Twisted Cuban Cafe & Bar
12631 NE Woodinville Dr, Woodinville, WA, 98072
Twisted Cuban Cafe & Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Woodinville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Woodinville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Woodinville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
12631 NE Woodinville Dr
Woodinville, WA, 98072 - Phone (425) 806-7203
- Website https://www.twistedcubancafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Tuan N.
Yucca fries: Must get. Cooked perfectly. Spicy Margaritas: satisfying pairing to go with the rich and scrumptious food. Monster Cuban Sandwich: tender meat, crunchy buns, and comes with Yucca fries. It hit the spot.
(5)Lynn K.
Oh man. I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately our experience was not an enjoyable one. It was lunch time on a Sunday and we were the only people at the restaurant (usually not a good sign). It was nice out, so we decided to eat on the "patio" which is a parking lot ten feet from a busy road. The waiter seemed completely uneducated on the menu. My boyfriend asked what yuca fries were and the waiter responded, "a root". Really? That's it? Nothing about the flavor or the texture or similar foods? Oh I love roots, I'll get that! Anyway, when our food finally came, which took quite a while considering there was no one else there, it was completely lackluster. I ordered the garbanzo bean salad and it was drenched, but yet had no flavor. It also looked like every ingredient, minus the lettuce, was from a can. My boyfriend got the Cuban and he had asked for no pickles (yeah, he's crazy). He took one bite and could tell tree had been pickles on it, and then taken off, because there was pickle juice on the bread and the second half of the sandwich still had one, lonely pickle on it. Also, I love Cuban sandwiches and this was not good. Very disappointing. Not only is the food bad, but the price is outrageous. I would skip this one.
(1)Carlos M.
Decent Cuban food. Rice and beans are Great. The fish was a little oily. Ask the owner for his views on Cuba... He will talk to you for hours! Amazing drinks and live music is very good.
(4)Amber S.
Always plenty of tables open, delicious cocktails, and the best flan I've ever had ... in my entire life.
(5)C Adrienne V.
My husband and I went to this place, because we wanted mojitos and I was hungry. Our server was rude. Even though we spent quite a bit of money on mojitos and I ordered a full dinner, my husband ordered an appetizer only, much to the dismay of the waiter. We were treated like unworthy customers for the remainder of the meal as a result. The food was nothing to write home about. They used frozen vegetables, which for the price of the dish was truly unacceptable. Never again, thanks.
(1)John R.
I grew up in Miami a few miles from Little Havana So I feel I know Cuban cuisine. This Is as close as your can get and not be in Cuba or Miami. The black beans soup was good, could have been a little thicker. The Cuban Sandwich Was as good as you'll find outside of South Florida, no one seems to be able to make real Cuban bread. I had the picadillo empanadas that were outstanding. They also nailed the sweet plantains. The service was quick and friendly. The decor was very nice and reminded me of my roots in Miami. I will come here often.
(5)Tini B.
Cute place, food was good and the service was fast. Drinks were a bit weak but otherwise tasty, we would have stayed for another round if they were better. We will definitely return to enjoy an outside table.
(4)Brandy D.
Sadly I have to downgrade my rating from my most recent experience here. Service is usually spotty here which I can deal with, but the last visit's food was disappointing. I got the spicy beef like I always do, but instead of it being the usual sandwich it was instead the Cuban sandwich with some spicy beef thrown on top. It seemed as though the chef made the wrong one and just threw some beef on top. I wouldn't normally have minded this, but the waitress didn't even look at me when I ordered (she was staring across the room) and she brought both me and my husband glasses of wine when only I ordered a drink. She also didn't offer us any water. I can deal with not being asked if the meal is satisfactory, or a less than enthusiastic server because we all have bad days, but the combination of that and the meal left a sour taste. I probably won't be going back.
(2)Regina C.
Been here a couple of times...and I'm not sure why. Over the last 3 -4 years maybe 3 times. I read some recent positive Yelps so I had some hope that this time may be different. My family did NOT want to go. $85 later I wish I would have listened. AGAIN. My martini had so much olive juice it was greenish in color. Sent it back. My second martini had ice floating in it. Sent it back My beer was good. Fritters were ok. A little doughy and kind of bland, but it turned out to be the best thing all night. Black bean soup was, wait for it...too salty. Chicken was so flipping salty. No flavor other than salt and it was tough. Chewed like a piece of leather. My husband's dinner looked like someone threw up on his plate. And now he's pissed because he did NOT want to come. My daughter had a Cuban sandwich. She's 9 and she liked it. Too salty. Slow rediculous service. Server was nice, but he was clueless about menu and how to make a martini. This place is not good. Another thing..I compared our food with some pics of it on Yelp and and they looked nothing alike. In fact my chicken was missing the sauce and a piece of chicken. We went to the Cuba Cafe at the end of September.
(1)Connie G.
Fabulous restaurant with authentic Cuban food! Great atmosphere! Great staff, gracious owner, Julio treats all guests like family.
(5)Chris G.
...rude blonde server (i believe hates her job),,, food had minimal flavor (kinda like hospital food).... Went to refill my water myself..... Was charged $3 for a bread roll....
(1)Heidi F.
Awesome food, drinks & atmosphere!! Cute little place with good music and relaxed vibe. Perfect place for lunch or dinner with TONS of Gluten free/Vegan options! Had the Cuban sandwich on gf bread with a mojito! The yuca fries were also delicious! Definitely coming back :)
(5)Brenda M.
