Havana Central
Su-W 11:30am-11pm; Th-Sa 11:30am-12am
2911 Broadway; New Jersey; Long Island
While strolling down 46th, I came across a throng of people spilling out of Havana Central. Cuban music was playing, people were dancing, and drinks were flowing. Apparently, I was witnessing the celebration of Cuban Independence Day. And a party it surely was! Inside, the space transported me to the Caribbean isle in the 1950s, filled with palm trees, cold drinks, and seafood. For a short time, I felt worlds away from a side street of Manhattan.
On another visit, when the atmosphere was somewhat calmer, I had the pleasure of chatting with the manager while sipping on their signature drinks: mojito, sangria, and the elaborate ‘Birds of Paradise.’ He explained to me that it is their hope that the restaurant recreates the festive energy of expatriate life in a pre-Castro Cuba.