This is truly an incredible place. It is located on Time Square. I visited three times each time. The food is absolutely delicious. The live band is amazing and the service doesn't disappoint. This time I ordered a coconut Mojito, Mango Glazed Salmon, and the Empanada sampler! The coconut Mojito was absolutely delicious and refreshing. The mango glazed salmon was prepared perfectly. It was flaky and tender, with fresh, ripe, sweet mango salsa on top. It was served with your choice of steamed white rice or yellow, rice and beans. The rice and beans were absolutely delicious and seasoned to perfection. Everything arrived at the table hot and fresh. The Shrimp and Chicken Empanadas were tasty! They had a crispy crust with a delicious savory filling! My partner said the chicken was better! Our server, Dahiana, was very pleasant and professional. She greeted us with a smile and was very accommodating. Lastly, was the live music. I must say I love coming to this restaurant mainly because of the live music it never disappoints. You truly feel like you are in a restaurant in Cuba. It is just an amazing read more

Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: The extended review... Food: Ropa Vieja - 3.5/5 - Taste was good and I like that it comes with the accompaniments. Especially love my maduros. Service: 3/5 - Standard service Ambiance: 3/5 - Quite the bustling place. Portion to Price: 3/5 - A little pricy but it's in line with others. read more

Havana Central - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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I've must of passed Havana Central so many times and never realized it was there I have to say, color me impressed. Arriving for our reservation the place was packed. It's a loud and vibrant atmosphere. They have a pre-theater prefix menu which we decided on. Empanada app was 3 large empanadas and each one was flavored and yummy. Also opted for the guac and chips app just to have something a little lighter. Entrees are served with rice and beans. The pernil was excellent. Super tender and garlicky. The ropa vieja was also very good, with deep flavors. Dessert was the course that was disappointing, which was such a bummer after a great meal. The flan was definitely overcooked, so the texture was off. The cafe con keche was decent. The prefix is a great deal which included a drink and it was a lot of food All in all, Havana Central offers some wonderful Cuban flavors and a great choice for a pre-theater dinner. Bonus, if you are seeing Buena Vista Social Club, show your tickets and you get 15% off the bill. read more

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The food was great! I got the maple glazed pork ribs, which was juicy and delicious! The ends of the ribs were crunchy too! The empanadas (beef and chilly cheesesteak) were great too! The fried pork appetizer was really dry. The sample plate was really good! The plantains were great. Plantain chips were very hard. read more

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I've been to other Havana Central locations, but this one had more of a city dining vibe. One of the highlights was the sangria--it was mixed tableside, which was a fun touch. We started with the cod bites. They were delicious, though a little salty for my taste. For the main course, the skirt steak was juicy and full of flavor, but the standout dish was definitely the salmon. It was incredibly tender and practically melted in your mouth. The restaurant also has several great spots for taking photos, making it a fun place for a night out. The staff was friendly, attentive, and checked on us throughout the meal, making for a great overall experience. read more

Havana Central - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

The food was very good, especially the Black Beans and Rice, and the Tostones. It takes a lot of work to present them like this! Service was efficient and responsive. Ambience had a Cuban accent. Servers spoke fluent Spanish, though not necessarily Cuban Spanish. The restaurant was packed! Saturday night in Times Square with a World Cup Watch Party half a block away. read more

Havana Central - Shrimp Tostones. Delicious! - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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Havana Central is our favorite mid-town restaurant. The location is perfect and the service is great. The churrasco is delicious. The BEST part is the live band. They add the right kind of energy and ambience. They play the perfect selection of music and are so talented. Best salsa band I've heard in a while. And you can't help but get up a dance! My only two complaints: 1. a better sound system: When we sat in the back last time we couldn't hear the music well. 2. Bring the band in more! We didn't realize they didn't play every night. I was disappointed when I went on a Thursday and they weren't there. Bottom line- if you love good food and great music and you're in midtown- go to Havana Central. read more

