I’d be lying if I said I had no trouble at all deciding which food spot to review first--aka indicator #2 that you have a slight food obsession. With me being a foodie and all, you could say I’ve accumulated quite a few favorite places over the years so choosing just one definitely took some thought. Story of my life, as this culinary contemplation happens all too frequently when my friends ask me to pick out the restaurant.
No joke, I actually have a list on my phone ranking all of my top picks and yes, they are organized by food type. No shame in this game remember? 💁 My ultimate goal is to post a review for each of these, in addition to my newest foodie finds, but for now, let's stick to my latest and greatest discovery: Zaza Cuban Diner
I must say, this place has been on my “to-visit” list for quite some time now and boy have I’ve been missing out! Located between Social House and Marble Slab Creamery in the Waterford Lakes Shopping Center, Zaza Cuban Diner stands out with its bright red logo and modern outdoor seating. The minute you walk in, you can’t help but notice the delectable Cuban pastries on display…so much for eating healthy. There's always tomorrow right?
The restaurant utilizes a counter service, convenient for quick ordering, and offers open seating. Looking over the menu, I noticed a variety of affordable options--perfect for someone willing to explore the Cuban/Latin cuisine in a more relaxed environment. Bonus: they serve breakfast ALL day and have an incredible selection of coffees for all you coffee-aholics!
I decided to go with the classic Cubano sandwich with a side of plantains. In a nutshell, hands down the best Cuban sandwich I’ve had thus far…and I’m a tough critic. The roast pork, deli ham, and swiss cheese combo dressed with mustard and pickles was pretty much spot on as far as Cubans go. 10/10 recommend – plus the sandwich was huge! More bang for your buck--and in my case, college buck.
My friend decided to try the Mojo Chicken sandwich, which came with a side salad and his choice of Zaza’s roasted potatoes. Of course I had to steal a bite--or two--from his meal and likewise to mine, I was impressed. His sandwich consisted of a seared chicken breast topped with grilled onions, provolone cheese, and potato “stix.”
Although I personally am not a fan of onions, this sandwich was still tasty considering its ingredients, however the best part of the meal had to be the potatoes. Smothered in garlic and herbs, these potatoes were the closest I’d gotten to my Grandma’s recipe. It’s weird to think that something so simple, with so few ingredients, can taste SO good.
Impressively, both meals came out hot and fairly quick as it was prime lunch time and we had no trouble finding a table despite how busy it was when we walked in. You could definitely tell Zaza Cuban Diner is a popular spot and both my friend and I agree that we will be returning soon.
If you'd like to see more mouth-watering pics, I definitely suggest you check out their Instagram @zazacubandiner.
For those of you who enjoy quick summaries, like me, I've included the most important details below:
Foodie Fast Facts:
Service: Counter Service
Type of Food: Cuban/Latin
Price Range: around $10 a meal
Location: Waterford Lakes (although there are 2 other Florida locations)
Menu: http://zazacubandiner.com/menu/
Overall Foodie Girl Rating: 😍😍😍😍😍out of 5
Keep calm & eat on,
xoxo foodie girl
