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Categories: Latin American, Cuban [Edit]
Neighborhood: West VillageChristopher St (1)
Christopher St (PATH)
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Born of a Cuban father and an extremely picky Puerto Rican mother, I know good Cuban/Latin food. Alma de Cuba does not disappoint. Note: if you are at a Cuban restaurant and they don't have Lechon Asado beware you may be in Latin Fusion territory...
The Lechon and the Ropa Vieja live up to the hype and so do the mojitos...I have enjoyed some to excess a few times. Alma de Cuba is a little more consistent than their counterpart Cuba on Thompson though they have the same menu, but you will get quality with both all the same.
Really good Cuban food with a heavy Spanish influence. I picked Cuban and my friend picked this place and I okayed it after looking it up on Yelp. We were 8 in the crowded little front room. There is another room and patio in back when weather permits.
A pitcher of Sangria is one of the Spanish items. It was tasty but not fortified and didn't even leave me with a buzz after 3 glasses.
We started with the appetizer combo on the waiter's recommendation, which was a tasty assortment of different fried things like plantains and empanadas, with different picante dipping sauces.
Entrees to try include marinated pork, ropa vieja, paella marinara, grilled skirt steak, ceviche, marinated squid and a side of yucca con mojo. Que rico!!
The outstanding dessert is the Tres Leches con coco. It was creamy and coconutty. The Churros with chocolate sauce and Hot Chocolate Cake are good too but try the Tres Leches first.
The atmosphere is kickass with low lighting and live Cuban music (on Friday, don't know if it's every night) There were quite a few groups of 4 or more, but HADC has an intimate quality perfect for impressing a date.
Let's start with the drinks. The sangria was rock solid. Not too sweet, not with an overbearing taste of ethanol, yet one could tell it would bring about a solid state of inebriation if not consumed in moderation. The mojito... magnifico. If I went back, I'd have a tough time deciding but I'd ultimately go with the mojito. Moving on to the food...
My roommate's paella was satisfactory, but it could have used more meat/seafood. The rice tasted buttery and well-seasoned. Spanish food is usually lacking in flavor I believe, so even the best paella in the world doesn't particularly impress me. However, this was good, but still, don't get the paella here. Get the ribeye steak. I didn't quite catch what the waiter said, but I think the ribeye was only a temporary special for the night. Regardless, it comes drizzled with a sauce that tastes of peppercorn, red wine and the sweet luscious lips of a virgin you kissed in high school. Accompanying the steak was a side dish... I believe some type of a mashed vegetable. Mashed squash maybe. I don't know, it was mashed something. If they shut this place down I will mash their faces.
Great atmosphere split into two sections - one more lively and loud, the other quieter and secluded. I had the ropa vieja and every review on here is right. It is amazing stuff. First Cuban I've had here and it didn't disappoint.
I've been fortunate to have had some really good Cuban food before so here's the lowdown:
Location/Ambiance- small, long rectangular shape situated in scenic Greenwich Village. Intimate feel with candles, mirrors and a live band consisting of the singer/guitarist and a drummer sitting 3 feet away.
Mojitos- soo good we got a pitcher with chunks of lime and mint leaves floating around.
Food- we ordered the appetizer special. I forgot what it was called and can't really remember what everything was in it but I definitely remember a mixture of something and goat cheese. They should put in on the regular menu.
The shredded beef gathered in a bowl made of plantains was really good and the combination paella is the best I've had. The rice wasn't mushy and they give you large chunks of chicken, sausage and shrimps.
OK...so I LOVE this restaurant. Like, you have no idea how much I LOVE this place. Rene and Elmer are two of the best in the service industry. I had my birthday dinner here on 10/16. It turned out to be a small group but they treated my friends and I like royalty. Great drinks, great food, and great service. Being half Cuban and knowing what our food is supposed to taste like, this place did not disappoint. I love the fusion of flavors and adapting other Latin American cuisine into their food (churros.) One day I was here and got to meet Tony Plana, a fellow Cuban and Ugly Betty's Dad. My bf and I enjoy this place and will consistently go back.
Great place- service was attentive, food was great and the cocktails were tasty.
We started off with empanadas, which were good, and just the right amount for an appetizer helping. For the main courses, I had the lechon, and my date had the pounded sirloin.
