Monday, February 16, 2009

90 Miles Cuban Cafe

Today I ate at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe. I passed this little place on Clybourn a couple of months ago and have wanted to eat there ever since, especially after reading rave reviews. I love me some good Cuban food!

The restaurant is a tiny space with only counter seating. The walls are very cool, covered in Cuban and Cuban-related newspapers, magazines, and photos. One of the owners was eating lunch when I arrived, and a new staff person was taking orders. Service was incredibly friendly.

I ordered a beef empanada and a Cubano sandwich to go. Since it was cold today, both had cooled off a little by the time I biked home, but were still relatively warm. The empanada was excellent - flaky pastry, tasty filling, and a cilantro sauce on the side that I hadn't encountered before, but loved.

The Cubano sandwich looked as though it would give my favorites a run for the money. But the first bite ended that impression - the pork, while good, was not as flavorful and tender as other restaurants. The bread, ham, cheese, mustard & pickles were all excellent, but I ended up pulling the pork off, as it was just not right.

The sandwich menu is pretty extensive, as are the sides. There are a few breakfasts and dinners available as well. Prices are comparable to, maybe even a bit better than, other Cuban restaurants in the city.

I would definitely go back - for more empanadas, and to try out the ropa vieja. And the cafe con leche. I'll probably stay away from the pork, though.

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