Casual Habana Cafe

The food have a good flavor but it was a little salty for my taste. I ordered a Chicken with lemon and cilantro.
My server was nice and friendly.

The food at Casual Habana is, truthfully, the BEST CUBAN food in the entire Northern NJ. I've been dining at both of their locations (Hackensack & New Milford) and the food is always consistently good. I don't know of any other Cuban restaurant in the area that delivers the Cuban flavors that you find at Casual Habana.
The NM location's ambiance can definitely be improved. This location is spacious and well decorated, and sometimes it can be very noisy and kind of uncomfortably cool (like in my last visit).
Something that always puzzles me about this restaurant is that, despite the happy Latin music that's always playing in the background, which goes with the always-happy idiosyncratic nature of the Cuban people, there's an aura of somberness (as if everybody's walking on egg-shells) that's more for a funeral parlor than for a Cuban restaurant. Also, no matter how many times I come to CH, there's no expression of joy in seeing you come back time and time again, and I don't know why?
One issue that I have to mention also is that, the proprietors keep jacking up the prices and passing what were considered normal expenses for running a restaurant to their patrons, ever since the pandemic. Don't be surprise if in the near future, you see an "employee health insurance' or a "employee vacation" surcharge added to your tab. LOL
On a recent visit, I was charged $36 for a bottle of McManis Petit Sirah that sells at the liquor store (retail) for just $9.99. Considering CH must be buying this wine at wholesale price and in larger quantities, it's not farfetched to assume that their markup is possibly a whopping 400% or more.
On top of that, the restaurant adds a 3-3.5% of your tab as a credit card fee and suggests a 18, 20 and 22% gratuity (which is calculated over the food + liquor + sales tax + the credit card fee amounts).
To put all this in prospect, a dinner for two consisting of a combination of Lechon a la Patria (accompanied with small sides of Arroz Moro and House Salad) + a Paella for one + the bottle of wine mentioned before + 2 glasses of tap water---no appetizers, no deserts, no coffee, no after-dinner cocktails, no nothing else!--- was $121.74. $61/person---holy cow!

The restaurant is excellent and quaint. We were surprised by the name, as we had anticipated something more casual, but it is far from it. I recommend trying the tapas datiles rellonos and a special drinks .

Casual Habana Café never disappoints! My husband loved the fried shredded pork, I had the beef short ribs for the second time (so good I had to repeat), and my friend’s baby pernil was phenomenal—i took one bite and know I know I’ll be ordering that next time! Tostones we're fried to perfection. A juicy strong pitcher of sangria topped it all off. Can’t wait to return and repeat!

Casual Habana Cafe
200 Main St.
New Milford, NJ 07646

Coconut Mojito
Guava Margarita
Daites Rellenos
Empanadas
Baby Pernil
Tostades
Yaca Frita
Yuca Con Mojo

Happy hour at the bar will definitely make you happy. Make sure you pull up a chair at the tavern section for discounted drinks and appetizers.

The drinks were very sweet and refreshing. Just don’t drink too many as they’ll hit you when you least expect it!

The appetizers are also fantastic. The dates were wrapped in a bacon strip and filled with goat cheese. The empanadas were also packed with beef, chicken, and manchego & spinach.

Although none the main entrees are not included on the Happy Hour menu, you’ll still be satisfied otherwise. The pork and shredded beef are perfectly seasoned and tender and there are a unique variety of sides to choose. If you want a variation of plantains and mashed potatoes, you won’t go wrong with the crispy tostades and yuca.

This was definitely a fantastic experience having Cuban cuisine, especially during Happy Hour. If you want tasty drinks and starters at really good prices, make sure you save yourself a seat at the bar and you’ll be on par!

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