Havana Cafe
Phoenix, AZ 85018-8309
Phone: (602) 952-1991
- Price:
- $$
- Hours:
- Mon-Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 4pm-9:30pm
Editorial Review for Havana Cafe – by Nikki Buchanan
In Short
This colorful cafe gives Phoenix a taste of Cuba with paella, escabeche and traditional pork and beef dishes served with black beans and rice. Noteworthy appetizers include the papa rellena, the pastelitos, fried plantains and the bacalaitos (fried salt cod fritters) with aioli. The Cuban--served on grilled bread with roast pork, Swiss cheese, mortadella and cured ham, topped with mojo and pickles--is an all-time favorite.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoThe restaurant also specializes in takeout. The pollo-to-go is a popular choice.
The ExtrasCatering is also available. Every Thanksgiving, Havana Cafe offers a whole 16-pound turkey with Cuban sides.
User Reviews for Havana Cafe
09/14/2008 Posted by tgk78
I've been craving some good latin food for a while. I had read the review's for Havana's cafe and decided to go here after seeing the menu online. We were seated immediately and served water. We placed our orders, I ordered the San Juan Combo, which included several sample dishes from Puerto Rico. After taking a couple of sips of water, the waiters would refill our glasses to the rim, this occurred every single time we took more than one drink. At first it was good, but after a while it got annoying as we were interrupted constantly. When our food came, I sampled it. The San Juan combo has mofongos (the taste was not authentic, it tasted like it had plantains, mashed up with cornmeal), pasteles (those were the driest, tasteless,meatless pasteles I've ever had, even the masa didnt taste right), tostones (those were ok), arroz con gandules (it tastes like "rice" that came from one of the Lipton boxes and they had added the black pigeon peas), alcapurrias (first it didnt even resemble and alcapurria, 2nd the masa wasnt the consistency or texture of an alcapurria and last the meat mixture inside was not good, It tasted more like an empanada) and finally it had fried pork (these pieces were cooked a bit too much, were dry and tasteless). After taking a couple of bites the waitress came to use to see how our food was. I explained the situation and she was gracious enough to offer me another plate. I refused as I was already disappointed in my meal, as well as my husband's. She said that everyone has different recipes, to which I replied that I've been to many places where Puerto Rican food is served in a different variety of flavors, including my own household (as I am Puerto Rican) and this plate/flavors is no where near what it should taste like. I think the only authentic flavors were the tostones and the malta drink I had. Service is great, I have to give them that, but that is probably the only thing they have going for them.
Pros: great customer service
Cons: Price, food
09/08/2007 Posted by poyalong
The food here is really yummy and flavorable. I love eating here every so often to throw in some variety...not too many cuban places here in Phoenix that I know of. I frequently get the arroz con pollo which is chicken on the bone cooked in rice w/ vegetables and some kind of sausage (maybe chorizo). It is so good! It's like comfort food, but a bit on the exotic side. It also comes with the maduros fritos, which are fried sweet plantains. I first had those in Ecuador in 1999 and have been dreaming about them ever since - I am so grateful Havana Cafe serves em! They have a lot of different menu items and I look forward to trying more. Oh, as for the decor...I thought it was weird when I saw that tacky style mixed w/ such good food that is kinda pricey, but I was informed by a friend (a bit more worldly than I) that it is classic Cuban style. It's all part of the experience!
Pros: not your average fare - delicious!
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