Original Rio Cristal - Miami

So ... I popped in because someone, somewhere said this was a Miami landmark and that I had to go. I had no other plans on this Friday night so I popped in. The restaurant is located in a shopping center in the middle of Westchester. The interior has stood the test of time, practically untouched since the 1970s. Because I love you Miami , I was willing to give it a chance. I ordered the bistec Rio Cristal which is the Palomilla cut steak buried in a mountain of French fries. The steak was fatty (eek) but it had decent flavor. The cut was also too thick and not properly cooked. The fries were socata Cuban for the opposite of hot and crispy. It was a flop. I did enjoy the salad. It was fresh and I loved the thinly sliced onions which reminded me of my Abuela. In sum, save yourself the trip and spend your money on all of the up and coming restaurants paving the way for Miami 's exciting new restaurant scene.

Normally i love this place, today it completely sucked and they didn't care about their quality of food... French fries were soggy, rice was crunchy, yes crunchy and the waitress admitted they had given me what was left... very disappointed to say the least, I left most of my food and was charged full price... Ridiculous, take your chances...

The best steak in the world and the most delicious fries. They also offer great service and their prices are quite reasonable. It's a great cuban restaurant in the heart of Miami.

Rio Cristal gives customers a Cuban diner experience. We arrived on a Friday for dinner, there was no wait time but the restaurant was filling up quickly. It definitely looks like a spot for locals. The menu has most things you'd expect from a Cuban restaurant. I ordered the pan con bistec with fries. The portion of fries is absurd. Can definitely share with another person. The fries had an unexpected sweetness. The steak was delicious and soft, it was cooked perfectly. For dessert we ordered a flan, it was pretty good. The portion is for two people, or one if you have a sweet tooth. Their cafecito came in the cutest coffee cups! The coffee was a 10/10.

The place has an old school feel to it. The waitress was very personable and had suggestions on what we should order. Clean, and no real suggestion of filthiness. The food was cuban cafeteria food, although a touch above the average fair you find in Miami. The black beans tasted homemade, although I did pick up a hint of raw garlic (maybe I'm mistaken). The steak was bigger and a bit thicker than a palomilla and was well seasoned. Rice was clean and fluffy and well cooked. Overall would reccomend at least one visit. One final thing...they serve a TON of french fries so come hungry.