Sabanas,

439 Park Avenue, Worcester, 767-1820.

Latin-American cuisine has come to Park Avenue at last, with the recent opening of Sabanas, a little jewel of a restaurant. Try tamalitos, soft, corn flour pies stuffed with cornmeal and corn kernels seasoned with salt, pepper, and cilantro. Carne asada is thin slices of spicy grilled sirloin steak with sauteed onions served with white rice and arepa (which is a little corn cake stuffed with cheese), and a side dish of baked beans. Pernill y arroz con gandules is the popular Puerto Rican dish of pigeon peas and rice with the addition of roast pork. Pollo a la plancha ($6.50) is Sarmento's interpretation of another Puerto Rican favorite: grilled breast of chicken with salsa, yellow rice, fried plantains, and arepa.

Full review.

Price Range: $2 - $8.