I was in Boston for work and staying at the attached hotel! I had a long day and just wanted easy food, so I stopped into Dona Habana. I was INCREDIBLY thankful I did! Everything was delish! The interior is delightful with tons of color and Cuban flair! It's very warm and inviting! I was by myself so I just sat at the bar and the bartender was really friendly and helpful! Overall, great service across the board from all staff. The bartender recommended the Mojito Japones, as a fun, unique take on their signature mojito and it was DELISH! I enjoyed three Tapas plates. The Yuca Frites were very yummy and had a delicious garlic dipping sauce. The Cubanito Sliders were big and had a yummy blend of meat, cheese, and pickle. The Jamon Croquettes weren't anything to write home about, but not bad. Overall, great value, fun location, and delicious food! I wish I was staying more than one night! read more

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Ambiance is warm & seems authentic. The lighting is very elegant & interesting. The women & service are beautiful & exquisite just like the women of the country. Food is still to be determined. read more

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I came here the other night with a friend and we had a nice experience! I love the Cuban-inspired art when you walk in--in the hallway to the dining room, there was a painted mural of the area around La Floridita in Havana, which I've been to. Very nice touch. We started with yuca frita with mojo (yum--and the perfect texture), and I had the ropa vieja for my entree. The beef was tender and quite well-seasoned, with enough onion for flavor without being overpowering. It came with a hearty serving of rice and beans (there are also other options for sides). My friend's steak was a bit on the dry side, so ropa vieja won the day. Their drink menu boasts a bunch of different mojitos--with all the fruit flavors you might imagine. I had a lovely passionfruit mojito, and it's nice to see that Doña Habana included some solid Cuban classics. Our server was also nice and it was refreshing to be able to order in Spanish. I had been counting Mariel as my favorite Cuban restaurant in the area--definitely a different vibe--but Doña Habana is giving them a run for their money! read more

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As a Cuban, I can't think of a better place for Cuban food in Boston than Doña Habana. The food is authentic and had the pleasure to be served by a very friendly Cuban young lady who had the great ability to clearly convey in perfect English the key dishes on the menu. Their cocktails are amazing. Kudos to the bartender(s).The ambiance is great. From the decor to the music playing in the background. I don't understand the sub par reviews about this establishment. As I said, I am Cuban and my mother and grandmothers were great cooks. I have the knowledge to speak with authority about Cuban food. If you're in Boston and either crave or want to try Cuban food, just head over to Doña Habana read more

Finally writing my long overdue review for this amazing restaurant: Dona Habana. This was my first time ever trying Cuban food and I was in fact not disappointed. We came here on a Saturday night, the restaurant offer free parking in the garage lot in front. The restaurant was packed and it had 3 different main rooms. The server immediately sat us and gave us the menu. The menu is very extensive and has a lot of different options. We immediately ordered drinks, we went for piña colada and a mango mojito. The piña colada was delicious as well as the mojito. We started with appetizers, we decided to order a side of fries and fried calamari. The friend calamari tasted delicious as well as the side of sauce it came with. The fries tasted very good as well and they were hot. For the main entree we order the red snapped and the black beans risotto. The presentation for the red snapper was incredible. The black bean risotto tasted very good and the salmon it came with was very well seasoned. The red snapper came with a side of salad and a side of plantains. The fish itself has a good flavor. The total for our dinner came out to be approximately 145$ for two people which is very reasonable given the amount of food and drinks we got. The thing I enjoyed the most about my evening at Doña Habana was the live music playing in front of us. This is definitely a restaurant I would love to come back to. read more

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Thought we would give this a try as it was recommended by the hotel we were staying and close proximity. The decor is very Cuban and great music but just a little too loud for a dining room experience. Not being familiar with Cuban cuisine I ordered La Mulata Burger med rare. Flavors from sauce, cheese and caramelized onions were delicious however it was cooked very rare so could barely eat. My husband had the Cubano sandwich w/fries. Bread was extremely dry and hard to bite into, French fries were barely warm. It took over 30 minutes for the meals to come out. On the good side, our waitress was attentive and friendly. read more

