"If you’re looking for a festive Cuban restaurant with great food, stop by El Floridita in Hollywood on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night. But if you’re looking for a live music venue/Latin dance club that also happens to serve great food, then you’ll want to show up on a Monday, Friday, or Saturday evening instead (for a fixed menu running $50/person.) The vibrant scene at their salsa nights made El Floridita a cultural hub for the Cuban community, but the food here is quite good too. The arroz con pollo, a tomato-based rice dish with tender chicken, peas, and roasted bell peppers, is delicious, hearty, and perfectly moist from ladles of chicken stock. It also comes with black beans and fried plantains for the full Cuban spread, adding some extra moisture and sweetness to the heaping pile of rice. The only downside: it takes roughly 40 minutes to prepare, but don’t panic. You’re at El Floridita after all, so have a mojito, scream over the music to have a meaningful conversation, or just give in and dance." - sylvio martins
