Mojito in Havana — Restaurant in St. Matthews

We’re new to the area and wanted to check out the place since it’s within walking distance. The inside aesthetic is great; there’s two main rooms (and a patio) and everything is well kept and the bar is attractive and unique. The menu looked intriguing and diverse, but we ended up only getting drinks. We’ll give this place another go to try the food, but are hesitant because of the awful service. I’ve worked in the service industry for close to 15 years, so I don’t write “bad service” reviews lightly. We sat at the bar and were ignored for quite a while. Eventually a woman cutting fruit at the end of the bar said “our server” would be with us in a minute and then she walked off seemingly to find someone. She had an airpod in and seemed uninterested in us in general. Eventually another woman came to take our order and once the order was taken our drinks came quick, but that was the only moment of good service. Mojito was good and tasted fresh. Our server/ the bartender(?) was incredibly aloof and literally refused to make eye contact with us. We eventually had to ask the man in front of us (that was ignoring us) if we could close out and he asked us who our server was (obviously no idea of her name because she would have had to have a personality to mention it). He went to get her and she finally showed up (no apology or acknowledgment of bad service). Still left over 20% because ya know, FOH mentality, but we were honestly so taken back by how bad the service was. Maybe it was just at the bar? The dining room seemed to be moving smoothly. I know I said it multiple times, but it was shocking how bad the service was....

The only thing I like from here is the Cuban decoration. I'm Cuban, and it's an infinite disappointment to find a place, so far away from my country, managed by Cuban people, where I went to enjoy the delicious Cuban food and didn't find it, but as kind of "gourmet and americanized" Cuban recipes, where the very tasteful season of it is absolutely lost. Probably the most traditional ingredient in my country's food is the cumin, most of all in the famous congri and in the called "mojo criollo" for our roasted pork, but you won't taste it in any of them here in this place. Mojitos here are worse than in any American restaurant, and that is too much. And, I could mention an endless list of specific details about Cuban food that Havana Rumba is lacking of, but I don't want to be annoying. Every American I've met has asked my opinion about this restaurant, for them it's a great food, and I always answer the same: if you're looking for a genuine Cuban food, Havana Rumba isn't the place. There's a small restaurant instead where you'll find a very tasteful homemade Cuban food: EL SABOR DE CUBA. This place doesn't have other pretentious than offer the flavor of the island on every bite. For American and people from other countries is gonna be a discovery of the variety of Cuba kitchen, for us, Cuban people is gonna be the chance of eating our mom's or...

A year ago today we sadly cancelled my mother’s 75th Birthday dinner reservation at Mojoto en Havana, as all restaurants were to close promptly due to Covid. Today I asked my mother where she wanted to go for her Birthday dinner and she said, “that Cuban place!”

So we made a reservation... the food was delicious, of course. What I really would like to speak about though was the exceptional service we received from Walter. We had many requests and kept Walter very busy (my apologies). I am a server and I pride myself on humility and hospitality. Walter was so attentive, polite, humble and easy to communicate with; something you don’t see much in servers these days. My mother actually cried and said it was the best Birthday she had ever had.

Also equally telling of the restaurant and their commitment to hospitality, Chef was walking around on the floor. I think my mother flagged him down to clear her plate, which he most gracefully obliged and came back several times to check on our table.

The music was fantastic! The musician started out with a favorite, “ Dos Gardeñas para tí,” then on to “Besame mucho,” then he serenaded my mother with, “Happy Birthday,” with a trombone solo. In a time when there doesn’t feel much we can celebrate, your restaurant really pulled out all the stops and made our evening so special. ...