It was finally sunny & warm enough on Saturday to enjoy a nice lunch outdoors, so we headed to Cubacan on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.  I had been once before & loved it, but somehow just never made it back… what a mistake!

We braved the cool breeze coming off the ocean and sat outside, taking in the gorgeous view.  First up: Mojitos, of course.  I usually shy away from the “flavored” varieties because they end up being too sweet, but that was not the case here.  Thanks to a fresh fruit puree, the flavors we tried (passionfruit, pineapple & mango) were absolutely delicious.  They offered just a hint of the fruit without overpowering the actual lime/mint combo that makes mojitos so tasty! Oh… and we tried the classic lime version as well – equally as good 😉

Ceviche Sampler

Now onto the food… Unfortunately, I’m a sucker for Ceviche and absolutely loved it the last time I was here, so I had no choice but to order it again.  The menu offers 4 different types of fish: Rock Shrimp, Red Snapper, Spicy Tuna & Rum Cured Salmon, each prepared in their own unique sauce.  Or you can order the Sampler and select 3 of the 4, which is what we did.  We passed on the shrimp and enjoyed the other 3, served with perfectly salted, light, crisp Plantain Chips.  This was a big portion… more than enough for 2 people to share.

Traditional Cubano

For something a little heartier, we decided to try the Traditional Cubano Sandwich to complete our Cuban Experience.  That delicious blend of roasted pork, smoked ham, swiss cheese, pickles & mustard, on toasty, pressed bread & served with a nice side salad was “Perfecto” in my book.  No time for coffee or dessert on this visit, but I’ll definitely be returning soon to look for some new favorites! (Although, I’ll still have to get the Ceviche!)  You can check out their extensive menu here, on their Facebook page, to get your own taste buds flowing…

Eating outside on the Boardwalk is amazing, but I should also mention that the indoor atmosphere is equally as pleasing… Cuban music, palm trees and tropical decor truly make you feel like you’re away on vacation.  Inside or out, it’s definitely worth a visit.

A perfect day for a seat outside!