i thought it was out of place. A better location might have been in the back of the restaurant as we had to dodge the people on the floor when we exited!
(3)Ali G.
Delicious cuban food! Their mojitos are scrumptious and their staff is very friendly.
(4)Clem R.
I ate there twice and this is a decent place. I had Cuban pork and Cuban shrimps. I like their mojo rice. Service ok and atmosphere pretty cool. Quite touristy.
(4)Anthony M.
South Beach on the Ocean seems like a bad place to eat. It's crowded and every restaurant is bugging you to come and eat dinner with them. It can get very annoying. I had a client who took me to Larios and it was love at first bite. And I mean that literally...I ordered the ropa vieja and it was amazing. It was one of the best I have ever had in my life. In fact, I have been back here several times. This is my go to restaurant on South Beach now. The mojitos are also really good too and I'm not a big mojito fan. I highly recommend you make your way here for some amazing food and drink. You will tempted to stop at other places but keep walking until you get here.
(4)Paul K.
Decent athmosphere and food- due to the location, it is a little pricier and more crowded than what you might get inland, but of course, you pay for the South beach ambiance.....Had the appetizer sampler before dinner, which had a good variety, and then the Cuban style pork with rice and beans, which was tasty. Service was good.
(4)Gina F.
Oh so disappointing. The place was fairly busy for such a late time, our reservation was for 10pm. Even for Miami, the service was painfully slow, but friendly. My friend ordered the pork entree, which was tasty, but frankly, I have had way way better in NY. I ordered the Picadillo, which was bland and the rice and beans that came with both dishes were incredibly bland. The dessert was yummy, but really, how can you screw up dessert? I wouldn't go back.
(2)Zaina O.
very disappointing experience. on vacation from NY and was hoping to have a fantastic Cuban meal while in Miami. the food tasted reheated and not fresh. we started with empanadas which were semi warm. for entrees we ordered the Cuban sandwich which wasn't pressed long enough and half cold. barely any meat on the sandwich with one thin slice of ham and pork- total embarrassment to a Cuban sandwich. also had the vaca frita de pollo which was dry on the skillet. considering Gloria Estefan is a famously Cuban musician, we all expected a lot more from her restaurant.
(1)Laura D.
Larios was good, but it didn't really live up to the hype. I ordered the Pollo A La Milanesa. It was good and I absolutely love cheese, but I would almost say they completely overwhelmed the chicken with the mozzarella. Granted, i've never had the dish elsewhere so I don't really have anything to compare it to. The sangria was excellent and the outdoor seating was also excellent, but no different than anywhere else along Ocean Drive.
(3)Music M.
Great for people watching and the live music but the food was not great.
(2)Marc A.
The day before we boarded the plane to Havana I was having a craving for Cuban food. Sure, we would be eating lots of it all week but what the heck... If you can grab a table outside, go for it but don't sit at the ones along the sidewalk unless you like getting bumped by people when you eat. Get the bread and a mojito to start with. Order the Cuban style steak and another mojito. See what deserts look good to you and enjoy! Adios.
(5)Connie A.
Yum! The strawberry mojito was so goooooood. The live music was a plus as well. The band gave the maracas to our bride-to-be in our bachelorette party and she had an awesome time. While all this seemed to be going well, my friend and I got sick from the Cuban roasted pork. To describe it, it was tender, juicy and definitely been roasting for a while. It was delicious at the moment, the aftermath was not. Sigh.
(3)Jeannie N.
Excellent food and ambiance. Emilio Estefan personally greeted us which made for quite the memorable evening. Highly recommend!
(5)Monica S.
It's probably true that a local might skip the trip to this Ocean Drive tourist destination. Their South Miami location, okay, but this one, not so much. Alas, I had a friend in town who wanted to enjoy some Cuban action while sitting close enough to catch an ocean breeze and capitalize on the prime people watching. So on a Saturday, past midnight, I took him to Larios. My pan con bistec was surprisingly good. The plantains came out lukewarm however and the yuca undercooked. Indoors, a nightclub seemed to be going on in full force while ladies with their cha chas and moneymakers shook it for the entertained outdoor diners. Service was speedy and friendly, but at this time of night with their bumping party going on inside, I felt like I was crashing someones quinceañera.
(3)Mitch K.
I took my wife on her first trip to South Beach and we hit a home run with Larios on a Saturday night. We loved the food and service and sitting outside on along the street made for great entertainment. The mojitos were very good as well as the food. Even with the other restaurants begging us to eat at their establishments, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Patrick P.
Food was ok but found out that the 15 dollar steak was actually a 55 dollar steak when the waiter mistook my order. They did try to compensate me with 20% off but not happy our bill was over $150 when all was said and done.
(2)DQ M.
Have the whole Red Snapper but remember: 18% gratuity is already added. It was my first meal/first dinner on South Beach - and it was one of Ocean Drive's tourist traps, but it was decent and filling.
(4)Leslie C.
I dined at the beautiful restaurant on Friday August 29, 2014. The ambiance and the staff are wonderful and inviting. You feel like you're in a different place eating the food and enjoying the live music. We didn't want to leave. The mango mojito makes me want to recreate them (hopefully in my own kitchen) and I'm happy to say that I tasted ceviche for the first time here and it was delicious!!!! As well as the paella. I'm in love with this place. And hopefully I will return soon. Keep up the great work!!!
(4)Andres D.
This place will always be a favorite for anyone coming to South Beach and looking for Cuban food! The chicken vaca frita (a twist on traditional beef) is amazing along with some moro rice and tostones! The service is great and ambiance is FUN! keep an eye on for a great waiter in the making, Bryan who has all the qualities of an outstanding employee!
(5)Leslie J.
Decor: I think the Estefans did a beautiful job decorating this restaurant. There is vibrant paint and colorful paintings of Gloria adorned on the walls. Ambiance: Located right off 8th & Ocean right next to News Cafe, Larios is sure to lure in many hungry customers. Service: Friendly and fast. Food: Larios will offer huge family-sized portions so sharing with a big group is highly emphasized. Even two dishes seemed overly plentiful for two people. We ordered papas rellenas and fried yucca as appetizers to munch on. For entrees, we ordered the Lechon Asado and the Fried Pork Bites. I really enjoyed the outside crust of the papas rellenas. It was rolled in some type of spice (possibly paprika). Whatever it was, it was delicious. The fried yucca was cooked to perfection - crispy on the outside, moist on the inside (one of my faves). The fresh garlic sauce that accompanies the yucca will give you massive garlic breath afterwards so I would ease off of it unless you want to protect yourself from vampires. The lechon asado was slow cooked in this ridiculously flavorful sauce (it was likely all the pork juices that oozed out from cooking it). The lechon was so soft and moist that I could easily shred each piece with my fork. The fried pork bites was a nice alternative to fried chicken chunks because unlike white meat chicken, the pork meat wasn't dry. Each of our entrees came with a mound of white rice and maduros (sweet fried plantains). I found the maduros here to be sweeter and softer than other Cuban spots I've tried in Miami which I appreciated. Overall, I thought Larios was a pretty decent dining experience. Even by the beach, I have yet to experience bad food or service. Only thing I hoped for was that they played Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, ha!
(4)Michael B.
Ordered the Rad Snapper and was not disappointed.
(4)Holly R.
Meh is the best way to describe the food. We went to Larios for Valentine's Day and the atmosphere is very quaint in the side courtyard of the Ocean Drive Cordoza hotel. But the food was so very uninspired. Especially the stale, fried apps that tasted like they had been sitting around. Flank steak was disappointing. The flan was probably the highlight of the meal. So many good restaurants in Miami that it stinks to waste a meal.
(2)Orlando B.
Went to their temporary pop-up place in the Cardozo Hotel. Maybe just the day we went, but it really wasn't that crowded. Not sure if this place just has hype or what. Food was fine. Nothing that was so noteworthy, I remember, but still better than the 100% tourist traps right on the road. You are looking at $70-75 for 2 people drinks/appetizers/meal etc., which is about average for Miami Beach. Would I go back? Probably.
(3)Don T.
I would have given this place 3-4 stars if it were not for the waiter or management. We had 12 people there Friday night for dinner and to celebrate a birthday party for our friend who turned 40 something. The waiter spent the first 15-20 minitues questioning whether we could pay the bill before the food ot drinks came. Outragous. What he did know was 12 of the 12 people at the table were company owners, professionals and executives at large companies. We asked the waiter would you have asked this question if we were not different or people of color? and he said course no. He explained that the new owners or management changed its policy about large groups eating and how they should pay. OK. I accept that.. To management there are many places to eat around your place so make sure you spend more time pleasing your customers than investigating them..
(2)LC B.
So on a trip to South Beach, my bestie recommended eating here since it is owned by Gloria Estefan and that Rachael Ray had mentioned it years ago. So we decided to try their Cuban menu.. We sipped on mojitos while we sat outside..I got mine in a souvenir glass that I got to keep--yay! We both had their roasted pork, rice, and plaintains. I thought the roasted pork was meh..it was dry and disappointing. I did like the plaintains and could care less about the rice. My friend agreed and said she had better Cuban roasted pork. Although, the pork didn't tickle our pickle, I loved it's location across the beach in SoBe where you can sit , sip on mojitos, and people watch.
(3)Emma V.
Excellant Cuban food.
(4)Kim M.
I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars... Thought this place was pretty good! We had a group of 10, and we were suprisingly sat very quickly for a Saturday night! I had 2 cocktails from their bar menu, and they were a bit sweet but decent enough. My friends who had the mojitos said something similar, that they were good but a bit sweet. Three of us split the big combo appetizer and yucca. The yucca was FANTASTIC! Best I have ever had. I've never had yucca that creamy before, and it was so good. I devoured it before anyone else could really get to it (and no regrets!). We then split the grilled seafood platter, which was ok. It was COVERED in butter though, which is not my thing. I ate a few of the calamaris and a scallop, but kind of left it at that. I wasn't super into the crab and lobster, and I was told that they were ok. The fish that came on the platter was also WAY over salted and I literally couldn't eat it. What I ended up eating, and that was really good, was the moro rice. It's a combo of black beans and rice and I thought it was great! It was simple and tasty at the same itme, without being oversalted. In total, I wish that I had just gotten an order of yucca and an order of moro rice. Not the most balanced meal, but has to be healthier than my bowl of butter with seafood.
(3)Samantha G.
I never had Cuban food, other than Cuban sandwiches, in my life so I was looking forward to checking out Lario's. I split the shredded beef with onions with one of my friends, which also came with a side of moro rice and fried plantains. I enjoyed the crispiness of the meat but it also was juicy as well. The plantains and rice complimented the dish very well. For drinks, our table ordered 3 sangrias to start off night. Although the sangrias were delicious, I felt that they were somewhat weak. The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the service here. It felt like the waiters were rushing us during our entire experience. That was frustrating since the majority of us never had Cuban food. They also forgot our bread too, which turned out to be nothing special anyways.
(4)Lester M.
As a local, I really could care less about this place. It is what it is. A tourist place that serves over hyped, over priced cuban food. But I had friends from England, we were at the beach and they wanted cuban food. So here we are. The service was terrible. Our server took our order by memory and realized his memory was not very good. To the point that he had to run to the kitchen to intersect the order to correct it. I asked for a sampler to find that, since the last time I was here, years ago, they have considerable reduce the size of it. They say it serves two. I say it serves me and that's it. I was baffled by the new drink menu. The $50 glass bowl full of ice and some mojito is just ridiculous. But hey, people buy it. Unless requested by some friend or family from out of town. I'm not coming here anymore.
(1)Heather K.
For her birthday dinner, one of my friends was adamant that she wanted Cuban food....so we came here. I went with my trusty Latin "safe" food and got the ceviche. It was pretty good but not incredible. I also had the tomato salad which was literally just half a tomato cut into slices with a plastic cup of Italian-tasting dressing on the side. Uhmm for like $8 or something. Eek. It was good though, and the tomato was fresh. Our service was prompt and courteous. They have a wide variety of mojitos on the bar menu and they're all really good (and probably the most authentic ones we had during our whole vacation). A couple negatives though: the prices are rather high, even considering its tourist-trappy location. And the bathroom is kind of gross.
(3)Sylvia K.
Beautiful restaurant... Known for their mojitos... We had the BEST Yummy Cuban food here while visiting South Beach... lots of seating inside and outside... we opted to be inside with the A/C since the humidity was a killer this August. We had a party of 7 and everyone at the table loved their meal. I had the Skirt steak with chimchiri sauce, mojo rice and fried sweet plantains.. That right there hit the spot!! Satisfying my cuban craving!! Woulda have given it a 5 star rating but one negative was the service...ther server was not attentive and did not check on us as often as he should have. Wasn't the friendliest either, maybe he was having a bad day... regardless, food was BOMB.com !
(4)Jeff P.
Disappointing. The ambiance, service, food and drinks were simply disappointing. UGH, a poor choice of mine--I regret that I broke my golden rule by not leaving once I realized it was a total mistake. Lot's of choices, make a better one. Overcooked food. Under-presented. Unbalanced Mohito. Misguided service. Good music choice - but way too loud. Leftover decorations. Gloria, are you thinking?
