So after walking endless blocks of restaurants, bars, and eateries in the South Beach block, I decided to ask the front desk person what his recommendation is. He mentioned a Cuban restaurant a couple of blocks away, actually on the other side of the infamous beachfront road seen in millions of pictures. Down the local darling pathway known as Espianola Way is Havana 1957, a small open-air restaurant located on the corner and quite integrated with the rest of the buildings in the surrounding area. Going by the judgment of a total random stranger, I decided to give it a shot.
The décor inside is very old-school, very sleek, and quite Cuban. You could also hear a good share of salsa blazing in the background. The servers in white were rushing around like the end scene of Dr. No (Old reference, I know) because of the busy scene. After eventually tackling someone to announce my order (Kidding, kidding), I decided to with a mango mojito, fried yucca, and per recommendation of the place—The Specialty—which is rice, salad, plantains, and roasted chicken drenched in Cuban gravy.
The first to arrive is the mango mojito, which was a phenomenal blend of fresh juice, fruity liqueur, and minty bite. Not too strong, and refreshing enough to make you want more. Next came the fried yucca. Now, I am a huge, huge yucca fan as it is one of the cuisine staples in the Dominican Republic. The fried yucca here stands as the best outside Santiago, Republica Dominicana---seriously. It was light but still crisp, hearty, and came with an unbelievable cilantro dip that became the perfect yin to the yucca yang. I don’t have enough words to describe it, it was unbelievable. As a matter of fact, the biggest issue with the appetizer is that it left little room in the stomach for the main course.
The easiest way to describe The Specialty is this: it tastes exactly like homestyle Hispanic cooking. Now before you shun or question the weight of this statement I am going to make this clear: this NEVER happens in ANY restaurant outside the deepest of Hispanic neighborhoods. The chicken here was fantastic, as it was purebred white meat hugged by a very savory skin as it sets on a layer of “Cuban gravy” that can be best described as mojo on quality steroids. The entire dish is fantastic.
To close out the meal I went with their signature guava cheesecake, which is this succulent rich dessert with fruit on top and cream on the bottom. This cheesecake was also a pure delight from start to finish. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t a single dull moment in the entire dinner. From start to finish, all my taste buds were satisfied and while the price tag can run up a little, you won’t be disappointed. Word to the wise however, this spot takes its sweet time delivering the food and checking up on you. Like your pure Caribbean joints, Havana 1957 is not in a hurry to run you out, as I spent a total of nearly two hours there---and approaching the second hour I was being offered coffee.
Bottom Line: Havana 1957 doesn’t have the space or the nightlife vibe of Bongos but has just as devastating a menu and just as impressive an arsenal of food. From the service to the food, Havana 1957 is a pure delight, even if has the South Beach price tag. I can’t recommend this place enough, as it stands as one of the best South Florida spots I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. This is a no contest no questions asked statement: a Havana 1957 visit is a requirement, not a recommendation.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommend
Havana 1957
405 Española Way,
Miami Beach, FL 33139
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