Visited Chicas quite a few times over the years. This time was a bit different than the other. We…read morehad a small wait for a table so we sat at the bar. While there we noticed a bartender Juan making drinks. I couldn't help but notice the time he took to make sure the presentation of every drink he made was perfect. I got to talking with the young man and asked if he knew how to make a caipirinha ( I am of Brazilian descent and it's like a Brazilian mojito) not only did Juan know EXACTLY what it was but he made it to perfection. Fast forward and we get called to our table only to find out Juan was taken off bar duty and he was our server. He took the best care of the party I brought to Chicas that night. Juan, hopefully you see this. Keep up the good work and continue to care about the work you do as you will go far in life.

We planned on eating at another restaurant during our day trip to Deland, but it was closed…read more Checked out Chica's on Yelp and it was a short walk (right downtown) so we decided to give it a try. It's in a lovely old building which apparently also houses a hotel - gorgeous wooden floors and a warm, inviting interior. Parking lot next to restaurant was full but there is free parking downtown just a block away. It was crowded at lunchtime and they had some big groups, so we had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated. Our server (Maria?) was wonderful. I started with a caipirinha - not often on cocktail menus and it's one of my favorites - it was delicious!). Hubs and I both had the chicken soup and it was amazing - I would come back just for that. Hubs had the pollo à la plancha - the chicken was ok but the black beans were definitely the star! The tostones as a side were stone cold and very tough to chew - it was sadly our least favorite thing (and I LOVE tostones!). I had a beef empanada and a chicken empanada - they were ok.

Should you be happening to look for authentic Puerto Rican/hispanic food and you are on the…read moreinterstate, this is one of the best options if not THE best option for you. Hispanic food options like "Arroz con gandules y pernil" are great, but are very expensive for takeout. A plate like this with a fountain drink will come up near $20 per plate, a price I would not pay for considering how cheap it would be. At Lelo's we got 4 FULL plates with 4 drinks that totaled near $50. The food quality was very good. As someone who has parents from the homeland who are picky about their pernil, they said it was great. Take that for what it's worth. Should you be off I-4 coming or leaving Orlando, I highly suggest you try this place. Worth your bang for your buck!

This is a mandatory stop for us whenever we're heading back to Jacksonville from Orlando. They…read moreserve huge portions and of course, delicious food! My favorites are their Cuajo and Beef stew. The sides are great as well especially the beans and sweet plantains. There is always a line when we visit but they move quickly and the service is very fast. Highly recommend stopping by at Lelo's for some amazing and affordable Puerto Rican cuisine!

Stopped here for some Latin food…read more We tried several of the small bites and they were great. Each dish carefully made and very enjoyable, particularly with the accompanying sauces. Tostones, Cicharron, Empanada..all very good and and flavorful. I liked the Civeche too. The restaurant is behind the Jefe Cigar Lounge just off Flagler. You can get your favorite cocktail there and drift back to the courtyard in the back to find Maiwi's place. It's a tasty break from shopping Flagler.

A hidden gem! It is located behind the Crooked Horn Cigar Bar. There is seating where you order…read moreor you are very welcome to sit in the front patio of the bar. The chef is a one person show, she is attentive and very friendly. Having a gluten intolerance, this place was great. Many of the items on the menu were gluten-free. The table had a mini Cuban sandwich, which was mustard forward and very delicious. We also had the gluten-free chicken and beef empanadas. Both the chicken and beef were well seasoned and tasted great. The outside dough stayed crisp while the inside kept its soft texture. The fried plantains had a nice caramelization which gave it a mild sweetness. We were only looking for a small bit and this place definitely hit the spot!

Ffor my GFs birthday, she wanted everyone to enjoy dinner together. We had a table for 16; a bunch…read moreof families and kids running around the outside area, which was well tolerated by the owners. I think their kids were out there playing too. Service was great. Our server got our order, repeated it back, and gave us separate checks in the end, and all the receipts were correct! wow! I had the blackened shrimp with 2 sides: salad and fries. There were a ton of fries and salad. The shrimp portion was small. $25. it was tasty. They don't have liquor but they have some wine based cocktails - i had a pina on the rocks $10 and it was delicious. We shared a cake for her bday and the little tent outside made cortados for us. They have some outdoor bathroom facility, which ran out of paper towels, but they also have indoor bathroom with some funny artwork. The menu is extensive. Many people at the table said it was the best mofongo they have ever had. We shared the tostones appetizers - with beef and shrimp on them. Buckets of beer kept appearing at the table. The kids ate chicken nuggets and fries or rice and beans, All in all, a good time was had! Parking is in their private lot, which is landscaping rock. I would not recommend heels. Be comfortable. Outside is not screened in - but they had bug spray for us and fans to keep the bugs minimized. I would eat here again.

