Cafe Central
Cecilia Labariega · 174 Google reviewsCafe Central — established caribbean in West Town with a loyal following. Feels like it's been there since before the neighborhood changed. Honest, uncompromised flavors throughout. [$]
What 956 diners keep saying
What 956 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Locals spot for great Puerto Rican food cooked with love served by nice people. The alcapurria is so good, the sauces they offer are all hits, and the jibartios are a must try, if you’ve never.”
“Great traditional Puerto Rican food. The alcaparras were crispy crunchy 😋 The Lechón Sandwich is delicious, tender meat and perfectly seasoned. The arroz con gandules was flavorful and authentic.”
“Excellent service from the start. We were told the alcapurrias would take a little longer because they were made fresh, which we appreciated. Worth the wait. The flavor was rich, authentic, and clearly homemade. The side dips were a highlight too. One bright with cilantro, the other deep and garlicky. I ordered the mofongo, which can be dry, but the server suggested adding gravy. Listen to them. Get the gravy. It transforms the dish. Overall, the prices were surprisingly low for the quality and care put into the food. This place respects both the cuisine and your appetite.”
“I absolutely love this place. The steak Jihbarito is to die for. A must if you will. If you’ve never had Puerto Rican food let this spot be your first. Whenever it hits below 40 degrees this is my stop for soup, a good cappuccino and friendly service. (:”
“The pork Jibarito sandwich was amazing! Love the plaintains in place of bread. The special stew of the day was goat, and it was great! Very 'clean' goat if you know what I mean. Cafe con leche was perfect! Mike was awesome and treated us like family. Will be back for sure, when we're in Chicago again.”
“I recently celebrated my 50th birthday at Cafe Central and it was perfect. It was an intimate setting with family and the staff made us feel special. The food was amazing and full of flavor. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about the fresh food. Thank you Mike & team for making such an important milestone so memorable. We can’t wait to come back.”
“We frequent this place for their delicious Puerto Rican food. My wife has been visiting this place for close to 20 years. We recently had my wife’s 50th birthday dinner at this restaurant and we had a blast. Mike and The people who work at Cafe Central are very accommodating and provided a great service along with great food! We were able to accommodate close to 40 people without a glitch.”
“The best people ever always happy to support a local Puerto Rican, Dominican Business, that genuinely to me as a staple that I’ve been coming to for years🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼 i always get a bit of everything 💯🫶🏼”
“This is a really good place to have authentic Puerto Rican food. First time here and was not disappointed, service and atmosphere on point! Highly recommended!”
“This is a really good place to have authentic Puerto Rican food. I go here all the time with some ladies from my job and the food is always so good. For my birthday they made it exceptionally special. I was offered a glass of wine and the owner even came out with a small tembleque with a candle and everyone sang Happy Birthday! They really made me feel special.”
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