Amor Cubano

True to its location in East Harlem’s Machito Square (named for the Latin jazz musician), this Cuban restaurant is a popular place to see live bands on the weekends. On Fridays and Saturdays after 7:30pm, musicians break out their trumpets and congas, playing Afro-Cuban tunes all night as people transition from eating ropa vieja to drinking more (and more) mojitos. Whether you go for the tender, tomato-heavy ropa vieja, a classic yellow arroz con pollo, or one of the seafood paellas with saffron-scented rice, eating a bunch of meat before you start sampling the rum is definitely a good idea. They have ten types of mojitos here, and they are all extremely strong.