This was my third time going to Havana Central. I have always enjoyed the empanadas and we went for Happy Hour. We found seats at the bar and ordered our drinks which we enjoyed. My sister and brother ordered the mojitos and I ordered the caipirinha. My sister really enjoyed the fresh sugarcane in her mojito. We also ordered the beef empanadas and calamari. My brother ordered the shrimp empanadas. We all enjoyed what we ordered and I will definitely be back. This is our go to place to eat before a broadway show. The service was wonderful and the ambiance is welcoming. read more

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If you're looking for a great spot to enjoy Cuban food, great service AND really enjoy your meal before a Broadway show, without worry, this is the place!!!! We stopped in on a Tuesday, our party of five were able to be in and out in 1.5 hrs., with time to spare. Reservation highly recommended. Our server Jaime immediately set me as ease when he approached, as I'd worried about timing. He was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable on best menu options and sides. He buzzed around to many tables effortlessly, and was always nearby, and attentive. The manager also stopped at our table to ask how we were doing. They also have a photographer offering to take a free picture and more pictures for purchase, nice touch and not pushy. Among our selections were Garlic snapper, salmon&shrimp, shrimp and rice, and crispy shredded steak. Sides included fried calamari, avocado salad, garden salads, yellow rice, white rice and beans. Desserts shared were churros with dulcede leche, tres leches cake and flan. Everything was flavorful, well-seaoned and arrived hot. Large dining room includes several separated sections, very well designed to make you still feel cozy. Good noise level permits great conversations. Also loved that they offer a rewards club, be sure to sign up before you go, and advise your server of your membership # when you place your orders. Overall had a great time and look forward to our next visit. read more

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This place is cool. Margarita cool mojito cool. We got the appetizer sampler and the stuffed peppers both of which were overall good. In my sampler however, they gave me a lil chicken back which i did not appreciate haha. I'm sure someone would enjoy that but that one is not me. Unfortunately the service wasn't really there for our visit. There were so many workers moving around the restaurant it was like mi6 but it took our waiter a while to ever get to us. Another guy stepped in and brought us water before she got there and he was great not quite sure what the confusion was but i didnt like that. Probably would've had a better experience sitting at the bar for this particular visit. Overall though we enjoyed our food and the guy who came over or whatever happened was chill and ended up taking our order so it was fine. I also had to grab him to pay. Because my waiter was awol. 10 people standing there watching me eat but no waiter coming to check on us. nor with the check lol read more

Havana Central - strawberry marg mojito with fresh sugarcane - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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Walked in about 5:15 on a Tuesday night. The restaurant was lively and pretty full. Luckily there was a table available for 2. We had the taco Tuesday special, 3 tacos and a margarita for $20 (a few dollars more for flavored margaritas) as well as the corn. Tacos were tasty and I loved that the corn was on the cob but it was cut in fours. One of the best parts was how fast the food came out since we were going to a 7pm show in the area. Solid choice for the area. read more

Luiza provided awesome service! She did everything with a smile! We were at the bar originally but the cold air would come in every time the front door was opened, so we move into the dining room. You can still get happy hour prices on drinks but nothing the happy hour appetizers menu...we were cool with that. The chicken soup is always satisfying, seasoned and delicious! The avocado salad is also a favorite of mine! It's so refreshing! The friend that had the chicken cuban sandwich was happy as well as the other friend that had the lobster salad in the avocado! They also ordered the chocolate bread pudding; it is not my thing! Once again thanks to the great service from Luiza! read more

