Mojito Mo'Problems: Why Grand Rapids' Newest Cuban Restaurant Will Become Your Latest Dining Addiction

​The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan is growing every single day. What was now a sleepy downtown where some companies did business is now a popular place to live and hang out – just look at the overpriced high-rise apartments and lack of parking. All joking aside, I remember going downtown on a Sunday and you could swear the apocalypse had just arrived; There was no one around. Nowadays, there’s crowds spending time in the city all-year long. 

With so much going on, that also means Grand Rapids is becoming a Midwest travel destination in the United States. Obviously, one of the most prevalent travel topics is food, and there’s plenty of old favorites and emerging new restaurants in Grand Rapids that travelers and locals alike can enjoy.

I’m a foodie and love to try new things, so when I heard about a brand-new Cuban restaurant on GR’s east side, I just had to check it out. 

Danzon Cubano opened up just last year and is already bringing a unique flair to the Grand Rapids food scene that has usually been delegated to major cities like New York or Los Angeles. This restaurant not only brings its A-game to food and drinks, but more importantly, to entertainment! Their Facebook page is filled with all sorts of fun music and dance events. On Thursdays, there’s Salsa dance lessons, and on weekends you can catch live music performances. Coming up this month, Danzon Cubano is hosting two performances with the Afro-Caribbean and Salsa band Grupo Aye. If you’re curious about the entertainment, check out their Facebook page, which includes plenty of videos featuring entertainment that the restaurant puts on.

I had the opportunity to visit Danzon Cubano this past weekend, and while I didn’t catch any entertainment that night, I was able to try out some incredible food. My friend Julie and I split an appetizer, meal, and dessert, which is a great way to go. It’s just enough food and for young people on a budget, it’s a great way to save a little too.

I ordered a Cuba Libre to drink. I had never had one before, and since I’ve already tried a mojito, I figured let’s go with this one. It was really good!

For the appetizer we had the Tostones Rellenos - or stuffed plantain chips – with rice and beans. For dinner, we ordered the Churrasco al Danzon (Danzon Steak). It’s a Cuban style flank steak, served with rice and beans, maduros, and mojo. And then for dessert we ordered the Flan. It comes with a piece of Guayaba fruit to top it off. Perfect finish to a great meal.

The food was honestly some of the best I’ve ever had, but what I think sets this place apart is the addition of entertainment. It’s not just a restaurant or a nightclub, it’s a cool combination of both. It’s perfect for a girl’s night out, a date night, birthday party, everything. Feel free to dress up here too. Get in the spirit of going out and actually getting dressed up. 

So, if you’re visiting Grand Rapids - or just live in GR and are looking for a new place to go out to - I would definitely recommend Danzon Cubano. You can be sure I'll be back again. ¡Salud!