We had a Groupon and made reservations for Sunday evening. There was only one couple at the restaurant and we were seated right away. The bartender/waiter came over and took our drink order and we decided to order a few appetizers. Once the appetizers were brought out that was the last of our quick service. Apparently talking to an employee eating at the bar is way more important than waiting on his two tables. We had to flag our waiter down to take our order and then he didn't even notice our empty drink and water glasses. Once our meals arrived finally, the food was barely Luke warm. The food was mediocre at best but had it been served hot it would have been better. I don't know if the food sat in the back while our server was chatting with his coworker or if it was just reheated and warmed up. I thought the food was bland and the portions were somewhat small. I'm glad I had a coupon because the total bill was almost $130.00 for bland food and terrible service. I normally give a place another chance if I have a bad experience because every restaurant can have an off night or be so busy they can't keep up with the rush. But this was not a busy night and the server just didn't seem to care. I can think of way better restaurants I'd rather visit and drop $130.00 dollars at.
(1)Diana C.
Good cuban sandwiches with cool/laid back ambiance. Went for lunch and had some mojitos with a lunch pork sandwich. Food was good, and the "fries" were interesting (Yuka fries?). The pork was juicy and the onions were perfectly cooked. The sauces were good, but didn't overwhelm the rest of the sandwich. The bread was well toasted, not too hard, not too soft, and everything worked well together. I would definitely go back and try more food!
(4)Gina M.
Mixed review from,our family. I'm 1/2 Dominican which is very similar to Cuban food. Grew up eating, can make some of it myself. I was super excited to try this place. Its a bit non-descript from the street and off the beaten path for Woodinville, but the decor and set up inside is quaint and cozy. Liked the bar and the cigar cabinet along with the photos of the malecón and other places in Cuba. appetizers: ordered the shrimp (5) & tostones (4). Both were delicious. Loved the ailoi on the tostones, however, they were not as crispy as they should be. entrees: my husband ordered the picadillo. It looked and tasted a bit more like a Bolognese. Trust me this is one of my signature home dishes and it looked nothing like my family's picadillo. Actually, now that I've seen pics, it looks like the ropa vieja instead. According to my Anglo husband, it was lacking seasoning/salt. In fact he stated mine was better. my youngest daughter ordered the arroz de Maria & salad. Salad looked good, tasted fresh. The rice dish was bland at initial taste then had a super spicy after taste. It was supposed to have shrimp, chicken and other meats but the pieces were so small. my oldest daughter had the bistec palomillo. She didn't finish it because it was "just ok". We all decided to try it. It was super tender but lacked flavor and salt. Beans and rice also lacked depth and salt. I ordered the lechon. I was so craving it from the moment I saw it on the online menu. When my plate arrived it just was a plate of bland colors oozing together. The yucca was way over cooked, tasted like butter and lacked salt. The pork was floating in grease that just ran under the bland Moro. And the Moro was missing actual beans. Not sure what kind of rice they used but it wasn't the heartier long grain I'm used to eating with cuban/Dominican/puerto rican food. The lechon, while greasy, was very tender and juicy but was thinly shredded with no real chunks and as one prior reviewer said, not even a piece of the tasty crispy skin. dessert:I am a flan LOVER and I will say that the flan was delicious, creamy and rich with a fantastic caramelized sauce. My girls nearly stabbed me with a spoon to get to the last bite. We also ordered the cascaras de guayaba. They were good and interesting. I've eaten guayaba several different ways but never like this. It had a simple syrup with hints of the guayaba, four half guavas with a little dollop of whipped cream cheese. Overall not bad, but there were still quite a few of the hard little guava seeds left in the dessert. service: the gentleman was friendly but seemed distracted. The waitress didn't really smile. Neither gave their names. They were attentive to remove our plates, asked if everything was ok (just Ok, indeed), but nothing outstanding. The place wasn't busy so I'd expect better service. price: actually the price point's reasonable, but the food just didn't match. summary: i truly wanted this to be a go to for us, because while I love authentic Latin Caribbean food, I dont always want to make it myself. The reviews from others are mixed, so is mine. I'd give it a 2 1/2 stars if it would allow. I'm not sure if we'd go back again to try other items. The Cuban sandwich sounds good but not sure I'm willing to risk another $120 experience from my family's budget for a second chance at "ok".
(3)Tiara B.
Loved it. We love going to this restaurant. Just the right noise level for bringing the kids and the food is so good.
(5)Turan W.
Stopped in for lunch, nice place with friendly service. The Mojito was light and fresh. Food is good and authentic, plating could use some help, but maybe that is part of its charm.
(3)Loly G.
Cuban??? Pure salt. Service sucks. I asked for the main Cuban meal Lechon asado and got pulled pork Extremely salty. We didn't eat we paid and left
(1)Noralis R.
Really good Cuban food. Home cooked flavor, a little salty, but not too much. We met the owner and he is a very nice person. The ambiance was cozy and loud, normal for a Caribbean food restaurant. It felt like home (Puerto Rico). I recommend what we ordered, ropa vieja and pollo al ajillo, but everything in the menu looks good.
(4)M T.
