901 Lincoln Ave
San Rafael, CA 94901
If the downtown San Rafael lunch scene were the NYC club scene, Sol Food would be Bungalow 8. Come lunchtime, the line stretches out the door onto the sidewalk. Unlike a high-end club, however, you don’t have to be hot and well dressed to be granted entry and despite Sol Food’s overwhelming popularity, they always manage to find you a seat.
The location I describe is the bright green building on Lincoln Street, and it is actually the satellite Sol Food location added to keep up with demand–the original still remains a couple blocks away on 4th street and has the same menu and prices. It’s tiny though, so when my coworkers and I crave delectable Puerto Rican food, we head to the new location (where out front a complaint letter from some buzzkill about the bright green being an eyesore is proudly displayed).
Now, I’ve been to Puerto Rico, and aside from margaritas, I believe I consumed Chevy’s, Japanese food and hotel room service. Pathetic, I am aware. Thankfully, I’ve eaten at Sol Food countless times (one of my coworkers is obsessed and goes weekly) so that makes up for me being a typical American tourist who is more concerned with getting my drink on and getting a tan than learning about another culture.
Though the menu is not extensive, Sol Food’s chefs have perfected every single item. My favorite is their sandwich, a Puerto Rican take on panini. Specifically, I prefer the bistec sandwich, which features thinly sliced mouth-watering steak on flat-pressed french bread with melted swiss, sautéed onions, and avocado. As difficult as this is to eat, what with the juices dripping all over your face when you take a bite, it’s well worth it.
A favored lighter option is the ensalada (salad for the hopelessly gringo), a simple bed of greens with a light, tangy dressing that comes with steak, chicken or shrimp. It isn’t as decadent as the sandwich but on the plus side it doesn’t leave you lethargic and stuffed. Regardless of the entrée you order, the plátanos (plantains) are a must-order. You have your choice of tostones con mojo, which are green plantains pan-fried with garlic and olive oil, or maduros, sweet fried yellow plantains…both are amazing.
Don’t just take my word for it, though. Sol Food has been featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” and is a local favorite. Even for city-dwellers, a meal at Sol Food is worth a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge…think of it this way: it’s cheaper than a flight to Puerto Rico.
by Jessica Bari
[Photo: Yutai]
