Havana Alma de Cuba

I've never tried cuban food before, but after going here I was blown away! The food was so reasonably priced at around $12-$15 per entree and the portions were huge. Definitely a great idea to share. The live music on Fridays also can't be missed because the band was so great when I went. We all wanted to go dancing afterwards. It was my birthday and they were nice enough to bring out the cake with an insane candle the lit up the whole restaurant. Overall it's a really small cozy place, but with reservations it's the perfect date or large group setting.

Posted 08/16/05

Our overall experience was fantastic! The food was inexpensive, tasted great and the plate sizes made them all good for sharing, the service was great (they even served the birthday cake), and the patio outside makes you feel like you are far away from the city. The only snag: I made reservations for a large group (12) 3 weeks ahead of time on the patio. I call backed to reconfirm a week later and they couldn't find the reservation. I made it again and reconfirmed the day before/day of as well. It would be difficult to have a large group inside. But the patio is great and its covered!

Pros: patio, food, sangria

Cons: indoor space small

Posted 08/09/05

Took a date here last week. Tried it because I really liked the sister resteraunt, Cuba, in the village (on Thompson). The staff was very friendly (even remembered my name when I was leaving). The resteraunt is small, but has a very cozy feel. We both enjoyed our meals. Serving sizes are fairly large so you relaly don't need an appetizer (though they were very tasty). Definitely a good option if you are heading out in the west village.

Pros: good food, nice atmosphere, great service

Cons: facade needs facelift

Posted 08/08/05

After having ordered takeout from Havana repeatedly, I finally sat down for a meal when a good friend came to town. As usual, the food was fantastic. I recommend the more traditional items like ropa vieja and arroz con pollo. Their empanadas are also tasty. Stay away from the more wild chicken dishes. They end up not tasting like anything someone expects from cuban food. If you're looking for something to drink, their mojitos are well mixed and well received.

Besides the fact that I was sat next to a large palm (which I finally rotated to keep from attacking my head), the services was good (as are the prices.)

Pros: reasonable prices, traditional fare

Cons: small space

Posted 08/06/05

The food was magnificent. If you are a fish fan, please try the snapper. You will not regret it!!! And te chicken croquettes, my gosh, they were wonderful!!! The food (that I had was delicious) I cannot speak for the other dishes.

It can be a pain to communite with the waiters when they do not not understand English, properly....but other wise, the restaurant is afforadable and I apln to go there in the future.

Pros: Food

Cons: communication barrier, little renovation

Posted 08/04/05

Let me tell u, i like cuban food, so I went to this place and the food was so so, the service was ???? first this girl at the door she wasn't nice with us at all and she look's at us like wear and then the server didn't tell us the special's I mean my night was, i don't even want to tell you, guys just be profecional at least try that's all.

Posted 07/30/05

In a nutshell, we really liked this place. The service was great. We loved sitting in the patio. You feel like your on an island. When we went it was very hot & humid outside. The servers brought over a fan and it did the trick. The food was very good and the portions and prices were reasonable. We will go back!!

Pros: reasonably priced, location, quality food

Posted 06/25/05

what a great place. GM friendly and his staff.
we went on thrursday night to have dinner with some friends. ,its was amazing the food exelent but the service even better nice waitress she knows what she sale and the platter appetizer were just delicios, combination perfect for more than 4 people., the mojito pichers oww they said the saangira is good but the mojitos great this is the placeT the place is small but coisi and the MG knows how to run a restaurant, he has talent.. We enjoy every thing so planning to come back soon.

Posted 06/05/05

it was my friend's bday and we wanted to try somethin' new... i went to havana b4 our dinner meeting to drop off cupcakes that says hapi bday mae!... it turned out that after our dinner and we wer ready for our desert, everyone started singing happy bday inc. the band in cuban... even i was surprise how great it was... exciting at the same time romantic, our server IVAN, he was alot of fun, and very accomodating... the band was good...

Pros: live music, friendly scene

Cons: may have to wait when its really busy

Posted 05/30/05

I ate here a few days ago with the expectation of authentic and tasty Cuban food. I certainly did not get that at Havana Alma de Cuba. The food was below average and bland. The ambience was okay and the live band was nice, but it didn't make up for the mediocre food quality. I won't be going back.

Posted 05/28/05

It makes you wonder if all the reviews were written by friends and families of the owner. The ambience is great. However, the food is absolutely tasteless. I had chunks of fried pork a dish that is virtually impossible to screw-up (they did) The services is good but you get the feeling that they are trying to run you out of the place. The hostess was a dull as dial tone and unfriendly. You are better off saving your money and buying yourself a plane ticket to Miami to get some real Cuban food.

Ps/ If you are going to have saint displayed at least have the decency to have Cuba's patron saint not Mexico's.

