Havana Central: THE TASTE AND GLAMOUR OF OLD-TIME HAVANA COMES TO LONG ISLAND

THE TASTE AND GLAMOUR OF OLD-TIME HAVANA

COMES TO LONG ISLAND

Havana Central Roosevelt Field Redefines

Destination Dining by Offering Patrons a Taste of Old Havana

NEW YORK (Dec. 3, 2012) – Havana Central -the popular Manhattan eatery known for its festive ambiance and high-quality, authentic Cuban comfort food - announces its latest restaurant on Long Island. The space is located at Roosevelt Field in Garden City, NY - we invite you to visit us prior to our official grand opening on Jan. 10, 2013.

Vaca Frita

“Our new location offers the authentic Cuban cuisine, delicious mojitos and live Latin music that guests at our Manhattan and Westchester restaurants have come to love,” said Jeremy Merrin, founder and president of Havana Central. “We’re excited to partner with Simon Properties at the best location on Long Island. Locals will now be able to experience the tastes, sounds and energy of pre-revolutionary Havana. Buen Provecho!”

Expertly fashioned by Garrett SingerArchitecture & Design, the restaurant features celebrated décor inspired by the glamour of Cuba’s legendary hospitality destinations - evoking Havana’s heyday through tropical accents and1950’s-era artifacts. The main dining room of the 13,ooo sq. ft. double-story interior features cigar-toned leather booths and cabanas draped in flowing curtains. Reflecting a palatial pre-revolution style, the seating is set against walls hand-painted in the distressed colors of a Caribbean sunset and flanked by banana leaf trees in cast iron urns. The bar’s décor, designed after Havana’s original Sloppy Joe’s Bar - the country’s famous watering hole - is anchored by a mahogany display case filled with backlit rum bottles and surrounded by art deco light pendants. Three private event rooms are available, the first of which is located at the head of the main dining room and encased by glass walls; the two, larger spaces capture the heat of Latin nightclubs and exotic cabarets with dramatically lit palm leaves and grand antique mirrors. When weather permits, guests can also retreat to the outdoor veranda for an authentic Cuban oasis.

Stanley Licairac

Havana Central’s long-serving corporate chef, Stanley Licairac offers expertly crafted all-day menus of traditional Cuban recipes infused with fresh ingredients and seasonal specialties. Fans of Havana Central’s signature dishes will be excited to find their favorites offered at Roosevelt Field, including Handmade Empanadas ($3); Vaca Frita ($19.50);Ropa Vieja ($17.50);Cuban Sandwich($12); Cuban Flan ($6) and Tres Leches Cake ($8).

“The idea behind our menu is to transport guests to a time and place when Havana was the premier playground of the Caribbean,” said Chef Stanley Licairac. “We particularly aim to put those who grew up understanding that flavorful ingredients should be slowly cooked with love and passion, as Cuban food is, back in touch with their roots and make them feel at home. My mother passed our recipes on to me, and her mother to her, and so on; they’ve been in my family for generations. The opportunity to share the flavors, textures and colors of these comfort foods is at the heart of Havana Central’s offerings.”

Best Mojito is New York!

The well-thought out wine list features exceptional finds from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The creative and tasty cocktails include Manhattan’s “best” Mojitos and Sangrias made tableside, as well as house specialties like the Long Island Mojito -featuring refreshing hints of mint, citrus and cola mixed with a tantalizing blend of spirits ($12).

Havana Central is located at Roosevelt Field, 630 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY 11530. A full menu is served Sunday – Thursday, 11:30a.m. – 11p.m. and Friday & Saturday, 11:30a.m.–12:30 a.m.; with weekday lunch specials available until 4 p.m. Call 516-739-7900 for table reservations or to book a private event. For additional information about Havana Central and its complete portfolio of properties, visit www.HavanaCentral.com.

ABOUT HAVANA CENTRAL

Jeremy Merrin

The brainchild of entrepreneur Jeremy Merrin, Havana Central evokes the 1950s golden era of Cuba, capturing Havana’s heyday as the world’s most tantalizing playground. Through its festive ambiance, vibrant décor and mouth-watering food, dining at Havana Central is like taking a mini vacation. Corporate Chef Stanley Licairac’s traditional dishes like Vaca Frita, Ropa Vieja and Cuban Sandwich are an unmistakable celebration of Cuban cuisine. The cocktail list includes the best Mojitos and Sangrias in New York; the wine list is filled with exceptional finds from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The first Havana Central was opened over 10 years ago in New York’s Union Square neighborhood. Now, the premier large-format Latin restaurant chain has four high-volume locations in the New York metropolitan area and plans to expand into additional markets in the near future. Hours and menus vary by location. For more information, visit www.HavanaCentral.com.

ABOUT ROOSEVELT FIELD

Celebrating more than 50 years of offering more choices, Roosevelt Field is located at the intersection of Old Country Road and the Meadowbrook Parkway in Garden City and is managed by Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The mall offers unparalleled customer service with amenities including American Express® / Simon Giftcards, which can be used everywhere American Express cards are welcomed; Ticketmaster at Simon Guest Services, valet parking; complimentary wheelchairs; strollers and a post office. It is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, JC Penney, Bloomingdale’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods and has more than 270 specialty stores. For more information, please go to www.simon.com. Roosevelt Field is on Facebook – check out www.facebook.com/RooseveltField for the latest mall events and retailer updates. Follow the mall on Twitter too: @RooseveltField.

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