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    La Habana Vieja

    4.7 (72 reviews)

    La Habana Vieja Photos

    LA HABANA VIEJA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - La Habana Vieja

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    Order up!
    Michael M.

    I felt like I was entering a local San Juan restaurant or a barrio in Mexico City. I've never been to Cuba so I can only guess that the vibe works there too. I have been to many trendy little hidden-jems in many cities across the US. This place would have felt at home in Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, or anywhere in the larger cities across the Caribbean. I thought the menu was a little thin but that may be a sign of the times as many restaurants have had to cut back with labor and supply shortages. They had all the basics. I did think some of the dishes I tried were a little bland. Not bad food, just not as robust as I have had in Miami or other Cuban restaurants. Cuban food is not hot, it's flavorful and deep, don't confuse it with Mex/American or Texmex. So I wasn't looking for heat. I had the black-bean soup, the traditional Cuban sandwich, and their version of fries which was more like slivered potato swirls. It was the soup that was a little bland for my tastes, warm and tasty but missing something like some mild peppers or chilis. My Cubana sandwich was a traditional panini pressed with shredded port, I think smoked ham, mustard, and house-made pickles. For me, the pickles were a little reserved and there was not enough of them. Other people may have liked it just fine. I had taken my daughter and her husband along, neither of whom had eaten Cuban food. They enjoyed what they ordered which was a good sign as they have a limited palette and are not always open to experimentation with exotic options. This was a good primer for them and I hope to get them to try other Cuban food in the future. Our waitress (who was taking care of the whole place alone) was fast and very friendly. Not over-engaging (which I prefer) but was willing to chat a bit when we asked her questions. She had a great attitude and clearly cared about the customers. I look forward to returning again with my wife and other family members. There is a large bar outside of the main dining room and a party room in the back with a stage. I hope they get live Cuban music in from time to time.

    Cadillac margarita is huge!
    Stephanie W.

    This is a very upscale Cuban restaurant. We went with a group who was a bit skeptical of the smaller menu and authentic food, however everyone enjoyed their dishes. Many folks in our party had the classic Cubano sandwich, ceviche, etc. I had the braised brisket dish and it was so incredibly flavorful!!! The veggies were delicious. We also shared empanadas & shrimp appetizers- Devine! So good! The shrimp was cooked perfectly. Cadillac margaritas were good, but more tangy and less sweet. The ambiance is so cozy and trendy. Modern decor with cool lighting and cultural art. Loved it.

    Oxtail over mashed potatoes and collard greens.
    Rolando O.

    This is a charming place decorated to make you feel like you're stepping into Cuba. Lots of photos of Cuba, taken by one of the owners BTW, really set the tone. Right away you're greeted by a friendly staff. As we were first time visitors co-owner Freddy gave us a quick little tour and talked about how things are in Cuba right now. My dad was Cuban so I really appreciated that. That's for the menu it's not really a traditional selection but they do have the types of food that you would find at Cuban restaurant with their own special twist. When I saw they had oxtail I really wanted to try it. I realize that it would not be the way I normally get it. It's served over mashed potato and collard greens. But, I had to give it a try. Freddy said it was inspired by the Cienfuegos region of Cuba. The oxtail meat itself was tasty and the dish in general was good. I still prefer it cooked the traditional form as a stew. My wife tried the Ropa Vieja served with yellow rice. She enjoyed it although she did say it was a little salty. Again it did not come with the traditional white rice and black beans. That could be on us, we should've asked our very friendly waitress. Overall it's still a very nice place to go and enjoy. You really get the Latin vibe in there. And that night they were even going to have salsa lessons in the back but we are over an hour and a half away from home so we couldn't stay.

    a candle in a glass
    Becca B.

    Eating here is a colorful, emersive experience. The music is lively. The artwork is tasteful. Our server, Hope, provides efficient, attentive, and thoughtful service! Every mouthwatering dish has something to teach you about Cuban cuisine. This is a must-try restaurant in Springfield! Everything is so delicious!!!

    Pollo Asado (jerk chicken), vegetables and plantanos
    Amy H.

    Heard about this place from a friend. Great atmosphere and locally owned. Food was amazing--jerk sauce was phenomenal! They make all their own sauces, including the ketchup. Several different options for plantains from savory or sweet to crispy chips. And, they accept reservations that are easily booked from their website. We'll certainly be returning!

    A view of the bar from the dining room
    Alessandro D.

