Gusto Cuban Cafe
7910 Harrison St, Ralston, NE, 68128
Gusto Cuban Cafe Menu
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Address :
7910 Harrison St
Ralston, NE, 68128 - Phone (402) 614-7800
- Website https://www.gustocubancafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Ages Allowed : All Ages
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : Yes
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kate S.
Believe the hype! This place is amazing! Excellent food and friendly service. Get the chefs choice and have the flantastico for dessert!
(5)Amanda O.
Very good place to eat! I love the food. I have been here a total of 3 times. The first time I was not happy with the service, though. I had a groupon that was worth $40 of food. I called ahead and asked if they did to go orders. They said yes. When I got there, they said I couldn't use the groupon on to go orders. (It didn't state that anywhere on my groupon) I asked a few more questions trying to get to a solution, but they would not budge. They made me sit down at a table by myself, order $40 worth of food, brought it out to me and then didnt come back to check on me when they knew I just needed some boxes, so I could just box it myself and take it home. It seemed ridiculous that they plated everything up, just to have me put it all in boxes myself to take home. The last two times, I dined in. It was a cute little restaurant with average to good service, and awesome food. No complaints the last 2 visits.
(3)Kristi F.
The food is truly delicious, so it breaks my heart to say I'll never go back because of their service. After years of being a loyal patron, the fact that we didn't make a reservation an hour before arriving simply to use a Groupon is unacceptable. There was only one other table being served, so to be asked to leave, call in & make a reservation for an hour later, then come back is infuriating. No more Gusto Cuban Café, no more!
(1)Lahaina A.
Mi gusto Gusto! They will have a fan in me thanks to their yummy potato balls, mufongo, and flavorful chicken. We went with some friends after trying Creation Station, and let me just say it was the perfect way to end the evening. I ordered a pina colada and was glad to see they make them just right. The waitress was friendly and even placed a special request song on the loud speakers for us. The atmosphere is lovely, they have a stage for music. My friends and I really have to come back for one of those nights. They have a large selection at the bar and even have cigars! We ordered a few things off the menu: potato balls, mufongo,chicken plate, beef plate and dessert which gave us a wide variety of the menu, but for sure we will be coming back for more. It's these types of places that really bring a sense of "home" to me through their food, Gusto has the flavor, the great staff, and all around great atmosphere that makes this place 5 star,which I don't easily hand out.
(5)Paul C.
I am by no means an EXPERT on Cuban cuisine but, after living in Florida, I have had my fair share of Cuban and Caribbean fare. Gusto's was as good as any I have ever had. I had the LECHON CARIBENO with Congri Rice, black beans and plantains. EVERYTHING on the plate was a hit. The plantains were AMAZING (I have made fried plantains but I could never approach the flavors the chef achieved). As for ambiance - Cuban music in the background, the servers HAD to be the owners children (they were SO polite and knowledgeable) and the decor reminded me of a nice "hut" restaurant i the Caribbean. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant (whether accustomed to the fare or daring something different) and I will be back.
(5)Candi P.
Now, I'd mentioned to the owner the first time I visited that there were conflicting bits of information about their business hours on the Web. She thanked me for pointing it out. Saturday, the 7th, we planned on grabbing lunch at Gusto. Based on the various business hours for Saturday I called Friday night to speak to them and verify their Saturday hours. The employee said, "We are open from 1 pm to 9pm." I asked, "Now, we're double sure, right?" She replied, "Yes." So, we arrive with a few moments to spare (along with three other cars who thought they were going to have lunch) and no OPEN sign. We waited. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. A guy who was also waiting called their number and the person told him that they open "At 2pm on Saturdays." Grrrrr. They lost four groups that intentionally arrived for lunch business -- and gained a bad rep for a no show. They should go out and clarify their hours, for sure. Don't bother going unless you've called first and verified that they're going to be there when you get there!
(1)Steph R.
This is a fun little place to eat, and decor is awesome! Bring a sharpie to leave your mark on the wall! The food is all very good (I've tried many things), but the espresso is easily the best I've had. I would give 5 stars, but the service can be really slow, the restaurant seldom opens on time, and they have a lot of rules (no sandwiches after 6:30, no refills after 9:30, and reservations required for Groupon without exception.) If you do go, just be sure to alot plenty of time, because you will enjoy your food!
(4)Joshara Z.
Bad service, bad food, would never recommend this place and will never come back. I am Latina and this is not even close to what Cuban food should be. Food is too salty, nothing special, small portion for the price they charge you. Service was slow. Water was the only good thing from this place !
(1)Nel P.
Good food...but way overpriced for the serving size. It's a nice cozy place but felt a little awkward with kids seating and waiting on customers. Dined here on a Friday night and didn't realize that they don't serve sandwiches on Friday's and Saturday's after 6:30 pm. This significantly narrows your choices to their main entrees which are really pricey. On a positive note, the food is really flavorful and we enjoyed the plantain and congri rice sides. We may try this place again, but definitely not on a Friday or Saturday night.
(3)David P.
I love Gusto! The only single downfall is it's a little spendy for lunch (the only time I go), but keep in mind it's... I dunno... Exotic. Hahaha. The Cuban sandwich is incredible. Just the right spices, the Cuban mustard is so good, and if you get it on the sweet bread your entire day will be made. I also cannot recommend the cafe con leche highly enough. Espresso with cream and sugar. It's amazing.
