I hate to say it, because I have been a big fan of Havana Nights for a while, but I think they have gotten too big for their own britches. What I mean by that, is I used to walk in there with friends and always feel so welcomed by the owner and staff  and I actually enjoyed hearing his story about how he decided to open the restaurant. Last night, I went with my husband for the first time. I was excited to have date night in such a classy place with a quiet ambiance. We waited on the patio until it was time for our reservation. He had to get up twice to ask for service. The owner stood on the patio, and I waved him over like I have done with friends before and he just stayed where he was. I called out to him and said, "This is my husband." He said he'd met him before, even though I was sure my husband had not been there before.... He just wasn't as welcoming as he once was, however the staff did a good job of being welcoming.
I had a glass of wine on the patio which was very good. We were then seated at our table. Even though the layout of the room was exactly the same as last time, it felt totally different. Instead of the nice quiet library-like hush I had always experienced there, it was as loud as a school cafeteria. It seemed that most of the tables were talking so loud and being so rowdy, it was hard to have a nice conversation with my husband. The service was not bad, but they were not on point like they were when they first opened.
My husband really enjoyed the beef short rib and I enjoyed the fettucine with shrimp, although mine was a rather small portion. The salad was alright, but I still haven't really had a dessert there that I really liked.
The prices are pretty steep - $12 for a glass of wine. Even though I knew the prices were high going in, I had once felt it was worth it for quiet romantic ambiance and the personable owner's story. Sorry to say it was just not as worth it anymore.....
Came here for some late Friday night live jazz that started the second show at 10 PM. Â There was also an earlier 8 PM show, which I think they said was the standard two-show schedule. Â The room was 'an intimate setting' with every seat close to the musicians and decent unless you're facing away from the stage (as was my seat). Â The music was a little loud for conversation to continue amongst our party during the performance, but then why come here unless you want to relax and listen to jazz?
The iPad menus were a nice touch, with the back-light making it easy to read in the low light. Â However, you had to kind of know what you were looking for since you're not able to glance over the entire wine list to decide what you would like.
We split a bottle of a slightly over-priced bottle of Cab Sav even though it was good. Â Wife opted for the Grilled Skirt Steak and Gorgonzola Bruschetta ($15) while I chose the Havana Nights Cubano ($13). Â Both were excellent, but the portion sizes on the bruschetta were inconsistent as three others in our party also ordered it with varying amounts of steak.
Will gladly go back.
My Fiance decided to surprise me by purchasing tickets to the jazz club. We ordered martini's and the waitress never returned for 30 minutes. When the waitress was asked where the drinks were she replied I thought that I put the order in. We never recieved our drinks. The tickets were paid for and my fiance called the manager several times about the poor customer service that we recieved. The manager called my fiance back and left a voicemail but was never available when he called him back. Needless to say we will not be going back to this establishment. The manager was present but continue to have converse with other people in the club. We felt totally neglected and ignored.
Review Source:Many of you know that in addition to being the Yelp CM for Hampton Roads I also run a financial planning practice. Yesterday my group celebrated three years in business (the exact day, too) and as such Virginia Financial Planning had to throw a big party for the anniversary and the first place that came to mind in the planning process was to use the jazz room at Havana Nights Jazz and Cigar Club. Boys and girls, these folks came through big time and made us look like stellar financial advisors as well as experts in the party throwing business.
I spoke with Bert, the GM, on several occasions about how the event would go. While the planning of the event was simple in my eyes (clients come, clients drink, clients eat, we laugh, get drunk and go home) we discussed everything from the musician, the staging of the room, the food, the required staff, etc. Having these discussions made the night go very smoothly. Having to plan events for a living it's another thing being on the customer side. Bert asked what I wanted on the menu and I basically put the ball in his court. I've dealt with Bert before and know to trust him so I basically said you choose on what to mix up for folks. Throughout the event I told him to gauge the room and if you feel we need more of a particular dish just to go ahead and bring it out. I had a budget and if I started to come close to it just let me know. (Twice during the evening Bert gave me a tally of where I stood --- food and drinks...oh did we drink --- but everyone was having such a great time that I told him to just keep things going.)
I do believe at some point throughout the evening we were well in excess of the fire capacity but everyone was having such a fabulous time we didn't even think about how packed the place was. Further, there wasn't a single service issue. It was impeccable. Two bartenders and Bert served all 60+ of us a wonderful mix of all their appetizers and finger foods, beers, cocktails, mixed drinks and shots. Mimosas were being poured two and three at a time. My clients were drunk and just having a good ol' time.
