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If I hadn't ordered the mojito, I'd probably like this place less.
The crab fritters were great, the ceviche and fried green plantains were pretty good, and the main courses were tasty, from the roasted pork shoulder to the shrimp. I must admit my favorite was the fried sweet plantains.
Totally decent, if not entirely authentic, option on the strip. Try to sit outside. Definitely order a mojito and the sweet plantains!
Cuban Food Heaven! What else would expect in Miami?
As we walked down Ocean Drive pushing past every restaurant with a cute girl in front shoving a menu in our hands and offering us one free drink and $9.99 lunch specials, we were not swayed. I was going to Larios, the night before I had arrived and the kitchen was closed. This was the day.
Larios was not in your face with people begging you to come in. In fact it was operating knowing people were just going to go there. We sat outside and were able to watch South Beach go by as we ate, which is always a treat.
I wanted Cuban pork and I got it. It was good, not the best I have ever had but a true stand up Cuban Fried Pork Cubes. The Yuca Frittes were the best I have ever had. My Girls shredded chicken was incredible I have never had shredded chicken like that before.
Next time I am in MIA I will return, most likely for the shredded pork!
From the other reviews, I see that this is one of Gloria Estefan's (rhythm is going to get you) restaurants - cool! Since we're from San Francisco, and I am all too familiar with the sub-par restaurants in high touristy spots, I was a little leery about having dinner here right in the middle of South Beach. But we were hungry and wanted Cuban food while in South Beach, so Larios/Bongo's it was!
First of all, what great people watching if you get a table out on the sidewalk! - the only thing I didn't like was that several homeless people came up to us during our meal asking for money.
We ordered sangria by the pitcher (2x!) and it was yummy and refreshing on this Wednesday Miami evening on our last night in town. The yucca fries were yummy, couldn't stop eating those. And I enjoyed my chicken (very moist and tasty) over yellow rice - loved the plantains!! Yummy yummy!!
The ambiance inside looked really cool and classy, the bar was very cool-looking, and lights and strobes started around 9PM inside for a cool dancing/club scene. Very Miami cool!
Out of all the restaurants on Ocean Beach Drive, this was one restaurant that didn't aggressively try to pull us in (a tactic other restaurants should stop because it does not appeal), so that was another factor that drew us in. Gracias for a great meal!
Came here on a FRiday night to celebraTE my anniversary. First off i suggest you valet for 20.00 or youll have to walk a good mile if you are lucky enough to find parking to park in a garage. Nice atmosphere and decor inside, except they seated me and my honey in a little hole in the wall I guess since it was the two of us, but it was still nice and intimate . They serve a variety of drinks my b.f ordered Dos EQUIS beer but I happened to order a frozen straberry daiquiri.($11). which has been by far the best one I've had in a really long time!
Appetizers we got the papa rellenos which brought 3 of them kinda weird usually appetizers bring an even number, I recommend that or fried pork chunks. Dinner I decided to get pollo asado($13)- grilled chicken breast with onions, morros and maduros, that with some lime it was really good. My boyfriend ordered vaca frita($15) which is one of their famous dishes although your jaw will get tired from chewing so much. Our waitress and assistant waiter were on top of their game and very helpful, just make sure to check your bill as they add a 17% gratuity already included. Our bill included with tip was about $70 something Overall very nice dinner on the beach.
I really had high hopes for this place.
It was our last day in Miami and my boyfriend and I wanted some really good cuban food. I have been to Gloria Estefan's other restaurant, Bongo's. And I loved it.
This one...not so much.
We went at exactly 12...a normal lunch time. Well, the one thing on the menu I really, really wanted was the cuban chicken with yellow rice and sweet plantains. The waiter tells me the chicken isnt ready yet and wont be for over an hour! And the rice isnt ready either!
Then he just walks off....doesnt give any other options or offer an apology...nothing. I manage to have someone go track our waiter down and ask him to come back so I could ask him what WAS available. He tells me that is the only thing on the whole menu not ready... Blahh..
So I get the roasted chicken, and asked for yellow rice...but oh, wait, i forgot...its not ready and apparently it takes an hour to make rice. So, I had to settle for white rice.
The food was ok...the chicken was kind of greasy but tasted good...and the sweet plantains were awesome.
Service not so great- 3 out of 5
Food ok- 3 out of 5
Music/Location/Atmosphere- 5 out of 5
My boyfriend got the cuban sandwich and said it was the worst he had ever had...