(4)Jessie R.
I've come to this place a few times over the years and they never fail to impress me. The service is genuinely friendly and the food is amazing. It doesn't matter what you order, prepare to be fully satisfied. Today for lunch I had the media Noche and ordered some platainos to go. As expected, my sandwich was full of flavors that pop. I just had my wisdom teeth removed a few days ago and today was the first time I could eat anything with crunch, I have to say that I am happy to have done this here. The only thing I would warn about is the time needed to prepare for your meal. This is not fast food. It takes a good 25-35 minutes so if you are in a rush, don't come here. If you have an hour or so, by all means, enjoy the service and the awesome food. They don't skimp on quality ingredients so you'll have lunch tomorrow too. I'm so full, I should be ashamed of myself lol
(5)Regina G.
I went here for my first time a couple of weeks ago. I loved how it had a culture feel to it once you walk into the restaurant. I believe it is a family owned business. Everyone was very nice there. The chicken I ordered was delicious! It had a hint of lemon and seasoned so well. They also let guest leave their mark on the wall, meaning you can write on it! I enjoyed myself very much.
(4)Happy D.
the food was excellent and service was very friendly. however, the drinks both alcoholic and non were pretty bad.
(3)Yelp R.
Good quality, good service, authentic. The plantains are just delicious. If your looking for something unique and different this is a place to try.
(4)Paul W.
This place has great food. I had the Ropa Vieja with the Congri Rice. My Fiancé had the Vaca Frita with Congri Rice. We both enjoyed our food very much. The waitress was very friendly and I would absolutely recommend eating here. The only reason I only give them 4 stars is because the waitstaff consisted of 1 woman whom was also the bar tender and 3 or 4 children. It didn't bother me that children were helping out. But, our service was sub-par because of it. Hopefully their request for waitstaff and bar tender is answered soon!
(4)Dreski H.
I'm from Florida, I've had authentic Cuban food, and this is it. Yes, it takes a little bit to cook it but that's why it's so good. If you want cheap and quick and mediocre then go to Pollo Tropical. This is the real deal. My husband and I went here for lunch on a Friday and it was fairly empty. I ordered the Arros con pollo and my husband got the Cuban sandwich. It only took about 30 mins to get to our table. The sandwich was very good but oh my god the Arros con pollo was amazing. If I had one complaint it would be that there wasn't enough of that incredible chicken. I even had enough rice and plantains to last me two meals. Bottom line: you can't pass this place up.
(5)Jason R.
Discrimination. Us gringos wanted a Cuban sandwich after 630 and were denied. Then they delivered two Cuban sandwiches to their table of friends around 930. We would have stayed longer, had more drinks, spent more money, but who wants to patronize prejudice?
(1)George S.
This is probably the most authentic Cuban restaurant in Omaha. Maybe the only one! Seriously, I've been to a few Cuban restaurants in LA and Gusto's is really good. They also have Latin DJ music after 9p, which is a plus.
(4)Scott E.
I went to Gusto's for dinner and despite waiting an hour to get my seat (forgot to call ahead) enjoyed the experience tremendously. The family that runs the cafe should take note. You need more staff, even if only on the weekend. A dedicated bar/waiter would help it seemed. While people wait they could be enjoying your fantastic Mojitos. By the way, try their Mojitos. Hand crafted and truly the best in Omaha. Can't figure out if it was the rum, the mint leaves, or the Cuban preparation technique... But they are amazing! Save yourself some money and buy the giant glass size. It has about 4 Mojitos worth of drink for the price of two. A great item to share. The food was very flavorful and the friend plantains were fun to try. I ordered a chicken dish, found many a bone mixed in with the meat... But that added to the authentic Cuban experience that reminded me of my travels. The flavor of every dish is excellent. For an evening out, call ahead and enjoy the experience. Similar to Paradise Indian at 120th and Blondo, Thai Spice at 114th and Dodge.
(4)Erin V.
After reading so many reviews that are truly all over the board- we were unsure of what to expect here. My husband's family is Cuban and we don't really have a Cuban restaurant in KC right now so we thought it was worth a try (and the Groupon was a great incentive of course). Walking in, the atmosphere is a bit cheesy- but they gave it a good go as far as finding that old-world tropical vibe. Really similar to the Cuban restaurants we've eaten at in Miami when it comes to decor. With all that said, our experience was great. Our server was lovely, our mojitos were perfect, and the food was delish. The arroz con pollo specifically was amazing- and could have been shared between two people with leftovers beyond that. It's obviously a very family-oriented place- a young girl seated us and I am guessing she was the owner's daughter. I read the response from the owner to one of his negative reviews and I definitely don't agree with that kind of customer service reponse- he is just asking for trouble with that kind of attitude. However, this review is based on our one experience, which was excellent. We'll go back the next time we're in Omaha for sure!
(4)Eb F.
This is not formal dining, but a very casual, very small, family run business. Service is very friendly, though lacking at times it is plenty sufficient. The place filled up quickly at 6 pm on a Tuesday. Just one gal and what appeared to be her daughter handling everything; hosting, serving, bartending and bussing - so cut them some slack. If you're a stickler for great service, you might just have to relax a bit. You will get fed. From the first taste of the Mojo sauce on bread, we knew this was going to be special. We'd never had Cuban cuisine before, so I cannot say if this is authentic or a bit of their own spin, but everything was very good to excellent. The Mojitos were generous and refreshing. After a tasty Papa Rellena appetizer, we had Ropa Vieja, Vaca Frita and Lechon Caribeno. All very good. The Vaca Frita, my favorite, savory brisket was simply delicious. Portions are ample and priced reasonably. We ended with espressos and Chocolate Flantastico (enough to serve the three of us) which was so good and a perfect end to a great meal. We will be back. If you want to be cheap, go get your $10-12 micro-waved or fried meal from one of the chains. If you understand it is worth a few extra bucks for delicious, quality food - then give this place a try!
