280 Karangahape Road,
Newton
Auckland,


(09) 379 8626

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2 out of 5

Anyone who goes to Cuba seems to come back with tales of how dreadful the food is, though that probably has more to do with the economic difficulties posed by US-led blockades than inherent incompetence. So the idea of a Cuban restaurant may not sound that appealing.

But Descarga Cubana is more of a bar really—the Spanish word "descarga" is actually Cuban slang for a jam session—and, by all accounts, it comes alive after midnight.

Descarga Cubana specialise in cocktails, especially with a Caribbean twist: the Cuban mojito—white rum, lime juice and soda poured over crushed mint and sugar—is pretty fine.

On the food side, it's pretty basic. We had starters of empanaditas (tiny meat pastries) and papas rellenas (stuffed potatoes) which were cheese rolled in potato croquettes.

Main courses included albondigas (meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce) and squid cooked in wine.

Each meal came with a salad which was so small it was really a garnish; and a rice-and-black-bean mixture common throughout the Caribbean.

Situated right on the bend in the middle of K’Road, Descarga Cubana is in the hippest, most boho part of Auckland and it no doubt rocks as a bar.

But as a restaurant, it struggles to cut it. You may do better exploring some of the other excellent budget dining options in the street—and head back to Descarga Cubana later for a little dirty dancing.