01/24/09

Delicious food, very good service and reasonable prices.

by Ricaroo

We went to Cafe Bolero early on a Saturday evening. The atmosphere was very charming. I liked the open kitchen. Our server was very pleasant and attentive. When she found out that this was our first time there, she spent additional time making some recommendations from the menu. The combination platter of tapas was a wonderful option to sample of some of there offerings. Nicely presented with a variety of tantalizing flavors. The roast pork and vegetarian stuffed peppers were flavorful and ample. The total bill came to under $50 for two with one cocktail each. Not bad for a city location. Parking was a little inconvenient, but not a serious problem.

• Pros: Reasonable prices, delicious food
• Cons: parking

11/22/08

Exellent food horrible service

by altersand

If you go to Bolero will love the food specially the skirt steak w/ white rice and beans , mojitos are not the same than befoore , too sweet now , neither is the service . The new family related waiter avoid him if you cuold , worse service ever , starting with his language barrier to the point of his ego wich is the worst . Well I dont want to get to cranky about that , exellent food and drinks . Just don't forget to drink their sangria wich is one of the best in town .

• Pros: Amaizing food
• Cons: Horrible service

11/15/08

Best Sangria

by Georginadel

Ok, for a while there after the reopening the service was good and attentive but the last few times I've been there it's been lacking and it almost seems like it's a chore to wait on us. I mean it's not like we're demanding people but please don't make us wait fifteen minutes to ask what we'd like to drink especially since it's practically empty. I remember going there mid summer and it was late with some friends and the hostess and our cute waiter were more than accomodating and didn't seem to mind that it was near closing time. The margaritas were good but the sangria was the best I've ever had. The steak was cooked to perfection and the ceviche was delicious. The food and the prices are reasonable but alot has changed with regards to service. Someone needs to tell the manager that the staff should leave the "attitude" at home.

08/27/08

Inexpensive entrees, fabulous mojitos

by flynnmoa

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Bolero. We went on a Friday night around 7 p.m.; we didn't have a reservation but that wasn't a problem. We were seated immediately. The bread with garlic butter was a great start to the meal because I was famished. I ordered a $7 mojito and it was fantastic! My husband ordered a pineapple drink that I didn't care for, but he enjoyed it. For dinner, I had the ropa vieja. The dish was massive and flavorful -- mounds of shredded flank steak with rice, plantains and black beans. The dinners are priced reasonably (especially considering the amount of food!). The hostess and wait staff were overly friendly. I'll definitely come back!

• Pros: Inexpensive, lovely ambiance, mojitos, mojitos, mojitos!

07/18/08

Always on the search

by mikevirgilio

for a new experience. I've been to Cafe Bolero twice now and both times have been great. First time was on a Tuesday and I ate outside. I asked about the music and the waitress mentioned there is music on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last night (thursday) I went at 9:30 and ate inside in the back bar. They had an awesome group playing music heavily laden in spanish guitar and drums. The food was great, people were dancing, and the music was awesome. (Guitarra Azul is the group's name). I bought a CD and found out they now play there on Thursday nights. I definately recommend checking it out. It also looks like a family run place. All of the people there were happy. Always good to see. Good change from the "Dine here because we're the newest fancy place downtown", but leaving the place with only bragging rights of having been there.

• Pros: Parking is easy.
• Cons: Don't expect to go with a large group late in the night and sit front stage. (Late being after 9:00p)

09/12/07

Great food and drinks. Good music and atmosphere!

by jjchicago

I really can't agree with people that are "in love" with a restaurant or that really hate it because it's horrible. I think all places are in the middle. Some have bad dishes, but good atmosphere and drinks. Other can have great food but the place itself may be ugly or with no class. Some are beautiful locations but the food its just bad. Cafe Bolero has a nice balance overall: The place used to be cheaper but after a complete renovation of the main area, the increased prices a bit. No you can find better furniture, and the lighting its more classy. Now, the good part: FOOD.-The repertoire its pretty good, but of course, it won't be so attractive for veggie people (Go to cuba and ask people around "Who is vegetarian?! They will laugh at you!) The carne asada is one of the best stakes I ever had. Cooked to perfection and so tender! Black beans and rice with lots of flavor, and that butter and bread that you can't have enough.

The Pulpo a la Plancha its well done and full of flavor too. Shrimp and veggies with this salsa that its so flavor full... I'm not very attached to fried stuff, but it seems that people like maduros a lot, along with tamales and rellenos.

DRINKS.- I think Bolero has the best mojito in town, they call it "Killer mojito" and that's because its so big that you will be done after having just one. The one the serve at Rumba in downtown its 10 times smaller and just 5 bucks less! Not to mention the difference in flavor and the bad service the bartenders offer in Rumba...

MUSIC.- Tuesday is my favorite night, listening to a very original cuban orquesta, with a mixture of traditional tropical music and the new Jazzy style from the Island. Beware of the noise, the cuban cigars and the heavy flirting at the bar... It might be just too much for some people.

• Pros: Food in general is very tasty. Drinks well served. Good desserts. Great music!
• Cons: Prices aren't cheap anymore, Tables are too close to each other, bar is small.

12/20/06

Cheap tasty food & lively atmosphere

by picklerelish

Live music was a nice surprise during my Tuesday night visit. I ordered the veggie combo plate which was standard with fried plantains, black beans & rice but good, filling, and cheap ($8). Beer menu was above average with selections like Xingu from Brazil and Famosa from Guatemala. Lively atmosphere--i would recommend this Cuban joint to a friend.

• Pros: Live music, Good value

09/22/06

AVOID at all cost if you are a vegetarian!

by lizzc

If you are a vegetarian DO NOT bother visiting this restaurant. The stuffed green plantain tasted like something out of a can. When mentioned to the manager, he stated that I had eaten too much of the dish, thus he could not do anything about it. The manager never came near our table nor saw that the dish was practically untouched. His bad customer service combined wit the bad dish has assured me that I nor my friends will never return to Cafe Bolero.

• Pros: Meat dishes according to my meat eating friends were tasty
• Cons: Vegatarian selection very limited and tasted like something out of a can

07/11/06

WONDERFULL SERVICE, EXQUISITE FOOD, BEST MOJITOS ANYWHERE,

by garylewis

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR LUNCH OR DINNER, SERVICE IS FAST AND FRIENDLY. BEST TAPAS: COMBINATION PLATTER (STUFFED POTATOES, CROQUETTES, CUBAN TAMALE), CHICKEN OR BEEF PIES (EMPANADAS). ENTRY: SKIRT STAKE IS SIMPLY AWESOME, THEY HAVE EXCELENT VEGGIE DISHES, DELICIOUS DESERTS, TRY A VANILLA FLAN (CREME BRULEE) WAOOO!!!! BEST MOJITOS AND DRINKS. WE WENT IN A GROUP OF 8; WAS A WONDERFULL EXPERIENCE IN TASTE AND SERVICE.

• Pros: AMBIENCE, MUSIC, FOOD
• Cons: PEOPLE COMES WITH SPOILED KIDS?

07/09/06

Worst Food EVER

by afpurdue102

Potentially worst than the cafeteria food in a public school. Being from Miami and having eaten real Cuban food this place is a complete disaster. HORRIBLE food that I do not think my dog would eat and the service may be even worse than the food. The manager was extremely rude when I said that the food was not good and told me I'd have to pay for it anyway and did not offer an apology and just walked away. Not only was it not authentic Cuban it was disgusting. I wouldn't recomend it to anyone.

• Pros: none
• Cons: food horrific, service even worse, nothing positive