In a city full of cool people doing cool things, you really have to stand out from the crowd if you’re to be noticed. Fortunately the Havana Restaurant in the city delivers on all counts.
This is a slick operation in the Lanes area of town. This is a district full of bars and restaurants, so competition is hot. The atmosphere and layout were great, it’s like visiting the Caribbean. It is very airy and has high ceilings and a fountain inside.
The only downside was that despite the name, the décor and the Latin flavour to the drinks, Cuba isn’t represented in the menu at all. Everything is European, which is fine as it’s very good, but the name is a little misleading.
The service was impeccable, we didn’t have to pour a drink ourselves all evening. The bar staff were quick and efficient, and the waiting staff couldn’t seem to do enough for us.
We began with cocktails, which was the perfect beginning. We had a mango colada and a lychee and rose martini. Both were fruit and incredibly tasty. It would have been all too easy to drink those all night. We then moved on to try a pina colada and a fraise royal, which were equally nice.
We began our meal with a sliced duck and a lentil soup starter. Duck is all too easy to get wrong. Fortunately, it was all right. It came stuffed with julienne vegetables, apricot puree and toasted goats cheese on the side. The lentil soup held its own being served with lentil salad and cream cheese crackers.
A tasty entrée, even if it isn’t Cuban.
Our main course was roast cod and duck, with a side of mash. The roast cod was delicious, cooked perfectly and served with black olives and pine nuts. The tapenade and risotto of vegetables served with it set the flavours off nicely. The duck was equally delicious being a vibrant pink in the middle and not overpowered by the sauce.
We had a nice Rose from Sancerre to go with our meal which set it off nicely. A good choice for the menu.
The Bill: £76 per head