I have only been here for lunch with a group of 5 and on a evening for drinks/appetizers (table for 4) but, I WON'T GO BACK!! Here's why: Food: Somewhat oily or dry depending on what you order; not super tasty either, unless you consider salty=tasty. I do not mind the yuca fries as they are a nice change from the standard french fries. Portions aren't big. Price: Quite expensive for what you get. (but if you read to the end & you can learn the owner's philosophy on this!) Parking: It stinks! Not many parking spaces & getting in and out can be difficult due to the busy road, no room to navigate. Service: Service here is slow & not great--picture waiting 30-40 minutes from ordering to getting your appetizers then another 30-45 minutes for your meal to arrive. I don't sense any kind of attitude to serve or make the patrons happy from the waitstaff, guess they just expect tips for mediocre to crappy service. Drinks: Don't bother with the liquor here. A friend had a mojito and some other attempts at cocktails - -there was barely any alcohol in them. Save your money. Small: It's a pretty small place without much room for navigating. They advertise some music there on some nights and it's not that great; people bumping into each other and into your table/booth, even though the place is not filled up. Management: VERY RUDE, instructing waitstaff to to behave the same when a issue arose on a night when the band was there. There was no posted cover charge, no posted "2 drink minimum" or minimum of any kind. We all had at least 1 drink, and a couple appetizers for the table. The bill was brought to the table before we were done & ready to go--BTW no one was waiting for a table. One of the guys asked the waiter about it & he told us they needed the table. Finally after the waiter had rudely checked on the bill several times (4-6) in the span of 15 minutes, waiting for us to pay even thought we were not ready to leave. This was at the instruction of the owner, who believes people should spend more to stay. "Pay to stay!" must be the owner's philosophy.
(1)Stuart W.
I have been driving past Twisted Cuban Cafe for a while and finally took my wife for her 50th birthday with 2 other friends. We all LOVED it... it was very relaxing and the food was amazing and the prices were very reasonable .. the Mojitos were amazing :-) .. I booked in advance for a Friday night so would suggest the same ... all in all it was a great night and would recommend this place to anyone
(5)Carol H.
I love this place! I have been there 3 times now and have thoroughly enjoyed the food every time! The atmosphere is very cozy and the staff is very friendly. Last time I was there Julio Ortez (the owner) served us. It's aways a treat to be served by the owner himself. I love mom and pop establishments- he is truly living the American dream having moved here from Cuba. Awesome! Way to go Julio! I will definitely be back.
(5)Mandy S.
Nice place to grab dinner after wine tasting in woodinville. I loved the popular pork dish with yucca...all the flavors are in this specific dish..even the side of rice. The thin steak dish was a lot milder in comparison so we mixed both dishes together to get the right balance of flavor. They also serve plantains here and you may see the owner who grew up in Cuba! bonus points for all the cool art around the walls ! really made me feel like I was in a different place while dining
(5)Amy L.
Looks like others are noting what I loved, too. Their aoili mayo sauce is perfect. I'm vegetarian, and there were quite a few vegan items on their menu. The waitress was helpful at describing anything we questioned. I'm so glad I ordered their mixed vegetable plate... WOW, even my husband (the meat eater) kept dipping into the yummy tomato sauce with vegetables on my plate. I'm not a fan of beans. Usually at Mexican restaurants I pass them up. Try their beans! So good I brought some home for leftovers... Again, I'm NOT a bean person!! The vibe was nice. Intimate but not pretentious. Seemed very cozy for a Friday night dinner.
(5)Micki K.
Hidden little place, food was ok, and drinks were ok, a lot of mediocrity. ... I thought the food and drinks to be bland, not a ton of flavor. Although the fried plantains were mouth watering, and that would be the only reason I would be back, and it's the closest Cuba restaurant near me...
(3)Jeff A.
Quaint, friendly service, yummy food. Humidor display is a nice touch. Will have to come again.
(4)Paris C.
As a vegan they have a few options of food that cam be vegan friendly just inform the server of your dietary needs and they will help you. I got the black bean soup and side of rice and it was pretty good. Soup I got came with cheese but as I informed the server I couldnt have it he said it comes with it a bunch of times and kinda rubbed it in my face that I should have read the menu (ok he was right but still.... it was embarrassing) He got me a new bowl and all was good. Overall amazing food. My non vegan friends loved the other dishes too.
(4)Christina B.
Slightly pricy for dinner but definitely coming back to try out their happy hour! The food is simply delicious.
(4)Gretchen H.
We went here based off reviews and word of mouth. The interior is cozy, very different from what I expected based on the outside. The service was very friendly as well. But here is why we wont be going back The Mojitos tasted like sugar syrup in a glass. OH so sweet! The Fish entrée I ordered tasted like salt on a plate. OH so salty! The rice was dry, like it was Uncle Ben's that had been reheated. My hubby and I were wondering if this is what traditional Cuban rice was suppose to be like? The beans were ok, not very flavorful. I had 2 bites and called myself done. Hubby's streak entrée was kinda tough, and not very flavorful. Served with the same dry rice/beans combo. Perhaps we just ordered the wrong items, but on a menu should there be wrong items?
(2)Angela B.
This is place is pretty damn good. It's not up there with "Versailles", but it's pretty good. Twisted Cuban sandwich : the pork is very tender and tasty. Yucca fries had a bit too much of batter on them, however their aioli is excellent. Spicy beef sandwich, great tasting. As for the kids pollo al ajillo, not as flavorful as we expected for a standard Cuban dish. The atmosphere was cozy, service was nice. Bottom line, we loved it and we will be back!
(4)Aida H.
