Bringing home closer to the heart...and the stomach
My friends treated me to birthday dinner at El Nuevo Frutilandia. It was an absolutely wonderful meal. The aromas and flavors were intoxicating. For someone who is far from the flavors of home, it was nice to enjoy nostalgia on a plate.
Recommended: Mofongo, Vaca Fritta, maltas
Food: 10
Service: 8
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 10

If Buena Vista Social Club had been filmed in the Bay Area
If Buena Vista Social Club had been filmed in the Bay Area, Nuevo Frutilandia would’ve made the perfect backdrop. Tucked away off hustling 24th St, it’s the kind of place where regulars ask, ‘What do you have today?’ Think of a casual lunch counter dishing out Caribbean comfort food. Meaty daily specials like roast pork with pigeon peas ($8.50) and chicken fricasseé ($7.75) are popular choices. Avoid the sopa de frijol negro ($5), a thin black broth – drained perhaps from the more robust side of black beans? The large appetizer platter ($7.25) includes sweet and greasy fried plantains; alcapurrias (unidentifiable meat-filled yucca fritters); and fried plantain pancakes (maduros). Carne guisada con papas ($7.95) equals four bite-size chunks of stringy beef and two huge potato chunks wading in a salty broth. The fresh-blendered batidos de frutas ($2.50) are a summertime essential. Three matrons direct, dashing to the corner store when supplies run low..
Recommended: un batido de fruta, roast pork
Food: 6
Service: 6
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 6
- If Buena Vista Social Club had been filmed in the Bay
Area
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