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  • Victor's 1959 Cafe

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Victor's 1959 Cafe
Victor's 1959 Cafe

Victor's 1959 Cafe Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.victors1959cafe.com
  • Phone: (612) 827-8948
  • Hours of Operation: Breakfast & Brunch: Everyday: 8:00am - 2:30pm; Lunch: Everyday: 11:00am - 2:30pm; Dinner: Tuesday - Saturday: 4:30pm - 9:00pm
  • Payment Options: MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Cuban, Caribbean
  • Executive Chef: Flor Tapia-Negreros
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar Dining, Beer, Counter Seating, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Smoking Area, Smoking Area (patio only), Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine
  • Catering: Please contact Niki Stavrou directly for catering options at cafe1959@gmail.com
  • Entertainment: We play fun Cuban and Latin music in the restaurant, but no live entertainment.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: West 38th Street
  • Public Transit: We are on the corner of West 38th Street and Grand Ave South in Minneapolis. Both streets are major bus lines.
  • Parking: Private Lot
  • Parking Details: We have a small parking lot in front and in back of the restaurant (3 spots in front, 4 spots in back)and there is also on-street parking available.
A word from Victor's 1959 Cafe
Victor's 1959 Cafe is a little piece of Havana in South Minneapolis offering traditional Cuban fare such as Picadillo, Ropa Vieja, Cuban Sandwiches, Yuca frita, Sweet Plantains, Tostones, and other recipes from Cuban cuisine. Independently and locally owned, you'll find friendly service and a… festive environment with lots of writing on the walls!

Visited in 2008 by Food Network's Guy Fieri, Diner's Drive-ins and Dives, who cooked up "off the hook" Cuban food with owner Niki Stavrou. Check our website to watch the episode!

We're a tiny restaurant with only 10 tables inside and 10 more tables on our tropical summer patio. Enjoy our Wines, Beers, Tropical Mimosas and Champagne Mojitos!

Also popular for our unique breakfast menu, served every day! No reservations for breakfast or lunch, just come on in...

