That Cuban Place Cafe - Frederick, MD

Friday, October 26, 2007


I went to TCP Cafe for dinner on a cool, rainy Friday evening. I started by ordering the The Original Cuban Sandwich. One of the owners, Narcisa, suggestively sold me on a cup of the chicken soup. Based on the weather, it was a wise pitch.

The Cuban sandwich, accompanied by a few unnecessary fried potato sticks, is a large, hot pressed sandwich with shredded pork, Swiss cheese, ham, mustard, and pickles. The sandwich press melds several of the thinner ingredients into a rich, tangy whole that becomes one with the inside of the bread. The outside of the bread provides a nice contrast with its crispness. The flavors were great but the pork that night was disappointingly dry.

The chicken soup was more like a stew, which is fine with me. Served piping hot and with crusty bread on the side, it was rich with shredded chicken and potatoes. It was nicely spiced with a little bit of heat, however, it was a bit too salty.

The best dish of the night was a side of fried yucca. I've only had the dish once before at a Peruvian chicken joint in Falls Church, VA, and TCP Cafe's was better of the two. Large chunks of yucca, crispy on the outside (though not greasy) and dense and rich on the inside, is recommended. If you're not familiar, TCP's yucca is a great fried side for someone looking for a new twist on large cut steak fries.

The service is warm and friendly as are the bright orange walls in this cool cafe on the corner of Market and 3rd Street. Narcisa gave me some of the house made hot sauce, a fiery orange concoction with a pleasant, sweet, and surprisingly complex aroma of more than just heat. And Alfredo is the kind of guy who gives you your food while calling you "brother" - and means it.

Overall, the food was solid this night at TCP but it has been better in my previous visits. I look forward to returning.



That Cuban Place Cafe
300 North Market Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
301-760-7776