The Lost Cuban

I love this place. The Cuban & Media Noche sandwiches are always good. Served very hot. The Gitmo sauce is great if you mix it in with the rice and beans. I also suggest switching the rice and beans with fried plantains if you want something sweeter.

Oh my. Delicious. Extremely helpful staff. Everything here is wonderful, and cheap. If I lived in Cedar Rapids I would eat here once a week at least. The black beans and rice sides are with the visit on their own.

Food: five stars. Delicious, unique, hard to find anything else like it in this corner of Iowa.
Service: two stars. Woefully understaffed.
Visit: my first visit.
Here’s the story. It’s Saturday afternoon, and we decide to get takeout from the Lost Cuban. We stop in at 4:30 pm. There are a few customers, and the line is short. We place our order (for six adults) and then wait. And wait. And wait some more. I see patrons arrive after us order and finish their meals. We eventually receive our order over an HOUR later. 75 minutes, to be exact. And there was no mystery regarding the wait: there were TWO employees running the restaurant — taking orders, cooking, serving, and (I would imagine) doing dishes. I felt sorry for them — these were two young men who were good sports and working hard, but clearly were dealt a poor hand and a bit overwhelmed. It’s a shame, because the food was delicious. But worth a 75 minute wait? That’s a hard sell. If you go — on a Saturday, anyway — make sure you bring something to snack on while you wait.
As for the food, everything we ordered was delicious. I had a cuban sandwich, which was enjoyable, but a bit forgettable. Not so the main dishes. The picadillo, pollo en fricase, and arroz con pollo were all amazing. The portions were also generous — I could’ve easily made two meals from each entrée if I hadn’t waited so long to eat!
Bottom line: great food, terrible management. I do plan on returning, and I hope that the service is better the next time around.

I ate at a really amazing authentic Cuban place in Florida, and I bring this up to compare it with the Lost Cuban. At the restaurant in Florida, the full meals/​platters were incredible, with pulled pork, fried plantains, rice, sauce, etc.
Here in Cedar Rapids, the Lost Cuban has a very simple menu. I think I have tried everything on the menu, and it’s very good, although I don’t like the platters as much as the place in Florida, BUT the sandwiches here with the home made sauce on the side were much better, and are the best I’ve had!
This is a great spot for lunch, the prices are great, and it is a big meal for the money

Those beeeeeeansss, dios mio! This place is awesome. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Definitely try the sauces. Sometimes can be a bit of a wait but so worth it!

OK. I hate doing this because the lost Cuban is so yummy, the food is fantastic and is definitely authentic Cuban food… but today was the last straw… Today is SATURDAY!!! Why would you have one person working… Come on now.
I always look forward to a café con Leche because it is amazing !!! It is a delicious creamy coffee made just perfect!
They have been open for two hours but apparently he made his last coffee… Ok. how about 2 empanadas? Nope sorry we are out. Ok how about a Cuban salad? Nope sorry out of those too! … Bahhhhhh :(:(
I then had to sit next to the person with the last coffee as he enjoyed every sip, it was SO unfair and SO disappointing. Next our food came 30 min. Later… My sandwich was COLD. ?? It sat there forever so he could serve all the Cubans together for everyone who had been waiting. My boyfriends sandwich he claimed was nice and hot. Again, extreme disappointment and sadness! How much torture can one take??? Please get it together lost Cuban we love you !! I want to see you stay here!!!

Wow, everything was really good. The service, the food, the environment, loved it. But, even if we hated the place, the Cuban sandwich here is worth 5 stars. This place is a gem! AND, they have Tres Leches cake!!! So good!

I had never heard of The Lost Cuban before and I can tell you that we will MOST CERTAINLY be back! Amazing food. Great people. Cute place. Hit the stop! I will be dreaming about the Cuban for weeks! My boyfriend and I shared the Cuban sandwich and also the pork dish called Lechon Asado which he got with a side of plantos! They were both amazing. I will most certainly be recommending The Lost Cuban to my friends and family and be making trips back for it! Ps the hot sauce is one of the best I’ve had! Great Flavors!

I got there at 7pm and was told that they ran out of all food except for the last two dishes. However, I got my meal for free with except of a side of plantains. The staff was friendly and apologized.
I had then rice and chicken which was very good if you add their sweet sauce. Overall I would come back. …if I could have an empanada.

