My spouse and offspring are extremely picky eaters. I, on the other hand, love to try new cuisines and will eat just about anything put in front of me. (This trait does have its down side. I’m now required by law to stop at the truck scales on the highway.) But as a treat, each Father’s Day (or my birthday, since they’re within a couple of weeks of each other) I get to pick whatever “whacky” restaurant I desire. One year it was German. The next it was Japanese. The deal is they will go along without complaint.
This year, not only were there no complaints, but my darling Mrs chose the restaurant! We have been meaning to try Don Pepe’s Restaurante Cubano for about 9 years. So, that was the Father’s Day restaurante of choice.
It was fabulous.
Don Pepe’s is in one of those side strip malls next to a (now abandoned) K-Mart. It’s very unassuming on the outside. There are no windows through which to sneak a peak. So, we didn’t know what we were in for. But stepping through their old-style wooden door was like walking into a beautiful Carribean evening. It was decorated as a night-time plaza, with Latin music and laughter. They have different entertainment each night, and tonight we were treated to a pair of fantastic Flamenco dancers.
The staff was incredibly friendly. Our waiter was one of those magical guys that you never see, but are never waiting on to show up. Drinks and salads seemed to appear on the table from out of nowhere. The place just felt like you could hang out there forever.
And the food… I had a combo plate that had a little of everything: Boliche, lechon Classico, pollo mojo rico, congri, a Cuban tamale and maduros. Venita had the arroz con pollo. Then, for dessert, she had “Sunset in Havana” (biscocho de tres leches covered with hot home-made chocolate sauce, whipping cream, and toasted almonds), and I got cheese flan (which I’d never heard of, but was so incredibly good).
Mmmmm… Cuuuuuuba…
