Enlarge Conga's Cuban Cafe Mojito and a ceramic from La Bodeguita Del Medio, the oldest restaurant in Cuba.

Posted: September 28th, 2009 Ayofemi Kirby

The Crossroads Correspondents will be previewing restaurants for the Oct. 8 Taste of the World. For more info and to make a reservation, click here

Conga's Cuban Café

Inspired by La Bodeguita Del Medio, the oldest and most popular restaurant in Cuba, the team at Conga's Cuban says it offers customers the best the country has to offer.

“If you want to get the real food, you have to go where the people are,” said Julio Iglesias, co-owner of Conga's Cuban.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, please click HERE

For more than ten years, Cuban food has been served in the same location on Albemarle Road, but in 2007, the Iglesias changed the name and vibe of Taste of Havana to Conga's Cuban.

And though the Conga's Cuban team is not from Cuba, they have spent years entrenched in the country’s culture.

“Sometimes its hard because Cuban people like what is strictly Cuban, but we try every day to make things better for everybody,” he said.

Iglesias was born in El Salvador, and has lived in Cuba for weeks at a time. His wife and co-owner, Michelle, was born in Charlotte and moved to Venezuela with her parents at the age of three.

Michelle’s grandparents are from Cuba, and Julio says she was never far from learning and living the Cuban tradition.

Oscar Hernandez, manager of Congos Cuban, was born in Mexico and has lived and worked with Michelle in America for more than ten years.

Because of common origins in many Hispanic cultures, Hernandez says similarities in the countries’ traditions are easily recognizable.

Currently, one of the restaurants most popular dishes is Pernil; a combination of roasted pork with grilled onions, white rice, black beans and sweet plantains.

“That’s the traditional combo in Cuba and Puerto Rico,” he said. “Sweet plantains, always, always, always.”

And though the Conga's Cuban team tries cooking to everyone’s taste, they are sure one menu item needs no improvement – the Conga's Cuban Mojito.

Hernandez and Iglesias say it is Charlotte’s best, and that it keeps guests coming back to Congas.

“I have people come in and say they’ve tried others that are good, they come here and that’s it” Iglesias said. “ “Next thing you know they’re back ordering by the pint for all their friends.”

Prices at Conga's Cuban Café range from $5.50 to $20.

Tweet

Previous Page