Cheap Eats
Dilone Grocery and Restaurant
Filling, fast, and cheap.
Van Smith
Published: December 7, 2011
Food gotten quickly is not always the same as “fast food,” thankfully, as an in-and-out trip to Dilone Grocery and Restaurant reminded us recently. We didn’t think to run a stopwatch, but the elapsed time between walking in the place and walking out with a bagged meal couldn’t have been more than five minutes. It’s a grocery store, yes, but its home-cooked Latin food is prominently displayed in warmers behind glass, right next to the cash register. What you see here is what you get, for there was no menu displayed—and the rapidly moving line of men ordering in front of us didn’t seem to need one. The day’s offerings included fried plantains, Spanish potatoes, fried salami, and pork ribs, which the guy behind the counter quickly portioned into a single Styrofoam container, placed in a small black plastic bag with a plastic fork and napkins, and tidily tied it all up to go. The tab: $5. Everything was stick-to-the-ribs decent, with the rib meat falling off the bones like it should, the thick-sliced salami browned and salty, and the potatoes and plantains starchily satisfying. It wasn’t a gourmet meal, but it was filling, fast, and cheap.
> Email Van Smith
To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.
Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.
