This was one of the best finds on our trip down 75. Attached to a gas station and out of the way. Unique and authentic menu. Padilla and empanadas were very good. Worth a stop and beats fast food.
Brittany W.
It's so nice to get authentic Cuban food so close to home. The sauce served with fries is phenomenal. Cuban sandwich is perfect, ropa viega is delicious, so many tasty options!
David C.
Nice little gem of a restaurant. Vaca Frita was freshly prepared with just the right amount of crispness. Flavorings were true to Cuban cuisine. Service was efficient and prices were very reasonable. Definitely worth try.
Abi O.
I was blown away by the Havana Cafe. I expected good things after seeing the yelp reviews but it met and surpassed those expectations. We ordered food to go for the company after a long day of field work and picked it up before heading back to the hotel. I got the chicken fajitas in salsa with rice, black beans, and maduras (fried plantains). The chicken fajitas were in a delicious sauce with onions and bell peppers and it was spectacular. I wish I could eat it every day! The rice was aromatic and honestly tasted delicious before adding beans but I added my black beans to it and wow- so good. I'm not usually a fan of fried plantains but I did enjoy these. Everyone else in the group got different things but said they enjoyed it all as well! The restaurant is a nice size, very clean, and had wonderful Cuban salsa music playing. The lady who took my order on the phone and helped me pay was extremely kind and it seems to be a great new family business. I highly recommend Havana Cafe if you want food with excellent flavor and want to support local businesses! My biggest regret about it all is that I live two hours away. Perhaps I can convince my coworkers to come back before we leave!
Jeanette G.
The food I ate was really good. I had steak an bake potatoes. My husband had there special. It looked an tested like pork backbones. He didn't care for it. We've not been back since. I do hope to eat there again an give them another chance. Thank you
Doug M.
Great food. Everything is fresh and bursting with flavor. Good service there also. Loved the yuca fritas. Superior black beans and black beans and rice. One of the better Cuban sandwiches that I have had. Desserts looked pretty decadent.
J A.
I've eaten here twice and had rough experience each time. The first time I ordered crappie. They brought me a whole fish!!!! The second time, I ordered a burger. It was awful. I understand that this is not a burger restaurant but the premade patties are AWFUL. I definitely do not suggest this. The staff is great and I hope the place continues to do well but I will not be stopping in again.
Karen S.
This place is full of flavor and tasty dishes. I am not a Cuban food lover, until now! Recommended must tries: cilantro rice, mixed vegetables, flan and Cuban coffee. Very delicious, very reasonable.
Britta V.
When this place first opened it was great! The food was good and fresh, the portions were a reasonable size and the service was excellent. You really got the impression that your business was valued and that the owners and employees were excited to share their cuisine with you. My most recent visit could not have been more different. We ordered carry out for 2 people, to the tune of $35. I was fine with this, as I was expecting a great meal. When we got home and opened the boxes up we were shocked by how little food there was in them. We got 6 tiny fries in an order of yucca frites, less than one cup of shredded meat in a serving (which was dry, over cooked and difficult to chew) and the tostones were so hard and dry that they were inedible. I am being completely sincere when I say that my dog had trouble chewing it, because that's where it ended up. As a person who lived in Miami for 5 years and truly loves Cuban food, I am saddened by these changes. I guess I will just have to go back to missing Cuban food until I go to Florida to visit.
Rhonda M.
I'm torn!!! I came here based on the yelp reviews but 5 stars, no way. Let's start with the good, the chicken empanadas ROCK!! They taste like crispy fried chicken pot pie. And my BF also got a chicken sandwich with bacon. It was big and he said it was tasty. I got a tamale and the picadillo with plantains and fries. I was underwhelmed, where was the flavor?!? Where was the spice?!? When frozen seasoned fries are the tastiest part of the meal, something is wrong. The tamale was all masa, the best part was the salsa sauce that came with it. The picadillo had no flavor except from the olives. It was just meh, nothing to write home about and no reason to come back. If this is authentic Cuban cuisine, I'll pass. I can cook this better myself at home.
