"Decorated with illustrations of Dominican cuisine and geography and a tropical wallpaper that complements a logo emblazoned with Barbie pink lettering, El Bacano compels both the eye and palate with distinctive Dominican plates. The casual restaurant has quickly gained regulars with a menu starting with street food items like the chimi burger, which features a well-seasoned beef patty dressed with slaw and mayo-ketchup in a sesame seed bun. It comes with crispy tostones on the side. Add a morir soñando, a sweetened milk and orange juice drink. They’ve mastered traditional meals of bistec encebollado (beef with onions), and bandera, a combination of carne guisada (stewed beef) rice and beans that are vibrant, flavorful, and beautifully plated. The bacalao guisado features a sharp tanginess balanced by a mound of moros con habichuelas negras. For breakfast, El Bacano’s cuatro golpes is a dish of deftly fried Dominican salami, cheese, longaniza, and eggs served on a base of mangú." - Bill Esparza
