The minute you step in through the sunshine yellow doors, you will feel instantly transported back to an era of cigars and fancy flamenco dress.
Welcome to Sheffield’s tiny taste of Cuba.
We chose to visit on a Thursday evening, as an alternative night out. Instead of going out and getting (slightly) trashed, we decided to live it up and go for a sophisticated night of dinner and cocktails.
As you walk in through the doors, Cubana’s chilled atmosphere wraps itself around you in a warm Latino hug, and the friendly staff leap to action.
The restaurant has a rustic feel, with wooden furniture and colourful walls decorated with hand-painted murals of flamenco dancers. Flickering candles light the room, making for a romantic atmosphere, the perfect atmosphere for a date (boys, take note).
It didn’t take long for us girls to choose a round of fresh fruit mojitoes, while the boys went for bottles of authentic South American lager. What can I say… it was love at first sip.
The fresh mint and crushed raspberries were a taste sensation, quite a change from a Corp Red Pint or our usual pre-drink beverage.
It didn’t take long for our glasses to swiftly empty as if by magic, while we browsed the mouth-watering tapas menu and debated which dishes to share. The friendly staff were on hand to give useful advice and recommendations, before whisking our order off to the kitchen with a gracious ‘gracias’.
It wasn’t long before our food was placed steaming onto our table, the spicy Cuban aromas wafting upwards and making our mouths water. We spent a deliriously happy half an hour munching on a huge array of scrumptious dishes from calamari with garlic mayonnaise to goats cheese baked in Parma ham and a paprika chicken skewer.
Needless to say, our stomachs were left satisfied and the plates practically licked to a shine. Nonetheless, there is always space for dessert.
Another order of rum-loaded cocktails and we were ready for round two, which came in the form of a generous slice of rich chocolate fudge cake and four spoons. Having polished off yet another plate, we ended the meal with a complimentary round of sambuca.
And then the live band began to play. If I thought I was in Cuban heaven before, now I’d reached nirvana. The soothing tone of the live saxophone washed over me, inducing a Cheshire cat like grin which crept across my face.
Cubana hosts live music acts most nights of the week, from flamenco guitar players to the sounds of Brazilian bossa nova and Argentinean tango. While this creates the lively vibe, I’d recommend requesting a table a little further from the band if you plan on having any lengthy conversation.
So if tasty tapas and tongue-tingling cocktails are your thing, I’d recommend that you book a table and get down to Cubana on Trippet Lane.
Feel free to take me…
Warning: Book in advance. This popular restaurant is very busy and is normally full every night.
Tel: 0114 2760 475