Three unique businesses have opened in Galveston and Galveston Monthly is happy to share the details with its readers. Galvestonians can now enjoy traditional Cuban food here on the island, enjoy fresh coffee and treats or plan monthly meets in a new space, and serve refreshments at a private event from a mobile tap truck. 

 Whether you are looking for a unique bite to eat, a new place to socialize, or a special way to celebrate at your next event, be sure to read what’s new in the neighborhood before planning your day in Galveston. 

 Cuban Food Celebrated 

 Galveston’s food fare just got more diverse with the opening of Habanos Café, a restaurant serving traditional Cuban recipes. Owner Rudy Betancourt has Cuban roots that run deep. His family emigrated from Cuba in the early 1960s and made their way to Galveston. 

 Betancourt has restaurant roots that run deep, too. He owns three other island locations including the Press Box, Black Pearl, and Safari Beach Company Tiki Bar.

 His daughter, Haelen Betancourt, is Habanos’ general manager and is dedicated to honoring her family’s roots. “We are using traditional Cuban recipes passed down from our family,” she said. 

 

 Specifically, she mentions dishes like the congri (black beans and rice in a sofrito sauce and pork), empanadas de picadillo (a special beef mixture stuffed in pastry and fried), the Cubanito (a pressed and toasted sandwich containing layers of ham, shredded roast pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles), and the flan (a sweet dairy and egg-based custard) as recipes stemming from Betancourt’s hometown. 

 The authenticity, and family connection, don’t end with the recipes. Both head chefs are Cuban. The mother and son team heading up the kitchen is Anuska Montenegro and Lazaro Betancourt Montenegro. 

 “Our food is not fancy,” Haelen said. “Authentic Cuban food is simple but, of course, delicious and super flavorful.” 

 Haelen, 27, is a BOI (born on island) who grew up in her family’s professional kitchens. She began working for the family business after graduating from the University of Houston in 2020. 

 Why Galveston? Why open a restaurant now? “Galveston is our home,” she said. 

 Habanos Café is located in the building on 20th Street near Postoffice Street that was home to Apache Mexican Cuisine, an island favorite that served Galveston from 1960 until late 2022. 

 “The plan for a Cuban restaurant was always in the works. Things just aligned when the building became available,” Haelen said. 

 “And, most importantly, we felt there was a need for this kind of food in the community. We are not aware of anyone else serving Cuban food in Galveston. Can you find empanadas elsewhere? Sure. But can you find Cuban empanadas? Not anywhere else on the island.” 

 The Betancourt family recipe for empanadas de picadillo includes ground beef, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and Spanish olives. An appetizer serving includes three empanadas. 

 Other popular items include tostones platanos (fried plantains) and platanos maduro (fried sweet plantains). 

 The coffee is uniquely Cuban as well. Customers can enjoy a cup of café Cubano, traditionally served with sugar and frothed milk, indoors or on their outdoor patio. 

 Habanos Café is located at 511 20th Street and is open daily from 11am until 9:45pm. For more information, please call 409.539.5521.

 Neighborhood Community Center and Coffee House Opens 

 Residents of midtown Galveston will be happy to note that the popularity of the neighborhood coffee house did not end with “Friends.” 

 A new coffee house and community center has opened at 1502 39th Street, near Avenue N. This is something that owner Matt Molitor felt was missing among local Galveston communities. 

 “Yes, we serve great coffee. But we’re a lot more than a coffee house. We have created an inviting atmosphere for all community organizations to gather,” said Molitor, who is also the leader of Pride Center Galveston at the same location. 

 

 “Like all community centers, we have a coffee shop inside to support the programming,” Molitor said, adding that several groups have already been booked. Men’s and women’s club meetings as well as game nights are held weekly. 

 Mr. Texas Coffee Shop carries sweets from Muffin Top Bakery and Stephen’s Sweet Sensations. They also carry sweets from Chef Mary Bass, whose Good Dough kolache bakery and La Cucina Market are housed next door. All of their coffee is provided by Farmer’s Coffee out of Houston. 

 The large room inside the center is filled with comfortable seating that is both cozy and sophisticated. There is an additional 15’ x 20’ conference room that is available for rent. 

 The building is in the heart of the midtown community, where business consultant Benjamin Herndon says there was a need for involvement from more businesses. 

 “We need to bring business back into local communities where it has moved away from,” Herndon said. “Businesses reinvigorate a community.” 

 Mr. Texas Coffee House and the Pride Center Galveston are open daily. For more information or hours of operation, please call 409.996.2869. 

 Everybody Loves (Blue) Lucy 

 Make your private event just a little bit more special with a personalized drink service that gives brides, party planners, and other hosts the freedom and convenience to offer three different beverages on tap. 

 Husband and wife duo Chris and Kristina Cochrane opened their first little tap truck named “Blue Lucy” this fall as part of Tidal Taps Galveston, a new event rental company. 

 The truck has three taps that serve cold drinks like draft beer, cocktails/mocktails, teas, lemonades, and other cold brews. The taps are self-serve and offer guests a unique entertaining experience. 

 “We are excited to be collaborative with our clients to create add-on packages like build-it-yourself margarita, mimosa, or boba bars and customize smaller details to match the theme of their event,” Kristina said. 

 

 Both Cochranes are BOIs (born on the island) who live and work on Galveston Island; she for GISD and he for the BMW Corporation at the Port of Galveston. They chose “Tidal Taps” because they both have a love for the water. 

 “I grew up with a grandpa who was a commercial shrimper and Chris’s family are also commercial fishermen (supplying Katie’s Seafood Market), and we live on the water now, so we wanted to incorporate a nautical theme into our business,” Kristina said. 

 Kristina’s father-in-law owns the Sunset Marina at Offatts Bayou located at 9501 Teichman Road, currently under construction. She and Chris also own a Galveston vacation rental. 

 “Galveston is our hometown, and we want to connect with our community here. It is also a beautiful location for special events,” she said. 

 Kristina says Tidal Taps is a great way for businesses to customize marketing or boost morale at the office. Beverages can be personalized for any event. 

 Tidal Taps has introductory pricing through the rest of this year. While the base cost is for a three-hour rental of the truck, Kristina emphasizes that pricing will vary depending on specifics. They hope to expand the fleet with more tap trucks and rental options in the future. 

 For more information, please call 409.354.1309 or follow them on social media.