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A warm, pre-Castro ambiance
Be careful! Slow down! You'll miss it!
Cafe Habana is a tiny jewel in the glittering setting that is Royal Oak dining. Set on a side street, tucked behind Bastone, it is very easy to walk right on by, or simply to not turn the corner and discover this cute nook. But discover it, you should.
Check out a slide show from Cafe Habana!
Cafe Habana is one of a very few, (I can't really think of another good one) Cuban restaurants in the Metro Detroit area. Cuban food is an interesting mix of Latin, Caribbean, and African flavors. Rather than the hot spice of Latin dishes, Cuban tends to have sweet tones. Flavors of garlic, lime, tomato, and chile make this a milder, richer taste, and the Cafe Habana chefs put out a delicious plate of food.
David Ritchie, a managing partner in the restaurant group that includes Bastone, Vinotecca, Cafe Habana, and Commune Lounge, says that when they opened Cafe Habana five years ago, the group was looking for something that was not readily available in the Detroit area. Cuban restaurants have been successful in the Miami area, and even in other metropolitan areas, but the flavor is a new one to Michigan, although two additional Cafe Habana restaurants have since opened, in Ann Arbor and Traverse City.
The decor of the tiny restaurant has a feel of 1930's, pre-Castro Cuba. The walls are exposed brick, the wood is dark and the artwork is a combination of Cuban art-deco posters, and the photography of a Cafe Habana customer who often travels to Cuba. This same customer tells David that he enjoys Cafe Habana because it is the only area restaurant with authentic Cuban food.
Carne Asada, a grilled steak with chimichurri sauce, is the speciality of house, and right now the restaurant is featuring Tortas Cubanas, which are described as "Big Latin sandwiches on crusty bolillo rolls." Also on the menu are beef, chicken, and meatless Cuban dishes, sandiwiches- including, of course, the Cuban- and salads.
The drink menu includes mojitos, of course, and several other cocktails. Also available is the full menu of award-winning beers microbrewed at Bastone. David suggests the Monumental Blonde, served with a wedge of lime and a ring of chili powder to give it a Cuban twist. A non-alchoholic alternative is fresh squeezed lime-aide, which is out of this world.
So next time you are in the mood for something different, something you won't find anywhere else, turn the corner, get off Main Street, and head for Cafe Habana. It is located at 109 E. Fifth Street, Royal Oak, around the corner from Bastone. The hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
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