Feb 2017 Dinner- celebrating 20 years of friendship!

A special menu for a special occasion.

Cheese Flan. Clementine segments, toasted Coconut shreds, and Blueberries, on a lake of condensed milk. This was the favorite course hands down.

Cuban Tomato Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

Cilantro Shrimp

Cold-pressed watermelon with Rum and Blueberry ice cubes

One giant pot of Arroz con Pollo

Mojito with Blueberry and Mint ice cubes

Columbia: Decent price-points for Lunch

Columbia was a must on the list for my visit to Sarasota- especially when this location generates more revenue than the original at Ybor City.

For the lunch fare- the Pollo Riojana ($10.95) and the Roast Pork Loin “A la Cubana” ($10.95) were ordered. It was particularly a good deal because the entrées came with a side order of their Famous 1905 Salad for an additional $3.95. And for libations, their renowned Sangria was available at $4.95 a glass.

Crisp, warm Cuban bread was brought at the beginning of the meal followed by the Sangria.

The bread was delicious and each of us got half a loaf of it. It started the meal off on a great note. The Sangria was sweet, refreshing, and well-suited for a sultry day out by the beach. If I had to pick on anything, it would be that the Sangria had those dyed-red, pickled Maraschino cherries… I would’ve been fine if they had skipped the preserved fruit entirely.

I’m sure I’m going to cause a stir when I say that their 1905 salad is nothing remarkable. Perhaps in my mind, when I think of a delicious salad, I conjure up images of fresh, crisp greens tossed with generous amounts of other vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Their salad focuses more on the cheese- Swiss and Parmesan. Decent-sized bits of ham dot the lack-luster salad comprised mostly of Iceberg Lettuce and Romaine. Finally, the salad could have done without being drenched in dressing. In hindsight, you can request your server to dress the salad just the way you like it since it’s tossed and presented tableside.

Between the two entrées, the Pollo Riojana was better. For a boneless chicken that’s breaded and fried, topped with a deliciously tangy tomato sauce and Tetilla cheese, it was Y-U-M-M-Y. The side of yellow rice packed a strong note of cumin along with other spices. Cooked with peas and bell peppers, the rice showed the hand of a chef that has made this rice for many, many moons.

The Roast Pork Loin “A la Cubana” was outshined by the prior dish only because the meat was overcooked and dry. I didn’t notice ANY marinade for the pork as the menu had promised, but the black beans and rice were fabulous. Soft, but not-mushy, the rice was perfectly cooked while the delicious black beans became an instant hit on my palate.

IN A NUTSHELL: Columbia seems to have no dearth for a customer base- the place was busy even on a Monday afternoon. If you’re an herbivore, you probably won’t see the hoopla about the 1905 Salad. The Sangrias are good and so are the portion sizes. Unfortunately, the Cuban bread is not in-house (for any of the locations, as a matter of fact). For attentive and keen service, ask for Novi.

Tomasita's: Finally, a Cuban Delight

This humble-looking spot is right beside the gaudy Red Barn Drive-thru-only Beverage Station (yes, use it as a landmark). I opened the door and found it to be a small restaurant (10 tables max) with the smell of pork undulating everywhere. While I briefly waited to be seated, I cracked open the menu and broke into a deep grin. I knew I was in for a treat.

So many choices

that were well priced. How many times do you find that these days? From ceviche ($7) to empanadas to Cuban bbq pork platter (their signature dish for $10), the menu showcased a focused-array of Cuban specialties. After much deliberation (trust me, my stomach went schizoid on making a final decision) I decided on the Pan Con Lechon ($6.95) and for an appetizer, the Tortas de Frijolles Negros ($5.95) and rounding it off with Flan ($4) for dessert.

The Tortas were okay. I’m saying this because of a skewed preconception that the Tortas would be soft and gooey on the inside. The black beans were cooked but not to a creamy slop that would’ve complemented the lake of sour cream that it sat in. The cakes were crisp on the exterior (which I loved) but the cilantro, key lime, and serrano pepper flavors that were promised on the menu description were obviously absent. If I hadn’t preconceived it, or become temporarily illiterate, this dish would have fared very well on my tongue.

On the other hand, the Pan Con Lechon ($6.95) was wonderfully done. A perfectly crusty Cuban bun hugged the moist pork. Moreover, the pork was especially loved by everyone on the table (same pork butt, served different ways, in different dishes). Comments flew back and forth about how chunky the Cuban-style bbq pork as well as being equally moist and juicy. What I particularly liked, however, was that I could SUBSTITUTE the plantain chips (which came automatically with the sandwich) for a more flavorful combination of Yucca fries with a mojo dip for NO EXTRA CHARGE!

For dessert, we opted for flan AND bread pudding ($4 each). The crowd pleaser turned out to be the bread pudding, which was more like an undercooked chocolate brownie served with a drizzle of butter! It was charmingly unexpected- a definite surprise for bread pudding lovers. Again, being the lone wolf of the group, I was all over the flan. Superior in its caramel flavor, it also had a forward orange taste that only subtly hinted at vanilla at the back palate. It was good, different, and definitely something I’ll remember of Tomasita’s.

IN A NUTSHELL: A delicious new place in Deland. Go before the lore of the good Cuban food brings throngs and a long waiting time. Different and varied choices of beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp will want you coming back for more than just a Cuban sandwich. Ask to be waited-on by Jodie to top good food off with equally good service.