Doña Habana - La Mulata Burger - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Last few times we been there food was hit or miss We went this past weekend and it was another miss Cold and soggy fries yucca fries were hard and under cooked not to say the other complaints the rest of the table had! We had a large group and the waitress they gave us we've had terrible experiences with her i mean we were hoping not to her! The restaurant forces an 18% gratuity but isn't the tip supposed to be earned? She definitely didn't earn 5% respectfully read more

-Food was wonderful. -Prices seem part for the course for this area. -However... The only time we saw our waitress, which was the barmaid was when she took her order and when she took our plates. Somebody else brought us our food but other than that, we didn't hear a peep out of her. -Then I get the bill and there's an automatic 18% gratuity on it. Where I come from gratuity is earned not expected. I made her take it off But still gave her a 10% tip which was way too much. I'm not a fan of this practice and would not recommend anybody going where gratuity is expected before you even know how the service or the food is. Just wrong... -They could probably turn the music down six notches, it was hard to talk to each other across the table. read more

Completely annoyed, The customer service is great is what I will say, but won't I won't say is the food was great. The ambiance was mediocre, music is too loud I could hardly hear the children and my husband talking. The over cooked my lobster and so much so that it took like 7 chews to swallow it! I'm completely annoyed and disappointed. Rice and beans had no flavor, everything was bland, would you feel comfortable making someone pay all that money for bad food?! Atrocious!! read more

I was staying at the hotel the restaurant was connected to and the front desk told me it was good. I tried to not be influenced by the previous reviews but unfortunately they were spot on. While the decor was nice and the food was good, the service wasn't. When I walked in there was only one other table with 2 people, another single person did come in but it was pretty empty. It was quite a while before the waitress came to my table. Then it took longer than expected to get my salmon. It was the only order! I had to flag the waitress down twice to refill my water. When I was finally brought the check, they had added an 18% gratuity to it. For a party of 1, that's unheard of. Now I get why they don't give good service to anyone, they know they're getting a good tip. read more

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I LOVED this place. The vibe was warm and felt like home, but the food--it was fantastic. Since going, I've recommended DH to family and friends with very different palates. I can't wait to return. A lighted parking lot was available nearby. read more

I had never heard of this place prior to coming here but loved the ambiance and it had great energy! Tried their cocktail flight and every drink was yummy. I'm honestly not sure what dessert we got but it was to die for. Our waiter was super kind and attentive. My friends had ordered entrees but I arrived later during their meal. The food looked absolutely delicious so I definitely plan to come here in the future to try their entrees out. read more

Doña Habana - cocktail flight - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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It was our last night in Boston and we were pretty tired, so we wanted a spot that was cute and walking distance from our hotel. Doña Habana nailed it (just look at my picture of the entryway). We ordered the CEVICHE DE LA CASA, the small SURTIDO DE LA HABANA (basically an appetizer sampler with empanadas, croquettes, pork belly, plantain chips, cassava chips, and sweet potato fries), and PAELLA VEGETARIANA. There was only 3 of us, so we had more than enough food. I would have skipped the paella, but my mom and aunt loved how it paired with the ceviche. I'd tell you which mojitos we got, but I already forgot. One of them was for sure mango, and they were delicious. I'd want to come back with more friends to try more of the drink menu. Our server was super patient with us, despite initially seating us outside as my aunt requested, then moving us inside after about 5 minutes when my mom and aunt got too cold. The lights on the car hanging on the wall go off and the music gets loud/fun when they do their birthday celebrations, so if that's not your thing hopefully you go on a quieter night, but my group enjoyed it! read more