(1)Tatiana B.
Six of us were walking in South Beach on a Sunday evening, nobody was starving but we decided to go in here and have a few appetizers as I've been wanting to try the place for a while. We sat outside although it was not a great table as it was in the far corner with tree branches right on our heads. We ordered some mojitos and they were awful. No soda, almost no sugar, just plain bland. This would have been a 4-star review but I'm taking off 1 star because of the mojitos, especially when they are 12 dollar mojitos. Since we were "not hungry", we ordered some appetizers to share. We decided on the stuffed potatoes, stuffed plantain with ropa vieja, ham croquettes, cod fritters, mojo marinated pork bites and fried yucca. OMG. Everything was SO delicious!! I was very surprised to say the least as I kind of expected it to be "tourist trap food". The cod fritters were amazing; very different, there was some sweetness to them and they came with this amazing passion fruit dipping sauce that I could eat a bucket by itself. The stuffed plantains and stuffed potatoes were good as well. The mojo pork bites and yucca fries were our favorites! The pork had soooo much flavor. Seasoned very well, garlicky with a hint of lime. They went perfectly with the yucca fries and garlic dipping sauce. Since we were "not that hungry", we decided to go with a second round of appetizers but only the favorites from the first round. So, round 2 of cod fritters, pork bites and yucca fries. Ding, ding, ding! Win again. We ordered one flan to share for dessert. Very creamy and light just as it should be. Delicious! Food prices are very, very fair. I thought this was going to be outrageously expensive but it wasn't at all.
(3)LuLu M.
I know Ocean Drive restaurants are not not known for the quality of their food (just that they have primo locations across from the beach) but I LOVE Larios! I come here every time I come to Miami. Everything is right about this place: - Hip and beautiful decor (the bar area is amazing!) - The menu is a mile long with delicious seafood choices, cuban cuisine and delicious drinks - The waitstaff is friendly and helpful! We ordered the Grilled Seafood Plate, Fried Stuffed Potatoes and Ceviche, ALL TO DIE FOR!!! In fact, we came back again the next day for lunch to have it all again. Thanks Gloria Estefan for having such a great establishment!
(4)Darrell K.
I was visiting Miami and was looking for some good Cuban food and this place was recommended. The food and drinks were excellent. The Owner even came out to check on us. Great place and Ambiance!
(5)K. D.
In September a group of girl friends and I went to Miami for a bachelorette party. I being the planner, looked into many restaurants to find a fun and tasty place to take the group. I found a ton of positive reviews for this place and decided to make a reservation. I could not be more pleased with our experience. Never have we felt so taken care of. At first we were a little disappointed to be sat in a private room with another large group, but the restaurant was very apologetic . We started our meal out with sangria and a couple appetizers. The chef took the time to come by our table and ask how everything was- which we loved. Afterwards he sent over some special appetizers for us- what a treat! Following our delicious meal he sent over dessert for us and congratulated the bride to be. The small gestures sure went a long way. We felt very special and the time the chef took to ensure our meal with exceptional was great. The service was fantastic and overall we had a wonderful meal. We are still, months later, talking about what a great experience we had at Larios on The Beach!
(5)Karen r.
Pretty good, a nice option if you want to sit in the middle of the action. I have a feeling that all of the places along Ocean Drive have decent food. You're really paying for the view. The seafood is great; I think Miami generally has fresh, wonderful seafood. I had the roasted chicken, which was nice. Skirt steak was good. Fried plaintains were OK. I would say the prices are about right for the food and location. Service is better than I would have expected (just a little slow) given how crowded this place gets on the weekend. If you want to sit on Ocean Drive and people-watch, grab a meal, this is a good place to do it.
(3)Victoria A.
LOve love love. My mom and I had the sampler platter and everything on there was delicious, except for the tamale. It was weird and all mixed. However the ambiance was nice, the service was friendly attentive and water was always filled. Our server had wonderful recommendations and made us feel very welcome. WE had fried plantain for dessert and loved it. Definitely plan on going back to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Rose N.
Great first meal for our 1st night in Miami. The guava mojitos are a must! Listen to your server and their recommendations, they know best. Our group of 12 listened intently on our server's choices for what she thought was Lario's best and we stuck with it. Many ppl in my group ordered the skirt steak and since we are egg-obsessed, we asked for a fried egg on top. The medium-rare steak, running yolk and the chimichurri were magic together. The roasted chicken was also a good choice and their ceviche served with plantain chips, delish!
(4)Sam R.
Went here for dinner with a Cubana and lucky I did because no habla espanol! Our waiter hardly spoke english and they had a good conversation while I enjoyed my drink and the atmosphere. Ordered the roasted pork which was just alright and almost dry so I didn't care for it too much. I must say, they had the best black beans and rice I ever had in my life! That is why they are getting 4 stars instead of 3. Overall, nice place, decent food, it gets crowded, prices aren't bad (except for the drinks, but that's expected.) I don't think I would go back, unless to get the beans and rice to go..
(4)Janessa A.
First off i suggest you valet for 20.00 or youll have to walk a good mile if you are lucky enough to find parking to park in a garage. Nice atmosphere and decor inside, except they seated me and my honey in a little hole in the wall I guess since it was the two of us, but it was still nice and intimate . They serve a variety of drinks my b.f ordered Dos EQUIS beer but I happened to order a frozen straberry daiquiri.($11). which has been by far the best one I've had in a really long time! Appetizers we got the papa rellenos which brought 3 of them kinda weird usually appetizers bring an even number, I recommend that or fried pork chunks. Dinner I decided to get pollo asado($13)- grilled chicken breast with onions, morros and maduros, that with some lime it was really good. My boyfriend ordered vaca frita($15) which is one of their famous dishes although your jaw will get tired from chewing so much. Our waitress and assistant waiter were on top of their game and very helpful, just make sure to check your bill as they add a 17% gratuity already included. Our bill included with tip was about $70 something Overall very nice dinner on the beach.
(4)Pete R.
Cuban Food Heaven! What else would expect in Miami? As we walked down Ocean Drive pushing past every restaurant with a cute girl in front shoving a menu in our hands and offering us one free drink and $9.99 lunch specials, we were not swayed. I was going to Larios, the night before I had arrived and the kitchen was closed. This was the day. Larios was not in your face with people begging you to come in. In fact it was operating knowing people were just going to go there. We sat outside and were able to watch South Beach go by as we ate, which is always a treat. I wanted Cuban pork and I got it. It was good, not the best I have ever had but a true stand up Cuban Fried Pork Cubes. The Yuca Frittes were the best I have ever had. My Girls shredded chicken was incredible I have never had shredded chicken like that before. Next time I am in MIA I will return, most likely for the shredded pork!
(4)Christina C.
Went here on Friday night with some friends that were staying on the beach. The place is a typical Cuban restaurant in Miami with the exception that it's right on Ocean Drive. Typically, this is an inconvenience to me given that I have to look for parking (which is a hassle) and given the extensive number of people in the area (it's hard to even walk around). However, it wasn't that bad on Friday night... my friends and I were seated within about 10 to 20 minutes and the service was pretty good. I at the vaca frita (my favorite shredded beef) with white rice and tostones (plantains of some sort or other). We drank wine with our meal and another friend tried some of the martinis. The food was pretty good, but not great. I liked the meal, but in terms of where I would go for Cuban food, this is just not on the top of my list.
(3)judy n.
It's only taken me 4 years to find a good cuban place down here... My roommate took us here for a yummy late lunch. She highly recommended the Churrascos a lo cubano, (and nothing else) so away we ordered... 3 orders of the Cuban skirt steak, medium rare... and it was OH-So-Tender! Who knew that a skirt steak could be so moist and tasty? The chimichurri sauce was great too! A great match! The Rice and beans it came with were great too, tasty and with just the right amount of spice. and we split a 1/2 carafe of red wine sangria for 10.50. it was a nice match to the meal. (too bad there are no drink specials on mondays, you can walk up the street to the next restaurant and easily get 2 for 1 drinks).
(4)John W.
The plantain cups. Bueno. The shredded chicken is amazing. Make sure to ask for some Cuban bread. Went with some friends who are local and they eat there all the time. I thought the food was fantastic. The service was pretty good. Our server was very informative. It was a Wed night so the dance floor was pretty mellow. I could see how this place would be good people watching. Great Atmosphere. Only looses one star for the drink prices... but other than that...We'l be back for sure....
(4)Dannielle C.
Come to miami and indulge in Cuban food! I've honestly never had a bad meal here. Atmosphere is a bit cluttered, a bit touristy for a local, and it's usually busy, but the food is still great!!!
(4)Zeki G.
Great Cuban food. I recommend it. The pork and the Cuban Style Skirt Steak were great.
(4)Rick B.
Really good authentic Cuban food. The fried red snapper was superb. The mojito is a must have.
(4)LESLIE C.
I really had high hopes for this place. It was our last day in Miami and my boyfriend and I wanted some really good cuban food. I have been to Gloria Estefan's other restaurant, Bongo's. And I loved it. This one...not so much. We went at exactly 12...a normal lunch time. Well, the one thing on the menu I really, really wanted was the cuban chicken with yellow rice and sweet plantains. The waiter tells me the chicken isnt ready yet and wont be for over an hour! And the rice isnt ready either! Then he just walks off....doesnt give any other options or offer an apology...nothing. I manage to have someone go track our waiter down and ask him to come back so I could ask him what WAS available. He tells me that is the only thing on the whole menu not ready... Blahh.. So I get the roasted chicken, and asked for yellow rice...but oh, wait, i forgot...its not ready and apparently it takes an hour to make rice. So, I had to settle for white rice. The food was ok...the chicken was kind of greasy but tasted good...and the sweet plantains were awesome. Service not so great- 3 out of 5 Food ok- 3 out of 5 Music/Location/Atmosphere- 5 out of 5 My boyfriend got the cuban sandwich and said it was the worst he had ever had...
(2)Pamela M.
Stopped in for a drink and light lunch while walking around South Beach. Seated on the patio which made it ideal for the typical SoBe people watching experience. Atmosphere was ok, servers were nice if a little slow. Mojito's are very good but the ones at Tap Tap are much better. Had the fried plantains to start, nice, a little bland and the dipping sauce had a lot of garlic in it. Shared the ropa vieja (shredded beef) with moro rice and sweet plantains....all of it very good but the plantains would have me coming back for more! Overall, food was a decent price for the serving size. To be frank, there are better places to go for Cuban food, especially in Little Havana, but if you're looking for something around SoBe, this is an ok alternative.
(3)Blak B.
I love the ropa vieja. I hope I spelled that right! Also munch on anything in the creole sauce. They have a Dj that spins Latin music after 8
(4)Nalini T.
Nice spot for a casual dinner . Food us good, service was good. Ceviche was really delicious and the sangria was very refreshing. We sat outside, enjoyed the view and the people watching. Overall a nice lively spot on the beach.
(4)Jonathan T.
Larios never disappoints!!!! Food is GREAT!!!! If your a steak lover get the CHURASCO!!!! It is a MUST.
(5)Emily T.
Peculiarly, this is one of the places on Ocean that didn't have a hustling hostess. We came to this place based on the recommendation of a stranger on the street when we asked her for directions. I ordered the Pollo Asado (famous roasted chicken) and it was delicious! It was a simple dish, like the way it is. A half chicken on one plate and rice /beans/plantains on another. I was impressed. The roast pork was just OK. Famous fried rice: pretty damn good except it was on the salty side. And last but not least, their drinks.... We've got a generous, no-nonsense bartender here. Our Mai Tais, Mojitos and Pina Coladas were strong but yummy. At 11 dollars a piece, i feel like I got my money's worth :) When I go back to Miami next year, I will be stopping by Larios for sure.
(4)Kimberly S.
I was actually impressed when I came to the beach to eat at this restaurant. I was expecting mediocre food, as most places on the beach are so-so. The food was delicious (I recommend the ropa vieja) and the service was very attentive.
(4)T S.
Came to this restaurant on recommendation for good Cuban food and I also know Gloria Estefan "Bongos" in Orlando is amazing. The menu has signature dishes from Bongos which I liked. I loved the décor, location and environment. Did not really care for the pineapple mojito (tasted like cough syrup) but the fruit punch was great and so was the food and the service. We also had a celebrity sighting.
(4)matt h.
The ceviche was tremendous and had a very generous portion of fish. The Cuban sandwich was tasty and filling. We got a great table outside without a reservation at around 10pm on a Wednesday and the service was great. Our server, an older man with a ponytail, was kind enough to let us try both kinds of rice, and put up with our drunken antics. The plantains were really good, and the price of dinner, which did not involve any more drinking, was a very reasonable $50.
(4)Daniel E.
