What is "paladar"

n. A small family-run restaurant in a Cuban home

Paladar (plural: paladares) is a term that in Spanish translates literally to "Palatal" and used with that meaning in the Spanish speaking world, however in Cuba is used exclusively to refer to restaurants run by self-employers. Mostly family-run businesses, paladares are fundamentally directed to serve as a counterpart to state-run restaurants for tourists seeking a more vivid interaction with Cuban reality, and looking for homemade Cuban food.