Versailles Cuban Restaurant
3555 SW Eighth Street (Calle Ocho), Little Havana, Miami, FL 33135
305-444-0240
Plenty of parking in around the restaurant and its associated bakery and cafe.
Casual.
Visited: March 2009, Dinner, Dine-in
We were under the impression that our beloved Versailles in LA was somehow related to this original establishment in Miami. However, after sampling the fare in Miami, there is no comparison to the garlicky goodness that we are accustomed to, in fact, barely any garlicky goodness.
We tried the Roasted Garlic Chicken and the Macitas de Puerco Fritas, our Cuban fare favorites, and while the meal was just fine, the portion sizes were much smaller, and the mojo de ajo was hardly visible and didn't have much taste. As we understand, there are different standards for Cuban fare, but we prefer our garlicky goodness that we can get at our home Versailles.
However, we would come back to visit the Versailles Bakery and Sandwich Shop or the Pastry and Coffee Counter for some amazing Cuban coffee served traditionally in those tiny little paper cups to share. Sidewalk seating is great for people watching.
Showing posts with label garlic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garlic. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Versailles Cuban Restaurant, Manhattan Beach, CA
Versailles Cuban Restaurant
1000 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310-937-6829
http://www.versaillescuban.com/
Plenty of free parking behind the restaurant.
They have 4 other locations in the Southland - see their website for details.
Casual nice. Large dining room. Full bar.
Visited: Numerous times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: March 2010
This is the standard by which I compare other Cuban restaurants. It may not be fair, and not everyone will agree, but I just love the mojo de ajo. When you walk in the restaurant, you can just smell the garlic permeating everything, and it's heavenly. It seems that no other Cuban restaurant hits the same mark.
Here are our favorites:
#1: Lechon Asado, Cuban Style Roast Pork ($10.95): the meat is tender and shredded, and covered in mojo de ajo. The plate comes with plenty of rice (and black beans, if desired) plus a generous portion of plantains (maduros). Always enough for leftovers.
#2: Masitas de Puerco Fritas, Fried Chunks of Pork ($10.95): oh man, is this good. The chunks of meat are fork-tender, and the slight marbling of fat is fried beautifully. Comes with rice and beans or moros, and raw onions on top. I always order my onions cooked, and that makes the dish more heavenly. I also order tostones instead of plantains, and they go great with the mojo de ajo.
#6: Famoso Pollo Versailles, Versailles Famous Garlic Chicken ($10.95): this is a large half a chicken with amazingly roasted skin and very tender meat. Comes with rice/beans, plenty of raw onions, and plantains. While there is mojo de ajo on the meat, we usually order an extra cup of sauce because the rice comes on the side in this dish and the Lechon.
#14: Rabo Encendido, Oxtail Stew ($14.95): this is a Creole-based red stew with amazingly melty and succulent oxtails. The richness of the meat and richness of the gravy are outstanding. Goes very well with white rice and tostones.
I'm sure they have plenty of other tasty items on the menu, but these really take the cake.
I've also been to the Culver City and LA locations, and they are just as fabulous. The Manhattan restaurant is a little larger, and less prone to being too crowded whereas at the other locations, you might have to wait for a table on Friday or Saturday nights.
1000 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310-937-6829
http://www.versaillescuban.com/
Plenty of free parking behind the restaurant.
They have 4 other locations in the Southland - see their website for details.
Casual nice. Large dining room. Full bar.
Visited: Numerous times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: March 2010
This is the standard by which I compare other Cuban restaurants. It may not be fair, and not everyone will agree, but I just love the mojo de ajo. When you walk in the restaurant, you can just smell the garlic permeating everything, and it's heavenly. It seems that no other Cuban restaurant hits the same mark.
Here are our favorites:
#1: Lechon Asado, Cuban Style Roast Pork ($10.95): the meat is tender and shredded, and covered in mojo de ajo. The plate comes with plenty of rice (and black beans, if desired) plus a generous portion of plantains (maduros). Always enough for leftovers.
#2: Masitas de Puerco Fritas, Fried Chunks of Pork ($10.95): oh man, is this good. The chunks of meat are fork-tender, and the slight marbling of fat is fried beautifully. Comes with rice and beans or moros, and raw onions on top. I always order my onions cooked, and that makes the dish more heavenly. I also order tostones instead of plantains, and they go great with the mojo de ajo.