Let me start my saying that when I parked the owner(which i didnt know at the time) told the waitress to walk outside and pretend she was cleaning a table that was already clean ans then I see a woman starring at me and then the owner turns around looks THROUGH the window before I came in the door. I was waiting for my friend in the car but they made me feel uncomfortable so I figured I would just go in and have drink while I wait for my friend. Then I ask "Danny" the waitress where a good place to smoke is and decides its a smart business decision to come outside and smoke with me. Oh it gets better. I ordered tostones, rum punch, maduros while I still waited with my friend. I didnt know at the time but the owner was sitting down and eating lunch with some older womam that looked creepy to say the least. After my friend finally got there I see a similar face come back into the restaurant and I ask Danny if thats the owner and she confirmed! So not only does the owner eat in the middle of the restaurant in the middle of the day with creepy people but he also goes out of his way to not make you feel welcome and sends his waitress out to pretend to clean a table that didnt need to be cleaned in the first place! The craziest and un professional experience I have ever had I will stick to Mojitos restaurant in lake city WWWAAYYYY BETTEERRR SERVICE!
(1)Ashley T.
Twisted Cuban Cafe is a little hidden on the side of the road in Woodinville, but they offer unique Cuban-style food that is both unique and tasty. My boyfriend and I got sandwiches to go, and they were a little expensive at almost $13 for a sandwich. They're well-known for their meats, so I got the regular Cuban sandwich and he got the monster Cuban, which also includes bacon and other house meats as well. One of my favorite parts of the sandwich was their homemade white bread. Although it wasn't as crispy and toasted as I would like, the texture of the bread was just right! The meat itself is really flavorful, but I craved some kind of vegetable to freshen the sandwich up. The yuca fries are a good break from fries, but I highly recommend their garbanzo bean salad, which reminded me of a heartier pico de gallo that provides a good counterbalance to the heavier sandwich. Overall, the meal was satisfactory, and I would order the sandwiches again for a lower price!
(3)Jason C.
Service was good. Waiter was attentive and on top of things. Extremely mediocre and overpriced. Cup of white rice four bucks. Small cup of black beans four bucks. Rip off. Been there three times food sucked all three so no more visits in our future
(2)Makenzie S.
Worst service we've had in a long time. Being servers in the past, we are typically very understanding of backed up kitchens... But after not receiving our food for a half hour and watching tables that got there after us finish meals, we asked where our food was, our server Will S. rudely told us he was working on it, we asked for it to go instead and waited ten more minutes for it. We will not be returning, which sucks because the food is fantastic.
(1)Leif P.
A classic tourist trap. The place looks good. The sandwich board is out, the decor is funky-homey-western. You're on the way to the winery, but you're hungry. BAM! You stop and wander in. Don't make this mistake! Go down the road to Forecaster's at the Brewery. The food here is expensive AND just plain isn't good. I mean, I drive past this place every day and I wish I could eat there. But two bad experiences makes for a never again in my book. One time, the wierd little biscuit bread of my "Monster Cuban" was not appetizing, and it was the smallest monster I've ever been scared by. It was the oil dripping from my pork that scared me. Which is about the same experience I had with a Rueben on another day: drippy, not particularly tasty. Interesting - they changed the name a little to dodge all the old, bad reviews. I think that costs a star....
(1)Shane K.
Excellent dinner with a laid back ambiance. We were leaving as the salsa music started but it was a nice touch. The white fish was excellent. The Cuban sandwich was heavenly and the flan (which I've never been a fan of) was rich and very good. Highly recommend it and excited to try the members only cigar lounge. Fairly priced as well
(5)James P.
Simply the best Cuban food since South Florida. Bring the familia and have a Cuba Libre. I have eaten this food my whole life and Julio has the best I have had. Me and the wife will keep comimg back. My friends will come. My family will come. I love this place.
(5)Jamie R.
I've been seeing the signs for a bit while driving past The Twisted Cafe, Authentic Cuban Food. Hmmm I've thought, Cuban in Woodinville? Well come to find out this joint is The Twisted cafe during the day, like soups, salads, sammies etc... and then turns into The Twisted Cuban Cafe from 5pm-12am M-Sat, with a full bar too! Having heard this my boyfriend and I decided to give it a go last night and we are very glad we did!! We were late diners, I think it was about 9:30 when we showed up. We were the only two people there and were acknowledged quickly and sat right away. We chose a cozy patio table that had a romantic candle flickering under the umbrella. Our server gal was nice, a bit awkward, but she seemed to really warm up towards the end of the meal. So the food, yum yum. We started with the corn fritters... AMAZING! Our only complaint here is we wanted like a basket of them, not a small plate of 4. At least 8!! They're so good! Also it may not be Cuban but I'd love to dip these in a spicy curry ketchup, but the aioli they came with was very tasty too. For dinner I got the Cuban sammy, he got the monster cuban sammy which if I recall correctly is like the cuban but has bacon, and spicy beef on it too. As a side note they make their own bread here! Ours were served on wheat, not sure if maybe you could ask for white which is my preference. The sammies were delicious, warm, toasty, juicy! They came with a side of yucca fries which were super tasty, I'd eat those instead of a fry any day!! We didn't stop there, we ordered flan which is homemade by our server gal, and the plantains. I'm not a flan fan, to me it tastes like sweet cheese, but my boyfriend exclaimed this was the best flan he's EVER had. That's saying a lot, as he is a dessert connoisseur! The plantains were warm, crispy on the outside, sweet but not too sweet and served with ice cream. Perfect. To sum it all up, we will definitely be back, I really want to try some entrees and more appetizers. What a great addition to Woodinville, especially as a late night dining option, very exciting!
(4)Brandon D.
