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| - Sometimes when I check out a new place I like to get a couple different dishes so that I can really get a taste of their offerings. Then I just spend several days munching on the goods and thinking over my experience before I write a review. There are just so many places to check out in NEO that it might be a long time before I make a second trip, if I even go back at all.
Well for Cleveland Mofongo I will definitely go back! I stopped in on a Saturday right when they opened at noon. The staff was super friendly and helpful when it came time to explain Puerto Rican food to a basic white girl. Shortly after I placed my order several customers came in and a line started to form. People like this food! Even a cop came in to pick up lunch while on duty.
*Roasted Pork Shoulder with Yellow Rice and Pinto Beans $9 - Large portions! I liked that the pulled pork stayed mostly moist even when reheated. The food in this dish is pretty standard, and a little salty, but if you split it up and add it to other dishes it's A-Okay!
*Loaded Plantain Chips with Shredded Chicken $9 - This was my favorite. The plantain chips have a lovely crunch on the outside edges and they brush this tasty garlic oil over them. Next is a ton of juicy shredded chicken and a pile of cheese. Don't forget to ask for a side of their special sauce to dip the chips in!
*Guava Chicken Quesadilla $7.50 - This was pretty tasty as well with a slight hint of sweetness. When I reheated it in the oven the tortilla had a wonderful crispness to it. Comes with pica de gallo and a special sour cream.
*Beef Empanadillas $2.50 - Large sized, and while I was not that big of a fan of the fried shell, the beef mixture inside was flavorful.
The food here is good, the portions large enough to share or bust your gut with, and the prices are affordable. With all of that said, I can see where some people really love this food and others (looking at you DT from Cleveland Scene) think the food is a bit tame. Take pancakes for example, sometimes you're totally okay with a plain buttermilk pancake with some local butter and maple syrup. Other days you want that pancake to have blueberries and lemon zest in it with a little whipped goat cheese spread and crystallized cinnamon sprinkled on top.
What I'm saying is that you should give this place a try! You might like the comfort food they serve as is, or you might want to enhance it with more sauces, more green olives, more pico de gallo or more spice in general. I think that Cleveland Mofongo is a great starting point if you've never had Puerto Rican food before, and they are just a small mostly take-out joint with a limited menu, but I know this type of cuisine has a lot of influences (Taino, Spanish, African, American, etc) and is capable of some great flavorful fusion in their dishes so I am eagerly looking forward to this business growing and expanding their menu (give me the comfort and the unique!). Maybe even put some dessert options on there!
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