Two entrepreneurs hope to bring a taste of Cuba to Southwest Austin. Iskander Gener and his wife Tuky Ibarra opened Cuban restaurant Guantanamera on March 3 in the Cannon West shopping center. "We are trying to bring our family recipes from my mom and grandmother. This is all about the Cuban food," Gener said. "I think we need more Cuban food in Austin. There are just a few places that have it. People love it." Gener and Ibarra said they opened on West Gate Boulevard because they wanted to bring more restaurants to South Austin. Gener said he grew up in Cuba and traveled in South America before arriving in Austin in 2010. He worked in restaurants in Argentina before learning how American restaurants operate at some local Austin establishments. "I knew about kitchen [operations] and how to cook, but [I learned] all of the policies in this country and that helped me along," he said. Gener said he has been working with his sister for six months to develop the recipes for the restaurant. "We have the croquetas, the empanadas, the yucca," he said. Ibarra said Spanish influence is apparent in the restaurants paella, a classic seafood and yellow rice dish. In addition to perfecting the food, Gener and Ibarra said they worked with a designer to create the right atmosphere for the dining room. Empty cigar boxes decorate each table, though the restaurant does not sell Cuban cigars, Gener said. A mural of Cuban musicians and a lighthouse and cathedral in Havana covers a wall. "People can come here and really imagine what it is like to be [in Cuba]," Ibarra said.

Menu options

Ropa Vieja: Shredded beef cooked in a tomato-based sauce with onions, bell peppers and Cuban spices ($9) Lechon Asado: Pulled pork marinated with Cuban mojo criollo and then oven roasted ($8.50) Masas Fritas: Cubed tender pork chunks, marinated in Cuban mojo criollo and fried ($9) Quimbombo: Fried okra, onions, bell peppers, rosemary and garlic white wine sauce ($9) Media Noche: Sweet egg roll with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles ($9) Croquetas: Cuban-style croquettes (chicken, pork or fish), bell peppers, onions, garlic and Cuban spices ($2) Tropical Ceviche: Fresh fish, lime, cilantro, diced tomatoes, avocado and tangerine ($7.50) Arroz con Pollo a la Cubana: Chicken, yellow rice, Cuban spices, olives and beer ($14.50) Paella Cubana: Seasoned rice, squid, octopus, shrimp, crab, tilapia and mussels ($18)