Cuba de Ayer

Name: Cuba de Ayer
Address: 15446 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD, United States, 20866
Telephone: (301) 476-9622
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.8

4.8

1101 Reviews

$30 and under

Latin / Spanish

Top Tags:

Come enjoy the tropical tastes of Cuba! Authentic home style Cuban cuisine where our customers feel as though they are eating home cooked meals that would be found in Grandma's kitchen. Cuba de Ayer is an ideal escape for a delicious cup of Cuban coffee, a Cuban grilled sandwich, followed up by something sweet like a slice of tres leches cake. mmm.... Bring your friends, family or come alone-strangers are simply friends we've yet to meet.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 30, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(301) 476-9622

Other options

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Latin / Spanish, Cuban, Caribbean
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(301) 476-9622
Website
http://www.cubadeayerrestaurant.net/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Mayra Lopez
Catering
We do Catering and delivery for large groups of 20 to 500 or more <br />please call and ask for Guillermo Bustamante
Private party facilities
Our Semi Private rooms can provide from 30 to 50 guests.
Private party contact
Guillermo Bustamante: (301) 476-9622

Location
15446 Old Columbia Pike Burtonsville, MD 20866
Neighborhood
Silver Spring
Cross street
Route 198 & Route 29
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

100 Washington, D.C. Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Popular dishes

Pan con Mantequilla O' Ajo*$2.75
Sliced bread toasted with butter or garlic sauce
Croquetas de Jamon*$5.99
(4) Ham croquettes
Papa Rellena*$4.99
(1) Stuffed potato with beef lightly breaded
Empanadas*$10.99
(3) Beef, chicken, guava & cheese, or cheese turnover
Combinacion*$9.99
A sampler platter of roasted pork, croquettes, fried yuca
Tostones Relleno$10.99
(3) Stuffed fried green plantains with ground beef
- Ropa Vieja$11.50
Tostones Rellenos with Camarones$13.99
Camarones al Ajillo$11.99
(5) Shrimp in lemon garlic sauce
Camarones en Aguacate$15.99
(6) Large shrimp sautéed in our very own lemon garlic sauce drizzled over fresh avocado

Soups / Salads

Sopa de Pollo*$11.99
Homemade chicken soup (bowl)
Sopa de Res*$12.99
Traditional Cuban style beef soup slow cooked with yuca, plantains, corn and potatoes
House Salad$9.99
Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radish, green and red peppers
Grilled Chicken Salad$14.99
Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radish, green peppers, red peppers, and grilled marinated chicken
Spinach Avocado Salad$11.99
Organic baby spinach tossed in our very own garlic vinaigrette dressing mixed with avocado, sliced red onions, cherry tomatoes, red and green peppers

Soups / Salads - Add Ons

Chicken$5.00
Palomilla$7.00
Pork Morsels$6.00
Shrimp$8.00
Salmon$8.00
Red Snapper$11.00

Main Entrees

Most main entrees are served with a choice of white rice and black beans (substitute red beans for $1.25) or moros y cristianos and with a choice of maduros or tostones unless otherwise indicated. **Note: black beans (available vegetarian) red beans and moros y cristianos are cooked with pork

Meat

Bistec Palomilla$18.99
Marinated Cuban style steak, thinly sliced, sautéed with onions
Bistec Empanizado*$18.99
Seasoned breaded top sirloin steak, thinly sliced and fried
Bistec Salteado$19.99
Thinly sliced pieces of marinated steak, cooked with sautéed onions, green peppers & red pepper
Churrasco Cubano$24.99
Charbroiled fap steak marinated in apple cider, parsley, fresh garlic, and cuban seasonings
Ropa Vieja$18.99
A delicious typical Cuban entreé. Shredded beef in a Cuban tomato based sauce with garlic, onions, red and green peppers
Vaca Frita$17.99
Shredded fank steak, pan fried with onions, garlic and lemon
Boliche$17.99
Tender eye round, slowly roasted, draped in a savory gravy of it's own sauce of tomatoes, onions, and garlic
Picadillo$16.99
Cuban style seasoned ground beef cooked with green olives, raisins, potatoes, and (non-spicy) spices
Rabo Encendido$22.99
Our delicious oxtail cooked in our tomato based creole sauce with burgundy wine and a hint of spice

