[Skip]

Wow! I just read that George Stella is no longer the chef at Havana and that the kitchen staff has changed. Anyone know what happened?

Skip

[Donna]

Wow...That was quick!

[Russ_Boston]

Skip - where was that? I couldn't find anything. Is it online somewhere?

Update: I just found it on the TV gourmet guide.

Thanks,

[chelsea24]

The first time my husband and I were there, my husband's salmon was not cooked enough! Now I was just there a week or so ago and I had the chicken wrap which was great! Oddly enough we had the same waitress and the first time she was not good at all (getting her feet wet) but the last time I was with a big group and she seemed very competent. That's all I know.

[KathieI]

Chels, I agree, the servers were very unprofessional. They forgot everything we asked for but were very apologetic but would forget again after reminding them a few times. The first visit, I wrote it off to being new, but the second visit, it was rather annoying.

The food was good, not great, but the atmosphere is wonderful, but that doesn't pay the bills. I'm sorry to see it in trouble already.

[villages07]

Hmm, interesting.....based on Russ's clue, I looked at the Gourmet club website and sure enough it says Stella was out of Havana at end of December. ONe of the gourmet reviewers went there in Jan and said menu has changed.

Nothing else turned up on google about stella or havana, but, I did notice that their website www.havanacc.net is kaput.

I can't imagine the restaurant is in deep financial trouble so soon after opening....maybe interpersonal conflicts between the 3 owners/chef???

[Russ_Boston]

That would be my guess also V7 - You know the saying "Too many cooks..."

[chuckster]

We have been there twice with our group and both times food and service was good. Also had the salmon and it was very good. Have traveled extensively in my other life and found the food preparation and service acceptable at Havana. Have found that realistic expectations can always be met while others are never satisfied. Just my opinion...............

[Whalen]

Didn't have time for dinner but stopped by on our last night for a Happy Hour drink.
Beautiful atmosphere, busy bar, good fish bowl Margaritas, $9.oo+ each.
Happy Hour?

[Cassie325]

Well I have a friend that interviewed with them rght before they opened. No references were checked, he did not show up for the second interview round, was called and left a message with the job offer and never returned their call. Was called again with a message left giving the training times...he never called them back....

Was called one last time and was left yet another message for his first shift schedule!!

No references, no training, no communication back to the employee...makes you wonder who else was hired and not trained. Very sad!! Food service is not an easy job....one must be trained prior to working....

I would imagine most restaurants would only want trained people working with their customers if they want them to return!

[Mallory]

We've been there 5 or 6 times and the service is getting better each time as is the food. Last dinner was the shrimp scampi which was way above average; sure there are better places for scampi (Scoma's in San Francisco for instance) but nothing within range of TV.

The last 2 times we were there Stella was absent from the kitchen. 1st time didn't think too much about it, but asked last weekend. Waitress told us he was "away working on his books." Didn't think that was too likely considering he was just opening a new restaurant and it was the busy holiday season. Whatever.

Still the food was fine, reasonably priced, good wine prices (bottle), great decor, fun & active, and close to us, etc. However, if you can't put up with the growing pains don't visit until it all settles down. The wait will be shorter for those of us who like it.

[The Great Fumar]

I was just there 10 days ago and the dinner was terrific ....i even bragged on it on here somewhere ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hope it just a rumor as i really enjoyed it there..............

Fumar

[chuckster]

Cassie, confusing message. But after re-reading, sounds as though your "friend" filled out an application and never bothered returning any calls.

To infer no communication seems rather short-sighted. You mentioned he was called 3 times and never bothered to return the calls. If he wasn't interested wonder why he bothered to fill out the application in the first place.

Have been to Havana and had wonderful service both dining inside and on the patio. Judging by the wait for a table each of our 4 visits, they are not lacking for customers.

[tkret]

Originally Posted by Mallory

We've been there 5 or 6 times and the service is getting better each time as is the food. Last dinner was the shrimp scampi which was way above average; sure there are better places for scampi (Scoma's in San Francisco for instance) but nothing within range of TV.

.

Ah, Scoma's in San Francisco is one of the best as is their other one in Sausalito. I went to Havana and ordered their "mussels fra diavolo" and although there were plenty, and I mean mucho, mussels, it was certainly NOT fra diavolo. But, I attributed that to the clientele who may not like meals too spicy. We found the wait staff to be very attentive and accommodating.

[MelZ]

We had dinner there Xmas week and found the food and service very good. My wife had the Salmon which was excellent, I had the pork chops which I enjoyed. Our friends had the Paella and said they really like it.

Hopefully the new team will make it even better.