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- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
18 reviews for Havana South Cuban Restaurant & Bar
18 reviews in English
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Review from Bonnie C.
Lawrenceville, GA
12/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I work right around the corner and eat here a lot. Really great mojitos and the yucca is amazing. Great prices for the amount of food you get.
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Review from Jamarcus T.
Stone Mountain, GA
Havana South caught my eye before a hike and on the way back we stopped to try this place for lunch on a Sunday Afternoon.
Very spacious restaurant, friendly staff, and yelp friendly, posting their yelp sticker on the front door. If you're not one for checking in via the yelp app, do so here to get 10% off your meal.
I ordered the Fried green plantains, which were sweet, slightly crispy and the highlight of my meal here. Very tasty!
I also ordered the Pollo Al Ajillo (chicken in garlic sauce), which came with yellow rice and black beans (standard for all entrees). Presentation looked delicious but the chicken was simply "okay", lacking any real flavor. I enjoyed the black beans but i've had better rice, although I found it to be MUCH more flavorful when combining it with the garlic sauce of the Pollo Al Ajillo.
I also was able to try some of the Vaca Frita (Fried flank steak in garlic sauce), which was very tender, and had a little more flavor than my chicken, as well as the Croquetas (Ham Croquettes) that had great flavor with a dipping sauce it didn't really need.
For two people with two entrees and two appetizers, you'll spend about $35 (lunch menu is only available Mon - Fri) and the meals are all large enough that you'll likely need a to go box.
So that's Havana South...fantastic appetizers, okay entrees (that i've tried so far) and a solid little restaurant to quench your Cuban needs! -
Review from Richard R.
Dacula, GA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm kinda mixed about my review, because there were definitely things I enjoyed and other items were only ok. It was a slow Sunday with only a few diners. One poor table had the pleasure of having their waitress spill a drink not once, but twice (or maybe it was the customer). We had Alejandra as our server and she was very good.
At her recommendation I ordered the Vaca Frita, which was a grilled Flank Steak with rice and beans @ $11.95. The flavor was very good, but not as flavorful as I was expecting from a Latin restaurant. If you don't like cilantro (which tastes like soap to me), be sure to ask them not to put it on your meal. The yellow rice was not flavorful at all and I was also not a huge fan of the black beans. Overall I would give the steak 3.5 stars and the rice and beans a 2.5 for lack of flavor. Everything was cooked and presented well.
For an appetizer I ordered the Ham Croquetas and they were FABULOUS!!! They were so great I placed another order to go. Never had anything like them, but will definitely be back for more (4.5 stars).
My lunch buddy ordered the Pollo Ajillo which I personally thought was 'just ok' after tasting a sample. The chicken was a little overcooked and also not very flavorful. The Maduros (fried green plantains) were excellent and had a great golden color and sugary glaze. I was a little disappointed they charged $3.25 for extra yellow rice (table buddy ran out and wanted extra). Overall I though the prices were reasonable, the service was good, and the food was decent. The decor has nice murals but feels a little sparse, maybe it's because of the wide use of black paint.
I plan to try their Cuban sandwich on my next visit and hopefully I will enjoy that a little more. Be sure to CHECK-IN on Yelp to receive a 10% discount on your total bill.Listed in: Dacula & life North East of…
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Review from Debrin S.
1/6/2011
I'm from the NEast. Latin food is prevalent. I have enjoyed Cuban cuisine in Miami, Key West, NYC and by CUBAN friends who cook quite authentically. Therefore, I feel I am a solid judge on authentic Cuban food.
With that said- I loved Havana South!
We had dinner on a quiet Tues. evening. The service was friendly but lacked the enthusiasm I was expecting.
I had the Chicharon de Pollo con Hueso_ very tasty, marinated in a citrusy garlicky marinade- also served on the side. The Black beans were excellent! The white rice had just enough starch & olive oil to make it slightly sticky to accompany the beans. Also, I had the sweet sauteed (not deep fried) plantains- Maduros- very good too. My friend enjoyed the Pollo Hemingway- she enjoyed that too.
The prices are much less expensive than Fairfield County CT. My dinner was like $12!
They have a full bar BUT no wine- strange. They also serve Cuban soda.
