F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; 6 at Astor Pl.
Prices
$12-$20
Payment Methods
American Express, MasterCard, Visa
Special Features
Brunch - Weekend
Late-Night Dining
Lunch
Alcohol
Full Bar
Reservations
Accepted/Not Necessary
Profile
The owners of the Pan-Latino Yuca Bar in the old (rehabbed) Leshko’s space have kept the predecessor’s décor but ditched its signature pierogi. Chef Roberto Cardona (most recently seen at DRK in Washington Heights) whips up a Nuevo Latino menu that covers a lot of ground, from lobster taquitos and Cuban-style garlic chicken to grilled tofu with guava barbecue sauce and brown rice—its own concession to neighborhood tastes. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld
Happy Hour
Mon–Fri, 1 p.m.–8 p.m.
6.7
"Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10
For as long as I can remember, Yuca Bar was a sure thing. You could depend on the heavenly sangria, friendly staff, and unauthentic Cuban decor. But last Sat night, I would have never guessed that my love affair for this latin hot spot would come to screeching halt because of 1 horrifying excuse for a restaurant manager. After waiting an eternity for a table, but who's complaining...my fault for not having a reservation anywhere in this city on a Sat night, so less in this neighborhood, with renewed excitement and anticipation for a tasty meal, we were brought what we were told was a complimentary appetizer. Fast fwd 2 hrs....the app was not only on our bill, the 'mgr' refused to remove it!! Out of principle, we dug our heels in. A screaming match ensued (initiated of course by the crass head honcho) until he finally caved. Moral of the story: this restaurant should be deported along with Fidel's loyalist. It's bc of people like this we have an embargo on Cuba.
Amazing brunch food. I go about once a month, and the food is always wonderful. The only thing I had that wasn't great was the cuban sandwich. It is also a great place to go for drinks. At brunch, a drink comes with your meal which is great. Also, we got the sangria last weekend for the first time, and it was the best and strongest sangria I have ever had!