'Like going to Cuba without a plane ticket.' Havana Night dishes up Cuban culture downtown
Visiting Havana Night, a new restaurant and cabaret that recently opened in downtown Louisville, is like being in Cuba, owner Frank Garcia said. Garcia, a native of Camagüey, Cuba, told the Courier Journal he selected 649 S. 4th St. as Havana's location because "Louisville downtown means culture."
"(We're) thankful to the city that brought us here and want to give back something," he said about his team and the restaurant's opening.
Customers will find a taste of Cuban culture in Louisville at the new restaurant and can pose in front of a trendy wall of greenery beneath a glowing sign with the restaurant's name on its chic patio. Translucent windows tease what's in store for Havana's interior. Complete with a bar, velvet-like, Sacramento green chairs, and a view overlooking the city streets, the location has marble floors and green, beige and pink lights reminiscent of palm treetops.
"We serve culture," Garcia told the Courier Journal. "It's like a journey to go through Cuban culture in one night."
Food and alcohol selections abound with appetizers like Claves Serranas ($14), or croquettes, béchamel sauce and serrano ham, and the Brusquetas ($14), or toast with tomato, onion, garlic, leek, mozzarella cheese, salsa verde and plantain tostones.
Traditional dishes like Costilla Barbacoa ($20), roasted ribs with homemade barbecue sauce, and the noteworthy Piña Rellena ($27), a pineapple stuffed with shrimp, corn, pink sauce, avocado, leek and prawns, are also served in addition to seafood, desserts and sides.
A variety of cocktails, including mojitos and margaritas, can be ordered while Garcia said the menu's dinner price point averages around $22.
Havana Night, which officially opened in July, is a place where "music, flavor, and the vibrant atmosphere of Havana in the 50s merge," according to a statement on the location's website. "Our goal is to transport our guests to the tropical nights of Havana, offering a festive and authentic atmosphere that evokes joy and happiness," the statement continued.
The team behind Havana Night will host live shows including musical acts, cabaret and salsa, karaoke, showcase live dancers, and live music.
"(It's) like going to Havana in Cuba without a plane ticket," Garcia said about the location.
Havana Night is open Monday through Thursday from noon to midnight. After 11 p.m., Havana Night will transform into a nightclub. Additional hours are on Friday and Saturday are 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Garcia said the location is open on Sunday, but hours are not yet set. Reservations can be made via phone or on Havana Night's website.
Reach features reporter Leah Hunter via email at lhunter@gannett.com or on Twitter at @theleahhunter.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New Havana Night Cuban restaurant opens in downtown Louisville