Pros: ambience

Cons: bland food, dull waitstaff, unwelcoming hostess

Posted 05/24/05

The place was just down right a great place to be on a nice cool evening... with a date.
The food was amazing (their paella, chuleta, empanadas, mojitos!!), the service was great (you don't feel rushed, very relaxed, friendly), the
atmosphere (mello, dim lights, a hint of romance, live band, not noisy, the place was totally a piece of Cuba).
I would definitely recommend this place to everyone! Regardless if you love latin food or not! GO!! You're gonna love it!

Posted 04/12/05

Just like the previous reviewer, I had a wonderful time in this rather small restaurant. The ambiance was pleasent and relaxing, and the chicken dish I ordered was an extraordinary treat. However, I was grossly disappointed by the Tres Leches cake, which tasted like something that you would get from a supermarket freezer. Nevertheless, if in the neighborhood, I would likely return to this place.

Pros: main course, ambiance

Cons: dessert

Posted 03/29/05

We went on a Friday night, reservations were for 4 and our table was waiting for us. The Pros? Food was incredible, service was decent and the sangria was delicious (best I've had yet). Cons? Dessert and space. We had the pastel Tres Leches and the Flan con Coco Rallado. Desserts were not good. Rather, awful. They tasted like they had been in the freezer for ages. Not fresh at all. The place is really tiny. I would say a party of anything other than 4-6, would fill up the restaurant half way. Regardless, it was a pleasurable experience overall.

Pros: Food

Cons: Dessert

Posted 02/28/05

I love NY and, man, I love this place. Went to celebrate with my wife our wedding anniversary, and came back to this marvellous restaurant. We ordered paella, and man, it seems as we were in Spain, delicious and well preparede!!. We enjoyed dinner very much, and we accompanied meal with Sangria, and it was really cool. We can't wait to come back to this place, excellent ambiance and service, go and see it for yourself!!, you won't be dissapointed.

Posted 02/27/05

I enjoy the most beautiful Cuban night , romantic music, nice food and excellent service.

Pros: Music, full of flavor

Posted 02/25/05

What a time we had . It was my parents 5oth wedding anniversary.So my sisters and I decided to throw a small party of 12 for them. They married in Cuba and we felt such a great vibe with the food and service before that we returned with the family.The joy on my parents face when they had their favorite dishes. I wish I could capture that moment when they looked into each other eyes and spoke about how glad they were to be there.I have to thank our waiter,host and hostess for being so accomodating.My parents are so picky about food and service. You see my parents had a cuban restaurant back in Cuba before they left Cuba.So once again Thank U,Thank U and Thank U

Cons: one bathroom only, not for small kids

Posted 02/25/05

I tried to reserve a party of 14 with Havana Village and the reservationist was the rudest woman i've ever spoken to. They are not very accomodating to patrons making reservations. Our original reservation was for 7:30 and they called to tell us that we could only stay there until 9 and would ask us to leave for the next party. Then i called to add more people on the reservation and they told me no. They are not very accomadating to big parties. I would recommend going with 2 people. Don't try to talk to the female receptionist. She won't help you at all!!!!

Posted 02/24/05

Small space but worth going. The food was so flavorful and the waiter was so helpful at helping us figure out what we wanted on the menu.
The desserts were NOT good but that was okay since the entrees and appetizers were excellent.

Pros: flavorful

Posted 02/04/05

This place is great - the service is awesome, the food is wonderful and the portions are huge. Plus there's live music sometimes too. I highly recommend!

Pros: Value, Service, Food

Cons: Crowded

Posted 02/01/05

I've been to Havana Village several times, and I keep coming back, can't help it!!, this is not "another" restaurant, this is THE RESTAURANT!!. You've gotta taste the Lechon Asado al Estilo de La Floridita, and you will see what I mean, it's not your average restaurant, it's the best not only in New York City, but I guess in the U.S., you bet!! Service and drinks are superb, so if you're looking for an excellent restaurant, this is the place.

Posted 01/31/05

A Coool Restaurant I Went with my girlfriend for a night out, and some friends suggested me a very nice Cuban restaurant in NYC. Boy, were they right!!. I was promptly seated, and ordered Mariscos Baradero for appetizer, they were delicious!!, no wonder the place was packed, this kinda food is hard to find here in NY!!. I had a Paella Valenciana (I have a lotta friends back in Valencia), and yes, it tasted like heaven. I'll be back again to this marvellous place, the service, the music, the ambience is worth visiting many, many times, check it out!!!.

Pros: Great, romantic, beautifull

Posted 01/31/05

What a great restaurant! Friendly staff (some nights they are a little rushed since the restaurant is small and popular!) Great ambience....a little too "cozy" for large groups but absolutely lovely for a nice Cuban meal. When the weather permits, the "jardin" opens up to a lit patio which makes it perfect to eat and sip your "sangria" which might I add is the best!

Pros: great food, friendly staff, good prices/portions

Cons: small

Posted 01/31/05