Tropicana Cuban Cafe - St Augustine

It's Like Sunday Dinner at Grandma's!. Love this restaurant! I have been here a number of times, have always ordered a different dish and have always been delighted. The bread, the soup, the entree's, the desserts all fabulous. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive. I cannot imagine the bad reviews came from anyone who really had a meal at Casa Benedetto's, but here's to them: stay away!! More for us!!

Rude owners and mediocre food. We dined here the week before Christmas . Apparently it had just moved from it 's other location . I am thinking they but off more than they could chew because it wasn 't busy and yet our entire meal took over 2 hours . My daughter is type 1 diabetic and was gawked at by several staff members while testing her blood sugar and taking insulin . The incredibly rude owner suggested she take care of herself in the restroom . Who wants to take a shot in the restroom ? Perhaps their staff and owners require sensitivity training so they don 't make a child feel bad over a disease she can 't help . Also I have celiac and told the waitress I have a soy and gluten allergy . This was ignored and I was poisoned with gluten because they decided it was just a lifestyle choice and they didn 't need to be careful . The last straw was the male owner who was smoking an e cigarette inside while walking up to tables repeatedly coming to our table asking for a review on another site . I 'd like to say the food was good but it took an hour and a half to get from the time we ordered til the time we got it . That 's not worth the wait handmade food like grandma used to make ... That 's a few people who know nothing about the restaurant business trying to play house . The food was unremarkable in taste and was rather pricey . We have traveled all over the world including Italy and don 't mind paying or waiting for good food ... This was not good food and the experience was even worse . To make matters worse I googled the food inspection report for Casa and was mortified ... Clean dishes stored in restrooms , improper food handling , improper storage techniques , roaches and rat droppings were found several times on several visits , cooks not wearing gloves or hairnets ... The list goes on and on and I really wish I hadn 't looked but since we live nearby I know it 's truly a place to avoid and not just a bad evening .

Seriously Splendid A Happy New Yorker. Me and my Papa Vinny love dining at Casa Benedetto 's it is Our Spot for dining out. Papa Vinny is Sicilian and originally from New York he knows Italian food! The Owner of Casa Benedetto 's and his Lovely Wife ALWAYS make us feel like we are having dinner with family. The cozy atmosphere, pictures of the Owner 's family throughout the dining room , stories of the old neighborhood and the incredible entrees leave us feeling like we were transported back to a gentler time when families gathered around the kitchen table and passed on their family traditions recipes. Our favorites are the Rice Balls, Chicken Parmigiana, Veal Piccatta, Fusilli Meatballs and after dinner Espressos, Cappuccinos and Cannolis. Casa Benedetto 's is Seriously Splendid Italian Food for the Saint Augustine Beach area a Magnificent way for me to see my Papa Vinny Happy!

The best meal I've had in a long time! The chicken parmesan with angel hair pasta was amazing, featuring a vibrant tomato sauce. My husband opted for the antipasto salad, which had generous pieces of provolone—so delicious! We also shared some pistachio gelato, which was creamy and delightful.

We decided to visit this restaurant after reading the positive reviews while staying in St. Augustine, in search of the best Italian food. It did not disappoint! We ordered the lasagna and chicken parmesan with angel hair pasta, and both dishes were absolutely delicious. The sauce was fantastic as well. You definitely won’t be disappointed!