Lulo’s Cuban Cafe is a family business – a fact we were informed of shortly after our arrival. With a wife and brother and chefs and a husband as an occasional cashier, the Cuban family heritage is highly prized at Lulo’s, and it shines through in their enthusiasm for the food.

All of our “what’s this” and “how does that taste” questions were answered in detail and no one shied away from joining in the conversation and suggesting their favorite dish. After only a few moments in the restaurant, I felt like part of the family.

One of the most outstanding things at Lulo’s was the close attention to allergies. Both my partner and I have food allergies, and once we informed the cashier, he immediately told the chefs and made sure they heard him. Not many restaurants will visibly show that effort in front of the diner, and it was much appreciated.

We decided to go for the gusto and indulge in some traditional Cuban fare.

For our appetizer, we ordered ham and onion croquetas. We were already fans of the Spanish croqueta, and the dish sounded too good to pass up. And truly, it was. The filling was smooth and flavorful and practically melted in your mouth. A fried-to-perfection crust encased the richness of it all – a taste that was almost too much for even me (and I love rich food). At the risk of giving away the rest of the review, I will say that this was easily the best part of our meal.

My cohort chose the standard Cuban sandwich with pickles, pork, cheese and mustard. Lulo’s sends sandwiches out with Mojo Dip on the side. The citrusy lime flavor was a welcome addition and enhanced the barely-there flavor of the pickles on the sandwich.

I ordered the chicken and mushroom empanadas with a strawberry cucumber salad and bunuellos. The first thing I noticed was the scent. I felt like I was walking through a strawberry field in the height of picking season. The sweetness made my mouth water. A strawberry cucumber salad may seem like an odd combination but in all honesty, it was rather crisp and refreshing. It tasted like summertime. My only request would be to put the salad on a separate dish – the juice soaked into everything on the plate and interfered a bit with the other flavors.

Lulo’s bunuellos consist of root vegetables mixed with cheese and then fried. I liken them to a potato pancake but with a stronger, cheesier vibe. The bunuellos were crispy and warm, and provided a down-home comfort taste not to be missed.

The empanadas were also something I imagine to be the Cuban equivalent of comfort food. A strong almond taste mixed well with the crust, quite similar to a pie crust. A smaller amount of almond flavor would have worked wonders in helping the taste of the filling shine through, but all in all, the dish was pleasant and tasty. A note to potential diners: it also reheated well and I was able to enjoy my Cuban feast the next day for lunch.

Although we were both intrigued by the very different lemon and almond polenta cake, we just didn’t have the room to try the culinary treat. Equally to my dismay, I wasn’t hungry enough to partake in the tostones (fried green plantain slice). The mound of plantains in the display case looked particularly beautiful, so while I was sad to miss it, I was happy the fruit was able to augment the pleasing atmosphere.

During our meal, another customer, “Henry,” came in. Henry was obviously a repeat customer and he was shown the same enthusiasm and kindness that we were. It’s refreshing to see a restaurant that treats all the customers like family, new or not.

Lulo's Cuban Cafe

870 Harris Road, in Grayslake at Prairie Crossing
luloscubancafe.com
847-543-6755
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Price: Daily menu from $7.95

• Mystery Diner is written by Shaw Media staff. To recommend your favorite restaurant, email lcjedit@lakecountyjournal.com.