Havana Harry's Reopens in Coral Gables After Year-Long Renovation

Havana Harry's, a Coral Gables restaurant long associated with Cuban comfort food, has reopened following more than a year away. The eatery has unveiled a refreshed look while keeping the dishes that made it a neighborhood favorite.

The restaurant has been part of Miami's dining scene for more than 30 years. It spent roughly a year closed while undergoing renovations, and diners can now see the results of that work inside.

Felix Palencia, who spoke about the reopening, said the restaurant's focus has always been on Cuban flavors, which he credited for its iconic status. "We have a very good-looking restaurant right now, and now we're back!" he said.

Although the space is new, Palencia said the cooking has not changed. "We brought back our flavors. We brought back our generous portions, and our recipes are the same," he said.

He described vaca frita as the restaurant's signature dish. It is prepared with slow-cooked meat that is shredded and then sautéed with onions and Cuban mojo. Another well-known item is the ham milanesa, a breaded steak topped with ham, cheese and milanesa sauce, served in a generous portion.

A Cuban meal, the report noted, would not be complete without a mojito, and the menu also includes dessert. Palencia pointed to the Nutella Overdose, which combines vanilla ice cream mixed with Nutella and a piece of brownie, finished with ice cream, chocolate crumble, chocolate ganache and whipped cream.

Customers appear glad to have the restaurant back. One diner who came for dinner said they were struck by the redesign on walking in. "I thought, 'Wow, they've redone the whole place; it looks beautiful,'" the customer said, adding that the food is "great, like it's always been."

Palencia invited the public to visit, calling the restaurant a place for "the best Cuban food in Miami" in the heart of Coral Gables.

Havana Harry's is located at 4612 S. Le Jeune Road in Coral Gables.