This place was worth the GPS confusion to get there. First off we are on a road trip so the fact that the bathrooms were clean was a big bonus. The server was friendly and willing to make suggestions which I love. We ordered the Chicken Papa Rellena to start which was basically fried mashed potatoes filled with a yummy chicken stew. Very tasty, served with a tangy but not at all spicy salsa. They brought out complimentary garlic bread that was warm and so tasty. It was pressed on the griddle and amazing. I got the Zesty Tropical chicken, which weirdly came topped with a marachino cherry, the chicken was well seasoned and the pineapple haberno sauce was so so good, I would have liked a little more heat in it but I tend to like things spicier than most. My sides were the sweet plantains and yucca fries as sides. The server brought out three different dipping sauces for the fries and all were amazing, my favorite being the pink sauce, which is basically a ketchup mayo. The cilantro sauce was also great. They had a garlic oil that mostly tasted like oil to me. My husband got the Ropa Vieja with the rice and beans and salty plantains. The meat in his was so tender and juicy, super flavorful. Icing on the cake for two people with huge portions and an appetizer it was only $24.
Ian L.
Fabulous genuine Cuban food. Warn helpful service. We would drive back through Kentucky just to eat here again. Don't miss this if you're in the area.
Jessica B.
This place is WONDERFUL!! The staff is so friendly and the food is some of the best Cuban food I've had, and trust me when I say I've had a LOT over the years. I had the Hawaiian Chicken, and my husband had the Tropical Burger. My chicken was so moist and flavorful. It had a great smokey taste from the grill, with salty from the ham and Swiss cheese and sweet from the pineapple cream sauce and strawberries. It was beautiful to look at as well. My husband's burger was tender and juicy. It had a wonderful blackberry sauce that really complimented the meat and bacon. The sides and appetizers area amazing too. We tried the fried pork skin empanada and the Cuban tamale. The empanada was crunchy and hot and juicy all at the same time, while the tamale was soft and sweet from the corn and salty from the ham. Our sides were the yucca frites and the modoro, or sweet fried plantains. Both are delicious, but we preferred the yucca frites, which are like a super crispy and starchy French fry. I can't say enough good things about this place. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes trying new things and wants something delicious!
Paul O.
Cuban food in rural Kentucky? The food was amazing, as good as anything I have had in south Florida. The pork empanada is a must have! Staff was prompt and friendly!
amruta m
Good ambience. Good food. Prompt service. Servers take interest in explaining and help customize the menu. Value for money. Some good options for vegetarians too
This was one of the best finds on our trip down 75. Attached to a gas station and out of the way. Unique and authentic menu. Padilla and empanadas were very good. Worth a stop and beats fast food.
It's so nice to get authentic Cuban food so close to home. The sauce served with fries is phenomenal. Cuban sandwich is perfect, ropa viega is delicious, so many tasty options!
Nice little gem of a restaurant. Vaca Frita was freshly prepared with just the right amount of crispness. Flavorings were true to Cuban cuisine. Service was efficient and prices were very reasonable. Definitely worth try.
I was blown away by the Havana Cafe. I expected good things after seeing the yelp reviews but it met and surpassed those expectations. We ordered food to go for the company after a long day of field work and picked it up before heading back to the hotel. I got the chicken fajitas in salsa with rice, black beans, and maduras (fried plantains). The chicken fajitas were in a delicious sauce with onions and bell peppers and it was spectacular. I wish I could eat it every day! The rice was aromatic and honestly tasted delicious before adding beans but I added my black beans to it and wow- so good. I'm not usually a fan of fried plantains but I did enjoy these. Everyone else in the group got different things but said they enjoyed it all as well! The restaurant is a nice size, very clean, and had wonderful Cuban salsa music playing. The lady who took my order on the phone and helped me pay was extremely kind and it seems to be a great new family business. I highly recommend Havana Cafe if you want food with excellent flavor and want to support local businesses! My biggest regret about it all is that I live two hours away. Perhaps I can convince my coworkers to come back before we leave!
The food I ate was really good. I had steak an bake potatoes. My husband had there special. It looked an tested like pork backbones. He didn't care for it. We've not been back since. I do hope to eat there again an give them another chance. Thank you
Great food. Everything is fresh and bursting with flavor. Good service there also. Loved the yuca fritas. Superior black beans and black beans and rice. One of the better Cuban sandwiches that I have had. Desserts looked pretty decadent.
I've eaten here twice and had rough experience each time. The first time I ordered crappie. They brought me a whole fish!!!! The second time, I ordered a burger. It was awful. I understand that this is not a burger restaurant but the premade patties are AWFUL. I definitely do not suggest this. The staff is great and I hope the place continues to do well but I will not be stopping in again.
