Don Ramon
Through the snow and sleet, we walked hurriedly to Don Ramon’s at 300 Clematis Street. Well, not exactly, but I was wearing a heavy down jacket and hood that hadn’t seen the outside of my closet for over 10 years. But enough about the weather…
Upon entering, I was struck by the decor of lovely wooden furniture and nicely designed bar. I even took notice of the attractive floor tiles. The first level does not have many tables, and we chose to go upstairs which seems to be everyone’s first choice. Another large bar, and more well appointed tables greeted us. We sat by a large window overlooking Clematis, and I recommend this as one of the best seats in the house.
Having eaten at the Don Ramon on Dixie Highway, we were familiar with the menu, but some of it was unexpected and new, and pleasantly so. First, to take off the chill, we ordered some drinks. Mine was a *tad* strong, but after a few sips, I really didn’t care.
To further warm up, we ordered soup – one white bean and one red bean. I will confess that I cheated and looked up the menu at the Don Ramon website (for the Dixie Highway location) to make sure my memory of what we ate was accurate. Turns out that there is no red bean soup listed so either I’m color blind, or there have been a few added dishes to the Clematis Street menu. Hubby devoured his empanada appetizer and I had something new, a Tamal con lechon (see why I needed to cheat
) which consisted of a thick tamale (not my favorite, but hubby devoured the rest of that, too), and some of the most delicious pork that we had ever tasted. Even our server (friendly and accommodating) agreed that the pork was some of the best, and he eats it whenever he can. Entrees included Picadillo (minced meat cooked in a homemade tomato base sauce with onions, peppers, garlic, and olives), and Camarones al ajillo (shrimp sautéed in garlic scampi sauce with a touch of parsley). Both came with side orders of rice, beans, and plantains. We ended our most delicious dinner with cappucinos and chunks of guava (another new addition to the menu).
This is definitely an excellent addition to our neighborhood. 
2 Responses to “Don Ramon”
keep up the good work. Your reviews are always right on. Much better than the Post.
I was there this chilly weekend too! The food was excellent. What do you think about having live Cuban music at Don Ramon’s in the evenings? Do you think Latin music would add to the Clematis nightlife scene?