Pork

Masitas de Puerco Fritas$17.99
Fried marinated morsels of pork
Pernil$17.99
Traditional Cuban roasted pork, marinated with bitter orange juice, lemon juice, garlic and pepper, dressed with onions
Lechon Asado$17.99
Cuban roasted pork marinated in "mojo criollo" (citrus marinade) dressed with onions
Chuletas de Puerco$17.99
Marinated pork chops with sautéed onions

Chicken

Arroz con Pollo (Dark Meat)$16.99
Yellow rice and chicken served on it's bone with a choice of plantains
Fricase de Pollo (Dark Meat)$16.99
Skinless chicken on it's bone cooked with potatoes, white wine, herbs, and green olives
Pollo a la Plancha$16.99
Grilled boneless chicken breast specially seasoned
Pollo Empanizado*$16.99
Fried breaded boneless chicken breast specially seasoned
Pollo Salteado$17.99
Slices of chicken breast, cooked with sautéed onions, green peppers & red pepper

Seafood

Pargo Frito*$23.99
Red snapper fsh fllet seasoned then lightly breaded and quick fried to a crisp
Trucha$20.99
Seasoned rainbow trout cooked on the grill with red and green peppers and onions
Camarones al Ajillo$21.99
Shrimp in garlic sauce with white rice, side salad, and a choice of plantains
Caribbean Salmon$22.99
Salmon fllet dressed with a sauce made of mango chunks, scallions, cilantro, red peppers, and a sweet & spicy sauce
Avocado Salmon*$22.99
Salmon fllet dressed with a creamy chipotle sauce topped with a pico of avocado, scallions, cilantro, tomatoes and corn
Arroz con Mariscos$25.99
Savory saffron favored yellow rice cooked with fsh, scallops and shrimp
Vegetarian Platter**$14.99
White rice served with black beans, yuca con mojo and maduros

Sandwiches

Sandwich Cubano*$10.99
Cuban sandwich hot pressed (baguette) with roasted pork, baked ham, swiss cheese, mustard and thin sliced pickle
Pan con Bistec*$10.99
Thinly sliced marinated steak, grilled with onions served on baguette
Pan con Lechon Asado*$10.50
Marinated roasted pork grilled with onions, served on baguette
Pan con Pollo Asado*$10.50
Grilled chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise served on baguette
Chicken Avocado Sandwich*$10.50
Breaded chicken breast with onions and avocado slices served on a baguette

Kids Menu

For Kids 12 and under only

Hamburger*$7.99
Served with french fries
Boneless Chicken Breast Pieces$7.99
Fried - Served with french fries
Mini Palomilla$9.99
Served with white rice or french fries
Mini Pollo a la Plancha$8.99
Served with White rice or french fries
Boliche Bowl$7.49
Our tender eye round pieces served with rice, maduro and little beans

Side Orders

Yuca Frita$4.99
Fried yuca
Frijoles Negros$3.50
Black beans (available vegetarian)
Frijoles Rojos$4.25
Red beans
Platanos Maduros$4.99
Fried sweet plantains
Moros y Cristianos$5.99
Mixed and seasoned rice and black beans
Arroz Blanco$3.99
White rice
Yuca con Mojo Criollo$4.99
Yuca with garlic sauce
Tostones$4.99
Fried green plantains
Papas Fritas$3.99
French fries
House Sauces
Hot sauce, Chimichurri, Mojo, Avocado pico, Caribbean Mango
- Sm$0.95
Side Salad$3.95
Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and radish
Fresh Asparagus$6.95
Sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, red onions and red peppers
Side of Steamed Broccoli$5.99
Side of Avocado$3.99
Hot Sauce Bottle$5.50

Desserts

Flan$6.99
Caramel vanilla custard
Tres Leches*$6.99
Moistly enriched sponge cake topped with merengue, whipped cream and a cherry
Cuban Rum Cake*$6.99
Sponge cake with Bacardi Rum glaze
Cheesecake*$5.99
Guava Topped Cheesecake*$6.50
Guava Shells with White Cheese$5.99
Chocolate Fudge Cake*$6.99

