The Original SubCafe
$
7711 Nova Dr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324
Monday-Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Original SubCafe is a breakfast and lunch cafe and sandwich shop located about five minutes from campus featuring a simple, yet extensive, menu of classic favorites, such as both hot and cold subs, burgers and delicious breakfast sandwiches. The Original SubCafe also serves a variety of Cuban cuisine, such as Cuban toast and rich Cuban coffee.
I originally heard about the cafe from my mother when she was around campus visiting me for spring break last semester. While my mother is not Cuban, she was raised by a Hispanic family in South Beach, leading her to greatly appreciate Cuban cuisine. Due to her spending the majority of her adult life in the Northeast, getting the opportunity to experience authentic Cuban cuisine that reminds her of her childhood is few and far between. As such, when she would not stop raving about The Original SubCafe, I knew I had to visit.
When arriving in the plaza that houses the shop, The Original SubCafe blows all the other stores in the plaza out of the water with its decor. The Original SubCafe features quaint outdoor seating surrounded by natural plants and homey decor. The small statues and lawn-sized water feature remind me of a lived-in backyard. The decoration indoors is just as appealing. With a newly renovated interior and inviting aesthetic, there is more than enough reason to enjoy your food only a couple feet away from where it was prepared. The restaurant also features an outdoor order window, in case you just want to drop by for a quick coffee and perhaps a pastry before going on your way.
I visited the shop early in the day, so I settled on trying something off of their all-day breakfast menu. I ordered a sausage, egg and cheese on a bagel with salt, pepper and butter. Along with my sandwich, I ordered an iced coffee and a guava danish — my mother’s favorite pastry, coming highly recommended.
The breakfast sandwich was not only filling, but delicious. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the melted cheese on top of the sandwich excited my taste buds. The sandwich was a little greasy, but in that good hearty and homey kind of way. I have high expectations for my egg sandwiches due to my hometown being in the NYC area (the postmark of that variety of food) and this sandwich exceeded my expectations.
Both the iced coffee and guava danish were delicious as well. I could taste how strong the iced coffee was since it was made with Cuban espresso, but the cashier added just the right amount of milk and sugar to make it delectable. The guava danish was sweet and authentically fruity, making it a great breakfast pastry or after meal snack to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Additionally, the staff at The Original SubCafe were overwhelmingly positive and respectful. I was greeted and treated like I had stepped foot into that cafe 100 times over. The icing on top, even for a Wednesday morning, I was able to get all three of my breakfast items within 5 minutes, making the trip short and definitely well worth it.
