August 14, 2026

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Viva la Vida Brings a Taste of Cuba to Clark Road

This colorful newcomer is serving Cuban classics, daily specials, and one very satisfying lunch combo.

Sarasota Sits Just on the Edge of “Cuban-ness.” We have some choices. But it’s not like we’re even in the same universe as Miami, or even Tampa, for that matter. We just don’t have the Cuban population to take on either of those places.

We certainly like to try, though. The Columbia Restaurant has been the anchor of our Cuban dining scene since 1959. That’s not an insignificant amount of time in the restaurant business. It’s a lifetime.

Sarasota’s dance with Cuban cuisine goes all the way back to the Roaring Twenties. That’s when Raul’s Cuban flipped the open sign on their restaurant downtown near City Hall.

📝 I’ve personally been mourning the closing of Burns Court favorite, El Habanero, for the past eighteen years. I was mildly addicted to the Arroz con Pollo served in that brightly colored house! 🐔

We’ve had other contenders pop up during the time between Raul’s, El Habanero, and now. Mirna’s Cuban Cuisine serves up some super authentic Cuban dishes. And Rincon Cubano offers fantastic Cuban Coffee. Even the recently shuttered Cuba 1958 made a big splash when it opened. (They had a mean Vaca Frita on their menu!)

In short, Sarasota always welcomes a newcomer to the Cuban food scene. But holding the area’s attention has always been the trick.

Viva la Vida Dice Hola! Cuban restaurants pop up in the seemingly oddest places. A Clark Road strip center shouldn’t be that strange. Especially given that Sarasota has an endless array of them. But the Beneva Village Shoppes is where Alejandro and Traci Lazo’s story takes root.

📝 If you’ve spent any time on Siesta Key, you may have had Alejandro make you one of his perfect cocktails at Flavio’s. And Traci may have just possibly rented you an island vacation getaway. They both have longtime Sarasota histories.

The outside is light and bright. They really did a nice job making this corner unit look super welcoming when you drive by. Don’t underestimate how hard it really is to stand out in this type of environment.

They have some comfy outdoor dining. Granted, it’s not St. Armands, but you are kind of tucked away from the parking lot noise. The umbrellas provide a bit of relief from the summer sun.

Yes, they have specials. The Lomo Saltado is actually a Peruvian dish. So, they are mixing in a few different flavors from the world of Latin cooking here at Viva la Vida!

The dining room has a colorful look that gives it real playful energy. The red flowers bring that room to life in the most dramatic way!

Yes, We Ordered Food! I mean, that goes without saying. It is a restaurant, after all. And I know that’s why you’re really here.

📋 The menu is a pretty straightforward Cuban affair. Here are some of the highlights:

Masitas de Puerco (Cuban-style stir-fried pork chunks topped with caramelized onions)

Pan con Lechon (Homemade, slow-roasted pork marinated in mojo and topped with caramelized onions. Served on fresh Cuban bread)

Churrasco (Grilled skirt steak marinated and seared to perfection. Topped with our homemade chimichurri sauce)

Ropa Vieja (Tender slow-cooked shredded beef simmered in a savory tomato-based sauce enriched with a blend of bell peppers, onions, and spices)

And, of course, some Flan for dessert!

We were here for lunch, so we wanted to try a standard. Or, in this case, a couple of them. The lunch combo today was the Cuban Sandwich and Black Bean Soup. The classic Cuban combo!

This is just the perfect amount of food for lunch. (At least for me!) Enough to get you through your afternoon. But not so much that you’re trying to stay awake on the car ride home!

The sandwich itself was light and delicious. I’m not sure who’s baking their Cuban bread. (I’m guessing it’s not coming down from Tampa’s La Segunda Bakery. But it’s pretty damn good!)

📝 A note about this sandwich size. I’m getting kind of tired of having my sandwiches be a test of wills. Sometimes it’s “Will you be able to finish it, or will you not?” Thankfully, this one is a manageable size.

The Black Bean Soup was rich, savory, and just the right thickness. It’s not just a cup of rice topped with black beans. There are a lot of those versions out there. This is not one of them. The perfect rice-to-bean ratio!

🔚 Let’s Wrap It Up! Are you a lover of Cuban food? Are you looking for a low-key casual place to enjoy some delicious Latin dishes? Viva la Vida would check both of those boxes and maybe a few others we haven’t discussed. Prices are not outrageous. They feature daily specials, and parking is a breeze. (Those are the other boxes! 😊) Maybe it’s time to give this Clark Road Cuban spot a twirl around the dance floor!

📍 Viva la Vida: 3440 Clark Rd. (Beneva Village Shoppes) | 941-413-5343
🌐 Website: Viva la Vida | dineSarasota Info
📋 Menu: MENU VIA TOAST TAB

📝 END NOTES –

In the U.S., the most popular Cuban dish is the Cuban Sandwich (both Ybor City and Key West lay claim to “inventing” it). In Cuba, the most iconic/popular dish is Ropa Vieja (it literally means “Old Clothes” 🤷‍♂️). You can sample both of these at Viva la Vida.

Thanks to my friend Tim for the recommendation and for making the restaurant trip with me. He also had the soup/sandwich combo!

The difference between a Tampa Cuban Sandwich and a Miami Cuban Sandwich is the salami. In Miami, it’s a borderline misdemeanor to add salami to their version of the dish! They don’t know what they’re missing. 🚨

~ LH

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📌 ODDS & ENDS –

🦞 Shell Yeah! Looking to put a little lobster in your life? Why, of course you are. Miguel’s French Continental Cuisine has a summer special that won’t break your crustacean-loving bank. How about a 1½-pound lobster dinner with sides AND a salad for $32.95? In today’s up-and-down economy, that’s a pretty sweet deal. But there’s a catch (of course there is). You can get this for only one night. And that night is August 25. – JUST IN CASE YOU’RE A VISUAL LEARNER!

📝 If you happen to miss this lobster event, Michael’s On East has Lobster Pot Fridays every week. Their special includes 2 1¼-pound live Maine lobsters, mussels, new potatoes, and corn on the cob. – INFO HERE

🤍 White Out! Wanna party like it’s 1999? Or maybe you just need an excuse to get out this summer and shake off some rust? Either one is A-OK, and Mademoiselle Paris is going to be your tour guide to all the fun.

On Saturday, August 29, you’ll want to break out your best summer whites and boogie on down to their Sarasota downtown Main Street location. You’ve got a DJ, you’ve got a buffet of great French dishes, and you’ve got a “Mediterranean vibe” all for $49 PP. Should be a fun way to wrap up summer in style! – MORE INFO & RES

⭐ Thanks! You guys really took our call to action seriously last week. SO many of you hit our brand-new Sarasota Food News Page. I’m not going to say that you almost crashed the server or broke the internet. But A LOT of you checked things out. And for that, we say, Thank You!

We’re working hard on making this page the local go-to hub for Sarasota food, restaurant, and dining news. Bookmark it and check back often. It’s updated multiple times a week.

Did you miss that link last week? No worries. Here you go – OUR DINESARASOTA FOOD NEWS PAGE!

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