My girl took me here for my birthday last week--Thursday night with reservations at 8:30. we arrived a little early and the place was packed.  The few outdoor tables had patrons and there were no seats inside available.  At this point I could only hope that the owner would indeed be able to get us a table since we called ahead of time--she  greeted us at the door and knew our name from the reservation.  So we went to the bar to get a drink and that took 5 minutes to even get the bartenders attention.  There were shot girls that evening passing around small cups of aged rum and mojitos they were promoting and that was cool. Â
After about 10-15 mins we finally did get a table and thank god it was against the wall. Â To try to accomodate even more customers than the place can truly service, there are now an extra row of two top tables right next to the bar which makes for less floor space than before in this already small establishment. Â No matter what I did or where I walked, my ass felt like it was constantly in someones face or by their table--no bueno.
Anyway gettin to the food which was the only saving grace of being here-- chicken empanadas for the app which were muchoooo dry and could have used more sauce on the side for us to dip into. Still edible and still decent overall. Â For dinner we ordered the pernil and paella. Â HOLY CRAP. The paella must be bordering 5 pounds of food. Â Not only did we both eat a good helping [so full to the point i thought i would have to force myself to puke] but we also took home two completely FULL takeout containers of it. For 25$ that was an amazing dish for the price and flavor. I would come back for that and suck up the wait and kinda lame service.
It seems like this place is popular with the locals and the ethnic crowds so I don't know why the owners dont try to move or buy the space next door and expand. Â Better service and quicker ticket times could greatly benefit the atmosphere here and make it more pleasant.
If I could give this place negative stars, I would. The service is extremely slow (all 3 times I've been here and it was empty!). This isn't Cuban food either. It lacks essential flavors that are associated with Cuban cuisine like cumin and garlic. Â The food was more reminiscent of Mexican food than Cuban. I'd much rather drive the 13 miles to queens and go to rincon criollo.
Review Source:Small place, tables kind of close together.  Fast friendly service.  I loved the avocado and crab meat and the empnadas. Oh and let's not forget the drinks.  Two mojitos and I was in heaven.  Nice size portions.  My husband ordered the steak, but he didn't like the way it tasted.  I got the chicken and it was okay.  We had a living social deal and they charged us 6.50 stating that Living social charged that price on top of  what we paid.  That has never happened before, but we didn't complain.  Parking was not too bad. We went around 7 pm and parked a block away on the street.  There are tvs and music playing.  Nice atomosphere, decent crowd.  It is a nice after work spot and appetizers are pretty good.  I would go again, but only for appetizers and drinks, not the dinner choices.
Review Source:This place is not worth it. I went there with friends on a Friday night and it was almost totally dead at midnight. 10 dollar watered down drinks did not do it for me and to top it off we asked for a hooka that was never brought to us. Literally there were 3 very small parties in the space including us (so not many people to serve at all) and the staff were smoking hooka at the bar right in plain view yet could not bring one to our table for over 40 minutes. One friend had to leave and we just ended up cancelling the order. We tried to ask for a manager to complain and were told the manager would not come in until 1:00 am. Pretty ridiculous service if you ask me.
Review Source:Ok, I was a fan of this place but after last night I have changed my mind.
It was $1 Empenada night so a friend and I stopped by, like I've done MANY times. Unfortunately the service was HORRIBLE. We were sitting at the table for a 1/2 hr before any no one checked in on our table. It took 20 min to get our water refilled.
The bartender was too busy TEXTING to even notice me calling her SEVERAL times. When we were leaving is when she FINALLY asked if we were ok. REALLY?!?!?!?!
It wasn't like the place was packed so I don't understand the HORRIBLE service!!!!
I guess with a few of the employees that came in on their day off to hang, the people who were SUPPOSE to be on shift couldn't be bothered by the customers.
The service was terrible, and the food came out incredibly slow. Â Our app took 45 minutes from when we ordered, and our entree took another half hour. Â Also, the AC was on high and the place was freezing. Â They did not lower it after getting numerous requests. Â When our food finally came out, although it was hot it was cold after only a few minutes. Â The food was ok, but not spectacular. Â It was absolutely not worth the wait.
Review Source:Food was very good, but they're super slow to serve you - drinks and food. Â Slow to clean up too. There were plenty of people working in the place so I'm not sure why they took so long for everything. Â As good as the food was I won't go back because there are other Cuban places with food as good as theirs and better, speedier service.
Review Source:Website said they opened at 11:30 am on Sundays, got there 11:40am and was told they opened in 15 min. Plantain chips were brought to table and were stale but the dip was very good. Ordered the Jalea (Fried Calamari, Shrimp, Fish and Fried Yuca topped with Pickled Red Onions) The calamari was room temp and soft and the shrimp & fish were sour and fried yuca seemed boiled and raw. The cubano was a disaster.
