Con Sabor Cubano - Cuban food in Lincoln Square

As blunt noted in Openings and Closings, Comings and Goings, Con Sabor Cubano is now open for business and I decided I needed to give it a try today for lunch. CSC is a small storefront restaurant, with three tables that each seat up to 4 persons, and a counter that seats maybe 6.

Today, I tried their version of the Cuban Sandwich. Now I don't profess to be the expert on Cuban Sandwiches, but I certainly liked this version -- Virginia ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese, pickles and mustard served on bread from D'Amato's Bakery. The bread was very crispy and somewhat flaky (loved the texture) and the bread was quite thin. So far, so good. It was a large sandwich, certainly worth the $5.25 price tag, in my opinion (although there are certainly cheaper versions in Chicago). It's served with a heap of those thin potato sticks you usually see sold in the snack aisle of grocery stores. I liked the flavor of the sandwich a lot, and loved the texture of the bread. My complaints are minimal: I would have preferred a little grease (it's pretty dry) and it could have been pressed a little bit more (although it was not the least bit cold on the inside). But hey, they've been open for exactly one day.

Rey, the owner, also gave me (and everyone else in the restaurant) a sample of the Cuban Coffee (normally $.75 for an espresso shot, $1.40 for a double shot). I have not had much Cuban Coffee to make noteworthy comparisons, but I certainly liked this version.

Rey is about as friendly a guy as you will ever find and his excitement about this new venture could not be more evident. Although I took the sandwich to go and did not try it in front of him, he wanted to make sure I enjoyed the coffee, which I did. I love it when a restaurant owner shows so much care about how his customers like the food -- there's nothing wrong with a little humility. And you won't be able to help wanting him and his family to succeed.

Rey also noted that they will be offering samples from their entire menu this coming Saturday -- 1/19/08. Other than the Cuban Sandwich, they offer the following:

Pan Con Lechon (Roasted Pork) - $6.25
Pan Con Bistec (Steak) - $6.25
Medianoche (Midnight Sandwich - I understand that this is very similar to the Cuban Sandwich, but served on a sweet, egg bread roll) - $5.50
Frita Cubana (Cuban Burger) - $3.75
Ropa Vieja (Shredded beef) - $6.25

They also offer a number of breakfast items and drinks. Rey indicated that it is their intention to eventually offer many more menu items, but that the above six (including the Cuban Sandwich) is what they'll offer to start.

Con Sabor Cubano!
2739 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
773.728.2226

Hours: Mon-Sat - 7am-6pm, Sun - 8am-5pm

Wow, that area is turning in to a tasty sandwich mecca, what with Nhu Lan being only a block away...

Cuban sandwich microtrend. Have to check it out and report back. D'Amato's bread is a good start, as is the use of ubiquitous-among-Cuban-palces shoestring potatoes straight from the can.

That menu seems nearly identical to the Cubanita menu, at least the menu they had upon opening. How large are these sammies? -- 6 bucks for pan con lechon (a personal fave) is relatively steep as these things go.

JeffB wrote:How large are these sammies? -- 6 bucks for pan con lechon (a personal fave) is relatively steep as these things go.

The Cuban Sandwich was pretty big, I thought, although not overstuffed by any means. The last Cuban I had was at La Unica and it's been a while . . . but I think Con Sabor Cubano's version is bigger.

BR wrote: But hey, they've been open for exactly one day.

Damn, Brad, you scooped me! Seriously, though, I just love this forum for up-to-the-minute reports! I'm heading over there tomorrow to report on the breakfast items!

I came, I saw, I ate.





I'm no expert on Cuban cuisine, but I liked.

Although I can already hear the "more pickles!" cry.

(Obviously, I'm also no photo expert. Thanks, cellphones!)

Josephine wrote:

BR wrote: But hey, they've been open for exactly one day.

Damn, Brad, you scooped me! Seriously, though, I just love this forum for up-to-the-minute reports! I'm heading over there tomorrow to report on the breakfast items!

I pass this place every day on my way to and from work and I was excited to see it enter the hood. But I guess you've seen the breakfast menu now in the post above. There's coffee, but nothing else particularly exciting . . . a Cuban bagel? I guess not.

