Restaurant review: Cuban Island
Island chicken at Cuban Island in Roanoke. Photo by Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times.
Cuban Island has been open on Williamson Road in Roanoke for a few years now but we’ve never had a chance to send a reviewer until now. Staff writer Nona Nelson checked it out recently and found that although the Cuban sandwich was not exactly authentic, the rest of the food, along with the warm vibe and competent service, makes it worth a look.
To read Nona’s review, please click here.
If you’ve been to Cuban Island, share your thoughts here on the blog.
March 21, 2013 - 9:55 AM
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The subtraction of roast pork disqualified that from being a Cuban. It’s understandable, but often regrettable wot make substitutes, in a ‘traditional’ sandwich like the Cuban. However, like you said – what Nona had was a ham/cheese sandwich. Lots of Ybor City people will put salami in a Cuban. That is true, and reflective of the large number of Italians that migrated to that portion of Tampa shortly after the Cuban influx. Miami Cubans never have salami, though, as they only look to the Cuban heritage, and not the cultural mix. The Miami intro to Cuban sandwiches was much later than that in Tampa, though. Personally, I’m in favor of the Tampa homage, but I never include salami. Enough on the sandwiches.
I’m glad everything else seemed spot on, though. It sounds like a great place to experience some Latin flavor.
I don’t understand how a place claiming to be Cuban could serve a Cuban sandwich with no pork. I have tried the Cuban sandwich at Habana and it was terrible. It had pork but the pork was full of fat. The best place I’ve had a Cuban sandwich locally was that place inside the downtown food court but that guy moved when the market building closed down for renovation. He moved to Miami and opened another Cuban restaurant there. I heard El Cubanito in Salem has no pork on theirs also. I wish I knew where to get a good one locally.
I’ve visited Cuban Island several different times during my lunch time and each visit has been great. The service has always been good and I’m a huge fan of their island chicken and rice.
Eddie, do what I do – make your own Cuban sandwich. That way you can tweak it to your own preferences. I understand your point, but what I’ve seen in my travels is that often a restaurant is afraid to stray too far outside what they assume is the customers’ comfort zone.
If it were me, I’d say – ‘This is my version, buy it or not…’ Which is essentially what these restaurants are saying. It does seem like they’re compromising the traditional integrity of the sandwich for sales, but that’s the bargain they’ve made.
I make Cubans at home, too. They are a great way to use up leftover pork tenderloin!
The one part I haven’t perfected is the bread. I’ve found torta bread that works OK and have also used some bread from the bakery (I use a bacon press to smash it down in the skillet) but if anybody has found Cuban bread please let me know.
Cuban Island sells bread by the loaf, Lindsey. And it’s very good.
It doesn’t have to be ‘Cuban bread’. I’ve asked Cubans who lived in Ybor City, and their response was to laugh and say – ‘Use italian loaves, and just make sure the bread is crusty outside. The bake/pressing does that for you…’
That’s what they do when they don’t bake their own bread, so I trust their judgement.
IIRC Cuban bread is made with lard.
El Cubanito does indeed use roast pork on their sandwich. Agree with the others, a Cuban isn’t a Cuban without pork. To me, it’s Cuban Island’s only flaw.
Although I have not had many Cuban sandwiches (was terribly disappointed with the one I got at the Market few months ago), the one at Attimo Winery in Riner is really good!
Is El Cubanito the one in Salem?
I wonder if Cuban Island will read all of this and rethink.
“Is El Cubanito the one in Salem?”
Yes.
I too have had the Cuban sandwich at Habana Cafe and found it terrible! First and only time I went there! I agree w/ Eddie, the only good Cuban sandwich I’ve had around here was from Juan and his wife at El Paradiso. It was in the Market Square bldg. back when there were good restaurants in there. Juan and his wife moved to Key West and opened, hope they are doing well! They also had the best black bean soup I’ve ever had, locally or anywhere!