THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Platanos Cafe y Cocina Rustico

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Platanos Cafe y Cocina Rustico Restaurant Review:

A festive Central American spot has taken over the space at the corner of 18th and Guererro Streets. This time the room is brightened by soft tangerine walls, palm frond fans, and a bustling, if tightly filled, dining room. A mostly local crowd is happy to enjoy the flavors of Latino cooking not satisfied at the neighborhood taquerias. There are no burritos and chips here. Instead, diners dig into chunky guacamole or fresh ceviche with crisp sweet plantain chips. A paella main course arrives more like a stew with spicy chorizo, shellfish, salmon, and shrimp ensconced in red rice. Mole poblano is a complex, smoky, chocolate-tinged velvet blanket draped across a moist chicken breast. A must try is the pork marinated in achiote, stuffed with tropical fruit, and grilled until golden and crisp. For dessert, skip the American standbys and go for the cinnamon-infused rice pudding.