Brunch Review: Kuba Kuba
For Cazey’s friend’s second day in Richmond, we decided to take her to an RVA favorite, Kuba Kuba. Sara and Cazey have both been to Kuba Kuba several times before. In fact, we tried going for our Valentine’s Day date, but there was a line, and neither of us honor the virtue patience, so we left.
In this case, Cazey was still worried about a wait since Kuba Kuba does not take reservations and does not have expansive seating. The restaurant is located on a nondescript corner in the heart of the Fan, only indicated by its flashing “Kuba Kuba” sign with a rooster. If you can’t tell, they specialize in Cuban food.
Cazey made Sara and his friend rise so they could be at the restaurant by 9:30 AM. It turned out this was a tad unnecessary because, while we didn’t have to wait, there was plenty of available seating throughout our meal.
Kuba Kuba’s menu does not change based on the time. They have a whole page dedicated to “huevos,” or eggs, and then a page devoted to paellas and then some sandwiches (“emparedados”). Prices range from $5 for eggs and Kuban toast to close to $20 for the paellas – but let me tell you, it is well worth the price. Portions are generous, enough for a second meal if not a third. You can tell the servers are used to providing to-go boxes.
Of note, one should not bring a water bottle with them to brunch. Cazey and his friend planned on working out afterward, so his friend brought her water bottle, but they offered her a glass of ice to put the water in. I guess Kuba Kuba is classier than hikers just wandering in with their Camelbaks.
This wasn’t a problem since we all planned on ordering coffee. Now Cazey had heard multiple raves for Kuba Kuba’s coffee so was excited to try it, but was even more overjoyed when he walked in and spotted an iced coffee on someone’s table.
“They have iced coffee!” he cawed several times. Consequently, he ordered that, otherwise identified as “café con leche” on the menu that could easily be ordered “iced.” There was also an option to have it sweetened, which is a big deal when it comes to iced coffee or lattes. A lot of restaurants assume you want a whole sugarcane plopped in your coffee, but sometimes you don’t. Ultimately, a café con leche is closer to a latte in appearance, but more similar to iced coffee in body.
Our friend ordered sweetened iced coffee, and Cazey got it unsweetened. Both drinks were superb, but the sweetened café con leche tasted like dessert versus the unsweetened darker coffee taste (I mean, it tasted like iced coffee in the best way possible).
“It was very indulgent”
We all ordered different meals. Cazey had a quarter-life crisis at the table because he really wanted the cheese omelet, but for the sake of this blog he thought he should order something a tad more adventurous. I mean, how wrong can a cheese omelet go? Is that really a test for a restaurant? (Unless they drop a shell in the omelet…)
Sara's torilla with chorizo.
Our friend got the eggs and Kuban toast. Both Sara and Cazey ordered different types of tortillas – Sara got hers with chorizo and Cazey got his with spinach and salmon. Both came with cornbread.
Paige loved her meal. It was presented simply with two sunny side up eggs and toast, which she loved.
Cazey and Sara also relished their meals, but the tortillas were not what they expected – in a good way. Because, you know, tortilla makes you think of a tortilla. Instead, they were presented with fluffy, pancake-life, egg-bound structures stuffed with the tastiest of ingredients, i.e. chorizo or spinach and salmon. “Frittata” might have been a better descriptor, but then again, this was a Cuban restaurant, and Sara and Cazey are not the best scholars of international culture.
Either way, yum, yum, and yum!
Neither tortilla came with cheese, but Cazey forgave that transgression in this incidence. We both left with leftovers that we scarfed down later that afternoon after the aforementioned workout. (Cazey might have finished his tortilla if the café con leche hadn’t been so on point and stolen his appetite temporarily.)
The only qualms we had, and qualm may be a strong word, is Sara ordered the Kuban coffee, which was *thumbs-up emoji* (Cazey agrees), but didn’t get a refill until after we asked for our checks. Unfortunately, checks cannot be separated. The menu and website warn you of this. But this is why millennials have Venmo on their iPhones, so we can pay one tab and reimburse each other. Or you get your parents to take you here. Problem solved.
