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| About: | Miami's first couple, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, along with co-proprietor Jorge Larios score another hit with Bongo's, a lively combination restaurant, bar and nightclub. The traditional menu features the familiar fare found at most local Cuban restaurants. Specialty dishes include Slow-Roasted Half Chicken marinated in orange, lime and herbs and a grilled boneless strip steak. The festive, colorful atmosphere and decor is contagious. Get your dance shoes out on Fridays and Saturdays when the cafe converts into a nightclub and the real fun begins. |
| Hours: | Lunch & Dinner Wed.-Sun. |
| Categories: | Night Clubs, Cuban Restaurants, Restaurants |
| Parking: | Parking garage |
| Payment: | MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express |
| Cuisine: | Cuban |
| Feature: | Bar, Entertainment, Outdoor Seating, Private Rooms, View |
| Reservations Policy: | Suggested |
| Dress Code: | Casual dressy |
| Price: | $20 - $30 |
| Guest List: | Get on the guestlist or purchase tickets |
| Other Contact Info: | Fax: 786 777 2107 Email: oalvarez@bongoscubancafe.com |
Do not eat here. Went during visit to Miami. Was recommended for food and live music. Well #1 no live music. Worse though, much worse, was the terrible service. Server rude and inattentive. Food was ok but pricey thus, not a good value. Had steak and it was badly overcooked. Kicker is...they automatically add a tip to the bill! Server positively not deserving of a full tip. We had a part of ... 2...FYI.
"Bayside Mall" is right next to this place, go there instead. Much more lively and better value to be had!
Bongo's is a lively place with great music, great dancing and pretty good food. If I was going out just for dinner, I would probably go somewhere else, but for a night out on the town Bongo's is really great!
This restaurant, which we selected based on the reviews we saw on internet, is WAY overated. Its smack in the middle of a highly touristic overpopulated "cool people" area. Lots of gold chain, gold teeth, twisted ballcap types with hoochie mama in tow walking the street in front of the tables on patio, with sagging underwear. Dreadlock street hustlers and CD salesmen abound. Pan handlers approached us on the sidewalk and the staff was oblivious. Drug culture abounds in the area. My sons were hit up to buy pot 4X in the 3 block walk from where we parked walking to the restaurant. Drink and food were EXPENSIVE for what you get which is basically a poor rendition of beans, rice, plaintains, a small amount of meat, etc. that you can get here in TX for $7.00 (and its good!). Food was NOT GOOD, service was very much what you would expect in a high turnover tourist area, VERY APATHETIC, SLOW, COLD when it got there, and just plain LACKADASICAL attitude, as they knew they would never see you again. If you want a place that is all hat and no cattle you should visit Larios. Really though, stay away. Keep your $40/head and do something else. I've been to Cuba and had some excellent meals, and while most were excellent there (but a far cry from what we expect in the US), this place is worse, 100X more expensive, with a more confused but rushed but slow service (if that makes sense) and apathy for outsiders, even though its right here in the US.
Comments (1)
Southbird, sounds like you have real issues with urban life. The first few sentences have little to do with the restaurant. Probably a borderline racist. Hopefully you won't come back to our colorful city.