Havana Central at The West End

2012-08-23T19:03:21Z

Sirtetking:

{{wp-also2|West End Bar}}

'''Havana Central at The West End''' is a bar on [[Broadway]] between 113th and 114th St.

It used to be a legendary student hang-out called '''The West End''', whose clients included the likes of [[Beat Generation]] writers [[Allen Ginsberg]] and [[Jack Kerouac]], as well as later Columbians like [[Barack Obama]] and [[Lauryn Hill]]. Ginsberg called it "a university replica of a [[Greenwich Village]] dive". Diana Trilling, [[Lionel Trilling]]'s wife, called it "that dim waystation of undergraduate debauchery on [[Morningside Heights]]".<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=-nt1xVR4SrAC&lpg=PA7&ots=r_eXPXbf4T&dq=columbia%20%22lived%20in%20livingston%22&pg=PA14#v=onepage&q&f=false The Beat Generation in NY, p. 14]</ref>

Then, in spring [[2006]], it was bought by the Havana Central chain and converted into a Cuban restaurant/bar over the summer. Many people were sad to see The West End close because it was a long time hangout popular for alumni visiting the area. Additionally, underagers are now not allowed to freely wander in and drink. This can now be done at [[Campo]] or [[the Heights]].

People have mixed opinions about the new Cuban restaurant. The food isn't great, but it's edible and reasonably priced. The Cuban sandwich at [[Cafe con Leche]] is preferable. The atmosphere is vibrant on nights when the live music is playing.

Wednesday nights is Senior Night from 10 to close with cheap drink specials for Columbia students. There's also a Beat Night, with poetry readings, at some point in the year, to honor the restaurant's former clientele.

== Map ==
<googlemap lat="40.806598" lon="-73.965272" type="map" zoom="16" width="500" height="300" controls="small">
40.806598, -73.965272, [[Havana Central]] (Cuban)
</googlemap>

== External links ==
* [http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=42101&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0 Menu]
* [http://www.bwog.net/index.php?page=post&article_id=1000 The Bwog: New Name, Cuban Accent]

[[Category:Latin American restaurants]]
[[Category:Bars]]
[[Category:Bars in Morningside Heights]]

WikiCU - User contributions [en]

Havana Central at The West End