In my twenties and early thirties, I used to go out and easily blow close to $100 or more on a meal. I had no qualms on busting my weekly budget. I felt as if I was entitled to spoil myself – I worked hard!

Now that I have transformed myself and my finances, I have to sing the praises of deal websites like Groupon. Recently, I spent $35 on a dinner-for-two package at a local hotspot — Havana Café. Located on East Tremont Avenue, in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx, the restaurant specializes in Cuban cuisine.

My deal included sangrias for two, a shared appetizer, and two entrees. On this particular expedition, I decided to invite my mother to be my dining partner.

When you first step into Havana, the garlic aroma, not only welcomes you, but entices you. You can’t help but notice the mojitos, with their mint leaves, lining customer tables, and bounce your head to the booming Salsa music. At first slightly overwhelming, they set the mood for what’s to come. I immediately eyed the tables in front by the large windows, cascaded in the suns glow. I wanted to sit there and escape.  The waiters and waitresses at Havana are young, beautiful, and trendy. Because of the restaurant’s airy, island atmosphere – it feels like you’ve been transported to a place other than the Boogie Down, a semi-surreal fusion of New York and the Caribbean.

Our waitress started the meal by bringing out a freshly made roll, accented with black bean dip (a healthy alternative to butter or oil…and very Cuban). Although I don’t advocate engaging in white carbs, I took one small piece and savored the bread’s light buttery shell, opening up to its soft warmth. Now let’s get to the sangria. Draped in fruit, it comes in white or red. All I have to say about the wine, brandy, and triple sec blend…sabrosura!  If you like a nice cocktail, but you’re watching your weight, allow yourself one once a week.

 

We then ordered the Calamares Cubano. The appetizer had a surprisingly Asian feel and was a nice segue. The breaded, fried squid covered with a honey glaze and sesame seeds, sat on top of a ravishing bed of cucumber. An unexpected flashback for my mother and me, reminding us of the delicious sesame chicken dinners she would bring home from our local Chinese food joint when I was a kid.

 

As my entrée, I ordered the red snapper cooked in yuca mofongo. Mofongo is a garlic mash usually made with fried plantains, however this time it was made with cassava. My favorite! This mofongo looked like a little Christmas present, made just for me. You could see the green olives, and the red and green peppers just waiting to be grabbed by my fork. The amount of snapper incorporated into the dish was perfectly proportioned, so you appreciated every element of the mixture. A splendid spring salad, lightly dressed in a Cuban dressing made with mayonnaise, orange juice, lime and cilantro, balanced the plate out.

 

My mom had Horneado, which was a roasted half chicken, with sides of fingerling potatoes and Latino slaw. Admittedly, the chicken, traditionally cooked, was a bit too greasy for me. But the curveball on the plate was the potato. Roasted so they weren’t too soft, they appeared to be cooked with the chicken, taking on its cilantro seasoning. These fingerling potatoes were finger-licking delicious and easily the best part of the dish.

For a meal that would normally cost $66, I paid almost half that with my Groupon deal, priced at $35. This package had to be used on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday night. But an added bonus is on Monday nights the restaurant has a comedy show starting at 9pm. Be prepared to pay taxes and gratuity on your Groupon deal, however it’s still a steal. Plus, the portions are huge!

On that note, my healthy tip is enjoy your meal, but in small portions. I ate only a quarter of the plate. Taste, but don’t fill yourself to excess. Take home the rest; it’s dinner for tomorrow.

Also, consider ordering seafood – it’s always the safer bet. And fill up on the vegetables that come with your plate. They might end up being an unforeseen pleasantry.

Going out is fun – and you don’t have to break your budget or your belt!

Buen provecho!