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Really just sick of trying to like this place, despite it being so conveniently located adjacent to a hotel where I've stayed for over a year... five visits on different days and times, hoping for the best, but always regretable experiences; tonight was the last time. The only good point about Doña is the decent food, but it is overpriced and every other aspect of being there is very disappointing, even unwelcoming. The music is almost deafening and too loud for a date or a meaningful conversation, and the service is inattentive at best -- and lying and sneaky the rest of the time. Sneaky? They automatically add 18% gratuity. I typically dine alone or with one other person on business, never as a party of six or more. Adding an automatic gratuity, then suggesting additional gratuity amounts further down the bill? Absolutely, no, thank you. When I requested that the automatic gratuity be removed tonight, my waiter claimed that it was because I was a guest of the hotel. I looked him in the eye, told him that was not true, and asked again that the extra charge be removed. HE LIED TO MY FACE AGAIN, claiming the hotel guest policy. If that was true, then Doña would deliver to my hotel room if I ordered takeout, and they do not. If that was true, then I would be able to add my room number to the receipt and have the meal charged that way, and that's not possible. The same automatic gratuity was added to a drink tab at Halloween. I asked it to be removed and the bartender apologized that it was *their policy* to add it like that but she would be happy to get her manager to over-ride and reverse the automatic gratuity. So sneaky and shabby of Doña that this is their SOP!! I asked my hotel's night clerk moments ago who confirmed the Doña and the Hampton Inn hotel are not affiliated in any way beyond sharing one wall. I normally tip well, but I'm not about to be swindled if I can help it! Look closely at your receipts, my dears! read more

I recently had a surprise birthday party for my husband at Doña Habana. It was amazing!! I can't say enough about the food, the staff, the atmosphere...everything was perfect. Many of the guests told me that they felt as though they stepped into another world as they walked through the door and that the food was FANTASTIC! Nivia and Glenda were so wonderful and made the party planning easy. They made sure this was a birthday to remember and that our guests had a great time. I can't wait to go back again and again! read more

Really enjoyed, solid vaca frita. Black beans were great, house hot sauce added nice flavor. A bit understaffed but not too slow, the people who were working were great. read more

I recently visited Boston with some friends and my husband and this place was recommended to us by our Uber driver. From the moment I walked in, I was drawn to the vibe. From the murals on the wall to the decor throughout the restaurant, I was impressed. We were seated right away without having a reservation and the waitstaff was great. They checked on us repeatedly throughout the meal, but gave us the space and time to enjoy the meal and our company. I had the fried pork chop chunks with rice and beans. The beans were my favorite part of the meal. Full of flavor, but not overwhelming. The pork chunks were great as well. They were fried perfectly with just the right amount of crunch. I definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting the area and looking for exceptional Cuban cuisine! read more

Doña Habana - Masa De Puerco Frita (Fried Pork Chunks with sautéed onions) - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Very cool vibe inside. Beautifully decorated. Good for groups. They were lots of birthday dinners. Service was incredible. Very nice young lady helped us. She was working hard with too many tables to care for. Lots of variety on drink menu...margaritas, mojitos, and more. Very good options on the menu and there was a good selection of tapas to choose from. Overall experience for our food was mid. Pork chops were over cooked and dry. Could use a few more brussel sprouts and less potatoes in that dish. My bistec steak came out a bit over cooked for medium. It was over seasoned and very salty. The entrees price was high and the quality did not meet the price. This place has good potential if they just tightened up the kitchen quality and get this Yelp rating up!! Also the outside was slightly shady. We walked around the wrong way from hotel and there were people gathering lurking in the dark not well lit part of the street. I felt very uncomfortable. There is a parking garage right across the street if you are driving. read more

Doña Habana - Bill - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice place, traditional music. Service was fast and menu was different than on the website. Ordered ARROZ IMPERIAL CON MADUROS BAKED CASSEROLE LAYERS OF YELLOW RICE, PULLED CHICKEN, HAM AND TOPPED WITH BLENDED CHEESES AND SWEET PLANTAINS WITH CREOLE SAUCE $28. If Chef Irvine came here he would say this was bad. Food looked great but either this was microwaved or not fully heated. Rice was not fully cooked. Meal had some flavor but not what I would expect especially for the price. Warning sign no 1 is the auto tip of 18% any restaurant that charges tip by default should be a red flag. Reading the reviews now rather than when I saw the place I would have stayed away and order delivery. I'm Surprised they are still in business considering reviews go back to 4 years with similar reviews. Undercooked cold etc. Not a place I'll come back too unless reviews change drastically. They have a potential but need help in the kitchen. Menu looks good. Presentation is nice. read more

