Geo’s Cuban & Creole Cafe

Seattle, United States

4.4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 206-706-3117
Website:
geoscuban.com
Address:
6301 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107
at 67th St
Sunset Hill, Ballard
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.4 mi32nd Ave NW & NW 61st St
0.4 mi32nd Ave NW & NW 62nd St
0.4 mi32nd Ave NW & NW 64th St
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Seattle) 9:36 PM Monday, June 23, 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday –
Wednesday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Authentic Cuban sandwiches and entrees, some of the best Gumbo in town, and slow roasted pork are just a few of our specialties. We also serve delicious hot breakfast sandwiches, espresso, Cuban style coffee, beer and wine.

History

Established in 2013.

Geordanys Rodriguez & Kim Gianotti, searched for some time before finding the perfect spot on Seaview Ave NW in Ballard, near Golden Gardens.

«We love it! It’s a cozy space with big windows and high wood beamed ceilings. We spent the whole summer fixing it up, doing all the work ourselves with the help of friends and family.» Says Kim.

A recent trip to Cuba became the inspiration for the color pallet. «We spotted a charming building in the old city of Havana painted a warm yellow with bright blue trim and knew it was the perfect combination. For the interior, Cuban sky blue, citrus green, and melon, just like the inside of a juicy papaya.»

The food… Cuban and Creole. «We love the idea of offering two types of food thought to be unrelated. In fact they have the same roots. Both are influenced by Spanish, French and African traditions. It’s the way the ingredients are combined that makes them so different. Both are hearty and flavorful but Creole tends to be spicier.»

Meet the Business Owner

Geo R.

Business Owner

Geo was born in Guantanamo, Cuba. He lived in both Guantanamo and Havana. After graduating from high school he attended Elbosque culinary arts school. Cooking has been a passion for Geo since he was a child. He remembers helping his grandmother prepare family meals and being intoxicated by the smells coming from the kitchen. His father was also a huge influence and a talented chef.

Geo first arrived in the U.S. in 2005 when he was in his mid 20’s. It was a huge transition for him, having never been off the island of Cuba before. But, he embraced his new life and began taking English classes at Seattle Central and working at a Bakery on Bainbridge Island. Since those initial days he has work in several acclaimed restaurants in Puget Sound, fine tuning his culinary talents and restaurant industry experience.

Geo has embraced life in the U.S. and lives his passion every day. He is very proud to be the chef and co-​owner of Geo’s Cuban & Creole with his partner, Kim.

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20 reviews of Geo’s Cuban & Creole Cafe