Ambiance was great for dates- not too quiet, but not too loud to have a conversation. The live music was a nice touch for the evening as well. Overall, I would definitely go back.
Delicious meal, great staff and even had my fifteen minutes of fame here.
I ordered a mojito to drink which had the perfect balance between herb and sweet w/ a rum note to kick you in the pants. For an app, the green plantaines are flavorful but bc of the starch can be sl dry'ish. The suckling pig was very moist, not too salty and perfect paired with yucca julienne. The tres leche-coco was fucking amazing.
Great outdoor patio area. The dining room is a little small and loud w/ the entertainment but overall a great dining experience. Cigar roller to boot.. Check out the website to extend my fifteen minutes!
I find it hard to rate a restaurant highly when the drinks are the best part of the meal. The Sangria was delicious and the Mojito was one of the best I have ever consumed.
I am not saying food was bad - it was definitely good. However, it did not stand out and I am sure I could find similar quality meals at numerous places across the city.
Cigars at the end were an excellent touch.
Best drink ever- gin, cucumber, lime, mint, and wait for it...tobasco sauce. Sounds weird, but the spicy kick contrasts nicely with the cool sweetness of the other ingredients. Delicioso!
Our table started out with an appetizer platter that included empanadas, sweet and green plantains, fried yucca, codfish balls, and these other delicious things that we guessed were breaded and fried logs filled with yucca and cheese maybe? Whatever they were, they were creamy and delectable. We got a few different sauces with this smorgasboard: a garlic mojo, spicy cilantro cream (my fav), and a regular tomato salsa.
For my entree I ordered the suckling pig. I had this same dish at Yerba Buena, and I have to say--I enjoyed it more there. This version, instead of being shredded, lean meat, was cut into chunks, and was loaded with fatty pieces. The pieces that were lean meat, however, were succulent and tender. The side was yucca in a garlic mojo sauce. The yucca was a little too al dente, and needed some salt. My friend's ropa vieja, however, was bursting with a stick-to-your-ribs stew flavor, and was beautifully presented in a crispy plantain bowl.
I ordered a second drink- a ginger capirinha- that was perfectly balanced and refreshing. Capirinhas are usually a little too sweet for my taste, but the ginger syrup in this one added a little bit of spicy bitterness to balance it out.
We were too full for dessert, so alas, I cannot comment. I would come back to sample some of the other menu options.
Great food. Great space. Sat in the outside back room, comfortable, but a little noisy, but it was a Friday night.
The Veija Rojo is fabulous. The corn on the cob with mayo and cheese is out of this world.
Havana Alma definitely has wonderful ambience. It also wasn't too loud, so our group of 6 was able to easily communicate.
Our server was very charming, although a tad pushy with wanting us to order appetizers and drinks for the table. Water glasses were always full, and our server was always around and very attentive to anything we needed.
The food was delicious, although my portion of ropa vieja was a tad on the small side. However my friend's pork dish was huge! I absolutely loved my ropa vieja. It was very flavorful and lean served in a friend plantain chip cup and served over mashed sweet plantains (yum!). The pork, however, was a bit on the fatty side. My other friend really enjoyed the chicken dish she ordered.
The "appetizer for 5" of a sampling of different fried foods was tasty, but I thought very pricey at $32!
I enjoyed dining in this restaurant and look forward to going back. There are so many delicious-sounding options on the menu I really had trouble deciding what to get!
I celebrated an early 30th birthday here the other week and we sat in the back in a candle-lit greenhouse. There's a great ambiance here and the food and drink are even better. Their maduros are soft, sweet, and juicy and their mojitos are top-notch.
So, great food, great space, great drinks = 5 stars.
(PS: in the back, there is the greenhouse area which is great for a large dinner party...there were 9 people in ours...and there is also an outdoor area worth investigating.)
Our waiter was a doll. The food was full of flavor and there was lots of it. I recommend the churrasco: a big slab of juicy skirtsteak, dressed with chimichanga sauce and served with soft pieces of yucca. The chorizo app was great too, but I wasn't in love with the tuna ceviche of the day -- it tasted a little bland. They also make perhaps the best mojito I've had -- and it's served with spears of sugarcane -- delicious! As for dessert, we shared the churros (which came with a chocolate dipping sauce) and the fruit empanaditas...recommend them both. We also enjoyed on-the-house glass of white dessert wine we were given at the end of the meal. Ole!
