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Cafe Habana Reviews List
Cafe Habana
Cafe Habana is a Cuban/Mexican cafe in Malibu, CA that holds an approachable, community-driven environment. We serve innovated Latin cuisine with a menu drawing specifically on Mexican and Cuban flavors. Our restaurant serves a lunch and dinner menu. As well, we have a full bar with original signature drinks and many wines sourced from California producers.
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31 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Rating Breakdown 31 reviews
5 stars
(6)
4 stars
(13)
3 stars
(7)
2 stars
(3)
1 star
(2)
Food
(Very Good)
3.5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- great for outdoor dining(18)
- neighborhood gem(16)
- hot spot(12)
- good for groups(9)
- vibrant bar scene(9)
- fit for foodies(8)
Cafe Habana Reviews List
Review 1 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Viva Cafe Habana!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A fun relaxed vibe with good well priced Cuban/Mexican cuisine. The guacamole and chips are additive and there is enough to take home for to next day. We are working our way through the inviting menu....so far everything has been tasty and the portions generous enough to provide lunch the next day. The only negative is parking is challenging especially in spring and summer...lots of people in Malibu!!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 2 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Service was awful however food made up for it"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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Review 3 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Goodbye, Marmalade. Hello,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Goodbye, Marmalade. Hello, Cafe Habana."
Dined on 04/24/2013
2008
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Review 4 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Great casual dining experience.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Great casual dining experience."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2011
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Review 5 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Take a Pass!
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This was my 3rd time here - the first two times, the food being average, I thought that maybe I ordered the wrong things. It appears in general, the food here is simply mediocre. I ordered steak tacos this time. There was VERY little meat, and of the meat there was, three pieces were just chewy fat and I had to discard them. Their Tortilla chips are also mediocre; light but flavorless. There are just too many other restaurant choices within walking distance to pay over $20 (with tip/tax) for this small and fatty dish. Either they need to use better quality meat or marinate it for much longer. There is really no reason to try this place again...I'd hoped the third time would be the charm. I'll give them credit fir a nice outdoor patio"
Dined on 04/05/2013
2005
Special Features: great for outdoor dining
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Review 6 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
We have friends who live in
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"We have friends who live in the valley, so we often meet in Malibu as our halfway point from the city. We have been to Cafe Habana about 5 times. The food is o.k. Nothing to write home about. The service is fine, sometimes, and the hostesses are very unaccomodating. There were empty tables that they were saving that never filled. Anyway, I will only go back if I can't find anywhere else better in Malibu"
Dined on 04/03/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly
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Review 7 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Huge disappointment
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This restaurant was nothing like the quality of the one in NY, which is why we chose it as a destination. Food was below adequate especially for the price. Should be much better for its location and the kind of foodie clientele it attracts. Huge disappointment. Would not go back."
Dined on 03/27/2013
2006
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Review 8 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Snobb/stay away/mistreatment
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Jaded !!!
My reservation was at 6:00 PM but they called at 5:10 PM and adamantly telling me that it is at 5:00 PM and we are late.I tried to convince them that it is at 6: PM but no use, I had guests from NYC, we were in that vicinity and we went in to avoid confrontation, when we asked for a table in the Patio ( which it was empty) they said all the tables are reserved and had us seated in the Bar Area with 4 kids in our group. The manger was the worst, at least the hostess tried to show some respect.
My reservation was at 6:00 PM but they called at 5:10 PM and adamantly telling me that it is at 5:00 PM and we are late.I tried to convince them that it is at 6: PM but no use, I had guests from NYC, we were in that vicinity and we went in to avoid confrontation, when we asked for a table in the Patio ( which it was empty) they said all the tables are reserved and had us seated in the Bar Area with 4 kids in our group. The manger was the worst, at least the hostess tried to show some respect.
OK it is Malibu why all the drama and condescending attitude !! My Money is as green as everyone's else. I usually dont rate Poor any restaurant but this is well deserved.Will never go back."
Dined on 03/24/2013
2010
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Review 9 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We found the food good and
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We found the food good and in the right price point. The only negative was the waitress who besides being inatentive, was not pleasant or friendly at all. I begudginly left her a 10% tip, which was too much."
Dined on 03/03/2013
2003
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups
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Review 10 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Not perfect but lots of fun
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Had a great dinner at Cafe Habana. The scene is ultra-lively and the crowd is uber-attractive. Not sure how authentic the food is, as it felt more tex-mex than Cuban. This is no Versailles, to be sure. Service is brisk, while a little aloof. But it's all in good fun."
Dined on 03/02/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot
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Review 11 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Disappointing because the
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Disappointing because the name of the restaurant makes you think that it is Cuban and the menu includes many Mexican items. We were thinking we were going to go to a an authentic Cuban restaurant, but that wasn't the case."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2006
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Review 12 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Viva Cafe Habana!
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"A very busy popular place...so popular that when we arrived early for an un-fashionabley early 6 pm reservation we did not get seated until 6:10 pm! Nonetheless dinner was great - starter for my husband was a tasty tortilla soup. Then yummy fish tacos for me and a slow cooked Cuban beef dish for my better half. Our second time and we are already planning our 3rd visit. Reservations are essential!!"
Dined on 02/02/2013
2009
Special Features: neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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Review 13 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service was not good. It
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Service was not good. It took about one hour to get the meal and some of the meals were cold. The waiter did not come back during the entire experience. Really the only time we saw him was when I stopped to ask him for an extra plate. Which I had asked the person that brought our drinks to the table 2x, as they brought out appetizers for the table to share and no plates. The coke was flat. The only other time we saw the waiter was when we got the check.
Also there was a rather large dog a few tables away. It was not wearing anything that indicated it was a service dog.
Food would have been good if it were hot. Overall experience was NOT good"
Also there was a rather large dog a few tables away. It was not wearing anything that indicated it was a service dog.
Food would have been good if it were hot. Overall experience was NOT good"
Dined on 01/20/2013
2005
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Review 14 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
great service and food. staff
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"great service and food. staff is always pleasant and very service oriented.
looking forward to next visit"
looking forward to next visit"
Dined on 01/20/2013
2002
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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Review 15 for Cafe Habana
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Attentive friendly service,
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Attentive friendly service, delicious food...best chips, guacamole and margaritas! Loved tuna tartare appetizer and veggie burrito. Fun atmosphere!"
Dined on 01/20/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Cafe Habana
Based on the average of (16) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
4
/
5
2 out of 2 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic