Friday night in Harrisburg, and Los Tres Cubanos was already buzzing by 5 p.m. (pro tip: they open…read moreat 4 -- make a reservation if you want inside seating). We rolled in without one but happily claimed a little café table outside. The weather was warm, the cocktails were cold, and our waitress checked in often enough that our glasses never sat empty for long.
We kicked things off with the beef empanadas ($9 for two big ones) and -- oh my goodness -- these were dream-level empanadas. Golden-brown, fried crisp on the outside yet soft and tender inside, stuffed with simply seasoned, flavorful ground beef. The tangy-sweet red sauce they came with was the perfect co-star. I'd come back for these alone.
Cocktails ran about $12 each. I had the Havana Special (fresh pineapple juice, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, and Cruzan Rum) -- tropical, bright, and just sweet enough. My adventure buddy ordered the Canchanchara (honey, lime, rum, and chilled water -- said to be Cuba's oldest cocktail), which was refreshing and citrusy, perfect for a summer night.
For dinner, I went for the Camarones Enchilados ($27) -- Cuban-style shrimp in Creole sauce with white rice and sweet fried plantains. Generous serving of perfectly cooked shrimp in a savory tomato-based sauce with diced peppers, onion, and garlic... I brought half home, but not before finishing every last plantain. The sauce was light but packed with flavor, and the rice soaked it up like a champ.
Adventure buddy ordered the Cuban Fried Rice ($25) -- shrimp, ham, chicken, and sweet plantain all fried together, topped with an egg. The rice had that crispy-but-soft magic, the proteins were tender and flavorful, and while he wished the egg had been runny, it was still well-executed. Another giant portion, another take-home box.
Our bill for two was about $100, and every dollar felt well spent. Los Tres Cubanos is tucked just outside the hustle of downtown, which makes it easy to miss -- but don't. Between the authentic flavors, generous portions, and charming atmosphere, it's worth seeking out. And bonus: you can stroll the nearby Susquehanna River Walk afterward to justify ordering that second empanada next time.