PALERMO PUERTO RICAN... UN AMOR PROHIBIDO…read more Ay, Dios mío... I walked into Palermo Puerto Rican in Florida thinking I was simply going to have dinner. Pero NO. What happened that day was something much more dangerous... I fell in love. I ordered the Christmas Plate, and the moment it arrived at the table, I froze. Pork. Arroz con gandules. Pasteles. Plátanos maduros. I whispered... "No puede ser..." One bite, and suddenly I wasn't in Florida anymore. I was back in Puerto Rico during Las Navidades. I could almost hear the coquí, the music, the laughter of family, and somebody in the distance yelling, "¡Dale, que llegó la comida!" The pork was tender and full of flavor. The arroz con gandules tasted like Christmas memories on a plate. The pasteles... AY, LOS PASTELES! I wasn't emotionally prepared. And those sweet plátanos maduros came into my life like the forbidden lover my mother warned me about. I looked at my plate and said: "¡¿POR QUÉ?! ¿POR QUÉ TUVE QUE CONOCERTE AHORA?" Because this wasn't dinner anymore. ESTO ERA AMOR PROHIBIDO. Every bite brought back memories of Puerto Rican Christmases--the food, the family, the music, the alegría, the traditions. It was nostalgia, happiness, heartbreak and romance all served on one plate. And when the last bite was gone... I stared at the empty plate like the final scene of a telenovela. "No te vayas... todavía tenemos una vida juntos." Palermo Puerto Rican, you didn't just feed me. You took me home. And now our love may be complicated... it may be dangerous... it may even be forbidden... PERO VOLVERÉ. Because some loves are simply too powerful to forget. ¡QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO, QUE VIVA LA NAVIDAD... Y QUE VIVA ESTE AMOR PROHIBIDO!

Everything was delicious. Maybe put a Cuban on the menu?…read moreThe pork was so tender and flavorful. The mofongo was not dry at all! Sangria was perfect. Not to much citrus! I would come back again when in the area.

We went to Casa Iberica for Mike's 60th birthday dinner and left already…read moreplanning our next visit. The Seafood Paella is excellent -- generous, beautifully made, and perfect for sharing between two people. The service is the kind you remember: friendly, attentive, and genuinely glad you came. The room is quaint and comfortable, easy to settle into and talk across the table. They brought out a birthday dessert on the house, which was a lovely touch on an evening that was already going well. We'll be back.

My wife and I arrived just after 5pm on a Saturday night. The place was totally empty (which is…read moreseldom a good sign for me). Very unassuming store from. Inside was open and pleasant. The music was a loop of calypso with the most annoying, nightmare inducing AI video I've ever seen. But I digress... The Food... my wife had a Cuban sandwich special which came with a guava smoothie (?) she also ordered a side of Yuca Frita. The insides of the sandwich were good but totally overtaken by the bread which was dry and too crumbly. But the thing that sums up this visit was the Yuca Fries...$4 for (I kid you not) THREE yuca fries! Yes, I said 3 little yuca fries on a small plate for $4!!!! I had the Vaca Frita with Yuca con Mojo and grilled veggies. The meat was dry but the flavors of all were pretty good. Ended the meal with "Cuban" coffee which was NOT Cuban coffee but what tasted like unsweetened instant espresso. And a flaN which was the highlight of the meal. Good portion, fresh and delicious. I was told this place had been open for 2 years. Hard to believe. Maybe we came at a bad time but I wouldn't expect a place like this to last six months. Oh, the server was pleasant enough. I don't think she knew just how bad things are. I'd give this place 1 star if not for the fact the flavors were okay. Oh yes, almost forgot...the bill for this lackluster of an experience was $58 including tip!! (Did I mention we drank water? Drink prices were incredibly overpriced). And finally, a terrible case of heartburn accompanied me for the rest of the evening. My wife and I grew up in South Florida so we kinda know what this food should taste like. Lots of decent to good Cuban restaurants in northeast Florida. This is not one of them. Needless to say, we won't be back!

My family visited this cozy restaurant and it is decorated with island pictures and symbols…read more A very extensive menu with traditional Puerto Rican dishes. The night we went the 2 waitresses hopped from table to table and kept all in order. Sadly the signature dish, the sticking of the pot "el pegao" and the name of the restaurant was not available - what a shame! Ample parking

As part of a date night and pre-birthday night out, we'd heard good things about this place and…read moredecided to try them. Although it doesn't look like much from the outside, this hidden gem is a must if you're in the mood for authentic Caribbean food. Once you step inside you feel the ambience of a cozy Puerto Rican place with music to welcome you to the theme. We made it there for an early dinner, so the place wasn't crowded, but it looks like they offer live music for the evening audience. Our hostess and server was polite and friendly. And their menu was pretty good considering it's focus on the theme. We both decided to start with appetizers by ordering "empanadadilla" which was quite tasty and didn't feel like they skimp on the chicken filling which we chose. We both also went with a traditional dish, their mofongo with protein. I had the pernil (roast pork butt) and my wife had the mixed plate, which came with chicken, steak and shrimp! The meals also came with a house salad. Although I went with a simple soft drink, my wife tried their signature margarita. It was quite good, although it was a bit on the strong side. Everything was delicious and cooked perfectly, even the mofongo wasn't overly garlicy, which other times we've had it, it was. The decor was up to standard within the theme and music wasn't too loud. And surprisingly enjoyable overall. The best part was when getting the check, the prices were adequate for the amount of food we had. Didn't feel hungry at all when she came back to offer dessert. I would highly recommend this place and will be back if in the area again.