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Short Review: Cute touristy Cuban food spot right off Times Square. Go for the drinks! The food is just ok. Long Review: I've been frequenting Havana Central for about 10 years now, so this review is done with some experience at this restaurant under my belt. Every time I visit New York I do try and make it there. It's the best Cuban restaurant I can find right off the center of Times Square. The beehive of activity both outside and inside the restaurant is just exciting to me. Sometimes the restaurant features live music, and when they do the music is fantastic. However, you won't be able to hear yourself think, much less carry on a conversation, because it is so loud. But, really, you go there for the traditional food and drink. Let's start with the food. My favorite Cuban dish is Arros con Pollo. I get it at every Cuban restaurant I go to. The dish at Havana Central used to be the absolute best. The seasoning, the amount of rice and meat, all of it was so good. However, over the years, the rice has gotten drier and there is barely 2oz of chicken in the dish. I'm not sure if they're trying to save money but the value of the meal for what you pay is just atrocious, I'm sorry to say. The drinks on the other hand, yo, are amazing. In fact, I had set out to try and duplicate their "house" Sangria recipe because it's the absolute best I've ever had. I think I've done that and let me just say they are dangerously good! Dangerous in the sense that you can't just gave one! A high recommend that you go in and try one. I do have to give much respect to the management staff. On my last visit when I ponied up to the bar to have my glass of sangria, they did a great job a managing the crazies. I had a guy sit down next to me, clearly already inebriated before he got there and trying to pick me up. They politely got him to stop, and comped my meal when I asked leave. Kudos for that. read more

Havana Central - The red sangria is the best! - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Fast service in outdoor seating area . Fernando our waiter was excellent in hospitality and great service ! Hostess came after we sat to get our credit card to protect the restaurant in nyc people walk off with out paying bill. read more

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This remains one of my absolute favorite spots! Sitting at the bar is always a great experience. The food was spectacular: the chicken empanadas were seasoned to perfection, and the tostones rellenos with pernil hit the exact right balance of crunchy and juicy. Their drinks are top-tier, too. The pina colada was delicious, and the mojito is incredibly authentic since they include the actual caña. Combined with the consistently friendly and courteous staff, it's always a 10/10 experience read more

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Came to Havana Central for dinner and had an enjoyable meal. This restaurant is ALWAYS packed, as soon as you enter, you're hit with sounds of happy customers, and the decor is elegantly tropical. Our Server, Ramon, did an exceptional job. The staff did a great job at clearing finished items and everyone's timing was spot on. We started with the Tostones Rellenos con picadillo (Green plantains stuffed with ground beef). This was a great starter. Large enough to share and I enjoyed the drizzled sweet sauce and whole olives. Our entrees were: Palomilla Steak Platter (thin cut sirloin steak) and the Ropa Vieja (shredded flank steak). Both dishes were accompanied by white rice and we chose black beans and a side salad. This was the first time that I've seen Palomilla Steak presented totally cut into strips and it was a welcomed sight. The Ropa Vieja was perfectly seasoned and the amount of meat was thoroughly enjoyed. I capped off the meal with a Cortadito (A cortado is a Spanish coffee beverage consisting of equal parts espresso and warm, lightly steamed milk. The name comes from the Spanish verb cortar (to cut), meaning the milk "cuts" the acidity and intensity of the espresso. I appreciated the cookie on the side and each sip was amazing. Havana Central has various choices, to accommodate your time of day: lunch specials, a pre-theater menu, and a Happy Hour. read more

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Always a great choice for a pre -theater meal. Their 49 dollar special is the move! Choice of a drink, then an app, then an entree, then dessert! Come hungry. My ultimate fave empanadas, so don't skip them!!! The service was so great yesterday too! I love the photos they take with option to buy! Of course I bought one. Such a great vibe and I love all the pictures and decor. Always will be back ! read more

Havana Central - Cheers - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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I hate to write this, because I wanted this place to be so much better. My family took my mom here for her birthday dinner over the weekend. Despite having a 7pm reservation, we weren't seated until maybe 7:45-ish? Yes, it was a Saturday evening, so maybe that had something to do with it, but it also looked kind of chaotic at the hostess desk, with many staff members approaching the hostess to question her about discrepancies. I think in the end, they had to clear out a party room and seat folks in there (including us) to accommodate all the folks waiting. Our waiter, (I believe his name was Aldo) was great, but service was delayed. And then when we finally received our food, it was all lukewarm. Very strange. Our friend in the party also commented on how the rice was overcooked. At first I didn't notice, because I was still focused on the temperature of our food, but sure enough, the rice was kind of hard and grainy, while being semi-warm, as if it needed more time in the microwave or something. It took away from the flavor for sure. I did try my cousin's Chicharrones, which at least was pleasantly crispy on the outside, and the Pernil was tasty. Additionally, when we were seated, I initially felt the radiator was on and I thought, wonderful! But about 10 minutes in, it was no longer running, so it got quite chilly by the windows. I asked about it, and they said it was still "on", but the heat I felt directly coming from it in the beginning was no longer there. So...interesting. Overall, a disappointing experience, because the ambience was really cool and I like Cuban food, but this wasn't it. read more

