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Cuban Cafe Presses On

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By PAUL CATALA

Tribune correspondent

Published: April 19, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - All it took was one too many hot touches of an iron. Now, Leonardo "Lenny" Cruz is pressing Cuban sandwiches instead of shirts.

A month ago, he bought Lala's Cafe, the popular Cuban restaurant on North 56th Street that opened in May 2000, and renamed it Lenny's Latin Cafe & Sandwich Shop.

Cruz, 45, worked in the restaurant business for 16 years, including jobs at Tavern on the Green and Alfredo of Rome, while living in New York.

He moved to Florida in 1998 and had since worked in dry cleaning.

"I had burned myself with the dry cleaning iron too many times, so I decided to go back into the restaurant business," said Cruz, a native of San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Behind the front counter and in the kitchen, Alicia "Lala" Delgado tends the pots and pans, fixing authentic Cuban cuisine. Her husband, George, also has stayed on, helping run the cafeteria-style counter and dining room.

Their son Sergio, who opened Lala's, has left the business.

Cruz has hired another cook, Wanda Davis, to help with the prep work.

The menu features dishes that have made the eatery popular, such as Cuban and media noche sandwiches, boliche (Spanish pot roast), ropa vieja (shredded beef) and picadillo (seasoned ground sirloin). Cruz has added Puerto Rican mofongo, a meat dish made with fried green plantains, and mongu, a dish made of crushed plantains, vinegar and onions.

Cruz said he wants to give Lenny's a bit more global Latin feel.

"I just wanted to modify the menu a little bit," said Cruz, who lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife, Margaret.

Cruz has lowered some prices to be more in line with popular restaurants on Tampa's Columbus Avenue, popular for its Latin cuisine. Prices range from $1.25 for Cuban toast to $8.95 for an oxtail dinner combination.

Longtime Lala's customer Ricky Torres of Carrollwood, a University of South Florida sophomore, said he has stopped in three times a week to eat for the past three years.

"It has amazing food. I was sad to see Sergio leave, but I was glad to see the food stay the same. That pretty much makes or breaks a restaurant," said the native of Puerto Rico.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Lenny's Latin Cafe & Sandwich Shop

WHERE: 10918 N. 56{+t}{+h} St.

WHEN: Open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

INFORMATION: Call (813) 984-7884 or 984-7874

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