Voted one of the Top Ten Sandwiches in America by "Travel and Leisure" magazine, the jibarito makes its home here. This famous sandwich isn't made with bread; it's made with fried plantains and stuffed with all sorts of ingredients, like pork, veggies or seafood in a garlic sauce. Very interesting.

The veggie jibarito is simply delish. Chock full of long, al dente slivers of fried green and red peppers, thick tomato, iceberg lettuce and melted American cheese, it turns from a simple sandwich to a classic hit with the addition of two things. First the plantain, sweet and salty at the same time, and second, the heavy-on-the-hand pour of fresh garlic sauce that douses the entire warm sandwich. The first bite is literally an explosion of potent garlic, sweet banana, crunchy green pepper and oozing cheese. Oh yeah, the thing was slathered with mayo, too, and lots of it (I didn't even have to ask).

On the side comes a lovely little order of rice with pigeon peas. This side is rave-worthy alone; I tend to think about the chewy pigeon peas more often than I should. With the sandwich being under $5, next time I'm layin' out for a full bowl of the buttery rice, if just for those peas alone.

Centerstage Reviewer: Misty Tosh