Our Story

As a Veteran-owned business, Cuba 1918 exemplifies the leadership, grit, and sense of duty that military service instills. Ray's journey-from combat service to cancer treatment to building a community-driven business-stands as a powerful testament to the role Veterans play in rebuilding and inspiring American neighborhoods. The restaurant’s earned the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Veteran-Owned Business of The Year Award in 2025 for it's entrepreneurial success, but its deeper mission to serve, uplift, and connect.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Cuba 1918 has announced the addition of Raul Mendoza, formerly of Alla Nonnas, to lead restaurant operations and help guide the next phase of growth for the South Side cultural café as it expands its role in community-centered redevelopment, cultural placemaking, and hospitality-driven neighborhood activation.

More than a restaurant, Cuba 1918 has evolved into an anchor business within the historic Quintana corridor — helping reactivate a long-overlooked commercial district through food, music, art, and community gathering. As redevelopment efforts continue throughout the area, the organization is deepening its investment in experiences that blend culinary excellence with cultural engagement.

The addition of Mendoza represents a strategic move toward operational sustainability while preserving the integrity of the family recipes and hospitality traditions that helped establish Cuba 1918 as a destination rooted in culture and connection.

“After the departure of our first Executive Chef, we realized we weren’t simply searching for a chef,” said Erica Rodriguez, co-founder of Cuba 1918. “We needed someone who understands both food and business — someone capable of protecting the soul of what we built while helping us scale responsibly as our role in the community continues to grow.”

Known for his work with the now-shuttered Alla Nonnas, Mendoza built a reputation for thoughtful, elevated dining experiences centered around hospitality, intentionality, and emotionally connected food. That philosophy aligns closely with Cuba 1918’s broader vision for hospitality as a tool for community revitalization and cultural preservation.

In addition to overseeing restaurant operations, Mendoza will help lead the continued expansion of “Cuba After Dark,” a growing series of curated evening dining experiences that transforms the restaurant into an intimate supper club environment featuring specially designed menus, candlelit ambiance, live musical performances, and collaborative culinary storytelling.

Unlike the traditional Cuba 1918 menu, Cuba After Dark gives Mendoza creative freedom to explore new culinary concepts, seasonal dishes, and collaborative gastronomy experiences alongside artists, musicians, and chefs from across San Antonio’s culinary community.

The series also creates space for elements of Alla Nonnas’ spirit and creativity to continue evolving in a new environment.

“These dinners are about more than food,” Rodriguez said. “They are about creating moments where people can slow down, connect, and experience hospitality the way it was intended. Raul understands that dining should feel personal. It should feel memorable. It should feel like someone opened their table to you.”

As Cuba 1918 continues expanding its community engagement initiatives — including live music, markets, arts programming, and cultural events — the organization sees hospitality as a cornerstone of broader economic and cultural redevelopment efforts taking place throughout the Quintana corridor.

The restaurant’s leadership believes experiences like Cuba After Dark are part of a larger movement toward experiential dining and culturally rooted placemaking that supports small business growth, creative collaboration, and neighborhood identity.

“This next chapter is about building something sustainable that serves both the neighborhood and the city,” Rodriguez said. “Redevelopment is not just about buildings. It is about creating spaces where culture thrives again, where artists and chefs collaborate, where families gather, and where people feel connected to something meaningful.”

Founded inside a restored 1918 building on West Southcross Boulevard, Cuba 1918 continues to serve as both a culinary destination and a platform for cultural activation on San Antonio’s South Side.

With Mendoza joining the leadership team, Cuba 1918 is positioning itself not only as a restaurant, but as part of a larger vision for hospitality-led redevelopment, cultural preservation, and community-centered economic growth in San Antonio.

For More Information Contact: 

Erica Rodriguez

Phone: (210) 296-3617

E-mail: Erica@TheColaoGroup.com