The decor is colorful w large paintings/prints in vibrant colors all depicting classic sceans of Cuban\Havana.
If I lived here I would frequent this spot. Surprising!
Private parking lot. -
Review from Alice Y.
Hoschton, GA
6/16/2011
We ordered:
Paella -- Salty. Frozen seafood, did not taste fresh at all, very small mussels/shrimp, some squid, chorizo. Rice flavorless and overcooked to point of mushy. Clearly no saffron used. Huge portion, so unfortunately we took it home. I think most of it is going to end up in the trash. Most expensive thing on the menu and not worth it. Will not order again.
Oxtail -- Salty. Well cooked and tender. Ordered the moro with it and together the salt content was too much for me. Could be tasty with plain white rice.
Cuban sandwich -- My dining partners had this dish and they said it was OK. Not the best cuban sandwich they've had but OK.
Maduros -- OK. Again, not the best I've had but it's not bad.
Appetizer samples - Ham croquettes - tasty. Fried yucca - tasteless on its own but very good with the garlicky sauce. Fried mozz sticks - blah. Empanada - not bad. Plaintain chips - OK
Service -- Excellent. We liked our server who was polite and attentive. The food just didn't wow us. Had much better Cuban in NYC/NJ.
I'm not sure if we will return, but I want to give it one more try for some of the other dishes Yelpers mentioned here. -
Review from V. W.
Los Angeles, CA
8/18/2010
A nice surprise out here in Buford. I am originally from SoCal and a latin family. I got here and I was craving cuban food. While this place isn't home or FL, it certainly will do the trick in a pinch. The arroz y frijoles negro is always tasty, the maduros cooked perfectly and even their mojito had the right kick. I do think the arroz con pollo needed a little help... all arroz, no pollo =( We have tried everything from the shrimp in garlic sauce, oxtail, tostones, croquettas, bistec and even my daughter had the cheeseburger. All-in-all, it will certainly feed the beast when in the mood for cuban.
The three stars is because the service is always inconsistent. I ordered to-go one day and it took FOREVER! The wait staff's courtesy varies as well and I can never tell what I'll get. -
Review from Chloe M.
Atlanta, GA
5/7/2009
Quite possibly THE best Cuban restaurant in Atlanta. A run-down of what I've eaten:
Media Noche (the classic Cuban sandwich but made with sweet bread similar to what Lotta Frutta uses) -- filled with thick slices of ham and the tastiest roast pork.
Lechon Asado (roasted pork) -- tender, juicy, and has that cooked-for-hours taste. The best I've had in this state.
Arroz con Pollo (yellow rice with chicken) -- flavorful rice with two pieces of tender chicken stewed in Cuban spices
Chicharron de Pollo (fried chicken chunks) -- marinated chicken chunks that are crispy fried. These are not your usual dry, teeth-shattering, hard to chew variety.
Cortadito Cafe con Leche (Cuban coffee) -- brewed individually and freshly made to order; beware, this is addicting
Verdict: RUN, don't walk and head on up north for some mind-blowing goodness. -
Review from Randy A.
Delicioso! Awesome, authentic Cuban food in a surprising location! Who would have thunk it? Buford, Georgia!
The yucca frita (fried yucca root-- think of a different tasting french fry) was crisp, perfectly salted, moist and amazing. My lechon asado (grilled pork) was slightly fatty but the olive oil dressing made up for it. Of course, no Cuban dish would be complete without the black beans and rice-- and they were as they should be! And the platanos maduros were naturally sweet (as opposed to marinated sweet) and fried perfectly. And the flan, the homemade flan was very good. The custard was firm and not too eggy while the caramelized sugar was exactly right.
This place is a find in this small northern suburb of Atlanta. It includes a full bar and blaring Latin music. I HIGHLY recommend it. Even if you're in the middle of Atlanta, make the drive if you're pining away for well-done Cuban cuisine.
Viva el chef! -
Review from Mark K.
Duluth, GA
10/11/2009
All I have had at this place was the Media Noche Sandwich, a sample of mamey juice, some papaya juice and fried plantains. The sandwich is just a Cuban on Sweet bread and boy was it tasty. The pork has a very distinct tender flavor. The food was very tasty and the staff was very friendly and informative (especially about the mamey juice, which I'd never never had).
