Taverna

Description:

• This is the restaurant that every local resident talks about in almost reverential terms. Part of that has to do with the quirky eccentricities of the steely willed matriarch who owns it, and part of it has to do with the sense of bounty and good flavors that emerge in an endless procession of steaming platters from the cramped kitchens. Don't expect anything fancy. There's something that hints at this boxy-looking place's decidedly unglamorous origins as a warehouse, despite a recent cosmetic overlay. Staff members can become hysterical under pressure, and food is sometimes slung rather than served. But despite that, the place remains a popular staple on the dining scene of Isabel Segunda, thanks to dishes that include breaded shrimp; pastellitos (stuffed dumplings) with chicken or beef; chorizos (spicy Spanish sausages); fried fish in mojo (Creole) sauce; and shellfish stew (asopao de mariscos).

• © Frommer's 2013