Fodor's Expert Review Pilar Cuban Eatery
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Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights
Cuban
Though the Cuban community hasn’t yet found Bed-Stuy, a stellar Cuban restaurant will be waiting when it does. White walls with splashes of bright turquoise have a definitively retro art deco vibe of Havana, matched by Caribbean staples like the pressed roast pork and ham Cuban sandwich, house-cured chorizo, garlic-sautéed shrimp, and tender pernil (slow-roasted pork shoulder), or modern riffs like Cuban nachos with plantain chips. There's Spanish sidra (cider), Malbec, and beer on tap. Cap the night with a Bustelo café con leche.
Quick Facts
Known For:
- Authentic Cuban dishes, including tostones, pernil, and maduros
- Good vegan options like stewed okra cooked with tomatoes, sofrito, and chickpeas
- Best Cuban café con leche outside of Miami