Havana Tropical Cafe
“Great spot every time I come across the Seastreak Ferry and they will have Cuba Libres (Rum & Coke) in a can!!”
“Sat out back in the tropical oasis for the very decent happy hour.”
“The live salsa was a hit, the servers are prompt and very friendly, not to mention the beautiful pond w/ cascading waterfalls was a plus.”
Havana Tropical Cafe
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
3 reviews
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Loved the fun atmosphere and the menu sounded delicious. However, we waited about an hour for a salad and Cuban fries. The salad was good, the fruit was sliced very thin, the dressing was made fresh. The Cuban fries were drowning in oil. We waited another 35-40 minutes for empanadas, and a sandwich, and side of rice and beans. We requested meduras instead of plantain chips, but the chips still came out and the meduras we waited longer for. The sweet plantains were oily and the outside was chewy/syrupy. When I make them with coconut oil and slowly cook them on a cast iron griddle, they do come out better. So we were there for three hours, the waitress said the kitchen was very backed up. The rolls were very good. The bathrooms were clean. This place has a lot of potential, but plenty room to improve. Based on this experience- the cooks should be able to customize for food allergies, and improve the food quality.
We went here after a recent day trip to Sandy Hook and I actually really liked it! With its giant koi pond and teak cabanas, the patio at Havana was actually quite charming. There was a live band playing Cuban music while we were eating. The hostess moved us to a table closer to the koi pond once another party left, which was quite nice of her. I had the white sangria, which was decent. Generous-sized drinks here, mostly of the tropical variety. I had the spinach empanadas to start, which were pretty good, though I wasn't quite expecting it to be filled with a spinach in cream sauce. It was a little unconventional, but not bad. We also had some plantain chips that were drizzled with an extremely garlicky dressing- again, quite good. Though I sort of regretted all the garlic later. I had an avocado salad for my entree as there aren't any veggie options among the main courses, but that's pretty typical of most Cuban places I've been too. The tomatoes were pretty wooden, but the avocado was good. It would have been better with some cilantro, hearts of palm, cherry tomatoes, maybe a citrus fruit- something else to add some flavor and make it viable as an entree. The hubs and friend each had a beef dish, the names of which escape me. These are very large platters of meat served with a side of congri (rice and beans), a couple of pieces of fried plantain, and a small avocado salad. They were both pleased, though I think the ingredients could use a small upgrade. I would give this place four stars for ambiance and three stars for the food. I noticed there are a couple of heaters out on the patio, so I imagine you still have about another month to dine outdoors there, but it is a lovely place to spend a summer evening.
Havana Tropical Cafe showcases an outdoor oasis adorned with a slow flowing waterfall and green vegetation which is conducive to summertime outdoor drinks. The wait staff is friendly, accommodating and the ordered dishes arrived rapidly.
However, the food is not authentic Cuban cuisine. I have grown up eating Cuban food and the fair at Havana is improperly seasoned and slightly bland. I ordered a few Cuban staples with high hopes.
Lechon Asado (Roast Pork Shoulder) – Lightly seasoned but overcooked.
Arroz Blanco con Frijoles Negros (White Rice with Black Beans) – Black beans are a Cuban staple dish. However the ones at Havana are very bland.
Paella – lots of shellfish but very under seasoned.
Sangria – Decent taste but the red wine overpowered the juice, brandy and fruit wich made the tatse overall bitter.
I hate to give a small restaurant mediocre reviews but the food was disappointing. Havana is a decent establishment for outdoor drinks, ambience and maybe a few tapas. However, if you want real Cuban food you will have to head to Northern NJ.