Havana in New Hope - Impressions? Recommendations?

[jujuthomas]

Going to NH Saturday to meet a friend. She has eaten at Havana before and liked it. Anyone have impressions or recommendations of favorite dishes?
TIA

[Gwendolen]

Have been to Havana quite a few times. Service is usually extremely slow and inattentive. Food is mediocre and overpriced.

Head to the corner to Karla's. We've always had excellent service and very good meals!

[phillyjazz]

I always enjoyed the food at Karla's, and though it well-priced. I played there a few times. Do they still have live music ? I have not been back since they closed for the flood a couple of years ago.

[watercress]

If you want to sit outside in NH, I'd recommend Wildflowers or even John and Peters. I know they don't have great food, but it's not bad, and Wildflowers has a lovely atmosphere under the trees there and a good soundtrack, while John and Peters has a good people-watching spot. Neither one breaks the bank, which is more than I can say for Karla's.

[jujuthomas]

do you know if wildflowers keeps their terrace open late in the year? we are going up again in 2 weeks. we thought about going there, but they have a pet-friendly policy and i can't sit inside if someone's brought their dog b/c of my allergies.

[Kater]

It is nice to sit outdoors on a pleasant day but the food and service are terrible.

[mrslloyddobler]

The food is no better than a typical chain restaurant at the mall. I like to sit outside for a cocktail lunch and just ppl watch.

[Kater]

You put it more aptly than I did.

[AmblerGirl]

We go to Havana often, but primarily just to sit outdoors too. I always have a nice time but it is usually due to the atmosphere and the company, not the food. Agree the food is medicore and way overpriced. Though they do have tasty, albeit very expensive, onion rings. Is there anywhere in New Hope that has good foor and reasonable prices? Everywhere we go feels like a tourist trap.

[jujuthomas]

we are meeting there again in 3 weeks, going to a place near the Living Arts (?) tattoo shop - i think it had Garden in the name? the menu looked interesting - had mexican and thai inspired dishes.

[sockii]

I'm guessing that would be Willdflowers?

Ate there once; it's a very cute place but you definitely go for the atmosphere more than the food. The menu is all over the place eclectic, where they'd probably do better to try to just focus on one thing.

[jujuthomas]

that's the place! i'm a little concerned about their pet friendly policy, since I'm allergic to all furry critters and would prefer not to sneeze all through my lunch. perhaps I'll check the other new hope posts with other recommendations. my friend is pretty flexible.

[givemecarbs]

You can always stroll across the bridge to Lambertville. I was wandering around New Hope and Lambertville saturday night and saw some nice little restaurants past the Lambertville Station and to the right on a side street. One was Italian and the other was mexican. Of course I ended up doing the usual, soaking up the atmosphere in New Hope/Lambertville and then soaking up some beer and steamed clams at the Candlewyck. There was a nice sense of anticipation there as we waited out the rain delay on the Phillies game. Since it was halloween the waitresses were in Phillies uniforms and the male bartender was having great fun joking with everyone as the tall well built dude was dressed as the tooth fairy.

[jujuthomas]

that's a good idea too! we were also in NH Saturday, but left before dinner time.
I love a bartender with a sense of humor. Last Halloween I was in Ocean City, MD. the bartender at the resto was dressed as his wife. that was FUNNY. :)

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Ocean City Restaurant
234 N 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

[givemecarbs]

You stayed for the high heel race up and down mechanics street right Juju? One guy was wearing a pair of size seventeen heels. And that street is steep and cobblestones too. Alas the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Playhouse was sold out.

[jujuthomas]

no, we missed that - didn't know to stay. :(
next year, perhaps!

[njfoodies]

Exactly what I was getting at, but in a nice way. LOL! Definitely go for the drinks and atmosphere... -mJ

[jzerocsk]

I think what I simply can't get past is that it's called Havana....and there is very little Cuban or even Caribbean about the menu!

[jujuthomas]

that did make me sad.

[jujuthomas]

We had a nice lunch today at Havana. I got the lunch burger, it was cooked perfectly med-rare and was huge. I was a little disappointed with the sides, I didn't want fries (altho they looked awesome) so I asked for the salad. Salad turned out to be just greens, no other veggies. the orange ginger vinegrette was really good though.
My friend had 3 sides - steamed veggies, black beans and sour cream and steamed rice. She said it was all delicious. Service was pretty good, a little slow, but the server was very pleasant and knowledgeable.

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Havana Restaurant & Bar
105 S Main St Ste C, New Hope, PA 18938

[njfoodies]

Great place to go in the spring, summer, and fall for cocktails outside, but I have never been impressed by the food. Overpriced with now wow factor in my opinion...$15 burgers and $19 nachos don't bother me, but blow me away at those prices. Sure, it's New Hope, and it's touristy, but I think there is better food in the area for the same money!

[jujuthomas]

Thanks for the replies, i will report back on our experience. :)

[Chefpaulo]

Jen and I were there on Saturday 10/3 at 7 p.m. for a (hopefully) quick dinner.

After presenting the Restaurant.com $25 discount certificate, we seemed to disappear. It was 15 minutes before water and menues arrived, another 20 minutes before orders were taken and yet another 20 before our first app was presented. The main course arrived an hour and a half afterward. With a total of three apps and one split main course, we got out 2.5 hours later, just in time to miss our friend's art opening at the Church at Pebble HIll - a good 10 miles away.

Service was haughty and negligent. Calls for more water or order placement went unheeded even though he was in earshot. Food was not bad, but nothing to write home about. Just don't take a gift certificate. You'll be regarded as a second class citizen.

CP

[jujuthomas]

well that sux! hopefully lunch w/o gift cert will be better? ;-)