Havana Central - I had high hopes But it was only decent. - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Great dinner here. We had an early reservation and they were ready. Service was great. Food fresh and tasty. Fun atmosphere read more

Staff was very friendly, prices were reasonable, and atmosphere was relaxing and inviting. With so many food options nearby I thought this was a great choice for something that wasn't overpriced and inauthentic. Flavors were pretty good read more

Havana Central - Cuban Sandwich Cubano Clasico with sweet potato fries - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Looking for pretty good Cuban food & even better cocktails before an evening at the theater? Havana Central may be for you. Nestled in the heart of Times Square, Havana provides a seemingly authentic experience through sights, sounds, & flavor. Boasting a menu of standard Cuban fare & beverages, I was pleased with my selected empanadas, tostones rellenos, & calamari. While it all was good--not excellent to my taste buds, but definitely good--the true star of the show for me was the Passion Fruit Mojito that complemented my meal. Perfectly balanced & beautifully presented--with a strip of pure sugar cane included for garnish--this beverage was IT. Pro Tip: Portion sizes are quite hearty; sharing with your party is highly recommended. Cheers! read more

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I visited this restaurant with a friend during Restaurant Week in August 2025. The restaurant itself is cute, spacious, and has a nice atmosphere. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to my expectations. When I read through the Restaurant Week prix fixe menu, everything sounded really promising, so I was excited to see what the meal would be like. Maybe I had built up my expectations too much, but I left feeling pretty disappointed. The meat was tough, and the chicken portion was surprisingly small compared to the generous amount of rice that came with it. The one thing I truly enjoyed was the churros. They were delightful--sweet, sugary, and coated with just the right amount of cinnamon. They came with both chocolate and caramel dipping sauces, and honestly, both paired really well with the churros. Overall, while the restaurant itself was lovely and the churros were a highlight, the rest of the meal just didn't do it for me. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be making a return visit. read more

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Spicy Cuban sandwich- 3 stars Rice- 2 stars- under seasoned. Beans- 3 stars Service was great. The staff were very pleasant. read more

Went for lunch on a Thursday afternoon with a friend while we were in the Times Square area. We were seated promptly and our food came out quickly! It was restaurant week so we were able to get a 3 course lunch for $30 which is a steal especially in the Times Square midtown area. I do wish that I got the Cuban sandwich as I felt like the rice was a bit hard. The highlight was definitely the empanadas which I recommend. Overall I would recommend stopping by during restaurant week as the value is hard to beat. read more

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A fun atmosphere! Great Cuban food. Super Happy Hour. The servers are attentive and quick. Really enjoyed this place! read more

