Havana Café in the Bronx, New York, is a vibrant establishment known for its Latin American-Cuban cuisine and lively atmosphere.
🇨🇺 Havana Café: A Taste of Cuba in The Bronx
What Makes It Unique
Havana Café is celebrated for bringing a unique slice of Cuban flair and flavor to The Bronx.
- Vibrant Atmosphere: It is often praised for its lively and welcoming ambiance, colorful decor, and enjoyable music, providing a cozy and sometimes romantic setting.
- Diverse Menu: While focusing on Cuban and Latin-inspired dishes, the menu is notably diverse, catering to a wide range of preferences, including vegetarian and vegan options (like a Vegan Paella and Beyond Burger).
- The Havana Room: The location also features the Bronx Havana Room, an upscale, speak-easy-styled private event space with indoor and seasonal outdoor courtyard options, making it a versatile venue for weddings, corporate events, and parties.
📜 History and Background
Havana Café is the culinary expression of Chef Alex Garcia in The Bronx, often described as the most Latino borough in New York City. The restaurant’s design includes an intimate dining room, a street-side bar, and a custom brick oven, intended to evoke the charm, warmth, and excitement of the city of Havana. Chef Garcia combines classic Cuban dishes with “nouvelle twists,” such as Latin American casseroles and their brick oven Cuban Sandwich.
🍽️ Highlight Menu Items
The menu features an array of traditional Cuban staples and innovative Latin-fusion dishes.
| Category | Highlight Item | Description |
| Main Dishes | Pernil | Slow-roasted pork, often served with white rice, black beans, and maduros (sweet plantains). |
| Ropa Vieja | Cuban-style shredded beef with peppers and onions. | |
| Lechoncito | Bone-in roast pork that is moist and well-seasoned, sometimes served over coconut rice with a sour orange mojo. | |
| Sandwiches | Cubano | The classic slow-roasted pork, smoked serrano ham, melted Swiss, pickles, and mustard, served with fries. |
| Appetizers (Antojitos) | Cuban Tamales | Described by some customers as exceptionally good. |
| Alitas China | Crispy chicken wings with kung pao sauce and crispy coleslaw, an example of their fusion offerings. | |
| Desserts & Drinks | Guava and Cheese Pastry | Highly recommended by some reviews. |
| Mojitos & Sangrias | An extensive drink menu, with their refreshing mojitos often highlighted. |
🗣️ Customer Feedback
Customer reviews generally praise the restaurant for its delicious, authentic Cuban food, generous portion sizes, and lively ambiance.
- Positive Feedback: Many reviewers consistently call the food “amazing,” “fresh,” and “delicious,” with the Cuban sandwich, Pernil, and Churrasco receiving high marks. The vibrant atmosphere and extensive drink menu are also frequently commended.
- Areas for Improvement: Some mixed feedback exists regarding inconsistencies in food quality across all dishes and occasional issues with service consistency, such as delays or order accuracy, particularly with delivery.
📅 Significant Events & Offerings
Havana Café is known for hosting regular events and specials that contribute to its vibrant scene:
- Weekly Events: The restaurant hosts weekly events such as Monday Comedy Shows, “Toby’s Taco Tuesday” (featuring taco and margarita specials), Freestyle & House Thursdays, and a Sunday Sangria Brunch with drink specials and a DJ.
- Special Occasions: They frequently host special seasonal events, such as multi-day Halloweekend parties with costume contests.
- The Havana Room: The associated private space hosts numerous private events, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, and annual recurring public events like “Havana Nights: Cigars, Spirits & Dinner.”
📍 Contact and Location Information
| Detail | Information |
| Address | 3151 East Tremont Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10461 |
| Phone | (718) 518-1800 |
| Website | http://www.havanacafebronx.com/ |
