Hi PrismPoppers! Last night, my boyfriend and I had dinner at the Versailles restaurant in Miami. It recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
I enjoyed my experience so much that I thought I'd write a review. That way, you all can try this amazing Cuban place, too!
What we ordered
🍸First, I ordered their mango mojito (you have to try it!). For our appetizer, we ordered shrimp and plantains.
🍤I ordered the shrimp with garlic sauce, Cuban rice, and plantains, while my boyfriend got the paella with fried plantains.
🍨For dessert, I got vanilla ice cream with dulce de leche-flavored tres leches cake. And how could I leave without a cup of Cuban coffee? ☕
💗Versailles restaurant's Cuban cuisine is authentic and totally delicious! 😋 So, without further ado, here is my in-depth review of The World's Most Famous Cuban Restaurant.
🥰Versailles Restaurant's Cuban Cuisine💖
📍Versailles is a Cuban cuisine restaurant in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida, serving tasty Cuban cuisine to tourists and locals.
🕰️Fun fact: Versailles is actually one of the oldest and most well-known Cuban restaurants in all of Miami! The restaurant first opened its doors all the way back in 1971, making it over 40 years old!
🍽️The food is authentic, which is why you can often find local Cuban people hanging out here. Surprisingly, Versailles is also a go-to spot for politicians and the media when they are in the area.
🥘In addition to its eat-in restaurant, Versailles also has a walk-up window. You can either dine in at the restaurant (it seats 370 people) or order takeout food online.
🛒Some of the most popular takeout items include Cuban pastries and croquettes called croquetas. You can also order espresso drinks (cafecito) and cortados (cartaditos) at the walk-up window.
😋The dine-in restaurant offers Latin dishes like paella, chicharrones, and vaca frita. But you can also order more generic dishes like roast beef, pork chops, grilled chicken, and fried fish fillets.
Is your mouth watering? 🤤
📍Then stop by Versailles, located at 3555 Southwest 8th Street in Miami.
🕒The restaurant is open every weekday from 8 am to 12 am, on weekends from 8 am to 1 am, and on Sundays from 9 am to 12 am.
🤔Why Try Versailles?
Still not convinced that Versailles is a must-try restaurant whenever you are in the Little Havana area? Then let me tell you the top five reasons why you just have to eat at Versailles!
✨1. The Upscale Ambiance
When you first arrive at this restaurant, looks may be deceiving! Versailles' exterior is totally unassuming, looking more like a small cafe than a fancy restaurant. But when you look a little closer, you will notice that it takes up an entire block!
The restaurant's interior features etched-glass mirrors, a beautiful recessed ceiling, and elegant chandeliers. 🕯️
Versailles is a great place to go for a date, but it is also family-friendly as long as you do not mind a little bit of anti-Castro politics!
🏛 2. The Historic Location
Versailles' location is almost as famous as the restaurant itself. The restaurant is on 8th Street in Miami. 8th Street is a historic enclave lined with Cuban eateries, bakeries, and more.
8th Street is also home to many Cuban street festivals 🎉 that happen every year. Just make sure you call it Calle Ocho, as the locals do!
💯3. The Authentic Cuban Food
Versailles' food is just as popular with local Cuban transplants as it is with tourists. And that, my loves, is the sign of some truly authentic and amazing Cuban cuisine!
Some popular Cuban dishes at Versailles include the fried yuquitas, Cuban sandwich, and picadillo a la Cubana. The rice pudding, natilla, and lechon asado are other traditional Cuban dishes to try. 🍲
As you can tell from our order, my boyfriend and I also highly recommend the plantains! The fried plantains, in particular, are so sweet and crunchy that you may feel like you are having dessert with your dinner.
📑4. The Large Menu
The menu at Versailles is huge! It offers a large selection of Cuban appetizers, plates, and cocktails for dinner.
And you can order breakfast from the bakery or lunch from the soups and salads menu. Plus, Versailles has so many different Cuban desserts to try! 🍨
No matter what you are in the mood for, the Versailles restaurant menu has something for everybody! And in my opinion, the food is definitely worth the calories!
⚡5. The Quick Service
Versailles is not a quick-service restaurant, but you would think it is considering the service! This restaurant is always packed, whether you go there on the weekend or on a weekday. Yet, the service is always quick and on point.
