Cuba Libre & Bar Havana

hhrtmnn

6th October 2009

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Avoid like the plague.
Do not waste your time or money here.

We were planning to start with a drink before our friends arrived and then all enjoy a Cuban meal here. One drink was more than enough to convince us to call our friends and head elsewhere.

I agree with another reviewer who said that the drinks were expensive and that the staff were phenomenally rude - even arrogant.

Whilst finishing our one drink we watched as two other tables enquired about dining but left before ordering a single thing.

How long a business can operate like this waits to be seen in current economy.

I say this prime spot would be much better occupied by a worthy establishment.

Everything is so dirty and slapdash that I would not dare even taste a morsel of their food.

stan224

16th May 2009

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Don't go to this restaurant!

This restaurant may have been decent a few years ago, but it is certainly not anymore. I ordered their duck dish last night, and I'm sure that they gave me chicken dyed to look like duck instead. The texture, the skin, the taste, the bone and muscle structure of the piece of meat was exactly like chicken. Only the brown color of the meat looked like duck. I talked to the manager about this, and he swore it was duck. He gave the following excuses:

1. maybe a duck and a chicken had sex and this is what you got (his words, no joke)
2. you're chinese right? I know you guys make great duck. Well, british duck taste like chicken.
3. In Cuba, there aren't many ducks and so they taste like chicken
4. This is how our restaurant cooks duck, and it just tastes like chicken

I invited him to taste the few pieces I had left as evidence, but of course he didn't try it. My friend also tasted the dish and swore that it was also chicken. I did ask return the dish after eating the first bite because the rest of the dish was very mediocre. The 'tropical' sauce tasted very similar any 'Asian' stir fry sauce that you find at the supermarket. The steamed rice and vegetables were tasteless except for being bathed in the 'tropical' sauce. Since everything else was so mediocre, I expect the 'duck' to be rather tasteless and it was.

Though the manager claimed that he has never gotten a complaint about this, I'm sure they pull this scam all the time. Otherwise, the chicken wouldn't have been dyed to look like duck. At the end, the manager never gave me any kind of discount and simply suggested that next time I come back to not order the duck.

Haha - come back? yeah right.

ceedoubleu at 17/05/09

Clauck Clauck!

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izolda

Tantalising tapas! 2nd September 2008

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This is a great place to have a drink and a bite to eat with friends if you're lucky enough to get a table! The place is very popular with young people due to the excellent tapas on offer and the great cocktails which can be ordered in an affordable jug which will keep 4-5 people happy. There is a wide selection of yummy tapas to choose from and they are very reasonably priced. However go before 10pm because they stop serving them after that time. Vibe of the place is laid back and relaxed, and the decoration is ethnic, bright, funky and inviting. Great for a nice evening out with friends.

jlonners

best chilled out tapas bar 1st September 2008

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This is the most fabulous tapas bar I have ever been in. this is a small Cuban tapas restaurant (not a chain) with the most amazing atmosphere. The walls are all painted with Cuban art to give a warm and vibrant feel, it’s always busy so there is a lively noisey background. This is a great place to come when you want to spend all evening chatting over your dinner. The wine list is full of rich reds, Castile de abalo Chilean merlot being my favourite. The tapas are superb with a range of spicy meat and vegetarian options. You can spend all night here nibbling your food and sipping your wine while feeling exotic and part of vibrant Islington. Love it I keep going back for more!

gilka

22nd July 2007

2 found this helpful

I have really good memories from this place... We used to go for the happy hour as students and gets lots of Mojitos (1+1 free...) The quality was not an issue back then... I had some good food there- mainly the starters and platters. With the mains it gets more tricky although I remember a very good and exotic dish made from Banana and meat... It is difficult to get attention at the bar because it is so busy. Great place for students!

Sami

Tapas are ok, but don't go near the paella 9th May 2007

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When I first moved to London I found myself absolutely entranced by Angel. It was fun and appealed to a younger crowd without the hipper-than-thou attitude that has permeated Shoreditch and no longer makes it any fun to hang out in.

This was one of the first places I went to and on my second return I was really let down. The first time I went was in the middle of the afternoon; the weather was gorgeous so we sat outside and chose a selection of tapas from their board - they run a decent deal - the tapas were ok, but the portions were small and it wasn't too exciting. Nevertheless I enjoyed myself while I was there but I think it might have had a lot to do with the company I was in...

The second time I went there, we ordered the paella and it was absolutely horrid. Not enough rice and too much seafood - for a seafood lover it might have been heaven, but the mixed meats were stringy and flavourless.

The drinks are expensive and the staff can be phenomenally rude, even arrogant. There's no need for attitude, especially if as a diner, I am helping to pay your wages - being polite is only in their best interests, as it brings about more in tips!!

Every time I pass this place I want to go by and have a drink on their mini patio, but I definitely won't be eating there again... if you're looking for a good place to people-watch and sit outside, then this is a good spot for it, but otherwise stay away!