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Havana
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Cuban Latin American, Cuban [Edit]
1212 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5L 3X4
Neighbourhoods: Grandview-Woodlands, The Drive
(604) 253-9119
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 11 pm
Fri 11 am - 12 am
Sat 10 am - 12 am
Sun 10 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
82 reviews for Havana
Review Highlights
82 reviews in English
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Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Havana! You are one part art gallery, one part community theatre, one part sexy servers, and two parts kitschy semi-upscale 'Drive restaurant. My Cuban friend has told me that the food cannot really be called Cuban, despite the restaurant's name, but that won't stop me from ordering pitchers of delicious mojitos or those fantastic vegetarian tacos.
The menu at Havana is fairly big, but options for vegans are slim. Still, their veg tacos are vegan by default - you don't even have to ask. There's no vegan brunch option. Food quality is great, though, and it's creative and unlike other things you will find in the neighbourhood.
I would give Havana another star if I had to deal with the burden of choosing a meal when I visited. I do like it there quite a bit. I've seen a play there; I've gone to an art opening; I've gotten drunk; I've had lunch. I've sat and read the walls that have been scratched into by hundreds, maybe thousands, of Havana patrons over the years. I've sat slackjawed watching the gorgeous servers do their jobs while completely dropping the ball in my conversation. I've sat on the patio on one of the first days of summer draining a pitcher of beer with a friend and hollering compliments at folks walking past. What other charms might Havana hold for me, and for YOU, in the future?Listed in: Just One Drink, Exceptional Vancouver
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Review from Megan S.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 12/28/2011
For a restaurant that I can barely stand, I don't know why I seem to be here so often. I blame the red sangria. And also my husband. And also his friend who was in town visiting and the fact that the two of them somehow love this place. But anyway, here I was yesterday...back again.
The sangria was good, as usual, but the food sucked, as usual. We all ended up ordering the same thing - the jerk chicken sandwich with a side salad. The chicken was actually really juicy and cooked perfectly, and I have a soft spot for grilled pineapple tucked inside a sammy or a burger. The rest? Blech.
The bun was stale.
The "jerk" mayo was absolutely not jerk. It tasted more chipotely-ish to me, kind of a Mexican vibe rather than anything even slightly resembling a Caribbean flavour.
The salad was slimy and had zero flavour.
Bad food usually leaves me grumpy, but this time I had a bit of a smirk on my face. I waited for my husband to face up to the fact that our food was crap, and perhaps to acknowledge that this place doesn't deserve the esteem he has heaped upon it.
No dice - he ended up booking a table for 8 for New Year's....GAH!!!Listed in: Sammiches!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/6/2011
Havana gives me a major case of the "meh's". It's a major attraction for tourists, suburban hipsters… Read more »
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Review from Matthew B.
Vancouver, BC
12/3/2011 2 photos
As a Cuban-American from Miami, I guess I should have expected less from a restaurant in Vancouver. However, with "la bandera Cubana" painted on the wall and the name Havana, I figured this restaurant would at least offer some decent traditional Cuban food. I was wrong.
Havana does fusion food, and it does it poorly. It's also expensive. (Like any good south Florida foodie knows, a 1/2 lb. Cuban sandwich in Miami will set you back $5-$7.50 USD - here it's $14 CAD)
The place was packed, but I guess most Pacific Northwest Canadians don't really have a familiarity with Cuban food. The menu mostly listed Spanish or Mexican items, save the Cuban sandwich. This isn't a genuine Cuban sandwich, because it only has ham (no pork) and doesn't come on Cuban bread. It came on a way-too hard panini/ciabatta bread. Sadly, Cuban bread is one of the easiest to make, and offering it would make them incredibly more authentic. (Not to mention smart, since Cuban bread is very cheap and has a variety of uses)
The tostones are also non-traditional. They are too thick to be simply mislabeled mariquitas, nor do they come with the garlic dipping sauce.
If you don't know any better, this food would be decent. But it's not Cuban, and that's a real shame. -
Review from evie t.
Vancouver, BC
11/16/2011 1 photo
I have been to Havana twice now. Last weekend for brunch and this evening for dinner.
When I went for brunch the place was PACKED, it was pretty wet and windy outside but yet there were still people on the patio so we took this as a good sign.
The brunch menu was pretty standard and I like to think its fairly hard to go wrong with cooking breakfast/brunch.
