Carmens Cuban Cafe in Raleigh

Feel like having a spicy evening with your friends and family?… then visit Carmen’s Cuban Café and Lounge. It’s an adult kid friendly restaurant . They have great Cuban food…probably the only Cuban restaurant in Raleigh. It’s a small place but has two different rooms. I love how intimate it is and how the open bar sits in the middle of the main room when you walk in.

I like the name Carmen. It reminds me of the opera Carmen. Once upon a time I used to love to go to operas. Wonder if there are many opera lovers in the Triangle?? I just love the passionate music and singers. I still do I guess, I just have other ways to express my music appreciation.

But about the food… one of my fav’rite main courses is Churrasco con Chimichurri. It’s grilled skirt steak in a chimichurri sauce… it’s not hot even though it sounds like there might be some hidden jalapenos in there. I love their yuccas that comes as a side! I love plantains also but theirs is too sweet and mushy for my taste, so I opt for the yuccas. You also get a choice of pinto or black beans with yellow or white rice, or moros or congris. The food is really like nothing I’ve tasted in the Triangle.

Palomilla with Yellow Rice and Plantains

I’ve had the Palomilla steak which is marinated sirloin grilled topped with onions. It’s really great too. Oh I forgot to mention about the appetizers. If you order cerviche as an appetizer, they give you a big portion in a martini glass like the photo above.

And the best dessert EVER there is Tres Leches. It’s to die for as it’s a really, really moist vanilla cake. It melts in your mouth and if you like vanilla you’ll love this cake! Did I already mention it’s really moist?

They also have an impressive Kids Menu Cuban food restaurant so don’t be afraid to bring the youngans. 

If you plan to go, be sure to download a $25 gift certificate for just $10 online (that’s a $15 savings!) at this link:

Carmen’s Cuban Cafe & Lounge

 

They have salsa…not the sauce (well…that too), but the dance for entertainment. I remember when my post college Latin American friends and I used to go salsa dancing in the DC clubs on the weekend back in the late 90’s. They taught me how to salsa, ‘cause they were born with salsa legs and the latin beat.

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Category: Raleigh Restaurants