Habana Blues

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  We ventured across the river to broaden our horizons and not get stuck in the NuLu rut. I'd heard great things about this spot, and I must say that the fare definitely didn't disappoint.
  
  The ambiance is lacking, though the venue could be really cool. I believe it must have been a hotel at some point. While they could've used that to their advantage, they've really mucked up the charm. However, we went on a Saturday night and they had a roaming acoustic guitarist and singer serenading the diners. He was a nice touch - not too overbearing.
  
  I started with the Mojito Martini at the suggestion of the waitress, but I left yearning for an actual mojito. Next time, that's what I'll order.
  
  For our tapas, we chose Champinones al Ajillo, Gambas al Ajillo, Guacamole con Chicharri and Veggie Empanadas. All were delicious and I would recommend and order each of them again. The portions were large for tapas and the two of us couldn't  finish the four items we'd ordered.
  
  But the highlight of the trip was my Cafe Cubano. I would drive back to New Albany just for that perfect little shot of espresso with just the right amount of sweetness. No dessert needed.

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  Posted on 02.22.13 Leigh W.

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  It gets three stars because of the five of us that went, all agreed that it was alright but we wouldn't go back again. It's funny that most everyone raves about their smoked honey dipping sauce because we all tried and none of us liked it much. Maybe they were having an off night. But anyhow we had a few of the tapas including tuna, steak with chimichurri, and a bread pudding dessert that was my favorite food of the night. My sister had the Elena Ruth sandwich and loved it. But the ambiance wasn't great either, maybe it's because they sat us in the back because on my way to the bathroom I walked through the front room and it is much better to look at.

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  Posted on 01.18.13 Samantha H.

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  New Albany is impressing me with its dining options. One of those is this gem. This place has just a touch of shabbiness. I love it because when I picture a restaurant in Old Havana, this is it.
  
  The staff is warm and welcoming. I love the pressed sandwiches. The sweet potato fries come with a smoked honey dipping sauce that is out of this world.
  
  I have not had a mojito here yet, to my dismay. I am always so full of beer from New Albanian Brewing Company that I stick with water. Next time, though. Next time.

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  Posted on 01.13.13 Aaron W.

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  Everything was amazing. I can't remember the name of the beef with the blue cheese and mashed potatoes, but it was our favorite. Incredibly tasty and tender.

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  Posted on 11.02.12 Diane K.

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  I've been here twice and I'm a huge fan.  Definitely something different and moderately priced.  They do a great job with their spices and the staff has always been prompt and more than one server will ask you if there is anything you need.

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  Posted on 10.22.12 John S.

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  Great Cuban food with huge variety on the menu.  Great deal on lunch for $7.99 you get a grilled sandwich and 2 sides!  I had grilled veggie sandwich (Great caramelized onions on it too) with salad and bean soup. My husband loved his Grouper sandwich, and plantains (maduras or caribbean bananas).  Good value, good service, great food.  Colorful interior in neat old historic building downtown.

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  Posted on 10.09.12 Karen H.

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  Delish!
  
  My friends and I attended this tapas restaurant looking for relief from the heat and a bite of food. In true fashion we each ordered as many different sauces and dishes that we could try. From vegetarian, to meat lovers, to sampler platter we enjoyed every bite. This is truly a delight to find so close to Downtown Louisville.
  
  In addition to the great food there are plenty of drink specials and great times to be had. The atmosphere is very laid back, perfect for a causal date.

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  Posted on 08.16.12 Melanie K.

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  Whenever anyone comes to visit me, I always make them come here. No one has been disappointed yet! The 3 for $6.99 lunch special is a great deal with tons of good options, and I'm pleasantly surprised by how vegetarian friendly it is--not a given for tapas. I love the Habana Blues salad and the yuca frita and the empanadas and, like, all of it. Yay! The patio is really pretty, too.

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  Posted on 07.14.12 Renata S.

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  I just love this place. Great place to share a meal with friends.  Try 4 or 5 things and share them.  Love their mango mojito and the goat cheese stuffed dates!

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  Posted on 03.08.12 Mary Anne T.