Beverages

Brewed Iced Tea$2.89
unsweetened
Materva$3.25
Jupiña$3.25
pineapple soda
Malta*$3.25
Tropical Fruit Juice$3.99
Mango, guava, strawberry/banana, coconut
Batido de Mamey$5.50
Our traditional Cuban shake made of tropical mamey fruit, milk and sugar
Batido de Mango$5.50
Our traditional Cuban shake made of mango fruit, milk and sugar
Acqua Panna Water
Italian natural spring water
- Sm$3.00
- Ltr$6.00
St Pellegrino Italian
Sparkling natural mineral water
- Sm$3.00
- Ltr$6.00
Regular Coffee$2.75
Hot Tea$2.75
Espresso$3.25
Cuban coffee (served unsweetened)
Cafecito Cubano$3.25
Cuban espresso (sweetened)
Double Cafecito Cubano$4.99
Café con Leche$3.99
Cuban espresso served with hot milk
Cortadito$3.25
Espresso served with steamed milk on side
Cuban Iced Coffee$5.25
Double espresso shot over condensed milk, topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle
Milk$2.89
Chocolate Milk$2.89

Soft Drinks

$2.89

Coke
Diet Coke
Sprite
Lemonade
Sweet Iced Tea

Juices

$3.50

Apple
Cranberry
Pineapple
Orange

What 1,101 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Maryland - DC Suburbs
Best Overall
Maryland - DC Suburbs
Best Food
Maryland - DC Suburbs
Best Ambiance
Maryland - DC Suburbs
Best Value
Maryland - DC Suburbs
Romantic

