Carmen Arias of York has no formal restaurant experience but plenty of experience cooking for large groups of people.
Her specialty is the “picalonga,” a savory dish that includes fried pork, fried chicken, Dominican sausage and fried plantains.
And “picalonga” also is in the name of the new restaurant Arias, who is of Puerto Rican descent, and her husband Braudilio, who’s originally from the Dominican Republic, have now opened in downtown York.
Picalonga Sabor Tropical, at 111 E. Princess St., is just the latest new restaurant featuring international cuisine to open in York.
Picalonga Sabor Tropical is now open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Officials from York City and the York economic and revitalization organization Downtown Inc will hold a ribbon-cutting for the restaurant this Friday at noon.
The East Princess Street location is the former site of another restaurant, Johnny’s Burgers & Malts.
Within the last month, World Grills, featuring Thai cusine, opened at 29 E. King St. in York.