5 mins from Downtown/Uptown 15 minutes from Mpls/St Paul Int'l airport. Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerNeighborhood Gem
Diner Reviews
  • "My wife and I loved dining there. Definitely a place for good Cuban food. The dining area is small. Get a reservation. Here's hoping they find a way to expand. If they move, make sure you find out where. Hope this place continues to thrive."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "Love, love the place. Very authentic and delicious."
    Dined on 2/21/2014
  • "Love this place! I can't go to my favorite Cuban place in Miami every day, but Victor's does the job while I'm home."
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "From start to finish, this experience was a disaster. It took nearly 30 minutes for a waitress to come to our table. Forgot to bring out drinks, took orders completely wrong and brought out incorrect entrees (food was cold), waitress was sweet but clearly too busy to provide good service. She kept apologizing over and over about everything wrong that had happened. At the end, our bill was completely wrong, listing items we did not order or eat. Not a good birthday dinner."
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "You can not visit Victors, without it being a visit that will forever remain in your mind for all great reasons. It is vibrant, cozy, comfortable, and totally Cuba. One visit will definitely lead to another!"
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "Heard review on radio and decided to try. They did not disappoint."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "We had a great time sampling some of the specialties that we have not found anywhere else. The desserts were heaven. Loved the patio and service was excellent. Food was out quickly. Would recommend!"
    Dined on 5/30/2014
  • "I haven't seen a lot of Cuban restaurants in Minneapolis so it was nice to find a restaurant that does! Food was delicious and I tried my first Cuban coffee which was also great! Server was nice and the food within a reasonable time. I've also had brunch here and liked their brunch a little bit more, but I was still very satisfied after my dinner at Victor's. "
    Dined on 5/23/2014
  • "This is one of my favorite places in MN. Nothing fancy.. just great food with incredibly knowledgeable, fun servers! Try the 'ropa vieja' .. Cuban beef stew! You cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Oh.. and for dessert they have house made coconut ice cream. Top notch! "
    Dined on 5/13/2014
  • "This was our second visit to Victor's 1959. We look forward to coming for breakfast one day. The food choices are varied and oh so tasty. Service is very good. We arrived in time for happy hour wine prices - our server made some fine suggestions for wine choices - a red and white were what we wanted. Can't wait to return."
    Dined on 5/9/2014
  • "Victors was reccomended to me by a friend. I was looking for a unique place to have a birthday celebration with my girlfriends. We all love trying new foods and I want to tell yo NONE OF US WERE DISSAPOINTED. The food was excellent and our server was great. She knew the menu well and reccomended just the right combos for all of us. Thank you Victors - I have already told about 15 people about our great experience and my girlfriends took home menus to give to others."
    Dined on 5/6/2014
  • "What is there to say, the food is excellent, the wait staff is oustanding and the food is the best"
    Dined on 5/2/2014
  • "The food was very good and service was excellent. Garlic shrimp and the cold seafood special highly recommended! On-street parking wasn't bad. Lighter and brighter than I was expecting."
    Dined on 5/3/2014
  • "Dinner was very good. Service was attentive without being over bearing. The place is uber tiny so reservations are very necesary."
    Dined on 4/24/2014
  • "The food is so good here. We'll definitely be back."
    Dined on 4/25/2014
  • "We had dinner at Victor's 1959 Cafe on Friday night and had a wonderfully delicious entertaining meal! We were greeted at the door by two members of the engaging staff and were promptly seated. Our server was colorful in a great/fun way and helpful in selecting our apps and dinner choices. The food was outstanding! The flavors were rich and deep. My slow cooked pork was infused with intense flavors. My wife had the fish special that was well prepared and also had great flavor. The rock shrimp salad the accompanied her fish was terrific by itself. We will be back again and again to try the whole menu. This is a hidden gem! But be prepared for the decor...it is a joint. 5 star food in a colorful setting."
    Dined on 4/25/2014
  • "Been meaning to go, tried to get in, finally got there. We LOVED everything about it! The decór/ambiance was fun, the Latin music was upbeat and happy, the service was friendly and informative, and the FOOD...!!! Greg, who hates hot (spicy), wolfed down the spicy guava sauce served with his coconut shrimp. He had the Ropa Vieja and I ordered the Fricasee de Pollo. We each tried a bit of the other's food; now we want to go back to try everything else on the menu. Greg found a new beer; I found a new favorite coffee - Cortadito, made the traditional Cuban way (of course!) No room for dessert (this time), but the Cortadito was the perfect finish. You must try it!"
    Dined on 4/22/2014
  • "I took my daughter to Victor's as part of a cultural experience requirement for her global studies class. It was refreshing to go to a restaurant with authentic foods. The flavor of the ropa vieja and lechon asado was as if the cook spent all day simmering the meat. The service was friendly and helpful and we were treated to a greeting by the owner. It was fun to hear that the group we were going to see that evening for a sample of Cuban music, Orquesta Aragon, had dined there that day for lunch! That in itself should be a strong endorsement! Viva Cuba Libre!"
    Dined on 4/17/2014
  • "We ate here for dinner recently and the experience was great, as was the food. We were greeted and served energetically by the staff. We started with the crab cakes, which were some of the best I've had. We each had a different entree and all were delicious. The only complaint would be that it is a bit of a cramped space. However, I feel that this adds to the ambiance more than it becomes a hassle. Overall, 5 stars."
    Dined on 3/29/2014
  • "This quirky neighborhood restaurant is a fun place to have dinner. There is a good variety of Cuban dishes on the menu and a reasonably priced bar menu. The server we had was fantastic and really added to the experience."
    Dined on 4/2/2014