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Bothell, WA
Enjoyed my Cubano sammich. Mucho delicianos! It’s a real small place, but the food is really good!
Place rating: 3
Seattle, WA
Im judging this place just on the cubano. The roast pork was dry a flavorless seemed like they microwaved it. Although the bread was good, The sandwich just did not seem like there was good ingredients. Heard good things about their gumbo so definitely be back for that!
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Amazing food! As close as it gets to Cuban cusine in Seattle. I had pan con bisteq and it was really delicious! Café con leche is great and their maduros are perfect! Friendly service and great salsa music. It would be even better in summer, since the interior is really summery :) i will definitely come back for more.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Delicious Cuban sandwiches, even better than paseo! Can’t wait to go back and try another!
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
This is the third time I’ve come here for lunch and it seems like it just keeps getting better every visit! The sandwiches are made with love and you can totally tell by the mound of ingredients and delicious flavored — no skimping here! The service is excellent and even speedy! The girl up front is sweet and informative. It’s the perfect spot to come for a scrumptious sandwich and beer. If you’re down here by the water, I would definitely check it out!
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
Mmm, delicious sandwiches and parking! Very oily though, so if you are watching your weight– be forewarned.
It’s a small little place with limited seating. It was freezing outside during our most most recent visit, and the door had a hard time staying shit. It may have been the guests who didn’t understand how to shut the door, but it was uncomfortable to eat there.
Every sandwich we have ordered has been great.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
Back when it was open, the line at Paseo Ballard used to get so ridiculous. As locals, we had access to Paseo any day of the week so we usually balked at the lines and went elsewhere. We discovered that Geo’s more than satisfied our Cuban food cravings when we deemed the line at Paseo not worth it. We were disappointed when Paseo closed, but that didn’t last long since we had Geo’s. In fact, I think I like it better since there’s seating, they offer beer and wine, and the owners are actually Cuban and the staff has always been nothing but friendly and welcoming. I always order a plate, typically the roast chicken with a side of plantains. Once in awhile the chicken is dry, but most times it’s a hit rather than a miss. I know that the owner’s of Paseo opened a new restaurant, Un Bien. I’m looking forward to trying it out, but I’m in no rush because I have Geo’s and for now, that’s enough for me.
Place rating: 5
Shoreline, WA
This is the second time we have stopped in. We ordered carry out the traditional and a chicken dinner entrée and both were phenomenal. The service was great even the cook cracked a joke. Perfect take out for a nice lunch on the beach! NOM NOM NOM
Place rating: 4
Sammamish, WA
Tried the Cubano & Pan con Bistek sandwiches w/​aside of maduros. Both sandwiches were excellent & on par with anything you could get in Miami! The maduros were pretty good, but not great & at $ 4, for basically 1 plantain, not the best value either .
I was able to see the kitchen & prep area from my table, and that didn’t make me feel too good. It was pretty small and seemed like it had plenty of opportunity for less than 100% sanitary conditions, so that would be my reason for missing a 5-​star rating.
But I would still go back if I was in the area & try other things, as every thing I saw while there looked great.
Place rating: 5
Renton, WA
My husband and I LOVE this place! We eat here at least every two weeks and have never had even the hint of a problem. It doesn’t hurt that they’re right down the street. They can be a little hard to find (between Anthony’s and West Marine on Seaview) and parking can be difficult, but it’s quite worth it. The owner and employees are always super friendly and quick. We usually call in the order for pick up and it’s always ready when they say it will be. Their portions are huge! We are big fans of the Press sandwich and the tostones are amazing too.
If I had one critique, it would be that the bread can get kind of soggy, but I get it, it’s the Cuban style bread, so share a sandwich or eat quick!
Place rating: 3
Seattle, WA
The first thing you notice is there are a few parking spaces in front but there is plenty of parking available on the side of the building which is easier to get in and out of.
This place is very small inside but would be good if you were just a party of two. It was a bit loud at the time we were there and if it is loud there is always the patio outside which is where we chose to sit.
There were no lunch specials which sort of was a bit of a bummer since the prices seemed very high for lunch.
We decided to order a specialty sandwich, not the Cubano, and an entrée so we could get an idea of how good the food is. We ordered the El Caribe sandwich for $ 9.50 and the Puerco Asado plate with black beans, white rice, Cuban slaw and Maduros fried plantain slices for $ 12.00
First of all, the Sandwich was fantastic, the balance of flavors was perfect and all of the ingredients worked well together. For the money they should throw in a few Maduros or fried yuca. :D A perfect sandwich!
Sadly, the Puerco Asado on the other hand was not as good as the sandwich. The meat was too dry for my taste which took away from the flavor. The Maduros were perfect. They tasted exactly as they should with that wonderful sweet fried taste. The Cuban slaw was okay but the tomatoes were somewhat soggy. The black beans and rice were on par with the black beans and rice at other Cuban places.
Here is my biggest pet peeve… There was no pressed Cuban bread with my meal. I figured the they were going to bring some out, but no such luck. I actually went inside and her back was turned to me and I said excuse me 4 times but she never heard me, (due to the noise) so I went back out without my bread. I saw on the sign it’s $ 2.00 for a side of Cuban bread! Maybe I could do without the slaw or even the rice but there should be an option to replace something with bread… I was really in the mood for pressed Cuban bread! :(
If you don’t mind paying the price for lunch, then come get a sandwich!
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
Really good! When we got there for dinner, they were out of the first three sandwiches on the menu. We ended up getting gumbo and the steak sandwich, and they were both excellent. The steak was really tender and delicious. Be warned that a bowl of gumbo here is super filling! Half a sandwich and a cup of gumbo is probably more than enough for one person.
The little patio in front is really cute, the staff are really nice, and it’s great to have enough good restaurant in this area!
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