If I could give this terrible restaurant half a star, I would. I've been meaning to give this restaurant a proper review since returning from Miami a few weeks ago. Today, I finally have enough down time to get to it. Let me preface this review by saying that this restaurant was not my choice. We went there because my work colleague had fine memories of eating there on a spring break trip with her boyfriend. And Larios might be good for just that - spring break tourists. Located right off Ocean Drive, Lario's is partially owned by Gloria Estefan which makes this particular restaurant (that doubles as a Salsa club after hours) a very popular destination for tourists and wanderers. Supposedly known best for its Cuban food, Lario's offers typical fare, from skirt steaks to fried plantains and various seafood dishes. Grace and I decided to take a streetside table to people watch and enjoy the evening air. Since we arrived in Miami that day, we ate a reasonably late lunch and thus a very late dinner, but the restaurant was still bustling. I was completely underwhelmed with the wine list, which curiously offered many selections that didn't pair well with Cuban food at all. I finally settled on a glass of Bogle's Sauvignon Blanc (2006), because I was planning on having seafood, and love drinking the varietal in particularly warm climates because it's served chilled and the light flavors are actually quite refreshing. Our waitress brought our drinks right away, and I was immediately a bit put off that my wine wasn't particularly chilled. Nearly 20 minutes later, she finally made it back around to take our order. I opted for the Lobster Creole, fried plantains and black beans and rice. Another 30 minutes went by and we finally got our food. My lobster came in a small casserole-type dish, swimming in a VERY salty creole base. It was a bit tough in spots. Overall, I was very disappointed with the Lobster considering what I paid for the dish (about $35 I think?). Presentation was largely uninspired. Rice and plantains came on a separate plate and there was no attention to color in the presentation. Everything had a brown tinge. It gave me the impression that the chef simply didn't care about making the side plate look appetizing. The plantains were pretty greasy, but the black beans and rice were fabulous, hands down the best part of the meal. I've read elsewhere that Lario's supposedly has very authentic Cuban cuisine, but this was far from my experience. Save your money for a restaurant in a Cuban neighborhood. You'll pay half what you pay at Lario's and it will taste authentic. EVERYTHING I ate, from the plantains to the lobster to the beans, had too much salt - and I'm a salt guy. The only saving grace for Lario's is location. It was fun to people watch with Grace despite the uninspired meal. Stick to singing Gloria, but only perform Miami Sound Machine stuff. You're a terrible restaurateur and I don't like anything other than your Miami Sound Machine songs. So, all in all, I guess you're almost an EPIC FAIL, save "Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya," that's gold baby, gold.
(1)Serene F.
Great location, crappy dishes. Every item down to basic side dishes were lackluster -- Cuban sandwiches were dry with way too much bread and raw onion overpowered the yuca. Plus, menu was overwhelming with way too many options. Quality over quantity please!
(2)Josselyn W.
Went here for a late dinner twice while I was staying on South Beach. This place is definitely a step up from the rest of the Ocean Ave tourist traps - food is reasonably priced, and everything we had was delicious! Service was ok - both times the waiters weren't the most attentive. Had a roasted chicken dish with a yummy sauce one night, and then had the beef in a skillet sauteed with spices and onions (one of their specials) the other night. Both items were very tender and flavorful! Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a Cuban place with a large selection of dishes, and also the $15-25 per entree range.
(4)Tom M.
Had the Cuban and it was dry - needed more mustard and more pickles - but the meat was pretty good. The say they have world famous mojito, but I thought it just average.
(2)Max G.
This is a great place to come to people watch. The food is really good but leaves a guilt feeling as it is somewhat too expensive. You are really paying for location. But overall, it is a cool place to come and have some delicious and simple cuban food. Order the ceviche and the ropa vieja.....yummmm!
(3)Aretha W.
Decided to go here because we saw it had great reviews (and it was close to our hotel)....and we were not disappointed. We ordered the ceviche, cod fritters and and fried rice dish that had shrimp, chicken and beef w/sweet plantains....everything was excellent. And they had the best Miami Vice I've ever had. Service was good and the place was beautiful. Will definitely visit again on my next trip to Miami.
(4)Courtney C.
I have no complaints about this spot... except that their idea of "incense" is like piss in smoke form. I dunno... I have a dog that I leave at home while at work, and I leave out pee mats, so I'm VERY experienced with certain smelly aromas. Choose another scent pls, Ms. Estefan. I had the $14 pollo asado which was SUPER tasty. It wasn't dry at all.. the sauce was killer. Not to mention I couldn't get my mind of my girl's skirt steak. I had a strawberry mojito which folks at my table were complaining was too sweet, but it didn't really bother me. The location is great, but either walk or take a cab cuz I bet parking is a B. All the meals are hella decently priced for lunch. I've spent more dough on breakfast at Starbucks. Watch yourself when you come to Larios, though... the rhythm just MIGHT get you. (Bad joke, Richard...)
(4)Sandy C.
I was a little confused when we got the menu and it said "Bongo's" cuz the name on the outside of the restaurant said "Lario's on the Beach" We'd made reservations and got seated promptly but away from the crowd and live band, on the 2nd Fl. We felt secluded and ignored. Our waitress was slow and made few appearances. We were missing a set of utensils and plates and had to help ourselves. I think they use the 2nd fl for larger private parties and they have a tv that shows the live band downstairs, but I just didn't feel the same vibe. The food was good, Latin Cuban food with a large portions and lots of carbs. Do not get the sangria though, a few of us ordered by the glass and got cocktail fruit instead of fresh fruit. It was overly sweetened and tasted like a fruit cocktail out of the can. When we asked the waitress if they had fresh fruit she said that is how they make it and everyone seems to love it. We were turned off and didn't want to pay for it since we couldn't even drink it. The prices were decent but I don't know if I'd come here again.
(3)Jordan P.
Awesome sidewalk seating in South Beach. Mojitos were all they were cracked up to be. Food was pretty good too, I'm still tasting that Ceviche!!!
(4)Eric O.
This is some of the best Cuban food I've ever had (and I'm Cuban). Larios has the best of everything...awesome location in the middle of South Beach, amazing authentic Cuban food, and great music and atmosphere. It's one of several restaurants owned by Gloria Estefan around Miami. We started the night out with some mojitos, which are amazing here. They come with a stick of pure sugar cane and everything. I ordered the vaca frita, and it was hands down the best I've ever had...they serve it here to you on a skillet. All of our sides, like maduros, rice, etc. where all flawless. We capped the meal with some Tres Leches for dessert, also the best Tres Leches I've ever had - you have to try it. Our server, Pablo, was a machine and was reading our mind throughout the whole meal. Wish I could eat here every night. Don't miss out on Larios if you're near South Beach!
(5)Yarimar C.
The best cuban food I have had!! everytime I go I try something different and each plate is amazing- My personal favorite is la Ropa Vieja which is delicious!!!!.
(5)Never M.
I was really hoping to see Gloria here! :-( But the food made up for that. The service was bad. Our waiter hovered ALOT and was also very rude, short and abrupt. But then again so was the rest of the staff. My boyfriend had a steak cuban which was outstanding, yours truly had a garlic shrimp dish with the best jasmine rice ever. We went for lunch and had 2 drinks each no dessert. This "lunch" cost my boyfriend $115.
(3)Esmeralda P.
I was pleasantly surprised!!! If you love cuban food this is the place in Miami Beach. Great food, Servers are awesome and the mojitos the best!!! The prices are good too. Being in a huge group of people we had bad luck at another place. But here they were on the ball!!! We tried their lunch to see and came back with reservations for dinner. I go back to Miami I will go there again and again. I have tried Cuban food before and at several places back at home but in Miami Beach I felt it was close to it all and you couldnt go wrong here. Service is great. She was patient with us and got the order right every single time. Cheers!
(5)Kaustav M.
Awesome location, atmosphere, sweet plantains, shrimp criolla, sangria and service. We wanted to try Cuban food and certainly this was a good start! I didn't know it was owned by Gloria Estefan but what the heck, it was awesome!
(4)Rob E.
My wife and I wanted some authentic Cuban food while on a weekend trip to Miami. It was either Larios or Puerto Sagua and we choose Larios because of its proximity to our hotel and atmosphere (Puerto Sagua looks like a diner). We originally were going to sit outside but we could immediately tell that the service was going to be very slow and we would probably be forgotten about. So, we decided to switch to a table indoors. We ordered the Ceviche to begin with. It was a nice and refreshing beginning to our meal and we both enjoyed it. For the entree, we both had the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, rice and black beans on the side along with plantains. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and we both enjoyed it. We washed everything down with a carafe of red sangria, which was ok (bit on the sweet side). Only negative thing about this restaurant is the pace of the service. We felt like they were rushing us out, probably so they could turn through as many tables as possible on a Friday night. There's a 50/50 chance we would go back again. I think next time we would opt for the more casual Puerto Sagua and give it a try for something more authentic.
(3)Brian F.
I recommend this restaurant, but if you're looking to ave your socks knocked off, go elsewhere. Perhaps the people I was with simply raised my expecations to a lace where they could not be met but either way I walked away feeling a little, well, underwhelmed. I was there two nights this week. The first night I had the seafood combo that was highly recommended and the second night I had the marsitas de puerco. The former was good with a reasonable amount of shellfish and a broth that was decently seasoned. I like big flavors and I was told by the server to expect big flavors, but it simply didn't deliver. Again, it was good, just not great. The latter, a pork dish, was very flavorful, but the pieces were so dry for the most part except two or three of the last pieces that were perfect. The unevenness was disappointing. The menu for the most part is reasonable and affordable. The ambiance is fun and lively and you feel like you're in a really nice restaurant, but the prices are reasonable.
(3)Aboud Y.
I love Larios and the food and atmosphere never disappoint. Its one of my favorite places in Miami for lunch/dinner and people watching.
(4)Eric L.
Good food, prices reasonable for Ocean Ave. Sit outside to people watch. Best Mojito I had in S. Beach.
(4)James M.
Our fav Cuban in South Beach for 3 years. The "Luxury", rum mojito is the best in my life- had on several occasions. Roast pork, fatty as expected,but the best in my life. People watching great. Side mixed vegetables excellent. They include asparagus!
(5)Jennifer M.
We decided to eat here based on reviews. I'm so glad we did! It's so tasty. The decor is fun with lit up chairs in the waiting area. We wanted to eat outside but they couldn't accommodate a party of six so we sat inside. The have live entertainment that plays outside and inside. We had the potato balls (can't remember the name) and the pork tamale. The tamale was so moist but lacked pork. The potatoes balls were delicious. I ordered the Cuban style skirt steak with chimichurri. That steak was a-MAZING! And the chimichurri was just as good I ordered extra and poured it on my rice and beans. Their mojitos are stiff. Service was great. We really enjoyed this place and will visit again when in Miami.
(5)Anabelle B.
I had a great experience at Larios On The Beach. Food was great, service was good and prices are expected for a place in South Beach owned by a celebrity. I would definitely go back. Unfortunately the crowd is very predictable, hot dudes with flashy/tacky clothes and hot chicks with fake boobs and Versace bags, very South Beach.
(4)Shannon M.
I figured that being in SoBe I had to have Cuban food and what better place to eat than with a view of the ocean across the street. Now I knew this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant (or at least it used to be since the menus now say 'Bongos'?) but I expected much more from the decor and the food. I felt like I was in a slightly upscale Chilis. It seemed very touristy and I knew that couldn't be a good sign. I think the best food here are the mojitos, which were really good, otherwise I was pretty disappointed. The ceviche was practically inedible - the fish was chewy and tasted like it had been soaked in lime juice for days. I actually wasn't even sure the fish was good, so saving myself a night of praying to the porcelain g-d I only ate a small amount. I had the fried pulled chicken with grilled onions - it was ok, but didn't have a lot of flavor. The mixed rice with beans was better and so were the sweet plantains, but those are kind of hard to screw up. We passed on dessert since we had a huge lunch and assumed their flan was probably nothing to write home about. The live music was a nice touch, but also annoying when you're trying to have a conversation. Also holiday songs sung in Spanish doesn't really say latin/cuban to me. I'm sure there are so many better cuban restaurants in Miami - probably most not on Ocean Dr. - that are probably better worth the money spent.
(2)Henry R.
Bloody Mary drinks are weak. Your better off getting a V8. Sandwiches are not bad just nothing to brag about. This place has a sign saying they have the best Cuban food. If your going to make that claim you better bring it !!! Larios you may be good but no the best.
(2)J. K.
Too many mojitos to choose from, mango mojito was great! We had pork based appetizers, shrimp cariolla, skirt steak, chimchiri pork, etc. Dim lighting inside made it impossible to figure out what on earth we were eating, but tasted great nonetheless. It seemed to be at the end of the Ocean Drive's many restaurants that try to lure you in. Great find. Great way to end a night. I wish I had a mojito.
(4)Zeela D.
Otherwise known as Gloria Estefan's "Bongos" restaurant, this place is a great way to experience Cuban Food and enjoy the view of Ocean Drive in Miami. My sister and I shared the combo appetizer which included fried pork chunks, shrimp on a fried plantain, tamale with sweet corn and pork, and a fried pork ball similar to an empanada. I ordered the minced beef with fried plantains and rice mixed with red beans. For dessert I had a Cuban coffee with condensed milk and the cinnamon rice pudding. I have tried the Bongos restaurant in Orlando, but this one has more of an authentic atmosphere and ambiance. So if you are in the Miami Beach area, then you need to do as Gloria Estefan says and "Get on your feet!" and go to Bongos!
