NoonEats: Cuban Sandwich from Latin Quarter Cafe

Sliced ham, roast pork and cheese – not exactly what the doctor ordered--but at Latin Quarter Cafe, these ingredients make the comforting heart of the classic Cuban Sandwich.

The inviting blue and white awning has tried to lure me in from Morris Avenue many times since this establishment opened at the end of last year, but it wasn't until last week that I stopped in, after a colleague told me that Latin Quarter served up a "dynamite" Cuban.

Once inside, Latin Quarter looks more like an office than a restaurant: The counter is an office desk, and four chairs sit by the window in the waiting area, with reading material ranging from community newspapers to Great Britain's Financial Times. A Coca Cola refrigerator on the right and a table on the left with Columbian coffee, fresh lemonade and aqua dulce are the main clues that this is in fact an eatery.

I stepped up to the desk, ordered the Cuban sandwich, and the owner headed to the back, returning about five minutes later to ask if I would like anything else. When I said I might like to try the agua dulce, he seemed unsure I would like it and suggested I try a small cup first. If I liked it, he could either serve it in a large cup over ice, or heat it and blend it with milk. The drink was sweet, just as he said, full of unrefined brown sugar. Why not? I'm always game for something new, so I asked for it in a large cup over ice.

A few minutes later, he came out with the sandwich, wrapped in foil and in a paper bag—not nearly enough packaging to contain the aroma of the roasted pork and the fresh bread.

"It smells so good," I told him.

"That's because it IS so good," he said, looking me right in the eye.

With little room to eat inside, I took my sandwich to the picnic tables at Meisel Field, resisting the urge to unwrap the sandwich and start eating during the short drive over.

The slices of ham and roast pork were thick, and the browned edges of the pork were a clear sign that this was in fact roasted, not pulled from a package. The cheese was mild and white, with an orange edge, likely a muenster cheese or something similar. Complementing all of this was a bit of yellow mustard and some pickles, which added a crunch and a light, vinegary bite. The bread was golden crispy on the outside, soft and white on the inside.

Who knew an office-like eatery could produce such a heaveanly sandwich?

At $3.99 for the classic Cuban sandwich, Corredor has certainly kept his promise.

A final note: While writing this, I coincidentally received this e-mail from a reader: "Had breakfast last week at Latin Quarters on Morris Ave. A great breakfast burrito w/ egg, chorizo, rice and black bean sauce; also breakfast platter, included egg, chorizo and platanos. Maybe a review?"

I have thus far confined my reviews to lunches, but after that Cuban sandwich, I have little doubt that this reader is on to something. Check out Latin Quarter Cafe for a fresh, affordable breakfast or lunch, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.