Though no man is an island, many people fill themselves with black beans and plantains in order to imitate Cuba. Fill up on the stuff of islands with today's Groupon: for $20, you get a two-course Cuban dinner for two with drinks at El Rincon Criollo in Culver City (up to a $56.05 total value). The meal includes:
- Any appetizer costing up to $8.25
- Any two entrees costing up to $18.95 each
- Any two soft drinks or juice drinks costing up to a $4.95 each
El Rincon Criollo's menu of fresh, house-made Cuban fare culls its authentic flavors from a collision of Spanish, South American, French, and Caribbean cuisines. Forge a fitting epicurean prologue from a list of appetizers that includes shrimp cocktail, fried yuca, and a pair of ham-filled croquettes to incite sensory fiestas. With palates primed, diners can peruse the seafood menu, an amalgam of succulent fish, aromatic crab, and sautéed shrimp drizzled in a slew of sauces. Plates overflow with bountiful portions of El Rincon Criollo's roast chicken and Cuban-style roast pork served, like all of the entrees, with sides of rice, black beans, and fried plantains.
The restaurant's imported Cuban paintings foster an authentic atmosphere for the sampling of soft drinks and juices. While not included in today's Groupon, El Rincon Criollo serves up homemade sangria and mojitos, and caps off sated stomachs with a variety of desserts, such as rice pudding, Cuban cake, and hand-crafted flan.