Paladar Nonna Tina - Varadero

Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Recommended dishes: Pizza Peperoni

The owner is just incredibly unfriendly and rude. When we finished our food there were already standing people waiting for a seat. We were so friendly to tell the waiter that we can have our drinks at the seat on the entrance, so they don’t have to stand and be waiting. The waiters response was: ‘ I would have told you this anyways as your reservation is only for an hour’. If we would have known that we need to finish food and drinks within an hour I would have never entered this place. At the end the owner gave us the check in dollars and when we wanted to pay in pesos, he said he has his own exchange rate of 180, while at that time most restaurants re exchanged at 130! Such a scam and unsympathetic Italian, there was no Italy feeling at all, screens are hanging around with beach videos of Italy. This place really dismisses the ‘Nonna’ vibe like the name would suggest! Never again

We were told about this place by a lovely couple on the bus, en route to our resort in Cuba. They insisted we try the pizza and the pasta-make a reservation they said-and we were not disappointed. A rich marinara sauce with quality cheese, and the crust was perfect, the basil super fresh. I brought a bottle of Pinot noir with me from Ontario, and we were charged a small corking fee. We ordered the rigatoni bolognese for take away. Oh I took it away alright! We were set to fly out the next morning at 11am, so the night before I put the pasta in the fridge. All packed up and ready to fly back to Canada, I cradled that pasta under my arm like a baby. At the first security check point in Cuba, I thought I was going to be told to toss it, but we made it! Passed through the scanner and I was on my way! Once in the terminal I grabbed two cold cans of coke to keep the pasta chilled. Up and away, we arrived in Canada a short three hours later-the pasta was still chill!!! I declared that I was in possession of a mango from Cuba and my beloved pasta. No problem! Canada border guards were pleasant and said enjoy ! As you can see from the photos, I reheated and enjoyed the bolognese in my own dining room! How cool is that!?! It was still al dente, and I only needed a touch of olive oil. (My 5 year old son actually started dancing when he tried it! Nonna Tina is a wonderful memory of Cuba, and we felt like family dining with you! We will spread the word here in Canada, and we will definitely be back! Viva la Cuba!

Very warm welcome from the owner and employees. Italian family food, good value quality price.

Visited with my wife. Reservation definitely needed. The food was really good. I had pizza and my wife had pasta. Pizza was fantastic. Pasta was alright. Was a little disappointed there was so ensalada on the appetizer menu. Decent wine list and the dessert did not disappoint. One note: make sure to bring USD to pay for tab. We only had pesos and got hammered on the exchange. The only bill in USD and just wrote in a number when we said we had pesos (8800 CUP for a $46 meal).