Good, but disappointed.
I have a feeling I’m going to be railroaded for this, but I was really disappointed in my lunch at The Lost Cuban. We stopped in for lunch on our way to STL and this place had a great looking menu and excellent reviews.
I decided I was going to have the Cuban hot dog and an empanada, my husband was going to have the Cuban sandwich. It’s not even noon and they are out of the Cuban hot dog, so I got the sandwich instead plus an empanada.
The sandwich was okay. It was thin and kinda chintzy, but I loved the bread. I had one slice of ham and barely any pork or cheese on my sandwich. It did not look like the ones already posted. Cheese empanada was good, but my husband’s chicken one was cold.
It was kinda busy so I think they just rushed through to get the food out.
The price is right, but I would not go back. Sorry CR, [as I duck for cover] I didn’t have a great food experience at the Lost Cuban.

Although hours are a bit different than here.
M and T 10am-​4pm
W-​F 10am — 8pm
Sat 1pm-​8pm
Sunday YOUR SOL.
This place was great has outside seating as well.

One of my favorite places for good, strong espresso and sweet treats. My biggest complaint is that the menu hasn’t changed much, if at all since they first opened. Being a vegetarian there’s only a one full meal to choose from, is that a bad thing? Yes and no. It has me coming in less often, but when I do the meal is consistently good. One other complaint is that breakfast is only served until 11, when they open at 10, not happy with that but I’ll live.
Would I recommend this place? Absolutely. The menu is still deserve and unique enough that everyone will find something they will like.

I ordered the veggie vieja with a side of yuca. It was a little too saucy on it’s own but eaten alongside the yuca, it was just perfect. The dulce de fuego sauce was delish and sweet — very cinnamon and apple-​y. There was also a smokey/​spicy gitmo’ sauce that I’m curious to try next time.
The atmosphere was perfect for the menu — a no-​fuss vibe that lets you know the food they’re about to serve you is going to be delicious. That streetside patio also looked darn near perfect.

I can’t believe I am giving this place 5 stars, but, believe me, they are well deserved. However, our visit didn’t start out that great and we were convinced we had made a mistake… until we got our food.
So, here’s how it went down.
We walked in, the music was playing and Celia was belting one out. Pretty good. Or, so we thought, until we walked up to the counter. Don’t get me wrong, the guy was very nice, and very helpful. He was alone at that moment, cooking and tending the register, but he still found time to greet us warmly and take our order. So, we look at the menu, and started our order with the Maduros (fried plantains for non-​Cubans). That’s when the wheels fell off the cart. He looked at us completely perplexed. So, we repeated, «maduros,» — because that is what it called them on the menu. Still, he appeared unsure, so we pointed to the word on the menu. A light bulb! And order placed. Then we ordered two Cuban sandwiches and sat down to wait.
I looked at hubby and he looked at me, and we thought we had made a mistake. How, good can the food be if the guy didn’t know what was on the menu!
However, I am so freaking happy to report that, though he may not have known what they were called on the menu, he did know how to prepare them! The whole meal, in fact, was authentically Cuban. And, trust me, being Cuban, I am the harshest on Cuban restaurants because I know what the food should taste like. This tasted like home.
The Cuban sandwiches were authentic, without some Bobby Flay mofo trying to put their modern interpretation on what they think a Cuban sandwich should be. A Cuban sandwich is a thing of simplistic beauty. Flavors of pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on a bread that has been run through a plancha to make it crispy warm and flat. They got it right here. Lovely pork and ham with the right compliments and no weird stuff like jalapeño jelly or whatever else some people think belongs on it.
The meal came with black beans and rice. The flavor was good. Not perfect for me, but the thing about black beans is everybody’s abuela does it differently and you will never get the flavor you truly love without your abuela making them. These are worth having, even if my abuela didn’t make them.
The maduros that we had so much trouble ordering came to our table hot, sweet and delicious.
And, of course, there was Iron Beer to wash it all down with. Cuban heaven in Iowa. Who knew!

WOW! Awesome, lip smacking good. The Cuban sandwich here is as good as my Cuban cousin from Miami makes.
I was in Cedar Rapids for work when I found this place on Unilocal.I always enjoy a good Cuban sandwich. With All the positive reviews I had to go a try it and they were spot on.
I was planning on going there other night after a long day. Unfortunately when I got back to the hotel, I took a nap and when I awoke, they were closing in 15 minutes and I was 20 away, I was bummed. So I stopped by on way out of town and got a to go order. It made the trip back to Indianapolis IN, 6 hours later with no problem. Other than I had to resist the urge to dig in, as the aroma emitting from bag was enticing, that and I was bringing dinner home for wife.
The staff here was friendly, courteous and prompt. As soon as I walked in the door at 10:00AM he approached the front counter ready to take my order. They were prepping for the day. Granted I was only customer, he still stopped what he was doing .
The place is quaint reminds me of places in Miami the dominos is a nice touch. I really wanted to try a mojito they sounded good but one would turn into 2 and I was looking at 6 hour drive.
This place is defiantly worth a repeat visit!

