Cubana Cafe

On Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, an endless stretch of restaurants beckons to passersby. Chalkboard displays take their posts outside of their homes, showing off the daily specials. I often feel lost on this street, trying to find a place to chow down, bouncing from window to window and scanning the menus for something promising. If you find yourself in this predicament, do as I did: set up shop in the brightest colored restaurant on the block.

Cubana Cafe boasts an extensive menu that includes breakfast, which is served all day and night. The portions are decent but not overwhelming, and the prices fit just right. The staff is decently accomodating, the decor is slightly tacky (which may be a reason why you feel quite comfortable here), the music can be too loud at times, and on a busy night you may be wedged right next to fellow diners at a perhaps awkwardly close distance. But the food is warming, and worth it all.

I love love love the Cuban sandwich, made with oh-so-tender roast pork, sliced ham, oozing swiss cheese, pickles, and chipotle mayonnaise, served with a chick pea side salad. Cubana Cafe's salads are at the same time light and satisfying, and you can almost taste the love in the chicken soup (add some hot sauce and all the flavors come alive). This place also makes a mean mojito; the next time you're in town, look for the blue building and order a mojito for me.

http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/Cubana-Cafe01/menus/main.html