I wasnt too hungry when I went, so I didn't sample as much as I normally would have, so I'll be going back again...the other pork dishes must be sampled. The maduros were on point, but most Cuban places get those right. Unless something, goes terribly wrong, this review remains at 5. The downside to this place is that its near the Mall of Georgia even though I think its worth the trip, even from ITP. -
Review from Lauren H.
Flowery Branch, GA
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food and atmosphere are great. If you're in the mood for something that's fun and not a chain-restaurant cookie-cutter boring experience, this definitely needs to be on your list. Sometimes there are salsa dancers there and they are so much fun. The Media Noche is my favorite sandwich, but I've been truly impressed with everything I've had here!
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Review from Marisol P.
Atlanta, GA
5/27/2010
After reading the good reviews, I was pretty disappointed about the quality of my food.
Went in for a quick lunch, ordered the Cubano with tostones. I knew a full sandwich would be too much for me, so I asked if I could just order half. Server says sure, but when I got the bill, I had been charged for the whole sandwich. What?!?!?! Why not just tell me you don't do half sandwiches?
The bread the sandwich was made on was chewy, not the usual flaky goodness that Cuban bread is. The true test of a great Cuban imo, is when there are tons of crumbs all over your face, table, lap.
My tostones were also chewy, when they are supposed to be crispy. It's like they threw them in the oil when the oil wasn't hot enough and the tostones just absorbed the grease. I won't be coming back. :(
Maybe the other items on the menu are better. I just won't be back to find out. -
Review from Kerry M.
Buford, GA
8/25/2010
They excel at mediocrity. Both service and food. This is what happens when chiropractors open restaurants. Expensive for the portion size and quality. They could do much better with the same ingredients prepared well.
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Review from Victor M.
Suwanee, GA
11/16/2010
The food and service at this restaurant has been going downhill for a while, and what happened to us last week convinced me to never return. The waitress served my wife the wrong entree, and even after we told her she just looked at us turned around and walked away. This is totally unacceptable, when the waitress screws up the order is her responsibility to correct it. Also, the portions are so small yet prices are relatively high.
P.S. I called the manager, left message, and he never returned my call.
100% disappointment! -
Review from Lindsay S.
Buford, GA
7/28/2009
I ventured to this establishment today for lunch with my boyfriend and was pleasantly surprised. We were greeted the second we walked in the door. The decor is absolutely adorable from the colorful mural on the back wall to the custom blinds made this place feel inviting. I ordered the Cuban Sandwich and it was delicious! Ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles & mustard on freshly pressed bread. And just to let you know how much I liked it and illustrate how picky of an eater I am...I hate ham, I rarely eat pork, & I'm not a fan of Swiss cheese but this was a great combination. The staff was friendly as well. I will definitely be going back!
Listed in: The Best of Buford!
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Review from Jim K.
Buford, GA
8/31/2009
Havana was good but the service was absolutely terrible. I ordered the Cuban Sandwich and Black Beans. The Beans were delicious although a bit salty. The Cuban would have been much better if the bread was better. It seemed like it was a little stale and lacked taste. I compared my dinner to the exact same thing I oredered from another local Cuban restaurant. I will try it again though tos ee if the service has improved and will also try another dish to give another review.
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Review from Todd C.
Buford, GA
2/11/2010
Very good and authentic Cuban food. Our server was attentive and polite.
I had the churasco (skirt steak with a side of chimichurri) and moro (black beans & rice) and my wife had the picadillo. Both were outstanding.
I look forward to eating at Havana South again. -
Review from Crystal D.
Mount Airy, GA
11/16/2009
If there were 10 stars to give I would give it to this place for their dessert called "Tres Leches" it is the most wonderful cake ever. My husband and I ate here after a braves game and it was such a find. Whenever we eat in Buford we always swing by here just for the cake!!!
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Review from Pam D.
Flowery Branch, GA
2/21/2010
We used to live in south Florida and know what great authentic cuban food is. Well this place is just that. The pork chunks and maraqitas, were just YUMMY! Definately recommend and will go back there asap!