I love the ropa vieja. I hope I spelled that right! Also munch on anything in the creole sauce. They have a Dj that spins Latin music after 8
This is a great place to come to people watch.
The food is really good but leaves a guilt feeling as it is somewhat too expensive. You are really paying for location.
But overall, it is a cool place to come and have some delicious and simple cuban food.
Order the ceviche and the ropa vieja.....yummmm!
I have no complaints about this spot... except that their idea of "incense" is like piss in smoke form. I dunno... I have a dog that I leave at home while at work, and I leave out pee mats, so I'm VERY experienced with certain smelly aromas. Choose another scent pls, Ms. Estefan.
I had the $14 pollo asado which was SUPER tasty. It wasn't dry at all.. the sauce was killer. Not to mention I couldn't get my mind of my girl's skirt steak. I had a strawberry mojito which folks at my table were complaining was too sweet, but it didn't really bother me. The location is great, but either walk or take a cab cuz I bet parking is a B. All the meals are hella decently priced for lunch. I've spent more dough on breakfast at Starbucks.
Watch yourself when you come to Larios, though... the rhythm just MIGHT get you.
(Bad joke, Richard...)
I ate at Lario's during a vacation and really enjoyed the food. The portions are huge. The sweet plantains are a must! It was a bit congested during the evening hours. Also, I would not recommend eating on the sidewalk anytime after 7:00 pm...the people walking by are virtually a part of your party! Overall good food, but average service.
This is some of the best Cuban food I've ever had (and I'm Cuban). Larios has the best of everything...awesome location in the middle of South Beach, amazing authentic Cuban food, and great music and atmosphere. It's one of several restaurants owned by Gloria Estefan around Miami.
We started the night out with some mojitos, which are amazing here. They come with a stick of pure sugar cane and everything. I ordered the vaca frita, and it was hands down the best I've ever had...they serve it here to you on a skillet. All of our sides, like maduros, rice, etc. where all flawless. We capped the meal with some Tres Leches for dessert, also the best Tres Leches I've ever had - you have to try it.
Our server, Pablo, was a machine and was reading our mind throughout the whole meal. Wish I could eat here every night. Don't miss out on Larios if you're near South Beach!
If I could give this terrible restaurant half a star, I would.
I've been meaning to give this restaurant a proper review since returning from Miami a few weeks ago. Today, I finally have enough down time to get to it.
Let me preface this review by saying that this restaurant was not my choice. We went there because my work colleague had fine memories of eating there on a spring break trip with her boyfriend. And Larios might be good for just that - spring break tourists.
Located right off Ocean Drive, Lario's is partially owned by Gloria Estefan which makes this particular restaurant (that doubles as a Salsa club after hours) a very popular destination for tourists and wanderers. Supposedly known best for its Cuban food, Lario's offers typical fare, from skirt steaks to fried plantains and various seafood dishes.
Grace and I decided to take a streetside table to people watch and enjoy the evening air. Since we arrived in Miami that day, we ate a reasonably late lunch and thus a very late dinner, but the restaurant was still bustling. I was completely underwhelmed with the wine list, which curiously offered many selections that didn't pair well with Cuban food at all. I finally settled on a glass of Bogle's Sauvignon Blanc (2006), because I was planning on having seafood, and love drinking the varietal in particularly warm climates because it's served chilled and the light flavors are actually quite refreshing.
Our waitress brought our drinks right away, and I was immediately a bit put off that my wine wasn't particularly chilled.
Nearly 20 minutes later, she finally made it back around to take our order. I opted for the Lobster Creole, fried plantains and black beans and rice. Another 30 minutes went by and we finally got our food. My lobster came in a small casserole-type dish, swimming in a VERY salty creole base. It was a bit tough in spots. Overall, I was very disappointed with the Lobster considering what I paid for the dish (about $35 I think?). Presentation was largely uninspired.
Rice and plantains came on a separate plate and there was no attention to color in the presentation. Everything had a brown tinge. It gave me the impression that the chef simply didn't care about making the side plate look appetizing. The plantains were pretty greasy, but the black beans and rice were fabulous, hands down the best part of the meal.
I've read elsewhere that Lario's supposedly has very authentic Cuban cuisine, but this was far from my experience. Save your money for a restaurant in a Cuban neighborhood. You'll pay half what you pay at Lario's and it will taste authentic. EVERYTHING I ate, from the plantains to the lobster to the beans, had too much salt - and I'm a salt guy.
