Cuban Flavor

Now we actually have our first Cuban restaurant in Bakersfield: "Cuban Flavor". Owned by Sergio and Pedro Aguilar, Cuban Flavor has a wide variety of sandwiches and entrees served in a buffet format that can be confusing when you first encounter it. I say confusing because we walked in and there was a giant menu board behind the counter. I'm thinking the buffet must be some sort of all-you-can-eat option, but the friendly man behind the counter (the staff is exceptionally warm and gregarious) explained to me that only the appetizers and the sandwiches are made to order. The entrees are prepared in advance and visible when you look at the buffet and, as I expressed interest in different items, he would point to where it was on the buffet. For those who like to SEE what they're ordering before they order unfamiliar foods, this is a real plus. But there are those who think buffets present their own challenge to a fine meal, notably the tendency for food to get dried out. Among the foods we sampled, this happened only with the black beans with rice. The menu also has two shrimp, two fish, three pork, three chicken choices, a full breakfast menu and eight sandwiches. As I mentioned, the staff is friendly and helpful, willing to explain any of the items, offering free tastings and generally making you feel that they're glad you're there. In a phone call with co-owner Sergio, he said that he and his brother own the La Mina on H Street and have always had a dream of opening up their own Cuban restaurant. He noted they make their own Cuban bread for the sandwiches and hope soon to have Cuban pastries available. "Since I opened this place I've met about 150 Cubans," he said. "I didn't know that many lived here in Bakersfield."