Tropical Paradise
CABANA: 107-10 70th Rd., Forest Hills, 263-3600
HOURS: Sun. - Thurs. noon - 11 p.m.;
Fri. & Sat. noon - 1 a.m.
CUISINE: Caribbean
CREDIT: American Express, Diner’s Club,
MasterCard, Visa
PARKING: Limited street parking available
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE: Yes
With an exotic cuisine, including entrees
native to the Caribbean islands, Cabana has carved out a wonderful niche for itself —
right in the heart of Forest Hills.
Upon entering, my dining companion and I
were immediately struck by the festive nature of the restaurant, a stark contrast to its
modest exterior. The brightly colored walls and ceilings work well with the dim lighting
and pleasant Latin music, generating a relaxing ambiance.
For the entree my companion ordered
Parrillada — a sampler platter of spicy chicken breast, three varieties of sausage
and a serving of steak. Accompanying the entree was a flavorful coconut rice dish infused
with steaming black beans.
Meanwhile, I indulged in an excellent
chicken salad medley called Goombay. A grilled chicken breast garnished with red onion sat
atop a bed of lettuce and other leafy greens, but the real secret to this delicious entree
was the fruit. Tossed into the mix was a healthy supply of pineapple, cantaloupe, mango
and papaya. The citrus from these tropical delights seeped into the food, giving the meal
a sweet, tangy flavor.
Though both entrees were large and filling,
we could not resist sampling the dessert menu. While my companion opted for the more
traditional flan, I selected an unusual dish called Pastelillos — two simple looking
pastry dough turnovers stuffed with a delightful raspberry rice pudding. Add a scoop of
mango ice cream laid out on a thin layer of a passion fruit puree, and you have the
makings of an incredible end to the meal.
— Richard Fasanella |
