A Taste of Cuba . . . in Florida

natilla, rice pudding). Their motto,

"Bueno, bonito y barato," means "good, pretty and cheap." They're not fooling -- dinner entrees range from $6 to $10.

Considered touristy by some locals,

El Meson de Pepe (410 Wall St.) is in a historic brick building in Mallory Square, site of the Sunset Celebration. Patrons can dine on an outdoor veranda, in the garden "cistern" area or the "historium" main dining room near the gift shop. The menu includes some Spanish fare, a nod to chef-owner Jose Manuel Diaz's culinary education in Spain. Diaz also owns the

Cuban Mix Deli (3840 N. Roosevelt Blvd.), with Cuban mix and roast pork sandwiches, cafe con leche and tropical flavored ices.

The

San Carlos Institute (516 Duval St., 305-294-3887), founded by Cuban immigrants and revolutionaries in 1871 and declared "La Casa Cuba" by Jose Marti, has a library and museum on Key West history primarily focused on 19th- and 20th- century Cuban exiles. The institute also hosts concerts, art exhibits and plays.

Cuba! Cuba! (814 Duval St. ) is a great shop for Cuban art and crafts as well as T-shirts, books and music. Check out the paintings and ceramics, imported from Cuba with a special license from the U.S. Treasury Department.

-- Nicole Cotroneo