Cubana Cafe

REVIEW

May 15, 2009


CUISINE: Cuban, Latin American
NEIGHBORHOOD: Soho

 

Ropa Vieja


110 Thompson St. Btwn Prince and Spring St.

(p) 212-966-5366

 

Every time I enter Cubana Cafe, my eyes are overwhelmed with color-- a world outside of the tans and grays that usually make up my wardrobe.  The walls are yellow and pink; the tablecloth is a radiating, plastic, floral wonder.  Even the food is colorful (see image above). I feel happy in this space. Explosive color, though not my personal style, is an upbeat, fun environment for tacos, beer, and group of friends. Standard Cuban/American grub like quesadillas, pulled pork, cuban sandwiches and yuca fries may not be the best in the city, but for the price and the quantity (portions are large), they're usually crowd pleasers. Of the hearty dishes, the Ropa Vieja, (braised beef with sauteed onions olives and peppers, rice and beans), is our unanimous favorite...

 


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Posted in FOOD on May 15, 2009 9:34am by Jena Steinbach | 0 comments





CAFE HABANA

REVIEW

February 11, 2009


CUISINE: Cuban, Latin American, Mexican
NEIGHBORHOOD: Nolita, Soho

 

 

17 Prince Street at Elizabeth

(p) 212-625-2002

 

It can take forever to get a table here, but the food and prices are a nice reward.  The grilled corn “Mexican style” with chili powder, lime, and cotija cheese is a tasty mess.  Make sure to floss afterwards.  Portions are filling and huge; splitting is a good alternative. Though the enchiladas and Sincronizada are worth the calories, a healthier option that doesn’t skimp on the flavor is the steak salad.  Of course, meat dishes with beans and rice are what café Habana is all about.

 


Posted in FOOD on February 11, 2009 9:31pm by Jena Steinbach | 1 comment





Macondo

REVIEW

February 11, 2009


CUISINE: Latin American, Tapas

 

157 E Houston St, New York 10002

Between Allen and Eldridge 

(p) 212-473-9900

 

Macondo’s mission statement is “to bring Latin street food to the gourmet level.” We ordered the Quisqueya ensalada with manchengo, asparagus, and toasted almonds.  The toasted nuts made the dish, and this light, refreshing bite was probably our favorite.  Next up was the De Berenjena bocadillo, a glorified title for what is quite simply an eggplant panini. The sandwich was tasty, though the accompanying fries were nearly gray in color due to an excess of grease. The steak on the Buenos Aires flatbread was chewy, and the Cabrales overpowered the entire dish.  

 


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Posted in FOOD on February 11, 2009 2:45pm by Seth | 0 comments