Merengue Bakery & Cafe, Monrovia
Merengue brings Cuban food to a hidden and underrated neighborhood in Monrovia. Old Town, on Mrytle Avenue, consists of quaint local shops & restaurants with lined trees and sidewalk benches with a small town feel. Merengue’s sandwiches and baked goods offer patrons a good choice for dining as well as lunches
The great airy warehouse space features a baked goods counter showcase on the tasty savory and sweet treats. This can poses problems since the goodies and pastries can sidetrack customers, with the ordering for sandwiches are toward the back. I know I almost wanted for forgo my sandwich for stomach filling desserts and meat pies.
But I stayed focused and got some meat pies; the Pastele Carne – the beef meat pie, the Croqueta De Jamon – deep fried egg roll – like item, and Rellena the potato balls. The pastel carne with the flakey baked crust was almost filling by itself. The rellena was every bit as comparable to the potato ball from Porto’s. The crunchy outside with the yet mushy soft inside with the warm meat tasty filling is a treat that I enjoyed. The Croqueta De Jamon is the least favorite of mine.
The Cuban, the old stalwart famous sandwich, with roast pork and ham, is the one to order at Merengue. This sandwich does not disappoint. The pork and ham combination is as good as Kobe & Shaq were. Sorry, I like Shaq more than Pau Gasol. The savory and a bit tangy ham is a good foil for the subtle flavor and hearty pork. The mustard and pickles (and yes the pickles!) give the added dimension. Just as the In-N-Out Double Double requires the lettuce and tomatoes in their burger. Everything together makes a solid sandwich meal. We also had the Pan Con Bistec – a steak sandwich. It was good, but lacked the flair and flavor that the Cuban had. Perhaps if I ordered it separately it would have bee fine.
Merengue is a nice place for Old Town Monrovia. Porto’s might have to worry with this little upstart just a little further east.
What to Order: The Cuban, Pastele Carne, & Rellena What not to Order: Croqueta de Jamon, Pan Con Bistec if you order the Cuban
Rating 2 Pigs $
Merengue Bakery & Cafe 417 S Myrtle Ave Monrovia, CA 91016 (626) 358-5650