Mojito Cafe

[col klink]

I FINALLY went to Mojito Cafe last week even though they've been open since last December and I've heard good things about them. I'm kicking myself for not going in sooner! They've been casually mentioned here in the forum before by Papachef but a full write-up hasn't been done yet.

Batgrrrl and I arrived around 4 pm, before the dinner menu was out. Both of us opted for a Cuban pork leg sandwich, though mine came with a slice of ham, the Mojito's special. I'm not sure what the sauce was, but there was just enough so the sandwich wasn't dry; on top of the meat was a slice of non-processed "white cheese" that seemed like it was swiss. The bread is vaguely like a french loaf and the whole sandwich is compressed under a grill. The result is warm tasty pork with cheese. Damn good.

The sandwiches were plated with fried slices of plantains and topped with a garlic and parsely sauce, though it was mostly garlic. We also ordered a side of black beans and rice that had a touch of spice. Be forewarned, since the sandwiches were so filling, we hardly made a dent in the large serving of beans and rice. Many leftovers were taken home.

The owners of Mojito's were very smart when they planned out their restaraunt, they applied for their liquor license a full year before they opened shop, and it's a full liquor license which means they're able to sell mojito's! For the uninitiated, it's a rum drink with mint, lime and sugar. Mojito's mojitos are the best I've ever had, though I'm willing to admit that I'd only had one mojito before going to Mojito's. All I know is that they went down smooth and tasted great. At first I wasn't sure if there alohol in drink because it was so good and I had to ask Batgrrrl. A little embarassing to say the least.

I remember when the building was being remodeled after the failed coffee shop and thinking that it was just a terrible location and that the owners were nuts but still wished them the best. It turns out that nutty location has actually helped them. It was a little tough for them when they first opened, but now they're so busy that on Friday and Saturday nights there's a line out the door and an hour and a half wait. This is not surprising because the food is great and there is only 8 tables.

They're located at 7545 Lake City Way NE, Seattle WA. They're right by the Lake City Way on-ramp to I-5. If you're going south on LCW, instead of veering left and heading towards I-5, head right like you're getting on to Roosevelt. Mojito's is the second or third building after you head right. If you're coming from south of there, you'll have to go north of the location and come back down LCW.

When we arrived (4pm), the place was empty and one of the owners was very nice to chat with us. He told that the place is doing very well and they're looking for another location. Also, that the bulk of the customers are from Miami Beach, or are with someone from Miami Beach and was dragged there for the authenticity. I highly recommend dropping in. I can't wait to try dinner myself.

The sandwiches were ~$6.50 and the mojito's were expensive but damn good at $5.75. The owner mentioned that everyone who's tried their version has tried to duplicate it at home. He didn't tell us the main secret, but did give us a tip, don't grind the mint and the lime too hard otherwise the ground lime will get too bitter.

[MsRamsey]

Thanks for the review, klink! I just took a look through their very kooky website, mojitocafe.com. I wonder if they'd take reservations if we got a big group together, hmmm . . .

The best mojitos I've had are here at home, at Tango (Capitol Hill), and at Oliver's (downtown Seattle). Tango has a great happy hour in the bar; I think the mojitos are $3.50, and they are excellent. To get picky for a second about the advice from the owner of Mojito's Cafe: Really, the mint and lime do need to be muddled quite vigorously (along with some ice). Otherwise, you don't get as much mint flavor as you need. If it's too bitter, you just add a little more simple syrup and see how it tastes.

Beware of those places that make mojitos with Rose's Lime Juice. Shudder!

[malarkey]

mmmmm mojitos. I had my first one at the Waterfront bar. The most difficult thing to making them at home is getting that minty flavor. I've even made ones that were loaded with mint but didn't taste "minty" AND I had muddled them vigorously. maybe too much :-/ I've made others that came off delicious very effortlessly, so I'm not sure what the secret is.

thanks for the review klink- I'll have to check this place out.

[col klink]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add the website:

http://www.mojitocafe.com/

WARNING: There's a lot of distracting music everywhere on the site.

As for the drinks, I made a whole bunch of them this weekend and I was able to get a lot of mint flavor without having to muddle 'em too much by using the overpriced organic $2 packages of mint. It certainly wasn't spearment like I have in my garden, more towards the peppermint side. That and there was only a hint of mint in the Mojito's mojitos, they weren't a mint party.

[MsRamsey]

Okay, so I guess I prefer a mint party. I tend to use a fair amount of mint in mine.

[Dave the Cook]

In the best mojitos I've had, the mint is not explicit. It combines with the ice and alcohol fumes to create the effect of super-coldness without actually lowering the temperature. The complex sugar bomb of rum and syrup slides through on this vapor. You don't feel like you've actually had a cocktail so much as you breathed a quart of air transported from the arctic and released in the middle of a Cuban cane field. Since you didn't really drink anything, you have to have another. Sweet as love; as addictive as cocaine.

[col klink]

Well put Dave! They go down so !@#$ing smooth. It's a good thing I'm unemployed! Next thing you know, I'll be a girl-drink drunk.

[Dave the Cook]

Next thing you know, I'll be a girl-drink drunk.

Better stock up on those little parasols.