Restaurant Review: Really Famous Tampa Style Cubans

If there’s one international cuisine (besides our own) that defines the culinary landscape of the Tampa Bay Area, it’s got to be Cuban. 

And, rightfully so.  Cuban cuisine and the Tampa Bay area have a notable, longstanding history together.  Historic Ybor City began as a cigar-manufacturing town quickly inhabited by Cuban immigrants specializing in the cigar rolling trade and, of course, their own delicious food.  Families of Cuban immigrants came and went leaving their mark of culture and cuisine on the region we call home today.

Lucky for us foodies, Cuban culture still permeates the area through tons of Cuban restaurants and sandwich shops throughout Tampa Bay.

One of these,  (also called Really Famous Tampa Style Cubans) sits is right here in Largo serving up traditional Cuban sandwiches, black beans and rice, mojo pork and more to residents and visitors alike.

 So how does it stack up? 

Well, in some areas good, in others, not so much.  The good comes in the form of their namesake Cuban sandwiches.  Stacked with sliced ham, salami, pork, swiss cheese, pickle and mustard, the pressed Cuban is exactly what one should be; nothing less and nothing more.  If you’re craving one, their choice of 4-inch, 7-inch, or 9-inch Cuban sandwiches should definitely do the job.  If there’s any complaint, they should butter the outside of the bread before pressing it to give it that nice, greasy, and crackly outer layer, but that’s small potatoes. 

Ropa Vieja, or shredded flank steak, fared quite well.  Soft and succulent, not too dry, but not swimming in juices either, the ropa vieja was seasoned and prepared to perfection.  A few points off for the big bay leaf smack dab in the middle of the serving, but other than that it was plentiful for the price and definitely worth coming back for.

The black beans and rice that accompanied the ropa vieja were just plain sad, though.  A bland amalgamation of beans not cooked long enough and yellow rice that might as well just been white. This Cuban staple was quite the letdown.  At their best, black beans and rice are a hearty, flavorful meal on their own. On the other side of the spectrum, they’re a boring filler, edible intermission between delicious bites of ropa vieja or mojo pork.  The black beans and rice at Really Famous definitely fall into this latter category. 

Overall, Tampa Style Cubans will do your Cuban sandwich craving right if you’re in the Largo area.  If you’re an explorer though, a tastebud traveler if you will, there are much better options for mindblowingly good Cuban cuisine throughout the Bay Area.