Justin, their pianist, was responsible for the wonderful background music throughout the evening. His talents should not go unrecognized. He is set to go on tour very soon, too. If you're asked to have Justin play for a couple hours pay up and support this local musician.
Dana, the owner, gave my clients and business associates personal tours of the Caribbean room (restaurant) and the upstairs private cigar club. It was a nice personal touch and being in the presence of Dana's hospitality is always a plus. I never get tired of hearing his success in business and the business model he has for Havana Nights. He even gave me a cigar out of his personal collection to smoke. (Thumbs up to you!)
What was great for me was that my guests were so impressed with the venue. They couldn't stop talking about the design, the layout, the ambiance, the staff...everything. The folks at HN really made this one memorable evening. While my initial thoughts were for this to be a nice small gathering where people stopped by to having a drink it turned out to be one kick ass party. It was a 5:30 to 8pm party. People stayed until 9pm. Many of us kicked it until 10pm smoking cigars. I got home at midnight. I trust that people will be coming back for more.
I've never seen a receipt so long in my life but you know what? Every penny spent was worth it.
I recommend this place as a party venue for 30-50 people. The jazz room is the perfect fit for you and your guests. It's cool, modern, romantic, stylish and everything GQ. College alumni meetings, company parties, birthday parties, corporate gatherings, etc.
Havana Nights was exactly what I needed to help my company celebrate three years of being in business.
Thank you for one of the best nights ever.
I visited Virginia Beach for the annual Shamrock Marathon and happened to stay in the Virginia Beach Town Center. Â I found Havana nights on Yelp, and needless to say, it did not disappoint. Â I made an early reservation for four at six. Â We arrived and were escorted into a small, intimate dining room. Â It looked like there was seating for about forty people. Â It felt like I was dining in someone's home rather than at restaurant. Â The noise level was minimal and it just made the entire experience that much better. Â The menus were backlit, which was super cool, and the wine/cocktail menu was on an iPad. Â Very nice touch!
Our server was attentive and took our orders, recommending his favorites and house specialties... and then the most amazing Cuban bread was delivered to our table, literally straight from a Florida bakery- so good!  I had the tenderloin (medium rare) with chimichurri sauce and smoked potato puree.  It was perfectly cooked and exceptional!  All of the entrées around the table received the same praise.  My mom ordered the oyster stew, which I tried and was seriously out of this world.
We did splurge on dessert and tried the bread pudding, which Havana Nights had just received some good press on. Â It was almost too good to be true. Â One of the best desserts I've ever had, which is really something from a sweet tooth like me! Â All in all, a fantastic experience and I would totally recommend!
Can't complain that this place is on the corner of the building of the Westin- can't get more convenient then that when there's a snowy downfall. Honestly didn't realize how "upscale" it was with dress code and member's only club, but I wouldn't walk into any other jazz joint not dressed to the nines. We were eagerly shown the jazz lounge before making it to the Caribbean room (dining area) and were later able to catch a show.
The decor was smothered in palms and Tommy Bahama prints. The hint of Cuban cigars could only be found upstairs.
Started with the citrus olives, nicely refreshing. The shrimp and polenta was surprisingly not overwhelming. Just enough chorizo and lemon to keep it refreshing. The seared tuna on the other hand seemed like too big of a meal for me to handle (but good for someone with a big appetite.) No room for dessert, but plenty of room for mixed drinks. The electronic menus were a little hokey, Â but I suppose in dim lighting, it helps with visibility.
The regular jazz vocal that performed was cute and entertaining. Good place for a romantic night out.
I am kind of quizzical and suspicious of all the rave reviews. Â I have not fully experienced this place, but asked for a tour. Â The place was stylish but still not persuaded I should love it.
CONS
1. Smoking indoors is restricted to the members-only upper floor, and access'll run you $500 per month. Â ($400 more than the bar at the top of the Hilton on Atlantic.) Â The pros on that are that it'll keep out the riff-raff who don't have the sense to wear anything but muscle shirts and saggy jeans. Â The cons is that average white collar won't be able to get in. Â
2. Sounds like a little more work on "exceptional-level" cust. svc. is in order as the poster below mentioned (crumbs, napkins, etc.). Â Good observations.
