La Campana

CA4
Style of food: Spanish/Mediterranean
Cost: Expensive
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Wonderful location for private parties
Worst for: Out in the boondocks of Havana. Mixed food reviews.
Calle 212, No. 2904 entre 29 y 31, La Lisa, Playa
(+53)7271 - 1073
Open 10am-midnight

  • Chill out bar and grill, La Campana seems at first glance more an upmarket homestead finca (farm) than anything else. This is an upmarket ranchón beside a nice pool. The tables are comfortable and well furnished; a breeze takes away the hot and heavy summer night air. Depending on the night, you may also be able to combine dinner with a concert. Kelvis Ochoa, Descemer Bueno, David Torrens and D Jazz have all played poolside recently. On these nights, starting around 11pm, the place gets packed to the rafters with a trendy young crowd. Sunday lunch is more family time.

    The menu has evolved since its original opening. Initially, the menu had everything under the sun including sushi, which inevitably led to a certain amount of inconsistency. More recently, efforts have been made to focus on fewer dishes, which are done well. Sushi is no more and instead a lot more effort is being made to cook good quality meats on the grill (parrilla). At present, there is an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza for CUC 12.95, which seems great value. There remain a number of tapas (seviche, Carpaccio, gazpacho etc.), as well as Chateaubriand, freshly caught fish and a range of paellas. The intention remains to create good quality dishes made as much as possible on the premises without excessive elaboration: ‘Hecho en casa’ (home-made) using fresh local ingredients.

    Where La Campana really comes into its own is for private parties, functions, weddings, you name it. They have the space and capacity to cater for a large crowd and the nature of the space naturally lends itself to a private party. Otherwise, there is perhaps not the single-minded focus on the quality of the food to merit a trip to the suburbs unless you are on for the after dinner party, which is to be recommended.

    This has to be one off the best desserts in the city (maybe in the island). It is a rendition of the classic Spanish sweet delicacy made from a sweet milk pudding deep-fried to form a perfect crispy crust dusted with cinnamon. Neither too sweet nor too rich or too much it is just great! La Campana also offers a great variety of grilled food and wines at a good price in a family friendly environment. The only down of this place is its location, it is out in the Western suburbs (at La Lisa just behind Pedrigal), nevertheless the Leche Frita is worth the trip and if you have the energy they have some great parties at the weekend.

    
  • La Cocina de Lilliam

    La Cocina de Lilliam  LH 4

    Cuba Absolutely Review: December 2012 La Cocina de Lilliam is set in the gardens of a beautiful villa in Miramar. This is right at the top of the list of many visitors’ dream list. It is easy to see w …

    Los Nardos

    Los Nardos  LH 5-

    The Sociedad Juventud Asturiana is a Spanish cultural society from the province of Asturias, which has a special legal status in Havana. Essentially, the society functions as a cooperative which means …

    Habana Libre Hotel – Sierra Maestra

    Habana Libre Hotel – Sierra Maestra  LH 4

    Of all the views in the entire world, this is the place. Well perhaps that is overstating things but the view is certainly spectacular from the 25th floor of the Habana Libre Hotel. You have a 180-deg …

    Tien Tan

    Tien Tan  LH 4+

    Tien Tan (Temple of Heaven) must be a very hated restaurant from the other Chinese places in Chinatown. It is at the end of the Chinese restaurant strip and every time that we walk down here, the tout …

    La Pachanga

    La Pachanga  LH 4

    Havana was needing a cafe that, while keeping the celerity and simplicity of a fast food joint, gave the food a gourmet touch to such dishes as Pollo Pachanga (Pachanga chicken), the delicious smoothi …

    La Bella Habana

    La Bella Habana  LH 4

    La Bella Habana lives up to its name. It is beautiful, tastefully designed and meticulously maintained with attentive staff that is engaging without being overbearing. Above all it is a calm place whe …

    Marina Hemingway – El Pabellón del Tesoro

    Marina Hemingway – El Pabellón del Tesoro  LH 4

    There are only two good Chinese restaurants in Havana and this is definitely one of them. In many ways, it is the Yin to Tien Tang’s Yang. Instead of being located at the end of a busy scruffy Central …

    Bom Apetite

    Bom Apetite  LH 4

    Walking in on a rainy night to Bon Appetite was like walking into an oasis. We had tried a few other places nearby which were all deserted, dead. We had put it down to the weather and planned to head …

    El Diluvio

    El Diluvio  LH 4

    Cuba Absolutely Review: February 2013 El Deluvio was an institution in the Havana paladar scene for many years as the authentic Italian place with great quality pizzas and pastas courtesy of their Ita …

    El Buganvil

    El Buganvil  LH 4

    El Buganvil is a solid, reliable place owned by the indomitable Margarita with the help from her family. This has been open since 1996 (apart from a brief two-year period from 2008-2010). What are val …

    « 5 of 14 pages »