By Erin Bosetti

November 11 was a sad day for lovers of caramelized onions, succulent pork and cilantro sauce in Seattle. Paseo, Cuban sandwich emporium known for it’s long lines and it’s wait-worthy food, abruptly closed it’s doors. Amid murky allegations of shady under the counter wage withholding, it eventually emerged that the company had filed for bankruptcy amidst an impending lawsuit (http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025020366_paseobankruptcyxml.ht…). Their pink building on Seaview Avenue was THE epicenter of beachside eating at Golden Gardens for all of Ballard. What now?

Even though there may be a chance that Paseo will be saved via Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/savvyorders/save-paseo), life is too short to linger on lost sandwiches. Luckily for Ballard, we’ve still got the best Cuban sandwich lineup.

Our number one local pick is just across the street from Paseos now shuttered pink doors: Geo’s, a Cuban and creole cafe. Those that live and work down by Shilshole Marina have always known that Geo’s (rather than Paseo) was the place to go, and now they’ve got some big shoes to fill if they are going to convince the rest of the neighborhood that the trek is still worth it.

Notable entrees? The pan con bistek sandwich is absolutely to die for. The traditional Cubano may make you fall into a satisfied stupor. Geo’s atmosphere has always been one of community unlike the rushed anonymity across the street, and they hope to keep it that way.

“We want to make sure we can treat our regular customers the same way we’ve been treating them for the last year” say owners Kim Gianotte and Geo Rodriguez. They’ve already seen a dramatic increase in business.

Geo’s also serves coffee, including Cuban concoctions like cafe con leche. Fresh ingredients, nice staff and authentic Cuban and Creole deliciousness are what will propel this year old sandwich shop to Caribbean glory -- now that the market has expanded. Rodriguez says he is “excited to take on this new challenge”, but he “does feel bad about what has happened”. Geo’s has already given an ex-Paseo employee a job. They had wanted to create a Cuban Carnival Festival with the fallen restaurant later this year.

In addition to Geo’s, a little further away, but no less delicious, is Bongos Cuban Cafe (6501 Aurora Ave. N), near Green Lake. The spot is a stones throw from the old Paseos location in Fremont. Bongos is hailed by its lovers as having some of the most authentic Caribbean food in the city. Try the “Desi” sandwich for your caramelized onion and aioli smothered pork cravings. They’ve also got those Caribbean full plates that Paseo disciples will chow on with relish. They’ve got a ton of indoor seating in their converted gas station restaurant, something that Paseo lovers will enjoy as a nice change.

So Paseo lovers, not all is lost! We can still get that succulent cilantro-aioli soaked goodness without going all the way to Cuba.