A favorite of the Tenement Museum's staff, Castillo De Jagua offers the best in Dominican foods on the Lower East Side. As an amalgam of cultures the Dominicans have cherry picked the very tastiest foods from the various countries around their island.

Opened in 1972, originally at the corner of Clinton and Rivington Street, the restaurant eventually moved to its current location on Rivington between Essex and Ludlow. Louis Collado and his staff have created a warm atmosphere where the staff greets longtime customers by name and serves up steaming dishes with gusto.

We heartily recommend the Pernil (roast pork), Baked Chicken and their revolving selection of daily specials including ribs, oxtail, cod and stewed beef. As a side dish, try either the fried sweet plantains called maduros or the starchy version called tostones, and of course the ubiquitous rice and beans. If you don't want a whole meal on a plate, try the best Cuban sandwich in town, a pressed treat filled with roast pork, ham, cheese and a pickle.

All things considered though, the food is quite garlicky- so go eat at Castillo AFTER the tour to spare your educator.