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The Plantain Cafe is the latest business to set up shop along the blossoming stretch of Gay Street Downtown as they open their doors for lunch service today.
The new restaurant is located at 77 East Gay Street, and will offer traditional Cuban fare in the form of sandwiches, entrees, and sides.
Don Steere is opening the Plantain Cafe with his wife Anna, after years of enjoying her family’s home-cooked Cuban meals. “We’ve spent a lot of time with Anna’s family in Miami and wanted to replicate that experience here,” said Don. “Her grandparents always cooked for us and it was the most fantastic food.”
The restaurant will only be open for lunch hours to start, running from 11am to 2:30pm, Monday through Saturday.
Standout items on the menu include the Frita (Cuban Hamburger) made with beef and chorizo ($6), Cubano (Cuban Sandwich) prepared classically with pork, ham, swiss, pickles and mustard ($8), Mariquitas (Plantain Chips) served as a side with a garlic lime sauce ($4), and Pastelitos, a dessert pastry filled with guava and cream cheese ($3.50). Most sandwiches are in the $7 to $9 price range, entrees are the $9 to $11 range, and desserts and sides in the $3 to $4.25 range.
“Gay street has become a great destination spot,” added Don. “It’s filed with lots of business traffic and cool restaurants, and we want to be a part of that.”
@jennyleah31 – They have a menu image on the Facebook page. Can’t link from here, but search on Fb even if your are not a member. They will have a site soon and are also glad to fax the menu to you. No chimichurri on the roast pork, but that isn’t really Cuban either.
We got take away for the office yesterday and a universal hit. Cubano is delish as is the ropa veija and the roast pork sandwhich. Sides were very good as well. I can’t say anything negative about PC and it will be added to our regular lunch rotation.
A.
The food was a hit with my coworkers and I. We loved the size of the space as well. Everything was just perfect. Congrats and welcome to the neighborhood!
Finally got around to trying this place out today for lunch. I had the Cubano, which comes with a side of plantain chips. Perfection! Big sandwich for $8, and really tasty. The Plantain Chips are really thinly sliced, fried to a nice crisp and drizzled with what tasted alike a lemon/garlic oil. I added a little more salt, but they were otherwise really impressive. Will definitely be back soon to try other menu options!
Two things that could improve this place over the next few months:
- Small patio out front (not a whole lot of room, but they could probably put two sidewalk tables out there).
- Liquor License & Later Hours (I washed my food down with a Diet Coke, but a Cuba Libre would have been better!)
Pan Con Bistec(Steak Sandwich) is excellent. Ropa Vieja Sandwich(Shredded Beef Sandwich) is excellent. Arroz y Frijoles are excellent(and I don’t really like beans all that much)
dipping sauce goes great with the Plantains and the sandwiches, I need to start ordering 2 cups of it.
they also now have daily specials that started this week, he said he was going to see how they go. i didn’t know that when I phoned in my order, but next time I’ll have to aks what the special is. Todays special sounded fantastic.
I LOVE that the phone is answered when I call. i can’t stand, (and don’t really understand) when places of business do not answer their phone or even have a msg recording explaining why they are not answering the phone at this time.
Service has always been awesome and friendly (I have always gotten takeout though)
Today the place was packed and it appeared there was only 1 waitress who seemed overtaxed, just be aware of that if eating in during the lunch rush. last time I was there there were 2 waitresses, so maybe it was just today, i don’t know.
here’s the phone number for ordering or questions 464 & 2822
Thank you everyone for all the kind words. Both Anna & I are having a great time and are very grateful for all the positive feedback we have received.
Jennyleah31 – Our website is online now and you can download our menu there: http://www.plantaincafe.com
Walker – you have some great ideas. We already have our sidewalk dining lease approved and will be adding patio seating in the spring.
Lifeliberty – our normal staffing is 2 servers which has been working well, but one had an emergency and missed work on Wednesday. We apologize and are working on a solution so that doesn’t happen again. We understand that most of our customers have limited time for lunch and pride ourselves on our fast and friendly service.
Remember you can phone in orders if you are in a rush and we’ll have it ready for pick up: 464-CUBA
Thanks again! We hope to see you soon for lunch!
Don & Anna
Finally made it by here. I had the Arroz con Pollo. As plated, the serving initially looked a little small. But instead of shredded chicken it was dense chunks of white meat mixed in with the rice and saffron (and my own liberal use of the Goya hot sauce). So it ended up being a filling lunch portion. A great addition to the strip on Gay St.
Finally checked this out, after months of planning to do so. Very glad I did, I had the pork sandwich, it was delicious. The waitress was super nice, and the space in general was very welcoming. Def. will be back.
FYI, they had a sign out front that they will have expanded Saturday hours in the Spring! Open till 8pm!
Awe-Some! :D
that would be great, I think B will really like this place.