Review Source:I broke one of my major rules. I never eat twice on one day UNLESS I am on vacation, have parties, or work events leading to no other choice.
This was a impromptu sister-date night. She choose the spot, I went along for the ride. I haven't been to Belle Havana since it first opened, as I understand this is the third owner now.
Tight space, but busy vibe. Got lucky to hear live Cuban Jazz band for a few sets.
We knew going in, we'd just share a few apps:
(1) Sandia and Queso (Watermelon and Goat Cheese on a bed of Spinach and Arugula with vinagerette). I don't like goat cheese, and you could absolutely make this at home, especially for $10.
(2) Fritura de Malanga Cruda (Raw Taro Root Fritters) - we sent them back. The texture inside was not what we expected, they were sending us Fritura de Bacalaos (Cod Fritters) in replacement, but we were stuffed overall and declined.
(3) Camarones en Coco (Coconut Fried Shrimp). Good.
(4) Fritura de Maiz Dulce (Sweet Corn Fritters). Best appetizer of the night. Fried zeppoles with sweet corn filling.
A nice waitress, a few laughs, no dessert, and onto to Zuppas next door some for free drinks and a capuccino...
My family and I have eaten here before and for some reason we have not been back until earlier this week when we were starving and we in the area and decided to give it another try. Â I am so glad we came back!!
They have a daily lunch special, Monday thru Friday, from 11:30am-3:00pm. Â You get an appetizer salad, an entree and a dessert from a special pre-fixe menu. All for just $9.95!!
So far, we have tried ALL the different types of salads because we ended up making two lunch visits this week.  On my first visit, I had the Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad, sitting atop spring green.  So yummy.  I will have to steal this salad idea.  It would be perfect on a hot summer day.  I picked the Bacalao entree of pan cooked cod with onions in a red sauce, served with White Rice and Black Beans.  I even had leftovers.  My husband and son both ordered the Avocado and Pineapple Salad.  Another salad idea I am definitely stealing  :)   They both ordered the Cuban Sandwich.  My husband kept saying how lean the pork was and that the sandwich hardly contained any fat.  Our desserts were the Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Mousse
On our second visit, I tried the Avocado and Watercress Salad. Â It was very nice, if you like bitter greens, like me. Â My entree this time was the Bistec Palomilla. Â It was on the salty side but it tasted so good and the saltiness was reduced with the accompaniment of the Whit Rice and Black Beans. Â my husband and son both had the Fritata Cubano Burger and I took a bite. Â Glad I did. Â They have the whole 'secret sauce' dealy on there and it tops it off perfectly. Â The temp was a little off but it still tasted great. Â This time, I went with the Tres Leches but it was better than I expected. Â I thought it was going to be uber sweet but it was nice. Â Not too sweet and a perfect size.
They have a bunch of different exotic fruit juices, like mango, coconut and guava so I would suggest you order one of those because the alcohol adds up pretty fast.
I am happy it is so close to home. Â It's a nice, convenient and cheap lunch option.
I went there with the hubby for a date night on 10/16/2011.  Hubby ordered the classic mojito and the ropa vieja.  I ordered the bacalao.  Both entrees came with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains.  I wish it had come with more plantains (it was only 2 pieces) but the rice was cooked perfectly and the black beans were to die for!  We have had ropa vieja at other places but it was always too salty, here it was absolute perfection!!  My bacalao was flavorful without being salty and tasted as if my grandmother prepared it herself.  Like being hugged from the inside!  We had the flan and guava tres leche to finish off.  I found the flan a little too sweet and  the tres leche looks small but is very rich and should be shared with another person.  The place is small but cozy and the chairs could be a little wider.  I'm pregnant and wasn't very comfy in the chairs.  I can see were space is an issue if its crowded but on a lazy Sunday afternoon, it was perfect!
Review Source:I've been to this local eatery several times and the food has been outstanding each and every time. The staff, pleasant and informative. I went with a few friends and we ordered different dishes so we could do a "tasting". When we asked  them to describe items on the menu, they were spot on. One of us has an allergy to seafood and the staff was very considerate and made certain not to cross contaminate the food. On another occasion, I went there just for cocktails with my husband and they had live Latin Jazz! There's nothing like it in the area and will definitely be going there again! Good value, good ambiance!
Review Source:I was told there is a new owner. Not sure how it was previously. The neighborhood is sketchy. The restaurant is on the corner and receives an enormous amount of light. Â Inside you will notice lights that should be dim to add to the ambiance. But no instead you have simple decor and the attention to a large tv by the bar. The place is clean. Staff seemed pleasant. There was no wait time. Is it because its new or why was this place so empty? Menu is limited. One page and nothing that made me say " I must have that". Drinks were tasty. Â When we received our meals the medium well steak was medium well. The food was good but not exciting. Needs a little sprinkle of wow! I'll let the chef figure out what would make it better than just regular. Hope they improve on the ambiance and the menu.
