Ann Arbor’s Twist On Cuban Cuisine

Jordan Korn  

Eve Aronoff’s latest creative culinary adventure, Frita Batidos, is a casual yet lively restaurant inspired by the spirit of Cuban culture. A drastic change from her previously more formal and expensive restaurant, Eve, this new endeavor offers a complete change of pace while still maintaining the highest standards for taste, quality, and creativity. The Latino inspired gourmet burger and shake restaurant, and a whole lot more, is quickly becoming an Ann Arbor hot spot. Located in the heart of downtown on West Washington Street, the 1,500 square-foot space decorated with white brick walls, white floors, and long white picnic tables creates the canvas upon which Aronoff’s bright vision comes alive.
As the “burger phenomenon” sweeps the nation and burger joints seem to pop up on every corner, Frita Batidos offers a refreshing new twist. The restaurant revolves around the combination of two traditional Cuban culinary elements; the frita, a Cuban burger made from spicy chorizo (beef, turkey, fish, or black bean are also available) served with shoestring fries on top, rests on a soft egg bun, and batidos, tropical milkshakes made with fresh fruit, crushed ice, and a drop of sweetened milk, with or without rum. “They just sounded so fun together!” exclaims Aronoff of the two dishes, which she had been daydreaming about for years before the menu was even created. Like burgers and shakes, the pairing just seemed to work flawlessly.
“Instead of putting a lot of things in, we focused on taking a lot of things out,” Aronoff says of the unique and modern restaurant design. “I wanted to create a backdrop so that when the people, music, spices, and food all come together it will make a whole composition,” she adds. Well, she has certainly succeeded -- the vibrant and convivial atmosphere of Frita Batidos is irresistibly fresh, modern, and inviting.

Image from Frita Batidos website

“I just wanted to create something delicious and then hoped that people would be happy with it,” Aronoff says excitedly of her vision for the restaurant. “I love that we have such a diverse group of customers – doctors, elderly couples, professors, little kids, fraternity boys and sorority girls, and even athletes – here, pretty much anything goes,” she adds as she hugs one of her sous chefs (the 4th or 5th time she has done so with an employee in the few minutes we have been sitting together). Aronoff was drawn to Ann Arbor because of its wildly diverse community, both in the people and the food. She has also always been very involved in the slow-food movement, which makes Ann Arbor the perfect location for her to work closely with local farmers and use fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients.
Cuban culture and cuisine have always had a strong influence on Chef Aronoff’s cooking ever since she spent time with her Grandmother in Miami learning about the history of Cuban food. The whole spirit and vibe of the Cuban culture inspired the style of the restaurant as well as many of the dishes and ingredients on the menu. However, Frita Batidos is more than just traditional Cuban cuisine. Aronoff has put her own spin on these classic dishes to create a unique and modern menu overflowing with flavor and savory ingredients.
One of her personal favorite items is the “best snack ever” – a layered dish in a cup comprised of coconut ginger rice, black beans, melted Muenster cheese, and cilantro-lime salsa. “It’s kind of a combination of all my favorite ingredients I ate in the kitchen all the time, so it’s super flavorful and you can whip it together in two seconds,” she claims of the pleasantly tangy dish. Another favorite is the frita, which offers a more delicate flavor profile and surprises your taste buds as you bite into the delectable layers of Cuban fries, muenster cheese, fried egg, tropical coleslaw, and juicy burger. Any and all of the dishes on the menu can also be served at the “Snack Bar Window” outside the front of the restaurant if you’re in a hurry! Some personal favorites of mine include the twice fried plantains tossed with cilantro-garlic butter and served with sweet chili mayo, and the tropical coleslaw. For dessert, the giant churros rolled in cinnamon and sugar and served with “chocolate espanol” for dunking are also amazing. A wide variety of specialty coffees round out the offerings including the café con leche, prepared with butter and a pinch of salt, which is especially tasty.
“I wanted to combine all the things I care about and create a fun space where we can take care of our customers and people can eat something that is creative and flavorful for a reasonable price,” says Aronoff of her goal to provide high quality food in a casual and inexpensive setting.
In a landscape overflowing with burger joints offering essentially the same fare, Frita Batidos stands out from the crowd. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, a late-night drink, or a full satisfying meal, Frita Batidos offers a fresh and inspired take on comfort food, with a Cuban flair.