Drinks Only: Havana Central, Garden City, NY

With temperatures hovering in the single digits, stepping into the tropics on the freezing evening seemed like a good idea.The palm trees and bright Cuban decor at Havana Central's Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, NY had me intrigued. The drinks did, too. The food? Not so much.

A Pomegranate mojito at happy hour prices was the ideal antidote to the sub-freezing temperatures.  Don't like mojitos? Sangria and margaritas are also available. My advice? Leave after that. 

The appetizer sampler was just terrible. Don't you think that a tray of fried items should be defined when served? We practically had to beg the bus boy to give us a vague description.  Empanadas were too dry, as were fried plantains. Conversely, Chorizo was too greasy.  Corn was on the cob and therefore impossible to share. The only semi-redeeming item was sweet plaintains. And that's more of a dessert item.

My main course shrimp mofongo wasn't any better.  Mofongo is not a dish I know much about. Apparently it is supposed to be a dish with mashed plantains, bits of pork and some kind of chicken, meat or fish. At Havana Central it is mound of slop, the shrimp that surrounded said mound were fine but the mound was not. I could discern no real flavor so I gave up. 

Supposedly the Cuban sandwich is tasty, although irrelevant since I'm probably not eating here again. Drinks only from now on. 

Until our next Burger,

KLB

Havana Central
Roosevelt Field Mall
630 Old Country Road

Garden City, NY

516.739.7900
havanacentral.com

Note: Other New York locations include Times Square and Ridge Hill in Yonkers.  There is a Legoland Discovery Center at Ridge Hill and you may need a drink after that!