Asia de Cuba at Clift

08/26/06

Expensive, but if you have the money...

by justineelise at Citysearch

All the portions are family style. The cocktails are all served in a cocktail glass, but are way too expensive for the size of the glass. The food is good too, but very expensive. My girlfriend and I had the lobster potstickers (amazing if you like lobster!), a fried rock shrimp speciality, and a side of panko crusted crispy plantains. We ate a lot and still had food left over. The bill with those three dishes and two cocktails came out to almost $90. The food is good, but not for that price. The atmosphere is nice. Dim lights, comfortable seats, etc. The crowd was mostly men and woman in their 30s and 40s.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere, reservations, cusine and cocktails
• Cons: Expensive!

01/12/04

Super pricey

by zinlover at Citysearch

For a place that charges $20+ for appetizers, $30+ for dinners, and $15+ for desserts, I was expecting a lot more. I was a bit surprised by the "family style" dining concept in a place like this... For three of us they recommended 1-2 appetizers and 2 dinners to share. Even though portions on some of the dishes were sizeable, I could have handled a main dish by myself easily. I must say the banana creme cake was heavenly even though it was $16! The atmosphere is fantastic with the high ceilings, long velvet drapes, dark wood and romantic lighting. It seems to have that L.A. type scene as well and I noticed several tables of "older gentlemen" with much younger ladies. I just can't see spending this kind of money when there are SO many choices for restaurants in the city of the same quality for half as much.

• Pros: atmosphere, service
• Cons: expensive!, L.A. scene

09/02/03

Won't be returning to A de Cuba.

by cheshadow at Citysearch

Our meal began as a huge disappointment, but improved somewhat throughout the night.

We started off with the Lobster potstickers and Tuna tartare. The potstickers had been fried at some point in the night, but by the time we received them, they were rubbery and cold. The tuna was bland, although it had an interesting presentation. Neither was worth finishing.

Our meals were moderately better -- the Cuban Chicken was, again, bland but nicely presented. The Lamb had some interesting spices, and was markedly better than the chicken entree. Dessert was definitely the high point -- the Cielo de Coco was a wonderful coconut cake that we combined with the recommended (fabulous!) Bermudan rhum. Overall, the cake and booze was the high point (good wine selection, great rum). Maybe thats why we got progressively happier with our meal??

• Pros: decor, ambience, location
• Cons: quality of food, speed of service, prices

04/07/03

TUNA TARTAR appetizer

by tuckecj at Citysearch

The Tuna Tartar appetizer was the best thing I have ever tasted!! The serious was very attentive and nice. We did not have one bad meal (ordered 3 appetizers and two meals) the prices were outrageously expensive (appetizers were the same price as the meals) and the alcoholic drinks were a little pricey. I would definitely go back for the tuna tartar as my meal

• Pros: tuna tartar
• Cons: prices

02/06/03

Disappointed

by WolphGang at Citysearch

The food at the Asia de Cuba in NY is better. I was disappointed.

Everything else was there -- ambiance, music, the crowd

12/09/02

Good food, not good value...

by banananutbread at Citysearch

I completely agree with the reviewer who stated that you are paying for the atmosphere in the price of the food and drinks. The food was good-- the lobster postickers were succulent and the Wok fried fish and the plantain fried rice were very satisfying. But quite frankly, despite how wonderful I found the food I couldn't help but feel that I was being completely overcharged... Service was decent but not as attentive as one would expect. And even though the place was half full we were squished into a table that was not big enough to hold all the food we ordered...

10/10/02

Chic Atmosphere, Forgettable Food

by Restaurant_Snob at Citysearch

At Asia de Cuba you are paying as much for the atmosphere as you are the food. Maybe even more. If you are more interested in your date and great food than hoping to catch a glimpse of Jennifer Love Hewitt walk through the door, you may be wise to eat elsewhere.

After divulging in 6 bland lobster potstickers for $24 and a rather tough cut of filet for $36, I began to wonder if all the $$ went into the decor and little into the quality of food. On the upside: service is friendly and attentive and the cocktails are exquisite.

My recommendation would be to skip Asia de Cuba and head straight for the Redwood Room next door for after-dinner drinks.

• Pros: Attentive Service, Chic Atmosphere, Great Cocktails
• Cons: Bland food, Overpriced

09/21/02

"wanna be host = snob"

by review_food at Citysearch

Food was great with some very interesting flavors/combinations and the waiter was very helpful. UNFORTUNATELY the male host on Saturday night 2 weeks ago was trying to be too chic/hip to the point of aloof.... sorry to break the news, but you seat people at a restaraunt.... you should be cordial with the people who pay your salary. I ate at the Redwood Park the week before and not only was the food, wine and waiter excellent.... the host was cordial. I literally spent 10x the money at Redwood Park ... and will again. I'll never go back to Asia de Cuba.