La Campana

CA4
Style of food: Spanish/Mediterranean
Cost: Expensive
Type of place: Paladar (private)
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: Wonderful location for private parties
Worst for: Out in the boondocks of Havana. Mixed food reviews.
Calle 212, No. 2904 entre 29 y 31, La Lisa, Playa
(+53)7271 - 1073
Open 10am-midnight

  • Chill out bar and grill, La Campana seems at first glance more an upmarket homestead finca (farm) than anything else. This is an upmarket ranchón beside a nice pool. The tables are comfortable and well furnished; a breeze takes away the hot and heavy summer night air. Depending on the night, you may also be able to combine dinner with a concert. Kelvis Ochoa, Descemer Bueno, David Torrens and D Jazz have all played poolside recently. On these nights, starting around 11pm, the place gets packed to the rafters with a trendy young crowd. Sunday lunch is more family time.

    The menu has evolved since its original opening. Initially, the menu had everything under the sun including sushi, which inevitably led to a certain amount of inconsistency. More recently, efforts have been made to focus on fewer dishes, which are done well. Sushi is no more and instead a lot more effort is being made to cook good quality meats on the grill (parrilla). At present, there is an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza for CUC 12.95, which seems great value. There remain a number of tapas (seviche, Carpaccio, gazpacho etc.), as well as Chateaubriand, freshly caught fish and a range of paellas. The intention remains to create good quality dishes made as much as possible on the premises without excessive elaboration: ‘Hecho en casa’ (home-made) using fresh local ingredients.

    Where La Campana really comes into its own is for private parties, functions, weddings, you name it. They have the space and capacity to cater for a large crowd and the nature of the space naturally lends itself to a private party. Otherwise, there is perhaps not the single-minded focus on the quality of the food to merit a trip to the suburbs unless you are on for the after dinner party, which is to be recommended.

    This has to be one off the best desserts in the city (maybe in the island). It is a rendition of the classic Spanish sweet delicacy made from a sweet milk pudding deep-fried to form a perfect crispy crust dusted with cinnamon. Neither too sweet nor too rich or too much it is just great! La Campana also offers a great variety of grilled food and wines at a good price in a family friendly environment. The only down of this place is its location, it is out in the Western suburbs (at La Lisa just behind Pedrigal), nevertheless the Leche Frita is worth the trip and if you have the energy they have some great parties at the weekend.

    
  • 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 …

    Versalles

    Versalles  

    We have not been to Versalles yet. It is on our list. See below some generic text regarding the place. “Located only a few meters away from the Malecón, our restaurant offers traditional Cuban and int …

    Los Amigos
    La Antonia Casa and Restaurant

    La Antonia Casa and Restaurant  

    La Antonia Casa and Restaurant is a bed & breakfast with a restaurant thrown in for good measure. The house itself has two floors, on the first of which are a number of rooms for rent while on the …

    El Gran Dragón

    El Gran Dragón  

    El Gran Dragón is the first on the left as you enter Cuchillo from Calle Zanja and hence its touts will be the first ones to try and persuade you to enter. Specialties include wonton soup, chop suey, …

    El Cantonés

    El Cantonés  

    We have not reviewed El Cantonés (see some genetic text below) “A place where Chinese cuisine coexists with Cuban and Italian cuisines. Enjoy our dishes in an atmosphere that transports you to exotic …

    « 13 of 14 pages »