Ask to sit in the garden or the room just off the garden -- both have more of an intimate feel than the main dining room.
I came here with my two girlfriends hoping to unwind to a cozy ambiance with festive, live music playing in the background. And sure enough I didn't leave disappointed. The atmosphere was both fun and warm with a hint of romantic, because really, candlelit tables always do the trick. Not exactly a college student's ideal price range, but the food was pretty much bomb for the price.
Quarter-way through, I abandoned my own drink, leaving it to sit brimming alone, whilst glancing adulterously at the two mojitos before my eyes. Word of advice to self, never order a drink you can't handle. Word of advice to you, order the peach mojito!
Desserts were to die for, as were the empanadas and calamares. The names of our main dishes elude me, but that's okay because my salivary glands reveal enough aka stop reading this and just eat there already! The cozy atmosphere is no doubt the cherry on top, so what're you waiting for?!
Food: This place shines the best when coming for brunch. The brunch offerings are varied and tasty. My personal favorite is the arroz con pollo criollo. The saffron rice is moist and the peppers adds sweetness to the overall flavor of the rice. The chicken comes with bones but it is easy to separate meat from bone due t the tenderness of the chicken. Spanish sausages are grilled until the surface has a nice crunch. The Cuban sandwich is well made, delicious and well pressed. Get a side of mustard and dip the sandwich in if you're a fan of mustard.
Dinner menu fails compared to the brunch menu. Seafood paella comes with an incredibly minuscule shrimps, mussels, clams. They seem to canned judging by the size. We ordered the paella with lobster and that meant it came with a quarter of a lobster tail. Pretty bad. Tamales were extremely sub par (scantly filled), the salad that came with the tamale was better.
Desserts are good, not exquisite and refined good, but sugary and guilty pleasure good.
Drink: Do not drink anything here but the sangria. Simply the best in the city. Solid wine for the base, abundant amount of fruits and flavor, and the sangria itself is strong. Don't taste the alcohol at first cause the sweetness and citrus masks it well, but you'll feel it later. Order a pitcher or two, well worth the price.
Service: Friendly service, outstanding bus work. Plates get cleared quickly and cups are never empty. Table tops are clean when clearing plates.
Crowd/Ambiance: Large restaurant consisting of a main room, small back room, back patio seating, and another large side room. Gets rather festive and loud at dinner time with live music. During brunch hours, it is less packed and quieter. Crowd consists of a mosaic of different people.
I really enjoyed my experience here. What's special about this place is that there's this guy who sits by the window making cigars!
Definitely try the ginger caprihina, I had a couple. We had the meatballs for appetizer, and the ropa vieja and skirt steak. Everything was delicious, the waiter was very helpful, and the place is really cute. It was a great time, though the music was really loud considering there were only 3 tables of ppl there.
And at the end of the night, the guy who was rolling the cigars gave us each a cigar. I thought that was kind of cool. I'm not sure if they sell them, or just give them to customers, but its definitely different.
A mixed review. Five stars for the drinks, service, and shaded outdoor patio dining. Four for some of the food, good portions, and fair pricing, three for some of the other food.
Among the drinks, they have an outstanding margarita - order it with salt, and a few rocks on the side - you won't want to water it down. Also very good was the Mojito Criolla, made with 8-year old rum.
I didn't think I'd be praising cod fish, of all things, twice in a row (see my review of Basso56), but don't miss the Bacalaito appetizer, two delicious cod fish croquettes with an eggplant sauce that doesn't overwhelm them. Just fair were the meatballs, three of them - ok, but nothing special.
Main course was Lechon Asado, roast suckling pig, a good sized mound of meat, but half the size, moisture, and flavor you get in a restaurant such as Versailles in Little Havana, Miami. Perk it up with several dashes of mexican Cholula hot sauce, available upon request. Accompanied by some pretty good yucca, and something that looks like fried rice - I'll check it out again tonight when I resample the food in our doggie bag. (we ordered two portions - one would have sufficed me and my Dining Partner).
