THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bodeguita Cubana

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bodeguita Cubana Restaurant Review:

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a group of Serbian men decide to open a Cuban restaurant in the East Village (and who hasn’t wondered this?), Bodeguita Cubana is the place to find out. According to one of the owners, they were set to open a Serbian restaurant until they stumbled upon a good Cuban chef. And that, apparently, changed everything. But maybe they should have stuck with their original plans. The Palmito salad (loaded with fresh hearts of palm, fava beans, avocado, and roasted peppers) is marred by its generic vinaigrette and beef empandillas may be stale-tasting. The brick-pressed chicken, littered with onions, and served with the obligatory rice and black beans, almost saves the day. If Bodeguita were in Belgrade, it would be a novelty that would have some staying power. New York City, however, is far from the Balkans.