(5)Mike M.
This is an amazing response from the Owner of Cubano Gusto. I won't even try to offer my opinion of him and his restaurant as you can read his response to my evaluation of his restaurant and make up your own mind. And now his response.... "Maybe you should go to Cuba or Burger King next time, you probably purchase the Groupon because of the offer not because you like the food. And if you do not know what you talking about do not speak, and yes that is our daughter and she is not 6 years old, the different we Cubans teach our children to useful for their future not to be lazy, like probably your children are, wasting time in front of the TV and eating potato chips." Mr. Owner, if you are reading this, I'm not the only person who thought your service was slow. Berating customers (and their children), who had a bad experience at your restaurant just goes to show how much you don't know about customer service and being a bigot just shows you're an example of a bad human being. Keep up the great business strategy - I'm sure your responses will really attract us lazy Americans who teach our children to be lazy.
(1)Karissa W.
Excellent food served, great atmosphere and decent service.
(4)Josh H.
If you are looking for a fun atmosphere that transports you directly to the island then Gusto is the perfect place. With a diverse menu of authentic Cuban cuisine you will find something for everyone. However, the main reason to make a special trip to Gusto Cuban Cafe is for the tres leches cake. One bite of the silky moist cake alone will change your life. Even if you are just driving through town make sure to stop by Gusto Cuban Cafe, you won't regret it.
(4)Sara D.
The closest you'll get to Miami in Omaha. Some things are overpriced, but it's always a good experience! As with many Latin American cultures, there is no rush so I do not recommend if you're in a hurry.
(4)Jim L.
Tonight was my second visit to this restaurant. The first visit wasn't bad. Tonight was. Arrived 6:20, received water from the host within five minutes, didn't see a waitress for another 20 minutes. Big apologies from the waitress (she introduced herself as a family member of the owners) when she arrived. She took our drink and dinner orders, one Iron Beer, three cafes con leche, one guayaba soda. She told us she'd bring us bread with the drinks to make up for the wait. 15 minutes later, the bread and the Iron Beer arrived. The Iron Beer was flat, the bread bland. We saw her again at 7:35; she told us they were out of guayaba soda, but the coffees were ready and would be right out. At 7:49, I dropped four bucks on the table to cover the $3.85 flat Iron Beer, and we left. The waitress saw us leaving, but made no effort to come over and speak to us. It was apparent from her pattern of activity throughout that she had been given absolutely no training in even the most basic serving skills (greeting customers, combining trips, etc.) While we were waiting that last 14 minutes for our coffee, we noticed another waitress standing at the bar chatting with another staff member and a customer for quite some time. It was about as bad a restaurant experience as I've had up to that point, but that last 14 minutes waiting for coffee that had already been prepared carried it over into the surreal. An hour and a half: one four-dollar soda and some flavorless bread. Wow.
(1)Craig H.
Great food, kind host. All around awesome. The food is quite worth the wait. If you are looking for some Cuban home cooking, this is it.
(5)Marcy W.
My favorite restaurant in Omaha, by far! The food and service are always exceptional. This is where I pick to come for special celebrations, but also a great spot for a lovely family dinner or date night! I've been here more times than I can count and I've never had a bad experience.
(5)Nanette S.
The arroz con pollo is amazing! The vaca frita? Also, amazing! The food is made to order and very authentic, and is approved by my native Cuban family. You can also tell the entire business is a labor of love and family run. I have been here several times and not had a bad meal. The service is slow, but the food is so good! I've been here when they are out of menu items and that tells me that they aren't mass producing and freezing food. It's hot and fresh and yummy, which makes this one of my favorite restaurants!
(4)Dennis M.
