More bang for your buck: Buffet-style Latin restaurant opens in Palm Coast

Whether you’re stopping by for dinner or grabbing a dessert to go, Flagler County’s newest Latin restaurant is ready to serve up comfort and convenience in Palm Coast.

Latin Spice, located at 9 Palm Harbor Village Way W., Suite G, began welcoming guests earlier in September — an opening four months in the making for owner Victor Barbosa, who says his Portuguese roots and industry experience coupled with local demand inspired the 30-seater eatery. In addition to owning the neighboring ManCave barbershop for the last eight years, the former Palm Coast City Councilman previously owned his own restaurant in northern New Jersey, where he called home before moving to Florida in 1998, as well as numerous pizzerias.

These days, the restaurateur has shifted focus to a kitchen anchored in South and Central American flavors, hoping to attract Palm Coast’s ever-growing Latin community with Colombian, Cuban, Nicaraguan, Costa Rican and Brazilian cuisine.

“I’m always looking for a good deal. I saw this, and it was really, really run down. So, it took like four months to clean the place; it was bad,” Barbosa said. “But we remodeled it, and now we’re at this point where people are starting to come in,” he continued, noting the restaurant recently hit its first sell-out milestone.

What’s on the menu at Latin Spice?

Ropa vieja, pork skewers, fried yuka and rice from Latin Spice in Palm Coast.

From ropa vieja and pork skewers to oxtail and fried plantains, Latin Spice offers a rotating variety of made-fresh-daily, buffet-style options for guests to choose from at the counter. Each lunch plate is priced at $10.95 per pound, while dinner runs $11.95 per pound.

“It’s so cheap. And the thing is, it’s great for working people, because you can come in and out in less than 15 minutes and you’re eating great food,” Barbosa said, as shredded meats and potatoes simmered on the stove. “There's different food every day, so we don’t have a menu yet,” he continued, “… But we already have a lot of demand, so we’re building (our menu) with that in mind.”

In addition to several sandwiches, including a classic Cubano and Portuguese Bifana with thin-sliced pork, Barbosa plans to introduce a breakfast menu soon, featuring Latin specialties and American classics — from huevos rancheros to pancakes and hashbrowns.

Alongside beer and wine, guests can scour through a selection of grab-and-go bakery goods, like cheesecake and tres leches.

Looking ahead with Latin Spice

Indoor dining at Latin Spice, now open in Palm Coast.

Though the restaurant has been steadily building momentum during its soft opening, Barbosa says a grand opening is on the horizon, most likely in October.

“People like it, because we already have customers coming in every day to eat and they’re not getting the same food. So, they don’t get bored with it,” Barbosa said.

“… After (we sold out), it was awesome. It’s a good feeling,” he continued. “… We’re all very happy.”

Latin Spice plans to offer delivery in the future and is open 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 386-627-8170.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: More bang for your buck: Buffet-style Latin restaurant opens in Palm Coast