Habana Cuba

04/24/2008 Posted by eduardom98

I have been going to Habana Cuba for nearly 20 years, the food is excelent! The service prompt, the admosphere is also great Jennifer and the crew at habana are excelent at what they do. If you are looking to a Snobby restaurant this is NOT the one for you, if you are looking for a family experience with nice music, descent wine selection, good imported beers from latin america and a large meal this is the place for you! Love Habana Cuba!

Pros: Great Eating Place, lots of food great taste

Cons: probably the location.

02/18/2008 Posted by ErickaLovesGoodFood

My husband and I were excited about going to Habana Cuba since we had spent some time recently in Puerto Rico and fell in love with Lechon. We ordered the "Surtido" platter for two (a combination of Lechon, Pollo and Carne) - which could have easily served four adults- the portions are HUGE. This was the best rice and beans I have had in the states, however, all of the meat (the chicken, pork and beef) was completely dried out and difficult to chew and swallow. It was very dissapointing, but I would consider going back and giving it another try. The dining room needs a severe face lift as everything seems old and worn out. It was OK but not great, and definately nice to have some different ethnic food. Service was good and fast.

Pros: Great Beans and Rice, Good Service

Cons: Meat was very dry and tough to chew, interior decorations/restaurant ambiance is very tired and worn out

01/20/2008 Posted by jbanglos

My husband and I have been to Habana Cuba several times and have never been disappointed with the food. This time around, we held a large family dinner serving close to 50 guests. I have to say, we weren't let down! All of our guests loved the Masitas de Puerco Frito (fried marinated pork) comparing the similarities in taste to our own family "Lechon". A favorite was the Vaca Frita (seasoned beef with grilled onions)...just the right amount of garlic and lemon seasoning that makes your mouth water for more! The Enchilado de Pescado (Seabass in a tomato based sauce with bell peppers and onions ) was perfectly cooked and received a lot of compliments. Arroz Blanco, Plantanos Maduros and pitchers of Sangria topped it all off. Nothing but great comments from the whole family on how great the food was and that it reminded them of good old family cooking. A big THANK YOU goes out to staff for their excellent service and for making this dinner one to remember! Definitely worth the five stars!!!!

Pros: Great Food, Family Friendly, Excellent Service, Perfect for Large Groups

12/23/2007 Posted by amorito43

After hearing and reading the reviews on this restaurant, I took my family (we are newly arrived here from NY) to this Cuban style restaurant. My stepmom is Cuban so I've eaten Cuban food many times and love it. There was no bread basket as we sat hungrily and waited for our food (we were told they had run out!!! and this was on Dec. 23rd!), and got our salad which was the smallest portion of lettuce and vegs, and it wasn't presented well at all. Then we got our food which was more disappointing. Their pollo fricase (stewed chicken) was rather bland, and they barely spared the sauce which was watery. The cuban steak was tender, but rather bland as well, but their shrimp dish was average. This came with an order of blackened fried maduros (ripe plantains) which tasted old; and white rice. What shocked me is that any spanish/latino restaurant serves white rice with beans, together as part of the meal. This restaurant charged you extra for their watery beans, and we also asked for an order of tostones (regular fried plantains) which were supposed to come with a garlic dipping sauce. That was a sorry description for the "dipping sauce" as all the sauce was an opened jar of minced garlic that you get at any supermarket. The tostones were good, but without the dipping sauce, it was just average. This restaurant was a complete let-down and this transplanted NY'er would not recommend it to anyone. Then came their inflated bill of almost $100 for this sorry meal. Having a Cuban family and being of Puerto Rican descent myself, I know good "spanish" food...this is not it. I wish it were...believe me, I wisht it were.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

10/16/2007 Posted by vegasmartini

Met up at this restaurant on a Saturday night to have dinner with a couple of friends, service was friendly, food and drinks were good. The food was a bit pricey but I would go again since there are such few latin restaurants in the bay area that serve up a decent offering like Habana Cuba. Worth a visit if you haven't been there yet and are not too price conscientious.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

