Three restaurants in Havana to try author’s cuisine

Although we are increasingly able to find exotic and international food, in Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Iranian or Valencian restaurants, Creole food reigns in Havana’s kitchen. There is also experimenting with the culinary author, Gourmet, while preserving flavors of tradition.

Three of oldest “paladares” or restaurants

There are places of fashion that are imposed by their imprint and novelty; however, tradition tells us about the settled, persevering and enduring that can become a business. For this reason, I particularly recommend three “paladares”, this is the way that locals refers to private restaurants in Cuba, among city’s most exquisite and oldest.

La Moraleja, the final pleasure

In one of most populated Vedado’s areas, near Tryp Habana Libre Hotel and Universidad de la Habana (University of Havana), we can discover “La Moraleja” restaurant. It is perfect for lunch or dinner after a walk through city’s modern part.

The exact address is 25th Street, number 454, between I and J streets. There, in a two-storey mansion, with an interior patio and terrace, owner created a refuge to make best Cuban cuisine, without face tradition with culinary innovation. Imagine something there and it will taste good, especially for fresh products that serve as chef’s base.

Each day they offer a unique menu, where they mix Cuban Creole cuisine, and international cuisine. Meat and fresh fish are cooked on grill, while waiting in the well-stocked cellar, savoring some Italian or Spanish wine. You can choose to enjoy outdoors on La Moraleja’s terrace, or pick yourself up in a private lounge privacy.

It’s not exactly cheap but great pleasures have their price. Menu includes several entrees, bread and butter, two liquids, three strong dishes (including grilled lobster), rice, black beans, dessert and coffee.

House has a detail with his customers: it gives a drink prepared with Cuban rum, and a cigar. There is no better pairing with the Cuban creole food, nor superior end for a dinner in Havana.

Gringo Viejo (Old Gringo), new kitchen

This paladar was named as Carlos Fuentes’s novel, about an American writer who abandons everything to join Pancho Villa’s troops. The literary work was taken to Western genre cinema, and that film inspired this small but superb place for gourmet cuisine, located near Avenida de los Presidentes (Presidents Avenue) or G Street.

It is one of the oldest private restaurants in Cuba’s capital, with more than twenty years open. In its hall, homonymous film is remembered, through posters and objects. Traditional Creole recipes, transmitted between generations, are served but mixed with modern culinary styles.

Be sure to try lamb knuckle, typical old clothes (shredded meat with sauce), tamale in casserole, chickpeas with meat, smoked salmon with olives and Gouda cheese, risotto with apples and mushrooms or crab in red sauce.

The exact address? It’s located on 21st Street, number 454, between E and F streets, Vedado. Something different to eat? Meat with chocolate sauce. Awesome and new!

Creole Decameron

It isn’t in Italy, like those Giovanni Boccaccio’s stories, but in Havana, specifically in Linea Street, number 753, between Paseo and 2 streets. That’s where that delicious “Decameron” restaurant is located. They mention it when they ask for one of city best and oldest private restaurants.

In full of activity Linea Street in Vedado, this place has been sheltered for a few years for Cuban author food, which includes delicious cold and hot appetizers, soups and creams, vegetarian dishes, seafood and fresh fish.

There are also rice, pasta, pizzas and various meats (sublime pork), among them, house’s specialty: Principeno snapper with olive oil and capers. Other very famous and exquisite dishes are yucca dumplings stuffed with crab, and pumpkin cream. What to order between desserts? I recommend delicious tuna tarts, and also lemon pie.

The relationship between food quality and prices is spectacular. Service is fast and full of attentions, have a very pleasant atmosphere, air-conditioned, and on walls hang shelves, works of art and antique clocks, in order to reinforce the idea of being in an isolated point in time. If you want to observe Linea street animation, you can stay on place’s terrace, full of beautiful ornamental plants.

Decameron’s added value: it’s close to great line theatrical circuit, and clubs like Yellow Submarine, Havana Cafe of Melia Cohiba Hotel, among other attractions.

Try Havana’s miseries

Cuba got a lot of flavors: spicy, sweet, sensual… The island’s food is tasted at hot temperature, just like its land, and is full of variety just like people who lives there. Sitting at a table there is immersing yourself in a festival of colors and nuances of taste.

This is demonstrated by these three Havana restaurant, the oldest and most consolidated, but whose chefs do not give up the dream of making Cuban and innovative food, with best resources at hand. You have to reach them to discover the mysterious sensuality of island’s cuisine.

Originally published at havanaprivatesuite.com.