On the Road Again: Restaurant Reviews

I asked my local sales rep in Miami to recommend a good Cuban restaurant for a vendor meeting while I was in town.  His suggestion was Larios on the Beach (I found out later he actually recommended it to three other people who were in town for the same trade show).  He explained to me that this was Cuban home cooking.  It wouldn’t be fancy food, but food that you would get if you went to eat at someone’s home in Cuba.

Upon walking into the restaurant, we were met with pretty loud Salsa music.  There was a very tiny dance floor in the front and couples were dancing on it the entire evening.  But the music was a bit overpowering (of course, we were there on a Sunday night when there was a street party going on outside).  Our table for six was situated right next to the dance floor.  We asked if we could move further away so we could hear ourselves think.  They were very accommodating and we moved to the back of the restaurant.

We started out with appetizers and drinks which were served within minutes of us ordering them.  I was told we had to order the tostones rellenos and they did not disappoint.  They were flavorful and a nice sized portion to whet our appetites for the main course.  Again, the service was pretty amazing with our meals coming out not long after we finished our appetizers (which was pretty impressive for an order for six people).  I had the shredded pork with rice and fried plantains.  It truly was comfort food.  There was nothing frilly or ostentatious about the food at all.  It was just good cooking, plain and simple.  For me, though, the highlight was dessert.  I had the rice pudding and practically licked the bowl clean.  It was creamy, the texture was just right, and a dusting of cinnamon on the top added to the flavor.  Others in our party ordered different variations of flan and the consensus was that it was a great end to the meal.

Overall, it was a very positive experience.  The service was great, the décor was nice and relaxed, and the price range was very reasonable.  This place would make a great dinner spot for clients.

About the Author

Tim Naegelin, CME is a Sr. Trade Show Associate at A bbott Vascular. Santa Clara, CA and a member of the ABOUTFACE Editorial Committee