A couple of weekends ago, Nathan and I spent some time in the City of Brotherly Love with our friends to celebrate two birthdays — Nathan’s and that of our friend Genesis. Both of their birthdays landed on work days, so we planned a double date and called it an early celebration; two birds, one stone, right?

We started at The Mütter Museum. To our surprise (or was it, really?), it was busier than we expected for a Saturday afternoon, so we made our way through the exhibitions rather quickly and then headed to Old City. After looking for parking for what felt like forever — one of my least favorite things about the city — we gave in and went to a lot at the end of Market. Expensive, but worth it for no hassle. We still had a little more than an hour until our dinner reservation, so we walked around and popped into a local bar for a few beers and some warmth; it was a really cold day!

We lost track of time and somehow managed to walk to the restaurant with 15 minutes to spare, but luckily our table was ready, so it was perfect timing. I had Cuba Libre on my list of places to try during Restaurant Week earlier this year but couldn’t make it, so I was pleased Nathan chose it for the special occasion.

The place was busy. The décor was old-fashioned and Caribbean: petal-like ceiling fans, palm trees and wicker furniture. Since it was dinner time, the lights were dimmed and it wasn’t super bright, but I could see glimpses of color on the walls, and now I feel drawn to return for brunch to enjoy the full, vibrant vibe.

We all started with mojitos; the birthday girl and I went for the Grilled Pineapple while Nathan had the Classic Patron and our friend Edwin had a Nojito since he was the designated driver. Now, on to the food: We started with the Pineapple Guacamole Cubano, an exquisite and juicy mix of avocados, roasted jalapeños, grilled golden pineapple and fresh lime juice served with long, thin, crispy plantain chips. Needless to say, it was a hit. The grilled pineapple gave the illusion of a tuna tartare, in my opinion, and I loved it.

For our entrées, we all took different routes. I settled on the Churrasco a la Cubana, and I am glad I did. Cooked to a medium temperature, the tender and juicy grilled skirt steak rested atop a smooth roasted garlic potato mash and was served with a watercress salad with a bright red wine vinaigrette … yes, my mouth is watering as I type. Nathan enjoyed the Pollo Asado (roasted chicken) with white rice and amazing black beans — I had to try them, okay? — and was happy with his meal. Our friends went the brisket and fish routes and were also delighted. We all made plans to go back so we can try the rest of our top choices.

We sang happy birthday over Tres Leches and made our way out before the restaurant’s transition into a nightclub — we’ve heard pretty good things about it, so we might have to check that out, too! Overall, the food, service, cleanliness and vibes were what we hoped for, so now we have another place approved for our foodie list.

— Yasser Ogando, advertising & production manager