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 .