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| - Black Bean is a hole. But it is a happy hole! When you first walk in, you'll see separate stairways going up and down. Go up and you'll enter what looks like a chinese restaurant, but is also Black Bean. They serve both chinese and cuban food off separate menus, initially confusing, but perfect when your friends can't agree on where to eat!
Expect very tasty cuban food at incredibly reasonable prices. I got the perfectly crispy beef empanada ($2.95) the sweet plantains (the best I've ever had at any price but priced at just $2.95) and the Cubadilla (Pronounced "Q-ba-deea" a delicious love child between a cuban sandwich and a cheesy tortilla quesadilla ($6.95). The service was fast (all our food was ready in 10 minutes) The food was so good and the portions so generous, they could easily charge double their prices.
The pressed bread for the sandwiches was soft and fluffy. All in, dinner for 4 people was under $40, including entrees and sides for everyone and we still had to take half home as leftovers! You won't find a better value for tasty food anywhere.
But it's not all black beans and rainbows. As I mentioned at the beginning, it's confusing to figure out the dual-restaurant your first time. The service was friendly but our waiter hardly spoke English. The tables were squeezed together and the decor was non-existent with paint pealing off some of the walls. There was a tv blaring news coverage about a murder trial (not ideal dinner background noise).
Though the food was good, the atmosphere was worse than just spartan, to me it was so shoddy it detracted from the experience. I would definitely go back, but I would prefer to get take out next time so I can enjoy the great food, portions and prices in a nicer atmosphere. If they stop offering take out, I will suffer the interior because the food is absolutely worth it!
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