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| - Warning: this review may leave you with some serious garlic breath.
It was my first experience with Puerto Rican food and I must say, I was definitely impressed! After fighting traffic to get from Scottsdale to 27th Ave and Thomas, I arrived ready and eager to consume some Puerto Rican cuisine. I was greeted with some fried plantain accompanied by dipping sauce that had been "dipped" with plenty of garlic. I was too late to order appetizers, but my group was kind enough to share with me so I got to taste the Pastelellos which are ground beef empanadas, pasteles which are wrapped green bananas stuffed with meat, and Plantanos maduros which are fried sweet plantains. Each was just as delicious as the last and to be honest, I would have been happy with just a couple appetizers. However, what's a visit to a Puerto Rican restaurant without having an actual meal!
I took the advice of some pros and ordered the Mofongo Carne Frita. Now be warned, this dish comes with a small mountain of mashed plantains that taste like they have been soaking in garlic for weeks. Don't get me wrong, the mashed plantains are delicious, but it's important to be prepared to consume those calories and you probably shouldn't plan on doing anything with anybody afterward since you will smell like 20 garlic cloves. This meal also comes with fried pork which is good but a little dry so definitely ask for a side of their version of chicken broth to dip. The meal was good, but a little rich for me and since I had to join those who hadn't been dining on garlic after, I limited the amount of mashed plantain I ate.
My experience was delightful and I was impressed with the staff, the service and the food. Next time, I will probably get something lighter such as one of the Plato Principal Main Dishes, but all in all, I had a great time!
Directions: This place is a little hidden, but if you're coming from the East, it will be just past 27th Ave and once you've gone past the freeway, on your right. It's in the same center as a pawnshop and you'll see a Puerto Rican flag out front.
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