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  I have never had a sandwich as perfect as the "Elena Ruth" that I ordered today at Habana Blues in New Albana.   I personally would have never expected strawberry jam, cream cheese, swiss cheese, and turkey to taste good together but it was beyond amazing when served warm on crispy cuban bread and I savored every bite of it.  The sandwich is normally served with sweet potato fries but I opted for their regular fries instead and they were refreshingly delicious compared to many other fries that I have tried recently.  The restaurant's atmosphere is pleasant, taking the diner to another time and place.  The only star I'm deducting is for the awkward feeling that I had when I entered the restaurant and was not met by a host but rather just by a sign that said, "wait to be seated."  I waited and waited and waited before a host finally came.  I saw this happen to several guests.  One even tried knocking on the host podium loudly to attract attention to her party.  Another group wandered into the dining room searching for someone to seat them.  All of this was very distracting to the guests already eating in the dining room.  If the restaurant resolves this seating snaffoo then they will surely be a five start establishment.

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  Posted on 02.18.12 Shana K.

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  Was in there on December 2. I have to say I was very disappointed in the service. The staff was in a very big hurry to close up and go to Wicks Pizza. I think I'll go to Wicks myself next time and recommend staying clear of this place. Worst part of this is the owner was on the premises.

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  Posted on 02.04.12 Jay W.

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  We live in NW Indiana, near Chicago.  When my wife needed to go to New Albany for a conference, instead of having her drive, I told the that I would take her.
  We are getting into the habit of finding places with small plates.  The better to sample many things during a visit.  
  Well, we happened across Habana Blues, and decided to try it.  Again, small plates was the search.
  What a find!  The menu was fabulous and we wound up trying a whole slew of different items.  All of which were Delicious.
  Our waitress was very personable, and helped decide some of our plates. Again, all of which were great.  The drinks were also great.
  We wound up spending the evening here, what better way, food, drink and good company with a very gracious host.
  We don't get down here very often, but if we do, this will be a stop.

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  Posted on 02.03.12 Ed D.

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  (Side note: This is the original Habana Blues in New Albany, In. For a more comprehensive review, see my review of the new location on the east end of Louisville.)
  Here's the deal: I cannot stand tapas. I want a full meal on big plates, thank you. But I adore Habana Blues. Why? Because their plates are substantial, the food is amazing, the drinks are potent, and the price is definitely right.
  
  My FMIL and I went for a fall lunch, out on the relaxing patio in the sun by the fountain. Two big and well-made margaritas, plantain chips and guac, and a couple of meaty plates to share made for an excellent tapas experience, even for a tapas hater. The chimichurri steak was truly off the chain, and the sweet potato fries with smoked honey are a taste sensation I need to get back in my life, ASAP.
  
  Tapas doubters, this is your new favorite tapas spot, trust me on that.

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  Posted on 01.15.12 Leigh H.

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  It's good every time.  I've been back several times with my gf and we always enjoy it.  I keep trying new things here and haven't had a bad one yet.  We had problems with the service one time when they were really busy, but they made up for it immediately.  Other places should take notes on customer service here.

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  Posted on 10.15.11 Mike D.

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  Yet another unique option downtown, New Albany!!  Sandwiches were excellent.  Above average beer selection with several New Albanians available.

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  Posted on 09.03.11 Brad D.

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  My wife and I went here for our anniversary. We got the ceviche, yuca relleno, and paella. The paella took 45 mins to cook (they also tell ya this), but was well worth it!

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  Posted on 07.14.11 Greg P.

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  Wow! I love this place. Food is so fresh and amazing!

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  Posted on 06.22.11 Ryan N.

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  This place is really good. My husband did some research and found this little gem in charming downtown New Albany. I love tapas restaurants so I was excited to try it out.
  
  The interior decor is pretty bland and nondescript, but it doesn't detract from the food, so no big deal.
  
  Our waiter was attentive and helpful, giving us recommendations when we asked, and making sure we loved everything. He seemed really excited to be working there.
  
  I ordered a sangria to start, the hubs got a margarita. The sangria was full of yummy fruit and was a perfect compliment to the meal. I would definitely get it again. The hubs' marg was good too - tart and not too sweet, which is exactly how I like it.
  
  We ordered 6 dishes (plus dessert) to split between us:
  
  Ceviche of the day: That day it was a shrimp and grouper ceviche. It was very good. My only complaint is that it was plated on a hot plate over some sort of hot corn pancake. So if you didn't eat it right away, it made the cold ceviche room temp, which is kind of off-putting to me. The hubs didn't mind, but I just stayed away from the heat, and really enjoyed the cold bites I had.
  
  Boniato Frito: sweet potato fries with smoked honey dipping sauce. They were a nice side item, no complaints there.
  