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I was craving some Cuban cuisine, and after doing a bit of Google searching and reading reviews, my wife and I decided to have dinner at Havana Central in Times Square and I'm so glad we did. When we arrived, the energy was incredible. There was a live band playing, which instantly set the tone for a fun and vibrant night. We had made reservations ahead of time, and it's a good thing we did because this restaurant was popping. There was a long line of customers waiting to be seated, but we were taken straight upstairs and shown to our table. Our server, Rafaela, was warm, attentive, and made our first visit feel extra welcoming. To start off the night, we ordered the Tostones Rellenos as an appetizer - three plantain baskets stuffed with chicken sofrito, beef picadillo, or shrimp sofrito, drizzled with a tomato garlic aioli. We chose two beef picadillo and one chicken sofrito. At $12.95, it was the perfect way to kick off the meal. For drinks, we each ordered the Ultimate Mojito. I went for the guava mojito ($16.00) and my wife had the classic ($15.00). Both were refreshing, flavorful, and strong enough to remind you you're on vacation even in Times Square. For our entrées: My wife ordered the Arroz con Pollo ($23.95) - boneless chicken thighs cooked in savory saffron rice with onions and peas, served with sweet plantains and topped with a chicharrón de pollo. She paired it with black beans. She absolutely loved it. I ordered the Churrasco a La Parrilla ($35.95) - a beautifully grilled center-cut skirt steak, served with crispy onions, mango salsita, and chimichurri sauce. I added sides of yellow rice, black beans, and maduros (fried sweet plantains). Everything was seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. To end the night, we shared a classic Flan ($8) - a rich vanilla bean custard with caramel on top. Smooth, creamy, and the perfect sweet finish. Overall, Havana Central delivered on every level: food, service, ambiance, and energy. If you're craving Cuban food in NYC or looking for a lively dinner spot near Times Square, this is an excellent choice. read more

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I have always had a good experience at Havana Central any time I have visited over the years. The food is pretty consistent so you know what to expect. I definitely recommend a reservation especially with a bigger group. The staff is pleasant and prompt. This is one of the better choices in the neighborhood in my opinion, for the food quality and price. read more

I visited Havana Central Saturday on September 19th 2026. Our waiter was very nice and helpful. Starting with our appetizer Calamari, when presented at our table the calamari was over cooked and the breading was falling off. They didn't meet our satisfaction, so we was bought another order and it was the same. We ate it but didn't like it. I use to go there years ago and the food use to be so good. I had the BBQ wings and it was drenched in sauce. I had to wipe some off My friend had grilled chicken and yellow rice, her rice wasn't seasoned, The only thing about the rice is the color, it was Yellow. No Spanish Flavor. Overall I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. G.W read more

Food: Lackluster, the quality has fallen drastically over the years; the beans were barely there, the salad was wilted and old; very oily vaca frita and lechon Service: inconsistent; some staff are good We used to frequent here but these recent visits were massively disappointing read more

The food is really good taking into consideration that is midtown Manhattan a very busy area full of tourist. The service is excellent as soon as you arrive you are received by professional hospitality staff until the last services. The ambiance is a topical Latin experience but not to the extreme good music very acceptable and comfortable not annoy. The decoration is classic in a Latin elegant good way. I definitely recommend and I will continue visiting in the future. read more

Havana Central - Red snapper with tostone and brócoli - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

My husband and I arrived late to New York and stopped by Havana Central for dinner--it was conveniently located just a block from Times Square and our hotel, and what a great find! We both love Cuban food, and this restaurant truly delivered. The food was very good, full of flavor, and exactly what we were hoping for. The live band added such a fun and authentic touch--my husband even joined in for a second! I've visited New York several times and have always searched for great Cuban food, and this is definitely a spot I will return to on future trips. Highly recommended for delicious food, lively atmosphere, and a memorable experience. read more

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This place is always a good idea! The music is always on point, the drinks are amazing! I always get a Coconut Mojito and they have happy hour here daily! The service is fast and the staff is highly knowledgeable and attentive. I don't come here often enough since I live in Brooklyn and work from home, but any chance I get to have a meet up with friends, this is one of those places that never disappoints. read more