Review Source:Went last night expecting the same great food, ambience and service I have previously known. Â Won't make that mistake. New owners, new name, Bella Havana. Â Empanandas were decent as the mojitos. Â We ordered skirt steak - medium rare. What we were served was an overcooked, thin and precut version. Â Paella came out, chicken was missing, the chorizo was barely there...a few crumbled pieces smaller than a bean size. It was excess rice with lots and lots of mussels. Â Menu is very limited and we left extremely disappointed. Also, if you have a certificate from <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FRestaurant.com&s=0aab4cbd731f3d3b0d1453050d3abc56a8c80bd214e25469c7555b750dca8a51" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://Restaurant.com</a>, be prepared, they won't honor. Â Apparently the new owner really knows the secret to building a good customer base...
Couple next to us, saw our food and decided to get out while they could...lucky them...
Sad loss for Westchester...
Came here for a friend's 30th birthday party. The environment was nice, the food was good and the drinks were plentiful.
It's not so big in there but it's a good place to celebrate. The staff here is great and very helpful.
I would definitely recommend this place to try, it's located in the up and coming area of Yonkers.
Where do i start with my review for Belle Havana? The only reason my husband and I ventured to this pain in the ass location in Yonkers was because we had a Groupon and initially at the time it seemed like it had pretty good reviews. We came in at 4pm when the place opened and sat down at the bar. Â We let the guy at the bar know immediately that we had a groupon and he told us that they weren't honoring the newer groupon (we had an older one) so we were a little annoyed initially until we found out that they would accept our groupon. Â You'd probably be annoyed too if you had purchased a groupon only for them to tell you that they wouldnt honor it. Â
My husband and I have had our decent share of cuban food and thus far the best we've had has been in Florida. Â We are always looking to find our "go to spot" in ny for the particular cuisines that we like. This place advertises themselves as a Cuban restaurant. Â So we ordered our drinks- I ordered a Mojito with a little bit of alcohol since im a lightweight and my husband ordered a Cuban Side Car. Â I got my drink right away which was good but had much too much alcohol for me and i started to get buzzed after a few sips so my husband took it and I ordered a Mango Mojito which was made by a better waiter. Â My husband in the meantime still had not gotten his Cuban side car and we just looked on as other patrons had received their drinks. Â Finally he got his drink and it tasted gross. Â If you're going for Mojitos-they do a very good job on them. Â Despite my husband having to wait a while for his drink, we started off with the impression that we were going to have a nice evening.
Then we ordered some classic Cuban dishes- the sweet plantains, rice and beans and the cuban sandwich. Â The food is not worth getting at this place and paying the price for it. Â the plantains didn't taste like the kind of plantians I've had at other Cuban places. Â The rice and beans was the only item i liked out of what we had ordered and even that was mediocre. Â The cuban sandwich- Cubans everywhere would feel embarassed over this sandwich. Â
We finished off the meal with a tres leche cake. Â My favorite part of the cake was the sliced strawberry on the side. Â I make a way better tres leche cake (if you want the recipe- ask me-its well worth making it than going to this place and spending a lot for a crappy slice of cake)
When we were done and wanted our check- they gave us the wrong check for another patron and then they gave us the correct bill but had not deducted our Groupon. Â So we waited and waited for the waiter to come and let him know that he had not adjusted the bill. Â So he told me to give him my credit card and he'd deduct it at the register but I didn't trust him so he wrote it out on the bill and i Paid cash to ensure he wasnt going to overcharge. Â
Oh yea and iforgot to mention that there were two very nice waiters (didn't seem like there was just one waiter assigned to certain parts of the restaurant)- they all interchanged. Â Also the owner came in early on when we had just come in. Â She came in, did some stuff behind the bar, and then joined her boyfriend at the bar where they chatted it up the whole time. Â I heard her ask the waiters if they knew how to make certain drinks and also heard her tell the waiter to tell the chef how to cook certain things she had ordered since they weren't to their expectations either and the chef would come out with a new dish for her. Â That should say enough if the owner is returning the food back to the kitchen. Â
I will not go back to this restaurant again. Â It is not worth the trip, the calories or experiencing poor food and service. Â Check out the restaurant Cuba in Manhattan- well worth the visit.
I can't understand for the life of me how this place has an average rating of 3.5 stars. Yes, their mojitos are good, but that's about it. The last time I was there, I ordered a fish dish that was served in a banana leaf, and it was HORRIBLY dry and tasteless. My dining companion ordered the paella, which looked more like a soup. The best part of paella is the crunchy pieces of rice, and all he got was a lump of rice swimming in liquid.
