Caliente

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  Hungry? But you don't want the same old fast food or Mexican cuisine. You will not find a better Cuban sandwich in the Fort. It is wonderful especially when you dip it into one of the delicious homemade soups, black bean, red bean, lentil or chicken. The bread is baked fresh daily. They also serve the best plantains in town, that is reason enough for you to stop in. The Cuban Family that own/run the restaurant are great people that will make you feel like family. It's not fancy but it IS a great dining experience at a reasonable price.

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  Posted on 03.12.13 Gary N.

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  CLIFF NOTE SUMMARY:  ES MUY BUENO !!!
  
  Don't drive past this place !!! - it's easy to do and you might be tempted because it's small and non-descript... It would be a major miss if you do.
  
  I certainly can't lay claim to 'discovering' this place. Found on a trip to the local library for an author speak. Author: David Hoppe  Book: Food for Thought - an Indiana Harvest.  During the slide presentation by the photographer - I spotted a ballcap worn by a chap - and that cap had the island nation of Cuba emblazened upon it.  I inquired and discovered the family story of 1st Gen emigres from the island and that of Caliente . Well it's a great story and a FANTASTIC eaterie!!
  
  If you're a major fan of Cuban food - you're in luck!  If you've never had Cuban food before - and I feel sorrow for your very soul if such is the case - you will not walk away dissatisfied having lost that virginity at Caliente. (but don't go on Sunday)
  
  Our party of 3 - all Caliente virgins, but only 1 Cuban cuisine newbie made the 100+ mile trek to near east side Ft. Wayne. (worth it, mean it)
  
  We were warmly greeted with smiles and volunteered that we had not been there before but 2 of us had experienced Cuban food.  
  
  Cubanos (cuban sandwiches) all the way around - one large, 2 half sizes - combo meals - we chose black beans, salty platanos (plantains) and sweet platanos. And 2 cuban coffees - a shot and a colada.
  
  Our cook/owner suggested having jalapenos on our sammies but we all chose to order standard renditions.
  
  While we waited, a neighborhood customer in the next booth volunteered that he'd never had cuban food until 4 years ago - and he was addicted. i UNDERSTAND WHY!
  
  Let me start with the bread - NEAR ethereal sweet cuban bread - muy authentico! Pressed and toasted to perfection.
  
  The only surprise was the standard sammie comes with chopped onions in addition to the house roasted pork, ham, swiss, dill pickle and mustard.  (Personally, I'll get w/o the onion next go around)
  
  My large was not large - it was freaking huge. Gigante!!  Must have weighed 1.5-1.75 lbs!!  I amazed myself by polishing it off entirely, and the beans and platanos!
  
  The black beans were not the best I've ever had but they were in the top 5 and very good. And how can you go wrong w/ plantains?! A solid entrant here.
  
  And, I know you're wondering, the cuban coffee?  Best cuban coffee I've had in the Hoosier state. And that's not fair either - it was excellent!
  
  I'm used to cuban shots - but they seemed a bit smaller than normal.
  Take my advice: if you're a craver, man up and order 2 Colada size from the get go per person.
  
  Holy crap - our check came to $23.  I can't wait to return !!!!  A great experience !!
  
  AND our cuban cuisine virgin is a solid convert and major fan !

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  Posted on 03.05.13 Bob H.

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  I live in Lakeside Park and and love to support local businesses. I also have a love for authentic, ethnic food and therefore I eat here often. My husband and I's favorite is the Wey sandwich; it has roasted pork loin, roasted ham with a layer of black beans, guacamole, and a mildly spicy chipotle style sauce. Their bread they use is very unique and you will not find a better sandwich in all of Fort Wayne. They even have a sandwich made with portabella mushrooms which provides vegetarian options as well. We normally always order sweet fried plantains which are amazing, but the amount we receive per order is very inconsistent. On some occasions we get 3, sometimes 4, one night we were missing an order all together. Tonight I ordered 3 orders (since 5 of us were eating) and I was given only 7. The owner (female) packed them all in one bag after I arrived to pick up my carry out and reassured me that the correct amount for three orders was there. I beg to differ, the math just didn't make sense to me. Plantains are cheap so this is an odd thing to be stingy about. I just don't get it.

