Havana Nights and Dominican Days Just Steps Away

The unassuming storefront of La Rosita is surprisingly easy to
miss amid the blur of bars and bistros lining Broadway. Even when
inside, you might initially be duped into believing you’ve
walked into a normal diner—the wood paneling, wraparound
mirrors, counter seats and steam escaping from the exposed kitchen
all coalesce into a vision of the Great American Greasyspoon. But
linger a moment, and the gentle rhythm of Latino music and warm
aroma of habanero chiles will awaken you to the fact that
you’re not in for burgers and pancakes. Welcome to Havana.
Empanadas anyone?

The fare available at La Rosita—empanadas
included—is varied, but all shares a heat and intensity
you’re not likely to find at John Jay. Before the meal is
served, the waiter provides you with crispy bread dripping with
butter—a far cry from the random collection of stale rolls
proffered by many restaurants in this price range. As for the main
course, at the manager’s suggestion I opted for a very
traditional Cuban dish: roast pork with mixed rice, black beans and
yucca, a spiky plant with an edible root, indigenous to hot, arid
regions. The pork was tender, my still-burning mouth can attest to
the fiery authenticity of the rice, and the starchy yucca was
subtly spiked with a squirt of lime. And the best part? The meal
only cost $9.

Lunch is an even better bargain, with a variety of sandwiches
priced under $5. I would especially recommend the Cuban sandwich:
ham and cheese are wedged in between two slices of bread, lavished
with garlic, and pressed and grilled like a panini.

Though La Rosita is a Cuban restaurant at heart, it also offers
Mexican and Dominican food, so if you’re not feeling
adventurous and want to relax with your old friend the burrito, you
need not fear.

La Rosita is a family run business, and has been a small but
hardy mainstay in the Morningside Heights community for over twenty
years, and is one of the only legitimate Cuban restaurants in the
city, according La Rosita’s manager Eddie Fernandez.

A large part of the restaurant’s charm comes from the
personalities inside, like Fernandez. Fernandez brings a sense of
passion to the restaurant. When asked about his job, he replied
with a hearty, “I love my job,” then resumed work,
weaving between tables, taking orders, and slapping friends on the
back. That Fernandez loves his job is evident in the food on your
table, and when you sit down to eat at La Rosita, you can’t
help but feel like you’re among family. So I advise all of
you to walk the five blocks to La Rosita. It’s the shortest
trip to Havana you’ll ever take.

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