(4)Lia K.
Awesome Palm tree views, strong mojitos, delicious, huge portions of cuban style skirt steak, maduros, fried yucca, and shrimp crilloa. We left stuffed but wanting to stick around to dance.
(4)Cindy F.
The food was decent, however I became violently ill after eating here. 48 hours of N/V/D and an ER visit. No Yumma
(1)John C.
This place rocks! I took my wife here for our first date when we moved to Miami. We're not normally the South Beach types, but dinner here kicked off a night that we'll remember for a long time! The interior was incredible, the wait staff was friendly, the atmosphere was fancy and fun all at the same time - and then our food!!.... Wow. Fantastic eats with very reasonable prices for South Beach! I've eaten at probably a dozen cuban joints since eating here and none have been better than Larios on the Beach.
(5)Kevin A.
LIFE LESSON #34783: AVOID RESTAURANTS OWNED BY CELEBRITIES Oh Gloria...oye MI canto... I had high expectations of Larios, but they sadly were not met. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the live Cuban music is a nice touch. But the food and service sadly fell short. The pork chunks were plentiful, but lacked the flavor of Puerto Sagua's version. The mojitos are a ridiculous $11 and are made too sweet for American-ized tastes. Not at all like the ones I had in Havana. And finally, the paella Valencia. Lots of seafood including a small lobster tail, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams, but a little too soupy and lacking the intoxicating saffron flavor I was craving. Also, I felt totally ripped off when ordering this dish. The menu says that the dish is for two people, but DOES NOT state that the $38 price is PER PERSON. $76 for a plate of paella? Yes there was a small lobster tail in there, but that's a little ridiculous. Our waiter was unapologetic and we left feeling like we got screwed. Service was also lacking as they staff seemed to be too busy joking around and talking to each other to refill water glasses and check on their customers. I won't be back and suggest you steer clear as well.
(2)Eric C.
Great people watching spot in Miami. I'm not a specialist in Cuban food, but I would come back again if I'm in Miami.
(4)David R.
The mojitos were excellent. The food was average for Cuban food. This is a trendy SoBe spot but you can get better and cheaper food in Miami.
(3)Ian P.
Went to larios on a Saturday night with 6 people. I had the roast pork which was delicious. There were several fatty pieces that I didn't like but I know some people love that. Several friends had the Cuban steak and loved it. The moro rice was decent but kind of plain, and the sweet plantains are definitely yummy. The fried plantains are fairly dry and bland so the sweet ones are a no brainer. I had the guava martini which was yummy but very sweet. Fair prices, and the ambience is very loud as they have a dance floor in the front but the music is great. Would definitely go again.
(3)David F.
Wow everything we got at this place was awesome! Ropa Vieja, plantains, tamales, fried pork and the mojitos! So good! I want to go back!
(4)Rachel T.
Larios is what initially sparked my deep burning love for Cuban food. Don't do yourself an injustice by letting its primo touristy locay deter you . .. or the fact that its celebrity owned . . . as I have seen many a SoBe local convert to a Larios regular upon experiencing its amazing, authentic goodness that you just don't find at all that many places within Sobe lines. (This is typically after dragging them reluctantly to Ocean Dr.) This is not the area's typical tourist trap using 2-for-1 drinks to lure in unsuspecting, wide-eyed victims in. It's not even on the same planet.
(5)Mariel G.
Skirt Steak! Try it! with the Chim churri sauce and sweet fried plantains! It's tender, it's well seasoned, it's the perfect size! when you cut the steak, cut a medium-size to large size portion, then scoop up some rice, and plantains and your mouth and taste buds will tingle and make your tummy soooo happy, it'll be proud that it's owned by you. (then afterwards, you may not be proud to own that tummy, but IT'S WORTH IT)
(4)Terry G.
In Miami for a conference and went with a rather large group to Lario's. Most of the people in the group had never been to Miami, let alone South Beach and since had been to Lario's I knew what to expect. We arrived 30 minutes earlier for our reservation, but they were able to seat us anyway, that was a great start. The service was 90% superior and 10% non-existent. When our server was with us she gave us great attention, but then she would disappear - after we were seated it got very busy in there, so with that in consideration it was great service. Great cocktails for everyone to start and then we asked our server to make appetizer choices for us and every one was very pleased with her selections. The entrée choices by the group were varied and no one expressed displeasure with anything. I had a creole shrimp that was very nice. For the entire group Lario's was a hit!
(4)Mike S.
I went to Larios on the recommendation of the concierge at the hotel I was staying at in North Beach. Having become a convert to Cuban food the day before there was no hesitation in indulging again. Upon arrival, the sidewalk seating was packed. My party opted to sit inside where it was hectically busy but not unpleasant. Being a fiend for mojitos, I started off with the "Spicy Mojito" made with Sailor Jerry's spiced rum and was blown away with the intensity of flavor. For an app I gave the tamale a shot and was quite satisfied with the richness of flavor. For my entree I ordered the roast pork which was unbelievably flavorful, as were the rice and beans. The service was a bit pokey, but the place was packed, the food amazing and it was Saturday night in South Beach so all's forgiven.
(4)TL C.
We ate outside so service was decent, but not extraordinary. However, they get a pass on this, I couldn't imagine trying to wait tables while hordes of people pass through the "restaurant". I enjoyed the seafood combo platter (I think that is what it was called). It was phenomenal. My friend enjoyed the steak. The ceviche is served with plantain chips. It's good, not incredible, but good. The mojitos were also very good, but pricey.
(4)Erica C.
Last night my husband and I took a drive down to South Beach. We decided to hit up Larios, thinking that this popular hot spot would live up to the flavor and spice of its owner. The mixed greens salad was anything but, seemed to be full of just romaine, if that. The fried pork was good, but tasted a bit reheated. I am not a big fan of waiting for food, but ordering dinner plates and receiving the...m 5 minutes later worries me about how freshly prepared the food is. Needless to say, the rice was undercooked, the sweet plantains tough, and the shrimp was overcooked. His vaca frita was only half fried. I've had fresher, properly cooked, bigger portions at local Cuban places for half the price. Overall, very disappointed and won't be returning.
(1)Alex F.
Service is great, food is delicious, atmosphere is just right, music is South Beach...wonderful dinner spot. Definitely recommended.
(5)Cezaro L.
I had my reservations about coming here with a group of 10 after reading these reviews... but bit the bullet and made some reservations anyways. Glad we did. Our waiter was charming and attentive (maybe because we were all about the Calle Ocho (aged rum mojito)), the food wait wasn't too long, and we loved the salsa music, pleasantly crowded feel and plush decor. There is dancing on Friday nights and some people were getting really into it. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable given the quality of food, service, and the unbeatable location. My chicken dish (can't go wrong with pollo asado and arroz moro--it's a Cuban restaurant, come on!) was awesome, filled me up completely and cost $13.95. The same dish at Puerto Sagua (a block away) is also pretty good, but not all that much cheaper and comes with a much dinkier atmosphere. I got the impression that most of the restaurants in SoBe are pretty touristy and not very authentic, so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria Estefan's place. Lario's was a pleasant surprise: a great place to get dressed up and eat some good food before a night on the town over Spring Break--without breaking the bank.
(4)SteFUNe e.
Beautiful Gloria Estefan owned restaurant. Food was good, being on a budget I looked for the most modestly priced item on the menu and chose the chicken. 2 girls got the lobster and 1 got the shrimp. I believe between the 4 of us we polished off 8-10 large souvenir size glasses of mojitos. We had a really good time here and they even had a live salsa band playing which made me start crying because my dad loved salsa music and he had been gone at this time 1 1/2 years, while the music played I felt his presence and I started crying uncontrollably. IT was that beautiful. I excused myself and went to the restroom, fixed my face, took a deep breath and went back to our table. Mind you up to this point we had been paying the food bills by what you ordered NOT split 4 ways..ok, so the bill came......my friend saw it first and started to LAUGH OUT LOUD. For 4 girls the bills was $279!!! Holy Sh*#! They were all like...well "Let's just split the bill 4 ways so that we don't have to worry about who owes what"....eeeerrrrr record scratches, hold up chica, uhm I don't think so! I got chicken you ballers got lobster tail and shrimp. they were not so happy! hahahahahah, that was a riot. but seriously be prepared to have a great time, with good food, and spend a bunch of ferria there. I would def go there again.
(4)empress W.
This place really bombed! 6 ladies and a birthday girl. It was 9pm and the place is packed. Thank G we made a reservation! Hostess looked busy, our waiter stressed. We could barely hear each other because the music was turned up so high. The crab fritters were doughy and mushy. The fish ceviche, delicious! That's one star. The seafood plate both grilled and with some red sauce were ok. Everyone who ordered steak was disappointed. Overcooked and bland and tough. We mentioned this but nothing was done. Cafe cubano was the best! That's the 2nd star. I will go back for coffee only but this place is a tourist trap for real.
(2)Sara N.
A friend that lives in Miami brought me here and said this was a great place to eat. The place was busy for a Monday night. I had the shrimp creole which came with white rice and plantains. We also shared an appetizer. Everything was great, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was good. No complaints here. I asked if they could substitute the white rice for brown. They said they didn't have any but then again, it was hard finding healthy options in South Beach.
(4)Tina P.
I had high hopes for this place. We saw it during the day time, and decided that we had to have it for dinner. I was saving my stomach for some authentic Cuban food. I ordered a beef dish like a skirt steak which comes with a side of white rice and plantains. the steak was juicy, but unfortunately lack any taste. My friend ordered the fried rice with fried chicken that tasted better than my dish, but not by much. too bad i left Miami's cuban food on a bleh note.
(3)Andre L.
Food was good and vibe was great. Service needs improvement. It missed the two star cause of it.
(3)Michelle S.
Maybe it's what I ordered but I had the absolute WORST club sandwich ever here. It was bland and the bacon was soggy and greasy. The fries were cold and the service slow. My friend had the pan con busted and wasn't impressed either. I won't be coming back to this lario's.
(2)Anthony A.
South Beach views and good food. What can be wrong with such a combination. The steak was made perfectly tender, seasoned and warm. I will recommend this place to everyone that visting the area.
(4)Cristina L.
Loved it! Was there yesterday ordered sangrias and grilled fish with rice and beans and sweet plantains and I loved every bit of it!!!!! If your in Miami you must eat here!
(5)Madhu S.
Yuck! Am sitting here after my completely untasty meal thinking I need to tell my fellow Yelpers to stay away!!!! Bland bland bland! I had to add salt to everything just to get it down. And whats with the mandatory tip? My waiter was so disinterested and he gets my 18% tip no matter what, so why should he care? Goya makes better arroz con pollo. And all the vegetables were frozen veggies that they just defrosted and put on out plates. They actually decorated my fish with chopped peas and carrots that you would find at costco. Did I mention there was no seasoning. Anyway, very disappointing. Not coming back anytime soon.
(1)Teresa G.
The first thing I wanted when I got go Miami was yummy Cuban food. I had been to Lario's last time I was in Miami so I decided to go there again...it's conveniently located near my hotel. Anyhow, my server was an older gentleman named Antonio. He was attentive and pleasant and made sure they got my order correct. I had the arroz con pollo...it was decent, the chicken breast was a little dry, but the rice was pretty good. I'm not a fan of the fried plantains...weird taste and texture. I would give the service a 5 stars and the food 3 stars.
(4)robert s.
This has great vibe and price for food right on Ocean Dr on South Beach. We had the black bean and chicken noodle soup for appetizer. It was delicious but could be warmer, very hearty. Then had the roasted garlic chicken. The chicken was a little dry for me but tasted good. Overall a great value and taste compared to all the other tourist traps. This restaurant was recommended to me a short skirted hottie Latina, you knew it had to be a legitimate deal.
(4)E. L.
We had a great time and a fantastic meal at Larios, but when you're eating fried pork you can't really go wrong. ;) We drank mojitos (spiced Sailor Jerry's) and margaritas (guava, sweet but yum!) and Sangria (simple, but not watered down by ice. Thanks, Gloria Estefan!). We ordered the combo of small plates (see the bottom of the appetizer menu) and shared it among 4 people. It was perfectly salty, fried, plantain-ey, and fun, though I would have liked some salsa or chimichurri sauce for dipping. (included stuffed, fried potatoes, plaintain cups filled with shrimp creole and cuban beef, amazing ham croquettes, and a pork tamale) We also ordered the malanga bisque...ORDER IT! Malangal is similar to a potato, but more airy. The soup was like foamy, starchy, seasoned milk and it was heavenly. Finally, skip the paella if you're not a true lover of paella and order the seafood combo on the top of the entrees list. It's practically the same thing, ingredient-wise, without the hefty price tag or the hour-long prep time. Though beware, the creole sauce is Salty. If you're sensitive, ask them to cut it with some wine or add less salt. Myra was our waitress, and she was Fantastic! We ordered 3 entrees for 4 people (see above re: the huge appetizer we ate) and she gave us an assortment of the side dishes that come with entrees so we could try everything (two kinds of rice, two kinds of plaintains, and buttery garlicy yucca. Amazing!). All in all, we had a boozy early dinner for 4 for less than $200, including tip. Well worth it, especially compared to the other options on South Beach!
