Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar
Moody Street in Waltham is one of our favorite dining destinations. It’s a true “restaurant row” with so many different types of cultures and cuisines. And that’s where we discovered a place that’s serving up some authentic Cuban flavors: Gustazo Cuban Kitchen and Bar. Gustazo is the passion project of Chef/Owner Patricia Estorino, who can always be found cooking away in the kitchen. This is a lively spot that celebrates the melting pot of Spanish, African and Chinese influence that makes the bold and vibrant flavors of Cuban cuisine.
“I think that when you walk into our restaurants, you feel transported to Cuba. It’s a casual tapas style Cuban restaurant where we aim to showcase traditional Cuban flavors and try to immerse as much of the seasonal ingredients that we find in New England as possible. Gustazo means great pleasure. That's the translation. But in Cuba, we use the word, we use it in an expression in which, if you are giving someone or giving yourself a gustazo, so it means you're treating yourself to something special. We have a lot of, you know, Spanish colonial motifs. We have the movie posters up in the in the front of the dining room is a collection of movie posters made by Cuban artists. We have a map of Cuba created with Cuban tobacco leaves, where the tobacco leaves. I would love for them to feel somewhat transported to Havana with the music and the smells of the kitchen and the flavors. So for me, one of the biggest compliments…that we get is when someone from Cuba dines with us and it tastes just like their grandmothers.”
Since Gustazo is more of a tapas style restaurant, the small plate section of the menu is the star of the show and for good reason. For a sweet start to your meal, you have to try the Maduros con Tocino. These are sweet plantains wrapped in smoky bacon, drizzled in a spiced agave and then finished with juicy mandarinquats, which are a combination of a mandarin and a kumquat. Very distinct and very delicious. If you’re craving a savory snack, go for the Croquetas de Jamon. These golden, crispy bites, deep fried bites are filled with imported ham and a rich bechamel that just melts in your mouth. Another dish you have to try is the Cuban style barbecue ribs, which combine the best of both worlds: sweet and savory.
“They're pork baby back ribs that we slow braise, and then we smoke them and finally glaze them with the guava sort of barbecue sauce. We serve it with the hearts of palm and pineapple puree, and top it with some pickled beets and roasted peanuts. So when you bite into them, they just fall off the bone…They’re smoked, and the sweetness of the guava barbecue sauce, it's a great compliment.”
On the seafood side of things, we really recommend the mussels. They’re caught fresh in Maine and cooked up with some imported Spanish chorizo which adds a little bit of spice, along with some scallions which bring a little brightness.
The large plates section of Gustazo’s menu includes popular dishes like the Ropa Vieja, featuring tender, slow cooked shredded flank steak, in a delicate tomato sauce, along with rice, sweet plantains and a side of black beans. They also serve a tender roast pork that’s served on a bed of fluffy Congri, which is a traditional Cuban rice and beans. But the most popular, and most deliciously comforting dish you have to try is the Arroz con Pollo, boasting slow roasted chicken that’s crispy outside, and juicy inside, served with some fluffy saffron rice.
“Arroz con Pollo, It's sort of like your Sunday menu item with family, with your grandparents in Cuba. We make a half chicken, we pan roast and serve it with a saffron Calasparra rice with some roasted baby carrots. It is very popular. I tried to take it off the menu, and I get threatened.”
For a beautiful way to end your meal at Gustazo, you have to try their take on Tres Leches. It’s a milk soaked sponge cake topped with perfectly toasty, flambeed meringue and some fresh fruit. And this really is almost too pretty to eat.
“It's called Tres Leches because it uses three different kinds of milk…We use condensed, evaporated and whole milk, and we also add a curdled dulce de leche. Everyone should come and try our Tres Leches”.
So if you want to taste some authentic Cuban dishes with the true feeling and flavor of Havana, all in a comfortable, fun, and welcoming atmosphere, then you have to head to Gustazo Cuban Kitchen and Bar.
“We are a big restaurant, but I think that our food feels like you're eating at somebody's house. I'm back in the kitchen every day. Our servers have been with us for many, many years. We have great staff who really cares Whether you're new to Cuban food or you enjoy eating Cuban food, we won't disappoint you. You have to come in and enjoy a meal with us.”