#6: Famoso Pollo Versailles, Versailles Famous Garlic Chicken ($10.95): this is a large half a chicken with amazingly roasted skin and very tender meat. Comes with rice/beans, plenty of raw onions, and plantains. While there is mojo de ajo on the meat, we usually order an extra cup of sauce because the rice comes on the side in this dish and the Lechon.
#14: Rabo Encendido, Oxtail Stew ($14.95): this is a Creole-based red stew with amazingly melty and succulent oxtails. The richness of the meat and richness of the gravy are outstanding. Goes very well with white rice and tostones.
I'm sure they have plenty of other tasty items on the menu, but these really take the cake.
I've also been to the Culver City and LA locations, and they are just as fabulous. The Manhattan restaurant is a little larger, and less prone to being too crowded whereas at the other locations, you might have to wait for a table on Friday or Saturday nights.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tropi-Cuba Cafe, Torrance, CA
Tropi-Cuba Cafe (and Bakery)
21730 S. Vermont Ave, Torrance, CA 90502
310-961-9550
http://www.tropi-cubacafe.com/
Open daily 6am-11pm (the bakery opens at 6a)
Plenty of parking in the strip mall. Located near Carson Blvd, across from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Casual nice. Medium sized dining room.
Visited: March 2009, Dinner, Dine-in
This is a new Cuban restaurant and bakery. The decor was just adorable with a very classy tropical feel. We sat in one of the side room/booths which was very cozy, but a little difficult to scoot all the way around. At the time, they also do not have their liquor license yet.
We tried our usual Cuban favorites -a great way to sample a new restaurant by comparing our favorite standard dishes. The entrees came with a choice of rice/black beans, moros, or rice/red beans, and plantains (maduros).
Masas de Puerco - aka fried chunks of pork. I prefer my puerco to have more of the mojo de ajo than just what it's marinated in. While the large chunks were cooked well - crispy and melty, it didn't have much taste beyond the pork. The rice was pleasant, and the tostones (instead of plantains) were cooked well. But overall, without any extra sauce, the whole dish was rather plain. The most engaging item on the plate were the moros - in addition to the rice and beans, there were well cooked pieces of onions and bell peppers. Very nice.
The Lechon Asado was also very nicely roasted and tender. It was marinated in the mojo, however when it was served, there was no additional sauce on the side, so again, the whole plate seemed rather plain. There are 3 pieces of plaintains served. They seemed kinda small on the plate.
The Pollo Rancho Luna - half a roasted chicken marinated in mojo - was also very well prepared. The rice was pleasant, and the overall dish was good. But again, our preference is for there to more garlic in the final dish served, not just hiding in the marinade.
In all, the meal was pleasant, but we won't be going back there for Cuban food. We will, however, go back to try the bakery which looked pretty tasty.
--T
21730 S. Vermont Ave, Torrance, CA 90502
310-961-9550
http://www.tropi-cubacafe.com/
Open daily 6am-11pm (the bakery opens at 6a)
Plenty of parking in the strip mall. Located near Carson Blvd, across from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Casual nice. Medium sized dining room.
Visited: March 2009, Dinner, Dine-in
This is a new Cuban restaurant and bakery. The decor was just adorable with a very classy tropical feel. We sat in one of the side room/booths which was very cozy, but a little difficult to scoot all the way around. At the time, they also do not have their liquor license yet.
We tried our usual Cuban favorites -a great way to sample a new restaurant by comparing our favorite standard dishes. The entrees came with a choice of rice/black beans, moros, or rice/red beans, and plantains (maduros).
Masas de Puerco - aka fried chunks of pork. I prefer my puerco to have more of the mojo de ajo than just what it's marinated in. While the large chunks were cooked well - crispy and melty, it didn't have much taste beyond the pork. The rice was pleasant, and the tostones (instead of plantains) were cooked well. But overall, without any extra sauce, the whole dish was rather plain. The most engaging item on the plate were the moros - in addition to the rice and beans, there were well cooked pieces of onions and bell peppers. Very nice.
The Lechon Asado was also very nicely roasted and tender. It was marinated in the mojo, however when it was served, there was no additional sauce on the side, so again, the whole plate seemed rather plain. There are 3 pieces of plaintains served. They seemed kinda small on the plate.
The Pollo Rancho Luna - half a roasted chicken marinated in mojo - was also very well prepared. The rice was pleasant, and the overall dish was good. But again, our preference is for there to more garlic in the final dish served, not just hiding in the marinade.
In all, the meal was pleasant, but we won't be going back there for Cuban food. We will, however, go back to try the bakery which looked pretty tasty.
