
Glenn: And that's usually a good sign. It's a nice old Cuban restaurant with linen tablecloths and a relaxed atmosphere.
Jorge: From the looks of it, the Ambassador Cafe turns out a lot of sandwiches. They have all of the standards: the Cuban, the medianoche, and pan con lechón.
Glenn: They have a big selection of appetizers at very reasonable prices. Selections include several empanadas including a sweet guava and cheese version, and both papa and yuca rellena.
Raúl: Want a cool treat on a hot Chicago day? Try one of the Ambassador Café's batidos. Both the mango and the fruta bomba are excellent.
Jorge: The rabo encendido is a tasty dish of tender oxtails in a rich Creole sauce. Another good choice is the palomilla steak, a thin strip steak with Cuban spices.
Glenn: Chicago has always been famous for great beef and the pork is good here as well. The Ambassador Café passes the 3 Guys "Lechón test" -- they serve a very nice roasted pork, tender and perfectly flavored with mojo criollo.
Jorge: The pargo frito is a whole red snapper, fried -- or try the filete de pargo a la criolla, a delicious red snapper fillet served with a tomato-based Creole sauce.
Glenn: The desserts are worth ordering if you have any room left. They make a homemade pudín diplomático and also have a plain flan and one with coconut.
Raúl: Order the one with coconut. It tastes great!
HOURS: Tuesday - Thursday: 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Friday - Saturday 4:00 p.m. to midnight | Sunday Noon to 10:00 p.m. | Closed Mondays
PRICES: Most entrees $11 or less
DRESS: Casual
BAR: No
CARDS: Visa, Discover, MasterCard, American Express