Ah, Cuba, pearl of the Caribbean.
Che, Castro, communism, cigars… and one of the best ‘C’ countries in this list!
I’ve been a bit tardy writing this up – I met Alf at the end of April and it’s now July. But I’ve only got good memories of Cubana, a vibrant, colourful restaurant just behind Waterloo Station.
‘Colour’ is the word. There’s a two-storey mural of a carnival girl dancing over a map of the island nation, which marked a stark contrast to the grey London skyline. A real tropical treat.
Inside, things carried on in much the same way. We say down at bright green tables, ordered rum mojitos and margaritas, ordered patacones (fried plantain) and chorizo croquettes. All bright colours and photogenic.
For mains, I got ropa vieja (‘old clothes’), which is essentially pulled beef, and Alf got the same thing but with pork. All very tasty and filling, and served with black beans and rice.
As we work our way through the alphabet, there’s no doubt we’re starting to notice regional themes in cuisine. As fun as Cubana was, the style and the sides have a lot in common with Colombian, Bolivian, and Bajan – i.e., filling and hearty, if a bit bland.
Still, after two punchy cocktails of Havana’s finest, we weren’t complaining. For vibrant vibes, get in the queue for Cubana.
Score: 8/10
Cost: £92
Address: 48 Lower Marsh, Lambeth, SE1 7RG
The A to Z of World Food in London 