We who live in South Florida really enjoy Cuban food. With influences from Spain, France, Africa, and China, Cuban food is very flavorful, but rarely "hot". With no heavy or creamy sauces, the food gets its distinct flavor from onions, garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. Meats and poultry are marinated in citrus juices, and then roasted over low heat until the meat is so tender it falls right off the bone. Typical entrées include grilled chicken, pork, beef or fish. On the side there will usually be limes, white rice, black beans, and sweet fried plantains. Or, you can enjoy the Cuban Sandwich. It's typically a huge sandwich containing slices of ham, pork, cheese, pickles, mustard, and mayonnaise on grilled sweet egg bread.

There are many Cuban restaurants all over South Florida. Recently, I enjoyed a terrific meal at Padrino's Cuban Cuisine. There are three locations: Hallendale, Plantation, and Boca Raton. The menu is the same for all three, but as I've only been to the one in Hallendale, my review is only guaranteed to apply to that location.

My recent trip to this restaurant was for a business dinner. There were to be five in our party, but we were all arriving at different times. I was the first to arrive and as I looked around the dining room I realized something a bit bizarre. There were absolutely no round tables. I had been envisioning the five people sitting in a circle, but that was not to be. Then I checked out the booths. The booths were so unbelievably small that I quickly rejected that as an option. I sat on the bench, and the table was literally pressing into me, with no way to move it out. I commented to the hostess that the bench seemed a bit "tight" and she agreed. Apparently I'm not the first to comment. In the end I decided to add an extra chair to the end of a four-person table. I knew it would be a bit squeezed, but that seemed the best way for five people to eat together.

The waitress was very understanding about the fact that I really had no idea how long it would be before the rest of the party arrived. She brought me a drink and a basket of bread, then left me alone as I waited. But she kept a careful eye on my table, so that as others arrived she would come right over to take a drink order. Once four people were there, and it became clear that the fifth one was going to be delayed, we decided to order some appetizers.

We ordered the Mariquitas (crispy fried plantain chips served with a garlic sauce) and the Combinacion Cubana which is my favorite kind of appetizer: a little bit of everything. There were plaintain chips, yucca croquettes, chicken patties (chicken wrapped in cheese and ham, then breaded), and stuffed potatoes (potatoes stuffed with ground beef, peppers, and olives).

My dining companions also ordered Mojitos (Cuban cocktail with mint, sugar, lime juice, light rum and club soda). There were plenty of crushed mint leaves floating in the drinks, and my companions seemed quite pleased.

When the fifth person finally arrived we ordered our meals. The others ordered steak (skirt steak served with a side of chimichurri sauce) and grilled chicken meals. All came with a choice three side items (white rice, beans, fried plantains, French fries, and steamed vegetables). Most people order rice, beans, and plantains. They like to pour the beans over the white rice and mix it all together. But for this meal I went a totally different way, and ordered the Paella. Served in a large bowl, there was yellow rice, slices of white meat chicken, scallops, shrimp, mussels, and some kind of grilled fish. I don't know what kind of fish it was, and I didn't ask because I knew I wasn't going eat it anyway. There was more than enough of the "good stuff" (shrimp, scallops, and mussels) that I was perfectly happy. It came with two sides, so I chose steamed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) and fried plantains. Everybody's portions were generous, and everyone seemed very happy with their meals.

Besides what my party ordered, they offer several other beef, chicken, and seafood dishes. Expect to pay $10-$20 for an entrée. There are soups (black bean, white bean, and chicken), salads, and other appetizers as well. The combination appetizer we ordered was the most expensive (it was a business dinner after all) for $10. Though we didn't indulge, they offer several desserts for $4-$6. Flan is a soft egg custard topped with a caramel topping. Tres Leches is a sponge cake saturated with a combination of three types of milk.

Weekdays, they offer a lunch buffet which sounds to me like a terrific bargain. For $8.99 you can have chicken soup, salad, a few different meat items that change each day (chicken and beef), white rice, black beans, and fried plantains.

This restaurant is nothing to look at from the outside, but does have plenty of parking. I know the Plantation location is in the Fountains Mall and also has plenty of parking. None of the locations takes reservations, but they say that you can call ahead if you have a big party and they'll accommodate you. The Boca Raton location is the only one that offers outdoor seating.

I enjoy Cuban food very much, and will definitely give Padrino's another try. I'd like to try the other locations to see if their booths are any bigger. But, assuming the food is equally delicious in all three and the prices equally reasonable, I know I'll enjoy my meal. (Even if I can't fit into a booth).


Recommended: Yes