(4)Kris B.
Excellent Cuban food! I had the chicken & onions with red beans & rice and sweet plantains. It was DELICIOUS! My friend had the Mango shrimp and it was also really good. The one hold up . . . when we sat down, our server came over and offered us sparkling water or bottled water. He stated it like those were our only options for water. We quickly said we'd just have tap water and he seemed taken aback. This bothers me b/c I know it's just a way to trick customers into paying for a beverage and I think I should have the choice rather than being tricked into thinking it's my only option. Other than this, the food was good. I had the same meal later in the week at a different Cuban restaurant and the meal at Larios was definitely better.
(4)Lauri H.
Great service. Flavorful food, but nothing spectacular. Good mojitos...but there are a lot of good mojitos in SoBe. My husband had the pork and loved the flavor and moistness. I had the flank steak (or was it skirt steak). It seemed a little oily, but perfectly cooked. Plantains were delish and white rice and black beans had good flavor. Not disappointing, but not great. Hoping for better. Good thing I'm in Miami for a few more days and can try someplace else in the hopes of finding something great.
(3)Amauri V.
I've been going to Lario's for years and the food was as good this last time (9/12) as it's ever been. The portions are awesome although it's a bit pricey. Definitely a good place to come with a crowd, just make sure you call ahead. The waiter forgot about our mariquitas but made it up with complimentary dessert. Too bad the band is not there anymore - replaced by a dj a while back - but overall it's still recommended.
(3)Soco R.
One of the most beautifully decorated restaurants I've ever encountered. The dark wood contrasted with bright colored artwork was breathtaking. Made me feel like I was home. And the platanos were on point! A must when in South Beach.
(5)Smiling I.
Had dinner here in 2007, and memories were good. Had lunch here last Wednesday and likely never again. Service awful and food was so-so. The waitress didn't care and never refilled the water. She had a good time talking with her friends, versus checking on the clients. I would have had a glass of wine had she come back. The nail in the coffin was the assumed 18% gratuity that was added on which I paid to the penny instead of rounding up. Would not recommend for lunch, but will still remember the dinner I had fondly.
(2)Elizabeth M.
Im sure tourists on the beach go crazy for this cuban restaurant. But AGAIN just another commerical based cuban food.
(2)Julie R.
This place is nice, they offer great food, and live bands on the weekends, i enjoyed my time there, the only thing i can complain about was the service, it could have been just one of those days, but the service was just too slow. Food and Entertainment 5 stars
(4)Wendy B.
This place used to be so great. Sadly, it's gone a bit down-hill in the recent year or so. i tried to attached photos i took in 2004 when it was out of sight. They still know how to do Ceviche and boiled yucca. The Mojito glasses bug me now. You can still buy a cigar on the sidewalk which is nice for my boyfriend who loves a good cigar. I believe there is a chance one could still have a good experience here- sort of hit or miss place. Eat outside for sure.
(3)Allison A.
After a series of horrible food and service in SOBE, I must say the food was impressive. Everything was superb. I went on a Saturday night and the place was crowded along with great music and dancing. Service there.. eh, what do you expect in SoBe?! Not to mention, Whoopi Goldberg was there!
(4)Sandra A.
Not that impressed. Overpriced and service was so-so. Our appetizers came out in 2 minutes and was lukewarm. I know it must have sat out and was not fresh. My rice was cold and crunchy, maybe it sat in their rice cooker too long. Main dishes were not impressive by any means. Very disappointed, other than its great location there was nothing else to brag about.
(2)Jim M.
Air conditioning is not very good, prepare to sweat when you eat. Food was just ok and so was the service. Gretai location,
(3)avalon e.
Cuban??? Or just a tacky touristy all american eatery? Me thinks its the latter. There is nothing Cuban about the stuff they offer. The huge fried red snapper was a good deal but I've had better fried fish before.
(3)Thi T.
When in Rome...I guess when in South Beach! Cubans galore and when we visited South Beach we just lived the live. Gloria Estefan's Lario's is a terrific place for a great meal. The service is OK, but the food was great. Of course, I had the ropa vieja. It was so great. The rice was tasty, as were the plaintains. No complaints here! Food serving sizes were generous. Too bad my margie wasn't so big. My frozen strawberry marg was the best drink I've had in a while. I guess down in South Beach they know how to do frozen alcohol. Darn it, should have had a Miami Beach while I was there! What was I thinking!?
(3)Idolka S.
Like another person wrote, this place is truly a tourist trap. In fact, I hope tourists who visit Miami don't eat here because they're definitely not going to have an accurate experience of what GOOD Cuban food is really like. The service is okay (very slow but okay considering the atmosphere), but the food is, for starters, expensive, and 2nd, not very good. I had steak, which I ordered Medium, and it came Medium Well, almost Well Done. Normally, this would be okay but when you're paying about $16 for a piece of sirloin, I'd expect them to get it right. Also, some of the other people's food that was in my group arrived cold. The sides were not good at all. The fried plantains and boiled yucca were not good WHATSOEVER... and neither were the fries. Really, anyone who thinks this is a great place for Cuban food clearly knows nothing about Cuban food and is clearly not from Miami because anyone who lives in Miami can probably name 20 places with better food. I'm not even sure why Gloria Estefan associates herself with this place. If you want better Cuban food, try Mojitos at the Dolphin Mall... parking is not scarce (like in South Beach) and it's free. Their food is actually good, by the way. There's also a place called La Esquina del Lechon that's also in Doral and their food is EXCELLENT (don't let the fact that it's next to a gas station fool you- the inside is super nice and the quality of the food is GREAT). You can also try Calle Ocho. They have good restaurants, as well. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine is also a great choice for Cuban food and they have several locations around Miami. If you're a tourist, I suggest you venture out of South Beach for a day or two... you'd be surprised what you find.
(2)Marty W.
Wasn't bad but I also expected a lot more! I heard this place was one of the famous hot spots in south beach but the hubby & I were not fans. The food tasted good but was small in portion and the prices were definitely much higher than expected. Not the best mojotos, they seem more on the sweet side- I had a mango and the hubby had papaya & a little lite on the alcohol. We didn't hate this place, I think we were just expecting much more.
(3)Christina A.
For south beach food (which tends to suck), this place is pretty good. The food is decent Cuban food, and Cuban food at ridiculous beach prices = normal priced food. I had the Bistec Empanizado when I went (which is what I ALWAYS order). It was good, nothing stood out over any of the other Cuban restaurants in Miami. BUT, if you want reasonably priced food at the beach and you're in the mood for Cuban, I'd point you here.
(4)Jessica L.
Super cute atmosphere. Live band inside. Very good funky flan!
(4)J. N.
We had a really good experience at Larios. We walked up and down Ocean Blvd for a good half hour before settling in to a spot for lunch. I was amazed at the shiesty tactics some restaurants used to try to reel you in.... half price meals, but the meals cost $30? It was overwhelming. Lario's didn't have any specials but their menu was priced really well for the area and the atmosphere seemed a little bit more appropriate for our group. The Mojitos (as per every other review on here!) really were amazing. The tostones with beef and shrimp were really good - I preferred the beef. I had the Cuban sandwich which was HUGE. Ham, pork, swiss, pickles, mustard.... really, really good. The french fries were good but I wish I asked to substitute something else. My friends had the Black Bean Wrap and the Steak Sandwich, both of which were also really good. I'm sure this place is mad touristy, but I was a tourist... a tourist with no laptop for yelp, no knowledge of the area, and I was not disappointed in the least.
(4)Remy M.
One of my favorite dishes is bistec empenizado steak (kinda like a pounded, breaded, fried thin steak), and Larios' empenizado is among the best I've had. The rice and fried plantains are also great. However, they lose a star on service. Sometimes the service is decent, other times it's terrible, but rarely, if ever, is it great. But, wow, great food and great location!
(4)Teresa M.
The food was delicious and the service was great! I would go again! It has a great Cuban feel! And I loved the music!
(4)Jul B.
undeniably the best restaurant I've been to on the Ocean Dr strip. I was extremely impressed with the food. Yes, the service sucks. Yes, our food took forever to come - but it tasted amazing. If you want great food, I highly recommend Larios. I ordered a garlic shirmp dish with rice and plantain. - A+ status.
(4)Jamie A.
We went to Larios for lunch. Great location and nice decor. We both got cuban sandwiches which seemed to be overpriced and nothing special. Get the plantain chips! They were the best part of our dining experience.
(2)Heather S.
The service was terrible. Food was just OK. Def. not impressed. Waitress barely came around to see if anyone needed drinks or how we were doing.
(2)Mocha P.
I am fan just because of the food. I had the stuffed shrimp chicken with some tomato base sauce which was really good. But i thought it was pricey and the service was horrible. It has a great location, right on ocean drive.
(4)Brian H.
Good location. Excellent mojitos. Good Yuca, ropa vieja, maduros, flan. Good service. Enjoyable evening. Favorite restaurant in South Beach.
(4)J B.
Tourist trap.... seriously. I don't care if Gloria Estefan owns this place... she'd have to appear there for me to give five stars. The service was average, the food was mediocre, although it was Cuban. The redeeming value? MOJITOS! We had Mojitos with no added sugar and they were absolutely perfect, bold, flavorful, refreshing, probably the best mojito I've ever had in my life. My advice... if you must go here, get some mojitos and share an appetizer or entree... enjoy the view... and spend your money elsewhere on a legit Cuban meal.
(3)Gladys D.
My dish here was absolutely to die for! Churrasco skirt steak "churrasco"grilled to perfection based with "chimi-churri" sauce it was absolutely cooked to perfection (medium rare, very tender) and the sauce was so damn good! My friends all ordered the chicken but kept raving about my steak (They did say their chicken was good though)! Everything tasted so delicious (rice, bananas, everything!). The ambiance is terrific with the Cuban band playing while you enjoy your meal. Its a really fun must go to place on ocean dr. We sat inside because there was no wait. The wait for outside seating was 20 to 30 min on a Sat. night. Service was excellent. Mojitos were VERY STRONG...if you like that sort of thing. I prefer not to yack on my first drink of the night =) This is a must go place for anyone visiting miami
(4)Emily N.
Worst food and dining experience we had in Miami, hands down. My friend and I arrived on a Friday around 12:15 pm, fresh off our flights and very hungry. We ordered a cuban sandwich and chicken sandwich,and waited....and waited...and waited. The outdoor area was maybe a quarter full, yet it took well over an hour to get our food. When we politely inquired about timing, the rarely seen waitress said they had only one small grill (no apologies). Worst of all, it wasn't even worth the wait! There's a stellar gas station (!) in my home city that makes far better cuban sandwiches. Fortunately, La Sandwicherie and other gems greatly improved our Miami food experience afterwards, so I'd steer you there instead.
(1)Deborah H.
Lario's has an interesting mix of Latin and Chinese-influenced dishes. We tried the paella (which was fantastic, but rather expensive at 35$/person with a minimum of two people ordering), one of the fried rice dishes, and the steak. The paella was overwhelming... Admittedly very good, but we should have ordered two portions for three or four people. The steak was so-so. The ceviche appetizer we ordered was close to disgusting. Decor and service were good, but overall, the dining experience was very average.
(3)Vanessa F.
This place was sooo sooo good. I went for a nice dinner for my bachelorette party. Only minus one star because we called ahead with a reservation and they lost it but were quickly accommodating. Sat down and ordered some mojitos which were delicious and proceeded to order off the menu. It took a while for us to get our food because there were 7 of us. But when we all started eating it was HEAVEN. The roasted chicken, roasted pork, and cuban steak were all so tender and delicious. The sides of plaintains and rice were also delicious. It's a pretty lively atmosphere with the music of the Carribean playing in the background. The staff was really friends. Perfect location because the beach is in front of you and if you go for dinner the clubs are a block or two down on Washington Ave.
(4)Sam B.
Gloria...please open one of your restaurants here in San Francisco!! The Ropa Vieja is so delicious! Everytime I come to South Beach, I have to visit this place twice. I don't know if you know the Sunday Special...it's NOT the on the Menu, you have to ask for it! If you LOVE OXTAIL STEW, Larios on the Beach has it only on Sundays!! The drinks are good and the restaurant is vibrant and clean!!! If you are into Cuban food, this is the place to go!! You won't be disapponted!!
(5)Rhondalei G.
2 words - Pork Asado. Excellent food and service right on the beach. My friend and I opted to sit inside because we couldn't stand to eat outside in the heat. I can't wait to eat here again!
(4)Scott C.
This was my first experience eating Cuban food... And it was amazing. If you are in SoBe it's a must!
(5)Karen K.
We went to Miami & we knew that we had to have some Cuban food. Where to go? We ended up at Larios & to my dismay it was mas o menos (ok). The food we ordered was nothing to brag about. This Cuban restaurant was missing the authentic cuban flavor we were craving. The service & the ambiance here was great... it is too bad the food didnt match.