Oh gusto gusto, you will always hold a special place in my heart. First of all, I will have to make a disclaimer about this place that doesn't bother me, but I know will bother other peeps. The service is not the greatest... nice people, but very slow, very forgetful, can't really take special requests, open hours are sometimes optional and the place is really cold in the winter because I think they save money by putting the heat down... So why would I ever give it five stars?? Well my foodie friends, I LOVE the food here. Like remember the in the movie American Pie when Jason Biggs enjoys the apple pie a little too much? I'm the same way with the Cuban sandwiches here. TMI? Perhaps... Awesome food? HECK YEAH! My virgin Cuban mouth was inappropriately yet invitingly pillaged by the ultimate appetizer platter. I'm talking about the platter of all platters! The large wooden alter this thing comes out on is large enough to perform pagan rituals on medium sized animals. With four people, it would be an entire meal alone. I'm just warning everyone before you get this and think about getting another meal! Anyway, the plates comes with the following and sometimes changes: - Fried plantains (soft and sweet) - Croquettes - Some kind of ground fried fish??? - Double fried plantains in mojo sauce (crispy and not sweet) - Shoe string potato - Chick peas in some unknown but yummy sauce - Shredded beef - Fried yucca root I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but as I said, it is the king of the universe platter!! If you do not like or am not in the mood for fried food, don't get this. It's heavy, fried, and your cholesterol increases exponentially. But isn't that why we go out and binge eat? But Dennis, what about their entrees.... Let me tell you about some entrees folks. The number one thing that I order is the Cuban Sandwich.... I mean... this is staple Cuban food and a MUST for a first timer!! It's shredded pork, ham, swiss cheese, and mustard in a hot pressed hoagie... Can we say NOM^3?!?!?! Oh and the sandwich comes with fries or plantain chips... I will remind you that you are in a Cuban restaurant and you can get fries anywhere so please just get the god damn side of plantain chips!! Onto the main meals... the rice and especially the black beans are heavenly. Like... those commies really know how to make some beans!! I have a friend who lives in KC but born and raised in Cuba come visit Omaha. We went to this place because he hasn't had Cuban food in a while and he thought for a moment he was back home in a restaurant. He had the skirt steak and said it was cooked and spiced perfectly!! My favorite is the pork morsel dish. I'm talking little pig nuggets cooked in mojo (garlic, oil, lime) sauce and it makes me squeal for joy like a little piggy!!! And finally the desserts.... I'm picky about tres leches and I will always think it tastes better when you make it at home, but they do a pretty good job in soaking that cake in white sticky sweetness engulfed in caramel and whipped cream. Again... your heart might stop, but it's all in the name of good food. In conclusion (why are my reviews so long?!!?) AWESOME place. I LOVE taking people here as long as you don't mind possible bad service. Oh and I guess there is dancing on Friday and Saturday nights, but I'm an old man and am not hip like that. But I heard it's good times!! So come on over to Gusto and have them boosto your kaboose....o.............
(5)Ramon B.
Holy crap!! This place went the way of the Bay of Pigs and has become a disaster. Not only did they jack of the prices to well above unreasonable for most dishes but the waitstaff was pretty much non existant. I really don't think the waitress we had even knew where the hell she was!! Not only was she strolling through the place completely devoid of the fact that I was laser eye'n her for our order to be taken but when we finished with this weak-sauce visit and signed our ticket she walked away crumpling up our copy, turned around and then asked,"Oh...did you want your copy of the reciept?" And that was just the begin and end of our meal...add in the damn near 30 minute wait for a cuban supreme and a shrimp scampi-ish dish and the fact that when we got done eating the time it took to get our ticket took the same time it took a new group to come in, order their food and recieve it. Wow...what a shame... Sorry Gusto but you went from Mucho gusto to muy mal....Eat up Minions!!
(1)Krissy J.
Hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever been too in Omaha. I absolutely Crave this place and am so excited for date night because I know we are always going to end up here. Try the Yucca and #37. you will be so happy you did!!
(5)Mailman Dan M.
5 stars for the food - minus two stars for the wait, the heat, and the lack of service during the wait. The food is really good, but you need to be prepared to be very, very patient. As others have mentioned, they seemed to be as understaffed as they were busy. Our experience this time was not pleasant..To be fair, I believe it was the last day for a groupon. Even though they had the little ones delivering water we were dry a couple times - and it was hot! It was a hot day, and I don't think they turned on the air conditioner until they were ready to open. I stewed in my own sweat so long that when my food finally arrived, the last thing I wanted was a hot meal. We spent some of our time trying to help entertain little ones across the aisle, and I actually got up to find some water for them at one point. Once we left it was actually refreshing to step out the front door - those on the patio had the good seats - and it was in the upper 90's. Even with the heat and delay, I would not be adverse to eating here again if I could avoid the groupon start and ending periods :).
(3)Iced T.
I am Cuban and I love this place! So authentic. Tastes like my abuela's cooking straight from Santiago. I'm seeing some bad reviews here on the service. All good things take time.. Why should authentic Cuban food be an exception? Be prepared to wait for your food. You won't be sorry. You also get delicious traditional Cuban bread while you wait. Keep up the good work!
(5)Jarell H.
Went in for lunch and their were about 3 tables of customers including us there and the service was quite slow. Food was very good! Decor needs to be changed, it's very cluttered inside the restaurant.
(3)Sylvia M.
Worst service. No one was working. They were out of meat and shrimp (how can you be out of food on a Saturday?) It took 1 hour to get our food and 1 hour to get the check. Don't go!
(1)Jennifer B.
We had a very good experience on our first time at Gusto! It was the last day of a groupon too! Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. She was very timely with our drinks, taking our order and bringing us our appetizer and meal. The Papa Rellana Cubano were two huge appetizers but very tasty! The mojo sauce which is on each table in a shaker bottle is delicious on everything. It's an oil, lemon juice, orange juice, and spice concoction that is heavenly! For our meals we both chose the Media Noche sandwich, which is basically the Cubano on sweet bread. This too was a fabulous choice, and the bread was divine! They were very accommodating and allowed one of us to order a side salad instead of the standard plantain chips or french fries. The french fries were shoestring and were fine. Next time I'll try the plantain chips. On a downside, we'd browsed their menu online before going. Unfortunately, most of the things on the online menu were not on the actual menu when we got there (none of the fish, seafood, picadillo, etc). Plus, two of the main dishes - arroz con pollo and a beef dish, were not going to be ready for at least fifty minutes. Those things aside, it was a great dining experience and I'd recommend it to folks. It is a little pricey though. A basic grilled chicken salad is $17.99!! Most entrees are in the $15 range but it comes with rice, beans and fried plantains in addition to your protein. The sandwiches were $9. Iced tea was $3, as was soda. So bring your wallets full!
