El Puro Cuban Restaurant in Charlotte NC embodies what it means to cook from the heart and honor those who came before us.
Designing an entire eatery around a certain cuisine is nothing new—in fact, it’s pretty expected. Guests want to eat in an environment that matches their meals. That can be through the décor, the architecture, or something else entirely. The owners of El Puro take this idea to the next level. Dania Ochoa and Emmanuel and Ana Acela Perez don’t just want guests to think of Cuba while they’re eating. They want them to feel the spirit of the country throughout their entire dining experience.
Bringing Cuba to the Queen City
“What sets us apart from the rest,” says Emmanuel “Manny” Perez, “is that we do more than serve authentic Cuban food. We carefully designed our restaurant’s décor to make our concept more alive. Every little detail, every little piece of decoration is where it is for a purpose.”
That purpose is to bring as much of Cuba as they can to the Queen City. It is steeped into every aspect of El Puro. Originally founded in honor of their family patriarch, El Puro Cuban Restaurant in Charlotte NC embodies the happiness he drew from life in pre-revolutionary Havana, Cuba. The owners worked closely with their designer to recreate that happiness. Everything from the light fixtures to the tile colors sparks joy. But what truly tied the space to its Cuban roots was the car.
Serving as the restaurant’s VIP table is part of a custom ’55 Ford Crown Victoria. It’s the same type of car that Manny’s father used to drive around places like Trinidad and Viñales. The result of these special touches and their dedication to detail is a space that’s become a source of comfort and nostalgia for their community.
“We know that life is busy and very stressful,” says Manny. “So our goal was to provide the community a place they can go to unwind. To relax and indulge in our culture with our food, ambience, and live music.”
Unwind at Any Time
Guests visiting El Puro Cuban Restaurant in Charlotte NC can indulge any time of day via the restaurant’s brunch, lunch, or dinner menus. Those who stop by for brunch can try the guava and cream French toast or tres leches pancakes. Those coming around lunchtime can try a variety of specialty sandwiches. Dive into the pollo siboney, lechón asado, and of course, their Cuban sandwich. The restaurant’s dinner menu is just as enticing, with dishes like croquetas for the appetizer and chuleta matamoros for the entrée.
But for El Puro to truly embody the history and glamor of Havana, Cuba, the restaurant needed a drink menu that lived up to their claims. That’s why they took such great care to build out their cocktail offerings and perfect the classics like El Presidente and El Cubano Viejo.
“We also pride ourselves on making the best mojito in the city,” adds Manny. “ We use fresh mint and fresh squeezed lime juice.”
Whether guests want to reminisce about the beauty of Havana or immerse themselves in an elegant dining experience, El Puro is the perfect destination to do just that. Don’t forget to stop by for dinner during the week for live music alongside premium cocktails.
