Walking North on Dovercourt from Queen, you will stumble upon a somewhat oddly located convenience store that is decorated with palm trees and Christmas lights; welcome to Julie’s. A valued retreat for Queen Westers in the know, Julie’s is a stupendous choice if you are looking to wind down with some soothing mojitos…and then slowly build that energy back up as you get tipsy and go wild for a variety of succulent Cuban tapas.

The interior is laden with photos, odd books, quirky dolls and other peculiar things to gaze at; an artists escape from communism.

Dishes that are sure to please a crowd: avocado and mango salad, shrimps in, to die for, buttery garlic sauce, frituras de mais (peppery corn fritters with sour cream) and the ceviche. Compliment this with a pitcher of sangria…and a handful of other Cuban delights to try – but a warning, the drink $$ can add up if you aren’t careful…because they really are so tasty.

A terrific first date spot or a Friday night with three friends who you absolutely need to catch up with. Book ahead, when the weather is nice – Julie’s will undoubtedly have a line up.