(2)Gianna A.
Great Cuban music, ambiance, crowded, great mojito. Not particularly THAT memorable, except for the fact that it's in front of the beach in South Beach. After a while the places are pretty interchangeable, but the food makes this worth waiting for. Like eating from abuela's (grandma') kitchen.
(3)Jorge Q.
After coming back from a Carnival Cruise, we visited family in Miami and they took us out to lunch at Larios. The restaurant is situated in a touristic street but the restaurant stands out among it's competition because of it's amazing traditional Cuban food. The location is among the chain of restaurants owned by Gloria & Emilio Stefan. They offer great service and they also distinguish themselves for their signature Mojitos drinks. Only complain is that the tables inside are too close together, which makes it difficult to move around when crowded.
(4)Heather S.
Yummmmm!!!! I never knew how much I liked Cuban food until I went to this place! I felt like I should be in Scarface, the ambiance is so classic. GREAT mojitos, there is nothing like it! The portions are great and filling. I love the plantains and cuban black beans. The shredded lime chicken is great too (sad that I went here more then 8 months ago and still remember what I ate!) Defo hit it up if you're lucky enough to be in Miami!! I think I had some potato thing too that was really good.... Just make sure you dont plan on having a huge drinking night after (which is hard to do) because you will be way full when you leave!!
(4)Greis L.
the food was awful. after the dinner my boyfriend and i felt extremly bad and we finally throw up all the night, stay away from this fake cuban restaurant
(1)adrian s.
had a great time here. food was very good, like home cookin'. Atmosphere is fun and festive. Great to take a client or someone coming to visit Miami looking for the Cuban/SOBE combo. Cool place.
(4)Shiven B.
Came here for lunch one day...I heard Gloria Estefan owned this place. Food was ok, but view was nice. Right on ocean drive, always a crowd of people, and the beach and ocean is right across the Street. Had the Half chicken, which is almost impossible to finish but the fried plantains are amazing. Others had Steak who I was with. Thinly sliced brazillian steak and fajita style steak with onions was the items chosen, they looked satisfied but didn't completely love their meals. Decently Priced though.
(3)Beatrice C.
Just came back from dinner at Larios. Came here in search of good Cuban food n I was pleased although we had a couple of minor issues that got resolved. Issue #1 - as soon as we sat down I took a look at my water glass n there's was water stains all over it then I looked at my plate n there was a dried food crumb stuck on my plate. I returned all silverware to the waitress and she apologize although the bust boy questioned where it was dirty n when he saw the dried food he cringed. I was given new clean silverware quickly. Issue #2 - My friend ordered a margarita n when you tasted it the sour mix was watered down. We explained it to the waitress and sure enough the bartender confirmed that the sour mix went bad n they were changing it. My friend was given a new drink which was much better but in her words she's had better. Issue #3 - ordered the flan de leche for dessert, the custard was very good although the caramel was burnt. I had to work around the burnt caramel. Those were the main issues, a couple other set backs was no pre app munchies no bread/chips. I figured since we were in a Cuban restaurant we'd get plantain chips but nope. Second let down was the size of our drinks. I ordered the Maimi Vice n my friend got the Pina Colada n for $11 I expected a bigger glass. We got a small champagne glass, which was done before our entree was served. On a positive not I ordered the shrimp enchilados which was yummy. I was very pleased. My friend ordered the skirt steak with chimmi churri sauce which was good too. The sauce had a heavy garlic taste which was yummy. Regardless of the set backs the place is a ok spot.
(3)anita c.
Larios, oh larios, I dream of their churrasco dish while I am in SF. Went there 2 days in a row when I visited Miami since I couldn't get enough of the churrasco dish. For those of you who don't know, churrasco is a skirt steak medium rare (my pref), with a chimmichurri sauce (garlic vinegar sauce) on the side, then with a side of flavored rice, and fried crispy plaintains. Tried recreating this dish at home since I can't find a restaurant who does it well. SF needs a good cuban restaurant. Would love it if we could have a Versailles or Larios here.
(5)Chad S.
Not very impressed. Came to the restaurant in high hopes of good Cuban food. The food was so so, the service was terrible and I am a thirty year old man, and forgot my id, and couldn't even have a glass of wine with my meal. I understand the laws, but come on. It's not like I'm a nineteen year old kid trying to score a beer. I'm thirty and wanted a damn glass of wine with my dinner. Oh well, probably will not return. Sorry, Gloria.
(2)Ernie P.
This is definitely one of my favorite cuban restaurant. Every time i go to the beach with a friend or a date, I always have lunch there. Their churasco or palomilla is absolutely my favorite. Oh, and with yellow rice!! Yummy. Their prices are really good too and if it's not too busy then eating outside is a pleasure. Enjoy the great weather and the great looking people of south florida. How can one refute that?? I know I cant and neither should you :) Cheers!
(5)Kevin C.
Nice looking decor, very average food, barely adequate service. My wife and i ate at Larios On the Beach on a Sunday evening. We're both fans of Cuban cuisine, and we wanted to try this restaurant. The restaurant is in a nice location in South Beach & is quite nice inside. The music gets more quiet as you walk towards the back of the restaurant. My wife ordered Picadillo and I ordered "Bongo's Famous Cuban Mojo Marinated Fried Pork Chunks" (Masitas Puerco). The food came to our table quickly. The Picadillo was reasonable, though a bit salty. The pork chunks were served with stir-fried onions. The onions were just lukewarm, and the pork was both lukewarm and dry / tough. I suspect this dish had been prepared well before we ordered it and left under an underpowered heating lamp. I could barely taste the Mojo Marinade -- the dish was simply tough lumps of fried pork. Both dishes came with rice and plantains which had decent flavor, but were not steaming hot. At the end of the meal I had to walk to the front of the restaurant to ask for the check since our waiter was too distracted / overworked to come to our table for a span of ~20 minutes. This restaurant is very mediocre and I will not return next time I visit Miami / South Beach. After trying Larios, I'm very wary of trying Bongos.
(2)Ramsey A.
The service was horrible, good thing they include 17% gratuity. I would have for the first time in my life them with nothing.
(1)Monica B.
The food at all the Larios locations is excellent, treading the fine line between down-home-goodness and gourmet, but the atmosphere at the others is more family and this (obviously) is more Beach-nightlife-ish. It's crowded, loud, and the service is harried and impersonal at best - but I like it that way! It's energetic and crazy, and it works with the food, the clientele, the sponteneity, all of it.
(4)Mil S.
We had pretty good food, chicken a la plancha(big chicken steak) w/rice, creamy blk beans, camarones enchilados (shrimp in a red sauce w/onions, peas, carrots) & sweet plantains (platanitos), and to my amazement, a great big fresh salad! Flan for dessert & of course the must have "Cortadito" which tasted delicious. The waiters were courteous, funny & nice. A great & beautiful day in a relaxing atmosphere with Mom who just kept smiling. We sat inside the Portal, great comfortable weather. After being opened for many years, Lario's has become a place we trust to spend money on a meal will be worth it.
(5)Erika B.
I was in South Beach for spring break and found Larios online in a hunt for Creole food. I ordered a delicious margarita to go with my chicken and rice dish (with amazing plantains on the side)- both were absolutely excellent! I was worried that this would be a really touristy spot with just-okay food, since that is the MO of most restaurants along the beach. However, my boyfriend and I both had some of the most delicious food we've ever eaten at this restaurant. We still reminisce about it! I'll definitely be returning upon my next visit to Miami.
(5)Ned K.
Stale bread. Bad salad terrible blood mary. Stay away.
(1)Justine N.
Checked out Larios on the Beach for dinner with a group of 17 girls in town for a bachelorette party. The food was solid (had the roasted pork) and their drinks were strong and gi-normous, which was perfect for us. The place has a great atmosphere and the staff was accommodating and patient when dealing with our loud group of tipsy girls. If you're planning a dinner, they have a private room off to the side of the main dining room that's great for large groups.
(4)Britt M.
Larios seems to be one of the only Cuban restaurants on Ocean, which is a welcome surprise since every other restaurant on the strip seems to serve the same thing (salad, pasta, sandwich, etc.) It's a bit overpriced, but has a lively ambiance and Latin music, nice outdoor seating for fun people watching on Ocean, and some tasty Cuban fare. For starters, I had some little plantain chip cups that were filled with shrimp, ground meat, and a tomato sauce that was pretty flavorful. The ropa vieja (shredded beef) was tasty, and the mango shrimp original, if a bit buttery. I love some meat with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, so most of the meals here were pretty satisfying. The only disappointing thing we ordered here was a pork chop with some onions and lime, which was surprisingly bland for all the supposed ingredients. Entrees run roughly $20, which is a bit expensive since you can find authentic Cuban cuisine for much cheaper off Ocean. The drinks were very good - pina coladas are made here with spiced rum and have a nice kick that I haven't had elsewhere. The mojitos are also yummy, with real sugar cane sticks to chew on. Overall a fun, tasty, experience, if a bit pricey for what you get !
(4)Wendy T.
My girlfriends and I had dinner here while we were staying in Miami. I thought the food was OK. I order the dish with all the seafood in it. I forget what the name was, but the waiter said it was a popular dish. The food took extremely long to come out! When it finally did it wasn't that satisfying, I mean it wasn't bad it was just ok. The bread they gave was pretty good but it looked like garlic bread that I could have made at home. The service was slow. It took us awhile to get any attention from the servers and they hardly came by to check up on us, We were a party of 10 girls too. The only good thing I can say is the restaurant was really beautiful inside. Service and food need a little bit of improvement.
(2)alibee i.
I should have known that this was not the place for me when I read on the menu about their other location in Disney World. Short version of this review: If you want Disney World Cuban Food then this is the place for you. If you want authentic Cuban food then go elsewhere. First it took the waiter forever to come and take my order but hey I wasn't in a rush so not a big deal. When he did finally make it over I wanted to start off by ordering a drink but he wanted to get my whole order (so he wouldn't have to come back again in a few minutes?). Ok fine I knew what I wanted - mojito, fish enchilado, rice, plantains, black beans. Mojito came out literally 1 min later. Before I could even say "Jiminy Cricket!" (cause really I was thinking that :) out came all my food! Wow! I guess when it's all pre-made and ready to be poured and scooped, food just pops right out of the kitchen. The ($11!) mojito was watery and I couldn't taste any mint. (Kinda makes me wonder what the green stuff at the bottom of the glass was now that I think about it.) The enchilado sauce was also watery and bland. The fish "cubes" in the sauce were completely unidentifiable. The beans were equally bland and very thick as in they'd been sitting on a stove all day. The rice and plantains were ok as in not screwed up but nothing special. Overall a completely flavorless meal. And of course being in South Beach, make that an expensive flavorless meal!
(2)Zinat M.
It's the South Beach experience. Sitting outdoors, sipping on wine, eating Cuban cuisine, listening to live cuban music, staff dressed in white, watching beautiful people all night long. All courses were delicious, good portion sizes, a bit pricey, and the seafood was fresh. It was a hopping place, see and be seen.
(4)Colin P.
Great atmosphere. Great music. Friendly staff. Great Cuban sandwich. Fries a little overdone. And there are no refills on the sodas.
(4)Jason J.
was recommended to come here by a friend who's been to southbeach a few times. great atmosphere, the food was very flavorful and very reasonably priced, the drinks tasted good, and were strong enough, overall a very good time. the roasted pork, fried beef, fried whole red snapper, and frankly everything else our party of 5 ordered was very good, and worth getting again. a great experience, i would certainly come back.
(4)Jane D.
After eating at Cha Cha Chas in SF or Versailles in LA, this Cuban restaurant wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Maybe I don't know Cuban. Anyways, I felt like the portions weren't that large and I left hungry. I like the venue. There is seating out doors and its a great place to have dinner and people watch. The service is okay, nothing to write a postcard home to mom about. The girl who waited on us looked and acted as if we were waisting her time. Sorry I just wanted a bottle of Tabasco sauce. No tip for you! Although I wasn't to impressed with the food, I thought the atmosphere was super fun. I'd go back and try something else. Maybe it'll be different.
(3)Miriam W.
Ok, so when I made up my mind to buy a place in Miami FL, having never lived there and only visited once in my life, I came out with a friend and we whiled away 10 days. They included wandering with my real estate agent, picking my condo, and 3 meals, particularly desserts, at Lario's. This place is forever a sweet memory. It's not awesome but it's evocative. It's the essence that gives it the 4th star. And the fact Gloria owns it and sometimes shows up to sing/eat in it. The food is not amazing. Sometimes the meat is dry or not as flavorful as it can be. Our first night was loud (in a good way) with a singer up not with a band but with a pre-recorded CD. She was good. However, in the 7 songs I think we heard, 3 were repeats. Honestly, I can sing better. So alas, no sign of Gloria singing. But, the food is ok. The service isn't amazing. But the desserts, my god, the desserts. And the plantanos ... and the mood ... and the location ... and the mood ... Something about it is sexy. I don't know why, it just is. Dark wood, terra cotta colors, loud music, hard drinks, a band, the palm trees outside and the great wide ocean and beach and breeze. You come with a big group and laugh and chat. We did that when I threw a big dinner to have friends come out and party with me. You come with a lover and you seduce each other over the desserts and walk the beach and get it on ... Whatever. Just get your sexyback. I HIGHLY reccommend getting some key items: - plantanos - flan con queso (it's richer than traditional flan) - shredded coconut. i don't know what it's called, can't remember, but you put that with the flan and you are frickin having orgasms right there with your mojito or whatever else it is you're trying to drink and sit up straight with. stay away from the guava unless you're cuban or you know what you're doing. that mess will give you a diabetic attack.
