Many Doral residents bemoan the fact that there just aren't that many choices when it comes to serious, authentic Cuban cuisine.

However, Beatriz Arredondo, owner of the new Havana Dreams Café and a Doral resident, is bent on changing that. A well-known, well-liked member of the community, Arredondo also has a great deal of experience in the restaurant business.

"I was a waitress at Margaritas for ten years," she explained, "and I know the people and I know what they like."

Havana Dreams Café is dramatically different from Sweet Mash Café, the restaurant that proceeded it at its Doral Plaza (9735 NW 41 Street) location, in that it will not necessarily be as cutting-edge cuisine-wise as its predecessor.

Rather, Arredondo has put together a menu replete with traditional Cuban favorites and continental treats, cooked from the highest quality ingredients, and prepared with painstaking care.

Take for instance the Seafood Soup ($3.95), which came highly recommended as the soup of the day when one afternoon when we dropped by Havana Dreams for lunch.

The soup's strictly seafood broth had a texture that bordered on buttery and it literally brimmed with small shrimp, squid, mussels, scallops, and shredded fish.

Yet despite it's relatively low cost, large size, and ingredient complexity, Arredondo said that the soup was made entirely from scratch that day and that even the delicious, rich broth itself was free of any canned or bullion influence.

The Calamar Frito ($6.95) was another great value: the entrée-sized plate on which it was served was covered in the crisp squid rings.

And the chefs at Havana Dreams spared us from batter overdose-- a condition that's always a concern when you dare order calamari at a restaurant.

In fact, the light, breadcrumb coating on the squid was amongst the best I've ever had and was an excellent complement to the homemade sultry, spicy tomato sauce that accompanied them (it was almost like a diablo sauce, chunky with tomatoes and peppers and prepared with basil and other herbs).

The other appetizer, the Fried Yuca Huancaine ($4.95), we ordered took full advantage of yucas' uniquely doughy yet firm texture by coating it in a batter that seemed almost like cornmeal.
The spicy queso dip--filled with chopped Peruvian "Aji" peppers--which came with the yuca, was a nice compliment to the dish.

Entrées at Havana Dreams are truly bargains--each dish is a generous portion and the prices are very reasonable (only a few barely crack the $10 mark).

The Vaca Frita ($7.25) was a truly exceptional version of the traditional dish, with the flank steak marinated in lime juice, vinegar, and garlic.

Served with sautéed onions and boiled yuca as well as a large side of black beans and rice seasoned with onion and bay leaves, the steak was moist and flavorful on the inside and crisp on the outside.

Equally appetizing was the Filletillo de Pollo en Salsa de Langosta ($7.25), made with chicken, a made-from-scratch lobster sauce, chunks of tomato, and parsley.

The fried plantains that came with the dish were just as delicious, not overly done or super greasy.

Not to be missed are Havana Dreams freshly made desserts, including their Flan ($2.50) and the Arroz con Leche ($2.25).

The lunch specials at Havana Dreams really live up to their name at $6.95 and they even include a soup or salad as well as dessert. Typical entrees offered as specials include Grouper Dijonnaise with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Red Fish Macademia with Sweet Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables, and Pigs Feet Andaluza Style with White Rice and Plantains.

Overseeing everything is Arredondo, who arrives at 6:30 in the morning and stays until 11:00 at night.

During that time Havana Dreams serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, opening at 9:00 AM and closing at 10:00 PM Monday through Friday, and opening at Noon and closing at 10:00 PM on Saturdays.

The restaurant is closed on Sundays except for private parties (incidentally, meetings and parities can be booked throughout the week).

To book the restaurant, find out about the specials, place an order for delivery, or inquire about their "Cantina" (for $25.00 you can order your dinners for the week, picking them up at four or five in the afternoon) call them at 305 716 4999.