As usual, no room for dessert (when will I learn, if I'm going to do these reviews?), but some terrific coffee.
This place made me realize how much I love Cafe Habana.
We were a party of four, reservation less on a Friday at 4pm... We wanted Cuban and heard how wonderful this place was, which I may have thought was true if I had never went to CH.
Walking into the restaurant I immediately thought, this cannot be good, it is like ghost town... the hostess asked us how many and typed something in the computer... I am not sure she realized that she didn't need to look it up.. I mean one table of the 100 tables taken.. REALLY?? and unless she is expecting a wedding party within the hour, there would be no reason to look anything up, the place is HUGGGGGE and I am sure all of her reservations are for 7 or so anyway (which they were, luckily we stayed at the restaurant a while to drink).
Speaking of drinks, we had to return a wine glass because it smelled like dirty sink sponge. The waiter was very nice about it... maybe it was his fingers? who knows...barf. Moving onto the Sangria.. I am not a big wine person unfortunately, I try very hard to like it, I grew up drinking it as a kid, my family made it, but just couldn't get into it in adulthood... until the White Wine Sangria... mMmmMmm it tastes sweet, not too sweet, and it will MESS you up suddenly. A pitcher of it is a lil pricey, around 30 - 35 dollars, the majority of our bill was the Sangria's. The red wine sangria was ehhhh... typical...
Now onto the food...
Croquetas De Jamon... mMmmM yummy potato croquettes with bits of ham, melt in your mouth literally... delicious...
Gambas Al Ajillo.... Shrimp and Garlic my two favorite things.. the shrimp were big and the garlic sauce made me want to find bread immediately so I can not spare a drop
Tostones Con Mojo - YUCK!! plantains were hard and dry and tasted like cardboard... old cardboard...
Empanadas Habaneras - I love empanadas... and this one met my standards... the outside could have been slightly better maybe it needs to be more greasier or a tad soggier but anyhow the meat was delicious...
Churrasco Con Chimichurri - i love me a good steak and this one was cooked to perfection... and not dry... however I usually like my meat on the raw side and it can only be cooked from medium well to well...
Paella Marinera - i enjoy a good paella... I actually like the one at Park even though it's not a seafood place really... this one was quite tasty though.. the lobster tail was pretty small.. not a lot of rice.. I could have easily eaten two orders of the dish... so you lost points for your small portions.
Overall, the place is okay. Try to make reservations so they don't look at you up and down. Try to get seats in the MAIN room so you can stare at the walls with paintings of Cubans and listen to the live entertainment we heard a drop of in the 4th room we were in... Try not to sit where I sat, the lasssssssst room all the way in the back, I had to hold my cell phone up to see the menu and I felt like I was dining in a sauna at one point... and no it wasn't me getting drunk... although maybe it helped the heat factor...
The waiter was very nice, let him know if you plan on sharing any entrees or whatever so he can bring adequate plates and silverware. I also liked the fact that the specials were also on the menu so I didn't have to do the whole "wait what did he say" "what's in that" "what was the 4th thing he said after the 3rd fish he named" etc.
Enjoy, share, and drink the white sangria!
A great cuban place!!! I never thought I would find a decent place here in the city but this place was a hidden gem. Very cozy and excellent service and food. And I was pleasantly surprised when they had two guys performing live in this tiny restaurant, which enhanced my overall dining experience.
And my date was cute so that helped as well :D
This was a great meal. The food was great, the music was really great, and the cigars at the end were the icing on top.
Paella rocked. Just rocked. All of the specials sounded stellar and I wish I could have stuffed more food into my stomach -- in fact a lot of dishes on the menu are probably amazing and I would love to come back and try some more food. They took great care of us and the whole experience was very laid back. I honestly think that live music makes all the difference in the world... without it (and the cigars), I don't think this place wouldn't have really stood out from any other restaurant with similar cuisine.
The one thing that concerned me was that I didn't feel like I had a huge meal or a ton of drinks... but I ended up dropping $70. That's why I am rating 3 stars. $70 is definitely more than usual for a meal that doesn't include something special. I had an appetizer, paella valenciana ($22), and 3 of us split a dessert. Along with 2 drinks I just wouldn't expect my share of the meal to come out to $70.
