Paladar Cocina Cubana

Paladar Cocina Cubana is one of the few Cuban places I know of in the city. Because it's situated on a block of Kearny very close to the financial district, it's always struck me as more of an office lunch spot than destination dining. Still, whenever I walk by people seem to be really enjoying their food so when my friend was in town for work we decided to go.

If you like coffee, don't skip their cordadito, an espresso with sugar and a splash of milk. It's quite sweet, but the coffee is strong enough to stand up to all the sugar. There's also cafe con leche for those we need a bigger drink.

I had the steak sandwich special. The grilled onions and garlicky sauce really made the sandwich fantastic.

The arroz con pollo may have been the star of the day, however. It was a huge mountain of food including fried plantains, a salad, and what must have been two and a half cups of rice. The chicken was very tender and flavorful, and between the two of us voracious eaters the two plates of food were just enough to share and get a taste for a lovely little restaurant. Service was quick and friendly; we were cheerfully mocked for never having been there before and told to come back again soon--no problem!