My boyfriend and I especially loved how quickly our server got us in and out. She brought the card machine to our table. That way, we did not have to wait around for the check when we were ready to go. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️Pros of Versailles
To help you decide if Versailles is the restaurant for you, I thought of my biggest pros and cons of eating Cuban food here. Check them out below!
✔️A Real Cuban Experience
It can be hard to find true, authentic Cuban cuisine in the US. That is why Versailles is so refreshing! The food is about as authentic as you can get without going straight to the source! 💙❤️🤍
✔️The Affordable Prices
Because of the authentic food and upscale ambiance, you might expect Versailles' prices to be through the roof. But we found this restaurant to be pretty affordable! 💸
✔️Versailles Is Family-Owned and Operated
I love that this restaurant is family-owned! 👨👩👦 The Valls family of Miami founded the restaurant and has run it for three generations now. Maybe that is why the customer service is so impeccable!
✔️Versailles Is Close to the Beach 🏖️
At the end of 8th Street, you will get dumped out onto Miami Beach! The prime location for a late-night, after-dinner stroll is yet another reason why Versailles' location is so famed.
❌Cons of Versailles
❌The Crowds
Versailles is literally always busy. For some people, that may be a major drawback. But because the services and food were so good even on the busiest nights, my boyfriend and I actually did not mind the crowds. 😃
❌The Media
Versailles is known as a place for Cuban exiles, and there are often protests on the restaurant's grounds. This can attract a lot of media to the place, so be ready to answer questions if you get caught in a media storm. 🎥
🤩Other Options for Cuban Restaurants in Miami
70% of Miami's residents are of Latin descent. What is more, over 50% of Miami citizens are Cuban American! So, it should be no wonder the Magic City is home to so many amazing Cuban restaurants.
❗Here are some other places to try when you are in the area!
1. Islas Canarias ⭐
Islas Canarias claims to have the best croquettes in all of Miami! It is family-owned and operated by the Garcia family and their son-in-law, Jonathan Andrade.
This restaurant's Cuban cuisine is just as authentic as Versailles. But this is the place to go if you are looking for more casual eats.
2. Caja Caliente ⭐⭐
If you are looking for Cuban cuisine at an even more casual restaurant than Islas Canarias, head down to Caja Caliente in the Design District of Miami. This food truck sells Cuban-inspired tacos with a healthy twist.
3. La Rosa Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐
Are you searching for a date night spot as an alternative to the always-busy Versailles? La Rosa is an excellent alternative with half the crowds. This white-tablecloth restaurant serves up Cuban cuisine to the tune of live piano music.
You can even try Versailles and La Rosa all in one night! That is because the two restaurants are nearby. La Rosa is located off of 7th street in Little Havana.
🌹 Who am I by the way?
I am a lifestyle vlogger who travels to different places and loves trying new foods to share with you all.🥰
🧐FAQs
Before I tell you my final thoughts on Versailles, I wanted to answer some frequently asked questions. Learn more below!
💙Why Is the Cuban Restaurant Called Versailles?
Versailles is a palace in France. So, why would a Cuban restaurant name itself after a French palace, you may ask? Legend has it that the Valls family named it Versailles because of the upscale decor!
💛What Does Versailles Have to Do With Cuba?
Versailles does not have anything to do with Cuba! The restaurant got its name for its palatial gilded mirrors and Parisian chandeliers.
🧡What Is the World's Most Famous Cuban Restaurant?
Versailles has dubbed itself the World's Most Famous Cuban Restaurant! Whether or not that is true is up to you to decide! 😉
💚What Is Versailles in Miami Known For?
First of all, foodies around the world know Versailles for its iconic Cuban cuisine, served nearly 24 hours and 7 days a week. Secondly, some people know it as a hub for anti-Castro political thinkers.
💗Why Is the Versailles Restaurant Called Versailles?
The founder of the Versailles restaurant is Felipe A. Valls Sr. According to the New York Times, Mr. Valls modeled his restaurant's luxurious interior after the royal palace of Versailles.
💞Do I Recommend Versailles Restaurant?
Yes, Versailles is a must-visit restaurant in Miami! While you can find tons of Cuban cuisine in the Magic City, Versailles restaurant's Cuban cuisine is the best of them all. Trust me — I've had a lot of Cuban food in my lifetime! 💖
Make sure to leave a comment letting me know when you try Versailles! And follow me on Prismpop for more reviews!
#foodpop #restaurant #tips&tricks #review
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