(4)Joyce K.
I go here almost every time I visit Omaha. I love the different flavors of mojitos they offer. This past visit, my mango mojito was much too sweet, which is disappointing bc I was looking forward to it. The food was still en pointe. Try the arroz con pollo which is only available on the weekends. Amazing!
(4)Ross B.
Brutal. Waited an hour for a table for two...on a Tuesday. Food was bland and tasted pre-made. Not good. Granted, the place was swamped because of a Groupon that was expiring at the end of the week, but seriously, it was a pretty terrible experience. They didn't even have a bartender on staff. Save your money and don't go.
(1)M F.
The positives - crazy good sweet plantain bananas...only my mom makes better - the congri is tasty - the ropa viejo is sweet and meaty - the servers we've had were always great The cons - I've yet to find another item on the menu that I enjoy. - they seem to be understaff
(3)Tutti S.
Great restaurant, food is very good, as is the service. Went there with a large group andservice was still excelent. I had a dish with spicy chicken and onions and will order the same exact dish next time. Yummy!!
(5)Kit W.
I did like this place but the price change is a little ridiculous, as well as the quality of the food. $6.00 for a "cup" of soup is very high for a casual restaurant... Also I chose the Robetos Shrimp Scampi, only received 6 small shrimp...and by small, I mean the size of "small" that you normally find in the frozen food section, smaller than a quarter. Not worth $9. I was expecting at least more shrimp. Gusto, not so gusto anymore. The service this time was also lacking. We were one of two tables in the entire place and still waited over 20 minutes for our food. After we ate, we sat another 15-20 to get our ticket. Patience was definitely wearing thin. The cuban sandwich also was thinner, the bread was not as crunchy yet soft...it was literally so solid it cut my S.O.'s mouth. While I give them kudos for picking up on the "being closed while posted hours say they are open," they must have tried to compensate for that by draining on the quality of food.
(2)Diana C.
I LOVE Gusto Cuban Cafe!!! I ordered the Ropa Vieja, Avocado Salad, and Cuban Pechuga?....EVERYTHING was amazing! The Avocado Salad was pretty addicting if you enjoy a vinegar taste like I do. I live in Florida and was visiting for the weekend. As many reviewers have said, the food may seem a little over priced BUT....THIS IS OMAHA! You're in the middle of NOWHERE! If you're looking for Spanish food, your options are pretty limited in this city....either you settle for Mexican..Mexican..OR you pay a few extra bucks for some GOOD CUBAN food. One of the other reviewers mentioned " A little too much compared to places in Miami."....hhmmmm Miami is basically Cuba soooo I'm pretty sure you're going to find Cuban food for really cheap (lol). I recommend if you live in Omaha to check out Gusto's. It is a very cute restaurant! For what Omaha has to offer in regards to Spanish food, the presentation of the dishes and the ambiance makes the pricing seem fair. Enjoy!! :)
(5)Sarah G.
Wow. Crunchy, spicy, sweet, savory... all on one plate. Usually I'm not a huge fan of mixing flavors and blurring the lines between sweet and savory - but you can't go wrong with fried plantains. I started off my meal with what our server described as 'the best mojito in town' because I can't say no to a sell like that. I'd have to agree, but at $7 each they pack a whallop on both the senses and the wallet. I plan on coming back after 10pm on Saturdays when the place becomes a club and drinks are half price (mojito's are $4). Anyway, the dinner menu here is HUGE. They even encourage you to order by number, there are so many items (50+). We had the Papa Rellena Cubana (essentially potato croquettes stuffed with beef) as an appetizer, since I had just had the Papa at Peru, Mucho Gusto (I prefer the Peruvian version). But the entrees were to die for. My husband had the Ropa Vieja dinner (since sandwiches weren't available at night) and it was the most succulent shredded brisket I've had in recent memory. The sandwich version is, I'm sure, fantastic (bread always makes it better, in my opinion). Likewise, my Pollo Frito a la Gusto (fried chicken gusto style) was - no pun intended - finger licking good. Literally. It was all amazing. And since the option of rice and beans came with both of our meals, we each got different kinds so we could share and compare. They were unfortunately short-staffed the night we went. That, coupled with the fact that we were trying to make it a 'quick' dinner so we could make it to a movie, would typically have me a little on edge. But the vibe at Gusto is so fantastic, that it pulls you in and you almost forget you had other plans... "What, I was supposed to be somewhere? But they had Cascos De Guayaba!" Regardless, we made it to the movie in time anyway. They also have salsa Friday and Saturday nights at 9:30pm. Sometime I'd like to go back for that (to watch while I eat). :) And I love a restaurant with a Twitter account (@Gusto_CubanCafe).
(5)Andy A.
I wish I had actually ate here, after checking in here we were directed to the bar and told they would have a table in a half hour or so. Expecting a little service here at the bar we sat down and waited and waited and waited. Had two servers ask how we were doing, and watched the bartender make drinks but was never offered any drink service while waiting. Waited about a hour and left before we were seated. The restaurant was busy, but not that busy. I'll probably try it again, but not impressed so far. This visit was on 1/26/2013.
(1)Carlos C.