On another note, I also tried the Ropa Vieja. I liked it quite a bit. Relatively tender beef (could have been slightly more tender, but not a big deal), very nicely flavored and speckled with bits of green and red peppers. I didn't notice any olives (but since I took it to go I didn't get a chance to ask if they use them), but I think I tasted some Sherry. It was juicy, but not too juicy, and the D'Amato's bread held up well -- a very nice sandwich.

since my place of employment closed, leaving my days completely open, I've been walking around to the different restaurants in my 'hood. I've been passing Con Sabor Cubano everyday, anxiously awaiting its opening. I've been going to Nhu Lan sinces it's opening, and recently went to Restaurant Sarajevo for their cevapcici sandwich. i loved it! the sausages tasted very similar to gyro meat, the 'milk-cream' (as the chef called it when asking if i wanted it included on the sandwich) was a blend of different cheeses and butter (the sever didn't know the exact ingredients) - there was something that tasted like feta in the mixture, and the bread - a big puffy bun - had a challa bread like quality to it with a hint of sweetness.

So wouldn't you know it, Con Sabor Cubano opens while I'm out of town! I'm looking forward to checking it out when I get back to the city..

Tried this one out yesterday. Foodwise, mediocre leaps to mind. While the place is clean and the owner personable, we shared an average Cubano sandwich at best, I can think of three off the bat that are better, all well discussed on these pages. Ropa Veija was tough and very Manwich-like with overtones of chili powder. 3 bites were enough for me to invoke the Kuhdo rule and opt for another lunch (unfortunately, equally average, couldn't muster a third lunch though, my spirit more so than my appetite was broken).

It appears Khan bbq will be in my near future to right this travesty. So as not to appear overly negative, I'd say was that the Cuban coffee was good and they know how to open a mean bag of shoestring potatoes.

Jazzfood wrote:Tried this one out yesterday. Foodwise, mediocre leaps to mind. While the place is clean and the owner personable, we shared an average Cubano sandwich at best, I can think of three off the bat that are better, all well discussed on these pages. Ropa Veija was tough and very Manwich-like with overtones of chili powder. 3 bites were enough for me to invoke the Kuhdo rule and opt for another lunch (unfortunately, equally average, couldn't muster a third lunch though, my spirit more so than my appetite was broken).

It appears Khan bbq will be in my near future to right this travesty. So as not to appear overly negative, I'd say was that the Cuban coffee was good and they know how to open a mean bag of shoestring potatoes.

I'd agree that the owner was definitely very personable but unfortunately, the food was just ok . . .


The Cubano, which includes 2 types of ham (one being a prosciutto-type), probably could have been a bit meltier and included more pickles.



The meat in this Ropa Vieja was very tough. The flavor seemed a bit "pre-fabby" to me but that may have been a function of its tough texture, as all the moisture surged out of the meat the moment I bit into it.

As we were leaving, the enthusiastic owner generously offered us a treat . . .


A Cuban coffee shot starts out with coffee being slowly poured into a vessel which contains sugar . . .



. . . the coffee and sugar are mixed vigorously by hand, which creates the crema . . .



. . . after the crema develops, the shots are poured off.



A delicious, labor-intensive shot of Cuban coffee.

Allowing for its newness, I'd say Con Sabor Cubano defintely has promise. The owner just came to Chicago from Miami, where he'd spent the last 12 years, so he certainly has good familiarity with the product. He also mentioned that the menu would soon be expanding to include some 'heavier' items like croquettas and empanadas. While the food I tasted there this time was nothing to write home about, I'll be very curious to go back after a bit of time passes and give it another try.

After lunch, by an amazing coincidence, Gary ran into his cousin Sergei, who had just arrived in town, via steamship, from Vladivostok . . .


Cousins, reunited.

=R=

Jazzfood wrote:Ropa Veija was tough and very Manwich-like with overtones of chili powder.

Keeping in mind Con Sabor Cubano is a new business and still getting it's sea legs........

While I liked the flavor of the ropa vieja, I found the texture of the shredded meat to more closely resemble it's euphemistic moniker than it should. Cuban sandwich was fine, though, for my taste, could have used another few minutes in the sandwich press.

The Cuban coffee shot whipped to a crema inducing frenzy by the personable owner was a taste of Calle Ocho on a cold Chicago afternoon and a high note finish to our less than exuberant lunch.

I'll definitely be back, the owner has enthusiasm and pride in his product and I'm hoping once he works out the kinks the ropa vieja will more resemble a South Beach supermodels delicate silk bikini than old clothes.

Ron, thanks for the picture, it was a delightful coincidence running into Sergei, we made plans for later in the week and I know just the place to take him.

Enjoy,
Gary

I think I'll wait. Those photos don't bode well, esp. the ropa vieja. Yikes. On the other hand, the coffee looks good and the owner's technique is solid.

