Banana Bean Cafe

Tonight, we decided to go out to dinner. I was in the mood for something other than my usual Mexican or Asian dinner picks. Last month, I went to the Banana Bean Cafe with a couple girlfriends. I had a great fish burrito and a blue pineapple-coconut cocktail with a name I can’t recall. Both selections were really good and left me anxious to go back and try some of the Banana Bean’s other offerings. Their menu isn’t like any other I’ve seen in Columbus. The restaurant describes its food as Floribbean cuisine, which it says is a mix of Cuban, Jamaican, Floridian and Caribbean foods. This translates into an eclectic and flavorful menu that includes Po-Boys, an enchilada omelet, and jerk chicken.


The cafe is hard to miss. It is housed in a melon-colored building with a mural of a beach scene on the front. The inside and outside are decorated with a mix of tropical paraphernalia with a dash of contemporary and New-Orleans art. Since it was happy hour, I ordered the special, a $2 Hemingway. It was mix of rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice and a dash of grenadine. It was quite refreshing, like a classic daiquiri with a dash of grapefruit. It was also an attractive pink color, prompting me to take a picture of it and the waiter to harass me about being a blogger.

Jared and I decided to order an appetizer and sandwiches. To start, we split an order of Flash Fried Sweet Plantains. Shortly after ordering, a basket full of plantains arrived. They had been coated with a thin layer of seasonings (I think this was salt and cumin with a dash of cinnamon and maybe something else) and fried. Being a fan of salty/sweet combinations, I liked them right away. The plantains were great on their own, and even better when dipped in the accompanying Ya-Ya sauce. This was a sweet sauce with a strong habanero bite. The end result was a spicy, sweet, salty flavor that was full without being overwhelming.

Jared ordered the Little Havana Cubano with a cup of black bean soup. The pork, ham, swiss and pickle sandwich was served on pan cubano. The pork was sliced thickly and had a slight citrus flavor. The bread reminded me of focaccia in both taste and texture. It wasn’t the most authentic Cuban sandwich; but it was satisfying. The soup was even better. It was a thick black bean soup garnished with cheese, sour cream and green onions. The meaty, earthy flavor makes it a definite comfort food. My only complaint is that it could have used a little more heat.

I had the Calle Ocho sandwich with sweet potato fries. This sandwich also had thick pork slices, which were complimented by a salty olive and caper salad and a smattering of manchego cheese. It was served on the same thick bread as the Cubano. The pork and cheese tempered the salad’s saltiness quite well, making the sandwich quite flavorful. I preferred this sandwich since it had less meat and a more interesting flavor. The sweet potato fries were crinkle-cut and slightly salty. They were nothing special, but were perfect alongside the sandwich. Both sandwiches were large. Neither of us could finish them after the heavy plantain appetizer. We took the leftovers home to eat for lunch the next day.

I’m now two for two on satisfying trips to this restaurant. Too often, foods revolve around only one flavor. They’re either really hot or really sweet. Even worse, they are just plain bland. Combining salty, sweet and hot flavors into one dish can be a tricky business. The Banana Bean manages these somewhat unexpected combinations very well. Their food combines flavors so that they compliment one another and taste good without being overwhelming. Since their menu is full of tempting items, I’m sure I’ll be back very soon.

Banana Bean Cafe Info
Location: 340 Greenlawn Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43226
Phone: (614) 443-2266
Website: http://www.bananabeancafe.com
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-3pm
Type of Food: Floribbean cuisine and cocktails