Gordo’s

This place has its ups and downs but the one thing that really bothers me is the attitude the waitresses have towards people and how bad the service is. The last time I went we were a total of 9 people. Everything took an hour. I come here all the time and it’s always the same rude waitresses. And my food always comes out cold. I’m done with this place.

This is a college local favorite and the food never seems to disappoint. I have been frequenting Gordo’s since freshman year and still find myself diving into a fresh Cuban now in my last semester. My favorite dish is the El Gordo, which is a kind of turkey cheese deliciousness pressed down between two slices of Cuban bread. I highly recommend throwing in a side of fries and hitting it home with the signature Gordo’s sauce. No one really knows what’s in it, but just trust that it is a creamy kind of low heat that can really kick your meal up another one. One chief complaint though, and that is wait time and overall service experience. If you have at least an hour and a half to dedicate to your meal then stash a Gordo’s Smash in your gullet and buckle in. On the other hand, if you are looking for a quick bite then you should probably look elsewhere.

My boyfriend and I keep coming back to this place because the food is good for it’s price. I have a good handful of Cuban friends and they stand by their opinion on this place not being authentic Cuban food, which I agree is a legitimate observation and taste. However, sometimes we crave the Americanized twist on food with a lot of culture background. I know I do various times.
Let’s start with the food first! I usually order El Gordo or La Gordita (rolls of the tongue good if you say it fast) with a side of friends and a China Mist Mango Tea. This dish never fails to be good, but Gordo’s is known for it’s pulled pork. If you love pulled pork, then I suggest you give this place a try once and develop a opinion for yourself.
Price range is not bad for the different options on the menu. The best time to indulge in flavorful Cuban American cuisine would be after 12:00pm or around 4:00pm lunch and dinner rush is over so you have plenty of room to find a table and enjoy. This is a «seat yourself and the waiter or waitress will come to serve you» type of establish and in my opinion this good on days when you feel like living on the edge. Word of advice to the wise; order the Gordo sauce with your entrée. I have no idea what they put in the sauce but it’s stupid good!
At the table you will find ketchup, hot-​sauce, one roll of paper towels, salt, and pepper in a bucket, Kind of trendy if you ask me. Now that I gave you details on this place what are you waiting for? 2016 is the year for new food!
Happy Unilocaling!
Ricky

Poor excuse for anyone who knows what true Cuban food is. Quality was subpar at best.

Was visiting the inlaws from south Florida and have made it a tradition to go to Gordos. I’ve always liked the food and have been happy with the whole experience. I ordered the steak sandwich and my wife the pork, both were very good. My kids ordered the palomilla steak and it tasted like it was bathing in lime juice all night. Was proud of my kids for eating it but they did mention it and they were right, very acidic. As for the fries, they should have an adult version and a kids version. It had A LOT of creole salt, to the point of hot. Not even the ketchup could help much. Again, for me it was almost ok, but my kids, i totally understood why they complained to me about the heat. I’ll probably still go to Gordos cause i still enjoy the sandwiches and i still have to try the pork chunks. Being from down south, and eating a lot of Cuban food, I have never had that much lime or that much creole salt put on anything. To whom ever is listening at Gordos, less is more man. Thanks

Gordo’s is a poor attempt at Cuban food. Service was slow and a little chaotic. Their empanadas were the worst I’ve had in a while. Nothing Cuban about this place.

First time I tried it it was honestly terrible but decided to try the Palomia again and second time around it was actually good. The beans still taste like they came out of a can but they aren’t watery which is good. Ill definitely eat here again

I normally love Gordo’s but no experience has been like today’s. My boyfriend and I got drinks, which the counts were all wrong messing up the drinks. Whatever– more difficult to drink. Our food came out not warm whatsoever but COLD. how does that happen when you’re ordering a dinner? We sent it back and then the next time it still wasn’t warm, still cold if they had just replated it. Completely losing our appetite, we each tried it again and it tasted as if it was sitting out and nasty as if it had gone bad. The server was nice enough to take it off our bill (which they should have) but definitely not something I’m excited to ever return to.

The food in itself was pretty decent, but not even close enough to justify waiting an hour and a half to actually get it on the table. Be warned, the servers won’t tell you this but the portions are very big.
I honestly wouldn’t come back here. I got tired of hearing constant apologies about the slow service, instead of seeing something being done about it or receiving some sort of warning beforehand. What really got to me was how people who sat down after us seemed to have much quicker service times. All in all, it was a disappointment.

