Cuban cuisine, cocktails & cigar boxes! Brunch review: Revolucion de Cuba, Cardiff

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Revolucion de Cuba, the Cuban-inspired cantina (traditional restaurant and bar) situated at The Friary in Cardiff (opposite the Hilton hotel), has launched a new brunch menu. Served between 10am – 2.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays, the menu features authentic Spanish, Mexican and South American brunch dishes like Spanish omelette, huevos rancheros and avocado on toast with crispy patatas bravas.

In addition, there are a range of cocktails available including several twists on the traditional Bloody Mary, an espresso rumtini and a Mexican combination of orange, grapefruit, lime and tequila mixed with mandarin marmalade.

Opened in 2012, Revolucion de Cuba Cardiff is one of eight outlets of its kind throughout the UK, owned by the Revolution Bars chain (who run Revolution Cardiff on Castle Street).

I popped along to try out the new menu with a couple of friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I had woken up too late for breakfast, yet too early for lunch – the perfect time for brunch. 

Inside, the dining area features a mix of bar stools at high tables and comfy, leather sofas. The latter were perfect for a laid-back Sunday brunch. The floor was a mix of wood and beautiful, intricately-patterned tiles.


There are two bars, including a traditional Havana rum bar (visible at the back of the above picture) and a larger bar serving all kinds of drinks (pictured below). 


To start off, we each ordered a Bloody Mary (£7.95) made with Stoli vodka, tomato juice, lime, Worcester sauce, salt pepper and a home-made rum sauce, garnished with a wedge of cucumber. I thought this tasted great, but my friends found the level of spice to be somewhat overpowering. For me this wasn’t an issue as I enjoy spicy foods, but if you have a milder taste then you may wish to ask for this to be made less spicy for you. 

To eat, I ordered the Cubano Benedict (£4.50); sour-dough toast topped with pulled pork, a poached egg, and Hollandaise sauce, served with patatas bravas and chopped cucumber and tomato. The egg was sprinkled with paprika to give it that added edge, while the pulled pork was succulent, tender and bursting with aromatic flavours. The sourdough toast was made using soft, fresh bread and the patatas bravas were golden brown and crispy, coated in a rich seasoning. This was a tasty twist on eggs Benedict as we know it – and one that I’d happily take on again!

My friends both opted for the Brekkie Burrito (£7); a soft, flour tortilla stuffed to the brim with sausage, chorizo, egg, re-fried beans, jalapenos and cheese, topped with two rashers of crispy bacon and served with chopped tomato and cucumber. This looked very appealing and filling and I must admit that until I saw my Cuban Benedicto, I was beginning to wish I’d ordered one of these burritos.

We also shared a rather generous portion of sweet potato fries (£3) from the main menu, cooked perfectly with a slightly firm, crispy coating and a soft, fluffy centre. 

The bill was affectionately presented in an authentic Cuban cigar box. Our food and drinks were provided complementary except for the sweet potato fries, but if we had paid for our food it would’ve cost £21.50 altogether, whie our drinks would have cost a total of £23.85. I think it’s fair to say that the food prices are pretty reasonable, whereas the cost of the drinks is slightly pushing it. 

I enjoyed my first meal at Revolucion de Cuba and I definitely hope to return again in future. I’m very keen to find out what the main menu has on offer!

Revolucion de Cuba
The Friary
Cardiff
CF10 3FA
(029) 2000 8444
http://www.revoluciondecuba.com/bar/cardiff/

I was invited to Revolucion de Cuba as a guest and our food and drinks were provided complimentary. However, I was not obliged to write a positive review. 

Where’s your favourite place to go for brunch in Cardiff? Let me know in the comments below!

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