Havana Harry's Reopens in Coral Gables with Renovated Interior and Unchanged Menu
The Cuban restaurant at 4612 S. Le Jeune Road resumed service after a 14-month closure, retaining its original recipes while updating its dining space.
By Tunde Bailey ·
Havana Harry's served its first customers this week after closing for more than a year. The restaurant, located at 4612 S. Le Jeune Road in Coral Gables, reopened its doors to the public following a complete renovation of the interior space. Owner Felix Palencia confirmed that the kitchen is back in full operation, ending a long hiatus for the establishment.
The eatery has operated in Miami for more than 30 years. During the closure, workers updated the physical structure of the building. Palencia noted that the renovation resulted in a visually improved dining room. He stated, 'We have a very good-looking restaurant right now, and now we're back!' Despite the visual changes, he emphasized that the culinary approach remains identical to the original concept.
Palencia explained that the menu items have not been altered. 'We brought back our flavors. We brought back our generous portions, and our recipes are the same,' he said. The restaurant continues to serve vaca frita as its signature dish. This preparation involves slow-cooked meat that is shredded and sautéed with onions and Cuban mojo. Another staple on the menu is the ham milanesa, a breaded steak topped with ham, cheese, and milanesa sauce.
The dining experience also includes traditional drinks and desserts. The menu features mojitos, which are standard accompaniments for Cuban meals. For dessert, Palencia highlighted the Nutella Overdose. This item combines vanilla ice cream mixed with Nutella and a piece of brownie. It is finished with additional ice cream, chocolate crumble, chocolate ganache, and whipped cream.
Patrons visiting the restaurant expressed satisfaction with the return of the venue. One diner who visited for dinner commented on the physical changes. 'I thought, 'Wow, they've redone the whole place; it looks beautiful,'' the customer said. The diner added that the food quality remained consistent with previous visits, describing it as 'great, like it's always been.'
Palencia invited the local community to visit the restored location. He described the restaurant as a destination for 'the best Cuban food in Miami' in the heart of Coral Gables. The restaurant is now open for regular service at its long-time address.
