Out to eat: El Havanero

Tim Moonitz and Ana Rojas celebrate Tim's birthday with dining out at El Havanero. (Credit: David Sorcher | Metromix)

It might be illegal for most Americans to travel to Cuba, but that won't keep Cuban flavor out of Cincinnati.

COME TO CUBA

El Havanero, open for a little over a month, specializes in authentic Cuban cuisine. I knew nothing about Cuban food before heading to this Fairfield restaurant with my fiancé, and I didn't know what to expect.

From glancing at the menu, I figured out rice and plantains are very much a part of the Cuban diet. (Later research confirmed that plantains and black beans and rice are staples.)

With El Havanero's food, what you see is what you get. The menu described my pollo frito ($9.99) as fried chicken with yellow rice and sweet plantains, and that's exactly what I got, without any surprise garnishes or sauces. But don't think KFC fried chicken. Mine was mostly dark meat and without any crunchy breading. I wanted to try the fricase de pollo, which is chicken with Cuban sauce, because I wanted to know what Cuban sauce was. But, alas, the restaurant was out of that dish.

There were also pork and seafood dishes, but my fiancé ordered the churrasco ($15.99), which is a skirt steak with rice and beans and sweet plantains. We both sipped bottles of Corona Light ($4 each) throughout the meal, and the rhythmic music made us feel like we were watching an episode of USA's Burn Notice (one of our TV faves).

During the hour and 15 minutes we were there, only three other people were dining, and things were quiet. Although a language barrier with the server slowed things down, it was nothing we couldn't work around.

HOT HAVANA NIGHTS

As we walked out, I noticed the colorful map of Cuba on the large dance floor. Although there was no one around to do any dancing while we were there, the server handed us cards about Latin Mix Party, hosted by Midwest Latino every Saturday night. Admission is $5, but ladies get in free before 11 p.m. So if you want to shake your hips to some reggaeton, merengue, bachata and salsa music with DJ Los Rumberos, El Havanero is the place to go!

MENU SAMPLER

ENTREES
Ropa Vieja - shredded beef served with white rice and beans and green plantain ($10.99)

Fricase de pollo - chicken with Cuban sauce served with yellow rice and sweet plaintain ($10.99)

SANDWICH
Pan con lechon - a traditional pressed sandwich with Cuban bread and pork ($5.99)

DESSERT
Flan de Havanero - milk custard Havanero style ($5.99)

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