Introducing: La Cubana, a stylishly retro diner on Roncesvalles from the owner of Delux
Name: La Cubana Contact Info: 392 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-538-7500 Neighbourhood: Roncesvalles Village Owners: Corinna Mozo, who also owns Ossington bistro Delux, and her husband Victor Coelho Chef: Leah Marshall-Hannon, the former chef de cuisine at Delux
The Food: Casual Cuban food, including four takes on the medianoche, a type of Cubano sandwich commonly hocked outside Havana nightclubs (the name translates to “midnight”). For brunch, pork-focused breakfast platters come with poached eggs and salt cod croquettes. A separate kids’ menu caters to the area’s flourishing under-12 crowd.
The Drinks: Havana Club rum, Spanish wine and pints of La Cubana, a light pilsner microbrew from Junction Craft Brewing. On the cocktail list: mojitos, Cuba Libres and the Carajillo, an intriguing mix of rum and espresso that’s popular with Cuban sugar cane farmers.
The Place: A retro diner with seafoam-green walls and bubbly servers in matching aqua tees. When it opens next spring, the back patio will seat 30.
The Numbers: • 25 uniquely Cuban non-perishables displayed on shelves (e.g. instant corn masa mix, smoked paprika and canned chipotle peppers) • 6 rum-based cocktails, including the espresso-spiked Carajilla • 1 Cuban breakfast plate that was so popular on the menu at Delux that it convinced Mozo and Coelho to launch the all-Cuban eatery
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