text: I had been wanting to try Babaloos since I ran across an article about them on AZcentral. I had been looking for a Cuban alternative to Havana Cafe and aside from a small Cuban restaurant in Tucson with unreliable hours, I hadn't heard of very many promising options. I was a little turned off by the high prices as well as the swanky images presented in the website (was I going to a lounge or a restaurant?) but I finally made my way there thanks to Grupon.\n\nWe drove there on a Friday night. I was starving by the time we got there because it took much longer to find it than I anticipated. Chandler Blvd goes very far west. I was also overdressed (loungy you are not Babaloos). The restaurant itself is in a strip mall (albeit a slightly fancier strip mall than one on Thomas Rd. in Central Phoenix but a strip mall nonetheless). The service was slow; I guess those Grupon's really threw them off their game. We ordered a salad and an appetizer (both unappetizing and unforgettable), I was ready to throw in the towel and then the entrees came.\n\nWe ordered Berenjena con Sofrito (eggplant with sofrito) and Jicama a la Parilla (grilled jicama) which both came with platanos (the eggplant with tostones and the jicama with platano frito). We had to order another side of the platano fritos because they were that good. The eggplant was so packed with flavor, I didn't want my meal to end. The jicama made for a light entree, but sufficient for my partner. While the entrees were phenomenal, I'm not sure I'd make a trip back, given the distance and the high prices. I may just stick with Havana Cafe.