There is a restaurant in Treasure Island, Florida, not far from Tampa, that has been serving up Cuban sandwiches since 1993. They have won several awards including being voted “Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa Bay”. At the suggestion of some great friends, we went to The Floridian to see what they were all about.
It is a small place that has a few tables inside and a large patio so customers can eat outside. That is where we ended up sitting.
Ordering is simple, just go up to the counter and tell them what you want. They make everything right there in front of you.
I was lucky enough to get a picture with the guys making my sandwich.
The Cuban sandwich had all the necessary ingredients: sliced ham, spiced pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, and pickles. It was served on a toasted roll with mustard and mayo. The bread was extremely fresh and toasted perfectly. It had great crunch when I took a bite. Since the sandwich was warm, the meat was warm and it slightly melted the cheese. The flavors of the meats worked extremely well together. The mustard and mayo was mixed together for a creamier texture. I am not a mustard fan but the way they prepared the mixture made me fall in love with mustard.
I have had several Cuban sandwiches in and out of Florida and I agree with all the reports – this was the best I ever had. And as you can see from the picture, my friend Hunter agrees with me.
The Floridian has several other things on their menu besides Cuban sandwiches. The black beans and rice looked really tasty. I tried an item called a stuffed potato. I was very curious what this was.
It was a simple item, mashed potatoes that were stuffed with spiced beef. It was then lightly breaded and fried. It reminded me of croquettes that I have had before but instead of ham and cheese it was the spiced beef.
I really enjoyed this dish. The taste of the meat was amazing and was not too spicy. It was simple but it pack a lot of flavor. An order only came with one potato ball but I could have eaten a few more. I would highly recommend this item.
The Floridian is a great place and I am so glad my friends took me here. I will definitely stop by again when I am in the area. Check them out at http://www.floridianrestaurant.com/
Enjoy!
T
