La Tropical

What it is

La Tropical is one of the chef-driven kitchens inside CTR Food Works, the food hall at The CTR, the former CNN Center building. Chef Minelly Amador leads the kitchen, and the menu draws on Puerto Rican, Cuban and wider Latin cooking, built on home-style recipes rather than a fusion concept.

What to order

The menu runs from quick handhelds to full island plates. Look for pressed Cuban sandwiches and crispy bacalaitos (salt-cod fritters) if you want something fast, or settle in with mofongo, carne frita, arroz con pollo or slow-braised ropa vieja. It is a solid pick when a group in the food hall can’t agree: order from La Tropical and grab a seat at the communal tables while everyone else wanders to the other counters.

Before you go

CTR Food Works comes from the team behind Chattahoochee Food Works and NYC’s Gansevoort Market, and it pairs its kitchens with communal dining and a large full-service bar, so a meal here can easily turn into a longer hangout. The CTR directory lists La Tropical as open from 11 AM daily, with later closing times Thursday through Saturday than earlier in the week, which makes it an easy dinner stop before or after a night out near Centennial Olympic Park. Hours can change, so check The CTR’s directory before a late visit.