It’s only a short trip to the flavors of Havana, Cuba- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is located in Old City off 2nd and Market Street. They’ve got the atmosphere and flavors of everything Cuban. Most recently they announced a new menu featuring 14 brand new classic and contemporary Cuban dinner items by Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot. The plates were inspired by his bi-annual culinary travels to Cuba.
The new menu includes everything from hand-crafted cocktails and brunch dishes to a build-your-own burger lunch option with Cuban-style milkshakes. In celebration of the renowned restaurant’s extensive menu release, Cuba Libre will offer a complimentary glass of its signature red or white sangria to any guest dining at the restaurant for lunch or dinner till May 10 with purchase of an entrée. Guests must mention the free sangria promotion to their server to receive the complimentary item.
“I’m thrilled to introduce so many new flavorful, unique, and authentically Cuban items to Cuba Libre’s menus,” said Chef Pernot. “While the signature favorites remain, our new dishes range from impressive platters for two, to innovative ceviches and tapas recipes passed down for generations, and I believe that our guests, both new and recurring, will absolutely love the new additions.”
The restaurant’s new dinner menu features several massive meat entrees for two, such as the Crispy Pork Pata, a 48-hour slow-cooked Berkshire pork shank, served with grilled seasonal vegetables and Moros y Cristianos, in a citrus pan reduction; and the Ribeye Jibaro “Doble,” a 32 oz. salmuera-rubbed bone-in rib-eye steak, served with “boniato bravas” and grilled broccolini. Notable dishes in the new Latin Steaks and Chops section of the menu include the Vacio Steak Argentino, grilled Argentine-cut bavette steak, with Moros y Cristianos and tostones, and Argentinean chimichurri; and the Puerco Cha Cha Cha, three pork favorites in one jumbo cut: a bone-in loin chop with meaty rib and crisp pork belly, with “boniato Bravas” and charred herb salsa, and chipotle aioli.
A tropical seafood dish, the Pargo a la Plancha, has also been added – olive oil grilled Florida red snapper over coconut basmati rice and candied cashews, with mango salsa and red curry sauce. We love to make up a meal with the variety of smaller Cuban tapas plates like the Chicken Croquetas, Cuban Tamal, Crab Guacamole, Ceviche de Pescado, Padrón Peppers, Albóndigas Cubanas (Cuban meatballs), and Octopus a la Parrilla. The newest hand-crafted cocktail is the Second Street 75, made with Macchu Pisco, simple syrup, lemon juice and sparkling wine, makes for the perfect pairing. You also can’t ever go wrong with ordering a mojito!
Cuba Libre’s lunnch menu offerings have also been upgraded with the addition of the build-your-own-burger with a milkshake pairing, available on weekdays. The new “Eat-A-Frita” section of the menu features five different Miami Frita-style burger patties (including a vegetarian burger) with topping add-ons and served with shoestring fries. As is customary in casual Cuban dining, the Frita burger pairs best with one of six flavors of Batidos, or tropical milkshakes, made with fresh fruit, whole milk and Franklin Fountain ice cream. Make it an adult milkshake by adding a shot of rum! What better way to refresh during the warm summer months?
And of course we cannot forget about brunch! Cuba Libre is well known for their Unlimited Tapas Brunch and $5 brunch cocktails. Some of the new additions to the weekend brunch menu include the Chupe de Camarones, creamy shrimp and lobster bisque; the Pan con Jamón Slider with fried egg, country ham, crisp bacon, cheddar, chipotle-onion marmalade; Pollo y Waffle with fried boneless chicken thighs, on a quinoa waffle, topped with mango salsa and dark rum-molasses syrup; and our favorite- Brunch Paella with crispy boneless chicken thigh, chistorra sausage, kale, poached egg served in a pan of saffron long grain rice.
So what are you waiting for? Stop by to enjoy a glass of sangria and see what’s cooking on the new menu offerings for brunch, lunch, and dinner at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar. Reservations can be easily made via OpenTable and outside seating on the patio is available to take in the great summer weather. Plus on weekend nights from 11 pm – 2 am, watch as Cuba Libre transforms into a lively nightspot as a local DJ spins salsa, bachata and other popular Latin dance music!
philmytummy.com 