Havana Restaurant:
Cuisine: AMERICAN; with a distinct Latin flair
The best restaurant in town, bar none. A wonderful mosaic of flavors and textures with a warm heat; menu changes often, making eating here exciting. Why eat at some stogy old place when you can eat at a progressive, creative and modern restaurant where the food does the talking, not the reputation. Havana's is all about the food; the food is warm and sensual and presented like a king at coronation. During a meal thoughts like perfection come to mind while your tastes buds are tingling with delight. It was while eating the appetizers that it dawned on me that Havana was becoming my favorite restaurant in Bar Harbor; the entrees confirmed my suspicion while dessert merely cemented the belief; if you eat at only one place in Bar Harbor, let it be Havana.
Bonus: Best Wine List on Island; top 2 in State
The Food: 5 out of 5
Crab Cakes crisp texture on outside, succulently moist on inside; sweet and hot flavors at same time
Local Mussels and Sausage favorite app on the island, very unique; the sauce is great for dipping cornbread
Cuban Pan Fried Halibut perfectly tender; mild warmth tempered by amazing on the tongue mango rice
Lobster Paella delicate and fabulous, tons of lobster; scallops were dreamy; not a heavy paella, very lightly fried on bottom
The Experience: 5 out of 5
Outside dining rivals inside dining for beauty; great spaces
Amuse Bouche: a complimentary warm-up taster of what spices the chef is using today and a glimpse of what is to come
Art of presentation is mastered here
Wine Director low-key and nice guy who enjoys chatting wine
Wine list featured in Wine Enthusiast in 04,05,06 and 07
Like Wine? Eat in the Wine Room
Wait staff well trained, professional and friendly; ask for Jaime
Cornbread is made differently each night; our featured currants and cream
The Price: $$$$ out of 5
Entrees are around $30; palate will easily convince wallet you made the right choice
Havana Restaurant is located at 318 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME
Reviewed June, 2007