Excited to have a Puerto Rican restaurant in the area, so my expectations were high when we went to…read morethe soft launch of their dinner service. They place is a former home of a family member they have converted into this restaurant, which has great outdoor seating - perfect for parties. The best part of our evening was watching the plena band play. Felt like we were at a house party on the island. Some room for improvement can be made in the service. It was very slow and much of the hospitality care was inexperienced. I have a seed allergy, so most of the time I can catch them in the ingredient list or knowing a certain dish may have them, I ask. Last night, I ordered the house sangria, knowing the typically have fruit that don't contain small seeds. This one came with raspberries that I didn't see until I was sucking it down. It was delicious but when the seeds started to float around in my drink, I flagged our server to get it strained or remade. It took a very long time to get it remade and when it came back, it was just red wine on ice, which tasted terrible. It was not until we were well into our dinner that I got a replacement glass of another wine after trying to flag her down again. Speaking of dinner, our foods came out at different times, which can be frustrating for diners wanting to enjoy a meal together, along with the fact that there was no silverware for us to eat with. I felt it a night of constantly trying to get our server to get something that should have been taken care of the moment we sat down. The food was good. It had elements of familiar flavors of the Carribean yet certain dishes were inconsistent in both the presentation and quality. The mofongo was a great hearty dish with pops of lovely flavor. Yummy! The Croquettes were not my favorite. They came out too hot (could have been warned) and were barely filled with creamy insides, I think the béchamel base melted out of the croquettes. All I could taste was the breaded outside. No bueno. While it's great to see a new business start to take shape in our community, I do hope the owners and staff take the time to refine their methods to bring the wonderful cuisine of Puerto Rico to New Smyrna Beach.

Delicious food, great service and wonderful ambiance! 10/10…read more We stopped here on our way to St. Augustine.

Pa'lla Voy is tucked away in Sanford and I'm glad someone introduced me to it. A couple of weeks…read moreago, my friend had taken me to P'a'lla Voy in Sanford and I'm so glad she did. This place is really hidden, I mean I went to middle school not far from there and never knew it was there. Walking in, Pa'lla Voy gives me the same feeling as a small mom and pop shop. They do plate lunches and more there. Truly a variety and personable feeling when you walk in. They're located at 1732 Rinehart Rd, Sanford, FL. I ordered the fried fish with mac salad and sweet plantains. I was really split between the plantains and the rice, however, the owner was so sweet that she threw it in for me anyway. She gave me a huge cup by the way without charging me extra just so I could try it. They had a whole case of desserts too, and honestly who can say no to a giant portion of flan? I paid about $25 for the whole meal and it was definitely enough for two meals. The fish was a fresh fried tilapia topped with onions. You have to eat it fresh, but it was so crispy and flavorful. The mac salad was fresh with bell peppers and a good palate cleanser when eating fried food. The plantains are a good staple. The rice really stole my heart though. It was so good. I would rate the plate an 8.5/10. I also got tamarind juice, which I would rate at a 8.5 as well. Overall, I would rate them an 8.5/10 and recommend anyone in the area to give them a try. They are so sweet and the food is good and a lot for what you're paying.

Stopped by during a recent trip to Central Florida and I was not disappointed. The staff were all…read moregreat and attentive. I have a specific food allergy and the team was very helpful keeping me safe. The owner Jason was also there and he's as friendly as the rest of the team. The food? Awesome. I had the Blackened Mahi with Dirty Rice and loved every bite. I will definitely be back next time I am in the area.

We enjoy fire on the bayou. It's kind of hidden, but the food is good and fresh. The fried green…read moretomatoes are a favorite. The chicken envie was delish. Jambalaya is good, great flavor profile.

The Food was amazing Pricey but good with the amount of…read morefood you get. I ordered the chicken with peppers. Being Latin the flavors were amazing and spot on. Here's my negative experience. When I was don't having my meal I wanted to take some pastries home. The lady that was there left when I went to order I waged then another customer came for her takeout order and she proceeded to help Her. I figured it was a sign you don't need any more of my business. There is no excuse on not giving proper training to ask who's next. I'm just one person it probably doesn't matter to you. The Ambiance is wonderful yet I'm there to enjoy a meal not Dance at a Latin Club. The music is way too loud ( not necessary) Good luck.

This place is in the same parking lot as the Fancy Fruit in Orange City. We stopped in for dinner…read morelast night and will be back to try more! We each ordered an entree with 2 sides. Pulled pork with red rice & beans, Black beans; steak with white rice and plantains. We shared an order of hot, fresh yuca with the cilantro sauce in the car. The staff was kind and helpful when we asked about menu choices. Then, before we left we added a slice of flan and it was perfect the restaurant is pretty big and it looks like they offer different dance themed nights.

what is the best mexican & cuban restaurant in the daytona beach areas please post & recommend!!!…read morewe can not find a great to good mexican restraunt or a cuban restraunt in the daytona beach areas??? there has to be a great to good mexican & cuban restraunt in the daytona beach areas we would think???!!!! thank you very much, terri clark

What a great find for Latin cuisine! Café Con Leche feels like a true mom-and-pop shop with a warm,…read morewelcoming vibe and a huge selection of homey dishes. I ordered the Ropa Vieja, which came out hot, flavorful, and delicious, served with rice and beans. The coffee was great, and the Tres Leches cake was incredible. Whether you know exactly what Latin dish you want or need to explore the menu, this place delivers on flavor and quality. I'd definitely recommend stopping by!