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  Posted on 10.09.12 Barbara M.

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  I had never had a Cuban sandwich before, but I was not disappointed by Caliente.

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  Posted on 08.13.12 Sam S.

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  Cuban cuisine in Fort Wayne?  No way, you say?  You're wrong!  whuuut?  
  
  And not just Cuban, but really good Cuban.  Mind you, you're pretty much limited to various sandwiches and some sides like croquettas, but the super-friendly and very fun family running Caliente' lay claim to the best Cubano sandwich I've ever had (including from any place in South Florida).  
  
  Caliente is a brightly-colored, very small restaurant that you could easily miss if it wasn't bright yellow on the outside.  We thought it was Mexican at first, but Yelp corrected our misguided selves and the next thing you know: stuffed with the biggest and tastiest sandwiches I've had in a long time.  A half-sandwich is more than enough for any adult.  At $4.75 - $6.75ish for that size, it's a killer deal.
  
  Ropa Vieja: wonderfully seasoned beef
  
  Cubano:  outstanding
  
  Cuban BBQ:   excellent bbq sandwich.  You won't find a tastier pulled pork sandwich in Indiana. No, there's no way I could know that for sure, but isn't holding an extreme opinion based on a position of ignorance what the internet is all about?
  
  Croquettas:  good, but a litle strange.  They seemed to have mustard in them; never had that before.
  
  Did I mention the restaurant is small?  About 5 tables or booths inside, with outdoor seating for the nice days.  Eat there, take it to go, or whatever.  But go.

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  Posted on 05.25.12 Davoud Z.

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  The place doesn't look like much, and the parking is slightly difficult to find, but good lord can they make a Cuban sandwich.  I couldn't be happier with this experience.  I had a Cuban sandwich (which was HUGE) and a tamale, which was also amazing.  If I had not had a mean hunger going on when I walked in I don't think I would have been able to finish everything.
  
  There really isn't much more I can say that hasn't already been said by other Yelpers.
  The owners are very sweet and we had a good conversation while I ate.  I am a big fan of this sandwich and try it anywhere that offers it.  I don't want to jump the gun here, but I dare say this is the best Cuban sandwich in Indiana.  If you go to Ivy Tech or IPFW, it isn't too far away to go get a great lunch for reasonable prices.

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  Posted on 02.23.12 Dave B.

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  Crunchy Cuban goodness!!  The Cuban sandwich is perfect.  Fresh bread, pork, ham, cheese, yellow mustard and pickles.  The black bean soup is also really good.  Very good place to grab a quick, affordable lunch.  It's a very small family run restaurant that makes really good food.

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  Posted on 10.17.11 Jillian H.

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  I know five stars should be given with caution, but let me validate myself a little by saying I've had many many Cuban sandwiches (partly due to the enthusiasm this restaurant sparked in me), and have never found a Cuban sandwich that pops like these do.  I've been to Miami 5-6 times, and had a Cuban sandwich every time I've ventured that way.  Never once have I had something that compares to this.  They also serve amazing Cuban coffee as well as tamales.  The bread is all made from scratch every morning, and the tamales are as well.
  
  Food quality always comes first when reviewing a restaurant, but there are other things that can influence and impact your experience of course.  The owners have a way of treating all customers like family.  While these are not the people who boast of their accomplishments, I feel like I should.  I was temporarily teaching a high school English class and as we were finishing up reading the book Fahrenheit 451, the owner of Caliente agreed to come in and speak to the kids about his experience as a journalist in Cuba.  He basically rearranged his entire schedule that day as a restaurant owner to play a part in serving his community.  He didn't do it for press or media attention, he did it because he likes helping out and serving others...the experience I promise you to have at this restaurant will be no different.
  
  Is there a downside to the restaurant you ask?  The only thing I could think of is that you will smell like the (amazing) restaurant when you leave, but they have recently reworked their ventilation system and it has greatly reduced the intensity of that.  That said, it is well, well worth it.

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  Posted on 06.15.11 Kyle Geiger R.

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  Best Cuban sandwich ever! The owner is super sweet and prices are awesome. You can order a 1/2 or full sandwich, but I suggest the full and save the second half for later unless you have a mean appetite. I think their business would make a killing if they were located right near the IPFW campus or any other college.

