Breakdown:
Location:
Cuisine: Authentic Cuban
Items: 2 Appetizers, 1 soup, 2 Entrees, 4 cocktails
Cost: $150 (With 18% tip)
Best Dish: You can never go wrong with Paella, rich and flavorful this dish really sticks to your ribs. If seafood isn’t your thing have the hearty beef stew, trust us you won’t regret it.
Overall: Casual elegance at affordable prices, you can’t go wrong here. The food and drinks are great and the atmosphere perfect for a date night or dinner with friends. This place also has a great happy hour, for us 9 to fivers.
Despite the overflow of fast food chains and lackluster dining, there remains a jewel in the heart of times square. Beyond the gawking pedestrians and in the center of the theatre district lies a tropical oasis. Havana Central is one of the few grand dining experience in the fast paced time square area. Entering the eatery is like taking a step back in time. The opulent 50’s décor brings to mind old Hollywood glamour and sophistication. The venue also maintains a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for a happy hour, hot date or dinner with the family. We began out journey with a round of Havana’s signature mojitos. Made in several varieties including, mango and pomegranate we opted for the passion fruit version. Sweet and refreshing it warmed our palates for the goodies to come.
One of the biggest problems when ordering from a great menu is settling on one appetizer. With so many options to choose from we opted for a bit of everything. The Cuban sampler is served on an impressive tower, each layer is filled with traditional goodies. The dish comes with an empanada, chicharronne, plaintains, grilled corn and chorizo. Perfectly sized for sharing, you get a generous sampling of the most popular items.
In addition to the tower of edibles we simply had to sample the shrimp cerviche. This powerful starter is the miles away from basic shrimp cocktail, and all dressed up with Cuban flair.
Along with traditional staples, Havana’s also keeps it fresh by offering seasonal items. For fall Executive Chef Stanley Licairac has cooked up a delicious white bean soup. The dish is served with white rice and a generous platter of ripe avocado slices. The broth and variety of seasonal veggies are a delicious combination that will surely warm you up as it satisfies.
Chef Stanley also prepares an amazing beef stew. Chock full of succulent pieces of seasoned beef and seasonal veggies, this dish is both fresh and familiar. Flavorful and filling the stew tastes divine and will be a welcome addition to any table.
Last but no least we simply had to have the Seafood Paella. There is nothing like the smell and sight of good paella. This dish arrives to the table in a piping hot cast iron “pot” filled to the brim with mussels, clams, seasoned rice and succulent shrimp. This is a must have for any seafood lover. I am not a huge fan of shell fish but even I couldn’t resist the tasty clams in this dish.
For much less than the cost of a plane ticket, you can enjoy a taste of Cuba in the heart of the big apple. Casual atmosphere, filling dishes and the warmth of the tropics is practically just outside your doorstep. If Times Square isn’t your scene, feel free to visit their sister location on the upper west side at 2911 Broadway; call 212-662-8830 for reservations.