  Queso Fundido: gooey, melty, stringy cheese on four baguette slices. Really yummy. Our server was really excited that we ordered this.
  
  Ropa Veija de Pollo: this came highly recommended by our server, and did not disappoint. It reminded me of a creole chicken dish, and I could probably eat my weight in the sweet plantains.
  
  Pescado a la Plancha: We generally don't love mahi mahi, but our server recommended this dish and we were glad we got it. The mahi was well cooked (not overcooked and dry like it seems to always be) and a really well-composed dish.
  
  Tamal de Mariscos: essentially a seafood tamale. This dish came out last and by that time we were pretty full. It was good, but not spectacular.
  
  For dessert, we got the signature dessert, Flan de Coco (coconut flan) and I would definitely recommend ordering it if you have any room in your stomach. As usual for me, the dessert stole the show.
  
  All of the tapas are pretty inexpensive too (all under $8, most in the $4-6 range). We could have done without one of the dishes we ordered and still been pretty full. We are excited to come back and want to try everything on the huge, delicious-sounding menu!

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  Posted on 06.13.11 Kristen W.

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  There during Derby week - loved it - way loved it. My family had a great time trying many varied things - small plates rule.
  Nice group of wines by the glass. Try this place - family owned and different from the norm.

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  Posted on 05.25.11 Willie S.

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  Food: I had Pescado a la Plancha, it's basically grilled mahi-mahi served on top of garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and topped with mango salsa. The presentation is the best I have ever seen especially the color. If you love the taste of grilled mahi-mahi with soured top salsa, this is the best choice.
  
  Service: super friendly waiter, they deserve five stars.
  
  Environment: if weather permits, sit outside and enjoy sunshine.
  
  Only one drawback I would like to point out is the portion. It's not very enough for me, not to mention when you are hungry. Hopefully, the owner can read this review and improve it.

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  Posted on 05.19.11 Brenda C.

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  Being a fan of the closest Cuban restaurant in nearby Lou. KY. I was a bit hesitant to try the relatively new Habana Blues in New Albany, IN. Several people had recommended it, but past Cuban start ups in Southern IN. had been a disappointment. Not this one. Wow! It is a tapas style small plate approach that succeeds in every way. Great Sangria and Mojitos. Give it a try, you won't be sorry. Also, my wife who grew up in South Fla. and knows good Cuban food, can't wait to go back.

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  Posted on 04.23.11 Daniel S.

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  I work right around the corner from this restaurant. The food is very good however both times my co workers and I have gone for lunch it was very slow. Service was also not very good. We have decided that they are probably going to loose a lot of the business lunch crowd.

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  Posted on 03.16.11 Andrew R.

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  I've eaten both lunch and dinner at Habana Blues, and the hardest part about it is breaking away from something I love to try something new - but there's no worries. Everything is terrific. For lunch, I usually get the Cubano sandwich with a cup of black bean soup, although I'm not a fan of the raw onions that come on top of the soup. For dinner, take friends and choose from a variety of tapas plates. It is just a flat-out terrific place to go and it's wonderful to have somewhere new to eat in New Albany.

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  Posted on 01.20.11 Robyn S.