  • "My husband and I went here for the first time the other night and had a fantastic experience. Our server was very passionate and knowledgeable about the food and gave great recommendations. The noise level was loud but it goes with the whole theme of the restaurant which is energetic and fun. It almost felt like a small vacation in the middle of our Minnesota winter. We will be going back here again for sure"
    Dined on 3/26/2014
  • "We went as our anniversary celebration.The food was good, nothing spectacular, but fun to try something new that I would never make at home. The whole experience was fun. I expected it to be loud due to the small venue and tight fit of tables/booths but, surprisingly, it was not. The writing on the walls was so entertaining. When we were trying to decide if we should have dessert, the couple next to us (apparently frequent diners there) suggested the flan--we ordered it and were happy with their suggestion. We plan on retruning this summer for lunch on the patio."
    Dined on 3/15/2014
  • "We enjoyed our beverages food dessert and coffee. Our server was friendly and knowledgable. The place was warm and inviting when we stepped in the door. We will definitely return soon."
    Dined on 3/14/2014
  • "It's a small place with great food. I've lived just a couple miles away for years and never been here before ... my loss for sure."
    Dined on 3/15/2014
  • "Don't let the outside fool you. The food here is fantastic. Be sure to make a reservation."
    Dined on 3/14/2014
  • "We made our reservation using Open Table just moments before going into the restaurant. By the time we showed up, they had our reservation and table waiting. Amazing. The staff were so friendly and accomodating, and they were SO excited about their food. They had clearly tested the food and were thrilled to describe each part of the experience. I got hungry just listing to our bright and energetic server tell us about the food. The quarters are cramped, but the food and the people are worth it."
    Dined on 3/14/2014
  • "This was our second time at Victors Cafe, the wait staff is very friendly (though not overly), and make fantastic menu suggestions. I had the shrimp jumbalaya (the special), and my wife had a fantastic , lime/ pulled pork , dish that was to die for. Though the wine menu is limited, the menu make up for it...please enjoy this restaurant!"
    Dined on 3/14/2014
  • "Victor's 1959 Cafe is such a gem. Tiny place with a big, lively atmosphere serving the the best of Cuban Food and a few twists. I was able to enjoy quite a bit of Cuban food when I lived in Mexico, as we had a large population of people from Cuba living on the island, Victor's always brings me back to the islands with ever single bite. Great for Brunch (go early to get a table in this little place) and a favorite for dinner (they take reservations for dinner). Go with a empty stomach so you can have appetizers, like the crab cakes and the empanadas, and share a few of their wonderful main dishes. Just have the friendly wait staff steer you in the right direction - they are always spot on. Thank you Victor's - I'm your forever fan."
    Dined on 3/5/2014
  • "This is a fine dining spot. Small (approx. 34 seats at 10 tables), funky & delicious, a Cuban diner with a great menu and an unusual beer and wine menu. The Cubano Sandwich is a popular standby but last night I had the Lechon Asado, a very nice surprise - moist and so tasty. A really good choice. My daughter had a sneak preview of an item soon to appear on the menu, a pork tenderloin dish that I tasted and will definitely get next time. My family has gone to Victor's many times over many years, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We've never been disappointed. Victor's is small and very popular - reservations are strongly suggested. Even for breakfast. It's not surprising to see people outside in all kinds of weather."
    Dined on 3/4/2014
  • "We had a wonderful dinner and the service was great! We would recommend this to anyone! We will definitely be coming back,"
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "My family isn't too big and we get together every month for a family dinner. They were able to find a wonderful space for all 8 of us and the food was amazing. As a mostly vegetarian family we had a few redundancies but the food is great nonetheless! Our server was on top of everything and incredibly helpful."
    Dined on 2/11/2014
  • "Service and food was excellent!! We will definitely be going back!! YUM!"
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Excellent as always! One of our favorite restaurants"
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Victor's 1959 Cafe never fails to deliver. Ropa Vieja is not to be missed."
    Dined on 2/13/2014
  • "This was my first time at the restaurant and I thought it was absolutly amazing. I picked it for my birthday and they were very accomoditing with the cake and everything. The parking wasn't great as you have to park in the street and it took a while to find a spot but it was well worth it. The waiters were all extremly friendly and the food was delicious! We will all be coming back!"
    Dined on 2/12/2014
  • "I am from Miami and grew up on Cuban Food Victor's is as close to Miami as you can find in MN. Good food, a nice little joint in a neighborhood- Highly recommend. Try the Ropa Vieja- it's very good!"
    Dined on 6/4/2013
  • "VIctor's is a nice change from other Mpls restaurants. Small, cozy, and delightfully tacky decor. The food is excellent, and the pina colada cake is to die for!"
    Dined on 2/5/2014
  • "The food here is SO good, the service is amazing, and it's just a really fun ambiance. I always bring my friends who are visiting from out of town to this spot (if I can get a reservation in time, it fills up fast!)."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "Really enjoyed the Cubano sandwich, and the Xango Chango (a cheesecake and pastry dessert with guava) was phenomenal. Service was very good. Definitely come with a reservation on the weekend, it's a small place. They play music at a slightly-higher-than-speech level; not a quiet place for a romantic dinner."
    Dined on 1/31/2014
  • "The food was brought out to us about three minutes after we ordered and was very old and overcooked. We were very disappointed in our evening and left as fast as possible. Sometimes things are not actually as good as you remember."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Minneapolis - St. Paul Winners
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Twin Cities / Minneapolis Winners
  • Neighborhood Gem
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