Revolucion De Cuba

There are new eateries popping up all over the shop these days, and one of the latest sits on Market Street where Bar Circle used to be. A little birdy tells me that those silly boggers had plastered all over the original fixtures and fittings within the building to make it look all funky fresh, and the reason the place took so long to refurbish is because the shop-fitters have been restoring all the original flooring, skirting and whatnot.

Proper worth it. The place is absolutely massive, and it’s a grand experience walking through the massive wooden front doors to high ceilings and fresh décor. The clattering of glass, warm air and wall of alcohol behind the bar was cool – sleek, plain spaces with splashes of colour everywhere. There was even a musical duo plucking away at their guitars in the corner. No sooner than we arrived, a Cuba Libre was shoved in my hand – Barcardi Carta Oro with lime and Coke.

The place seemed pretty big, but as we were taken upstairs we realised that it’s actually massive. There’s another little bar, with a kind of posh speak easy feel, where we were given mojito-making classes, all inclusive of passion fruit mojitos – tart enough to make your tabs laugh and by far one of the tastiest bevs I’ve had this year. I could feel the evening teetering on the edges of messiness, but it was a school night so we had to reign it in.

Before we could say Havana, we were whisked off to yet another room, where watched the blessing of the dancefloor (with cigar smoke!) before a salsa class. Despite the fact I’ve got two left hooves, it was a lot of fun, and where the coordination lacked, it was made up with silly improvisation. Ole!

We were gerrin’ a dab-on, and a break for a Pornstar Rumtini and a Strawberry Daiquiri was required. The Pornstar came equipped with a shot of Cono Sur sparkling wine as a “palate cleanser”. Yes. Cleanse the palate, it did, making room for another tart passion fruit treat, all inclusive of a slice of the good stuff as well as Bacardi Carta Blanca rum, lime and vanilla. Twas delicious, although I was slightly jealous of my partner’s rum-laced slushy treat with strawbs, cranberry, lime and sugar.

Eventually it was time for some buffet action, and a good job too. Any more liquor and we’d be on us backs. Naturally, we piled up the plates as much as humanly possible. Tasty prosciutto atop fresh tomato salsa on toasted bread was a lovely way to kick things off. Then it was onto the plate of various scrumptious items: the beef brisket chilli had a good kick to it alongside the spicy rice; the chicken wing was decent; the sauce from the creamy mushrooms clashed with the oil in the brisket, but they would’ve been alright in a separate pot; the paella was up to scratch; and the spicy meatballs were the show stoppers. Get stuck in.

Ladies, if you’re gonna get down, make sure you take a trip to the lower toilets. My God. They are huge, with big mirrors, a beauty station, hand cream, and a massive circular studded leather chaise lounge in the middle of the room. Proper.

Revolucion De Cuba is the kind of place I’d perhaps nip in for a little nibble, but probably spend the evening devouring the cocktail menu. After being in there for a while when the lights are up, it’s like being on your jollies – I almost forgot it was freezing outside and ended up strutting around like a right senorita. Possibly a little something to do with the amount of cocktails we smashed and the clever lighting in the bogs, but it felt good nonetheless.

When the lights are down, though, things take a bit too much of a school disco twist downstairs for my liking. However, salvation can be found in that little speak easy bar upstairs, where there’s a decent DJ knocking out nineties r’n’b bangers. Bridie Squires