We arrived at the end of the dinner rush, around 6:30. The restaurant is small, with tables and a counter for seating. While it is small, the layout truly makes it seem much bigger. You don’t feel crowded in when it is crowded. As we walked through the door we were greeted warmly by a very busy waitress. She told us to take a seat any place we would like and she would be right with us. This gave us a chance to look around and take in our surroundings. Not overly decorated, but the décor truly fit that of a Cuban Café. The old adage, less is more, truly works well with the Azucar Café! Menus were delivered and drink orders were taken. Now we could tell that that waitress was quite busy, but was handling the crowd very well. Taking orders, delivering food and checking out customers was all done in stride. The only thing that we did not get was the name of our waitress, but that was they only fault we could give our waitress for our dinning experience this night. Our drinks were delivered and we were given ample time to look over the menu of delightful Cuban Cuisine. Available were all items from breakfast, lunch and dinner. We decided to focus on the dinner menu. Prices seemed average, ranging from $6.95 to $17.95 for an entrée which included two sides. We did notice that both beer and wine is also offered for your drinking pleasure.

After reviewing the dinner entrées we had decided what we wanted for our appetizer and main entrée. The waitress, while busy, had noticed that we were done looking over the menu and was table side ready to take our orders. My dinning partner started with their appetizer, Empanada Carne – $2.50. Their main course was the Lechon Asado – $9.50. I began with an appetizer of Croquettes Delight – $4.95 and a main course of Alrededor de La Isla – $14.95. Once our order was taken a basket of hot Cuban Bread was deliver to the table that had a very light garlic butter on it. This bread was lightly toasted to perfection. Both myself and my dinning partner thought we could make a meal of this delicious bread and Cuban coffee! We thought if this was any indication of the meal we were about to receive, we were in for a real treat! Without a long wait, our appetizers were delivered to the table. Both look wonderful! The Empanada Carne was perfectly cooked and the spice was true perfection. The Croquettes Delight consisted of two deep fried Ham Croquettes that were simply divine! Paired with the two croquettes were two rolls of Ham and Swiss Cheese. The Ham and Swiss Cheese was fresh and tasty. Both good Ham and good Swiss Cheese were used for this, which made this appetizer a Cuban Home Run!! Not long after were we done licking our fingers from the treats we had just devourer, our entrees were delivered. Just upon looking at our entrees we knew we had hit Cuban Gold! The portion sizes were grand to say the least! I could tell by the look on my dinning partner’s face just how good they were enjoying their Lechon Asado. They said that the port was cooked to perfection, with the outside of the pork having just the right amount of crispness and flavor. My Alrededor de La Isla was also a tremendous delight. The pork chunks were tender and juicy, the flavor just awesome! The Chicken Chunks were just a flavorful and juicy to pure perfection. Both items when cooked like that are usually dry and tough, usually tasting like tough leather. However, Azucar Café knows what they are doing in the kitchen as this was some of the best Pork and Chicken I have ever had cooked this way! Definitely a Cuban Treat. Now I had the Polamilla Steak to try. This is a thinly sliced Sirloin Steak cooked with Cuban Spices topped with lightly grilled Onions. The combination of this Steak and Onions was again a home run that Azucar Café should be very proud of indeed! Both our entrees and side dishes were very delicious and well worth the price we paid!

When we were done dinning, my dinning partner looked at me asked me if I would come back to Azucar Café, and without hesitation I said absolutely yes! While Lehigh Acres has many restaurants, not all are worth your time and money, but this one is worth both your time and your money! Azucar Café does a fantastic job with their food, their service and their prices!! Cuban home runs on all accounts!!

Azucar Café is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 8pm. Closed on Sundays. Check their menu and specials out online at www.azucar-cafe.com. If you are in Lehigh Acres or going to be there, you owe it to yourself to stop in to Azucar Café and treat yourself to some fantastic Cuban Cuisine. You will be glad you did!!! And when you do, let them know you read about them here on the Discriminating Diner on What’s Up Southwest Florida!! Let them know that you support great locally owned businesses and restaurants!!

“Get A Taste Of Cuba In Lehigh” at the Azucar Café!!! Definitely a Cuban Home Run!!!!

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We arrived around 6:30pm, and there were customers! Good sign as they have been open about two weeks at the time of this review! Being greeted by friendly folks behind the counter we immediately felt welcomed, again a good sign! We went to the counter and were handed menus. Everything jerk from Pork and Chicken to Fish. Very middle of the road prices ranging from $1.99 sides to $3.99 to $19.99 for meals. The higher end prices are for Family Sized Meals ($19.99), Whole Rack of Ribs ($19.99), Whole Chicken ($16.99) and Large Ring Ding Wings ($16.99). You can order just the “Jerk Item” or you can “make it a meal (includes a regular drink and choice of two sides)” for only $2.00 more! Fountain Drinks, Bottled Drinks, Beer and Wine are also offered. What a deal! Very competitively priced, and really the only “Jerk Cuisine” restaurant in the area! You order at the counter and whether it is eat-in or carry-out, you pick your order at the counter. There are several tables to eat-in, and Jus Jerk offers a true Jamaican atmosphere through décor, color and music. We originally were going to get the order to go, but liked the feel of the place so much we ended up eating it there! After asking a barrage of questions about the food they have to offer, we placed our order. I ordered a medium order of Ring Ding Wings and yes I made it a meal with Steamed Cabbage and Green Beans. My first dinner partner ordered and order of No Fork Jerk Pork and also made it a meal with Steamed Cabbage and Rice & Peas. My second dinner partner ordered an Authentic Jamaican Beef Patty with an order of Sweet Plantains. After placing the order we took and seat and enjoyed the atmosphere that Jus Jerk offers. While there were several orders ahead of us, we only waited about 15 minutes before our name was called to pick up our order. The music truly made our wait more enjoyable, Jamaican music is great and not a lot of opportunities to get to hear true Jamaican music when out!

Now came the true test, the taste of Jus Jerk’s food! My one dinning partner is well versed in Island Food, as they are from the Islands. Their take of the food was more than favorable, reminds them of their days back in the Islands, “like their mom used to make”! The Jerk Flavor was spot on!! My other dinning partner thoroughly enjoyed the Authentic Jamaican Beef Patty and Sweet Plantains. They have friends from the Caribbean that cook the Beef Patties and they were just as good, if not better than their friends! Two for two so far! Now comes my order of Ring Ding Wings with my side of Steamed Cabbage and Green Beans. Finger licking good for sure, and I ordered them with a “hot spice” and they delivered both on the flavor and the spice! Excellent to say the least! And “making it a meal for $2” was the way to go! The Steamed Cabbage and Green Beans took me back to my vacations to Jamaica!! Definitely a place to go if you are a fan of “Jerk Cooking”! If you have never had “Jerk Cooking”, find your way to Jus Jerk and give it a try! You will most assuredly be partaking upon true authentic Jerk Cooking! A definite hit for the Lehigh Acres community!!!

Jus Jerk has counter service. They still have a few kinks to work out when it comes to smooth operation but as they are only open 2 weeks they have a solid foundation. The staff is still learning the system and there a was delay in getting our foutain drinks. We recieved them after our order was complete and it would of been nice to have them while we were waiting. Once they work through the small details they will have great counter service as all the staff were very attentive and are striving to do a great job.

Jus Jerk says “Come Excite Your Tastebuds With The Most Delicious Selection Ever” and they truly are speaking the truth! We all feel this is a true gem and will be visiting them again and again! Call your order in, fax your order in or just stop by and place your order. Either way, your taste buds will be glad you did! Jus Jerk, “Where Taste Is Everything”!!!!

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