New restaurant: Cuban cafe serves traditional Cuban food, coffee, pastries, sandwiches

Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·3 min read

What’s the name of the new restaurant in Port St. Lucie?

Cafe in Havana

Where is Cafe in Havana?

5457 N.W. St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie; St. Andrew's Park near Publix, south end of strip plaza

Who owns Cafe in Havana?

Jose Alanis, 67, and Barbara Diaz, 32, are co-owners of Cafe in Havana. He put up the capital, and she's running the restaurant. "I always wanted to do Cuban food," Alanis said. He came from Cuba in 1963 at age 5 and moved from Miami 28 years ago. Diaz came from Holguín, Cuba, two years ago.

Their family members also work in the restaurant, including her husband, Eduardo Vidal, 36. They met at university in Cuba, where they studied computer programming. The couple created a mural of Havana that covers an entire wall inside the cafe because they wanted to feel like they're drinking a cup of coffee in Cuba. "They asked for political asylum, and they cannot go back to Cuba," Alanis said, "so they brought Cuba over here."

What kind of restaurant is Cafe in Havana?

Cafe in Havana is a Cuban cafe that strives to be environmentally friendly by using glass or ceramic in the restaurant and biodegradable packaging for takeout. It's open for breakfast and lunch.

What kind of food does Cafe in Havana serve?

It serves traditional Cuban food, Cuban coffee and Cuban pastries. The names of different menu items are places in Cuba, Diaz explained in Spanish. Most of the food is made to order because they don't want food sitting around all day. "We wanted to make homemade food at a fast pace," Alanis said.

Cafe in Havana serves Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries and traditional Cuban food in Port St. Lucie.
Cafe in Havana serves Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries and traditional Cuban food in Port St. Lucie.

What’s on the Cafe in Havana menu?

  • Havana Eggs: Two fried eggs served on picadillo a la Habanera, Cuban grits, sweet plantains and toast ($13)

  • Cuban Heavy: Top sirloin steak marinated in garlic mojo, topped with three fried eggs and caramelized onions, seasoned fries and toast ($17)

  • Old Havana: One fried egg served on ropa vieja, seasoned fries and toast ($13)

  • Guajiro Breakfast: Two fried eggs and sausage on grilled onions, greens and red peppers, seasoned fries and toast ($12)

  • Omelettes: Four eggs with chorizo, veggies or ham; served with one side ($11-$12)

  • Ham Croquettes: Two traditional ham croquettes ($2)

  • Beef Empanada: Golden fried empanada stuffed with picadillo a la Habanera ($3)

  • Pastries: Guava, cheese, or guava and cheese ($2.50-$3)

  • Coffee: Cuban coffee, cortadito, colada, affogato coffee, cafe con leche ($2-$4)

Cafe in Havana serves Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries and traditional Cuban food in Port St. Lucie.
Cafe in Havana serves Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries and traditional Cuban food in Port St. Lucie.

  • Ropa Vieja: Flank steak slow-braised with onions, garlic, sweet peppers, tomatoes and red wine; served with two sides ($16)

  • Picadillo a la Habanera: Ground beef top sirloin cooked with onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, olives, diced potatoes and red wine; served with two sides ($15)

  • Roasted Pork: Slow oven-roasted pork marinated in garlic, sour orange and spices; served with two sides ($14)

  • Grilled Palomilla Steak: Grilled palomilla steak marinated in lime and garlic, topped with caramelized onions and chimichurri; served with two sides ($16)

  • Masitas de Cerdo: Roasted Cuban pork chunks topped with onions and served with mojo criollo; served with two sides ($14)

  • Sides: White rice, black beans, Cuban grits, fried yuca, sweet plantains, Cuban toast, tostones, fries, seasoned fries ($2-$3)

  • Cuban Sandwich: Slow oven-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, mustard and pickles in pressed Cuban bread ($13)

  • Pan con Bistec: Mojo marinated top sirloin steak, caramelized onions, potato sticks, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomatoes in pressed Cuban bread ($15)

  • Ham Croquettes Sandwich: Five ham croquettes, ham, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, mayonnaise and potato sticks in pressed Cuban bread ($10)

  • Cuban Burger: Half-pound Angus beef patty, topped with pulled pork, Swiss cheese, caramelized onion, lettuce and tomatoes on a brioche bun, served with fries ($17)

Cafe in Havana serves Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries and traditional Cuban food in Port St. Lucie.
Cafe in Havana serves Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries and traditional Cuban food in Port St. Lucie.

When did Cafe in Havana open?

Dec. 26, 2023

What are Cafe in Havana's hours?

7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)

What’s Cafe in Havana’s phone number, social media?

772-905-9079, Instagram

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: New restaurant: Cafe in Havana serves Cuban food in Port St. Lucie