Those that miss DeLand having a Cuban restaurant won’t have to wait much longer. Ileana and Isidro Castro are eager to open the doors of Chica’s Cuban Cafe in newly renovated space inside a charming old cottage on Howry Avenue, across from the DeLand Police Department and fire station. The couple was born in Cuba and immigrated to Miami, however they’ve lived in DeLand for the last 14 years.
The owners have not given a hard deadline on when the restaurant will open, but the expectation is that it will be any day. The Castro’s are quick to say that Chica’s is not as much of a restaurant, but a cafe. Planned menu items include empanadas, rice and beans, Cuban sandwiches, steak sandwiches, croquetas (bread-crumb-coated fried food rolls filled with tasty meats and more), pastelitos (pastry), ropa vieja (thin strands of shredded beef in a rich and flavorful sauce of tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and spices) and the Castro’s signature “Chica’s Chicken.”
Other than the entrees, a favorite is expected to be the delicious baked goods and pastries such as guava pastelitios (pies) and tres leches (3 milks cake). These sweet treats pair perfectly with a cup of Cuban coffee.
The seating will be limited inside, but there will be seating for 30 along the outside covered porch in the charming cottage.
Although there is no definitive open date yet, Chica’s is promoting on their Facebook page that they will be an official food vendor at Downtown Deland’s Tropical Nights event on July 20. You can be one of the first to sample the scrumptious menu!