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.”