Fritanga

We met some friends for lunch today at Fritanga (2208 S. Jefferson). Killer find!

The service was evenly and generously paced and incredibly polite. I don't know if it means I've just gotten used to really rude service, but our waiter seemed hand-picked from a five-star establishment and it was a welcome change.

For an appetizer, we tried the repochetas, a safe choice, since they were essentially corn quesadillas with slaw on top. I got addicted to the radish slaw right off. It's tangy but not too tart, and the radishes offered a subtle peppery flavor that never got old.

Three of us got the taquitos nicas con pollo, safe choice again, but they smelled unbelieveable. On the lunch menu, these come with a pile of red beans and rice, but since the lunch menu is only offered on Monday through Friday, and we didn't notice that. When we saw Santiago's order, we requested them anyway, and Orlando, the owner, gave everyone their beans and rice on the house.

Santiago had gone to Fritanga before and it was his suggestion that got us there for lunch today. He ordered the canoas meduras, or the fried plantain canoe.

Hot, isn't it? His plantain was split and stuffed baked potato style with spiced chicken and mozzarella cheese.

I didn't catch whether they never have handmade items on weekends or if today was a fluke, but they weren't offering any empanadas, which bummed me out. I ordered off the a la carte menu instead. I got the meduras and an order of gallos pintos.

The plantains weren't a bit greasy and so sweet, I kept looking for the powdered sugar.

The food was delicious, the service top notch, but maybe the coolest part was the check. When's the last time you and four of your friends had appetizers and lunch plus drinks this cheap??