I was confident the Cuban sandwich would be good at Café Conmigo, the new Cuban quick-service restaurant on Freret Street from the owners of High Hat.
Between the juicy roast pork and the larded crackle of the pressed bread, this excellent rendition exceeded those expectations. And then there’s the frita Cubana, a dressed-up burger that follows the pan-Latin flair for exuberance with more crunch and flavor.
What surprised me was how much this new Cuban cafe immediately felt like a diner-style spot that Freret’s restaurant row needs.
Café Conmigo opened in early January. Co-owners Fredo Noguiera and Ryan Iriarte are New Orleans natives and longtime friends who share a Cuban heritage.
A few years ago, the two bought High Hat Café (4500 Freret St.), the Creole/Southern restaurant where Iriarte had long been manager. Noguiera is a chef who leads the kitchens at Cane & Table (1113 Decatur St.) and Vals (4632 Freret St.), two restaurants under the same umbrella as the cocktail lounge Cure (4905 Freret St.)…