After Pandemic Pause, Habana Outpost Returns To Fort Greene For Summer

BROOKLYN, NY — Habana Outpost, a Mexican and Cuban eatery in Fort Greene, was designed with community in mind.

For Robert Corroza, director of operations, the eatery is the sort of place where — at best — people could meet waiting in line for beer or eating cubanos and elotes at a communal folding table and then, one day, bring their kids to the restaurant's free environmental youth programing.

"This venue brings people together," he said.

For the past three years, though, the seasonal outpost has been closed; a dormant, lime green building on the corner of Fulton Street and South Portland Avenue.

Then, last week, Habana Outpost came to life once again, when it reopened for the first summer since 2019.

"People have been saying how happy they are to see us reopen, which is nice because that's the goal of what we're doing here," said Corroza.

Asked why the mostly-outdoor venue didn't open sooner, though, Corroza cited a "lot of factors."

"It's not quite as simple as saying, 'oh it's outdoor dining,'" he said, noting that some of the restaurant is indoors — mostly including the line for food and some seating.

Other factors include staff shortages, the complications of ensuring health and safety at a communal-style restaurant, and supply chain issues, according to Corroza.

"As soon as we felt we were ready and it was safe, we reopened," he said.

Neighbors long-awaiting Habana Outpost's return can rest assured that the eatery's signature menu items — notably including its beloved cubano and grilled corn — are back, with some additional upgrades, too.

Habana Outpost is now using fruit purees in its drinks instead of syrups, and there's a new vegan po' boy sandwich on the menu, Corroza said. As usual, the eatery is cash only.

Open noon to midnight Wednesday through Monday, Habana Outpost will be open all summer — possibly stretching into or after September.

"Really depends on the weather," Corroza said as to when the restaurant will stay open until. "If the summer goes late it could [be] after September but can't call it yet."

Habana Outpost is a seasonal location of Cafe Habana, which first opened in downtown Manhattan in 1998.

The fully solar-powered restaurant in Brooklyn an extension of CEO Sean Meenan's vision for Cafe Habana's social impact — Meenan later turned the Fort Greene eatery into the Brooklyn Love Building and established a non-profit, Habana Works, alongside the outpost.

Find out more about Habana Outpost on its website.