Calle Dão Brings Cuban-Chinese Eats To Greenwich Village

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — A Cuban-Brazilian restaurant has transformed into a Cuban-Chinese restaurant.

The acclaimed Calle Dão, a throwback to the restaurants started by Chinese immigrants fleeing Cuba that once dotted the city, has opened their third location in the city at 543 La Guardia Place, between Bleecker and West Third streets.

Named after the restaurants that lined Havana's Chinatown along Calle Cuchillo, or Knife Street (Dão is mandarin for knife), a small stretch filled with restaurants serving a unique combo of Cuban and Chinese dishes.

The food inspired Naples, Italy native Marco Britti to try and revive the cuisine in New York City.

When Cubans, including Chinese immigrants, began to flee in the 1960's many came to New York City and opened their own restaurants, most of which have since closed.

But when Britti lived in Cuba over 20 years ago, something about that combination stuck with him when he moved back to the Big Apple.

“I wanted to bring it back… because it’s been forgotten,” Britti told DNAinfo New York when opening his second Chelsea location in 2017.

Britti, who also owned the former La Guardia Place occupant Favela Cubana, opened his first Calle Dão on West 39th Street in 2014.

Village Voice at the time admired their goat patties, covered in melted leeks and hoisin ketchup, which "plays barnyard Big Mac to Louro’s decorated Whopper of a brunch 'Belly Goat' burger."

Other Cuban-Chinese items on the menu include ropa vieja noodles, Cuban fried rice and Cuban sandwich spring rolls.

To see the full menu, click here.