Havana Central reminds me of a Cuban Applebees. Right off of Times Square, it's a convenient restaurant to visit right before a Broadway show. And that's exactly what we did this past weekend before our evening show. It wasn't my first time having Havana Central but it was my first time dining in. I've ordered delivery from here before. In the past I tried their ropa vieja and vaca frita, which are both Cuban classics. Unfortunately I didn't haven't a great experience with the delivery so they offered me a credit to come back and make it right (which is what brought me back this time). In general, I think the menu is a really good value in general. They have a a $49 pre theatre menu which comes with a few courses, lunch specials and rotating monthly specials. They also have lots of vegetarian and gluten free options. However, there were a few things I didn't like, chiefly the slow service. It took about 15 minutes just to get a waiter's attention to take our order (and that was just for drinks). We had two different waiters attending to us since it seemed to be a busy night at the restaurant (they had at least 3 birthdays going on while we were there). Once we finally did order though, we explained that we had a show to get to and they did their best to get us our food quickly. For my meal, I ordered the mango salmon and substituted the rice side for tostones. I didn't love that the substitution was only 2 tostones (seriously, who eats 2 tostones?!) but they explained you only get a half order. If I'm paying $3 for a substitution, I would expect to get the equivalent of a full side, not just half. I ended up paying for another half order, so it wasn't really a substitution. The salmon was actually really tasty, but the tostones were disappointing. They were crispy on the outside but they tasted undercooked on the inside so I didn't end up finishing them. My husband ordered the Cuban sandwich with fries, which he said was good. The portion was as expected. We also got a side of garlic broccoli, which we enjoyed. Overall, it was a good dinner but it felt more like chain than an authentic experience. If you like Latin food for reasonable prices though, this is a fine place for eating with a group or friends. read more

Havana Central - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

First time here with family for my Mom's birthday. From the front entrance to the restaurant and restroom, the decor was beautiful. We arrived a bit early for our reservation but were seated immediately. Our server, Mayra was great. She was very attentive and informative. Unfortunately we did have a big menu issue. My mother is allergic to shellfish. We were informed that everything fried has cross contamination. Even down to the chips for guacamole and chips. The red snapper which is pan seared wasn't even a safe option because it is flavored with shrimp juice. Although her menu was now limited, my mother was able to enjoy a meal. The rest of the party enjoyed the empanada appetizer and guacamole and chips. I ordered the surf and turf skirt steak and shrimp with yellow rice and beans. The portions are very filling. We were about to enjoy happy hour as well. The table had rounds of different classic margaritas. I had the guava margarita, which was very good. The food was delicious. The servers sang Happy Birthday to my Mom and she even got a souvenir hat. The flan was very good too! Overall we had a good time. read more

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I can say that Havana's food need a real Cuban infusion, food was not bad but I don't think Cuba has culinary dinner or at least not what I tasted, excellent service, not ambience for a Sunday next to time square? This is where needs to work along side with food, I will recommend to switch to American with global influence food. As a chef I see this place can do way much better. read more

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Visited this restaurant after seeing a nearby Broadway show. I was immediately sat at a table and I decided to try their pre-theatre menu. This deal offers you a drink appetizer entrée and dessert for $49 per person. You definitely can't beat that in the city! Personally, I went with the avocado salad, garlic chicken and churros. Topped off with a passionfruit margarita. The salad was very light came with a vinaigrette and the perfect way to start off your meal. The garlic chicken came with the choice of rice and beans and salad. I got black beans with yellow rice. You can taste the fresh pieces of garlic throughout this meal. I do feel like the chicken was a little overcooked, but the portions for everything were great. Lastly, the churros came with a chocolate and caramel sauce. Both were really good, but I thoroughly enjoyed the caramel sauce. Coconut Mojito was also probably one of the best drinks I've ever had. The fresh sugarcane was a nice touch. The only thing that I didn't care for were you to is seemed extremely dried out and locked flavor would give it a four out of 10 . The waitress was very attentive. It was also very spacious not too packed and I love the touch of the live band that was on site. If you're ever in the area and you're looking for more of an affordable option make sure to stop here. read more

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The food is absolutely fantastic!! The street corn is one of the best I've ever had!! The Ropa Vieja is one of the best too!! The cocktails are a little too sweet but good. I've been more than once and each time the only issue is that its one of the loudest restaurants I've ever experienced in my life. Also, it was always adults being very loud. read more

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Excellent! I loved the vibe here and the food was amaze! I must say this is one of my fav restaurants in NYC! Intimate setting and overall great vibe with awesome service! read more

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