Havana Alma De Cuba

Address: 94 Christopher Street, New York

http://www.havanavillagenyc.com

Phone: 212-242-3800

I have never tasted Cuban food before coming to New York, and I doubt that there are good ones (if any) in Malaysia. But I have became a big fan of the cuisine ever since I tasted it for the first time at Sophie's downtown, a very popular Cuban lunch place in Wall Street area. After that, my quest for good Cuban food had brought me to Cafe Habana, Cafecito, La Isla (Hoboken), Havana Alma de Cuba etc. Although I really like going to Havana Alma De Cuba, just because the people are really nice, the food is good and the sangria is awesome.

If you do go there, make sure you try the grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce (Churrasco Con Chimichurri) - medium rare , shrimp in creole sauce (Camarones Enchilados) and Tamal Cubano. I like to order the white wine sangria there too, although depending on who makes the drinks, your sangria might taste more like fruit juice than wine, sometimes. The restaurant has a nice dining room at the back and a cute garden seating area, an ideal place for small parties or romantic candlelit dinner with your date ;)

Tamal Cubano - Stone ground corn wrapped in corn husk

Maduros - fried sweet Plantains

Camarones Enchilados - Shrimp sauteed in a fragrant Creole sauce of tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, thyme and white wine

Churrasco Con Chimichurri - grilled skirt steak with traditional Chimichurri sauce and cassava

Paella Valenciana - saffron rice mixed with shrimp, scallops, mussels, monkfish, chicken and spanish chorizo

Lechon Asado Al Estilo "La Floridita" - Roasted suckling pig served with cassava, fresh mojo and served with congri

Flan de Leche - Cuban caramel custard - not too good here at Havana restaurant