About Padrino’s In the 1960’s Diosdado Padrino and his beloved wife, Candida Rosa Padrino, founders of the Padrino’s chain, migrated to the United States of America from the western most province of the Island of Cuba, Pinar del Rio. They had a dream, namely, to take advantage of the opportunities offered by freedom and to make a difference in their new homeland. In 1976 the family started to operate a cafeteria type style restaurant in the city of Hialeah, County of Miami-Dade, where their clientele was, for the most part, Hispanic. In 1982, exactly 20 years ago, the Padrino family opened their first Cuban cuisine restaurant in the city of Hallandale. Mario Padrino, beloved son of the founders of the Padrino's chain had the dream to introduce an upper-scale Cuban cuisine experience to the American marketplace. Today, the original Padrino's Hallandale Restaurant is a highly successful enterprise, a restaurant that has experienced tremendous growth and is recognized as best-in-class by hotel concierge staff, neighbors and tourists alike. In 1992 Mario Padrino, today President of the Padrino's Restaurant chain chose Plantation to be the home of their second restaurant. Finally in 1996, the Padrino family opened its third restaurant in the beautiful city of Boca Raton. Plans are to continue to grow in the State of Florida and expand to other U.S. markets. Cuban food is quite popular in South Florida. It has as its staples, rice, black beans and of course, sweet plantains. At Padrino’s, delicacies are seasoned with a blend of natural herbs, spices, onions, fresh green peppers, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and wine... resulting in a seasoned blend of tasty but not "spicy hot" specialties. Mario Padrino wishes that the pride taken by his team in preparing the Padrino’s Restaurant food results in a truly enjoyable dining experience. ©2003 Padrino’s Restaurants, All Rights Reserved.