09/27/2007 Posted by letsgoout2eat

I'm amazed at how mixed the reviews are for this restaurant! It appears that it makes a very big difference what you order, both food and drinks. I've eaten here twice, both times for lunch. Even with no reservations, we were seated promptly. The construction definitely detracts from the ambience, but it should be very nice once it is complete. The parking situation is lousy even at lunchtime -- very few spaces in the lot, and the neighborhood isn't great so I'm reluctant to park on the street. However, my friend and I were both very pleased with the food. The first time, we asked the waiter for a recommendation, and he suggested the slow-roasted pork. It was phenomenal; the portion was huge, but I could have eaten the entire plate in one sitting it was so good. I had the same thing the next time I went. They have an interesting selection of unfamiliar juices and sodas, but we stuck with the familiar (Coke) and had no alcohol, so I can't comment on the drinks. Disclaimer: This is the only Cuban restaurant I've ever been to, so I can't compare it to other Cuban places. Also, I don't like my food really spicy. But, taking those things into consideration, I will definitely be back just for the slow-roasted pork. Yumm!! Both times the staff was very friendly and helpful. The last time, I left a package there by accident, and didn't realize it for several days. A week later I went back, and they had it waiting for me. Nice, honest people.

Pros: Friendly staff, good service, delicious pork

Cons: Parking, a bit pricey

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

09/12/2007 Posted by tommenard

A buddy and I had lunch there today. The restaurant was pleasant and well decorated. My wife is Dominican, and an excellent cook. Cuban and Dominican food are basically the same for many dishes, so her cooking is my basis for comparison. My opinion of the food was that it was average--it could have used a little more spice and a little more salt. For two people eating an entree and drinking just tap water, it was $24 plus tip. It will be helpful if you speak Spanish.

07/31/2007 Posted by xpbebe81

The first time I've been here was with my BF. It was cute and romantic in their little way. Candle lit tables and interesting decor. Looking through the menu, which was divided beef, pork, chicken, seafood, etc, I chose a deliciously described steak dish. It was a thin marinaded rib-eye with grilled onions. I do love rib-eye. But when it arrived I have to say I was a bit disappointed. Although the chicken soup was really good, the beans and rice was mediocre. The steak was also completely well done to the point it was dry. I think I had better food at Chevy's or On the Border. (I know Chevy's is not Cuban food but from what I ate I couldn't tell the difference) And it wasn't that cheap either. The beef dish was almost $20. Just this past weekend a friend of mine visited and wanted to try some Cuban food. The only place I knew was Habana Cuba so I decided to give it another chance. We ordered a pitcher of Red Sangria and it was pretty good. (Although very weak). Then we decided to order a dish called Surtido which was a combination of beef, pork, and chicken. Again if came out with its mediocre beans and rice. I was excited to try 3 different types of meat in once dish but when it came out, I was utterly disappointed again. Every single meat was over cooked. I thought I was chewing ball of yarn. Now that I think of it I should have said something to the waitress. Stupid me. My other friend ordered the Ox Tail and said it was good. I had a bite and it was much tender and tastier than my dish. Lastly a couple that came with us ordered a whopping $45 paella and I thought it was just okay. I've had better paella before. So if you are thinking about getting a juicy piece of meat, I don't t know if this is the place for you.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/10/2007 Posted by jaimito

I'm a person that truly enjoys dining out and I appreciate a great dinning experience..!! The great thing about Habana Cuba Restaurant that from the moment that one arrives until you leave its such a fun-intimate, delicious experience...! The food taste as if your "grandma" had cooked it with so much love..! the pork, is so tasty the "Rabo Encendido" it's just so tender and tasty... hummm... !! also enjoy the Appetizers with the garlic dip, the Fried Bananas and the Black beans.. I'm getting hungry just visualizing it.. !! Also the stuff working in the restaurant always have a smile and the service its perfect.. I love the decorations, the happy bright colors and the photos inside the restaurant of old Cuba.. very unique..!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/07/2007 Posted by antoniomaceo

The fact that a Cuban restaurant won "best Mexican" is the height of ignorance and should clue you off as to the validity of many of the rave reviews. Cuban and Mexican food are about as similar as Italian and Chinese. As for the restaurant, it is about average. As a Cuban American I find the food typical of what you might find at a Cuban fast food place in FL or NJ. The food is OK but it is a bit salty and greasy. If you have never had Cuban food before please keep an open mind if this is your only experience with it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful