Havana 1957 | Ocean Drive (940) | Cuban Cuisine — Restaurant in Miami Beach

Sadly our experience did not match our expectation. We should have known what was to come after walking by crowded restaurants all around it and this one was mostly empty. We were seated at our time of reservation and then ignored. We experienced up to 10 minutes of waiting between each interaction with staff whom we had to wave over for any attention at all. We had to ask for a menu, ask for water, ask for a water refill, ask to have our order taken. Each time a different staff member responded, we could never find anyone who was the same server. Food was delicious so that gave us hope they would ask if everything was ok, but nope, no one ever came. Upon finishing, our table was cleared promptly (which gave us hope again) but again by someone different than any previous person. After another 10 minutes of waiting and waiting to be asked about dessert again no one came, so we had to go inside to find someone to get our check to get out of there. They acted like they didn’t know who we were and she had been our first server that evening. It was like an episode of the Twilight Zone. We saw them serve the only other 5 or 6 tables around us promptly and courteously through this entire time. They would actually walk around our table and never once checked on us or even made eye contact. Very upsetting and so disappointing. We don’t know what we did. We were polite and thankful whenever someone came after we had to ask. We have worked in food service and understand to never upset people who serve you food! It was not busy at all so that would not be an excuse. Were they offended by my rainbow Ally+ sticker? Age discrimination? Mysterious indeed. Many different servers wandering around or congregating and talking at the water stand, just not anyone who cared about us. Only rock music playing too, nothing Cuban at all as described on the website. Later we walked by the another Havana 1957 a bit north of there and it was busier and Cuban music was playing. Wonder if we would have experienced better service there. We will never know though because we will NEVER return to any of them. It is quite a shame that there is a 20% gratuity automatically added to the bill because it was not deserved in anyway. Wish it could have been given directly and only...

I went there with girlfriends for dinner. I have been to Hanava 1957 before on Lincoln road and this was a totally a different experience.

The waiter wouldn’t let us see the drink menu, he held on to it and told us we needed to order mojitos. A few girls agreed, and were told “Don’t order the super order the medium,” so it appeared he was helping us out. Wrong.

Then another set of girls ordered a 1/2 pitcher of Sangria (knowing they didn’t want a lot to drink and that the full pitcher was $40 and the half was $21.

The food was delicious, and we loved the people watching.

When the bill came, we were charged for the Full pitcher of Sangria and the Super mojito and the only reason we knew was because we still had a menu. If you don’t know the prices, you might not notice.

He also was pushing the “Special” and we should all get it. He said “It’s good for you! Good for me!” And laughed.

Oh, the special was $95.

This waiter was inflating his bill so his tip went up. We called him on it. We said he needed to fix it, and he stared at us. Apparently he didn’t know who he was messing with because we were not going to be swindled.

We pushed back and had him correct it.

Havana 1957 is a wonderful place to get food, but I would NEVER go to this location again. I will go to the one at the 14th Street/ Collins ave location. I would also go to Lincoln Road.

This waiter ruined the vibe of our night and really pissed us all off. Watch your bill. Ask for the menu and ask lots of questions...

First things first I arrived 30 minutes prior to opening time I did ask one of the waitress if I could have a seat in the meantime until they opened at 11:30 she agreed and let me. My fiancé and I ordered our drinks when our server came back she had given me the wrong drink so I told her she confused the type of wine I wanted when I corrected her she got aggravated and started contradicting me and went back-and-forth, saying I ordered the wrong drink which wasn’t true the 2nd cup of wine that I got which was my replacement had a blonde HAIR alllll the way at the BOTTOM of it mind you my my fiancé and I have pitch black hair nonetheless our hair was in a bun. When I confronted the server again, she didn’t even acknowledge the fact that there was a hair in my drink and waited for me to find the hair again in the drink.. From the very beginning of my dinning I noticed the server had an attitude, and of course, nothing good came out of dining here. I did want to include the fact that there is a mandatory 20% gratitude added to your bill automatically whether it’s one person two people or a family of six and with that being said the service you get will never matter because there money is already secured. As much as I wanted to give this place a 10 since I have been coming here for years I couldn’t lie to myself this was such a disappointment. Please don’t waste your time and well earned money here THEY...