Cuba De Ayer Restaurant

Should you seek an authentic Cuban culinary experience, this establishment is indeed exemplary. The cuisine is characterized by freshness and precision in preparation, showcasing the full spectrum of Spanish flavors. Additionally, the desserts are particularly noteworthy, and the provision of gluten indicators is a thoughtful touch for patrons with gluten intolerances. Service was exemplified by the amiability and efficiency of our waitress. In summary, the overall dining experience at this establishment was truly exceptional.

We are always chasing Cuban restaurants everywhere we go. This place surprised me. I wanted to try my mom’s favorite, “Rabo encendido “ and I can say that it was a wonderful choice. It was delicious! And I’m not a fan of meat with bones. The croquetas were also delicious. The only disappointment was the moros y cristianos rice that didn’t look or taste fresh, at least for my fine palate. The restaurant and bathrooms were clean. Our server was nice but the rest of the servers were not very polite or accommodating but please go and give it a try, you won’t regret it.

Wow! Amazing food! Our server was fantastic. She did a great job of explaining the menu and made some fantastic recommendations. I loved the guava and cheese empanadas. They could be a great dessert. The mojitos were delicious and packed with mint. I recommend the pernil but I enjoyed all the pork options. I’ll be back to continue sampling the menu!

The empanada is a star on its own, the papa Rellenos was also delicious. Fluffy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside. The roasted pork melts in your mouth, the acid from the citrus comes through delicately. The churri sauce for the steak is top notch. The steak was cooked well done- thin cut and tender. The rice and beans rival those from my Abuela’s kitchen and brought me back to New York, eating and dancing with my dad.

A Hidden Gem Worth the Trip

Cuba De Ayer Restaurant is a true diamond in the rough, easily capable of competing with top establishments in Washington, DC. The decor is beautiful and thoughtfully designed, with meticulous attention to detail evident throughout the space.

The men’s bathroom was exceptionally clean and well-decorated, even featuring a baby changing station. The restaurant offers ample indoor and outdoor seating, and the menu strikes the perfect balance with just the right amount of dishes—neither overwhelming nor sparse.

We started with the 3-empanada appetizer, which was deliciously tasty and served warm. I enjoyed the grilled chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado, paired with perfectly cooked sweet plantains. My girlfriend had the Bistec Pallomilla, and the steak was marinated to perfection. The portions were generous enough that we had leftovers to take home.

The staff was incredibly welcoming and friendly, especially our server, Daisha, who was energetic and highly knowledgeable about the menu. Although it was a bit out of the way for us, coming from northern Virginia, it was well worth the trip. We’ll definitely be returning.

The total for two people, including one beer, one mocktail, an appetizer, two entrees, and two sides, came to just under $80 without tip. I rate Cuba De Ayer a 5/5 for its class of restaurant. Highly recommended!

This place is phenomenal! I had the fried Snapper/Prago Frito! Delicious and service was top notch. We live an hour away without traffic, but we will be back! Please open a spot in VA!

First time dining here yesterday and I’m already planning the next time I’ll be coming back LOL. Great food, drinks, and service: what else could you ask for?! My partner’s churrasco and the rice and beans were the highlights. The drinks were great as well. I got the tropical margarita and my partner got the pineapple mojito which had a sugarcane stick that you could chew. SO FUN!

Cuba de Ayer has been our family’s favorite for years! Most recently our host Keren gave us the best service ever. Her recommendations were perfect and she made us feel so welcomed. We always get the empanadas & this time we ended the night with cafecito con leche and rum cake. 10/10!

Traveling again and come across this little place. Delicious food, great Cafe con Leche, great mojito. Great service.

I loved it here. It was my first time trying a Cuban restaurant and I have no regrets whatsoever.
Service was very fair and the atmosphere was nice too. At first it seemed small but I took a walk around and it’s so may tables. I’ll definitely go again.

This restaurant was incredible; starting with the Cuban sangria which was👌🏾, and my appetizer was the Papa Rellena which was full of flavor *Chefs kiss*!

The entree, Camarones Al Ajillo was incredibly delicious. I loved the decor & ambiance, and the service was attentive and friendly. I’ll definitely be returning!

Keren is prompt and very good. We had a great meal! Strongly recommended!

Cuba De Ayer offers authentic home-style Cuban cuisine with an amazing ambiance, delightful music, prompt service, and a friendly staff. Guillermo, a fantastic team member, was incredibly courteous and provided excellent recommendations for our meal. I enjoyed appetizers and the deliciously seasoned trucha (trout), with generous portions and reasonable prices on the menu. We tried various menu items, including Pan Con Ajo, beef and cheese guava empanadas—especially recommended if you have a sweet tooth—and other dishes like Camarones Al Ajillo, Bistec Saltedo, and churrasco Cubano steak. Highly recommend and will return!

My sis-friend treated me to Cuban food on Saturday as a first-timer and I really enjoyed it! I got Pollo Salteado and chocolate fudge cake, and it was yummy! 😋 Also, the staff is friendly and the ambience is super nice!

Beautiful decor, the food was delicious and the service was excellent.

Food is excellent! Be adventurous and try things out of your norm. You just might like it. The kids who are picky eaters loved it! Been coming here for so many years, I still have yet to try something that is not delicious. I have brought several groups here and used their catering services. The food and service are the best quality.

Everything was superb. Guillermo was a wonderful member of the staff. Very courteous and offered some excellent suggestions on what to order. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is the best!

First time ever going, It was a really enjoyable atmosphere with good food, good service, & good company. I would definitely suggest this place to others. You must try it out for yourself if you've never been. Everything was so flavorful & delicious!. Can't wait to come again.

Miami native here: this is REAL Cuban food. A better and cheaper option than Los Cubanos in Silver Spring.

Cuban Sandwich: Although the bread doesn't have the smooth crust of Miami Cuban bread, it was satisfying and proportionally cut. The first bites, I felt like I was home again. The Swiss cheese and the ham were well sized cuts, very juicy and flavorful. The pork could be a bit more moist, but it was well-marinated.

The croquetas: If you have never tasted these, you absolutely must. The ham feeling was delightfully flavorful, not too salty or bland and the consistency was great. The breaded shell was a little stickier than I like, but very good. The mojo dipping sauce was a pleasant surprise.

The vanilla flan: One of the best I've had (after Spanish Diner, Bethesda). Milky, cuts like, butter the light color showed it wouldn't be too eggy, and good and sweet! The glaze was yummy too, not burned at all. The edge had a good consistency, so it had similar texture throughout. My one BIG qualm: ¡Por favor, stop using chocolate syrup plate garnishes! It cheapens and distracts from the vanilla and creamy flavor and melds into the glaze.

Cuba de Ayer
A few weeks ago my wife and I found ourselves up in Burtonsville, MD looking for a new culinary experience on a sunny Saturday afternoon. We decided to try a Cuban restaurant called Cuba de Ayer. We were glad we did. Cuba de Ayer we found to be very comfortable, and the food outstanding.
I started with a beer. My wife, feeling adventurous, had a Batido de Mamey, which is a non-alcoholic shake featuring the tropical Mamey fruit. Very fun.
For appetizers, we had the Combinacion plate of croquettes and fried yuca, and the Empanadas. The guava and cheese empanada was especially good.
For entree, my wife got the Cevice. She enjoyed it, especially the presentation, with full length plantain chips. I had Lechon Asado, which is citrus-marinated shredded pork. Very good, loved the marinate. It came with rice and black beans.
The service was very good. We never found ourselves waiting on anything. The restrooms were clean and even nicely decorated. We consider it decent for the money. We will go back again when we find ourselves in the Laurel/Burtonsville area.