Loveland, Colorado is full of little treasures. Elvira’s Cuban Cuisine is one of the tastiest. Colorado writer Ron Stern checked it out. We first shared this article on our international sister site, RealFoodTraveler.com but wanted to make sure Coloradans also know about this place for family recipes with a modern twist.
Sometimes I stumble onto hidden food treasures in the most unlikely places. Take Elvira’s Cuban Cuisine, for example. Tucked inside a nondescript industrial park in southwest Loveland, Colorado, this commissary‑based restaurant might be easy to overlook — unless you know Melissa Daniels. This owner‑turned‑chef has wowed the community with her authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes, earning a loyal following and rave reviews.
Her mouth‑watering Cubanos, empanadillas, Cuban tamales, and ropa vieja all come from family recipes, some of which date back more than 150 years. This is Daniels’ passion, and she does it all while caring for three children, including her youngest, who is just two years old.
Elvira’s Cuban Cuisine Reflects Family Cuban and Puerto Rican Roots
Named after her grandmother, Elvira, Daniels’ family was born and raised in Cuba and later Puerto Rico. She grew up learning and cooking classic Cuban dishes passed down through generations. She dreamed of one day opening a sit‑down restaurant that honors her family’s culinary traditions.
As anyone who has ever done it can attest, opening a full‑service restaurant is fraught with obstacles. Determined to do things the right way and start slowly, she opted to open a commissary kitchen three days a week and only offer pickup and delivery for now. She does everything herself — advertising, prepping, cooking, cleaning, and most of the deliveries — all while caring for her medically complex toddler. Not an easy task, to be sure. But Daniels’ infectious, positive spirit and love for her food and customers have endeared her to the community and created a loyal fan base in a short period of time…