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The Havana Cafe, a Little Piece of
Cuba in the Phoenix Metro Area
Camelback and 44th Street
On the Corner of Camelback and 44th Street there is
a little restaurant called the Havana Cafe. This establishment is
actually part of a three-restaurant chain that has pooped up in the
Phoenix metro area in response to an increasing demand for authentic
Cuban cuisine. The restaurant is run by a Cuban family and offers a
wide and exotic range of different foods. Much of it is derived from
traditional Cuban menus, although there are certain blends of
Caribbean and Mexican foods as well.
The restaurant is located in a cluster of
whitewashed businesses that emulates the seemingly Caribbean "feel"
of the neighborhood. The inside is decorated abundantly with flowers
and plants and there is Cuban artwork displayed on the walls. It's
really as if you stepped into a little section of Cuba!
I got the impression that the cafe did not have any
conflictions with other businesses and/or occupants of the
neighborhood. Although the owners were not present during my visit,
I extract this supposition because of the fact that the place was so
popular. My group had made reservations, and even so we had to wait
a little while for a table. The place was full the entire time of
our stay. Basically what I "saw" in light of our studies on
immigration was a refreshing example of pluralism: the cafe
maintained its Cuban origins and the population eagerly accepted its
incursion.
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