Cafe Dominican

April 13th, 2012 · No Comments

It’s quite a trek for most but if you want good Dominican food, you have to make the trip to Lilburn/Norcross which has been the gateway for such restaurants. I have been here a few times, eating off of the cafeteria-style specials the first time then from the menu after. I suggest you do the same since ordering from the menu, at lunch and especially during busy dinner hours, can take over an hour to get your food. We timed it the last time we came at an off-hour, slow day and it took a good 20 minutes. I also had mistakenly come here on one of my Meatless Fridays and sure enough, the entire Dominican population in Atlanta was there observing the same practice with me. Dinner became a two-hour ordeal but the wait was so worth it.

If you want a quick meal, then opt for the ready-cooked entrees from the cafeteria section. Every single one is good. I love the beef stew and the oxtail. Both are very tender and stewed in tomato-based sauces. They are so fantastic you’ll be sorry not to try them. The spices, bold flavors, and fork-tender meat make this stews so comforting. And oh so yummy.

There are a couple of things you need to get from the menu. One is the deep-fried whole chillo. The red snapper is huge, about 2 pounds, seasoned lightly with salt then fried golden. The skin is crispy while the meat is juicy and tender. Served with a side salad, rice, and beans, it’s an awesome deal and a huge meal for $9.95 for lunch and $14.95 for dinner. A real steal since it’s big enough to feed two — that’s two people with normal appetites. I can down one easily, as with my lunch buddies, good friends Stan and GJ who ordered one each. Stan, a connoisseur of island food, being raised in Puerto Rico, and whose family owns a restaurant serving Dominican food among others, was very happy with their fried fish topped with a tomato-based sauce.

excuse the blue hue… they had the disco lights on

The plain fried fish is good as well. The clean flavor of the fish really stands out. I’ve had this fried fish three times and it goes without saying that you must try it.

The other thing you need to get from the menu, the deep fried pork, is one of my favorites. Strips of tender, marinated pork are deep fried and served with rice and a very simple salad. I like this better than the fried pork belly because it doesn’t have that hard, chewy pork skin that, while delicious, can be a pain to eat sometimes. Every meal also comes with a side cup of beans. The beans here made a fan of me. It’s really good. Lots of flavor and good consistency.

A friend got the sauteed, grilled steak strips that came topped with onions and green peppers. This dish is really good as the meat was just so flavorful.

The spicy shrimp (similar to scampi) has that pleasant, slight kick, with just the right amount of spiciness in them. Tender, sweetish.

Spaghetti? Yes. With meatballs. Unlike Italian spaghetti, the island version is more savory with only a little hint of tartness from the tomatoes. Worth a try.

Mofongo. This mashed plantain is a popular Caribbean dish which originated in Puerto Rico. It is made from fried green plantains or fried yuca, seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings, then mashed with a little broth. The big serving here laced with huge pieces of pork skin is just that: tasty. And what’s a meal with Stan without mofongo!

Tostones and fried sweet plantains are equally good and make best sides or appetizers. You can’t go wrong with either one.

One last thing. Beware of Friday and Saturday nights when this place doubles as a disco complete with a live band and dancing. While the place becomes fun, the food takes longer to come out.

Cafe Dominican
4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 723-3784