Padrino's Cuban Bistro

Ahhh...rice & beans, plantains, pork chops and mojitos, life is good again. I just finished up a family dinner at Padrino's Cuban Bistro. Speaking of family, I read the Padrino family opened their first restaurant in Hialeah, FL in 1976 after immigrating to the US in 1968 from Cuba. Diosdado and Candida Rosa Padrino served up the same recipes that they cooked in their home kitchen in their restaurant for the many immigrant Cubans living in Miami. Eventually they expanded to several locations in south Florida with the help of their son Mario and the new location here in Orlando.

The place was smaller than I expected, but it had an intimate, upscale and of course Latin feel to it. Think sleek and contemporary with a few vibrant art pieces to balance out the dark wood tables and trim. The menu has some great selections and it took me a while to make a choice, but I went with the Chuletas de Puerco. Two center cut pork chops, grilled with onions and served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains. My Wife had the Churrasco Skirt Steak, Churrasco cut and marinated with homemade chimichurri sauce, topped with a fresh cilantro tomato salsa and served with white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. They started us with some plantain chips and we had the Picadillo Empanadas served with a fresh guava chutney for a starter. Everything was authentic, well presented and tasted great. For drinks, I had a Mojito Cubano and my Wife had a Margarita.

This was all good, but I really got excited when I saw that they do a traditional Cuban pig roast the second Saturday of every month. It features an all you can eat carving station plus white rice, moros, black beans, sweet plantains, yucca and one drink (soda or beer) for only $14.99 per person plus tax and gratuity. That sounds like a feast that I am going to have to check out! PadrinosBistro.com