-
Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar
Wow, where do I even begin? The vibe, the food, the drinks, the service – unmatchable. Literally the only complaint I have is that I was upset I got full so fast because I could have tried everything on the menu. The restaurant looks small from the outside but when you enter, you realize the place is huge. Not only was I looking for good Cuban food, but I was looking for a place with a sexy atmosphere and options for both indoor and outdoor dining.
As one of the very few authentic Cuban restaurants in the Boston area, Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar in Waltham, MA didn’t disappoint. They offer Cuban food choices including vegetarian small plates, small plates with meat, small plates from the sea, and large plates.
The bar portion of the restaurant is HUGE! It had like 15+chairs aside a long bar top with a full bar. You know me, I’m a cocktail queen so the bar was important. I ordered the seasonal sangria – I loved it so much I drank it too fast and even ate the ice cubes lol!
Then it was time to order some food – because mama was HUNGRY! For plate #1, we started out with the Fritura de Maíz, which was a local corn fritter with goat cheese mousse, brown-butter honey, marinated heirloom tomatoes, and a squash seed pesto.
Plate #2 we just had to have the Croquetas de Jamón, which was Serrano ham croquettes with a black garlic aioli.
When it came to order plate #3 we went with the Empanadas de Carne consisting of ground beef, sofrito, raisings, and a flaky pastry dough with a multiseed mix.
You’re probably thinking how were you still hungry after all that? Don’t worry, these first few bites were small plates and there were three of us so our stomachs were still ready for more.
For plate #4, we couldn’t resist ordering the Ceviche with striped bass, coconut milk, dehydrated mushrooms, avocado, anchovies and sesame-lemon crunch. SO GOOD!
Another small plate (plate #5) we couldn’t say no to was the Mejillones Con Chorizo with local mussels in a creamy spanish chorizo sauce, and scallions served with grilled bread to soak up all the flavorful juices.
There was no way we were leaving without trying the Mariscada (plate #6), which was seafood stew with shrimp, scallops, calamari, mussels and clams in a lobster and coconut milk sauce. I almost had to wipe the drool from my face when the plate was delivered because it looked so good!
Last but certainly not least, plate #7 ended the night with the Ropa Vieja. A shredded flank steak in a delicate tomato sauce and red peppers on top of rice, black beans and maduros.
If we had any room left in our stomachs we would have ordered more. But all that meant was we couldn’t wait to return again to try more of the beautiful plates on their menu.
Unfortunately, we had eaten our way into oblivion and left no room for dessert (next time for sure).
We left Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar full, satisfied, and already planning our next visit.
June 13, 2022 / Melissa Evans / 0
Categories: Restaurant Reviews
Black & Blue Steak and Crab Twin Seafood Market in Concord, MA