The drink menu was pretty great as well, Both the Rojo and Blanco Sangrias were delicious. The spiked lemonade was good but maybe a little too 'sharp' for my liking.
Brunch was delicious and reasonably priced.
I had the Huevos Rancheros and my friend had the Breakfast Burrito.
While I did enjoy my brunch it did not exactly leave me full. Luckily my friend does not have quite the same appetite that I do and loaded some of his hash browns onto my plate.
My pal had no complaints about his burrito he was quite happy with it.
Now, dinner tonight was a little disappointing.
I came back with a different friend, I had the pulled steak sandwich and she had the Grilled Salmon.
This time around the restaurant was not very busy at all and the food was fairly bland.
The steak in my sandwich was a little cold and the piece of salmon that came with my friends meal was TINY.
Would I come back for brunch? Yes.
Dinner? No, not unless I had to.
The 3 stars out of 5 is for the brunch and drinks...
Dinner I'd give it a 2 because it was wasn't the worst food I've ever had and the service was pretty quick. -
Review from Humberto B.
Richmond, BC
10/23/2011
Horrible!!!! i do not understand why the called Habana, just one plate is a little simmilar to " Ropa Vieja " and the price ridiculous $ 20 dollars for nothing.
I do not recommend this restaurant is very awful -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
7/26/2011 2 photos
A casual restaurant serving cuban and west coast dishes with cozy seating and a large outdoor patio - a local favourite along Commercial for the past 15 years and a great spot to dine on The Drive when the sunshine is out :)
I came with my girlfriend for brunch and we had:
- Huevos Rancheros ($11) - Hearty, tasty, satisfying, well-presented - Recommend!
- Chorizo Hash ($13) aka. their most popular breakfast item, Very tasty as well - Recommend!
4.5/5 for my brunch experience, but 3/5 for the two times I've been for dinner - the food/service was just okay. I have this memory of having dry chicken - lol, so 4/5 it is!
What's more:
- Great for drinks: wine/cocktail menu = half the menu
- There's a small art gallery to peruse in the backListed in: Best Patios in Metro Vancouver
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Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
6/29/2011
I've had Cuban food before. En Habana. Made by Habanieros autentico. It's nothing to write home about. Even the high end restaurants are average for us spoiled gringos. Forty years of embargoes and food rationing and empty store shelves will do that to a city.
So why open a restaurant that serves Cuban cuisine? I suspect the menu here references the pre-revolucion era. A time when Hemingway wrote short stories while sipping mojitos before returning to his hotel and prancing around in ladies underwear while singing "Dos gardenias for yoooouu..."
Where was I? Oh yeah. The food is on par with higher end modern day Havana cuisine. I usually go for the red meat. I've had the steak and it was moist and tasty. The only beans I like are coffee. Fava, brown, black-eyed, chick, kidney, soy, re-fry them all you want I have an anti-bean bias. I really like the rice though and the fries are good. They make a nice Sangria.
Had the polo wrap once too. I thought it was kinda dry but chicken is tricky. It can be good one night and bad another. I'm not sure the feta in this dish works for me.
The place itself does remind me a bit of some of the jazz bars in Havana though. I seem to remember someone telling me is was designed by some set designer from the film industry. I get it. I like it.
I want to give them four stars. Betcha they can provide me with an excuse. I'll check in on them again. -
Review from Angela L.
8/4/2011
Let's cut to the chase: who even cares if the food at Havana is good or bad? (Okay, maybe some people. But not me.) Their patio is one of the best in Vancouver, and sitting in the sunshine on a Saturday afternoon with good company and a cold pitcher of sangria and/or mojitos in front of me is one of my greatest pleasures these days.
Service has been friendly and laid-back each time I've been, and I never feel like there's pressure to turn the table or upsell the food. The limited range of appetizers that I've tried haven't been particularly impressive, but I'm not there for an authentically Cuban experience or for a five-star meal. Plus, they get points for offering Chipotle Tabasco at each table. Summer is Vancouver is too short and wonderful to split hairs, so I'll take what I can get and cheers to that. -
Review from Sarah D.
7/6/2011
Having one of the most perpetually hoppin' patios on Commercial Drive, Havana is a charming restaurant that serves up some pretty solid dishes with a Cuban flair. My husband is a fan of their burgers, and being the sucker for seafood that I am, I really enjoy their Fettuccine de Mer. The waitstaff are friendly, and I love the fact that there's a gallery/theatre in the back. How awesome is that?
