[johnb]

Just returned from my second foray up to Cuba de Ayer in Burtonsville. Excellent traditional Cuban dishes. Great soup, great picadillo and ropa viejo, and the best flan I've ever come across---very dense, served in wedges like a torte. Crispy tostones and maduros. They also have Cuban sandwiches which I haven't yet tried but they looked good at the next table. Unfortunately a ways out (about 15 minutes past Silver Spring on Rt 29) It's located on Rt. 198 about 300 yards west of Rt. 29, in a strip center towards the back and a bit out of sight from the road, on the North side. But worth the drive. Better than Cubanos, and definitely better than Cuban Corner IMO. Eve Z. gave it a good write-up a few months ago. And if you go on a Friday eve. the Amish farmers' market on the corner will be open and that by itself is also worth the trip. Highly recommended.

[DonRocks]

johnb, on Dec 2 2005, 10:47 PM, said:

Just returned from my second foray up to Cuba de Ayer in Burtonsville. 

For those of you who don't speak Spanish, this means "Cuba of Ayer."

Wasn't this a Tex-Mex place not too long ago?

[StephenB]

DonRocks, on Dec 2 2005, 10:52 PM, said:

For those of you who don't speak Spanish, this means "Cuba of Ayer."

Para ellos que no saben español, esto quiere decir "Yesterday's Cuba".

[jrichstar]

Wanted to put in a good word for Cuba de Ayer after having a wonderful meal there tonight. My wife's family is from Miami so she knows good Cuban. We have been to Cuban Corner and Cubano's as well and we feel that Cuba de Ayer is the best of the bunch. The fried items, beef empanada, maduros and papa rellena (beef-stuffed in a fried potato mash), were excellent. Our main dishes were two classic items: beef palomilla and lechon asado (roast pork). Again, both were deftly cooked and we especially liked the citrus/garlic flavor of the pork with some caramelized onions mixed in. The sides of black beans and rice were nice as well, with the rice having that buttery sheen and the beans with the right pork/bacon flavor. The kids had a Cubano sandwich and fries---again, nicely executed.

We shared a flan for dessert and it was one of the best we've had in the DC area.

This gem of a place deserves more positive recognition!

[DonRocks]

I finally had the Sandwich Cubano ($7.50) at Cuba de Ayer, and it's good and clean. Cuban sandwiches are often deceptively caloric due to the spatula full of spread on the baguette, but this version seems to rely more on mustard, and at least gives the perception of being lighter.

Maybe one day I'll go to a Cuban restaurant and not order Ropa Vieja ($13.99), because like with the Cuban Sandwich, I tend to enjoy the name more than the actual dish. Still, when you only eat at a Cuban restaurant a few times a year, you tend to stick with the favorites, and Cuba de Ayer's is a hearty plateful with a moderately heavy roast in the tomato sauce. With a choice of either Maduros or Tostones, it's better to order the sweeter maduros with the Ropa Vieja.

But the more austere tostones work well with the Camarones al Ajillo ($15.99), about ten medium-sized shrimp in a garlic sauce beautifully cut by lemon. It's very common to find overcooked shrimp in a dish such as this, but these were perfectly executed, and this was my favorite dish of the meal.

Both entrees come with either Arroz Blanco with Frijoles Negros, or the two mixed together as Moros y Cristianos. It's rare when I order coffee in the afternoon, but after a heavy 3 PM lunch, a Cafe con Leche ($2.50) is exactly what I needed to get me through the day.

I'm glad to see Cuba de Ayer getting the attention it deserves in the press.

Cheers,
Rocks.

NB Lunch prices are substantially lower than this Monday through Friday.

[DanielK]

Click for half-off gift certificates for Cuba de Ayer.

[juliusc91]

Lechon Asado with Moros y Cristianos and Sweet plantains is my go-to here. Ham croquettes are great too, especially in a sandwich.