The little building at 2206 Frankfort Ave., which has twice been the home of Latin restaurants (Cubana and Riviera Maya), is how the home of TropiCuba, a restaurant specializing in traditional Cuban cuisine. Orlando Grimany Calas and his father, Orlando Grimany Nuno, along with their third partner, chef Angel Rodriguez, who managed restaurants and taught at culinary institutions in Cuba, are committed to providing authentic Cuban food and superior service. Rodriguez also is owner of another Cuban restaurant, El Sabor de Cuba, located at 5700 Outer Loop.
One of Grimany’s favorite menu items is fricase de carnero, lamb cooked in a wine-based tomato sauce and served with rice and vegetables. He also praised the restaurant’s the seafood offerings, merluza frita, a whole fish, marinated in citrus and deep fried. Pork dishes include masas de cerdo frita, a pork shoulder stew cooked in a Seville orange sauce. There will be beef and chicken dishes as well.
Prices are moderate, toping out at about $16 for the lamb dish, with most others in the $12-$15 range. Dessert choices will include flan, because, how can you avoid it? The decor includes original art by two local Cuban painters, Pedro Roque and Lazaro Hondares, which will be for sale. A liquor license is in the works.
