Yuca at Cafe Cubano, Elmwood Park

Yuca at Cafe Cubano, Elmwood Park

Café Cubano is a little, unassuming place on North Avenue in Elmwood Park. I’ve eaten a lot of stuff I like there, but what I dream about and return for is probably the simplest item on the menu: yuca with mojo de ajo.



The yuca is fibrous, with minimal flavor (kind of like a dense potato), but I enjoy the inconsistent texture, and the comfort-foody simplicity of the stuff. Splashed with garlicky sauce, I dig it a lot.

We also had an off-menu item, the ox-tails, and they were good and meaty, their richness modified by neutralizing yuca.



Café Cubano
7426 W North Ave
Elmwood Park
708.456.6100

DH -

Can you compare/contrast with Cafe Laguardia West on Oak Park and North? That's my go-to (I love their pork medallions, and their lunch specials are a great value; I get the roast pork sandwich, which comes with a beautiful cup of frijol negro for about $6). I've only been to Cafe Cubano once, and liked it as well, but you probably know both menus better than I.

Santander wrote:DH -

Can you compare/contrast with Cafe Laguardia West on Oak Park and North? That's my go-to (I love their pork medallions, and their lunch specials are a great value; I get the roast pork sandwich, which comes with a beautiful cup of frijol negro for about $6). I've only been to Cafe Cubano once, and liked it as well, but you probably know both menus better than I.

Stevez and I went to Cafe Laguardia maybe two years ago, and I liked it, though I actually think Cafe Cubano, though smaller and seemingly not as popular, may have a larger menu, though some items were not available the other day we were there. Case in point: I jumped at the chivo al chilindorn (goat stew) but it was out, though I was very happy with the ox tail. Other items, like the pulpo salad ($8.95), were quite bad: in the case of this salad, tough plugs of octopus over lettuce, no dressing. On that note, prices at Cafe Cubano actually seem a little high (average entree is like $12).

If you're happy with Laguardia, there is no compelling reason to go to Cafe Cubano (unless, like me, you dream of boiled cassava in garlic).

Hammond

I have been to both, I like Cafe LaGuardia better. A little pricier but food higher standard. And Great drinks too
Joey B

Yuca (also known as manioc, cassava, and tapioca) is actually pretty easy to prepare -- especially if you buy it frozen and already peeled. Boiled, it smells like a cross between baking bread and potatoes. Boiled and mashed, it makes a nice side dish or is great for making tamales -- just remove the tough cord from the center. It is also lovely fried. Fun stuff to experiment with. One of the world's most important staple crops, but we hardly ever use it around here.

Anybody been to Cafe Cubano lately? I've never been there. Still good?

I was thinking of going there tonight before a show at Dominican. I've been to Cafe LaGuardia.

TIA

Dave148 wrote:Anybody been to Cafe Cubano lately? I've never been there. Still good?

I was thinking of going there tonight before a show at Dominican. I've been to Cafe LaGuardia.

TIA

You're going to see Jimmy Lafave and the gang in the Woody Guthrie tribute, eh? I saw Jimmy last night in Berwyn and he was stellar. I met him after the show and said "You know you're doing something right when you make a headbanger weep like a child." (i also stopped by the Depot American Diner and had an epic meal).

On to your question - i've been to Cafe Cubano every few months for the past couple of years. I believe their prices for lunch have gone up pretty steeply because I remember my eyebrows being raised by their lunch prices on my last visit.

The oxtails look great, but i have not had them. The stuffed peppers were excellent last time I went there. If you're thinking of steak, avoid the breaded steak in favor of the two other varieties. Sizable portion on the meat, but it's just a decent piece of meat, rather than an experience in flavor.

If you've never been, its worthy trying. Overall, though, I work 5 mins away from this place and never feel that its a "must-go-to" destination.

Yep. I'm looking forward to the show.

Thanks for the ordering tips. I'm not positive we'll end up eating there. One person in my dining party is kind of picky. Just keeping my options open.

I like Cafe Laguardia West a good mite better than Cafe Cubano, but admittedly CLW is a place I have to order the extra condiments and sides to get the plates exactly the way I like them. The consistent winners seem to be the Sabor de Cuba combination, and the roast pork sandwiches. I also like their black bean soup but do doctor it up a bit at the table.

We ended up at CC. Good thing we got there early. It was a bit smaller than I expected. The food was great. Quick service. Even the picky eater was happy.

It turns out that the people at the next table were also heading to Dominican for the concert. The concert was amazing. Thanks for the advice.

I hope it's not too far off topic to mention that Cafe Cubano certificates can regularly be purchased on restaurant.com. Most recently I was able to buy a $25 certificate for $2. Ditto Emilio's and the Marion Street Grill. One way to stretch a dollar. Like most of the certificates these days, there are restrictions (Marion Street Grill, for example, requires four entrees and is only good Sunday through Thursday). But the only restriction on the Cafe Cubano certificate is a minimum purchase of $35 and an agreement that they'll take an 18% service charge on the original total. Not bad.