Carlo's Cafe

Doesn't Recommend

GIR

Joined 2 years ago

Dry tasteless sandwich. Looked forward to trying this restaurant based on reviews on here. Ordered the Cuban sandwich and fries for lunch expecting to taste Cuban spices in the sandwich but it was dry and tasteless. The only favor to be found was in the dill pickle. The pork was so dry and flavorless we thought it was turkey breast. The fries were the soft frozen kind. Disappointed Yes!! Other dinners looked not so good either. Black beans and white rice are normal sides with ???

Doesn't Recommend

anitalopez

Joined 3 years ago

No way is this authentic Cuban food.... I went there several times and was disappointed each time. Although the atmosphere is nice, by no means does the food taste good. The black beans are horrible. The food is lacking in proper Cuban spices and this may be due to the fact that the cooks are not Cuban they are Mexican. Also, I found them to be very overpriced. Cuban food is supposed to be inexpensive. They treat Cuban food at this restaurant like it's gourmet food and charge unsuspecting people very high prices. In no way does this compare to any good Cuban restaurants that I have been to either in Miami or even in Charlotte. Very disappointing. The music is good and I found the Sangria to be good but that's about it. Not worth the trip.

Recommends

carolinagirl85

Joined 4 years ago

Best Cuban Cuisine. GREAT food, GREAT service - very original! For those of you whom are not familiar with Cuban cuisine, check this place out. Nice to have the choice of a Cuban cuisine in a small town filled with Mexican restaurants. This is a great feeling of home-away-from-home since we moved to Rock Hill from just outside of Fort Lauderdale nearly 3 years ago.

Owners are amazing, know us by name even though we aren't such regulars. They are actually originally from the same area we are from in Florida (Weston). Try the Cafe Con Leche with your dessert, the Flan is delish!

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CSMobileUser

Joined 5 years ago

Amazing food and great customer service!!!¡. ..

Recommends

spanishflygirl

Joined 4 years ago

Carlos Cafe is the ONLY place for REAL Cuban food!. Me & my family moved to North Charlotte about 3 years ago from Miami/Davie, Florida. I have to say, without a doubt, Carlos Cafe is THE BEST and we don't even bat an eye lid to get on the road for the 30 minute drive it takes us to get to Cherry Road in Rock Hill!

We have tried every Cuban place that has opened here. A Taste of Havana (not very good), A Piece of Havana (TERRIBLE), etc....There is no place like Carlos to make you feel like you are back in South Florida! My favorite thing to eat there is the Pan con Bistec (Cuban Steak Sandwich) or the Bistec Empanizado (Breaded, fried steak)....Joe makes the BEST Cuban coffee around too! The atmosphere is great and the staff was improved greatly over the past year!

The owners, Joe & Flor are more like friends when you walk in that door. They attend to you just like abuela used to! I wish they would put a Carlos Cafe II in Huntersville/Concord area but until then, I will still faithfully make the trip to Rock Hill!

Recommends

JB55X

Joined 4 years ago

I love their Cuban Sandwich and the slow roasted pork and.... ...The fried pork chunks - If you have never tried Cuban than you're missing out.

Downside - Busy on Friday and Saturday. I go on Monday and Tuesdays - no lines, no waiting.

They sometimes have coupons on their website. GREAT FOOD !!!!! - Highly Recommend.

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Pinareno

Joined 4 years ago

To TheGuyFoodCritic's Profile Comments. Are you sure that you walk into Carlo's Cafe your comments, do not sound sincere. I was born in Cuba and grew up in Miami. I have been in Charlotte for at least 2yrs in those years I have tried many ethnic restaurants. This been food from my own back ground and I do cook it at home..... They have a "Great Restaurant" a "Great Staff". The owners are a Italian back ground male and a CUBAN female....their food has been a great addition to Charlotte's hum-drum boring affair... even if they are a mire 15 min. from Uptown we take that much time going across Charlotte's Traffic. In fact in Miami's many Cuban Restaurants their flare for taste and menu would separate them from the many THOUSAND's of Cuban Food establishments.

I would tell you to try them again......I believe everyone deserves a second chance.

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mikecuban

Joined 5 years ago

the best cuban restaurant in the carolinas. I am was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba went to miami when i was 18 and after 8 years of living in Miami, i moved to charlotte. Once here, i wanted to find an authentic Cuban restaurant to keep in touch with my culture!!!! Well i finally found it: "Carlos Cafe". The food is very, very, very.... GOOD (but do not take my word for it, go there and try it, you won't be sorry). The owner and waitres both speak english and spanish, i really felt like home, never wanted to leave... lol i just kept talking with the owner and just looking at the decoration... do you know they have "cafe cubita..." haven't seen that since i left cuba... they have a lot of tables inside and outside... so that you pick where do you want to eat.... very friendly people.... just like cubans are...lol.

Today i am very happy, i found a piece of Cuba in the carolinas!!!

GREAT FOOD, PEOPLE AND MUSIC

Oh, i almost forget..... the cuban coffe.....that is really cafe cubano... waoo

I'll be there every weekend :-)

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joemedicalbilling

Joined 5 years ago

Better than Versalles. I am a Miami native and I have moved to Charlotte. After a pain staking task of searching and eating in Cuban resturants, I have finaly found an awesome Cuban Resturant and the only Cuban restaurant worth going to. The food is incredible and the service is awesome. The owners are so freindly they really make you feel at home. I had the fried pork chunks, white rice, black beans and empanadas and I have to say the dinner was perfect. I live in downtown Charlotte and it took me 18 min to get to Carlos Cafe and it was actually a nice drive. They also have the cheapest gas around so I can get an awesome Cuban meal and fill my tank up at the same time. I will be back every week to indulge in their awesome food. If you are looking for AUTHENTIC CUBAN FOOD, do not hesitate to try this place, its worth the drive and you wont be sorry!

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Groomes2

Joined 5 years ago

Wonderful and Flavorful Cuban food in South Carolina. We took the family to Carlo's Cafe last evening and had a fantastic time. My husband and I have travelled all over the world and love good food, especially those of countries where Spanish is spoken. We were excited to have Plantain and fish and beans. When we arrived at Carlo's Cafe, we were warmly greeted and seated right away. The ambience was fun with a bit of Island charm. The restaurant was immaculate, and you could eat off of the floors. The staff was extremely attentive to our needs and we never had to call them, they were always checking on us, and were very helpful in suggesting things we might like from the menu. We were well taken care of. After placing our order, these wonderful aromas started to permeate the restaurant, it was garlicky and smelled delicious. Our food arrived, it was great! I had the shrimp in garlic sauce which was very fresh tasting and flavorful. My husband had the whole fish which he quickly demolished, my daughter had the Tilapia which she mentioned was one of the best she had ever had, and my son enjoyed a Cuban sandwich. Everything was well presented, well seasoned, great portions and was fantastic. We are new to the area and there are so many restaurants for us to sample but we know that Carlo's Cafe will be a place that we visit again soon.

I wanted to say a word regarding authenticity. I found the food to be authentic. There will always be subtle nuances that exist in food from one region to another, from one generation to another, and from one cook to another. Each adds their own touch, this however does not mean that the food is not authentic.

You will enjoy Carlo's Cafe, the ambience, the staff, the food, and the price point were all maravilloso!