But the service was definitely very good and the complimentary cigars at the end were a great touch that definitely keeps this memorable. I don't even smoke cigars, but I'll always remember "that Cuban restaurant that gave us the free cigars" and I will probably come back here because of that, even if it DOES run me another $70!
My boyfriend and I were looking for a reasonable brunch option before going to see a show in the area. We walked by Havana and saw the $15 brunch menu, and decided to go for it.
He had the crab meat omelet, I had the arroz con pollo. Both were really yummy. The potion of the arroz con pollo was really generous,certainly more than I expected. He had a mimosa and I had the sangria - we both agreed the sangria was the better drink.
The service was excellent. Our waiter was wonderful, he was polite and helpful, offering to bring us another dish so my boyfriend could pick at my food more easily. Our water glasses were refreshed every time they were near empty, without us even asking.
We'll be back to Havana Alma de Cuba if we're in the area. It's a solid restaurant, and the brunch felt like a good value.
I want to like the food here, but I just can't muster the energy. Well, maybe after a few drinks, but closer to 4 or 5 than 1 or 2, & the latter amount is probably where I'd be in my night relative to going here for dinner. The place has a lot of charm, I even like the waiters' shirts. Cute back room, cuter outdoor space.
Lunch special is pretty stellar price & makes the mediocrity a lot more palatable than the $19 crap ropa vieja, et al at dinner.
Last night had a scary experience with what had to be bad oysters that were fried. I took one sniff & promptly returned to my mojito. The waiter was nice & took them off the bill without us even complaining. Entrees were huge & bland & I am not sure why I kept picking at the glorified white rice that was dyed orange. The black beans were a highlight, porky & smokey.
At least you can always get a table!
I have not been to this place in years but from what i recall each time I went, I was very happy with my dinner, staff and the garden in the summer! Delicious Cuban food!
On a whim, a friend of mine and I decided to go to the West Village and find a new brunch spot. After walking along Christopher street, we spotted Havana Alma de Cuba and ended up deciding to try it out. At first glance, I realized that I certainly would not want to go here on a Friday or Saturday night. The place is small and most of the tables are cramped together. I'm definitely not a fan of feeling as if I'm on the 5 train during rush hour, so I was glad that the brunch crowd was minimal on the day we went. Anyway, we easily found a table and began to look over the brunch menu.
What stood out right away were the relatively high prices for most of the brunch options. For example, all seven egg-options are priced at $14 a pop. Simply put, most restaurants (including Havana), can't justify charging such a price for eggs. Nevertheless, we were comfortable and I had set my mind on eating eggs, so I ordered the huevos rancheros. While the dish was decently flavorful, it wasn't worth $14. Overall, there are many other better brunch spots to check-out in this great city, so I'd suggest going somewhere else.
Yooo...what the F is up with this place?
After having reservations, a group of us ended up waiting close to 45 minutes to be seated. The host kept looking at us quizzically asking 'What's the name of your party again?' *Sigh* "Dude...we're the party that's huddled between the bathroom and the kitchen dodging your wait staff every 3 seconds."
After being seated at our table (which we had to exit one building, walk outside and enter another building to get to), one half of the table needed to keep their jackets on because our table was situated next to the door that led outside to the other building...are u keeping up? Yeah, neither am I.
Unfortunately, I ordered what must have been the only non-tasty meal on the menu. Other folks in my party raved about the red snapper, beef and pork dishes. Other goodies were the tostones with shrimp and the white sangria (the red sangria was a bit too sweet and syrupy for me). As a warning, stay away from the salmon santa clara and the calamari.
All in all, what most saved this night was the company I was with. But make no mistake, the service dumps on what otherwise would be a good place to dine.
I've only been here a couple of times for brunch, so I can't really say about the quality of dinner. I admit that it is difficult to review/judge a place just on brunch (especially since Havana Alma de Cuba is not a brunch restaurant per say)...
Anyway the food was slightly different from your normal brunch fare but not too much that the most unadventurous among you should stay away. Frankly, for some dish on the menu, the only difference was that they come with yucca or plantains instead of potatoes.
