The Lost Cuban in Cedar Rapids

Five star food....that’s not the issue. Every time I go to Lost Cuban they’re supposed to be open and they’re closed. As I write this, I’m outside of the restaurant, it’s 1:40pm on a Tuesday. Their house state they should be open and yet they are not. I tried to call and their number was busy. I’ve tried to eat here at least 5 times and each time this happens; they’re closed when they shouldn’t be. This is really absurd. Either fix your online and door hours to reflect what your actual hours are or be open when you’re supposed to. I love the food here but the owner is socially awkward and their lack of consistency has really soured my liking for this place. Visit at your own risk, they might be closed.

My maiden voyage I was not disappointed. Came in on a Saturday evening for dinner... and the place was mostly empty. Definitely a no frills establishment. But you dont go for the atmosphere, you go to inhale your food and leave shortly thereafter. Because it is THAT good.We ordered empanadas, The Cuban (with a side of rice and beansas well as The Infidel. Plus a perfectly executed coffee. Our kiddos had a hot dog and potato sticks (like from a can. But still tasty as hell.)

Great sandwiches and the spicy sauce is great, I especially like the off menu Gitmo Chicken.

Very good food and friendly staff. Made great suggestions and I was not disappointed.

Food was great, service was also nice. The menu changed slightly from our previous visit. Also, the setup was slightly different. They now have touch tunes for music. Some may consider this good. Didnt matter to us.We both ordered cuban sandwiches in a combo and 1 additional empanada. The meal was plenty of food without the empanada.Gave 4 stars instead of 5 due to the soda being served in a plastic bottle, not usually my favorite.

Amazing!! Superb!! So many one words to describe a delicious satisfying sandwich! I had the Cuban sandwich and the tres leches cake. The Cuban was well prepared and hit the spot. The desert seemed a bit dry and not as fulfilling and creamy like a tres leches should be. This is certainly a 5 star joint, with great tasting Cubans and awesome customer service! Way to keep this place hopping! Now, I know people out there will have had better Cubans elsewhere. But in Cedar Rapids, IA, the Cuban is certainly lost here!

The food here is simply amazing! The staff has always been friendly, too. My kid loves the hot dog, and the Cuban sandwich plus mojito is my go-to. Oh, and yuca!!

Excellent food. I got the El Pollito sandwich. Large serving size but it was so good that I cleaned my plate. Also liked that you can see the entire kitchen from the bar where I was seated. The kitchen was very clean, and not a microwave in sight. It was better than I expected. I definitely plan on going back.

We ordered empanadas, The Cuban (with a side of rice and beansas well as The Infidel. Plus a perfectly executed coffee. Our kiddos had a hot dog and potato sticks (like from a can. But still tasty as hell.)I am not sure I have had a cup of joe like that before. So incredibly well done and sweet but not. The empanadas we ordered came out piping hot and freshly made. The breading was crisp and had the perfect crunch.

We tried out the Lost Cuban a few months ago for lunch. It gets pretty busy during lunch so I wouldnt recommend it if youre in a hurry. The atmosphere is a little on the cozy side, but the food is top notch. We will definitely return.

Was wandering through downtown Cedar Rapids killing some time while waiting for a show at the U.S. Cellular Center , saw this place and decided to grab lunch. Ordered the hot Cuban sandwich with a drink and black beans and rice and definitely wasnt disappointed.Everything was delicious, the staff was attentive and polite and I was genuinely impressed. Ill absolutely be back again the next time Im in town.

I am new to TripAdvisor so please forgive me if I miss something or am late getting a review in. We stumbled across this little hole in the wall on day biking a few years ago, so we though we would try it out. Since we were biking we shared a dish so as not to be too full to continue our ride. The dish was very flavorful and there really was more than enough for us to share!!! Of course we have returned and not been disappointed

The lost Cuban is Found!! Great food and establishmentFound the lost Cuban on Yelp, wandered down here for the hotdog, and WOW so happy I didComing back tomorrow for the ribs on ThursdayWould eat here every time I’m in Cedar Rapids I highly recommend this restaurantAll the food is from scratch including the sauces they make, please try both if you’re into SpiceEnjoy

I visited The Lost Cuban at 1:30pm on a Tuesday. It was definitely an off-peak time - there was only one other table of customers. I was promptly greeted, seated, and given a menu. After a few minutes, my server returned and I ordered the Media Noche (Cuban sandwichand a side of Platanos Maduros (fried sweet plantains).The food arrived very quickly (not a huge surprise since they werent busy). The sandwich was perfectly hot and crispy. It was everything I like about a Cuban sandwich: succulent flavorful pulled pork, thin sliced ham, tart pickles, tangy mustard, and just enough cheese to hold it all together. The plantains came with two dipping sauces, one smoky and fiery hot, the other sweet with a little heat. Both had great flavor and paired well with the plantains.Overall, I had a great experience at The Lost Cuban. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. I will definitely be back to try some other dishes!