The only saving grace for Lario's is location. It was fun to people watch with Grace despite the uninspired meal.
Stick to singing Gloria, but only perform Miami Sound Machine stuff. You're a terrible restaurateur and I don't like anything other than your Miami Sound Machine songs. So, all in all, I guess you're almost an EPIC FAIL, save "Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya," that's gold baby, gold.
This was my first experience eating Cuban food... And it was amazing. If you are in SoBe it's a must!
If people watching were a sport, I'd be the freaking undisputed Tiger Woods of people watching. And as the real estate expression goes, "Location, location, location", Lario's on the Beach is an absolute mob-scene eight days a week. I could spend an entire day just people watching from the patio. Outdoor seating is a must as a steady stream of beautiful people and interesting characters can be seen both at the restaurant and walking up and down the catwalk known as Ocean Drive.
I've been to South Beach four times over the last several years and have always managed to stop by this Cuban Café owned by singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio. Most recently, I was in SoBe for a wedding and took my mother and my girlfriend out on a Friday night to have a little taste of the Cuban culture and its cuisine.
Upon walking into the restaurant, there is a small bar to the right and an area to the left with a space for a dj/band and dance floor. The inside dining area toward the back boasts a sexy lounge-type atmosphere with dark stained wood, intricate and exotic décor, dimly lit tables and private dining areas. A strange but interesting thing to note is that the men's urinals were filled with ice. It was odd the first time I saw it and thought that the wait staff might have simply dumped ice into all the urinals to discard it. However in frequenting Lario's over the years, the urinals were always filled with ice. For what purpose, I'm not exactly sure. But it is certainly a strange and interesting touch.
It was an absolutely beautiful day and we sat outside to enjoy the view and the weather. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and prompt with a kick-ass Cuban accent. We immediately ordered a classic Cuban Mojito, which is arguably the best in Miami. The drink was made to order and was served complete with a fresh stalk of sugar cane. It was a refreshing as the ocean breeze. Even my Mom ordered a mojito... and I've honestly only seen her drink an alcoholic beverage a handful of times in my life. She took a couple of sips, said it was good but very strong and then gave her drink to me to finish.
The menu offers authentic Cuban cuisine, which is basically a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. The portions here are larger than life. For this visit, I decided on the Bistec de Palomilla, a thin tenderized steak seasoned with garlic salt & mojo topped with onions & parsley. It did not disappoint. The steak was a juicy, tender, salty, flavorful goodness and that was almost as good as a Filipino version coincidently named "bistek" that my mother makes. All entrees were served with white rice, moro rice, fried plantains or sweet plantains and our server was able to recommend which of the sides would pair best with our entrees.
After dinner, order a cup of the Café Cubano. It's a strong and sweet Cuban style espresso coffee. Also try the Tres Leches, a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk & heavy cream poured over white cake until soaked. You may find yourself swooning with delight at each delicious bite. You may also find yourself swooning over the final bill as all of this goodness certainly adds up but is completely worth the price.
Inside and during the later hours of the night, the restaurant turns into a makeshift salsa club, with live music and rhythmic bodies. Muy caliente!
Ok, So I was in Miami this year for the world music conference 2009. One night I just wanted some peace quiet and a nice dinner after staying up all the previous nights. I was also quite hungry for some Cuban food. During our walk by the beach, we ended up at this joint with the music blaring and the people dancing inside the restaurant. At this time I was just like hey let's give it a shot. The ropa vieja was super tender and just dripping with flavor. The accompanying rice and beans mix were also just a delicious. To top it all off, I enjoyed the sweet plantains as well as the cheese flan. The flan also happened to be one of the best flans I've ever had. My companion enjoyed the savory shrimp that was drenched in buttery garlic sauce. MMMMM . The mimosas were also to die for.
Apparently after I had eaten there, I found that the restaurant was owned by Gloria Estefan. Being a snob to celebrity's money making schemes (i.e. clothing designer, restaurants, etc) I'm pretty glad I did not know this or I would have never walked in. The food was pretty good!!!!
Someone told me this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant, not sure if that is true. I went here for dinner with some Co-workers on my last night in Miami Beach. The sign outside said Larios, the menus said "Bongos", very confusing. I did get the sense that this was the equivalent to a "Cuban" Chevy's terms of the service and decor. Our waiter that was hard selling mojitos, appetizers, and "add ons", not impressed.