(4)Sharie B.
Stopped in for dinner with some friends last night. Nice Ocean Drive spot complete with Ocean Drive prices. The food was good, I had the liver and a mojito. My friend had the potato ball, minced meat appetizer which was really good. Finished dinner with a Bongos cortadito (Cuban coffee shot, steamed milk and abit of condensed milk suprise at the bottom - very nice. For all the Cuban food in Miami you are paying for the location more than the quality of the food.
(3)Lakeya C.
Yum, yum, yum....my mouth waters just thinking of my delicious food.. I had ropa vieja (shredded beef), black beans and rice, and sweet plaintains....delicious! I've had cuban food in NYC before, but this beat everything else CUBAN I've tasted hands down...this was the best restaurant my friends and I ate at while in MIami and we ate at quite a few...I can't wait to come back and try something new.
(5)Amy Jo A.
ate outside during spring break..a bit chilly in march..ocean drive was busy as usual..got lechon asado..and arroz con pollo..both were great...a bit pricey for cuban food...wait staff were nice...mojitos looked good didnt have one...food got cold because of weather..good place for locals and tourists.
(4)giovanni g.
I had dinner at Larios a couple weeks ago and yes its the SOBE experience...nice setting along Ocean Dr on a warm night...cant beat that! But when it came to the food I was a little dissapointed. I knew the place was owned by Gloria Estefan who also owns Bongos. When we were seated the waiter brought us Bongos menus with the exact same items. I was looking forward to a new twist at Larios but had to settle for the same Bongos dining experience. The food is not bad here...its actually pretty tasty but it doesnt blow anyone away. The prices are typical for SOBE and the portions are a good size. If you are looking for more of an authentic cuban food experience I would not go here if I were you. The staff was very helpful and knew the menu very well. Overall I had a good time here and recommend it specially if you are looking for a night out on Ocean Drive.
(3)Tiffany D.
This place was amazing. Their menu is HUGE and their mojitos and sangria is really good. You MUST order the fried plaintain cups filled with shrimp AND beef (order it half and half!!!)... my Shrimp in mango sauce was AMAZING it was this velvety yogurty mango sauce and my dinner date ordered the cuban steak - you should get it down medium rare because it's a very thin flank/skirt steak. The service was great and they have so many different kinds of flan to choose from. I got the tres leches cake (they also have a quatro leches haha) and it was really good..
(5)June L.
food was great, service sucks, great location, great atmosphere.....fun place...would give it a 4 start if service was better.
(3)Jason U.
Owned by Gloria Estefan! Authentic Cuban food overlooking the ocean..Cant go wrong here!!
(3)Irene W.
A decent enough place, but nothing overly spectacular in the grand scheme of things. I can't speak to how authentic it is, but I've had better Cuban food at places like Versailles in LA. They have a huge menu so I was a bit overwhelmed with choice. I settled for fried shredded chicken on a sizzling plate, and though the chicken was a bit on the dry side I enjoyed the hint of tanginess in the flavoring. It's actually quite a lot of chicken with onions, and a little dry/boring to eat with white rice. I would recomend ordering a few different dishes and sharing with friends to get different tastes of everything. My friends ordered their famous seafood combo stew, and that was very tasty - it had lobster, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari in a slightly spicy tangy creole sauce. Some other friends ordered a fried rice kind of dish and that was ok. All in all not a bad place for a decent, moderately priced meal on Ocean Drive in South Beach.
(3)Ali D.
We had a great dinner here on our trip to Miami. Everyone told us we should go there for cuban food, but we were a little confused when we got to the restaurant and were seated and then saw that the menu said Bongos and not Larios... we thought we had accidentally walked into the wrong restaurant! The live music was nice, but definitely a little loud. The surrounding crowd was also loud though, it seemed like a popular place for groups to go. Of course, a mojito is required, and I ordered the pulled chicken which I thought was very tasty (as opposed to a recent reviewer). It was one of my favorite meals on our trip to Miami. I can't remember what my fiance had, but he enjoyed his meal as well, something chicken. I am sure there are some more authentic restaurants in Miami, we were told in Little Cuba, but the cab ride out there would have cost a small fortune! And we were told it wasn't that safe - by Cubans - and they recommended Larios. We were thankful for the recommendations and the nice dinner we had. We must have missed where they noted how much tip they automatically charged on the menu though, but they do include it when you are billed, so make sure you don't double tip like we almost did!
(4)Rob C.
I think it gets extra stars because of its location. Loud live music, upstairs and downstairs areas. Food is fine for a touristy destination. Use the street garage parking lots for this area--i.e. 7th and Collins, 13 and Collins, 12th and Drexel.
(3)Maureen H.
This place was pretty good. It has a great south beach feel to it. I'd definitely take newcomers there. Live music and a cute little bar/lounge area make it inviting and very not San jose-ish. :)
(3)Viann B.
Food was not as good this year. Steak was not as tender, black beans were too soupy. Maybe it was because we did not get to dine outside near the sidewalk. Maybe the ambiance had something to do with the taste? The mojitos are still very good.
(3)shelly p.
Larios on the Beach is a Cuban experience. This restaurant features live music, Island ambiance and some of the best Cuban food in Miami. The plantains, and rice and black beans are amazing meats and fish off the grill are mouth watering and inspired with flavorful unique spices that have not yet crept into the mainstream American dining palate. The coconut flan is out of this world and a great way to finish an amazing dinner. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is polished yet festive.
(4)Ame L.
I was expecting so much more from Laurio's. The waiter hovered over our table the entire night, which was awkward and he wasn't any help on food selections. The timing on the food was bad and our glasses were empty most of the time. Felt really rushed and dinner from appetizers to dessert was just over an hour. Food was moderate. Guess I was hoping for more with the hype.
(3)Donna J.
pretty much a tourist trap like all the other restaurants with their umbrellas and patio tables out front. service was ok. food was overpriced. drinks were ok. all i'm gonna say is you better be able to get a decent cuban sandwich if gloria is backing you, can't give you bonus points for doing that right. maristas de puerco were dry. enchilaso de pescado were delicious actually! you earn some stars for that dish. overall, i guess i can say i wasn't that impressed and regret not going to a hole in the wall for the same quality (if not better) authentic cuban grub. my bad. wouldn't recommend to others for the price that was paid.
(3)Danielle M.
MMM MMM Good! I love cuban food and not only was the food incredible but the ambiance, the beach, palm trees, live band just made it all the better. Sangra is delicious!
(4)choad x.
Overpriced. You pay to see and be seen by the other tourists. Versailes is a better deal.
(2)Janice S.
Ambiance and music is very miami. Sat very close to the band which is pleasure and a what?!? i can't hear my thoughts i forgot what else i had cuban but had an enjoyable meal and it wasn't too pricey for Miami Beach. In my eyes, i judge cuban food by the taste of the plantains and these were pretty damn good. Had the steak and liked the flavors. Service was fast. Pretty authentic and worth a visit if it's your first time to South Beach.
(4)Tiffany B.
I think that people just like to dislike things that others love just to be different. First off, I'm not going to say that I know or understand Cuban food. I can only go off my taste buds. After being disappointed with several mediocre and over priced restaurants w/ TERRIBLE service, Larios was by far the best in Miami Beach. My girlfriend and I shared a pitcher of Sangria for $20 and the food was delicious! With disappointment surrounding us, we were starting to lose faith in Miami Beach. All we were looking for was a nice restaurant w/ good food and Larios def hit the spot! We were in heaven! It was a great end to our trip with a belly full of yummy food!
(5)Lynnette P.
The food was alright....nothing to oogle over. I ordered the fish...i believe it was pescado plancha. Kinda dry, but good. Rice was ok...I was really bummed that I didn't get any beans with it. What kind of latin place serves rice with no beans??? and it's Cuban too!!! well, the big question is will i have come here? The answer.....NO!! I just have to say...NEXT!!!
(2)Dawnn M.
I ate at Lario's during a vacation and really enjoyed the food. The portions are huge. The sweet plantains are a must! It was a bit congested during the evening hours. Also, I would not recommend eating on the sidewalk anytime after 7:00 pm...the people walking by are virtually a part of your party! Overall good food, but average service.
(3)Sarah B.
My husband and I came to Miami with one goal in mind when it came to food - Cuban, Cuban and more Cuban. This place was good, but I like my local Cuban restaurant at home better - thus the 3 stars. How can a Cuban place in Portland be better than one in Miami? I ordered the Vaca Frita which was great, but was pretty dry and so I had to borrow mojo sauce from my husbands meal. The plantains are good and we finished with a rum flan which was also good. I had the red sangria, which I didn't think was anything to write home about. My husband had a grilled steak which he absolutely loved. It wasn't a bad place, but we'll try some different options next time before returning.
(3)Bill F.
From our initial seating to the service and the food, we were very disappointed. We ordered skirt steak and Roast Pork. Two of our favorite Cuban dishes. Very dissapointed with both. The pork was full of huge chunks of fat. The portions were small and even the rice was lousy. The skirt steak was not tasty and poor cut of meat. Very thinand tough too. The service was also very weak, and although we arrived early for dinner on a Sunday, they were not busy but the staff seemed like they didnt care. Maybe because we didn't speak the local language, Spanish, but you would think that any rest on South Beach would go above and beyond to impress. I can understand if the food is not always the best, but when the service too is poor, it really ruins any chance of a good meal. It not the waiters fault if the food is bad, but if you wait tables and expect to make money, then they should do the best they can. Even when food is not good, if the service is, we always tip extremely well. Not so here. Poor food and poor service.
(2)Moiraes Y.
Not too good...we had the cuban sandwiches and it was mediocre. The place smelled like toilet cleaning solution and the prices were a bit too much for the quality. Honestly, the cuban hole in the wall in my local neighborhood has sandwiches for $4.25 that are 10x better.
(1)Andrea G.
Super yummy with great service! It was a great place to sit outside, have a drink and a good meal. The inside is really cute and loungey, and they had space set up for a live band (though no one was playing when I was there). I would love to come here again when I return to South Beach.
(5)Cindy C.
Situated right along Ocean drive, overlooking beautiful South Beach, this restaurant (one of the several owned by Gloria Estefan) serves authentic Cuban cuisine for affordable prices (considering its prime location). I ordered the Churrasco - a skirt steak with "chimi-churri" sauce over a bed of white rice and fried plantains. I usually like my steak medium-well (a little bit of red), but my 'medium-well' skirt steak came back to me well done, much to my disappointment. However the chimi-churri sauce was very unique and an agreeable combination to the steak. I also ordered the South Beach Mojito (containing a hint of SoBe and limon). Not too impressed, but I had a couple sips of their Watermelon Mojito and it deserves a thumbs up. I recommend their plantain chips, which are long, thin and crispy strips of fried plantain drizzled with minced garlic with a spicy cuban twist. The strange thing about this place is that you have to order your beans on the side, separate from your entree. Surprising for a Cuban restaurant, but a small price to pay for an overall satisfying meal. The only gripe worth mentioning about this restaurant is that they seated our party of 5 right on the edge of the curb - gorgeous view, but far from comfy. We had to scrape food off several of our plates and consolidate upon serving, in order to fit all of our food and drinks on the table. I would definitely go back to this restaurant and try some of the other items on their extensive menu... but next time- I'm sitting inside.
(3)Daniela A.
This place is a MUST if you are visiting Miami. It's the ultimate Cuban South Beach experience. The food is pretty good, but not amazing (well, with the exception of the mojitos, platanos, black beans and rice. The pork dishes looked pretty good, but I didn't try them. I ordered the lobster, which was a big mistake. It was incredibly expensive but it was only mediocre. The star foods of my dinner were definitely the simpler things I tried (the things I already mentioned, such as plantains, etc). You are probably asking yourself, by this point, why I am rating this place five stars if the food wasn't THAT great. Well, because the food was definitely good, but more importantly, the ambiance was UNBEATABLE. Simply eating at this place and breathing in the festive atmosphere while listening to an amazing salsa band (and I'm dead serious when I say that these musicians were amazing) and watching people dance salsa like they've been dancing it since the womb was enough to make me just want to come back to the Bay Area, pack up my bags and move to Miami. It was THAT great.
(5)Ratul N.
So the place is owned by Gloria Estefan. I wouldn't really recommend going there if there is no band playing, because it was empty. But if there is a band, its definitely worth it and fun. Their ceviche was good!
(3)Adam M.