I spent a bit of time in Miami and the Keys awhile back looking for a truly great Cuban sandwich experience. I never thought I would find anything close to greatness in Iowa. The Cuban bread or the pork used are usually the showstoppers for me. Aside from the bread being a little over toasted, they hit it out of the park! The pork was tender, shredded, and full of flavor. Even in Miami, many didnt get the pork right.

This food was the best I had while in Cedar Rapids! Very tasty. The fried yuca frites were a winner with the sweet/spicy sauce. I got what seemed like the classic sandwich... I made myself finish it though I was pretty full just after half because it was THAT good. The atmosphere felt a little bit sketchy at first, and I was glad when a group of older folks came in (I was traveling alone as a single girl). But the food! If I lived in Cedar Rapids, I would definitely be back!

(7/5Stars. There are master flavor creators in their kitchen. Also, best cake I’ve ever had. (Tres Leches)Atmosphere: Unpretentious and a place worthy of haunting at least once a weekService: Quick and attentive—no complaints hereFood: I got the cuban sandwich with black beans and rice. The sandwich had everything you expect and more. What really put it over the top was the bread, it was toasted perfectly and not greasy at all.Presentation: Clean, white plates with even food lines. This extra touch told me that there is someone trained back there.Two big bonus points:1. Affordable and filling2. The Tres Leches cake was the special dessert. Let me tell you, that was the best cake I’ve ever had anywhere

Unpretentious setting with outstanding food! Wanted to try something different for lunch and this was the perfect choice. I had the hot Cuban sandwich on the sweet bread and it got the spot and then some! You get the sandwich, rice and beans, and a drink for about $11. It also comes with two sauces, a sweet and a very spicy variety.

I arrived shortly before 1 PM on a Saturday and the promptly opened. Asked for a menu so my wife could see what they had and the lady managing the front provided one to me. For a place that appears to be maintained by one person in the front and one in the kitchen. Service did flow quickly. No question coming back. Only thing I would have liked is the Signature Sodas which were out the day I came.

After working at the Double Tree for years and having people from Cuba complain about this place I finally tried it. Nothing special for my taste. Got the cuban sandwich. Had no flavor and was very small portion. Not sure if I came at a bad time but will have to try it out again. Definitely try something different. Great service though.

This place has potential, but I was let down with my visit. The whole establishment was empty aside from one group of 7 or 8 when we arrived early in the afternoon, but it still took us about 15 minutes to place our order. After another 5 minutes of standing around alone at the counter waiting to pay, we were informed that they were out of every item that we had ordered. So we changed course and re-ordered. It took another 15 minutes to get our food, which was decent, but which seemed overpriced for what it was, and for the level of service we received.The woman we spoke with, who was our only point of contact the whole time, seemed far more interested in (very vocallydetailing her qualms with the challenges of both her work and personal life to a friend that walked in about half way through our time there, than engaging with us or making sure we were taken care of.

A bit overpriced, understaffed for sure. I have an hour for my lunch and ended up having three people waited on ahead of me when I was clearly there first. The food is good, but 45 minutes for my before first with beans and rice wasnt worth it to me for the service I got and the time wasted.

Wish I could give this place a better review, because the people were super-friendly--even to old folks like us, who probably werent the typical customers for this venue. But on the Saturday night we were there, very little of what was on the menu was actually available, and that which we had was so salty as to be almost inedible (and this is coming from someone who likes and uses a lot of salt on his food). Maybe at lunchtime, or on a night when the kitchen is firing on all cylinders, youd have a better meal: all the other good reviews theyve gotten suggest that our experience may well have been atypical.

If you can get in during the down times the service is great. Food is always good too. The liquor selection has changed. I came in for the Johnny Walker Silver or Chivas. But they stop carrying it. If there is a downtown event expect long wait times.

