Dolce Cubano is now open! Check out our review of Dolce Cubano.
Back in April we broke the news about the opening of Dolce Cubano Rum Bar & Restaurant (thanks Nick), an Italian/Cuban fusion restaurant and bar that would soon grace the waterfront of Stamford. People freaked out in excitement: killer drinks and dishes, views of the Sound and Long Island, and a wicked hot spot…yeah, doesn’t get better than that!
Well, when we first had the chance to visit with Nick Racanelli in April, the restaurant was stripped to the bone. It’s hard to imagine what a place will look like with everything ripped apart, but for Nick and co. it wasn’t that tough. He had the vision, he knew.
Lucky for us, Nick invited us back in to see Dolce Cubano and see the massive changes made. Starting off, the restaurant was pretty lucky during Sandy. The water came just six inches away from getting into the restaurant and a boat nearly dislodged and crashed through the windows. Nick weathered the storm (literally), watching the docks sink under two feet of water and move like waves. The only casualty, luckily, was the awning for the outside bar, now torn in two.
So, when can you expect Dolce Cubano to open? The staff and cooking staff are hired and are all ready to get started. Awesome news: the tentative opening date for the kitchen at Dolce Cubano is Monday, November 19. We’ve tasted some of the dishes and we’re still dreaming about them. Here are some of the great parts of the lunch menu (dinner won’t have sandwiches and will have a few other changes):
- Antipasto, ceviche, and raw bar…yum.
- Salads and sandwiches. Nick says the Cuban sandwich is amazing, btw. We trust his taste buds.
- Tapas and small plates! Yes, this is the heart of Dolce Cubano! Some must tries are the roasted truffle brussels sprouts, the grilled oysters, the goat cheese cakes, our favorite butternut squash gnocchi from Zaza, and the king crab cazuela. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to head back to Dolce Cubano at least 10 times to try all the other dishes. Ah, the sacrifices we make to gain food knowledge and wisdom. We do it for you…
- Classic dishes that span Italian, Cuban, and fusion. The ropa vieja is incredibly good and we’re looking forward to trying the lobster linguini fra diavolo, spicy Cuban chicken al pimientos, Cuban spicy pork ribs, Havana roast pork, and the classic Spanish paella. Again, we’ll have to come back to try the other entrees, too.
- Don’t forget the sides like broccoli rabe & sausage, fried plantains with salsa, fried yucca, Cuban herb fries, or sweet plantains. These will be fun for noshing while you’re waiting for a friend, chatting over drinks, waiting for your tapas, or even to go with your tapas.
Click here for a copy of their lunch menu for your own little preview. Commence drooling.
Well, enough chitter-chatter, let’s take you on a before/after journey of Dolce Cubano:
BEFORE
Danny checks out the bar, soon to be fitted with carerra marble
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Lots of room here at Dolce Cubano!
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At the end will be a swanky lounge area with couches and chairs
AFTER
The swanky new lounge area with a killer view at Dolce Cubano in Stamford
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Look at that bar! Carerra marble is so sexy…
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The hostess station
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Barside view of this beautiful Harbor Point dock
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Backside of the bar with cushions for your knee and sleek bar stools…check out the purse hooks
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Side room fitted with a fireplace to keep your warm in the colder months. Plenty of room for groups and parties!
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Ahh…love the stove and kitchen here at Dolce Cubano. Bright, shiny, clean, and ready to rock your world.
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Dolce Cubano Restaurant and Rum Bar
Address: 78 Southfield Ave.
Stamford, CT
Phone: 203-817-0700
Opening: 11/15/12
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dolcecubano
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolceCubano
Dan and Kristien Del Ferraro
OmNomCT 
this is a good thing…i was worried about the time frame for openning – knowing all they needed to do…now if the inspector gives them the final okay (i assume that is what they are waiting for), then things will be perfect…i am anxious for some real cuban food!
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Yes, they were waiting on one final “ok” to open. :) Glad things are all set and ready to go. :) We met the chef…very nice guy. We totally need some awesome food, Whitemist! :)
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I highly doubt this is being touted as real Cuban food. Try Miami for real Cuabn Food, not Stamford. That being said, the fusion idea sounds great.
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It’s being touted as Italian and Cuban fusion. The only way to get truly authentic Cuban food is to go to Cuba. :)
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Can’t wait to check this place out…love the concept and the look of the place…toss in the waterfront location and seems like a great place. While I think this place seems like more of warm weather hotspot in my mind, an opening in November should give them ample time to work through all the kinks that new places have and be in full swing come spring. So in the last 12 months, there has been Harlan Social, Hudson Grille, Rodizio, Plan B, Station Eats, Bar Q and I’m sure many more…and we still have Dolce Cubano, Dinosaur Bar-b-que and Boca
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It’s definitely a perfect warm weather spot, but they really thought hard about making it great for colder times too with that really nice fireplace. Come summer time though…you ain’t getting in there without a wait. It’s going to be jamming! :) Dinosaur BBQ should be opening any day now! So excited brother.
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King Crab Cazuela,dont know what it is but I want it.Seafood and cheese most say is a no-no ,but I love it.Lunch menu looks fantastic.
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King Crab Cazuela…if you’ve had Zaza’s lobster polenta, this is pretty similar: creamy polenta, king crab, burrata mozzarella. It’s just…ahh, so good. :) As for seafood and cheese, that’s quite a controversy. :) :) :) The meal that we had before we got engaged, an old Italian guy sitting near us told us to never mix them. We think, though, that done right in a subtle way, the combo can be great. It can also be really freaking nasty. Depends on the quality of the food and the skill of the chef. :)
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This place should be packed to the gills on the holiday boat parade night, if the hurricane didn’t cancel it this year.
How many readers does OmNom have? I told my friends it’s about 10,000. Should I write a correction?
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Hey Peter, this will definitely be packed during the boat parade. Man…we need a spot STAT!
As for views, we are getting in the tens of thousands. We’ve been on a steady gain from month to month too. So many great readers! Thanks for asking.
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Finalmente!!! Can’t wait to check it out :)
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Good things come to those who wait, huh? How you been?
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