Cuban for almost libre. After a few sips of sangria, the breeze produced by passing cars begins to feel like a Caribbean zephyr, and soon the compendious, well-priced menu doesn’t seem so forbidding after all. Dive in headfirst, ordering the prawns with avocado in an orange vinaigrette—fresh, filling and guilt-free. If guilt isn’t in your vocabulary, make sure to select from Pambiche’s wide variety of croquettes, from pumpkin to pork; coupling these fried sensations with a massive pile o’ oxtail or ropa vieja (which translates to “old clothes,” but is really incredibly rich and flavorful slow-braised beef) is one way to ensure you don’t miss a drop of savory broth. Think you can’t eat any more? Get a load of the domino cake, a mocha and white chocolate winner, or for that matter any of the other dozen or more homemade cakes and puddings and flans on display at the back of the vibrant and always buzzing joint. Pambiche was featured in B is for Bacon…and Breakfast our March 2009 guide to Portland’s best waffles, eggs, biscuits, hash, coffee, pancakes, bagels, omelets, pastries, doughnuts, dim sum, and more.