Havana's Cuban cuisine — Restaurant in Dr. Phillips

I can’t express how disappointed I am at this place. I was so surprised since they have great reviews on yelp, but then again, reviews always don’t tell the whole story and sometimes the place itself undergoes changes. Here is a list of all the negatives about our experience here. I’m only writing this review, so that others can make an informed decision before deciding to go there.

The food was just awful. My brother had chicken and steak. His steak was like rubber with a ton of salt and steak sauce poured over it. He took one bite from his chicken and couldn’t eat the rest. I had chicken breast and grilled onions. I forced myself to eat half just out of politeness. They also served rice and beans on the side, they were average.

Something seems very fishy, dishonest and or questionable about the way they charge you. Also, the cost is just plain crazy for the quality of the food. My bill was $67. I would be perfectly okay with that if the food was good, but unfortunately it was way below average. Also, they charge you a 20% gratuity. It was just two of us, which is a head scratcher but anyhow… (a little dishonety or trickery maybe?) If you do decide to go, just don’t be surprised when you see that.

They seem sooo understaffed. There were two gentlemen serving 7 or 8 tables, and at the same time doing everything else such as checking customers in and out, working the bar etc. etc.

It took a while to take our order, and it took even longer to get our food.

When a drink was spilled on the ground, the guy serving us went to mop the area. After mopping, he brought two dirty towels from the back and started to dry the floor with them.

This brings me to number six, cleanliness was lacking. The place just did not look or feel clean. From the floors, to the tables, to the knives and plates and cups.

The servers were rushing everything. He rushed our drinks to us and forgot to give us straws and didn’t even walk by our table for the next 10 minutes because he was running around helping other tables (again, very understaffed). Finally, after 10 minutes of waiting, we received our straws.

As we were waiting for the main dishes, we got some appetizers (which tasted okay, just okay), anyway we were given two small plates. After I finished my portion, I placed my fork and knife on the small plate. And the server did the unimaginable. On one of his marathon runs of going around helping multiple tables at once, he stumbled on our table. Without realizing what he had done, he picks up my knife and fork, places them on the table and takes of running with the small plate. This was the moment that I decided I will write this review.

Okay I think I have just about highlighted everything that was wrong with this place. Over all, I would not recommend this place to anyone based on my experience. But if you do go, I seriously hope that you have a better experience...

Let me just start by saying all the food was not all terrible. I went with my mom and 2 friends. The waiter we had was actually the owner of the restaurant which we didn't know at the time. The restaurant was not very busy but there were definitely about 6 tables with people. My mom and her friend ordered the churrasco with different sides. When their food came out my moms churrasco tasted okay a bit bland but not awful. On the other side my moms friend churrasco tasted burned and bitter for some reason. When we tried telling the owner that hers tasted different with a burned/ bitter taste he got extremely mad took the plate away and threw it in the trash loud enough for us to hear him . My moms friend from the table told him to not worry about it and that he didn't need to remake it. He said " oh no i am not remaking it i am the one that has to pay for that plate". We didn't said anything else and she only ate her salad and yucca. Well when our other friend's food came out the owner never brought him the rice he had ordered. Once again the owner started huffing and puffing and told him that he had never ordered the rice and just went to the kitchen to get it. He brought it with attitude and just threw it on the table. I asked another server for the check and asked to speak to the manager. Well our waiter comes to table and says he is also the owner. We tried speaking in a polite matter to him but he still didn't care to listen and took the check with my credit card. He took the churrasco charge off the bill but did proceed to tackled on a 20% tip to our bill. He yelled from behind the bar while he was processing my credit card that we just wanted to eat for free very loud where everyone in the restaurant could hear it all. If that had been the case we would have never ordered over $30 dishes. What an awful experience. Do not eat at this place. We got to the resort where we were staying and all of us threw up because our stomach hurt so bad, i am not sure if it was the food or the awful experience we had that made us sick. DO NOT VISIT THIS PLACE. YOU...

As a Cuban from Miami, it can be pretty unencouraging to find some authentic homestyle food amongst a community primarily dominated by Puerto Rican cuisine. To the untrained palate, it's all the same, but Havana's has a wonderful way of bringing the memory of my abuela's cooking rushing back from the moment I ordered. I was on a quest for a batido de mamey, a classic Miami-Cuban concoction that had always been a staple in my childhood as much as some sopa de pollo y arroz con frijoles, and this was the closest spot I could find.

Chased down by an Ironbeer, the bistec de palomilla was something from childhood nostalgia seriously taken for granted. Arroz y frijoles negros are the essential side, made almost exactly like I remember they should, but so are maduros. I have always been extremely particular of my share of maduros but Havana's makes them exactly the way I like them: crispy outside and a firm, chewy center.

We were the only two in the place at 4:30pm on a Friday. A gentleman I can only assume is the owner came to the table and asked if we liked spicy sauce. He then went and brought a jar of green pepper sauce with a spoon that definitely came out of the bar fridge and set it down with a warning: "Be careful." Folks, if you are presented this sauce, heed this warning: That is some seriously hot sauce that will have even the spiciest connoisseur's nose running. It compliment our meat dishes perfectly and for dessert, my crown jewel arrived, my batido. Now, I do believe my standards are where they should be, and this batido was a 4 out of 5 for me, but I make mine homemade and spoil myself. All in all, I will most definitely back back here when I need that homey...