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By Barbara Penny Angelakis
Havana Central
151 West 46th Street,
New York NY 10036
(212) 398-7440
Brunch opportunities abound in New York City. From the elegant and sophisticated restaurants where ample time is encouraged to savor good food and good conversation in a comfortable, quiet, softly lit room; to the Chinese Tea Lunch or Dim Sum, where a noisy, chaotic, off-times less then sterile environment hosts traditional social outings. There, small platters of succulent filled buns and other delicacies are wheeled in hot steam carts to the tables by mostly non-English speaking servers, for each patron to make their selection. If you can’t get a satisfactory response regarding the contents of what you have pointed at before it is placed before you, that just further serves to enhance the exotic adventure of the meal. Then there are the fun filled, informal family style establishments that are geared to entertain children of all ages. Such is Havana Central with its two locations; one in trendy Union Square (22 East 17th Street), and the other at 151 West 46th Street, just off Seventh Avenue in the heart of Times Square and a few steps away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway’s theater district.
At Havana Central “Desayuno con Gusto”or “Breakfast with Pleasure” is offered on both Saturday and Sunday, with an array of eggs and omelets, sandwiches and of course the famous and tasty Classic Cuban sandwich, which is a mix of Ham, roast Pork,  Swiss Cheese and Pickles, heat-pressed in a crispy Cuban bread. The Breakfast Empanadas, stuffed with combinations of egg, cheese and chorizo sausage, were very good. An order of Café con Leche is de rigueur, and so is Churros con Chocolate y Cafe Cola’o - the Cuban variation of coffee and a donut with chocolate dipping sauce. American breakfast fare of Lemon Pancakes and Orange Glazed French Toast is also available for the less adventurous and all dishes are modestly priced in the $7 to $12 range. Be aware however, that this is an ala carte menu rather then the all inclusive brunch New Yorkers are used to, and each dish is accompanied only by your choice of Yuca Bites, Potato Wedges, Homes Fries or Plantains, all of which were terrific I might add. Portions are large and based on the style of food, mostly fried, the servings were plentiful enough to share. When ordering in English, have your waiter repeat  your order back to you to avoid any miscommunication. While the wait staff was friendly, pleasant and eager to please, there were distractions galore and I did not receive the main course I ordered.
The restaurant décor is family friendly, bright and cheery with large banquettes and game tables placed in such a way as to provide maximum opportunity for groups to sit together and yet be separate from other diners. The seating configurations afford an opportunity for loud conversation, games of dominos or checkers, or sing-alongs with the spirited and talented Cuban trio that entertains during Sunday Brunch, without disturbing less exuberant diners. Make sure you mention your seating preference when making your reservation so you will sure to get the right table for your group. The bar is separated from the main dining area and there is also a balcony dining room overlooking the main room for overflow and to add to the golden era of Cuba decorative style, that Havana Central has tried to  capture. Posters proclaiming “Havana” in bold letters and colors adorn the walls and help to add a Carmen Miranda atmosphere.
There is a large selection of Batidos (tropical fruit shakes), and nonalcoholic beverages suitable for kids at $5 or with a shot of Rum for much older kids-at-heart for $9. All flavors of Mojitos, Daiquiris and Margaritas, frozen, on the rocks, or straight up, are available by glass or pitcher. Sangria in Classic Red Burgundy, White Chablis, Port, Shiraz, Champagne, or a Sangria Flight, which is a combination of any 4 tastes, are available in $18 and $26 sizes. By the way, did you know that the Daiquiri was invented in Cuba in 1898 and was Ernest Hemmingway’s drink of choice? Havana Central also has a well chosen wine selection for those more sophisticated dining occasions, including the excellent Casa Lapostolle and Veramonte wines from Chile and Finca el Portillo and Patriota Tikal from Argentina.
Executive Chef Stanley Licairic, whose eminence in the Latin food business is well documented, and Jeremy Merrin, the proprietor of Havana Central, have made a commitment to offer an authentic Cuban dining experience based on real Cuban home cooking, in a fun-filled atmosphere. If you yearn for real Cuban food or are looking for a different brunch experience, go to Havana Central and see for yourself if they have succeeded.
© January 2007 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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