Although the food, service and atmosphere are all good, for some reason I can't justify giving it more than three stars. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I'm never particularly excited to dine at Havana. It's not bad by any means, but it's missing that "wow" factor for me. Overall, it's still a decent choice when you're in the mood for some patio loungin' on a sunny day.Listed in: Commercial Drive Hot Spots
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Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I'd gone to Havana a few times over the last couple of years and had been underwhelmed however, this last time I stopped in for brunch with some friends and I was really impressed. I ordered tacos but asked if there was a gluten free option, what they suggested was plantain chips which was fabulous. It worked a bit like dipping the different bits, tofu, guacamole, salsa and salad but it was a great way to have a different twist on an old favourite.
Havana has one of my favourite patios in the city. It's great to sit and watch people as they wander the drive, and they often have the heaters on which make it a nice place to sit even in the summer.
Our server was super attentive and really nice, making suggestions to what we're ordering. All in all it won me back. -
Review from Laura M.
Vancouver, BC
8/31/2011
I go to Havana for 2 reasons.
1.) Veggie Eggs Benny
-Avocado, goat cheese. NOM.
2.) Huge ass Mojito pitchers.
However, since i've decided that nothing on their Lunch/dinner menu is worth my time.. I pretty much only go there for brunch. I want to go there every day..but only for brunch.
Great patio and people watching spot. The girls are pretty enough, and the service ain't bad.
I like it. BRUNCH!! -
Review from Sarah A.
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been here several times and am never disappointed. The food is fantastic, the drinks are very well made, and the service has been consistently good.
The beet salad is my favourite thing on the menu, and their sangrias and mojitos are fantastic as well.
If it's sunny out, get a spot on the patio. It's a great place to people watch on The Drive. The atmosphere inside is great as well. There is a little art gallery in the back and the space has a lot of character.
It is a bit pricey, but in my opinion worth it. -
Review from Ann F.
7/8/2011
When I was staying at the Sheraton Wall Centre downtown, the bellhop recommended that we check out Commercial Drive, and that we eat at Havana while there. Said we should go somewhere "off the tourist path" and that we would love this neighborhood. What was he picking up on? My butch haircut? My hipster shoes? In any case, the neighborhood was indeed fun, with great coffee shops, vintage and antique stores, baby stores, bookstores...
On to Havana - very hip place. The Tropical Mojito was outstanding, with lots of fresh mint and large pieces of mango that were delicious to eat at the end. I had the Chorizo Hash, which was phenomenal - two of the most perfectly poached eggs I have ever had, over a comforting and well-spiced bowl of peppers, onions, chorizo sausage, potatoes, and tomatos. She had a great-looking burger with delicious peppery salty crispy fries. It was fun to watch the punks, hipsters, young parents, kids, old hippies walk by from our patio seats. Enjoy! -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
1/21/2011
I so confused. Why, oh why, did my shrimp tacos have ginger in them?
A pal and I headed to Havana before seeing a play at the Cultch, and we were instantly seated by a great waitress - she was the best part of the night - by the freezing cold window. Sigh.
I shivered my way through reading the menu, and as I wanted something small and fresh I ordered their shrimp tacos, which came with avocado, bean puree and fruit salsa. My brain screamed "Yum! We love these things!" Along with this I chose an Argentinian Pinot Noir.
The wine came, and was a HUGE pour for 9 dollars - about this I ain't complainin'. However, the tacos were pretty effing strange. Rather than little pinche tortillas they were served on a full sized flour tortilla that had been folded over 4 times into a triangle with the topping kind of placed on top like a hors d'oeurves. The server actually presented me with a steak knife because "so people like to eat them that way." No, more like some people HAVE to eat them that way. Awkward and off-putting.
The shrimp were the pre-cooked tiny boiled guys you find at Safeway, and they were plunked COLD down on top of the beans and salsa. This was not mentioned on the menu, and I definitely would not have ordered a cold Summery dish had I known, seeing as I was seated next to the frozen window of death.
The fruit salsa was nice - except for the fact that it was jampacked fulla ginger - the least likely flavour to be enjoyed in a freakin' taco! Blarg! Ack! Ptooey! Gag!
