Completely Cuban!

Cuban Crocodile
26 East Park Avenue
Long Beach
(516) 442-2444
thecubancrocodile.com

From high-energy music to exotic cocktails, this place is authentically Cuban. One of the only Cuban restaurants to be found on Long Island, Cuban Crocodile opened in February, thanks to Marivi Wolfe and her fiancé, Cesar Santos.

For Marivi, Cuban Crocodile is a tribute to her family, who left Cuba in the 1960s. Having grown up loving its authentic cuisine, she wanted to share its unique style with her Long Island surroundings. She runs the restaurant hands-on, and can be seen schmoozing with customers, cooking in the kitchen, designing menus and creating innovations. Already, she’s planning to launch a second Cuban Crocodile in Massapequa.

Cuban fare, we discovered, boasts earthy flavors with an exciting play on textures. Food is flavorful but not spicy. If heat is your preference, ask for their homemade hot sauce. While items might seem familiar (such as black beans), the taste will be subtly different, not to be confused with Spanish, Mexican, Dominican, etc.

Décor starts outside, with sidewalk-café-style dining and a yellow “Crocodile Crossing” sign. French doors lead into a bar and lounge area with tables, followed by the main dining area a few steps up. Stucco, brick and wrought iron, embellished by family photographs from Cuba make an authentic statement.

Bread and garlicky butter arrived first. We opted for a light and refreshing Frescita, the Cuban version of a wine spritzer. Empanadas — two with beef, one with cheese — were scrumptious, with kudos to their crisp outer pastry. A perfect salad for summer was De Camarone, Melocotones Y Aguacate — mixed greens, jumbo shrimp, avocados and sugary sweet papayas. Among the tapas, Vaca Frita is quite traditional — a mountain of shredded flank steak and onions marinated in garlic sauce, served on a bed of thinly sliced plantains.