Paladar: New Entry at Gulfstream Park Serves Up Winning Latin Fare

Who would have thought that a respectable nuevo Latino restaurant would arrive in South Florida by way of Cleveland and Annapolis? Well, that's what's happened with the opening of Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar at The Village at Gulfstream Park. Paladar got its start in Cleveland in 2007 and opened in Annapolis three years later. A fourth location will be opening soon in Bethesda.

Always on the lookout for new places to eat and drink, Short Order checked out Paladar and was impressed with the setting, ambiance, service and food. Located in the space formerly occupied by Primebar, Paladar offers ample seating inside as well as a large covered terrace overlooking the fountains and entry to Gulfstream's Clubhouse.

As its name implies, Paladar is also a rum bar, with more than 50 labels on its rum menu alone. But there's plenty of other stuff to drink besides rum, including a tasty Jalapeño Paloma made with el Jimador Silver tequila, muddled jalapeños, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lemon juice and simply syrup, served on the rocks in a salt-rimmed glass.

Exec chef Orlando Aroyo introduces a fresh interpretation of Latin comfort food, with creative spins on traditional dishes. Paladar's well-rounded menu offers a good selection of appetizers, ceviches, salads and entrees, as well an array of quesadillas, wraps, soft tacos and sandwiches. There's surely enough variety here to please everyone at the table.

A welcome change from boring bread and butter or greasy toasted Cuban bread is Paladar's complimentary black bean spread -- warm and garlicky, and served with soft tortillas for tearing and dipping.

Guacamole comes in three varieties: traditional (mild), spicy (not really) and "chef's inspiration," served with an array of fresh and crunchy tortilla, boniato and plantain chips. Undecided? Get the Guacamole Trio and try all three. We opted for the spicy, but it required a few generous dashes of Paladar's own Caribbean Lime Hot Sauce to give it the zing we wanted.