Isla Cuban-Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar in La Palma only opened this summer, but has already become a popular attraction in the area.
Family-owned, its location and ambience make it very versatile and put it in a good position for success.
With influence and food from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico, the menu has a wide range of offerings.
It is located at 30 Centerpointe Dr., Suite 12/13, in an area just off the freeway, surrounded by hotels.
The restaurant has a bit of a gilded feel, with big chandeliers and loud, patterned ceilings and floors that come close to making it feel like a tacky hotel restaurant.
If it were scaled back and quieted down a bit, it would flow seamlessly as an authentic and intimate family-owned place.
It all gives a bit of a mixed message now—it occupies a pretty small space, in a strip mall, in a corporate/hotel center, while almost trying to come across as a “fancy” restaurant, but it’s not. And it’s marketed as an intimate, family-owned operation.
The vision of the restaurant gets a little lost in translation.
But who says there needs to be a clear, cohesive message to give a restaurant success?
A side effect of Isla’s slightly muddled branding is that it’s very versatile. With it being a stone’s throw away from hotels, it’s a good draw for travelers there on business as well as families staying.
When I was there on a Thursday evening, there was a ladies’ book club meeting going on at one table, a family with elementary-age children having dinner together at another, and plenty of tables of couples and friends having dinner and adult beverages.
The place would be a good setting for nearly any type of gathering.
As for the food, it was fine, but the drinks were the star of the show.
Plantain chips and a garlic dipping sauce are brought out for the table first-thing.
Not seeing anything by way of entrees that called my name, I opted for a couple of tapas—Yuca Cheese Balls and Chicken Empanadas—and a margarita.
They do have a very large drink menu, including some fun and original ones off the beaten path.
The food was tasty enough, and came with some interesting dipping sauces that made it unique.
The wait staff was very polite.
Given time, Isla will figure out and grow into its brand. But judging by its relative popularity so far, perhaps most like it just the way it is.
It does spruce up La Palma’s dining scene and has been busy so far.
Isla Cuban-Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar is open 11-9 Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 714-735-8597 for more information.
Photos by Brooklynn Wong
restaurant review1
Give the Yuca Cheese Balls a try.
restaurant review2
The Chicken Empanadas at Isla were the highlight.