    This place is a gem that is worth being discovered. The food is amazing, service is egregious and the drink... well the drinks are incredible. Double thumbs up for this incredible place that provides flavors and ambience for days...

    Coconut Shrimp and Empinadas
    Brian W.

    Delicious! It's obvious they take pride in their dishes. We have had their chicken sandwich and Cuban sandwich for lunch. Both excellent. On this night we chose something lighter. Lots of flavor! The Coconut shrimp was a great surprise. Not the usual fried, coconut shavings but a wonderful sautéed Cuban dish.

    Such a nice little spot on Commercial Street! We sat on the bar side and had excellent service and conversation with the bartender who gave us great recommendations. We ordered two cocktails, Cuba Libre and the Lolita, while we looked over the menu. We decided on the Fricases De Pollo (Cuban style chicken stew with white rice) and the Cuban sandwich (had to!). The Fricases De Pollo was very similar to a beef pot roast except this was an entire chicken thigh swimming in the homemade broth that had been cooking for the last six hours. The flavors were exceptional. The plantains on top were crunchy and gave so much texture to the dish. Don't even get me started on that Cuban! Hands-down, the best in town. On the weekends they have Cuban nights in the back room. I cannot think of a better date night spot. Make sure to put this on your list!!

    Menu
    Delina N.

    Update: came again for dinner with friends. They don't seem to have the asado lechon anymore! So I got the brisket w/ veggies and rice and it was so yummy! The flavor is more on the sweet side. They also serve bread and butter now! The butter was also on the sweet side. It was delicious. Friend got the hamburger which was also really good. Menu seems to have changed a bit since they first opened in the summer!

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    4 years ago

    This was our third visit. Loved it as much as the first time. Good atmosphere, amazing food and dynamic people. What else can you ask for?

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    Excellent service. Nice calm atmosphere. Knowledgeable staff and the food was excellent! Definitely recommend and we will be back

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - La Habana Vieja

    Cafe Cusco - Trout salad (my personal go-to)

    Cafe Cusco

    4.5(616 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Ceviche was amazing (a bit on a salty side but that is to be expected to ensure safety)…read more Server was quick and friendly. Cozy seating

    My second trip to Springfield, Mo for work. This little area (literally this 1/4 mile of street)…read morehas some amazing restaurants! Unknowingly, I started "scrolling" to find a place to eat and was sucked in by pics of the food and ambiance! So I mapped directions to Cafe Cusco only to find it was next to another great restaurant I had been to during my last trip. Walked in and the hostess, with a welcoming greeting and smile directed my single person party to a four top. Turns out she ended up also being my server and bartender!!! Lilly was her name and she was on top of it all. I believe there was at least one other server. I shied away from apps as I was not sure about the serving sizes as I was not famished... I started with a Pisco Sour that Lilly recommended and she also recommended the Lomo Saltado for an entree. I chose to also have the Ginger Caipirinha. For dessert I had the Quinoa Pudding and a cup of coffee. Beverages were well balanced with lime tartness, great cinnamon presence and over all flavor was refreshing! The Lomo Saltado was very flavorful- def get your salt intake for the day, but it works so well! There was a house hot sauce at each table. I taste tested the hot sauce and decided to liberally add to the dish! A symphony of flavors! The slices of tomato in that Saltado sauce was ... mmmmmmmmm GOOD!! Naturally the tenderloin was packed with Saltado flavor too! I ordered up the Ginger Caipirinha (which did not disappoint either!). Both beverages stand on their own merits and I cannot choose which was better... maybe the sour?? So... then there was dessert... I cannot recall the last time I ordered dessert... quinoa pudding???? I mean... I like quinoa... but do I ever go out of my way to eat it?? No... but add some sweet coconut cream, cinnamon and... wait for it... Black cherry COMPOTE?!?????!!!! Damn! Am I glad I got that dessert! You MUST save room for this! Such a great amalgamation of flavor and textures! Cheers Cafe Cusco!! You've got a great gem here for great prices to boot! Lilly was very busy, what may have lacked in some attentiveness (due to how busy it was) she made up for in her awesome personality, pleasant disposition and great suggestions! Chillin' in haute Springfield?? Check this place out! Cheers!