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D
Dinnerlover
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is always amazing. Nice waitress and delicious drinks
DW
DorinaW
Washington DC
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service and great authentic Cuban food!!
I
Ivettec
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Marcella was the best server, she was soo sweet. Food and drinks were amazing. Sat outside with beautiful weather. Did not take long for appetizers and food
RD
RobinD
Birmingham
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was great!
GG
GeGi
Baltimore
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had an outstanding lunch here. The food was wonderful. I recommend ordering a side vegetable with your meal or it is very heavy on meat.
SR
SandraR
Baltimore
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
Food is always delicious! Chuletas yummm! Also try the Sangria!
T
Techsan68
Washington DC
178 reviews
vip
4.0
178 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Cuba de Ayer offers an excellent fare for lovers of Cuban cuisine who otherwise would have to take a trip to Miami. My favorite is the Red Snapper, which is delicately fried and served with black beans and white rice and mature plantains. The restaurant also has a full bar serving all the traditional Cuban cocktails plus other Latin American treats. Service is friendly and the music is not too loud.
V
Valerie
Baltimore
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I love this place, eat here often. Ambiance is beautiful, interior decor is cozy and inviting, we sat on outdoor patio. Love the piped in Cuban music - felt like I was in Miami at one of the Cuban restaurants on Ocean drive (they need to bring back the palm trees they used to have on the outdoor patio). Food is always fresh and exceptional, drinks are potent, staff is friendly. Would absolutely recommend and will be returning.
JC
JayCee
Philadelphia
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food, yummy desserts, great drinks, good service. What more can you ask for? :)
T
Tara
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service! Great food and drinks were as described and very good! This was our first time visiting but it will not be the last.
AB
AlexandraB
New Orleans
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on June 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love coming here for the food and the ambience
ED
ElizabethD
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Awesome service
L
Louie
Washington DC
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on June 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great and always consistent
MP
MariaP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food here is always so good. Been coming to Cuba de Ayer for years, and it's only getting better. In the past the service has been slow, but yesterday it was packed and the food came to the table very fast. Thanks, and keep up whatever you are doing to make your restaurant the success it is.
BW
BWIcats
Baltimore
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Service was superb. Most of the meats were over cooked. The tostones were not crispy and light. They were super crispy and hard. Cafe con leche was fabulous. Rice and black beans were delicious, although the beans while very tasty were a bit salty.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Graduation
d
debbieiv
Baltimore
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall4food2service5ambience3
Our server was great. But she had too many tables. The empanadas were amazing. The steak dish I had was dry and not hot.
DW
DorinaW
Washington DC
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cuba de Ayer is far the best Cuban restaurant in the area. Authentic food!! And great service and drinks.
f
frequentdiner
Baltimore
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on May 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always good food, excellent service and comfortable atmosphere!
KM
KittyMarie
Washington DC
23 reviews
3.0
23 reviews
Dined on May 22, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience3
Dined in a group of four. Entrees were delicious. The wine and beer were fine; one of us had a mojito, which was not good. There strangest thing was that one salad arrived immediately, then for entrees, then the second salad. Overall, a little rocky...
CC
ChristopherC
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service is always exceptional! FYI the tres leches is a must have!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent experience. Delicious food and charming, courteous service.
L
Louie
Washington DC
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and drinks, great atmosphere
MC
MarlaC
Baltimore
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Arroz con mariscos was delicious-yellow rice with shrimp, scallops, and salmon. Also loved the mojito martini and leave room for the tres leches cake! Highly recommend!
TT
TeresaT
Raleigh
10 reviews
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
We took my mil for her 93rd birthday. She’s Cuban and loved the food. We all enjoyed it. Very authentic. Service was good. Restaurant is loud and lively. Lechon, black beans, madouros were all very good. My husband enjoyed the steak saltadano. Recommend.
SC
StivellC
Washington DC
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good authentic food. Well decorated with unique art work everywhere
N
Nigs
Baltimore
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Authentic Cuban fare. Friendly and attentive staff. Excellent value.
JM
JessicaM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The BEST Cuban Restaurant. Perfect ambient, delicious food, great service, and lovely music!!!!
JA
JasmineA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great place to eat, enjoyed the food, awesome time
CP
CarolynP
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food and ambiance. THe food was delicious! We will come back!!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Baltimore
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience3
My son birthday
GR
GioRodri
Washington DC
21 reviews
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Cuba de Ayer did it again. We made a reservation to celebrate Mom’s Birthday on May 4th, and CDA made a great first impression on three members of our party who were there for the first time. The restaurant is always spotless clean, and though busy, the tables are spaced out just enough to give you privacy so it never feels crowded. The food and drinks never disappoint, including the outstanding oxtail dish, tres leches, and guava shells with cheese. Kudos also for their Skinny Annie? cocktail - what an unexpected and delicious surprise. The young server could have delivered more warm service, however, he was effective, so effective to the point that he brought the appetizers and main courses at the same time.
M
Michael
Baltimore
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great find! Everyone in our group of 9 thoroughly enjoyed their meal. I had the Caribean Salmon with rice and sweet plantains. The fish was perfectly cooked, and the mango topping tasted bright and fresh. Beyond the food, our server was friendly and accommodating, and the restaurant's high-tech order management system made separate checks a breeze. You can easily pay by scanning the QR code on your receipt. Our experience was 5 stars in every way.
b
brubch
Baltimore
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
Food was very good. Used the outdoor seating in the temperature controlled tent. Server didn’t attend us until a half hour later and we had to ask twice. Once they had the server out, everything was fine.
L
Lala
Baltimore
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience4
Great food great service
f
frequentdiner
Baltimore
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best choice of Cuban food and cozy environment with good services.
R
Roland
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food4service3ambience5
We've been here several times, but hadn't visited in more than a year. The new look since they remodeled is an upgrade. Our server wouldn't win a race for food delivery and one of the entrees seemed to have been under the heat lamp too long, but all in all it was a pleasant experience and we will return soon.
TZ
TeresaZ
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was excellent and the service with Karen was amazing! Will definitely go.back there to eat dinner again and would highly recommend it to my friends and family.
FJ
FabianJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was very good as was the service. It is worth a second and third and fourth, and … you get the message … visit!
JR
JacquelineR
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was my birthday celebration with my girlfriends. Our server Karen provided excellent service and listened to every request with care. The food was excellent.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Cuba de Ayer does offer delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. Cuba de Ayer also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (301) 476-9622.

Cuba de Ayer is rated 4.8 stars by 1101 OpenTable diners.