Viva Cuba - Queen Square

Category: Under £20

Do not get Viva Cuba on Kirkstall Road confused with the one at the back of the Merrion Centre in Leeds. They are the same owners however you would not think so. Viva Cuba on Claypit Lane is without a doubt the worst restaurant both my companion and I have ever eaten in. Not only was the service appalling and the interior tired worn and grubby but the food was inedible.

We ordered:-
Calamari's Fritos (battered squid)
Mejillones Al Ajillio
(mussels in white wine)
Cordero Habana
(diced lamb in spicy sauce)
Patatas Bravas
(cubed potatoes in tomato sauce)
Papas Fritas (chips)
Gambas A La Plancha
(king prawns in olive oil).

From start to finish everything was wrong. The front door was locked so we had to use the back entrance that was blocked by a member of staff's car; we squeezed past getting dirt on my suit. Once inside I had to ask if they were open. We were the first customers of the day; however it would have been nice to have been made to feel welcome. The staff were more interested in their own conversation than us.

Once seated, we had to ask for menus then we had to ask for drinks, by this time we were starting to think we had made a bad choice, then the food came and we realised we had made a massive mistake. Everything was disgusting; I honestly would not have given it to my dog. The chips were re-fried, the mussels were tough, the lamb was 50% fat 50% tough meat, the king prawns were like rubber and the Patatas Bravas were diced potatoes with what appeared to be a small tin of chopped potatoes poured over them and they were cold. WE LEFT EVERYTHING. When the waitress collected the dishes she did not ask why we had left everything, nor did she do a food check.

We also asked for the music to be turned down, we were the only people in. We could not hear each other's conversation and it was 12 O'clock midday. Reluctantly they turned it down. Viva Cuba is the worst restaurant I have ever nearly eaten in.

All of this is such a shame as I understand the Kirkstall Road site is quite nice however, based on this experience, I will never find out!

Reviewed by Neil Saville.

Review Summary

Atmosphere Nil
Food Nil
Service ♦
Value Nil

Contact Details

Viva Cuba
19 Queen Square
Claypit Lane
Leeds
LS28 8AF
T: 0113 244 9550