I just don't understand the hype on this place. The location is great but the service was horrible and the prices were way to high for the quality and the amount. I ordered a soda as well as a beer. My soda came in a rocks glass with ice. Guess what, no free refills! $10 for soda later, as well as $12 for coffee for my companion! You have to be kidding. The food was completely uninspiring. One dinner was cold, the other, hot but undercooked. The service left a LOT to be desired. Our waitress would disappear for long lenghts of time and then would flirt with the table of model wannabe's instead of waiting on her other tables. Go somewhere, anywhere, else.
(1)Kylee C.
I don't want to waste anyones time.... I just want to say DON'T GO. We found a plastic tube (like you would find in a microwavable meal), when we complained, the inept manager offered us free dessert, obviously we are not interested in dessert after the bad meal. We planned to have a nice upscale meal from here and we were sorely disappointed
(1)Jerrilyn P.
I thought this restaurant would be better than this. I've been here in the past but years ago and I thought I would have the same experience but boy was I wrong (I think they changed management or something). We went there on Saturday evening around 6, and we were seated right away, but as soon as the waiter came over, he was not as friendly as I thought he would be. I am not a tourist and I know Miami customer service (not always the best) but I expect more from a tourist area. I ordered ceviche as an appetizer and churrasco for my main dish. The ceviche came out with fried plantains; one, the ceviche tasted very fishy and usually their ceviche is GREAT, and second, there was a hair in my plantains. When I told my waiter about the hair, instead of immediately taking my plate and apologizing, he asked me "where is the hair" as if to question me. Then my churrasco came out. Mind you, I ordered this medium. It came out DARK and not juicy at all. When I asked the waiter if this was their version of medium, he grabbed my plate took it to another waiter a few feet away, came back and said "this is well done, there is a little pink right there." I decided to just settle for what I got as I knew my waiter was not going to do anything for me. I ate a few bites of the steak, but it was tough to finish. I will NOT be going back to this place and will now have to find another cuban restaurant to enjoy a great churrasco. VERY disappointed.
(1)Gala C.
overpriced and tasteless. not bad for tourist that have never had actual cuban food.
(2)Gourmet G.
Salsa diva Gloria Estefan is one of the owners of this place-to-be-seen, and her success on the music charts has crossed over to the restaurant business as well. The decor in the spacious dining room is vibrantly alive with color - day-glow orange on the walls - and kitschy details - starburst chandeliers are suspended from the 'sky' above - and a couple of walls are papered with Latino news clippings. A mountain of outstanding Cuban food, some with Creole touches, overflows on the plates here. Lomo de puerco, roast pork loin with rice and beans, is spectacular. Add a side of tostones con mojo, fried plantains with a garlic-infused dipping sauce. Portions are huge; clearly the petite owner never cleans her plate when she eats here. Live music Thursday through Sunday nights and, while it didn't happen when I was there, Gloria is known occasionally to drop in and put on an impromptu show.
(5)Annie T.
Gloria Estefan took my virginity. My Cuban food virginity. It was like a scene out of "When Harry Met Sally". I was making the Meg Ryan sounds, but I wasn't faking it. I ordered the ropa viega (shredded beef) and it was incredibly flavorful... just SOAKING in the good stuff (cuban sauce/peppers/onions). It came with a plate of sweet plantain (good god, those alone could bring me to a euphoric state) and mora rice with black beans mixed in. My friend also got the media noche sandwich and I snuck a bite. It was so GD delicious that I had to hunt down a media noche sammy place within a few blocks from our hotel the next day (and the day after that)... We were seated quickly, our server was great, food and drinks came out fast, and lastly, the atmosphere was so fun. We made the mistake of sitting outside (it was winddyyyy night in SoBe) because it was more fun inside... and warmer. That's my only regret. Thanks, Gloria, it was my first but certainly not my last.
(4)J T.
Not bad, just not great. There are several other Cuban restaurants on Miami beach, but this was our first to try. We love Cuban food. We're hoping the others live up to their stellar reviews.
(3)Jason K.
This Cuban tourist trap, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, has been around for years and remains a great place to people watch. The night I visited a few years ago, Lario's was filled with "beautiful people"...it was a little intimidating. Nevertheless, any apprehension was relieved by a couple of drinks. The food was surprisingly good...the skirt steak served with Chimichurri sauce was particularly tasty. The fried plantains were delicious but the black beans were pretty average. If you are a tourist visiting South Beach, this is a pretty good place to go for decent, unintimidating Cuban food.
(4)Ashley S.
We ordered Ropa Vieja. Taste was great. The waitress left us after she brought us the food (literally, 7 mins after we ordered it) and didn't come back for about 30 min. We called someone else over to get us more to drink. They didn't tell us that they don't give refills. They asked us if we wanted more soda though, we said yes then they charged us 2.50 for it. So, NO REFILLS : ) Will I go back? Probably not. btw, If you choose to sit outside, be prepared to be harassed no matter what you wear.
(3)Yirima V.
Good vaca frita!...only wish they had an avocado salad on the menu.
(4)Christina S.
Headed to Little Havana originally we were told by our connoisseur at our hotel that we were "over dressed and being only ladies we should not go" We weren't wearing ball gowns but obviously our dresses and shorts were too much for a night out to Little Havana and we were redirected to go to Larios On The Beach. A little taxi ride from the Eden Roc we arrived to what was a busy night. Luckily we were able to grab a table out on the sidewalk perfect for interesting people watching and as the bottles of wine came the more interesting things would become. First off this place is theresturant of Gloria Estefan which brings in more fans and people wanting to dine at her place so it does get busy... It's a beautiful spot rich on the beach and winter in Miami is more like a cooler summer so outdoor dinning is better. We asked the waiter to suggest authentic Cuban food. I had the shredded chicken with the Moros y Cristianos (black rice) .. My friends had pork and other dishes. Everything was amazing however the only thing that annoyed us was when we ordered a bottle of Malbec the waiter brought out a different bottle. He didn't mention to us that they were out of the wine or that they could offer something similar. He brought out the bottle already opened. A bottle that was of a $10 difference. Poor service on his part. He obviously has no experience. So when we ordered our second bottle we had to make sure it was in fact the one we wanted before he brought out another $10 higher bottle of wine. We were not being cheap but come on??? Cheap move on his part.. So, note of caution make sure that they don't try to give you something other than your order and check the receipt. He didn't offer to adjust the price, no in fact because it was our friends birthday he said he brought out the tres leeches cake and took that off in place of the wine. Can you say LAME?? Oh, the Mojitos.. We all tried one.. I couldn't finish mine because it was too sweet even after I had asked for a pinch of sugar it still came out tasting like a cup of sugar. Apparently they ar known for the Mojitos and apparently every spot that I had one at makes them very sweet even after asking to go light on the sugar.. Apparently I am no fan of the Mojito.. But the sugar cane stick in there was cute. Food 5 stars the sheisty waiter 2 stars.. He did have good recommendations on the authentic food!
(3)C B.
Lario's was great. I had a mango mojito which was excellent. The food was delicious as well. The staff was very friendly. It's a little more pricey but It's right on Ocean drive with a great view of the beach and excellent people watching opportunities.
(4)Wendy O.
We visited Larios on vacation, great Cuban food, fun location in South Beach. I had pork...very tasty. Plantains good. Not crazy about the rice. Would recommend!
(4)Liam D.
I've heard that the Cuban people are laid back and relaxed, which I'm cool with except when me and 10 of my famished family members roll up to a place looking to satisfy our hunger pangs. As per usual, I turned to Yelp to figure out what was good in nearby South Beach and Larios looked cool, so we went. Not often one can eat at Gloria Estefan's restaurants up north... We were seated at an enormous family-style table that looked like it was straight out of a hacienda. There was an enormous mirror behind it so we could all see everyone at the table easily. This was cool. We waited about 15 minutes for a waiter to speak to us. Yeah. 10 minutes just for "would you like to start with something to drink?" Speaking of, they have a really tempting looking beverage menu that includes delicious Mojitos and other rum-infused sweet beverages. We ordered food at the same time as drinks and then we waited. Some more. And then some more. And then some more. Our waiter kept coming back to clarify our order and state that they were "out of this" or "out of that," which made us all question whether he'd even input or order yet. Food came by way of a brash manager who acted like he was delivering the best damn food in Miami. How did he do so? By auctioning it off: "who had the...." "who had the..." "and who had the..." I'm cool with this at a table of 2 or 4, but when you're doing it at a table of 10, it not only gets annoying but it's pretty unprofessional. We had non-English speakers at the table, which made things tougher and caused me to snap at Benny Blanco from Da Bronx and say "Our waiter should know what we ordered... where is he?" The ass had the audacity to say, "well you should also know what you ordered, no?" If I wasn't surrounded by family, my response would not have been a good one. I had the Vaca Frita, which is fried beef. It's a lot like barbacoa from Chipotle, but has a bit of crispiness to it because it's pan fried - sort of like a "beef hash" minus the potatoes. It was definitely tasty. Others had seafood, skirt steak, cuban sandwiches, and salads. I was pretty impressed with the food, just not how long it took to order it, get it, or the way it was delivered. 1 star for good food. 2nd for a nice ambiance. Everything else about this place sucks. Stick to singing Gloria...
(2)Joel J.
cuban! meat! their menu is really extensive. make sure to order one of the entres marked with the icon noting, "lario's favorites." all entrees come with a choice of regular rice or rice w/bean (get this one). you also get fried plantains .... fried or sweet. get the sweet ones. the patio was really busy at 7:00pm when we went. fortunately, we took the last table outside in the corner of the patio. try to come early if you want a prime seat outside. this is a GREAT place to get dinner before heading to the bar/clubs on ocean drive.
(3)Julia A.
This place will always be a favorite of mine no matter what, because it is here that I was first introduced to the toasty, porky, melty-cheesy deliciousness that is a Cuban sandwich. After tromping around in the South Beach humidity and then spending a couple hours sprawled on the beach, we decided to come here as there were those of us not acquainted with Cuban food and wanting to give it a try, and we were all so very glad we did. Plantains, black beans, and rice were delish, but the sandwich really did it for me: ham, pork, Swiss cheese, a touch of mustard, on Cuban bread, toasted in a sandwich press until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted...so yummy! Dunno if I was just damned hungry that day or what, but I do believe that was the best sandwich I've ever eaten! Hubby says the mojitos are good too (I don't like mojitos, though, so you'll have to take his word for it). Sometimes there's a band and the place is packed to the rafters, sometimes it's nearly empty, but either way, try the food, it's great!
(5)Cher E.
Besides the beach, the only other thing that mattered to me on this trip to Miami was awesome Cuban food. We stumbled upon Lario's and it was pretty good. Our server wasn't particularly bright or responsive and when we asked him questions about the menu, he had a hard time coming up with answers. Picadillo is always my fave Cuban dish and it was pretty tasty, although a little simple compared to others I've tried. We also ordered the steak with chimichuri sauce which was a very small portion. The sangria was definitely sub-par and I think this may be the first time ever that I didn't finish the carafe. Prices were fair, especially compared to many of the other restaurants along Ocean Dr. There was great live music and a very sexy couple dancing salsa which provided some great eye candy as we completed our meal.
(3)Stefanie R.
The mojitos here are the BEST!!!. Just the right amount of everything in those things. The watermelon and razz mojitos are the drinks to have at this place. I can usually drink about 2 because they don't water down the drinks!!! I'm convinced the owners of this place want you to get super buzzed so you have a good time. I just moved from Miami and I'm really gonna miss this place. When you're able to catch the band it'll be a really fun night. They say that Gloria Estefan makes a visit every once in a while to sing with the band but unfortunatley I was never able to catch her when we had dinner there. This place is one of the most mellowest spots on South Beach. We're always able to get a table right away, this place has great service and the waiters and waitresses are friendly. The food is good, not mind blowing good - but good. They make a good cubano (cuban sandwhich) and they have excellent plantanos, beans and rice. Try the cod fritters and the cuban spring rolls as appetizers. For dinner have a steak or the roasted chicken - or any other dish that you wanna try. But don't go to South Beach without stopping at Larios.
(4)Kane K.
For years, Larios was a Miami institution. Kind of touristy, yes but it was the place to go for people who never visited Miami before and get a hint of Cuban food. Well, not anymore. And I'm certain if Gloria ate what I ate, she would be appalled. I ordered everything that was a Larios favorite. I had the cod fritters and the roast chicken. Cod fritters.....where to begin....it had the consistency of a dishwashing sponge. I'd like to say it tasted like one too. I have a feeling that they just reheated it in the microwave because it had absolutely no crunch as if it just came out of hot oil. It was horrible. Service? I think our waitress was about to fall asleep on us. My roast chicken? It was around for so long and then put under a broilder that there was chicken "jerky" at the top of the dish. Im sorry to say but I will never visit Larios again. I will save the embarassment of bringing my friends there.
(1)Victoria H.
were all these people eating at the same place i ate! this place was horrible... the service was the worst i ever had probly cause they already added there tip and didnt care how they treated there people...our food took forever we got no bread not even water. i would never recommend this place to anyone
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