el viejo amigo ... los amigos viejos ?

I've been wondering about this place for about 3 years now. Is it any good ? Any testimonials? Granted I don' go down Vanderbilt that far too often, every time I do go, I wonder if those cuban sandwiches are really authentic-o, even more so say then carneviento... the only other local place that seems to have some sort of semblance of a cubano.
i suppose there is something off putting by 'viejo(s) amigo(s) and i've never actually ventured in. would consider trying it if someone said it's decent.

Los Viejos Amigos son muy nasty. The chicken sits all day. One of the spots where there are very few customers outside of family and you have to wonder how they make any $$$.

I don't think it's as good as Carnieviento overall, but they make a decent cuban sandwich. The cuban isn't as good as Carneviento mostly because their pernil isn't quite as good. One thing that they do better than Carneviento is the spare ribs. Succulent and delicious at Viejo Amigo, but definitely sup-par at Castillo. They're also super nice there.

if im thinking of the same place their cuban sandwich is good cheap and huge.

I object to this place. first of all, it's NOT cuban. (big strike!) second, when I do order a sandwich there, it is dry and disgusting. if I want a pernil sandwich, I want some mojo on it, at least. something. dry-ass pork and dry-ass bread equal =yuck. but, frankly, I rarely eat from most of these 'spanish' places. if I do, I eat from Carneviento.

(and no, I have never liked Cuban sandwiches, despite my Cuban roots. I judge most joints on steak sandwiches (pan con bistec) and everywhere in NYC, from Washington Heights to Brooklyn has failed. pathetic. if someone can get me some decent Cuban bread, I'll show you how it's done. the fact that I can get a better pan con bistec in Houston, Texas should be motivation enough.)

There's also a little joint called Grand Restaurant at Grand and Dean that seems to keep sputtering along in spite of never having many people inside and not being open a whole lot. They have good Cubans and small-but-tasty burgers and milkshakes, but that's all I've tried from there.

The Cuban sandwich/cubano /whatever, at Los Viejos Amigos is as good as anywhere in this 'hood. Also, their breakfast sandwiches ARE THE BEST in this 'hood. Yes, their food is out from from lunchtime on - just like every other Latin lunch counter in the city - but these guys are super nice, and they're local - which apparently matters to some of you.

I eat there for lunch every now and then and get take-out dinner sometimes as well{food's too heavy for very often}, but I can see the place, since I'm right across the street. These guys are super nice locals, and they have a bunch of regulars, believe me. Now, construction workers are in there also. I think the roasted pork is great, as well as the chicken. Also love the yellow rice.

Great coffee. It's also great for a really cheap breakfast (especially when Le Gamin and Beast are lined up out the door).

As for the cuban, well, it can be kind of fatty sometimes, but it's really cheap. A good way to choose food there is to go in when they're busy and see what the regulars are eating.

rusty wrote: A good way to choose food there is to go in when they're busy and see what the regulars are eating.

That's always good advice!

Wow, this place closed?

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: Wow, this place closed?

It did?

It was open a week ago, I saw people eating in there.

Today there was a sign on this and the building next to it that said each was for sale.

Old Time Brooklyn wrote: Today there was a sign on this and the building next to it that said each was for sale.

That sucks. They were closed for weeks, but there was a hand-written sign saying they were on vacation 'til Aug. Then weeks later they were still closed.

Sucks big time - their food was crazy good and damn cheap.