PROS
1. Expectations from their customers spelled out. Â Dress code and no tots. Â The last thing I need is an infant ruining my dinner. Â Take it to McDonald's Playplace, people.
2. VB needs diversity of venue selection, now they can make it more accessible by adjusting their prices.
This review refers to the members only (plus their guests) upstairs club. Â I've never been to the downstairs bar area.
When I think of Havana Nights, I seriously consider quitting my job, buying a pair of tan linen pants and relocating to Town Center so I can hang out here smoking cigars and drinking single barrel.
This place is the apogee of classic swank in HR. Â It's like stepping into the late 50s, less June Cleaver, more Mad Men. Â It's the only place I've found in recent history where dudes are wearing neckties and vests outside of work with no sense of irony.
Plus, there is no better, more personalized service than what they've got going on in this club.
This place has it all! Â Outstanding staff. Â Superb entertainment. Â And food to die for. Â And the best part is the cigar bar upstairs!
This is the type of place that Town Center, and indeed Hampton Roads, has needed for quite a while. Â I would recommend this place to anyone visiting the area or who lives here and wants to experience a classy joint with the best food around.
My favorite dish so far has been the scallops wrapped with bacon over a bed of white beans with truffle oil. Â And don't forget to attend one of their wine dinners - you won't be disappointed.
Visiting Norfolk on business and met some local friends here couple of months ago, we all had excellent meals and first rate service, Back in town this week and stopped by last night for happy hour. No one in the bar area but the servers Adam and Burt. Struck up a great conversation over superb small plates and a glass of wine. C'mon locals, you need to support establishments like this rather than going to the  'name' restaurants in the surrounding area. This place has great food and a better vibe than you'll find in those predictable chains.
Review Source:Me & My Lady saw the good reviews on this upscaled place up here & decided to check it out.
I must say we enjoyed it from the time we walked in, to the Owner showing us the different rooms & bringing us Cigars to try out on the patio before leaving. Every one was dressed to impress, staff was nice & very polite, relaxing ambience, food & wine were great & the jazz band was a delight to hear. We will be going again & again. Â Reservations are the way to go.
You know what's classy, warm, friendly and absolutely cool? Â This place.
If you've read my list of bars in this area, you know that I enjoy drinking on the cheap. Â Usually you can find cheap drinks at dives and places off the main road. Â And I love these places. Â Havana Nights is hardly a dive and it's right in the center of Town Center. Â But they still have cheap drinks! ...at least at happy hour.
Happy hour is from 5 - 7. Â Wells are $3, Domestics are $4, House wines are $5, and Mojito and Margaritas are $6. Â Doesn't sound impressive, but the well liquors are Absolut, Bacardi, Jim Beam, and Bombay! Â The house wine is a seasonal selection by the sommelier and the Mojitos and Margaritas and are just really really good!
And this is just such a cool place to hang out in. Â Most happy hours are filled with loud people eating chicken wings, drinking Miller Lights on tap, and hearing how crappy their days were. Â Sometimes, you want to just relax in a quieter place where you can actually talk to your friends without yelling over a bunch of drunk businessmen next to you. Â This is that place. Â Here you can kick back with your friends in the Jazz bar area (which is beautiful and acoustically perfect), listen to some music, have a normal, non-shouty conversation with your buddies, and guzzle down some $3 Bombay G&T's.
The entire staff is extremely friendly and Dana is more than willing to take some time and show you around the club. Â Every aspect of the club was designed with a huge eye for detail and specificity. And you feel how proud he and the staff are of how cool this place is.
Give this place a shot one day after work.  Like most guys, I wear a tie and slacks to work.  And as much as I love to belly up to the closest happy hour after work with my friends to grab a drink, there are lots of times I feel way too overdressed.  Havana Nights is the best place to go after work when you don't want  to risk getting wing sauce on your pants.
Really, really classy joint!
I can't believe I have not written a review on this place yet. The bread.... THE BREAD! OMG. I am not a huge bread person but I know awesome bread when I taste it. This place, has some of the best bread, brought in from Florida daily. The real deal Cuban bread. On that note, if you are a fan of Cuban sandwiches, try the Cubano. It is fantastic. Another great menu item is the roasted tomato bruschetta. The roasting of the tomato brings out the natural sweetness and gives it a nice, almost sauce like flavor. They serve it up on that delicious bread I happened to mention earlier.
They make the best damn Margarita I have had. They also make some killer drinks with lychee. If you have not had lychee you are missing out. They make a puree that is used in the lychee drinks and it is absolutely amazing. They also have some beers here that I have never heard of that are great. They have a black ale that is killer. It looks like a porter, has a full bodied taste like a porter or stout but feels like any other golden ale when it goes down. I found it incredible to get that full bodied taste in a beer but not have it feel like I was eating my beer because it was so heavy.
They have an in-house musician, Justin that plays piano. He is amazing and I found it very relaxing while enjoying my beer.
This place has a lot to offer.... especially if you like cigars.
Went here for a special appearance by a super good jazz singer who was visiting from LA. Â LOVED HER! Â $20 per person for the reservation (you need one) and then you must buy $10 or more from the menu. Â The staff was very very friendly. Â Dana seated us and he made us feel so welcomed. Â The wine can be expensive...so I picked the cheapest one for $36 per bottle and was happy with that. Â The food was just ok...scallops were good but I would not recommend the bruschetta (it was terrible). Â It's a small space and my god it was a tough crowd the Thursday evening I was there...which is too bad bc a more easy going and upbeat crowd would have contributed to the experience but I clapped and cheered and ignored the older crowd. Â The seating was uncomfortable, ugh, nothing like sitting at a perfect right angle against the wall and the lighting could have been a bit dimmer. Â But I'm giving 4 stars because the acoustics are amazing, the artist was fantastic and friendliness like that will always bring me back!
Review Source:Visited Havana Nights a month ago for first time and loved it! Great atmosphere! Wonderful martinis in jazz lounge! Thoroughly enjoyed the Jay Sinnett Trio! Upscale. Well-thought out design. Looking forward to trying the Caribbean restaurant. Appreciated tour from owner, Dana. A wonderful date night or adult night out venue!
Review Source:Great jazz and amazing atmosphere! Â Excellent food and drinks, too. Â Try the bread pudding made from Krispy Kreme donuts! Â They have nightly music, but bigger acts are reserved for Thur - Sun. Â There is a restaurant, jazz club, and cigar lounge (members only) all on seperate floors. Â This is our second time to the club and we loved it just the same! Â No expense was spared creating this establishment. Â Well done!!
Review Source:Having dined in hundreds of Hampton Roads locations, I can honestly say I've never had a better meal in such a fabulous venue, designed with absolutely impeccable taste! Â The menu is amazing, reasonably priced, and the wine list is phenomenal. Â I can't wait for my next experience at Havana Nights! Â I'm looking forward to spending more time in the Jazz bar, and having a cigar upstairs! Â Salacia, Zoe's, Byrd & Baldwin Brothers, and Todd Jurich's Bistro have nothing on Havana Nights! Â The finest dining and entertainment opportunity to be found!
Review Source:Me and some friends just visited the Jazz Club and had a GREAT time. Â The music was provided by local musicians and was top-notch. Â They interacted with the crowd and took requests...it is such a small venue that it is very romantic and cozy and warm. Â Staff is friendly and helpful, and the wines are surprisingly affordable for such an upscale establishment. Â We plan to make it a regular thing this summer, definitely great for a group or for a date.
Review Source:They are in fact open today (Sunday); Â Yelp shows them closed. Â It's Sunday Jam night starting at 8:00pm. Â I guess local talent can come and play. Â Tonight they had a blind musician on keyboard who was awesome; a very good bass player and an excellent drummer. Â I think these three are the core of the group who usually play for the club. Â Then several sax players showed up along with several trumpet players; They were all great. Â I had the Havana Night Cuban Sandwich while enjoyed the music and my Sunday night in Norfolk. Â The Cigar bar is very nice with very good ventilation and a very comfortable atmosphere with there own private bar. Â You do need to be a member to access the cigar bar but if you're an out of town'er, you can buy a day pass for ten bucks. Â I didn't see the restaurant side but I'm sure it's nice judging by the rest of the place. Â The food was pretty good. Â The Duck empanadas are very good. Â The Tuna Cerviche was not very good. Â I found the portion size to be good and the presentation was excellent but the dish itself was extremely bland. Â The Cuban sandwich is a winner as well as the slider plates. Â Service was excellent and the owner was a pleasure to talk to. Â The best way to describe this place is a three in one facility...restaurant, bar/jazz club and cigar bar all under one roof but separate. Â the menu specializes in Cuban type dishes but there are other items as well which looked pretty good. Â This is a nice place, not only for food but to come and listen to some good jazz and enjoy a few of their signature cocktails.