I ordered the grilled pork loin, which in retrospect was a terrible call. The Pork was super lean and therefore dry as hell. Think consistency of dry white chicken meat, and you'll be close. Every bite I took completely sucked my mouth dry of any moisture, I resorted to pre-shredding the meat and dousing it with black beans to get some moisture in it. That strategy worked until I ran out of beans, now that I think about it, maybe I should have asked for a bowl of salsa.
I can report that the pressed garlic bread things they give out for free are phenomenal. Some of the best things I've ever tasted. I probably could have gorged myself on 5 baskets and had a 5 star experience.
I figured that being in SoBe I had to have Cuban food and what better place to eat than with a view of the ocean across the street. Now I knew this was Gloria Estefan's restaurant (or at least it used to be since the menus now say 'Bongos'?) but I expected much more from the decor and the food. I felt like I was in a slightly upscale Chilis. It seemed very touristy and I knew that couldn't be a good sign.
I think the best food here are the mojitos, which were really good, otherwise I was pretty disappointed. The ceviche was practically inedible - the fish was chewy and tasted like it had been soaked in lime juice for days. I actually wasn't even sure the fish was good, so saving myself a night of praying to the porcelain g-d I only ate a small amount. I had the fried pulled chicken with grilled onions - it was ok, but didn't have a lot of flavor. The mixed rice with beans was better and so were the sweet plantains, but those are kind of hard to screw up. We passed on dessert since we had a huge lunch and assumed their flan was probably nothing to write home about.
The live music was a nice touch, but also annoying when you're trying to have a conversation. Also holiday songs sung in Spanish doesn't really say latin/cuban to me.
I'm sure there are so many better cuban restaurants in Miami - probably most not on Ocean Dr. - that are probably better worth the money spent.
I had a great experience at Larios On The Beach. Food was great, service was good and prices are expected for a place in South Beach owned by a celebrity. I would definitely go back.
Unfortunately the crowd is very predictable, hot dudes with flashy/tacky clothes and hot chicks with fake boobs and Versace bags, very South Beach.
I was a little confused when we got the menu and it said "Bongo's" cuz the name on the outside of the restaurant said "Lario's on the Beach" We'd made reservations and got seated promptly but away from the crowd and live band, on the 2nd Fl. We felt secluded and ignored. Our waitress was slow and made few appearances. We were missing a set of utensils and plates and had to help ourselves.
I think they use the 2nd fl for larger private parties and they have a tv that shows the live band downstairs, but I just didn't feel the same vibe. The food was good, Latin Cuban food with a large portions and lots of carbs. Do not get the sangria though, a few of us ordered by the glass and got cocktail fruit instead of fresh fruit. It was overly sweetened and tasted like a fruit cocktail out of the can. When we asked the waitress if they had fresh fruit she said that is how they make it and everyone seems to love it. We were turned off and didn't want to pay for it since we couldn't even drink it. The prices were decent but I don't know if I'd come here again.
I don't want to waste anyones time.... I just want to say DON'T GO. We found a plastic tube (like you would find in a microwavable meal), when we complained, the inept manager offered us free dessert, obviously we are not interested in dessert after the bad meal. We planned to have a nice upscale meal from here and we were sorely disappointed
I had my reservations about coming here with a group of 10 after reading these reviews... but bit the bullet and made some reservations anyways.
Glad we did. Our waiter was charming and attentive (maybe because we were all about the Calle Ocho (aged rum mojito)), the food wait wasn't too long, and we loved the salsa music, pleasantly crowded feel and plush decor. There is dancing on Friday nights and some people were getting really into it.
I thought the prices were extremely reasonable given the quality of food, service, and the unbeatable location. My chicken dish (can't go wrong with pollo asado and arroz moro--it's a Cuban restaurant, come on!) was awesome, filled me up completely and cost $13.95. The same dish at Puerto Sagua (a block away) is also pretty good, but not all that much cheaper and comes with a much dinkier atmosphere.
I got the impression that most of the restaurants in SoBe are pretty touristy and not very authentic, so I wasn't expecting much from Gloria Estefan's place. Lario's was a pleasant surprise: a great place to get dressed up and eat some good food before a night on the town over Spring Break--without breaking the bank.