So I don't frequently eat at Cuban restaurants so my review is not based on whether it is "authentic". Just based on the fact that I love food. I have been here once before with my wife and the food was decent, so we decided to try it again.... Still decent. Not bad but not great. I ordered the monster Cuban sandwich and it was very flavorful and had a good spice to it. I substituted the fries for a garbanzo salad.. Great idea. My wife got black bean soup which basically was a can of black beans without draining it and salt added. The prices were a bit high. $13 for a sandwich.
(3)Amanda K.
My husband and I LOVE Twisted Cuban! Amazing Mojitos and they have gluten-free bread for the sandwiches! Love the appetizers too. I usually end up ordering way more than I can eat.
(5)Jan C.
We'd tried this place about a year ago and had a disappointing experience. Thought we'd try again as perhaps things had improved. Food- Tilapia had a just OK flavor, beans that came with it were lukewarm and lacked flavor. The yucca fries, which I've had at other restaurants and loved, were stone cold and hard as a rock, we left them on the plate. Sandwich had good flavor, but the bread was not fresh. Rum punch was uninspiring. The best part of meal was the shrimp appetizer, but even in that the sauce was the best part and the shrimp appeared to have been frozen,not fresh. Service- Server was friendly, but there was a LONG wait between ordering and getting our food. It seemed like no one was paying attention to if the meals were getting to the tables. Server seemed to not be surprised that we had a long wait. When the server asked us how the meal was, mid meal, we told her the fries were cold and hard and she said "Sorry about that" and that was it. Owner was around, but apparently not interested in customer's experience, unless you happen to be at a table where he knows you. We won't be going back.
(1)Jonny F.
Phenomenal! Went here when they first opened. Inconsistent to be expected when any establishment first opens. Went back with friends about a month ago. Blew their socks off!!!! I was very happy and impressed. Cool spot to escape the rush also.
(4)Marizka C.
I love the Cuban sampler and the pork dish!!! Their mojitos were soooo refreshingly good!! The steak was pretty bland, however. And the homemade flan was extremely sweet... Not a fan! Now that we know what to order, we'll come back for the papas and pork dish!
(4)Aline R.
Refreshing, authentic food. Can't wait to come back for the live music night and dancing!
(5)Stephanie M.
Split the monster sandwich and it was amazing! Hubby also really enjoyed the orange Italian soda
(4)Teresa J.
The husband and I decided to go here on a date night rather than the old Woodinville standbys. We made a good choice. The restaurant was abuzz with one large group and many of the booths taken. We sat outside because it was a lovely night to do so. Inside could be pretty romantic, nice vibe, really good mix of people, and just enough darkness to cozy up to your sweets. So, we both had the Lechon Asado. It was beautiful. The Pork was tender and juicy and really complimented the rice and Yuca; both were so flavorful. I was raving between forkfuls (and the next day) about how good it was. Our server was very friendly and we chose our dish based on her recommendation. When we finished, we weren't too full to move, but sadly we didn't get dessert. The portions are good enough for one, but can definitely be shared by two to give a chance to get an app and dessert. Next time.
(4)Nick O.
This used to be a 3, hell, even a 4. I used to go to this restaurant for sandwiches - the sandwiches themselves are pretty good (they make their own bread - other than that, there's nothing special about it). Recently they added fries as a side dish to the sandwich lunch, which, on paper, seems like a great idea. Not until I had already placed my order to go over the phone (as I always do on my lunch break) and showed up to pay that they raised the price of the sandwich by 6 dollars! The reason was because they now have French Fries on the side. I GOT EIGHT FRENCH FRIES with my meal. Not exaggerating. Look at some of the photos. Raising your prices $6 for 8 fries is completely unwarranted. Get it together.
(1)Brent S.
I really, really wanted to like this restaurant. As a point of comparison, my limited experience with Cuban food is at Paseo in Fremont and Victor's Café off of Broadway in NYC. I think both of those restaurants are very good. I think Twisted Cuban is really not. Another point of reference, the description of Cuban food I saw on Wikipedia sure seems to indicate that there should be some spices happening, which certainly was my experience at the other Cuban places I've been to. I love spicy food, whether it's Cuban, Thai, interior Mexican (El Camion in Ballard is unbelievably good and I'm from Texas), etc. If you want to skip to my ultimate point - the main dishes were not spiced well at all, totally contradictory to Paseo, Victor's Café and Wikipedia. So there. To tell the short story from the start, we were seated outside and enjoyed reading the menu while listening to pleasant Cuban (I'm assuming) music. We ordered a couple of appetizers and some cocktails. My wife's cocktail, some rum-based "punch" was fantastic. The appetizers were decent and included some sauces (a typical aioli and something else like Ranch dressing but better). For the main course, my wife ordered the Bistec de Palomilla (thin-cut steak) medium-rare and I ordered the Lechon Asado, a roast pork that was roasted in Mojo sauce. I kid you not, both dishes were almost "English" in their lack of flavor. My wife's steak was medium-well, at best (not medium rare), and my pork was cooked fine but had little flavor. Oh, where did you go, mojo (see what I did there)? Very disappointing...I mentioned the overcooked meat to our server and, while he apologized, that was that. Um, ok. We won't be coming back.
(1)Assembly of dog S.
Soo delicious! Service was fast & overly friendly:) mojito was made to perfection, loved the plantains and the monster cuban is a perfect sandwich to split. Everything was so tasty, we will definitely be back!
(5)Fab F.
