We are lucky in Central Florida to live in an area relatively rich in Latin American culinary offerings. Puerto rican lechoneras, Colombian, Peruvian chicken joints, Cuban establishments and more abound in the Orlando landscape. They are mostly mom and pop type operations with small store fronts and the customary hole in the wall type atmosphere. Padrino's, a small family owned restaurant with three branches in Florida, is one of the few exceptions to this rule.

Just north of Kissimmee on John Young Parkway, south of the SR 417, Padrino's sits in a relatively new plaza offering its delightful, beautifully crafted Cuban dishes both traditional and with a twist. I would dare to say that Padrino's is the best Cuban restaurant in Orlando with the food that my partner and I enjoyed on this one late afternoon. The decor is definitely classy, dark browns, paintings of various scenes from Cuba, a set area for Cuban musicians and performers, and a bar.

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