So - the cold, fishy little shrimps, ginger-y salsa and strange thick awkward tortillas left me kind of unsatisfied (y'think?) so I ordered some dessert - white chocolate cheesecake. This was similarly meh, with a dry thick crust that tasted stale.
Havana, your servers are great and your wine servings are hefty, but the food was garbage and the space an icebox. Close, but no (Cuban) cigar, mi amigos.Listed in: The Brunch Glutton Has Her Say
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Review from Roanna Z.
Updated - 3/12/2011 1 photo
No big surprise that Havana is still the hot spot on the drive. Packed to the hilt and spilling out patrons onto the covered outdoor patio too. It's Friday night and we have a jug of Sangria.... well okay two ;}
Havana offers more than one type of Sangria. We ordered the Rojo, red. Truth be told, I found the Sangria a bit weak, and I'm a light weight but that's okay, it was fun anyways and the servers are really great in there, I've never been disappointed. We tried the Tostones, fried Plantain chips. They were piping hot and crispy, a great Sangria side-kick.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/3/2009
Clue #1 in the case of the missing reviews... I SWEAR I wrote a review for Havana and pooof ! it's… Read more »
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Review from Richie H.
12/16/2010
I haven't reviewed in a while as I have been living overseas, but this place was bad enough for me to write a review.
Expected to be going to an authentic Cuban restaurant but instead this is a grossly overpriced, trendy, fusion restaurant. You won't find any rice and beans with pork chop or bistec empanizado here. It's all fru fru shit made for white people.
Worst ceviche I've ever been served. It had been left in the citrus way too long so it was tough and dry. It also didn't taste very fresh at all so maybe they intentionally "overcooked" it.
Ordered the ropa vieja based on server recommendation. What an epic fail. The beef was nasty, very gamey. And they serve a giant portion of this nasty shredded beef on top of a little tiny scoop of rice and beans. So because the meat has so much water in it, it totally destroys the rice and beans. It just becomes one gamey, sloppy, mushy mess.
Also ordered the paella on suggestion from the server. Only problem was that it was not real paella. It was their interpretation of paella which means some seafood stew ladeled on top of the same rice and beans that they use in all their dishes. This is NOT PAELLA. It was not good.
The service was so/so. Our server was pretty good, but we didnt even see him until 20 minutes after we sat down. The hostess or manager or whoever she was that sat us was rude, curt, and unhelpful.
Average entrees are $18. Total bill with tax and tip for 2 people was $90 for Lunch. Save yourself, don't go here. -
Review from Lawrence M.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2011
Nothing beats brunch or sangria (or both!) at Havana on Commercial Drive. Sit on the patio and people watch or opt for a table inside and admire the inspiring interior decor. There's a gallery in the back which seems to have a new crop of work on display every month. Order a specialty eggs Benedict and discreetly carve a message into the wall!
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Review from Jess L.
9/10/2011
Finally tried Havana for dinner two weeks ago with a friend (previously I've only been for brunch). I must have been having a craving for Jerk Chicken that week since it was the second time that week I ordered it. I'm not sure what the difference is between Cuban Jerk Chicken (at Havana) and Caribbean Jerk Chicken (at Calabash) but the flavour was much milder here. That being said, the mojitos here are pretty awesome, options are Strawberry Ginger and Tropical (tropical being mango/pineapple) - I think I'd go back, just for the tropical mojito :P
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Review from Katie F.
4/17/2011
This place gets packed for brunch but it's pretty average - I think it's the central location.
I'm continuing my brunch tour during my GTG with girlfriends, but the omelet is a bit too eggy (had the ham, mushroom and cheese one) and the hash browns are too salty. Food comes pretty quickly and drinks are regularly refilled.
Nothing special, but not terrible either. Brunch items are between $10-$15. -
Review from Maggie L.
Vancouver, BC
4/9/2011
Never a disappointment!
I've tried brunch, lunch and dinner here and I'm always pleased!
Service: Consistently GOOD! There's nothing worse than bad customer service and I can vouch that the waiters/waitresses here are attentive and friendly. Maybe it's the neighbourhood, but I love that they are so relaxed and outgoing.
Price: Can't complain! They are definitely not over priced and I feel like for the price that I'm paying it's worth it.