LIFE LESSON #34783: AVOID RESTAURANTS OWNED BY CELEBRITIES
Oh Gloria...oye MI canto...
I had high expectations of Larios, but they sadly were not met.
The restaurant itself is beautiful and the live Cuban music is a nice touch. But the food and service sadly fell short.
The pork chunks were plentiful, but lacked the flavor of Puerto Sagua's version. The mojitos are a ridiculous $11 and are made too sweet for American-ized tastes. Not at all like the ones I had in Havana.
And finally, the paella Valencia. Lots of seafood including a small lobster tail, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams, but a little too soupy and lacking the intoxicating saffron flavor I was craving. Also, I felt totally ripped off when ordering this dish. The menu says that the dish is for two people, but DOES NOT state that the $38 price is PER PERSON. $76 for a plate of paella? Yes there was a small lobster tail in there, but that's a little ridiculous. Our waiter was unapologetic and we left feeling like we got screwed.
Service was also lacking as they staff seemed to be too busy joking around and talking to each other to refill water glasses and check on their customers.
I won't be back and suggest you steer clear as well.
Larios is what initially sparked my deep burning love for Cuban food. Don't do yourself an injustice by letting its primo touristy locay deter you . .. or the fact that its celebrity owned . . . as I have seen many a SoBe local convert to a Larios regular upon experiencing its amazing, authentic goodness that you just don't find at all that many places within Sobe lines. (This is typically after dragging them reluctantly to Ocean Dr.) This is not the area's typical tourist trap using 2-for-1 drinks to lure in unsuspecting, wide-eyed victims in for a mediocre $80. It's not even on the same planet.
Such delightful CUISINE: The mojitos may just be the best I've had, as are the plantains . . . especially when you get a good mix going with the perfectly rich black beans, shredded chicken, some lime, and the rice. I am not much of a rice gal, but ooooh the rice here! There is something about the rice at Larios that just works so so well within its rich fluffiness. The amazing bread is thin and dense . . think rich, buttery, homemade garlic bread smooshed thin in a good way if you can envision that. I am fighting the urge to rattle off item after item, as I have truly loved everything here, time after time for the past 7 years of my life. .. although I am a sucker for mixing up the the shredded chicken combo . . .. ugh! I want it now! (There goes that deep burning love again!)
Now back to the MOJITOS . . . they are serious business done with perfectly fresh muddlement It is a good thing they possess such serious strength given the heavy food here, as I have always left Larios feeling the urge to go plop down on the couch, insanely full stomach first. This may have something to do with the food just being so good that one just can't stop. . .. therefore the only thing I do not recommend Llarios for is a pre-gaming meal as you will likely be a done deal ready to just go home and vegg in your food coma unless you incorporate some serious mojito intervention to jazz ya back up.
SERVICE is not bad but not amazing . . . they are friendly enough but in no rush. PRICES are fair, especially for Tourist Central. The overall SCENE has a great vibe. You def feel like you are in South Beach. You can sit outside for some top notch people watching, which Ocean Drive has some if the best I've ever experienced or you can go relatively low key in the nice, airy indoor dining area which expands surprisingly far back and can actually be pretty private farther back there or more loud/ social towards the front with the friendly bar tenders and frequent live music. So you can shape your experience quite a bit depending on where you choose to sit, This is my MUST VISIT stop whenever anyone and everyone visits the beach for the first time as I do love it so and don't think a SoBe trip is complete without it.
Larios seems to be one of the only Cuban restaurants on Ocean, which is a welcome surprise since every other restaurant on the strip seems to serve the same thing (salad, pasta, sandwich, etc.) It's a bit overpriced, but has a lively ambiance and Latin music, nice outdoor seating for fun people watching on Ocean, and some tasty Cuban fare.
For starters, I had some little plantain chip cups that were filled with shrimp, ground meat, and a tomato sauce that was pretty flavorful. The ropa vieja (shredded beef) was tasty, and the mango shrimp original, if a bit buttery. I love some meat with rice, black beans, and sweet plantains, so most of the meals here were pretty satisfying. The only disappointing thing we ordered here was a pork chop with some onions and lime, which was surprisingly bland for all the supposed ingredients. Entrees run roughly $20, which is a bit expensive since you can find authentic Cuban cuisine for much cheaper off Ocean.
The drinks were very good - pina coladas are made here with spiced rum and have a nice kick that I haven't had elsewhere. The mojitos are also yummy, with real sugar cane sticks to chew on.