As a war grizzled centurion and/or dinosaur I must ask, what ever happened to the most solid of business concepts of "you only have one chance to make a first impression"?

I more than most people, know that it takes a bit of time to be running on all cylinders, I also know the damage that can be done by not. If you're not ready, don't open your doors. And if you do, expect to hear things that may be sad but true. I know that's not always realistic, deadlines need to be met, greed or need enter the picture, but once you do open the doors, that's the point you'll be judged from and the damage is done. People sabotage themselves in this business for numerous reasons, this being one of them.

The public rightfully has expectations of food quality and service once you start charging them. It's not as if you're rebating 25% because you're only 75% ready. I'm not saying anyone opens at 100%. What I am saying is that all the criticism is valid when you're paying for it and it may cast you in a particularly unflattering light that you may or may not recover from because you blew your chance and alienated your clientele. This happens a lot. To survive, the learning curve must be quick and seamless.

The state of the industry today is that it's fairly easy to get people to give you a try. The hype of something new or interesting is attractive to most. It's much harder to get them to come back though after a poor or sub standard experience. Too many other places to spend your money.

JeffB wrote:Those photos don't bode well

Very true. The picture of the cubano looks pretty lamentable compared to La Unica or El Cubanito.

ronnie_suburban wrote:After lunch, by an amazing coincidence, Gary ran into his cousin Sergei, who had just arrived in town, via steamship, from Vladivostok . . .


Cousins, reunited.

=R=

Do Gwiv and Alan have any meals apart these days? ...reminds me of a certain skit from the TV show Scrubs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wYDEV0FhTjQ

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

JeffB wrote:Those photos don't bode well

Very true. The picture of the cubano looks pretty lamentable compared to La Unica or El Cubanito.

For sake of comparison, here's an image of the most recent Cubano I had at La Unica, last week . . .


Cubano from La Unica

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:For sake of comparison, here's an image of the most recent Cubano I had at La Unica, last week . . .

La Unica offers my favorite version of the Cuban Sandwich in Chicago. But I liked the version at Con Sabor Cubano . . . but the one I had the other day, although not pressed and melted enough for me, was still cooked far more than the one shown in your picture from above, which doesn't even look pressed (looks more like a regular ham sandwich). Hopefully, those are kinks that will be worked out. As for lack of pickles, I might have preferred more, but again, I still thought it was a good sandwich.

Yeah, the sandwich I bought at Con Sabor Cubano on Thursday evening looked more like ronnie_suburban's La Unica photo above than it did like his Con Sabor Cubano photo. Since I am inexperienced with Cuban sandwiches I don't have a basis for comparison but it was very tasty (needed more pickles though ).

Stopped in here after church this morning with the bambino. There were only a few customers (it was only 11am) although the live poultry place next door was jumping. I got a cuban sandwich and a lechon sandwich to go. The place is quite bright and clean, which contrasts with the dismal streetscape outside. I was very pleased with both the lechon (a tad dry, but good flavor) and the cuban. I drank my cafe con leche while I waited. They're a great addition the neighborhood. That strip of Lawrence may be ugly, ugly, ugly but it also happens to be roast pork heaven -- what with Nhu Lan and their roast pork bahn mi across the street.

maureencd wrote: They're a great addition the neighborhood. That strip of Lawrence may be ugly, ugly, ugly but it also happens to be roast pork heaven -- what with Nhu Lan and their roast pork bahn mi across the street.

I agree, I live just across the river from that strip of Lawrence and it is ugly, ugly, ugly in fact when my sister-in-law was here last she kept talking about how 'i lived in the ghetto' and 'do you feel safe here?' I love living in Lincoln Square I can travel the world in great ethnic cuisine within a 15min walk from my house.

Back to the Cuban place, I was very excited to see this opening in the neighborhood. I went recently with my roommate and thought the sandwhich was OK but could have used more pickles, mustard and some more time in the press as the middle was still cold. The owner, or at least the guys working behind the counter were very friendly, helpful and excited for us to be there. For that, I have to give them a few more tries.

Has anyone been to that Cuban place near the Damen el stop? I forget the name. I tried to go there once in the fall and it happened to be the one day of the week they were closed.

Oh yea, has anyone been to the live chicken place next door to Con Sabor Cubano? I walk by all the time and can't bring myself to go in and buy a chicken. It always seems popular though. I have the same sort of feelings as I do about the middle eastern butcher shop near the Kedzie el stop.

when my sister-in-law was here last she kept talking about how 'i lived in the ghetto' and 'do you feel safe here?'

Holy crap - was she serious?

Unreal.

