Restaurant Review #3-Versailles

It's with great pleasure that a recent trip into the environs of Encino resulted in my being able to savor the samplings of the tasty Cuban restaurant, Versailles. Now, I have always been a huge Versailles fan, having had a few birthday fiestas at their Venice location, and this has always been mainly because it is such a singular experience of an interesting, varied cuisine rarely sampled in the United States outside of Little Havana in Miami, a shame because Cuban food generally tends to be both just hearty enough for a full meal and just exotic enough, especially with its hints of citrus, to be interesting, thus making it an ideal impress-your-date food.

Although there are four locations in Los Angeles, I vouch for the Encino location providing the most superb overall dining experience, especially after a recent interior design. Parking's still rough, though, and you might find yourself parking over at the crowded strip-mall next store to find a parking space, especially during lunch hour and weekend evenings, times when you should also expect to wait twenty minutes for a seat.
All meals at Versailles begin with a serving of buttered garlic bread, enough to whet the appetite, yet leave one waiting for the main course. Those expecting tortilla chips and salsa will be bitterly disappointed...

As far as entrees are concerned, probably the most popular dish is the famed Garlic Chicken, covered in a thick layer of onions and lathered with a refreshing garlic-citrus marinade. On the side, fried plantains and moros y cristianos(black beans and rice) round out the meal, a relative bargain at under ten dollars. Round out the meal with an appetizer of fried yucca, and you may have the best Cuban dish in the city.

Also to be considered are the ropa vieja, a sort of beef stew that's incredibly spicy, and the paella, a Cuban spin on the Spanish dish well-worth the forty minute-plus prepration time. There are also a few vegetarian options, so vegetarians do not need to feel entirely left out of the feasting fun.
If dinner is not enough, dessert options are varied as well; Versailles is not the type of restaurant to be abandoned after the main course in favor of Ben & Jerry's. I personally prefer the homemade flan with a coffee apperetif.
It's rare in Los Angeles to find an interesting, yet neighborly, restaurant where dinner for two comes in at under twenty-five dollars, but Versailles definitely fits the bill. Furthermore, be sure not to be intimidated by the long lines: they move rather quickly, especially considering the extreme friendliness of the staff, many of whom have worked there for what seems like forever and who take extra care to make sure your experience is ideal.
So whether it's an inexpensive date or a get-together with college buddies, definitely consider Versailles as an option. After a first visit, you will not need much convincing in order to return.