Amazing cuban sandwich and great to get some authentic fare like rice and beans, or plantains. I nice plate of food at a fair price, and nice ambiance of a local restaurant. The only reason for 4 star was the long wait time to get the food and we ran a little late, but overall not a big deal and will certainly be back many times.

The Cuban sandwich was wonderful. However the bench seating was very uncomfortable and it was a very crowded noisy environment. Id recommend this on a quiet day but on a typical busy Noonday it wouldnt be at the top of my list.

The food was great and the portion size is even better. Especially the fried plantains and the yuca. The coffee/Expresso was delicious and hot. We also ordered a couple "drinks" they werent bad but they werent anything special either. The pricing was really good.The only negative I really have is that this place is not for someone with a bad back. The chairs/stools do not have a back to them and the seat itself was only 6"x15". So they werent very comfortable.

This place should be packed for every lunch and dinner rush hour! Every time I go its easy to get a table and service is incredibly quick. One of my favorite lunches in Cedar Rapids.

Left disappointed. It was flavored differently than I expected. My son was looking at pictures online of what we ordered and they looked nothing like what others had posted.The service was excellent and the waitress gave me a discount on my meal because I didnt like it, which was unexpected. The portions were adequate.

Maybe I was there an off night but I have no idea how this place is above 2 stars. Ordered a Bud Light and Cuban. Then 20-25 minutes later (nobody else had food ordersI asked to close out and cancel my order. They agreed. Got my check for $15+ , all I had was a Bud Light. They tried charging me for other drinks I didnt order. They adjusted my bill and "out of courtesy" still gave me my Cuban - it was burnt to a disgusting crisp (see picture). Thats a total f* you and a sandwich like this should never leave a kitchen.

The Food is amazing and the place smells really good when you walk in. Id give it more stars but there is not much room for 4-5 people. I know its great for down town but the place needs to be expanded for more tables and places to sit. Definitely will go back though..

Amazing food! And great service! I ordered a sandwich with no pickles and they were more than willing to remake it after it came with pickles. Great customer service as well! Great place to sit down and enjoy some good food outside or inside

The vegetarian dish was delicious! The plantains were great! My friends and I really enjoyed our food. No issues with service, the server was very attentive and friendly.

I visited here with my husband and two small children for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The place was empty and still felt crowded. The only option for seating were high-top tables with no high chair available so my husband and myself had to hold our 1 1/2 yr old on our laps on top of a stool and try and eat at the same time. We each ordered a Cuban sandwich and only my sandwich came with pickles even though they were listed on the menu as an ingredient. When my husband asked for some pickles to put on his sandwich, they replied that they were out. They never told us this prior to our meal being delivered that they were out of one of the ingredients to see if we possibly wanted another option. Overall, it was a very stressful, disappointing, and overpriced lunch.

I was looking for someplace unique while I was in town today and The Lost Cuban didnt disappoint! My sister and I both enjoyed our meals, especially the plantains. We would definitely eat here again if we were in town.

Good food. I wish theyd expand their menu. Empanadas are pretty good, as is the Cuban sandwich. Also not sure if theyre open Sundays. They were closed the last time we stopped by.

Great sandwiches - - mixed drinks are a bit heavy/imbalanced (almost like a double- - frequently out of one or two things (yucca fries! ). Service can be a bit slow, but the sandwiches are the real deal and worth it.

Best Cuban food I have had outside of Florida. When I walked in the front door, I wondered if I had been magically transported back to West Tampa. The owners have stayed true to both the culture and the cuisine of Cuba. A must visit every time I travel to Cedar Rapids. I highly recommend the media noche, the bread is fantastic and balances all the flavors of the meat and cheese to make a delightful sandwich. Pair that with the yuca for an exquisite culinary experience.

Food is phenomenal! Coffee and staff were also terrific. I had a great experience on a Saturday afternoon for lunch but would not suggest trying to get food when the bar is busy on a Friday night.Edit: third visit now and theyve been out of coffee the last two visits. So maybe dont come for only the coffee. lol Still great food though.

Great authentic tasting Cuban food makes me feel like Im in Miami. Weirdest f***ing hours I have ever seen, whenever I feel like going to this place I feel like its closed. If you guys had better hours you would rake in the dough, I dont get it!? But you still get 5 stars because the food is damn good!Update: Food quality not as good as it used to be, rude service, 1 star.

Great Cuban food. The space is smaller so groups of 6+ may have trouble with seating but the food is worth standing for. I also found everything on the menu to be pretty reasonably priced and the portions generous. You can easily have a full meal with drink for under $10 and you WILL be full when youre done.

