First Taste: Cafe Habana in Royal Oak

(Credit: VATO/Special to Metromix)

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If only little things like politics didn’t get in the way of culinary experiences. Whether sitting back, sipping a dulce de leche with Sky Masterson and Sister Sarah or dreaming up the next novel with Hemmingway, there has always been something fascinating about the Cuban experience. Fortunately, the culture hasn’t lost its way in America. And even better, that wonderful mix of African, Spanish and Caribbean flavors is ever present at Café Habana in Royal Oak.

From the onset, customers will enjoy the uncomplicated and casual atmosphere -- seating for 47, an open kitchen, beautiful hanging lights and tile, brick and concrete highlight the restaurant’s décor. But it is the food that shines over everything else. Simple ingredients and natural sugars and juices all commingled together on one plate. Components that you might never think to combine often make their way on to same entrée.

The wide variety of plates include traditional meals like the Cuban Sandwich (roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mayo, yellow mustard, press-grilled on Cuban bread), Tacos al Pastor (traditional street tacos on corn tortillas with citrus braised pork and roasted pineapple salsa) and the Sugar Cane Skewered Shrimp (Pan seared, with sweet chile mango glaze, mashed boniato and sauteed spinach).

For the meat lovers, you would surely regret not sampling the Carne Asada, a grilled hanger steak with chimichurri, yellow rice and sauteed greens, or the Ropa Vieja (shredded beef in spicy tomato sauce with yellow rice and tostones) or the Torta Puerco, a sandwich with citrus braised pork, chipotle barbeque sauce, picadillo and jack cheese on a bolillo roll.

Vegetarian options include the Cuban Vegetarian, a sandwich with marinated grilled vegetables, black beans and dill queso fresco, and Arepas, griddled cornmeal cakes with herbed goat cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, mashed boniato and sauteed spinach.

Café Habana is perfect for the later crowd, open until 11 p.m. most nights, and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Get the full dish on Cafe Habana