Doña Habana - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Let get into it ! I have been been here about 3 times now and each time the food is always so yummy. I love the ambiance of this restaurant. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a beautiful Cuban portrait and it is like you are no longer in Boston but on vacation. There is a live band so as you are eating you are relaxing listening to music . The menu selection is all a must have and you surely will not be disappointed. Steak , rice , beans I loved it all. Staff are very nice and had no issues as they would always check on me . If this is a restaurant you are thinking about visiting please please go check it out . Parking does get validated inside the restaurant but parking being across the street is pretty convenient!! read more

Doña Habana - Drink - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I have eaten here four times. I love it. Food is authentic and very good. Staff is friendly, helpful, and quite willing to go out of their way to make sure your drink or meal is prepared the way you want it. Menu is varied. This is the only restaurant I need when I am in the area. Thank you. read more

Realmente me encantó todo, muy buena comida y excelente servicio, el ambiente es muy tranquilo read more

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Food and service was excellent, including big portion sizes. The pocket of town where located is the downer unfortunately.

Worst service! Waited 15 minutes for drinks.. appetizer came before the drinks. Entrees were served before appetizer plates were cleared and they were still on the table while eating dinner. bus boy looked over at our table several times and never cleared dishes or refilled water glasses. Music was so loud you couldn't have a conversation. toddlers were allowed to sit at the bar and scream their heads off while their parents drank. one waitress for entire restauran. Very unpleasant dining experience. Management needs to get a handle on their issues read more

We are in Boston for a quick getaway trip. We got in rather late and found this restaurant next to the hotel. It looked quite intriguing. Walking in, we were wow'd. The ambience is amazing! We checked in and were directed to go down a hall to check in at another station. It was neat walking down the hallway with artwork, but it was quite confusing too as the music was really loud so we weren't sure we were doing the right thing. The second hostess stand was in a bad place for waiting guests. The stand itself isn't bad, but there is no where for us to stand without being in the way of the waiters going from the outside patio to inside. It was just awkward. Both hostesses were super sweet and friendly! We really thought this was a SUPER cool place and overall it is... but this is where our experience ends being so positive. After being seated, we waited 23 minutes for a waiter to acknowledge us. He walked by multiple times never speaking to us. When he finally did stop, it felt very rushed. We ordered our drinks and our food at the same time. (It was 28 min later before we got our food.) I had to ask for a refill of water from I think was the manager while waiting for our food. The table next to us spoke with the manager at it taking 2 hrs since they sat down & their food was cold. In their defense, there seemed to be multiple (at least 4 that we saw) parties. When they do a "birthday" celebration, the music comes on SUPER loud and a song comes on for Happy Birthday in Cuban. The table in front of us also had some issue and had a word with the manager too. My chicken was cold, but my tostones was hot. The mango salsa had absolutely no mango. It seriously looked and tasted like they took a veggie mix bag from freezer and warmed it up. His salmon was divine!!! Again the veggies underneath was cold and mushy. They had good flavor though as they had some good spice. They forgot his fries, but we got them later; undercooked. Our waiter came back one time to check on us. He wasn't even the one who brought our food. I had to ask for water refill again. There was another person dressed as not a person who worked there who kept dancing by the hostess stand. She didn't really interact with anyone except the staff though. This place has a lot of good potential, but they seem to be the victim of poor management choices. The biggest shock came when we got the check. There was an automatic 18% tip added to our check. The service was extremely lacking, the food was not near what I would expected for the price, and the tip was automatically added. We typically tip 15-20% no matter what but it was a shock and explained why our waiter didn't seem to care if he gave us good service or not. He was getting his tip whether he worked for it or not. We won't go back. The food and service are our biggest reasons why. read more

Doña Habana - PECHUGA DE POLLO A LA PLANCHA GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST TOPPED WITH MANGO PICO DE GALLO - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This is an overall rating. I used to think of Dona Habana as 5 out of 5. The ambience alone is about 4 starts if you are in the main room. The service has definitely changed. The friendliness of the waitstaff, the timeliness of the food, and the low temperature when your food comes out. These are all signs to me that the food is not being checked frequently by food runners or servers. Cold yucca is the worst. My friend couldn't even finish her steak. She said the lobster was good. The drinks were quite weak. The only thing we enjoyed was the shrimp appetizer and lobster from the surf and turf. It was about $120 of a wasted meal. The managers were unavailable. It is so disappointing. It used to be my go to place especially for out of town guests. The ambiance helped to retain a 3 star rating. read more

