5. Larios on the Beach

I love Cuban food and I love Lorios.
My hotel the South Beach Plaza Villas Hotel recommended Larios for dinner. It was only a short walk down Beach. We got there very very busy and we were up in the air on if Larios was worth the wait. Thank god we did we stayed. Larios is more then worth an hour or more wait. We were seated on the second floor. Larry and Efrin were there to welcome us. They asked us were we were from and had some some great conversation with them both. We ordered the Starters and they came in a very respectable time. They were to die for. This was only the first suprise of the night. We finished and had a little wait till the main course. I like that. There was no hurry to feed you and push you out the door. Then the best Cuban food I have ever had started to hit our table. Every single bite was total bliss of pure heaven. It was better then sex. I can not wait to go back to South Beach Miami and try everthing on the menu. I love Cuban food and have never had Cuban any better then this. The 2nd floor is more laid back and not as noisy as the lower level which had a DJ who was burning insents the were bad on my breathing. The outside patio is very very busy as well. I would ask for the 2nd floor and for Larry and Efrin to serve you. They are to bomb and very laid back and causual. I wanted to bring them home with me and keep them to myself. Things to get: Drinks: Mojito Starters: Masitas De Puerco and Fried Plantain Chips and the Potato Balls Main Course: Bistec La Milanesa and Churrasco Best Floor: 2nd Level Best Servers: Larrey and Efrin Price came up to 140.00 before tip for 3 people and we were so stuffed we needed rolled out.

Horrible is putting it mildly. We are from NY and are not used to the poor service. First, the hostess sat us outside close to the inside wall, which we didn't really care where we sat and we explained this to the hostess. Well, we had the rudest waitress imaginable. She had such an attitude and proceeded to tell us that the tables are only for people who are ordering from the full menu. I guess two rounds of drinks and appetizers weren’t enough for Ms. Attitude. How were we to know? We ordered the appetizer sample; the pork was so dry that my leather shoe would have been more succulent. The croquette was so salty that not even the drinks helped. If you really hate someone you should recommend Larios, other than that, please skip the restaurant all together.

This was my worst dining experience ever. The food was just average, the pork was dry and lacking in the flavor, nothing to brag about. The service was horrible. Our waitress brought us the wrong appetizers, forgot our drinks, and we reminded her each time she came to our table that we had yet to receive our drinks, and by the time the bill came, we still had no drinks. She charged us for the wrong appetizers, as well as the drinks we never received. When we brought this to her attention, she proceeded to argue with us about it. I was floored at the behavior. The manager then came and gave a very insincere apology. I cannot believe that a popular restaurant like that would allow that type of service in their restaurant. Unbelievably horrid!!! Don't waste your time. The Fox Cafe a few doors down was excellent. Excellent food, ambiance, and superb service.

Disgusting place! Disgusting food! Extremely rude and extremely stupid staff do not go there ever! They spoiled my whole day and my whole impression about Miami Beach.

The ambiance of this restaurant is awesome! As a Cuban American I must say that the food very much resembled what I grew up eating. It's very "Homey" food. It's like your Abuela (grandmother) is cooking. The music keeps a nice trendy and jazzy vibe all throughout. The location is South Beach, which is always interesting to be at since it is so diverse. The service is EXCELLENT. Everyone is in a relaxed mood and just happy to be there. I say "Two thumbs Up" for Larios.