I just stumbled upon a new authentic Cuban restaurant in Downtown Buffalo. Cuba Rosa Bar & Restaurant opened just last Thursday. Although the place just opened, the formation of Cuba Rosa go back fifteen years. That’s when owner Rosa Correa Pilodo (photo far left) first attempted to reach the United States from Cuba. “After her third attempt to reach America by boat,” explained Max (her translator) who also works at the restaurant. “She finally gave up – she once stared into to the eyes of a shark during a storm – that was enough for her to stop trying. Only to eventually be allowed access legally at a later point in time. Rosa always dreamed of coming to the United States, and was assigned Buffalo when she was given access. Her goal has always been to open up her own restaurant, serving whatever she wants. In Cuba, a person would go to jail for killing a cow and preparing it… it’s worse than killing a person. Here there are no restrictions with what she can prepare. Everything is authentic – from the colors of Cuba to the seafood soup to a two pound red snapper (called Pargo). You also caught her on a good day… it’s her birthday!” Hence the roses on all of the tables.”
In all of my years of interviewing people, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a radiant smile and glow as I got from Rosa. Her expression was so proud, even though she could only make out bits and pieces of what I was saying. It wasn’t long before Rosa and Max introduced me to Damary (Rosa’s daughter – second from right), and Alexandra (Rosa’s friend). That’s about the time that I decided that I better start ordering some food, so as not to overextend my welcome. Damary and Alexandra helped to guide me to order the guanabana (drink), the jamon y queso empanadas, the shrimp ceviche with olives and plantain chips, and the Completa (bistec encebollado – beef with rice and beans). The rice (arroz congri) was cooked using the water from the beans giving it a brown color and added flavor. I sat back and listened to Cuban music while the food was being prepared.
When the food arrived, I quickly realized that I had ordered too much. The rice was a heaping pile, and the beef was plentiful. Even the shrimp ceviche was a large portion. Max told me that they had eaten at a couple of Buffalo restaurants that were expensive and barely served anything. They wanted to make sure that their customers were well taken care of. I could tell that everything that I tried was made from scratch, with lots of love. Looking for a some extra heat, I added some hot sauce to punch it up a little bit. Then I remembered that if you ask, they will serve the food ‘hot/spicy’ according to Cuban household traditions. Then again, I didn’t order a dish that would traditionally be hot – when I saw the rice and beans, I just couldn’t help myself.
Max told me that everything at Rosa’s is prepared according to strict family traditions and recipes. This is not Americanized food at all. It’s Cuban comfort food. The current menu is a condensed version of what will ultimately be available. They are eagerly awaiting for Buffalo to discover them. Also, they will soon have a liquor license, which is when they will start preparing authentic cocktails.
You can tell that this family is serious about what they’re doing by the incredible ceramic tile floors that they have put down (upper floor). They were designed to replicate a historic Cuban restaurant. Hopefully someday they will get faux tin ceilings to tie it all together. Max told me that they hope to get a marimba band come and play on busy nights, or to draw customers. There is a huge seating capacity at Rosa’s, which means that there is plenty of room for some sort of entertainment… and dancing!
If you’re into trying something new and different – something that is very authentic and not dumbed down to appeal to the masses, then you should get yourself into Cuba Rosa. The only thing that you will miss out on is the sensational birthday cake (tres leches) that they handed to me on my way out the door – a number of birthday guests were walking in as I was walking out. Felíz cumpleaños Rosa!
Cuba Rosa Bar & Restaurant | 454 Pearl Street | Buffalo, NY | (716) 936-6969 | Facebook | Eat in/Take out | Menu