Excellent, authentic food combined with friendly and attentive service. First time in my life that food almost made cry: it was so alike my deceased mother's Ropa Vieja!
(5)Howard M.
I happened to stumble across an email from Living Social for a Cuban Restaurant in Woodinville. I did not buy the deal but got excited about "Cuban Restaurant in Woodinville". As someone who is at least 50% Cuban, grew up in Miami, and has lived in Seattle for the past 14 years, I thought "Something other than Paseo". With anticipation, we drove to Woodinville for dinner this Saturday night and were pleasantly surprised on arriving at Twisted Cuban Cafe. The look, check. The smell, check. The atmosphere, check. Requisite pictures of Havana on the walls, yep. Man, I can't wait. The owner Julio introduced himself and really seemed passionate about his craft given the interaction and care he displayed with his staff and the patrons. There was a even a roast pig from a party they just threw. After a 15-20 minute wait, we were seated inside. I felt like I was back in Little Havana in Miami. Can't wait... Here is where the wheels came off. Menu looks good. Cuban food is built on simple staples of rice, beans, meat, and pork. There are different permutations but for the most part, those are the foundations. I ordered the Lechon Asado with Moros Rice (Black Beans and White Rice Cooked together) asked for Platinos Maduros (fried plantains ie bananas) instead of Yuca. My wife ordered Palomilla steak with Black Beans and White rice. Our waitress was nice but seemed in a real hurry and somewhat distracted. We got our food in a matter of minutes which is a bit unusual for a Cuban restaurant. Most of time, there is Cuban Bread served and maybe some Mariquitas (banana chips) served with a mojo (citrus garlic) sauce. Food arrives, wife's plate looked like a smallish portion. My lechon arrived and I think I was cursed. My portion size was about half what my wife got. In addition, some of the food was blazing hot (maduros), and other items room temp like the steak and lechon. Growing up in Miami eating Cuban food most of my life, I never realized that I took simple and black beans and rice for granted. This night, my moros had some sort of ultra-short grain risotto like rice in it and my wife's black beans and rice had basmati white rice. To illustrate the difference, black beans and rice is usually served with rice similar to what you would get at a teriyaki place. Wrong rice, wrong texture. My wife's steak looked good but was not that warm and didn't appear to be cooked well as it didn't have any sear and not much flavor. My lechon was finely shredded, not hot at all and was a fairly small portion. What happened to the chunks of lechon I saw on that roast pig, the smell of garlic, and maybe a sliver of that precious pork skin? The one thing (actually) two things that were hot, were the platinos maduros. I only got two of them, they were scorching hot, and still dripping with oil. The only thing I could tasted was oil. As someone who is passionate about cooking and eating Cuban food who has done so for almost 40 years, I applaud Juilo for taking our heritage to the Pacific Northwest. With that said, I am not sure people in this part of the country would know good Cuban food from bad Cuban food. I want to see Twisted Cuban Cafe succeed and hope these comments were constructive. We have seen other Cuban places pop up in Seattle, serve what they thought was good, and disappear in a year or so. I hope that is not the case in Woodinville.
(2)Deborah D.
Not big fan of deep-fried food. If you like deep-fried food, they do have quite some different choices. My friend and I had their sampler, quite unique.
(3)Melanie E.
I've only been here once and thought the food was ok but not great. The food seemed a little pricey. The atmosphere was ok... Much nicer inside than I had expected.
(3)Aaron H.
My wife and I love this place! The service is excellent, the mojitos are awesome, and the food is outstanding! It's seldom busy even on weekends which I think is mostly due to it's undiscoverable location. It's a hidden gem. Highly recommended!
(4)Christina L.
I went to this restaurant hoping to have a hot tasty Cuban meal. What I got instead was dry rice and flavorless, watery black beans. There was no bread and buttery which is a "must" with any Cuban Meal. The waiter kept forgetting food that had been ordered. The mojitos were flavorless. We waited for over an hour for our food. The staff was disorganized, the kitchen appeared to be overwhelmed. Although the owner was visible, he appeared to be oblivious to the problems that were taking place. I will not be going back and I won't be recommending this restaurant to anyone.
(1)Kate S.
Months and months ago we biked by this place and put it on our bookmark list to try. My man is from Miami, and well.. there is a serious lack in cuban food out here. So we biked here again, armed with a living social coupon even, and gave Twisted a go. First off, the place is adorable inside. A lot more posh than I expected. Warm woods, an inviting bar, and the requisite Cuban music playing in the background. Service was warm and friendly, and all the questions Chris threw at them were answered quickly. We ordered drinks (rum punch and a mojito) and set our eyes to the menu. Figuring we wanted as many staples as we could, we went with the appetizer sampler and the lechon with moros rice to share. Now here is where the fiancee and I stand divided. He's extremely picky about his Cuban food, and I don't blame him for growing up with it. He gets butt hurt when cafecito isn't on the menu and items don't come out just like they are in southern Florida. I get it, if I grew up there I might be that way too. However...I didn't, and all of my forays into Cuban cuisine have been only in the last couple years of my life, so without that bias I have to say I really liked Twisted. The Papas Rellenos were AWESOME. Who doesn't like deep fried potato balls stuffed with beef? The Yuca frita were standard, the plantanos a little boring actually, and the ham croquetta crispy and not ham-tasting enough for me to enjoy it. The man disliked it cuz ham croquettes are supposed to be creamy, which is why I don't like them in Miami. Oh well! The pork/lechon was super flavorful, and balanced out really well with the moros rice. All in all I was happy with what we ordered and would happily go back.