I actually like the backroom/tent which I was told becomes an open courtyard when the weather is warmer. Service was spotty to say the least. As a person not as familiar with Cuban cuisine, I had a few questions about the menu. Lets just say the answers (content and the tone) left a lot to be desired.
The brunch set (includes a cocktail) was $15. Typical pricing in NY, but for that, I would go somewhere else. There are plenty of places that serve similar quality brunch food for the same price with better ambiance.
I have only been here for Sunday brunch...and that is what I feel is the best time to visit this place.
The Bloody Marys are a little small...but included in the flat rate ($15) for the brunch menu.
The food is ok...Cafe Habana is a better option for flavor. If you are looking for a more classy establishment, then Alma de Cuba would be the place to go.
I had the Omlette with Crab Meat...and it was very good. The crab meat could have been a little less dry, but it was still good.
They also have some kind of cake with dairy that oozes out of it when you cut into it...I'm not sure of the name, the just brought it to our table for my friend's birthday. Get it. Even if you're full from your entree.
Overall, I was pleased...but if I'm in the mood for Cuban, I'll go to Cafe Habana.
Be still, my (heart)y appetite and rumbling tummy!
There is nothing I don't absolutely love about this place. The decor is colorful but classy and retains that musky island feel to it (or if there was ever a musky island, this is what I'd imagine it to look like). The staff is adorable and always eager to give recommendations as well as refill any and all empty glasses they spot.
The food is straight up mouth-watering (hint: go for the meat) and the portions are enough to leave you fully satisfied and craving dessert, which you should definitely save room for. Top it all off with a round of drinks, of which the fruity mojitos are quite popular. The sangria's not bad either though it was a bit bitter for my taste.
Stop by for lunch or dinner or all around the clock; I came here twice in one week and was still ready to go back by Saturday.
I really wanted to hate this place after waiting almost an hour for a table (even with reservations) and even the complimentary sangria they offered wasn't helping. Then I ate the food. Oh my God the food! Delicious!!
The paella was so good I had to pause and meditate on the flavor explosion happening in my mouth. A quick sampling of my friends' dishes (steak, empanadas, tostones) revealed they were equally delicious. By the time I left I forgot about the long wait and got on the train with a big smile on my face.
before i even speak of the great food, i must speak of the service...
i threw two parties here. one for my girls birthday. and the other was for my dad's retirement. both was amazing. i mean every single glass that was almost low there was another to follow it up. i had two people that was handicap. and the servers was soo gentle. we was getting loud and noisey and i guess there was a few " high class people there" hahaha nobody came over and told us to be quiet. the people who was annoyed was moved...lol...shit we was spending some good money there.
the food was amazing. yucca was awesome..mojitos...hahaha daaaam! this is my fav. place to eat in the city. if you wanna get crazy get up and dance and nobody says nothing. do it! take the young lady here.
it is also good for a romantic dinner and all that other stuff....
This is my favorite restaurant in NYC -- for the food, atmosphere, and relative value. I've only been here for dinner, but I would love to go back for brunch just to see what they come up with.
Every time I eat here, I always leave feeling full but never stuffed to the point of being sick. I'd even venture to say that some of the dishes are healthy! (I can dream, right?!)
Best things on the menu: mashed green plantains w/ shrimp appetizer, black bean soup, chicken w/ watercress, avocado and citrus sauce (on the menu: Pollo al estilo "Aljibe") -- INCREDIBLE!!!
And I saw that they have a special where if you place a reservation at the link below, you can get 15% off your check.
http://www.diningfever...
I rarely dispense five stars, but I feel compelled to after dining at Havana eight times. I have tried many Cuban-style restaurants across the country and this place is tops - hence the five - in food. Space is another issue.
Versus the people that had problems with the service, we have never had an issue. Just the opposite. Yeah, we have had to wait for a table sometimes, but it was never too long (we always went late to avoid a tourist rush). The bar area is a pain in the rear to hang around, I'll agree with that. Sometimes we had a res, other times they accommodated us and wedged us in. I have noticed that the popularity of the place has increased over the years, making waits a bit longer. The staff was always pleasant and friendly.
I should knock it to four stars because:
- The bathroom situation is insane. Huge waits for a tiny communal toilet. That is the longest wait of the night. You have to time bio breaks just right and keep an eye on the line
- Really cramped quarters, particularly in the back, and if there are groups which is often the case. I try to avoid the back area as the music (when playing) is out front and the service is better.
