Home Plate Restaurant

Participating in the 2010 Taste the World coupon book.

Belkis Ramirez, owner
102 Manheim Ave., Lancaster, PA 17603
717-509-6868
MTuWThFSa 8am-8pm

Come on in and cozy up to Dominican home cooking. Owner Belkis Ramirez draws on family tradition to create an array of specialties from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Many dishes, such as arroz con habichuelas and pernil (rice with red beans and roast pork) are traditional in both cultures.

Ramirez grew up in Santo Domingo, the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Her father died when she was young, and her mother supported the family by cooking and selling food from her home. Her mother's food was home cooking, the dishes that a family might eat daily.

And that is the bulk of what Ramirez offers today, combined with delicacies such as seafood empanadas.

Basically, Ramirez says, our goal is "llenarse de la comida," to fill yourself with food. Indeed, says Michelle Salinas, owner of Your Language Connnection, "I go there and get two meals and feed my whole family of six and have leftovers."

When Ramirez was young, her favorite food was rice with beans and beef, the meat a special occasion treat. Today, she delights in Dominican dishes such as morro, a mix of rice, beans and vegetables and mangú, mashed plantains served like mashed potatoes.

While the rice and beans are a staple, Ramirez also enjoys cooking mariscos al vapor, shellfish that's steamed and served with mangú or salad.

An unexpected specialty? Thursday spaghetti and meatballs.

Ramirez remembers the first time her mother, who had recently come into some money, was able to take the family to eat in a small restaurant. Ramirez had spaghetti and meatballs and ate until she could eat no more.

Today, she serves spaghetti and meatballs every Thursday - a dish that regularly sells out.

written by Marla Pierson Lester with Michelle Salinas; photos by Matthew Lester Photography