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  There are no Blues in this Havana.  There are not enough words in the dictionary of 'words to describe great food,'  to describe the abundance of delights your taste buds will experience when dining at this delicious restaurant.  Living in San Francisco, I am used to amazing seafood and other treats of Spanish origin.   And, this restaurant in the Southern tip of Indiana is easily one of the best I have ever eaten at.  Six of us (myself and 5 cousins from New Albany) shared small plates of tapas that filled our tummies and left us too full for desert.  First thing to do when you sit down, is order the Paella because it takes the longest to cook.  They have three options for you to enjoy.  One is actually just a saffron rice and chicken treat.  We opted for the traditional paella with chorizo, muscles, scallops, shrimp, crawfish(?)  and more.  This beautiful delight, which didn't scrimp on any of the fillings,  was then delivered surrounded by 4 plantain cakes, overflowing in a clay dish.  This dish came last after we ate at least 7 or more additional dishes.   They also have a vegetarian paella for those not into meat and fish.
  The dinner started with beef and chicken Empanadas.  The pulled chicken were my favorite, because the chicken simmering in the spices all day were more flavorful than the ground beef filling the others.  I think chicken just absorbs more flavor.  The pastry dough was crispy and buttery and chewy mmmmm good. .  We also tried a guacamole served with plaintain chips...what a GREAT idea. The sweet and salty chips were a perfect way to scoop the chunky avocado delight into our mouths.  One of our more favorite (more because most of them were a favorite) dishes was the Cuban tamal.  This soft, fluffy pillow of corn dough was smothered in a spiced, tomato sauce enhanced with shrimp and craw-fish.  
  One of our favorites around the table was the shrimp cooked in garlic, olive oil, butter and garlic and garlic and more butter; in another clay dish. There were five shrimp, swimming in the sauce served with toasted fresh bread to soak up the butter and did i say garlic?  
  The Spanish meatballs with a Cajun wine and tomato sauce was the dish we all like best.  Three chewy, tasty meatballs were bathed in this creamy sauce,  also served in a clay dish and accompanied by toasted bread.  We enjoyed the lamb chop, perfectly cooked to medium (2 on this plate,) 'chimi' steak cooked medium rare(5 small slices,) and another favorite were the three big,  fluffy SCALLOPS which were dusted with a Spanish spice and sauteed to perfection.  The calamari was my least favorite. Which is a bummer because I LOVE CALAMARI.    I felt that it wasn't as chewy as it should be.  I missed the tentacles, as it was only rings and the batter/crust fell off before i could dip it into the red pepper jelly.
  One of our party of 6, doesn't like fish so, she also had a very nice green salad with queso fresco sprinkled atop it.    It was actually large enough for each person to have a nice little plate of salad. We also had a pitcher of Sangria which was more than enough for th 5 of us drinking it.  Mojitos are a bit expensive...something like $8.00.  So I skipped that.  What about rum, sugar, mint and tonic water is worth $8.00.  Nothing I know of.  But, the Sangria is delicious.
  We were way too stuffed for desert but, I want to go back next week and try their tres leches cake.  This latin american treat is usually a white cake but, these smart folk in New Albany use a CHOCOLATE cake to soak up the three gifts from our friend the cow ...evaporated milk, milk and cream.  The best I have had is from a bakery in the Mission in SF.  (name to follow in another review...gotta look it up)
  New Albany is a foodies friend.  Come on down y'all.  This Southern town, with friendly folks and people who know how to cook great food won't disappoint you.  
  Nice space, wonderful service.

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  Posted on 10.14.10 Erin S.

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  The newly opened Habana Blues, where the New Albany Bistro used to be located, is the latest star in downtown New Albany.  
  
  After having a beer at the NABC Bank Street Brewery the wife and I decided to walk over and try "the new cuban place."  Habana Blues is directly on the corner of Bank and Market street.  The historic building is as inviting as the hostess who greeted us.
  
  We ordered drinks and our waitress gave us a brief warning that she was 18 and wasn't totally familiar with what the bar had to offer.  No problem, this place is roughly a week old and I have no problem being patient for a teen trying make sure she got us the proper drink.
  
  Mojitos.  They're great.  They arrived with a slice of lime and a stick of sugarcane in them.  The mint was clearly fresh and permeated the drink.  It was great but a bit on the small side (lots of ice) but luckily the bartender was generous with the rum.
  
  Our food arrived and based on sight alone I knew it was going to be good.  I ordered the cubano, the traditional cuban pressed sandwich built on layers of ham and pulled pork.  I loved this sandwich.  Personally, I would have liked a little more pickle, but not a big deal.  The ham looked to be of high quality and the pulled pork was clearly made in their own kitchen.  This sandwich came with a side of sweet potato fries and a small cup of honey for dipping.  Really, really, good stuff and complimented the sandwich perfectly.
  
  I do not remember the name of the sandwich my wife ordered.  It was also a pressed sandwich with strawberry jam instead of mustard for condiment.  We traded bites and I thought her choice was also a worthy adversary.  Much like the sweet potato fires, the strawberry jam made for an excellent sweet/savory combo.  Just like a montecristo sandwich.  Except better.  
  
  I will be returning here again.  Like I said, this is a newer establishment so a few minor bumps are to be expected.  My only other complaint, and I don't see this changing, is $7-$8 dollars for a mojito.  Five years ago I would have never believed downtown New Albany would be an are I'd want to hang.   Well... believe it.  
  
  PS - I didn't have the time (and by time I mean money) but the menu revealed many options for tapas.  Que excitement!

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  Posted on 09.11.10 Andy S.

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