CTBoss wrote:

maureencd wrote:Has anyone been to that Cuban place near the Damen el stop? I forget the name. I tried to go there once in the fall and it happened to be the one day of the week they were closed.

You're probably thinking of Sabor a Cuba on Wilson and Wolcott. I've only been once and found the food to be good but nothing outstanding. I know several people who really, really love this restaurant, though, so I should give it another shot.

CTBoss wrote:Oh yea, has anyone been to the live chicken place next door to Con Sabor Cubano? I walk by all the time and can't bring myself to go in and buy a chicken. It always seems popular though. I have the same sort of feelings as I do about the middle eastern butcher shop near the Kedzie el stop.

If it's the place I think you're talking about, you should stay away from that middle eastern butcher unless you want fresh, very reasonably priced, full-flavored lamb from a place that supplies many of the nearby restaurants. You should definitely stay away if you prefer not to be served by friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced professionals.

Lebanese Meat Market
4657 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 267-6702

I just want to clarify the fact that when I referred to that strip of Lawrence Avenue as "ugly, ugly, ugly," I was referring to the decrepit nature of the buildings and not making a judgment on the quality of the neighborhood. In general, I love Lawrence Avenue (the whole stretch from the lake to the Edens) for the huge variety of ethnic businesses that you find there. Many of the buildings have seen better days, but there's always something interesting to look at.

maureencd wrote:I just want to clarify the fact that when I referred to that strip of Lawrence Avenue as "ugly, ugly, ugly," I was referring to the decrepit nature of the buildings and not making a judgment on the quality of the neighborhood. In general, I love Lawrence Avenue (the whole stretch from the lake to the Edens) for the huge variety of ethnic businesses that you find there. Many of the buildings have seen better days, but there's always something interesting to look at.

You shouldn't stop at the Edens, either. There are many more interesting places all the way past Milwaukee continuing until the street jogs at Austin, the location of Delightful Pastries.

CTBoss inquired about the live poulty place next door. I have not made a purchase there. My only visit was to inquire whether whether they were missing a rooster and did they want to come fetch the one in my yard (the answer was yes and yes). The store is no frills and understandably smells as one would expect given that it houses live poulty (and rabbits IIRC).

Live Zahiba Poultry
2741 West Lawrence Avenue

mrsm wrote:CTBoss inquired about the live poulty place next door. I have not made a purchase there. My only visit was to inquire whether whether they were missing a rooster and did they want to come fetch the one in my yard (the answer was yes and yes). The store is no frills and understandably smells as one would expect given that it houses live poulty (and rabbits IIRC).

This is one of the funniest things I've read this week. Thanks for the chuckle!

The live poultry place next door has been one of the problems for restaurants in that location. Wait until a hot, humid day in July or August with the door open after they have scalded and plucked a chicken. Scalding makes the feathers easy to remove but produces a pungent aroma.

Wonderful little Cuban joint in what I thought was Far West Lincoln Square - didn't know just east of California and Lawrence was Albany Park - someone will have to explain the neighborhood boundary lines to me. But, I digress...\

I was stunned that it took me 5+ months to get this place on my radar seeing that it's a mere 5 or 6 minute walk from my home. I've been there about 5 times total since my maiden voyage about 10 days or so ago so you could say I'm a bit po(ob-?)ssessed by the place.

Wonderful, friendly, welcoming service. Great Ethnic Cuban vibe.

Fantastic little 2-3 blocks of eateries in this 'hood with Nhu Lan, Cinners and Con Sabor Cubano. Sarajevo Restaurant looks pretty good too - got a facelift I think.

Anyway, the Cuban Sandwich was fabulous. Good portioned if not overheaping. Nicely pressed, great flavors, and no cold center - some of these charactersitics appeared lacking in visits by previous posters. The Cafe Cubano is a bold, sweet, uber-caffeinated dream, though my heart doctor might have other thoughts. I've never ordered less than 2 shots of that liquid crack-like addictive pleasure.

Had the Pan Con Bistec - Steak Sandwich last couple of visits. I do not like it as much as the Cuban, and admittedly one-half of one of the two Steak sandwiches I have had there was a bit chewy with the steak. But still good. Love their homemade? hot sauce applied al lado - or, on the side. Perfect heat without being overwhelming. The absolute is the homemade beef empanadas. Two gigantic tasty treats for $2 - a buck a piece. I'd probably pay at least $4 for these babies. A must try. I do not drink regular sodas anymore, but they must of had 5 or 6 latin-american sodas in the fridge.

Highly recommended.

Bster