Havana

Havana... I call it Heavana

by hungrygirl1 at Citysearch

I've had lunch here 5 times now and enjoy it every single time... as do the friends I bring here.

I do find the service just a little slow (probably at the kitchen end), and if they had live music I'd just move in.

The usual hassles of parking and Paying thru' the nose in Walnut Creek exist in this area on Bonanza St. too. The parking people in this city are insane, there must be one for every 4 block radius!

If you want to have something a little different, tasty, not overly expensive and listen to some great Cuban music (while drinking their delicious Mojitos of course), this is a great spot. I've had almost everything on the menu (by trying what my friends ordered too) and it's all good.

• Pros: Cool, different lunch spot
• Cons: Slightly slow service?

Havana is an awesome restaurant all-around

by mejennings at Citysearch

Traveled back to Bonanza Street for lunch Tue 6/30/09 over to Havana & sooo glad I did! I've passed this restaurant many times on my lunch walks in dwntn Walnut Creek & driven by the one in Alameda many times as well...now I'm a Havana fan =)

LOCATION & RESTAURANT: Next to Fujian Restaurant, the view outside upfront looks small, but this place opens up to quite spacious & clean restaurant. Meter parking all over this place, else garage parking on Cypress Ave & Locust Ave (about 1-block South). Color schemes are a tropical blue & green w/ comfy seating tables & booths & a welcoming bar area too. Just sitting here about 1-2min enjoying the scenery of the place, I just loved it...the decor, music, & seating is simply welcoming to anyone.

SERVICE: Great! Colleague & I arrived 5-10min before noon (the lunch crowd) so there was only one other table taken. Hostess/Waitress greets us w/ a pleasant smile & "welcome" upon entrance & let us chose where we wanted to be seated. Didn't catch her name, but this Hostess/Waitress basically was covering the floor w/ greeting, seating, order taking, & follow-up. Other colleagues of hers brought out food to other patrons @ times & also did follow-up. By the time we finished our lunch, this place was decently 1/3 full. Great service all around tho...keep up the good work team ;-)

DRINKS: Havana Mojitos range $7-$9 & are delicious! They have "Mojito Mondays" apparently too (half off). Colleague had De Corazo (Silver Tiquilia, Chambord) & I had De Mango (Parrot Bay Mango Rum)...both were excellente.

FOOD: Fresh, hot, tasty, juicy, & just damn good! The chef is definitely cookin' w/ "cuban" love up in here! We shared the Crab Cakes which were 2 lil' cute palm-fitting cakes that had a nice crunch on the outside yet a soft bite of crab of on the inside; the Pineapple Aioli sauce added nicely to these hot cakes & greenery. My colleage had the "Bistec a la Havana" & I kid you not this marinated skirt steak was served grilled & juicy perfectly...of course I tasted this, so I can vouch my own opinion on this dish. I got the "Chicken Adobe"..the Filipina in me jumped on this 'cuz I saw "adobe" *tee-hee*. It wasn't a Filipino chkn adobe dish, but rather adobe seasoning I believe for the chkn. Another grilled & juicy entree that brings taste satisfaction. All this was scrum-didly-umptous!

Final tab just over $59. Everything we ate & drank gets a recommendation, as well as this location! Would I come back? Absolutely! I'd do this location again & very much tempted to try out the Alameda location now. Patrons next to me on this luncheon enjoyed a salad & a pressed sandwich...I don't think I was starrin' @ the gent's sandwich (that's what I tell myself), but it looked reeeeally good as he enjoyed it. My 1st taste of "Cuban Cuisine" & came out very pleased.

• Pros: Great food & customer service with tasty mojitos
• Cons: Larger dessert menu

Friendly service but mediocre food and noisy atmosphere

by itzallan at Citysearch

If you're looking for a quiet restaurant, look elsewhere. The service is friendly and attentive, which makes you feel welcomed and noticed. The food tastes a bit bland, although the portions are adequate. Somewhat overpriced considering the food quality.

• Pros: Friendly service, good drinks
• Cons: parking, noisy, bland food

BEST MOJITOS

by mbhouse at Citysearch

Great first date place - went on a Wednesday and was promptly seated near the bar - great atmosphere. Ordered a pitcher of mojitos, and while it seems expensive, considering we got 8 drinks out of it, not expensive at all - best mojito i've had in the east bay. stayed late - well past closing. Met the manager Felix - cool guy. did shots with him. Would definitely recommend - crab cakes were excellent as was the garlic fries. Can't wait to try the entrees.

Good food, but don't park in back!

by eastbayvinny at Citysearch

Havana has a friendly staff who tries hard to please. The mojitos and tapas were good, although everything was a bit overpriced. The mixed green salad and scallops were nicely done, although the scallop portion was small. Crab cakes were tasty but a bit watery. Desserts (we got the flan and mousse) were nothing memorable. Be prepared to wait a long time for a table on a Saturday night, although some bar seating is available.

Here's the gotcha: do not park in back of this restaurant! I got a $25 parking ticket for doing so and, when i called Havana to ask about this, i was told that those parking spaces are not for Havana customers. There's other parking nearby, so be prepared to pay for it and walk a little.

• Pros: Good tapas and mojitos, friendly staff
• Cons: Pricing, parking (do not park in back!)