Service

Both restaurants have friendly, helpful counter service and, after you place your order and pay, they bring your food to the table. There was no system of numbers to take to the table and so it took awhile for the server to locate us with our food at the bigger restaurant. My cafe con leche got lost for awhile (I needed a hit of that strong, sweet coffee so badly I went looking for it, though!).

Food

The food is Puerto Rican Criolla cuisine--dishes that are not so exotic as to intimidate first time diners, but with flavors that are instantly addictive. The menu is simple, prices are reasonable, and the place is packed with happy patrons.

We also tried the Cuban sandwich that day and it was a tangy combo of pork and ham with mustard, pickles, and Swiss cheese on flat pressed French Bread.

Another big hit with our family's vegetarian is the Veggie deluxe sandwich--all sorts of roasted and sautéed vegetables plus fresh greens, tomatoes, avocado, and Swiss on a French bread, flat pressed.

On another occasion our family of four ate there for under $65 including tip.  We had, coconut water, soda, and homemade limeade--fizzy and refreshing--served in a jar. We tried a Sunday night dinner special of Pernil, arroz con gandules y pasteles, which is marinated roast pork over rice with pigeon peas, a Puerto Rican tamale (very unusual soft and strong flavored masa with bits of pork) and salad; a bistec sandwich platter, thin steak with fried onions and cheese on a good roll (better than a cheese steak!); a vegetariano, which was beans over rice with salad, avocado, and tostones; and a Mixto, a plate with both tostones and maduros (described above) and salad.  We were stuffed, took home leftovers, and couldn't stop talking about how good it all was.

August, 2009

Another dinner at Sol Food, this time with a group of friends, was a hit as usual.  In fact, I don't know anybody local who doesn't simply love the place!  Sol Food's popularity is evidenced by the lines going from the corner outside the front door up to the counter during lunch and dinner hours. We tried several of the newer dishes. One was a vegetarian sandwich on the fried smashed plantains (as opposed to bread!). The plantains are harder than bread, but it was a nice variation (perfect for someone avoiding wheat as well). Ensalada de pollo was a big salad with thick wedges of yellow tomato and pink pickled onions, served with a piece of the delicious chicken (mentioned above). I had the arroz con picadillo or spiced beef over white rice--very hearty and not too spicy--I was able to add some of the spicy vinegar dressing on the table ;-). This came with side salad, slice of avocado, a cup of saucy beans with green olives for a taste of salt, and I had both kinds of plantains--sweet and fried. We drank mango iced teas and fresh limeade (or a mix of the two) in big jars--real thirst quenchers.  I'm still waiting for the liquor license and sangria, but meantime anything Sol Food serves is fine by me!