My one "tiny" criticism is that my entree could have been 1/3 of the food and still would have been delicious. He is a man who is passionate about gastronomy and is a one-of-a-kind talent and character. This is not fine-dining, it is a family restaurant so the service may misstep sometimes, but they are very attentive, earnest, warm and friendly. The food is so good and the place is so charming and sophisticated you may overeach in your expectations. I won't waste time explaining what I had - I have tried everything and everything is absolutely delicious. From the first bite of the bread the server places on the table you know right away that Armando will be leading this dance. He is not subtle with his favors, but he is extremely deft. Chef Armando walks the razor's edge of seasoning on every layer of every dish, and always lives to tell the tale. I think by this point I have tasted everything on the menu and he knocks everything out of the park. The chef is Cuban and he has retained a number of Cuban classics on the menu and certainly Cuban cuisine informs everything he cooks. I would classify the menu as being very Spanish centric and the wine list likewise Spanish. When you enter, the space has the warm, familiar and simple sophistication of a true European bistro or trattoria. I almost prefer this because it keeps out the riff-raff for whom this sort of thing would be problematic. Let's start with the location, it is in an unassuming strip mall next to a check-cashing convenience. I wrote a stellar review after my first one-of-a-kind visit years back and since its been so long and the place has changed in many ways, I thought it was time for a new review. They have a decent wine list.I am from the Northeast and I have been coming to Candela for 6 years, usually once a year during my annual trip to South Florida. The wait staff is knowledgeable, warm and efficient. He is more than happy to answer questions. The chef spends a lot of time in the dining room delivering food and making sure every one is pleased. One of the chicken stew dishes was good but not outstanding. The lomo of pork with light blue cheese sauce and fig jam was delicious. The accompanying black beans were perfect. The ropa vieja was excellent and my take home portion was enough for two lunches. The chorizo, carpaccio, and octopus (not on the menu) are also excellent. The yucca fritta was the best I've head and is served with two sauces. The right side lists entrees, which include fish, chicken, beef, lamb, and pork dishes. The left side of the menu is made up of warm and cold tapas. We went back on Saturday and the place was packed. It was a weeknight and we were shocked that the place was empty. We were taken here by friends last week and had an excellent meal. As a final touch at the end of the meal the Chef gifted us two bottles of Spanish bubbly to cap off a perfect evening. The service is attentive and it will be a memorable, excellent experience for all. My husband and I have brought many of our friends, from the meat and potatoes type, to world traveling foodie - there is always something for everyone. We heard about this place on "Check, Please" and have been coming back ever since. The sangria, wine and Galician beer were all fantastic - but this is not your typical "tapas" place with microscopic dishes - the serving are generous, unique and reasonably priced. We ordered a variety of dishes and all were superb, my favorite appetizer was the crude de res, a carpaccio that melted in your mouth, the beet salad and yuca fries were awesome. The chef seated us in the new adjacent room which was beautifully decorated and comfortable. We were a party of 13 for a birthday celebration. Chef Armando does a wonderful job, not only in his creation of uncommonly delicious dishes, but he is a perfect host and lastly has created an intimate and welcoming ambiance down to the decor.
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