THIS RESTAURANT CLOSED DUE TO A FIRE IN OCTOBER 2008
Loyal patrons have been coming to The Havana Sandwich Shop since the Benedit family opened the doors in 1976 at the site of a former Christmas tree lot. Inside, shelves of Cuban canned goods are available for sale, and diners sit around tables topped with napkin holders, plastic cups filled with fountain drinks and, of course, Cuban sandwiches. This eatery is an example of great food trumping ambiance: Most diners pay no attention to the cinder block exterior. The menu includes an extensive variety of plates and sandwiches such as The Cuban (pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mustard), Cuban steak (grilled beef and potato sticks), the Media Noche (ham, pork, swiss, American cheese and pickles on special egg bread), a garbanzos plate, and a picadillo plate. Sides include yucca con mojo; yucca fries; potato, banana or cassava chips; Cuban bread; and croquettes. For dessert, try a mango or papaya milkshake. Full bar. Reservations not accepted. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Voted Best Cuban Restaurant in the 2008 Creative Loafing readers poll.