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Excellent service, delicious food, what else can you ask for? The mojito flight was tasty, the Fufu was out of this world and the salmon was to die for. Que viva Cuba! read more

Doña Habana - Mojito flight - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Ok so let me be clear.... The inside space is fun and festive .... Staff is nice Drinks are great and strong 4 stars But the food is eh - 3/2 starts Located at the bottom of the Hampton Inn ... Near the intersection of Cass and Mass ... so there can be sketchy people in the area ( methadone mile) so just be aware ... I didn't have any issues Parking lot across the street to make it easier for people to come . Outside eating area which looks nice and two inside dining areas ... decor is nice ... vibe is lively ... music playing ... live music on weekends ... special bday desserts served by staff with music ... So - Food is eh.... Ceviche seemed to be sitting for a awhile and the plantain chips were not fresh. I tried the shrimp empanadas which was pretty good but the beef were underwhelming and bland. I couldn't let myself try anymore ... but the upside is the drinks ... I tried the frozen guava mojito and the regular guava mojito and it was yummy ... made me tipsy ! My waiter even gave me a complementary coconut mojito shot which was good but the guava was better to me ... read more

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This is at a pretty random place off melenea Cass, but was recommended. Great atmosphere, bartender was friendly. Ordered brunch item. Beans and shredded beef was so flavorful, hopefully will go back and try other items. read more

Doña Habana - Ropa Vieja Ranchera - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I was in Boston staying at the attached Hampton Inn hotel for a medical trip. Upon check-in, we noticed the attached Cuban restaurant- Doña Habana. I knew I had to give it a try. The interior of the restaurant is a bit tight and cramped. My opinion is if you can get a seat on the patio, do it. Their patio is clean and very open. You don't feel cramped or "packed in". We visited while COVID was still an issue, so menus were accessed via a QR code on my phone. They have an amazing & exotic drinks menu for individuals AND groups. My mom went with a single cocktail but the selections are ENDLESS. For groups, they have very cool and creative offerings. I saw multiple groups ordering and sharing a "light up" fish-bowl sized cocktail. Endless cocktail options. Unique options you don't see elsewhere. As for the food, the most common item (in my view) was the Fried Red Snapper. I saw multiple tables inside and out order it. I plan to give it a try myself on my next trip out. Food wise, we ordered the 1/4 Pollo Asado. It was by far, the juiciest chicken I've ever had in my life. The meat was so juicy it melted in your mouth. The unique Cuban seasoning and marinade was also incredible. I'd highly recommend it. If you're looking for a lighter choice, their Caldo De Pollo soup is incredible. Loaded with chicken and an incredibly flavorful broth. And for $8, you get a HUGE serving. I've also tried the Mini-Cuban Sandwiches. If I had to complain about an item, this would be it. It in my view was VERY dry and tough. The meat was just very dried out. No amount of sauce made it palatable. Aside from the disappointing Mini-Cuban Sandwiches, I'd highly suggest this place. The menu has something for everyone. The cocktail menu will blow you away. You'll see many folks celebrating birthdays here too. You'll see the sparklers and hear the special song AT LEAST once during your dining experience. I'd highly suggest Doña Habana to folks in the area. If you're staying at the hotel, be sure to check it out. It's attached, you don't even have to walk outside! read more

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Outstanding food. Great service. Stellar experience. We were in Boston to take a family member to the airport and were looking for a good, convenient place to dine. The restaurant was in our hotel and happened to have a reservation for 4 at a time convenient for us. They seated us quickly, took our drink orders (margaritas and a "jar" of red Sangria. Both were excellent. We ordered our meal shortly thereafter. Two of us got porkchops which were outstanding. Overall, great service and food experience. Highly recommend! read more

