I like summer. Isn’t glorious golden sunshine the best? This warmer season also means new offerings on restaurant menus as seasonal menus change to reflect lighter foods to complement the weather.
I visited Revolución de Cuba Rum Bar & Cantina, Nottingham last week, for a catch up with my Derby Bestie. Nestled on Market Street slap bang in the city centre, Rev de Cuba cannot ask for a better location. Highly accessible and a few moments walk from tram stops, it is easy to make Rev de Cuba the first port of call whilst popping into Nottingham city centre.
I have visited Rev de Cuba Nottingham before. Sepia, warm wooden tones, plus the collection of lit candles throwing flickering shadows on the walls are homely and inviting. Up the stairs we went where we were promptly seated by our waitress.
It is a cosy yet expansive space, with edgy artwork adorning the walls. It’s a good menu, with new seafood additions including lime prawns. We kicked off with three tapas to share.
Pork belly skewers roasted in spicy rum sauce were tender. I liked the spicy rum marinade it was roasted in, whilst the addition of punchy pico de gallo accentuated the caramel undertones of the burnished sauce.
Gambas pil pil was a hot favourite at the table. Succulent king prawns enrobed in a garlicky, chilli based sauce was divine. The sauce was beautiful; next time, I’ll order bread so I can properly mop up the magnificent juices (although chips work just as well as an impromptu juice absorber).
Cauliflower frito was another winner; I can’t quite decide whether it trumped the gambas pil pil. I’m not really a fan of cauliflower, but whilst trialling a low carb high fat diet (more on that later), I have been more accepting of this bulbous vegetable. Bite-size florets fried in Mojito batter were gorgeous. I hate mushy vegetables, and the frito were cooked slightly al dente to retain a bite. The addition of goats cheese provided that acidic tang, whilst the smoky salsa took this dish to another level.
For main, I had the Cuban BBQ glazed chicken. Juicy roast chicken (served on the bone) was moreish and felt healthy to eat (come on, it IS protein). The Cuban BBQ sauce was warming, with a hint of Worcestershire sauce on the swallow. This is a great dish if you’re hungry, but calorie counting, as you can switch the side of skinny fries for a salad instead. (PS my photo had somehow disappeared, so this image is kindly taken from the Rev de Cuba website, to give you a flavour of what the dish looks like.)
My dining partner had the Caribbean chicken curry. Chicken curry and zesty rice was good and a very generous portion. I liked the presentation of this dish, especially the terracotta pot that held the curry. She liked it, but thought it tasted more like an Indian curry. I swiped a forkful, and agreed – it was pleasant to eat, and the rice was very tasty in all its zesty glory. It did taste more South Indian than Caribbean though.
The side of Fire Pigs were so good, I could have eaten a whole bowl of these and not cared about counting those darned calories. Fiery jalapenos stuffed chockfull with cheese and crisp bacon were a revelation. Some bits of the bacon were a little hard, but overall, this was one very tasty dish.
It was a day out, and I was allowed a teeny tiny bit of dessert. We ended the meal with a portion of churros (come on, we shared, it’s all good). Hot and crispy churros with a liberal sprinkling of white sugar were gorgeous. Served with two dipping sauces of chocolate and rum caramel meant we were spoilt for choice. For a deep, dark chocolate hit, dunk in the chocolate dip, whereas those with a sweeter tooth may prefer (like yours truly), the rum caramel offering.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself at Rev de Cuba Nottingham. Service with a smile, delicious food, drinks made to spec and attention to detail is what I rate, and that has also guaranteed my return.
Rev de Cuba Nottingham, see you again, very soon.
#InANutshell
Restaurant name: Revolución de Cuba Rum Bar & Cantina
Nottingham branch open since: Friday 16th December 2015
Covers: 88
Address: 26-28 Market St, Nottingham NG1 6HW
Closest tram stop: Upper Parliament Street
Opening times: 11am – 2am, Fri-Sat 11am – 3am, Sun-11am – 3am.
How to make reservation: online & telephone
Call: 0115 871 5735
General Manager: Robert Litchfield
Whilst in the area check out Theatre Royal, which showcases year-round great performances.