Havana Central Times Square

Reviews

• MW

  Mike Washington

  6 days ago
  5.0
  The team at Havana Central was phenomenal, from shift manager to host, wait staff, and the kitchen team. I was coming home to NYC to surprise my mom and reached out to the Havana team to figure out a special way to surprise my mom. The manager German was amazing and allowed me to show up to the table as a waiter to take drink orders for my family. Not only were they completely surprised, he even gave me a temporary name badge to complete the look. Beyond the special service, Havana Central is an amazing place to dine to have drinks or just bring together a group. The music is amazing, such an awesome vibe that sets the mood to cheer and celebration on a regular old Sunday. And the food was fantastic. For the perfect meal you have to start off with the he trio of Tostones Rellenos and the Empanadas. With the main course if it's hard to decide between the Pencil and the Ropa Vieja Go with the Tour of Havana and sample them both. And with the desserts follow your heart in the moment. We went with the Churros and next time we're definitely going Tres Leches Cake.b you will not be disappointed whatever path you choose.
• DG

  Dior Garcia

  Nov 23, 2025
  1.0
  The food was -100/10. Just horrible. The empanada trio: the cheese empanada was dry. The food was Luke warm. Nothing was hot. The tostones seemed almost not fully cooked. The masitas de cerdo were like bits of meat that were left behind in the oil. They were not even meaty. The chicken wings: i dint know what color that was but I cdnt eat it. The chicharon de pollo: not breaded n again Luke warm. The pitcher quava mojito: it looked like the shaked filament of guava juice. Not appetizing. They sd serve water in glasses. The plastic cups look like school cafeteria ware. N it appeared like the cups weren't clean enough. The edge of the cups look like they have permanent lip prints. And the 10 happy bdays , dear god. It was not a pleasant experience at all. Never again. Don't waste ur money. Go somewhere else..
• GF

  George Fernandez

  Nov 17, 2025
  5.0
  The night I went to Havana Central was my first time in New York City and he made my experience even greater. The food was absolutely excellent. I live in California and I've tried a few Cuban places and this one was one of the best. The young man who served me was outstanding super Pleasant and very attentive I forget his name I wish I could remember it all I know is that he is very young thin half Mexican half Salvadorian but he made my experience a Havana Central the more pleasant. I love the atmosphere the decorations the happiness of the people celebrating and even though they were super busy everyone seem to be having a great time. If you ever go to New York City you must try Havana Central.
• JM

  J. M.

  Nov 16, 2025
  5.0
  I was craving some Cuban cuisine, and after doing a bit of Google searching and reading reviews, my wife and I decided to have dinner at Havana Central in Times Square and I’m so glad we did. When we arrived, the energy was incredible. There was a live band playing, which instantly set the tone for a fun and vibrant night. We had made reservations ahead of time, and it’s a good thing we did because this restaurant was popping. There was a long line of customers waiting to be seated, but we were taken straight upstairs and shown to our table. Our server, Rafaela, was warm, attentive, and made our first visit feel extra welcoming. To start off the night, we ordered the Tostones Rellenos as an appetizer - three plantain baskets stuffed with chicken sofrito, beef picadillo, or shrimp sofrito, drizzled with a tomato garlic aioli. We chose two beef picadillo and one chicken sofrito. At $12.95, it was the perfect way to kick off the meal. For drinks, we each ordered the Ultimate Mojito. I went for the guava mojito ($16.00) and my wife had the classic ($15.00). Both were refreshing, flavorful, and strong enough to remind you you're on vacation even in Times Square. For our entrées: My wife ordered the Arroz con Pollo ($23.95) - boneless chicken thighs cooked in savory saffron rice with onions and peas, served with sweet plantains and topped with a chicharrón de pollo. She paired it with black beans. She absolutely loved it. I ordered the Churrasco a La Parrilla ($35.95) - a beautifully grilled center-cut skirt steak, served with crispy onions, mango salsita, and chimichurri sauce. I added sides of yellow rice, black beans, and maduros (fried sweet plantains). Everything was seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. To end the night, we shared a classic Flan ($8) - a rich vanilla bean custard with caramel on top. Smooth, creamy, and the perfect sweet finish. Overall, Havana Central delivered on every level: food, service, ambiance, and energy. If you’re craving Cuban food in NYC or looking for a lively dinner spot near Times Square, this is an excellent choice.
• JM

  James Martenson

  Nov 7, 2025
  1.0
  My wife and I chose this restaurant because of the Cuban food and live music. We were disappointed on both counts. The evening started on a positive note. We had a reservation and we were seated immediately. We were given two food menus and one multi-page beverage menu. The waiter was gone before I could ask for a second beverage menu, so I had to get up and find a waiter so that we could look at our options at the same time. When I got the second beverage menu, I immediately noticed that it was incomplete, because the second menu did not have the featured cocktail, a prickly pear margarita. The beverages that we ordered ended up being delicious, so things were still going pretty well at that point. After we ordered our food, we sat back and listened to the band. The music itself was excellent, but the band is tucked away in a tiny corner near the entrance. We could not see the band at all. For me, the whole point of live music is the connection created between the band and the audience, but that was impossible without having the ability to see the band. I did not do a scientific analysis of the other seats in the restaurant, but, as best as I could tell, most of them are also completely cut-off from any view of the live performance. Without that connection, it is just a really loud restaurant with music that might as well be coming from a CD player. The biggest disappointment was the food. I ordered the salmon. I took a few bites and then had them take it away because the salmon was not at all fresh. I cannot remember the last time I did this at a restaurant. My wife had the Cuban sandwich, which she described as “average.” To be fair to the staff, they did try to do everything they could to make up for our bad experience with the food. They did not charge me for the salmon, and they offered us free desserts, a gesture that I really appreciated. After the salmon, however, I did not have much of an appetite, so I passed on their kind offer. The vast majority of reviews for this restaurant are 5-star, so perhaps we were just unlucky. If nothing else, I hope that this review gives others a sense of what to expect when dining at this place. Just don’t order the salmon.

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