Cubanidad 1885
Sweet Egg Dough Bread
Shredded Beef Ropa Vieja Cubana
Sweet Potato Mash Puré de Boniato
Fried Plantain Tostones
Beef and Olive Empanada
Ropa Vieja and Plantain Empanada
Fried Pork Chunk Masitas de Cerdo
All Natural Chicken Breast Mojo Criollo
Cuban Rice and Beans Arroz Congri
Fried Yucca
Dulce de Leche Cortada Receta Cubana
Turrón de Maní
Cabezotes de Capuchino
Inhabiting the block south of Spring Mountain Road on Fort Apache since just before Memorial Day 2019, it was seeking something different for lunch during the pandemic that Cubanidad 1885 came to mind, a variety of dishonest delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash ignored in favor of directly contacting the Restaurant via e-mail a day in advance.
Dubbed “the Ybor Original,” and featuring a menu from Chef Dennis Martinez Miranda, it is inside Spic and Span confines that guests will currently find staff dressed in PPE, a small market to the right offering certain essentials while the counter and kitchen continue to turn out some of Sin City’s very best Cuban Cuisine.
Open at 11:00am daily, an 11:30 pick-up delayed slightly by a sizable order plus three other parties waiting for take-out, it was after assuring all was accounted for that boxes were transported two-miles, their contents each temperature appropriate and everything served in portions commiserate to price.
An unfamiliar genre to some, Cuban food by-and-large underrepresented in comparison to Mexican or Filipino across The Valley, it was after perusing the choices that Empanada started the party, Beef and Olive packing plenty of brine but doing so with balance while Ropa Vieja found itself slightly sweetened by mashed Plantain inside another dozen Pastry pockets.
Selecting three Meats as part of the “Family Completa,” just $39 for tangy Shredded Beef, crispy Pork and Chicken moistened by Mojo Criollo, also included in the package were Tostones and Puré de Boniato, the former crisp and salty while the Sweet Potatoes taste almost sweet as Dessert thanks to a liberal amount of Molasses.
A locally-owned import, Chef Miranda’s Cuban upbringing and professional training yielding big flavors made with proper technique, Sweet Bread typically served around Pork as Medianoche proved quite useful for sopping up Sauces while “Cuban Rice” found added flavor from Beans and bits of Meat.
Making Sauces and Salsas on-site, Garlic Cilantro and Chimichurri both amicable dance partners for Yucca Fries, Desserts are only part-listed on Cubanidad’s website, and although the Flan is indeed good those seeking things a little less ubiquitous should strongly consider chilled Dulce de Leche Cortada, syrup-sweet Cuban Capuchinos or Peanut Turrón on par with some of the best in Spain.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS: Open for just about a year on Fort Apache, Cubanidad 1885 continues to put on a very impressive display in terms of customer service and preparedness while the product served far outperforms the modest price point.
RECOMMENDED: Masitas de Cerdo, Ropa Vieja, Tostones, Arroz Congri, Turrón de Maní, Cabezotes de Capuchino.
AVOID: N/A.
TIP: Open 11am until 9pm at 3585 South Fort Apache Road, and currently offering free delivery within 5 miles for orders over $25.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.cubanidad1885.com
