Rumba Cafe

I came here last night with Braden J. for happy hour and had a nice time. I realized walking in that I never notice all the good-looking food options on 18th, so I'm going to try to go to more of these places. Anyway, there were only a few people inside but a nice mix of people and some tables were ordering in Spanish which added to the authenticity of the place.

Happy hour specials were $6 regular mojitos, a couple of other drink specials, and some $4 tapas. We got a mojito each and 5 tapas to share: calamari (which wasn't battered, beware), Carne Asada, the tortilla pocket with chicken, the pork sausage, and the eggplant bruschetta. My favorites were the eggplant bruschetta and the Carne Asada. Portions were good and everything was pretty tasty.

I left full but not stuffed, and also I was a bit surprised by how expensive it still ended up being, given that we had only ordered happy hour items. This is a pretty nice place though, most entrees (not tapa style) were $22-$30.

The decor was nice as well. Dollar bills stuffed into art...what's not to love? Also our waitress was really nice and pretty attentive. I would definitely come back here for a nice happy hour. Also they have $13 bottomless drinks if you spend $15 on food, so that seems like a pretty good deal!

When I look at a menu and its got dishes from all over a continent, not just one or two countries, my heart and stomach sink because I just assume it won't be good. But Rumba Cafe, with everything from Venezuelan to Puerto Rican dishes, is actually really good. It's got a really cool, laid back atmosphere and I love the kind of eccentric way it's decorated. The service was great and while we didn't order huge meals, I never felt rushed and we happily sat for a couple hours each time I was there.

Drinks: The mojitos were delicious and strong in a good way, not in the "oh I'm going to get really buzzed on shitty rum" way. I also have been impressed with both wines I ordered there that were on happy hour when I went.

Food: I love how they do little plates for happy hour. I tried the chorizo and it was good, and friends got small arepas (Venezuela's offering to the wonderful fried stuffed dough world) that looked really good. They also had the little fried smashed green plantains that I can't remember the name for but love- they taste more like French fries than bananas. My boyfriend and I also opted to try a couple of the specials. We got quinoa salad and cebiche, prepared exactly how I like it- just lime juice, red onion and chilis. Quinoa salad was great, and while the cebiche was prepared well the fish wasn't as fresh as it should have been for that dish. You can't really have great cebiche without super fresh fish.

Last thing- while happy hour and some of the small plates are very reasonably priced, the entrees which I have not tried yet are definitely pricier. I've considered going back for dinner...but the happy hour is so good, I'm not sure if I will.

The food was decent but the waiter was confusing. I went late at night and was hoping for a fun ambiance......not really.... I think the food was overpriced for arepas, empanadas and 1 drink. $75?! Lame never coming back also, rats everywhere. Gross!

I heart mojitos and tostones!

I've been here a bunch over the past several years. First and foremost this is my go-to spot for mojitos in Adams Morgan.

Also, I love coming here for happy hour and getting the tapas. On my last visit I had tostones (these are the green plantains, the dry and un-sweet ones, not the ripe mushy sweet yellow ones), arepa de queso (corn patty filled with cheese), and steak skewers. All very tasty, at great happy hour prices. FYI if you order main courses off the dinner menu it could get pretty pricey at $19-28 a plate.

I have been here late night for live music a couple of times, the music is great but the place is tiny so it gets packed. They have a small patio to sit outdoors when the weather is nice.

I came here for a snack yesterady after Crafty Bastards. I got the huevos rancheros which were super yummy and a bloody mary which was not so yummy. Liked that I was able to get a table on the patio right away but the service in general was awful and so slow. Might come back and try eatting at the bar so I can get my servers attention more easily.

Staff - Beatrice is awesome and deserves serious accolades for how well she manages the place and attends to customers. She's even patient with the extra-drunk ones!

Food - Amazing. I've had most of the tapas, and I've been impressed with all of them.

Drinks - Best mojitos in DC.

Music - Lots of people singing along and dancing to the live band on Saturday night.

I absolutely love this place. Everything about it. The food is great - I especially recommend the platanos rellenos (plantains stuffed with mozzarella), ropa vieja (beef stew, but better somehow), and literally any one of their steaks.

But if you're going to the Rumba Cafe, it's probably for the drinks and the live music. They do not disappoint. More than their mojitos, I love their caipirinhas, which are basically horribly delicious simple daiquiris. And their live music is always very enjoyable, whether it's dance music or something more relaxed.

Run, don't walk, to this place at your earliest convenience.

Great place! Food is delicious. The restaurant has a really unique and interesting vibe to it with the different pieces of art on the wall. Good for big groups, I recommend making reservation in advance. Must go!

I LOVE this place, not fancy and very small but the food is great and mijitos are amazing.

I'm new to the DC area and was bitterly disappointed by a particular Spanish restaurant in the past. However, Rumba was quite the opposite experience. Some friends and I heard good things and we heard it is Salsa Nights on Fridays.

The environment was great with the dim lighting and live music. The mojitos tasted like limonada but after two I was feeling nice. The food was great too. The three of us ordered three different tapas and shared them. All of the were very good. Someone commented on the Arepa de Queso being soggy but my Columbian friend agreed that it was very tasty. Their food is legit South American style food so if you're accustomed to those wonderful tastes then I can't imagine one going wrong here.

They lose a star just because the lack of larger space for dancing.

I would go back here any opportunity I get!