Now on the menu: Two nights of live music at NE Ocala's Latin American Cafe

Andy Fillmore
·2 min read

Lovers of authentic Cuban food and live music like salsa, merengue, bachata and classic rock can enjoy it all at Manny Camps’ Latin American Cafe in northeast Ocala on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Latin American Cafe opened in 2021 in the Winn-Dixie Shopping Plaza at 2714 NE 14th St. It recently underwent a months-long renovation and now has an enlarged dining room with an area to accommodate live entertainment.

Nora and Julio Travieso of Ocala had lunch with Praveena Kumar and Vinod Rao at the cafe recently. Nora is from Miami and Julio is a native of Cuba. Nora Travieso said the cafe feels “very homey.”

“The food is consistently amazing,” she said.

Mariolis Suarez, left, and Jurisan Moreno Rodrigues, right, perform on Friday night, March 22, at the Latin American Cafe in NE Ocala.
Mariolis Suarez, left, and Jurisan Moreno Rodrigues, right, perform on Friday night, March 22, at the Latin American Cafe in NE Ocala.

Camps, 65, a native of Santa Clara, Cuba, lived in New York and New Jersey before moving here about 17 years ago. He and his wife, Isabel, and their daughter Mia, 23, welcome you to come in and feel at home.

“We have something positive to offer the entire community,” Camps said about his family owned and operated eatery.

“What I’m seeing is there’s no customer service anymore. We want to bring customer service back,” Camps said.

General Manager George Franqui, server Maicro Rojas and other staff members will ensure you enjoy your visit and dishes like Palomilla Steak or a Cuban sandwich with onion, lettuce, tomato and potato sticks.

Additional specialties include dishes like Pollo Miami (chicken), Cuban pork roast, Ropa Vieja (shredded beef) and Pescado en Salsa (fish.)

Fresh baked Cuban pastries are also available.

Server Michael Rojas delivers black beans, sweet plantains, rice and pulled pork to patrons on Friday, March 22, at NE Ocala's Latin American Cafe.
Server Michael Rojas delivers black beans, sweet plantains, rice and pulled pork to patrons on Friday, March 22, at NE Ocala's Latin American Cafe.

Manny Camps said he’s thankful for his crew including Maria, Alexis, Alycia, Junior, Santos, Carmelina, Sarah and Micro and Mia.

The cafe now offers two nights of top entertainment like Latin performer Mariolas Suarez and singer and percussionist Yurisan Moreno Rodriquez of Pinar del Rio, who performed recently. The number of nights entertainment is offered may be expanded beyond Friday and Saturday, Manny Camps said.

Several customers dining at the cafe on a recent Friday night shared their experiences.

Cafe guest Dr. Bill Lukes, a former Miami resident, had dinner with his wife, Robbie, and their daughter, Rachelle .

Bill Lukes remarked that the kitchen knows how to cook Cuban food.

Peter Hernandez said his pork dish tasted like the one his family made, and Christy Torres had a fish dish.

Lillian and Orlando Lopez are regular diners and Barbara Gonzalez and her husband, Pablo, enjoy visiting the cafe.

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Barbara Gonzalez finds the food to be real Cuban fare, affordable and tasty, and the entertainers performing recently were names she recognized.

The two added nights of music and dining in the expanded dining room is in addition to the regular daily breakfast and lunch serving hours, from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Live music now offered Friday and Saturday night at NE Ocala restaurant