Cuban restaurants on Long Island: 6 spots to try
A Cuban sandwich with roasted pork, cooked ham, swiss cheese, pickles and a little mustard on a Cuban bread at Rincon Criollo in Huntington Station. Credit: Marisol Diaz
The Obamas are in Cuba today, and the first family will no doubt be treated to the cuisine of the island. You can taste it, too — without ever leaving Long Island.
Cuban cuisine’s greatest culinary hits include ropa vieja (literally “old clothes”), marinated beef braised until it falls apart; lechon asado, marinated pork shoulder braised, again, into extreme tenderness; the Cuban sandwich (Cubano) of ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard on a crisp roll and pressed; maduros, fried sweet plantains; and various combinations of white rice and black beans that may be called congri or Moros y Cristianos (literally, Moors and Christians). Try them at:
Café Havana, 944 W. Jericho Tpke., Smithtown, 631-670-6277, cafehavanali.com
Corazon de Cuba, 26 E. Park Ave., Long Beach, 516-272-4200, corazondecubany.com
Guajiro Restaurant, 95 Manorhaven Blvd., Port Washington, 516-439-5577
Havana Central, Roosevelt Field, 630 Old Country Rd., Garden City, 516-739-7900, havanacentral.com
Rincon Criollo, 16 W. Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station, 631-271-2277, rincon-criollo.com
And, for a taste of Cuba blended with Italy by way of Long Island:
Tony Cuban Cucina and Cocktails, 507 Guy Lombardo Ave., Freeport, 516-442-0565, tonycubanrestaurant.com