Review Source:I so WANT this place to succeed, and love the idea of it, and the concept. Â But, for the prices, they must truly BE what they are reaching for, and not just a wanna-be.
The two of us had dinner reservations in the Caribbean Room (the main dining room) last night. Â The atmosphere and decor are spot on. Â Perfect. Â It felt very retro swanky, and it was simply a pleasure to be there.
The back lit menus, and iPad wine list, are fun and had us both a little tickled.
My onion soup was amazingly good, and the short ribs were equally tasty. Â I had more than enough to bring home for another meal. Â My husband's caesar salad was very good, but he was very disappointed in his shrimp and polenta. Â The shrimp did not taste fresh, nor did they smell fresh.
Now, for the nit-picky parts.  The service was mediocre.  Pleasant enough, but inexperienced and awkward.  If you want everyone to believe you are at the level of restaurant  that your prices reflect, then your service must be impeccable.  Please switch my white cloth napkin to black if I have on a black skirt.  The bread was delightful, but hugely messy and crumbly.  Please scrape the crumbs off of the black tablecloth.  When we order our wine, but don't want it until our entree, please actually remember the wine that we ordered.  If we have white wine that should remain chilled during the meal, please keep it table side or on our table, not in the service sink across the room. Â
Now, I'm not normally so demanding, but when you charge me $17 for a vodka martini (!!!!!), you can BET I expect a flawless experience, in every single detail.
Unless you find a very experienced wait staff and even more experienced wait staff manager/trainer, you need to either back off the five star prices, or simply ditch the fancy dining room and expand the jazz club portion of the establishment.
I wish Havana Nights all the best, and will gladly return to listen to some live music, but I cannot recommend eating in the Caribbean Room, at all. Â Go enjoy a lovely dinner someplace else first, then head here for the music and night life...
Havana Nights is a restaurant, jazz club, and cigar club. Coming into the club, you immediately notice how each establishment is its own unit. The restaurant is off to the left, the jazz club is immediately to the front, and the cigar bar is located upstairs. Each venue is done on a small and intimate scale. Operating under the quality vs. quantity principle really brings about a personable experience. I believe this is, and will continue to be the driving force behind the success of both Dana Rice (the owner) and Havana Nights.
The Restaurant:
The restaurant seats about 30 to 40 people comfortably and the ambience is business luncheon during the day/romance at night. Because of the large windows, natural lighting, and intimate setting, this is a great place to bring a cliente or two if you have business to discuss but also need privacy... that same setting however, transitions effortlessly into 'date night.' On to the menu--the wine list is impressive and the entrees are chic but not swank. Not typical but not foreign. I've only had the "Roasted Mushrooms" which is oysters, shiitake, and cremini mushrooms, two hour tomatoes, sauteed spinach, polenta, and grated cotija. Fabulous meal! And while the dish is listed under the "appetizers," it was certainly an entree for me. The portion sizes here are very generous. Prices were also more than reasonable, my meal was only $12. Reservations here are recommended during the weekday and required during the weekend.
The Jazz Club:
I haven't actually sat in the jazz club but I was given a tour by Dana. Just as the restaurant, limited seating but a very personal feel. Because the club is on a small scale, no matter what seat you get, you'll have a great view of the musicians.The stage is center front and there's a respectable size full bar to the left. The humidor for the cigar club is also kept here but because its not that big (about 6.5ft x 2.5ft), it doesn't intrude upon the jazz clubs space. Reservations here aren't required but they're definitely recommended because they have live music every night.
The Cigar Bar:
This is a members only club. Membership dues are unprecedented for a private club! Five hundred non-refundable plus the last months dues, and a hundred/mo. thereafter with no contract. With that you have access to a rich mahogany humidor that holds about 3-5 boxes.The decor is phenomenal! Very posh furniture... java colored, tufted leather, plush sofa's and love seat's accompanied by some of the best ottomans to have ever graced your legs, lol... and the walls are adorned with hand paintings of the various tobacco growing regions. No details were gone unnoticed here.
One of the best features of the cigar bar is the live streaming jazz show! You can also order food from down stairs and have it sent up from the food elevator. The drink menu is exceptional as well. They have a number of scotches and wines at all price points, and the best perk of all--if they don't have something that you want to drink, they'll send someone to the ABC store to get it for you. No request is too big. While the capacity for membership is 100 (my husband and I were #s 74 and 75), guest of members are allowed.
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