Fodor's Expert Review El Oriental de Cuba

This cozy spot with wooden tables and walls full of artwork—featuring tropical fruit, Cuban street life, and magazine covers—serves a large variety of authentic Cuban food, including a restorative chicken soup, a classic Cuban sub, superb rice and beans (opt for the red beans over the black), and sweet "tropical shakes." Breakfast options include various preparations of eggs with ham, chorizo, or cheese, and espresso or iced coffee with milk. Tostones (twice-fried plantains) are beloved during cold New England winters by the city's many Cuban transplants, who will also find such dishes as oxtail, braised beef tongue, and mofongo (fried mashed green plantains with pork rinds and garlic oil). The Friday night special of roasted pork, black bean, and boiled yucca, is just $15.99.