Authentic Cuban food is on its way to former Bonnie Ruth’s spot on Buckner at Garland.
Ernesto Velez, former owner of City Cigars on Knox-Central and co-owner of Havana Social in Victory Park, says he hopes to have Havana Cafe open by mid-September.
If you’ve been to the Victory Park Havana, you’re no doubt familiar with its appealing atmosphere — heck, there’s a reason Havana managed to stay open as restaurants around it (N9ne Steakhouse, Nove Italiano, La Condesa) struggled and died. Velez designed that concept, and he says we can expect something similar at the Casa Linda Havana.
As for the menu, he says, we can look forward to real Cuban cuisine. Chicken with yellow arborio rice cooked on sofrito sauce; shredded flank steak simmered in special Havana’s criollo sauce; marinaded pork leg with house made cuban mojo; Cuban-style burgers made with lean ground beef, chorizo and pork; custards; crema catalana — that sort of thing.
And the food will be moderately priced. “$8-$10 for lunch. $12 or so for dinner,” he says.
He promises to keep us posted regarding the grand opening.
