Paladar

We like Paladar and try to eat there whenever we’re close. After an afternoon movie (Fantastic Mr. Fox – and it was fantastic) we decided to have a late lunch/early dinner. Sometimes we start with guacamole, sometimes the crab and mango fritters, sometimes just chips and salsa. This time, it was cold outside and we both decided on soup. Jeff had their version of black bean soup. Paladar’s black bean is not as thick as most and not as spicy as some. It also has a few veggies not typically found in this soup. If you’re a purist, you may not like it, but if you don’t let the name influence you, this is good soup. Michele had the Smoked Butternut Squash Soup – think tortilla soup with a butternut based stock instead of chicken broth. The smoky sweet taste was a nice balance with the tortilla chips. As always, a successful first course.

Michele really likes the Slow Cooked Chicken; Jeff is typically drawn in by the Rum Glazed Pork Cubano or the Brazilian Lamp Stew. Because it was “officially” a lunch menu and the chicken is not available, Michele ordered the Chipotle Chicken BBQ Quesadilla. The dish was spunky, but not too spicy for her. She finished all four segments of the quesadilla. Jeff opted for El Cubano traditional Cuban sandwich, theirs being a very good version. The plantain side was perfect. A second clean plate and satisfied customer. Mom would be proud.

As a reward, we ordered the Coconut and Caramel Flan, a particularly thick and rich, dense version. We’ve had a few other dessert offerings, but usually fall back on flan, because of the nice way it caps these sometimes complex meals.

As always, good food in a nice space capped a good afternoon on a cold day. What could be better?

List Status: Existing

http://www.paladarlatinkitchen.com/ 28601 Chagrin Boulevard Woodmere, OH 44122 216-896-9020

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