The other day I joined a group of friends to meet for dinner at the Havana Central Times Square restaurant which is located at 151 West 46th Street

After dinner, the plan was to see the Broadway show, Buena Vista Social Club which is playing at The Schoenfeld Theatre whose address is 236 West 45th Street.

On my way to the restaurant it’s always fun to enjoy the sites and sounds of the Broadway Theatre District as witnessed by the images below.

I walked over to the restaurant through the throngs of tourists and here is what I saw.

Once inside here are some images from the bar and dining area.

Well just some background on this restaurant taken straight from their website and here’s what it says…

“Back in 2001, Jeremy Merrin was looking for a new, entrepreneurial concept. He loves Latin cooking and frequented local Cuban restaurants. After seeing the popularity of many local Cuban restaurants, he began to think about a concept where people could get big plates of rice and beans for reasonable prices. However, he knew nothing about the restaurant business. After extensive interviewing, Jeremy met with Arlene Spiegel, a restaurant consultant, and former restaurant owner. Together, they decided that there is a great opportunity in Cuban cuisine and dedicated the next nine months to creating a restaurant plan that had the best possible chance for success.

On June 24th, 2002, Havana Central opened its doors to a big crowd and great reviews.

With a spirited sense of buen gusto, Havana Central presents a portal to Cuba’s golden era, when life on the island paradise was a continuous party. Stepping through the doors, diners enter circa 1950s Havana, where Celia Cruz is singing her latest hit with the La Sonora Matancera band, where the flavorful food is gently spiced and comfortingly reminiscent of home (no matter where home might be!). The bartender has a refreshing mojito waiting and Ernest Hemingway could walk in any minute and belly up to the bar.

An unmistakable celebration of Cuban culture, the food, the music and the people of Havana Central afford patrons a fanciful excursion to the fabled island – an excursion that, in keeping with Cuban tradition, embraces the whole family.”

The food was super great, and the portions were very, very large. I ordered Arroz Con Pollo and the price was very moderate for what I received.

Arroz Con Pollo is Chicken & Rice served with the choice of Black Beans or Salad. The boneless chicken thighs were cooked in savory saffron rice with onions and peas and itt also had sweet plantains which were soooo good!!

Then we walked over to the Schoenfeld theatre and here is the outside of it.

Now here are some images once inside of the theatre.

The play was absolutely fabulous. The long and the short of it is that in Spanish, “buena vista” means “good view”. So that the story moves between the 1950’s and the 1990’s in Havana. The focus of the plot is on four prominent Cuban musicians and the impact of politics at that time in both their careers and their personal relationships and then…how — in 1997 all things come full circle.

So if you want a fabulous evening at the theatre then don’t miss…

It won’t disappoint!