Amazing. Simply Amazing. I'm half cuban and my entire family is in the restaurant business. This is authentic Cuban, I'm amazed by some reviews complaining because they were "expecting" their version of what is good or bad. It's authentic Cuban, some dishes you may love, some you may not. It's okay! They have Cuban Beer, Mojitos, Authentic Dishes and the service was amazing. I felt at home here, I felt like I was visiting my family in Cuba, welcomed even though we just met. The place is decked out with many pictures from Cuba and on the weekends they have salsa, cumbia, bachata and other spanish dancing. Tonight, I had the Vaca Frita and it was wonderful. The Flan and 3 Leches cake were homemade as well, awesome. I can't believe Dallas does not have a place like this. I will be back soon.... maybe even tomorrow!
(5)Arnie P.
Went Sunday shortly after 7pm. We were greeted and seated promptly by the friendly Hostess. All I can say is that this was an overall great experience. The atmosphere, drinks, food and service were all top-notch. Ordered the Basic Mojitos which were generously poured and tasty. Cuban Pork Chop and Tiger Shrimp were the main Entrée's. Do not recall what the appetizer was, other than there was shrimp in it. (I was too busy enjoying the Mojito to pay attention) Must confess, neither the wife of I know anything about Cuban food. I do know that we look forward to coming back and trying other menu items. Delicious!
(4)Danny A.
Admittedly this was my first Cuban experience and I had heard mixed reviews from friends. With my groupon in hand I came here with an open mind. These folks are really on to something- the flavors were fantastic! Their Cuban mojito was delicious and the decor is delightfully tropical which is very refreshing on a cold gray day in the midwest. Sure the plates may be a couple dollars more than your standard strip mall fare but I really left with a positive impression.
(5)Diny P.
Went to this restaurant just last Saturday 6/11/11 with my husband and our kids (ages 8 and 10). We were from out of town, and it was our first time. Ambiance was fine, not too fancy nor too dive-y. Appropriate for kids also. I ordered Vaca Frita, which was the Chef's Choice. Very delicious! Love the combination of onion and shredded beef. The side dish I got was congris (yellow rice) and a bowl of brown beans with a heap full of fried sweet plaintains, which was too much in my opinion. We also ordered two different chicken dish, I think the Arroz Con Pollo (yellow rice with chicken and herbs) and Pollo Caribeno. The Arroz Con Pollo was also delicious, kind of paella-ish. Found some chunks of green olives in the rice, which was startling (not used to eat warm olives). Lechon Caribeno (roasted pork in mojo sauce with garlic and onion) was satisfying too. Now if only they would cut down on the number of fried sweet plaintains, and give us more rice; then it'd be awesome. Service was good, although our server forgot that I ordered Mojito and my daughter's lemonade. They came pretty quickly after we almost finish our complimentary garlic bread. Will definitely come back if we're ever in Omaha again.
(4)Randall S.
Good Cuban food! Polite staff, quick service, delicious food. Had the Tostones con mojo, Ropa Vieja, and Lechon Caribeno, with congri, black beans, and white rice. I am going back for lunch. I must say that I have reservations about the pricing. A little too much compared to places in Miami.
(3)billy c.
"Sorry, we're out of chicken breasts." (Really? On a Friday evening?!) "Sorry, it's 85 degrees in here; our thermostat is set on 65." While, promised everything on the menu "is the best," the taste of our food made up for neither of the above situations. (At our subtle suggestion) they did provide us with a free mojito to make up for the lack of AC. Perhaps a cpl more might have convinced me to ignore the sweat streaming down my back and I would have stuck around to try their tres leches. No deal. It was a miserable experience. Disappointing because there is a lot of buzz about this strip-malled venue in Ralston. Been there. Done it.
(2)Ellen L.
We went here with our Groupon hoping for good. It was all wrong. Horrible service. Our server was cleaning up a mess when we arrived so someone else wrote our order down. And not only was our server waiting tables but she was also bartending so if I needed anything I had to go up to the bar and ask. Needless to say after an hour of waiting with three hungry children, the server realized our order was never put into the computer. Since they messed up, she offered to bring us free plantains...that took another 15 minutes to get to our table. It was the worst experience we have had at any restaurant. We will never go back.
(1)Shawn G.
Not bad by any means, though I'm considerably less emphatic that other reviewers seem to be. I've only been once, but my sandwich simply tried to do way too much to be good. Five different kinds of meats and what had to be a dozen toppings just made for a conglomerated mess. Not to mention that my order was messed up. The pineapple soda I had was quite tasty, but nowhere near worth the four dollars I paid for one can.
(3)Rob R.
My entire family is from Cuba. Most of them still live in Miami. I have eaten A LOT of Cuban food in my time. I must say that the food here is OUTSTANDING! Very authentic. I couldn't ask for much better out of Omaha. In all honesty, the service is a bit on the strange side. Some times understaffed and possibly a slight language barrier with the server sometimes. But the owner speaks very good English, is very educated, and will treat you right if he gets a chance to speak with you. The place is very nicely decorated. Smells good. Very clean. This is a must try restaurant, especially if you have never had Cuban food. I hope they stay in business.
(5)Nelson I.
