I tried these spots on OBT and Sand Lake Rd yesterday at lunch. The first two are across from each other in the strip mall on the sw corner. Non-mall side. The third is across the street from them on the nw side. A block down from the intersection. None of these are new.
La Verguenza - I had the $9.99 fried pork lunch special. It came wit beans in broth and white rice. They also gave me something that looked like half of someone's peanut butter sandwich. They called it a sandwichito. Not sure what it was. Ate a corner to be polite. The meal was pretty damn good. I had no expectations. The last time I tried to eat here it was a non-English speaking mad house. The nine, large blocks of shoulder meat were mostly meat. One cube was all fat. One had gristle. The rest were just right. In between tough and tender. No foul oil smell or taste. Not greasy. Covered in sauteed white onions. The beans were pretty tasty. I dunked my pork in that rather than the french dressing they included. Served in a cup. The rice was fine. Served in a formed mound. Typical Puerto Rican menu and prices. The place looked like it had a bath since the last time. Only three tables eating at noon. Latin music. Colorful paint. Murals with guitars, bongos, etc. Huge tv with ESPN on right wall. A few smaller ones scattered around. Twenty-ish tables of four. A bar on the left. All the patrons and staff were latin. The waitress left me hanging at the end. The other tables' food seemed to take a while. They seem to have three locations in PR. This is among my least favorite cuisine, but, this probably not a bad place to get it if want it. Seems to mean shame. I'll leave it. Too easy.
Picanha's - Mostly an AYCE Brazilian buffet. You can get it by the pound or around four sandwich specials like I chose. It was $20 this winter. Now $24. $13 a pound, I think. The non-meat buffet wasn't that impressive. Sides to dry looking fish filets. One small oven with skewers of meat that they slice off for you. You know the drill. Different beef cuts, pork, chicken, etc. Around twenty, variably sized tables. Framed posters of Brazilian cities. One bug mural. Wood. Rectangular floor plan moving away from the entrance. The staff was extremely conscientious. About half full. I wonder why they had the waste disposal area right behind the register. They made the cashier do double duty. However, it doesn't make the greatest impression. I tried the steak sandwich to go for $12. The meat wasn't great. Gray, tough hunks. Neither was the roll. Some cheese, lettuce and tomato. I figured it would be bad. But, AYCE meat isn't really my thing and this was the cheapest way to give them some pub. It is among the cheaper options. Sadly for me. And maybe them. Three other similar types of restaurants just opened between here and I Drive. Although, I suspect that they will be twice as expensive. I just heard that the winter storms made the feed for cattle (among all the other things) more expensive. So, beef will be more expensive. Seems it means rump steak. Wouldn't you think it meant pike or sword or skewer? That's probably the crap they gave me.
Viet Thai Cafe - I tossed this in because I was in the area. It was bigger inside than I expected it to be. I just expected a small take out footprint. It has two sides. A dine in area and the register and kitchen area on the left. I had the chicken pho to go for $15 because it was the thing I hadn't had in the longest time. Plus I had ordered pork and steak already that day. It was what you'd expect. Pre-boiled chicken and noodles with bean sprouts, etc. Clean, fresh, veg. The broth was interesting. It had a taste of snickerdoodle. Quiet pleasant. The menu has the typical dishes of both countries at the typical prices. The girl at the counter was very sweet. The dining room was about half full. Dark. Teal walls with appropriate decoration. Better than it sounds or looks from the outside.
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