How many Cuban restaurants are there?
Thursday night, I went out for drinks for a friend’s birthday to Babalu in the warehouse district, although it’s barely in the warehouse district anymore. A very enjoyable atmosphere, and tasty drinks that aren’t too expensive, plus the bar is filled with overstuffed chairs and couches that you just want to relax into. The flamenco dancers were entertaining, and the lead singer was….memorable. She sang well, with a gravelly voice that lent just the right level of…well, the only word for it is gravitas. She sounded like she spent her life smoking cuban cigars, or at least singing in places where many cigars had been smoked.
Getting to Babalu was a bit of a trick, though. When I got picked up to go there, I was asked if I knew where it was. I proceded to direct us across the river into Northeast, just past Ground Zero. And we arrived at…..Conga. I slapped myself on the forehead and realized I had mixed Conga up with the restaurant on Washington, so I directed us back into downtown, where we turned right on Washington to see…..Cafe Havana. At this point, I gave up, and said, “I don’t know where the hell it is.” Fortunately, we kept driving on Washington and just as we were about to leave downtown, we passed it. Almost missed it, too. After the flashing neon of Conga and Havana, the signage for Babalu is definitly understated. I don’t know what I was expecting, but something more reminiscent of ’50s Havana.
We only drank and listened to the entertainment. I will definitely have to go back and sample the food menu, particularly the very attractive-looking paella.
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The real question is, do any of them serve a decent plate of plantains, palomilla, roast pork or arroz con pollo? Do any of them have Iron Beer? Materva? Fried Yucca? Or a decent Cuban sandwich, like maybe a Media Noche served on the proper bread?
Do any of them approximate a Miami Cuban place, or are they all fancified California cuisine versions of the Cuban food experience?
I’d love to hear from anyone who knows Cuban food.
I’ve only eaten at Cafe Havana (and Victor’s), and I remember it being good but really spendy. I couldn’t speak to the food.
I did just go to Babalu for the first time a couple weeks ago and I totally loved it. Great atmosphere. I guess I don’t really care so much if the food is all that authentic as long as it’s tasty, although I would like to know what really authentic Cuban food tastes like.
I went there once for dinner, it was the most expensive meal I’ve ever had. We shared everything too and my half was $50.