BUT, the Sangria (out of this world) pops it back up to five. Having tried many of the dishes, I found them all to be good to excellent. It could have been that I was a bit generous after a couple of pitchers of Sangria....
Don't go without a reservation unless going at some obscure off hour.
Best sangria and mojtos!!!
People who write a reiew problably dont know about cuban food food is grate may be some body that i know was woorking in that restaurant because he left his writing bad things about the place but for sure Im a customer for long time and the food and driks are good the staf is exellent
I woke up this morning craving paella valencia and ropa vieja from Havana. It's definitely not the cuban you find in miami but everything on the menu is full of flavor deliciousness. The ropa vieja melts in your mouth. I usually don't eat calamari unless it's fried, but am quick to start with the seared calamari w/ garlic here. The chorizo and croquettes are great starters. Don't forget to order their sangria and end with an order churros!
The ambiance is cozy and intimate so it's great if you're on a date and also fun if you're out with friends.
This is the kind of place that my grandfather would be proud to take me to... another Cuban Eatery with some style and class. Aint nothing better than this in Miami. Trust me. Most Cuban food in little havana stinks.
I am a HUGE fan Havana Alma de Cuba. I have been with the BF and with a huge group, it never disappoints. I prefer sitting in the front of the restaurant with the musician, way more active and lively, and crowded, then the rear of the restaurant. When I go here I am usually out for the rest of the night, once the sangria is poured we usually don't stop.
I would not call this place quiet unless you sit in the other rooms of the restaurnat or you go early in the evening. 9pm on Saturday you are waiting for your table and there is very little room at the cozy bar in the front room. Normally waiting would irritate my insides but it is well worth it. Grab a sangria, get cozy next to your friends, and relish the moment when you sit at your table and dive into the amazing food.
My 1-5 scale
Food: 4
*The tapas are wonderful to share. They can be a meal in itself!
Service: 3
*It can be super busy so they can get a little overwhelmed at times.
Atmosphere: 4
*When the musicians are there the place is filled with lively energy. The table are small and close together, bistro style.
*Cheers with your neighbors at the next table, brakes the ice in the small space.
I chose $$$ because with alcohol it starts to add up.
After moving from Nolita to the West Village I was hoping to find food similar to Cafe Havana nearby and was very disappointed. I ordered delivery one night and found the Cuban sandwich dry and more bread than anything. Not willing to judge a restaurant solely on take out, I headed there with a friend last night reluctantly.
I have to agree with Justin R and should have read his review closer. The sangria was ok but tasted like grape juice (at $9 per glass or $35 for a pitcher). The meat in the vaca frita (like a Cuban stir fry with onions) was fatty and had way too much oil. It was unbelievably salty while the side of congri (rice and beans) was completely bland and dry. On the positive side, the appetizer empanadas were surprisingly light and the grilled calamari pretty good. Maybe the trick is to stick to the appetizers and a beer or two.
I went to dinner here with friends, and it was cute and cozy. The staff seated us immediately for an early dinner, and they were quite helpful and friendly (our server suggested a vegetarian paella for my veggie friend, though this is not on the menu).
The food overall was pretty good, but everything seemed to be either too strongly seasoned or not enough. My paella was so salty that my tongue felt raw afterwards, the sangria was not strong enough, and the mojito was too sweet. Still, the attempt for good Cuban was not bad.
We didn't try the garden area, but it looked like a good place for a date.
This place really exceeded my expectations. The food was so beautifully presented that I felt guilty eating it, and the menu options were pretty creative, and really delicious. The waitress gave really good advice and seemed very knowledgeable. Even though the place was extremely busy, our drinks were continuously refilled at the appropriate moments, and there was never a moment where we felt like we had to wait for or look for a waitor/waitress. I had one of their special-of-the-day seafood dishes. It was really, really good, though heavy. The most memorable part of my meal, though, was the "black bean soup." It was DELICIOUS. The waitress strongly recommended I don't get it because it's not the authentic way that Cubans eat black beans, but I didn't care, and I ordered it anyway. I'm glad I did. GET THE BLACK BEAN SOUP!
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