Great Cuban food in downtown live oak. El Caribe is a small café tucked in across the street from the courthouse. The inside is a bit small, but the staff is always welcoming, and the food is excellent. Cuban pastries and bread are baked fresh every morning, and make an excellent breakfast along with fresh brewed Cuban coffee. The lunch specials include ropa vieja(Beef stew), and vaca frita(pan seared chopped steak with onions) and are served with excellent beans and rice and plantains. The menu changes daily, but all of the dishes are delicious, and quite satisfying. The portions are good and the prices are very competitive. The Cuban Sandwich is the best in the area. The one downside is that there are only a few tables, so if you have a big group, it would be best to get carry out. Overall the dishes at El Caribe are flavorful, authentic Cuban comfort food, prepared from scratch every day. Definitely worth a stop for lunch and a coffee any day of the week.
