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Joe Alicata is a 2009 graduate of Northport High School, he has his B.A. in Public Administration from the University at Albany. Joe works in the radio industry, is a member of the Advisory Board for the Northport High School Academy of Finance (AOF) program, and is a Director for Northport Student's Mean Business. He can be reached at etrestaurants@gmail.com |
| The perfect combination of ambiance and culinary execution, Café Havana brings the tastes and sensations of the Caribbean to you, right here on Long Island. As soon as you pull up to Café Havana, the lighted palm trees and Caribbean styled exterior signal that you are in for a treat of both taste and place. Upon entering the dimly lit, yet lively space, you feel immersed as if you were dining on an island, thousands of miles from home. As you leave the main entryway and make your way to the dining room, on your left is a beautiful fish tank, which adds to the island feel. Directly across from the fish tank is the long, inviting bar. Perfect for a relaxing drink after a long day at work, or for a night out on the town with friends. Moving into the dining room, the ambiance grows, with palm trees adorning the room and the exterior light being filtered through the shutters on the windows, creating an intimate and exotic feel. Moving on to the food; the first item to take notice of are the outstanding fried plantains with salsa, which serve as your table snack while you peruse the menu. The plantains are perfectly salted and crispy, and the salsa is light and flavorful. If you are looking to indulge, the extensive mojito menu is full of tasty choices, the pineapple-coconut being my personal favorite. Once you have had a chance to savor the plantains and salsa, and get set with a drink, the Café Havana menu offers a wide variety of options to satisfy your tastes. With everything from empanadas and quesadillas to mofongo, yucca and paella, Café Havana’s menu contains delicious options that span from familiar plates, to foreign delights. To start off your dining experience, try the Chicken Pineapple Pinchos, succulent chicken skewers served with pineapple; the Yuca Frita, crispy, lightly fried cassava balls with a delicious garlic sauce; or order up some warm and flaky empanadas, stuffed with either beef, crab or shrimp. Moving on to dinner, Café Havana has choices for a variety of palates. For the seafood lover, try the Seafood Paella, which features delicious clams and shrimp with savory rice. For diners who prefer beef, try the Sweet Potato Picadillo, a massive sweet potato served stuffed with Cuban style beef, rice and a side of sliced avocado. For fans of chicken, try the chipotle chicken and shrimp served with chipotle sauce. Once you have finished dining, you can pick up a cigar and enjoy it on their front porch, or head down to the basement for some drinks and dancing (schedule is available upon request). If you are looking to escape from your day to day, head to Café Havana, 944 W. Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown. |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 