If I could give this place a 0, I would. The locale is disgusting, the parking situation is a mess (be prepared to have your car washed right after your meal), the food is mediocre at best (but terrible for anyone who actually knows Hispanic food), and none of the uninterested/​rude employees speak Spanish (even though this is a «Cuban» place).
Don’t waste your time or money on this place unless your expectations are super low.

This place is a must if you’re visiting Tallahassee. I’ve come to Gordo’s since I was a freshman in college and now still go as an Alum. The food is amazing every time. I recommend getting Gordo’s sauce with any entrée/​appetizer. I usually get the pan con pollo and split a side of their French fries. Great prices for tasty food.

I wouldn’t give Gordos anything but 5 stars only because it’s an FSU tradition! If you were here back in 97 – 98, all three fat guys from Hialeah were here everyday sweating their butts off working in the kitchen. Those are some of the best memories of my life!
Oh and by the way, the food is awesome!
I love the Cuban!
Eat here and keep this place alive and well! And if you happen to get Carly, she takes great care of you… Reminds me of Nikki back in ’98! You remember her Eddie?

The food itself is pretty average, but the fries are AHMAZING! Definitely dip them in the Gordo sauce, it’s the best combo some might say

Love this place! Plenty of outdoor seating, friendly servers, food is a great price. I highly recommend the empanatas; they’re delicious! Food is tasty and fresh. I’ll be here again!

One of my favorite spots when I was in college, for the cuban sandwich and the gordo smash (huge, sweet alcoholic beverage that you only need 1 of). The cuban sandwich was one of my favorites, until I realized what a Cuban sandwich was really supposed to taste like in my later years.
However, a staple for FSU students — great location, close to the stadium.

By far one of the most disappointing restaurants in town
First off, it’s hot and smells bad. They need to serve $ 10 mix drinks so you can get drunk and tolerate the place
The bartender had zero personality and couldn’t care less about my group
We ordered the «Cuban» sandwich which tastes like something so bad I wouldn’t call it «Cuban»
Bathrooms are dirty too!

We ate here after graduation for my nephew the food was extremely good only downfall was they ran out of breaded steak which was kind of weird. I don’t live up here so I probably won’t be back but if I did come back I would come to eat here again I do recommend the place and think you could have a good meal at a decent price

This is a College Hangout and eatery. You come here cause it is close to the college and the food is pretty cheap. I mean you fill your belly with cheap liquor and then try to sober up with a greasy sandwich. We tried them for a late lunch and the Cuban was all right but not a real Cuban. I mean it was mostly processed meats and some jarred pickles and mustard slung in. Then pressed and served. I’m a real meat kind of guy so I want a hunk of meat cooked up right and sliced or chopped up the way a Cuban is suppose to be. I want some real pickles cut on the bias and laid out on the sandwich. I know tis is a working lunch and it did the trick. Will I be back or eat from here again. Probably cause one of the bosses like this place. For me I’ll go around to the other side of the college and eat at a truck if you want a really good Kuban. O k

This place is okay, it’s cheap and has a lot of the traditional dishes. It’s not the best I’ve had but it did its job. I wouldn’t suggest going out of your way to try this place but if your on a budget this is a good place to go.
The food I tried were the empanadas which are okay, chicken is the best one. The Cuban sandwich, it’s aight but decent enough. Tried the roasted pork off my wife’s plate which needed more seasoning. The mango tea is good.
They have the neon stereotypical Floridian restaurant color scheme, the hot pink, electric green, yellow, and any other color that also highlighters typically come in. Few Palm trees somehow worked into the interior, and of coarse a bucket on the table. I’ve seen this style in so many restaurants, does it have a name?
Overall this is a college hangout by the looks, not a traditional Cuban restaurant with the lovely music and vibes.

Went for the first time recently, ordered mahi fingers and ham croquettes. It’s a cute restaurant, nice looking menu with a lot of options, friendly staff and cheap prices.
Food came out quickly and was alright. Fish was kinda bland but the fries & Gordo sauce were killer. It’s a great place for a quick lunch when you’re not trying to spend a bunch.