Try this place out for lunch. It is delicious! I had a Cuban sandwich, and my mouth is watering even now just thinking about it.
They have different hours, and I would recommend checking first if they’re open before heading over.
This place is a definite thumbs up!

So, if they worked on their customer service, I could easily be a regular! Food was prepared fast and the portion sizes are huge! The flavors are amazing! I ordered a Cuban Sandwhich on sweet bread with rice and black beans and a chicken empanada. No complaints about my food. It was like heaven to a Florida girl who is missing the ranges of cuisine since moving to Iowa. Major points were earned when I watched them stuff the empanadas and drop them in the dryer just after I ordered them. Super fresh and tasty! Do give this place a try if you want authentic Cuban cuisine.
Second Visit: food was equally amazing! I got the ropo vieja with black beans… and tried the «sweet and sassy» sauce… phenomenal! Better customer service which won me over. Another possible improvement I noticed was that they could use better ventilation. I left smelling like food, which was a little disappointing since I was headed out for the night!
While you wait get «the top» out and play dominos!

I heard of The Lost Cuban through Movoto, Fifteen Restaurants that will Blow your Mind. This place lives up to the review. I love a great cuban and they are hard to find in Iowa, unlike South Florida.
The staff is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is in downtown Cedar Rapids which meant street parking, which there is actually plenty of parking the Saturday I went.
I would say I was surprised that the restaurant didn’t open until 1pm for lunch and while waiting I saw quite a few people come to the door, see the place closed, and leave.
The only other complaint I have would be I read the reviews and was excited to have a mojito, having been to San Juan Puerto Rico I love a great mojito and it was disappointing that they don’t serve alcohol currently. I don’t know the reason, but when I come back I hope they have that fixed.
I got the Cuban of course which came as a lunch special. The Cuban was absolutely excellent, plenty of meat with excellent flavor and fantastically prepared. The rice with black beans was a great side. This is definitely an excellent lunch choice.
This place does fill up quickly and has average seating, the food comes pretty quick, and there is a lot of things located close. I happened to be heading to Cedar Ridge Winery.
This place deserves to be on the top fifteen.

Cuban food is so underrated it’s not even funny. I remember the first time we had Cuban food — it was like we found a magical blend of Caribbean and Mexican that was unlikely to induce GI distress. That trend continues here! This little gem has been hiding for some time up North of the wall from Iowa City. We finally made it for lunch and were, expectedly, in love with the place!
The place is decent size for the location with seating for about 30 people. It was packed and with good reason. They’ve got options a plenty for whatever deliciousness you crave. Classic Cuban sandwiches all the way down to marinated meats like Mama (the gentleman at the counters Mama) used to make. Couple dessert options, Cuban coffee and a couple beer selections make this a gem! Plus — they have diet mountain dew and code red. A subtle, but appreciated shout out to the younger food lovers!
I had the classic Cuban sandwich and it was a good as advertised. Incredible flavor, crusty bread and just the right amount of press. No one wants their sandwich looking like a warm grandma just sat on it and luckily, this passed said test. I would seriously serve that sandwich at a wedding, it’s that good. Pair it with some Plantains and BOOM — you win.
My wife had the Ropa Vieja and it was also good, though not as good as the sammich. Slow roasted meat over rice with some delicious sauce — it was more reminiscent of pot roast than anything — again good, not great.
The sauces here include smoky/​spicy (Affectionately named Gitmo) and sweet/​spicy (Dulce De Fuego). Both were great, but the Gitmo won my affection from the combo of wit and deliciousness.
At the end of the day, this place is straight up LEGIT! Incredible food, nice employees and just the right amount of wittiness to keep things light (we went to a place in Durham, NC that ironically called for the end of capitalism while taking our orders…). These guys run a great shop and it’s one you should absolutely check out!

Ooh, my tummy is happy. My mouth is smiling. And I have leftovers! The smokey sweet sauce on the side is perfect for the Cuban sandwich. Next time, ropa vieja. I asked M about his soup, and he said «complex.» A man of few words, my M. But, he promised we’d be back.
Update: yes, I did! Ropa vieja was yum. They we’re out of the sauce, but there’s always next time.