Fantastic authentic Cuban food. Generous portions, consistently tasty. The owner is a class act, and almost always on site, greeting customers and introducing new or featured items. One of favorite spots!

I had an early dinner here with two friends.We stayed almost three hours and no one rushed us at all. I had the Chicken Marsala which I often get when I go to Italian restaurants and this was the best Ive had: plenty of fresh mushrooms. It came with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach.

My first visit to Lost Cuban over the weekend went very well. Its clean and has a great vibe. The menu was not overwhelming and not too limited. The Cuban sandwich was almost as great as I have had on my many visits to Miami. The bread has a perfect crunch and was not dry. Everything is House Made, from the bread, sauces, and even house grown hot peppers. The only criticism Id say is that the rice, beans, and hot sauce was bland and lacked salt. Otherwise, I was extremely impressed by the Owner and Manager. They were both so friendly, personable, and tentative. They even made us a special drink on the house. Id highly recommend this place and I am excited to come back!

“Unpretentious but very good”Located in downtown Cedar Rapids my wife and I finally decided to stop by after seeing it for years across from another of our favorites, "The White Star". We were not disappointed. The prices are very reasonable and food excellent in both quantity and quality. Mix the hot and spicy sauces together if you dare. Quite an experience.

I love the menu.There are always reliable choices but I enjoy the special menu items. Food is always well prepared. The restaurant is well kept and beautiful as is the hotel. It just feels good to be in the restaurant and hotel. They have a fun drink menu but beware the drinks are small. Service is always friendly and helpful.

Pleasant dine-in area, which we sat in for a good bit while waiting for take-out. Bathrooms were clean. Service could have been nicer, and the carbonation on the Dr. Pepper was out, but we were on a 9-hour road trip and were just looking for a place with good reviews and better-than-fast-food quality. The cuban sandwiches were really good, and the beans had some tasty bits of onions in them. The rice was either undercooked instant rice or overcooked regular rice? A lot of dry crunchy pieces. But the sandwich with the beans was filling enough to not mind skipping the rice. At least it came with the combo for the same price as just the sandwich, so good pricing for a different lunch option!

This place is outstanding! Even my very picky fiance loves it. The sandwiches are delicious, and I highly recommend them, but I also highly recommend trying some of the other delicious entrees. You wont regret it! The staff is really helpful and patient, and willing to answer any questions. Also, the yucca is awesome. You need to go here!

Wow! After enjoying The Lost Cuban about a dozen times its clear they are nearly always on top of their game. The only complaint Ive ever thought about bringing up was a the "pulled pork" being a tad dry, but the overall dish with the sweet and sassy sauce and rice and beans was still very satisfying. The Infidel is wonderful, the Cuban is perfect, and the ribs on Thursdays are fabulous. Try the pastries. A couple of my co-workers would like to see more filling in them, but they are excellent as is. What tops the whole experience off is the friendly and helpful staff. Great experience, great food, and great folk = no place better to enjoy lunch in Cedar Rapids.

I have been here a handful of times now and each time Ive tried something new, the ribs (special on thursdaywere amazing, the Cuban sandwich was fantastic, you can tell they use quality ingredients and are making to order as everything comes out hot and fresh, and similarly the media noche was fantastic. The sides are equally amazing, Ive had the fried plantanes which were the best Ive ever had, as well as the beans, usually I like black beans a lot, but the way they cook theirs make them the best Ive had anywhere.Im not sure if hot sauce is a traditional part of Cuban cuisine, but they make some amazing hot sauces as well. I am a heat head, Ive had all the peppers out there and love to test limits of spicy, and The Lost Cuban has done a great job making a sweet spicy, smokey spicy, and super spicy hot sauce. The super spicy one they dont put out on the counter, so ask for it when you order, its got ghost peppers and scorpion peppers, so its legitimately hot, but still has good flavor, if you can handle the heat.The staff is great, I have had a chance to talk to the owner and he was very nice and provided great service, also they were willing to let me do half orders of a few items to try more menu items, which was great!Its also a great value, you get a lot of great homemade fresh food for under 10 bucks.I have only been able to visit over my lunch break, but Im looking forward to going for dinner sometime so I can try some of their mojitos, their bar is impressive with a wide selection of rums, and many flavored rums for a huge mojito selection.Im going to be a regular here, no questions asked and hope others help support this great local restaurant as well!