Unlimited Tapas Deal at Cuba Libre on Tuesday Nights

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar in Washington, D.C., is currently offering a special Tapas Tuesday special, lasting from 4 to 11 pm on Tuesdays. Guests receive an unlimited number of tapas for the set price of $26.95 per person, with over 25 tapas to choose from, and a menu drawing heavily from Caribbean, Latin American and even Spanish flavors.

It’s an enticing offer and a good deal, and diners who bring their appetites with them will get plenty of bang for their buck, with individual tapas dishes typically costing between $5 and $12 on their own, and a diverse collection of tapas to choose between depending on what type of food you’re craving.

Tostones, twice-fried green plantains, are an addictive opener, served with a flavorful garlic-mojo dipping sauce. The Guacamole Cubano is light, citrusy and refreshing, made with avocado, pineapple and lime juice, and it’s served with plantain chips for dipping.

Crisp Pork Belly Pinchos, honey-soy glazed skewers of pork belly, showcased succulent, melt in your mouth bites, bursting with flavor and character, and the vinegary Vigoron slaw which was served with the dish cut the rich flavors nicely. You’ll also certainly want to sample one or several of Mama Amelia’s Empanadas, with beef, chicken, cheese and pork varieties.

Other dishes which may catch your eye include Camaguey Meatballs, with beef, pork and pine nuts; Barrio Chino Chicken Wings, with an Asian BBQ glaze; Papas Rellenas stuffed with beef picadillo and served with a sweet and spicy guajillo pepper sauce; Yuca Fries; a Charcuterie Board; Cuba Libre Chicharrones, with a smattering of grilled meats and other bites; and Cuban Sandwich Spring Rolls, with pork, Genoa salami, ham, provolone and Swiss cheese encased in a fried spring roll.There’s plenty of seafood as well, including a plate of Boquerones, marinated white anchovy fillets served over a cucumber, olive and tomato salad, as well as crab and shrimp ceviches, steamed mussels, grilled baby octopus, and more.

While most items on the menu were flavorful and well-prepared, a few dishes fell flat. Smoked bacon and apple Croquetas sounded great, but didn’t taste like smoked bacon or apple. Spanish and Manchego Bunuelos, although with a tasty and creamy interior, were missing the satisfying crunch on the outside which you might expect.

Still, if you’re ordering from the unlimited menu it’s not a crushing blow if one of the dishes isn’t what you were hoping for, just line up one of the remaining two dozen options next, and you can feel free to venture beyond your comfort zone and try plates you normally wouldn’t.

To wash it all down, you’ll want to sample from the collection of several dozen Mojitos, Caiprinhas, and tropical cocktails on the menu, as well as Pisco cocktails, sangria, and a lineup of high-end tasting rums.

A few of the can’t miss choices include the Mint, Ginger and Honey Caipirinha, the Housemade Caipirinha Infusion, the Sandito Mojito, made with Bacardi Solera Cube Libre 10 Year Anniversary Rum and fresh watermelon juice, or the Grilled Pineapple Mojito, and with so many choices you’re sure to find a refreshing cocktail which suits your tastes one way or the other.

In addition to Tapas Tuesday and their normal lunch and dinner operation, Cuba Libre also turns into a late night Latin dance party spot on the weekends, and serves brunch as well.

This article was first published on Yahoo Voices on August 7, 2013.