- Looking for a great Cuban cookbook?
- "Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban" and "Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban"
Glenn: Case Panza features Spanish food with an emphasis on tapas -- those great little Spanish appetizers you eat with a glass of hearty Spanish wine or sweet Spanish Sangria.
Raúl: It's one of the best places in town for Spanish flamenco guitar and dance.
Glenn: The reason we say the place is crazy is because of the unique mish-mash of architectural styles. It looks kind of like a Swiss chalet on the outside.
Raúl: When you walk in, it looks like a typical Spanish tapas bar. Like many I saw when I was living in Madrid.
Jorge: You'll also find a room that looks like the inside of a cave.
Raúl: This place really hops on the weekends, seldom closing before 4:00 AM
Jorge: A great place to enjoy en evening of good wine, tapas, and Spanish delicacies like paella.
Jorge: El Pub features simple, criollo or "country-style" Cuban favorites -- ropa vieja, bistec empanizado, lechón, pechuga de pollo rellena, tasajo... It's also a great place to get a Cuban sandwich and the desserts are all home made.
Glenn: It's fun to just come in and look at all of the Cuban memorabilia that covers the walls. Just down the street next to the Tower Theater, El Exquisito also offers an extensive Cuban menu.
Raúl: El Exquisito reminds me of several small restaurants I remember from Cuba. They have just about the best masitas de puerco I've ever had.
Glenn: The prices are very reasonable. They have just about every Cuban Sandwich ever invented. I especially like the croquetas preparadas and the papa rellena preparada. Get a sandwich and an order of freshly fried tostones, and you have a great lunch.
Jorge: If you want good seafood, El Cristo is a local favorite. They have several fresh fish entrees and they serve an excellent shrimp tortilla (a Spanish omelet).
Glenn: Not hungry enough for lunch or dinner? Step up to the walk-up window at El Cristo and order a few fish croquetas or fish empanadas. You don't see fish croquetas very often, and theseare excellent.
Raúl: The fish is good, the people are friendly!
Jorge: If you are in Little Havana and stop at one of those fast food places, shame on you!
Raúl: You have to try a frita, man. It's ten times better than a quarter pounder with cheese.
Glenn: That's the King of the Fritas for the Spanish deprIved amongst us.
Jorge: Anyway, you won't regret making El Rey de las Fritas the highlight of your visit to Little Havana.
Glenn: El Rey recently made a move farther West on 8th Street, but still in the heart of little Havana.
Raúl: It's a nice place -- very clean and modern.
Jorge: The standard menu is small and the items tend to be a bit trendy. Don't get us wrong, the various crepes are excellent and if you're in the mood for a good crepe, this is the place.
Glenn: But we'll let you in on a little secret -- the best food at I Love Calle Ocho isn't even on the menu. To really get some excellent Cuban food, you need to ask about the daily specials.
Jorge: I Love Calle Ocho has a secret weapon -- working back in the kitchen are two Cuban "grandmas" who turn out some wonderful home-style dishes.
Raúl: Their soup of the day is always rich and flavorful.
Jorge: We visited the restaurant on a recent Cultural Friday and their specials that day included sopa de mariscos (seafood soup) and crema de langosta, a rich creamy broth with a wonderful lobster flavor.
Glenn: They also have tostones rellenos -- stuffed fried plantain with your choice of enchilada de camarones or picadillo. Very tasty.
(Left) Glenn is served a delicious crepe with strawberries, chocolate, and Grand Marnier. I Love Calle Ocho also sells a few souvenirs, including t-shirts with their distinctive logo.
Raúl: The food is cheap and very good, the restaurant is very clean, the people are friendly -- what more could you ask for?
Jorge: It's a family operation, owned by a husband and wife team. So you know they have their hearts and souls in this place.
Jorge: Yes, even the Three Guys from Miami like to eat Mexican food now and then.
Glenn: If you want to eat at an authentic Mexican restaurant, FORGET about Taco Bell. The place to go in Little Havana is Taqueria el Mexicano.
Jorge: They prepare all of the classic dishes, simply presented in a very casual environment,
Glenn: On weekends they have music and dancing on the second floor.
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