Havana Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge — Restaurant in Niagara Falls

We were so excited for this place to open but unfortunately had a disappointing experience tonight. We were about 15 mins late for dinner service which stopped at 8:30pm, so we ended up just ordering off the bar menu. We waited almost 45 minutes for 2 orders of croquetas that were frozen in the middle. It was not edible and we ended up leaving without eating to make it to another restaurant before the kitchen closed. That being said, the place looks really good from the outside. We're locals and we think it's a great vibe to have on Queen St for the neighbourhood and community. The interior with the Havana sign and the front of the car was a clever idea for marketing and as a backdrop for Instagram pictures. We understand if it was still the soft opening, but if the kitchen is not prepared for the volume of customers, I think they should have kept it as a private friends and family event not open to walk-ins. The front of house staff were not very welcoming and did not seem to know what was going on back of house. The menu did not seem authentically Cuban but did have some Cuban items. We were expecting the space inside to be more functional. We will give them another chance because we really do want businesses along Queen to be successful, but they need to make some improvements.

EDIT May 8/23 I'm surprised by the owner's response. I didn't intend to be offensive with my review, but we did have an issue with the lack of communication. The hostess offered us the alternative of ordering off the bar menu because we were late for the last seating so I'm confused why the owner says in their review that this menu was given to us by mistake. If that was case, why wasn't it simply communicated to us? We would have stayed for just cocktails in that case. I would have gladly spoken to the owner but we communicated to the staff that we did not have time... I feel that the owner should have come out to speak with us after we waited almost 45 minutes for croquetas. One member of our party asked the bartender how long it would be and mentioned that we needed to be somewhere else; we were told it would be "2 minutes" and we then watched as the kitchen staff started making the croquetas. Obviously the ticket was lost, which is fine as we understand that things happen but the least they could have done is apologize for the delay. For the owner to also say that the croquetas "could have been deep fried for longer" is disingenuous. NO - they were not undercooked, they were FROZEN in the centre. The hostess took the croquetas away saying "let me get this out of your way", nobody mentioned a fresh order to us. While that may have been implied, we had already communicated to the staff that we didn't have...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Havana Restaurant, and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a vibrant ambiance that instantly transports you to the heart of Cuba.

We started with the Mojitos, which were absolutely perfect—refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the ideal way to kick off the evening. Havana Restaurant clearly knows how to make this classic cocktail, capturing the essence of Cuba in every sip.

Next, we enjoyed the Cuban Shrimp Cocktail, a delightful starter that featured plump, juicy shrimp in a zesty, flavorful sauce. It was the perfect appetizer, awakening the palate and setting the stage for the incredible meal to come.

For the main course, I ordered the Ropa Vieja, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The beef was tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, making every bite a delight. The dish was a true testament to the authenticity of the cuisine.

To top off the evening, I indulged in the Tres Leches Cake for dessert. It was heavenly—a moist, rich cake, with just the right amount of sweetness. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful dining experience.

Overall, Havana Restaurant delivers on every front—authentic flavors, exceptional service, and a welcoming atmosphere. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic Cuban dining...

Ahora eso fue excelente! If you are looking for an true Cuban experience complete with amazing authentic food and even live entertainment, look no further then Havana Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge. Our family went there for dinner and were greeted with great, attentive service, tasty drinks and flavours that one must experience over and over again. We ordered a number of the appetizers as we had a hard time deciding on only one, and they were amazing. Empanadas with the chimichurri sauce, the tostone relenos and the croquetas – all flavours that are a must to try. Dinner was an order of ropa vieja and the house roasted pork – both executed to the max. Flavourful, melt in your mouth goodness with a portion size well worth the experience. To our surprise, the restaurant even caters to the young ones with their own “more traditional” choices if they feel less adventures with trying new things. What meal is complete without some house made desserts? One-word ‘tres leches cake’ (ok three really) but wow! Too bad we only ordered one those and I had to share with my wife, but the order for the churros complemented it to the max. The amazing food was even better with the live music and dancing to complement it all and complete off the bona fide Caribbean feeling of good eats, good drink and incredible people. Truly looking forward to...