Asia de Cuba during Restaurant Week

On a quiet Sunday evening, we took a visiting friend out for her birthday at Asia de Cuba. It was the final days of their Restaurant Week offerings and we wanted to take advantage of this fixed price meal (the restaurant continues to offer a fixed price menu for both lunch and dinner). We knew that the ambiance would be nice, but had read reviews that we will likely leave hungry after the meal. For our party of three, we definitely did not leave on an empty stomach! In fact, we took 2 take-out containers home filled with leftovers.

For a party of 3-4 people, we got to share 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts (typically the menu only allows for one or two dessert choices, but our birthday girl managed to convince our server to give us all three options).

Calamari Salad 'Asia de Cuba' with crispy calamari, chayote, hearts of palm, banana, cashews, chicory and radicchio in a sesame orange dressing

The salad was delicious. The calamari was only lightly breaded (the way we like it!) and the other ingredients lent different flavours and textures.

Beef dumplings two ways: crispy with plum sauce and steamed with coconut rice and mango ponzu.

Our cocktails:
Coconut Cloud: Cruzan coconut rhum, Stoli Vanil, and Coco Lopez, Topped with Coconut ($14)
Jalapeno Margarita: Milagro tequila, Jalapeno Infused Syrup, Splash of Sour, Salt Rim ($14)
The margarita definitely had a kick in it from both the jalapeno and the liquor in it!
Perfecto: Balvenie Double Wood Scotch, Sweet Vermouth, Dry Vermouth, Splash of Bitters ($15)
Finally a cocktail where you could taste the main liquor

Our chosen entrees:

Cuban Spiced Chicken (back): with Thai coconut sticky rice and avocado fruit salsa served with tamarind sauce

Honey-Rhum Glazed Pot Roast of Pork (front): with Sauteed Shanghai Bok Choy, Fried Plantains, and Enoki Mushrooms

Additional sides (not included with the fixed price menu):
Plantain Fried Rice with Avocado Salad ($12)
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes ($7)

Homemade Sorbet of the Day served with Seasonal Fresh Fruit and Passion Fruit-Chili Dipping sauce
The sorbet were refreshing; however, we found that the dipping sauce was unnecessary (too sweet and the sorbet could stand on its own)

Coconut Invasion: Coconut layer cake with coconut ice cream and warm chocolate sauce

Cuban Opera: Devil's food cake, Kahlua, milk chocolate and coffee mousse (our favourite of the three desserts as it was not overly sweet, but provided our desired coffee and chocolate fix)

The Restaurant Week price was $35/person (usual fixed price dinner menu is $39/person). Since many of our choices were on the regular a la carte menu and the portions were substantial, we definitely would opt for the fixed price menu again, not the a la carte.