Overall a fun, tasty, experience, if a bit pricey for what you get !
Beautiful Gloria Estefan owned restaurant. Food was good, being on a budget I looked for the most modestly priced item on the menu and chose the chicken. 2 girls got the lobster and 1 got the shrimp. I believe between the 4 of us we polished off 8-10 large souvenir size glasses of mojitos.
We had a really good time here and they even had a live salsa band playing which made me start crying because my dad loved salsa music and he had been gone at this time 1 1/2 years, while the music played I felt his presence and I started crying uncontrollably. IT was that beautiful. I excused myself and went to the restroom, fixed my face, took a deep breath and went back to our table.
Mind you up to this point we had been paying the food bills by what you ordered NOT split 4 ways..ok, so the bill came......my friend saw it first and started to LAUGH OUT LOUD.
For 4 girls the bills was $279!!! Holy Sh*#! They were all like...well "Let's just split the bill 4 ways so that we don't have to worry about who owes what"....eeeerrrrr record scratches, hold up chica, uhm I don't think so! I got chicken you ballers got lobster tail and shrimp. they were not so happy! hahahahahah, that was a riot. but seriously be prepared to have a great time, with good food, and spend a bunch of ferria there. I would def go there again.
Otherwise known as Gloria Estefan's "Bongos" restaurant, this place is a great way to experience Cuban Food and enjoy the view of Ocean Drive in Miami. My sister and I shared the combo appetizer which included fried pork chunks, shrimp on a fried plantain, tamale with sweet corn and pork, and a fried pork ball similar to an empanada. I ordered the minced beef with fried plantains and rice mixed with red beans. For dessert I had a Cuban coffee with condensed milk and the cinnamon rice pudding. I have tried the Bongos restaurant in Orlando, but this one has more of an authentic atmosphere and ambiance. So if you are in the Miami Beach area, then you need to do as Gloria Estefan says and "Get on your feet!" and go to Bongos!
Gloria Estefan definitely opened up a great Cuban restaurant.
Try their Cuban skirt steak, the lamb and the quatro leches cake. Their mojitos pack a punch as well so beware. They also do have some good live music on weekends. If you're driving it's best to just fork over the $20 and valet; you'll never find paking on your own.
A decent enough place, but nothing overly spectacular in the grand scheme of things. I can't speak to how authentic it is, but I've had better Cuban food at places like Versailles in LA.
They have a huge menu so I was a bit overwhelmed with choice. I settled for fried shredded chicken on a sizzling plate, and though the chicken was a bit on the dry side I enjoyed the hint of tanginess in the flavoring. It's actually quite a lot of chicken with onions, and a little dry/boring to eat with white rice. I would recomend ordering a few different dishes and sharing with friends to get different tastes of everything. My friends ordered their famous seafood combo stew, and that was very tasty - it had lobster, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari in a slightly spicy tangy creole sauce. Some other friends ordered a fried rice kind of dish and that was ok.
All in all not a bad place for a decent, moderately priced meal on Ocean Drive in South Beach.
We had a really good experience at Larios. We walked up and down Ocean Blvd for a good half hour before settling in to a spot for lunch. I was amazed at the shiesty tactics some restaurants used to try to reel you in.... half price meals, but the meals cost $30? It was overwhelming.
Lario's didn't have any specials but their menu was priced really well for the area and the atmosphere seemed a little bit more appropriate for our group.
The Mojitos (as per every other review on here!) really were amazing. The tostones with beef and shrimp were really good - I preferred the beef. I had the Cuban sandwich which was HUGE. Ham, pork, swiss, pickles, mustard.... really, really good. The french fries were good but I wish I asked to substitute something else. My friends had the Black Bean Wrap and the Steak Sandwich, both of which were also really good.
I'm sure this place is mad touristy, but I was a tourist... a tourist with no laptop for yelp, no knowledge of the area, and I was not disappointed in the least.
This is a beautiful restaurant right on Ocean Drive. Delicious Cuban food with plenty of American options mixed in... and the Mojitos are out of this world. Try the Bicardi Limon version for that extra tang...great service and lighting...a little loud and just a bit rough around the edges - but overall worth a stop in.