(4)apple W.
As in a restaurant, the only sound that should be noticeable are sounds made by crowds of happy customers, not blasting music from their speakers, to makes things worst, blasting music that are not in English ... Honestly, how many people would enjoy & appreciate that ? I understand this's a small family own restaurant, I am not asking for an atmosphere (relax and amazing) like Canlis. When a restaurants playing music so loud that's giving you a headache and you can't wait to leave, most people don't bother to complain but just simply stop going to the place.
(2)Bonnie W.
Love this place! The sandwiches and entrees are delicious! I had never been to a Cuban restaurant before, but the food is great. The waitstaff are helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend!
(5)Deb W.
We first started eating here three years ago when it was just great sandwiches, soups, and salads. Every now and then we'd have a nice chat with the owner, Julio Ortiz and were always impressed with his cheerful and warm attitude toward his customers and his passion for his new business. We moved out of the area but would always stop by for eats when in the area. What a pleasant surprise to have dinner at the Twisted Cuban Cafe this week! I'd always wanted to try Cuban food and this was amazing. I had the Lechon Asado (pork) and my wife had the Ropa Vieja. This sounds corny but there really aren't words to describe just how delicious this food was. Everything - the Moro (white rice and black beans, the yuca (something similar to potato,) the maduros and tostones (various plaintain dishes,) was fabulous. The flavors of everything were surprisingly complex and memorable. Without simply relying on an uncreative jolt of hot spice like so many restaurants do, everything was intricately seasoned and absolutely delicious. Don't cheat yourself by skipping the dessert either. The flan was superb - maybe the best I've ever tasted - and the cascos de guayaba is a real treat! The atmosphere is lovely and there's a full bar. A meal here is worth the drive to Woodinville. Don't miss it.
(5)Mark A.
Nothing tasted fresh, 13 for a subway sandwich & fry like side, I liked the decor, inside the rest. , however it's fairly loud inside "echo's"...
(2)Chris W.
The food was fantastic, definitely give this place a try. Delicious fried plantains and really good mojitos.
(5)Carolina A.
Simple, homey, yummy, food is what they have. Nothing fancy, not so pretty either, but full of what food is meant to have: flavor!!! The pork dish (Lechon Asado) was AMAZING!!!! The best of what we ordered, followed by the flan. The sweet plantains transported me back to my childhood they were so perfect! My kids loved their croquetas so much I only got a bite. The tostones were fantastic and the yuca so fresh and perfectly cooked! I recommend you get the sampler appetizer, at least the first time you go. I will definitely be back for more, probably this weekend! I downgraded this place from five stars to three. Unfortunately the quality of the food has dropped dramatically last time I went, the pork was dry and the service I miss sad to see this place go downhill
(3)Carl W.
Amazing experience and food! I had the Cuban sandwich, fried plantains, and the garbanzo salad. All delicious. The owner is a great guy and even gave us some cigars. Will come back again and again!
(5)Loren C.
Just finished lunch at Twisted Cafe and.it was pretty good. I also just got back from Tampa last week and have had a lot of homemade Cuban food. I will be back and try something different than the Cuban.
(4)Andrea S.
After several attempts (we always tried to go on Sundays, but they are closed), my husband and I finally tried Twisted Cuban Cafe tonight.... I am sad to be writing my first non-glowing restaurant review on Yelp. We were so looking forward to finding another treasure close to home because there are not many in our area. I totally agree with a previous review written by Howard. The ambiance is decent for a casual neighborhood restaurant, servers were friendly, efficient, and worked as a team. Unfortunately, the food was sub-par. We ordered a sampler appetizer plate which was not flavorful without dousing everything with the accompanying sauces. We love tostones, but ours were so dry we had to drink a ton of water to get them down. My husband ordered the vegetable plate and enjoyed the flavors. I ordered chicken breasts but felt they were greasy. The rice was just plain wrong! The next time we get a craving we will drive to our favorite Cuban restaurant in Seattle...we were so hoping to find something as good in our neck of the woods.
(2)Miss S.
Very nice restaurant and the waitress, can't remember her name but she is italian and she is excellent, food was great. Even tho the cook had a lil attitude. But definitely a must visit.
(4)Gissela B.
We came here on the way to do some wine tasting. I had their black bean soup and pulled pork sandwich. The black bean lacked a little flavor and needed a bit more salt for my taste, but their pulled pork sandwich made up for it. It was sweet and spicy and great. Everyone else in our party seemed to really enjoy their dishes
(4)Sam H.
Great food and atmosphere. Cuban sandwich and yuca frites are delicious. Don't forget the mojitos! Still a secret in Woodinville!
(5)Jasmine C.
I was super excited to find a cuban restaurant in Woodinville. Twisted Cuban Cafe was really good! I knew that a true test of any cuban restaurant would be the ropa vieja--theirs has a tasty, savory sauce while the beef was tender and super flavorful. In addition to the ropa vieja, I ordered the sampler as an appetizer--the yucca frita was the standout. The tostones were also good, but I prefer my homemade variety. I am eager to return to try their cuban sandwich. Overally, this is a great addition to Woodinville, with friendly staff, and an exciting menu. A must try!
(4)jeff p.
Stopped in for lunch 3/24/14. What a nice place. I love Cuban/Caribbean food. The bartender/server was friendly and attentive to all. Great service. Talked with the owner about their history and menu and pig roasts (yum!). Had the Monster Cuban...wow..fantastic sandwich. I will definitely be returning with friends.
