Located at 2210 Bardstown Rd. you can find the best Cuban cuisine in the area. Havana Rumba celebrates the culinary genius of the island of Cuba. Famous dishes include: masa de puerco, ropa vieja, lechon asado, vaca frita, pescado a la parrilla, and a daily variety of sandwiches and salads. The portions are fairly large and decently priced.
I had the chance to experience Havana Rumba for dinner and chose to eat the chicken and chorizo quesadilla ($6) along with the guacamole served with plantain chips ($7.25).
I’ve had my fair share of Taco Bell and El Nopal chicken quesadillas so I expected Havana Rumba’s to be similar in taste; however, it was significantly better in quality and authenticity. The chicken was grilled lightly, mixed with Spanish chorizo (a type of Spanish sausage) and fresh salsa with Monterrey Jack and goat cheese.
The quesadilla was made with fresh ingredients and carefully mixed with balanced flavors. The guacamole was rich in flavor and creamy, yet thick due to textures in the pico de gallo. The plantain chips were a unique and healthier alternative to tortilla chips; they were semi-sweet and not heavily salted, which complimented the guacamole very well.
The atmosphere was vivid and decorated. Cuban paintings hung along the golden yellow walls of the restaurant. Tropical plants were placed at the doorways and corners, which made the experience feel more authentic. The service matched the quality of the food –excellent. Our waiter provided information and details on the dishes, and the staff was very friendly.
Havana Rumba has specials at the beginning of the week on drinks and food. On Mondays, kids eat free. Empanadas are $1 on Tuesdays with the purchase of a drink from the bar, and there is happy hour all night. Wednesdays features a 50 percent off special on house mojitos, house margaritas, as well as red and white sangrias.
Take a trip to the Caribbean without a passport and try out this unique Cuban cuisine. Their hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 11:30 am-9:30 pm, Friday 11:30 am-10:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm-10:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Parking is located behind the restaurant.