A Critic Finds Comforting Cuban Fare in Logan Square

Taste of Havana is an alluring Cuban experience in Logan Square, writes Mike Sula. The “gold-standard” Cubano is an “unusually stacked version” boasting ham, pork tenderloin, cheese, pickles, butter, and mustard. The kitchen’s “deft touch” with the fryer produces “soft, creamy” ham croquettes, “flaky” empanadas,” and “dense, caramelized” fried sweet plantains. Beefy classics include “formidable” vaca frita — deep-fried flank steak topped with onions — while chalkboard specials range from seafood paella to a meaty soup called ajiaco Cubano that’s full of “depth.” The bar “pours some surprisingly boozy yet balanced mojitos” as well, making Taste of Havana a success on all fronts. [Reader]

Pacific Standard Time has been the talk of the town and Joanne Trestrail thinks the restaurant “deserves its kudos.” Erling Wu-Bower’s dishes are “layered with interesting textures and tastes” and pretty much everything on the menu is “can’t-miss.” Among the lunch options, a starter of “puffy and perfect” pita with smoked eggplant and rabiolina cheese is highly favorable, while roasted chicken arrives alongside summer squash and feta in a “spectacularly flavorful sauce.” A “zesty” gyro is another standout, and dessert features a “for-the-record-books” creation of plum posset, a lemony custard made with buttermilk. [Crain’s]