A look inside a new North Texas restaurant serving up tastes of the world in small bites
Dining at Arlington’s latest restaurant, Cafe Americana, is to step into a culinary United Nations.
No one cuisine or culture dominates the menu.
Each dish reflects the taste of a different country, but with a pinch of Texas flare.
“The way that I created this menu is basically all the countries that touch Spain, including where I am from also,” said General Manager Mark Guatelara, who is from the Philippines.
Tucked behind a Half Price Tire 2 store off Abram Street, Cafe Americana sits close to downtown at 403 E Main St. This quaint part of Arlington has many other restaurants and bars to make a night out of. A few neighboring places include Fuzzy’s Taco shop, Cane Rosso, and Twisted Root Burger Co.
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The cafe is a cozy 2,000 square feet, but not an inch has been wasted. Inside, emerald green paint coats the wall suggesting a relaxing forest-like ambiance. Walls are decorated with various Spanish-inspired artwork and hanging plants. Subway tiles connect the kitchen and bar. Guests can see their paella and steak being prepared to perfection in the open kitchen.
It is bound to become an Arlington favorite, said Chef Wendy Felix, who is from the Dominican Republic. She said the success will flow naturally because Cafe Americana has been created with love.
“The industry is a revolving door,” said Guatelara, “So this is just us rolling our dice. And we just wanted to express our gratitude and our own craft, to Texas and offer something for the residents in Arlington.”
Offered opinions of Cafe Americana’s menu
Listen, I am no food critic. But who doesn’t enjoy a good cocktail and food pairing? I had one drink, a classic margarita made with El Bandido tequila, that paired perfectly with four different dishes.
My favorite— the Yucca Bravas. Everyone has heard of papas bravas, which is made with potato. Cafe Americana has remade the classic in a new way. Instead of your typical thick cut fry, yucca (or cassava root) are used slathered in a garlic aioli, which I could not get enough of.
Next, the Empanadas Del Dia. The chef inspired empanadas were crispy and flaky filled with ground beef, topped with a creamy sauce with a hint of garlic and bell peppers. The menu offers four savory flavors of empanadas: Jerk Chicken, Potato and Beef, Potato and Carrot Stew and the Empanadas Del Dia.
To cleanse my palette, the Shrimp Salad did the trick. The shrimp was tender, seasoned with citrus and cilantro. The tomato, grapefruit, and yucca tossed in reminded me of pico de gallo — it was the perfect combination. This dish reminded me of summer.
The final dish I tried was the Peruvian Chicken Skewers. Fresh herbs, a little spice, and lightly dressed arugula made this dish juicy and yummy. It was not the most graceful dish to eat, however it was worth the mess.
I was hoping to taste the Steak and Chimichurri, though I did not get to taste the dish. It looked phenomenal from afar, but, as the Rolling Stones sang, “You can’t always get what you want.”
Paella, a favorite of the chef and general manager, Cafe Americana serves up four different types: Seafood, Pork, Vegetable and the Paella Del Dia. The Spanish side dish is served family style to share across the table. It was also clearly a fan favorite as guests were seen shoveling scoops onto their tiny serving plates.
About Cafe Americana in Arlington
The restaurant is a veritable United Nations of food service workers. Guatelara, the manager, is from the Philippines. Felix, the chef de cuisine, is from the Dominican Republic. Other chefs at the cafe are from Venezuela, Jamaica, Spain, and Barbados.
“We are a group of friends, an international group of friends that, you know, came together, and we created this concept. So this is our thank you to America and to the community and everything else,” said Guatelara.
He sought to have something different from the typical new restaurant in Fort Worth or Dallas. His experience in the restaurant and hotel industry prepared him to take this leap with a new concept.
Guatelara said it was important to have a female chef to emphasize the importance of having women as leaders in the restaurant industry.
Hats off to the chef, her food is exquisite.
Cafe Americana is open Tuesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. for drinks and dinner. Happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m.
