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| - Being avid travellers to, and our love of Cuba, my partner and I have been looking forward to trying out Julie's to get 'a little Cuba' here at home. I took my partner there, as our first time, for his Birthday. We kept our expectations in check hoping to be pleasantly surprised. We weren't.
Only positive, our server was great and the patio quaint.
The negatives. Very overpriced for less than mediocre food and drinks. The mojito was watered down and far from authentic, using a simple syrup (per our server) in place of cane sugar. The mint was not even muddled, just plopped in the glass. My frozen daiquiri tepid at best. Both not made with fresh lime, but with lime cordial. I tried a Wakalita next and was none more impressed.
Our apps, Yuca con Mojo with a not even close mojo sauce. And a Papa Rallena (potatoe puff picadillo) served on a tea cup saucer with a teaspoon dollop of salsa. Both served piping hot, yet underwhelming.
For our mains, we both ordered the Ropa Vieja. Pulled flank steak with rice and frijoles. It was a huge portion, served piping hot. We were hopeful up to tasting the flank steak... it was like eating rope. Very chewy and hard to swallow, very bland. The rice was fine, but over-piled with canned black beans. Needless to say, the effort it took to try to consume the steak was exhaustive, that I had to put fork and knife down until the server took it away.
I guess we've been spoiled by having the foods of the real Cuba when we are there (we try to stay away from the resort foods), but given the fact that Cubans have far less access to the many, many herbs, spices, meats and vegetables that we in Canada have, you would think that Julie's would easily be able to make authentic Cuban food.
They miss the mark, we miss Cuba, we will not miss Julie's.
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