I was unusually free for lunch today and thought I'd check out a place I hadn't been before. As the…read moreresult of quick spurt of research on the way home, I discovered this place. You can't see it from the main road and the outside may look a little unassuming, but don't let that fool you. This is a hidden gem in Orange Park. Surprisingly, there don't seem to be very many places for good authentic Mexican tacos. This is probably as close as you can get. It doesn't hurt that it's a grocery too! Prices here for the made-to-order side won't hurt the wallet, and you can find some rather unique and quality stuff otherwise. Service was extremely friendly and happy to help in either English or Spanish. In terms of flavor, the al pastor was top notch. It comes with lime wedges and your choice of either mild or spicy salsa. While there isn't anywhere indoors to sit and eat, there's several tables outside to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather. Give this place a try!

Best tacos in Jacksonville/OP hands down! I've lived 2…read moreminutes from this place for 5 years and I'm so disappointed I didn't try them sooner!

Dinner and a show at Latin House Grill!…read more My best friend is Puerto Rican and she told me Latin House Grill has the best Puerto Rican food in Jacksonville. She wasn't wrong! The food was amazing! I got steak, plantains, rice and beans! There was also a late night performance by El Santi a bad that plays bachata. Everyone was dancing and the music was amazing.

Nice place to spend a Friday night! Went with friends and it was karaoke night. The DJ was friendly…read moreand had a good music selection. It was cool to see the owners there and the service was good. The queso frito appetizers are delicious

Great to be back at the Cuban Place! We are in the area and decided to eat here since it's been a…read morewhile since we visited. We ordered beef empanadas for starters. The dough was crispy and the ground beef filling was tasty! For the main entrees, I got my favorite Ropa Vieja. Delicious shredded beef cooked with spices and tomato sauce, so good! My husband tried their special for the day which was the Pork Ribs, also with a sauce, and it was amazing! We enjoyed our meals so much and looking forward to coming back again!

The Cuban place! I got a cafecito…read more Husband ordered a pork sandwich with sweet plantains and I ordered pollo à la plancha aka grilled chicken filet and congri/ arroz moro with fried yucca. Everything was delicious and very authentic

Good is great every time we come here, staff is friendly, good amount of food for the price. I…read moredefinitely recommer

Definitely one of the better Jamaican food places in northern Florida…read more Cabbage is cooked 100% perfect , first time I have ever ate my cabbage without hot sauce. Jerk chicken is well made jerk just not spicy enough for me but still good Rice and peas are dark and have good flavor Curry chicken is pretty solid , I would save some of it with some rice and peas then put it over eggs for breakfast They even have plantains and they are proper Prices are pretty decent to Only one I have found better in northern Florida and the panhandle is K & L Authentic Jamaican Cuisine in Tallahassee . They are the best outside Jamaica hands down

Woww! What a restaurant. The food is amazing, they have a vast selection of options for you to…read morechoose from. I personally had the Bandeja Paisa, and let me tell you it was really good. The service was good, even though it was busy today. Our waiter Cesar was always there when we needed him. It is a nice ambiance, great for chilling with friends and family. We were a party of 9, and we had an amazing time. GRACIAS SALENTO! Definitivamente volveré!

Woww! What a restaurant. The food is amazing, they have a vast selection of options for you to…read morechoose from. I personally had the Bandeja Paisa, and let me tell you it was really good. The service was good, even though it was busy today. Our waiter Cesar was always there when we needed him. It is a nice ambiance, great for chilling with friends and family. We were a party of 9, and we had an amazing time. GRACIAS SALENTO! Definitivamente volveré!

Sr. Ceviche had been on my list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype…read more We started with the Trio Achaufado, which is perfect for a first visit. It comes with Chaufa de Pollo, Ceviche Clásico, and Papa a la Huancaína, making it an easy way to sample a few Peruvian favorites in one order. The Ceviche Criollo ended up being my favorite dish. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the creamy yellow pepper sauce added just the right amount of richness without taking away from the bright citrus flavors. I also ordered the Tallarines Verdes con Churrasco, and the pesto pasta paired perfectly with the juicy, tender skirt steak. Beautiful presentation, generous portions, and friendly service made this an easy recommendation. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu.

Great place if you are in the mood for Peruvian food. The food is delicious... my main go to plates…read moreare the lomo saltado and the tallarines verdes with chicken. I always pair it with a batido de mora which are always so so good! Service is outstanding. The servers are friendly and accommodating. Plates came out pretty quickly, no long waiting times. The ambiance is family friendly. They keep it very clean which is a plus!

The food is all on point! Great portions, and very flavorful. I also really enjoy the king fishread more

This place looks like a run down convenience store but don't let that stop you! We happened to be…read moreat a business closeby and were recommended to come here and I'm glad I didn't let the run down facade stop us. The food is made fresh and is absolutely delicious My husband got the chicken and I got the pork as well as the potato balls and plantains. OMG a party in your mouth like being in Puerto Rico. Junior took great care of walking us thru all the options. Great people working here and again the food is top notch. We are quite a distance from this place but we will make the trip!