--T
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Appetizer, Redondo Beach, CA
The Appetizer
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
http://www.theappetizerrestaurant.com/
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
March 2010 Update: CLOSED. This location has been sold, and is now a restaurant called Calamari's. The new owner has kept the menu very similar to The Appetizer. The other Appetizer location on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates is still open.
Visited: a couple times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: Dec 2009
This restaurant had been teasing us for some time with a sign out front saying that it would open soon, and many months later, it finally did. What we didn't realize was that this was the next in a series with the first ones open over at the Hughes market, and they still have a location up on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. Well, this was a first time for us.
The service was still 'new' feeling. Everyone was very friendly and courteous, but I think the kitchen still has some kinks to work out to ensure all of the items come out on time. Maybe they need to add an expo back there.
But, the food was quite good. So what did we eat?
Pepperoni and Canadian Bacon Calzone ($11.45 + $1 extra topping): really, it was probably the best calzone we've had on the west coast. The dough was crisp and soft, plenty of goodies inside, and overall very flavorful. It comes with extra marinara on the side, but not quite enough; you'll probably want to ask for another cup. It's also quite large - good for sharing or for someone who's hungry.
Hot Meatball Sandwich, Large ($7.45): wow, was this good! The bread was very nicely toasted on the outside yet still had enough softness on the inside to absorb the yummy sauce. The meatballs were big and very tasty, and mozzarella melted with gooey goodness. You may want to ask for extra sauce.
Meat Lasagna ($9.95): comes with soup or salad and a big basket of garlic bread. We had the Garbanzo Bean Soup, and while not sure what to expect, the soup was very tasty. Lots of garbanzo beans and mini pasta tubes in a vegetarian broth with plenty of flavor. The garlic bread actually had minced garlic on it - fancy that! It was also very nicely crisp and soft in the right places (they do their bread well). The lasagna was also good. Despite the meat sauce being a little thin, it has a very deep rich taste.
XL Pizza with half pepperoni/sausage and half sausage/mushroom ($17.45): the half with pepperoni had much more flavor than the other side. The sausage is in these tiny little crumbles that cover the pizza well, but just didn't have enough oomph to work well with the mushrooms. Overall, a good thin crust pizza, but need we need to figure out what flavor combos to get.
We will definitely go back; probably for take-out.
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
http://www.theappetizerrestaurant.com/
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
March 2010 Update: CLOSED. This location has been sold, and is now a restaurant called Calamari's. The new owner has kept the menu very similar to The Appetizer. The other Appetizer location on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates is still open.
Visited: a couple times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: Dec 2009
This restaurant had been teasing us for some time with a sign out front saying that it would open soon, and many months later, it finally did. What we didn't realize was that this was the next in a series with the first ones open over at the Hughes market, and they still have a location up on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. Well, this was a first time for us.
The service was still 'new' feeling. Everyone was very friendly and courteous, but I think the kitchen still has some kinks to work out to ensure all of the items come out on time. Maybe they need to add an expo back there.
But, the food was quite good. So what did we eat?
Pepperoni and Canadian Bacon Calzone ($11.45 + $1 extra topping): really, it was probably the best calzone we've had on the west coast. The dough was crisp and soft, plenty of goodies inside, and overall very flavorful. It comes with extra marinara on the side, but not quite enough; you'll probably want to ask for another cup. It's also quite large - good for sharing or for someone who's hungry.
Hot Meatball Sandwich, Large ($7.45): wow, was this good! The bread was very nicely toasted on the outside yet still had enough softness on the inside to absorb the yummy sauce. The meatballs were big and very tasty, and mozzarella melted with gooey goodness. You may want to ask for extra sauce.
Meat Lasagna ($9.95): comes with soup or salad and a big basket of garlic bread. We had the Garbanzo Bean Soup, and while not sure what to expect, the soup was very tasty. Lots of garbanzo beans and mini pasta tubes in a vegetarian broth with plenty of flavor. The garlic bread actually had minced garlic on it - fancy that! It was also very nicely crisp and soft in the right places (they do their bread well). The lasagna was also good. Despite the meat sauce being a little thin, it has a very deep rich taste.
XL Pizza with half pepperoni/sausage and half sausage/mushroom ($17.45): the half with pepperoni had much more flavor than the other side. The sausage is in these tiny little crumbles that cover the pizza well, but just didn't have enough oomph to work well with the mushrooms. Overall, a good thin crust pizza, but need we need to figure out what flavor combos to get.
We will definitely go back; probably for take-out.
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