La Septima Cafe, "a taste of old Ybor" in Brandon

Front (south-side) entrance for diners

Side (east-side) entrance for take-out

This is a relatively new location (14mos.) for a classic family run restaurant with 17 years of history in Brandon. Previously located on Parsons near SR 60, La Septima Cafe, http://laseptimacafe.com/, has been one of the areas favorite dining spots for Cuban/Latin fare since 1995. They are now located in the La Viva Plaza, at the corner of Kings and Lumsden. More specifically 702 W. Lumsden Rd., 33511.

Hours: M-F 7:00am - 9:00pm, SA 8:00am - 9:00pm. They are closed on Sunday.
Features: Full bar (w/Happy Hour M-F), about 10 tables in a covered patio area, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu items, Lunch Delivery (w/minimum order) and Event Catering available. 

Covered outside seating (nice)

Of course we walked in the "Take Out Only" door and were immediately directed to the front of the house where the hostess was waiting to pick us up like a couple of lost ducklings. Luckily it was near mid-afternoon so we were next and didn't come off like we were trying to cut ahead of others.

Very attentive and helpful waitstaff. Jose introduced us to a "trainee", Joe (who we never saw again) and helped me with my mis-pronunciation of "Palomilla". It was another duckling moment.

Daily specials board out front. We saw it on our way out. Oops.

If we had entered correctly we would have seen the bar area set off comfortably to the left, away from the dining tables. The walls are covered with nicely framed photos of the buildings and groups of people from a much earlier time in Old Ybor City. An old street lamp sits in the middle of the dining tables and a few displays of cigar boxes round out the effect.

For those of you who might not be familiar with Ybor City, it is a part of Tampa that was developed by cigar manufacturers in the late 1800's and served as a major community for immigrants mainly from Spain, Cuba and Italy. After several years of neglect and blight it has reemerged as a "club and arts" district with the buildings retaining the historical look of that earlier age.

Walls are covered with photos and renderings of Old Ybor City.

Erin ordered "The" Cuban Sandwich, smoked ham, roasted pork, Genoa salami, Swiss Cheese, pickle, mustard and mayo on Cuban Bread. It's an order I usually get, so I was glad she chose it. Now I could be more adventurous with my selection.

Erin's classic Cuban Sandwich. She said it was O.K. but not special.

I ordered the Palomilla Steak Sandwich, breaded and grilled palomilla steak, Manchego Cheese, grilled onions, with Valencia Mayo on toasted Cuban Bread and a garnish of Spanish Potatoes (homemade potato chips). Maybe not so adventurous after all (sandwich/sandwich), but oh well.

Lunch Special Palomilla Steak Sandwich, w/ homemade chips, delish!

Both sandwiches were made with Cuban Bread from the Casino Bakery, which has been in operation since 1912. I have to say it was the best and most fresh Cuban Bread I have had in some time. It wasn't just a home for the main ingredients. It added a special flavor all it's own to complement the fixin's.

Erin felt the same enthusiasm about the bread but for her the sandwich was just "good", not great or special. I really liked the Palomilla (Pa-low-me-ya). As you can see from the pic above it was a bit slip-slidy and chock full of perfectly grilled onions. The steak was tender like a thin cutlet, lightly breaded and nicely grilled. I really fell in love with the taste combination and textures of this sandwich and the spanish potato chips were a terrific surprise.

Kind a a homey touch. We'll go in next time around.

After lunch we walked down the front of the strip mall to check out all the little stores along the way. It is quite a collection of hopes and dreams; antiques, used books, used sporting goods, used baby furniture, coffee shop (opening soon), a bible college, news stand, real estate office and on and on.

Erin joked "That's my (her) new ride."

On our scale of YUCK to SUPER this has to go as a Super minus. Until we are really disappointed with something, this is one of the very best around.

Lunch for the two of us was about $16 with tip. We both had only water to drink and no extras like soup or appetizer. You should try it and we will be back soon.

Restaurant El Rinconcito Criollo, ~ IS CLOSED

They got a sign to fit the same light-box Raja's used

El Rinconcito Criollo is a new restaurant, with a new theme, in a familiar spot. You will find it directly across from the north entrance to Brandon Regional Hospital, formerly the home of the short-lived and now defunct Raja's Mexican Grill. The booths and tables were the same but at least they put table cloths, a clear plastic cover and placemats down to make it a little homier. The nice music playing over the sound system also helped add a Latin/Caribbean feel to the atmosphere. Not certain when it happened, but this place is CLOSED AND THE CITE IS AVAILABLE. (I might say for only the most brave of the hopeful restauranteurs that have confidence in their concept.) Interesting that this particular blog article received the most hits of any post so far (over 1,400) and yet it is gone. Ah me.

Traditional stuff  adorns the walls (nice machette)

ERC, bills itself as an Authentic Puerto Rican Food Restaurant. The Spanish/English printed and numbered (of course, It's a neighborhood thing) menu is relatively easy to find your way through, that is once you look past the two small chalkboard menus resting on the floor in front of the hot line. They have it set up like a cafeteria at the front of the line with the meat entree for the special, the main sides (veggie rice, plantains and a couple of other items), the drinks fountain in the middle and the register at the end. Behind the register they have two more chalkboards up on the wall with drink and sandwich selections listed.



Once we figured out that there was a pretty busy menu to make choices from we decided to sit down at a table for a minute to study up a bit. If you are asking, I think that's the way to approach ordering here. Menus are not on the tables, but in a couple of bins at the front of the hot line. The printed menu has everything listed except for the daily special. We made our decisions, stepped back up to the Order Station, took our plastic trays and fired away with our orders at the very pleasant staff behind the counter. Behind us on a small shelf were the plastic utensils, napkins, ketchup packets, sugar etc. for us to pick up as we moved down the line.

The physical address is 228 Oakfield Drive, Brandon FL, 33511. They can be reached at (813) 381-3832, fax:(813) 381-3997. On the web, http://www.elrinconcitocriollo.com/#! . The site has currently limited information, but nice guitar music.

Hours: easy to remember, Mon - Sat, 6am to 8pm
Features: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, delivery (Brandon, Riverview, Dover, Valrico and some Lithia Pine Crest locations), event catering.

Tri-fold brochure type menu lists all but the special of the day, which is on the floor chalkboard.
"The Special" this day was 1/4 roasted chicken, veggie rice, fried plantains and a fountain drink for $5.49. Good value. Erin loved the way the chicken was cooked, "better than rotisserie at the store."

Presenting "The Special". Patty and Erin got this. 

Mom and I both got Deli Sandwiches.

Mom ordered,  #58. De Pernil (Pork Sandwich) with Mojo Sauce. She liked the Mojo Sauce for sure and used almost the whole little container of it on the half she ate.

I got #63. Sandwich Cubano Con Cerdo (Cuban Sandwich with Pork). I also ordered a side of Fried Plantains. Not very adventurous of me as far as ordering anything "authentically Puerto Rican". Maybe next time I'll step out a little.

Mom goes after 1/2 of her Pork Sandwich with Mojo sauce

Both sandwiches were assembled as requested, delivered to our table by someone from the back and had generous portions of meat and cheese with good flavor. The plantains were moist and tasty but nothing special beyond that.

On our scale of YUCK to SUPER I would have to give this new place a Good plus rating.  Just can't get away from the styrofoam and plastic for some reason, but the food made a lump.

Lunch for the four of us came to about $26.50 without tip .