Havana Central

This was written on March '07, not sure how accurate it may be today but helpfully it may be useful.

Once the West End, the new management has spinned the American restaurant/bar where mostly freshmen flocked and breed as a night spot into a Latin Cuban fare. Decor and ambiance was better than I thought. The place was full, the bar situated in the center, there are booths on the each sides, with another dining area at the back. The place had a good vibe and the smell of brand new furniture.

The food
The yellow rice made a great debut--tender yet not overcooked, actually just right. The red beans were at par as well. I ordered the Havana - Style B B Q Pork Ribs with mango habanero ginger sauce aka "best almost barbecued ribs in NY" by the Village Voice. I would like to DISAGREE, it was by far the BLAND-est ribs I've come across. I was disappointed by the weakness in flavor. It was obvious that the ribs were not marinated while it was cooking. The signature sauce tasted like sweet and sour pork in a Chinese take out. The sauce failed to meet the demands of the ribs. Ribs require a great deal of spices to bring out the tenderness of the meat. Thus the drizzle of the mango habanero did not cut it-- it was simply not strong enough to bring out the potential for the pork. Lackluster.

Recommended: Go for the rice and beans.

2911 Broadway (between 113th & 114th Street) Phone: 212 662-8830