I don't get it. Cubans (or so they say) rave about this place and my main complaint is that the flavors are off. The food is good, but the tastes are all wrong. The mofongo was made with sweet plantain - a mortal sin in any culture. The tostones were limp. The ropa vieja was sweet and the black beans (the staple of a cuban kitchen) tasted "off." If you have never had authentic Cuban food I'm sure that you will like it since it is good and fresh, but for someone who has eaten in a Cuban home where Abuela spent all day making croquetas while her daughter and granddaughter cooked the ropa vieja, frijoles negros and such, you're going to be disappointed. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried them twice - no improvement and the owner charged me extra for sharing a dish. Adios. Three days later I received this response: Roberto W M. has sent you a message on Yelp: Gusto Cuban Cafe/Owner "You have no idea of what your talking about Cuban food....."
(2)Kelly B.
Speaking as one who has worked with Latinos from Chicago, NYC, Miami and in the Caribbean, and who has had the privilege of consuming this very kind of cuisine from the homes of these wonderful people, I was not at all disappointed. Instead, I was thoroughly satisfied with the food, the prices and the service from the hostess, the waiter and even the owner who took time to visit. Our waiter was extremely polite, checking on us at every turn, and the food was delivered in an extremely prompt fashion. I cannot wait to return for more.
(5)Emily P.
I ate here several months ago, and it was a weird experience. There weren't a lot of people there when we got there, but it took a little bit for anyone to come to us. I had a coupon that I found on their website - it was expired, but I thought maybe since they still had it on their website that they might still take it. I asked the waitress and she said it was fine. When we finally ordered, we asked the waitress for a lot of input since we hadn't had Cuban food much. She suggested the red beans and helped me pick an entree. We waited probably 45 minutes for the food, and when it came out, almost the entire meal was wrong. She brought black beans when we had both ordered red (because she told us to!), and my entree was completely wrong. We could not figure out how on Earth it was so messed up because it was still not very busy in the restaurant and she had told us what to order. She seemed to be just as surprised as we were that it was all wrong. She exchanged the beans for us, but I ended up eating the entree she brought because they would have had to cook a whole new meal, and we were tired of waiting. When the bill came, I gave her the coupon. A few minutes later, she came back and said that we couldn't use it. There was no compensation for the fact that I was brought a meal I did not order and it took forever. The food was pretty good, but the service was so bad/strange that I don't plan to go there again.
(2)Scott D.
My girlfriend and I decided to try this place out using a Groupon since we had never had Cuban food before. To our delight Gusto's has excellent food paired with a great service! The fried plantains were one of the most delicious side items I have ever had! We will be returning some time soon to experience the live music and drinks very soon.
(5)Liz W.
The atmoshere & food are AWESOME!! but the service is less to be desired. I've been there 2 times and had incredible food, my husband "the gringo" loves the fried plantains and the pork. Having grown up with cuban family members in NY, I can vouch for the authentic food. The only drawback is that the waitstaff was pretty slow and we waited for 20 min for the check....make sure you don't have any plans after dinner, just order another Cuba Libre.
(4)Kevin B.
Posted hours on yelp, their website, and on the building for Tuesday was 5-9. Got there at 7:30pm. Closed. Another car showed up the same time as me confused as to why they were closed. Since I didn't get to eat, 0 stars would be fair, 1 is the lowest option. I drove all the way from Benson too. =(
(1)Bob H.
4.5 stars We ate there Friday night. Got there pretty early so no wait and the service was timely. Mojitos were tasty and expensive Had the Tostones Con Mojito for an appetizer. Fried plantains with garlic. They were ok Ropa Vieja for the wife and Arroz con Pollo for me. Both were delicious!. My only complaint about the Arroz con Pollo was the lack of Pollo. 1 thigh and 1 drumstick. It could have used another piece. For dessert we had Cascos De Guayaba. Slice guava with syrup and cream cheese. Pretty tasty. I didn't see the classic cuban dessert on the menu, arroz con leche, but I might have missed it. They got funky hours so call before showing up hungry
(4)Lindsay M.
I did like this place. The food was really good. I have never eaten Cuban food before and was pleasantly surprised. We got the Frituras de Malanga as an appetizer. I got the Papa Rellena a la Gusto and my dad got a pork dish( I can't remember which one). The sides were congri rice, red or black beans and plantains. It was all very good. The service was good to. It did take a bit for the food, but the food was super fresh and tender I figured that was why. My only issue is the price. It is kind of expensive, but if you can get a groupon/living social deal, totally try this place
(4)Oscar G.
I ate here for the first time today, a lunch occasion. I have to agree with a previous rant about the service. We were seated quickly, and our drinks were brought out to us quickly. Once we ordered, I'd say the food took about 25 minutes to receive, which was way too long, especially considering the three people in my party all ordered the same entree (basic Cuban sandwich with plantain chips). The food made up for the long wait. Although it was a basic Cuban sandwich, it was delicious, and when paired with plantain chips, even better. Overall, I'd say that I would definitely eat here again, provided I was not in a hurry to get to work (as I was this visit).
(4)Benji B.
I love Gusto Cuban Cafe. I had never eaten Cuban food before, and I tagged along with some friends for lunch today. I had the Lechon Cubano, which is like a pulled pork sandwich with Cuban seasoning. It was delicious, as were the thinly sliced fries. I also got to sample a little of the plantain chips, black beans, read beans, avocado salad, and some sort of fried plantains that others had ordered. I really liked all of it. I'll be back, and I'll try one of the mojitos!
(5)Jesse B.