    Photos
    Cafe Cusco - Bathroom with changing station. December 2024

    Bathroom with changing station. December 2024

    Cafe Cusco - Tres leche

    Tres leche

    Cafe Cusco - Inca Kola

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    Inca Kola

    Iguana Roja Restaurante - Great atmosphere

    Iguana Roja Restaurante

    3.3(147 reviews)
    15.2 mi
    $$

    When we arrived here, the girl at the greeter station seemed like she didn't want us to be there…read more She asked us how many were in our party and we told her. Then she says it's going to be a 5 to 10 minute wait. I said OK fine no problem. The she said it might be 10 to 15 minutes. Again, I said no problem. I don't know if she just had an attitude or what, but she definitely did not make is feel welcome. We arrived several hours before closing, so it's not like we were here at the last minute or anything. Idk what her deal was. After a while, the waiter came out to ask us if we wanted a table or booth. We said table and he went to prepare it, then came back and led us to our table. He was visibly exhausted, but intent on providing excellent service. He let us know that he was new and needed some time to get caught up (thus the brief wait) and we didn't mind at all. He got our drink and apps order and came back a bit later to get our food order. He checked on us several times while we waited on the appetizers and the entrées. He was very attentive. Now onto the food itself. We got the appetizers fairly quickly, but it took quite a while to get our entrées. By the time we got them, we had pretty much filled up on chips already, but I will say that they were pretty tasty. I had a rice bowl with chicken. The chicken was pretty flavorful, I just wish they did not include some of the tough crispy ends in the bowl. I really enjoyed it though. The taco I ordered and added Aiken to was not as good. The bacon was incredibly hard and all over it. It was like having a bacon taco and I ordered a pulled pork taco with bacon added on. While we were waiting for the food, and again while we were eating, there were a couple ladies that must've been having a bad day or something because they kept meeting up near the stairs in/near that extra room they have in the middle of the place talking about how they've had enough and are going to quit. It was kind of awkward. There were also a bunch of staff just waiting/hiding in the hallway toward the bathroom for some reason. They were huddled up there for quite along. Of time, which I thought was odd. All in all, the food was really good. Our waiter did an excellent job, but the food did take quite a while to come out of the kitchen. Definitely try this place again. The flavors were there and the prices were decent. I really enjoyed the picture of fresh squeeze lemonade. I wish more places would do that. It was a pleasant surprise.

    I waited awhile to post this review as I reached out to the restaurant directly and have yet to…read morehear a response so I am posting my email here since the experience was one of the worst I've had. We went to dinner here May 30th. Dear Iguana Roja Owner, My Mom, Dad, and I came into your restaurant this past Saturday around 7:00 PM. My parents have been loyal patrons of your restaurant for the past six years and have always enjoyed the food, the service, and the warm atmosphere. That history is what made our experience that evening so surprising and disappointing. When we arrived, there were only two other tables occupied (each with two guests), and my parents immediately mentioned how unusual it was to see the restaurant so empty. Despite the light crowd, our margaritas, beer, chips, salsa, and guacamole took a long time to arrive. We were already a bit puzzled, but we stayed patient. However, after placing our food order, we waited approximately 50 minutes for our meals--which was baffling, considering how few people were in the restaurant. My dad eventually got up to check in, only to find all the staff gathered in the back, laughing and socializing. When he asked the male server about our food, we were told "the cook is working on it." More time passed, and when my dad checked again, the staff was still congregated in the back. When the food finally arrived, it was incorrect. My dad specifically requested no mushrooms--twice--and his fajitas still came with mushrooms. I asked for no sour cream or cheese, yet my rice and beans had both. At that point, we voiced our concerns and asked why it had taken so long, especially with such a quiet dining room. We had finally received our food at about 8:15. Rather than addressing our concerns calmly, the male server became defensive. Eventually, three staff members were at our table, each placing blame on someone or something else. It honestly felt surreal--like something out of a movie. Staff were openly complaining about working double shifts, and even the cook came out to say she hadn't gotten any sleep the night before and that she also worked a double shift. While we empathize with tough shifts, this is not something guests should be pulled into. The team did apologize, and they comped our entire bill, which we appreciated. But the apologies were laced with excuses and finger-pointing, and the whole experience felt far removed from the kind of service and atmosphere my parents had always loved here. I chose to write directly to you, not post on Yelp, because I believe you care and have an opportunity to get things back on track. My parents mentioned that the restaurant always felt different when you (owner) was there--welcoming, bustling, and well-managed. We truly hope it can return to that. Thank you for taking the time to read this. We wish you the best and hope our feedback helps spark some positive change.

    Photos
    Iguana Roja Restaurante
    Iguana Roja Restaurante
    Iguana Roja Restaurante

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    La Habana Vieja - caribbean - Updated June 2026

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