Taste of Havana

I think there's a mixup between the two restaurants...this is the one on Albemarle Rd? If so, the food is good but the atmosphere/cleanliness is subpar. Went there once, will not go again. However, the one on S. Tryon/York Rd. by the same name is fantastic! The food is wonderful, management & staff is great and, being from Miami, it is the closest to authentic you will find in this area. I recommend the Mojitos, they are the best I've had in NC! Pros: food Cons: cleanliness, atmosphere more

We are so glad that we checked out this restaurant! Very friendly and diligent staff, tasteful ambience and their food is delicious. Prices are great: My entrée was 10$ and the portion was so huge I carried half of it home and made it my lunch the next day. All of us enjoyed the food, everything looked good. We went there as a family of three which is not so challenging for a waiter but I have noticed that they served also larger groups of guests very well. We will go there again for sure! And I´m already looking forward to that! Pros: ambience, staff, cuisine, prices, more

I was born and raised in Miami, FL and come from a Cuban family. I have visited this restaurant at least 5 times since it opened up. At first, the food was very disappointing, despite the very nice atmosphere (the domino tables bring back wonderful memories of my Abuelo). After the second time we went, my husband and I thought we'd go one last time, sort of a ""three strikes and you're out"" because we wanted so badly for this place to be good. They have improved tremendously! I'm not sure that any Cuban restaurant is going to be like what we had Miami, considering that most of the staff they have to hire (out of fairness) is going to be clueless about Cuban culture and cuisine AND there probably isn't the same kind of access to all the ingredients. However, the food will satisfy your cravings. I really like their palomilla steak and the churrasco is good too. I wish they would put bistec empanizado on the menu, but if you request it, they will make it for you. I prefer my black beans a little thicker, but they have been very tasty. They have most of the deserts, pastelitos, shakes, and appetizers that you find in Miami. Lastly, I took my Cuban grandmother there and the owner was SO KIND to her. She went out of her way to sit and talk to my grandmother. If my grandmother told her something didn't taste right, the owner hurried to fix it- she sincerely wants customers to enjoy their dining experience. All in all, of the 3 Cuban places I've eaten at since moving to North Carolina (one was in Rock Hill, SC), this has ended up being the best by far. Pros: good food and atmosphere, make food the way you ask for it Cons: Still working some of the kinks out of the new restaurant more

A group of us explore for great food at lunch. Taste of Havana will now be one of our regular spots.\r \r We had the cervechi as an appetizer, Mmmmmmmmm, more than enough for four hungry guys. Then lunch, OMG. Deep-fried pork, black beans, rice, simple food and oh so good. Huge selection on the menu. I will go back forever.\r \r I don?t know what Miami?s problem was. One of the guys with us was Cuban, mom and dad from the island; he loved it as much as us. He had taken his parents there - they loved it too.\r Pros: BIG thumbs way up Cons: Location is not the best place to be after dark more

Coming from South Florida where there's a great Cuban rest. on almost every corner, my family and I were eager to find a good Cuban rest. Unfortunately, we definitely did not find it here! Nothing seemed authentic, I don't even think anyone there was Cuban. The rice and beans lacked flavor, the tostones were not prepared properly, and the food was not good at all! The place didn't even look clean at all! We were very disappointed! =( more