Food: Maybe I'm not adventurous enough when I'm here but I always get the same things over and over again. Those things being the Chicken and Chorizo penne (my fave), and their Shrimp Ceviche. Brunch is yummy but I personally feel I have had better. Nothing too special. Anyways back to the food. The penne is never a let down, however whats up with the abundance of garlic? I'm all about flavor but I think when you can create 1 or 2 WHOLE garlics from picking it out..it's a tad too much. Their chorizo is SUPER yums and it's not overly salty like I've had at some other restos before. THe ceviche, always a good choice but I do miss their original mixture in the martini glass.
I recently tried their plantines chips and it's really delicious! I really like the chipotle mayo dip that goes with it. Really yums.
Ambience: I think it suits the neighbourhood with it's wild/modern/artsy flare. Some might not like the engraved names onto the walls but I LOVE IT. So much character. I also like taking a look through their art gallery when I'm waiting for a table..which can be QUITE long if you're going on a weekend or week night. -
Review from Irena L.
3/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is a very cool place to dine at! they have an awesome patio that is heated, but is much nicer in the summer!
I've been there a few times, and everything I've tried was great!
It's a casual place. They also have a back room with pictures:)
Go there for brunch!
p.s. their paella is amazing! -
Review from Pauline C.
Vancouver, BC
10/2/2010
As my boyfriend and I got off from work, we were hungry and thought we would go to Milestones for dinner. However, we then decided to try something different. As we approached Commercial Drive, we thought we'd eat at one of the pubs/restaurants.
Our choices were Stella's Tap & Tapas Bar, Fets and Havana's. We saw that Stella's didn't have a lot of people compared to the latter so we narrowed it down to the two. The bf flipped a coin (heads = Havana's and tails = Fets) and the result was heads. So Havana's it was.
The bf ordered a Cuban burger with the yam fries. The burger contained roast beef which was a little too salty. The yam fries - YUM! I ordered a Latin Burger which contained chirozo, avocado, bacon, lettuce, etc. The burger was delicious, very flavorful. The chirozo sausage was perfectly done. The sides were regular fries (very thin and flimsy - soggy so to speak) and a green salad. One thing I would warn you readers or for those you want to try this burger is that the burger is really messy. My hands were greasy and the table had lots of sauce from the burger :S Very attractive on a date...hehe :)
In terms of the atmosphere, it was really bustling busy. The patio and indoor dining were filled with laughter and giggles. Great place to wind down after a long day. -
Review from Tess M.
Vancouver, BC
3/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friend Kristin suggested this place for our Monday morning brunch and it did not disappoint.
Firstly our waitress Nicole was super friendly and full of recommendations...she's a star, a gold star.
Food was also great. I had the traditional Benny, I always order the Benny, and it did not disappoint. I like that it came with both salad and nice crispy home fries.
I would certainly go back. -
Review from Maya M.
North Vancouver, BC
5/2/2011
Kind of diappointed about the "authenticity" of Havana on Commercial. I haven't been there in years and stopped by the patio this weekend for dinner. Of course, the atmosphere is really nice (especially when there is good weather) but the food left me pretty disappointed. I ordered shrimp tostadas. I have to say, I LOVE carbs. Really, I do. But when I received three enormous tortillas with about half a cup of filling on each, I thought it was too much (never thought I would say that about carbs). Also, they put basil in the tostadas which not sure if that is Cuban or what but I thought it did not belong - where is the cilantro! My date got guacamole and chips which was quite good (chips are like double deep fried) and I forget what his entree was but he was not impressed. Oh yes, and I have to mention the white sangria which tasted like it had about six tablespoons of table sugar in it.
Not too impressed. Sorry Havana! -
Review from Stephanie M.
Vancouver, BC
9/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
Perfect place for people watching and soaking up the sun while enjoying mojitos and great Latin food. Sitting outside also means you can keep a close eye on your dog and/or bike hitched to the fence.
I was here for brunch and had the "Latin breakfast" (minus the tortilla because of my gluten restrictions) - eggs scrambled with rice served with beans, spicy salsa and sour cream. It was extremely tasty - and filling! The server was very friendly, always kept our water glasses full and diligently checked with the kitchen about ingredients (ie. relating to my gluten issues and my fellow diner's fish allergy).
Definitely it's more fun to sit out on the patio here and get the full mojito-outside-on-a-summer-afternoon-experience, but I will definitely return (even if it's not sunny and warm) to try other menu options and explore the various mojito flavours.Listed in: Best Brunch
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Review from Agent C.
