Sonja Mauro — July 07, 2008
Hipster Habana
Café Habana is a staple among LES types, musician/bartenders, underemployed models, and hipsters on benders. Located on the corner of Prince and Elizabeth, this run-down bodega institution rumbles inside out with Latino music and chattering patrons. It has that late-night, I-know-this-great-little-spot-that-does-mojitos-and-grilled-corn feel which attracts Hollywood heavyweights and slumming masters of the universe. So there’s always a line. No matter who you are, there’s no special treatment. At Café Habana it’s all about equality – just like Castro would want. Everyone has to wait to be seated.
One of the things you’ll immediately notice as you wait: everyone (literally) is ordering corn on the cob. The corn is served piping hot on small, white plates to patrons who devour it with a such a frenzied enthusiasm it makes you wonder if the kitchen doesn’t roll the cobs in crack first. It’s actually grilled, rolled in Parmesan cheese and chili powder, then served soaked with butter and drizzled with lime juice. It’s a sweet, smoky, buttery, tangy combination powerful enough to get even the most determined hipsters out of bed on a Tuesday morning – or Zach Efron’s agent to wait.
There are a few other signature dishes at Cafe Habana. The Grilled Steak Sandwich is served on a hero roll with sweet onions, peppers, and a chipotle mayonnaise worth fighting for. A Cuban Sandwich features roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and zesty chipotle mayonnaise pressed in a Cuban bun. Other Cuban specialties like Camarones Al Ajillo (garlic shrimp), Enchiladas De Mole Poblano, and Sincronizadas (tortilla-based sandwiches) dominate the menu. For those looking for less indulgent options, the grilled chicken and corn salad packs just as much Latin flavor without the guilt. That same wonderful corn is folded in with field greens, sliced carrots, tomatoes, and juicy grilled chicken breast all tossed in a creamy Brazilian-style house dressing that doesn’t skimp on chopped garlic and spice. Add a few dashes of super-hot green sauce and it’s intense.
Café Habana is a great place for bringing people together any day of the week (probably because it’s the size of a storage closet). But if you want to do it like a true New Yorker, opt for take-out.
