We arrived at Latin Flavor on a cold and icy evening, so the warmth inside was a welcome respite. The front of the restaurant looks like you can order many different items from the menu to go as a cafeteria-style restaurant, but when we arrived they were in the process of cleaning everything so it came off like the place was closed. I think the staff was happy to have some customers though, and there is a seated area, so we grabbed a table and perused the menu. The inside of the restaurant is bright and cheery, with a few pieces of art and sculpture decorating the walls. The staff was friendly and attentive, although we were pretty much the only people there so not much competition for attention.
Sandya and I were both pretty hungry, so we ordered fried yucca as an appetizer as a somewhat "healthier" option. It was very tasty - a hint of sweetness but a great consistency that was somehow both crispier and chewier than normal french fries. The dipping sauce was garlic aioli and was a nice flavor complement to the yucca. We were also treated to complimentary garlic bread slices, which were crispy and had a lot of delicious melted parmesan cheese on them. For my main dish, I went with stew chicken, which was chicken in a thick brown savory gravy-like sauce. The perfect dish for a cold winter's night, and boy was it tasty. The carrots and potatoes were nice and soft, and I also had a side of brown rice with red beans that I could mix to soak up the sauce. If I hadn't eaten so many yucca fries, I probably would have finished my meal, but at that point I was pretty full so I took the rest home. The leftovers held up and were just as good the next day - in some ways they might have been a little better, because they had a night to "stew" in their own flavors (LULZ), which really enhanced the next-day dining experience.
The dishes here are similar to Jamaican Jerk Hut and Caribbean Delight, and I've ordered very similar dishes at all three establishments. While I enjoyed all three meals, I think Latin Flavor has the best price-to-taste ratio, and even without that edge I found this the tastiest of the three. But that's not a dig on the other two restaurants, because they were still plenty delicious. Latin Flavor is a new establishment, having only opened in late November, but here's to hoping it sticks around for a long time - the food is great and the ambiance is very welcoming.
Latin Flavor
627 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 298-9627
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