8/11/2011
We enjoyed a nice lunch out on the patio. Service was excellent. Food, while good, wasn't really much to write home about. Prices were not terribly outrageous. Overall, more than ho-hum, but still probably eclipsed by many of the restaurant offerings that this area has.
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Review from Nicole B.
9/27/2010
One of my favorite's on the drive, a few years back. Sit out on the patio on a nice Vancouver summery day with a pitcher of sangria. There's nothing really cuban about this restaurant, food wise. Just a few select items. They need to bring in a cuban pressed sandwich at least.
It tends to get super busy, ask for anything that you need as soon as your waitress drops off your food, especially in a big crowd, or you won't see her for awhile. My favorites are the tito puente, black bean chili, sweet potato fries and the buttermilk fried chicken. Pretty good food, service is unpredictable. -
Review from Anita C.
Vancouver, BC
7/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's a little bit of alright.
why?
1. For the PATIO!
2. people watching - always an awesome diverse group on the drive
3. my dog is welcome on the outside of the patio... she might've snuck inside for a few mins but was definitely welcome there.
4. I'd only ONLY come here for the brunch. I've almost tried all the brunch items and I love them all.
Another place that is dog-friendly that has pretty alright food and pretty alright habitat.Listed in: Dog-friendly-ish restos in…
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Review from Kat F.
Vancouver, BC
7/16/2011
We picked a miserable rainy day to visit Havana. The inside seating was full and the heated patio had room so we opted for outdoor eating.
We sat directly under the heat lamps and were protected from the rain
We ordered Coconut prawns in a dark rum sauce for our appy. These were absolutely sublime, the waitress asked if we wanted some bread to soak up the sauce and we happily agreed it was a great idea. The prawns were huge and sweet and the coconut rum herb sauce was so delicious we asked for the recipe (no luck) If you order these make sure to ask for the bread because you'll want to savour every last drop of the sauce. Our entree was Paella to share (neither of us was hungry enough for an entire meal each) I have never had Paella so I am not sure how authentic their version is but I found it quite delicious.
We both ordered mojitos mine was an original and my partner had a tropical mojito with mango. Next time we are there we will order a pitcher of the tropical version. Very Yummy !
Our waitress was super friendly and offered bread as previously mentioned, water was brought as soon as we were seated, orders taken quickly and the food arrived pronto. all in all an amazing first visit. The only down side was sitting directly under the heat lamp made me feel like i was sitting in downtown Havana, Cuba without a hat and getting a little sun stroke.
I will definitely go again and this time i want to try the okra -
Review from Bart E.
Vancouver, BC
Two things are consistent about Havana -- LONG waits for tables and amazing food. Once you are finally seated you have access to a really unique menu -- plantain potato chips, wonderful sandwiches, specialty dishes. The food is upscale cuban/latin american. Lots of selection, and found the prices reasonable for what you get. Good atmosphere, especially if you can land a coveted seat on the patio where you can people-watch the Drive.
Viva la Revolucion! -
Review from Gersham M.
Vancouver, BC
6/3/2009
Is it possible for food to be spicy yet bland at the same time? If so, this place manages it.
I want to like Havana but I really can't quite do it. Two things bring the restaurant down for me: the food seems to be missing something (perhaps tasty fat?) and it's way too expensive for what you get. Now, I love spicy food and this place can deliver on this front so they get points for that. But it feels like I'm eating vegetarian food even though I'm not.
Still, it's popular and always packed on a sunny weekend afternoon. I'll be going back once in a while and searching for the flavour, maybe I didn't look hard enough. -
Review from Arpy D.
Vancouver, BC
7/24/2010
The mango margarita pitcher was worth the trip alone and I'd go back just for that. At $25 its not exceptionally priced but so so good.
Also order the plantains, ceviche and shrimp appy. All were good but no where close to exceptional. The menu overall is good but doesn't seem overtly latin, much like the rock music. would enjoy some sweet, baked plantains and churasco on the menu. -
Review from Greg B.
1/10/2010
I've been going here for years and it never ceases to be one of my favorite places in Vancouver . . . this past time I wandered in off the street on a cold, rainy Vancouver day and ordered up the Mussels with Chorizo. OMFG. So Good.
What can I say? Great brunch, great coffee, great lunch/dinner, great atmosphere. Love it. -
Review from Simon R.