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  Posted on 01.03.11 AKa H.

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  Two words:  Eat.Here.
  
  Three words: Get.Me.Some.
  
  This place is fantastic.  The perfect Saturday afternoon lunch spot.  (Do yourself a favor and hit your favorite adult beverage vendor beforehand and get your preferred bottle of cold brew before you place your carry-out order ... it will be ready in no time!)
  
  I will not claim that I know anything about an authentic Cuban sandwich.  The most interaction I've had with them include a story in 'Bon Appetite', a segment on Martha Stewart a few years ago, and a tasty rendiction from the Munchie Emporium (very good, but I don't know how authentic).
  
  What I can tell is that for an insanely cheap price (say, under $6) you get the "half" sandwich (my stomach fears what the whole might look like, as the half is enough for two for a nice lunch -- or for one if your only plans after lunch are a nap), and 2 sides of your chosing, including black beans, a tamale, a cheese puff pasty, a fruit turnover ...
  
  I had a traditional one and it was good, but I really like the portabella version!
  
  I have no idea what they do to those onions (are they lightly cooked in butter and vinegar?) but I can't get enough of them!
  
  Anyway, do your stomach a friendly and eat here.

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  Posted on 09.15.10 Rho M.

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  My Cuban friends say there are two key components to making the perfect Cuban sandwich, the bread.
  
  Yes I said two things, the top and bottom are both bread and seeing how that's almost two thirds (by volume) of a sandwich it only stands to reason the correct execution of this component can make or brake the end product.
  
  I've been lucky enough to sample Cuban sandwiches on both coasts, points north and south. Strangely enough Miami seems to finish almost last place behind NYC for the least impressive in the bread department. Porto's in Los Angeles is a Cuban bakery first and foremost so it goes without saying they make an impressive sandwich. I've also had an amazing sandwich in Tampa.
  
  Fairly new to the Ft. Wayne area is a colorful little shop on State Street. Inside you'll find husband and wife team Gus and Yalili baking their own bread and crafting authentic island sandwiches. The bread is as perfectly Cuban as you can get. Yalili assembled the sandwich, lightly brushed the top with butter and placed the the whole thing in a large press until the crust was a golden brown with just the right amount of crunch. Inside, the roast pork, ham, cheese and pickles melted together perfectly. I posted a close up picture to entice you!
  
  Before I finished my lunch I placed a call to one of my best Cubano friends back in LA and told him I found the real deal in the middle of farm country USA. I explained how I may have found, quite possibly the most "correct" version of this sandwich I've ever eaten. He immediately asked me to turn the phone over to the owner. After a brief conversation is Spanish they informed me that I would be required to return a pair of sandwiches to Los Angeles for final judging. GOOD FRICKKEN LUCK! I'd eat them before I even get through TSA checkpoints.
  
  One of the only alterations Caliente has made to accommodate local taste is the addition of jalapeno peppers. I highly recommend you skip that and ask for the traditional style.
  
  I wish Gus and Yalili all the best and hope the good citizens of Ft Wayne discover and enjoy this fantastic little sandwich shop that is so good that it makes the big city foodies jealous.

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  Posted on 09.09.10 JayChan H.

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  I love both the employees and clientele of this small local sandwich shop; there is a friendly vibe, it's sunny and cool, and of course the food rocks. I enjoyed a half Cuban sandwich with tamale and drink for $5. Service is straight forward and no frills- my tamale came in its husk straight on the cafeteria tray, complete with white onion pickle that added a great spicy zing. My sandwich was gloriously crunchy, hot and spiked with jalapenos. I rolled from the joint content and full and smug that I'd gotten such a great meal for such a great price.

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  Posted on 07.24.10 Christina H.

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  Good place to try a Cuban sandwich if you want something different than a boring and typical fast food lunch. It is a mom and pop restaurant, where you order at the counter and you can see the sandwich being made right in front of you. It is $6 for a very generously sized "full" Cuban sandwich, I would probably be fine with a half portion next time. It is a small place with a few tables, and parking in the lots behind and next to the restaurant. I would recommend stopping by if you're in the area and want a quick lunch.

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  Posted on 07.09.10 Catherine W.

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