This place is full of flavor and tasty dishes. I am not a Cuban food lover, until now! Recommended must tries: cilantro rice, mixed vegetables, flan and Cuban coffee. Very delicious, very reasonable.
When this place first opened it was great! The food was good and fresh, the portions were a reasonable size and the service was excellent. You really got the impression that your business was valued and that the owners and employees were excited to share their cuisine with you. My most recent visit could not have been more different. We ordered carry out for 2 people, to the tune of $35. I was fine with this, as I was expecting a great meal. When we got home and opened the boxes up we were shocked by how little food there was in them. We got 6 tiny fries in an order of yucca frites, less than one cup of shredded meat in a serving (which was dry, over cooked and difficult to chew) and the tostones were so hard and dry that they were inedible. I am being completely sincere when I say that my dog had trouble chewing it, because that's where it ended up. As a person who lived in Miami for 5 years and truly loves Cuban food, I am saddened by these changes. I guess I will just have to go back to missing Cuban food until I go to Florida to visit.
I'm torn!!! I came here based on the yelp reviews but 5 stars, no way. Let's start with the good, the chicken empanadas ROCK!! They taste like crispy fried chicken pot pie. And my BF also got a chicken sandwich with bacon. It was big and he said it was tasty. I got a tamale and the picadillo with plantains and fries. I was underwhelmed, where was the flavor?!? Where was the spice?!? When frozen seasoned fries are the tastiest part of the meal, something is wrong. The tamale was all masa, the best part was the salsa sauce that came with it. The picadillo had no flavor except from the olives. It was just meh, nothing to write home about and no reason to come back. If this is authentic Cuban cuisine, I'll pass. I can cook this better myself at home.
Restaurantji Recommends
This place was worth the GPS confusion to get there. First off we are on a road trip so the fact that the bathrooms were clean was a big bonus. The server was friendly and willing to make suggestions which I love. We ordered the Chicken Papa Rellena to start which was basically fried mashed potatoes filled with a yummy chicken stew. Very tasty, served with a tangy but not at all spicy salsa. They brought out complimentary garlic bread that was warm and so tasty. It was pressed on the griddle and amazing. I got the Zesty Tropical chicken, which weirdly came topped with a marachino cherry, the chicken was well seasoned and the pineapple haberno sauce was so so good, I would have liked a little more heat in it but I tend to like things spicier than most. My sides were the sweet plantains and yucca fries as sides. The server brought out three different dipping sauces for the fries and all were amazing, my favorite being the pink sauce, which is basically a ketchup mayo. The cilantro sauce was also great. They had a garlic oil that mostly tasted like oil to me. My husband got the Ropa Vieja with the rice and beans and salty plantains. The meat in his was so tender and juicy, super flavorful. Icing on the cake for two people with huge portions and an appetizer it was only $24.
Fabulous genuine Cuban food. Warn helpful service. We would drive back through Kentucky just to eat here again. Don't miss this if you're in the area.
This place is WONDERFUL!! The staff is so friendly and the food is some of the best Cuban food I've had, and trust me when I say I've had a LOT over the years. I had the Hawaiian Chicken, and my husband had the Tropical Burger. My chicken was so moist and flavorful. It had a great smokey taste from the grill, with salty from the ham and Swiss cheese and sweet from the pineapple cream sauce and strawberries. It was beautiful to look at as well. My husband's burger was tender and juicy. It had a wonderful blackberry sauce that really complimented the meat and bacon. The sides and appetizers area amazing too. We tried the fried pork skin empanada and the Cuban tamale. The empanada was crunchy and hot and juicy all at the same time, while the tamale was soft and sweet from the corn and salty from the ham. Our sides were the yucca frites and the modoro, or sweet fried plantains. Both are delicious, but we preferred the yucca frites, which are like a super crispy and starchy French fry. I can't say enough good things about this place. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes trying new things and wants something delicious!
Cuban food in rural Kentucky? The food was amazing, as good as anything I have had in south Florida. The pork empanada is a must have! Staff was prompt and friendly!
Good ambience. Good food. Prompt service. Servers take interest in explaining and help customize the menu. Value for money. Some good options for vegetarians too