BC
11/17/2008 1 photo
Ironically named after a Cuban socialist city, Havana is the high end "gallery/restaurant" on Commercial Drive with prices that would make even Fidel raise an eyebrow.
Typically packed full of overdressed couples looking to be seen holding hands on an upscale outdoor deck, Havana makes fancy sounding dishes that involve things like brie, and bean stalks. Good for people who want to believe that they are enjoying the finer things in life, Havana does make admittedly delicious food, but it's as though they know it and it has gone to their head. Worth perusing are the variety of unnecessarily elaborate drinks that women seem to enjoy so much.
The cream of the crap, Havana's is pretentious, expensive, and full of hippies who decided that they would finally start spending some of their hard earned inherited wealth. Expect to wait in line, and be ignored by the servers if your shoes cost less than $100. -
Review from Debby D.
Burnaby, BC
2/4/2010
Went there February 4 and, while it was still technically winter, I was able to dine in the patio coat off thanks to the very effective overhead heaters keeping us toasty. My date and I ordered salmon dishes: he the platter and me, the salmon burger with yam fries.
Kudos all the way around...we received prompt kind service and our food was served in a very timely efficient manner. The quality of the food was excellent as well, no complaints at all about my salmon burger.
The server offered direct debit right at our table...made the evening perfect; I highly recommend this place. -
Review from Stephan Vladimir B.
4/21/2010
Maybe this is a Canadian thing, but the friendly atmosphere was pretty astonishing to me. They were very accommodating to our large party, which kept getting larger as they tried to seat us, including when we tried to squeeze into a smaller table and couldn't. Considering how much chaos we caused, I was surprised they didn't just kick us out. Lots of similarly hip and popular U.S. joints would have for all the trouble we were.
The food is very good high-end pub food. We went twice, and both the fried chicken and the chili were quite good, as was the side of sweet potato fries. I'd definitely go back the next time I visit Vancouver. -
Review from Jenni B.
5/28/2009
Sunny and warm enough day easily translates into an afternoon spent on the patio at Havana sipping on some mojitos.
My friend and I ordered up a pitcher of Tropical Mojito which was very tasty, and probably the booziest pitcher I have had - it took us about two hours to work our way through it. I jumped into a tube of yam fries as I was allergic to most of the menu, but they were lovely and I was told their clams are to die for (I am allergic to those too).
But really, I was there for the mojitos. -
Review from shain r.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2008
Whenever I find myself over on Commercial drive (which isn't very often) I always want to eat here. They have two things going for them:
1) They have an excellent patio and perfect for those hot summer afternoons when you find yourself with a group of friends just drinkin the day away.
2) they have an excellent brunch. One of my favourite things is the Latin Breakfast. Rice, Beans, scrambled eggs, avocado, salsa, and cilantro.. yum yum yum. -
Review from Gale L.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2010
A group of 11 of us went to Havana last night to celebrate a 20th birthday - she picked the place - I wasn't expecting much after reading some reviews so I was pleasantly surprised to get good service and decent food.
Our group was diverse in age and menu selection and although there weren't a ton of raves we were all satisfied.
Our server was great ... she was busy and I didn't think she would actually bring me a finger bowl but there it was in front of me in seconds.
Major criticism: the noise level ... could be my aged ears but man it was loud in there!Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
Updated - 1/19/2009
We came for another show in the theatre, but due to misreading the start time for the play, found ourselves with an hour to kill. Despite the restaurant being crazy busy on a Saturday night, they managed to squeeze us in at a table in no time at all. The downside was that five of us had to fit at a table for four, which was right between two other tables, so my poor husband was practically sitting at the next table and forced to overhear some guys' dull conversation about - what else? - real estate.
On the bright side, Cuba Libres were on special! Viva! My sister had a Sangria Blanco, which is served in a tall glass with lots of cherries and fruit, and was really delicious and tart.
For snacks and giggles, I had a ceviche appetizer, the actual name of which I forget. But it comes with two types of ceviche - tuna and tilapia - and lots of plantain chips to dip into it. Really rich and filling, it is best shared between two or even three people. Awesome value for $10!
The servers knew that we were seeing the show, so they were excellent about getting us everything, including the check, really fast.
Probably not the ideal restaurant for agoraphobics, but it's hopping. It's always nice to see a restaurant survive for years and years in this fickle burg, and still be good.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/19/2008
I haven't been to Havana in a while for the food in a while, honestly. But I've come recently for… Read more »
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