My girlfriend and I had been to Gusto numerous times in the past. We always had a good experience, great food, and mojitos that are out of this world. I'm sad to say that I think they are slipping a bit. Our latest trip was a disappointment. The service was forgetful. We don't mind slow service because we take our time to eat, but after a while they were obviously just ignoring us. Near the end of the meal our server did apologize for the service, however. We had ordered mojitos expecting them to amaze us as always, but our first sip was our last. The only thing you could taste was rum, and it seemed like it was missing club soda or some other key ingredient. The fried plantains were still delicious. The server brought out our food on a cart which had other customer's dirty plates on the bottom shelves. Not exactly a good presentation.
(3)Norman K.
I went to Gusto last week. It was great. The owner took time to explain the food. Everything tasted great. I will be back a lot. Try the Mojitos - simply awesome.
(5)Jeff B.
Very good food, wonderful drinks and the staff is full of life. Sure the food takes a while but with mojitos no one minds.
(5)S A.
We went with a relatively large group for a mojitos on St. Patrick's day. If you aren't willing to stand in line for an Irish bar, at least have something green! Service was - okay. Food was - okay, maybe even good. Decor was - okay. So, 3 1/2 stars from me. I'll head back because they have gift certificates on restaurant . com and, if memory serves me right (which it might not!!!), outdoor seating in the summer. But, it's definitely not a place I'd take an out of towner or go for a special event.
(3)David P.
Good, authentic Cuban food with a nice atmosphere. I would definitely recommend to a friend.
(4)Ambri W.
My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of trying this little gem the other night. We were fortunate to have scored a hell of a deal on groupon. There were about 6 tables that all walked in at the same time as us. Being servers ourselves, we were expecting it to take a while for things to get situated. But to our surprise, we were served waters right away and our order and bottle of wine came very quickly. I think after that, the kitchen got slightly backed up because our food took quite a while to come out. Our appetizer came out with our entrees and was rock hard and not edible. It was obvious it had been sitting in the window for some time. We asked to have it taken off our bill and our server didn't hesitate to grant our wish. The entrees made up for it though. I had the pollo a la tropical (something along those lines) and my boy had la biscatera mesa. Both were outstanding! We were forgiving of the service because the servers kinda got their asses handed to them. The entrees were amazing!
(4)Annie P.
My wife and I do not know how to review this place. We personally did not care for it, but have no other similar type of restaurant to compare it to. Food was too fried and too much fried food for us on one plate. We were hoping for at least some fresh food on our plates.
(2)Joshua M.
Went there last month...best Mojitos ever, and I have had my share of mojitos. Food was very good and there was a good variety. Plantains were perfectly cooked. We will come back soon!
(4)Sean H.
Stopped in here for an early dinner since I had a restaurant.com certificate. I'm a big fan of Cuban food, having mostly enjoyed the flavors in Key West and other parts of Florida. This meal started off bad and had me wondering about some of the other reviews on here. Complimentary bread was rock hard, tasted like it had been left out from the day before. I ordered the plantanos con queso which were just OK. Plantains were kind of chewy and didn't have much flavor. They redeemed themselves with the traditional Cuban sandwich. This was fantastic and an absolute monster. Stacks of meat on sweet Cuban bread with thin cut fresh fries. Would definitely recommend their sandwiches. Tried the espresso but was not on par with coffee I usually have in Cuban restaurants. Worth a try, just wouldn't go mid day as they seem more concerned with prep for the evening rush and gossip than the one and only customer in the restaurant.
(3)cindy w.
Very authentic Cuban food! GREAT Mojitos!!! Best I ever had! The food is homemade. Great sandwiches, appetizers, soups and french fries. I haven't tried an entree yet but it is in my future! Very cute place. Helped me feel like I was someplace tropical and warm while it was snowing outside.
(5)Joe T.
Had lunch the other day. It was pretty good. I have heard that Cuban food isn't spicey like Jamaican or Mexican and the dish that I had (shredded beef something or other) wasn't spicy. The decor was pretty nice. I would eat here again. Written up in the Omaha World Herald: tinyurl.com/2fz25t
(4)Shawn L.
Oustanding, authentic Cuban food and friendly service. The decor is nothing special, but it's quaint and the restaurant (and bathrooms) were very clean. Prices are very reasonable, given the quality and quantity of food you're served. I'll be back soon!
(5)CJ P.
Great food! I'll agree that the waitstaff isn't the fastest, so it's a good place to go for a long, relaxing meal. I can especially recommend the fried plantains and mojitos.
(4)Jennifer K.
I thought this place was great. There was only one girl waiting tables when we were there, but she was so friendly and kept apologizing that she was slow (honestly we didn't even notice...I've had much slower service with no apologies) and brought us free chips and bread as appetizers. Both were great. I thought the food was excellent. I ordered a regular Cuban sandwich and substituted rice and beans for the plantain chips. The yellow rice and black beans and plantains that came on the side were delicious and enough to fill me up alone, and I could only eat half the sandwich. Everyone else's food looked great too. Someone in my party ordered shrimp and they were out of it. I think, though, that at a smaller restaurant on a weeknight in Omaha, NE, this is forgivable. Also I ordered food to go and it was wrapped up very nicely--they wrapped each container in plastic wrap to avoid leakage. So thoughtful! The food prices were very reasonable. I didn't have any drinks, but will need to go back and do so. The atmosphere was fun and it looks like they have live music (but not while we were there.) I'm happy to have a place like this in Omaha and will recommend it to everyone.
(5)