Great ambiance. Staff very attentive and fast. Good Cuban salsa music in the background. Decoration is nice, Havana's mural in the background , classic car on the wall and tribute to the old Cuban cigar makes for a great place to enjoy good flavorful Cuban cuisine. read more

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This is the cutest restaurant ever! I went with some friends for a cocktail "mixology" class thing, which was much less a class than simply drinking cocktails and chatting with your friends. It was a LOT of alcohol for I think $30 a person, so definitely a budget friendly night out. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and the pink bar makes for a cute photo spot. The mixology night was mezcal, which I personally wasn't a fan of because it was very smokey (fist sip and I said "why does this taste like barbeque sauce") but that's just a personal preference and I'm sure the drinks were good if you like mezcal. The event included 4 very strong cocktails and an appetizer platter with pork, chips & guac, salsa, and cheese. I also purchased the Cuban sandwich sliders which were delicious. read more

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Loved this place! Ordered Mojito Sampler, chorizo tapas and Paella Marinera. I could tell everything to care in preparation and it was amazingly good. The Paella was probably my top dish of 2023. Perfectly prepared and fun to eat. Loved the environment too! read more

Doña Habana - Mojito Flight - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We had a great dinner and enjoyed the live music. The restaurant is colorful with lots of fun things to see.

I love the decor, music and food. The quarter roast chicken is delicious and you must try the shrimp empanadas. The drinks are awesome and you might even get a tarot card with your tiki drink. The fried snapper is very popular! Parking is best to park at the garage across from hotel. read more

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Pros: 1. Outstanding quality of food [9.5/10]: Another spot in Boston that took me for surprise. I would never have imagined that this quality of cuban food would exist here. I only thought I get this quality of food in florida or Cuba lol. Shockingly some of the best ropa vieja that i've ever had. The steak, empanadas and morro rice was just simply perfect. Cons: 1. Customer Service [6/10]: There was a bit of a back and forth between myself and the server due to the bottle of sunkiss that I brought. I do not drink liquor and dont like to be chasing down servers for sodas so i bring my own. They stated that if they couldnt confirm that alcohol wasn't in it then it couldn't be consumed inside. Ehhhhhhh. It seems like they just made that up so you could buy their overpriced drinks and be charged for each refill. Most spots (99%) that I visit just hand you ice and let you be. 2. Pricing [6/10]: They utilize auto-tip and then ask for more on top of that. No sir. Especially when the average plate of food is $25+. Will definitely come back. The food is A+++ and thats all that really matters at the end of the day. read more

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My coworker recommended this Cuban restaurant for us to try so of course, on my birthday we went. However, we were a bit disappointed. Here's why: -The food was just -ok. We ordered the seafood paella which had too many issues, to be rather blunt. The shrimp was not deveined and still had the entire shell+legs on it with poop. The rice was hard and undercooked. The lobster wasn't cracked at all so it was super messy to eat all around. We ordered a Pina colada which was too sweet and a passion fruit juice which was too sour. We also ordered Ropa vieja which was fine but my side of rice was literally a small scoop of rice. We also ordered tostones which didn't come with mayo ketchup (dipping sauce you usually get with this order anywhere else) so I had to go out of my way to ask for it. -The customer service wasn't great. I had to greet the desk ladies and stop them mid conversation otherwise they would have kept talking. Later on, I complimented the hostess who I assume was the lady in charge and she just kind of rushed on by me and didn't really acknowledge the compliment. (At least fake it lol) -There were tons of flies.. like everywhere. This is probably due to the outside seating so not their fault but just annoying while you're eating. Our meal came to 127$. It was pretty pricey for the amount of food and the quality tbh. - Lastly, upon making reservation they asked what the occasion was to which we said birthday and that was not recognized at all during check-in or during our time there. I will say the ambience and the decor is really nice. It was honestly the best part about our experience. read more

Doña Habana - Poopy shrimp - Cuban Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The food was excellent! The fried snapper was delicious and the mojito flight was amazing. Great lively atmosphere. read more

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Food is disgustiing no flavor just salt !! The servers are rude , I got food poisoning from a couple bites of their improperly cooked chicken !! read more