Authentic Cuban food is on its way to Fort Lauderdale.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, a 9,200-square-foot, two-story eatery designed to reflect the island nation’s colorful culture and cuisine, will open on Las Olas Boulevard this fall.
The ambiance at the 250-seat restaurant will be as captivating as the gastronomy, promises Barry Gutin, the restaurant’s co-founder and principal.
“We will celebrate the Cuban culture through our chef-inspired cuisine, thematic design, Latin music and storytelling,” he explains in a press release.
Diners will be inspired by a movie set recreation of Old Havana street scenes, guayabera uniforms and steamy Cuban music. And their taste buds will be awakened by two-time James Beard-winning Chef/Partner Guillermo Pernot, author of “Cuba Cooks: Recipes And Secrets From Cuban Paladares And Their Chefs.”
“Cuba Libre serves today’s Cuban cuisine – a mix of robust and soul-satisfying dishes that are flavorful but rarely spicy,” says Chef Pernot, who travels throughout Cuba for ideas. “Our carefully crafted menu combines beef, poultry, pork and seafood with tropical fruits, root vegetables, herbs and seasonings, creating attractive options for meat eaters and vegetarians.”
Some of those tantalizing dishes: Ribeye Jibaro, Plato Gaucho Mixed Grill for two, Vacio Steak Argentino, Octopus a la Parrilla, Peking Chicken and Coconut Crab Fritters.
More than 90 premium and flavored varieties of dark, light, spiced and aged rums will be available as well as mojitos sweetened with freshly pressed sugarcane juice.
There’s a story behind the eatery’s name, explains Gutin: “It translates to ‘free Cuba’ and channels hope for the future of the island nation.”
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is located at 800 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit cubalibrerestaurant.com.