La Fonda Latina   

923 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
404-607-0665

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A stop by any of the five area cantinas isn't meant to spark memories of spring breaks past or get you to thinking about taking a vacation to the Caribbean. Nah, if anything, all the splashing watercolors and teal-colored shutters give the relaxed dining setting a somewhat gimmicky feel. As you'd expect the sounds of steel drums and reggae pulses usually stream down from the rafters. And, of course, the mood of the island-inspired restaurant is consistently kick-your-sandals-up light. But honestly, while the chips and tangy salsa the waiter brings to your table aren't heavy, they can be enough to fill you if you aren't careful. Nibble at the free appetizer if you like, just make sure there's ample room left for some tasty Cuban-influenced recipes that stay as true to an eatery in Havana as possible. The pollo paella, a brilliantly colorful pan of chicken, yellow rice, onions, bell pepper, eggplant and lemon, is remarkable. The multi-layered Cubano sandwiches, triangular cut delights of meat and cheese, also get love because of their hardiness. The delicious tilapia tacos and popular arroz con pollo (half of a chicken with yellow rice) are great with either fresh papaya juice or a cool margarita. Just as how mucho reliable La Fonda works for either an 11AM lunch or 11PM munchies.