Havana Restaurant
Vancouver, British Columbia
On Commercial Drive, ("The Drive") is a very unique tavern. June at the Brighton House Bed & Breakfast had suggested it and after her description of the gallery/restaurant/theatre, we couldn't wait. She said there would be a lot of color. You could write your name on the walls, as I was prompted to do by Russ, the chef. You could pull up in a Volkswagon van with skulls covering the dash. Or just try to blend, as we did. Not! We were in the middle of Berkeley, California in 1967. People were smiling and having a great dinner on the patio. After only being there a few minutes, we saw the "colour".
The drive over to Havana's was quick. We passed Italian bakeries, ethnic diverse groceries and many clothing shops. We had a table reserved outside on the patio. The area reminded me of pictures from school books of the Berkeley, California area in the late sixties. Mike, one of the co-owners, joined us for a visit. He was into computers and all the gadgets I like too. I think our conversation about all his goodies was making Cindy a little nervous!
 | June got my attention and let me know that a dance class was taking place in the gallery. The gallery had art on presentation. I don't know anything about art but I can tell you I liked it. I felt like I could actually be in Havana, watching the people learn how to rumba and other steps. We were going to peek in on the theatre but they were in the middle of practice and we just let them do that. As I went back through the tavern, I couldn't but help noticed that the people sitting at the tables looked a lot like those in pictures on the walls. We went back outside and it was chow time. |
We ordered the Frita Cubana, a Cuban style burger with tomatoes and mustard topped with Cuban shoestring fries. It is served with a spicy peanut coleslaw and a beef or vegetarian nut burger....the way hamburgers were served in old Havana in the 1940's and 50's. The waitresses and chefs took great care of us and it was a dining experience that was thoroughly enjoyable as well as unique! I even took a staff photo.
As we were eating, a group of cars approached honking their horns. I thought someone had just been married. Nope. Turkey had just beaten Belgium in soccer and an impromptu parade complete with flags and hollering were in order. We all laughed and cheered for them and went back to our burgers.
Right then I knew, we will be back to Vancouver!
Ken took me up to the offices at the top of the building for some great photos of the area and the mountains in the distance. Cindy and June were having a great time talking on the patio when I saw a minstrel group in the park across the street. I ran across, did a short movie of them and took a few stills. They were kinda like a New Orleans group only more upbeat. They were brightly dressed and had a lot of practice. But even so, they were smiling and having a good time performing. It's nice when one enjoys their job.
The next time you are in Vancouver, you gotta stop by Havana, enjoy the gallery, theater productions and especially the food and tell them Cruising America made the recommendation and we will be back!
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