342 Kirkstall Road,
LEEDS,
LS4 2DS
(0113) 2750888
The ViewLeeds Review
Viva Cuba indeed! Long live the delicious menu at this small but perfectly formed restaurant.
The Venue
The Kirkstall branch of Viva Cuba (Viva Latina offers the same menu and is situated in the city centre) may not be in the most idyllic of locations, situated as it is, on one of the busiest parts of Kirkstall Road, but step inside and you will instantly feel a million miles away from the cars and buses rushing by.
That’s not to say the restaurant is peaceful in any way! Spread out over two floors, the main aim of the layout seems to be to cram as many tables as possible into the fairly limited space. Although it contributes well to an intimate and friendly atmosphere, it can feel a little claustrophobic if dining at a busy time.
The restaurant is dimly but warmly lit, and the music can hardly be described as quiet. This succeeds in creating an exotic feeling of escape from the rather dull world outside, but there is no less hustle and bustle, and it's perfect for a fun meal out with friends, but it’s perhaps not the ideal setting for a romantic rendezvous with the tables close enough together that a fellow diner is more than likely to overhear some of your sweet nothings.
A small bar is located near the entrance on the groundfloor, as well as a second bar upstairs. This means that on the occasions when a waiter’s attention can’t be attracted, diners won’t have to stretch their legs too much to quench their thirst.
The People
Viva Cuba attracts a fairly wide range of diners, from families, couples, through to large groups. Their main business seems to be the twenty-something crowd and their reasonable prices draw in some students too. Jostling for position with the lively music is some equally lively laughter and chatter, and the atmosphere is fairly buzzing especially since the restaurant is usually pretty busy.
Staff look of a similar age to the customers, and are approachable and friendly, along with being skilled choreographers wending their way through the labyrinthine table arrangements. The busy and vivacious atmosphere never feels anything less than friendly, amid the many portraits of Che Guevara adorning the dark red walls, once you’ve settled down you won’t want to leave.
The Food
Diners flock back time and again for the down-to-earth but delicious food. This tapas menu is overflowing with tasty choices, with around 30 options to choose from, at a range of prices (around £3 to £4), with the average spend being less than £5 for a single dish. Portions are generous, and two people with smaller appetites could probably make do with four dishes, but for those who want to sample as many treats from the menu as they can, five between two people is more than enough to satisfy any appetite!
The beautifully rich chorizo al vino - spicy chorizo in a rioja sauce - practically melts away , but rich is the word and this is a dish definitely for sharing. For those who like their food with a spicy kick, the jalapenos and cream cheese covered in bread crumbs are devilishly morish. Order meatballs and you will get four delicately flavoured mince balls in a delicious and very tomatoey sauce.
Patatas bravas chilli is a high point on this excellent menu, with a mild, but still very tasty and beefy chilli topping fried potatoes (a vegetarian chilli is also available.) To balance out the meal, and maybe calm the palate a little, the cous cous is what you’d expect - fine in texture, and delicate in taste, but it also comes with brightly coloured and juicy Mediterranean vegetables.
There really is something for everyone on this fantastic menu, and the generous portions mean it’s impossible to try everything you fancy in one visit. There are no pretensions here with the food. Each dish is full of flavour and doesn’t need to show off to be very tasty indeed.
The Drink
This is the perfect place for sharing your food while the drink flows and accordingly the cocktail menu is full of the expected choices, many involving the ‘local’ Havana Club rum. Indeed, the many empty bottles decorate the room as candle holders.
A pitcher of sangria comes in at around £13. Individual cocktails are around £4 to £5 and include mojitos and strawberry daiquiri, among others. Wine drinkers have a reasonable selection to choose from, with the average spend for a bottle at around £13.
The bar is well stocked with a selection of spirits and bottled drinks, with Red Stripe at around £2.80 for a pint. Real ale drinkers will find themselves disappointed unless willing to console themselves with the cocktail menu.
The Last Word
Make sure you arrive early to be sure of bagging a table at this simple little restaurant. Even if you have to squeeze yourself into a corner, it is well worth it to sample the fantastic menu, and as the cocktails flow, so will the conversation and the laughter.
Viva Cuba has been reviewed by 1 users