El Bacura

CA3
Style of food: Cuban/Creole
Cost: Moderate
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Huge portions will leave carnivores fully satisfied
Worst for: Can be baking hot on a summer day
San Juan entre Santa Martha y San Carlos, Reparto Celimar, Habana del Este
(+53)7763 - 0082
Open noon-10: 30pm
  • El Bacura is a great option coming back from a day out at the beach. This is a farmhouse-cum-restaurant and you are welcome to wonder around back where there is a weird and wonderful assortment of animals and where cows are milked at daybreak. More to the point, this is where Gladys (the owner) and her son Paulino can care for their beautiful thoroughbred horses. Indeed, the bistro’s walls are covered with saddles, spurs and bits and pieces from his pride and joy.

    The restaurant itself is based around a large courtyard and boasts a number of areas to sit both inside and out. The only real issue here comes in the summer when the whole place becomes a bit of an oven. At this time, it is reasonable to wish for a bit more outside covering.

    The food is focused on staple Creole dishes, which are done heartily and well. Think big portions at reasonable prices. This is not fine cuisine but some of the main dishes are certainly big enough to share and the meats are always good quality–roast pork piled up high, whole chickens and the like. Plentiful beans and rice. This is great value and I like it, but it could do with a little more work on the outside décor especially in the warm summer months.

    
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