(5)Meg R.
I cannot remember the last time I have been to a restaurant that was so bad. I do not want to be mean but it was horrible and for the price it made it even worse. The chicken in my salad was flat, dry and fried. The pork was awful. Chunks of fried , dried pork chucks with fat on every piece. The staff was nice but do not eat here . I am very disappointed. I wish we would of left after my son's plate came out and went somewhere else.
(1)Evan G.
Not horrible, not great either. The food is good, but a little bland. The wine is obviously good as there are ample wineries in the area and there are great selections of mixed drinks all around. The atmosphere is cool and I'd like to come back and give the place a chance after they've had some time to adjust.
(3)Michelle T.
We ate here for the first time and really enjoyed our meal. The food was excellent -especially the rice and pork. The service was good and the manager seemed very proud of the food that was served, we can appreciate that. It tasted like a lot of love went into each entrée. We will definitely be back.
(5)betsy r.
I love Twisted for lunch, and wasn't sure about the Cuban food for dinner. I'm the pickiest eater, and Julio (the owner) knows this about me too! Lol. My daughter had already been to eat there and said the steak was delicious. So, off we went for me to give it a try. I loved everything! We had the sampler, and I loved the green dipping sauce that came with it! There was enough food as the portions were generous. We got a Caesar salad too which was good as well. For dinner my daughter had the steak with rice which was really deciduous. I had the Cuban pork sandwich which was huge and tasted yummy. I love the Cuban fries the best!! You must get them when you come to eat here! I would love to see a Cuban steak sandwich added to the menu. My daughter had the flan for dessert. She loved it and ate it all. The music was perfect. There is a nice bar too. Beautifully decorated. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable about the items on the menu too. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Oleg K.
The good: lively atmosphere, delicious plantains, waiters offering to replace dishes that you don't like. The okay: The "ham" croquets had half a teaspoon of ham in them. Slightly worse: entrees and drinks. But both entrees leave something to be desired. Lechon Asado was so oily that I couldn't finish it. (But the flavours were good!) Fillete de Pescado was flavourless, and the rice that came with it was soaked in oil. The mojito that we ordered contained a few leaves of mint. When I asked the bartender to remake it with double the minty-ness... I received exactly the same amount of mint. Oh well. The bad: wait times. We received the appetizers (!) 35 minutes after ordering them. Entrees came 30 minutes later. The waiters told us that it gets busy every Friday and Saturday. So overall, high prices just aren't worth the experience.
(3)Ashley S.
I hadn't been here since they changed from just a sandwich place so I finally went tonight. The staff is very friendly and I like the ambiance there. I got the fish and didn't find it too salty at all, I thought it was really good. The black beans I actually mixed with my rice and really liked it as the rice on its own is a bit bland but it's white rice so I didn't expect otherwise. I'm not usually a plantain person but I actually really liked them, especially the sauce they put on top. My boyfriend got the pasta and we both thought it was great. It is a bit pricey but I'm willing to spend more to help small businesses so all in all it was definitely worth it and I'll be back!
(4)James B.
It would have been 5 stars if it didn't cost as much as a fancy open kitchen restaurant and food was more than what it is now. Beside that delicious sandwiches and cozy spot.
(4)Angie K.
Stopped by for lunch and had the spicy beef sandwich and it was delicious! I think we spoke to the owner who shared personal stories about the pictures on the wall and personally made the Cuban coffee, which was also a delight! The owner seems to be extremely passionate about Cuba and the restaurant, and sincerely concerned about our experience. The sandwich bread was unique, slightly sweet and salty, similar to pretzel bread. Restrooms and restaurant were clean and quaint. We will definitely come back!
(4)Leslie M.
i really dont get the negative comments for this place. its been so good everytime i have gone. yes service could be better, but honestly its all about the food. i love it. pretty sure everything ive had has been great. i usually get the lechon asado but with the black bean soup instead of yuca and its a killer meal everytime. the mojitos are amazing as well. my husband loves the fish. also the flan is seriously amazing. even if you think you dont like flan get it. i promise it will change your mind!
(5)Asialee H.
So nice to find a Cuban restaurant in the Seattle metro area. I know there is Paseo's but they are mostly for sanwhiches. Food here is pretty tasty and am definitley looking forward to going back!
(4)Lisa S.
The Fried Sweet Plantains and the Pork roasted in Cuban mojo sauce are super tasty!!!-also the Pan Seared Fish in Cuban ajillo sauce served with white rice, black beans & tostones for $15.95 is a great value and wonderfully flavorful! So glad this restaurant is in Woodinville!
(5)Omar R.
Great food just like mom used to cook. I'm Cuban and have not really found authentic cuban food here in the NW, but it's as close as it gets. Had the Bistec de Palomilla with rice, frijoles negros and maduros. Tostones were great and had some of the Guayaba and cream cheese...great. The flan was good. The maduros and ice cream was also good. The only issue that kept me from giving them 5 stars is a nasty blaring fluorescent light over the bar that bugged the hell out of me. The rest of the restaurant is lit with incandescent lighting and that bright white light just does not make for a good dining experience. Overall I will be back to try their lechon and cuban sandwich. I will just have to sit away from the bar.
(4)Carolina T.
Meets all the expectations of dining out. Nice comfortable ambiance, friendly attentive staff. Come hungry many delicious dishes to try. A great place to experience the flavor of the Island.
(5)