Versailles
Reviews
Name: Chip DuPont
Occupation: Interior Designer
Lives In: Deerfield Beach
Favorite Restaurant: Versailles
Reviewed Versailles: October 20
Classic Cuban dishes reinvented for a young Latin public keep the Versailles tables busy. Dishes such as Vaca Frita Grilled Shredded Beef and Onions topped with Mojo and served with moros rice and fried plantains is my favorite and the huge portions leave you slow to move.
Recover from the meal over another bottle from their savvy, well-priced wine list.
Despite the rustic French reflective diner interior, Versailles draws a funky eye-pleasing crowd. Many locals gather and the South Beach clubbers congregate to balance their liquid intake with breakfast dishes such as my favorite, the Plantain Omelet. This is a must-experience Cuban Dinner with crystal lighting for all ages.
Name: Amy Johnson
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
Lives In: West Palm Beach
Favorite Restaurant: Calvary Chapel’s The Daily Grill
Reviewed Versailles: October 12
A friend and I made the long trip down to Versailles and by the time we got there, it was already about 9 p.m., which was pretty late for us. We were happy to see that for the Cuban crowd this was not late at all, so the place was packed and the clientele great. This definitely made us feel comfortable and helped make our Calle 8 experience wonderful as well.
The restaurant itself is huge and in true Cuban style, there was a walk-up window that had fast food and of course, coffee. Though it’s not quite a cafeteria, it does have a cafeteria feel to it. It was a little on the dirty side – the table wasn’t wiped down, the walls looked sticky and the décor wasn’t current. I also had a hard time understanding serving Cuban food under the guise of a French landmark.
The food was pretty good, but the ingredients don’t taste particularly fresh. I wished we’d asked somebody about specialty items because we just stuck with what we already know. Our entrees were the Palomilla Steak and the Chicken Versailles. They came with black beans, white rice, congri rice and plantains. I think the congris rice and the plantains were the best part of the meal…they were delicious! The sauce on the chicken was also really tasty.
For dessert, I had Dulce de Leche Flan and a Cuban coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker and had never had Cuban coffee before, so needless to say it was quite a powerful experience – helped keep me up on my long drive home. As for the flan, I have a sweet tooth, but this one was way too sweet even for me. I probably would’ve been better off ordering the Coconut Flan instead.
Our overall experience was ok, though I’m not sure I would recommend this restaurant. Maybe to someone that’s in town for a long time, if only for the overall experience. I would probably recommend other Cuban restaurants that I love before recommending Versailles.
Name: Frank Wakely
Occupation: Retired Police Officer
Lives In: West Palm Beach
Favorite Restaurant: Anchor Inn
Reviewed Versailles: October 23
I went to Versailles by myself, but everyone else was there with family or a date – all seemed to be enjoying themselves thoroughly. The restaurant is quite large with seating for over 200. They had well attended service that was quite fast and efficient, but not overly warm.
The menu was quite large at five pages. I ordered oysters as an appetizer and they were served in a water glass, not on half shells, which I thought was odd, and with no lemon or sauce. Needless to say, the presentation was quite poor. For my entrée I had Crillo, a Cuban sampler that consisted of pulled beef, yellow rice, fried pork, sausage roll and black bean sauce – all were delicious. For dessert I had rice pudding that was okay.
For people of Cuban decent Versailles is quite the place; including outdoor films about their history. The overall restaurant was a nice experience and next time I’d like to go with someone who is knowledgeable about Cuban cuisine. The food was good, and a nearby patron gave me a little history of the building, which was interesting and made for a personalized dining experience. Other patrons seemed to be really enjoying themselves and with some knowledge I could easily join the fun.
Restaurant Information
Location: 3555 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33135
Phone: (305) 444-0240
Parking: Lot adjacent to building
Type of Cuisine: Cuban
Signature Dishes: Chicken Versailles, Calle Ocho Special
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Alcohol Served: Yes
Corkage Fee: No
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Tuesday – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Wednesday – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Thursday – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Friday– 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Saturday – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Sunday – 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Meals Served: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Brunch
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Average Dinner Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $15-$20
Average Lunch Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $10-$15
Average Breakfast Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity): under $10
Payment Options: do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones? Yes
Accept Reservations: Yes
Need Reservations: No
Accommodations for Children: Yes, children’s menu
Dining Style: Casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: Over 200
Accommodate Groups: Yes
Private Dining Room: No
Outdoor Dining: No