True Story:
I was alone in South Beach. My friends got caught in a snow storm out of ORD (that's why I live in L.A.) and I found myself alone at the bar at Larios. I'm throwing back a few mojitos and who walks in and sits down next to me? Gloria Estefan. I sang to her (damn mojitos) and she smiled, told me to let her do the singing. Then she got up on stage and sang with the salsa band.
After that, my food and drinks were comped.
Thanks Gloria!
You could do better. You could do worse. Its hard to hear, and the ceviche was lip searing spicy.
blah blah. like everywhere else on this strip, this place lacks anything special. (es: you can take the glass home from your mojito! look honey, i get a glass that says "Lario's" on it!)
At least it was very affordable. $40 a person, entrees, apps, a drink or two a person.
When in Rome...I guess when in South Beach! Cubans galore and when we visited South Beach we just lived the live. Gloria Estefan's Lario's is a terrific place for a great meal.
The service is OK, but the food was great. Of course, I had the ropa vieja. It was so great. The rice was tasty, as were the plaintains. No complaints here! Food serving sizes were generous. Too bad my margie wasn't so big. My frozen strawberry marg was the best drink I've had in a while. I guess down in South Beach they know how to do frozen alcohol. Darn it, should have had a Miami Beach while I was there! What was I thinking!?
Cuban??? Or just a tacky touristy all american eatery?
Me thinks its the latter.
There is nothing Cuban about the stuff they offer.
The huge fried red snapper was a good deal but I've had better fried fish before.
Super cute atmosphere.
Live band inside.
Very good funky flan!
Lario's has an interesting mix of Latin and Chinese-influenced dishes. We tried the paella (which was fantastic, but rather expensive at 35$/person with a minimum of two people ordering), one of the fried rice dishes, and the steak. The paella was overwhelming... Admittedly very good, but we should have ordered two portions for three or four people. The steak was so-so. The ceviche appetizer we ordered was close to disgusting.
Decor and service were good, but overall, the dining experience was very average.
One of my favorite dishes is bistec empenizado steak (kinda like a pounded, breaded, fried thin steak), and Larios' empenizado is among the best I've had. The rice and fried plantains are also great.
However, they lose a star on service. Sometimes the service is decent, other times it's terrible, but rarely, if ever, is it great.
But, wow, great food and great location!
My girlfriends and I had dinner here while we were staying in Miami. I thought the food was OK. I order the dish with all the seafood in it. I forget what the name was, but the waiter said it was a popular dish. The food took extremely long to come out! When it finally did it wasn't that satisfying, I mean it wasn't bad it was just ok. The bread they gave was pretty good but it looked like garlic bread that I could have made at home. The service was slow. It took us awhile to get any attention from the servers and they hardly came by to check up on us, We were a party of 10 girls too. The only good thing I can say is the restaurant was really beautiful inside. Service and food need a little bit of improvement.
My dish here was absolutely to die for!
Churrasco
skirt steak "churrasco"grilled to perfection based with "chimi-churri" sauce
it was absolutely cooked to perfection (medium rare, very tender) and the sauce was so damn good! My friends all ordered the chicken but kept raving about my steak (They did say their chicken was good though)! Everything tasted so delicious (rice, bananas, everything!).
The ambiance is terrific with the Cuban band playing while you enjoy your meal. Its a really fun must go to place on ocean dr.
We sat inside because there was no wait. The wait for outside seating was 20 to 30 min on a Sat. night. Service was excellent. Mojitos were VERY STRONG...if you like that sort of thing. I prefer not to yack on my first drink of the night =)
This is a must go place for anyone visiting miami
Stopped in for dinner with some friends last night. Nice Ocean Drive spot complete with Ocean Drive prices. The food was good, I had the liver and a mojito. My friend had the potato ball, minced meat appetizer which was really good. Finished dinner with a Bongos cortadito (Cuban coffee shot, steamed milk and abit of condensed milk suprise at the bottom - very nice. For all the Cuban food in Miami you are paying for the location more than the quality of the food.
This is definitely one of my favorite cuban restaurant. Every time i go to the beach with a friend or a date, I always have lunch there. Their churasco or palomilla is absolutely my favorite. Oh, and with yellow rice!! Yummy. Their prices are really good too and if it's not too busy then eating outside is a pleasure. Enjoy the great weather and the great looking people of south florida. How can one refute that?? I know I cant and neither should you :) Cheers!
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Cuban
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Cuban
Miami Beach, FL
Category: American (New)
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Latin American
Miami Beach, FL
Category: Restaurants
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