Cuba 312

"Despite what Cuba 312’s giant Tony Montana mural might suggest, a meal at this Roscoe Village spot thankfully doesn’t come with a “say hello to my little friend” surprise. Instead, you’re greeted by a much more pleasant combination of friendly staff and tasty Cuban dishes like ropa vieja and juicy shrimp bathed in a spicy garlic sauce, with plenty of fried plantains, yuca, and cassava to snack on. Grabbing a seat during the week is pretty easy, but the colorful small space decked out in vintage "Welcome To Cuba" posters can fill up on the weekend. And when you need to remember what sunlight feels like, they have a small sidewalk patio. " - john ringor

"Despite what Cuba 312’s giant Tony Montana mural might suggest, a meal at this Roscoe Village spot thankfully doesn’t come with a “say hello to my little friend” surprise. Instead, you’re greeted by a much more pleasant combination of friendly staff and tasty Cuban dishes like ropa vieja and juicy shrimp bathed in a spicy garlic sauce with plenty of fried plantains, yuca, and cassava to snack on. Grabbing a seat during the week is pretty easy, but the colorful small space decked out in vintage “Welcome To Cuba” and 1934 Chicago World’s Fair posters can fill up with Roscoe couples and families on the weekend. And when you need to remember what sunlight feels like, they have a small sidewalk patio. Food Rundown Camarones Al Ajillo You might not want to talk to anyone after eating these plump shrimp doused in a delicious, very garlicky sauce, but the vow of silence is worth it. It also has a pleasant hint of spice and is a solid appetizer to kick things off. Ropa Vieja This traditional tomato-based Cuban stew is our favorite dish here. It shows up in a cute, mini aluminum caldero that we want to believe was heated up on an equally tiny stove (don’t tell us otherwise), and it bursts with garlic, cumin, and pepper. The tomato sauce tastes especially good with the rice, but don’t hesitate to get the tostones involved, too. Pollo De Roscoe If anyone in your party falls under the category of “chicken-only eater,” this is for them. The two chunky pieces of chicken breast have a nice zip thanks to a house mojo marinade, and show up with a trio of rice, beans, and sweet plantains." - John Ringor