Florida Cafe Cuban Restaurant   

A Howard Johnson's motel may be an unlikely setting for one of Las Vegas' most popular Cuban restaurants, but the Florida Cafe has garnered an enthusiastic following among the city's Cuban population, and with those who just enjoy the experience of an unfamiliar cuisine. Novices might start with the Cubano, a submarine-style sandwich that packs ham, roast pork, cheese and pickles between a sliced length of Cuban bread, which is then squashed in a grill until it takes on a sloppy but succulent new form and texture. But if the aromas of hot Latin spices prove too tempting to resist, you might opt instead for such specialties as bistec de palomilla (sirloin steak flavored with garlic and lime), picadillo aceitunado (a ground-beef and olive dish) or bacalao a la vizcaina (aka salt cod cooked in red Spanish sauce). Owner-chef Sergio Perez, a Havana native, stresses freshness and authenticity in his ingredients, from the Florida Cafe's famous Cuban breakfast (two eggs, two stuffed potatoes, sweet plantains and toast) to the pizzas, topped with bacalo, pineapple, or cured beef. Don't pass up the ice cream case, where such exotic flavors as mango, guayaba, mamey and coco lurk amid the vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. And since a full meal can be had for less than $15, there's no reason not to indulge.