South Beach is getting a new dose of upscale Cuban flair with the opening of restaurant D. Rodriguez Cuba inside the ultra hip, art deco-inspired, Hotel Astor on Washington Avenue. The Cuban restaurant is Top Chef Masters contestant Douglas Rodriguez’s most recent project and is complete with waterfalls, fountains, live music and, duh, delicious Cuban cuisine. Rodriguez already has established restaurants in Philly and New York but his Miami opening is sure to be the talk of Miami’s extravagant town. As anyone knows, Miami is already chock full of Latin-inspired restaurants and bistros galore, but D. Rodriguez Cuba is said to bring a different element to the land of all things Latin.

“Despite Miami’s rich Cuban influence, there hasn’t been a prevalence of upscale Cuban cuisine offered here,” Rodriguez says. “D. Rodriguez Cuba taps into the true roots of this culture. We’ll be serving up the flavor of Havana–in both the culinary and atmospheric sense.”
D. Rodriguez Cuba’s tapas are carefully handcrafted, entrees are traditionally meaty, and the Cuban-style cocktails take a more modern, more luxe approach. Interesting menu items such as oxtail empanadas and casaba-crust tuna pizza will send diners over the edge with Cuban delight and certainly hit the popularity ground running with both the local and non-local communities. And what better way to polish off dinner than with a traditional Cuba Libre or a pitcher of mint-infused mojitos? And after the sun disappears, dinner’s been finished, and the cocktails begin to take a swoony and relaxed effect, what better idea than to dance the salsa and meringue underneath the beautiful, overhanging jasmine trees that create somewhat of a spotlight amongst restaurant guests. Sounds like a perfect night made in Cuban heaven to me.

Via: Eater