Los Compadres

CA3
Style of food: Mexican
Cost: Moderate
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Listening to a mariachi band on a Saturday night
Worst for: Not focusing on enough real Mexican food.
Calle 66A # 3119, esquina a 41, Playa, La Habana, Cuba, Havana, Cuba 11300
(+53)7203 - 6908
Mon-Fri 12am-12pm Sat/Sun: 4pm to 4am
  • Los Compadres opened recently in a beautiful Miramar mansion and as its name suggests is going after the Mexican market. Given that there is a complete dearth of Mexican food in Havana this seems a smart strategy. This is a large place with an inside restaurant and bar as well as a comfortable outdoor terrace. Those who hanker after the sweet sound of a good Mariachi band should try and make it on a Saturday night to the bar from 11.30pm.

    The menu is possibly not quite as Mexican as we would like. Tacos and Quesadillas compete with beef Carpaccio, octopus and salmon rolls as appetizers while the main course includes lobster, paella and ropa vieja. The Mexican dishes, which they do have, however are well done including your Tex Mex fajitas, beef chimichurri and churrasco. Our advice would be to embrace fully the inner Mexican, spice up the food a little and establish the place as the Mexican of choice in Havana.

    Los Compadres bills itself as a Mexican place, has a Mexican partner and even a mariachi band, BUT most of the menu is actually more international and Cuban than Mexican. Sensitive to the criticism in recent weeks, they have started to introduce some more authentic Mexican fare including my favorite, the Tampiqueña steak. Cut thinly (as it should be) and served with tortillas, refried beans and a homemade pico de gallo, it is truly excellent. Thumbs up. Wash it down with a couple of margaritas!

    
  • El Comendador Hotel – Bodegón Onda

    El Comendador Hotel – Bodegón Onda  LH 3

    The Bodegón Onda is located within the Comendador Hotel, which slightly confusingly is next to the more visible Hostal Valencia (one of our favourite places to stay in Havana). This is a delightful, i …

    Puerto de Sagua

    Puerto de Sagua  LH 3

    “The fish and shellfish that you have enjoyed here spent the night in Isabela de Sagua Bay.” This slogan used to identify the excellence of food served at Puerto de Sagua Bar & Restaurant, founded …

    La Casona de 17

    La Casona de 17  LH 2

    This painted, peach-coloured 1920s mansion has two indoor colonial-style dining rooms and an outdoor grill restaurant. Both offer healthy-sized traditional Creole dishes, which are reasonable value wi …

    Marina Hemingway – Pizza Nova

    Marina Hemingway – Pizza Nova  LH 2

    Once upon a time the Pizza Nova was one of the better Havana restaurants serving good quality pizza in the upmarket Marina Hemingway. Perhaps the competition just got better and it is now simply relat …

    Don Ricardo

    Don Ricardo  LH 2+

    On for a good Irish pub in Old Havana where you could get a meat pie and a pint of Guiness. Don Ricardo is an Irish restaurant, but how Irish is a little debateable. The place recalls the founder of t …

    Zaragozana

    Zaragozana  LH 2+

    This restaurant’s origin dates back to its founding in 1830. Some people say that it always had the distinctive cooking style of the Spanish region it was named after ever since they opened. In those …

    La Amistad de Lanzarote

    La Amistad de Lanzarote  LH 2

    We had dinner here once a few years ago. We have never been back. The décor looks cheap and there have been reports of aggressive overcharging. Food wise, the specialty is Pollo Lanzarote, chicken wit …

    La Dolce Vita

    La Dolce Vita  LH 2

    Cuba Absolutely Review: July 2012 Oh, La Dolce Vita. Named after the famous Italian film, this looks fabulous, chic, and elegant. Miami style. An awning out of a corporate tennis tournament covers the …

    El Castillo de Farnés

    El Castillo de Farnés  LH 2+

    In the 19th century, this building was home to a grocery store. Later, Francisco Puig bought the establishment and turned it into a cheap restaurant, which he named Castillo de Farnés after a fortress …

    La Cabaña

    La Cabaña  LH 2

    La Cabaña has a great view of the city but truth be told is a relatively basic place. The Cabaña Restaurant Bar has a private air-conditioned room for 30 people with live music. The rooftop terrace ha …

    « 11 of 14 pages »