39 OctOber 2-8, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | ¡Viva Sergio’s! Cuban comfort food empire celebrates 50 years. BY BURGER BEAST O n October 1, one of Miami’s longest-running Cuban restau- rants, Sergio’s, will celebrate 50 years in business. That’s half a century of cafecito, cro- quetas, and Cuban comfort food served to generations of hungry Miamians. Around here, Sergio’s isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a cul- tural landmark, a family living room with bet- ter air conditioning, and a keeper of Cuban-American culinary traditions. What began as a modest sandwich shop in 1975 has evolved into one of South Florida’s most recognizable restaurant brands -- even winning New Times’ Best Cuban Restaurant 2024. And the best part? The restaurant has remained true to its roots. Sergio’s was born when Blanca Cabrera and her mother, Elsa Rodrigue, took over the El Tropical cafeteria, one of the many names the restaurant had gone by before settling on Sergio’s. Elsa’s phi- losophy, “Menos es más” (less is more), still guides everything on the menu. Blanca al- ways says, “This is your mom’s home cook- ing.” And she isn’t kidding. From day one, classics like pan con torti- lla and pan con bistec have been steady sellers. And if you’ve ever walked in on a Monday, you know “Rabo Encendido” has been the daily special for more than 30 years. That’s the con- sistency that longtime customers love. After years of steady growth, Sergio’s opened a second location on Coral Way in 1992. Housed in a former Ranch House building, it was an immediate success and cemented the restaurant’s reputation beyond its original Bird Road outpost. The third location, in Hialeah, would prove equally influential, as it was there that the family spent two years perfecting Sergio’s now-famous croqueta recipe.Today, Sergio’s has sold more than 25 million croquetas. To put it another way: if croquetas were votes, Sergio’s would’ve won every election since 1975. It’s no wonder that when Blanca suggested October 1 as “National Croqueta Day,” it now also doubles as Sergio’s anniversary date. Sergio’s hasn’t shied away from playfulness in its branding, either. Over the years, slogans like “Simple, fresh and homemade,” “A Cu- ban-American Story Since 1975,” “Home of the World’s Longest Croqueta,” and the cheeky “Get Your Hands Off My Croquetas” have reinforced Sergio’s as both a serious food destination and a place with a sense of humor. In 2007, Carlos Gazitua, Blanca’s son, grad- uated from law school and joined the family business. His leadership brought fresh per- spective and innovation, keeping Sergio’s rele- vant for younger generations without abandoning its old-school soul. One major shift came in 2009 with the introduction of the “La Flaca” menu, a lighter lineup designed for health-conscious diners. It was a bold move in a city where tradition reigns supreme, but it showed that Sergio’s was willing to adapt to changing tastes while still keeping Cuban fla- vors at the forefront.Sergio’s longevity is also due to its people, employees who have grown up with the restaurant just as much as its cus- tomers. Take Maria Cabrera, who has worked at the Bird Road location for 40 years. When asked about change, she points to the addition of a food robot that now helps deliver meals to tables. Far from being a gimmick, she says it frees up servers to focus on hospitality. Maria even jokes about the robot as if it’s part of the team: “Her name is Esperancita.” Sure enough, the touchscreen confirms it. It’s a quirky example of how Sergio’s blends tradi- tion with innovation, always finding ways to make service more personal. So, what’s planned for the 50th? Plenty. On October 1, Sergio’s rolled out “throwback pricing” at all its full-service locations. That means menu items at their 1975 prices. Imag- ine a frita Cubana for $1.38 or a medianoche for $2.60. The one-day-only deal is a thank- you to the community that has supported Sergio’s for half a century. As part of the anniversary, Sergio’s has also launched the “You Got Miami” campaign. Billboards across the city feature locals enjoy- ing cafecito and croquetas, accompanied by the tagline: “Fueling Dreams Since 1975.” More than an ad campaign, it’s a love letter to the people who made Sergio’s possible and a recognition of the role Cuban-American tra- ditions play in defining Miami itself.And Ser- gio’s is asking Miamians to join the story and share memories from over the years. First dates, late-night sandwich runs, family din- ners — if you’ve lived in Miami, you’ve proba- bly had a Sergio’s moment. Few restaurants reach 50 years, and even fewer manage to remain both relevant and au- thentic (Sergio’s just went viral over the sum- mer for its iced cortaditos and cafecitos). Sergio’s has done it by balancing tradition with innovation, family roots with modern growth, and heartfelt service with playful branding. As Miami continues to change, Sergio’s stands as proof that some flavors never go out of style. From the first bite of a pan con bistec to the lat- est croqueta innovation, Sergio’s remains, as always, “your mom’s homecooking. Fifty years down, another 50 to go. And if the first 25 million croquetas are any sign, the city’s going to need a bigger fryer. Sergio’s. Multiple area locations; sergios.com. [email protected] ▼ Café Café Photo by Burger Beast Sergio’s has sold more than 25 million croquetas since opening. FEW RESTAURANTS REACH 50 YEARS, AND EVEN FEWER MANAGE TO REMAIN BOTH RELEVANT AND AUTHENTIC. ▼ YOUR WALLET $PENDY CITY M iami loves to eat out. From pastelito runs in Little Havana to white-table- cloth splurges in South Beach, our city thrives on food. But according to a new global study by Chef’s Pencil, Miamians are paying more for dining out than anyone else in the en- tire country. The study, which ranked 177 cities worldwide, compared the cost of dining out, cof- fee, and beer against local wages. Miami landed 72nd overall, which was worse than any other U.S. city surveyed, making it officially the least affordable place to enjoy a restaurant meal in America. Dallas, Denver, and Houston are the three most affordable U.S. cities for dining out. A mid-range, three-course dinner in Miami, not even at a fine-dining restaurant, costs about $60 per person. That may not sound shocking to anyone who’s dropped $20 on a ceviche appe- tizer recently, but when measured against Mi- ami’s average monthly salary of $4,230, that single meal eats up 1.4 percent of earnings. By U.S. standards, that’s rough. Chicago, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. all fared better in affordability rankings. Coffee drinkers in Miami face slightly more palatable math. The average cappuccino costs $1.90. If you’re indulging daily, that habit consumes 3.9 percent of a monthly paycheck, putting us smack in the global mid-range for cof- fee affordability. So yes, your cafecito is still a de- cent deal. Beer lovers get the best news of all. Miami ranks 45th worldwide for affordability, with a pint averaging $8. Enjoy ten beers a month, and it only eats up about 1.2 percent of income. That’s more affordable than many European capitals, proof that while cocktails may break the bank, at least your weekend lager won’t. But there’s (sort of) a silver lining. Miami is holding its own alongside major European hubs like Copenhagen, Madrid, and Vienna. In other words: dining here may feel like sticker shock, but it’s comparable to sipping wine in Spain or tucking into schnitzel in Austria. This study basi- cally confirms what locals already know: eating out in Miami isn’t cheap, and it hasn’t been for a long time. Between sky-high rents, rising hospi- tality wages, and the sheer demand for buzzy dining experiences, Miami’s restaurants operate in a pressure cooker that trickles down to diners’ wallets. Still, if we’re going to pay European prices, at least we get Miami flavors. After all, there’s nowhere else you can chase stone crab claws with a cortadito at midnight while the city hums around you.NICOLE LOPEZ-ALVAR | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Café Shingo photo A new study finds Miami is the most expensive city in the U.S. for dining out at restaurants in 2025, beating New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