Pretty solid spot for some Cuban food. The gumbo was delicious and it had a nice spicy kick to it. The shrimp po’boy was really flavorful. I was anticipating deep fried shrimp but instead they were pan fried with a ton of different spices. The regular Cuban sandwich was pretty good as well though the pork was kind of dry. Definitely recommend the gumbo if not one of their signature sandwiches.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
Came in on a quiet Monday. The place has a small parking lot which is a bonus. I ordered a cup of gumbo and the puerco asado plate.
The gumbo was solid. It had a scoop of white rice inside. There was small kick in the gumbo but that was expected. The puerco asado plate had slow roasted pulled pork, rice, black beans and a slaw. The rice and beans had really good flavors. The rice was cooked nicely. The pulled pork had a nice crust on parts of it. The pork was juicy and tender and felt kind of buttery.
You bus your own tables which isn’t ever an issue for me. The restaurant has a limited amount of tables and has some outside seats. Overall, this is a solid restaurant.
Place rating: 5
Bellevue, WA
We were making use of our City Pass in Seattle and had a craving for Cuban food. We looked in Unilocal and located this place. It was a bit of a drive from downtown Seattle, but we didn’t care.
My wife and I absolutely loved the place. The chef is Cuban himself and very knowledgeable in Cuban food. We asked to talk to him and he was really nice.
We had a Palomilla Steak, tostones and a Cuban sandwich. Really tasty all of them. After the food we enjoyed a Cortadito (Cuban express coffee). Amazing experience.
Can’t wait to be back.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
What a great, unique place.
They offer a variety of Cuban style sandwiches and select entrees as well. The flavors are very pronounced and incredibly unique. Aside from Paseo, I haven’t really seen too many Cuban options so this was a refreshing stop.
It’s a small place located on a dock area. It would be nice if they were facing the water.
I’m coming back to try another sandwich!
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
I am really remiss that it took my local sandwich shops closing for me to find this gem. Geo’s has a large selection of sandwiches and Cuban sides to enjoy.
While the place is small the employees are very friendly and personable. Coming here for a Friday lunch the place was packed with regulars all having a late breakfast. It will probably be much less crowded when the crowds can expand to their quaint deck.
The Press and the Tribute were our runaway favorites. They were reminiscent of another famous shops sandwiches but served on bread that is much softer and easier to eat. The Po’ Boy was interesting the shrimp weren’t fried but were well spiced. I have a problem with using recognizable names to mis-​represent food so this one was a little disappointing. The saddest part of our meal was the Traditional Pan con Lechon, this was the sandwich we were most looking forward to! While it was flavorful it was so dry it was almost inedible.
All in all they make some amazing sandwiches and some mediocre ones. I will be back for a Press and some crispy tostones soon.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
This place is virtually across from the currently shuttered Paseo.
The soup was advertised as Chicken with Vegetable and Noodles and that’s what it was, a complex chicken soup with chilis and tomatoes in the broth and some spaghetti thrown in for bulk. It was the best soup we tasted in some time.
We followed the soup with the Shrimp Po Boy and the Traditional Lechon. Both were excellent if a little dry. The Lechon had pork cracklings which gave the sandwich an extra crunch. The po boy was loaded with shrimp and nicely slathered with a nice aioli.
A little more grease would help both sandwiches but that’s our only suggestion. This is a great family-​run business that should be on everyone’s to-​do list!
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
El Cubano y Pan con Bistec eran bastante deliciosa!!!
Checked this place out for the first time and it is a nice little café place. It’s across the street from the now closed Paseo’s– Ballard location. Parking is pretty much street parking but there is a lot next door but not sure if it’s private or not.
Was greeted by a nice, friendly gentleman that was eager to help or explain any questions. I typically try the Cuban sandwich and Pan Con Bistec sandwiches as my gateway dish. I was torn on which one to get, so I got both. About $ 9 bucks a sandwich. I came in after the lunch hour and only took about 5 minutes or so to make it for me. It’s a small café with about 7 tables with some cool Cuban artwork on the walls, clean and bright place to have a lunch.
As for the food… Cuban sandwich was good, pulled roasted pork that was cooked up on the flat top to get a little crust to it, ham, swiss, pickles and mustard on Cuban bread. Pretty darn good. It had plenty of meat and was a thick sandwich! I wish they would flatten it a little more as I like mine super flat. Maybe I can request that next time.
Pan con Bistec is a steak sandwich. I think this was slightly more flavorful than the Cuban. Grilled pieces of marinated steak with grilled onions with some garlic aioli with romaine. Not a pressed sandwich. I think they forgot the papas fritas inside as I don’t remember any crunch. But nevertheless it was tasty!
I’ll be back to try some other things, such as their entrees and coffees. I do want to try their cortadito as I didn’t see a cafecito on their menu.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
There has been a LOT of hubbub since the shock of Paseo’s closing. Baleful prose all over social media and now there is a kickstarter budgeted for a quarter of a million dollars in the hopes that they can revive a beloved Seattle institution. All I could think was, really Seattle? Really?!
How about visiting a place that’s been quietly serving actual Cuban food since August of 2013 with a solid five-​star rating? How about patronizing a place that seems to take care of their workers AND that makes legitimate Cuban food! The prices are excellent and the food is spectacular.
When the weather is cold (like now), you can’t go wrong with their quimbombó, a Cuban version of gumbo with chicken, Andouille, okra, peppers, and finished with a scoop of white rice.
And if the weather is warm (like it will be again one day), their chicken and black bean salad will hit the spot! The salad has crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, sliced red onion, avocado and that wonderfully prepared chicken tossed in their house vinaigrette dressing and sprinkled with black beans. Truly, that chicken is moist and flavourful without being dry, like chicken is prone to do.
And the sandwiches. THOSE SANDWICHES! Geo’s cooking skills are legit. His love of cooking began with helping his abuela and father back home in Cuba. He went to culinary arts school and since relocating to the States in 2005, has logged time in several in acclaimed local kitchens.
My husband and I have been steadily going for his amazing food since February of 2014. Every time we bring new customers with us, Geo comes out to greet us and meet them. It’s that level of customer service (and that food!) that kept us coming back again and again.
Thank you Geo for sating this Filipina’s crave for pork and for continuing to cook quality food at an affordable price. I hope y’all remain open for years to come.