So, if you want a drink in Yonkers at a place with cute decor, this is a good option. If you're hungry, though, take a walk down the street to X2O or the Dolphin.
not sure about what makes this place french but the cuban influence is very much in evidence. whatever- the only thing that counts is that this stylish, funky restaurant is a great dining option.
we showed up early on a friday night (around 6 pm) and there was some kind of early bird, discounted menu. definitely a good deal! drinks were discounted too -- the mojitos were $7 apiece instead of the usual $12.
even though the setting is higher in style than the actual quality of the food, bh is en enjoyable experience. while i wasn't impressed with the $11.95 shrimp ceviche appetizer -- which was heavy on shredded lettuce filler -- my fish entree ($12.95) was lovely. there's a satisfying stewed plaintains side dish ($5.95). the tres leches ($8) dessert cake was dense and rich.
outdoor seating is available. but the decor inside is fun too. definitely plan to go back!
Truthfully it's more like 3.75 stars because I am spoiled by Cafe Habana in Soho. Â It's true that the entrees are pricey but you can order from the tapas menu which runs from $9 - $13 and has generous portions. Â I had the Cuban sandwich of course, the pork was moist and the bread was toasted and delicious. Â My husband had the special which was a good piece of steak with rice and beans. Â We also received a nice salad to start. Â The service was good, attentive but not smothering. Â The only negative was that he had originally requested the burger and they were all out, which for a Wednesday is a bit odd. Â But overall a good experience and we will definitely be back to try the entrees.
Review Source:Loved this place! My boyfriend took me here on a date and the ambiance was perfect! I have a slight obsession with everything french, so the french/cuban fusion was right up my alley. The decor is beautiful and there is a full bar. Once we were seated the waiter brought us a basket of really yummy warm bread that was served with olive oil. We had the empanada tapas (two empanadas per order) for our appetizer, the steak frites as our entrees, and creme brulee cheesecake and flan for dessert. The entree came with a salad and a complimentary glass of wine. I had both mine and my boyfriend's glass of wine since he's not a wine drinker and the waiter brought him a complimentary shot of something, which we both thought was really awesome. After we paid the bill we made our way to a cozy sofa by the window to finish our drinks. We stayed another half hour or so after dinner and enjoyed the romantic ambiance. Everything was delicious and oh so perfect.
Review Source:Belle Havana is a great little place that's found on the corner entry to the New Yonkers waterfront District. Many folks skip it on their way to Xavier's and Zuppa. This little gem combines French and Cuban flavors.
Some of my favorites at Belle Havana are the pernil, mussels, ceviche, rum infused dessert, and creme brulee.
Great drinks to start the evening are the mojito and caiparinha.
Please know that the restaurant's menu changes occasionally so you may wish to check prior to visiting.
¡Buen provecho!, Bon Appetit, and happy dining to all.
OVERALL:
Food delicious, service iffy, cost: tad expensive, for what you get.
Went on a Sunday, 7/13, two people, about 6:30
Food & Drink:
The food was excellent - I started w/ the ceviche, which was delicious, though not worth $17 as an appetizer. Â Wife had the Cornish game hen, I had the mussels. Â Wife liked the hen, I loved the mussels. Paired mussels with a mojito, followed by a second since the first was great - loved the sugarcane strip stirrer, nice touch.
Followed dinner w/ creme brulee, tasty.
Unfortunately, restaurant was out of the pork dish, rice and beans dish, and octopus, which was about 10-15% of the menu. Â Granted, it's a Sunday, but ...
Service:
Service was iffy. Â Weren't told the specials, so we didn't know there were any. Â Menu says no tapas at the table (only at bar, outside, or after 10 pm), though other patrons were allowed to order tapas for table. Had to catch waitress for second mojito, had to ask for more water then wait literally 5-10 mins for it. Â Kitchen was slow, though entrees came out together.
Atmosphere:
Very nice, better than average. Â A/C up too high.
Cost:
Not crazy, though not cheap. Â Food quality almost justifies price, service does not. Â We'll come back for a second shot, since there are no other restaurants like Belle Havana close by at all (we came from N Bronx). We prefer Cafe Habana in NoLita, though that's rather far away!
Paella....yummmmmmmy
Mojitos....Refreshing
Together - the perfect meal.
Let's just say, after I eat this paella, I have dreams about it for about a week. Â It's a little pricey but for the amount you receive and the quality of the ingredients, it's totally worth it.
The first time we came here, I had a salad (but it's been a while and I totally don't remember what was in it other than goat cheese). Â I remember being quite happy with it - until I tasted my roommate's paella. Â Let's just say I haven't ordered anything else since then.
Hey - if you find the perfect meal, why walk away from it?
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